GREG TAYLOR CELTIC CUP FINAL SWANSONG?
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- 27 minutes ago
- 3 min read
It is the last game of Celtic’s season tomorrow, and hopefully it ends on a high note.
However, as much as we love rounding off a successful season with the buzz of Cup Final Day, there’s always that tinge of sadness about the occasion.
For deep down, we know it’ll probably be the least time we see some of those players in a Celtic shirt.
Last year, it was Joe Hart. Very few players, raised outside of a Celtic supporting family have come to our club and taken both the Celtic ethos and the fans into their heart as much as Joe Hart.
He came to Celtic as a “washed up has-been” according to much of our media, who let’s face it, never miss a chance to put a dampener on a new Celtic signing.
But as I said on ACSOM at the time: you don’t get to play more than 70 games for England if you’re a dud. I knew Joe Hart had it in him to become a Celtic star, and he did that with gusto.
Like Joe Hart, Greg Taylor Celtic Legacy Should be Assured, Whatever Happens Next
It hasn’t gone as smoothly for Greg Taylor during his time at Celtic. He has struggled to win over the support, despite having seen off a multitude of would-be inheritors of his left-back role.
I personally rate Greg Taylor highly, even though I recognize his, at times obvious, limitations. He’s not alone in this regard. There are other players at Celtic now that I think are in a similar position. Tony Ralston is another example.
A solid, dependable Scottish league player, and definitely good enough to play for Scotland. I have no hesitation about deploying Tony Ralston or Greg Taylor in Celtic domestic matches next season if required.
Obviously, ideally, Celtic’s first choice full-back options next season will be Kieran Tierney on the left and Alistair Johnston on the right.
However, Celtic could be looking at close to 60 games next season, maybe more if we do well in Europe. Greg Taylor, would, I expect, still play 20-25 games next season out of squad rotation necessity, that's before we account for any possible injury to Tierney.
Ultimately, I think it’s this issue, rather than money that is the stumbling block to a Greg Taylor Celtic contract extension.
Brendan Rodgers alluded in his most recent press conference to this issue. He said that he “hadn’t fully closed the door” on Greg Taylor staying at Celtic.
He also acknowledged the need to maintain a “strong squad” with Celtic competing on so many fronts again next season.
Many chose to read these comments as a direct message to Taylor, that even with Kieran Tierney’s return, there’s still a place at him for Celtic under Brendan Rodgers if he wants it.
Whether he actually wants to stay or not, is a question we will probably see answered, finally, next week.
In the meantime, Celtic have a cup to win. I fully expect Greg Taylor will start at left back and play in crucial role in, hopefully, bringing The Scottish Cup home to paradise once again.