Greg Taylor was my man of the match on Saturday. He brought urgency and authority, two qualities which were absent elsewhere on the field. Despite being unable to agree a new contract with Celtic, I hear his attitude has been excellent, so much so, some were wondering what he had up his sleeve. With the season now over and talks ongoing, it appears nothing is up his sleeve, he is just a good professional.
The player will have options. The world is always looking for a left back and there are few with Champions League experience at their peak and available on a free. He is also Scottish, so helps with our European squad challenges. There are good reasons Celtic want to keep him.
What Greg does not want is to spend his peak years watching Kieran Tierney from the bench. Backfilling for Reo Hatate, another role mooted for him, might earn him more gametime, but it is not Greg’s core competency.
There is a flipside for Celtic too. If Celtic are to thrive, they must be a club which prioritises player development. Signing 27-year-olds with no resale value, like Kieran, runs counter to that. Signing 27-year-olds like Greg, to be understudy, even more so. Understudies should be on the upward career trajectory, preparing for a starting role.
Prioritising player development is not the only path. Michael Beale was a bad manager, but his 2023 signings were largely at the peak of their careers and Philippe Clement came close to delivering a title with them, as Celtic stuck to their development model. It is a legitimate strategy.
Greg Taylor is the consummate professional and if he signs on again, will be welcomed by us all. Would it be better for us than signing a 21-year-old prospect? I’m not convinced.
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Good afternoon all
Happy Birthday Bognorbhoy :-))
HH
Boom!
ypsr
Happy hooooooopy birthday bognorbhoy
Agreed on MOTM. Though pickings were slim.
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Paul67
Champions League seeding means the calculated risk is lessened, and progress is a very “deliverable plan”
No pre-season ( including tours ) without new players this summer. Celtic protracted transfer negotiations are for last year, or the years before that. Custodians that waited and delayed plans ‘to see if we qualified’ are extinct from the Celtic of 2025.
Windfall payments alone could fill one gap, and will be diverted from the unprecedented bank balance some traditionalists and chequebook dodgers would like us to forget. We must do our business early as someone posted yesterday, everybody is for sale, some much more so than others, every player has his price.
Let’s get serious CSC
If people (including Taylor) think that he’ll be back-up to KT, they’ve not been paying attention to KT’s injury record. Taylor will play more minutes than KT next season.
KT will be playing CH when fit IMHO.
Depends who the 21yr old might be.
You say yourself Paul that everyone is looking for a left back.
It might be better if development prospects were sought for other positions.
After all, our two 27yr olds might give us six good years
I’m in the keep Greg Taylor camp. He always gives 100%. As has been said, Kieran Tierney is injury prone (having been kicked from pillar to post as a young lhad playing for us) and Greg may well play more games than KT next season.
Paul67
Alex Valle, Jeff Schlupp, and Alex Bernabei are all the incentive you need to get Celtic and MOM again Greg Taylor, round the negotiating table.
The Aussie lad that Aberdeen signed won the A-league player of the year last night.
23-yr old attacker who tends to come in to the centre from wider right.
Fast; skilful – not sure how his 76kg frame will enjoy/stand up to ra SPFL.
The LB prospect I was raving about (17-yr old Dylan Leonard) would surely be a bargain for our pockets.
Heard a whisper that he doesn’t want to be a 3rd choice wherever he signs.
Go on Celtic; check the Celtic mad boy out !
I wholeheartedly agree. Prioritizing buying the sort of players who will come to Scotland, at their peak, is a legitimate plan for consistently challenging domestically
It’s also guarantees sustainability and profitability
Happy 70th Birthday to BOGNORBHOY 🍾🥳🍀
Greg Taylor reminded us why we need a left back who defends first and foremost on Saturday. Tiem and time again this season, he has stayed inside, refusing/deciding not to engage the winger. Aberdeens goal was the keeper’s fault but Taylor also had a part to play.
Paul67 wants to see a developing young player as back-up to KT. So why did he criticise BR for playing Dane Murray for the last part of the game against Aston Villa?
Celtic play more than 50 games in a season. Who thinks KT will play more than half of these?
Big Jimmy on 28th May 2025 11:08 am
FAO LEGGY..
Ive just seen your Text from this morning.
I couldnt reply as I have NO MEMORY left on my phone ( For some reason ?). For all the years that I have had this auld Phone, this is the 1st Time this has happened.
I am URGENTLY NEEDING a New Phone anyway, so hopefully I will get out and buy one in the next couple of days.
Happy Punting at HAMILTON Today.
HH Mate.
8, 9, 10th in the EPL this season:
Brighton, Bournemouth Brentford
Ground capacities: 31,000, 11,000, 17,000
Google description of Bournemouth fc’s business model
AFC Bournemouth’s business model focuses on a blend of smart recruitment, player development, and financial responsibility, all while leveraging the benefits of Premier League broadcasting. The club identifies undervalued talent, often from lower leagues or international markets, and invests in their development, aiming to create players who can be resold at a profit. They also prioritize building a strong commercial side, increasing revenue through various channels like sponsorship and hospitality.
Here’s a more detailed look at their approach:
Smart Recruitment & Player Development:
Bournemouth scouts for players who fit their system and have potential for resale value. They use data-driven scouting to target overlooked markets and invest in developing young talent through loans and internal pathways.
Happy Birthday to Bognorbhoy 👍☘️
nottaclue1 on 28th May 2025 11:54 am
Big Jimmy, when you go to the phone shop make sure they transfer contacts etc.
it will make life a lot easier for you ;)
……………..
AYE Mate, I have been with TESCO Mobile for years and when I bought my current Phone several years ago, I got the Tesco Phone Advisor to swap over my contacts to my new phone, and I wanted to keep my same number and that cost an extra £10.00 back then.
I will NOT be paying Monthly fees for a new fancy phone either, as I will hopefully just buy one ( A 4G or 5G Phone ? ).
My Contract with Tesco is only £12.58 a month and is a SIM only rolling contract, so I hope to stick with that deal ?
Also my current old phone can NOT Scan QR Codes etc, so I will hopefully update that with a new phone also ?
I dont know why my current phone ran out of memory this morning when I tried to reply to LEGGYS Text, as I hardly use my current Mobile phone except for the rare phone call and Texts ?
HH Mate.
Hoopy Birthday BB
GREG MUST STAY….I say.
He would be a big loss to Celtic if he left.
HH.
Favourite back-up of the season –
Sinisalo!
European football is a major factor for attractring and purchasing players.
HH.
Good article Paul.
Thought provoking.
Personally speaking
(I don’t need to own this beyond knowing the name of the guy over on the left side of the pitch I am cheering on)
Am relaxed about this gap in the strategy.
(A strategy I largely – but not fully – believe in)
We’ve got the exact same issue at right back.
If it takes two years to get back on strategy, let’s sign Greg and take two years.
We’re convered contractually across all for of our mid to late-20s full backs.
BTW – as a bonus the strategy looks like it is working in the goalkeeper position.
The idea of a transition next season from the established guy to the young guy now looks credible.
The clincher though?
Established guy getting injured and young guy coming in and doing OK.
As for Greg specifically?
See previous ad nauseam from me re total minutes per player per season.
60 games at 100 minutes per game = 6,000 minutes per position (1 to 11).
Reasonable to think KT and GT could cover 3,000 minutes each.
Throw in, say, another 300 minutes each (Kieran at Centre back, Greg at left mid)?
3,300 of 6,000 is 55% of total game play.
A very creditable contribution.
About to carry out my New Year’s Resolution – watch ‘Casablanca’ all the way through – never done it!
ah bollix – subtitles not available
Big Jimmy, re Telling Bones….
No need for 5g.
Practically non existent in UK and for high end use anyway. 4G will continue.
Catweazle CSC
I was asked by a friend to tell folk on CQN that Greg Taylor is another Peter (the Pointer) Grant. He wants to gauge your reaction. I didn’t agree with him, by the bye.
Shout out for the guy on Buchanan St playing a violin with a trumpet attached to the end.
Tuuuuunnnneeeee CSC
Looking like I will be visiting our Newcastle office in July. I will be able to make the Celtic vs Newcastle friendly. I know, I know.
Hoping to see some faces at the corner again. I will be with my Fulham supporting gent of a boss.
spikeysauldman on 28th May 2025 12:53 pm
Greg Taylor reminded us why we need a left back who defends first and foremost on Saturday. Tiem and time again this season, he has stayed inside, refusing/deciding not to engage the winger. Aberdeens goal was the keeper’s fault but Taylor also had a part to play.
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Spot on. For Aberdeen’s goal GT was shouting at Yang to go towards Morris while he stood doing nothing. Virtually every team targets GT from ko, as they know he is weak defensively. KT will be a vast improvement in that respect but we also need to ensure his back up can defend first & foremost.
Parkheadcumsalford on 28th May 2025 2:13 pm
I was asked by a friend to tell folk on CQN that Greg Taylor is another Peter (the Pointer) Grant. He wants to gauge your reaction. I didn’t agree with him, by the bye.
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Exactly what he did on Saturday by the way.
I do support our transfer policy as it’s one of the reasons we have been so far ahead of our nearest rivals. But surely we can use the funds we have to occasionally pay for an older experienced player.
I worry that the turn around in players is getting shorter.. instead of 3 years we are looking at 18 -24 months before they move on. Most managers will struggle with that rate of churn.