Celtic supporters are feeling a little more contented than usual after a couple of late signings as the January transfer window was replaced by a much more secure and thermally efficient one. One that keeps everything in, at least until June. Which is another reason to be pleased. None of the key players left, as Ronny promised, and the ones who came in are at least as good, if not better, than the ones we already have. And we won’t have to worry about whether or not they will adjust to the climate. Gary Mackay Steven, already on a pre-conract, was signed up early, and he was joined by his team mate from Dundee United Stuart Armstrong, Michael Duffy from Derry, he was the first to join-I feel a song coming on -and even better, Robbie Muirhead, the Kilmarnock youngster, opted for Dundee United instead. Muirhead might have had a little trouble adjusting to life at Celtic Park. 
Yes, some things are probably for the best. All inclusive club or not, signing Muirhead may have stretched the tolerance a little bit. Mackay Steven and Armstrong were delighted to finally join the hoops. The former said; “It’s amazing to finally be here and for it all to be done and dusted. “The pre-contract happened a few weeks ago and I was delighted back then but I was unsure if it was going to be now or if I’d be joining in the summer. “But to get it all done and dusted is great and I just can’t wait to start. “It was a crazy couple of hours. I wasn’t sure at the start of the day whether it would go through but thankfully it did and the medical got done so it’s great to sign on the dotted line “Everything is just a dream. I can’t wait to get started. I’m just buzzing.” and the latter concurred; “I’m really happy to be here. It was a great five-and-a-half years with Dundee United but this opportunity was too good to turn down. “It’s not quite sunk in. There is still a lot to think about and to get used to and I’m really looking forward to that. “Hopefully I can provide a bit of excitement and goals going forward. “The fans probably know a bit about me but I would like to show them a bit more. “I take each game as it comes and I will aim to get off to the best possible start here and do my best for the club.” Fair play to Dundee Utd, as well, who explained the sale to their shellshocked support; “Following the close of the January transfer window last night, the board of directors of Dundee United Football Club believes that supporters of the club should have a complete understanding of the club’s current position. “Firstly, the club has brought in six new high calibre signings. Henri Anier, Paul Dixon and Ryan McGowan are all internationalists with Ryan having played in all three of Australia’s games at the most recent World Cup in Brazil. “Additionally, our ongoing commitment to identifying and developing the best young talent in the game continued with the signing of one of the country’s top scorers, Simon Murray, Scotland youth international striker, Robbie Muirhead, and an extended deal for Nigerian U23 internationalist, Ola Adeyemo. “Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong left for Celtic FC and while we understand the initial negative response in some quarters to their departure from Dundee United, it is very important to keep this in context. “Firstly and most importantly, it is the board’s duty to balance the short, medium and long term interests of the club at all times. “While being an emotional wrench for the club and the players, the transfer of Gary and Stuart was reluctantly, albeit undoubtedly, the right thing to do in the circumstances. “Those circumstances, for absolute clarity, are that both Gary and Stuart made it clear to management that they wanted to leave Dundee United to further their careers elsewhere. “Gary had signed a pre-contract agreement with Celtic. “The board had no desire to sell the players however when it was obvious that they both viewed their futures elsewhere it is the board’s responsibility to do the right thing for the club. “That then meant ensuring that the club realised optimum financial value for the players – one of whom had only 17 weeks left on his contract. “It should also be appreciated that in reality, players decide where they will play and not their current clubs. “Dundee United has no control over their destination club. On this occasion the lure of European football and increased personal financial reward and security are major draws to young players. Both players ultimately go with our best wishes. “Such deals are negotiated at all times in the longer term interests of the club. This is also a very important point as the club remains focused off-field on being debt free. The transfer fees received will have the incidental effect of assisting the club to become completely debt free ahead of schedule. “On-field we are still challenging on three fronts and have no intention of being diverted from our short term aims for this season. We can say that safe in the knowledge that the manager himself is happy with the result of this transfer window and fully supported the board’s actions. “We have some of the best players in the country and we have the best management team for attracting the best young talent. We trust in the manager, his coaching staff and the players as an entire squad. “As a board, we are optimistic about the club’s future as we know the structure of the club and the personnel that are committed to the club, both on and off field, are acting in the best interests of Dundee United at all times. “Finally, the board of Dundee United Football Club has been made aware of media reports suggesting Dundee United is interested or is involved in talks to buy a football club in Australia. “We can categorically state that Dundee United has no intention of purchasing any other football club.” I’ve included all of that as an example of a board keeping the fans in the loop. Michael duffy tweeted his delight at being the new Derry Pele;
Delighted to have signed for @celticfc its a dream come true, thanks for all the messages to much appreciated, cant wait to get started 
Another, less heralded signing was the extension of centre half Eoghan O’Connells contract until 2017, which means that the coaches have spotted something worth keeping, and he’s got a few months to iron out any rough patches before geting a shot at the first team. I’d like to think the reason Celtic haven’t acquired a centre half last month is because they feel they already have one.
There was a late night rumour surrounding the return of Aiden McGeady, but that apparently will wait until the summer, providing ronny deila can come up with a system that allows for the inclusion of six wingers. James MacLean, the Wigan Provo, was also the subject of another story, this one hinting that a move to Celtic was blocked by his club.
There was one move that caught the eye down in England, as Ishmeal Miller moved from Blackpool to Huddersfield after a considerable amount of negotiation.
It started when udderfield made the enquiry, and blackpool said
” we will not let him go. “
Huddersfield tried again-“let him go “
To which lackpool responded;
“Ishmael Miller? No, we will not let him go.”
And so on.
Filip twardzik has joined Neil Lennon at Bolton, presumably becuase he didn’t get Kris Commons.
Jim White, who chairs the deadline day show on Sky sports News handled everything with his usual aplomb, so to even things up, we thought we’d show you this.
You have to ask what he was actually trying to do.
On the other side of the city, Second Rangers have brought in the first five players from Newcastle who are expected to form the team next year. Nearly all of their current players are out of contract in the summer, so Mike Ashley has dropped off the first instalment in Newco’s new side. Newco, of course, meaning Newcastle Colts.
The only thing they arguably have left is that the players still think they are Rangers players, now thats being eroded.
The afternath of Sundays League Cup game continues, with a shocking report of a ten year old Rangers fan suffering horrific facial injurues when a Celtic supporter-well, a guy in Celtic colours-lobbed a bottle into a minibus , and caught the wee fellow square in the face.
Disgusting.
Whoever knows who this guy is should simply euther turn him in, or persuade him to turn himself in. Think about it, even if he is your mate, do you really want to be drinking with a guy who has caused serious disfigurement to a child at the footballl ?
Get it done.
Last word on the Hampden match, and police are keen to interview a fat chap who was seen in and around Hampden the night before the game….
Away from all that, and Tom Campbell, the Celtic historian is asking for your help. He’s putting together a book on legend Bobby Evans and he would be interested in anyone who has any personal memories of the man.
In particular, he is trying to place a date on the Lucozade adverts seen at the cinemas featuring the great man.
We’ve got the first exclusive pictures of the young men sent from Newcastle, after a little persuasion , to continue their careers at Ibrox;
Get it done.
Last word on the Hampden match, and police are keen to interview a fat chap who was seen in and around Hampden the night before the game….
Away from all that, and Tom Campbell, the Celtic historian is asking for your help. He’s putting together a book on legend Bobby Evans and he would be interested in anyone who has any personal memories of the man.
In particular, he is trying to place a date on the Lucozade adverts seen at the cinemas featuring the great man.
We’ve got the first exclusive pictures of the young men sent from Newcastle, after a little persuasion , to continue their careers at Ibrox;
Get it done.
Last word on the Hampden match, and police are keen to interview a fat chap who was seen in and around Hampden the night before the game….
Away from all that, and Tom Campbell, the Celtic historian is asking for your help. He’s putting together a book on legend Bobby Evans and he would be interested in anyone who has any personal memories of the man.
In particular, he is trying to place a date on the Lucozade adverts seen at the cinemas featuring the great man.
We’ve got the first exclusive pictures of the young men sent from Newcastle, after a little persuasion , to continue their careers at Ibrox;
Thanks to the bunnet done it on twitter.
and finally, who has just scored, who against, and when ?
No complaints with that business, hope they kids blossom with us.
Great piece of business for the tic over the transfer window but im not so sure what is going on with sevco, think they might be some shenanigans going on there with their loan deals.
HH
Joe Craig v Innsbruck.
Lawwell and his scouts have changed their tune.
From considering,players playing in Scotland,not good enough,to buying 2 class players for 2M,
still cheaper than the 2.3M paid for the flop
Scepovic.Anybody,think like me,that Scepovic will be loaned out in the summer?
hs
Can you really believe the scouts of the last few seasons had out to do with these two signings? If they did, they have either been kidding us till now or there hands have been well greased in the European market (not suggesting anything Ibroxy here).
H H
hs
I’ll try again. I fail to believe “his scouts” had anything to do with yesterday’s signings. More a foregone conclusion for anyone watching the players. They must have had some amount of drink plied into them when doing their European stints. Reminds you of the ugly ones you find yourself waking up to after a night on the piss. Or, were you always the lucky one. I was usually beside some old cow – in a field 🙂
H H
PB,great to see you back on,the Diary is not the same without your humorous posts.
As you know,my main gripe is the WASTING of scarce resources.9M on overseas recruits.Now,
like you,did the scouts actually go to the games
or were they handed a report and stayed in the free bar,all night ?
Using Balde,as an example,his control was that bad,it makes you wonder.
Anyway,we are happy.Put the wee club away easily and got a couple of good uns in!
hs
My thoughts exactly, especially when we obviously had better in our own youth. My dear old paw, a Celtic man through and through and through again (walked from Motherwell to Parkhead in all conditions when he did not have enough for a bus, train or tram), used to say there were only a handful of proper scouts in a generation. The rest were con men and had less ability to spot talent than he had. I think we have had the lost generation for while now. But they sure are “Big Spender(S)”. I have a good feeling about the two new recruits but I am always reluctant to judge till they have several games under their belts. Everything crossed we are planning better for the future now.
Thanks for your kind welcome back.
H H
Very happy with GMS and Stuart Armstrong coming on board.
One thing that does concern me is central defenders though, VVD will go in the summer and it’s not certain Jason Denayer will stay on for another year or go back to Man City.
That leaves us with Charlie and Ambrose? ( gulp!
It looks like two central defenders will have to be bought, maybe we should be looking at teams who have strong defensive partnerships and buy the two of them?
They will have had the experience of already playing together which could make the settling in period easier?
Not sure it works like that but just a thought.
As for the prick who threw a bottle at the wee Rangers fan, I hope you get caught and jailed.
We don’t like them but can we not leave it at that for fuck sake.
Grow up and hand yourself in!
Park found Wanyama and Van Dijk…even Ambrose wasnt always a bombscare ( not ALWAYS!) so he can be trusted to find us some more defensive style gems. Could Lustig even move inside perhaps if needs must?
In the middle, looks like we are getting laden with youth and pace and counter attacking in Europe could be another string to our bow pretty soon. ( BTW Be interesting to see how James Forrests body reacts to real competition for places)
Theres a vision there alright, just need a 30 goal strike pairing ( lets not get too greedy to start with folks!) and we have a decent, dare i suggest, worthy squad
I suppose if it’s worth saying it’s worth saying twice. Agree with precious poster something really shifty going on at Ibrox, as always. 5 loanees…. is that even allowed?
Something shifty going on at Ibrox????…… well I never!!
Aye, andybhoy. They shifty da money from ‘ere to ‘ere an a beautiful pee green EBT.
H H
I thought the SPL only allowed four players on loan per season but I don’t know what the SPFL rules are. Never heard of the players but if sevco have to pay wages/fee then Mike Ashley has them by the short and curlies.
Ralph
What is strange about today’s Diary (gets a capital out of respect :))? The window cleaner’s done a decent job and let in some light. I reserve judgement for later in the season but the current batch look better prospects than the majority of doggies in the window over the last few years. I am almost content – change from incontinent.
The imbecile who injured the wee fella should be left out to dry by all of us. We have done so verbally in numerous quarters but now we need to be actively ridding the club of these mindless liabilities. They have dragged us way down in recent times.
You let Ashley off lightly today. It is an absolute scandal now the way he rides roughshod over Scottish football regulations and treats the authorities with the disdain they, sadly, richly deserve. I have often said our focus should on the impostors in Hampden corridors and less distracted by emotional outrage at the behaviour of one club. And, if they do not already see it, supporters of other clubs throughout Scotland, much more than us, need to wake up to what is being done to them by these constant Hampden “accommodations”. It is time to direct “fan power” towards the expulsion of Ogilvie, Regan and Doncaster as an urgent necessity for the preservation of fair Scottish football.
I recognise Tommy Burns in the photo and if it was Innsbruck in the European Cup, it is Joe Craig celebrating our only goal in two legs in 1977. I remember the disappointment fairly well. Embarrassed 2-1 here and thumped 3-0 there and reduced to 10 men. You see, it is not just now that we are defeated when we should win.
In spite of my waning years, I have no stories about Bobby Evans. I remember him clearly in games but that is about it. In the exuberance of youth I regarded Bobby as a steady Eddie. Mr. Reliable but rarely if ever spectacular. I certainly can not recall any stories off the field but perhaps something might jog my memory. Hate to sound like the useless old fart I actually am.
H H
Groundhog day on the diary???Or is it just my computer?
Nope mines is the same bud.
basqueceltic
Thank f**ck. I thought my time was finally up 🙂
H H
Kiwibhoy : I remember Bobby Evans as the powerhouse who drove the Celtic team of the fifties. He was a tremendous reader of the game, had marvellous vision and control, his ability in breaking down opposition attacks in perfectly timed tackles and anticipation, was unbelievable! This often lead to setting up further attacking moves by his excellent energy and passing ability. Bobby Evans, to me was a brilliant wing half and latterly, centre half in the formations of his era, he consistently turned in masterly performances, not only for Celtic but for Scotland as well. As a schoolboy and a youth I believe Bobby Evans was a legend of his time who very rarely put a foot wrong in his games for Celtic and country, I left Scotland as an 18year old in 1957 for Australia and have lived in New Zealand now for around fifty four years, I still follow the bhoys through the wonderful Celtic T.V. I still think of the wonderful Bobby Evans and some of the football played in the teams of that era, great memories of great football and one of the Celtic greats, Bobby Evans.