WELL, that's the transfer window slammed shut for another seven months - from now until the end of the season, the various clubs will have to serve-up pish with the cocks they have got - if you pardon the phrase.
OK, the double transfer of messrs Armstrong and Mackay-Steven, from Tannadice to Celtic Park certainly weakens Dundee United, without necessarily strengthening Celtic: the two new boys now have to fight their way into the top team in the country.
If they were race-horses, they would be considered to have moved-up from Group Two to Group One racing. They will need to, in The Times's Simon Barnes's memorable phrase: "train-on" to bridge the gap.
However, I welcome the move in this respect; the two players should become key men for Scotland over the next few years. At the moment, their European experience is somewhat limited. Better they grow accustomed to the heavier demands of facing European opponents by regularly playing in Europe for their club, than having to learn on the hoof for Scotland.
Their move to Kerrydale Street also increases the number of Scots in the Celtic first-team squad. I long for the day when the leading Scottish clubs go into Europe with squads which are top-heavy with Scottish players. Only then will be have a chance of moving forward internationally.
MEANWHILE, across the city, Mike Ashley has delivered another two-fingered salute to the Hampden power-brokers, by enabling the loan deal which has moved a handful of Newcastle United's fringe players to Ibrox for the rest of the season.
I feel kinda like Churchill in the 1930s, a voice crying in the wilderness. The SFA can try all they like to prevent Ashley from running both Newcastle United and Rangers, however, I feel - when push comes to shove, money will talk and if and when the all-too-obvious double football interests of Mr Ashley are tested in court, he will emerge victorious, on the grounds that, to deny him the opportunity to safeguard his financial interests in the two clubs, will be illegal under British and European business law.
A clear ruling, to the effect that Ashley can control both clubs will I believe go a long way towards turning the European Football League - which is coming, sooner or later - into an NFL or NBA for this side of the Atlantic.
In North America, the mega corporations who run the big NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB clubs, and, increasingly the MLS clubs, all have systems whereby every major league club - New England Patriots in the NFL, the LA Lakers in the NBA, the Boston Bruins in the NHL, the New York Yankees in MLB has various feeder clubs across the land.
These clubs are where the newcomers to the league learn to be professionals, pay their dues and are made ready for their entry to "The Show" as each major league is known.
In time, we may see Celtic using a team in Dublin, or, more-likely in their Donegal heartland, with perhaps another in Scandinavia, as feeder and preparatory teams, perhaps they even swallow-up Albion Rovers too, aimed at grooming the next players for the Celtic team which plays in the European League. Manchester United, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Juventus etc would also have similar set-ups.
It will not happen overanight, but, in time, it will happen. This nap hand of new Rangers signings might just be the first step towards this.
That said, I don't see signing a glut of guys who couldn't get a regular game at St James's Park, enabling the Rangers Tribute Act to overhaul Hearts' huge lead in the Championship race. They will also struggle in the play-offs.
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