WHEN Celtic appointed a big name as manager at the end of May the hope among many supporters was that big-name players would soon follow him to Parkhead.
Brendan Rodgers certainly had, having managed both Swansea City and Liverpool in the Barclays Premier League, a far higher profile than his predecessor Ronny Deila. There was optimism that he could use that to lure a better standard of player to Glasgow. Joe Allen, Danny Graham and even Steven Gerrard were all mentioned as potential targets.
But the lack of transfer activity in the East End has disappointed fans. They had expected new arrivals before their Champions League qualifying campaign kicked off this month. Only Kristoffer Ajer, who had been signed by Deila, Moussa Dembele, the France Under-20 and Fulham striker, and Kolo Toure have come in. Will the lack of reinforcements hinder them in their bid to win a sixth consecutive Ladbrokes Premiership?
Toure is certainly a welcome addition for Celtic as defence is an important area for them. Efe Ambrose’s slip-up in the humiliating defeat against Lincoln Red Imps in Gibraltar this month showed Rodgers what any seasoned observer of his team would have told him. The Nigerian can’t be trusted in big games or, for that matter, any game.
In fairness to Rodgers, he had few other options. Charlie Mulgrew’s contract has expired and it looks like the Scotland internationalist will not return. Eoghan O’Connell, meanwhile, was inexperienced.
Bringing in Toure, the former Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City centre-half, on a one year deal should ensure they are fine in that crucial area. Even at the grand old age of 35, the 118-times capped Ivory Coast internationalist is a class act. He was probably Jurgen Klopp’s best player in the Europa League final at the end of last season.
Toure should partner Erik Sviatchenko when the Dane recovers from injury. Until that time, O’Connell, who fared well on his European debut against Astana in Kazakhstan last week, should continue to feature. He is certainly a far safer option than the dreaded alternative.
Rangers supporters would have you believe that “it’s all about the Rangers” in the coming season, and that may well prove to be the case.
How the Ibrox club perform in the top flight – for, depending on who you listen to, the first time in four years or the first time in their four-year history – will go an awful long way towards determining whether Celtic can win again, whether Aberdeen can once again contend and whether Hearts can continue their resurgence and claim a European place.
The players Mark Warburton has brought in during the summer, and there have certainly been a fair few of them, will be crucial to that. His team may have won the Championship by a comfortable margin last term, but they weren’t always convincing. Indeed, defensively they were often poor. A widely-held view, even among their own supporters, was that they would be exposed against a better quality of opposition.
They were woeful at the back in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden in May. The three goals Rangers conceded as Hibs triumphed were all incredibly soft. They will be playing against a far higher quality of side and striker in the top flight and will have to be far less porous if they are to launch a serious bid for the Scottish title.
The arrival of Joey Barton – a player who even Warburton admitted he thought was unobtainable – has been the most high-profile acquisition of the summer by far. Seeing how the former Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers, Burnley and Marseille midfielder fares will certainly be fascinating. In the first meeting with Celtic especially. One thing is for sure, there won’t be a dull moment with Joey around.
But how the defenders that Rangers have brought in settle may be more important to their chances. If Lee Hodson, the Northern Ireland internationalist, Clint Hill, the grizzled Queens Park Rangers stalwart, Matt Crooks, the highly promising holding midfielder who was plucked from Accrington Stanley, and Jordan Rossiter, the England Under-19 playmaker, establish themselves then the chances are that they will be far more difficult to break down than they have been. They can build a challenge on that solid foundation.
Warburton, to his credit, identified the weakness in his team last season and successfully solved the problem by deploying Dominic Ball, the centre- half who was on loan from Spurs, just in front of Rob Kiernan and Danny Wilson. If Crooks, who hasn’t featured so far due to injury, or Rossiter, who has been away at the European Under-19 Championship finals in Germany, can perform the same role as effectively it will aid their new club’s cause enormously.
It was no coincidence that Aberdeen’s attempt to win their first Scottish title in 31 years unravelled after Danny Ward, the Liverpool goal- keeper who had been on loan, was recalled to Anfield in January. The Welsh internationalist had been outstanding for Derek McInnes’s side and Scott Brown and Adam Collin were nowhere near as commanding.
Joe Lewis has been brought in from Cardiff City and the early signs are encouraging. He did well in the Europa League qualifiers against Fola Esch and Ventspils. If he can continue in the same manner Aberdeen should once again feature prominently as McInnes has retained most of his key players from last season. Neil Alexander is certainly good back-up.
Hearts did superbly last season given that they had only just been promoted. It will be difficult for them to top that. But Robbie Neilson, who came under pressure from a section of the Tynecastle support despite leading the capital club into the top flight and then clinching third spot, has recruited well.
Tony Watt is the most eye-catching new arrival. Can the former Celtic forward grasp this latest opportunity? He has had many in the course of his short career and hasn’t fulfilled his undoubted potential. Conor Sammon and Bjorn Johnsen will be pushing him hard for a start if the perennial under- achiever again fails to apply himself.
Every Premiership club has strengthened in the close season. Some more than others. Kilmarnock manager Lee Clark has brought in no fewer than 11 new players. His side will be unrecognisable to the one that avoided relegation via the play-offs. Massimo Donati, the former Celtic midfielder, has even joined Hamilton.
So much depends on whether the new boys excel. At Rangers in particular.
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