SENTINELCELTS

I was going to call this article Hotel California Celtic Supporters Club, but events forced my hand. They say things happen in threes and it certainly did for me. Friday night brought a shattered beyond using phone screen, Tuesday brought the double whammy. Not only did my garden hose nozzle blow out from built up water pressure and high temperatures super heating the stupidly colored black hose which is a heat magnet (forgot to turn the spigot off and empty hose or it would have been fine as usual), but on Monday evening my better half noticed and pointed out I had a tire looking low on air.

Driving to work Tuesday morning it was noticeable so a mental note was made to stop after work at the very first air pump. It was very low verging on flat by this stage, but we are talking 3 miles to the pump and I drove slowly. I start filling it up and the car is visibly lifting, thank goodness I’m thinking when at around 20lbs of pressure the side of the tire facing me starts forming a bubble coming my way rapidly. Just as I had gotten sideways out of the radius, BOOM! 

Only 40k miles on it, the shredded remains won’t be visiting asphalt again.

It’s just one of those weeks folks, you’ve had them, of course you have, we all have. And it will happen again however there’s usually ways to negate issues arising in the first place. The new phone is sturdier with an excellent protective case, the next hose nozzle will be metal (shouldn’t blow out under pressure) rather than plastic plus I’ll double check the spigot is off, the new tire won’t be allowed to get so low in future. All in all I shall be forking out a few bucks, but will take the lessons from all three, and try to put ‘one of those weeks’ behind me. 

That’s just life, sought out or not we have everyday problems to deal with. And what is one of our reliefs from such burdens but sport, in particular football, in particular our beloved Glasgow Celtic Football Club, the Pride of Ireland!

This week our particular club shall undergo its own ‘one of those weeks’, star assets coveted, bid upon, supporter and manager expectations to meet, and not only this season hangs upon their collective response but the next few as what comes in now (or not) shall become a piece of a much larger jigsaw puzzle. 

Hence the potential Hotel California name, because as the old song says, this could be heaven or this could be hell.

We are faced with the prospect of losing up to 5 players in a 7 day period (Matt, Reo, Kelly, Anderson, Lagerbielke), one of whom needs two replacements according to the gaffer, but alongside that we have a very slow moving transfer committee/board/Nicholson and MacKay who might just feel smug and sheltered having broken the clubs outgoing fee record. 

They take forever to capture a signature, and have now ‘seemingly’ left themselves in the position of needing several signings rapidly, while dealing with outgoing.

We are in Hotel California territory, this goes one way or the other.

I’ll give my opinion as usual, stick my head above the parapet and leave my thoughts out there to be shot at, and I assure all they are my thoughts alone and no author on this site has been ‘got at’, as if we were so important. 

Heaven not hell.

My rationale?

For starters all our signings have been Brendan’s targets, players he wants not players foisted upon him. If it’s happened so far, chances are that’s unlikely to change.

All of those links, all of those sounding-outs, some would have been preliminary and that’s what’s leaked, but some will be ascertaining the fee and leaving it on the back burner to maybe make a move later or hijack a move last minute.

We approach last minute territory, and five departures alongside the biscuit tin not even being opened yet when one takes into account the 2024 outgoing fee’s, leaves the door open for a splurge, and being calculated he didn’t say Matt needs two replacements,  rather have a 6 million player over three 2 million players by accident.

I look at the players we are linked with and their price tag plus their wages, I’m happy with them all. 

I don’t want to lose Reo, nor Matt, BUT if both or one only decide to try elsewhere, at this moment the very best we can do is provide players that fit into Brendan’s vision. We’ve done that 4 times though admittedly slowly, picking up the pace when the desired fee is known shouldn’t be a major hurdle in theory unless haggling is involved. And that’s where the club’s finances come into it.

It used to be the Man United tax, now it’s the Celtic tax. As has been mentioned on the blog, a bulging bank account could well see clubs ask for top dollar, but as we’ve all just witnessed, some clubs aren’t for playing games, simply put a price on their player and say reach it or hit the road Jack.

In many cases, we already know that price via initial enquiries. 

We know Brendan prefers English speakers for ease of communication, his man management skills through a common tongue, nothing wrong with that. By the way, I heard Matt’s old national boss thought speaking Danish in the dressing room was essential, the language barrier goes both ways. But I’d expect mostly English speakers to arrive from here on in. 

What do I expect from here on in? Well it certainly looks like the boss won the big power struggle and is getting backed, so just more of the same really.

An experienced here and now player in the middle alongside the new develop and sell player, the next Matt. Last season I scoffed at the link with Rieder for 10 plus million, this season, after the ‘rather have a 6 million player’ statement I’m not so dismissive at players with high fees, especially high fees that we obtain an option upon ala Odsonne. So I’m expecting a mix of permanently signed plus loans with high trigger fees to purchase. One thing that’s priceless are those European nights and I hate to say it but derby games, whomever signs on loan (with an option to buy) has 6 guaranteed games of the best atmosphere football has to offer. I’ve yet to see a loanee who doesn’t want to return and sign up for the Paradise experience. 

From next season that means qualifiers, signing players now to be fully settled by then makes complete sense, hence the loan to buy scenario.

I’ve no problem with that providing they play well enough to force the question and most do. We must worry about qualifiers and dropping into the UEFA Cup next year, revenue is uncertain to a point, but one thing that’s never uncertain is supporters ambition for their club of choice.

We have reached the stage of no excuses for that other left back etc, but we would understand trimming the squad. If 5 go out, I’m not asking for five in, I’m asking for three of quality. This window, with these numerous departures either already happened or will happen, is Brendan’s biggest opportunity to put his stamp on the squad.

So far, his two outfield signings won us the double, the between the sticks bhoys have that locked down long term.

If Matt goes today or tomorrow or this week, we still have time to replace him, same as the others.

So far everything is going to plan, but we’ve just pulled into the Hotel California parking lot for the rest of the window (no flat tire) ready to check-in.

By Mahe 

sentinelcelts@gmail.com