Liam Scales has often been viewed as a player fortunate to hold down a starting place at Celtic, with many, myself included, seeing him at times as a worry on the ball.
In 11 games so far this campaign, Scales has been part of a defence that has conceded just three goals. When you look across the backline, he is still often spoken about as the weak link, yet the numbers tell a very different story.
Last season, Auston Trusty briefly edged ahead of him in the pecking order, raising questions over whether Scales would keep his place long-term. But he fought his way back into the side and has started this campaign with a level of consistency few could have predicted.
In what has been an underwhelming start overall for Celtic, Scales has been the standout. His no-nonsense defending, aerial strength, and willingness to put himself on the line have made him an early contender for Celtic’s Player of the Year, and it’s still only September.
Scales may never be the most glamorous name in the squad, but his importance to the team is growing by the week. In a season where others have faltered, he has provided Rodgers with stability and dependability in the heart of defence.
If Celtic are to build momentum at home and in Europe, keeping Scales in this form could prove just as vital as any attacking spark. From being seen as a stop-gap option, he is now making a strong case as one of the first names on the teamsheet.
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5 responses
He may be a good defender but his distribution of the ball out of defence is absolutely atrocious.
Any time he tries to pass the ball he puts us under pressure.
We need an upgrade immediately.
The criticism of Scales isn’t particularly about his defending ability. As a no nonsense centre half willing to put his body on the line, domestically, he is capable. When we step up a level from the St Mirrens and Kilmarnocks of the world, you can see he is clearly targeted. Plus the majority of the time he is faced with a last ditch challenge, it is normally to dig himself out a hole he has created.
But regardless, he isn’t being asked to play as an old school no nonsense centre half is he? When you look at the touches per game he has, he is usually in the top 3, along side CCV and McGregor. He is asked to bring the ball out and start attacks from defence, which he simply cannot do. His distribution is woeful at times. The amount of simple passes he puts out the park, or number obvious passes he attempts to play that are cut out is really not acceptable. Of course there will be examples of great passes, but they are so few and far between they do not offer much consolation for the number of balls out the park on offer.
Anything other than side to side to Tierney or CCV and he struggles. It isn’t his fault. He just shouldn’t be a starter for this club.
We all know how close he was to going back to Aberdeen. That would have been his level.
Perfectly summed up.
Give the guy a break. He’s no worse than Trusty and side to side passing is all that the Celtic defense does thanks to Boring Brendan.
Centre backs are meant to defend…and he does more than his fair share of that …and does it well…His passing can be erratic…but check out Hatate’s passing at times…and he’s a technical player…Maybe if BR changed the system…Scales wouldn’t attract the criticism he gets.