Some great Celtic conversation happening today, and indeed every day over on Celtic Noise, the friendliest forum exclusively for CELTIC SUPPORTERS to join and enjoy. Signing up is quick and easy and it’s a forum that is run by The Celtic Star and we’ll assist in any way necessary when you sign up – it take 30 seconds. Here’s just one of the thread discussions this morning and the Celtic full-backs….
Josip Juranović...The man is obviously the best full back we have. I remember as a kid reading some article about the former Arsenal right back Lee Dixon where they mentioned the taunts Dixon got such as “if Lee Dixon can play for England so can I”. Don’t know who it was but somebody in the same article said right back was the easiest position to play.
The man we signed to play right back now plays on the other side. That he starts ahead of experienced, natural left backs speaks volumes of his quality. It also highlights the power of the Ange influence. Tony Ralston gets that all day long; he’s all in and his journey is a joy to watch. The club is full of lads who’ll bounce on that buzz.
That being said Josip is still our best right back and if the club are serious about being a serious club they need to sign a left back of similar calibre. There’s talk about a lad from the J-league and I hope it happens if he’s a legit Ange target.
The impending zombie re-apocalypse will likely influence the board’s investment in the rest of the season and I fear January will pass without the team becoming serious in European terms. But then again a successful ECL knockout push would not only be massively profitable but would also significantly increase the likelihood of ECL qualification the next year.
I hope they see that. Sevogeddon is inevitable as is the respawn. A profitable Euro experience will shield the club from revenues lost from respawn to full-fleece maturation of the next Ibrokes cartel. Next time round it will probably be a full-on laundry vehicle since the sugar daddies have squandered their biokids’ inheritances.
Celtic, a club in a league where their only rivals are criminality, corruption and mediocrity. The Ibrokes cartel are the epitome of what is wrong in world football. If the Celtic board are serious about being a serious club they should take the necessary steps to liberate our club and allow it the potential its history guarantees. 26 + 6 = 1 – Well-known member on Celtic Noise
I enjoyed this post.The fact that Josip Juranović can play as a full back on either side, shows his talent and ability, I agree we need a proper left back of equal ability. Tony the Tiger has blossomed under Ange Postecoglou. Mancbhoy670 – Well-known member on Celtic Noise.
Ralston Reborn has the makings of an origin movie about a superhero vibe to it, but the harsh truth is, is that many of the goals that Celtic have coughed up this season have come from the defensive weakness in Tony’s game.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all his fault. Ange demands that his full-backs invert and play inside the lines which often means they’re more advanced up the park and 10-yards tucked more inside than you would normally expect from a conventional full-back. This was particularly exposed by Betis and Leverkusen who with more intelligent (if not necessarily better) players, opened us up at will when they went forward.
It’s not that Ralston doesn’t deserve game time, but the purpose of having depth in the squad is to rest and recuperate players and allow the team to function at full tilt for a full season of close to 60 games if they’re successful.
Tony Ralston has proved worthy of his place in the squad, but if the club are serious about progressing at the necessary lick, then we have to stop putting square pegs in round holes and find the most appropriate players for the appropriate position.
Starfelt, Welsh, Bitton and Cameron Carter Vickers have all been scrutinised about their defensive frailties at centre-half, but a lot of the issues emanate from the fact that they all get pulled out to the right a bit to try and plug the gap that Tony often leaves. At this point, they lose any positional advantage they will have if the ball does get played into the box, both Dundee goals last week were the perfect example of this weakness.
If Josip Juranović does take up his natural position, I’m pretty sure that, on his performances so far, Tony Ralston is going to fight like a man to get back in the team.
This is how it should be in every position.
Tony has had a fine start to the season, but let’s not kid ourselves that he’s the best solution. He looks accomplished when he’s winning back possession and romping forwards, but it’s often the possession that he’s previously just gifted away that he has to win back and he’s fundamentally out of position when he’s romping forwards. I’m being really picky, but these are the fine margins when you want to win matches, trophies and titles.
I thought we were the better team against theRangers, Betis and for long periods against Leverkusen, but if players have to compromise their own performance and instructions to try and cover deficiencies (however minor) in a team-mate – then that effectively impacts the whole team.
I have no wish to pick on Ralston. Given the circumstances, he’s been a revelation; however – if Celtic are serious about challenging on all fronts – then we need our best players to be playing in their natural position.
One might think that the principles of playing full-back are the same on either side, but just look at the train-wreck that was Kieran Tierney when he went right side for Scotland. The fact that JJ has played well (if not spectacularly so) is testament to his overall footballing ability and brain.
There is room for Tony at Celtic. He should still expect plenty of game time and his resolve will be required in the months to come. I appreciate that ours may not be the popular opinion and I doubt either of us have any ill-will against the boy, but I too believe that we need JJ to be developed as our first choice right back and that this will bring a natural balance to our whole defence. Spherical Planet – Well-known member on Celtic Noise
Spot on, but also think Tony’s not had much help from Abada! jota drops back and helps whoever is playing left-back but we will get there! Maybe when Jamsie returns fully fit… Espiritosanto – Well-known member on Celtic Noise
That’s a great point that I’d completely overlooked. Yeah, you’re absolutely bang on the money with that, mate. There is absolutely no assistance for Tony down that right side when Abada plays and even when he does make the effort to get back – he’s actually a bit of a liability. He tries to be clever and play his way out and often just turns over possession in really dangerous areas. Spherical Planet – Well-known member on Celtic Noise
To be fair, the goal Ralston laid on v Dundee was only possible because Abada was able to hold onto the ball and allow Ralston to come from behind to the line and even then it still required a precision lay off. Good times ahead with healthy competition fror places in all areas of the park. boat 1916 – Well-known member on Celtic Noise
I totally agree with that also, Boab. I think, in my own defence, I really don’t have an issue with either Tony or Liel and am delighted to have both or either in the team. I really am nitpicking at the moment and I can’t fault either lad too much. Abada is a young kid in a strange land playing with new players and Tony has been magnificent so far. I won’t lose any sleep if both or either play, but competition for places will improve them both in the long run. Spherical Planet – Well-known member on Celtic Noise
Agreed sir, I know that if we can get a left – back as good as JJ, then we can have a back four with players in their natural positions, I would like to add that although he’s not a favourite of the support Greg Taylor is another player that is benefitting from having Ange Postecoglou as the gaffer. The benefits of this is that young Monty can then be used in his own natural area I the midfield.
Something to think about is as Ange’s methods become more successful then we might find the team playing 60 odd games a season so having players with both the competition and back up of another first team ready player would be ideal. This would give Ange the ability to play the same way and allow the players to be able to know what their teammates can do and how to make the best possible decisions on the pitch. HH COYBIG. Mancbhoy670 – Well-known member on Celtic Noise.
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