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Celtic Set To Fill Left Back Slot

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At last, at long last, Celtic look as if they are moving to secure cover for Emilio Izaguirre.

Ronny Deila has apparently made this his number one priority.

About time too.

Reports today have us linked, again, with German fullback Marcel Halstenberg but every one of them contains the same qualifier; would he come to Scotland?

That’s a question we have to answer, and soon, and if he’s not interested then we have to move swiftly onto an alternative target, because you cannot have watched Emilio in the pre-season and not be slightly concerned.

This becomes even more worrying when you consider that right now our only possible replacement for Izzy, should he become injured or his form deteriorate further, would be Charlie Mulgrew …

I hear the collective “gulp” in the background, believe me.

Before the departure of Adam Matthews, we at least had someone who could deputise in this slot, creating a little competition and giving Izzy something to think about.

Right now, he knows he can pretty much walk into the team week in week out and that’s never good for a side.

Don’t get me wrong, Izzy has never struck me as particularly big headed or full of himself but when you create a situation where someone knows they are an automatic pick for every match even the most lucid and well-adjusted player might let it go to his head a wee bit, letting complacency creep in.

The need for cover in this position is about more than just loss of form and the possibility of injury.

Izzy is one of those players who, for the last couple of years, has barely had a summer of rest.

He has been playing football constantly in that time, with only the merest hint of a break from the sport.

It is important to factor that in to our thinking.

The left back slot has been problematic for a while at Celtic Park, and there are a number of names who have been linked with a move to cover it, but none of these links had actually led to a signing.

One of them, the Dutch defender Mitchell Dijks, has already signed for Ajax and our reported move for former Dundee Utd defender Barry Douglas has not gone anywhere or borne fruit.

One of the problems undoubtedly facing us, and which has to be a consideration, is that any player we sign has to be eligible to play in Europe or there’s simply no point.

Which means that if we allow this go on too long the risk grows that any player who becomes available will already have been selected for his club side in continental competition.

This would be typical of Celtic; to identify someone we like and then to wait around until the move becomes untenable because of this issue.

Celtic needs to get this one sorted soon. The left back area is crucial.

We cannot go into our next Champions League qualifiers – far less the next round – with this still unresolved.

Overall, the squad looks in good shape at the moment with the midfield as strong as most of us can ever remember it and Leigh Griffiths having competition in the shape of Nadir Ciftci, a signing which has apparently sparked Leigh into even greater form, judging by his performance at the weekend.

That’s what competition is supposed to do.

That’s why we need this left back situation sorted … and quick.

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  • dan docherty says:

    It takes two clubs plus the player to make a deal how.do you know it’s Celtic that are the slow ones when it comes to making a good deal

    • Francis says:

      I have worried about Izzys defending for the past 3 seasons, he constantly gets caught up the park and the majority of goals we have lost in the period have come down his side. He needs to concentrate on his job which is defending.

  • Frankiebhoy says:

    I wish people would get off Charlie mulgrews back it wasn’t that long ago he was scotlands player of the year he has been out a long time with injuries keep the faith lads

    • Joe says:

      I fully agree. Mulgrew has been brilliant since his return to Paradise.
      Sure, he has made the odd mistake, but few and far between.

      • Steelybhoy says:

        Odd mistake he’s rotten sure he was player of the year but that’s in the past the gap between him and izzy in out left hand side of defence was their for everyone to see even the starnan coach seen it and attacked.charlie and izzy are decent said players but that’s as far as they go for me.remember maribor last year Charlie made at least 4 mistakes in the two legs which proved very costly.it was only a godsend that Delia didn’t need to drop him because of his injury,step forward nir biton everyone new the bhoy need 7 to 8 games to prove himself the rest is history

      • robertg says:

        I like Charlie, but I don’t think he has the pace that the team need at full back. I agree that he is a good CH or holding midfielder. I also agree about taking a punt on the young guys. How will we know if they are good enough if we don’t play them. I can’t remember a young player being brought into a game – even big games – and having a stinker.

    • Danny says:

      Don’t disagree but he’s no left back he’s more comfortable in the center where his left foot is more effective

    • james ward says:

      good shout frankie

  • Joe says:

    There must be a young left back that could fill in for him

  • Althetim says:

    Why not give the kid Tierney a chance? He is highly rated and younger guys than him play first team football. Same applies to O’Connell at C/H. RD talks about developing players yet is reluctant to develop any of our own for some reason.
    Regards Charlie – IMHO he isn’t a full back but I agree with Frankiebhoy, it’s not so long ago he was POY, playing at C/H and why he wasn’t allowed to continue in that role is beyond me.

    • John says:

      The kid Tierney would never work as full back, that kid is a winger and a good one, good pace and delivery, unfortunately like Izzy he cant defend and Ronnie wont take a chance on someone that cant defend in his back 4.

  • john says:

    Hardly does Charlies confidence any good reading criticism. been unlucky with injuries but still able to do a job for us

  • Michael McDaid says:

    I agree,we should cut Charlie some slack. His problem since he came back to us is his adaptability. Successive managers have used that to help out at times & so Charlie hasn’t really had the chance to settle into “a position”. having said that, I don’t think that he has ever let us down. H.H.

  • eddie says:

    Mulgrew is not that bad, as we all know coming back from niggling injures is never easy, it takes time, yes he has made the odd mistake , but no where near as many as Ambrose, if you had a choice would you keep Mulgrew or Ambrose

  • Boab says:

    Mulgrew is a good player but at left back his lack of pace doesn’t fit with our style of play. Yes he’s got a great left foot and can play in a few positions but we need a left back with pace that also has a good end product in the last third of the pitch. It’s a shame Izzy just can’t cross a ball and is caught out of position to often. We need to splash some cash to get what we need or look to young players on the fringes of the E.P.L or English championship.

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