Strachan looks the biggest winner in transfer window

WITH the transfer window firmly shut, I think you can say the Old Firm conducted great business while it was open. In Kevin Thomson and Paul Hartley, Rangers and Celtic, respectively, have made strong acquisitions. For me, Rangers have paid slightly over the odds for Thomson - I feel £1.5m would have been a more accurate reflection - but £2m certainly isn't exorbitant. There's no doubt in my mind though that Hartley, at £1m, represents an unbelievable bargain for Celtic. Also, while the Glasgow clubs have strengthened, their Edinburgh rivals have been weakened. But more so Hearts than Hibs.

Thomson is the type of signing the Rangers supporters should react positively to. David Weir and Ugo Ehiogu have been important signings for Walter Smith, but they are in the latter stages of their careers, whereas Thomson is a talented young player with scope for further improvement. He's not flamboyant, he's more of a team player, and will be a vital part of the team Smith is building. Thomson has an eye for a pass and keeps things ticking over, much like Neil Lennon, but with more mobility. And as well as a new face in Thomson, I believe the Rangers fans will see a different Barry Ferguson, with Thomson allowing Ferguson to drive forward, and not sit back, as he has been prone to.
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Rangers have paid handsomely for Thomson so there are instant demands on him. The price tag doesn't allow him time to relax in his new environment. His performances will be scrutinised from the outset. Big things will be expected of him and he will have to prove himself. But Kevin became captain of Hibs at a very young age, so I think that, in time, he can flourish in Glasgow. Meanwhile, Hibs hold on to Scott Brown. It just wasn't the right time to sell him. Scott lends Hibs that different dimension - and they now have a cup final to look forward to. Scott can finish this season at Easter Road and then, in all likelihood, join Thomson at Ibrox. In the end, Hibs will be well rewarded financially.

As for Hartley at Celtic Park? Well Rangers may have invested in youth in Thomson, but age is not really an issue as far as Paul is concerned. He is as fit a player as there is in this country. Plus he has it all. He's physical, dynamic, possesses a range of passing, gets box to box, provides great delivery from set-pieces, and he wants to play for Celtic. He's got the move of his dreams, has worked incredibly hard for it, and is going to make the most of it. He has three peak years minimum ahead of him.

In my view Hartley is the epitome of a proper midfielder. Celtic now have someone they haven't had since they sold Stilian Petrov to Aston Villa for close to £7m last summer. To my mind, Hartley surpassed Petrov in terms of his performances in Scottish football last season. Hartley intimidates the opposition. Ask managers like Jimmy Calderwood at Aberdeen and if Hartley's not playing against you, then you feel you have a better chance of winning.

I'm certain that Valdas Ivanauskas was devastated to lose Hartley but he won't come out and say it. He loved Hartley. He thought the world of him. And losing such a top player will feel like a punch in the stomach. It's more cause for concern for the Hearts fans too. They lose one of their very best and it remains to be seen whether there will be a better or even adequate replacement.

Hibs can cope better with the loss of Thomson than Hearts will with the exit of Hartley. Indeed John Collins has said Hibs will cope. But Hearts don't have the ready alternative to Hartley's dynamism. Paul went fairly cheaply in the end. Some may say that he helped instigate his move from Tynecastle, due to his involvement in the infamous press conference with Steven Pressley and Craig Gordon, but, on the other hand, Hearts had to let clubs and agents know that Hartley was available at a certain price in order to sell him. Celtic have clearly benefited.

In the meantime, Gordon Strachan has lost Shaun Maloney (below) but Celtic had moved on without him. They've brought in Hartley for a similar amount to what they've received from Villa for Maloney. It's all-round good business for Celtic, since Maloney would have gone for nothing in the summer. Celtic also have other skilled alternatives in Aiden McGeady, while Derek Riordan is starting to find his feet.

Hearts have signed a glut of players from overseas again. By bringing them in as a job lot you are hoping that one or two of them will do well, but I'm not sure that it's the right way. Valdas would much rather quality than quantity and it would seem that the manager is being ignored in that respect. There will be even more furrowed brows at Tynecastle as the fans wait to see if any of the new arrivals can have any impact. No one is questioning the commitment of the Hearts team this season but the excitement of before has been lost. Craig Gordon will leave Hearts in the summer with the right offer, but will find himself increasingly isolated at Tynecastle with his Scotland team-mates no longer around.

Taken from the Scotsman