The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Back pains for Celtic, so is Forster the answer?
Celtic had nicely set up the second leg of their Champions League qualifier with a 1-1 draw in Romania. So to describe Tuesday night’s exit to Cluj as disappointing would be an understatement.
It’s a huge blow – that’s basically the Kieran Tierney money wiped out.
To put it in perspective, in my time at Celtic Park I thin k we only conceded four once. And that was in an era when we were playing the best sides in Europe.
There’s no way that result should have happened before the group stage.
Neil Lennon will be looking at his selection decisions and obviously the call to play Callum McGregor at leftback will be one of them.
I don’t think that decided the game, though.
Jonny Hayes did that job a few times last year and midfield is an area of strength for Celtic, with plenty of creative talent even without McGregor. The biggest issues are at the back. More money needs to be spent to strengthen there. For me, a left-sided and a right-sided defender are needed.
Neil will also be asking himself if he needs another goalkeeper and I think the answer will be ‘yes’ to that as well.
We all know what Scott Bain can do by now, especially in this part of the country.
He has done relatively well since Brendan Rodgers gave him his chance but he is more suited to the passing it out from the back style Brendan liked than Neil’s way of playing.
I don’t think Neil will be looking in Scotland for a new goalie. He’ll be looking down south.
Fraser Forster is the obvious one. He was brilliant in his first spell at Celtic Park and went for big money but I don’t think he’s even Southampton’s number two these days.
If Fraser is like me, he’d want to get out and play again rather than count his money sitting in a stand or on a bench.
Keeping the ball out of the net is more important than how you can pass a ball as far as I’m concerned, and Fraser is one of the best at that.
Rare talent
I saw Scott Allan close up when Hibs played Arbroath in a pre-season friendly and again in the Betfred Cup.
Not many players in Scottish football are capable of threading the pass that led to Hibs’ goal at Ibrox on Sunday.
To be able to unlock a defence like that is a rare talent – and Dundee fans saw that as well. It didn’t work out for him at Celtic but if he can control games rather than just have the odd flash of brilliance, time is still on his side to be a big player in this country.
Ambitious Kelty on track
He was brilliant in his first spell at Celtic Park
Who would have thought you’d see Kelty Hearts and Solihull Moors drawn together in a cup competition?
All credit to Kelty for beating Annan on penalties with 10 men in the Tunnocks Cup the other night.
A club that spend the sort of money they do and that appoints Barry Ferguson as their manager isn’t content to stay in the Lowland League.
Kelty look to be on track to be the next Cove Rangers and Edinburgh City.