Hi TET how's you bud? All good I hope.
Just to clarify ( in case , as it appears you're speaking of Taylor?) I was on about Engels.
I agree with your opinions on GT, a very unsung hero who from LB/inverted LB, LCM won plenty motm awards.
Since I've already made my thoughts, forum public knowledge anyways why not speak of Taylor.
I cannot remember a player who has come in at Celtic from a club in such a lowly position for many moons if ever at all and made us forget a player with the abilities of KT in the way GT did.
Taylor's signing on the back of losing KT was nothing short of inspired.
He was sensational for Celtic and had we signed him on an extension a season , season and a bit ago wed be looking at comfortably over £10-£13 million for a guy who cost £3 million.
Of this ive no doubts.
I'd even go as far as saying that Greg Taylor has been one of Celtic's best signings of the last 10 years I rate him so highly, and wish him all the success in the world.
Looking at those he's seen off for that LB jersey he has blown them away, all of them. From the Argentinian Bernabei to Boli Bolingoli to all the rest and we know who they are/were and they weren't projects they were internationals.
I'm gutted to lose GT as he and KT would've or couldve been the beginning of a very special squad with like for like quality replacements.
I know many say that's unfeasible in Scotland but that's nonsense knowing the fixture list we face annually.
For me , GT and his adaptability, willingness and just happy to play anywhere asked to do .
Not only that , can he fulfill the role he's asked to do? - Not a problem.
LB, inverted LB , LCM, add goalscoring defender to that list, the bhoys talents seemed unlimited and for his size in defence or MF confounded pundits and fans alike including our own, the truth is we don't have another like that , not at his level, not at this time so much so I fear we will struggle to replace his drive, determination and simply his will to win.
We could say AJ but he's never been asked to do what GT does which is control the game regardless of his starting position and this he's done brilliantly.
AJ is another who'd never played RB in the manner required at Celtic though he's learning superbly.
Though AJ has been magnificent for Celtic, mirroring GT's performances on the opposite side at times.
If GT wasn't Scottish ( jmopo) we'd have spent £10 million on him without batting an eyelid.
Is GT a KT? No of course not different styles and players but I've no doubt that GT could play EPL football or big 5 leagues well.
His height may be a problem as we discovered in CL campaigns he was targeted but it should also be considered that was sides like PSG, Real Madrid, Atletico etc targeted him but he stood up to all of it very well and those are no ordinary sides I'm on about they're the best in the world.
Perhaps had the managers rerealised this then they couldve planned accordingly and given him more support at crosses , its not as though we didn't know he'd not be targeted we all did, it was a failure of management, we all remember when Kyogo was the last man on the wall
again poor management.
KT is perhaps the highest profile incoming transfer since Engels, more so I'd say and a truly magnificent signing, one that hopefully shows a determination from the board to get this window right and the windows yet to open.
We simply must get this one right given they will have at least money to burn on the back of the takeover if not as much as they hoped for, I cannot see that mob signing anyone over £4 million we have to hammer home our ascendancy in all departments and be ready for the CL qualifiers.
My biggest concern TET is that , sure no one certainly not i is suggesting we shouldn't have gone for KT but KT as far as we've/I've seen KT cannot play the game like GT can , the different positions and the utility player GT is.
To clarify again, just because we haven't seen it doesn't mean KT cannot play this way though if he can why have we never seen it I wonder.
Under Lennon, Ange, Rodgers its unusual for a player to stay as an essential first pick player under so many different multiple winning managers, yet he did and saw off many pretenders along the way.
We could add Steve Clarke to that list.
I believe that we may possibly move away from the inverted LB now we've lost/losing his services unless we bring in a player with the same ability and spacial awareness. Something I hope we do for its suited us well this formation tweak.
It's a gamble for us to let him go but we left it far too late so I for one don't blame him for wanting to try pastures new.
However you say GT was versatile. So it KT. He can play CB. He's proved it. At a higher level.
