Letting Stephen Welsh leave was maybe a mistake, but there’s a but
Letting Stephen Welsh leave was a mistake, but let’s not kid ourselves that he was going to be the answer at Celtic after falling behind Dane Murray in the pecking order…
Former Celtic centre-back Stephen Welsh hasn’t looked back since ending his long association with long in the summer, and his recent impressive performances for the Scotland national side have proven he was correct to move on in the quest for a new challenge.
Stephen Welsh has been outstanding for Motherwell, Swansea City and now Scotland
The former Scotland U21 skipper is getting great reviews down at Swansea City who are flying high at the top of the English Championship table, two points ahead of nearest challengers West Ham, who of course have Arne Engels in their team following his £22m plus add-ons move from Celtic this summer.
Stephen Welsh, in recognition of his outstanding loyalty and service to Celtic, despite never getting a proper chance to establish himself in the first team, was allowed to leave on a free transfer despite having a year remaining on his contract.
Swansea City presumably would have been prepared to pay a fee for Stephen Welsh
Presumably Swansea City could and would have been prepared to meet Celtic’s asking price but instead Welsh left on a free and presumably secured a more lucrative remuneration package for The Jacks. That deal though was fair enough on Celtic’s part as they recognised Welsh’s commitment and patience.
The 26 year old never really look like solidifying a place in the Celtic first team throughout his years at the club, and after a hugely successful loan spell with Motherwell last season, his appetite for regular football meant that he could no longer accept being a squad player at Celtic behind Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, Liam Scales and even Dane Murray.
Swansea showings earned Welsh his Scotland call-up
The Coatbridge born defender signed for English Championship side Swansea and has impressed in Wales and England, hence his first ever call up to the senior Scotland side. Anyone who watch the Scotland game away to North Macedonia will have been mightily impressed by Stephen Welsh ‘s performance at the right hand side of a back three.
Ironically that 3-5-2 formation could be the answer that is staring Martin O’Neill in the face after those punishing three consecutive defeats before the international break. Penny for Martin’s thoughts as he was watching Stephen Welsh’s performance on Saturday night.
Some Celtic supporters changing their tune on Stephen Welsh
All this has naturally led to Celtic supporters being vocal in their opinion that the club were wrong to let Stephen Welsh leave and mad to have done so via a free transfer after agreeing to terminate his contract early.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m firmly in the camp that thinks it was wrong to let Stephen go, as I’ve always believed that he had something to offer especially after impressing in a decent Motherwell side last year.
But if the same supporters, who have all of a sudden started questioning the decision to cut him loose are truthful with themselves, they were always of the opinion that he wasn’t good enough to make the grade at Celtic.
Year in year out Stephen was a target for the over critical section of our support, who were forever telling anyone who would listen that he wasn’t good enough to be a Celtic player.
Let’s not kid ourselves
That sudden change of heart is most likely down to our current state of affairs, but let’s not kid ourselves that Stephen Welsh was going to be the answer to our defensive problems under Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney.
Michael Nicholson, for all his faults, would have consulted the management team who were clear that Dane Murray was going to be the second right hand side central defender in this campaign, to that would have left Welsh on the bench at best.
Most supporters were happy to see the back of Stephen Welsh, so it looks very silly pining for him now that he’s gone.
Watch the Scotland game tonight and see what you think about Welsh’s performance
Watch the Scotland game tonight and see what you think, then report back on here. Stephen Welsh is Celtic through and through but he is NOT the player that he has become thanks to Celtic, the biggest factor for him was his time working with Jens Berthel Askou at Motherwell last season.
Don’t take my word for it, here’s Stephen himself confirming the the Danish coach has been the main influence on his career…
