Few footballers that I’ve watched play for Celtic have ever been under such serious, and sustained, pressure as Greg Taylor takes almost for granted. When he spoke to fan media after the final league game of the last campaign he was asked whether or not he was ready for another summer of speculation, and I found his attitude instructive and even inspiring.
Taylor assumes that someone is coming after his place. So far in this window we’ve done exactly zero in that regard, but he wasn’t to know that when he stood there that day and spoke to us. He had every reason to expect that his place was under threat, and why wouldn’t he? Almost since the moment he was signed he was being told the same thing.
Taylor has never been the first choice of the fans. But he has remained the first choice of the managers who have seen him play over the course of his time in a Celtic shirt. I have come to admire him one Hell of a lot. I’ve also come to understand him a little bit, I think, and to understand what the secret of his success is. He thrives on pressure.
There are various types of football personality. There are players who are at their very best when they are trusted and know they are the number one pick in their position. Their confidence soars and you see their best displays. There are others who are better when they are being rotated in and out of the side. Others need a partner to bounce off of.
And then there is that handful of players who thrive on competition.
They push themselves harder, they function better, they excel because they never feel totally secure. They are aware that one bad game and they might find themselves out of the team. This is Greg Taylor. I have rarely seen a player who has tolerated such disrespect and continued turning it on.
I don’t know that whoever comes in – providing someone does; we are in the perverse position of not being able to predict that with any certainty right now – will be able to take the spot away from Taylor. They’ll have to be very good to do that. But I’ll tell you, he needs that competition to push him because that’s where he draws his strength and his energy.
So, we do need to sign someone at left back in this window, and no excuses about it. The position has been crying out for it since we realised what an absolute flop Bernabei was going to be. It was a disgrace that this position was not filled in January, but there have to be options or a lot of people at Celtic Park are seriously sleeping on the job.
I love Taylor. I know we need an upgrade on him, but I have such total respect for the guy, a player who has given us everything at the club, and whether we sign someone or not to “replace” him he’ll be at the club for a long time to come.
We must provide this guy with that added impetus though. If we do, even without knowing who we bring in, I would not lay odds on that person having enough to supplant him. The more pressure he is under, the better Taylor plays. That’s an amazing asset.
We should be making the most of it, by bringing in the best player we can for that position. We need that sort of competition in every area of the pitch.
I think for me, the issue with Taylor and a section of the fanbase is pretty simple. He’s never been forgiven for not being Kieren Tierney, simple as that.
Yes Taylor for me is a good and honest RB who always gives 100%, but for me we need better. Yes I agree with most of your article, but to say he has put up with such disrespect not having that, it’s not disrespectful if you don’t fancy a player and think we can do better,he wearse a Celtic shirt and that means I respect him, but can still think we can do better.
Taylor is a LB not a RB Andy as you say pal.
I am a big fan of GT (who plays at LB, Andy, not RB) …. I think his attitude is fantastic. But yes, he needs competition for his place to, at least, give the manager options. If you don’t have options then the teams coming for you will know how you will play before a ball is even kicked. I mean, it’s not rocket science is it?
I am not, and never have been, a Taylor fan. I do admire his attitude and his endeavour, but none of those attributes make him a good player. A 5′-7″ defender is a no, no for me and only an exceptional individual would make me change my mind on that one. So, I reckon we need two left backs, one to replace GT and another to challenge the new LB that also arrives. That may sound harsh, but there is no room for sentiment in football and if we want to improve, then tough decisions have to be taken.
Too small for corners etc. He is a good player so why not try him as a winger or even in the midfield?
i thought we wanted to sign Owen Beck?
Like most wing backs these days, Greg Taylor is better going forward than defending, Celtic must surely bring a left back in but I think he’ll have to be good to displace Taylor. I agree with you James, that some of the language used in criticism is way over the top, and disrespectful to a hard working team player who never hides when he pulls on the Celtic jersey.
There’s no player who gives the ball away more than GT. Almost every game, he gives the ball to the opponent within 45 secs of the match starting Absolutely drives me daft. Shocking!!! Were desperate for a quality LB. He will get ripped to shreds in the Champions League. So far this window has been dreadful. The club are an absolute joke.
Never mind Taylor our the players we have millions in the bank and all the board has done is sit a wait until the window is shut and then tell the fans we tried toget that player and this player that board are a shambles and should have been removed long ago especially that fat lawwell he was away 2 year and ange got nearly every player he wanted this is why BR walk out the last time through that ratbag p.lawwell and if BR diznae get his players he wanted I hope he walks out again so that the fans turn on that board I hate everyone on that board because we should be miles ahead of every team in that league and lawwell is keeping our club at bay and happy to pick up the millions in the CL so he gets his bonus money ok it’s time the fans got shot of they Tories scumbags at paradise honest fed up with that fat ugly money grabbing bastard p.lawwell having his say fat prick.