What’s that noise I hear you ask? Well, that’s the Transfer Window door slamming shut. That’s it folks, the speculation, the drama, the will he won’t he etc etc. It’s all finished until January.
Have Celtic recruited well for you or has this window been a let down? One things for sure, we know what we have to play with now and here we take a look at our strongest Starting XI going into the season and also our strongest back ups for each position.
In an ideal world, we’d like everybody to be injury free so today I’m going to give you my strongest Starting XI going into the season in my opinion and who could challenge or replace any of these players when the inevitable injuries and suspensions occur.
Strongest Starting XI:
(4-2-3-1 formation)
GK: Craig Gordon
DEF: Mikael Lustig, Jozo Simunovic, Dedryck Boyata, Kieran Tierney
CM: Olivier Ntcham, Scott Brown
MID: Patrick Roberts, Tom Rogic, Scott Sinclair
FW: Moussa Dembele
This would be my strongest Starting XI with everybody fit and healthy. I think Craig Gordon is the obvious pick for the number one jersey. Yes he mucked up last week against St Johnstone, but to be honest does he really have any competition?
The back four is pretty solid. We haven’t seen enough of young Ralston yet for him to oust Lustig. I think Simunovic and Boyata have proven that they’re our strongest Centre Back partnership and Tierney is the first name on my Teamsheet.
The Midfield picks itself for me as well with maybe just Rogic’s position up for grabs with Armstrong and McGregor battling for that slot. Broony and Ntcham look strong and assured in the middle. Paddy will come in for Forrest and the Sinclair and Tierney partnership on the left is our best source of goals for me. Rogic is the best player out the three I mentioned battling for that number ten role. The Wizard of OZ is top class and can win a game on his own.
Finally, it’s the toss of a coin for the starting slot up front but for me, Moussa shades it just. Wee Griff has been sensational and his class from set pieces is there for all to see. I just think when Moussa is fit, he should be starting up top leading our line. The Bhoy is something special.
Backup Starting XI:
(4-2-3-1 formation)
GK: Dorus de Vries
DEF: Anthony Ralston, Erik Sviatchenko, Kristoff Ajer, Calvin Miller
CM: Callum McGregor, Nir Bitton
MID: James Forrest, Stuart Armstrong, Jonny Hayes
FW: Leigh Griffiths
This is my strongest back up XI. De Vries gets the nod. I think it’s definitely a position we should’ve looked at strengthening during the window. I noticed Krul went from Newcastle to Brighton on loan and maybe somebody like that would’ve been ideal.
The back four is very young and inexperienced barring Erik Sviatchenko. Ralston has looked pretty solid and it was good to see Gordon Strachan give him some training time with the full Scotland squad this week to give him a glimpse of what it’s like in with the big boys. He could be our right back for the next 10 years if he works hard enough.
The same goes on the left hand side with Calvin Miller. The Bhoy has the world at his feet really. Voted the best young player in world football two years ago, he’s been moved from an attacking player to a left back by Brendan Rodgers but the kid looks comfortable anywhere on that left hand side.
Ajer and Sviatchenko would definitely be the backup Centre Halves but again, it’s probably a position we should’ve looked to strengthen in. We’ve been suspect there with injuries. Hopefully it doesn’t come back to haunt us.
The Midfield back ups all slot in nicely. Forrest takes over for Roberts should anything happen to th Englishman. Hayes is perfect to replace Sinclair given his versatility and experience. McGregor and Bitton slot in nicely in the centre and Armstrong is a like for like with Rogic in that number 10 role.
Next: No defender at deadline day for Celtic
Finally, wee Griff is more than capable of taking over the reigns from Moussa. As I said earlier, it’s a flip of coin between those two. It’ll be interesting to see if the new French Bhoy can oust our two main strikers from that slot. Only time will tell there.