One of the Celtic sites today has a headline suggesting we need to have a conversation about Greg Taylor. And that’s entirely correct—because we do. But it needs to be a sensible discussion about whether Taylor represents our future or our past.
It’s no secret that I’m a Greg Taylor fan.
I’ve said before on this site that his biggest flaw is not being named Kieran Tierney. But I also acknowledge there are better players in his position throughout the game.
Recently, I argued that Alistair Johnston deserved a contract renegotiation because there’s a future captain in him—not just a fantastic player but a leader on the field.
Taylor, too, has been a leader and a proven winner at this club. He is an asset to Celtic, and it would take a determined critic to deny that.
Taylor has been offered a new deal, yet he can start talking to other clubs in January. There is the suggestion that there should be a sense of urgency to get him to sign, but two key factors need to be considered. First, perhaps Taylor doesn’t want to stay. Maybe he wants a different challenge, like playing in England, or simply wants to explore his options next summer.
Perhaps he wants more money than Celtic’s coaches believe he is worth. It shouldn’t be up to a financial analyst to decide a player’s value to the team, but every penny at Celtic Park counts. If the coaching staff feels Taylor isn’t worth the salary he wants, then he shouldn’t get it, even if it risks losing him. If they believe he is worth it, then the board should give them more latitude.
But the coaching staff have their own considerations to make, of course.
Taylor has been a fantastic servant to Celtic, and I know we will treat him with respect, allowing him to make his decision without pressure. If he wants to stay, a deal will likely be worked out that suits all parties. But the key is that it must suit all parties, and Celtic must believe it’s getting value for money. Taylor shouldn’t be among Celtic’s top earners—that’s simply a fact.
This might seem harsh, but it’s an honest assessment.
Had we handled our transfer business better this summer, Taylor would be a squad player, not a first-choice left-back. The ongoing attempts to sign a replacement over the last few years indicate that he is seen as replaceable by the club. Offering Taylor another three or four-year deal could limit both his prospects and ours.
Nobody likes the idea of losing Taylor for free, but he didn’t cost us much, and he’s given us years of good service. In the balance between his value on the pitch and the value on the balance sheet, we’ve already gotten everything we could have hoped for from him. He’s justified his transfer fee many times over.
Yet, keeping him as a first-choice left-back now, and paying him more than a squad player should earn, would demonstrate a lack of ambition on our part. This should be seen as an opportunity to move beyond Greg Taylor. He is a player we know is replaceable—because we’ve tried to replace him before. As much as I would like to see him sign a new deal, I don’t want to see him in the left-back position for several more years. It’s not personal; it’s about the club’s future. We have to look beyond this now and find someone better for the long term.
The manager was right when he talked about teams going through cycles, and we’re entering a new phase. In this phase, only a few players can genuinely be considered irreplaceable. Greg Taylor isn’t one of them. While he does deserve a new contract, he doesn’t warrant a deal that puts him on par with the likes of McGregor, Kyogo, or hopefully, Alistair Johnston. He’s simply not in that bracket.
This is the sort of cold-blooded analysis that is likely taking place inside the club. If no new offer is made, it’s probably because the manager and coaches share this view. They’re looking at the bigger picture and know we should be seeking a different option for that side of the pitch.
Football is a ruthless and unsentimental business. As good as Taylor has been for Celtic, there comes a time when squad players have to move on and be replaced by better ones. Those players are out there, even if it has taken us a while to find them. If the club has shifted its transfer policy to target a higher calibre of player, then the left-back position should be a priority for January or the summer. The incoming player should be such a clear upgrade on Taylor that he would essentially be signing a new deal to be a squad player, which he may not find acceptable.
Part of this negotiation will require honesty from both sides. If Brendan Rodgers wants Taylor to sign a new deal while believing there are better options to explore, he must be upfront with him. Taylor should know that signing the contract might mean a lot of time on the bench or even in the stands. This may not be about money but rather the reality of his situation.
It would be good to resolve Taylor’s contract situation soon, to remove any uncertainty. But that resolution has many elements; it isn’t as simple as “get him to sign.” It’s not something we should throw heavy money at if the manager plans to find a replacement. These are the circumstances that Taylor and Celtic both have to consider.
I understand both positions. Whatever discussions are happening around this contract, I am certain they will be direct, and both parties have much to think about. Until we know what they decide, we’ll continue to support Taylor on the pitch and I am sure that he will continue to give us everything as he has from the day that he signed his first deal with us.
Like yourself James, I like Greg Taylor. He’s been a solid, reliable player for us during his tenure and again, I agree he’s suffered with a section of the support simply because he isn’t KT.
That said, I think it’s clear that we have struggled to find a replacement for him, which actually (for the moment) makes him irreplacable. I’m not saying he’s the best left back in the game, but the fact that he’s seen off every attempted replacement speaks volumes about the problems we have recruiting for his position.
If Taylor decides he doesn’t want to stay, whether it’s because he isn’t satisfied with the wages on offer, the playing time, or some other factor, that realistically leaves us looking for 2 players in a position we struggle to recruit for. Not a good place to be in either scenario.
This is all good common sense stuff.
Unfortunately, given the clubs attempts to give the squad the required level of starting left back, with decent cover at the position in the squad, on permanent deals, then recent history doesn’t fill me with confidence!
Maybe he signs at the right price, maybe the Spanish lad develops into a Champions League quality player, then maybe he signs permanently. Maybe we find two replacements.
That’s a lot of maybes…
We haven’t been very good at resolving the maybes over the last few seasons?
If we lose Greg at the end of the season, we will need to sign not only a replacement, but a back up. I don’t know if we have a youngster ready to be a back up. If we are going to be playing in the CL again next year, will an emerging youngster be good enough to be a back up? No new contract for Greg will incur quite a financial outlay next season as we buy and pay wages to two new LBs. One of whom will be on more money than Greg is currently getting. I get that there are better LBs out there. I also remember when Greg was out of the team last term and we struggled, not so much in defence, but more so in attack. Greg was roasted by fans in his early games at Celtic because of his inability to to take on his opposite number on the outside, hit the by-line and cross. Greg’s strength is his use of the ball, threading passes, short and long, down the line and across the pitch. In short he is excelent when asked to play the inverted full back role. Greg was a midfielder in his youth and it shows when he provides the extra man in midfield and brings others into play. Be careful what you wish for. If Brendan can source a replacement who is an immediate upgrade – Brilliant. But he has to be an upgrade. We spent quite a few quid on Bernabei. Whatever he was, he wasn’t an upgrade.
What’s complicated about it ,the man has given 100% since he joined ,yes like many players he,s human and has mistakes , don’t we all, the guy has earned a new contract so give him what he,s due FFS
I agree with all of the guys. We have been trying to replace Taylor over a number of windows when he was on a solid contract with a while to run. Even the recent window doesn’t suggest we have someone to challenge him and given the constant chat that basically he’s not good enough in his shoes I would sit tight and see if:
A the club can bring in someone who will oust me from the team
and
B if not then if they don’t have a ready made replacement as my contract nears its end then they better offer me an improved contract.
Excellent, James, sums up the situation perfectly. He probably does deserve an offer as he consistently ‘puts in a shift’ and would be a good squad player, but we now need an upgrade. And have done for 3 years.
Stalwart…..easy decision……pay him, sign him, thank him.
You are like Jack Bauer in 24 . A patriot of our club, as he was of his country, if someone needed dicing and slicing, it was curtains . I agree with your assessment of Greg. He has done better than I could have imagined, but he’s not all that. It’s not his fault that he’s had next to no competition . I would like him to stay, but it needs to suit all parties.
The only real thing that is missing from Greg Taylor is physical presence.
Supposedly he’s been offered a 5 year deal on less money than he’s on just now and that’s why he’s not signed it
The Wing Back position is one of the hardest to play, the players in that position are judged both defensively and offensively, it is very hard to get a player who is very good at both.
Gregg Taylor in my opinion is reasonably good defensively and very good offensively, that is why getting someone in whose better than him is so hard. His understanding and linking with our M/F and Forwards is very good.
I think that unless his agent is asking for funny money, then get him signed up, BR seems to want that outcome.
Just listening to Clyde Superscoreboard and the Motherwell supporting host saying that Brendan is wanting to keep Greg Taylor – They are probably one of the more reliable media sources the polar opposite of The Sevco Hun that’s on just now saying that he’s confident that Sevco will win the league and it’ll be because Celtic will lose players in the transfer window – He also states that he is pleased that Sevco are NOT in the Champions League (And so say all of us by the way Del)…
Jeez – How actually in denial are some of them…
I’d never be so arrogant to say ‘we are winning this league’ – Quietly confident I might describe myself but that guy Del was so cocky about them winning the league…
Aye – Right enough as they say – It takes all sorts to make a world !
Greg’s a wee local lad and I know his mother personally. He’s not looking for the moon and knows he’s not in the same bracket as the seniors stars but he’s come to love playing for Celtic and plays very well.
Personally I think he’s a tremendous player to have around the team. The other players seem to like him and he gives his best for us.
His leadership qualities are there for all see. TBH, I think he’s vice captain material as well as a damn good footballer.
I, for one, hope wee Greg is with us for many years to come.
And so say all of us!
He deserves to be offered a new deal, the fact he hasn’t signed it yet suggests he’s not happy with it or he just wants something else. He’s 26 now and been good for us, we’ve definitely missed him when he’s not played but that’s down to poor recruitment. The LB dilemma has been running for ages and looks like it’ll continue.
He seems to be well liked and is a bit of a dressing room influence. He has an absolute desire to win. Isn’t feart to let players know when they are lazy or having a nightmare(Mikey J v the tribute act) Yes we have needed a solid back up that is as good but preferably better, but the fact the guy has turned up consistently even knowing the starting slot is his on a weekly basis for the past three seasons says everything about him and his temperament. We need players like that at the club.