Anthony Ralston

I think we've had players coming through; they just either * off for a bigger league (Doak) or haven't quite had worked out (Welsh) or a bit of both (Karamoko Dembele).

 

He has the brain of a top footballer, the body of a mediocre footballer and the technique of a typical SPL footballer.

 

Was one of the few to support him when he was miles out the picture and looked like it was just a matter of time before he was let go. Absolutely loved his fight back to become an important first team squad member but just ain't cutting it anymore. Never been the most gifted on the ball but was always gutsy and would more often than not find a way to get to the by line and put something in. Barely getting anything from him going forward now.

 

Christ he was so poor when he came on.
I have been a big fan of Tony, love his commitment and always reckoned him to be perfect back up for the like of AJ, but for the first time ever, starting to wonder if we should upgrade? Or is that just knee * to what's unfolding at the moment?

 

That was as bad a cameo as you’ll likely see from a player. He wasn’t even committed in a tackle, wasn’t decisive on the ball, wasn’t positioned as either a classic overlapping fullback outwith a few moments or inside full back. Wasn’t covering, and was passing behing players when he was even squaring an easy pass.

I love him when he can be used at his best, AJ’s streets ahead but I think he’s a brilliant back up. Under Ange.

He’s not shown that this season at all though. Everything we know he can do, he hasn’t shown.

The only thing that makes me think it’ll get better is he’s far from the only one.

 

Was it him that took that throw in, and it went out for a goal kick?

I like the guy, he's decent backup and has done well for us most of the time. I'm more concerned about how easy we have become to play against in the last 2 games.

 

It was him, near the end. And it’s a perfect sum up for the full game for me. The only way that could be more perfect to sum it up is if he throw it out nowhere near any Celtic player back down the pitch.


I am shameless in my fanboying of Ralston, I appreciate what he can bring and think a lot of what he can do gets brushed under the carpet and when he gets a compliment off those that do it’s under ‘effort’.

But under Rodgers this season so far, he’s shown none of the qualities Ange got out of him.

And bizarrely he suits Rodgers full back style much more than going into centre mid, but he’s done himself a disservice so far, and Rodgers has shown to be incapable to improve on that.


He did have a very short run up to starting the season without pre-season but he’s not shown any improvement with more games.

And Ralston will always be a guy people are just waiting to pounce to say told you, he had a purple patch. He needs to prove himself to be trustworthy again any opportunity he has. Because hopefully now AJ’s back he’ll be fit enough and available enough the opportunity to show what he can do will be limited to fleeting appearances.

 

This is a cop out answer but we should be looking to upgrade AJ never mind Ralston, we done it with AJ to Jura. And JJ has recently said as much when we signed him he felt he’d be bit part. We have enough filler plug gapping players. We want and need quality.

We desperately just need a signing to get a buzz amongst the fans and the team.

 

As much as folk say he was excellent under Ange I’m not sure that’s fully true, he had a purple patch when Ange first came in and admittedly he was excellent, however majority of last season he was poor when he played and in the Scottish cup final Ange ended up playing a half fit AJ as he couldn’t trust Ralston against dross from the championship.

The writing was on the wall last season that he probably isn’t even a decent back up option, I think now it’s probably not even a question. If we had to rely on him for a great length of time we’d be absolutely *, however the same can be said for a lot of the players in the squad at the moment.

 

I'm fine with him being backup for now, but we should really be upgrading on him in January.

Had a purple patch under Ange and hasn't looked the same since.

 

He did get to the by line and win a few corners yesterday. Would have been better if he'd actually got some decent crosses in, but I have to say, Kyogo wasn't getting in to good positions.

Was more concerned that we had 19 corners and not a decent shot on target from one of them.

 

To be fair he put a good one in for Forrest. Pity it landed at Forrest though..

 

Has turned up for us in some big moments. Huge showing today after being put on in tough circumstances. Deserves more respect from our support. Rock solid and composed.

 

Had to come on a number of times against them. Did well today.

 

Excellent today, again.

 

Had a brilliant 50/50..

Did well when he came on..

 

It's funny, his best games over the last 6 months have both came against the huns, he loves playing against them.

A bit like Maeda, under Rodgers system I don't think he works against low blocks, but against teams that press us I think he's still a solid option.