It's all been about incomings in the last three transfer windows at Celtic and it’s been the same in this one with three players already checked in. But I believe this January could be just as important when it comes to outgoings.
I don’t think there should be any. Certainly not when it comes to key players who have been over the course and who could prove to be very influential when there is a title still to be won. We’re talking primarily about Giorgios Giakoumakis and Josip Juranovic, of course.
There seems to be this assumption they will be going, even though there have not been any official bids lodged as yet. There have been suggestions about disagreements over contracts and wages behind the scenes. That happens in football. But I would still prefer to have both of them on board until the summer at least. I think it would be an enormous mistake for Celtic to sell Giakoumakis right now.
I know he’s not playing much but I still believe he can play an important part in the remainder of the season. For all his struggles, he’s still scored five goals in his last five starts, and had a big role to play in salvaging a point at Ibrox.
Giakoumakis might not have been directly involved. But his presence, his strength in bumping defenders around and his clever movement was every bit as key as the any pass in the build up.
There was another example after he came on. Celtic were struggling to get up the pitch and the knocked it up to Giakoumakis. He took it in, held off a few defenders and let his team get out.
It doesn’t even matter where the ball ended up in that instance, you sometimes just need that physical presence to absorb the punches and take some of the pressure off the backline. You need that sometimes – and Celtic might need something different in the next few weeks.
You look at the fixture list. Kilmarnock in the league and then the cup at Hampden, St Mirren, Dundee United away, Livingston and St Johnstone. On paper you’d think Celtic will see this as a chance to really put the foot down.
But the flip side is these are teams who will pack defences and make life really difficult for Postecoglou’s team. There might need to be patience – or even another way of playing – to find a way through.
Giakoumakis would be that man for me, so I wouldn’t be entertaining the likes of Midtjylland, and there’s no way I’d be taking any calls for £5m. Likewise with Juranovic. I’m not sure Barcelona or Chelsea would have been too keen on the back of his performance at Ibrox.
But I wouldn’t be fooled by that either. He struggled but he has played extremely well in a Celtic jersey. He was just miles off it. Trust me, it can happen.
You sometimes know from the first touch in the game it’s not going to be your day. In fairness, he’s not had too many off days at the club.
I know Alistair Johnston has signed and people have raved about his display the other day. I thought he did all right, but there was a question over his defending at Ryan Kent’s goal.
He looks to have the makings of a decent player but Juranovic is proven. The same goes for Giakoumakis.
I understand the selling model but I also something think it’s better to hang on to these players until the trophies are in the cabinet – and then you can flog them. It looks likely Postecoglou will bring in another striker, and there’s a lot of talk about Korean front man Cho Gue-sung.
I saw a bit of him at the World Cup and was impressed. But there’s no getting away from the fact it would still be a gamble at this The midfield is an interesting one. I get Aaron Mooy was also excellent when he came on the other day and he helped Celtic regain and real authority in the middle of the park.
He has been in superb form and was a bit unlucky to find himself out of the starting XI. It couldn’t’ have been an easy decision for Postecoglou and it becomes a question of who do you drop?
Callum McGregor? Don’t be daft. Reo Hatate? He did really well at right back but he’s so instrumental in the middle and he was for long spells on Monday.
Matt O’Riley? There is an argument he could do with a rest as he’s been pretty much an ever-present since he joined the club last January.
But there’s a reason he plays every week. His performance levels are consistently at a very high standard and he did a great job slotting in for McGregor when the captain was out injured.
Was he at his best against Rangers? Probably not. But it wasn’t as if he had a shocker. O’Riley was below par, but he was far from alone.
Starfelt didn’t have a great afternoon, but he was actually fine until the penalty kick. There were a few ropey moments after that but he’s not become a poor player overnight either. None of them have. This squad is having a strong season but we’re only just over the halfway mark.
Although Celtic are in a great position, the title race is not yet over, despite what some fans think. But if they can keep hold of their best players it soon will be.
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