18 months from the end of his contract, it’s good to read Brendan Rodgers talk about securing Liam Scales on a long-term deal. The player is unrecognisable from the man who struggled against St Johnstone in August and is a testament to what happens when you develop a player properly.
Successive Aberdeen managers, Jim Goodwin and Barry Robson saw his potential, as did the Celtic scouts who recruited him from Shamrock Rovers in 2021 for little more than £500k. However, his career upwards trajectory could have been lost were it not for Celtic’s central defensive injury crisis at the start of the season.
Carter-Vickers, Lagerbielke, Nawrocki, Phillips and Welsh were all unavailable at various stages during the first half of the season, leaving Liam as the permanent feature Celtic built their central defence on.
One of the main reasons I’m keen we retain Liam’s services for years to come is his preferred foot and second position. As a left footer, he gives a more natural balance to central defence than is possible with two right footers. He can also play left back, a position pretty much every club in the world struggles to recruit for.
Lefties are 10% of the population and are considered a mandatory requirement to play at left back, even more so than having a engine to get up and down the field or an ability to cross.
Celtic have had remarkable consistency at left back since 2010. Emilio Izaguirre, then Kieran Tierney, then Greg Taylor made the position their own. Taylor has seen off a few competitors for the spot and is approaching his peak years. I’d like to see if Liam can be an option there, in the event we need one.
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Arsenal,if ever a team needed a striker,its them,probably too late now.Shows you the difficuulty.
Or how about neither Shankland or Miovski are good enough to help us to a better level in Europe……
Boondock Saint at 3.44
Regarding front post runs…I was at the game vs Dundee at Dens on Boxing Day and Palma was putting loads of corners to the front post. Guys around me were heavily critical of him but also alongside me was an ex-Celtic player who said it’s obviously tactical but nobody is making a front-post run.
Hardly were the words out of his mouth when another corner came in, Oh once again made no front post run and this time CalMac went absolutely spare at him. Not much point in these tactics if they are not executed. I sometimes wonder if there’s a language/communication issue.
Although to be fair McGregor’s English is pretty good 😁 see what I did there.
TURKEYBHOY on 8TH JANUARY 2024 4:28 PM
“Naming one does not prove the point. Boyd was a predator, a very good one. Only put the timber on at Killie.”
Naming one example does prove “it is possible”; which is all I said. Boyd was neither a model pro nor an athlete, he was lazy and his all round game was pretty weak (imo). At Rangers (IL) – many managers benched him when they played a big game and didn’t want to effectively play with 10 men.
“Neither Shankland nor Miovski are lazy or unfit. Ridiculous to say so.”
I didn’t say so though, did I? I am on the record of thinking Shankland’s all round game is pretty poor – recent Edinburgh derby he could have had 3 but for poor touch for example. I actually think Miovski has good potential and would be a good squad player for us and have said so on here a few times.
QB
Willie Pettigrew, Motherwell striker in the 70’s. Was Top goal scorer, I think it was 71/72, English scouts sent to see him, one was asked if they were interested at replied, “No, all he can do is score goals”!!! por cierto.
TURKEYBHOY on 8TH JANUARY 2024 4:34 PM
“Arsenal,if ever a team needed a striker,its them,probably too late now.Shows you the difficuulty.”
Arsenal have two very good strikers in Jesus and Nketiah, problem there is Arteta wants to be thought of as another Guardiola and goes with a false 9 v Liverpool. Waits till the 88th minute to put Nketiah on. He thinks he’s a tactical wizard, when really, he’s way out of his depth.
There is also the team photograph to think about. 🙂
!!BADA BING!! on 8TH JANUARY 2024 4:32 PM
Franz Beckenbauer RIP
He was a player back in the day Bada,still think George Connolly was better:-))
Rip Der Kaiser
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/jan/08/franz-beckenbauer-world-cup-winning-captain-and-manager-dies-aged-78?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
HH
Baresi was the best I seen in the Kaiser’s position, though he was a very very close second, por cierto
Two fantastic players who’s body shape and work rate didn’t conform to the norm for a striker
Matt le Tissier
John Hartson
Matt was a superb finisher,, scored all sorts of goals.
BBJ, thankfully Dick Advocaat didn’t like the look/shape of him or he might have signed for the huns.
Another fantastic finisher who wasn’t the most mobile…..
Times/tech ratings have moved on, oh how I wish we had a BBJ in the team now.
Franz Beckenbauer, what a player. It’s hard to compare players from different eras but I’m not aware of anyone as good as him today. Much the same could d be said for our George. Different type of player but better than VVD, from a Celtic perspective.
Por Cierto
Problem with Pettigrew as I remember it was that there was a perception you would have to have signed Bobby Graham from Motherwell at the same time.
Much in the same way as Joe Craig was never the same player without Kenny Dalglish.
GARYGILLESPIESHAMSTRING on 8TH JANUARY 2024 5:37 PM
That’s a great point. He had some outstanding players roundabout him then, Joe Wark being another, por cierto.
!!BADA BING!! on 8TH JANUARY 2024 4:32 PM
Franz Beckenbauer RIP
*The Munich George Connolly
Por Cierto
Also Victor Davidson.
GARYGILLESPIESHAMSTRING on 8TH JANUARY 2024 5:37 PM
Por Cierto
Problem with Pettigrew as I remember it was that there was a perception you would have to have signed Bobby Graham from Motherwell at the same time.
Much in the same way as Joe Craig was never the same player without Kenny Dalglish.
____
Pettigrew came on the scene at the same time as Andy Gray, though I think the former was the leading scorer. Then right out of the blue, Gray went to England, Adyone Vila was it.
I remember we were leading Motherwell 2-0 away in the cup but we ended up losing 3-2. I think Pettigrew & Graham led the way.
Spot on about big Joe and Kenny. Didn’t he get one cap as a sub and actually score. Will need to check
I remember being at a 3-2 defeat at Fir Park in a Scottish cup tie in 74-75 season (I think) when those players were prominent.
Ziggy Doc
Correct about Joe Craig. Scored a goal before he had kicked a ball I believe
Also correct re Gray and Aston Villa.
Turkeybhoy
Re Muscat
I visited their main Mosque today. I must admit I was blown away by how clean and safe and welcomed I felt. I can imagine this would be one of the nicer and more authentic places to have worked.
The Asian Cup is big news here which is really interesting to see. It’s so funny how we see things through such a narrow lens back home. It doesn’t start for a week but everyone is talking about it. Oman call themselves the Arabian Samba this time. They are hoping with luck for a qtr final spot but at worse to qualify for last 16.
Ref Kaiser Franz
66 Final and not playing at Celtic park must have been his 2 biggest regrets.
Seriously though what an achievement. One of only 3 people to win the World Cup as a player and a manager. 2 of them passing this week.
Incredibly German TV were set to run a new documentary about his life tonight at 9.15.
Franz Beckenbauer RIP
Personally I have always liked the maverick.
Was there a better entertainer than Frank Worthington?
Or Admiral Jimmy Johnstone?.
George Best the 5th Beatle.
Eric kung fu Cantona
Even Slim Jim.
These players will never be replaced by AI.
Hail hail.
Frank Beckenbauer RIP. Great player.
GP
Rodney Marsh
Stan Bowles
Roy Race
IMO, George Connolly was the only player of that generation who cam3 close to The Kaiser. Just shows how good he was.
Franz B. His performance against England in the 1970 WC was quite simply fabulous.
RIP big fella.
GARYGILLESPIESHAMSTRING on 8TH JANUARY 2024 5:59 PM
I remember being at a 3-2 defeat at Fir Park in a Scottish cup tie in 74-75 season (I think) when those players were prominent.
____
I was at that game. We were brilliant in the first half. I think Kenny might have scored from a free kick. Ugly scenes at the end with bottles flying amongst our support.
No. So athletic strikers… Our own Dixie.
Dixiel Deans all 5ft 6ins of him. Great call.
Bhoys,
You are forgetting the best entertainer in Scottish Fitba in the last 10 years, I give you Joey Barton!!!!
What a laugh that boy was. His performance in the dembolition game was brilliant. That boy was class in a glass.
Boondock Saint
😂
Wolfgang Overath
ZiggyDoc
I remember thinking the second half would be a formality. Shows how much I knew.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 8TH JANUARY 2024 6:52 PM
Wolfgang Overath
When asked about England’s 4th goal in the final. Alf Ramsay said he was watching Overath, who ran from England’s half chasing Hurst and almost got there. Ramsay’s type of player. A real solid professional.
TURKETBHOY
Does your psychiatrist know you’re out.
Just watch the guy wait for his chances, does very limited work IMO.
We can do so much better than him.
KINGLuBO ( KINGLUGO )
Slow celtic day, 😴