It’s been speculated that Brendan Rodgers is wanting up to five new faces in before the summer transfer window slams shut on Friday night. That would be the right number required, but I wouldn’t bet on us getting all five. In my view, it’s most likely going to be three at the most, including Luis Palma who looks like being confirmed in the next 48 hours.
I would presume, well I hope that a centre half will be brought in on loan with a left back also being added to the squad. There has been rumours of wolves winger Daniel Podence also coming in, but with Luis Palma being added I can’t see that one happening.
So while I’m just speculating, I can’t see an influx of players coming in before Friday. I wouldn’t rule out a free agent coming in afterwards, but as for five or even six players coming in, don’t count on it.
Of course I’d love to be proven wrong, but I doubt it. Although I would love nothing more in this case to be wrong. Let’s hope I am, and we are writing about five or six first team ready players arriving at Celtic Park come Friday night.
How many of them could Brendan Rodgers play at Ibrox? Half a side just in the door and being asked to make their debuts there, with not a single Celtic supporter there to cheer them on. That doesn’t sound too promising either does it?
People shouldn’t under-estimate Brendan Rodgers, as some are already doing. He is an elite football coach and will be well aware of the challenges facing him as Celtic manager. He will have a burning passion – as great as any Celtic supporter reading this – to win on Sunday and he’ll mostly rely on the players already at the club, that aren’t heading out the door before the weekend.
After that the new signings will start to appear, probably with the Champions League in mind. Hopefully we can get a half decent draw for a change!
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
A very bold if negative assertion. Exactly what do you base this on?
Surely our trophy haul over the tenure of the last 3 managers should leave no-one in any doubt that when it comes to staying ahead of our rivals Celtic do not pussyfoot about…..if the target is 5 then I fully expect 5……Palma, Merlin abd a Scottish upgrade on Bain to satisfy the CL squad criteria would do for starters….I can also see Doyle and Dier on loan at last kick for impact (as per CCV a couple of years ago) with our good relationships with their parent clubs. Rodgers wasn’t lured back without some cast iron promises to upgrade the playing squad significantly
Remains way to hard to call upon what Rodgers along with the board have in mind for this week in terms of signings.
At this stage you would expect the finishing touches of a CL squad to be put in place.
Yet here we are struggling to get a CB partnership for a trip to that shit hole.
With the injury list as it stands, big decisions have to be made as to weather they will be missing for so many games in a CL campaign, that it’s hardly worth including them within that squad?
In a mini league 6 match format with 8 Scottish homegrown players required, we are hardly in a good position at the moment.
Could well go to the draw been made on Thursday evening to maybe get a clearer indication as to what direction the club intends to take, which remains ridiculous planning, and last minute panic buys.
Chances of getting players in, that can make a huge impact for ourselves at CL level, remains a potential longshot imo, unless some serious loan arrivals come along with the option to buy?
Could well happen, and like yourself not overly confident it will, especially within a defensive set up that remains shambolic looking at present
It is a negative assessment, but not without merit given the track record of the Board. They exist to con the fans, which is why they tried to get away with a pile of cheap project youths as though they had raided the transfer market for love of the club, so put nothing past them. Lawwell is back, as is his biscuit tin, and, if stories are to be believed, he doesn’t want Rodgers in post. It could be that lack of spending thus far is his way of undermining DD and forcing BR back out the door.
Come to think of it, I suspect that any further signings will be loan deals with English clubs. It’s the only way that makes sense now with so little time left in the transfer window. That cuts out most of the negotiations and the red tape around permits. Watch this space!
Rodgers knew what he was walking in to when he took the job. It’s the very reason he signed a lucrative and lengthy contract as he knows we will have to pay a ransom to get rid of him this time. The sooner the better too.
Joe
You could be right about that. The problem for the ticket-paying fans is that his ransom will probably have to be paid quite soon after the Ibrox clash on Sunday. I don’t see him surviving a defeat.