Alan Pattullo: Tony Mowbray strays from methodical approach with quick-fix flurry

TONY Mowbray has built a reputation for being a methodical character. Now, however, there is reason to regard him as a hasty operator, possibly even haphazard.

• Tony Mowbray

The quickly-resolved loan capture of Robbie Keane last night sprinkled stardust across his recent moves in the transfer market.

But the Tottenham Hotspur player has been continually linked with Celtic, even prior to Mowbray's appointment. He can't be considered part of his grand plans for Celtic, whatever these plans now are. Mowbray seems to have abandoned his normal preference for slow, well-researched change.

Keane is a signing designed to achieve something quickly. If this does not end up being the Scottish Premier League title – the odds have already been slashed – then it will at least promote an upsurge of interest in the club from supporters who have grown less and less inclined to attend games.

But few believe Keane's move will be upgraded from temporary to permanent come the season's end. His capture was the third loan deal completed by Celtic in a single day yesterday. Diomansy Kamara, from Fulham, and Bayern Munich left-back Edson Braafheid.

They cannot be considered pieces in Mowbray's long-term jigsaw. Perhaps, though, they are expedient captures; simply parachuted in to help Mowbray buy himself the time to implement a more expansive, and deep-rooted, transformation of the club.

Such is the current standard of the Scottish Premier League at present, it is difficult to see how they cannot all help raise the quality level. But Mowbray has to hope they all blend quickly into the side. Indeed, he has to pray that what amounts to almost an entirely new side can function immediately as a team.

This, effectively, is what he has created following a dizzying period of activity in the transfer market. Supporters of the club will have to hope they are all like Morten Rasmussen, and make an instant impression. Ki Sung Yueng and Jos Hooiveld joined earlier this month, as did the young Norwegian defender Thomas Rogne. Their agents may well have observed Mowbray's recent troubles and sold them on the pledge that they excel at hitting the ground running.

Since arriving in May, Mowbray has already torn up his predecessor's team. In Liam Fox's case he has even sold on players he himself signed. Many might applaud him for this.

Others might view it as an unhelpfully brutal response to the central problem, which was the leaking of cheap goals. It has certainly been a case of revolution rather than evolution under Mowbray. Three successive title wins meant there was not too much wrong at the club, even if the manager in charge for this hat-trick of triumphs struggled to find not just love, but even acceptance.

Gordon Strachan is now at Middlesbrough, Mowbray's hometown team. The Englishman, meanwhile, has stepped into Strachan's shoes at Celtic. Both, it seems, are now intent on pursuing a 'throw the kitchen sink' approach as they attempt to revive flagging fortunes. But is the January transfer window really the time to engage in such wholesale alterations? Mowbray might contend that any time is the appropriate time if what you have is not good enough. Celtic fans will expect immediate proof of improvement.

The need for Strachan to do something drastic was perhaps more obvious, with his side slipping further and further down the Championship. Scott McDonald's capture represents good sense, in that he is likely to score goals anywhere – except when having slipped on a gold Australia shirt. But while Strachan's instinct to turn to Scotland is understandable, it is less easy to comprehend him signing players he didn't pick when he had them at Celtic. Both Chris Killen and Willo Flood are in this category.

Neither's loss will trouble the Celtic supporters terribly. But some might be slightly troubled by Mowbray's rejection of roots as the future under him continues to be paved put. Celtic fielded players of ten different nationalities on Saturday in the 1-0 win at Hamilton Academical. Not one of them was a Scot.

But the cultural make-up of the team will matter little if the title is wrestled back from Rangers in May. Mowbray has opted for the quick-fix. If it does not work then it won't only be his principles he has offended. Many thousands of Celtic supporters are ready to judge him too.

CELTIC INS & OUTS

INS

Robbie Keane (Tottenham*)

Diomansy Kamara (Fulham*)

Ki Sung-Yeung (FC Seoul)

Jos Hooiveld (AIK Stockholm)

Thomas Rogne (Stabaek)

Morten Rasmussen (Brondby)

Edson Braafheid (Bayern Munich*)

Paul Slane (Motherwell)

OUTS

Gary Caldwell (Wigan)

Willo Flood, Barry Robson,

Chris Killen, Scott McDonald and Stephen McManus * (all Middlesbrough)

Mark Brown (Hibernian)

Danny Fox (Burnley)

Ben Hutchison (Dundee*)

Cilian Sheridan (St Johnstone*)

Graham Carey (St Mirren*)

*loan deal