With just less than three weeks until our European campaign kicks off against goal celebration specialists FC Stjarnan of Iceland, I hope to god that we are better prepared than we were last year.
Ronny has now had a year to settle in, get his back room staff together, nail down a training regime and we all appear to be seeing the benefits of it. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that the players are fitter now than they ever have been. So with that being the case I don’t think we should have any problems in progressing to the next stage of the Champions League qualifiers. It’s not even worth thinking about if we fail at this early stage.
John Kennedy has recently said in an interview that there is no need to strengthen the squad for the forthcoming season, “We are very content with what we have. We have brought in Boyata, who will be a very good signing for us, and the two boys from Dundee United – Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven – were bought in specifically for this season.”
However, we are under no illusion of what type of club Celtic are these days there will definitely be changes in the starting 11 come the first game of the season.
We have lost first choice centre half Jason Denayer, as he returned back to Man City. But in his place we have signed the massive Dedryck Boyata. This could be better than any loan deal. A player with a big reputation but never had the stage to show his talents? Celtic could be onto a winner here.
The VvD saga still continues to ramble on every day of the summer with new potential buyers emerging everyday. So far it seems that the front runners for that race are Southampton. A complete non story came out of the VvD book of fairytale transfers this week, Norwich in for a swap deal including Gary Hooper. No just no. Peter Lawwell is a business man. What business sense does a deal like that make? None. Please stop these silly internet rumours.
We have lost a Celtic faithful in Lukasz Zaluska this year as his contract wasn’t renewed. He is still without a club but he has left the club with everyone wishing him well for the future. Thus leaving a gap for a second choice goalkeeper. Unsure of who that could be at the moment but Scott Bain of Dundee is name who has been mentioned.
More of the loanees have went back to their parent clubs this summer, with the likes of the ineffective Aleksander Tonev, Mubarek Wakaso and the opinionated John Guidetti. Last years transfer market seemed to be a learning curve for oor Ronny. Realising that it might be worth taking a little bit more time scouting a player rather than being influenced by a charismatic agent who could flog a pair of knee high boots to Oscar Pistorious.
The less said about the Danny Wilson incident the better. All I can say about that is enjoy yer trip to Alloa away as we’re digging out our passports and sombreros for another European away day.
For me we need a striker, Scepovic doesn’t look the real deal unfortunately. Also I’m unsure if Jelle Vossen would be the answer. What the answer is? Dmitar Berbatov. If we were really considering paying Steven Fletcher north of £30k a week surely we can tempt the king of suave for one more season in Europe? He’s on a free transfer and always said he loved playing at Parkhead. I say go for it.
I have also just read that we are closing in on a deal for Manchester United youth player Saido Janko. A young Swiss right back. Although strictly still rumours at this point.
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Enjoy Bhoys and Ghirls. Until next time. HH
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