I think this has been the most boring transfer window in many a year, particularly from a Celtic point of view. One singing made in the summer to add to two signings from January. Even then, two of them are young players who will be used sparingly throughout the season. I've been impressed with Kelvin Wilson so far. He's got a bit of a presence about him as well as a good turn of pace and a decent pass out from the back. A goalkeeper is a certainty to arrive with big Forster being the most likely and maybe a new forward? You always hope for one biggish signing just to get the fans excited but unless some sort of major loan deal becomes available at the end of the transfer window I can't see any big names arriving at Parkhead this summer.
I'm kind of glad that we've only got a couple of new faces (obviously, I'd rather get a new keeper) and big Wilson looks the real deal. I'm glad mainly because I felt that one of the main positives from the team last season was how well they gelled - the Commons, Stokes, Hooper triumverate for example. Even at that, we still have a few new players who we might see more of this season (Matthews, Wanyama) - if we'd got a big name keeper, I reckon everyone would be happy.
God knows what the club is up to they are ****ing at it if you ask me. All the we are in it together, last season united us we shall do all we can to help neil lennon and then they go and sign us the guy who throw away the cup final aganist our mortal enemy! This board have failed too much for my licking. (jesus I'm in a stinker today).
To be honest one of the key points of the summer was keeping the better players we had on the books (although technically we have lost Izzy) so while its been quiet thats not always a bad thing Matthews and Wilson have impressed so far. A keeper, a striker and a centre half would be the icing on the cake. But that said at least we arent doing what we did with Strachan and Mowbray and sign 5/6 players every year who end up rarely playing. We appear to be waiting for the right targets. Im confident we'll get one or two more and i genuinely think one of them might be a last minute decent name loan. Still hope the board back Lennon with a big name or two in permanently- doubt they will
If, as you say, Fraser Forster is looking likely - I think he did a good job last season and will improve. Kelvin Wilson's definitely looking the part, so far, for me and I reckon Victor Wanyama is going to prove a real find as well... but I think a striker is a must!
After 2009/2010 we were in one hell of a bad place. Neil and his scouts brought us practically a whole new team. This season we only need to augment what we had last year. Thankfully we have Forster back and hopefully we will get someone up front. Won't be easy because if we want to keep the whole squad happy we cannot pay daft money and foolish wages. The other thing we need to remember, the Club is spending a wee fortune on Lennoxtown acadamie every year and it is certainly time we started to get new blood into team from our youth system. We already have too many players who are deemed to be no more than squad players and who don't look as if they will ever become regular first teamers. We must get these players off our pay roll and on to some other team's pool of players. Young players must be pushing our first teamers for places.
Rangers have done the last few years in part because they have had the same core group of players - sure Lennon must have noticed this. Due to new financing rules within football we need to be in a position of keeping the books even.Lennon & the scouts have been great in getting young talent in & a good price whereby a nice hefty profit is certain. If Wanyama proves himself to be a good find it could make sense to sell Ki/Kayal for x amount next summer whichwe can reinvest in the squad. We need a keeper, striker & possibly a centreback if we get rid of a few more. Hooper & Stokes are dead certs upfront & should get 20 goals each this season, a big name striker guarenteed to better that would cost a furtune & who the **** would come to Scotland? Best bet will be a loan deal.
Don't think 'a big name' striker is necessarily what's needed. Emilio Izaguirre, Beram Kayal, and Ki Sung-Yueng were all 'finds' so why not a striker in the same vein?
Thats my point, plus what big name striker would come to Celtic? Hooper & Stokes have a great understanding & need to be encouraged to improve by playing together. You could spend £5m on a striker but who is to say they will gel with Hooper or Stokes? Someone with a physical presence or with pace to get behind is what we need.
Plus £5m in this day and age is going to get you **** all too. We've not got the money to buy a realy big name in terms of fee or wages. We need to unearth someone who will go on to become a £20m striker though. Problem is every club in the world is looking for them too
I reckon we could we stump up £5m if we really thought he was going to be a nail on success, trouble is £5m players come with £40k a week wage demands. I like the look of Nicky Maynard, he would cost around £5m, bit pacier then Stokes & Hooper but he would be a gamble as Hooper was. No manager gets every signing right. Everyone says we need a physical striker but I wouldn't mind a technical, pacey second striker either. We lack that extra bit of flair to play 451 against good european teams - Velafrom Arsenal has just gone out on loan & I thought a player like that would have been decent.
