Your Celtic questions answered as Scales keeps impressing

With Celtic returning to Scottish Premiership action this weekend against Aberdeen, TCW asked their subscribers about some of the pressing issues surrounding the team, both on and off the pitch.

With that in mind, Ryan McGinlay and Tony Haggerty picked the top five questions - their answers are below...

Q1: Do Celtic still need a midfield enforcer?

Ryan: This is a position that I have been talking about at length for a few years now. Many will look to the past concerning ‘destroyers’ like Victor Wanyama, though I think that this position in world football is changing in general.

Though tall in frame, you would not categorise Manchester City’s Rodri as one of these players. Strong, yes, but not a player who physically imposes himself on the game through shoulder barges and crunching tackles. Fernandinho – who mentored Rodri – was a little bit more physical but had grace when playing in the ‘number six’ role for Pep Guardiola and his predecessors at City. An evolving role, but arguably the most important on the football pitch in modern football

Circling back to Celtic, and what is clear is that this position cannot be held by Callum McGregor in the coming years. Borussia Dortmund exploited his defensive weaknesses – which allowed them to cut through the visitors like a knife through butter at Signal Iduna Park. Despite his stellar start to the season domestically, Father Time catches up with every player, and Celtic will need to be wary when McGregor’s levels inevitably drop. They cannot afford to have a ‘Casemiro’ situation when the legs go – they allowed that to happen with Scott Brown, after all.

Celtic should be keeping an eye on this area of the park in the coming years.

Tony: Celtic are well-stocked in the midfield area, and quality is abundant. However, one can argue that the missing piece of the midfield jigsaw is an engine room enforcer in the Wanyama mould.

Engels has added some steel and bite to the midfield but the Belgian international is a skilled technician and more of a creative type so I could see why Brendan Rodgers will well feel that someone with height and a sheer physical presence in the middle of the park it still needed to complements the rest of the assets that the men in green and white possess in that area.

Wanyama didn't fare too badly in the Scottish Premiership and there is never any harm in offering an extra layer of protection to the back four, especially in Europe. The Borussia Dortmund game was a case in point. So yes, Celtic would do well to recruit a midfield enforcer.

Q2: Is Paulo Bernardo the natural replacement for Callum McGregor as he gets older and needs more rest?

Ryan: It is crazy to think that Bernardo had quite a few people doubting whether or not the club should sign the player this summer. £3.5 million looks like a bit of a snip now – and a robbery from Benfica’s perspective.

His performance against Rangers in last month’s Glasgow Derby was a real eye-opener for many, given his effectiveness both in possession and when pressing the opposition. While all of the headlines coming into the game were surrounding Arne Engels, everyone was speaking about the Portugal midfielder after the game.

Though he has been in and out of the team – through no fault of his own – the Portugal U21 player has looked very impressive in recent weeks. So much so, that he has taken that good form away with him for his national team – his goal against Faroe Islands was a prime example of that.

Will he be McGregor’s successor, though? I’m not so sure, for a number of reasons. One, at 22 years old, Bernardo will have his sights higher than Celtic, you would imagine. Next, his position on the park is further up than where McGregor is currently deployed, meaning that he would have to adjust his whole game to accommodate Rodgers’ wishes.

Personally, I think it would be more likely that the aforementioned Engels could be his short-term successor, though he too will see his peak as being higher than Celtic. This leaves the door open for Luke McCowan, who is quite similar to McGregor in stature and playstyle. Either way, Celtic have options in the midfield – both now and in the future.

Tony: There is a subtle joy to Bernardo's play. If you haven't noticed that then you simply aren't paying attention.

The Portuguese under-21 midfielder has been rightfully praised for his ability to get wired in and do all the dirty stuff that is required of a midfielder. However, what many seem to not be grasping is that this boy can play. He is a graduate of one of the best European football academies around which is the envy of many teams.

The ex-Benfica playmaker has all the necessary tools and he has proved that he could handle the big occasion for Celtic. McGregor cannot go on forever that is true and in Bernardo, they have found a player who is comfortable in his own skin and who could take over the CalMac mantle if he ever needed to. Allied to the fact that he has an uncanny knack for scoring goals that so far have all proved to be belters. What's not to like?

Bernardo is a player whose career trajectory is on the rise. He possesses the potential to become a real star for Celtic in the next few years. If Rodgers can develop Bernardo just as he did Matt O'Riley, then the sky will also be the limit for this gifted and highly talented footballer.

Q3: Is the problem with Kuhn's incredible form that Premier League clubs will soon be sniffing about? If so, what would the price tag be?

Ryan: This is unfortunately always going to be a problem for Celtic if the status quo remains concerning the club’s position in world football.

Indeed, 14 goal contributions in just 11 games is some going for the German winger, who has been undoubtedly Celtic’s best player so far this season. What a turnaround, considering that many were unconvinced even as late as this summer right before the start of the new season.

There’s no doubt that wealthy clubs are already watching Kuhn with a growing appetite. After all, this is a player who has been on the books of Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and Ajax in his youth career – he has an existing pedigree.

In terms of price, you must take his contract into account, which is due to run for another four and a half years from this date. Celtic are in a good position with their asset, which perhaps may convince the winger to stay for another few years to hone his skills and craft further. Much like Cameron Carter-Vickers before he joined the club, his career could be seen as being ‘nomadic’.

With all of that being said, I’d put a price tag of £20-25 million on Kuhn at the moment, given his age, room for growth, nationality and his importance to Celtic currently. This could rise or fall, though you would expect the former to happen, given his rising status in Celtic’s team.

Tony: Kuhn will already be attracting admiring glances from south of the border. It's only natural that will happen. The Scottish Premiership is a showcase for the English Premier League and always will be.

When Rodgers uttered these words: "Celtic won't be the end game for some players, but it will give them a lot.  Players who play for Celtic can leave as winners, better footballers, and ready to play for any team in the world." - he was talking about O'Riley in this instance but he was also aiming those words at the likes of Kuhn and Hatate.

Such players need to earn their moves just as O'Riley did. Former Ajax and Bayern Munich winger Kuhn has the potential to claw his way back to the top echelons of the game and Rodgers is challenging him to do that. It would reflect well on Kuhn, Celtic and the Scottish Premiership if he did.

With an astonishing goal contribution of 14 - six goals and eight assists - before we have reached Halloween, Kuhn is on fire. The German is going the right way about earning full international honours. If Kuhn can keep up his levels of consistency this season then Celtic know that they have another massive asset on their hands who will move for big money.

Electric pace, an eye for a killer pass and a potent goalscoring threat from wide areas are commodities that elite-level clubs covet. Celtic hold all the ace cards here as it was they who did their due diligence and gave Kuhn the chance to resurrect his ailing career. When the EPL clubs finally come calling - and they will - then it is no hyperbole to say that Celtic would be well within their rights to command a fee in the £25-30 million bracket.

The days of top-flight English clubs raiding teams north of the border and plucking their talent for a song are long gone. Celtic are well aware that they are in a win-win situation with Kuhn.

Q4: Does Liam Scales get the respect his performances deserve?

Ryan: What a year it has been for the Irish defender, who is now a first-pick for both club and country.

Admittedly, there are still a few dissenting voices concerning Scales, though they are far fewer after some sublime performances this season from the centre-back. You tend to hear them when he has a poor performance, though this has only really been the case versus Borussia Dortmund in Germany – a bad night for all involved.

I believe that Scales is now getting the right amount of respect for the way he is playing at the moment. I, too, was a bit of a Scales-sceptic when he continued to feature in the starting line-up, though my position has softened in recent months.

Though Auston Trusty has been brought in for the big fee of £6 million, I now reckon that Scales is Celtic’s most consistent defender at the moment – due to Cameron Carter-Vickers’s persistent injuries. Amazingly, perhaps Trusty is CCV’s replacement at present, rather than Scales – would that be entirely out of the question?

Scales is getting his flowers, and deservedly so. Long may this current form persist – both for his and his team’s sake.

Tony: Scales has earned football respect the hard way. He has done the hard yards and become a trusted lieutenant of Rodgers in this Celtic team.

Some sections of the support will never fully accept the Irishman as being a vital cog in the Celtic machine under Rodgers. None of that matters a joy as Scales only has to impress one man and that is his compatriot. So far, he's doing more than all right on that front. The Republic of Ireland international defender is oozing confidence and is starting to show his worth. He has already claimed his first Champions League goal of his career in the 5-1 destruction of Slovan Bratislava and it is safe to say it won't be his last strike at that level.

Like him or loathe him, the centre-back is doing exactly what it says on the tin and he can't be faulted as he has by some distance been Celtic's best defender this season up until this point. It takes some doing to put the likes of American centre-back Carter-Vickers in the shade but somehow Scales has managed it.

There are still many who will argue that Celtic still need an upgrade on Scales in this position and that standpoint is perfectly valid too. Scales has earned his flowers through sheer hard work, grit and determination.

The 26-year-old is finally showing that he can play at this level with Celtic. You have to respect that.

Q5: Does the club still need to go and get a director of football?

Ryan: Back in 2021, this was a necessity for Celtic, given the way the 2020/21 season transpired for the club – both on and off the park. Despite being linked with the likes of Manchester City’s Fergal Harkin and David Webb, this position was never filled, with Ange Postecouglou becoming a de facto director, as well as the club’s manager.

With the Mark Lawwell experiment failing spectacularly at Celtic – in spite of on-field success – the club could perhaps have been reluctant to go down this path again in the short-term, though it looks as if they may have found a replacement in Paul Tisdale – the self-confessed “Football doctor” – who looks to be taking Lawwell’s vacated role.

Even still, this does still leave room for a director of football to come in – if necessary. Continuity is important in football, and a person above Rodgers but just below the Celtic hierarchy would provide just that. The incumbent manager will not be at the club forever – as much as we may hope and pray for that to be the case – so an individual who can stay even when the manager decides to go could be a beneficial appointment.

Presently, though, the appointment of Tisdale should quench the thirst of those who want changes off the park. Time will tell if he makes a big impact – he will not have to do much to surpass his predecessor, in truth.

Tony: Tisdale has come into the club to operate as some sort of in his own words: 'football doctor'. Cards on the table here, such definitions don't fill me with great hope. It sounds like a made-up title and self-aggrandizing.

Does someone whose previous clubs include Exeter City FC and MK Dons have what it takes to be a success at an institution like Celtic? Time will tell. Celtic are still actively trying to recruit for the director of football role. That's a good thing. I am not pouring cold water on Tisdale's credentials. I would just need to know more about him and know exactly what he brings to the table to see if he can help Celtic continue to be successful.

As Tisdale said: "I work as what I call a football doctor. I go into football clubs and I try to find performance-improvement solutions using data and also my experience as a coach. I can translate very well from the boardroom to the pitch, and from the pitch to the boardroom, and also deliver CPD (continuous professional development) or coach mentoring. I’m currently in a period where I am doing a bit of a lot of things, waiting for one thing really to take off. It’s keeping me busy and I am self-employed with my own business and enjoying it."

Tisdale strikes me as a man who does a bit of this 'n' that and a bit of everything. My thoughts on these positions are always the same. If Celtic want and need a director of football then they should go out and hire one. The best candidate and preferably one that is suitably qualified for the job.

If that turns out to be the 'football doctor' that is Tisdale, then so be it.