Lewis Morgan has had a difficult shift this season. The 23-year-old winger was used sparingly as a squad player before the concurrent absences of Odsonne Edouard, Leigh Griffiths and Bayo saw him drafted into the striker role against Rennes on 28th November.
Lewis scored a good goal that day but he is not a striker. He made another four appearances in that position before Edouard’s return, which brought the experiment to an end. He made 17 appearances in League One for Sunderland during the second half of last season. In the Wembley play-off final, he was brought on as an early substitute, while Aiden McGeady remained on the bench, but his time in the North East was not particularly productive.
Now he is Going to Miami for talks with Inter (not that one), with the MLS side having agreed a fee with Celtic for his permanent transfer.
There are several things about our experience with Lewis Morgan I like. Celtic scouts considered him the top talent in the Championship, a player with the potential to make the step up. It is good that we sign players like this.
He was loaned back to St Mirren, then after six months at Lennoxtown, out to Sunderland. He was given a chance in the qualifiers, then put through the striker turmoil, which gave Neil Lennon a chance to assess the player.
The player has a League Cup winner’s medal and a Wembley experience, things that he will be talking about for the rest of his life, and is likely to sign a contract to keep him in Florida for a few years. He would have hoped to hold down a first team place at Celtic, but on balance, the move from St Mirren has worked out well for him.
We have difficulty keeping players who are outstandingly successful, but they usually leave a for fee that allows us to further strengthen. What happens with players who do not make the grade is also important. Getting them off the wage bill, for a fee and hopefully a profit, stops the budget from being clogged by unproductive costs, a problem we have discussed on these pages since the days of Martin.
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Do good players trump modern tactics? In my youth it was always two strikers – Nicholas and McGarvey, McClair and Johnson, Walker and Macca, KoKs and Sutton etc.
One up front was what you did away from home in Europe.
Two up front and one good wide player vs 5-man midfield with one up front?
I think our Achilles heel is that we tend to play with two wingers as part of midfield rather than one that can switch wings at will and alllow a stronger midfield.
Morning fhellas,
For all the talk of incomings we need to sort out:
1. A formation that counters the Huns in the 2nd half of the season.
2. Less dependency on the Brown and McGregor axis (undroppables with Brown showing signs of regression)
3. True competition for Forrest.
4. True competition for Ajer.
5. First team full back decision.
6. 1 or 2 up front.
Should be fun…
Deniaboy. I could not agree with you more
With the midfield and the two wide players it isolates the striker
James Forrest an example to that in he neither supports the striker or digs in in midfield and you get that ( even his greatest fans admit this) sometimes we seem a man short in midfield
Worried that the signing of the the young polish boy is all that peter lawell will invest in up front
His record is poor and his own comments in the papers seem scary in that he admits lots of failings of himself
But he has pace and plays on the right. So 442 is the way to go
Klimala is an exciting signing. We need more firepower up top.
We need some cover at CB (either a permanent signing or a loan)
James Forrest is having a remarkable season. 35 games, 14 goals and 16 assists.
Looking like it will be his best season ever.
Last year: 56 games 18 goals and 20 assists.
Surprised that a guy with so many assists doesn’t support the striker. Curious.
Wonder how Leigh is feeling this morning?
Klimala looks the player the Griff didn’t become this season and seemingly pushes him down.
I’d loan him back to Hibs personally and give Bayo a loan too. These 10 minute cameos aren’t fair to judge either.
Timaloy29
We need some cover at CB (either a permanent signing or a loan)
Or the return of Jozo Šimunović
Timaloy29
As we both know James Forrest ate SydneyTim’s hamster.
The constant tirade, in face of the facts, is both tiresome and slightly psychotic now.
James Forrest substituted 20 times this season
Something not going right
I shall only relax when I see The Polish Pele………
standin’ tall, hooped-up, arms aloft with that exalted bar-scarf high above his handsome Tim profile.
:)
HH.
Any ither news?
;)
Big Wavy – my thoughts would also be with The Griff today. I’ve high hopes for the prodigal Bhoy, the Club has done everything right with him and God-willing his fortunes will recover and hopefully within the redemptive paradise that is Celtic Park. A stint back in auld reekie might do the Bhoy some good.
HH
BIG WAVY on 13TH JANUARY 2020 10:16 AM
Haha
Wouldn’t put anything past Forrest considering what he did in that nightclub in Prestwick
SYDNEYTIM on 13TH JANUARY 2020 10:19 AM
James Forrest substituted 20 times this season
Something not going right
Even when James is playing well he’s subbed. He scored against St Mirren and was subbed on 69 minutes. 2 assists vs Hearts subbed after 83 minutes. A goal and an assist vs Motherwell subbed 67th minute.
We protect James because he’s an important player. That’s why he managed 56 games last year.
GENE on 13TH JANUARY 2020 10:16 AM
Or the return of Jozo Šimunović
___
Jozo Šimunović and Elhamed are still a bit away from fitness. An injury to Jullien or Ajer means either Bitton or Hendry starting.
I like Jozo but we need another body. For the next six months at least.
Sydneytim…for god’s sake gies a brek with the james forrest stuff…we get it, you think he’s crap, ok.
But please don’t bore the blog into submission…
If you have a top player and the game is won, seems sensible to sub him and make sure he is available for next game.
Lets hope there are no David Turnbull issues today and Polish Paddy is officially announced.
He has to be the first of at least 4 signings be they buys or loans. I would welcome another Striker and look to loan Griff to Hibs which I believe would resurrect his career plus hr might oblige us by doing a bit of Hun Skelping there.
Also a defensive mid needed, Wanyama is the template there, finally a centre half who is strong in the air and give Ajer some game time in midfield.
So come on Pedro earn your corn, lets tool up & get Rocking.
Looks like Ismail Soro deal imminent too as per quotes from his current manager,
HH
Soro,apparently,on his way.Theres the young Wanyama part.
Jozo back would be good . Keeping him back (on the pitch rather than the treatment room) would be even better but much less likely.
Leigh to Hibs on loan also good especially if he can plant a few in the back of the hun net , then return to CP to do the same next season.
I genuinely believe that, if James Forrest had left Celtic in 2016 when his contract was almost up, we would not have won the Treble Treble. That is how important he is to the team.
Neil Lennon
HH
Can’t see the problem in signing Tyrese Campbell.The fee is buttons.Valued at around 4-5 million,so PL will be salivating and hoping that pesky Lennon has not got someone else lined up.With a real transfer fee.Boy has all the attributes,and as we well know,everything is a gamble.
Soro looks what we need in midfield but I said the same about Kouassi…
But as he’s not called Victor Wanyama, I expect him to be as panned by some, as Polish Paddy.
James Forrest,slated by some,yet Mikey Johnston,apart from the odd goal,and a few party tricks,lauded.
Very strange ,our support at times.
Soro looks impressive. Will be delighted if we sign him…high energy, wins tackles, win headers, passes well…
Probably means we have given up on Kouassi…shame, ’cause I thought he would make it.
Anyway, who’s next?
GlenD………really really want Griff to kick-on now and really love that Celtic stood by him throughout. His footballing career had a great start in the hoops and I hope he builds on his recovery.
I always wanted Deek Riordan to succeed with us as well.
I’ve high hopes for the Bhoy.
HH
http://celticbynumberscom.ipage.com/rare-centre-back-continuity-brings-reward/
Griffiths needs to go out on loan. The final straw for me , was when he came on against the huns and tried to score with that free kick
Totally speculative but I would not mind seeing this team selection (soon I hope!)
The Wall
El Hamed Ajer Wanyama Julien
Forrest Frimpong Broonie Calum
Polish Pat Fast Eddie
Come on home Vic ~ you know it makes sense!
You know when you have a gut feeling/subliminal response to something/someone about which/whom you have very little cognitive knowledge? Well, I have that about Tyrese Campbell. I really hope we sign him.
ToomanyobliquesCSC
No matter who we bring in,I am still concerned about the team line up.Lenny has been,to the point of stubbornness,been loathe to change his team,or tactics,leaving Seethin to read us like a book.Will he drop any of the 3 in midfield.?Will he even rotate them for games?Will he stick to the 2 wingers line up,or play 2 strikers?
Will he revert to a back 3.I am not too sure he will gamble.This is my big worry.Saying that Arzani,and Shved showed up very well in Dubai is one thing,playing them another.
Neil Lennon & McCartney
Our best CH at LB, 2 midfielders at CH and the smallest, lightest Celtic midfield in history….
Like the sound of the new CF though ….Pat Fast :)
….or play Frimpong on the left ~ sure I read he’s ok there. Versatile and tough kid.
Hot Smoked.
Me as well.These kids have quality.The EPL littered with them.Look at the kid at Chelsea.
Turkeybhoy
All Arzani and Schved have done is fill the slots provided by Sinclair and Morgan. I have the same concerns. We are too reliant on Brown / McGregor and James needs competition.
Given the tight nature of the title race I suspect Neil will be loathe to change things until he has to (burnout and injury catching up on our overused 3)…
BIG WAVY
Thanks for your reply ~ just for fun, so what would be your dream selection, including any potential newbies?
HH
Forster
El Hamed Julien Benkovic
Brown
Arzani Soro Wanyama Elynouassi
McGregor
Edouard
NEIL LENNON & MCCARTNEY on 13TH JANUARY 2020 11:09 AM
Pretty unlikely we will see Wanyama.
Moussa Sissoko picked up an injury that will keep him out til April. Wanyama will remain at Spurs unless they bring in another central midfielder.
Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that Benkovic will only leave Leicester if they sign somebody else at CB.
Might make a fun poll until our next game = who do you want to see lining up for Celtic for the most part of the rest of the season?
Based on the current squad plus players you hope we sign (realistically!)