Anthony Ralston

The goal against Motherwell was conceded when Saracchi stood off a cross

Fwiw I thought Ralston had a very poor game against Motherwell and played a role in both goals we conceded. Generally he is very reliable though and I don't see many instances of him being exposed in the areas you highlight.

I'm surprised you think Forrest works hard defensively. I rarely see him track back.

 

The only thing i will contribute to this debate is that Ralston is a better player than his performances.

Hes one of those players who really does need the exact right manager who knows his strengths and more importantly his weaknesses.

He gets a very hard time from some of the support.

 

I've not seen much of Saracchi TBH. I've seen a lot less of us this season due to a new job, so I don't know if he is as bad as Ralston at it or not. What I have seen of him, he has impressed me going forward and hasn't impressed at all defensively, so you may be right.

It doesn't really change my opinion on Ralston, though. I still think it's a problem.

 

I don’t give any players a hard time at the game as it helps no one*, but do fans give good players a hard time? Maybe he’s not good enough to start.


* really struggled with Kenny Miller as I hated the *

 

So, not you then?

You’re one of the most braindead * on this site and yet believe yourself to be a football oracle.

Ralston is and always has been a pish footballer. He’s a battler and gives his all. Capable very occasionally of a decent pass forward or cross.

But he usually smashes a pish cross against a defender 8 yards in front of him. More often than not lets his opposing attacker get a free cross into our box because he’s a * shocking defender. Has next to no real technical ability when he’s trying to beat his man. Physically incapable of using his left foot. Also moves like he’s holding in a *. Wooden and robotic as *.

Having a better time at Celtic than those players you mentioned means * all. None of them are regarded as decent Celtic players. And actually, Elhamed was a far better player than Ralston.

Ralston wouldn’t start for plenty of teams in our league. Kidding yourself on if you think otherwise.

 

Just saw you said one of his strengths is his 1v1 defending.

And you genuinely believe yourself to be someone incredibly knowledgeable about football? * me.

Thick as mince.

 

Moves like he’s holding in a *.

 

I think his technique is really poor and lets him down and I hate seeing his name in the side for all the obvious reasons; but there's no doubt in my mind that he reads the game exceptionally well. He spots these forward passes and dangerous crosses far better than our other defenders (and better than some of our midfielders to be frank). The reason it looks like an occasional thing is that he has the technique of a bottom-half SPL player and usually screws up the execution.

The stats show that Agathe is right about Ralston's goal contributions (and I say that as someone who got this wrong) in spite of his poor technique.

I am 100% with you on his 1v1 defending, though. It's frustrating to watch TBH. He himself must know he sucks at it, because he adapts his game to compensate, which is why we see him standing off wingers and letting them cross.

 

Elhamed, what a fantastic defender he was. I consider him one of the most underrated defenders I've seen at Celtic.

 

I mind his performance at Ibrox, he was class. Think he had a few dodgy defensive moments but if he didn't get homesick (think his wife and kid were back in Israel too), I think he would've been a really good player for us.

Shame how that one went.

 

I find him unbelievably negative..

I've never seen a fullback who tries everything to get it back to the keeper at almost every opportunity..

 

Honestly he's as bad a right back as I've seen at us. Genuinely..

 

He worked under Ange, thats it.

 

He's * he's always been * he had a short spell when Ange first came where he was decent and got a new deal off the back of it.

 

Same boat as Yang to be honest. Absolutely hopeless but it’s not his fault he’s not only still part of the squad but is somehow playing games.

If he was a decent player who was performing miles below the level he should be I’d be more annoyed, but he’s absolutely * abysmal performing at the level you’d expect. Quite simply it’s on Rodgers for still picking him despite other options being available.

 

Him and Yang has to be up there with one of the worse right hand sides of a Celtic team in quite a while.

 

I genuinely think that he was hung over, he had that washed out look when coming down those daft steps onto the pitch

 

Too limited as player in possession and contributing to attack for how we are trying to play. One of many in the team at the moment that just feel like they are trying to play a game beyond their means.

 

Sick of him as well. He’s done us a turn but the spot should go to Donovan.

 

Can’t believe people tried to say there’s not much between him and AJ.

Hard work and effort can only get you so far. It should be Donovan until AJ is back.