Another frustrating window for Celtic, but history urges patience with new signings

There it goes. Another transfer window has slammed shut. Players have come and gone, and some, like Arne Engels, have stayed too, despite hefty bids. January has been another month of agony and frustration for Celtic fans regarding the much-needed strengthening of the squad. With the very late loan deal for Stephen Welsh now confirmed, the clubs' ins and outs are listed below.

The list seems quite a mixed bag and hasn't received universal acclaim from the Celtic support, far from it. But then that's a high standard to aim for.  Based on the past run of transfer dealings, it was never likely to be met. 

One of the issues being raised again is the absence of any significant spending by the club. The players coming in are all on loan. Admittedly, there are some probably shrewd deals where an option to buy has been agreed. That eases the burden in the summer a little and still leaves scope for the next manager to have a say. 

Another frustrating transfer window at Celtic will test fans patience with players 

Money isn't everything though, and there is still a hefty outlay in loan fees and wages for the players. But that's not the big investment in the squad that is needed and was hoped for. Fans do love a bargain though and hate to see Celtic held to ransom on deals. We’ll have to hope there are some hidden gems among those new signings.

That’s where more questions and frustrations, mixed with some despair, come in from the supporters. For most of the new signings, the statistics and form of the players aren't inspiring. Some haven't made an impact at their last club, goals are thin on numbers for the forwards, and in some cases, top-level game time is limited.

There is going to have to be some patience and plenty of backing from the crowd to help the new players settle in. It’s going to take more than the first 20 minutes of their debut to make an impact. Will they get that time from an already dismissive crowd? 

Celtic fan’s patience can pay off

Well, if you know your history, there are signs that at Celtic, patience is indeed a virtue. Recent goal-scoring records aren't always a sign of what a player can bring to Parkhead. Chris Sutton, as one example, came from his awful record at Chelsea to be a much-loved and excellent player for the Bhoys.

Perhaps the best example comes from the king himself. Henrik Larsson came from Feyenoord with just seven goals there in 31 matches in his final season. His Celtic debut against Hibernian was notable for a slack pass that led to a goal for Hibs and a 2-1 away defeat. 

We all know how that worked out for Larsson and Celtic. I am in no way suggesting we have another player of that standard among those signings, but perhaps there is some hope that we can see a few of them grab the opportunity and maximise it. Julian Araujo and Tomas Cvancara have started that way; can some of the others follow that trend? Only time will tell.