A Busy Summer Beckons
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!