Stephen Welsh

Callum McGregor talking about him after today’s game




Stephen Welsh showed he still has a lot to offer and has a future here, didn't he?

I thought he was outstanding when he came on. He really calmed the game. He saw the pictures and could see the passes and that settled us and got us playing into our rhythm. I think Stephen has been outstanding, especially as an academy product. It is always difficult. You come in, you play well, you drop out of the team, you come back, and you drop out of the team again. You have to be resilient, especially as an academy player. It is always easy for the club to go and buy players and it is a real challenge for the home-grown ones. But Welshy’s attitude has been outstanding and his quality is getting better. He is growing in stature. He is a player who can be really important for us as well.

 

hes never gonna be good enough if he cant get the games under his belt to sharpen up and devolop his game and who knows he could make massive improvements and be ready to walk into the first team. the fact of the matter is he should of already been out on loan a couple of times but id imagine the same 'we might need him for homegrown status' reason was used to keep him around stagnating .its all very commendable that he is happy being here but he needs a chance to show how good he can be rather than a seat on the subs bench on a CL night

 

True but he's been linked with teams in Italy. He's good enough to go and see if he can be first choice not fourth in a better league and play every weekend. Personally think it's a no brainer if he has that sort of opportunity.

 

Thats a fair point. Can't really disagree.

Will be up to the player though. Can't see us loaning him out for the sake of it.

If he wants to test himself then good luck to him.

Unless we find the next Maldini with a Scottish Granda though I think we'll stick as long as he wants to.

 

He's likely the best 4th choice CB we're realistically going to get at this point. I'd keep him for that reason but wouldn't lose sleep if he left tomorrow.

For his own development he probably needs to leave though.

 

Superb from the captain

 

Ange blocked a number of moves for him last year and then proceeded not to play him.

Definitely would have been better going out getting the experience at a reasonable level.

 

Outstanding when introduced, defended well and seemed really comfortable on the ball.

 

Assume that might have been because of CCV.

Lads probably too nice to try and force a move. Always wonder what the agents of these types of players actually do? Money for nothing is my assumption.

 

The agent wasn't the problem: he had offers from England, Germany and Italy - all decent clubs. He wanted it, Ange said no then proceeded not to involve him.

 

That's the point you need an agent. Lads too nice.

 

The thing is, being 4th choice doesn't mean you don't play, or it shouldn't. We play nearly 60 games a season, or we did before Champions League qualification became automatic. We are still guaranteed nearly 50 games a season when we are going deeper into the cups.

There is plenty of opportunity to play the likes of Stephen Welsh or Tony Ralston or Greg Taylor(assuming we sign a first choice left back)... that also doesn't mean you change the whole starting 11 because it's against a weaker team in the league or whatever. You can just swap out 2 or 3 players when we are playing a champions league game midweek. Play Welsh at centre back. Play Yang on the wing. Play Holm in midfield. etc etc.

We need to make sure we rest our main guys as much as we can this season and there are players there to get us through games in the league or in the cups.

If there is any chance of him staying or showing the club he wants to stay, we would be mad not to try and get him to stay. You're not going to get a better player coming in to be 4th choice. He's a Celtic fan, so he knows what this club means. He's still young enough where he can develop a little bit more. He would be working under a manager who is one of the best at developing players to the next level. He's also club trained. He needs games though. I'm not talking about 50 games a year either but he could easily start 12/13 games a season, come on for another 10/11.

If he wants to leave, we would all understand. I think it's one of them where he could go to Italy and * kill it over there and we've sold him for buttons. Would much rather we sold Scales and loaned out Kobayashi and kept Welsh with the squad.

 

What you say is true for some, but it's not what's happened in Welsh's case.

Got plenty of games when Ange was first here, but only because there was literally no other choice.

I, and a few others said on this forum he was worth sticking with instead of Starfelt, didn't happen and he was seldom seen on the bench never mind the pitch. Starfelt's now gone and Celtic are looking to bring in his replacement not promote Welsh. If Welsh sticks about he'll maybe get 5 - 7 appearances across all competitions a season I'd say. Number would be lower if CCV was fully fit.

Just don't see what's in it for him to stay with us. Unless played regularly here what else is there in it for him that he's not already achieved.

 

I thought he might have started off by saying "ok guys I know I played a bit *" but Stephen was excellent when he came on

 

Did he not pick up an injury?

 

Nothing significant that would've stopped a loan spell I don't think.

 

I meant for his involvment end of the season, thought he was out for about 2/3 months?

 

Not too sure but he made 1 bench between October and March & moves were blocked for him in January, on Ange's say so

 

He's only 23. I always think that CB is a position that players mature into and can keep improving as they get into their late 20s. So I think he can still improve.

A good loan could bring him on leaps and bounds, but at the same time, he's handy to keep around as 4th choice.

 

Aye, definitely picked up an injury that kept him out of the games after we had won the league.