If Celtic have four first-team left-backs at their disposal, why on earth has Ange Postecoglou started the right-footed Josip Juranovic on the left in the past couple of weeks?
It appears there are myriad reasons.
The most obvious – and straightforward – concerns Greg Taylor. Celtic’s first-choice left-back when fit, Taylor is stuck on the sidelines with a shoulder problem. It’s an injury that could – Postecoglou hinted – keep him out of action until 2022 (Glasgow Times).
Adam Montgomery has impressed in Taylor’s absence at times but is only 19 and lacks consistency at this early stage in his career.
Boli Bolingoli, meanwhile, continues to be frozen out despite being brought in from the cold in times of crisis.
As for Liam Scales, Postecoglou obviously feels a defender snapped up from Shamrock Rovers in the summer is “not ready” to play regularly for a club of Celtic’s size and stature (Herald).
Will Celtic regret failing to pick up Paal?
So if Kenneth Paal had arrived alongside Scales and Juranovic before the September transfer deadline, there’s a good chance the Arnhem-born 24-year-old would be a first team regular in green and white.
He’d certainly have been a more natural replacement for Taylor than Juranovic who, while doing his best in difficult circumstances, tends to impede Celtic’s attacking balance when cutting inside on to his favoured right boot.
“Such a big club,” Paal, who was also the subject of a £650,000 bid from Barnsley (Daily Mail), told De Stentor when quizzed about Celtic’s interest in July.
“(A club) with such a history. (The transfer speculation) is always nice to hear. That just shows you’re doing a good job.”
Under Postecoglou, Celtic’s season has been a bit of a roller coaster so far – ups, downs, twists, turns and thrills aplenty.
The same metaphor can be applied to Paal’s current employers, PEC Zwolle, but in the sense the ride leaves you feeling sick.
PEC Zwolle, you see, have picked up a grand total of four points from 12 games this season, scoring seven and conceding 22. Even Norwich City supporters are laughing at them.
Coach Art Langeler walked away this morning too, with only one club in Europe’s top leagues (Bundesliga strugglers Greuther Furth) posting a worse record than Zwolle at this stage of the season.
So while everyone at Parkhead is praying for Taylor’s safe return, Paal could be forgiven for hoping he’s out for good when the January transfer window opens.
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