Another discussion point on the excellent Huddle Breakdown chat with Leicester City fan and data analyst Dominic Wells was Brendan Rodgers mixed recruitment record. There are very few if any managers who get every deal right, and these days, with Directors of Football (official and unofficial) and global scouting networks, and databases galore, it is … [continue reading]
Transfers
A Busy Summer Beckons
Building on yesterdays article on appearances during the season, let’s take a look at the implications of where we are. Last Season As mentioned yesterday, 19 players were the core contributors in a double winning season that, with European football progression, stretched to 60 games. The Ask No qualifiers will be a blessing in that … [continue reading]
Managing Risk on the Postecoglou Rollercoaster
Celtic started the latest transfer window with an array of first team players returned to their host clubs, wanting to leave, running down contracts and potentially not required by a new manager. Eight senior pros left. Ten first team squad members have been purchased since. Has an enormous level of change provided Postecoglou with the … [continue reading]
The Ghost of Willo Flood
It is now over 10 years since Strachan’s final season saw an aging, unbalanced Celtic squad limp to 2nd place in the SPL bringing down the curtain on 3 titles in a row. The parallels cannot be ignored. Warning Signs In 2008/09 manager Strachan had, on a wave of post Tommy Burns emotion, abandoned his … [continue reading]
Transfer Window Checkpoint
As a consistent critic of Celtic’s squad management over the last number of seasons, I wanted to take a check point on where we are now the 4th Summer signing, Abd Elhamed, is in the door. Operating Environment Firstly, Celtic operate in a unique place where they are a relatively affluent club from a non-Top … [continue reading]
Austerity? Or More Of The Same?
Will Lennon get transfer funds to strengthen the squad? I take a look at managerial trading since the end of the O’Neill era. I pick this benchmark as it saw the end of the strategy of a stellar first XI and then kids / cheap squad players to a more nuanced model of Moneyball trading, … [continue reading]
Celtic Transfers – Is Rodgers Changing the Strategy?
20th October 2004, and Celtic slump to defeat in the Champions League as a result of three second half goals from expensive Brazilians, in Ukraine. Shakhtar Donesk triumphed 3-0. It is claimed this crystallised Celtic board room resolve to change policy on team recruitment and cost. A recent share issue had cleared significant debts as … [continue reading]