Every Celtic player's 2021-22 season rated

This one is extra special – it not only ends the campaign but, as it’s our first as a website, crowns the inaugural TCW player of the season.

Last time out, Cameron Carter-Vickers knocked Jota off top spot with Callum McGregor, Kyogo Furuhashi and Joe Hart all rounding off the top five. All of those, and more, have played some great stuff since to lift the league title as part of Ange Postecoglou’s maiden-campaign double.

But first, a wee explainer in case this is your first visit to the TCW power rankings (the previous entries can be found here, here and here). 

Subscribers will already know that we produce detailed man-by-man match ratings for every game, so the end of the campaign is the perfect time to collate those marks and put the results to you as well as using them to crown our TCW player of the season.

The threshold for inclusion on this occasion is 810 minutes of action in the first-team – that’s 15 per cent of all available competitive minutes and you’re in. Previous updates have set the cut-off at a straight 10 per cent but, given this is the whole season, it feels right the bar is set a bit higher (and it leaves us with a nice round number of 20 entries again).

Before we start, a quick rundown of the almost-made-its. Liam Scales can feel the most hard-done-by given he misses out by 11 minutes while Mikey Johnston’s 755 Ismaila Soro’s 738 and Albian Ajeti’s 617 are other close-run-things.

Scott Bain, who featured in 59 of Celtic’s 60 matchday squads but played in just four, falls short as do Vasilis Barkas, Dane Murray, Christopher Jullien, Boli Bolingoli, Owen Moffat, Yosuke Ideguchi, Joey Dawson and Karamoko Dembele. Loan exits and departed players – such as Osaze Urhoghide, Adam Montgomery, Ryan Christie et al – are also not included. 

Like before, appearances not long enough to warrant a match rating of, for instance, more than a two or three are removed from the tallies. Where two players have finished level in average rating, the tie-breaker gives the nod to the player who has played more often.

And away we go...

20. James McCarthy

Previous ranking: 17th ⬇️

A substitute appearance on the final day of the season against Motherwell meant he qualified for a league-winning medal but he was already over the minutes threshold for these rankings anyway (by just six minutes, but still).

It’s been a low-key debut campaign for the Ireland international and, while his suitability for playing central midfield in an Ange Postecoglou team has often come under criticism, as he enters the second year of a four-season deal it’s unlikely he’ll be going anywhere soon.

In terms of these rankings, McCarthy falls a few places from last time and his average rating benefits from so many of his appearances were small cameos and, thus, are excluded.

Average rating: 5.58

19. Nir Bitton

Previous ranking: 21st ⬆️

The Israeli brought the curtain down on a nine-season spell by adding another two trophies to his CV. His campaign may have started by making some fans cry tears of anger at his red card against FC Midtjylland but it ended with some sobs of his own in an emotional farewell at Parkhead.

During the course of this term Bitton was shifted back to his natural midfield berth for the bulk of his playing time and, while he is 19th on this list, his contributions should not be discounted. Key performances in matches such as the League Cup semi-final against St Johnstone and away to Livingston when the Almondvale curse was broken means he departed with his head held high.

Average rating: 5.93

Further reading from TCW: What is Nir Bitton’s Celtic legacy?

18. James Forrest

Previous ranking: 18th ↔️

Another injury-plagued campaign comes to a close for the winger but there were some shoots of recovery to be found in contributions such as the early-season win over Jablonec, the League Cup semi-final or Livingston away.

His role next season is likely one in which it will not be incumbent upon him to play two or three times a week but the new deal he just signed along with Postecoglou’s insistence that he knows “he’s still got it” suggests he’ll be an active part of the squad. If fit, of course.

Average rating: 6.10

Further reading: Why James Forrest deserves his new deal

17. Stephen Welsh

Previous ranking: 16th ⬇️

Before Cameron Carter-Vickers’ arrival, Welsh had played significant minutes as one of the first-choice centre-back pairings. After he checked in, the Scot’s only real game-time came when Carl Starfelt was injured. He still clocked over 2,000 competitive minutes this term overall but it’s no surprise his ranking takes a hit here.

Average rating: 6.26

Further reading: The Celtic tactical switch that made Stephen Welsh’s AZ performance even more impressive

16. Liel Abada

Previous ranking: 19th ⬆️

The constant controversial in these rankings, Abada’s three-spot rise is unlikely to appease many.

Within his statistically-impressive season, the young player of the year also experienced more than a few matches where he made very little impact. Like the last update, it’s worth noting he has been rated a 4 or 5 pretty much as often as a 7 or 8.

Given how often he played – a combination of the lack of squad depth earlier in the season and his own impressive start to life in Glasgow – he was forced to play himself through periods of poor form rather than being rotated out. Only near the end of the season when more wide players were fit did he really get any significant rest-time.

Ultimately, regardless of his low ranking here, a debut campaign that saw him make the joint-most appearances (54) as well as score 15 goals and lay on nine assists (including being the only player to score in the league, both cups and Europe) is a success. Of course it is.

Average rating: 6.27

Further reading: Liel Abada and the ‘Messi desert’

15. David Turnbull

Previous ranking: 15th ↔️

Despite losing three months to his League Cup final injury, Turnbull still clocked well over 3,000 minutes this term. He returned 10 goals and six assists and acclimatised to Postecoglou’s methods better than many initially expected.

Still only 22 and with two significant injuries behind him, this next season will be essentially his fourth full one as a senior footballer where it’s probably a safe bet he finishes a lot higher up our 2022-23 rankings.

Average rating: 6.34

Further reading: How game-changer David Turnbull could decide title race

14. Tom Rogic

Previous ranking: 12th ⬇️

A man of moments during his time at Celtic, Rogic proved to have a few more of them up his sleeve in his final term at the club.

The Australian remains one of only three players to get a 9 out of 10 score more than once – Kyogo Furuhashi and Giorgos Giakoumakis are the others – but his inconsistent nature is reflected in his surplus of 4s or 5s compared to 7s.

Garnering two trophies, a team of the season nomination and the club’s goal of the season was an impressive way for the 29-year-old to depart as a Hoops player, albeit he misses out on making the top 10 in these rankings.

Average rating: 6.42

Further reading: Tom Rogic’s spellbinding hold on Glasgow Derbies

13. Giorgos Giakoumakis

Previous ranking: 13th ↔️

In the last update we concluded Giakoumakis’s entry with these words: “If Celtic do go on to lift the league title, he will have been as crucial to it as anyone.”

Call us Mystic Meg. The Greek striker has not only bagged a further five goals since then but the exact one which clinched the league title too. He rounded off his campaign by seizing the league top scorer accolade with a two-goal substitute’s appearance on trophy day.

The stats are pretty well known by now but they remain quite remarkable nonetheless. One goal in his first nine appearances gave way to 16 in his next 20. Overall, Giakoumakis has registered a goal every 92 minutes of competitive action. If goals to starts is your bag, his record from those 15 games in which he lined up for kick-off is 14 goals and one assist.

Average rating: 6.58

Further reading: How ‘warrior striker’ Giorgos Giakoumakis is redefining what a Celtic frontman looks like

12. Matt O’Riley

Previous ranking: 10th ⬇️

The emergence of O’Riley is one of the most exciting developments ahead of the next campaign. With creativity, defensive instincts and height, the 21-year-old is well-placed not only to crack the top 10 in these rankings next year but potentially compete for the podium places.

Recently capped by Denmark at under-21 level, O’Riley leaves an impression league-wide in metrics as varied as overall on-ball value, possession-adjusted pressures, key passes and xG assisted. Simply put, he has been an all-round threat since his arrival and his two-spot slip here is very little to do with his own displays and everything to do with the excellence of those above him.

Average rating: 6.61

Further reading: Why Celtic should start Matt O'Riley during title run-in

11. Reo Hatate

Previous ranking: 7th ⬇️

Hatate benefits from the first tiebreaker nod as he nudges out O’Riley by virtue of having played more minutes, but is also the steepest faller in the rankings with a four-place drop from last time.

That is perhaps best explained by his firecracker start giving way to a run of form in which he started to look exhausted. The 24-year-old did, however, recover  to earn an 8 in the 7-0 drubbing of St Johnstone but a few 6s and a 5 thereafter means a drop out of the top 10 was likely inevitable.

Average rating: 6.61

Further reading: We need to talk about Reo Hatate

10. Anthony Ralston

Previous ranking: 8th ⬇️

The fact Ralston has dropped to 10th should not – and does not – undermine what has been a simply superb campaign.

His rise from Parkhead expendable to goalscoring, assist-making, internationally-capped double winner borders on the miraculous. It’s not though, it’s the byproduct of his own hard graft coupled with the influence of Postecoglou on his confidence and his game.

Raw stats (five goals and nine assists) or underlying (sixth league-wide in on-ball value), it makes no matter. The season he's just had wasn't good 'for Ralston', it was damn good for any full-back.

Average rating: 6.68

Further reading: Tony Ralston going from boy to man at Celtic heightens the delight at his success

9. Carl Starfelt

Previous ranking: 11th ⬆️

The big Swede’s progression has been impressive and he not only cracks the top 10 but does so having moved up the rankings in every update. He started the first update in 14th, before moving up to 12th, 11th and now his final position of ninth. That he edges out Ralston is just the icing on the cake and reinforces his improvement.

Indeed, he has ended the season – like the next guy on the list – by finding arguably his best form so far. From the St Mirren game on March 2 until picking up the trophy, Starfelt has put in eight 8-rated displays along with three 7s.

Average rating: 6.69

Further reading: Carl Starfelt’s improvement is indisputable… but is it enough?

8. Daizen Maeda

Previous ranking: 14th ⬆️

The biggest jump in ranking between updates belongs to that ‘absolute pest’ we have been writing about since January. Six spots better off than the last update, Maeda’s place in the Celtic starting XI was pretty much assured for the business end of the campaign.

While not making the immediate impact of fellow winter signing Hatate, the 24-year-old essentially went on to do the opposite. He peaked as the season ended – extraordinary given his previous exploits in the J1 League and the intensity with which he approaches the game – to reel off four 8s and five 7s in his final 10 games.

Maeda's successful pressures action map this season

His pressing has already become legendary in Scottish football and StatsBomb notes he is third league-wide in total pressures per 90 minutes (behind Cammy Devlin and Stephane Omeonga, two defensive midfielders) and fourth in total counter-pressures per 90 (again behind three defensive midfielders) and counter-pressure regains per 90. Given Celtic’s ball-dominance it is always worth looking at possession-adjusted metrics and he tops the whole division in pressures when this is taken into account.

Average rating: 6.70

Further reading: How ‘absolute pest’ Daizen Maeda helps Celtic harass opponents into submission

7. Greg Taylor

Previous ranking: 9th ⬆️

One of the main benefactors of Postecoglou’s presence, the 24-year-old has matured in the inverted full-back role while starting to win over even some of his more vocal doubters. It should not be forgotten that arguably his best performances of the campaign came in games such as the League Cup final against Hibernian and the 3-0 dismantling of Rangers.

Like Starfelt, Scotland international Taylor continues to move up the list by virtue of his excellent end-of-season form. His importance came to the fore over the final stretch of 12 games as he racked up nine 8s and three 7s to cap off a great season.

Average rating: 6.79

Further reading: Why Greg Taylor is thriving under Ange Postecoglou

6. Josip Juranovic

Previous ranking: 6th ↔️

No movement here for the Croatia international, which is unsurprising given he played only three games since the last update due to injury.

While not performing to the raw goal contribution levels of Ralston, it is telling that when both were fit and firing with a cup final on the horizon it was Juranovic who emerged as the first-choice. His poise and technique are weapons in a Postecoglou side and, although he arguably hasn’t reached his full potential often this term, that only leaves a feeling of anticipation for 2022-23.

Average rating: 6.91

5. Joe Hart

Previous ranking: 5th ↔️

Another redemption arc in a season full of them. The Englishman has visibly enjoyed every moment since signing for the club and took to it like a duck to water.

Despite stylistic concerns his leadership, his saves and his dressing-room likeability have combined to ensure Hart has tangibly helped the fans sleep soundly about the goalkeeper position after a season full of nightmares.

In doing so he has amassed 54 appearances, 26 clean sheets, two trophies... and now a top-five spot in the TCW power rankings. We all know which one of those means the most.

Average rating: 6.93

Further reading: Joe Hart’s particular brand of leadership is proving as timely as his saves

4. Kyogo Furuhashi

Previous ranking: 4th ↔️

Celtic are just a better side when Kyogo is fit. It's difficult to argue that point too vehemently given they went on a lengthy unbeaten run with him out injured for prolonged periods - but it's still true.

Despite his two significant injury lay-offs, the Japan international managed to reach 20 goals for the season and was the first player to receive a 9 out of 10 twice from us (for the Dundee game in August and the League Cup final).

Average rating: 7.03

Further reading: How Kyogo Furuhashi became Scottish football’s leading man in less than six months

3. Jota

Previous ranking: 2nd ⬇️

The superstar from Portugal's ranking may have dipped by one spot but he has shone no less brightly recently.

Jota ended the season with four 8 out of 10 ratings from the last five games. As we drilled into prior to those post-split fixtures, he had already made his goals count in key moments but by the final whistle of the 6-0 win over Motherwell on trophy day the 23-year-old had accumulated 13 goals and 14 assists across all competitions. 

Much like Josip Juranovic after the Well game, most fans will spend the first few weeks of the summer break pleading with Jota to stay. It's not hard to see why. He takes our inaugural bronze medal.

Average rating: 7.08

Further reading: The Celtic player whose goals have made the biggest impact this season

2. Callum McGregor

Previous ranking: 3rd ⬆️

"I guarantee we've got enough ability, enough heart, enough desire in this room," McGregor told the players ahead of the League Cup final. "We've got winners in this room. We just keep going. Go and show everybody who never gave us a chance at the start of the season."

He could have been looking in a mirror. The 28-year-old's first season as skipper was a monumental task. New manager, pretty much a whole new squad of team-mates, supporter unrest at boardroom level decision-making, quiet doubts that he was 'captain material' in the wake of Scott Brown's departure.

McGregor rose to all those challenges and more. He not only turned out to be the right captain for Celtic but also the perfect lieutenant for Postecoglou's Parkhead revolution. His performances led the club into the new era - masked or unmasked - and his astounding level of consistency is reflected in the fact he's rated a 7 or 8 four times as often as a 6.

Average rating: 7.14

Further reading: Why Callum McGregor is Celtic’s ‘irreplaceable unicorn’

1. Cameron Carter-Vickers

Previous ranking: 1st ↔️

It was, admittedly, going to be as hard to oust Carter-Vickers off this top spot as it is to beat him to the ball. No sooner had he taken his place atop the rankings following a remarkable run of form prior to the last international break than he resumed action with the match-winning goal at Ibrox and an 8 out of 10 mark for six of the final eight games.

What has made the USA international so good? Well, being the driving force behind 22 clean sheets helps. But it’s more than that.

"Defending is not just kicking or heading the ball,” former Celt Alan Stubbs told TCW earlier this season. “But about consistently being in the right positions – a ball doesn’t just hit your head or your foot by accident, it’s because you’re in the right places at the right times.”

Carter-Vickers has been in the right place at the right time virtually all season. No wonder so many fans are hoping he stays there next term. Some would argue Celtic is the right place at the right time for him full stop.

He is your first-ever TCW player of the season.

Average rating: 7.22

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