The transfer window - good or bad

Im pleased at how quickly we are doing business. We have stalled in the past and it has been frustrating.

It's hard to say whether its a good or a bad window though. There are still about seven weeks of the window left. I reckon a lot of business will be done in that time.

Expect a lot more movement out the door. We still have a fair bit of deadwood to be cleared.

We need to hunt another LB (as we have for a couple of seasons)
If and when Virgil leaves, we need a strong replacement. Boyata is a good piece of business I think, but he'll need a partner. Ambrose doesn't cut it.

I'd also love to sign McGeady, but defence would be my priority. We have a fairly strong midfield just now. Broony, Johansen, Biton, Armstrong, Commons, GMS, Forrest, and even McGregor (I still have hopes that boy can learn to pass)

 

What are you expecting? £10m players?

 

This

 

Zaluska left about a month ago, as did Pukki and Balde

 

Not that good so far - no real quality, proven player has been bought. None of the purchases would displace our current team by all accounts.

McGeady could change that though.

 

Obviously :smiley-laughing002:

And just for the record I've renewed as I do every season, have you?

 

Yeah I know, that's why they're on the outs. Matthews as well.

Is Balde away permanently this time or is it another loan?

 

Its only been open 8 days haha hard to judge yet if its been good or not but so far we have kept our best players and added some decent/promises players

 

Some deadwood out and some good player in...all in all a good window.

 

Not sure about the window just yet. Got rid of Matthews for a youngster who may come good. JD has gone back to City and we have a replacement who has not had much game time and look like he could not be arsed in the last match. Replaced a keeper and there is talk about loaning the boy from Norway at Real, pointless IMO and the reason is where is he going to play? And I'm sure Real will want him to be playing week in and week out. We need our own players getting game time before him.

Last of all the boy from Utd, I think he will do a job for us but there was better players out there available IMO. One really good thing is we got rid of some deadwood and need to get rid of some more.

I think we will be able to answer if it was a good window if we make the champions league group stage. Would also like us to sign a left back as well.

 

Think we are pretty much as we were.

Janko for Matthews - probably wise given we've made money and have a younger, fitter prospect.

Boyata for Denayer - time will tell how good he is in comparison.

Bailly for Zaluska - not sure there will be much between them, even then, probably won't play much.

Cifti for Guidetti - both big, strong strikers. Not sure there will be too much between them, either.

 

IN:

Boyata
Janko
Cifcti
Hooper
Odegaard
A new full back

OUT:

McGregor (loan)
Derk
Ambrose
A few other youth players on loan to free up some space

That would be our best transfer window in years.

 

I'd expect a better work rate from Ciftci. Always though that Guidetti viewed Celtic as a step down from Man City, and he rarely seemed dedicated. No chance of that with Ciftci, as we are far and away the biggest and best team he's ever played for.

 

Definitely, didn't really understand the hype around Guidetti.

 

It's strange, I feel like we've done well...but when I look at the activity we haven't exactly improved our team. On paper anyway.

Zaluska out, Bailly in - Backup keeper, meh.
Denayer out, Boyata in - I doubt Boyata will be as good.
Matthews out, Janko in - Have high hopes for Janko but untested, really.
Guidetti out, Ciftci in - I do think this is an improvement, I like Ciftci.

So on paper at least, we've not really improved our team.

If we were to get McGeady or Odegaard plus another left back though, I'd be chuffed.

 

Denayer was always going to be the hardest to replace.

Between Janko and Boyata though, I reckon they'll be able to fill the big gap that has been left.

 

The only possible success out of this whole window I can see is maybe bringing in Cifti and McGeady.

 

Agree with the general consensus.

We've identified our weakest areas, and we've set about improving them early in the window without disrupting the squad too much. Boyata, Bailly, Janko and Cifcti will all be decent players, and if we sell Van Dijk and make the Group Stages, we'll have a little extra to play with, which we could possibly use to make a late move for McGeady (if he hasn't left Everton).

I'm satisfied.

 

a lot of people seem to be underestimating bailly here, he's a completely different class compared to zaluska

 

Think from here on out (Ciftci and Bailly confirmed), we won't make much more signings till a European fate is determined. Don't think our outlay is too high, with the Matthews money covering a lot of the costs.
Once we know we are safe for European football, one of McGeady or Odegaard sounds ideal for that spark. CL confirmation and (if) VVD leaves, then I reckon money will be spent on his replacement.