AT six foot six and a hundred tonnes he’s the undisputed Hammer of the Sun.
He’s Irish, Italian and a scouse lad too.
The Gers fancied a punt but he said **** you!
So welcome to Celtic Christopher Jullien and Luca Connell.
A statement of intent regarding the £7million outlay on a centre half has probably exceeded what every Scottish club will spend on their outgoings for the entirety of this transfer window if not January’s window on top too.
The only threat to that fee is from Celtic themselves. And Celtic are not finished.
To quote the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie “Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.”
We are going to sign a first choice right back and we are going to sign a left back. Certainly cover for Kieran Tierney is a must and possibly 2 depending on what happens with Kieran, but we’ll touch on that later.
I wrote back in April on the Celtic Star how I felt this summer was all about defensive positions and streamlining a squad unbalanced and bloated towards a genuine impression in European competition – see HERE.
I made a simple request, two players for every position and for every other eventuality through injury or suspension a route from the Academy to come in and earn their place.
So far we’ve got two in and both in my opinion are fine quality. Christopher Julien breaks the recent mould of ‘project’ signings. He’s here as a long standing target and from the outside looking in he’s been signed as a player at 26 years old peaking but yet to reach his pinnacle and a player who is now in a position to bring along his young cohort. Namely Kris Ajer.
Hail Hail Bhoys @CelticFC ???????? pic.twitter.com/htJC4cbbbk
— Chris Jullien.. (@Chri6ViF) June 30, 2019
With Jozo Simunovic historically injury prone but in no way lacking on quality it makes sense to look at longer term stability. For that particular position you are looking at partnerships rather that individual ability. On paper they look like a partnership.
Luca Connell is an unknown quantity. 18 years old and having only just broke into a Championship team who were relegated. But, rumour has it, Damien Duff basically walked in to Celtic and said sign this kid.
Fifteen or so appearances in the Championship and already lined up for the Irish national side by Mick McCarthy. Testimonials abound including Robbie Keane point to his potential and previous suitors allegedly including Spurs, Arsenal and Southampton shows we might just have grasped the nettle and got ourselves a player.
Reading between the lines Luca Connell is a full back who might well be a defensive midfielder predominately. If so he is a rocket up the backside to Eboue Kouassi and a wee nudge to the ageing Scott Brown.
This lad has such positive references I’m convinced he’s the real deal. You can pull the wool over non-footballers in terms of what you offer. In terms of your peers you can’t. They know what he has and what he can grow into. Luca Connell might be the best undisclosed fee (£350k apparently) we’ve paid. Got a feeling in my water!
So far so good.
You have to respect what Celtic have done in a fairly stagnant early market to date. Bar out of contract players it’s been a quiet transfer window across Europe so far, but credit where it due we’ve got two in and it could and should have been three.
David Tunbull was obviously a player Neil Lennon wanted. Lennon himself signalled he was a player he felt could add that running power, breaking lines and scoring goals. Turnbull was someone Lennon obviously felt Celtic lacked since the exit of Stuart Armstrong. The new manager clearly felt the midfield weren’t serving up the goals expected of a supporting cast and to an extent you can’t argue.
Turnbull’s stats had proven he had already outgrown his environment. He was a player who had to fly his nest. The only question was where his wings would carry him.
At one point he looked English premier league bound but he chose Celtic. Personally speaking I don’t think we should forget that. Celtic tried and failed to get that lad over the line. Despite the six month rehabilitation required we tried to find a solution to suit Motherwell, the player and Celtic. Between the three parties that broke down but I wouldn’t discount a reconciliation.
My own opinion on this one would be that the medical attention to detail that Celtic could offer in all likelihood would exceed that of the Steelmen. In fact the extensive medical insight we foisted upon the lad uncovered the issue in the first place. It’s no great extension of that to assume Celtic may have been best placed to get the kid fit, well and back up to speed. For whatever reason somewhere between the three parties the possibility of that arrangement broke down.
That’s got to be disappointing for Celtic and for the player, but his recovery lies with Motherwell. I hope they can offer the recuperation his talents deserve, enough for Celtic to return in January and rekindle a deal.
Our manager saw enough to make him a top target. If he’s proven fit enough I doubt that will change come January. I have a feeling the loneliness of the long distance runner isn’t quite over the line just yet.
In terms of the players to leave we are making progress. Dorus de Vries will see us a keeper down, with Bain and Gordon vying for the number one slot and Conor Hazard to slot in we’re a wage down and no weaker.
Defensively the exit of Lustig has been covered to date in many words over blogs and newspapers. Sadly we have let someone go without replacing him. I can’t be the only fan concerned when we release without a replacement however I’m obviously hoping we’ve irons in the fire. Are those iron’s likely to be better than a 75 capped Swedish international? I don’t know.
I’m anticipating it’s not just been save a wage and hope for the best, but to date it looks that way. It is time to step up immediately. This position needs resolved yesterday and certainly by the time the first European registration comes around. No messing. This is not an afterthought. Our system going forward demands an attacking full back who can also defend. No Project here. Finished article should only apply.
Onto left back. Here come the fear.
Just as we’re building a defence. A £7 million central defender and rumours of similar fees to cover both full backs smacks of the Tierney deal being done. Go on you know you’re thinking it.
Arsenal bid, Arsenal get refused at £17.5 million. Possibly? Or have Arsenal been told £25 million based on add ons means we fold? Do me a favour (In a London accent of course) wait until we get the players we’ve targeted in then we can all go public. Cynic I know I am, but to me this scares the proverbial out of me. Time will tell. For what my opinion is worth. Start the lump sum at £25million, but the add ons need to hit £35million before we get round the table. A starting point not an end game.
What do I really think? We’ve done the deal. The delay suits us as we can buy without the bank balance being public knowledge to all and sundry. Very Peter Lawwell.
Onto centre half Christopher Julien in. Brilliant.
Benkovic and Boyata out means we remain a body shy from last season. So do we buy? No we loan. We get Benkovic back as a priority. If that happens no more discussion required.
Likely this means we’re looking to Leicester and Harry McGuire and if he goes to Man City, Man Utd or wherever. If McGuire does we’re in a position of weakness but so too are Leicester City. Promote Benkovic and it looks like penny pinching.
Leicester can avoid that by purchasing another top class centre half and we are back in the game. I can see this happening but it’ll happen late. We can wait for this, in fact I’m happy to gamble here given we have three suitable players to begin the European campaign and registration of players is staggered through the qualifying rounds.
With regards midfielders and strikers I’d say if we lose none we’re in a position of strength. Our Midfield hasn’t been an issue. However a nagging voice says we’ll sell one of McGregor or Ntcham.
Ntcham has performed well enough to encourage a sale in the Under 21’s during the summer for France. The big issue regarding re-sale value is we’ve played our card and made it clear we are selling.
Machinations from the board of 15 million Euros as a result become redundant. Buyers will start at eight. We’ll get 10 max. Anything extra to reach the 15 target will depend on further re-sale value clauses. Lawwell is good at that and that’s fine I’ll take that rather than sell McGregor.
That particular sale is in no way acceptable. Note to board I’ll reiterate that. Selling McGregor is not an option.
So onto Strikers. Edouard, Griffiths and Bayo. Happy days we have three into one.
Normally I’d say that’ll do fine but Lennon has made it clear he’s looking to play two up front at least on occasion. If so a further striker is required. Now? I’d say no.
If we get to the Champions league Holy Grail a fourth striker is required but we have enough to get there I think. If we do however reach the Champions League then a peak at an English/European market come August might be worth the patience. Be it a loan or a permanent deal when external squads are finalised and worthy talent feel marginalised then we can pounce. Otherwise I don’t see it as a priority position.
Finally that takes us to the outs. The bloated squad is already receding and needs a little more trimming.
De Vries, Boyata, Benkovic, Burke, Weah, Izaguire, Toljan, Gamboa, Lustig, Mulumbu and Scott Allan have already gone. That’s 11 players. There is further room for manoeuvre with Benyu and Compper but other than the chaff has been seperated from the wheat. Back in April that is what I asked.
The board deserve praise. For too long they’ve pondered in transfer windows. In this window it appears they are backing a manager that some fans felt may not be supported.
They’ve addressed the swelling squad. Rumour has it they are addressing the balance. A right back, left back and possibly a striker will see this home.
What will really show intent however is this outlay without selling the family silver.
Peter Lawwell can reaffirm the belief amongst the rank and file by getting in the full backs and possibly the striker Neil Lennon wants. He can show his own mettle by closing ranks once they those key positions are filled.
Our incomings can be covered almost entirely by an initial sale of Ntcham and the wages of those already released or due to be let go.
There is no need to sell Tierney or McGregor. The gauntlet is thrown down. Our midfield and attackers can perform in Europe, our defence has been found lacking. Finish the case for the defence without selling our prize assets and for one glorious summer at least, there will be no case for the prosecution.
To steal a few words from Martin Luther King “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”
Niall J
Here is Niall’s article from April…
Celtic’s summer rebuilding job – Niall J looks at who should stay and who can go
