The Celtic Bhoys
Fansided

Celtic hope to bolster wing play with Cristian Gamboa signing

By Khaled Abdallah

WALSALL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Cristian Gamboa of West Bromwich Albion during the West Bromwich Albion photocall at West Bromwich Albion Training Ground on September 15, 2015 in Walsall, England. (photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/West Bromwich Albion via Getty Images)
WALSALL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Cristian Gamboa of West Bromwich Albion during the West Bromwich Albion photocall at West Bromwich Albion Training Ground on September 15, 2015 in Walsall, England. (photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/West Bromwich Albion via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

There’s little secret that Celtic’s defense has been a sore spot for fans and the coaching staff alike. On Tuesday, Brendan Rodgers continued to attempt to overhaul his back line by signing out of favor West Brom right back Cristian Gamboa.

A report from the BBC indicates the 26-year-old has signed a three year deal with the hoops.

It will be interesting to see if a change of scenery is what can fire Gamboa’s career back up, after making more than 160 club appearances and spending the last two seasons at The Hawthornes.

Gamboa also stars for his national team — playing all five matches for the Ticos in the 2014 World Cup, as his national team made it to the quarterfinals. He was also a participant in this years Copa America Centenario as well.

Arguably one of the most glaring weaknesses for Celtic this season has been the lack of width and pace up the pitch from the back. That has been especially noticeable when Rodgers goes to his preferred 3-5-2 formation and need his outside backs to get up the wings.

The weakness of right back was glaring in Celtic’s 2-0 away defeat to Hapoel Beer Sheva in the second leg of their Champions League playoff tie. Despite the loss Celtic advanced with a 5-4 aggregate win.

In that loss, Rodgers started Saidy Janko at right back and it was an utter disaster. Janko was responsible for a defensive collapse on the opening goal and for getting in the way of keeper Craig Gordon on what should’ve been an easy grab for the keeper.

Celtic also are hoping that Gamboa can be the competition needed for Mikael Lustig down the wing in Rodgers’ preferred system. However, Lustig has not been fully fit since suffering an injury during Euro 2016 and has been part of a long list of injured defenders for the hoops this season.

“He’s been frozen out at West Brom so will be desperate to get out and back on the pitch every week. He won’t be going to Scotland to sit on the bench. Celtic will be getting a hungry player. This is a bit opportunity for him to play with a club like Celtic. The Celtic fans will really take to him.”

Former West Brom teammate and Scottish midfielder Graham Dorrans believes Celtic fans will love them some Gamboa.

Gamboa is the fifth signing of the Rodgers era at Parkhead following the signings of Moussa Dembele, Kolo Toure, Scott Sinclair and Dorus De Vries. He is also not likely to be the last as Rodgers has really tried to reshape this club and make it stand up for European play and to continue to dominate the Scottish Premiership.

Adding Gamboa not only creates competition at right back, it is likely that it means Celtic will continue to try and find the answers within the 3-5-2 formation that Rodgers has been want to play most of this season to date.

Can he be the answer? Celtic fans are likely to be a bit leery of a player coming from the EPL as an out-of-favor player, having seen plenty of those players come in and flame out in the hoops as well.

What makes Gamboa different is his age and his previous form before heading to West Brom, having been a target of many top European clubs after a few great seasons for Rosenborg in Norway.

Should that form return, Celtic may have the player that can provide the needed width and pace it so desperately needs heading in to Champions League play.

Don’t miss out on all the Transfer Deadline Day action — follow us on Twitter @CelticBhoysFS.