SUTTON: HE’S A £10M NEW BHOY:
Patrick’s priceless for Brendan
PATRICK ROBERTS rejoining Celtic is the equivalent of signing a £10million player. It’s been an outstanding week for the club and the news the winger is returning from Manchester City tops it all off. Roberts is a magnificent player and what a statement it makes for Celtic to get him back. There was talk of signing the 20-year-old permanently. That was always going to be tough. Of course the club wants to think long term. The success of the model has not been based on taking short-term punts. But as a one off there is nothing wrong with it. It’s a superb piece of business. The bottom line is that this deal gives Celtic a better chance of competing at Champions League level and cements the strength of the squad. Without a doubt he takes the team up another level, up another notch. Sure you have to wait for the draw for the group stages of the Champions League and they will be in against some huge guns no matter who they land provided the unthinkable doesn’t happen in Kazakhstan on Tuesday. Regardless of who they get it gives them a better chance of
doing something in there. Roberts developed into a really top-class operator during his first stint at Celtic.
There’s no question that he progressed superbly in the 18 months he spent on loan from Manchester City.
The changes in him and Celtic during that time were incredible.
Roberts was a rough diamond but he was smoothed out and Brendan Rodgers took his game to another level, just as he has done with several of those inside the dressing room at Parkhead.
The kid can score goals, he’s a lovely finisher on that left foot.
But the thing I really like about him is his ability to pick a pass and slide someone in on goal.
Celtic’s other wingers strike me as being runners, athletic, fast and can get at people with pace. Roberts is cuter when he cuts inside. He’s got better awareness.
Celtic are also totally different. The club which Roberts joined was floating along aimlessly with Ronny Deila at the helm and is nothing like the one he left as an Invincible Treble winner under Rodgers in May.
Now they are a viable option for a top player like Roberts. Why wouldn’t he want to come back and play for the club?
There were reports that City might have wanted him to go to Spain or France or that they would have preferred him to join Southampton.
But Celtic is an attractive proposition and far more attractive than it was when he first signed. The club has moved on an awful lot since then.
As well as the Champions League it sends some message to the rest of the domestic game in Scotland.
If you’re Aberdeen or Rangers looking at this deal it would make you shake your head and wonder how on earth you can get near them.
I was sat there thinking the other day that it would be virtually impossible for Celtic to go through another entire season without losing a game and winning another treble.
It just seems too much of an ask.
But now you add Roberts to their mix, they are blowing everyone away yet further.
Take that team who finished last season. With Roberts now back and Stuart Armstrong signing his contract they are stronger because Olivier Ntcham has signed and looks a real player.
His performance in the 5-0 win over Astana in midweek was absolutely superb. The French kid has touch, technique, strength and good passing ability.
Add to that the goal he scored against Partick Thistle last weekend and you have someone who potentially has the full package.
Armstrong is going to have a very tough job getting back into the team with Ntcham operating at that level.
Just a note on Armstrong, I’m not convinced he had anywhere to go – I’m not convinced there was a club in England there for him. I could be wrong but I don’t think so.
His advisors didn’t do a very job by the look of it but at least he’s sorted his future now.
Leigh Griffiths is also looking terrific and Roberts’ deal has iced the cake.
I’m convinced that first-leg result against Astana has had plenty to do with this deal being agreed last night.
The vibe which was emanating from Celtic Park was qualifying for the group stages was not the decisive factor.
The fact Celtic were going to be in the group stages of the Europa League might have been good enough as far as they were concerned because Roberts wanted to work for the best coach.
In his view, that was Rodgers. But you can’t help feel the final push into convincing City to agree to the switch was the clinching of the place in the group stages of the Champions League.
No one takes anything for granted but if Celtic lose a 5-0 lead in the second leg in Astana it’ll be the biggest shocker in the history of European football.
It’s not going to happen, City know that and that’s been the deal-maker for me.
The Rodgers factor is also crucial. He improves players, fact. It’s there for all to see. Look at your Armstrongs, your Callum McGregors, Tom Rogic.
The manager has made them better. He’s made Roberts better.
Crucially, the kid himself makes Celtic better. Millions better in fact.
He takes the team up another level, up another notch