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McGowan sums up our recruitment policy.

Discussion in 'Transfer Rumours' started by The Thumb, Aug 15, 2019.

Discuss McGowan sums up our recruitment policy. in the Transfer Rumours area at TalkCeltic.net.

  1. The Thumb

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    When it came to Celtic's transfer strategy people used to know where they stood.

    Scouting chief John Park oversaw a scouting department charged with finding 'em cheap and selling 'em big.

    They didn't all work out. Mo Bangura, Lassad, Miku and Amido Balode offered nothing. And fans always suspected Peter Lawwell of having more sway over football comings and going than a Chief Executive really should.

    But, here's a thing. When the signings worked they worked.

    Put Ki Sung Yeung, Victor Wanyama, Virgil van Dijk, Fraser Forster and Moussa Dembele together and that's £60million in the bank. One out, one in the wings was the way it went and Celtic still fancied their chances of reaching the Champions League. Once or twice they even made the last 16.

    Brendan Rodgers didn't get much wrong as Parkhead boss. But a decision to dispense with John Park and replace him with Lee Congerton instead was a strategic disaster.

    In the transfer windows since January 2017 Scotland's champions have now signed 28 players. Olivier Ntcham and Odsonne Edouard cost £13.5million between them and can be deemed a success. Eboue Kouassi, Jonny Hayes, Kundai Benyu, Marvin Compper, Charly Musonda, Jack Hendry, Daniel Arzani, Emilio Izaguirre, Youssouf Mulumbu, Oli Burke and Jeremy Toljan made little or no contribution to the first team. And that's only half the story.

    Rodgers blamed the failure of his signings on the club's reluctance to spend big cash sealing big deals.

    But how much Celtic spend has never really been as important as *how* they spend it. And in recent years they've spent poorly.

    So poorly at times that when Rodgers left or Leicester City on February 26, the door shouldn't have struck Lee Congerton's backside on the way out.

    With a huge rebuilding job ahead it made no sense to waste any more time or money on a head of recruitment with one eye on legging it back down the road to rejoin the boss.

    Within an hour of Rodgers going Peter Lawwell should have been on the phone to John Park with one hand while handing Congerton his severance cheque with the other.

    Instead Congerton remained a Parkhead employee until Leicester finally paid the money to release him on May 11. By then three months of valuable rebuilding time had been wasted chasing up the recommendations of a head of recruitment who had no intention of hanging around.

    Arsenal's interest in Kieran Tierney was no secret. And Celtic knew they needed a top class replacement.

    Yet Nicky Hammond, a former West Brom and Reading chief scout, didn't pitch up until June 20.

    Appointed for the 'summer period' the Englishman remains a short-term appointment.

    All of which raises the question yet again. What *is* Celtic's transfer strategy these days?

    Hammond inherited a European scout, a scout in North America and three to cover the UK. Recently a scout has been appointed to cover South America and the Englishman has plans to revamp the whole set-up.

    By the time he does it will be too late to salvage Celtic's Champions League ambitions.

    Too late to repair the rotten recruitment of recent transfer windows.

    Boli Bolingoli is neither the first iffy signing, nor the biggest. He could still come good. Yet Neil Lennon described the Belgian's early appearances in a green and white shirt as 'up and down'. A nervous wreck in the first half of a 5-2 win over Motherwell, he couldn't be trusted to start against the champions of Romania.

    That's why Callum McGregor - arguably the most effective midfielder at the club - was shunted out to left-back. Lennon said he wanted to accomodate Olivier Ntcham in midfield. The *real* choice he faced was watching Cluj target Bolingoli through the cracks of his fingers or taking a punt on McGregor and hoping his coupon came up.

    The damage was done in a passive first half. As boos rang around Celtic Park after a 4-3 defeat the blame game game began in earnest.

    With £25million from the sale of Kieran Tierney fans want Lawwell to spend serious money.

    Yet, after a Champions League exit, that seems less rather than more likely. And, besides, would anyone *really* trust Celtic to spend £25million well in the current climate?
    They spent half that sum on Christopher Jullien from Toulouse, Bolingoli from Rapid Vienna and Ukrainian winger Marian Shved this summer. None of the three started against Cluj.

    Hatem Adb Elhemed from Hapoel Be'er Sheva looks a solid enough replacement for Mikael Lustig.

    Yet the Israeli played right-back in a 4-3 defeat to Cluj; only the third time Celtic have conceded four goals at home in Europe in 182 games.

    There were shades, during a crazy second half, of the infamous 5-4 game against Partizan Belgrade in 1989. PSG scored five as recently 2017, but Dan Petrescu had no Neymar, Mbappe or Cavani at his disposal.

    Cluj are champions of a Romanian league with a total wage bill of £53million. Their centre-forward Mario Rondon is 33-years old. In the last published figures Celtic's salary bill came to £59 million, yet they've now crashed out of the Champions League to Legia Warsaw, Maribor, Malmo, AEK Athens and Cluj. None of them has a turnover to match the champions of Scotland.

    Fans were quick to point fingers at Neil Lennon. They pay their money, they take their choice.

    Many considered the Northern Irishman an easy, cost effective appointment after the Scottish Cup Final and his decision to field McGregor at left-back sharpened the knives once more. Lose to Rangers at Ibrox a week on Sunday and Lennon will come under serious pressure.

    Yet the incessant obsession of fans - and club - with ten-in-a-row is part of the problem.

    Celtic have become a Champions League club with an outlook which stretches no further than the other side of Glasgow. By focussing their gaze on staying one step ahead of Rangers in Scotland they've allowed their eye to come off the ball in Europe.

    In the last six years Celtic have now failed four times under three different managers against modest opposition to reach the group stages of the Champions League.

    Until the player recruitment improves a stark truth is unavoidable. The Europa League is now their level.


    Sadly I can't disagree with much of that.
    :39:
     
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  2. The Prof Administrator Administrator

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    We are most certainly not a Champions League club, will probably even struggle in the Europa with the state of our defence.
     
  3. Gyp Rosetti Gold Member

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    Offt Lawwell’s man having a go, things aren’t right that’s for sure.
     
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  4. Henrik 07 Gold Member Gold Member

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    It’s not all bad so cheer up.


    There's certainly a knack to transfers and Celtic have got it down to a fine art.

    A lot of talk in recent years has centred around Scottish teams following the Ajax and Porto models when dealing in the transfer market.



    The buy low, sell high, signing strategy works and Celtic are certainly reaping the benefits of their approach in the market.

    Ajax's thrilling run to the semi-finals of the Champions League was built upon homegrown talent and shrewd signings.


    It would take an exceptional effort from the Premiership champions to replicate such an achievement but the Hoops faithful are fully aware healthy balance sheets can boost the on-field product.

    Virgil van Dijk and Victor Wanyama certainly benefited from their time at Parkhead and such deals can help convince others to follow in their footsteps.



    It would take an exceptional effort from the Premiership champions to replicate such an achievement but the Hoops faithful are fully aware healthy balance sheets can boost the on-field product.

    Virgil van Dijk and Victor Wanyama certainly benefited from their time at Parkhead and such deals can help convince others to follow in their footsteps.

    The left-back's exit follows on from Moussa Dembele's £19.7m move to Lyon before the close of summer window in 2018.

    Record Sport Online looks at the numbers behind Celtic's five-year success story when it comes to findingthe right price for their players.

    2019
    Kieran Tierney to Arsenal – £25m

    Brendan Rodgers & coaching staff to Leicester (compensation) – £7m

    2018


    Moussa Dembele to Lyon – £19.7m

    Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool (sell-on fee) – £7.6m

    Stuart Armstrong to Southampton – £7.16m


    Erik Sviatchenko to Midtylland – £1.03m

    Liam Henderson to Bari – £108k

    2017
    Emilio Izaguirre to Al-Feiha – £1.26m


    2016
    Stefan Johansen to Fulham – £2.07m

    Stefan Scepovic to Getafe – £1.2m

    Victor Wanyama from Southampton to Spurs (sell-on) – £1.3m

    2015
    Virgil van Dijk to Southampton – £14.13m

    Adam Matthews to Sunderland – £2.52m

    Teemu Pukki to Brondby – £610k

    2014
    Fraser Forster to Southampton – £11.25m

    Total
    £102million









    Celtic’s transfer strategy is being seriously questioned after a significant summer outlay failed to be enough to even see the club reach the Champions League playoff.

    Fans are furious at another window they feel has failed to deliver. Although the Scottish champions havespent around £12m in fees this summer on Christopher Julien , Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo and Hatem Abd Elhamed, the first two weren’t deemed good enough by Neil Lennon to start in the second-leg horror show atCeltic Park on Tuesday night.



    Fans are furious at another window they feel has failed to deliver. Although the Scottish champions havespent around £12m in fees this summer on Christopher Julien , Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo and Hatem AbdElhamed, the first two weren’t deemed good enough by Neil Lennon to start in the second-leg horror show at Celtic Park on Tuesday night.


    Record Sport Online did the sums last week to discover how much Celtic have received in player sales overthe past five years. The outgoings of Kieran Tierney and Moussa Dembele saw the figure rise to an astonishing £102million.

    But Peter Lawwell and the board have also spent millions on signing stars over the same period. Talking 2019 in isolation, a hefty £16.03m was splashed on transfer fees alone.


    Here we examine just how much has been paid out as we also determine what the total net spend is with the eight in a row champions since 2014.

    £16.03m
    2019

    Christopher Julien (Toulouse) – £7.2m

    Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo (Rapid Vienna) – £3.01m




    Marian Shved (Karpaty) – £1.8m



    Vakoun Issouf Bayo (Dunajska) – £2.1m

    Hatem Abd Elhamed (Beer Sheva) – £1.62m

    Luca Connell (Bolton) – £300,000 compensation


    £14.086m
    2018

    Odsonne Edouard (PSG) – £9.27m

    Charly Musonda (Chelsea) – £2.25m loan fee


    Jack Hendry (Dundee) – £1.23m

    Marvin Compper (Leipzig) – £1.03m

    Lewis Morgan (St Mirren) – £306k




    2017

    £8.97m
    Olivier Ntcham (Manchester City) – £4.5m

    Eboue Kouassi (Krasnador) – £3.15m

    Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen) – £1.32m


    2016

    £8.06m
    Scott Sinclair (Aston Villa) – £3.69m

    Cristian Gamboa (West Brom) – £1.08m

    Erik Sviatchenko (Midtjylland) – £2.25m

    Kristoffer Ajer (Start) – £540,000

    Moussa Dembele (Fulham) – £500,000 compensation




    2015

    Jozo Simunovic (Dinamo Zagreb) – £5.5m

    Nadir Ciftci (Dundee United) – £1.88m

    Dedryck Boyata (Manchester City) – £1.8m

    Ryan Christie (Inverness) – £550,000

    Scott Allan (Hibs) – £347,000

    Logan Bailly (Leuven) – £312,000

    Saidy Janko (Manchester United) – £252,000







    2014
    £3.462m

    Stefan Johansen (Stromgodset) – £2.17m

    Leigh Griffiths (Wolves) – £1.13m


    Holmbert Aron Friojonsson (Fram Reykavik) – £162,000

    TOTAL
    Celtic have spent £61.249m over the past five years. However, they received £102m in transfer fees over the same period, meaning the club’s net spend is -£39.501m or a surplus of £40.751m.
     
    Last edited: Aug 15, 2019
  5. The Thumb

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    Aye, exactly my thoughts. McGowan is one of the few journalists who has a close relationship with the higher ups at Celtic. That's how he gets fed all the info..
     
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  6. Gyp Rosetti Gold Member

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    Does McGowan write for the * now aswell?
     
  7. TimFloyd Gold Member

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    Not even a Europa league club lol
     
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  8. Blochairnbhoy

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    Some seriously flawed figures in there from the daily * again!

    Rodgers and coaching staff inc Congerton was £10m

    We didn’t pay £2.25m for Musonda for 4 months not a chance.

    Ciftci was £1.5m and Jozo was £3m (we got that from the accounts)
     
  9. belbhoy

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    £40M Profit is very good, saying that though look at the potential riches we have blown by not qualifying for the champions league, we made £35-£40m 1 year alone i think so punting our best players before or during qualifying has cost us dearly on and off the pitch, a new approach has to be taken with everyone sitting down and talking from board level downwards to get everyone on the same page and ensuring this will not happen next year.
     
  10. Mr Shelby Moderator Moderator Gold Member

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    Dont disagree.

    Too much focus on elsewhere in the city. Both from the board and a large section of our fanbase.
     
  11. Blochairnbhoy

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    Its more than £40m closer to £50m mate those figures are * up! Missed £3m off Rodgers, added £2.5m to Jozo and £300k to ciftci and we didn’t pay £2.25m to have musonda here for 4 months!
     
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  12. Blochairnbhoy

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    As I have said time and time again.

    Look at the context of the last 12 months.

    Since a year ago today we are running at a £40m profit alone on player trading and dragged out heels and got stung!
     
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  13. jambo_cfc

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    Is anyone worried about the lack of links to players we have ? I know we all slate the media but there ate people in the media who know people with info but the fact we are not really being linked with anyone is worryi g , meling , taylor amd gumny are players thatw e were linked with ages ago and has continued so i am not including them in this
     
  14. MickeyyMack CELTIC GLASGOW OK Gold Member

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    When Mcgowan is critical of his Buddy peter you know something is seriously going on. What I have stated in other threads and I find difficult to understand is why there was no forward planning for these qualifiers after last years Disaster.
    Lee congreton was still kept in a job at parkhead when Lawwell knew fine well he was offski , you can go as far back to last year when Lawwell knew Rodgers was off , No forward planning from there whatsoever and then when Rodgers did leave Congreton was still collecting a salary when the board knew fine well he was off to joking Rodgers, the way things are being run is an absolute embarrassment and something has to be said to Lawwell surely from above
     
  15. LectersLuncheon

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    Looks like Pete's losing friends...
     
    Last edited: Aug 15, 2019
  16. Officer Doofy Come to me, human man Gold Member

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    Spot on. The numbers of fans, not just on here, who are fixated on the 10 to the point of being willing to give up European football is becoming mental.
     
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  17. Pearse67*

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    I wouldnt have thought cluj yearly wage bill being anywhere near 54m
     
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  18. HTG "I have an uncle who does Yoga"

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    So many fans in the last couple of days saying they want to get knocked out of the europa so we can focus on the league is mental, a year without europe would be a disgrace.
     
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  19. Blochairnbhoy

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    The full Romanian league is £54m
     
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  20. Pearse67*

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    Read it wrong.