03 Feb 2019 08:54:54
2nd point to add is the transfer policy. I am wondering if Peter lawell has adjusted our policy to meet the demands of current football climate. Let now be honest we can't afford the like of oli Burke, Tim weah, benko, Roberts. If we were to buy one of these guys that would be our whole transfer window gone. I wonder if the new approach will be bring loans in 12-24 months (players of decent quality valued >10million) develop these players but use them to project our club to a competitive level. This way we don't pay high transfer fees, just contracts. Obviously outwith this we can buy the odd deal, or potential if available. If this is the new policy I would accept it so long as the football ambitions are being met. What's your thoughts?

1.) 03 Feb 2019
03 Feb 2019 09:17:42
I’d be more than happy with your thinking provided the loans were 18 months. Having wee Roberts for the time we did felt like a proper signing. Seeing the likes of Burke, Weah for 6 months is just a taster for me, by the time these boys are really settled in and we’re seeing the absolute best of them it’s time for them to go back to the parent club.

2.) 03 Feb 2019
03 Feb 2019 09:30:24
I agree Garry, these transfers have been a bit frustrating but again if it gets us over the line and a bit more progress in Europe I'd accept it. I just hope that we have started negotiations already for summer targets, even if it's going to be loans to get us through the CL qualifiers. It attracts better quality players, brings money to sustain the club and keeps Celtic a household name in football.

3.) 03 Feb 2019
03 Feb 2019 10:04:16
Yip totally agree 4leafclover, I've said all along on here that trying to attract the quality we need to take us to the next level is very difficult due to the league we play in. Your right we may get lucky in that a quality loan signing decides they want to play for us permanently. Our record in developing young players is a major attraction for the so called bigger clubs to allow us to take their players on loan. The club will always have to adapt to the ever changing football climate. I think we will have a good chane if we wanted to sign Burke and Roberts this summer. The way Weah has settled and the start he has made I would be surprised if his loan deal wasn't extended another 12 months. PSG must be delighted with his progress already👍.

4.) 03 Feb 2019
03 Feb 2019 10:04:39
Tbh I think this a backwards step for Celtic. To me it's says that you will only sign "squad" players and the "quality" signings will be made up of loan signings. Similarly to Rangers, if you can't arrange long term deals then you will have to rebuild every year. Trying to qualify for the CL with a new team each year will very difficult.

5.) 03 Feb 2019
03 Feb 2019 10:16:45
I think these short term loans have been brought in to safeguard the league. Although I expect us to win it comfortably the challenge has been closer this year.

6.) 03 Feb 2019
03 Feb 2019 11:00:45
We looked at Benko and another cb from croatia whose name escapes me
For now at the same time as simonovic . simunovic was the cheapest . Benko if I remember was only 500k more.

7.) 03 Feb 2019
03 Feb 2019 11:02:34
I agree zikos on the short term deals but if we can bring in 3-5 loans in (or on loan) each season for 1-2 years it would effectively be like buying the player but selling them off. If we qualify FOR the CL we have lost no money on transfers just wages and made more than enough through the transfer funds. If we could have highly rated players or potentially highly related players it might give us that edge to be a force in Europe. We're never going to with the CL. If we get close to the semis of the EL fantastic what a statement that would send. I genuinely think that this business model might be the way we combat the top 6 rich leagues. Don't you agree? Remember it's never been about the money it's what on the park that matters.

8.) 03 Feb 2019
03 Feb 2019 14:52:28
I think weah will be here next season. Also Burke if west Brom go up. Can't get game in championship never getting game in premiership.

9.) 03 Feb 2019
03 Feb 2019 14:46:20
I don't think this is our new strategy.

With regards weah and Burke they have been brought in to cover Griffith's and arzani. Hence 6 months contract.

The right back situation is different. The loan was not our top priority and was only done because we could not get our top targets on permanent transfers. My guess is we will try again for a permanent move in the summer.

However, saying all that I'm sure lawwell would have been happy at our outlay lol.

10.) 03 Feb 2019
03 Feb 2019 16:20:43
4leafclover, I agree that this could be a good model for a lot of clubs. However I think a club the size of Celtic will suffer in the long run. They will eventually have less valuable assets as they belong to other clubs and will find it more difficult to qualify for the CL because of the constant rebuilding, impacting on revenue.