21 Aug 2026 10:24:08
If we are to look for a future CB, which I agree we need 5, we should have a good look at Thijmen Blokzijl, 21, been a regular starter for past 3 seasons, 6ft3, good on the ball, Dutch U21 international, €4m Euro value, and coming from the same FC Groningen that we signed Virgil from.
21 Aug 2026 11:14:13
Ed, taking your point about Gineitis waiting to see if we get into CL group stage, will we need to get him in before next week's game so he can play in CL?
If so that is a real catch 22 but now we are half way there, surely we can push that through now. He is match fit and could be available for 2nd leg or is that simplifying things too much.
{Ed007's Note - No mate, the deadline for clubs to register their A-List squad for the CL League Phase is 2nd September at 23:59 CET (10:59 p.m.).
The Scottish window actually doesn't close until 17:00 on the 3rd of September so Celtic can still sign players that day that won't be eligible to play in the CL for us but with the PL window closing on 1st of September I think that could be an interesting couple of days where we could maybe get some decent loans to buy deals.}
21 Aug 2026 11:35:39
He ticks the right footed box in case Martin want to play 3 at the back.
21 Aug 2026 13:05:04
Thanks for that Ed. Real opportunity for us to build a really strong squad and a template for the next 5 to 10 years.
{Ed007's Note - We finally seem to be going in the right direction with scouting/recruitment ???
21 Aug 2026 14:12:19
Edd just picking up on a comment you made ref McKenna.
Do you think it’s possible that he has been appointed from next season and if so do you think he is helping MON sign off on the current deals, certainly on the inbound.
{Ed007's Note - I wouldn't think so.}
21 Aug 2026 14:34:10
I think it is our strategy that has changed as most of these players were already on our radar before the summer.
Before we were very rigid in what we would pay and now we seem willing to push the boat out. Whether or not this continues or was just a flash in the pan to get fans back onside remains to be seen.
21 Aug 2026 16:38:03
This is a proper football club strategy. Buying ready made players, not at their peak, keeping them for a season or 2 and selling them on at a profit, and replacing them with ready made players.
It is a strategy that has benefitted clubs smaller than ours and improves our chances of at least challenging in Europe.