celtic have a HUGE squad. However we have LOADS of players who arent going to impact the first team. So why dont we punt people who arent going to make an impact ( Mcginn, Murphy etc) and bring in fewer players who would actually challenge for a place in the squad. For example Murphy is never going to keep stoes or hooper out of the team and often it is the for Sammy, so why not punt them and bring in a target man who may actually fight for a spot. This would reduce wages and bring in more quality and less passengers. It would mean slightly smaller squad but i really do think we need to get rid of some players who, lets face it, will never make an impact. So what do you think?
We do have a big squad but we've needed it. Who'd've thought we needed 25 (or however many it is ) midfielders? Well with Kayal, Ledley and Commons out tomorrow it's just as well we have plenty of depth. But I agree we could prune here and there.
We have a fairly decent core of first team players now so unlike last summer I feel this year we can spend our budget on 1 or 2 top players rather than 8 or 9 like last year. They can then push a first teamer from this season to be cover meaning we can get rid ofnThose who won't make it. Mcginn odea Hutchinson etc can go
We've got Wilson coming in already, so I'd guess O'Dea will be away permanently. I don't see Murphy pushing for a regular spot. And I agree about McGinn, he's too far down the pecking order now.
Out: O'Dea, Thompson, Loovens, Ljungberg, McGinn, Murphy and Rasmussen. In: Wilson to come, a decent target man who also contributes a few goals. I suspect Forster will go back to Newcastle so we'll need a new goalie too. We've also signed Matthews on a pre-contract from Cardiff and he is meant to be a talented defender. I would also like to see the Greek donkey sold if a decent bid came in for him.
And Rasmussen will surely be gone. I forgot about him. Edit: And Hinkel. Shame, I always rated him highly.
Hooiveld too. If he was half as good as he told us he as, he'd be some player. i think the stated aim is to reduce the squad by letting go of some of the 19's in the first instance. Cutting down the numbers that will be kept on. Harsh, but sensible.
If you prone to the bare bones you end up having to use players that don't cut the mustard. I could be a pundit with **** patter like that.
If possible: Get rid off: Foster/Hinkle (he's out of contract)/Loovens/Hoodvield/O'Dea/Jaurez/Ljunberg/McGinn/Maloney/Murphy Do Celtic give Rasmussen a pre-season to see what he can do? Would be good to see if Thompson comes back from loan "improved" - I like him as a player and see potential. New: Goalkeeper of Boruc standard Centre Back Goal Scoring Midfielder Creative Midfielder Striker
IF Wigan go down I'd like to see us try and lure McCarthy back to Scotland. Don't know if we could afford it though.
A fine mixed metaphor Anyway, I see your point but the squad is massive. For example, we could lose Hooiveld, O'Dea and Thompson and still have five centrebacks (Maj, Rogne, Mulgrew, Loovens and yer man coming in from Forest). We actually have scope to be quite brutal in getting players off the wage list without seriously damaging the quality and depth of the squad.
We'd never get him Some decent EPL clubs were sniffing earlier in the year so way too pricey now Should have taken him when he was at Hamilton. Was always going to go onto bigger and better things. Should have been us making the profit on him and not Wigan!!!
We got the highest points score we've had in 7 seasons, let's not over react. Do what we did this season again next year and we will win the league. It's Rangers who need to make changes and 'gel' while we've finally found our best 11.
I don't think anyone's overreacting Mick. We've had a bunch of players out on loan plus quite a few in the squad who haven't had a look in all season (all the names mentioned above). It's unlikely that any will be so improved as to be pushing for places next season so it's in everyone's interests that they move on. If we free up some wages, get the odd quid in transfer fees we can bring in a couple of new faces to strengthen the squad further. I agree we have the basis for a decent team and we don't need too much tinkering with the first 11, but there's always room for improvement.
That was that dick Mowbray's fault. He was only interested in signing players "that were ready to walk straight into the first team." Prick.
