CELTIC are back in action this weekend against Brechin, then Thistle followed by Neil Lennon’s Hibernian on the 27th January, swiftly followed by Hearts on the 30th.
While these dates and fixtures should be in the forefront of the manager’s mind, there is another date the clock is quickly ticking down to – February 1st.
The significance? The January window slams shut on any business Celtic can do until June.
As I write this blog, the club has just fifteen days to secure any players they deem fit enough to help improve Celtic in the second half of the season and help combat a very efficient Zenit side.
Celtic fans are in a peculiar spot, we know on their day, the team can be fantastic. The problem is, we’ve only seen it in fits and burst since October.
Marvin Compper and Lewis Morgan being signed up look like great pieces of business, yes, Marvin can help in the league but can do nothing for Celtic in the Europa being cup tied. We all know Lewis is effectively a summer signing, which leaves Celtic short of alternatives to what we’ve had this season so far.
Stuart Armstrong going in for surgery could not come at a worse time. While the player has had his fair share of criticism this season, it was thought that he could kick on and recapture last season’s form in the second half of the season – starting with the Edinburgh double header. Now, the Scottish International has been ruled out until late February it puts Celtic in greater need of reinforcements on a short term basis at least.
That’s where loan deals could ultimately serve the club well if Rodgers feels there is no value for money in any of his identified targets at the minute.
You get the feeling something is coming, and if that something was a player like Charly Musonda or someone of that ilk; a player with bags of talent and great potential then I think the fans would be happy moving forward.
Brendan Rodgers told people earlier this week to lay off his defenders, as they’ve come in for some ‘undue criticism’ in his eyes. You can bet that if Celtic go out to Zenit at the hands of a defensive cock-up or a thrashing the fans who have been screaming for more defensive reinforcements will hit a new decibel level.
Ultimately, it’s up to Celtic to back their manager and for Brendan to think a player can add value. If these two requirements don’t match up then we could be bemoaning yet another snoozefest transfer window.
However, as I said, it feels like something’s coming!
15 days to go!
