Looking Forward
I am really looking forward to seeing how Lennon shapes this Celtic team. I still think that with the players we have in our squad we could be on the cusp of being a very decent team. Albeit we have lost and are likely to lose some of the players that I feel really could have taken us to the next level, perhaps we have needed the knocks that were taken in the past 12 months or so to make us take stock and move forward. Get a strong functioning eleven on the pitch rather than a talented squad of 20 or so that struggle for the balance and shape to get the best out of ourselves.
With Mulgrew signed, and the Korean Du Ri at right back/wing back, it certianly could signal a shift to a 352 as we used to great effect when Lennon was first signed. That did gloss over inadequacies in the full back areas, which again we show up short in, and with Mulgrew about as attack minded a 'defender' as you are likely to see, he certianly like Thompson, would be a more important asset feeding the strikers rather than getting back goal side of the oppositions. Granted Alan Thompson was great in the tackle and physically dominated his marker, and indeed had 3 very effective defenders behind him. Mulgrew might well work if we are playing a team likely to give us respect in terms of possesion, but given his frailties will be shown up agaisnt a team taking the game to us and will definitely need a stronger defensive option for those , wether that be a change in personel or in tactics could well be the making of Neil Lennon as a Celtic manager, as Celtic's left back is becoming a decade spanning problem position!
If McGeady has to move on for Celtic to afford to bring in the kind of top level goalscorer that we are crying out for, then I would grudgingly wish him all the best. He certianly hasnt had anything like the support cast to allow him to flourish to the level and stage befitting his ability and underrated workrate. Maybe now is the time that would suit both parties to make the break, a premiership move with enought money to compensate his loss. There seems to be enough options in wider positions, with the majority of our midfield and attacking players able to play there and be expected to do so with pass marks against most of our competitiors, but the goalscoring striker/partnership has looked something a bit more ellusive of late. The confidence of a Keane, Bellamy, or even a Michael Owen, a guy who his teammates 'know' will get them goals, and opposition defences fear the same, would certianly allow Celtic to play with added freedom allowing more chances to be created than currently sees teams sitting at their 18 yard box and watch while McGeady unsupported (at times) tries to break through or create something for static team mates. Boruc like Aiden would be a sad one to let go as we know his undoubted ability could play at better level than the SPL can offer, the cash and Zalusca as an able deputy might see his departure a likely option for the new management team
With Crosas and Ki - we have two players who look that they could in a 5 man midfield be good assets in terms of passing and ball retention, but alongside Brown, is there an important third man needed. The talk of Bullard for this role, Cambell to marshall the back, and a Keane or Bellamy figure brought in up front could really complete a focussed and determined squad. Important that although Cambell, Bullard, and indeed Du Ri are maybe not being banded about by many Champions league aspirers, their level of experience could be vital. Bullard has been relied on as being the main man in the middle of the park for his past two clubs, has drive, a directness to his play, good ability and hopefully the dig to get things going when the ubiquitous staleness sets in at Parkhead. Cambell has Premiership winning, Champions league finals, and major international tournaments under his belt. May not be at his physical peak - but he showed last season upon his Arsenal return that he is in really decent shape, and if he can be the one who can bring our endless number of promising and relatively young/inexperienced centre halves into a unit at the back then his 100 meter sprint wont be at the forefront of his critics minds. The interesting prospect of Du Ri could be another legendary Celtic 'experiment' who might see only sporadic minutes in a Celtic jersey - but this is a guy who has played in the bundislega, had an international career spanning almost 10 years, and indeed has seen him start a World Cup Semi Final, so maybe he has a bit more weight behind his call for a first team game that relatively 'unknown' quanities that have come before him!
I wouldnt be surprised to see a more focus and slim lined squad in terms of numbers with a couple of defenders, younger members, and 'squad players' moved on to pastures new. Players like Wilson and Maloney mgiht fill the squad roles as they've seen the course before and know what is expected, while Rasmussen like his fellow scandinavian Centre halves havent had the chance yet to impress, but all look like they could play a role if the right addition were brought in alongside them. Ive said before that I would be in a rush to sell Samaras as he could certinaly do a job on his day, and perhaps Neil is the manager to bring out the best in these type of players the way that his mentor Martin O'Neil was.
With Mulgrew signed, and the Korean Du Ri at right back/wing back, it certianly could signal a shift to a 352 as we used to great effect when Lennon was first signed. That did gloss over inadequacies in the full back areas, which again we show up short in, and with Mulgrew about as attack minded a 'defender' as you are likely to see, he certianly like Thompson, would be a more important asset feeding the strikers rather than getting back goal side of the oppositions. Granted Alan Thompson was great in the tackle and physically dominated his marker, and indeed had 3 very effective defenders behind him. Mulgrew might well work if we are playing a team likely to give us respect in terms of possesion, but given his frailties will be shown up agaisnt a team taking the game to us and will definitely need a stronger defensive option for those , wether that be a change in personel or in tactics could well be the making of Neil Lennon as a Celtic manager, as Celtic's left back is becoming a decade spanning problem position!
If McGeady has to move on for Celtic to afford to bring in the kind of top level goalscorer that we are crying out for, then I would grudgingly wish him all the best. He certianly hasnt had anything like the support cast to allow him to flourish to the level and stage befitting his ability and underrated workrate. Maybe now is the time that would suit both parties to make the break, a premiership move with enought money to compensate his loss. There seems to be enough options in wider positions, with the majority of our midfield and attacking players able to play there and be expected to do so with pass marks against most of our competitiors, but the goalscoring striker/partnership has looked something a bit more ellusive of late. The confidence of a Keane, Bellamy, or even a Michael Owen, a guy who his teammates 'know' will get them goals, and opposition defences fear the same, would certianly allow Celtic to play with added freedom allowing more chances to be created than currently sees teams sitting at their 18 yard box and watch while McGeady unsupported (at times) tries to break through or create something for static team mates. Boruc like Aiden would be a sad one to let go as we know his undoubted ability could play at better level than the SPL can offer, the cash and Zalusca as an able deputy might see his departure a likely option for the new management team
With Crosas and Ki - we have two players who look that they could in a 5 man midfield be good assets in terms of passing and ball retention, but alongside Brown, is there an important third man needed. The talk of Bullard for this role, Cambell to marshall the back, and a Keane or Bellamy figure brought in up front could really complete a focussed and determined squad. Important that although Cambell, Bullard, and indeed Du Ri are maybe not being banded about by many Champions league aspirers, their level of experience could be vital. Bullard has been relied on as being the main man in the middle of the park for his past two clubs, has drive, a directness to his play, good ability and hopefully the dig to get things going when the ubiquitous staleness sets in at Parkhead. Cambell has Premiership winning, Champions league finals, and major international tournaments under his belt. May not be at his physical peak - but he showed last season upon his Arsenal return that he is in really decent shape, and if he can be the one who can bring our endless number of promising and relatively young/inexperienced centre halves into a unit at the back then his 100 meter sprint wont be at the forefront of his critics minds. The interesting prospect of Du Ri could be another legendary Celtic 'experiment' who might see only sporadic minutes in a Celtic jersey - but this is a guy who has played in the bundislega, had an international career spanning almost 10 years, and indeed has seen him start a World Cup Semi Final, so maybe he has a bit more weight behind his call for a first team game that relatively 'unknown' quanities that have come before him!
I wouldnt be surprised to see a more focus and slim lined squad in terms of numbers with a couple of defenders, younger members, and 'squad players' moved on to pastures new. Players like Wilson and Maloney mgiht fill the squad roles as they've seen the course before and know what is expected, while Rasmussen like his fellow scandinavian Centre halves havent had the chance yet to impress, but all look like they could play a role if the right addition were brought in alongside them. Ive said before that I would be in a rush to sell Samaras as he could certinaly do a job on his day, and perhaps Neil is the manager to bring out the best in these type of players the way that his mentor Martin O'Neil was.
posted by Michael__67 at 7:29 AM
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