Now the dust has settled on Celtic\u2019s transfer window dealings I thought I\u2019d cast a beady eye over proceedings looking at the impact of the changes and what I believe this does for the team moving forward.<\/p>\n
Putting aside the important early signing of Fraser Forster \u2013 a keeper who has improved significantly over the past year \u2013 the bulk of Celtic\u2019s dealings were disappointingly done as normal in the final hours leading up to the transfer window \u201cslamming shut\u201d. Disappointing in my view as we should try and integrate some players as early as possible into the squad to allow the player to be involved in vitally important early season games.<\/p>\n
First in the door was Nigerian international centre back who signed from Israeli club FC Ashdod for a fee believed to be in the region of \u00a31.5m. Unless you\u2019ve been wired to the moon or still trying to remove the tears from your eyes after a summer of laughter at the carry on with Sevco, you\u2019ll have noticed that central defence is the weakest area of the team with the need for an imposing and pacey centre half at the top of our requirements list. At 6ft 3ins tall and blessed with great pace Efe looks to tick the boxes from a distance. Whether he can transfer that potential into the real deal is clearly the great unknown and the risk we face when dealing in the market place of players in the \u00a31-2m bracket.\u00a0 Neil Lennon clearly thinks highly of him and was recently quoted as saying he believes Efe is a better player than Bobo Balde at the same age. At only 23 the best years of Efe\u2019s career is hopefully ahead of him but with a bit of patience from the home faithful in terms of young player adapting to a very different clime then fingers crossed we may have a right guid yin on our hands to partner the cultured Charlie Mulgrew in the heart of our defence.<\/p>\n
Take a look and see what you think<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=xJZbrynsz7I<\/a><\/p>\n The second arrival is a player who really excites me in the shape of Nicolas \u2018Miku\u2019 Fedor who has signed from Getafe in a one year loan deal with an option to purchase. I\u2019ll be honest and admit I didn\u2019t know a great deal about the 27 year old Venezuelan striker until news of his arrival at Celtic broke. After a bit of digging we quite possibly have made one of our most exciting signings in years! Over 6 foot tall, quick and with first class technique Miku has all the attributes we\u2019ve been crying out for in attack. While Stokes and Hooper have shown they can do a good job in the SPL they both lack in my view the ability to hold the ball up consistently well, something we desperately need to do in Europe, and an ability to bring other players into play. With a record of one goal every three games for unfashionable Getafe in Spain\u2019s Primera Liga his ability to put the ball in the net like Jorge Cadete is without question but it\u2019s his all round game that really excites me and brings to Celtic a player who \u2013 all going well \u2013 will get the fans off their seats.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s Miku in action.<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=h-ex2szSaws<\/a><\/p>\n The third deadline player to arrive was Lubos Kamenar who joined on a one year loan deal from Nantes. With Dominic Cervi departing Celtic there was a need for another keeper at the club and Celtic did well in my view to snap up an experienced player on a one year deal to fill the gap. The Slovakian keeper started off with Artmedia Bratislava before signing for Nantes in 2009 before being involved in a number of loan deals following a struggle to cement a regular starting place with the French club. Lubos was a spectator when we beat Artmedia 4-0 at Celtic Park many years ago an experience that clearly remembers when he commented following his move;<\/p>\n \u201cI remember that game was a full house. The fans were perfect and started singing the song You\u2019ll Never Walk Alone. I ended up only listening to the fans and it was a fantastic atmosphere. I have played against Inter Milan, Juventus and Galatasaray but I think Celtic have the best fans I have ever seen in Europe. Every player would want to play for Celtic or play in a game involving Celtic because of them. It\u2019s a dream for any player to play at Celtic Park.\u201d<\/p>\n This lad certainly knows how to win over people!<\/p>\n