Anthony Ralston

If we are happy to go with lustig + another for next season (fresh blood not gamboa) then I'd be inclined to loan him to st mirren, hibs, Aberdeen or Killie next season. They seem the best 4 clubs for us to loan to for player development.
Would then be looking to see him in the squad (assuming does well on loan) the following season as a replacement to lustig. Be that we may have a different first choice, I still reckon at worse Ralston will be a more than decent backup to someone.


In my head he is going to be like a full back version of McManus. Not ever going to be a player we all drool over - Virgil, or hinkel - but at least someone who is more than adequate for squad depth and being used in any situation - McManus or Wilson.

 

Personally never saw the hype with the boy. Loads of folk got excited because he laughed in Neymar's face. However, the same people chose to forget the fact that Neymar tore him to shreds all night, and made a mockery of him for PSG's first goal. Undoubtedly, he'd be a decent back up for league football, when resting people after a European game. Something akin to Miller at left-back. We should be looking to bring in quality at right-back, rather than having Ralston there.

 

Neymar has been doing that to seasoned professionals worth 10's of millions of pounds for years.

The fact he did that to an 18 year old lad making only one of his first few appearances at senior level, as well as his first at CL level really shouldn't be taken into account, imo.

Rodgers clearly sees a player there in Ralston, hence the 4 year deal. That's good enough for me to go along with.

 

AYE people seem to hold that against him, think that’s why he’s rated for some reason. Don’t understand it, it’s the games outwith that one that impressed me.

 

I thought he looked good last night, was noticable that he was a class above the other players on the park with some of his touches and his composure on the ball - even though thats not what hes really known for. Was unlucky not to get a 2nd goal as well with a curling shot from the corner of the box that just went wide and he put in a good few deliviers and had the beating of their left wing easily although it's only Livingston but they were still 2nd at that level and hes only 19 and was cruising though them like man against boys.

 

Exactly.

Now don't ask me for specifics, as my memory is getting worse the older I get, but I specifically remember watching him in a couple of games at RB when he impressed me with his defending - passing wasn't the best, but that can be worked on.

Also he looked good in a game when he was deployed at the right side of a back 3.

It really is a shame that we have a manager who is specific that he wants to focus on youth development and get them through in the first team, then * are moaning because he was ripped to shreads by the most expensive player in the history of football, nevermind the fact that he is without doubt one of the greatest footballers to walk on a pitch (despite the fact he's a wee * and his attitude will never allow him to be numero uno).

Backwards thinking...

 

It's not even as if he was humiliated against Neymar either, I actually cant think of much of what happened but it wasn't an abslute roasting like Dembele against McCrorie the other week.

 

In a nutshell

 

Getting tore a new one against Neymar I aint even going to bother judging the lad for that. Youngster from Scotland in his first ever CL game and up against Neymar - anyone going to judge the kids career on that is dumb.



I do however cringe at the laugh he tried to give to Neymar that night. Wish he never done that - looked silly. But nowt to do with his ability.

 

Our entire defence was atrocious for the majority of that campaign. We knew we had to strengthen yet we ended up with Lustig and Jozo, with Bitton on the bench, against the Neymar, Cavani and Mbappe. No way should Ralston be judged on that game.

 

Agree that he should be sent out on loan to a premiership team next season and doesn't matter who it is as long as he get games. Think in terms of the comparison, think he will be more like O'Dea rather than Mick. Mick was a regular at one point and even made captain, don't think Ralston would ever achieve either of those feats if I'm honest. Be a decent player squad member for us and possibly a starter for Scotland though!

 

Think Ralston deserves a shot at making the position his own next season, like Tierney did. He didn't disgrace himself against PSG at all.

 

I think people were initially hoping for the next Tierney, which hyped him up more than he should have been. Clearly has a fair bit of developing to do before he can stake a claim for a first team spot.

 

Defo, he is being judged by the success of KT and that is unfair on the bhoy he is a very good player with different attributes and will make a very good career out the game I personally think he deserves I run off games in the team see how he does over a season and evaluate if he has a future here

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ANTHONY RALSTON'S season saw the Celtic kid get niggly with Neymar and sign a bumper new deal, before he suffered a knee injury and ended the season at Dundee United. Now he's ready to go full circle by facing off against England in the Toulon Tournament semi-final...almost a year to the day from the same showdown last year.

Scotland's Under 21s impressively topped their Group containing hosts France to qualify for their second semi-finals in a row at the prestigious youth tournament with a narrow win against the South Koreans at Fos-Sur-Mer.

A fine strike after just 84 seconds from Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour - who became the youngest ever scorer for Scotland's Under 21s - and a quite brilliant individual strike from captain Oliver Burke, who galloped 70 yards before finishing with aplomb, sent the Scots through, after they had earlier drawn with Togo and defeated France.

A year ago, Ralston was lining up in the Stade Parsemain facing England in the semi-finals, which the Auld Enemy won 3-0.

But that was to kick start a roller-coaster year for Ralston, who went toe-to-toe with Brazilian PSG superstar Neymar which saw the 19-year-old laugh in his face. However, the ex-Barcelona genius had the last laugh in a 5-0 Parkhead win.

Ralston then signed a bumper four-and-a-half year deal in December, had to undergo surgery with a knee operation before ending the season on loan at Dundee United. And he insists he's loved the ups and downs of the season, after acknowledging his tussle with Neymar.

He said: "It’s crazy to think of the things that have happened since that England game. It’s been quite mental, but unreal at the same time. I feel I’ve grown as a player over the past year since I was here. In a way it all started with playing in this tournament.

"It’s been ups and downs. From the start of the season playing, living the dream as a Celtic fan playing for the first team. Then my injury and dealing with that then going out on loan and enjoying the games I played in.

"Celtic have been unreal this season. It’s a very special team and the achievements they’ve made over the past two seasons. I'm immensely proud to have been a part of that as well.

"But I enjoyed my time at Dundee United and they were very good with me. Getting the experience of dealing with an injury – a serious one – and having an operation was all new.

"It’s about how you deal with the downside and enjoying the ups. It’s been a good season overall and one to remember.

"I always look back on the Champions League night against PSG as a positive night on a personal note. It’s all about experiences and playing against that calibre of player is only going to give me the confidence to go up against any player.

"Obviously, Neymar is a very talented footballer and one of the best in the world. I still take great confidence from that night going into every game.

"Having it in the back of my head knowing I experienced that. I look back on it as a good memory even though on the night things didn’t go great score wise. But I enjoyed the challenge of that at Celtic Park, it’s the thing I grew up as a kid dreaming of doing. There were 60,000 there on a Champions League night and I’m honoured to say I’ve done it.

"It’ll stick with me forever. I wouldn’t change any of it."

And Ralston is determined to go one better than last year when Scotland face England in Aubangne, after they had earlier beaten Brazil last year and believes the young Scots can take plenty of confidence from defeating France 1-0 last week.



Ralston said: "We’re all lifted by reaching the semi-finals. It’s nice to have time after a win like that when you can enjoy it. The camp’s good. There is a good confidence about the place and it’s been lifted now.

"Beating Brazil last year is something that will stick with you forever and so will France too.

It’s something everyone involved can be immensely proud of moving forward. Beating both those teams is a great achievement for everyone involved.

"If we can go out and beat France then the sky’s the limit for the teams we can take out in this tournament. We’ve got good enough players with good coaching that we can really have a good go at this tournament.

"It’s very similar to last year in terms of coming up against big teams and everyone asking the question then going out and doing the job. Hopefully, we can go one step better this year than last year and get to the Final but we’ll see how things go."

Ralston will go back to Celtic in the new season and is hoping to play his part with the Double Treble winners.

He said: "Going back into Celtic I’ll be hoping to push and show I can hopefully get in the team. That will be my main aim.

"If things don’t work out I’ll just have to see how things go. I’m looking forward to getting back in for pre-season, getting my head down and working again."

 

seems to be doing well at toulon tournament.pleased for him.

 

Was looking to give him the benefit of doubt with age on his side.....but, nah, he doesn't have it..

Brendan got this 1 well off with the Danny McGrain comparisons..

 

Aye maybe on a par with Danny noo..

 

Tend to have far too much faith in our own, homegrown players making the cut for the first team, so I might just be biased.

I still think he has a chance here. Rodgers seems to rate him, and he's getting experience at different levels both with Celtic, and internationally.

He might not be Tierney, but we cannot expect him to become a sensational RB for us overnight. This was his first real full season with the first team, and he battled injury along the way. He's still only 19 years old, 20 in November. Still has time to make the cut with us. This will be a big season for him, but can't write him off yet.