Creative options

Since July I’ve written about the over-dependence we have on Kris Commons as a creative player.  He’s pretty much our only option, and if he’s not fancied, injured, suspended or just off-form, we look like a team full of energy but without a key to open the door.

It may be that Ronny doesn’t figure on having a classic No. 10 in his team, and it’s more than possible that we won’t play one against European heavyweights, but against packed SPFL defences, we need someone who can create space in dangerous areas.

As we mentioned last month, some years ago Celtic reportedly looked at Bosnian international, Semir Stilic, while he was at Lech Poznan.  His star faded before a journey through Ukrainian and Turkish football before he returned to Poland with Wisla Krakow 12 months ago on an 18 month contract.  Since then he’s been a sensation and has kept Wisla in touch with the top of the table.

He’s refused a new contract offer from Wisla and is subject to a bid from Dinamo Zagreb, thought to be in the region of €250k.  He’s likely to be on circa €2k per week.  We’ve scouted the player, he’s soon out of contract, going cheap, on low wages, on form and we’re short of what he can give.

This is the kind of player Dinamo Zagreb pick up for buttons and enables them to compete as effectively as they did against Celtic with a fraction of our budget.  He has the making of an effective January signing.