Yesterday it was revealed that Greg Taylor is facing at least two weeks on the sidelines due to an injury picked up in the closing stages of Sunday’s Scottish Cup match against Buckie Thistle. And if you listen closely then Celtic usually provide the most optimistic timeframe for the return from injuries – so two weeks could easily turn into three weeks or even a month lay-off.
Granted if it’s only two – and fingers crossed on that straight away folks – at least a couple of games we will be without his services, but it again highlights the incompetence in this window when it comes to improving our playing squad and strengthening the area of the park where we are perhaps at our weakest.
Left back is one of those areas that we are in need of fresh blood, it’s no secret. The supporters know it, and more importantly so does the manager. It’s been obvious for all to see for the past few months. Brendan doesn’t seem to rate Alexandro Bernabei – who wasn’t cheap – and up to last weekend was apparently hopeful of bringing in Owen Beck from Liverpool before that hope was dashed when he appeared from the bench for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Greg is of course our first choice pick in that area, but we badly need competition or someone ready to claim his place. Bernabei is second choice at left back, but in all honesty he’s proven he’s not good enough defensively and more importantly Brendan Rodgers doesn’t seem to rate him. Talk of him moving on has so far come to nothing.
In any other circumstances I’d be happy for young Mitchel Frame to deputise in Greg’s absence, but that is a get out of jail free card for our hierarchy. However Frame would still be my preferred deputy for the injured Taylor at this stage.
We need new faces and we need them now, particularly at left back and centre forward. Greg is now injured, what if Kyogo is next? We don’t have any cover up top either and that is gross mismanagement from those in charge. And that could be the reason that Rocco Vata is in contention again – out of the blue – for first team activity, not as a winger but as the back-up striker to Kyogo, while Oh is away at the Asian Cup.
We need new faces for areas that are thin on competition, and we need them now – left back, goalkeeper and striker – and for two out of three the answer could be to promote players from the Celtic B team while the other looks like being addressed in the summer.
Time is not on our side, and it’s imperative we get fresh faces in. Time to get the finger out, to bring in new players – for any position – in this window and Brendan admitted yesterday that we’re not close to concluding any deal at the moment. There can be no more excuses if with £70m sitting in the bank we fail to strengthen sufficiently to retain our title and in doing so hand a £60m Champions League bonanza to theRangers.
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