07 Apr 2022 11:27:40
Interested in peoples thinking. Know we are a work in progress but at the moment, are we capable of competing in the CL should we get there. Also, who can we gauge our progress against. Only really got sevco at the moment, who flounder a bit at home, but do get decent performances and results in Europe. We seem to be the opposite, although we do get some results in Europe we are a bit hit and miss.
What do we need, realistically, to at least get to a point where we are matching up to comparable size clubs in Europe.
{Ed007's Note - A top coach - which we now have - who knows how to set up a team to counter opposition's tactics and a group of players that can play that way. When it came to Europe Neil Lennon had a better idea of how to play than Brendan Rodgers who went toe-to-toe with Barca and PSG.
We always seem to struggle against lower ranked teams because they are so well drilled & organised - we need to become one of those teams.
I honestly believe that if the current squad was in place and playing the way we are we would have qualified from the EL group we had this year so I think it's vitally important to get CCV signed up to keep the continuity of the partnership with Starfelt and to a lesser extent Jota.
There will be plenty of people screaming we need a LB but I'm not 100% convinced one will be brought in. Ange likes Taylor who has vastly improved in the second half of the season and with Scales and Juranovic able to cover there....
We're a bit heavy numbers wise in midfield and unless there's a huge shift McCarthy will likely be moved on and possibly Bitton - who I would have no problem with staying as he adds definite quality in that CDM slot - but if he leaves I would like to see us trying for Lewis Ferguson and if not him just promote Bosun Lawal who has been getting rave reviews and can play comfortably as CDM or CB.
It's hard to say where we could improve the midfield without spending crazy money imo and it's the same up front as long as we can get Jota permanently and if not then add some serious quality there, with CL to offer and the money we could push the boat out on a replacement for Jota - a "marquis" type signing.
I don't think the team needs a lot of personnel change to make progress in Europe - as I said a lot of that comes down the Ange coaching and tactics - and I don't expect there to be a lot of incoming transfers this summer but obviously that along with everything else I've said will depend on players leaving, there might be a surprise or two along the way with exits that could change things.
Oh and I think we need to replace Bain with better quality as our No.2, I used to rate him and was happy he was our back up but he seems to have regressed while he's been here, obviusly his sharpness isn't up to scratch without playing games but I would like to see a young GK (23/24) coming in to learn from Hart and Stevie Wood.}
07 Apr 2022 12:28:57
Good summary Ed.
{Ed007's Note - Thanks, Buzz ??
07 Apr 2022 12:31:55
Are you going to apply for the assistant manager vacancy Ed. ? Definitely sounds as if you’ve got a plan. Do you fancy that Dundee U goalkeeper instead of Bain? The DU guy might push Hart a bit harder.
Anyway, I agree with what you say, it’s all looking good under Ange so far. Long may it continue.
?.
{Ed007's Note - I'd definitely take Siegrist - and he's a free - but I don't think he would be willing to sign for anyone as a No.2 unless it was seriously stupid money. We've spoken about him quite a bit with Joonas on the podcast and he says the same thing. TRIFC were sniffing around him and a couple of teams from England but I'm sure Joonas said he had held talks with a team on the continent.}
07 Apr 2022 13:08:28
the young bhoy in the reserves has been getting great reviews but think he needs to go out on loan and get proper first team games to further his development but my goodness thankfully for us and himself we have hart who’s been outstanding and must be great for the youngster to learn off!
{Ed007's Note - Tobi Oluwayemi, Paul rates that lad highly and is always praising him up.}
07 Apr 2022 13:29:49
We should always be trying to sign players to improve the the first eleven, and it will be hard because it truly would take millions to buy someone to get into are team that's how good and consistent these players have been, but truthfully I my mind the only two position I believe that could be improved without paying crazy money would be left back instead of Taylor and centre half instead of starfelt, think we will go all out for vicars so don't think we will go for another centre back but I think we will go and try and get a left back, firstly I would be trying to get rid of the deadwood first, can't wait for a easy pre season for a change with the work Ange has already done last summer and in January,
07 Apr 2022 13:33:22
Personally think we don’t need to change much. As long as we don’t repeat the past and reach a point (boardroom thinking) where we think we have peaked and then start declining. Many times over the years we have not pushed on from a position of strength. One or two quality players per window should keep the squad evolving without breaking the bank. We hopefully, have learned some lessons from past experiences and the new CEO seems to be doing ok, just wish I knew who he was and what he looks and sounds like. Then again, that may be a good thing after the previous one!
07 Apr 2022 13:42:25
We were told by people in the know that it’s the second season big angle’s teams kick on and get success so that might be the case when it comes to European football!?!?
07 Apr 2022 13:54:14
I will be one of the odd ones out here, if we take in new players, they need to improve the area of the pitch they play, Ferguson for me is not a player who will do that. It has nothing to do with who his family are, it's about him as a player, he is not better than any of our current midfielders. Bitton is pure class and has lots of experience and our new lads are all better than him. Just because he is Scottish doesn't mean we need him in our team. A team identity is taken from and created by the manager imo.
{Ed007's Note - Bitton is going into the last year of his contract so like Julien it's an offer a new deal or sell him while we can get some money, Bitton also turns 31 this year and may feel he wants to be playing/starting every week, he did mulll over returning to Israel last summer. Lewis Ferguson would easily cover Bitton's position in the squad the way Ange rotates and has a lot more to his all round game than Bitton - and he's howegrown to keep that UEFA quota up.
I don't understand why anyone would be against us signing probably the best young midfielder in Scotland outside of Glasgow.}
07 Apr 2022 14:13:49
Ed, we already have that player, CM is only 28 ?.
{Ed007's Note - I prefer CalMac playing further up the field mate - I don't playing in the CDM role suits him at all - we've also got Ideguchi who plays where Bitton does.}
07 Apr 2022 14:16:51
Ed your maybe correct, a different manager may be able to get the best out of the lad and what Ange has done for Ralston and Bitton, he may be able to take Ferguson to the next level. Interesting times ahead hopefully.
{Ed007's Note - ??
07 Apr 2022 15:55:20
I think Ferguson is decent but I also think he gets a tad over rated from the media take away his pens and his goal scoring record ain’t that great same with his assists.
07 Apr 2022 16:36:19
think Ferguson would be out of our price range now wouldn't he? weren't the Italian clubs after him quoted around £6 million.
{Ed007's Note - It was reported the potential fee was £3.5 million. Aberdeen turned down a £2 million bid from Watford last summer for Ferguson which seriously upset Ferguson, his family and his agent to the point they publicly spoke out about broken promises leading to Ferguson putting in a written transfer request, he's been desperate to get out of Pittodrie since then.}
07 Apr 2022 20:43:07
Some good points there Ed, Ideguchi hasn't had a chance, who is to say he can't be as good if not better than Bitton who has impressed this season if he does end up moving on might take a while to adapt to the style and pace of the league. Lawal sounds like he's capable of stepping up to the first team next season and seems to have overtook Robertson who people have forgotten about. Whoever the man is to fill that position I'd hope it means Calmac can push further up as he links up play better and isn't the ball winning kind of player sitting deeper. I'd say we maybe need another striker if Ajeti moves on. I also liked the look of Solbakken from Bodo too. There seems to be continuous links with Ghayedi not sure if that's of we don't sign Jota up permanently.
08 Apr 2022 01:35:08
I've been hoping for the last couple of seasons that we would go and get Ferguson. He's a very capable player and he would be much better in our team than what we see of him at Aberdeen. You're right Mark (in my opinion) , he would be a terrific replacement for Bitton and I firmly believe he would become a regular first team player at Celtic. He has that old school toughness to him and I think fans like to see that in a player instead of someone who falls over and yaps as soon as an opponent looks at them. HH.