After victory in the last Glasgow Derby, it is undeniably advantage Gerrard in the league title race.
Anyone in the green side of the city who doubts that have not been paying attention.
Moreover, once that match at Parkhead was over Sevco has controlled the narrative on Morelosgate.
Of course, the usual caveats about January being a difficult time of year to do business remain in place.
What is undeniable though is that, unlike their neighbours across the Clyde, Celtic has substantial funds to deploy.
Indeed, at the last regular conclave of the Sevco High Command, it was even discussed that in lieu of paying Ashley for the retail own goal that instead they offer him the pick of their squad!
I do not know if this was seriously entertained, but it was raised.
Meanwhile, a source close to the Celtic manager has made a bold statement to me that no players in the core Lennon’s squad will leave in January.
I asked him to clarify if that meant that no matter the bid and he said that was his belief.
It is worth noting that although he is very close to the Lurgan man he would not be in a place to stop a transfer.
The Daily Radar had a breathless exclusive about Odsonne Édouard and a possible to Leicester City.
They could have done better had they looked at a possible transfer of Kristoffer Ajer going to the King Power stadium in exchange for Filip Benković.
The latter has made it known to his current employers that he does not see his future with Brendan Rodgers.
That Celtic were offered the Croatian in exploratory talks PLUS £10m gives an idea of how highly the Leicester City boss rates the young Norwegian.
Meanwhile, I’m told that both Glasgow teams are using the same training complex in Dubai.
My understanding is that Celtic have unfettered access to the facilities.
The deluxe package if you will.
By contrast, the Sevco chaps have some cut-price deal that means they have to vacate the premises by a certain time.
I’m sure that some intrepid chap in the Stenography Corps can check this out.
However, I’m sure that they already know the bones of this.
It is just that it doesn’t fit in with the feel-good Sevco narrative that they must adhere it at all times.
The training camp information is a minor point, but it does point to the disparity in resources between Celtic and the basket of assets.
Indeed, I understand that the Serious Professional was aghast when he was told that the Convict Chairman had approved Mr Gerrard’s request for the Dubai sojourn.
Moreover, I’m sure Neil Lennon’s men did not travel there in economy.
Celtic’s financial advantage will only mean something at the end of the season if they can usefully deploy it in the next few weeks.
Of course, the funds available to the richest club in Scotland are not limitless.
Discussions have been held with Southampton about securing the long term services of Fraser Foster and Mohamed Elyounoussi.
If both deals were to be done at the prices quoted then I understand that there would be no change left out of £17m.
Now, Celtic can certainly afford that, but it would restrict the funds then available for immediate reinforcements to the squad during this window.
However, if there was ever a time for opening the financial afterburners at Parkhead then it is now.
I doubt that Celtic support will forgive anyone for playing the McGinn Game just to prove what a clever negotiator they are with 9IAR beckoning…
Unlike Sevco the champions have access to bank borrowing.
If they need to then they should use it.
For the avoidance of doubt, I’m sure that those nice folks at Barclays bank have no ongoing concerns about the Convict Chairman at Sevco and his Cold Shoulder thingy…
Have a great day.
Discover more from Phil Mac Giolla Bháin
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
We need a central striker who can go long – OE is a great player but is often level with the midfield when we are attacking. Teams are now wise to this. OE will never be a striker in the Dembele mould. I think this is the sole reason he is still with us. He is fantastic player but we need someone who can disrupt a central defensive pairing for 90 mins and we need it quickly. Lawell and Desmond have really let the club down here
Big Cosgrove would fit the bill.
Maybe Dean but I am not sure we need a “target man”, Griffiths is, or was, very good at going long, but for long periods of the game we are playing 4-6 and it is producing diminishing returns
Griffiths is.
Nothing has changed in that regard.
It is my opinion Édouard and Griffiths would work well in a pairing with Édouard playing the Supporting Striker role and Griffiths leading the line.
Lenny has been hamstrung in this regard and therefore unable to deploy a proper 3-5-2 with two Strikers.
The return of Griffiths will allow him and us greater flexibility up top.
Sevco spent 11 million £ in the Summer and had a similar amount outgoing the previous 2 windows…
All transfers from those periods will have outstanding tranches to be paid..
It could be in excess of 5 million £ due out in January …
They have loans to pay to the Glibster , a ‘Close Encounter of the Merde Kind’ upcoming and the mother of all court hearings in 7 days…
But are in a title race…
Who says Scottish football needs a proper FFP policy?
Most of the debt is getting covered by debt to shares.This cannot go on for much longer company wise,but hides the true nature of Sevcos plight to the authorities.
Keep up the good work, this is my favourite source of information about Rangers, sorry! I meant Sevco.
That’s because this is a fairy tale blog for actual grown up celtic fans who believe any of this nonsense.
PL will buy young players for developing.
He will bring in 2 or 3 loan players Of £10m+ value each from EPL to deliver the title. He gets high value loanees every winter. Only costs salaries.
Four injured CFC players are due to be fit by 13january as reported on transfermarkt. Christie, elyanoussie, elhamed, Simunovic.
High class loans have a fee to the parent club on TOP of wages. Can be £m’s.
ElHamed suffered a setback yesterday. NO rush with Christie. He’s suspended.
Heard this evening young Mikey has also picked up a knock.
The failure of the SFA to deal with the throat slitting gesture of El Duffalo will come back to bite them. So every team in any football league from boys clubs to senior football can now signal with the same gesture that the game is over. Over to you Broony next game at Ipox.
Arab here in peace with no skin in the Celtic – Sevco game. Just a fan of Phil’s work and know that the tabloids don’t ever *really* say what’s going on in Scotland.
Maybe my memory isn’t so good here but I fail to remember there being a problem for Celtic fans when Victor Wanyama gestured to Dundee United supporters in the 4-3 cup semi final at Hampden years back by performing the throat slit action after scoring against us? You can’t have it both ways, lads! .
Remind what division your Micky mouse club is in again arab
“Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!”, said the Red Queen, from Lewis Carroll’s “Through the Looking-Glass”. Good advice,
Over to you, Mr Lawwell.
Hello Emirates, this is Rangers and we all want to go to Dubai. Will you do a deal if we put on a friendly that gets people to want to go to Dubai and lots of them book with you because you say you’re a partner of ours??
Emirates ……🤔 ok ……… but not all business class.
Rangers……ok 6 business class for big wigs and the rest can slum it in cooncil class.
Deal 🤝
The new Rangers Emirates partnership to make us look like we’re striding ahead financially!!
It’s OBVIOUS !! Surprised nobody’s mentioned it yet!
Since when was EMIRATES an anagram of EASYJET then?
Lol I se the BENNY’S are blowing a fuse about having to pay £10 to stream the friendly game sevco have at the weekend. Oh dear SKINTO fc strike again and the dafties are paying for it as well though not before crying their eyes out before parting with cash. KERCHING . £££££S. Bumped and ripped off big time AGAIN .
Honking patter
Benkovic for Ajer + £10 million? Take that deal all day long, Benkovic is by far the better footballer.
As for Sevco winning the league this season?…it could very well happen. The rookie manager has Lennon’s number.
Totally agree with your first point, but disagree with your second. Too many Celtic players did not turn up and do their job in the last derby game. All of which had very recently signed new improved contracts incidentally. Ajer is 6ft 5 ins, but rarely wins a header against shorter opposition. Like you I would take the first deal all day long.
Is it not the manager’s job to make sure that the players turn up?
Great comment…if it was up to me Forrest, for one, would never put on the jersey again.
Are you kidding me?!!.. All of the team are running on fumes!! Answer this – which Scottish player is in the world top ten for most games (hours) played in 2019? Wee Jamesie might not be the one in the top ten, but him and CalMac (along with several others) have been knocking their pan in in the quest for the NINE. It was the same Forrest that scored the goals that kept us out of a hole in a number of games, either with actual goals, or assists.
No, not kidding you. Last time he made an effort is when Patrick Roberts was here. His hiding caused Lustig to be caught out of position umpteen times and now Frimpong. I am not the only one, a while back I gave a link to the “Hail Hail” website which concluded he has been totally ineffectual against Sevco. It is not his fault, Lennon keeps picking him when he should have chosen Sved. “Running on fumes”? Yeah, they have such a hard job. They won the “treble treble” due to the paucity of the other clubs both financially and in ability. Look at the state of Hearts, Hibs and Aberdeen. Gerard has called their bluff. They just refuse to run off the ball, too posh to push, and this, taking time to steady the ball is nonsense. Their work rate, especially Forrest, is atrocious.
Ah’ll second that…
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. If ANY Celtic player has to be motivated by anything or anyone to turn up against sevco get him out the door. He’s not fit to wear that shirt. Their job is to WIN football matches. Particularly important football matches. And they’re well paid to do it.
How many people who comment on this site get paid thousands of pounds per week to “not turn up”.
It is the responsibility the player to perform.
First up…
Like others on here Phil…I fail to understand your reference to ” Borrowing.”
As someone who lives off his State Pension ( and occasionally robbing Post Offices….joke…joke…) I admit I know precious little about high finance…but I would have thought our current and futuristic bank balance would mean that borrowing would be the furthest thing from our mind.
I do understand ” the theory “…but not the practical.
As for players…
We know that Scotty Sinclair is away…and I wish him all the luck in the world…although I would dearly love to know what went wrong…but I guess I never will.
Also I understand that Lewis Morgan will be going as well…So between these two…a decent weekly wage saving will be achieved…Let’s hope we use it wisely.
I had also been tipped off a while back, that Jack Hendry was going to be used in a swap deal for a striker …but a new manager came in and told his Board to forget it….We shall see what happens with him now.
The potential striker transfer has me concerned…Two of the quoted players have allegedly said they would only move if they were number one striker.
If true…is Big Eddy off…?
I know Lenny commented on it yesterday….but the way I read it…he didn’t definitively say that our striker was going nowhere.
Watch this space.
Finally….projecting ahead to our remaining games against Sevco….
I confidently forecast that Forrest and Johnston will be nowhere near the team…
Look out for a 5 man mid-field.
Hail hail.
What if Southampton were to offer Forster and Elyounoussi plus cash for Édouard.
A deal that takes place in the Summer but is agreed this month?
That would allow Celtic to target a replacement now knowing how much we have left to play with.
We’ve done some great business with Southampton in recent years and I think given the Managers want to have both Forster and Elyounoussi at Celtic and his acknowledgment Édouard will most likely depart this Summer he might just agree with that scenario.
This could also facilitate the exit of a Gordon thus releasing yet more wages in order to make up some of the shortfall that no doubt signing both these players would incur.
We don’t need 3 first pick Keepers.
You are never going to keep them all happy.
We do need Forster though for the CL Qualifiers and the quality of Elyounoussi should we get there.
So Celtic have upwards of £30 million in the bank, would you trust a single penny of that with Neil Lennon in the managers’ seat?
Lennon has bottled the last two meetings with Sevco, and will lose the league to them as he is not good enough, his stint a Hibs proves that.
Run along, you daft hun. Normal service will resume.
Well said pal
The two recent games against sevco have reinforced my previous lack of confidence in Lennon.
To me he’s too stubborn to admit to mistakes and I can’t remember him ever saying that he had done so.
He consistently picked Efe Ambrose for first team duty at both Celtic and Hibs who was one of the worst players I have seen in the hoops and he seems to think that Bolingoli should be first pick for the left back berth when it is apparent to most observers that Bolingoli is out of his depth but Lennons ego will not let him admit to it.
After all Lennon bought him and Lennon can’t be wrong.
To be fair to Lenny Ambrose has a better goal record v Celtic than both Boyd and Morelos combined.
He also was in the side that beat Barcelona and made it to the last 16 of the Champions League.
To date Rodgers never picked a player who has.(5 attempts btw)
Make of that what you will 😉
I remember him picking Efe Ambrose when he had just flown back from African nations and put him straight into the team against Bayern Munich (I think)
That didn’t turn out well , poor decision as I remember…
Juventus…
Efe was still mentally at the baggage carousel when Juve had made it 2-0.
I was at that game.
A Pirlo masterclass if memory serves me.
Yes Phil Juventus,
Apologies my memory is not as sharp as yours , thanks for reminding me …
No hassle.
I remember the excitement in the ground building up to the match.
Juve put it to bed very quickly.
Pirlo was himself…
That including the defeats of Celtic and 2angers masterminded at Hibs with a side assembled using Petries collection of empty ginger bottles for a Transfer Kitty ?
Well said
Phil you have to get over this finance business. The last two Celtic v Rangers encounters are proof of money not being the deciding factor. In both games the dominant force belonged to the blue half of Glasgow. So chants like “we’ve got more money than you” are not applicable. The poor relatives were the better team.
Yes because too many of the better players failed to turn up.
When they do turn up you get a result like the one at Ayebrokes and Lazio.
Was that the stint where BR couldn’t get the better of him with vastly superior resources?
BRs only defeat against Sevco he had young Michael Johnson up front on his own,
December game which put them top of league at winter break last year…
Jim Thomas,
” Good luck to the new rangers football club “- Walter Smith.
Thoughts?
They will never be Rangers. Rangers were liquidated and if the new club goes the same way it can’t come quick enough.
Posts above suggesting I support that manky mob make me sick to the stomach.
That the same Lennon who brought in Forster, Wanyama and VanDyke first time round? Bought for a combined total of around £7m and sold for a combined total of around £35m. That Lennon?
Two new players a forward and defender……also a right good revision on the tactics and game management,if Lenny can’t handle it ! Then so sorry he has to go.A big name manager would also show some folks that we really mean business.
So far no signs of a change in strategy, no signs of any urgency and no new arrivals into Dubai for all the well documented and quoted advantages that that brings to said player and the rest of the existing squad.
And you mention borrowing money ?
There’s as much relevance in suggesting borrowing money as there is as a fart has in a hurricane
They may have no money at Ipox but what’s the betting they recruit more players during the transfer window? They want our title so badly that they are happy to bankrupt their klub to do it and they will keep buying until they do. HH
Nope! It ain’t happening, Tim! Sevco have to trim their squad to affordable levels. No player will be allowed to come in before one or two are sold – it really is that simple!
Let’s go with the flow, and say that they sell Morelos for the £50 million they think he’s worth… Ashley will be getting around £10 million of that. Then, Hummel’s and Elite will be looking for “walking away” money – another £10 million, perhaps? King’s loans to be paid back? Maybe another £5-10 million? Close Bros?.. near to another £10 million, I’d guess. That would leave them with £10-15 million, tops, to see out the season. If they are operating at a loss of £1 million per month, and it’s about 5 more months before the season books are due for renewal, that leaves them with between £5-10 million to play with. You will notice that I didn’t take into account that transfer fees are paid in tranches… OH DEAR!!… nae dosh!!…
Or, maybe they intend to sue a mobile phone company for false promises?.. as in – THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT – THE FUTURE’S ORANGE. 😆😆😆
Phil; you have me confused now. Why on earth do you mention that if needed Celtic can and should open afterburners and go on to mention perhaps even borrowing. Borrowing? According to the accounts, the had over 30M sitting in cash at the bank (and doesn’t count sale of Tierney) so why would there be any need for that?
That said, no way do I spend money on Elyounoussi – YET. I need to see what he does here in second half playing regularly before I shell out that kind of money. Same with Forster, that can be done at season’s end. All monies now need spent on strengthening the existing team.
I’ve been banging on about this for who knows how many windows now, but we need to bring in players WHO CAN STEP RIGHT IN NOW! Not ones who are young and in need of development. They have enough prospects, it is time now for the solid veteran player that will do job immediately. And, for that, the 2 most important places to spend, and probably most expensive, are on another striker (Edouard will be gone in summer) and a really good strong midfielder.
Good call Peter with the midfielder.
Work down south and a young lad from Forfar mentioned to me that he thought the Hoops looked as if they were getting bullied in the last two games against them.
Got me thinking back to what Lenny was quoted as saying when he joined the Hoops.
I would be confident he will find a player with a bit of steel to back Broonie up for the next two league games and a potential Scottish Cup game.
We have been bullied and also out-coached in past 2 games. The bullied part comes about because the only midfielder with any steel is Broonie. Problem is he is getting older and by end of season will have worn down. McGregor is a decent player but he isn’t physical or intimidating to anyone. But it is also tactical problem in that the wingers (Forrest / Johnston / Lewis / Frimpong etc) are all smaller quicker players, and they are not known for coming back into middle to help. I just don’t know about N’tcham’s future because what he brings is all over the place and he doesn’t fit with current set-up. Also, the others on the bench, Bitton and Rogic are shells of themselves. Why Bitton was given a new contract is till mind-boggling to me.
We need immediate help in midfield and would be ok if the reported rumours of Wanyama coming in are true. However, he will only be a temp move and we need to think about someone who will be around a while and can also spell Broonie for some rest. I don’t have the answer to who we need but I know that this kind of player is needed and they will most certainly NOT come cheap!
I can’t believe there are people on here who can’t see that we need to strengthen our midfield! Jack and Arfield barge their way around the pitch with only Broony able to physically compete with them. The rest of our midfielders are lightweight.
A Wanyama type player is absolutely critical in this window as well as a no.9 who is first team ready NOW!
Get it sorted, Celtic!
As regards midfielders, Scott Robertson played very well against Cluj and I can see no reason why he cannot be introduced more often into the side.
I agree with the points regarding our midfield, we have two strong midfielders in McGregor and Scott Brown but as the season progresses he will be less effective and we may need to pick and choose which games to play him in so that he remains as strong as possible. With that in mind I would love to see Wanyama come back to Paradise.IMHO.
If he regains fitness I can see Elyounoussi being useful for the remainder of the season. I wouldn’t buy him before end of season though- partly as I can see this annoying fans (he’s already here so not a new acquisition) and partly because he’s only had a few games and we neeed time to assess.
Priorities- fix defence, get a striker to partner/cover/replace Eddy. Strengthening midfield seems something fans are keen on- I’m not hugely sure we need new players for this, just new tactics.
No point in having all that money in the bank and nothing to show for it . Going on about having more cash than the BENNY’S means nothing when their sitting with the league trophy at the end of this season. Fingers better get pulled out PRONTO style unless sevco hit that brick wall again and the new club press the administration button brought on by big Mike . We can but live in hope .
There’s that honking BENNYS patter again. Jesus Christ man please give it a rest
What the fk is a Benny?
Is it Hill, or the chap out of Crossroads he refers too?
I’m beginning to think your a BENNY with your outbursts. And once again I never said it was patter or to be funny it’s my (SIMPLE ) term of describing a Glasgow Rangers supporter does that do it for you . Oh and yes BENNY is the character from Crossroads .
Absolute honking patter….it will not catch on.
I’m not looking for anything to catch on as I have said I never said it was patter you guys see it as patter . Now as for my name I see its catching and others using it or similar to it . It’s good to know my name is living inside your heads . BOOM ! Now run along and concentrate on supporting your team that was born in 2012 sevco or whatever they call themselves these days.
God awful ain’t it mate. Should be blocked from commenting the block capitals when he says it is attention seeking of the highest order
You’re a benny persisting with that gash patter. Putting it in block capitals is attention seeking and makes you come across really thick of the truth be told.
Not having a pop or nothing mate but think it’s best you reevaluate your patter
Signing Forster and Elyounoussi for big money in this window would be typically Celtic/Lawwell.
It would be big news but it does nothing to strengthen 9IAR as they’re 2 players already here.
Our mission critical areas are main striker to relieve the burden on Eddy, as Griffiths and Bayo have proved to be not up to the job and perhaps Centre Back coverage.
It goes without saying keeping Eddy is critical.
Sevco have been trying to punt their prized asset for the past year now, with gullible media platforms only too happy to run with the phantom bids. Truth is hes a good player, hes not as good as the orcs think he is but non the less hes a useful player. So why has there been no bids, in fact the sale of Morelos has been number one priority for Sevco’s PR ‘machine’.
The truth is that the rest of the football world know that they are skint, they know that there will soon be a fire sale and they can pick up El Huffalo for a fraction of the price. Sevco know this, the media know it and hence the crisis management strategy now being employed by the Govan Globetrotters.
Mr Lawell is also aware of the plight at Ibrox,
It is incumbent on him and his board to hammer this home, use the financial advantage to once and for all put the current entity that plays out of Ibrox out of his misery. An advantage is only an advantage if it is deployed……timing is key Mr Lawell.
There are a couple of points there that may explain some other goings on:
Morelos is decent – not great – but as you say their only real asset and they are desperate to sell.
He’s had an easy ride disciplinary wise all season to show his “new found maturity” to try to ease him out the door.
He lost it again in the last match and the Orc PR department went in to overdrive to downplay events.
Could it be the reason we – as a club – didn’t push the authorities to punish this idiot is we would quite like to see him being sold as well?
That finishes the threat to 9, without his goals they’d be stuffed, and that mans we don’t need to spend big in January and Peter gets another bonus.
Just a thought.
Celtic have got to push the boat out to get a top class striker, not just as a back-up for Big Edddie until the end of the season, but as the future leader of our attacking line when Eddie inevitably moves on in the Summer transfer window.
Much as I rated Benkovic, I rate the potential of Ajer higher and would be loath to see him go. I think he is a better player than VanDyke was at this stage of his career. He undoubtedly has a better temperament and attitude. I also feel he has a real affinity with the club and “gets” us.
Ajer better than van dijk? What are you smoking? Let’s be honest if Ajer played with the zombies we’d all be calling him shite and if any zombie fan made even the slightest comparison between virgil and Ajer ‘at this stage of his career’ we’d all be laughing our arses off … I’d be more than happy if we just did a straight swap Ajer for Benkovich, Benkovich is a better player than Ajer ever will at any stage of his career….And i doubt very much that Benkovich is the type of guy who would run half the length of the field to defend a team mate and then embarrassingly shit himself when he got there…
Benkovich is a good player but he’ll just be another one on the treatment table …constantly injured
When VanDyke was with us he was a huffy wee boy. Denayar was humphy backed carrying him. I was delighted when we got £12m for him. Because AT THAT STAGE of his career I don’t think he was worth it. He is now; but he’s NOT worth £75m and as long as he’s got an arsehole in his body NEVER will be!
Phil, your reference to Mc Ginn is an apt one. At a time when we are rightly seeking more forward fire power and the media are speculating on a new name every day, there seems to be little realisation that we also need to strengthen the midfield. Missing out on Mc Ginn was a mistake which was underlined with the lack of midfield bite in the last two Rangers games. Ten in a row needs nine in a row. Nine in a row needs two more wins over Rangers . Two more wins over Rangers needs a stronger midfield. Or does Lennon have a cunning plan involving Bitton or Robertson? I am not holding my breath.
Your observations about our midfield are bang-on. We were out-muscled in midfield in both those games. Johnson is far too lightweight at this stage of his career and Forrest NEVER seems to play well against them, even when the team are playing well against them. Broony and McGregor are strong players but when two strong players face five strong players they won’t come out on top.
I can see Lawwell &Co making a statement signing as this will have a multiple effect in this window.
1 It should improve the squad,enable us more flexibility with Systems and subsequently improve our chances of retaining the League and going further in Europe
2 It will divert the gaze of vast majority of the Support from the Res12 Elephant in the room and onto the shiny,shiny being dangled elsewhere.
3 It will be massive GIFUY to the MSM as the Clownshoes running Mordor run around the Premiership Clubs trying to hock The Numptalo to the highest bidder.
Forster should be a priority signing as doing so will allow Gordon to go and the chance to promote from within.
I can’t see Elyounoussi being affordable at present unless Southampton are willing to take a serious hit on the money they laid out for him.
UNLESS of course they put an offer in for Édouard as part of a deal?
Either way we would retain both players until the Summer and get a good deal that suits both parties.
A very interesting few weeks ahead that should expose how our Board are currently feeling.
All well and good re finances, but it means the square root of f all if we fail to win the league
Exactly my point…
Aye. And well made. As I said in a previous post this is the make or break season. Sevco have gone all-in. Win this one and the ONLY thing that will stop us any time in the next decade will be our own complacency.