Rating The Summer Window-Part 3
Morning,all.
The final part of our summary of the summer signings falls to my good self. SALTIRES and MAHE have done a tremendous bit of work explaining their thoughts on their selections,and I hope that I can do justice here to mine.
Most of us realised well over a year ago that the summer rebuild was going to be one helluva task,one which could not be expected in one hit,in one window. We were guaranteed to be losing some first team fixtures such as Ajer,Edouard,Christie,Broonie. Other more peripheral players-who had severely dented their CV-were also for the off,Ntcham being the glaring example.
We were short,and then some,of a quality keeper. We had the square root of eff all at right back,and even less between the sticks. So to expect miracles,not for the realists amongst us. Particularly given our parsimonious history.
So imagine our surprise when we woke up on 1st September with TWELVE newbies. Pretty sure none of them were shuttled in at the last minute either. It was like something had changed-and it clearly had. AP and DMcK seemed to be working together to improve the team,a most unfamiliar situation for us cynical Tims.
Sadly,DMcK has departed-but I have no complaints at all so far about Michael Nicholson’s willingness to support our manager’s demands. And long may it continue.
My four selections are Liam Shaw,James McCarthy,Liel Abada and Kyogo. And I’ll deal with them in that order.
~~~~~~~~~
LIAM SHAW joined us from Sheffield Wednesday,having played a mere two dozen games for them. He’s a big lad,and he was highly rated by the fans of his former team. Wednesday are a legendary club,but they are in freefall on the pitch and off it-as are a lot of English clubs,particularly those outside the EPL. 20yo and raring to go-so we stuck him on the bench!
His only appearance was against Real Betis,in a team full of strangers. Honestly,I struggled to recognise some of them myself. Third in La Liga,Betis knew they were facing a player. I knew I was watching one. Strong in the tackle,reading the game,movement,passing,I honestly thought he was outstanding,given his age and that it was his debut.
Subbed halfway through the second half and not seen since. I think we have a player here,I don’t want to compare but I would say that coaching can give us another Paul Lambert. Not kidding either. Ask Heitzfeld how many people thought Lambert was a player.
RATING
Performance-7
Potential-9
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next comes someone at the opposite end of the spectrum,a vastly experienced player.
JAMES McCARTHY should have been playing for Celtic about a dozen years ago. Sadly,that got caught in the interminable politics of our club,where half a million is too much but four million on pish is deemed to be bang on the money.
Sadly,James’ best days,even at 30yo,seem to be behind him. Too many injuries,too many years from an early age,too many bloody kicks on various places. He is a smashing footballer,but I doubt he will hit those heights again.
I genuinely hope that I am wrong. This is one signing that I think most of us want to succeed. Maybe he needs to stop trying to run. Be the metronome. Phone Roy Keane and ask him how he controlled every midfield from a deckchair. Because running about is not for him,or his body.
Performance-5
Potential-8 if he phones Roy.
~~~~~~~~~~
LIEL ABADA is a winger. That’s it,you know what you get with a winger,the best of times,the worst of times. But Liel was only 19yo when he joined us,and we should cut him a lot of slack. He is the same age as James Forrest when he broke into the team,and he was allowed his moments.
Liel has been scaldingly hot,and chillingly cold. But he has also been played all over the front line,and back in midfield too. He has contributed considerably up front with goals and assists,is very difficult to mark as he drops central or into the box. I think James Forrest has a problem regaining his place. Even worse if we can persuade Paddy Roberts that Celtic Park is the place to rebuild his career. And btw,I love Jamesie.
~~~~~~~
Performance-7
Potential-8
Somehow or other,it fell to me to tell you all about KYOGO. Now,anyone who has met me will tell you that I can wax lyrical about any subject under the sun. I’ll tell you right now that my ratings for this guy would need to be turned up to eleven.
He’s a skelf of a guy,bugger all to him. Still shrugs off the typical thuggish attacks on him. Far from the tallest,can hang in the air. Finds space where no-one expected it,or even knew it existed. BANG-and there’s that impish grin,that joy of scoring a goal.
Hmmm,takes me back…
Kyogo may be the first new signing to impress us this much since Lubo. Others who became legends took a bit to settle-even Henrik! Not our man. I’m not even gonna say much more about him,as you all see it,you can all describe our superstar better than I possibly could. All I will say is…
What a fantastic signing,and what a fantastic player. We are lucky to have him.
Performance-10
Potential-10
I’d have turned it up to 11 if it weren’t for that hamstring.
~~~~~~~~~
Above article by BMCUWP
I’ve been at most home games this season. Myself and my son share our season tickets with No2 son and my daughter to spread the Paradise love around. We’ve seen some cracking performances and an amazing improvement in the team.
Kyoto has been an absolute superstar from day 1. Jota too has been a success, and it seems like he wants his loan made permanent.
Abada can be frustrating to watch, like most young wingers. His goal/assist stats are impressive and I think he can improve.
Cameron is a solid centre back and with Joe has stabilised our defence. JJ has proved to be a reliable full back.
That’s six of Ange’s signings who have been an unqualified success. IMO, the other six all have potential to make major contributions.
The days of having a 1st XI are long gone. It’s a squad game, especially with our hard running, pressing style and the MIBs refusal to penalise hammer throwers. Our three new arrivals must know and buy into Ange’s style.
Of the players Ange inherited, Calmac,Tom Rogic,Tony Ralston, David Turnbull have played very well and shown their class and spirit.
All of the foregoing gives me confidence that we could win the league this season. This is way beyond our wildest dreams only 4months ago.
It also seems that Mr Nicholson has moved quickly and efficiently to secure the new players, giving us hope that PLs micromanagement is consigned to history..
The big success this season so far has been Ange. What an appointment, even though he was not 1st choice. We got lucky.
We still have issues with both the conduct/attitude and make up of the board, which hopefully our CEO will address. I’m not too confident about that but as I’ve said often, any organised protests will not gain traction amongst the majority of the support if the team is doing the business on the park. I realise the necessity of good professional governance at our club and at Hampden. This is never going to be resolved by Celtic alone, but we should put our own house in order regardless.
So, my mid term report would give a mark of 8/10.
Shaw on loan to Motherwell, how will that improve him ?
STEVENAIVE
As exclusively revealed here last night by JIMTHETIM53!!!
Playing regularly and in a poor team where he has to work hard will show us what he’s got,much more than sitting on the bench will. As I said in the article,I have high hope for him-but it is impossible to judge him based on one performance.
In my opinion Ange is THE signing of the window I think more by luck than judgement though, I wasn’t in favour of him and even thought he could be our Pedro appointment but since he came in the door he’s impressed me and I’m man enough to admit I was wrong. The guy’s been a breath of fresh air and the success he’s achieved so far is nothing short of spectacular as most of us as supporters had probably written this season off. Joe Hart has been incredible, Kyogo and Jota are class acts, Cameron is a definite improvement on anything we had in our defence and an 8 out of 10 every game. Juranovic is a solid signing and he’s a player I like a lot. Tony Ralston well that boy deserves every bit of praise that comes his way and shows what hard work and a manager that believes in you can do, I know he’s not a new signing but he feels like one. Abada is still young and raw but has flashes of brilliance and scores and assists well and he’s only going to get better. Liam Shaw looks like there’s a player there and the same with Urhogide both young and enthusiastic and can make the step up eventually. James McCarthy has been a big disappointment thus far but he’s shown flashes that he’s still got it and I wouldn’t write him off just yet. The signings of Hatate and Ideguchi may make him up his game but it might be next season before we see the best of him. We have still got Chris Jullien to come back and like Ralston he’ll feel like a new signing too. My opening half of the season score is 7 out of 10 but I think our season is just going to get a hell of a lot better if our three wise men from the east can compliment their counterpart Kyogo and make as big an impression as he has, I’m looking forward to things and I’m as excited as a kid opening Christmas presents.
TOMMY
Well said,that man! I too didn’t expect too much this season,and would have settled for clear and obvious improvement with an eye on next season.
We have taken huge steps in a short time. AP deserves all the credit coming to him.
Morning all from a cold and snawy Royal Burgh!
The last three articles have been pretty accurate in reflecting where we’re at after last season’s shitstorm. Garry Postecoglu ( no relation I’m told!) was the consistent advocate of Ange-ball and what it would bring. At the time I admired his steadfastness in refusing to bow to the consensus or even allow a sprinkling of doubt to taint his opinion. Like his support for Bielsa at Leeds, Garry’s English team, his belief that Ange Postecoglu was a superb signing for Celtic was met with hope but a huge majority on here were understandably cynical!
I’d reckon Kyogo is the only signing that belongs 100% to Ange. The others would be a mixture of our beloved Board’s tinkering, interposing, pocket-lining or even the time-worn ‘Project Signing’! Loan deals have always been a source of frustration for me.
If we regard Celtic as a big Club – which most of us do – we should expect a full behind the scenes network of staff and support that identify, analyse and recruit not just players but the whole gamut of personnel needed to make the Club, in all areas, as successful as we can be. We’re not doing this. We are still too parochial, too narrow in our thoughts and as a result lacking in ambition. The articles have identified Kyogo, Ralston, Juranovich, Jota and Carter Vickers as successes. 40% of these successes belong to other clubs. Ralston, albeit not a new signing is reaping the benefits, like us, of Ange and is finally showing a serious improvement on what was previously seen. Juranovich despite being played out of position is showing a lot of promise but we need more consistency from him, think of him wandering from the left back position into midfield to give the ball away in an unforced error leading to a lost goal! Kyogo is the unearthed gem. He has been exactly what our support needed this season – an unexpected icon who has led the line superbly, scored beautiful, hard-earned and unexpected goals, played with a smile on his face and really just given us hope ad entertainment after last season’s debacle! As for the rest of the signings they are typical of our last 15 years’ transfer business – a mixed bag of frees, faileds and fortunates. How do we do it, and how do we do it with such consistency?
I doubt I’m alone in hoping, as Tommy Burns did nearly 30 years ago that Celtic would have in place a proper system of promotion from within. Players join at 8 years old and eventually the creme de la creme play for the Senior team. The rest contribute through transfer fees to develop the next generation and so it continues. This applies to Coaching staff, too. It applies also to Retail and Hospitality and Marketing. It surely should also apply to the Board! We need to be better at the basics, understanding the need for good continuity and improvement at every level of every department of the Club. We’re not!
We signed 12 new players in the last window out of which 4 have shown to be worthy First Team starters. And they have been excellent for us, each of them bringing something worth talking about to the table. But the two thirds who have still to convince us will probably see only 1 or 2 from the remaining 8 having any impact on the First Team, that for me is risky business, too many guys just filling jerseys without really contributing! Hopefully, Ange’s 3 Samurai Warriors will walk into the team and hit the ground running to emulate the success of the guys named above. Any silverware this season is reliant on it!
Большой Джим Паки, я не уверен, почему ты подумал, что это я, но русский никогда не был моей сильной стороной! Я всегда был более романтичным, итальянским типом !! Чао, детка!
Bol’shoy Dzhim Paki, ya ne uveren, pochemu ty podumal, chto eto ya, no russkiy nikogda ne byl moyey sil’noy storonoy! YA vsegda byl boleye romantichnym, ital’yanskim tipom !! Chao, detka!
Big Jim Packy, non so perché pensavi fossi io, ma il russo non è mai stato il mio punto forte! Sono sempre stato più un tipo romantico e italiano!! Ciao piccola!💚💚💚
McCAFF
Stop wi the showing off-most of us are still struggling to speak English!!
At least,that’s what everyone in Swindon tells me.
You’ll have noticed that I may have been uncharacteristically optimistic with my ratings,particularly re potential. But for once,it reflects my mood!
https://thecelticstar.com/priest-praises-green-brigade-for-incredible-gesture/
Morning Bobby…my frustrations with Celtic’s transfer business go back a long, long way! I’m with you re the optimism but also feel strongly that we stumble from one window to another mostly looking for a fix rather than having a reliable system of development and promotion then recruitment to sustain a successful Club-wide operation. Our turnover demands a more joined up thinking than what we’ve seen for decades!!
Thanks for the assessments Bobby.
With Kyogo, it’s the whole package that impresses me. The football skills, obviously but the attitude, the humble approach, and even picking up litter when walking off substituted!
Good afternoon all from Shawlands via Govanhill. Bobrus sorry for late reply. Don’t drink in the Star Bar anymore, had enough of the rockets in there. And that’s just the women.
Bigrailroadblues,
Thanks for the reply. It’s just that I have found myself visiting the Star Bar on occasion recently and wondered which one of the rockets was you!! Although I wasn’t looking at the women, to be fair!
Lots of interesting posts over the last few days, particularly those related to Ange’s impact. Where do I stand in all of this? Firstly, like Tommy Q, I have to admit I was underwhelmed by Ange’s appointment. Through connections to the MC group, I saw this as a panic appointment that emerged from PL’s contacts. No certificate to coach in Europe just confirmed my thinking. Perhaps, the circumstances of Ange’s appointment speak more to the inadequacies of the club’s recruitment practices, rather than the qualities of the man. It would be churlish to continue to deny that Ange has been a positive signing. If he is permitted, he will change the club for the better, as Rogers did, or seemed to do. The problem with Rogers’ impact is that he took most of it with him when he left…the coaching staff, backroom staff etc. The club should try to ensure that this does not happen again when Ange moves on…..and he will move on, one way or another!
Recent remarks by Ange suggest that he has a broader perspective of what his role could/should be within the club. I am thinking of his recent remarks suggesting his immediate priorities were on the squad rebuild, but now he was focusing on the recruitment side including scouting. The three recruits from Japan plus Kyogo were clearly his initiatives. The likes of the two Sheffield W recruits, plus McCarthy were something he inherited from the old ways of doing business. Who really knows how Jota, CCV were targeted? Were they Ange targets, or were they generated by agents contacting the club? Then there is the issue of the first contract that Ange initiated….that of Griffiths. Extending his contract by a year, was that wise? We can excuse that one on the grounds that Ange was just in the door and the squad was threadbare but it is hardly a smart decision. The GG recruitment was probably an Ange appointment and the early signs are not positive on that one, but we shall see. It is hard to see how such a player fits into Angeball.
So, in conclusion, where does this leave us? Undoubtedly in a much better position than the beginning of the season. Arguably, in a much better position than the senior management of the club deserve. However, it is by no means optimal. The old inadequate structures/thinking within the club still remain and these are critical in supporting any manager. The new CEO is exactly that…a new CEO. Time will tell if he makes the necessary reforms. Whatever did happen to that critical assessment of the club by consultants?
Can Angeball be sustained? The recent struggles of Bielsaball plus the hamstring crisis at Celtic suggest that this is a major concern. Short term success will not be sufficient for Celtic fans, nor should it, given our resources. However, given the shambles of last season, Angeball is, at least, a good short term measure.
I would argue that reforms off the field will be more important for sustained success by the club, rather than what the coach does on the field. Ange has hinted that these aspects are next on his list. If he changes how recruitment, scouting are handled; maintains a fruitful liaison between the football dept and the CEO; changes the organisational structure to create a long term view of the football operations…..then he will leave an impressive legacy when he leaves in circa three years.
Thoughts welcome.
Rebus
JOBO
I hadn’t noticed the litter thing. Good spot.
When judging the squad so far this season, one of the successes has been Liam Scales. To me, he has been an outstanding success coming from Irish football and playing in European games and did not look out of place. He is one who I think will grow to be a truly outstanding player for us and reminds me a lot of Davie Hay, when he first came into the team, por cierto.
Morning troops and TGIF.
Some great reading last few days, thanks to everyone involved.
Mackers,
“We signed 12 new players in the last window out of which 4 have shown to be worthy First Team starters”
Hart
Kyogo
CCV
JJ
Abada
Jota
All first team starters with Scales, G-Mac, and Starfelt undecided but possible.
I think that’s harsh tbh.
Tommy is spot on, Ange has been ourbest signing since Martin maybe.
HailHail
Afternoon Mahe…apologies, I forgot about Big Joe!! I stand corrected then and will admit 5 of the 12 but although Abade has been impressive his overall game hasn’t been as consistent as the others. If we had Jamesie fit I’m not sure Liel would displace him on current form…unfortunately Jamesie’s nowhere near fit enough for Ange’s high press game!
AFTERNOON ALL AND JIM,and SOL, mcaff thanks for your welcome, i presume it was a welcome😎😎 i can speak 4 languages ,welsh, yacky da, geordie, ho way the lads, scouse, awright lah, scottish, how is it gaun jimmy, beat that,
GORDON64
Heart warming to say to least.
REBUS67
Agree with your assessment.
McCaff
Like you i believe there has to be a better long term vision throughout the club.
For years i have been saying we have to change our club ‘s stance on and off the field from reactionary to being proactive for us to be successful internationally and at home.
Our medical stats and lack of progression for youth are still a worry.
Ange ball is high risk and not all our players are willing to take that responsibility.
We have scored some utterly superb goals but at times seemed clueless.
Hopefully with the recent additions and time we will rectify this.
For me our next priorities should be coaches and technical/science staff with a Director of Football to create a concise way forward.
In the long term maybe Ange should be seeking an assistant coach who can succeed him when he becomes our D.O.F.
LISTEN, sol had a fall this morning in the snow in basildon, but he bounced back up immediately, he fell on his wallet, another true story😎 now JIM on the other hand does not have a wallet, no he has a 1 tonne safe in his cellar, i know the last two digits of the combination lock, if i ever get hold of the first four digits ill be on a winner, feckin gold nuggets in that safe, plus sapphires and diamonds,😎 another true story,
PORCIERTO
I agree about Liam. Can’t wait to see him against the huns,no prisoners with that lad.
Still got a way to go to meet your comparison though. I remember asking David Hay in a Q&A what happened when him and Bertie went for a challenge in training. Did everyone shut their eyes?
His reply was excellent.
“Bertie and I weren’t allowed to tackle each other in training!”
Sidney Poitier RIP
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ymrW7bZWTag
Packy, I moved my safe when I flitted to an upstairs luxury apartment. It’s now in the living room. I sit my TV on top of it so that I can watch them both.
yes and you still wont give me the other four digits,and you call yersel my best pal😎😎
OK here it is ****
HEY i cant see any numbers there, is it my eyesight😎😎
Sorry My lap top is programmed to do that with that combination of numbers. Its a security thing.
JTT53
I’m guessing it was 1690 the code 😀
Craig, no chance! LOL 🙂
JIM yes expected that 😎😎
CRAIG 76 yes that number seems to follow follow jim 😎😎 that is not a true story😎
true story 1967 scottish cup final, met jim at mount florida station he had a celtic tammy on and underneath a feckin rangers shirt, ill never forget it, but we won ,mind you dont know who jim was supporting,😎
big packy
Are you sure it wasn’t Peter Lawwell you met?
Fan, LOL 🙂
FAN might have been😎😎
Bobby, Swindon Town v Manchester City live on STV tonight 7.30pm
https://mccuttawayblog.wordpress.com/2022/01/07/why-does-tom-english-an-irishman-hate-celtic-so-much-and-why-does-he-feign-his-love-for-sevco/
hey jim is that the same stv that used to show glen micheals cavalcade, remember it well, also the one o clock gang with larry marshall, just shows you how old i am.😎
Yes Packy I remember the One O’Clock Gang. Was it not Two O’Clock in the Monklands because of the time difference? You lot were always behind the rest of the country.
JIM, im in a good mood tonight, joan got her results back from warrington nhs trust, her scan was positive, nothing to worry about just keep taking your medication ,and your aspirin tablets, im over the moon. luv ya to bits pal.😎
JIM, yes 😎😎
Good for Joan! 🙂
JIM, what shall we talk about, the lions, frank haffey, jim brogan, frank brogan, jim kennedy, charlie gallagher, big yogi hughes who i went to his pub in coatbridge in 1969 as a seventeen year old and got served, must have looked older😎😎 Sorry 16 year old
Did someone say Lions
https://twitter.com/Mickh1916/status/1479176442273583108
CRAIG76, thanks for that im privileged to have seen them from 66 to 73, when i moved down to liverpool.👍H.H.
Rumours in Edinburgh, Boyle to Celtic, £2.5 m plus Mikey Johnston and another player
SOLKITTS, where are you, i made sure your money was intact after your mishap😎 😎