I was glad, yesterday, to see that Celtic is back in the market for Asian players. Glad because this is a market we’ve found joy in over the last two years and the departure of Ange Postecoglou should not be a reason for rejecting that market out of hand.
But there’s a part of me which wonders if going back to that well too often might not be the best idea in the world.
If there are truly exceptional players to be found there – and there are, and we now know that there are – then we shouldn’t miss out on them … but nor should we be signing loads of them. Because there’s a not-so-hidden danger there.
It’s the Asian tournaments which are already going to take away our entire forward line.
Oh, Kyogo and Maeda will almost certainly play in those competitions, and when the Asian Cup kicks off on 12 January next year it will last until 10 February. Presumably there will be friendly matches in the run up to it, and at this moment that would leave us a month without a recognised striker. That problem only looms larger if we’re also without other players.
Ange Postecoglou seemed very relaxed about that prospect. If I’m being uncharitable I might say it’s one he didn’t think he’d have to deal with. Brendan Rodgers cannot afford to be quite so sanguine about it; this will affect him and his strategy and he has to be thinking about how to mitigate the harm that this could do, especially in a tight title race.
I have little doubt that we will sign a front man this summer; we have to, with this in mind. I have no doubt that we will sign at least one player from Asia; it keeps our profile over there high, and that’s especially important with Postecoglou no longer here.
But a balance has to be found, and one that doesn’t leave us well short. We don’t know what the fixture list is going to throw at us in the early months of next year; we cannot afford to find out, the hard way, that we have an over-reliance on players from one part of the world.
It’s something for the manager to ponder. Doubtless, he has.
Don’t see it being an issue whatsoever James.
You have to also take into account the winter break, along with a transfer window being open, so should any potential issues arise, then the club will be in a strong position to deal with them.
Agreed that another striker could well be in the thinking of Rodgers.
Still believe OH needs a full season behind him as wouldn’t class him quite ready for CL just yet, when the following season could be the one he may be better prepared for imo, along with yuki.
The Asian market still looks like fantastic value for money, yet you still have to take the over physical approach that’s allowed to exist within Scottish football, with hammer throwers still holding preference over quality
The 3 player international call up rule still stands and allows us to postpone matches. No?
THE WEE RED BOOK WILL FIND A WAY NEEDED FOR US TO HAVE 3 AWAY GAMES WHERE MOST WILL BE RANGERS, HEARTS, ST,MIRREN,
Kyo-Go and find the next Kyogo !
By then we will be 20 points clear
Sometimes there’s a momentary rich seam, as with the Polish contingent some years ago. Good to remember and point out though that Internationals can be away at tournaments and we don’t want to lose more than one in one area at one time.