Celtic lack a player like Victor Wanyama in midfield | OneFootball

We badly lack a Wanyama type in the middle of the park…

Wanyama’s goal against Barca

It’s no secret that Celtic desperately needs quality additions to the squad, and one area in particular we are badly lacking in is the centre of the park, specifically a no nonsense, tough tackling, powerful holding player.

We’ve lacked a physical presence in the middle since Victor Wanyama. Someone with sheer strength who could also play a bit, a player who took no prisoners.

As good as Callum McGregor is he’s not that type of player, he’s great on the ball but he’s not the biggest or most physical of players. That’s not a slight on Callum, that’s just not his game.

Scott Brown was, of course,  a presence but he was more of a leader and in your face type of player. Broony was seen as a bit of a mad type, but he was more talented than folk give him credit for.

Big Vic had that presence, he had a steeliness about him. He was a player that the opposition feared playing against, he was a superb player, one who done the dirty work and did it effectively and efficiently.

In my opinion Celtic badly need that sort of player again, especially in Europe. Most top sides have a player like that in the middle of the park and it’s time we thought about adding someone in the Wanyama mould to  our squad. It’s long overdue.

22nd October 2023 Tynecastle,  Scottish Premiership Football, Hearts versus Celtic Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers congratulates Tomoki Iwata after the win. Photo ActionPlus Vagelis Georgariou

Of course the nearest we have on the squad as an alternative number 6 to Callum McGregor is Tomoki Iwata, a player highly regarded by the Celtic support but doesn’t seem to feature very highly in the manager’s plans. Iwata could be worth a shot as a holding midfielder, allowing McGregor to play alongside Matt O’Riley further forward.

That might be a better balanced midfield for the upcoming dead rubber Champions League match against Feyenoord but trialling it out tomorrow against St Johnstone would be worth a shot.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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