Two days after the deadline there is still no sign of Celtic’s Champions League squad appearing on the UEFA website.
Following the September 1 Transfer Deadline in most UEFA countries clubs had a little extra time to put together their 25 man squad for the six matches in the group stage of the Champions League.
No explanation has been offered for the delay in publishing the squad, Video Celts understands that Celtic submitted their squad on schedule on Monday.
With four club trained players required and four from other Scottish clubs quite a few foreign imports are due to miss out. Basically only 17 non-Scots can be named.
Callum McGregor, James Forrest, Tony Ralston and Stephen Welsh came through the ranks but the Scottish trained list is a bit of a stretch with Greg Taylor and David Turnbull making it with Scott Bain and possibly James McCarthy still required a year after his last competitive appearance.
1. Euro squad stuff.
Celtic have until 11pm on Monday night to submit our squad list for the CL group stage.
Normally it’s pretty straightforward. But this year we have some decisions to make, and a lot will depend on the injury situation with certain players.
— Moravcik67 (@Moravcik67_) September 2, 2023
10. Based on replies so far, there’s something of a concensus to leave out
Siegrest
Scales
Kobayashi
Kwon
Tillio
IwataI’d be surprised if we leave Siegrest out, as it would mean our third keeper would be a youngster on List B. Not sure we’d take that risk.
— Moravcik67 (@Moravcik67_) September 2, 2023
Injuries in central defence are an issue with Liam Scales, Gustaf Lagerbielke and Nat Phillips available for the opening matches with Cameron Carter-Vickers, Maik Nawrocki and Welsh expected to be available for the closing fixtures.
There are bound to be a few big name omissions but fans will be kept in the dark until UEFA decide to reveal the squad.
Manchester City have announced their squad but nothing has been published by UEFA.
CLICK HERE for the Celtic squad news on UEFA’s website.
Just glad we’re in there…. Oh and of course that Sevco are not !!!
Will be very interesting to see what Rodgers decides upon for the CL squad.
Believe we will only take 2 keepers now due to the CB injuries to CCV and rocki.
Think McCarthy will take the place of Welsh, due to his injury.
The 8 homegrown Scottish is a problem for ourselves with only 1 in calmac worthy of the quality needed for starting a CL match.
Will be interesting to see how Rodgers intends to line up for our 1st game, but surly we must be looking to start with our best 11 available, so could that mean a possible change in formation, especially away from home?
Our best 11 I believe would be as follows imo
Hart
CCV Philips Rocki
AJ Calmac Oreily Hatate
Abada Kyogo Meada.
And that’s without knowing what Paulo and Palma could add.
Our replacements in the front 3 are obvious enough with Forrest and Mikey making up Scottish numbers
Still got Ralston, Taylor, Largerman and scales to give ourselves options defensively with bases covered if we decided to go with 3/4/5 at the back
Midfield possibly still remains our weekest area due to having turnbull and possibly McCarthy within the squad. Hopefully Paulo offers us plenty and meada could potentially cover for hatate in a wing back role, if still injured. A choice between Holm and iwata is still required.
Think iwata might just get the nod with offering just a bit more flexibility in positions he could be used in, if required to do so.
May leave us with only Bain as a back up keeper, and hopefully nothing happens to Hart.
Missing out for me would be yuki, kwon, Bernie, Holm, big Ben and Welsh imo, but always have next season to work towards, and potential cover for rotation purpose within the SPFL.
Saying all that Rodgers has possibly totally different plan’s in mind, still facing some tough decisions to make all the same.
Overall I don’t think we are going to have as bad as a squad that many of us were fearing including myself