I hate being critical of players, I really do, but if it needs to be said, then it needs to be said…
The player in question is Greg Taylor and not for the first time he showed his frailties on the big stage last night in Celtic’s 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League play-off at Celtic Park.
Taylor gets his fair share of criticism
Greg Taylor gets his fair share of criticism from the supporters, and 99 percent of it is bang out of order in my opinion as he’s done us a good turn since signing for the club back in 2019. Domestically he is absolutely fine and adds plenty to Celtic game-plan match after match.
He’s been a regular under Neil Lennon, Ange Postecoglou and now Brendan Rodgers, and that’s not just by coincidence, he’s more than earned his place in the side, but it’s pretty evident that he looks like the proverbial fish out of the water when it comes to stepping up to the elite level of club football.
Opponents target Celtic’s left back
And what is noticeable is that just about every opponent Celtic faces targets the left side of our defence as a Celtic weakness.
Our left hand side is an area that often gets exposed by our opponents domestically, with Greg’s lack of height being one of the reasons. But more often than not he copes perfectly well, but when it comes to playing in the continent it’s a totally different story.
Bayern’s first goal came down our left hand side
Last night was yet another example of Greg’s frailties against top quality opposition. Bayern’s first goal came down our left hand side, and although it was a fine strike by Michael Olise, Greg gave him the opportunity by allowing him too much space, something he was guilty of throughout the game.
The goal also came from Taylor giving away a needless throw-in when not for the first time in that first half his pass up the line was misjudged and gifted Bayern possession.
Kieran Tierney’s return should solve the problem
One can only wonder if proceedings would have been different if we managed to bring Kieran Tierney back a bit earlier. No disrespect to Greg, but we need better if we are to improve on the big stage. Tierney’s arrival will shore that problem up next season in the Champions League.
As for Greg Taylor he remains an important player for Celtic, he has done a fine job over six seasons and deserves the new contract Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers wants him to sign. If he does just that there will be no complaints from me, but if he decides to try pastures new then he’ll go with my best wishes and that will be true for plenty of Celtic supporters.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Agree 100%, fine servant of the club but CL just perhaps a step too far. Gives everything, hope he signs new deal.
We need a left back who can defend in Europe as well as domestically and Greg can’t cut it, he’s been a great servant to the club but I think it’s time for him to move on he cost us dearly again last night HH
He wants 25k a week. That is an outrageous sum for a man who cannot competently fill in at the highest level. Ralston can cut it domestically and is an able depute domestically to AJ. That should be the wages Greg should be aiming for but he is already earning more than that.
What a joke! He tackled the boy broke the way of the attacker give your head a shake sick of all the fans saying this rubbish
I think that is unfair.
Taylor did misplace a few passes and the last one, prior to Bayern’s first goal, was the easiest pass down the line that he had but the goal itself was a simple break of the ball.
If I’m going to be critical of Taylor then I would level the same accusation at a lot of our players: they lack the confidence at that level to go forward with the ball when the opportunity is there. A few times last night, not many I’ll grant you, players had a chance to go forward when receiving a pass but the first thought is to go back.
As for Tierney being a better option then perhaps he would, when fit, however I doubt Tierney will be able to play more than thirty five games a season. He is simply injury prone.
While Tierney may be better defensively, could he play the pass Taylor played to Hatate at Pittodrie to win us the match? I doubt it.
There are pros and cons with almost every player. Engels had a good fame last night but should we criticise him for being to slow to react, twice in the first half, to give us the opportunity to break. I also think it was Engels that got dragged under the ball for Kane’s goal.
Should we criticise Hatate, despite him also having a good game, for not making a better contact with his chance in the second half.
“It has to be said”?
Easy target. It’s like you need to pin “scapegoat” on Taylor’s back at every down turn. He didn’t have a good game but if I was him I’d be sick and tired of the repetitive nature of criticism that comes his way. Go on Greg, go and enjoy the rest of your career away from the haters.
“Pastors new”? FFS.
Whit? Is he converting?
He may have got unlucky when ball broke off his leg, but he was already caught wrong side, then let the guy turn him and then stood a mile off him, not one but 3 mistakes. People in sport are there to be judged on their performances and get great wages to compensate, supporters pay hard cash and are allowed to give practical criticism. And when you play at the highest level you are judged accordingly, Taylor is just Ralston who got lucky, thx to board ineptitude, and like Ralston a great domestic servant, but he cannot play at that level.
You don’t need to take fellow supporters word for it, just listen to what opposing players and managers have said over the years, unfortunately for him, he is the weak link, it’s why they always target him, and have said so many times.
Grow up, it’s not about picking on anyone, where are we the playground?.