Transfer window musings

Reality cheque for Celtic
As you would expect, the Champions were the only Scottish side to spend money during the window, and they captured plenty of deadline day headlines by signing Leigh Griffiths - which is amusing because last season Neil Lennon claimed that none of the Player Of The Year nominees (including Griffiths) would get anywhere near his first team.

For a million quid, Celtic get a striker who has proven that he can bang in a shedload of goals at this level, so it's a pretty good value deal.  They do not get a centre forward who is capable of performing at Champions League level, however.  With Stokes, Balde and Pukki available, Celtic are now stocked with attackers who are not really good enough for that stage - which makes me think that they are struggling to attract the quality that they need.

More worryingly for them, they couldn't convince Joe Ledley to sign a new contract, and so had to cash in on the Welsh international rather than lose him for nothing in the summer.  Ledley joins Kelvin Wilson, Victor Wanyama and Gary Hooper as players who chose to move south in the last 6 months rather than stay at Celtic Park.  Given his lacklustre form and reluctance to agree a new deal, Georgios Samaras will probably follow suit this summer, while Fraser Forster and Virgil Van Dijk are currently being closely eyeballed by other clubs.  As I predicted on this blog last season, Celtic are struggling to satisfy the ambitions of their better players.


Loan sharks
No fewer than nine of the Premiership clubs signed players on loan during January; by my count no fewer than 20 players have moved north temporarily from English clubs.  In this financial climate, it's understandable why teams are doing this, but it is depressing that the SPFL is beginning to become a nursery for youngsters from south of the border to come and get a few games - especially when few of them will remain after May.

I also can't help feeling that the clubs who are concentrating on keeping their current squads together, rather than bringing in a load of short-term signings (Caley Thistle particularly stand out) will be better off in the long term.  But time will tell if I'm right.

On the other hand, this is the only way that the likes of David Moberg Karlsson, a Swedish winger signed by Sunderland for £1.5million last summer, will end up playing at Rugby Park.  That was a signing that came out of the blue, but on paper it looks like an impressive one.

It's also worth noting that Celtic felt the need to send three of their more impressive youths - Bahrudin Atajic, Dylan McGeouch and Callum McGregor - down South rather than loan them to Scottish clubs.  Tony Watt of course remains abroad, in Belgium.  I doubt that other Premiership clubs are turning up the opportunity to lease these players; instead it seems Celtic feel that there is more benefit from playing in England's League One and League Two than for a rival club, which is a shame.


Surprise moves
It's only a few years since Birmingham City paid a seven figure sum for Rowan Vine.  It's only 6 months since he left St Johnstone for "bigger things" (his words, not mine) at Hibs.  Vine wakes up this morning as a Greenock Morton player, after joining the side at the bottom of the Championship.  The Englishman looked podgy and unfit during his few appearances at Easter Road, and was weighed down even further by an enormous beard that previously belonged to Tom Baker in an episode of Blackadder II.  Vine was Kenny Shiels' ninth signing of the window as he attempts to drag Morton away from the abyss; he will now join forces up front with another Easter Road alumnus, Garry O'Connor, where they will form a 'large and large' pairing.

Celtic's decision to cancel Mo Bangura's contract also came as a shock to Celtic fans - who were horrified to discover that the Sierra Leone forward (£2.5 million fee, 16 appearances, no goals, not played for the club since August 2012) was still actually on the books at Parkhead.

Meanwhile, down in League One, Dunfermline demonstrated that they are now in rude health by bringing in Ross Forbes from Partick Thistle and Danny Grainger from St. Mirren - two players capable at a much higher level.  The Pars are now in prime position to grab second spot in that division, and, dare I say it, to take advantage of any misfortune (or points deduction) that might yet hit the side above them in that league.


Surprise moves that didn't happen
I correctly predicted on twitter that Vine, Mark Kerr (released by Partick Thistle) and Rory Fallon (let go by St. Johnstone) would all leave their clubs - all three were 'surplus to requirements' if you're being polite, and 'wage thieves' if you aren't.  Others to leave by 'mutual consent' on deadline day - which translates as "we don't want you here, so sling yer hook" - included Chris Clark of Aberdeen, Celtic's Mo Bangura, Tim Clancy of Hibs, and Branislav Micic of Ross County.  Amongst those who surprisingly weren't shown the door were another Hibee, Kevin Thomson, who has already been told that he's surplus to Terry Butcher's requirements.  Has the ex-Scotland man been given a second chance, or did he just refuse to chuck in a decent wage?  Ditto his teammate, Tom Taiwo.

It was impressive that St. Johnstone were able to withstand bids for star man Stevie May, and surprising that no team was willing to meet the Perth side's asking price for the outstanding young striker.  And it's incredible that no-one has a made an offer that Caley Thistle can't refuse for Billy McKay for three consecutive transfer windows, despite the Ulsterman's consistency in front of goal.


No reality cheque for Rangers
I might go into more detail regarding this in a future piece, but the world and his dog knows Rangers are haemorrhaging money, which makes it all the more curious that they declined the opportunity to flog their prize asset, Lee Wallace.  The club asked the squad to take a 15% pay cut a few weeks ago, a measure which, based on last year's wage bill of £8 million (!), would have saved about £600,000 between now and the rest of the season.  Selling Wallace would have covered that, plus a bit more.  With former finance director Brian Stockbridge having previously admitted the club would be running out of hard cash by Spring, it's hard to see where the Gers will come up with enough dough to cover them till next season's season ticket money comes in.

L.