If only this Celtic side was kept together…
Seeing Jeremie Frimpong score for Bayer Leverkusen last night was a sore one for many Celtic supporters. Sure we are all happy to see him do so well on the big stage, but it’s another reminder of the fact we can’t hold on to players who possess true quality.
Yes we are a big club, but we are the proverbial big fish in a small pond and it’s hard to keep those star attractions when the big sharks inevitably start circling. In the last decade we have made a substantial profit selling on some fantastic players, but we can only dream of what if we kept them altogether. Sure the money is good, for those in charge anyway, but for us supporters it’s a small comfort.
Can you imagine if we still had those players around today? Mixed with a few of our current regulars, it would be a formidable Celtic team and one capable of making an impact in the Champions League.
Just for a bit of fun, here a fantasy football Celtic side that sets aside the harsh realities of the game. It’s a side we could have lining up for us today at St Mirren in the Scottish Cup . A side that would still be at their peak and be able to compete at the very top level.
Playing in a 3-5-2 formation, how about this for a team sheet?
GK – Fraser Forster. Sold for £12 million to Southampton in 2013, and of course came back for a loan spell in 2019. A squad keeper at Spurs currently, but he’s wasted there and could still do a job for us.
CB – Virgil Van Dijk. Sold for £13 million to Southampton in 2015. Eventually sold on to Liverpool for £75 million and is currently one of the best defenders in world football.
CB – Cameron Carter Vickers. Of course the big strong man is still with us and arguably one of, if not our most valuable players.
CB – Kristoffer Ajer. The big Norwegian was signed for £600, 000 by Ronny Delia. Was eventually sold to Brentford in 2021 for £13.5 million to Brentford.
RWB -Jeremie Frimpong. Sold to Bayer Leverkusen in 2021 for £11 million. He’s now one of the most promising players in Europe and will inevitably move to one of the bigger sides in the summer.
LWB – Kieran Tierney. KT needs no introduction. Wore his heart on his sleeve but also had the talent. Sold to Arsenal for £25 million in 2019, and while he hit the ground running, it went a bit pear shaped. Currently on loan at Real Sociedad. He’s still a very talented player.
CDM – Victor Wanyama. The big Kenyan was an absolute steal at £900,000. He had power, pace and could play a bit. Something our midfield misses at the moment. Sold to Southampton in 2013 for £12.5 million. Currently in the MLS with Montreal impact, but could definitely still do a job for us.
CM – Matt O’Riley. Still a Celt of course and arguably he’s been our best player this season. Undoubtedly currently our most valuable asset.
CM – Reo Hatate. Also still a Celt, and while he’s been injury prone this season, he’s still a wonderful talent and one of our most valuable assists. A class act when he’s on his game.
CF – Moussa Dembele. Sold to Lyon for £20 million in 2018. Rumours of a bust up with Brendan Rodgers, but he could still fit into our current side, he’s a class act and like most players wasted out in the cash rich gulf state of Saudi Arabia.
CF – Kyogo. Alongside Moussa, would be our current hero striker Kyogo Furuhashi. Kyogo is a class act, and while not having the best of campaigns, he’s still a valuable player. He would flourish alongside someone like Moussa.
Subs – Hart, Juranovic, Boyata, Starfelt, McGregor.,Armstrong Edouard, Jota and Giakoumakis.
We can only dream, but what a side we’d have if we were able to keep ahold of our talent. Anyway that’s enough fantasy football, so back to reality…
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