We ran with a headline earlier in the week which quoted Neil Lennon’s reply to a question on the size of the transfer budget he has available to him. Budget? “What Budget?” was the Celtic manager’s revealing answer, before reverting to the official script and issuing the club’s usual stance.
The next day Chris Sutton, a former teammate of Lennon’s and a close friend, came out via a podcast and gave his usual strong opinion on the subject and the former Celtic striker reckoned that his old club was gambling with Ten-in-a-Row after a period where only Moi Elyounoussi has come in – back for another season long loan – while the number of players leaving from last season’s squad reaches into double figures.
This was the first sign since he came back to the club to replace the unfaithful Brendan Rodgers that Neil Lennon has said anything at all out of line with the policy that Peter Lawwell and the board are pursuing. And incidentally we know when we are on familiar ground when we run such a headline only for the pro-boarder, Peter Lawwell fan Bhoys appear in response to the article roundly criticising us for running the story.
THOSE TWO WORDS – “WHAT BUDGET?” CAME FROM THE MOUTH OF THE CELTIC MANAGER.
This morning Sutton continues the theme in his newspaper column in Daily Record as he assesses the signing priorities that Neil Lennon should be pursuing as the season is just a week away from starting. You’d be fairly accurate, we reckon, in guessing that Lennon is in approval of what Sutton has had to say.
But before we look at that this is NOT about Lawwell bashing, far from it. It is about Celtic doing all that they can to win Ten-in-a-Row and that is what the support crave above all else and incidentally what we have all put our hands into our pockets to fund via another sold out season ticket summer for the club despite the uncertainties around when we’ll actually be able to get to a game.
Sutton reckons that Celtic need at least FOUR new signings, assuming no-one else leaves, ie there is no unwelcome sale of one of our top stars.
Sutton starts by heaping praise on the Moi Elyounoussi signing, he’s a player the pundit clearly rates very highly indeed. “When he got his fitness up to top level he was dynamite at times. He has real football intelligence to come in off the side, can work in tight areas centrally and has energy,” Sutton stated.
But even with the addition of the Norwegian forward, Sutton is not convinced the Celtic squad is strong enough for this historic season about to begin. “Lennon remains a good bit short of what he needs to get through a gruelling campaign,” Sutton noted.
“Celtic are out to make history this season. There is no time for hesitancy. I fully understand the Covid-19 crisis has shaken the system up a little bit. The financial aspects are one thing and it’s also tricky for some countries with leagues finishing at different times.
“There may be players in England Celtic are looking at who have yet to fulfil their fixtures from the extended 2019-20 term and it might be the same in other European countries. Patience is important. You can’t just rush out, especially in these trying times, and go splashing out money for the sake of it,” Sutton argued.
But and there’s usually a but, Sutton flips the analysis to the pressing matter of winning games. “Yes, there is still about a month to go before the Champions League qualifiers but there are plenty of areas which need to be sorted out and the manager will know it fine well.
“We’ve tired our tongues out about the goalkeeping situation. That one is obvious. Fraser Forster’s change of heart caused a problem that they thought had been solved. Scott Bain is a fine back-up keeper but he’s not a trophy winner, in my eyes.
In the centre of the Celtic defence Sutton wonders what happens if Christopher Jullien or Kris Ajer picks up an injury. With Jozo Simunovic being allowed to leave when Celtic had a year extension available on his contract, numbers are short in that department. Nir Bitton might be enough for most domestic games but Sutton worries about this costing Celtic in Europe.
He also questions the decision to allow Jonny Hayes to leave particularly as he has already made his own mind up on the £3m summer signing from Rapid Vienna last year.
“Boli Bolingoli just isn’t going to cut it at Celtic, I’m afraid,” Sutton stated. Greg Taylor, he reckons is “neat and tidy” but what happens if he gets injured?
Then in the striker’s department Sutton again condemns Leigh Griffiths for his recent “unprofessionalism”.
“Before he was dropped from the squad for being overweight, I felt another striker may have been needed because I have not seen enough yet from Patryk Klimala or Vakoun Bayo to convince me they are up to the job.
“Griffiths might take the warning shot from Lennon and save his career but I just couldn’t trust him any more. Simple as that,” Sutton added.
Sutton then puts down a marker saying it would be “unthinkable” to sell Odsonne Edouard this season but argues that he is going to need help – “the Frenchman can’t play 60 games this season without losing edge at some point. He needs help and Griffiths can’t be trusted to provide it.”
In midfield the former Celtic striker thinks the squad is fine so long as no-one is sold, describing the possible sale of Olivier Ntcham as ‘madness’.
“Celtic don’t have to panic. And I’m not saying they aren’t equipped to get off and running this season. But I am saying they don’t have enough right at this moment to guarantee maintaining their grip on the Scottish game and making a splash in Europe if they don’t add properly to the group – and it’s approaching crunch time.”
So we need a first pick goalkeeper, cover at left back, a new central defender and a striker. Do you agree with Chris Sutton’s assessment? Email your thoughts on this to editor@thecelticstar.co.uk and we’ll compile and publish a follow up article later today.
