Ange Postecoglou arrives as the Celtic manager with an enormous rebuilding job ahead of him. Celtic were poor on all fronts last season and the Australian will know that he needs to hit the ground running in order to regain all three trophies and achieve Champions League football. The 55-year-old has won titles in Australia and Japan as well as the 2015 Asia Cup with Australia but he will know how important it is that he gets his recruitment right.
The first position to look at is the goalkeeper. All three of Celtic’s goalkeepers have been called upon at some stage in the last season but none have been able to stop the comical defending. Postecoglou will need to shore up the defence and improve our fortunes at the back.
Celtic signed Vasilis Barkas last summer from AEK Athens for £4.5m but the Greek Internationalist has struggled to make the position his own. Following on from two successful No.1s in Fraser Forster and Craig Gordon was always going to be tricky but Barkas made 22 appearances in his debut season. Surprisingly, Barkas had 11 clean sheets to his name and was behind an incredibly shaky defence, conceding 21 times. Postecoglou may offer Barkas another chance before deciding to delve into the transfer market. We may see the player that Celtic scouted initially return to pre-season as they look to rebuild after a horror show of a debut campaign in Scotland.
Barkas was deposed by Scott Bain as he struggled for form. Bain, who is a decent back-up to have, is not good enough to be the first choice – which is exemplified by the fact that he conceded 26 goals in 23 games, with a clean sheet rate of just 39%. Bain, who signed on loan from Dundee in 2018, has been a decent squad player providing back-up to the No.1s but due to the criticisms levelled at Barkas, he was thrust into the first team but evidently struggled to make the big saves.
Celtic’s third-choice goalie Conor Hazard briefly held down the jersey but he proved that he was a fair way away from establishing himself as the club’s No.1. The Irishman’s penalty saves helped seal the Quadruple Treble back in December but that takes the focus away from the fact that he may have been culpable for a couple of goals conceded that day. Hazard is just 23 but he needs to play games. With two years remaining on his deal, the club need to give the player the opportunity to play games and that is likely on loan elsewhere.
Ross Doohan is another young goalie that has been out on loan but appears to be some way away from becoming a first team regular at the club. He spent last season between Dundee United and Ross County and it is expected that he will go on loan next season too.
Celtic will likely be scouting their options to ascertain what is available in the marketplace. Postecoglou said that the recruitment drive was already well underway but here are three contenders that the club could look to if they are to sign another goalie.
Mathew Ryan has been linked with a move to Celtic, according to Sky Sports. The 29-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Arsenal but is said to want first-team football. Given that the player worked with Postecoglou with The Socceroos, he is obviously aware of Ange’s style and The Boss knows and trusts Ryan. If Ryan wants first-team football, Celtic offer him the chance to compete for trophies as well as European Football.
One name that the club could look to is former Celt David Marshall. The 36-year-old is currently with Scotland so they will be able to see first-hand if Marshall is still up to becoming Celtic’s No.1. Marshall burst onto the scene with a captivating goalkeeping performance at the Nou Camp, earning Celtic a clean sheet with some breath-taking stops. The ex-Wigan goalkeeper started his career at Celtic before departing in 2007 after Gordon Strachan opted for Artur Boruc. Given Derby’s financial predicament, Marshall may be available for a small fee.
Another name that has been considered is Benjamin Siegrist. The former Switzerland U21 has been one of the outstanding goalkeepers this season in Scotland. Reflex saves from pointblank range and brave keeping, diving at the feet of opposition attackers Siegrist has had an inspired debut season with United. The 29-year-old has a year remaining on his deal with the Tannadice outfit, meaning he may be available in the summer.
Postecogloy will likely have his own views on the goalkeeping position but one thing that is certain is that the new manager will need to act decisively in the transfer market if it is clear that there is no No.1 present at the club. Barkas needs to be given another opportunity before he is either moved on or reinstated as the club’s first pick.
