One of the reasons I so dearly love football is that it teaches you to expect the unexpected.
My heart sank last night when I saw that Stephen Welsh was in the team whilst Gustaf Lagerbielke was sitting on the bench. “What has he done to deserve that?” I thought, about the Swede, not about Welsh, because I like Welsh and was happy to see he was back and fit.
But my heart went out to our big summer signing, as I thought that decision profoundly unfair.
I don’t know … Welsh did fine.
He was strong and powerful and put on a good show.
I like Welsh cause he commands in the air, and when he broke into the team under Lennon you could not say that conclusively about one other defender on our books. He had a fine game, and along with Scales and especially Taylor they held the line.
But I was happy to see the big Swede get on the pitch although I’d have preferred it had he not been subbed on because of another injury. The best Hollywood script-writer would not have dared write that stunning ending. That’s why football’s better than the movies, it has that quality where the thing you least expect is the thing that can send you into raptures.
I would not have had it any other way. O’Riley’s cross was sublime and the big man was perfectly positioned to nod the ball home; it was a great team goal, because it was made from the back with a superb pass to O’Riley in the first place from Scales. It was a beautiful bit of team-work, with Matt choosing not to hit it himself but to spot the back post run.
That should be it for the big man now.
His head should be up. He should be buzzing and head into training with his shoulders high and his confidence through the roof. He’s in an unfortunate position because nobody wants to see Carter Vickers out and Scales is so fantastic at the moment that he looks like he could be a permanent fixture in the side … I love what’s happened to him, but I feel so bad for the two big lads we bought and now can’t get a sniff.
But Lagerbielke has a future here. He’s a good big lad and once he settles down, he will do us a job, and that won’t have done him any harm.
This is one of the things I meant las night when I talked about morale and calm; morale because it will raise his through the roof and calm because it’s like the dials been reset for this guy and that will give other players hope and will chill people out. Seize the moment when it comes, that’s the mantra, and he has.
For him, his Celtic career starts now.
Phillips will be gone back to Liverpool soon and he will have opportunities again.
It may take an injury to Carter Vickers or Scales to get him a proper run in the team, or the manager moving Liam out to the left (which would be a shame as I’d prefer to see Frame get his chance there if Taylor isn’t in the side) … but it’ll come.
He and Nawrocki were always likely to be battling it out for that place … but now he has the edge.
And if he can take his chances like he took that one last night, that’ll be enough.
Agreed James, was surprised that Philips didn’t start, but relieved also as it offered ourselves nothing in the longer run and the bigger picture?
Also surprised Welsh was given his first start of the season, and done very well also.
Inconsistencies will always remain within the younger players, which is made all the harder when you don’t get that prolonged run within a team, and this remains the challenge when entering the demands of what a big club brings with it, and the success that’s expected?
Yet it tends to get overlooked to much, that it is a squad game these days, that has to be prepared for all unforeseen eventualities regarding injuries and suspensions?
The way the game is nowadays with the 5 sub rule, managers don’t want to really make changes within the defensive set up, unless forced into them generally.
Main reason that we have to operate with only a keeper, CB, and FB within an SPFL match day squad.
So therefore the midfielders and attacking players are required more so in order to potentially change the course of a game?
So defensive players usually have to remain very patient in there potentially very limited appearances, but still need to be ready for when those chances should arise.
Still remains questionable as to whether Rodgers actually wants to stick with a back 4 in the longer run, especially with fairly decent options at CB available imo.
Largerman wasn’t bought with the here and now in mind, but hasn’t done to badly either when forced into some very pressurised games either imo.
Hopefully this is the boost required for his Celtic career, as still believe he has something to offer along with Welsh and rocki also, when and if needed imo?
With trying to build a squad for CL level, the defensive set up was required, and wasn’t helped with the injuries to the CB positions, and still not totally completed as of yet imo.
Hart and Taylor done well enough last night, especially with Hart redeeming himself with some of the costly errors earlier in the campaign that were so costly to ourselves?
Still don’t believe Hart and Taylor are the answer either in the longer run, but also not convinced that Rodgers intends sticking with a back 4 either in the longer run?
Still believe AJ could do a job in the 3CB option, which on paper looks fairly decent in potential options available imo.
Ralston and Taylor aren’t particularly strong in playing out from the back using a back 4 and both look more comfortable higher up the park imo, so still have a potential role to play over the course of a season, even if a potential formation change was in the offering from Rodgers?
Would require a proper DM also, where it was a shame to lose iwata in the role,and still won’t get the best from calmac either in the position either imo.
Another striker would also be required, especially if a potential change is in the offering, and would still be required regardless?
Still don’t believe squad depth is as poor as many are trying to make out, more so i would question if the formation of the team set up, quite right to get the best out of the squad set up?
Still believe in the process involved, wouldn’t be so sure how it will all unfold before next season CL campaign kicks off all the same?