10 in a row Squad

If brown and Forrest had stookies on their leg Lennon would still pick them every week .

 

Lennon spoke about wanting another striker after we signed Ajeti so expecting someone to come in there. It may mean Griffiths has no future even if he can get fit.

I think that will be our lot a CB unless Ajer goes and that will leave us susceptible to injuries, we gave Bitton a new deal in January and there is no way he features in midfield so will be utilised there. If Ajer goes we need to get a left sided CB in to add balance to a back 3.

We badly need a LB/LWB option it is by far the weakest area of the team. Also need to get Boli out.

In midfield it is all going to depend on who stays or goes. It is pretty congested just now having added turnbull. I think Rogic and Ntcham or another will leave before the end of the window. In an ideal world I would sign a CDM as Brown looks to be struggling and I am not sure Soro is trusted to step in. Sangare from Toulouse, who is only 22 and looks a real powerhouse of a midfielder. However he would cost a lot and there would be stiff competition to sign him although he has less than a year left on his deal and would have big sell on value.

We are very thin on the wings with just Forrest and Ely, MJ is to comeback but how much we invest here should depend on what formation we are going to play. There is no point spending decent money on a signing or loan fee for someone to not fit in a 3-5-2 if we are going to play like that. There are some good bosman options out there including Moussa Sylla and Zivkovic could be decent options where they can also play as a 10 or for Sylla as one of the front 2.

 

Hopefully sticking 3-5-2

Barkas
Bain

Duffy
Julien
Ajer
El Hamed
Biton
Welsh

Frimpong
Forrest

New Lwb
Taylor

Brown
McGregor
Christie
Soro
Turnbull
Elyounoussi (in the 10)

Eddy
Ajeti
Klimala
Griffiths

Selling Nctham and Rogic

 

Got to agree with that tbh

 

Things are shaping up very nicely.

 

That's 15 mill and counting..

Bit frustrated before with Lawwell no getting bodies in earlier but you can't say Lenny hasn't been backed..

That's 4 internationals in their 20's/peak year's and Turnbull..

1 or 2 will likely go but I still think we'll sign another left back and either another winger, centre half or 6 if they work out Broony is finished..

So can see us bringing in around 7 good bodies which will likely be our best window in year's..

 

Got to stick with the 3-5-2
Get Eddy fit & Ajeti up too speed blow this league away

 

Hats off to the recruitment team. Barkas, Duffy, Turnbull, Elyounoussi and Ajeti is fantastic business so far.

 

Would love a left back/wing back in before the Ross County game, doubt it but it would be fantastic

 

I think we will tbh Lenny said he was hopeful of 2 in before the Ross county game

 

Considering we should play 3-5-2 quite often between now and the end of the season, look at the two man options for each area. How weak is LWB compared to each other area.

I left Ntcham out because I know we spent 15m, so I expect at least one big player will have to make way.

I know they wouldn’t be everyone’s options but it’s how I would see it.


Goalkeeper - barkas/ Bain

RCB - julien/ el hamed

CB - Duffy/ Bitton

LCB - Ajer/ welsh

RWB - frimpong/Forrest

LWB - ????/ Taylor

Holding midfielder - McGregor/brown

box to box - Christie/ Turnbull

ACM - Elyounoussi/ Rogic

striker 1 - Eddie / Griff

striker 2 - Ajeti/ Klimala


It’s crazy to consider how weak the defensive left is considering we knew for a while KT was going, and we had a decent budget and look where we are with it. We need first choice LWB

I’d actually still want to bring in a LCB even if Ajer stays, because we need it for balance. Plus it’s good to bring in the player now rather than next year, when Ajer maybe leaves then or Duffy does a Foster lol. If Ajer leaves late in the window least we have that player already in place and Welsh can be the 6th centre back again. We won’t do this but we should.

And final roll for me would be to replace Griff at this point. I worry Eddie like Ajer could leave us really late in the window and we are caught with our pants down. Bringing in a player now for griff, a player such as Ajeti standard and that fear eases a bit.

That I’m sure could be another 10m for the above 3, add to the 15m outlay and that’s 25m. Ntcham would bring in just under half of that.

If we can hold onto Eddie one more year before cashing in. I don’t think we would have to worry bout that extra 10m spent.

sure when Dembele leave Lyon there’s half of it.

 

Only concern is filling the LB/LWB role. Would rather have someone in to play the position.

Think Frimpong can play left back but may be too big an ask for wing back.

Only alternative for me would be to try a 4-4-2 Diamond but too late to experiment the formation

Any update regarding the two American Fullbacks.

Andrew Gutman and Manny Perez?

they may well be on loan until December but could provide a good back up

 

Ralston is still in the squad so I'd imagine he'd be in front of either of those 2 given he has actually played a couple of season in the SPL and is in the country.

Wouldn't be surprised if he goes this window though as moving to a back 3 reduces his chances of playing even more.

 

If it wasn’t for Gutman’s work permit scenario he may have been given a chance when we were struggling for a LB/LWB. Not sure he is at the required level but has been getting fairly regular game time in MLS at LB or LWB.

No idea about Perez, he seems to have completely disappeared. Also agree on Ralston he will go once we get to an agreement with him and another club.

 

Theres more chance of Stokes making another Celtic appearance before Ralston

 

The above really shows where we are thin in our squad and susceptible to a sale late in the window or an injury.

LWB we simply need a first team ready option the fact, Forrest has to play there, a player who barely ever uses his left foot, says it all.

CB if Ajer was to leave or any of Duffy or Julien pick up an injury we are down to two who are capable but not natural CBs who have had injury issues in their recent past and an unproven youth player. The cover is fine for a short period of time but longer could provide a challenge.

Striker both Eddy and Ajeti look to have serious potential as a partnership, Klimala looks hungry but finishing needs to improve. Griffiths it is yet to be seen whether he will be brought back into selection consideration. We are still exposed to a large Eddy bid and Griff consistently being unavailable. We have already played and lost one big game this season without a striker.

I agree with you that Ntcham could leave if not we are strong in box to box midfielders. Attacking mid I think Rogic will be off before the end of the window it’s a case of where. However Christie and Turnbull can both play attacking mid or we go more solid with two box to box midfielders either side of an anchor/DM.

Next season we are going to be needing a major rebuild as you can take Ajer, Ntcham, Eddy, Ely and Brown as a minimum out of that squad. Potentially Christie as well.

 

LWB and hold on to what we have and we're very strong.

 

Still think we look to thin at the back when you go into Celtic website and players section take out ralston we have 6 defenders!

 

The bit that always worries me...

3 weeks to go...