An interesting debate amongst analysis accounts I follow in “X” is “Do pre-season matches even matter?”.

Some say no, due to the degree of artifice associated with line-up changes, substitution levels, differing levels of pre-season readiness around fitness and preparation, Euro 2024 players not being present, a slow transfer window, and varying levels of opposition capability. I wouldn’t disagree with any of that.

However, no information is completely useless. What can we learn about what the manager is trying to do differently? What do we make of new singing (no laughing at the back)? How did the young players shape up?

Whilst none of these questions can be answered definitively or accurately, we gain some insight.

Pre-season learnings

Firstly, and probably most importantly, wasn’t it all great fun? Following a leg stretcher to celebrate Scott Brown-led Ayr United’s new stand, a goal fest at Lesser Hampden saw a mix of youth and experience triumph 6-4 against Queen’s Park.

The United States tour of brand awareness and connecting with supporters whose roots may be in Celtic saw a trio of four-goal wins. First up was a convincing defeat of DC United who are ranked 3rd worst in the Major Soccer League (MLS) but are nevertheless well into their season. Next up Manchester City fielded a largely fledgling side bolstered by non-Euro ’24 participants Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, Oscar Bobb, Ederson, Stefan Ortega and James McAtee. By contrast, Chelsea’s lineup was stuffed with expensive recruits. Their starting XI cost towards £400 million in transfer fees. And that is before considering the substitutes.

Results were eye-catching, then, but we all know performance levels and context are key. Celtic started the matches against the monied English Premier League giants with as near to a starting XI as possible and are probably a couple of weeks further into preseason fitness, with the first competitive match on the 4th of August. Also, there are no domestic opponents that will play in the manner of the three sides Celtic faced Stateside. Even struggling DC United went toe-to-toe and pressed Celtic high.

Manchester City played as they would under Pep Guardiola but with a much-depleted squad. Chelsea is adapting to a new manager in Enzo Maresca but similarly played very high and open and pressed from the front. None of these tactical battles aids Celtic’s SPFL readiness but may be an indicator of how Celtic will approach Champions League matches.

Given the lack of new signings, the interest was in the approach taken to such high-pressing and high-quality opponents. Celtic were brave in playing out from the back despite our historical evidence of Liam Scales, Greg Taylor and Anthony Ralston not being press resistant. Celtic were adventurous in allowing Matt O’Riley and Reo Hatate to move high and inverted against the press thus being able to take balls in midfield, in space, and on the turn.  They then harnessed the exceptional pace of a front three of Daizen Maeda, Kyogo Furuhashi and Nicolas Kuhn.

All three opponents were lacerated on the break by incisive press-breaking moves involving no more than two to three passes. New goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel looked comfortable playing out from the back in addition to making the types of saves that turn defeats into draws at the highest level. Understudy Vijami Sinisalo looked more nervous with the ball at his feet but the step up in pace of the game and opponent will have felt massive to him coming from Exeter City on loan last season. The evidence of that assignment is that he is a learner – most encouraging.

Defensively the well-known frailties were again in evidence including Scales’ utter bamboozlement in dealing with Haaland back post. Overall, the team shape out of possession was solid enough. Young defenders Matthew Anderson and Colby Donovan were given opportunities and were brave in possession.

Perhaps the standout of the preseason was Furuhashi with six goals. Not to damn with faint praise but he is the only striker on the books and had little respite across preseason. Mikey Johnston was pressed into service as the backup striker. He was rewarded with two goals amidst a penalty miss and several bums-off-seats runs followed by poor crosses. Same as it ever was. Which segues into the transfer window.

The transfer window

Brendan Rodgers has spoken about not being caught “snoozing”. He is a clever man and chooses his words very carefully. To say Celtic’s transfer business has been cautious would be an understatement. The lack of overall “chatter” regarding potential targets is worrisome. And those signed and linked indicate a very limited rolodex is in operation.

  • Schmeichel – an ex-Rodgers player
  • Bernardo – was on loan last season and Celtic would be intimately knowledgeable about his terms and conditions
  • Idah – see Bernardo
  • Hugo Bueno – the young Wolverhampton Wanderers left-back has been a regular target
  • Owen Beck – see Bueno
  • Dara O’Shea – see Bueno

The Sinisalo deal looks smart and opportunistic. A young full international on the back of a highly successful breakout loan season, for a low fee and with a clear succession plan in place behind a stellar first-choice goalkeeper. Credit due. The rumoured interest in Royal Antwerp’s forward Michel-Ange Balikwisha also suggests someone has found the password to the expensive scouting software.

As I sit here with two days before the flag is unfurled, key positions remain unfulfilled. With no new contract on the table for Taylor, surely a left-back is a priority? With consistent chatter that the manager is looking to offload Yuki Kobayashi and Gustaf Lagerbielke, and with continuing doubts over the fitness of Stephen Welsh and Maik Nawrocki, another centre-back must surely be in the pipeline?

A slew of central midfielders but how resistant are Celtic to losing O’Riley or Hatate or both? And in any case, does the midfield athleticism deficit withstand eight Champions League matches? The Chelsea game saw Kuhn injured and Maeda going off. Are Celtic back to James Forrest and Mikey Johnston as alternates? The striker position is dire, with only Kyogo as a recognised central attacker.

Getting the best option is better than moving quickly for the sake of it. The current squad is no doubt up to the SPFL challenges. But the first Champions League match is six weeks away and we know new players need to acclimatise and get to the same level of fitness as the rest of the squad. There is no panic from me, but there is a heck of a lot of questions to be answered.

It is also not untypical for Celtic to conduct transfer business quietly and in the background, often slowly and laboriously. That’s ok, we are not a support that needs artificial giddy status boosters every five minutes.

But the man who knows, Rodgers, warns “Don’t snooze”. And that is the most telling commentary of all.