Go Radio pundit thinks there are "a few players" Celtic boss wants rid of

By David Walton

December 2, 2021

Go Radio pundit John Hartson believes there are several players at Celtic that Ange Postecoglou will want rid of in the near future.

As we close in on the January transfer window, much talk has been on who the Hoops will bring in. From Reo Hatate to Dilan Markanday, the speculation is fair ramping up.

It’s already becoming clear who the Celtic boss favours in his first-choice starting XI. The Greek-Australian has relied on a core group of players as confidence and momentum continues to crank up at Parkhead.

But there are others who are hardly getting a look-in despite having age and experience on their side. The likes of Albian Ajeti, Boli Bolingoli, and Vasilis Barkas are all struggling for minutes. And Hartson, speaking on Go Radio’s Football Show last night, believes there are several players Ange will want to ship out:

“I just think that watching Celtic this season, there are a few players who right now are not at that level of that football club and what Ange is expecting them to do in the near future and long-term.

“Now he might have to ship a few out. I’m not going to name names, but I have a feeling that there are a couple there at Celtic that will go because they can’t perform at the highest level. Playing for Celtic is high-pressure, you have to win every single game. You draw a game at Celtic and it’s a crisis.

“So for me there might be a few that might be shipped out. It’s easier to bring players in than to get players out of the door.”

John Hartson not wrong; Celtic need to trim the fat

Hartson isn’t wrong. You see Celtic’s problem isn’t that they lack depth. Go through the squad and you’ll see a host of options available to the manager.

We have 4 goalkeepers with experience of first-team level. We have 3 centre-forwards fighting it out for 1 position. Not to mention the 4 left-back options we currently have at the club. If you’re looking for depth, we’re certainly up there in that regard.

The problem is just how lacking in strength that depth actually is. Our left-back options include Bolingoli and the unproven Liam Scales. Our goalkeepers include failed first-team contenders in Scott Bain, Barkas, and Conor Hazard. Not to mention Albian Ajeti is the last resort up top.

Celtic have too many players that have proven to us they simply can’t cut it at this level. It’s all well and good saying they need a run of games, but where can the Hoops honestly fit that in? We can’t afford to give those who have continuously struggled yet more trial periods in the first-team. Not in the middle of a title race.

If Ange wants to place his faith in his alternatives when members of the starting XI take a knock, he needs to seriously consider bolstering and shipping several out. There’s a reason Celtic dipped so dramatically when Kyogo Furuhashi was injured back in September, for example.

Of course, the final decision is down to Ange. He may still have some faith placed in several of these players. But even that must be treading on thin ice. Expect some incomings in January of course, but if Celtic get their way, you can also expect some deadwood to be shifted.

In other news, Ange Postecoglou has provided a firm transfer message that the Celtic board must act on