TALKING CELTIC
THE £6million which brought Chris Sutton to Celtic was money incredibly well spent given what he did for the Parkhead club.
That piece of business was conducted in July 2000 and while Neil Lennon and John Hartson were secured for a little under that fee, not once in almost 18 years has that record figure been beaten.
It’s not going to happen this month either, and perhaps not even in the next window.
Kris Commons, who at £300,000 is one of Celtic’s alltime bargains, does not have a problem with his old club’s strict financial policy but does concede that such good housekeeping has a downside.
Celtic take on Zenit St Petersburg next month in the Europa League. The Russian club’s record transfer did not come 17 years ago.
Indeed, you would do well to find any club currently in either European competition whose most expensive player was signed at the beginning of the millennia.
“There are not many clubs in Europe now whose highest transfer fee came in 2000, when Celtic signed Chris,” said Commons, who has turned his hand to punditry since hanging g up his boots.
“Every single team which h wins the league seems to break k their own transfer record d every year.
“So the highest fee Celtic c ever paid was 17 years ago. That shows you the resources the other clubs have and Celtic are still in the dark ages in terms of television rights.”
Commons speaks the truth even if it’s not what his fellow fans – he still refers to Celtic as ‘we’ and ‘us’ – want to hear.
Those who want to see big money spent make the point t that the club has the resources to splash £6m-plus on a player.
But the reality is that in 2000 such a fee got you one of f English football’s best centreeforwards. That’s not the case e anymore, which is why y Commons does not think k Rodgers is going to shock anyone this month by making an expensive bid for a single player.
“He could invest £10m on a player, £20m on a player, but that kind of player is not going to guarantee what the players he has can guarantee now,” said Commons.
“Listen, Brendan will be the first to say ‘this is what I need, this is what I’ve got.’ If he loses a player, he will need someone. But spending money in this day and age, and I’m talking £20m on a central defender, could mean a bang-average player.
“Over the years, Celtic have been renowned for bringing in a marquee signing signing, but if it’s not going to make the squad better there’s no point bringing them in.
“Celtic are in a much more stable condition now, they look like they’re going to win the Treble again, and they’re more than capable of giving anyone in Europe a run for their money on their day. I think they just need to keep ticking over.”
AH, but were no further signings made, could that make one or two players complacent about their place in the team?
“Brendan wouldn’t allow
that to happen,” insisted insist Commons. Commons “And I don’t think thi there is any need to invest in anyone in the squad just yet, if there’s a few more ins and outs, especially outs.
“I know Erik Sviatchenko has just left, there’s rumours about Leigh Griffiths and Moussa Dembele and Stuart Armstrong is going to be out for a little while.
“Listen, Brendan will have a plan and also a Plan B. If nothing happens he’ll still be happy with what he’s got.”
Marvin Compper has arrived but is ineligible for Europe and Sviatchenko has been moved out on l oan, while Jozo Simunovic and Dedryck Boyata have struggled for form all sea- son. The defence is clearly an issue for Celtic’s manager.
KRISTOFFER Ajer has done well but remains raw and it’s the lack of a tight back four which makes Celtic an easier European opponent than they might be.
“The league is pretty much wrapped up,” said Commons. We don’t need a centre-half for the league, we need one for Europe and they have a twolegged tie against a very good Russian team – and they’ve signed a centre-half who can’t play in these games.
“If Simunovic goes then a centre-half will be a must. That was one of my main concerns as a Celtic supporter, the weakest part of the defence has been the centre-back position with the mistakes and people not playing to their ability at that level.
“I know Simunovic and Boyata are brilliant centrehalves but if they are not quite at their A-game then you’re going to get found out. Ultimately the best players in Europe are usually the centre-forwards and they certainly found that out against Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich."