Seasons over, time to look ahead.
It's quite clearly the end of a era at Celtic, and the rebuild is gonna be massive.
I think it's feasible that at least 6 or 7 out of Eddy, Ajer, Ntcham, Christie, McGregor, Jullian, Rogic, Klimala, and Forrest will all want to leave the club at the end of the season, hell it could be all 9, and sure we don't need to sell them but I think keeping wantaway players has been a major factor in our collapse this season.
Add to that Brown, Laxalt, Duffy, Kenny & Elyounoussi leaving and we can barely field a team.
I think most are hopeful that McGregor and Forrest will stay but i'm really not 100% sure, they were part of a special run of success that has ended on a sour note, it wouldn't surprise me if both fancy a crack at something new and and doubling their wages for what is likely their last big contract of their careers.
Not that I think it likely all are allowed to leave but actually picture what our first 11 could be before replacements if they all leave.
....................Bain
Ralston...Welsh...Hendry...Taylor
.............Bitton....Soro
Henderson....Turnbull....Johnston
...................Ajeti
Subs
Connell, Shved, Bayo, Perez, Boligoli, Dembele (wouldn't surprise me if all these guys left too).
Turnbull is the guy we need to build around, I think Soro, Welsh, Johnston, Henderson and Connell could all have a future with us, but they have much to prove before i'll be convinced they can be regulars in a title winning side.
Bitton and Taylor are decent backup, but Ralston ain't good enough and unless Hendry has really blossomed on loan neither is he.
Opinions?
How many of these guys have a future at celtic, are they capable of getting us back on top and putting up respectable displays in europe?
Are there any young players in the reserves ready to make an instant impact?
How many new players do we need?
Who's gonna be left?
posted on 18/4/21
I'll be surprised if anyone ever does two back to back
posted on 18/4/21
comment by Sjb1888 (U5188)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
comment by Silver (U6112)
posted 1 minute ago
Are there any young players in the reserves ready to make an instant impact?
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You've captured the most likely though nobody has seen enough of Perez to know and they all need thrown in to find out.
Lee O'Connor should get a chance and can play RB.
Afolabi will be back - capable of looking like Eddy though not good Eddy but this season Eddy.
Robbo will be back and has shown enough.
Brody Paterson I rate at LB.
Hjelde is being praised by Yogi as the next Virgil though he's never 1st team yet and remains to be seen.
I don't rate any others as anywhere close - Coffey maybe but not seen him since his loan.
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Was quite hopeful about O'Connor when we signed him, seemed very well thought off at Man Utd and versatile, Robertson looked very assured in the little i've seen of him, don't think i've heard anything of Paterson.
Only seen him in a few games but Afolabi never really looked to have anything special.
I assume it's a cert that Dembele's on the way out?
I know Hjelde was thought of a real coup when we got him but as with most Celtic Youngsters we barely get a glimpse of them so it's easy to forget
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No idea on Kade but it wouldn't surprise me. Doesn't seem the type of guy to do a season at QotS but years of being feted by the club reaps what they've sown.
Not sure on Hejlde. There were two naturally left sided CBs at 18s - Morrison and my junior. Morrison was getting preferred so my lad told them he was leaving. After that Morrison went to Bayern and they went out and got Hejlde then junior was coaxed back when the offers he was getting elsewhere were not to his liking. I don't know if they'd have gone for him had junior not facked them about but it was clear Hejlde was preferred as well though latterly they were both competing in reserves before covid and he decided to bale to the US. He's decent but I've not seen enough tbh.
posted on 18/4/21
<I'll be surprised if anyone ever does two back to back>
I think you're right.
Weird that we won them all after Rangers came back up.
Still I believe our downward trajectory started 2017-18.
posted on 18/4/21
The arrogance from most people at Celtic after we collapsed in the new year was laughed upon when in reality it should have been a wake-up call that the first half of last season we showed we were capable of competing.
The way things have panned out this season shows just how much we got on with improving and how much you buried your head in the sand. Even the delayed Scottish Cup win was almost like a "we're still winning trophies" despite having been knocked out the LC by Ross County and again being behind in the league. Almost as if the expectation was for us to collapse again and you'll be waiting.
Now the scenario is we've been making early moves for players to integrate into the squad in January ahead of next season and you're still awaiting a new manager. 😬
posted on 18/4/21
<Even the delayed Scottish Cup win was almost like a "we're still winning trophies">
On here?
You are joking surely.
Look back at the threads loads of negative Celtic posts SC Final.
As I said this isn't an 8 month decline.
Best part of 3 seasons.
As you guys know all too well - out of defeat comes victory.
posted on 18/4/21
comment by Rising up the ranks (U2420)
posted 2 minutes ago
The arrogance from most people at Celtic after we collapsed in the new year was laughed upon when in reality it should have been a wake-up call that the first half of last season we showed we were capable of competing.
The way things have panned out this season shows just how much we got on with improving and how much you buried your head in the sand. Even the delayed Scottish Cup win was almost like a "we're still winning trophies" despite having been knocked out the LC by Ross County and again being behind in the league. Almost as if the expectation was for us to collapse again and you'll be waiting.
Now the scenario is we've been making early moves for players to integrate into the squad in January ahead of next season and you're still awaiting a new manager. 😬
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That all sounds pretty arrogant to me? It has been shown time and again the tables can turn quickly and spectacularly.
The SCF win for the 4x3 was an embarrassing stumble over the line but nevertheless achieved and unlikely to be matched - you can't fault the club for crowing a bit though I agree it was pretty pathetic against the backdrop of the bigger picture.
Nothing is won pre-season.
posted on 18/4/21
No arrogance from my part. I know very well nothing is won pre-aeason.
I was merely pointing out that from us being apparently so far behind we were planning for next season during the January window and you are hunting for a new manager.
Pretty unthinkable given the last few seasons and just doubles up how big a fall it has been for your lot this year.
posted on 18/4/21
Rising
If you're like my Gers mates you're just as stunned as us.
I've detected like others the Celtic decline.
Nobody I know predicted the Rangers improvement.
Which may or may not continue.
Season 21/22 the most exciting in years.
You need to lose to appreciate winning.
posted on 18/4/21
comment by Silver (U6112)
posted 1 hour, 52 minutes ago
comment by Sjb1888 (U5188)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
comment by Silver (U6112)
posted 1 minute ago
Are there any young players in the reserves ready to make an instant impact?
---------------------------------------------------------------------
You've captured the most likely though nobody has seen enough of Perez to know and they all need thrown in to find out.
Lee O'Connor should get a chance and can play RB.
Afolabi will be back - capable of looking like Eddy though not good Eddy but this season Eddy.
Robbo will be back and has shown enough.
Brody Paterson I rate at LB.
Hjelde is being praised by Yogi as the next Virgil though he's never 1st team yet and remains to be seen.
I don't rate any others as anywhere close - Coffey maybe but not seen him since his loan.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Was quite hopeful about O'Connor when we signed him, seemed very well thought off at Man Utd and versatile, Robertson looked very assured in the little i've seen of him, don't think i've heard anything of Paterson.
Only seen him in a few games but Afolabi never really looked to have anything special.
I assume it's a cert that Dembele's on the way out?
I know Hjelde was thought of a real coup when we got him but as with most Celtic Youngsters we barely get a glimpse of them so it's easy to forget
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No idea on Kade but it wouldn't surprise me. Doesn't seem the type of guy to do a season at QotS but years of being feted by the club reaps what they've sown.
Not sure on Hejlde. There were two naturally left sided CBs at 18s - Morrison and my junior. Morrison was getting preferred so my lad told them he was leaving. After that Morrison went to Bayern and they went out and got Hejlde then junior was coaxed back when the offers he was getting elsewhere were not to his liking. I don't know if they'd have gone for him had junior not facked them about but it was clear Hejlde was preferred as well though latterly they were both competing in reserves before covid and he decided to bale to the US. He's decent but I've not seen enough tbh.
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I hope the new manager coming in is willing to give some of them a chance, It feels like any young players who got in under Lenny was out of necessity rather than him actually wanting to see what they could do.
posted on 18/4/21
Nothing is won pre season, true, but much can be lost