The beard ages him, but Anthony Ralston will not be 23 until later this month. He was at Celtic throughout last season, but despite Jeremie Frimpong and Hatem Abd Elhamed departing in January and Jonjoe Kenny not enjoying great form, Kristoffer Ajer was moved to right back with Anthony missing out. He played only once, a 0-0 home draw to Livingston in January. The inference was clear: Anthony was fifth choice right back in an awful Celtic team.
Prior to that he had made 10 starts for Celtic, the first coming in 2017. 19 months younger than Kieran Tierney, comparisons were made – I remember writing that while we clearly did not have the wherewithal to develop a striker, we were able to produce full backs with bags of potential.
He was first choice on loan at St Johnstone until football was curtailed in March last year, then a ponderous year on the sidelines. Players do not always make it, I assumed Anthony’s progress went into reverse.
What he needs most now is games. The injury to Greg Taylor that moved Josip Juranovic left provided an opportunity for Anthony to compete at a level he seldom experienced before. This has brought some impressive goals, crosses and assists that were so lacking from the right last season.
Whatever your objectives for Celtic, developing players has to be part of the mix. We need to be able to develop the potential Anthony Ralston broke through with into someone who can spend years in the first team, or be sold on for decent compensation.
Fair play to the lad for turning his career around in the space of three months and to Ange for giving him the platform. Neil will have his own version of events about last season’s absence. This stuff is always complicated, anyone who thinks different has never been there. Whatever the reason, it now looks shaky.
147 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
I was always an advocate for Tony Ralston (TR) starting. None of the others could defend as well as him (especially Frimpong) and even attack-wise he is better than a few we’ve had in his stead. His crossing needs to be improved but so does that of almost everyone in this squad. I think whether you play or not is often simply down to how the manger wants the team to play – Lennon’s more anarchic style always seemed to rely on a bit of individual brilliance and players who had previously performed okay at a higher level than SPFL were preferred. Frimpong was preferred because of his speed as a wing back but mostly it didn’t have an end product. TR obviously can fit in to Ange’s system and he has already made some crucial interventions, created assists and scored too, plus he is tough and that inspires others. So congratulations to him on his new contract. Ange clearly considers him part of his long term plans. Soro isn’t ready for Ange’s system hence his absence. I suspect the main issue is his passing isn’t up to scratch. That probably gives Biton a slight advantage but clearly that position is not Biton’s to keep so it is up to Soro to compete.
I Believe In You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX_v84dvKXQ&ab_channel=RebelLyrics
A tribute to Óglach Francis Hughes – a fearless soldier for Ireland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrBa6h6dXyc&ab_channel=SinnF%C3%A9in
Mary Lou McDonald TD, Presidential Address, 2021 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5poz8xkS6TA&ab_channel=SinnF%C3%A9in
Gooooood morning all cqners across the globe from a dark, dry but chilly Garngad
Again thanks to all for the well wishes.
If I may my big buddy Jimmy had a wee loss yesterday where his wee pal Rocky bhoy the cat went for his last sleep.
Big Jimmy is devastated as he had the wee fella for well over 15 years and knowing Jimmy he would have given that wee cat the best of life’s.
Hail Hail
D :)
Aw poor Jimmy.
Take it easy
Care always
David you take care too
God bless
Matchday Celts
HH
Jimmy sorry to read about your Rocky , it’s always sad when a pet goes but I’m sure you gave Rocky a good life .
BIG JIMMY
Terrible news mate!
No words!
Jimmy
Very sad for you. I’m sure that you will not be down for long remembering the pleasure you got from Rocky over the years. Take care.
David 66
Hope your troubles are resolved quickly. All the best.
YNWA HH
Big Jimmy- sorry to hear your news
Big Jimmy,
So sorry to hear Rocky has crossed Rainbow Bridge. He had a good life with someone who loved and cared for him.
I know how devastated you will be. Take care.
HH to you.
BIG JIMMY
Sorry to hear about your wee pal Rocky
Big Jimmy
Sorry to hear your sad news.I felt Wee Rocky was one of us.
David 66
Good to see ou back on posting.Hope matters improve quickly.
Cheerio for now.
J
BIG JIMMY
So sorry to hear about wee Rocky
Big Jimmy, Your wee Fenian Cat had a long & Happy Life, that is all we can all hope for.
I know losing a pet is really upsetting. but come on the Blog & chat about it anyway.
It’s good to talk.
David 66 – Great to hear from you again… does this mean you’re over the worst? Really sad news you’ve brought us, though, regarding wee Rocky.
Big Jimmy – CORKCELT is right. Come on and regale us with stories of the wee mhan. I’m sure you have plenty!
DAVID66 and all the other Bhoys/Good Guys on her, THANK YOU All for your kind words regarding my BEST PAL for the last 15 years or so.
Rocky Bhoy just had too many health problems after being x rayed etc in the Vets yesterday, so for the 1st time in my life, I had to give permission for a Pet to put to sleep.
It was the kindest thing to do for Rocky Bhoy, as its been hell for a couple of weeks watching him suffer, as it was thought a couple of weeks ago that he was suffering from Constipation when I first took him to the Vet. The Vet told me last night in the Surgery that Rockys Liver was bad, and also his wee Gall Bladder, as well as some other issues etc. So it was the ONLY Decision to make, no matter how difficult.
Wee Rocky Bhoy could ” Spring” like Henrik..and I almost named him ” HENKE” when he was a tiny kitten , but he had a wee murmur in his wee heart, but I knew that he was gonna be a ” FIGHTER”…thats why I named him ROCKY.
Im missing him so much, he was MY wee Bhoy.
I will get his Ashes back in a Fancy Beech Wood Box within the next 7/10 days or so, with his name Engraved on a wee Brass Plate.
Thanks to ALL you Good Guys.
HH.
Why do we kick off so late tonight. Our players will practically miss a night’s sleep. The Huns will be in bed before we leave Hungary.
You did the right thing for Rocky Bhoy, Big Jimmy.
Have no regrets.
79 caps
Did the opposite not happen in a previous set of fixtures?
I am now AFF OOT very shortly to get Drunk.
HH
CORKCELT on 4TH NOVEMBER 2021 10:19 AM
You did the right thing for Rocky Bhoy, Big Jimmy.
Have no regrets
….
Many thanks my friend.
It was the right thing to do…but my heart is still broken.
HH
GREENPINATA on 3RD NOVEMBER 2021 7:48 PM
Subject Matter Expert. You say.
This year I have noticed that term attached to some people’s e mail signature. A bit pretentious I would have thought. However when in Rome.
HH,
Greenpinata SME.
————–
seen some crackers lately. Title instead of pay rise, sneaky
Cloud Ninja – the only guy who went on the Azure course
Customer Success Manager – Sales
Chief Evangelist – Technical Sales
Sandwich Artist – works in a deli
Visual Merchandiser – sets up mannequins in shop window
I run Process Improvement in my gaff so have to try not to use too many bullshit bingo words i picked up on courses but i do use SME a fair bit. Makes guys you need to pull some data for you feel they want to be on the project which you don’t understand 😎
Big Jimmy
Does that mean there will be a lager shortage in The Old Ship bank some time soon? :-)))
Do you r best to enjoy the session.
J
Hot Smoked @ 10.24
Don’t think so.
Very sorry to hear that news Jimmy.We lost our huge Devil Dug last year,and it was heartbreaking.I know the feeling.He was 69 Kilos,now the wife has got a Toy Poodle,4 Kilos max.
Enjoy your swally today.Dull the loss a wee bit.
Take care.
BIG JIMMY
Sorry to hear about the wee man. Just have a beer(or 2) and remember all the times he brought you.
David66
Glad to hear your out of hospital, change your diet and I hope your pain goes away
Take care gentlemen and KTF
28 Degrees here today,lovely.Beautiful day for a win in Hungary.
Big Jimmy – Sorry to hear about Rocky. Pets can become part of the family
I hope all the vax-deniers have read the news that the HPV vaccine has cut cervical cancer rates by 90% – great news for all women and further proof that vaccination benefits all of us.
Over time,only vaccines will tame this Covid blight, as they have done for twenty-nine other ‘killer diseases’, such as smallpox, polio, diphtheria, measles, mumps & rubella.
So sorry Jimmy.
☘HH.
Celtic win tonight guarantees 3rd place in group and eliminates Ferencvaros.
3rd place EL teams enter Conference League and play ConfL runners up in a knockout tie
🙋♂️ Hi Fholks! 😊 🍀
Not on here much these days; too many energy-sapping internal-strhifers and jobbies hard bluenoses, not to mention a horrible inaccessible CQN experience on the laptop/PC! 🤨
Just wanted to add my own joy and Congratulations to our still-young Anthony Ralston on his true-grit fantastic perseverance and learning BE-Attitudes which have enabled him to win a new Contract at our beloved Celtic Football Club! I think his story reminds me of Roy of the Rovers and Alf Tupper combined! 👍😊🍀. (Without the fish supper diet of course! 😂). Anthony Ralston is one of our own and will improve even more with our support and encouragement! 😊 👍🍀
I hope he goes on to become a Celtic Legend and continues to set a fine and very real example to the Academy Youngsters of just how far an attitude of perseverance, determination, hard work and a willing-to-learn attitude can take you! 😊 👍🍀. (That they ALL have the skills is not in question!)
Congratulations to Ange and the Board too for helping Anthony Ralston to continue his football-growing-up and for rewarding his progress! 😊 👍🍀
Take Care, Keep Safe and God Bless,
Yours in Celtic,
TB&F. 😊 🍀
P.S. Good luck to Celtic tonight; looking forward to positive headlines of ‘Blistering Blitzkrieg by Bhoys in Budapest!’ tonight! 😊 🍀 (Ferencvaros 0 – Celtic Glasgow 3)