The story of Celtic’s left back position has been largely painful over the years. Emilio Izaguirre arrived after the 2010 Wold Cup and, for a few seasons at least, strengthened what was a perennial weak spot in the team. You’re going back decades, possibly to Danny McGrain himself, before you’ll find someone in the left back position Emilio wasn’t clearly a stand-out improvement on.
Having supplanted Emilio in the Celtic team, there’s a good chance that 18-year-old Kieran Tierney will make his Scotland debut tonight on his breakthrough season. It’s a great story for a player who has physicality and maturity beyond his years. We might just have a genuine player on our hands.
The echo of a big failure at left back still reverberates around the club. Seven years ago Sligo Rovers’ Seamus Coleman, was on trial at Lennoxtown, but was sent home as he wasn’t judged able to put pressure on Lee Naylor, during Gordon Strachan’s last season. Then reserve team coach, Willie McStay, recommended Coleman to Everton, where the player has turned into one of the best left backs in the English Premier League.
Assessing strikers is comparatively easy; there are objective statistics (goals scored) to inform your view, including at youth level. It’s not as easy assessing a defender, where picking a winner offers you only subjective opinions. Kieran has achieved far more than any of his teenage contemporaries this season, some of whom were more lauded than him.
Perhaps the crucial deciding factor in all this was who was given an extended run in the team. If you don’t allow your youth players to graduate (at the right time), and don’t sacrifice first team mainstays (at the right time) you’ll forever buy other teams’ graduates.
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Timbhoy/Bigshuggy
Ryan Gauld plays for Sporting Lisbon B
Almore,
Deas bualadh leat freisin. Bhain me taitneamh as mo chuart go BAC Angus freastal are gach duine. Go raibh mile maith agat.
To save Focus the bother: It was great to meet you and everyone. I enjoyed my visit to Dublin. A thousand thanks.
Predictive text strikes again. agus ag freastal ar gach duine.
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/resultion-12-questions-for-celtic-f-c/#more-7398
Good questions, will they ever be answered?
Mulgrew and brown central midfield for Scotland tonight
Griffiths partners Fletcher up front. .. is wgs setting up a trial for celtics strikers next season
BRTH.
Your post throughout the night was enjoyable. The bit about the splinters amused me.
I didn’t agree with everything you posted but hey ho it’s a blog.
I always say if two people agree all the time then one of them is a liar or is just being sycophantic.
Scotland team to face Denmark contains 5 Celtic players …
Gordon, Whittaker, Tierney, Greer, Hanley, Mulgrew, Ritchie, Brown (C), Fletcher, Griffiths, Anya
In response, the Warbmeister suggests a couple of changes to his selection against the Czech Republic last week. Out go Temple and Sash to be replaced by Lodge and Bowler. (Grandmother’s) age of this team about 4231 .
——————— Widdowsson ———————
— Lodge — Boaz — Jachin — Boyne —
—————- Master ——— Mason ————
——- Tyler ——– Abiff ———- Bowler ——-
———————— Lambeg ————————
Despite being thought to be poor and may need help, the keeper retains his place, again protected by the central defensive pillars. Midfield craft is still expected from architect Hiram Abiff while Tyler will again get a grip in the middle and create openings. Lambeg remains the big target up front they have been banging on about for years.
Again I believe this is on the level so no 3rd degree please !
Sfa recall the team sheets and drop mulgrew and anya. .. mcginn and maloney play
No like the sfa to fek things up .. absolute embarrassment
To-night I’m remembering a shining star in the making. A man who looked to have a glittering Celtic career ahead of him, Honoured to have been picked for his debut for his Country in a friendly against Romania,
I will never forget or forgive that thug Ganea for one of the worst deliberate career ending tackles that I ever saw.
Be safe Kieran and the best of luck tonight.
The Maestro 72.
The deadline Phil set for a response was 17.00 this evening.
I have to say that was a little unreasonable. However, I agree, a good set of questions and it will be interesting to see if PLC respond.
The board must now realise that this is an issue that is concerning more and more fans and is now reaching a broader audience.
Corkcelt
Good post.
Special best wishes to Kieran tonight.
So SFA redraw the Scotland team now – how much more embarrassing can they be ?
Anya and Mulgrew replaced by Maloney and McGinn – so far …
Jimmynotpaul
If Celtic plc will not reply to shareholders why will they respond to the press?
Corkcelt
I wish you hadn’t reminded me of John Kennedy’s tragic assault.
Nervous as a kitten for young Kieran now.
looking at ticket website, looks like a big 50,000 plus for first time in ages, i would even give hearts more seats, and open up our banners section for pay at the gate
get creative celtic, make it sell out
Celtic Graves remembers Alec Brady
https://twitter.com/CelticGraves/status/714878864820932610
HH
Nice touch before the Republics match in Aviva with army pipers playing Rap The Green Flag Round Me.
Kevin Gallacher doing a very good impression of Lester Piggot on SSN…
Jeez an empty looking Hampden. H H Hebcelt
Wee fud Tanner mentions the OF game ? What is it with that muppet, you would punch him till your arm fell off
England v Holland on Sky 973
Slovakia one up
O’Neill out
!!BADA BING!! on 29TH MARCH 2016 7:58 PM
Wee fud Tanner mentions the OF game ? What is it with that muppet, you would punch him till your arm fell off
As long as his heid fell off first.
Who are some of our players? H H Hebcelt
Good to see young Tierney getting recognised. Just hope he comes through safely.
Ireland set the early pace but caught on a break. Well finished goal. Slovakia 1 Rep of Ireland Nil.
Keeper injures himself trying to get to the ball. A rare freak injury, keeper has to be replaced.
Have they pulled in the touch line on the main stand side?
Penalty Ireland
One all Shane Long from the spot.
Second Penalty Ireland
1-0 Scotland, Tierney breaks on the left, plays it inside, ball through by Brown, defender makes a mess, goal Ritchie.
2-1 Ireland. This time James McClean takes it. Good decision making to have different taker.
See if Denmark had Erik in the team, that widny have happened, shocking defending
best Scotland strip I’ve seen in many a moon
Shane Long on fire 2-1 Republic.
Get in there! Matt Ritchie.
Two Dodgy penalties for the Republic…. but is it enough to save O’Neill ..now that he has lost the dressing room and the support….