Do the Right-Back Thing

[SamTeàrlachH]

I can't be the only one completely flabbergasted by our failure to bring in a right-back thus far in the transfer window. Some might argue that whinging about this is premature, given we've still got a vast amount of time left to bring in players, but it should've been a priority transfer. We need to weave a right-back into our squad and starting 11 as soon as possible. Conventional wisdom would tell you that this should've been done at the beginning of the window. A right-back having played CL qualifiers and possibly friendlies would have been ideal. Though I'm very glad we added him to the squad, I'm still a bit confused that we brought in a left-back, Boli Bolingoli, before we brought in a right-back. It borders on the farcical. How long has it been known that Mika Lustig would either be leaving or, at the very least, no longer be the first choice right-back? Maybe Lenny wanted a good look at Ralston, but even if this is the case, the necessity is still there to bring in a right-back ASAP. Now we know we need a top quality one. Hopefully there's progress on this before the next round of the CL qualifiers, assuming we do the business at Celtic Park against Sarajevo.

 

[Millsy]

Heartily agree ! Cannot see the reasoning behind the delay - or have we been knocked back by intended targets ? But it is not comforting to be still in the dark re. RB ( or two ).
Can understand the Boli signing as KT is not fit and ( perhaps ) was likely to leave if an acceptable bid came in .

HH

 

[Winter]

No you're in the majority but I was heartened by lennys comments over the weekend where he said it himself "2 RBS needed one ready to go and possibly 1 younger apprentice possibly a loanee " I'm not for the loanee option and it appears to me he doesn't think Ralston is the answer ..yet. I'm not panicking yet as we have bid quite big already for players in this position likethe atalanta RB but then they qualified for the CL. We can't legislate for things like that but I for 1 believe that we are on the case but have rival bidding clubs to deal with so I'm being patient (as much as possible) that we will have this position sorted by the time we start the season though I'd prefer to see it sorted for the qualifiers as the opposition becomes tougher round by round HH

 

[Spherical Planet]

I can't be the only one completely flabbergasted by our failure to bring in a right-back thus far in the transfer window. Some might argue that whinging about this is premature, given we've still got a vast amount of time left to bring in players, but it should've been a priority transfer. We need to weave a right-back into our squad and starting 11 as soon as possible. Conventional wisdom would tell you that this should've been done at the beginning of the window. A right-back having played CL qualifiers and possibly friendlies would have been ideal. Though I'm very glad we added him to the squad, I'm still a bit confused that we brought in a left-back, Boli Bolingoli, before we brought in a right-back. It borders on the farcical. How long has it been known that Mika Lustig would either be leaving or, at the very least, no longer be the first choice right-back? Maybe Lenny wanted a good look at Ralston, but even if this is the case, the necessity is still there to bring in a right-back ASAP. Now we know we need a top quality one. Hopefully there's progress on this before the next round of the CL qualifiers, assuming we do the business at Celtic Park against Sarajevo.

It's not just the fact that we needed one specialist right-back! over the course of a season, the likelihood was that we would need two (then get wee Ralston kicking a ball regularly on loan).

I appreciate that not everyone is a fan, but that's why I've been an advocate of getting O'Donnell from Killie in, then spreading the net beyond that for international quality.

Unless Lenny plans on completely overhauling the formation, then we're ridiculously light in a key position.

I'm sure the matter is currently being addressed, but I have to agree, Sam, that that matter should have been considered prior to Mika leaving.

It looks like we're gambling on CL qualification again and waiting until the finances have crystallised with the outgoing players fees.

 

[Winter]

It's not just the fact that we needed one specialist right-back! over the course of a season, the likelihood was that we would need two (then get wee Ralston kicking a ball regularly on loan).

I appreciate that not everyone is a fan, but that's why I've been an advocate of getting O'Donnell from Killie in, then spreading the net beyond that for international quality.

Unless Lenny plans on completely overhauling the formation, then we're ridiculously light in a key position.

I'm sure the matter is currently being addressed, but I have to agree, Sam, that that matter should have been considered prior to Mika leaving.

It looks like we're gambling on CL qualification again and waiting until the finances have crystallised with the outgoing players fees.

How many times will the club gamble on qualification? Are we really gambling on cl qualification or EL qualification? I'd guess the latter as its arrogant of the club to gamble on cl qualification given the levels of opposition we might face. Mika was the perfect back up and we let him go anyway , this, I hope indicates we will definitely get our 2 RBS in , it's when we get them not if for me

 

[SamTeàrlachH]

Heartily agree ! Cannot see the reasoning behind the delay - or have we been knocked back by intended targets ? But it is not comforting to be still in the dark re. RB ( or two ).
Can understand the Boli signing as KT is not fit and ( perhaps ) was likely to leave if an acceptable bid came in .

HH

Yep, fair point. Though we did have Hayes and, at a push, CalMac as back up at LB. Obviously neither could be longstanding solutions to back up for Tierney or, as I fear, a replacement for him. But it is good we got Boli in - I just expected the focus to be more on RB. I guess shit happens that interferes with that, while, in absolute fairness to Lenny, he's improvised well without a trustworthy RB. I think we could've got away with Ralston at RB against Sarajevo. In fact, I thought Ralston did well before getting injured last season.

I'd prefer to see it sorted for the qualifiers as the opposition becomes tougher round by round HH

Absolutely yes. We can't afford another AEK. I think our squad now is capable of reaching the CL group stages, but would be excellent to blood in a RB competitively.

It's not just the fact that we needed one specialist right-back! over the course of a season, the likelihood was that we would need two (then get wee Ralston kicking a ball regularly on loan).

Definitely. And I'd say the same about another LB if Tierney leaves. We can't rely on Hayes in that position.

Mika was the perfect back up and we let him go anyway , this, I hope indicates we will definitely get our 2 RBS in , it's when we get them not if for me

I 100% agree with this. He was still more than capable as a back up RB. I know he had his off days, but he was excellent in the game we won the league at Pittodrie. Perhaps he didn't want to be back up?

 

[lcafiero]

Some might argue that whinging about this is premature,

I would. Not having a RB signed early didn't seem to hurt us in the friendlies and against Sarajevo away.

I'm still a bit confused that we brought in a left-back, Boli Bolingoli, before we brought in a right-back. It borders on the farcical.

Not really. At the time, KT's status was up in the air -- is he going to Arsenal? How fit is he to play after surgery? How fit is he, really, and if he isn't, what is the club not telling us? Bringing in a left back of Boli's quality was actually pretty smart, and I think the price was pretty good, too.

 

[Imatim]

I believe we offered Lustig another year but he wanted 3 which he got at Gent.

That was out of our control and I would hope most of us would agree that the big hun skelper wasn’t going to cut it with us for the next 3 years.

I would like to think we are looking at quality as opposed to just another squad filler and we will wait until that quality right back is available which might take a few more weeks or so.

In the meantime we will cut our cloth to suit with what we have and like someone else has suggested we very well may go with 3 central defenders or tweak the formation tactically as most teams only play 1 up front. Time will tell.

 

[SamTeàrlachH]

I would. Not having a RB signed early didn't seem to hurt us in the friendlies and against Sarajevo away.



Not really. At the time, KT's status was up in the air -- is he going to Arsenal? How fit is he to play after surgery? How fit is he, really, and if he isn't, what is the club not telling us? Bringing in a left back of Boli's quality was actually pretty smart, and I think the price was pretty good, too.

Yeah, it didn't 'hurt us', but it makes sense to get a RB in ASAP, so he can be as acclimatised as possible come the start of the league campaign, while the competition may get harder in the last qualification round. I think only an idiot would claim that it's best to leave it until late to get a RB in.

As I said, we had Jonny Hayes and, at a push, CalMac as back up at left-back, but I think it's excellent we've got Boli in regardless of what happens with Tierney. On the contrary, we don't have ANY right-backs that the manager trusts to start competitively at the moment. Again, it just makes sense to get a RB in as soon as possible. Could be that logistical reasons have stopped this from happening. It's hardly likely to be deliberate. It's not a buyer's market when you go for quality.

 

[Lubos left peg]

Celtic are between a rock and a hard place at the moment. We have tried and failed to sign a few decent RBs if we are to believe what's being said. A lot of players and agents will be holding out to see what european competition we are playing in this season. Good quality players will only come to Scotland if they know they are guaranteed champs league football, and some agents will know that they can add a few pennies onto their clients wages if he is playing for a champs league club as opposed to a Europa league team.
We could easily go out and sign 2 or 3 RBs tomorrow. But those who would sign for us tomorrow will not be of the quality of the guys who want to compete in the champs league. I do feel for lenny on this one. Cant be easy. Unfortunately not all players are swayed by the passion of our fans and history of our club. Money, champs league and a stepping stone to England is what they want.

 

[michael duffy]

sad, but true Lubo.

 

[kelly]

Were on it ,it's a summer break but i don't think were dawdling over this

we got off to a good start with signings ,but we should have had the RB covered well before now we've been lacking all year with cover

 

[Theverdict1]

My main concern is who we bring in more than when. The time wasted trying to sign English players was totally fucking abysmal judgement. Too much money, too little talent for that money and no chance of competeting once English clubs enter the fray. Whoever thought that would work needs led out of the room and given a hat to wear at the pie stall.

We have all known we need a RB for two years, so this just reinforces my belief we do Fuck all until the window opens then run about like headless chickens. Having worked on a list of players my cat could tell them wouldn’t come is pathetic.

Im hoping we don’t just buy to say they have brought someone in. It is a vital position so why are we hovering around the £3m mark? Going cheap here could spell disaster.

Get it done, but ffs look in markets where we have a chance to sign them.

That should mean we leave England alone. Overpriced overhyped shit going for far too much.

It seems as if Sevco will fold before we get one in.