After recent coverage and almost acceptance amongst the Celtic fans that it looks like Kris Commons will be parting ways with the Parkhead club it seems like a good time to look at a few others who could possibly be on their way out.

Goalkeeper situation

Having four goalies on our books really is surplus to requirements. The most bizarre part of all of this, however, is that De Vries who was only brought in this summer is actually our oldest goalkeeper, who will be 36 by the end of December. Logan Bailly, 30, whose birthday also falls at theend of the year has naturally found himself out of favour with Rodgers and his case was not helped with an injury at the very start of the season. Leonardo Fasan was the man of the match in the friendly game against Inter Milan in Limerick at the start of the season, and amazingly only signed his first professional contract with Celtic in the August of 2014 at the age of 20. The young Italian has been with Celtic since 2010, coming from Udinese. He has in the past been linked with other Italian clubs. Gordon as of right now is our undisputed number one, even if some of his decision

Gordon, as of right now is our undisputed number one, even if some of his decision making around his goal can be best described as kamikaze football.

Which keeper is the most likely to leave is debatable; DeVries may only be at the Glasgow club for a season before he retires which could make this decision a lot easier. Even after all of this, Gordon may even find himself on the subs bench should Rodgers see the need to further upgrade his firstchoice ‘keeper.

Efe Ambrose

Is any explanation really necessary? The Nigerian can play both at centre and right back, but this doesn’t make him any more appealing. Mikael Lustig can actually play in both of these positions at a higher level and Cristian Gamboa showed against Monchengladbach that he has a dynamism that will do very well in going forward, at least at a domestic level. He is well down the pecking order for both positions, behind even Boyata and young Eoghan O’Connell in defence. Unlike most of the others on this list, his number has long been up, with people calling for him to be let go ever since his woeful performance in the Champions League last sixteen tie versus Juventus in the Neil Lennon era.

Despite all of this the booing which he has received from certain parts of our support is something which defames our claim to have some of the best supporters in the world and is something which should be totally rebuked by anyone who truly cares about Celtic Football Club. Ambrose has been a great servant and genuinely seems to love playing for Celtic but his time is surely long up.

Gary Mackay-Steven

He was offered a way out over the summer, with the most likely destination probably having been

Rotherham whilst Alan Stubbs was still their manager. He decided to stay at Celtic to fight for his place, a commendable decision, but ever since he hasn’t even looked like getting a proper chance in the team. The success of Scott Sinclair since his arrival will have been a large part of this, adding yet another goal against Inverness CT. His place on the bench seems to have been routinely usurped by Ryan Christie as well. The fact that Rodgers was willing to let him go should have been a warning sign. Perhaps a loan deal may suffice but with the numbers that Celtic have in midfield at present, his chances would appear to be extremely limited. Add to this that he appeared 25 times last season, and is yet to this season due to injury, he will no doubt become restless if Rodgers has so many players in front of him.

Nadir Ciftci

With another injury to Leigh Griffiths, Ciftci actually found himself on the bench against Monchengladbach. The Turkish striker has a contract which ties him to the club until the summer of 2019. The second of the two ex-Dundee United men on this list, Ciftci’s signing seems to be indicative of the Deila era, a man who genuinely never should have worn a Celtic jersey. I mean thisthrough no spite or malice merely that to my mind he is not of a Celtic calibre. During his loan spell in Turkey he hardly lit the world on fire, with his team Eskisehirspor being relegated from the Super

League, finding themselves in the second tier of Turkish football for the first time since 2007/2008.

Ciftci whilst there bagged a paltry four goals in the league. He has only played twice for Celtic this season clocking up a meagre 31 minutes home and away against Gibraltarian minnows Lincoln Red Imps. His only real chance of a run out in the green and white this season would perhaps be against a team in the earlier rounds of the Scottish Cup or when the title has already been sewn up. He has been left off of the subs bench more times than he has been on it. What you think of him being given the number seven jersey is something for the individual Celtic fan to make up their own mind.

A third striker is undoubtedly necessary for a team like Celtic but the difference in class between Dembélé and Griffiths down to Ciftci is vast.

Roll on January.

Kevin John Thomson


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2 COMMENTS

  1. If KC has to leave give him a game or two so that the fans can say cheerio to a wonderful player and his family who have been brilliant . Our Sunshine band . Cheers to all of the family and You are in my heart forever

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