State of the Squad
Now the window has been slammed shut, the shape of the Celtic squad is as follows:
It took right up to the end of the last day to get there, and I am not sure why that needed to be the case.
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Applying my usual “Occam’s Razor” filter, I would guess it comes down to the lack of experience and bandwidth of the personnel completing the money and legals around the various deals in play all at the same time.
That, and an over-reliance on Brendan Rodgers to be Director of Football, Head of Recruitment, and Head Coach all at the same time. That is an organisational failure.
But we are here now, and this is what we have.
1. Goalkeepers
A very promising young player Viljami Sinisalo whom has been “bloodied” in the English lower leagues and is the understudy to a vastly experienced Kaspar Schmeichel who may revolutionise Celtic’s press resistance whilst remaining a top-class shot-stopper at nearly 38 years old.
Tick.
2. Defence
Greg Taylor remains highly valued and relied upon yet there seems to be no movement on renewing his contract. Cover has been supplied in a loan deal for Barcelona’s Alex Valle. This is an exciting one and it seems Celtic has been smart to take advantage of a distressed seller. Part of the first team squad, the Catalans were desperate to move players on to allow registration of others in what remains a financial disaster of a club. With a very low buyout clause, but high wages for such a youngster, this could prove a smart piece of business in the long term.
Central defence has seen Yuki Kobayashi move out permanently and Lars Lagerbielke on loan. Auston Trusty is the third big money incoming. His time at Sheffield United was deeply troubled in a very poor relegated side and he isn’t fondly thought off by their support. There is an essay to be written on data analysis, profiling centre backs and context. Long story short – we’ll have to wait and see with this one.
With injury-prone Stephen Welsh and Maik Nawrocki as cover, this remains an area sensitive to risk. Cameron Carter-Vickers has shown signs of physical infallibility and indeed a couple of nervy moments this season.
Jury out.
3. Midfield
The sale of Matt O’Riley was simultaneously sad but to be celebrated as the exemplar of how to buy, develop and sell young talent. A wonderful deal for the club and a smashing young fellow.
Moving on Tomoki Iwata was a shock to me as he seems a reliable performer able to cover several positions.
Arne Engels broke Celtic’s transfer record and it is a huge outlay for a largely unproven young player. Physically and potential wise it looks a good move but we will all have to be patient. He is highly inexperienced and the whole “playing for Celtic” and integrating into the rough and tumble of Scottish football will take some time.
Paolo Bernardo was eventually brought back, and we know what he can do and can see the potential growth. A low risk signing.
Luke McCowan was the late deal but he, along with Blair Spittal (a miss on a free by Celtic) has been the outstanding creative midfield player outside the top two in the SPFL. This has strong Paul Hartley / Barry Robson vibes as well as boosting the Scottish squad contingent for UEFA registration purposes. Very happy with this and I think he will pleasantly surprise many.
Overall, with Bernardo and McCowan allowing Engels to bed in gradually, and if Odin Holm develops, it is a promising but young cadre to provide legs to support Callum McGregor.
I suspect we are one short in this department.
Exciting but with unknowns.
4. Attack
Celtic are carrying two strikers or maybe three if Daizen Maeda is cover. Adam Idah came in as a known quantity for a large sum. For this to work, I hope he continues to grow and develop his overall game which Rodgers clearly believes he will.
The wings are a concern. Nicolas Kuhn is flourishing under Rodgers, and Maeda will do what he does no more nor less. James Forrest is good for 50 minutes and cameos.
I doubt Luis Palma nor Hyun-jun Yang are in the manager's long-term plans, but no replacements were sourced and therefore they remain in the squad.
The front three are two injuries away from a crisis.
Don’t be surprised if there is some emergency cover brought in here.
Functional but light.
We got here via a very bad route with Rodgers acting as all things to all people, and the whole negotiating of deals taking far too long. The club has supported him personally to get his targets. But it shouldn’t work like that.
There remains significant uncertainty as to the solidity of the centre-backs, the youth of the midfield, and the quality in the forward areas to withstand injury.
Success was achieved in moving on seven unwanted first-team wages whilst bringing in nearly £7 million for academy graduates.
Overall, I’m giving the transfer window performance six and a half out of ten.
Next priority – fix the senior structures of the football department and let Rodgers coach.
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