Maintaining a strong reserve and youth setup is what we all would like to see, and Celtic have done ok on that front. But outside of Aiden, McManus, and Maloney, most of the guys who come from the academy are bit players or not good enough for the first team. So we can’t count on that to keep us competitive in Europe.

You’re right, Celtic’s financial situation is not dire, but what Celtic can do in the market is so much different than what most other European powers can do, so they have to be creative.

Look at the bind that Gravesen and Bobo’s wages have put Celtic in. And probably the only player on a squad like Barca’s that make 40m/week is a backup keeper.

Celtic are playing in a different market while playing on the same pitch with these giants, so if they bring in some rich clubs kids, they help us win trophies, and they go back to their original club with Celtic a bit richer, I say good business.

For example, let’s say in some crazy hypothetical world we got Aiden from Barca in a Crosas type of deal and after last year Barca have the option to buy him back for an already agreed upon price. Now to say that Aiden’s stock would have gone up would be an understatement raising any potential selling price, but since in the hypothetical world we’ve agreed upon the selling price already we’re stuck giving Barca a bargain.

I agree with Strachan when he says we have limited financial resources, but let us not make us out to be misers here. A combination of spending when necessary and creative deals is crucial. The Crosas deal is a good move, but we can’t rely on these type of deals just as we can’t rely on spending like Scrooge McDuck (I think Dermond Desmond looks a bit like the Ducktales Scrooge anyways and I can easily picture him swimming in gold coins ).

Its a two way street. Celtic is hopefully going to reap the benefits of all the coaching, time, and money that Barca put into Crosas’ development.

And if he performs and returns to Barca, Celtic will have made themselves a handy profit. It seems like a heady piece of business on the part of both clubs.

Celtic’s honor is hardly at stake over this deal or any similar ones they might make. Its the modern game, and for Celtic to compete innovation is required.

I appreciate your idyllic view of the club, but Lawwell, Strachan and Co. are dealing with the hard reality of today’s transfer market.

We should be praising their adaptability and creativity rather than focusing on some meaningless perception.