Squad Areas for Improvement

Now the season is done it is time, as always, to look at what needs changed, what needs improved, and what needs freshened up.

I suspect for Celtic we are going to be having the same conversations as last season.

Goalkeeper - we are ok for the season coming. Schmeichel has been excellent (cup final o.g. aside). Sinisalo did a decent job as back up. We are replacing Scott Bain with Ross Doolan - meh

Defence
Right back seems fine. No freshening urgently required. AJ is solid though for a spell there his passing was atrocious. Ralston is a very decent back up

Centre half - where do we start. Rodgers clearly doesn't fancy Nawrocki despite him not doing a huge amount wrong in comparison to Scales or Trusty. Trusty was bought for a decent fee and once he settled in to the left hand side of defence seemed our preferred LCB. No idea what happened to him that he suddenly hit a rocky patch. Scales is good for blood and snotters but he slows our game down. In my opinion he killed us in the cup final

For Nawrocki's sake I hope he goes to a club that will play him. We need to replace Scales. We need competition for Trusty and CCV but not a drop off in quality like Scales is.

Left Back is an odd one. Tierney will be number one choice and gives us similar styles of full back. Who his back up is up in the air. I was reading we may offer Schlupp a contract - Ihope to God we don't. He is an awful player. One good game and a shot off the bar is not enough to be back up to KT and potentially play at least a third of the games. I don't think he wants to play back up but I'd be all for Taylor staying as the alternative LB. If not then we need to go get someone in.

DCM - we can't keep relying on McGregor, especially given most of his playing career has been further forward where he is very effective. We absolutely need an alternative in there. Controversial perhaps but I think Engles with time and preseason can do that holding role. It suits him more than the attack minded midfield Rodgers wants.

AM positions - I think we need to move on Hatate and replace him. I absolutely love watching him when he is on his game but that is not consistent. He is at an age where he is likely on his last chance for a move to a "big league". When we talk about freshening up the squad he always springs to mind for me. I like Bernardo and don't think he gets the game time he deserves - injury at the wrong time didn't help. McCowan is fine as back up for league games but more effective off the bench. Moving McGregor further forward may help as well. McArdle a good prspect coming through.

Wingers - I think we need another winger. Kuhn had a good season but dropped off a bit. Maeda was on fire. Yang improved but still not reliable enough and Forrest is decent back up but can't be back up forever.

Strikers - obviously we need a striker. Idah is a good impact player but is not an out and out starter for me. I'll accept he hasn't had a preseason in the team but I don't see enough from him. He is reactive instead of proactive often watching until something happens. Kenny hasn't done much as of yet to justify being a first or second choice striker so should be afforded the chances to keep coming. We absolutely need a striker.


Priorities new signings for me
1. Striker
2. Midfielder
3. Left Back
4. Winger

Priority refresh/replace positions
1. Centre Half
2. Midfielder


6 players to come in. 2 "regulars" to go. Plus the rest of the squad players that don't get game time moving on - especially the ones due to return from loans etc

I would like us to secure Lennon Miller. We cannot offord to repeat the mistakes of John McGinn with Miller