On Tuesday, I wrote a piece giving my thoughts on players that are in our squad and who I think we should be keeping and who should be moved on.
From the comments left, I think it’s safe to say that a new keeper is a must. Most folk, like myself, wont be overly concerned if big Forster ends up staying down at Newcastle. He’s decent but is guilty of hesitating when he should be off his line quicker in some situations.
The rumours today, and not for the first time, are that we could be ready to make a move for Shay Given. At 35 years old, we would get a few years out of him and if things don’t work, we’d not be very likely to sell him on so perhaps a bit of a gamble? Not for me, I’d like to see him back at Parkhead.
On my last post, I mentioned that I don’t think players should be allowed back when they’ve left. Given left when he was 18 years old and probably didn’t have much of a say in the matter so I think he is one of the exceptions to that rule.
A couple of other suggestions are Julian Speroni (former Dundee keeper) and Keiren Westwood (Coventry). I fear that cash could be the stumbling block for Speroni and although Westwood is out of contract he will be expecting a king-sized signing on fee.
Where else do we look for a new keeper and more importantly, who could that new keeper be?
Some fans forums are saying we should go for Artur Boruc, as much as I liked ‘the holy goalie’ I’m not 100% sure that bringing him back would be the best idea in the world.
Is sticking with the ones we have too much of a gamble? I think so.
Overall, opinion is pretty mixed regarding the defenders that we have. For the SPL, our defence (regardless of how they look at times), have proved that they are capable of doing a job but in Europe we were all over the place.
Part of me wonders if last seasons European disasters were simply a case of us playing against that level of opponent too early under Neil Lennon.
With Kelvin Wilson coming in from Nottingham Forest, I still feel that we need a new centre half. With West Ham relegated, could we tempt Matthew Upson up to play for us and would any fans want him?
He’s maybe not everyones cup of tea but at 32 years old he could walk through the SPL and has experience of playing against top players in the Premiership. Maybe him along with Kelvin Wilson would be an option.
In midfield, I don’t think we need to tweak very much and judging from the comments left and from speaking to other supporters, not very many other folk think that we need much change here.
If anything, I’d think that we could do with a player who can play a similar role to Joe Ledley because I feel that next season, he could be as important a player to us as what Paul Lambert was a few years ago. If he is injured, we don’t have anyone who can do the same job as him and the midfield isn’t the same without him.
Up front, John Carew has fallen out of favour at Aston Villa. So much so that he moved to Stoke on a loan deal- which has now expired. Now, maybe I’m being a bit sentimental but I remember Carew playing against us for Valencia and I have always rated him since then.
I don’t think there are any hoops fans who actually want Georgios Samaras to stay on and hopefully he wont. I’m sure he is a nice enough big guy but as a footballer he’s nowhere near good enough for us.
When he signed his new contract I was hoping that it was only done on the basis that he could have been sold on for a fee instead of just released for nothing.
As I said in my last post, the jury is still out on Daryl Murphy but I don’t really hold out much hope for him. To date, the guy has played 252 games and scored 76 goals – 53 of those have been for Waterford United.
Another player that I would have liked to see at us is John Sutton but he’s signed for Hearts so hopefully he isn’t going to turn into the one that got away.
Blackpools DJ Campbell is a guy that I’ve been impressed by, the guy has proved that he can score goals against good oppostion so why not spend a few quid to get him up?
Some folk might be thinking why would I want someone from Blackpool as our ‘marquee’ signing but I’m afraid it’s a sign of the times really.
Long gone are the days when we could compete financially with teams in
the Premiership or over Europe for that matter.
Of course a big part of a successful team is consistency, of the new guys this year Emilio Izaguirre, Biram Kayal and Gary Hooper will probably attract a few bids. If someone was to come in with a £10m+ offer for either of these guys, it may be hard to refuse it.
Look at how good Lee Naylor was in his first season, the same could happen to any of these guys.
I know a lot of people will hate the thought of Celtic being a ‘selling club’ but if that’s the only way we can survive then I suppose we may have to consider any big offers even if it is for some of our better players.
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I’d definitely be looking for 2 new keepers….not a big fan of Given, at his age, wages etc – short term – not for me. Kello at Hearts if you can keep him out of a Casino ? but sure there are plenty more in Europe.
Normally I’d stay well away from the EPL…but for loan signings, think we could pick some good quality Woodgate is top quality, admittedly injured a lot…but class. Huth would give us the “intimidator” we have lacked since Balde, or Bhoularouz at Stuttgart…maybe an Italian, no one defends like an Italian.
Strikers, I’d look to Eastern Europe for a bargain must be some Bulgarian / Romanian / Croatian striker who could really show Sammy how to play.
With massive player squads at Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs we could surely find a young up & coming player who needs experience. Bartley was at least as good as any of our central defenders, Gibb on the fringes at Arsenal is real quality.
Teams like Espanol and Villareal indeed Braga all have players on much lower wages than we can afford….so think positively and look beyond the obvious.
Despite a decent season, although bitterly disappointing….the fact we can all nominate 10-15 players we could sell / release shows where our problems lie. Punt those who are simply not good enough. Some players ARE worth a wee risk, I’d definitely take Goodwillie, could be a star IF he gets his head sorted and Conway has loads of ability, another couple of low budget guys I rate are Ryan Jack (Aberdeen) & Tom Scobbie (Falkirk) if we have to sell someone, then it’s Izzy for me – his value is at it’s peak and replace with Lee Wallace.
However I’d REALLY hope our Euro contacts have already compiled a list of top targets who can take us up a notch or two. Ki & Kayal are special talents…another 2 like those would be excellent.
Given is a top EPL keeper, im born and bred in NW london and all the gooners here were gutted Arsenal didn’t get him at the beginning of the season, Celtic will do well to get him, expect a lot of EPL teams to try and sign him, he is well established in englands top flight.
romanian striker??!! who??!! i am romanian and ….striker’s from my country is very very very low quality. no romanian striker for Celts please.
I didn’t state a specific striker I merely said “I’d look to Eastern Europe for a bargain must be some Bulgarian / Romanian / Croatian striker”
Doesn’t have to be Romanian, but I am sure there are good quality players still plying their trade. Hopefully we have Dr. Venglos / Lubo keeping tabs on this area for us.
Save us from another high wage non scoring waste of space.
The keepers, im of the same thinking as WullieBhoy, 2 new keeper’s required & my first choice would be Kello also, always liked him and he seems to raise his game against the Hun,he already familiar with the SPL and cant see him taking up much in wages.
My second choice keeper would be Cerny I think he is good keeper and wages wise cant see him being on much, i’d use Zaluska as an exchange for Kello and some cash also, the Pole mentioned last season how he is at that age where he needs to have first team and regular football so expect to see him begging for move this summer.
There is a few Hearts player’s I like, you mention Joe about a player who can compete or be back up for the left midfield position incase Ledley needing rested or injury or suspension, how about Lee Wallace ? I know he’s had problems with injury’s, but he is a left sided player who can play left back, wing back as well as left midfield, also if someone does come in with that difficult to turn down offer for Izzaguirre then in my opinion Wallace can do a job there for us.
Another two Hearts players im keen on is Kevin Kyle and the other being the young lad Templeton, two Celtic minded men, my thinking is we get shot of Murphy and Stokes,keep hold of Samaras, I’ll explain my reason for holding onto Samaras further down the comment, Stokes highly overrated and his goal tally is deceiving as a good few of them where from the 12 yard spot, his over all game for me not good enough, to moody is a big problem for me with him, he cant read the game either, always making dud runs and cant hold the ball up for our midfielders to push on among other things,i’d move him on even at a loss.
Anyway Big Kyle,hardcore SPL striker, we need to plan a team around having a formation and starting X1 for the Europa League and another formation and X1 for the SPL, and Kyle is what is needed for the physical battles in the SPL, he got that Physique and height required, and Samaras i’d persevere with the big Greek, never hides in games, runs his socks off for the jersey, an enigma and frustrating but he’s the type of player required for the lone striker games for those Euopean games when we holding onto a lead, that is the thing with Samaras he is at his best playing up there on his own, doesnt work him being in a partnership, plus he rarely get’s injured and if he finds his confidence he can do a job in the SPL also, his height comes in handy as well, I hope wee keep him, but along with Kyle i’d like to see us sign Boothroyd also, i think him and Hooper would make a good partnership, Boothroyd got the height that Hooper lacks, I reckon those four strikers in a rotation system could work.
Im big admirer of Templeton, can be a bit inconsistent at times, but I reckon playing for his Bhoyhood team and with Neil Lennon and the back room staff motivating him he will come good, a player still young who would suit the type of football we play.
Id like to see a right back signed also, Wilson has been ok this season, but if anyone’s being honest he not the answer, his crossing is dire and when teams press and play the closing down game then it rstricts him from hitting the byline to link up with Broony, and when he is stuck back in his own half he useless, stray passing, nervous runs and it shows his lack of quality in my opinion, id punt Du ri and keep Wilson but we need a Hinkel type experienced player in there for the big games especially in Europe, a right back who can get up and down the line with Hinkel’s crossing ability, if only Juarez could have replicated the form he has shown when playing that position for Mexico,£3 million quid waisted there.Stephen Carr maybe for a year ?
Big Dan not ideal for me as first choice defender, to inconsistent, makes silly mistakes to often for someone of his experience, id keep him but as 2nd choice with Rogne and Mulgrew and Id bring in another experienced defender like Dunne of Villa.
That would do it for me, sell or let go of Mcourt, McGinn,Loovens,Du ri,Murphy,Stokes,Zaluska,Cervi,Maloney,Hinkel and all the loan players.
That should free up wages to fund some bosmans and transfer fees plus i’d like to see some of the youth getting blooded in this season and if we cant get Boothroyd go for the Iraeli lad Shecter I think his name is.
Lee Naylor was actually only good up until around Xmas/New Year of his first season after that he could not hit the proverbial cow’s backside with a banjo….
You are right though, Goalie, Centre Half, and a Striker. I am still not sure about right back, I know Wilson has done very well since he came back in but I still think he is dodgy when asked to defend high balls, particularly at the back post. I think he can play almost every week in the SPL but I’m just not sure about Europe. We have enough midfielders for nearly 3 teams so no point in wasting any time there and I dont think any of the main 3 played in their optimum positions would be left out of the team, I’m talking about Brown, Kayal and Ledley. He may be looking to pair Wilson up with Danny in the centre, not seen enough of Wilson pass any form of judgement on him.
Your article on who Neil should let go was spot on in that he faces his toughest challenge there. I dont think he needs to bring in many players, just the right ones to hopefully walk into the 1st team. A goalie would, the right centre half could and the right striker could. I could do without seeing any “projects” being signed unless they are ones that could just not be passed up.
I feel we may end up slightly disappointed at the end of August, largely because I think the PLC will gamble on McCoist being a failure, I hope I’m wrong.
Brian. The board can’t afford to do any more gambling.
3 in a Row now, Nah they will get lynched, the support have showed bit of grace up until now, a 4th year in a row not acceptable, they got a lot to thank for all the other distractions plus Lenny bringing the unity back this season that took the spotlight of the board.
Some things have been over looked, like Ljunberg, Murphy, when that money could have went on central defender instead, dilly dally’n in transfer market leaving us weakened for the European games.
We need to prepare for Europa league football, we attract players to the club using the lure of European football,and the one’s already here we need to give them it, so its not about what McCoist does, we need to strengthen this squad so when we go to Champs league the following season we ready for it with settled team, no European football then there is no chance of holding onto the ledleys etc.
I think your all missing the fact that mulgrew was one of our top performers last season. I’m afraid though of him turning into one of the fans scapegoats like sammy or Caldwell when he makes a cock up! Mulgrew is one who would break his neck for the team.
if we keep samaras we will not win the league! he is not a striker, debateable wether he is a football player either!
i would take westwood for GK, he is young,has potential, he is pretty good as is and more importantly FREE!!
would sign a CB to partner wilson and help develop rogne. big dan is hopeless and for a CB as long in the game why does he commit the ultimate sin so much in heading the ball down to the edge of the box!
i would sign a pacey right winger, i know we have forrest and i rate him but he is still learning. ki,ledley, kayal will do for the 2 CM slots. brown i would sell capable of great moments but for the majority of the time he is ill disciplined and cant pass a ball 10 yards.
i would keep murphy and stokes as back up (some spl games). sign boothroyd defo, again he is free!! andre kramaric, or marius alexe are 2 young eastern european strikers with bags of abillity and i think they would be available for between 1-2m.
not sure about goodwillie as his comments on wanting the huns to win the league stops it for me. would take daly or johnny russel as squad players.
but my main signing 3-4 million would be dusan tadic. he plays for fc groinigen in holland and is a 22 year old serb. terrific winger pacey, good feet, great vision and can score. if he hasnt already agreed to move clubs he will be at one of europes bigger teams within 2 years. cmon celtic lets get in early and steal him!!
We should 100% be looking to try to hold onto Izzy and especially Kayal. Both have offered us something we’ve been sorely lacking over the past few seasons and we pose a very real threat to a lot of teams with two attacking fullbacks. We should be looking to build a midfield around Kayal, certainly for next season and hopefully the one after, if we can keep him.
Samaras I’m afraid simply isn’t a striker and certainly isn’t consistent enough. We can’t always play pretty football on the deck and we should be looking for a big strong target man, as there are times when we will have to play route one. The likes of Hooper and Stokes can easily feed off a target man…which Samaras isn’t!
As for a keeper…if we’re canny enough it might be worth a punt trying to entice Friedel up north. Commanding presence and isn’t afraid to come off his line either. Still has a good couple of seasons in him at least.