Building on yesterdays article on appearances during the season, let’s take a look at the implications of where we are.
Last Season
As mentioned yesterday, 19 players were the core contributors in a double winning season that, with European football progression, stretched to 60 games.
The Ask
No qualifiers will be a blessing in that regard, but the manager will hope for more meaningful progress in Europe as well as across the board success in the domestic Cups.
Another 60+ match season hopefully beckons.
Promote from Within?
The general rule of thumb is two players for every position and 25 as a manageable first team squad.
Celtic may wish to build up their youth reserves but as has been shown, the most talented very young are leaving earlier (e.g. Hepburn, Morrison, Doak) whilst the Lowland League and SPFL Loan pathway is not yet showing it can produce first team ready players.
The following are too old for Lowland League but are they capable of supplementing the 1st team squad?
- Afolabi
- Coffey
- Connell
- Doohan
- Hazard (on loan until January 2023)
- McInroy
- Moffat
- Mullen
- Robertson
- Shaw
- Urhgohide
Henderson and Paterson have already been accounted for as leavers.
That was kind of a rhetorical question. I don’t see, based on loan performances or first team opportunities, any of those being considered part of the first team group.
Therefore, realistically, we are looking at 25 relatively senior pros.
Current Squad
Let’s look at the current core squad and map out requirements for the new season.
Firstly, as we sit here today, this is my view of the coverage.
Some rationale:
- Postecoglou likes Bain and he is a perfectly serviceable number two
- I know I am being harsh on Starfelt – my blog!
- A fit Turnbull has more on ball composure and control than Hatate therefore I have him as a starter
- The rest should be fairly non-controversial (ha)
Gaps / Requirements
There are some obvious and glaring gaps.
I believe we need:
- Agree who is the next in line after Hart and Bain (e.g. Oluwayemi), and/or buy a new ‘keeper who will have the “Angeball” attributes to push them and potentially move Bain on
- A number 1 left back
- 2 x number 1 centre backs (hopefully one of those will be Carter-Vickers)
- 1 x box to box number 8
- Future planning for Forrest replacement
- A first team ready left winger (if Jota does not return)
If Carter-Vickers and Jota come on board permanently then great. That leaves 3 first team ready players needed. It will be 5 if they do not resign.
There is also significant work to do on the B team set up with a fresh likely needed of gateway talent – that is for another day.
To summarise the need:
1 x left back
2 x centre backs
1 x box to box midfielder
1 x winger
Desirable / Things to think about:
- Team style compatible goalkeeper
- A number 6 depending on how much more a 29-year-old McGregor can be flogged and are Ideguchi and McCarthy able / up to play 25 games?
- Succession planning for Forrest – maybe 1 x more winger would be prudent
One Last Thing
Virtually every year in the last 11 years Celtic have sold at least one player for relatively big money.
This season, Champions League qualification brings some certainty.
However, if Celtic do need to flip a player, the most marketable assets would likely be Abada and Turnbull. One to keep an eye on.
This will be a fascinating summer transfer season!
Benjamin says
I see we’re giving Christopher Julien the old Ange treatment and pretending he doesn’t exist. ?
But in all seriousness, difficult to argue with any of this.
One thing I’d like to see – and we can file this under wishful thinking because it’s never going to happen – is for the club to adopt a quasi-official policy of playing at least one youth player every domestic game for 30-45 minutes minimum. Maybe exclude Rangers from that, but otherwise this Celtic team should (and usually is) steamrolling the opposition domestically, and they can give minutes to these fringe youth players. Best case is that they continue to develop into proper 1st team players. Worst case is they’re put in the shop window and they’re sold for a few hundred grand rather than moved on for free each summer. Plus that would hopefully entice the better youth players to stick around after their 16th birthday rather than run off to Munich, Liverpool, or London.
celticbynumbers@btinternet.com says
I love Jullien but I am reading the room!
Interesting idea re youth players – pressure to win will always prevail
AP has, historically, been one to play young players if he believes they are the best option available – let’s see
Mistertaximan says
I would class Julien as a marketable asset. He seems unlikely to re-sign (assuming he is wanted) and with one year remaining on his contract, he will be sold. He is a good player bought for a lot of money, so he should still generate a decent fee.
No mention of Scales. I hope he gets further opportunities as he hasn’t done much wrong. I would like to think that some of the loan players will also be given another pre-season to impress and have high hopes for the talented Moffat.
Dembele and Johnston also get no mention. I would like to see Johnson go on loan, he looks like a player low on confidence. Karamoko, well who knows? I’ll trust in Ange on that one but we all know there’s a serious talent there somewhere if he has the right attitude.
My wish list is the same as yours; upgrades on Starfelt and Taylor as well as a replacement for Rogic (but with an engine). Additionally, get CCV and Jota signed up, as well as a new contract (already) for Abada who will be courted all summer otherwise. I also believe that Giakomakis and probably Kyogo will be subject to interest but I doubt they will be going anywhere. Turnbull is a wee bit of a worry but he will hopefully stick around too. Agreed he should be a first pick.
Charlie Kelly says
It’s a pity Ben Doak has chosen to leave as he’d have got some first team opportunities this season I’m sure.
Based on the last two seasons, there has to be a huge question mark over Forrest’s long term fitness & ability to handle the Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday demands in the event of anything happening to Abada.
If Forrest gets himself fit & up to speed and if Abada kicks on from last season, then that position is pretty much sorted BUT it’s two big “ifs” at the minute IMHO.
However it’s hard to know what to do just now. It could be a position that needs some serious attention towards the end of the window (or come January) depending on how things go in pre-season & the early August matches.
At least we don’t have vital European qualifiers, with millions of pounds riding on them, to negotiate whilst we’re still trying to strengthen the squad.
The Cha says
I agree with this, did Forrest just have an annus horribilis or is it simply the ravages of time catching up with him?
I believe the latter and find it odd he was given a new contract when he still had a year to run and doubts over fitness persist.
Like you, even if he regains a modicum of fitness, I doubt he’ll ever be a 2 game a week player.
As we finished the season with Jota and Maeda alternating on the wings then those 2, or replacement for former, plus Abada are likely to be the main wingers.
I assume Abada and Turnbull are the most marketable assets in the sense of ones that can be sold without unduly affecting the team unlike say Kyogo.
wrt B-side prospects, I found this:
https://celtsarehere.com/top-journo-reveals-celtics-highest-rated-b-team-players/
Interesting that its the defensive triangle, critical to play out from the back, fast and accurately.
Given history its probably unlikely that all 3, if any, will progress to the 1st team.
John Kane says
Great analysis and pretty much agree with where the gaps exist. My wish is for the introduction of one or two players who, like Giakoumakis, can add some physicality particularly in midfield where at times we have appeared physically disadvantaged. This will be critical in the Champions League. Definitely add a central defender with the ability to play out from the back and possess some height and presence (VVD-esq characteristics too much to ask). One asset I feel we’ve lost since Lustig left and Julien’s injury is having someone (or two) with the ability to ping accurate long passes. You see how effectively Liverpool use this. I believe having the flexibility to add variety in our play would be so advantageous, especially against teams who press us when we’re trying to play out from the back.
Anyhow, great article and can’t wait for the Huddle Breakdown to return. ??HH
The Cha says
Apparently there’s a VVD-esq player already in Glasgow. 😉
Iain in Alberta says
Dane Murray! or is it Tony Ralstinho!
Garry Cowan says
Interesting take on it got to agree with the vast majority of your logic