Neil Lennon spoke to PLZ Soccer yesterday about the current state of Celtic’s squad and what they need to compete on all four fronts this season. The club will once again make the group stages of the UEFA Champions League, as well as playing their usual three domestic competitions on top of that too.
To do this, you need a strong and robust squad with plenty of quality options all over the park. Having lost Jota and Carl Starfelt, some have argued that the Hoops need more first-team starters and more depth if they are to be remotely successful in European football this coming campaign. With Gustaf Lagerbielke already on his way to the club, three more areas are said to be of priority to the manager.
However, Lennon has admitted he would like to see different areas strengthened as opposed to just the ones mentioned beforehand. Speaking on PLZ Soccer, he said of the current squad and it’s need for more additions: “I’d like to see them get another striker in. I’d worry if Kyogo was out for any period of time. I’d like to see more physicality in midfield.
“You know, like a Victor Wanyama-type because to go into the Champions League they’re going to need that physicality. I mean they’ve got good speed in the team. But for me, looking at them even last year, they lacked height at times and they lacked that physicality when they came up against the top-quality teams.”
Lennon is absolutely bang on the money with his assessment. For too long now that Celtic midfield has lacked the adequate power and pace to compete at Champions League level and it has shown whenever we play the big boys on the continent. Teams seem to always be able to out-muscle us or whizz by the central area of the pitch without much resistance and it’s a perpetual issue.
For all our good footballers and the play that’s very nice on the eye, we’re undoubtedly missing a specimen in the centre of the pitch. It’s been a recurring theme really since the days of Victor Wanyama and not one Celtic boss has moved to address this problem. Brendan Rodgers has brought in Kwon Hyeok-kyu, who looks a bit of a unit, but it’s still very much up for debate if he’s ready to be a first-team starter right now.
🗣️ ‘I do think that they’ll spend a bit of money between now and the end of August’
New @PLZSoccer pundit Neil Lennon believes Celtic will invest in the team ahead of #UCL campaign
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Paul Gillespie
So Lennon thinks we need a solid holding midfielder. We signed McCarthy, Ideguchi, Iwata and now Kwon and also Soro who Lennon signed. How many more do we need?
If these guys aren’t good enough then why did we sign them, especially Iwata and Kwon.
McCarthy, Soro and Guchi should also be punted. Simply not good enough especially Lennon’s signing!
On another note. Tom Daily is no longer Britain’s best diver. After what I have just watched that accolade must now go to Cantwell. What a diving performance all over the park. Tom can’t hold a flame to Todd when it comes to diving!
Lennon is correct in what he says. He is also culpable, it has been glaring since Wanyama departed. Deila, Rodgers, Lennon on his return, Postecoglou, Rodgers (2) 5 managers have failed to address the lack of physicality in the heart of the team. Now we are being linked with a French left back at 5’ 7”, we have two in that area on 5’7” one 5’6”, why another Tiny Tot. We need physicality and height on the left side of defence, who can defend. Ross County and Aberdeen both glaringly exposed that weakness in our first two outings. Hart, who has given us two terrific seasons, is in a comfort zone we need a goalkeeper who is a serious threat to his position that could be trusted starter,
Give Scales a chance.
Left footer with physical presence who can defend and play a forward pass.
Why do Aberdeen want him?
Hail Hail.
Neil Lennon knows what he is speaking about.
His record as a a player and manager at Celtic is unsurpassed.
The 10inr debacle a separate issue when his misplaced loyalty to the the team was unmatched by the want away players.
No doubt he should have resigned earlier but his stubborn nature which was a bonus as a player was his downfall in his last year.
We could be doing with a N L in midfield now..
Hail Hail.
He had his chance and made a total mess of it. To blame anyone other than him is daft. Is he working at the moment?