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The summer of 2015- what happened to Deila’s signings?

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One of the first things that struck Brendan Rodgers when he took charge of Celtic was the size of the first team pool.

Under Ronny Deila players were gathered in at an alarming rate- especially in midfield- with a scatter-gun approach taken to recruitment.

The most ardent of supporters would struggle to name the full squad that Rodgers inherited, once you get past 30 names alarm bells start to ring.

Having signed Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong in the winter transfer window Deila had bought himself credibility when the summer window opened up.

The focus on younger prospects proved misplaced, pretty quickly Carlton Cole and Colin Kazim Richards were brought in, with Deila getting very little out of seven players he signed up last summer.

Rodgers is left with the diplomatic task of moving on the players surplus to his plans. Having started the process in the summer, it may take another two windows before the new hoops boss gets down to the numbers and faces that he wants to work with.

SAIDY JANKO

Coming from Manchester United and with a background as a Swiss youth internationalist expectations were high that Janko would kick on to be an important player in Deila’s squad.

First sightings were favourable of a pacey wing-back who liked nothing more than to push forward and commit defenders.

Some flaws were showing before a seven month injury absence virtually finished his season.

Rodgers seemed keen to give him a chance but after a disastrous performance against Hapoel Beer Sheva he was quickly shipped out to Barnsley on loan and unlikely to resurface again in a Celtic shirt.

LOGAN BAILLY

LOGAN BAILLYProvided decent back-up to Craig Gordon last season but a pre-season injury and the signing of Dorus de Vries has put paid to his chances.

Bailly returned to action against Aston Villa but looks to have his work cut out to make it onto the bench ahead of de Vries.

It looks like only an injury to either of the other keepers is likely to give him a chance, a transfer in January looks likely.

DEDRYCK BOYATA

DEDRYCK BOYATACame with the burden of being billed as a direct replacement for Jason Denayer.

Deila spotted the Belgian defender at Manchester City and waited a year to bring him in to Celtic.

The departure of Virgil van Dijk didn’t help him but players need to accept responsibility and Boyata rarely displayed the assets expected of a central defender.

He earned a place on the substitutes bench away to Borussia Monchengladbach but other than that he has been out of favour under the new manager.

NADIR CIFTCI

CIFTCIFollowing on from the signings of Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong Celtic returned to Tannadice to sign a striker to provide real competition to Leigh Griffiths.

John Guidetti and Stefan Scepovic failed to fit the bill, sadly neither did Ciftci.

A six match domestic ban didn’t help but he was preferred to Griffiths in the early Champions League qualifiers but failed to make an impact.
It was no surprise when he was sent out on loan to Eskisehirspor last January, a similar move looks likely in January with little prospect of recovering the £1.5m transfer fee shelled out.

SCOTT ALLAN

It probably won’t be until his autobiography is serialised that we’ll find out what this transfer was all about.

A series of ten minute cameo roles hinted at a player but as he was departing Deila revealed that Allan wasn’t really his type of player.

Moving on loan to be reunited with Alan Stubbs at Rotherham seemed to be a possible solution- until Stubbs got the sack.

A return to Celtic looks unlikely as another chapter opens in The Mystery of Scott Allan.

RYAN CHRISTIE

CHRISTIEWas sensibly sent back to Inverness Caley Thistle on loan straight after signing but a knee injury cut short his return to life with John Hughes.

Despite starting in Rodgers first match, the defeat from Lincoln Red Imps, Christie has slipped down the pecking order and seems to be behind Liam Henderson and Callum McGregor for a place in the team.

With Tom Rogic in form chances look unlikely but hopefully during the packed December schedule he’ll get a chance or two.

JOZO SIMUNOVIC

JOZO SIMUNOVICIs now starting to impose himself on the team after a bizarre first 12 months after signing from Dinamo Zagreb.

Rodgers has shown great patience to bring him back into the team despite being unable to play back to back matches.

He has shown in the recent games against Sevco and Aberdeen that he has what it takes, shaking off those injury concerns and playing regularly should be the making of the 22-year-old.

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