Celtic have a tough decision in the January transfer window

The player’s current form or lack of it has handed Celtic a tough decision to make in the upcoming January transfer window.

It’s been a tough settling in period for the Celtic summer signing, Greek goalkeeper Vasilas Barkas. The team hasn’t performed at times, the defenders in front of him have had a few wobbles, all while he has been getting used to all the difficulties in transition following a big move. Keepers are always under the microscope, never more so than at Parkhead when results are not going the club’s way.

It would be unfair to lay any of the Hoops’ defensive frailties at Barkas’s feet or gloves. He has done alright when given the chance, it’s more about what he hasn’t done. He still needs a huge save or two to win over the fans and the pundits. He also hasn’t come out in a firm commanding style and taken charge of the defence or his penalty box.

A small injury leading to him being unavailable has meant a slightly longer rest away from the spotlight, which may well help enormously too. Barkas has been on the bench in recent games while Scott Bain has been the man between the sticks. He featured for Greece this weekend though, so he should be fit and able to step back in. He has to be working hard to give Neil Lennon a tough decision to make each week.

But has the early experience shaken his confidence? Can he learn and develop? Stevie Woods is a renowned goalkeeping coach so he is in very good hands.

Barkas has also talked, as reported by the Daily Record, about a change in style and approach from the Greek national side under manager John van ’t Schip. The keeper references a more outgoing, less defensive style:

"“There has been a belief that Greece are mainly a defensive side but we are trying to gradually change that from our games. It is something we can do.“I think the fans are also thinking about us differently, not as a team who are defensive but a team who can play.“The first thing he asks is to give his all for the national team.“He is absolutely right about that. He asks us to play football and not fear anything.“He has given us the freedom to play.”"

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Now we’d want to see the Celtic defence tighten rather than relax, but it could be that having the Greece national team become more aligned to Celtic’s way of playing will help Barkas. But it’s not as straightforward as building his confidence and developing further through playing for the Greek side. He is not featuring much there either currently. That won’t help his case for Lennon to restore him.

He was again on the bench for Sunday’s away win against Moldova. That’s the last four consecutive Greece matches Barkas has missed out on a starting place. That’s more likely to undermine rather than boost his state of mind. Whatever the playing style could be, it will have very minimal impact if he isn’t playing.

With talk of interest in other keepers for January, we’ll have to see how it develops for the goalkeeping position at Celtic. It definitely gives Lennon plenty to think about. On one hand he has a man who cost £4.5 million just a few months ago. On the other, there’s 10IAR hanging in the balance. We all know which one matters more.