SENTINELCELTS

Not wanting to pen an article regarding our transfer activity so close to the world famous slamming shut, nor the previous match, nor the upcoming derby lest I spoil my Saturday article, you’ll be sorry to hear I’ll pen one based on the title, because in some situations I’m really not sure whos laughing at who when it comes to Celtic these days.

Let’s start at the very top and work our way down.
Dermot.
After last summers fiasco and subsequent power struggle it’s evident that one thing has changed, the profile of our targets. We have smashed the record transfer fee, haven’t kissed any frogs, and look set to land a few for 5 million plus maybe closer to 10 million in some cases. I’ll speculate we are about to see the biggest summer in outgoing fees ever, while being domestically dominant. Very dominant indeed.
I wonder what fuels this change of tact, yes we are seriously dragging our feet but we just don’t drop this kinda money on players,,so who is Dermot laughing at?
Is it The Tims who thought the old dog wouldn’t be taught new tricks, is it the Champions Leagues qualifiers and coefficient because we’re spending a fortune to have good players bedded in by the time they come around, is it the EPL with their swollen pockets, or maybe the balance sheet itself alongside his share price chart? Or those directors of R2ngers whose undignified celebrations supposedly forced him to plot a new course?

Next let’s take his underlings, the Board. Who are they laughing at? Dermot for sanctioning multiple star purchases thinking there’s trouble for him to deal with down the road, the supporters for believing 40 million is a massive spend when it was covered by football operation sales so the biscuit tin wasn’t touched, the dignitaries of our CL qualifier opponents believing this is the same old Celtic then being blown away by quality, our the rest of Scottish football including our ‘rivals’ who despite paying higher wages are smaller than us and always struggling in one way or another?
Or The Tims for complaining while the club gets officially recognized as one of the best run in football? (Not saying I agree but it’s a fact)

Next we come to Brendan himself, and I’d love to know who exactly he is laughing at.
His own fortune having been given control of the transfer kitty and clearly targeting good quality players, the Board for making worse than a pigs ear of last summers window giving him the power to control transfers, players who leave thinking the grass is greener elsewhere alongside players who believed they would just come to Scotland and stroll it, or maybe the whistlers/VAR who think they can help their brethren?
He might even laugh at Crystal Palace or Arsenal if he gets a tune out of a returning for less Edouard or Tierney respectively.
He won’t be laughing at The Tims, that’s for sure. He would rather laugh with them, I hear he likes Francis Turleys dad and rates his son high enough not to loan him but to play him.

The players, I do wonder who they laugh at?
One linked player said he’s just not coming to Glasgow as he’s enjoying Rome. No problem there amigo, which portrays lifestyle being more important than sporting success and that’s just not the type of player that I want nor suits the club. Big Paolo will know all about Glasgow life by now, just like Big Cam, just like the Japanese contingent, and they are all clearly happy with life not only in Scotland but at a global giant. Polish lad, Belgian lad, aye no bother. I wonder do the players laugh at those not wishing to come north of the border, knowing that once again ‘we’ve got something special here!’. I also wonder if said players will laugh ruefully upon watching ‘what they could have won’ when checking out the Champions League games and noting Parkhead provided the pick of the bunch, in style.

And finally you, The True Tims, who or what will you laugh at?
No one, that’s not much fun.
With Brendan once he brings in real players and shows his hands alone are truly on the tiller, at Augsburg for Engels ‘only’ costing 10 million likewise LAFC ‘gifting’ us Bogutz, at Peter for clearly being out of the loop and out of his depth in the company of ordinary fans, or at those teams who will soon rock up thinking ‘nice stadium, gimme three points and here’s a pat on the head’ only to find themselves behind, in a real tough game, with a rabid crowd urging on what feels like 12 players on the park?
Or the camouflage style Celtic top, surely the worst ever idea marketing endorsed?

I don’t wish to go into the usual ‘it’s a massive week’ speech, but at the end of this season, heck at the end of this transfer window in 2 days time, someone will be laughing at someone or somebody. Whether that’s genuine or rueful laughter I cannot tell, whether that’s for overpaying I do not know.

But what I do know is buying quality players today helps one become prepared for tomorrow, and this time next year (judging by the soon to be joining names and current form) I won’t be shitting myself every qualifying round. We are a good team now, will improve this campaign, Brendan’s teams usually burst out of the blocks plus we’ve got that winner mentality hence beating supposed giants City and Chelsea.
Bed the new ‘serious’ talent in this season, win the treble perfecting our style, and I shall approach next seasons qualifiers not with trepidation but with confidence.
Then who’s laughing at who?

By Mahe sentinelcelts@gmail.com