![\"Killie](\"https:\/\/etims.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Killie-fan-rant-man.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nNot in appearance, but in mood, just for the avoidance of doubt.<\/p>\n
However, I have resisted the urge to publicly declare one of my team\u2019s players to be a \u2018fucking banger\u2019 and have managed to avoid getting stuck into the fry ups and pies. One of those assertions may not be strictly true. In fact, neither of those assertions may not be strictly true.<\/p>\n
Virgil Van Dijk, as I write, is de-Fenianising his twitter account, in lieu of a much expected \u00a310m-ish transfer to Southampton, or Swansea, or Sunderland, or Everton or someone else I only consider in terms of 1,2, X. Good luck to him I say, should he depart. I\u2019ve enjoyed watching him play for Celtic and I think he\u2019ll do rather well for himself. He can come back for one of our European games and pick my ticket for the Paradise Windfall.<\/p>\n
I would be surprised if he were to be the only departure over the next few days. Anthony Stokes, Stefan Scepovic and Callum McGregor have been linked with moves to Spain, Burnley and Rotherham respectively. I do not expect a human wall at the car park\/Celtic Way thing to stop any of them from going on their merry way.<\/p>\n
Others may very well bid farewell.\u00a0 A good friend of mine happened to overhear a certain Dutch patient we employ talk of his desire to find a new club before Jim White takes his yellow tie off. I would not be aghast if one of our first team regulars such as Bitton or Johansen were to attract the kind of bid which would make someone at Celtic Park think \u2018there\u00a0 may be a new suit available here\u2019\u2026<\/p>\n
However, I\u2019m going to continue this work of fantasy based on the assumptions that Van Dijk goes for around \u00a310m and another \u00a31m or so is brought in by the sale of others. So, given that we are looking at another 45-50 games this season, as well as trying to get into better shape for a tilt at making the group stages of the Champions League then how do we strengthen the squad? Based on takings of circa \u00a311m I\u2019m going to allow myself a Football Manager style budget of around \u00a36m. If you want an intelligent, informed and original insight into who we may\/could\/should buy from France then please, and I urge you, to read this https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=7694<\/a> however, if you enjoy the ramblings of a mad man then carry on.<\/p>\n First of all let us deal with what we know at this point in time. Tyler Blackett is coming in from Manchester United on loan, but there are suggestions of a possible \u00a33m deal next year. I\u2019ve seen him a couple of times and am not really sure what to think \u2013 there\u2019s a player in there but there\u2019s also some question marks. Last season was the perfect opportunity for a promising England under-21 defender to get in and make a mark on that Manchester United defence. He didn\u2019t.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t seem to thrive during two other loan spells either but that is not to say that he can\u2019t develop at Celtic. However, are we signing him as a centre back or a left back? I think this question gives us reasonable scope to investigate the possibility of looking at more possible defensive additions.\u00a0 Without any knowledge or decent info I\u2019m going to knock \u00a31m off my transfer kitty for the Blackett deal. There are no other young defenders in the Greater Manchester area that I think are good enough or will come to us so who else could we go for?<\/p>\n The name of Karol Mets of Viking has been bandied about. 22 years of age, Estonian international and supposedly available for around \u00a3700,000-\u00a3850,000. But is he any good? From what I\u2019ve watched he\u2019s pretty decent. In saying that, the first video I watched he made a tackle which Terry Butcher would be proud of \u2013 needless to say the Viking goalie wasn\u2019t getting a clean sheet bonus that week. He does seem to be composed, can time a challenge well and is able to anticipate what is coming his way. I wasn\u2019t sure of the quality he was up against so there would be a hefty element of speculation involved but to hell with it! Everybody loves a transfer so that\u2019s the defence sorted and we\u2019re down to \u00a35m or so.<\/p>\n Midfield is not an area requiring much surgery. Johansen is having a bit of an Arild Stavrum season in that his statistics are better looking than his miniskirt. As soon as he realises that the outside of his left boot does not need to be used 2443535 times per match then he\u2019ll hopefully rediscover his form of last season. Brown and Bitton, despite being pish on Tuesday have performed well and should dominate most games. Rogic has looked like decent back up and Scott Allan is shite anyway, so sayeth the denizens of Paisley Road West. Ryan Christie has joined in a \u00a3500,000 move from Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Having seen the impact the boy made when coming on at Celtic Park I am happy with this, should it come to be. Put it this way, I think that this may be our only chance at getting him as a \u2018James McCarthy\u2019 scenario may unfold. I can see why we allowed him to stay at ICT for the rest of the season but my preference would have been for him to be with the squad, getting used to how we work and just getting away from John \u2018manager of the century\u2019 Hughes; loveable big bugger he is and all that. \u00a34.5m left \u2013 yaldy!<\/p>\n Consider this for a moment. Leigh Griffiths breaks his leg. Leigh Griffiths snaps his Achilles. Leigh Griffiths signs for Barlinnie FC. Essentially, the reality of our situation is that there is an alarming paucity of options in the striking department and that this needs sorted, now. Griffiths is already on 7 goals for the season, I think. All being well he will get around 30 and that can\u2019t be sniffed at. Stokes and Scepovic (Getafe \u2013 done deal on loan) are expected (hoped) to move on and Ciftci has, to date, been pure shengus. I would look for two strikers to be brought in. I don\u2019t expect this to happen, one would be welcome, two would be amazing but zero would have me sizing up Mars bars and scouting positions in the main stand.<\/p>\n Gary Hooper has fallen foul of Alex Neil at Norwich and has been told tae get tae. Ideal. He\u2019s been here before, would score, not just for fun but because it\u2019s his job and would undoubtedly improve us as a team. Leetle problem time. Hooper is on something like \u00a332,000 per week, Norwich don\u2019t want to cover any of it and that is probably too rich for our blood \u2013 or is it? As much as I would like to see the return of the Nando Commando I doubt it shall come to pass. Stevie May is also available, and, as far as we are concerned I wouldn\u2019t object to that remaining the case. He\u2019s a decent player but not what we require in my estimation. Shite haircut, pass.<\/p>\n I can now empathise with our scouts who have made a James Hunt of finding a striker since broadband became commonplace. Except I don\u2019t. One player I suggest we keep an eye on, despite him only signing for Utrecht in July is Sebastien Haller. French U-21, big, strong and starting to bang them in. Seems like a confident sort, a very coordinated Amido Balde if you will. I did state a desire for two strikers and I stand by that. However I think that my next suggestion may offend Katie Hopkins, a first class cuntybaws whom I assume reads this site everyday.<\/p>\n