Some supporters are unhappy with the decision to recall Stephen Welsh, but at this particular moment it makes nothing but perfect sense…
With Cameron Carter Vickers out for a lengthy spell, and Austin Trusty rumoured to have picked up a knock at the weekend, then bringing back a player who knows the club and league inside out is a shrewd move indeed.
In my opinion we need a new centre back for the title run in, as we have no serious back up options, but with two difficult league fixtures on the horizon in Falkirk and Hearts, both away from home, it’s vital what we move to sort out that area immediately. So what better way to do so in recalling a player who is not only still on our books, but one who is performing well at this moment in time?
Stephen by all accounts has been performing well under the guidance of Jens Berthel Askou at a Motherwell side who have been a stand out side in the Scottish Premiership this campaign, with not just their style of play, but their defensive side of the game, a part that Stephen has played an important part in.
Presently Motherwell have the joint best defensive record in the league, conceding only 17 goals, with Welsh a vital component in the Motherwell defence.
More importantly, Stephen’s been playing regularly and his confidence is high, helped by getting regular game time under a highly regarded manager in a side who play a similar style of football as his parent club.
Martin O’Neill also has a great track record of instilling belief into players, and if Stephen Welsh is to be thrown back into first team action, then I have no doubts that he will be a steady performer at the heart of our defence. But of course, recruiting a new centre back is still a high priority.
As a right sided centre-back he will also provide a balance we have lacked by having two right footed players on the right of our defence – Julian Araujo and Stephen Welsh – and two left footed defenders on the other side in Liam Scales and Kieran Tierney.
The lack of transfer activity twelve days into the January window is alarming and tells its own story of boardroom failure, confirming what we already know. The damage that has been done already this season has been massive, with only Martin O’Neill now able to save our season and even he is starting to sound the alarm bells over boardroom failings on his watch.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Actually agree with Welsh returning, even if somewhat surprised, that a recall option was available within the loan deal?
However, I don’t agree with your assessment upon how events unfolded for Welsh in the first place imo?
Rodgers wanted 5CB in his squad building process during the summer.
His decision making allowed for Welsh and rocki to go out on loan, in favour of Murray and Pusey.
Things backfired hugely with losing CCV for the season, especially with both Murray and Pusey unable to step up, when a position was made available to the pair of them.
3 different managers, can’t find the quality we require in the position, from younger players, only highlights the coaching ability within our club imo?
MoN and Maloney have to try and repair some very poor footballing decisions taken during the summer period.
Recalling Welsh and promoting him ahead of Murray, makes sense, especially if Welsh is required for our remaining 2 europa league matches, as should be eligible imo?
Agreed that our defensive set up will have to be addressed during the summer. But that’s already looking like a requirement for the potential new manager.
Until then, we aren’t going to be spoilt for options available, especially with so much uncertainty surrounding our club, and a salvage operation in place regarding our squad building process for the remainder of this season imo?
So having 8 defensive options available within our squad, hoping trusty isn’t injured? With Saracchi hopefully returning soon enough. Should be enough for the remainder of our SPFL campaign imo?
Losing both CCV and AJ was always going to be a big ask for ourselves to overcome.
We still haven’t a shortage of players under contract defensively, but still requires better decisions made this coming summer, than what was made last summer within our defensive set up imo?
Naw to Welshy.
Aye to Naw-rocki being recalled.
That’s the guy we need in the heart of defence.
Agree with you, Nawrocki was the best option and didn’t let the team down when given minutes on the pitch, unlike Welsh who was given so many chances to stake a claim in the starting eleven but failed.
Rodgers had a distinct hatred of Nawrocki, who in my opinion is much better than Welsh.
Agree with you, Nawrocki was the best option and didn’t let the team down when given minutes on the pitch, unlike Welsh who was given so many chances to stake a claim in the starting eleven but failed.
Rodgers had a distinct hatred of Nawrocki, who in my opinion is much better than Welsh.
Nawrocki just back from injury:
https://www.hannover96.de/newscenter/news/details/36371-erstes-teamtraining-nach-belek-rueckkehr-so-sieht-es-fuenf-tage-vor-dem-rueckrundenstart-personell-aus.html