So it looks as though Celtic have finally strengthened a key position with the acquisition of Ben Davies today.
The Hoops have reportedly tied up a pre-contract agreement that will see him arrive in Glasgow this summer [Sky Sports]. It remains to be seen if a deal can be struck to bring him in this month.
But fair play. It’s a new signing (pending official confirmation) and it’s in a position we need reinforcements in. On a side-note, it looks like that spells the end for Shane Duffy (not that many will be too disappointed with that).
However, with Jeremie Frimpong departing, many feel Celtic’s secondary priority was a new right-back. It is to an extent, but we’re all forgetting one key area of the pitch we look set to neglect yet again this month. The right-wing spot.
Looking through Celtic’s squad, we have one natural right-winger at the club. James Forrest. The same man who’s been out for months and continues to remain sidelined for the foreseeable future.
Frimpong was able to play in a more advanced position. But with his departure to Bayer Leverkusen, we really have no natural options available outside of James.
Neil Lennon has chosen to utilise Ryan Christie on the right point a midfield diamond. It’s generally accepted that the diamond system represents Celtic’s strongest formation. Some will feel it’s a system that takes away the need for wingers.
Celtic need to add numbers to the right-wing position
It does to an extent, but we still see Callum McGregor combining with Greg Taylor/Diego Laxalt regularly on the left side. Even though the diamond is a naturally narrow shape, Celtic still like to use their width when possible.
Christie is totally wasted in that position. He doesn’t have the pace or consistency to be an effective right-sided player. He’s a number 10 and a number 10 alone. When playing as a right-midfielder, Christie has only managed one goal and one assist in 12 appearances this season [Transfermarkt].
We haven’t strengthened at right-wing since January 2019 when Oli Burke signed on loan. It’s now been three consecutive transfer windows in which we’ve failed to add a rival to Forrest’s position.
With so much talk focusing on the centre-back and right-back spots, we look primed to overlook this key gap in the squad once again.
Forrest will return at some stage and it will be a boost when he does. But he doesn’t have any competition to push him on. We need an alternative and soon – there was a reason Forrest only managed two goals in 10 games before his injury [Transfermarkt].
But with no talk of a winger coming into the club anytime soon, it looks like we’ll choose not to strengthen once again. Hopefully, that changes in the next few days.
In other news, we discuss what to expect for the upcoming Neil Lennon January review.
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