Liam Scales

It's the toxic nature of a lot our fans. Ralston, Scales, Taylor etc can never win with them regardless of how well they play because they came through the youth system, or came from the LOI or SPL, in their eyes they are never good enough.

All have shown they are good enough for Celtic, they have contributed to a lot our success. Whether they are starting quality or whether we can upgrade on them is another question but I don't think we'd find a better back up RB than Ralston and I don't think we'd find a better 3rd/4th choice CB than Scales who do that job with little fuss. We couldn't convince Taylor to be our backup LB for instance.

 

Not too sure of that, when it’s facing St Mirren’s tactics overloading them and having him making those runs from out to in is more devastating. With a team that has space in behind to attack then yes I’d agree

 

Ralston yes
Taylor came through the Huns and Killie youth system
Scales signed at 22

Those are completely different routes.

 

?????????

I said all that in my first line.

 

Liam Scales insists Celtic are strong enough to have another successful season at home and abroad - even without any more summer additions.



The Hoops defender reckons there should be no panic over a lack of big money signings despite anxiety growing among punters.


Brendan Rodgers has to register his squad for the Champions League play-offs in just four days’ time. And the manager has been clear in his message that he doesn’t want the club to stand still while repeatedly stating the need to replace the goals lost by the exits of Kyogo and Nicolas Kuhn and the lengthy injury that has ruled Jota out until the new year


However, Scales has urged the fans to remain patient. And he insists the squad as it stands is strong enough to compete on all levels.



The Ireland international said: “I understand that fans can be anxious to get new signings in, it's always exciting but these things do take time.


“I don't really know what's going on up above but I do know that after being involved in transfers in the past that they take time and it's never as straightforward as fans might think. These things just take time and that's football.

“I think we're in a good place and if one or two more are added before the end of the window, brilliant.



If not, we're still really strong.”




The pre-contract arrival of Hoops hero Kieran Tierney remains the headline deal of a summer which has seen a total of eight new signings so far at Parkhead.

But Rodgers is eager for more with a striker and two wingers top of the agenda. Hoops chiefs left it late 12 months ago with Arne Engels, Austin Trusty and Luke McCowan all arriving in the final 48 hours of the window.

Scales trusts the top brass are doing all they can to strengthen. But he reckons Rodgers’ squad is in good shape no matter what.


He said: “Definitely, 100 per cent. We have strengthened and brought in players. We've had good games in pre-season and I think it's shown.

“We've got a strong squad and every day on the training pitch the level is constantly improving because those standards are being driven.

“As a squad, I think all the players, we feel like we're happy and we're strong and we're just raring to go.”


The Hoops tackle Aberdeen at Pittodrie this afternoon after opening their defence of the title with a late 1-0 win over St Mirren at Parkhead last weekend.

Rodgers’ men then host Falkirk in the League Cup on Friday night before the first leg of the Champions League play off arrives in Glasgow the following Wednesday.

After securing a league and cup double last season and reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League, Scales knows the pressure is on if they are to show progress again in the next nine months.




But the big defender insists he’ll not get sidetracked by long term targets so early in the campaign. He said: “I'm not looking too far ahead but to just get off to a good start in the league and League Cup and obviously qualify for the Champions League.

“I don't want to look anywhere past the next month or so, so that is really the immediate goals.”



Meanwhile, Scales reckons the arrival of Jahmai Simpson-Pusey to challenge for a spot in the Celtic backline can push him on to a new level.




The Manchester City kid has joined on a season-long loan to provide competition to established stoppers Scales, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Austin Trusty.

Simpson-Pusey has only six senior games under his belt but already has Champions League experience having been thrown in from the start by Pep Guardiola against Sporting Lisbon last season.


Rodgers spoke highly of the 19-year-old’s ability last week, revealing the trust he had gained from Guardiola spoke volumes.

And Scales has welcomed the challenge - insisting the Etihad prospect can help drive standards even higher.

He said: “Yeah, the start of every season and transfer window, the manager is always looking to bring in players to strengthen the squad and you can't ever get complacent at this club .


So I think that does help to keep everyone in every position at the top of the game because there's always going to be someone capable who can play in your position.

“I think it's really good for the dressing room and it's really good for the standards of the club, so it's definitely not a negative thing.”

Scales made 39 appearances for the Hoops last season and is determined to build on that this time round.


He started with a solid 90 minute battle against St Mirren in last week’s Premiership opening 1-0 win.

And ahead of the trip to face Aberdeen, he said: “Looking forward to it. It's a tough away one, but I enjoy it up there. I feel good.

“I had a good pre-season. I had no sort of niggles or injuries and I feel fit and ready to go.



For me personally I just want to play as much as I can this season.”