“I AM THE person who has been put in charge of Celtic. We haven’t got players in. Obviously, I haven’t done a good enough job convincing people we need to bring people in.

“I’m not going to shy away from it. I don’t say that because I’m some kind of martyr. I just think that’s my responsibility. That’s why I was brought in.

“Maybe I wasn’t clear enough, I don’t know. I think I’ve been pretty consistent in saying we need more players in. 

“We talk endlessly about the challenges we are facing. For our supporters, they just want to see us bring reinforcements in that we need. I’ve just got to keep reinforcing my views on it as strongly as I possibly can.”

Those were the words of Ange Postecoglou after Celtic crashed out of the Champions League to Danish side FC Midtjylland in late July.

A lot has changed since then... a lot. In fact, scholars would have a field day with this one.

You can almost imagine a modern studies question in school being shaped thus: Compare and contrast Celtic's August and January transfer windows of season 2021-22? (15 marks).

You get the drift. The summer was fraught for Celtic.

The 106-day wild goose chase pursuit of Eddie Howe - now Newcastle United boss - ended with Postecoglou being drafted in to replace Neil Lennon.

Unveiled by a then beaming and proud CEO Dominic McKay, there was to be no hint of the upstairs turmoil that was to follow.

Postecoglou needed players and fast. He didn't get them.

READ MORE: Is Celtic winning the league a long shot? - Alan Morrison

Yet the Aussie was forced to watch on as skipper Scott Brown left to join Aberdeen in a player-coaching capacity, striking linchpin Odsonne Edouard signed for Crystal Palace and defensive stalwart Kristoffer Ajer upped sticks for EPL new boys Brentford before midfield talent Ryan Christie opted for Bournemouth.

All departed the scene and left the building as a total of 12 players arrived. Quantity was not the issue but quality most certainly was. It was a massive squad rebuild and overhaul that was needed.

Yet there was a chronic lack of strength in depth in the Celtic squad and Postecoglou knew it.

Having to throw in youngsters like Dane Murray into the Champions League qualifiers against Midtjylland only serves to highlight the issue and being unable to name an effective bench of substitutes was a bugbear for Postecoglou.

Whilst Israeli wide man Liel Abada, Japanese striker Kyogo Furuhashi and Swedish defender Carl Starfelt all came into the club in July and made telling contributions, you got the feeling that the manager had sensed the horse had already bolted because Celtic were already out of the Champions League at the first hurdle.

Despite winning the Premiership title nine times in the last decade the club has increasingly failed to negotiate the qualifiers to reach the promised land of the Champions League group stages 

The last time they achieved their goal was when Brendan Rodgers was in charge during season 2017-18.

Worse was to come in September as McKay was relieved of his duties after just 71 days in the post. Celtic's director of legal and football affairs, Michael Nicholson, assumed the role of interim CEO.

Yet Postecoglou was still able to steady the good ship Celtic.

A current unbeaten 17-game domestic run culminated in Postecoglou winning the League Cup six days before Christmas.

The first piece of silverware was bagged and the victory was made all the sweeter because it was Postecoglou's £4.6million striker Kyogo whose delightful double did the damage and won the day for Celtic against Hibernian at Hampden.

If ever a manager was vindicated for his signing policy this was it. It was the equivalent of the 56-year-old saying to the Celtic board 'trust me, I know what I'm doing'.

Trust the process indeed. Postecoglou had effectively thrown the ball back into the Celtic hierarchy's court.

Celtic Way:

Would January be the time for Celtic to speculate to accumulate, especially when the prize on offer this season is a potential £40million and automatic entry into the Champions League group stages?

Postecoglou is fully aware of the riches and prestige that comes with winning this season's Scottish Premiership title.

There is an argument that clubs like Celtic, who have to play so many qualifying rounds in the Champions League, should prioritise the January transfer window and make signings in order to integrate new players into the club, their system and thus equip themselves thoroughly for a tilt at the group stages.

That's why January has started with a bang for Celtic.

Having been conspicuous by his absence over the Bernard Higgins affair, Nicholson may well have redeemed himself somewhat in the eyes of the Celtic faithful by backing his manager over the new year.

On Hogmanay, Celtic, Postecoglou and Nicholson gave the faithful a major lift heading into 2022 by announcing the arrival of a trio of Japanese players - Daizen Maeda from Yokohama F Marinos, Reo Hatate from Kawasaki Frontale and Yosuke Ideguchi from Gamba Osaka.

It was the clearest sign yet that Nicholson and the Celtic board are willing to get behind their man and back him to the hilt.

Not only that but in recent days Celtic are also believed to have started talks with Portuguese outfit Benfica and English side Tottenham Hotspur about taking both clubs up on their option to buy offers for winger Jota and central defender Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Strength in depth. Quality over quantity. Options-a-plenty. It's all Postecoglou has ever wanted since he was appointed Celtic boss six months ago.

There appears to be good news week emanating from Celtic Park every day which is a break from tradition. Celtic fans don't often praise their hierarchy but you have to give Nicholson and the board credit where it's due here.

READ MORE: What is Celtic's strongest XI after the arrival of Hatate, Maeda and Ideguchi?

They certainly seem to have trusted their manager to raid the J1 League for more talent like Kyogo, all because of Postecoglou's extensive knowledge of Japanese football during his stint working in the J-League as a manager with Yokohama F Marinos.

Compare and contrast the August and January transfer windows indeed. A buoyant Ange had this message for the Celtic supporters on Hogmanay.

He said: “We are really pleased to bring in these guys to Celtic and I think they are players who will excite our fans.

“Clearly I am well aware of their attributes and I think in bringing all three to the club we are bringing even more quality, personality and energy to the squad to work with the players who have done so well for us already this season.

“They are all really at the peak of their careers, ambitious to achieve more success and I am sure at this particular time we will be getting their best years.

"I am delighted to have secured these players so early in the transfer window, I look forward to working with them and myself, my backroom team and the rest of the squad will be making sure we help them settle into Celtic as quickly as possible.”

Celtic historically have never really grasped the nettle at this time of year. The men from Glasgow's east end have never been a 'Carpe Diem' type club in the month of January.

Like many things, this season feels different.

Years ago, Celtic as a club was chided for possessing a 'biscuit-tin mentality'.

The club was frugal when it came to fiscal matters and tight-fisted when it came to shelling out top dollar for players.

You get the feeling that Celtic are only just beginning to act like the richest club in the country and do not want to see Rangers break away any further in the title race.

The board know that if they back Postecoglou - who less than a week into the New Year must already feel like a 'Jammie Dodger' - then it could well be "Party Rings" on the menu come May.

The biscuit tin has been well and truly prized open. Surely Nicholson and co. will not want to jam Postecoglou's fingers in it during the critical phase two of the rebuild - will they?