Celtic Diary Tuesday September 1: As The Saying Goes….

There’s an old saying, which seems to apply to the frantic goings on at Celtic Park over the last couple of days.

Something must be done, this is something, therefore let’s do it.

And we seem to be going down the well worn panic buying path of yesteryear.

Is it true Ronny is in Magaluf ? As well as Lee Wallace ?

Well, you can’t beat a daft rumour.

After Celtic beat St. Johnstone at the weekend, this time breaking with tradition and allowing the Saints to score first, the men in suits swung into action.

Working their way down the list of possible signings, it looks like deals will be secured for Ryan Christie, as soon as he comes down from the clouds to discuss personal terms, Jozo Simunovic, as soon as he passes a medical, and possibly Steven Fletcher, as soon as it becomes apparent no-one else wants to come.

We’ve made an arse of it again, haven’t we ?

A last minute scramble round chasing players no-one else wants to supplement a squad already big enough to fill any empty seats at any upcoming game.

Of those already here, only Stefan Scepovic is confirmed as away. twelve months on, he finally got that move to Getafe. Or as he thinks they are called, having heard it when he’s on the park, Getafe Ya Clown.

Virgil van Dijk will probably land his move with Southampton Obscurity FC, which won’t do him any good, but when he’s retired he’ll be able to get out the old bank statements and point to the most memorable deposits to help while away the hours. You can’t blame him. footballs a short career, and it’s important to have a seven figure balance before you hit 25 these days, otherwise you will end up living in a flat above a shop when you retire.

Celtic are said to be holding out for £13m for the dutchman, including add ons, which is nice. Before he makes one move, they are already discussing his next one. I know it makes sense from Celtic’s point of view, but maybe Southampton should be asking why he’s only taken an overnight bag down with him.

Darnell Fisher has gone to St. johnstone, he went last week, presumably the arrival of saidy Janko was the last straw for him. Having deputised ably for Adam Matthews and Mikael Lustig in the pasy, he must have thought he’d get a run in the side, but it was not to be. Genuine best wishes go to the guy, who never let us down, and maybe if he had either responded to or been given proper training, along with Efe Ambrose, Celtic wouldn’t be facing the rest of the season with an entirely new defence.

There is a snag with the Simunovic deal.

It appears his club, Dinamo Zagreb, ate looking for 40 per cent of any future profit, while Celtic only want to go to 25. Whilst it is reality these days, it’s nice to know we’re planning to sell him before he gets here.

Perhaps the new defence is indicative of whats to come.

Maybe next summer it’ll be the midfield who are moved on en masse.

Whilst Craig Gordon remains in place, the new right back looks like being Saidy Janko. Dedryck Boyata, himself still unsteady on his feet, will be the senior central defender if Simunovic does come. Poor old Izzy, he’ll be ousted by Tyler Blackett, another from the Manchester United academy who talks a good game, didn’t hesitate when Celtic came calling etc…

In fact, Louis van Gaal told him to go, which somehow the player sees as a good thing;

“I spoke to him [Van Gaal] yesterday and he said it would be good for me,” Blackett said.

“A good experience to get the games that I need, which obviously I couldn’t get at United right now, but to come here and play at this level is always going to be good for my development.

“United is obviously a big, worldwide club and with the players they are bringing in, it is always difficult for young players but it makes the challenge more of a step forward.

“It means you have got more to look forward to and you’ve got to try break in and hopefully this can be a platform for to do that here as well.

“I spoke to the manager and said I want to play first-team football and for me to go out on loan to a good club like Celtic is the right way forward.”

It’s a loan, with an option to buy. Somehow, the option to buy makes all the difference, but if the guy does well, will he really want to stay ? Especially when Jason Denayer, the last player graciously developed for a Manchester club, sealed another loan with Galatasaray, and the financial details , if true, are mind boggling;

Interesting detail on Jason Denayer loan to Galatasaray. £100k sign on fee City;transfer total £596k with player getting £11k bonus per game  

Let that sink in.

We cannot compete with that, and it was the work put in by Celtic coaches that lifted him to that sort of remuneration. Stop doing it. We should be working on our own.

Could Efe Ambrose, given the time and attention paid to Denayer, have become a better player ? Who knows ? But at least he would have still been our player. Or Darnell Fisher ?

What about Liam Henderson, now in the second stage of his world tour in edinburgh

Mind you, all that aside, and we really won’t know where we stand until the window shuts later today, the Express is bemoaning the influx of foreign footballers and the long term effect it will have.

Well, I think thats what they mean.

Going back to Saturdays game, and the Green Brigade decided to share their thoughts about the recent failure of the club to make the Champions League group stages.

Unsurprisingly, Celtic went 1-0 down soon after…

Criticise the team  all you want in the pub, on the web, and on the phone ins. But not at the ground.

The sentiments may be correct, although harsh on the players, but there is a time and a place for that sort of thing. Especially if you want to get results.

Here’s how others did it…

Tomorrow will probably be the best time to asses the transfer window, and we’ll know where we are by then.

Or where we are going, there’s a big month ahead, with games against Aberdeen Hearts, Dundee and Ajax . So whatever the bold Ronny is planning, it needs to work straight away.

By the way, it’s exactly four years today since the Diary made it’s debut on Etims. Thats longer than some clubs have been around.

Of course, we look forward to bringing it to you for some time to come. and the police aren’t investigating any of us, which is another advantage we have over some clubs.

Former Rangers chief executive Charles Green is likely to face charges relating to his time at the club, BBC Scotland has learned.

On Tuesday morning he arrived for talks with Police Scotland.

Mr Green took control at Rangers after buying the club’s assets following administration and liquidation in 2012.

He stepped down following allegations that he was working in conjunction with the club’s former owner Craig Whyte.

Mr Whyte has already been charged with being involved in a fraudulent scheme to take control of the club in 2011.

He and three others were released on bail last year.

It is unclear what charges Mr Green is facing, but he has already spoken to the police on three occasions.  

Doesn’t look confident , does he ?

Can’t be long before the truth comes out now. The police seem to be taking their time with this one. It’s now nine months since they spoke to Craig Whyte. Wait till they get round to speaking to David Murray…..if, of course, they ever do.

Anyhoo, happier times now, and a caption competition.

The amount of times I’d get a ticket early on after travelling up overnight at those doors……For about three quid, usually, then off to the Sarry Heid, or the Fruit market for “breakfast ”