When a season is done and dusted it is a tradition to ensure those on the periphery are given a chance to shine. For Celtic that would ordinarily include some of the solid professionals happy to be squad players, who have still played their part all season, being rewarded for their patience and contribution, or some of the young guns knocking on the door being recognised for their potential worth and ongoing development.
For Celtic, tonight’s visit to Pittodrie would be that opportunity, coming as it has as the last of Celtic’s hard-earned trophies – much like the others – was meekly surrendered on Sunday afternoon. But will it?
That tradition is unlikely to be continued tonight given some of the cross purposes within Celtic’s leadership group and a lack of available personnel. With so many of the younger talents such as Lee O’Connor, Luca Connell and Ewan Henderson currently out on loan, and a lot of those considered as squad players only being classed as such due to making no impact on a disastrous season, rather than it being a defined role, it’s hard to see too many changes as the season fizzles out. But for certain positions we do need to be looking to mix it up.
As Celtic look to next season they may wish to consider protecting their financial interests from now on. With a £20m Covid deficit likely to impact the end of year accounts, the sales of some of the first team stars – ones who have yet to sign new contracts and as such clearly have little interest in doing so – can no longer be risked, particularly with a costly rebuild also likely to require funding by way of the transfer income now necessary from their sales.
A risk of a long-term injury would surely mean no such fee and with it a responsibility to pay the players wages and fund a recovery, only to watch them leave on freedom of contract at the end of next season, or indeed sign a pre-contract as early as January.
Three of those players, Kris Ajer, Ryan Christie and Odsonne Edouard surely can’t be risked in any unnecessary games now. Yet that is where the cross purposes come into play.
Whilst we as a club need to be looking to build for next season the interim manager will still feel he is still auditioning for the permanent manager’s job, or looking to impress a Chairman of a Board at another club. Will Kennedy be willing to put his own reputation as secondary consideration or will he simply pick what he views is his best side, even for the dead rubber tonight? I guess well find that out when the team is announced.
And what of the captain, surely we won’t leave ourselves in a position of asking Scott Brown to play against his future employer, a team needing points to push for European football next season and one where Brown’s performance could impact upon that negatively, or indeed compromise him by opening him up to scrutiny for any performance be it good or bad.
Scott Brown’s commitment is undoubtedly beyond reproach but it makes no sense to play him tonight in such a no-win situation, or indeed again this season, bar a cheerio cameo in the final home game of the season perhaps. If Ismaila Soro is fit and given he’s looking like a stick-on to be around next season, there has to be a changing of the guard in defensive midfield as we now look to next season.
Up front Odsonne Edouard has to be put in cold storage – any unnecessary exposure now for our biggest asset is entirely counterproductive. Albian Ajeti will be here next season and Leigh Griffiths can have a run-out for the last twenty minutes if necessary.
In defence both Jonjoe Kenny and Diego Laxalt have done themselves no favours with recent performances, both Greg Taylor and Tony Ralston, may as well play now. Taylor after all is our player, will be here next season and is a better option, and even if Ralston is to leave in the summer, we can put one of our own in the shop window and aid his chances of alternative employment, and is Kenny any better than Ralston? I’m not sure he is on recent evidence.
The same applies to Nir Bitton. Kris Ajer may be a wantaway but you could not question his effort, however again he won’t be staying, will he? Bitton is just the type of squad player who in other seasons would be given a run out, we may as well do that now until the end of the season.
Whilst much like with Ryan Christie, Kennedy may feel a duty to keep those heading to the Euros match sharp and ready to join their international squads, but given the importance of the financial value of those players, it may not be a luxury we can afford. If as Kennedy stated Tom Rogic has been deserving a run of games of late, then we have an opportunity to remove Christie and give Rogic both the opportunity to play and also once again the chance to showcase his talents to other suitors, or show his worth going forward to a new manager, one who may or may not be watching on.
The only loan player I’d consider playing from now on in would be Moi Elyounossi, if for no other reason than there is still hope he could return to the club next season, be it another loan deal or a permanent transfer, there are also very few other options.
Tonight’s dead rubber may well then be an interesting insight as to whether Celtic intend to protect the value of prized assets or if an interim manager continues to play what he may view as his strongest side, with a view to giving himself the best employment opportunities going forward. It surely makes more sense to rotate to those on the periphery for the remainder of the season.
Niall J