Anthony Ralston

The goal against Motherwell was conceded when Saracchi stood off a cross

Fwiw I thought Ralston had a very poor game against Motherwell and played a role in both goals we conceded. Generally he is very reliable though and I don't see many instances of him being exposed in the areas you highlight.

I'm surprised you think Forrest works hard defensively. I rarely see him track back.

 

The only thing i will contribute to this debate is that Ralston is a better player than his performances.

Hes one of those players who really does need the exact right manager who knows his strengths and more importantly his weaknesses.

He gets a very hard time from some of the support.

 

I've not seen much of Saracchi TBH. I've seen a lot less of us this season due to a new job, so I don't know if he is as bad as Ralston at it or not. What I have seen of him, he has impressed me going forward and hasn't impressed at all defensively, so you may be right.

It doesn't really change my opinion on Ralston, though. I still think it's a problem.

 

I don’t give any players a hard time at the game as it helps no one*, but do fans give good players a hard time? Maybe he’s not good enough to start.


* really struggled with Kenny Miller as I hated the *

 

So, not you then?

You’re one of the most braindead * on this site and yet believe yourself to be a football oracle.

Ralston is and always has been a pish footballer. He’s a battler and gives his all. Capable very occasionally of a decent pass forward or cross.

But he usually smashes a pish cross against a defender 8 yards in front of him. More often than not lets his opposing attacker get a free cross into our box because he’s a * shocking defender. Has next to no real technical ability when he’s trying to beat his man. Physically incapable of using his left foot. Also moves like he’s holding in a *. Wooden and robotic as *.

Having a better time at Celtic than those players you mentioned means * all. None of them are regarded as decent Celtic players. And actually, Elhamed was a far better player than Ralston.

Ralston wouldn’t start for plenty of teams in our league. Kidding yourself on if you think otherwise.

 

Just saw you said one of his strengths is his 1v1 defending.

And you genuinely believe yourself to be someone incredibly knowledgeable about football? * me.

Thick as mince.

 

Moves like he’s holding in a *.

 

I think his technique is really poor and lets him down and I hate seeing his name in the side for all the obvious reasons; but there's no doubt in my mind that he reads the game exceptionally well. He spots these forward passes and dangerous crosses far better than our other defenders (and better than some of our midfielders to be frank). The reason it looks like an occasional thing is that he has the technique of a bottom-half SPL player and usually screws up the execution.

The stats show that Agathe is right about Ralston's goal contributions (and I say that as someone who got this wrong) in spite of his poor technique.

I am 100% with you on his 1v1 defending, though. It's frustrating to watch TBH. He himself must know he sucks at it, because he adapts his game to compensate, which is why we see him standing off wingers and letting them cross.

 

Elhamed, what a fantastic defender he was. I consider him one of the most underrated defenders I've seen at Celtic.

 

I mind his performance at Ibrox, he was class. Think he had a few dodgy defensive moments but if he didn't get homesick (think his wife and kid were back in Israel too), I think he would've been a really good player for us.

Shame how that one went.

 

I find him unbelievably negative..

I've never seen a fullback who tries everything to get it back to the keeper at almost every opportunity..