CELTIC'S LEFT-BACK DILEMMA
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- Mar 30
- 3 min read
Everything is looking set for a busy summer transfer window at Celtic Park. We already know that Kieran Tierney is coming home.
Brendan Rodgers also conceded that Greg Taylor is almost certainly headed the other way in his post match comments after yesterday's 3-0 win over Hearts.
Taylor's Time With Celtic Almost Up
Speaking to BBC Scotland after the game yesterday, when asked about Taylor, Brendan Rogers said: ""I've been in this position so many times and I can read situations,"
Rodgers continued: "It's probably more likely now that Greg will move on than stay, which is a big shame for me because I love him as a person - and I love his game because it's suited to how we work.
Taylor an Undervalued Asset
He may be an occasional whipping boy for some irate fans, but clearly our manager rates Greg Taylor highly. In all honesty, so do I.
Greg Taylor has his flaws and does make the odd blunder here and there, but he is a tireless worker, and his dedication to the team during his time at Celtic cannot be questioned, in my opinion.
However, such industry only gets you so far, and we also know that Kieran Tierney is a definite upgrade in this area.
Does Tierney Need a Back-Up or a Challenger?
So, the question is, how do we replace Greg Taylor. At the moment, he seems to be our 2nd choice left-back, having been displaced by Jeffrey Schlupp since the latter's arrival in January.
However, the Crystal Palace loanee's deal also runs out at the end of the season. As it stands, he and Taylor would both leave Celtic on the same day.
We certainly can't run next season with just one senior left-back, especially one with Kieran Tierney's unfortunate injury record. But what profile of left-back do we need?
Seasoned and Experienced vs Young, Raw and Ambitious
So, as I see it, there's two options here. For arguments sake we'll go on the, I think, obvious assumption that Kieran Tierney is our number one at left-back from next season.
In that case, it's then a question of either an "old head" or a young, raw talent.
Either option comes with it's advantages and potential pitfalls.
Option 1: The Experienced Choice
At 32, Jeffrey Schlupp would definitely fall into the former category. However, his experience at English Premier League level would undoubtedly be an asset. Also, he shows a dynamic athleticism that makes me think his age isn't really an issue, at least not yet.
He's not perfect, but I'd be more than comfortable with playing him in league games is Tierney needs a break.
Even if he takes a significant pay cut though, we're probably still talking something in the range of 20-30,000 pounds a week. That's a lot to fork out for a back-up left-back.
Option 2: Fresh Blood
Our second option is to seek out a new left-back, someone probably in their late teens or early 20s, who shows promise but accepts that he'll have to wait for his turn to play.
What I'm talking about is something akin to the situation we have with our goalkeepers now. Viljami Sinisalo has spent most of the season being mentored by Kasper Schmeichel as his understudy.
Injury has now afforded him the chance to play a few games. Early indications are that he will do well. That is by no means a guarantee though, especially with younger players.
Impatience could also derail this idea. We saw how quickly Alex Valle got fed up at Celtic when it became clear he wasn't a guaranteed starter.
Personally, I'd go with Schlupp
Football is a volatile market these days, especially when shopping for a specialized position like left-back. With Jeffrey Schlupp, we know what we're getting. We also have a player who is getting on in years, and would probably not be too fussed about not starting every week.
Money is the stumbling block, but then again if you'd told me at this time last season that we'd re-sign Kieran Tierney next year, I'd have said you're crazy.
Whatever we do, Let's do it Quickly
As, hopefully, treble winners, and with our European pride restored this year, Celtic go into next season with a lot of expectation on the team. Fans will be looking for Celtic to build on all we achieved this season. So, it's crucial we hit the ground running.
We will also have to play a qualifier for the Champions League next season. We need to be prepared.
So, whoever our second-choice left back is next year, let's not wait until August to sign him!