THREE more new faces go under the microscope this week as Ross Goodwin of Bhoys Analytics gives his verdict on Celtic's summer acquisitions in part three of his transfer window round-up...
Giorgos Giakoumakis
The Greek international signed on deadline day, coming in to replace the gap in the squad created by the departing Odsonne Edouard.
Up until last season, the big striker had struggled throughout his career for goals and minutes only amassing 26 goals across 7,732 minutes (or around a goal every 300 minutes).
At the age of 25, going into the 2020-21 season in the Eredivisie with one of the weakest sides, few could have predicted the turnaround in Giakoumakis’s career.
Despite being relegated, he would end the season as the Eredivisie top scorer and across all competitions would score 29, which astonishingly was more than he had scored across his entire career before that season.
With his large goal return and his side being relegated, Celtic were able to snatch up the top scorer from a stronger league for a fee of a little over £2million.
From examining the data it’s clear Giakoumakis improved massively from his previous season going from 0.19 non-penalty goals per 90 to 0.56. This improvement is also seen in the likes of his xG per 90 nearly doubling from 0.37 to 0.69, headed goals per 90 going from 0 to 0.12 per 90, shots on target percentage rising from 35 per cent to 51 per cent and his goal conversion more than tripling from eight per cent to 27 per cent.
Every aspect of his play dramatically increased in the offensive areas as he focused his game more on his strengths. He always had physicality but struggled with finishing.
Season on season, it’s clear work was done to improve aerially and in the box, with the majority of his finishes being one touch. With Postecoglou liking mobility from his forwards in the box, coupled with getting on the end of low crosses, Giakoumakis seems like a good fit for the manager's system.
Liam Scales
Scales was brought in from League of Ireland side Shamrock Rovers as Celtic expanded their search for talent to leagues they don’t often explore.
The main question around this signing was if he could make the step up to Celtic’s level. The answer may well be yes, as he profiles as a strong, physical ball player that has experience in a side that was dominant on the ball already.
Scales is also flexible. He can play both centre-back and left-back comfortably which gives Postecoglou more options during the current injury crisis.
READ MORE: Ross Goodwin's transfer window analysis - part one & part two
With Scales being left-footed it could offer a rare opportunity for Celtic to have a natural left-sided centre-back. That could help quicken build-up play from the back.
On the ball, Scales is very comfortable. He has strong short-to-medium passing at 93 per cent accuracy as well as good forward passing accuracy (78 per cent), passes to the final third accuracy (71 per cent) and progressive passing accuracy (71 per cent).
Defensively, Scales has shown he was dominant with a 72 per cent defensive duel success rate, 68 per cent aerial duel success rate and 11.3 PAdj interceptions. These indicate he is a good defender who is able to anticipate danger and cut it out as well as using his powerful physique to dominant in ground and aerial duels.
Liam Shaw
Shaw followed Osaze Urhoghide from relegated Sheffield Wednesday in a cross-border compensation deal.
Shaw gave a good account of himself throughout pre-season but, since the start of competitive fixtures, he has struggled to convince the manager he’s ready to play.
This has persisted even throughout the current injury crisis, meaning we might not see him in a Celtic shirt anytime soon.
Across the friendlies, he performed well given his youth and was mostly deployed as a defensive midfielder. He had 52 per cent defensive duel success and 77 per cent aerial duel success. He was comfortable in possession as well with an 85 per cent pass success rate.
Much like Urhoghide, Celtic may look to move Shaw out on loan to get minutes and continue his development.
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