SM Scout

Player, Team and Recruitment Analysis 🧐
Scottish Based, With The Occasional Global Interest 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
PFSA Talent ID Level 2 📝

[SM Scout @SMScout_]

Hello folks 👋🏻

🌍 Aspiring Scout, Based in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
🏅 @ThePFSA Talent ID Level 2
📈 Looking to practice and develop skills

Primarily covering recruitment, player and team analysis. New to the scouting space, so advice, feedback and corrections welcome!

(1/2)🔽

[SM Scout @SMScout_]

@CMiddleton2015 I'm not convinced he has the level to be a first team starter, but I could see him doing a McCowen type job in a defensive aspect.

[SM Scout @SMScout_]

🍀 𝑪𝒆𝒍𝒕𝒊𝒄 - 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒖𝒎 𝑴𝒄𝑮𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒐𝒓 𝑰𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒆

With rumours of McGregor to Saudi, and aging regardless, it should be an area of attention for Celtic.

Who could replace or reduce the burden on Celtic's skipper? The last could be a future star ⭐👇🏻

[SM Scout @SMScout_]

🇳🇱 𝑮𝒊𝒃𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒀𝒂𝒉 - 𝑭𝑪 𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒎

Currently in the Eredivisie, I've gone for a little bit of a different profile with this one, slightly less technical than the others options, but defensively in a league of his own.

The 22 year old is relatively composed, can pick a pass with both feet, and has the ability to drive forward with the ball. Physically, a man mountain. Standing at 193cm (6'3"), with a good build, he's athletic, strong and powerful. Off the ball, just outstanding, leading the league with a whopping 12.1 defensive actions per 90, able to read and anticipate situations, before being aggressive in the tackle. Athletic in nature, he works hard and covers ground with ease. Thanks to his long reaching limbs, he has this fascinating ability to reach out and win balls that looks well out of reach.

He's got the physical and athletic make up that lots of elite sides are looking for more and more. Technically he should look to continue improving, as well as tidying up his dribbling, tackling etc which can be a little clumsy due to his size at times, but overall he's a really interesting prospect.

He could give Celtic a more solid base and midfield presence, something fans have bemoaned a lack of for some time. Where better to develop your technical skills than a team that'll have 70% of the ball most weeks? Celtic should move quickly though as I don't anticipate he'll remain in their price range for long.

[SM Scout @SMScout_]

🇪🇸 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒇𝒂𝒏 𝑩𝒂𝒋č𝒆𝒕𝒊ć - 𝑳𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒑𝒐𝒐𝒍

This could be... a risk. Breaking into the Liverpool squad under Jurgen Klopp, at one stage he looked like the natural successor Henderson and Thiago. Since then, hampered by big injuries, he's struggled to push on.

Using data from his loan spell at relegated Las Palmas in 2024/25, we can see he's really comfortable progressing the ball. His final third contribution could be improved, but operating from deep midfield in a side that finished 2nd bottom, we'll temper expectations. Though perhaps to be expected with a lower side, he is really involved defensively, illustrating his willingness towards both sides of the game. This is also something Celtic have lacked in recent years, a more defensively involved option at the base of midfield - especially in Europe.

With great potential previously, a move to a dominant side at a lower level might be what Bajčetić needs to kick start his career again. The move would come with risk for Celtic, potentially injury prone, or struggling to refind his grove from his late teenage years, patience and understanding might be required. With a year left on his contract at The Reds, is a punt on a potentially reduced fee former wonderkid worth taking for the Scottish Champions?

[SM Scout @SMScout_]

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 𝑱𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒂𝒏 𝑯𝒐𝒍𝒔𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆 - 𝑬𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒍

The 26 year old comes off the back of another excellent season with Estoril, contributing 1 goal and 8 assists. Looking at the data, this isn't a flash in the pan either, he's largely replicated this for the last season or two.

As a league leading midfielder for progressive passes, and a signification contributor in chance and assist creation, he is a midfield maestro. With a creative and wide range of passing, but most notably, his line breaking passes - the ability to zip the ball between opponents and into teammates is excellent. He also has this ability to deceive opponents, slowing his movements down to draw them in, almost appearing to dwell or be indecisive, then rapidly speeding up again to perform his action.

Not overly tall, but a good frame, he uses his body well - manipulating opponents and shielding the ball.

I think he's overdue a step up and move this summer, so Celtic might find interest in him competitive. A transfer fee probably in the region of £6-8m to secure him, it would make the Celtic boardroom shiver no doubt.

[SM Scout @SMScout_]

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 𝑬𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒐𝒕 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒕 - 𝑴𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍

After an outstanding campaign with Motherwell, and strong links of a move to Rangers as well as many other clubs likely interested, Celtic might need to get a move on for this one.

He has a really wide range of passing - long, short, aerially, on the ground - he executes it all excellently. He positions really well in build up, timing his movements nicely, and after receiving looking to get his head up and play forward, as seen in his progressive passing stats. Impressively composed on the ball, he is very press resistant, comfortable drawing opponents in to create space.

He is also very involved out of possession, his excellent anticipation and reading of the game allow him to consistently intercept passes.

Aged 26, he should be approaching his prime and for Celtic to get the most out him, I think they would need better coached than last season. No adjustment to the league needed, he's right on their doorstep.

[SM Scout @SMScout_]

@BeGriffis No problem, as much as it's appreciated, should be far from anyone's expectation for you to fork out big money for our benefit 😅

Is there any prospect/plans for the custom ones to return? I think I saw it's been added and removed previously due to issues.

[SM Scout @SMScout_]

@JasonL151079 Could really go either way! Fantastic coach, not cut out to be a manager, or a wealth of experience under many managers, ready to take it on himself!

[SM Scout @SMScout_]

🟠 𝑴𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍 - 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑵𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝑱𝒆𝒏𝒔-𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

Celtic sorted, now Motherwell's turn. Tried to stay at least similar to Jens Berthel Askou's style, but create an interesting list with varied experience, ambition required, likelihood etc.

Let's look... ⬇

[SM Scout @SMScout_]

The practice is over, we're onto the main event...

Hopefully that built some confidence for us going into the Haiti game, you'd think we're going to have to win by a few in that one to better our chances of getting out the group.

[Scotland National Team @ScotlandNT]

FULL TIME: Bolivia 0-4 Scotland.

A big win and a clean sheet in our final @FIFAWorldCup warm-up match.

#BOLSCO | #FIFAWorldCup

[SM Scout @SMScout_]

A flat end to his Celtic career. Once arguably the best midfielder in the country, to not being in the squad on the final day.

Not even sure where he goes, a mid-table La Liga side who look to dominate the ball, perhaps? Really don't know. Disappointing all round 🫤

[Herald Sport @HeraldSportScot]

Reo Hatate has informed Celtic of his desire to leave the club this summer.

The 28-year-old midfielder is contracted until the summer of 2028.

✍️ Exclusive from @mcgowan_stephen

🔗https://t.co/5FLQTqkgA0

[SM Scout @SMScout_]

@AnalysingTSP Definitely.

I’ve said before, I don’t think he’s someone whose ability or potential will be maximised in Scotland. Think a slightly more open style of league would get the best out of him.

[SM Scout @SMScout_]

@swfcscout *cough* Doak and Curtis *cough*

[SM Scout @SMScout_]

🇫🇮 𝑺𝒊𝒎𝒐 𝑽𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒌𝒂𝒓𝒊 - 𝑺𝒕 𝑱𝒐𝒉𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒆

Though unlikely, if Motherwell were considering options closer to home, they could look up the road to Valakari. After a difficult first season at St Johnstone and unable to avoid the drop, they cruised the Championship and will be in the top flight again next season.

🏆 Valakari has silverware to his name, with 5 trophies won in Finland. Most impressively, with SJK Seinäjoki, guiding them to top flight promotion. They then finished 2nd and won a cup in their first year, before winning the league the following year and another cup the year after. These three trophies remain the only silverware the club has ever won. After a short spell in Norway, he returned to Finland, won another another two Finnish Cups and was runner up twice in the league both seasons. Moving to Latvia, he won the Supercup for Riga, before St Johnstone came calling.

As a coach, he aspires for his teams to control the game, with and without the ball. With their possession they look to move the opponent to create new angles, play through the press and create overloads to allow them to move through the thirds. Though a clear preference for a back four, Valakari can be flexible in his shape dependant upon the game and opponents, believing this also makes his team unpredictable.

👀 It can be hard to decide what to make of Valakari, he's experienced demotion with two clubs, but equally the elation of promotion and winning clubs their only ever silverware. He fits the mould of what Motherwell will be seeking, and I find it hard to envisage he would turn it down.

[SM Scout @SMScout_]

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 𝑱𝒐𝒉𝒏 𝑲𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒅𝒚 - 𝑨𝒍-𝑸𝒂𝒅𝒔𝒊𝒂𝒉 (𝑨𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕)

Similar to Gunnlaugsson, there is an element of risk attached. Kennedy has coached in the SPFL and Europe's elite competitions with Celtic for around a decade, being the assistant manager for six of those years. However, short of a brief stint after Neil Lennon's departure in 2021, he has no managerial experience.

📰 Reports suggested the 42 year old was very close to becoming the Hibs head coach in 2019 but rejected the chance. He was linked again in 2022, however this time it was Hibs who were reluctant to pay his six figure release fee.

It's difficult to predict a Kennedy team or how he would set up, but given who he has worked under, and the way they have sung his praises, it's reasonable to assume he's bought into attacking, possession based football. Half a decade of being the right hand man to Rodgers and Postecoglou would be impressive tutorage - the latter of which wanting to take him to Tottenham he rated him so highly.

👬 Kennedy was very highly spoken of by Celtic players and staff, highlighting his excellent coaching and detail orientated analysis. Currently with Rodgers at Al-Qadsiah, he's likely living a pretty cushty life, however if venturing out on his own is still part of his plans, this could be a somewhat rare opportunity. A club on the up, not having sacked a manager or struggling, but having been successful and schooled for a year in the style of play he'd desire - he's unlikely to get a better start in management than that.

[SM Scout @SMScout_]

Sounds like Celtic are sticking with O'Neill.

Like I said 2 weeks ago, I think Celtic have to seriously buck up their coaching ideas. No style of play, patterns, rotations, anything - and they won't get away with it again.

And the recruitment... don't think I need to say much.

[SM Scout @SMScout_]

🍀 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏 𝑶'𝑵𝒆𝒊𝒍𝒍 - 𝑪𝒆𝒍𝒕𝒊𝒄 (𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒎)

Start with the current interim manager shall we? The 74 year old has twice taken the reigns at Celtic this season, steadying the ship after both Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy.

🏆 Boasting a 83% win rate across both stints, he dragged Celtic to a final day league title win - winning 7 in a row to end the season, and 9 of their last 10 overall. A lot of that can be credited to his man management, with players speaking to his belief and confidence building.

An area of concern would be the lack of an identity. There felt a mix between what he and Maloney would each gravitate towards stylistically. By the end, there were glimpses of Rodgers' more controlled approach, Postecoglou's infamous underlapping runs and cutbacks, before winning the league in his throwback 352 formation. May say this is good management to just find a way to win, but going forward, it does feel Celtic need to be better and more clearly coached.

🤮 January's recruitment. It's not fair to attribute this entirely on O'Neill, however he was involved, and the window was frankly a disaster. Not one of the signings were involved in the final 3 games of the season. Given recruitment doesn't appear to have been obviously 'fixed' at Celtic, you'd have to imagine his input would be key again.

Feel I've been too negative, but a final concern would be his age and future planning. Celtic are long overdue kicking themselves into gear and modernising - would they just be kicking the can down the road?

👴🏻 Martin O'Neill is far from the worst candidate, however I'm not convinced he's the best either. It wouldn't feel like an ambitious, forward thinking, long term appointment. Celtic rode their luck this season, and I don't think they'll get away with it again - operating on moments isn't sustainable.

[SM Scout @SMScout_]

That is… not what I would’ve done. Next question is how much do they back him?

Wants to ‘play’ a bit more than his predecessor, so do they back him, and potentially get left with a squad suited to that if it goes wrong? Big decisions happening this summer for The Buddies.

[Daily Record Sport @Record_Sport]

EXCLUSIVE! Craig McLeish to be named St Mirren manager as Buddies hand him 2-year deal after successful survival mission | @ScottBurns75

https://t.co/0CFxdaoTz0