SENTINELCELTS

Morning, all.

Now that the transfer window has finally “slammed shut” after eighty long days, we can look back and judge whether or not it has been a good one for us. The obvious winner, based purely on transfers in and out, is The Glorious Balance Sheet. But even that comes with an obvious caveat, that the transfers out prior to our Champions League qualifier completely shafted our chances of success. That’s a £50m hole beneath the waterline right away, and hardly for the first time.

The loss of Engels before that match, along with the loan departure of Bernardo and Ox’s suspension, left us reliant on McCowan and the already checked out Hatate to serve alongside McGregor and Nygren. This against a Linz side who were known to play five in midfield. The return leg should have been the final and long overdue wake up call to everyone that this club has been crying out for a defensive midfielder since Neil Lennon was in his pomp. Again, this has been ignored. 

The role of the defensive midfielder is rarely the one that wins all the end of season prizes. It isn’t one that gets names emblazoned across the back of jerseys, or carries the huge price tags. But it is one that is understood by every football person, from the terraces to the boardrooms. Every boardroom except ours, apparently. For nearly twenty years. 

We continue to ignore this at our peril. We can’t keep relying on the woefully unsuited McGregor for much longer anyway. He will be 34yo at the end of this campaign, so it is imperative that we sign someone for the holding role inside the next year. He has provided a Band-Aid for the board at the expense of his own career these last six years, but Father Time will decree that his replacement must be signed next summer. I can’t wait. 

The board are to be congratulated, in fairness, on the signings they did make  before the Linz game. Høgh, though sadly injured at the moment, is the big target man we’ve been looking for. Duran is the needle sharp striker that Celtic fans have always loved. Hassan will torment defences everywhere, and had best get used to being double teamed, and the ways to use that for the benefit of our team. As it is, defenders seem unable to get a foot in against him. Baur is a dynamic young midfielder with the ability to run all day while making the killer pass or tackle as required. But those who came afterwards? The jury is still out, but we will know more by the time the first international window opens. 

We did get a keeper good enough to challenge Sinisalo (who deserves the jersey at the moment). But our defensive replacements are highly questionable. Lotomba is a right back, which is hardly a priority position, though he can apparently cover the other flank-let’s hope so! No additions at centre back, so it’s Scales (if he isn’t needed at LB) and Murray alongside CCV and Trusty. Sørensen should do well for us in midfield, though I’d prefer him not to be a loanee. Van Den Berg is presumably one for the future as he joins the two teenage Chelsea lads in the stands for our European campaign, but at least his signing is permanent. He comes with a decent pedigree, and I’m not gonna quibble simply because he is a teenager. 

Up front, Shim The Tim will go through Scottish defences like a knife through butter, but he will need the sort of protection that refs rarely bestow on Celtic strikers. And we have the three earlier signings plus Osmand as well. But wide left leaves us heavily reliant on the ever improving Yang, who we won’t see again after tomorrow till next month, and a hopefully returning Jota. Anyone putting their faith in Tounekti needs their head examined.

I find it sad that I’m happy to see the back of Hatate. When he first arrived, he really lit up our midfield. His range of passing was top notch, and he wasn’t too shy to fire in a shot or put in a tackle. I’ll miss that player, but I won’t miss the one we had for the last two seasons. Even so, I wish him well, as I do Jonny Kenny. He will score plenty, and we will wonder why he just couldn’t do it in our Hoops. So will he, but he won’t be the first player whose desire to succeed at his club undermined his chances of doing so. 

Overall I think that this window has improved our squad, and that is a crucial factor to consider when determining whether it has been successful or not. But the board do not get pass marks based on that alone. Indeed, the good work done is completely undermined by the timing of what was done. That timing probably cost us whatever chance we had of winning our qualifier, and that lot have form for this. We should not allow that to be swept under the carpet come the AGM, for example. 

They need to learn that the transfer window is open so long for a bloody good reason, and not as a reminder to bugger off on holiday. Managers want to work with as many of their squad as possible during preseason training. New signings want the deal done as soon as possible so that they can have longer to get to know their new colleagues, their new system, their new environment. And, dare I say it, their new home-because who wants to fit house hunting into a packed three games a week schedule?

I’m disappointed that we have so many players on loan instead of on permanent deals, but that is something we have to contend with now and again. But my main disappointment is one that I’ve shared with you for far too long now, and that is the absence yet again of a big hard bastert in midfield. I’m tired of saying it, you’re tired of hearing it, but here we are. 

Make it stop, Celtic. Just sign one. 

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Above article by BMCUWP