Celtic after the window: Case for the defence
How are Celtic sitting now the window has been carefully shut?
With the exception of maybe picking up a few players currently without a club, the SPL squads are in the position they are going to be until January.
The biggest movers and shakers have been Celtic, which is unsurprising given they have a new boss and how poor they were last season.
With many in and many out, it is still hard to properly judge the strength of the squad as the jury remains out on many players.
Then again, no one does a knee-jerk reaction like a Scottish football fan so let’s review Neil Lennon’s team.
Goalkeeper
Definitely weaker.
Artur Boruc had his critics but it is easy to overlook the fact he had a good season last year. Injuries blighted him and some people could never bring themselves to give him credit but he is a big loss.
Boruc is unlikely to get back to his prime of 2008 but it’s worth remembering strong performances at Ibrox and Easter Road last season, scenes of previous Boruc howlers.
Lukas Zaluska, for us, lacks the presence to be the number one at Celtic and his summer form so far backs that up.
Fraser Forster, a loan signing from Newcastle, made his debut at Fir Park but went largely untested. Many Celtic fans appreciated the punch he delivered to the head of Glen Loovens but the 6′ 7″ keeper is still very much under the spotlight.
We can’t imagine anyone would strongly argue that Celtic look weaker in the goalkeeping department.
Defence
Tentavitely stronger…but is definitely up for debate
The sieve was back for Celtic last season and even a January overhaul failed to improve matters.
The long-term injury picked up by Andy Hinkel (who was likely to be sold) means that Cha Du-Ri is the chief right back for the hoops.
The South Korean looks capable when bombing forward but has looked suspect at the back. In reality, he is a more cost effective Andy Hinkel. Such is the downsizing of Celtic.
Where Cha has looked most suspect is defending crosses with an attacker coming across him on his blind side. It may be that the South Korean’s awareness at the back could be an Achilles heel for Celtic.
If Cha is unavailable, Celtic will turn to injury-prone Mark Wilson or will draw Mexican Efrain Juarez out of midfield. This would limit the options of Celtic on midfield so would not be the preferred option.
At left-back, Celtic lost the services of World Cup final star Edson Braffheid and the maverick Lee Naylor. Add this to the quick in and out of Danny Fox and you can see why some Celtic fans were crying out for the capture of ANY left-back.
As is so often the case, the arrival of Charlie Mulgrew left many choking on their words. Mulgrew has the ability to make Celtic fans daydream of the halcyon era when Mo Camara roamed the left flank with a smile on his face and a bandage on his arm.
The capture of Izaguirre, the Honduran international, came as a relief and like Forster, made his debut at Fir Park. As first games go, it was well received with even Motherwell boss Craig ‘Big Bad Leroy’ Brown praising him highly.
The early performances of Lee Naylor also looked good so there is no need to get carried but there is hope Izaguirre may solve Celtic’s left back options.
If the Honduran is out, his position could be filled by dropping Joe Ledley in, by giving a full debut to Hoopy the Huddle Hound or at a last resort, Charlie Mulgrew.
What about the middle of Celtic’s defence? Well, from the squad that finished last season, loanees Darren O’Dea and Josh Thompson have been replaced by Dan Majstorovic. This is an improvement.
However, there hasn’t been enough improvement in this area. If Thomas Rogne could avoid injury, Celtic would have the look of a decent duo at the back. Then again, that looks like one of the biggest IFs in the Scottish game.
This leaves Neil Lennon to choose between Loovens and Jos Hooiveld. You can see why this is not a good thing. One more centre half, one with a bit of pace, could have transformed the Celti backline but the failure to do so could be costly.
We think the new starting defence for Celtic is an improvement but is only an injury or two away from a new crisis. Which could be argued is the case for many clubs.
So that is the Celtic defensive positions examined….and its a lengthy article, so we will return to the midfield and attack later on.
How do you feel about Celtic at the back? Three clean sheets in the SPL – indication of strength or no guarantee of future success?
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I think you nailed a lot of it. The truth is every Celtic fan, to a man, has screamed for years that our defence is a disaster and needs to be addressed. Since the abismal handling of Bobo by the board and Strachan, our back line has been our downfall, and the reason we went out of Europe each year, and lost the domestic powerhold. Forwards got nervous knowing they couldn’t afford to miss opportunities because the open gate at the back would for sure leak goals. Midfield is strong but alos nervous for the same reasons as the guys up front, but this nervousness had the opposite effect and meant mistakes were made and points were lost. We all know the SPL, SFA and Dallas’s boys did their bit to make sure Rangers didn’t end up second the last two seasons, but we never helped our own cause with disgusting performances. the “honest” mistakes will no doubt continue to our cost. refs will target new players with Boruc and McGeady gone, and watch for the perfectly timed yellow card accumulations to make sure key players miss the Old Firm games. I am overall satisfied we did a decent job in the transfer market, but we still held on to dead wood. We still need a captain with brains and drive. Not one who followed a referee like a stupid kid, in a critical European game until he got himself yellow carded. brown isn’t one of us and never will be. I suspect he landed on the wrong side of the city as did his pal, Kevin Thompson. This said, we have no excuses now. Goalscorers and defenders should have made improvements. Hail Hail.
“This leaves Neil Lennon to choose between Loovens and Jos Hooiveld. You can see why this is not a good thing.”
Seems a bit unfair to Hooiveld…Hes played less than half a dozen games and your slagging him of in the same sentance a Loovens.
I’ve seen Jos play a few time before he joined Celtic and hes a cracking defender (2 league winners & 2 cup winners medals, 2 defender of the year and 1 player of the year award in 2 years). He’s play a handfull of games, most of which when hes not been match fit or recovering from an injury, in a defence which has not played more than 5 games together.
Everyones allowed an opinion but saying that Loovens and Hooiveld are on a par based on the little people have actually seen of him in Scotland seems to be jumping the gun a bit.
I would say it is far too early to tell whether there is improvement or not. Time will tell. I was delighted with the capture of the big Swede and his first couple of games but after the Utrecht disaster who is really certain?
I’m still having McManus / Caldwell nightmares even though they actually managed to win us league titles!
i think we’ll be fine till january then we can get st.ledger or wilson and good goalie dont think will be given though would like to see hildebrand or spanish goalie they talked about and if loovens can get his act together and see us through till then
With Celtic now out of Europe I think the new defence will cope easily enough with most games in Scotland.
There does seem to be a bit more steel about the defence and if Big Dan can strike up a partnership with either Hoovield, Rogne or Loovens then Celtic shouldn’t have to worry to much at the back.
I would agree with Bobby Davro re Hooivelt. I havent seen enough of him. He comes with a good pedigree, improving every season. He’s been injured and in and out of the team. Loovens however, we know all about ffs. Hoivelt and Big Danny should be given a run of games to build a partnership. Loovens is a disaster.
Oh and cha is a header. Only hope he gets away with it in the spl.
To all the Hooiveld backers, we did state its a “knee-jerk” analysis timed with the closure of the window.
The defnder has barely been able to put together a run of games so we’re not writing him off….but Rogne has played a lot less but looked more impressive.
Granted, the comparison to Loovens is maybe unfair, Loovens has consistently failed at the back…Hooiveld hasnt been able to….play that often. However, so far, hasnt really impressed. We’re probably a bit quick to slate him, others are probably a bit quick to praise him…the middle likely holds the truth.
Still think Celtic needed to buy a centre half with pace though, that would made a huge difference at the back.
Still…as we said, we think the backline has been strengthened…on early impressions.
I see Craig Levein has called up more players to the Scotland squad after the latest call offs but once again has decided not to draft in Shaun Maloney.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/8952109.stm
Shaun has looked in good form this season, maybe not if front of goal but he has been at the heart of most of Celtic’s good play this season. I still can’t believe the Chris Iwelumo was picked ahead of him.
Has Craig Levein got an agenda or does he just not think Maloney is any good?
Whilst it is strange that Maliney has not been called up, it’s hard to cite Iwulemo as they are obviously very different. Levein likes his big man up front option so it’s not surprising to see Iwulemo in there.
Iwulemo was one of the call off’s. Gary O’Connor has been drafted in as the replacement.
There you go then – almost like for like!
foster
cha hooiveld / (rogne if fit) majstorovic izaguirre
kayal
juarez ledley
stokes hooper
Aaron,
Not a bad XI (or is it 10 you have named?!?) but Craig Levein ain’t allowed to pick those players!
You forgot Brown in starting 11 or has he been sent off again lol… Not happy at no big striker signing or CB that we have been after for years otherwise good bit of bis xcept for mulgrew if only he could defend lol
Hey Stu, we’ve still to get to the midfield and attack…hopefully we can have that online on Thursday.
New Cha Du Ri T-Shirt added to the WeKnowSFA shop
That is pure cheese!