As Shane Duffy became Celtic’s fifth signing of the transfer window, we are now beginning to see the squad take shape for the Ten-in-a-row season. The transfer window of course remains open and will do so until 11pm on 5 October.
So, with a little over four weeks to go, how do Celtic look as they campaign for Ten-in-a-Row in comparison to the squad that brought home the Nine?
Last time out we looked at the defensive positions. This time we examine the attacking areas of the squad.
Left Wing
Compared to the team who finished last season we seem in a strong enough position when everyone is fit. For the time being – and for the next five to six weeks – we are without the creativity and dribbling ability of Mikey Johnston. Hopefully though, once recovered, Johnston can put some of his injury concerns behind him and really kick on this season. There is undoubted talent already in play when it comes to the lad and further progression could mean he is the latest Academy graduate to nail down a first team place.
Moi Elyounoussi has also returned to the Celtic squad this season for a second loan spell in two seasons, you can only assume he likes it at Celtic. If Moi can add consistent bread and butter performances to his impressive big game showings then Celtic are well served on the left side but that is something that can only come with a run of games.
Last season Celtic were spoiled for choice at the beginning of the season with Scotty Sinclair, Daniel Arzani and even Jonny Hayes able to fill in further upfield. Despite losing those three options last season and this summer there is little reason for any further additions to the left-hand side. If we keep both Moi and Mikey fit, we have two players who can open up defences and supply a goal threat. Lennon’s tendency to switch James Forrest to this side and Ryan Christie to the opposite flank also negates the need for any further reinforcements
Conclusion
We may be down on bodies yet we are not in quality. We have retained our two main men and that gives great hope for the Ten-in a-Row season.
The departing Hayes and Arzani rarely played as out and out wide men due to injury for Arzani and Hayes need to fill in on the left side of defence, whilst Sinclair was little more than a peripheral figure under Lennon in any case last season.
Given the likelihood that Celtic will drift between 3-5-2 and 4-2-3-1 formations there is even less need to stockpile. The left of midfield is an area Celtic are very much strong in when it comes to the season ahead.
Right Wing
James Forrest has pretty much the complete confidence of the manager and in the last four to five seasons has been peerless in his position. That said Forrest does have his critics and some of those point to the fact he needs competition to get the best out of him.
Last season that was expected to be Maryan Shved whom we all had high hopes for. Shved is now out on loan at Mechelen and has failed to settle in Scotland or grasp the language. It may be he returns but it certainly appears that Shved, for the time being, is not a consideration for Neil Lennon. As such it looks like we are certainly weaker on the right side this season compared to last.
It looked in pre-season that Karmoko Dembele was ready to graduate to the first team and provide the cover for Jamesy in the season ahead. It now appears – despite early signs of increased first team involvement – that Dembele has dropped out of favour, with rumours abound of Karamoko advising he would at best see out his current contract before moving onto new pastures. There is still time for Karamoko of course to be better advised in his career choices but for now it leaves Celtic in a predicament.
Conclusion
The right wing may have been an area of the side Lennon wasn’t overly concerned with but it now looks like if we want to get the best out of Forrest and have suitable cover for a condensed footballing calendar that, be it loan deal or permanent signing, Celtic will now have to address the wide right position and soon. As thing stand, we are in a far weaker position than we were last season.
If Lennon wishes to be comfortable enough to play both of his favoured formations, cover on the right wing is now looking a priority. Last season Shved, Arzani and Dembele were waiting in the wings. Forrest’s form and fitness meant they were rarely required to play. This season it would be too much of a gamble to ask Forrest to play every game.
Central Midfield
Last season it was fair to say Neil Lennon was spoiled for choice. Callum McGregor, Ryan Christie and Captain Scott Brown played almost every game. On the rare occurrences they didn’t Olivier Ntcham would fill in for whoever was missing. Below those favoured four Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton could come in and ably cover.
So far this season Celtic have only lost Eboue Kouassi from a supporting cast in midfield and he was so far out the picture it will be a loss Celtic will not feel.
Ismael Soro becomes the latest in the unenviable position of covering for a Captain that rarely misses a match and in pre-season Soro certainly looked a capable understudy at least.
With Ewan Henderson returning to the fold following a spell on loan at Ross County and David Tunbull being added to the squad signing last week from Motherwell this is an area of the field that was strong last season and is even stronger this time around.
Celtic have a frightening amount of talent in the middle of the park, but it’s never quite that easy. Tom Rogic now looks to be heading for the exit and he would be a loss when it comes to that little bit of class that he offers but if and when he does go, I don’t see Celtic looking to add to that area of the field.
Conclusion
Celtic are as strong as we can expect especially given the signing of David Turnbull. It may be they look to supply more experienced cover for the skipper rather than the untested Soro but with a multitude of options and more pressing concerns at left back and now right wing, it may not be a priority for Lennon to add to his central midfield options. This is probably Celtic’s strongest part of the team and arguably even more so than it was last season.
Strikers
Last season Celtic started out with Odsonne Edouard playing every week and we struggled with an inability to call on Leigh Griffiths for the first part of the season. As a back-up we also had Vakoun Bayo and in January Patryk Klimala signed on to supply some extra cover.
Bayo didn’t have much luck with injury and it soon became apparent that Klimala wasn’t up to the level Lennon wanted. A move in January to 3-5-2 saw Neil Lennon operate with both Edouard and Griffiths in tandem and my word did it work. Celtic dropped only two points and scored goals for fun as they won the title at a canter.
This season Celtic again are struggling to get Leigh Griffiths onto the field of play due to fitness concerns and Bayo has headed out on loan to Toulouse. So far, we’ve added a Swiss International in Albian Ajeti and though not at 100% fitness yet he has been grabbing the goals and looking impressive from the bench. Add to the mix that Klimala has had more involvement, you’d have hope we were stronger this season than last.
That was until, despite having two strikers on the bench we started neither and exited Champions league qualifying to Ferencvaros. It appears though Ajeti was not fit enough to start without risking injury that Klimala is not yet trusted for big games.
The bigger question of course – especially on the back of the European exit – is whether Lennon can convince Edouard to stay beyond the closing of the transfer window. If he can then Celtic look strong up front.
Conclusion
Assuming Griffiths and Klimala can be trusted and Ajeti gets up to fitness soon Celtic will have four strikers to cover two positions. There’s a lot of ifs and buts in play but as things stand and if everyone gets up to speed Celtic have a good amount of quality options up front.
At a push a target man to mix the game up against packed defences would be a personal preference, given with Bayo at one stage we must have wanted such an option.
This position does remain an area of concern however. Griffiths having yet to see a first team shirt this season and Klimala appearing not to have the full trust of the manager, allied to the fact Edouard has yet to sign a deal and is linked with a new club every few weeks, we can only hope that we make it through the transfer window with all fours strikers retained and fit. If we do, we have the best strikeforce in Scotland and enough to bring home the Ten.
Summary
Celtic then look like they remain a work in progress in certain positions with four weeks of the transfer window still to go. Goalkeeper, left back and right wing remain positions that look weaker this season than they did in the last campaign, yet conversely in central midfield, up front and central defence we appear to be stronger. At left wing and right back we may be down on numbers but not on quality compared to the 2019-20 season.
If Celtic were to sign a left back and right winger and managed to retain what we have with minimal sales – bar the likely to depart Rogic – then we could happily close the transfer window now. But that’s not likely.
There are many players attracting interest out there. Ntcham and Ajer probably more than most and appear keen on moving themselves. There are plenty of admiring glances being made towards Odsonne Edoaurd and also rumours Ryan Christie would not be averse to a move south.
It’s going to be a nervous few weeks and you can only hope that if players do move on, we have enough time remaining in the window to replace them.
Niall J
