Anthony Ralston not the answer in Nancy’s defensive system

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·28 dicembre 2025

Anthony Ralston not the answer in Nancy’s defensive system

Anthony Ralston just is not the answer in Nancy’s defensive system…

Cristian Montaño of Livingston challenges for a header during the Premiership match between Livingston and Celtic at Set Fare Arena on December 27, 2025. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

One of our most obvious frailties at this moment is that of our defence, which is undoubtedly our achilles heel, and that will continue to be exposed until the players learn to fully adapt to Wilfried Nancy’s system, or we install players who can fully adjust to the Frenchman’s philosophy.

OneFootball Video

One such player who looks somewhat lost in Nancys system is Anthony Ralston. Raldo is naturally a right back, and asking him to play a more central role is clearly not working. Some players such as Kieran Tierney can adapt to a more central role, but unfortunately for Raldo he isn’t one of those players.

The Scotland man without sounding disrespectful isn’t blessed with an abundance of natural ability. I don’t wish to single him out as he gives everything in a Celtic shirt, but he’s a back up player at best, that’s the brutal truth. A back up right back, not a central defender. Something that continues to be exposed in each game.

It might seem like I’m singling out an easy target, but it’s nothing more than fair criticism of a player who’s a weak link in Nancy’s Celtic side. A weak link that will continue to be exposed by our opponents who can also see Nancy’s problem.

Amar Fatah of Dundee United battling with Anthony Ralston of Celtic during the Scottish Premiership match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Park on December 17, 2025. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

Surely Nancy has better options available to him? JSP or Dane Murray would be better utilised in a position they favour. Even playing a three man left sided defence of Liam Scales, Aston Trusty and Kieran Tierney would serve us more efficiently but then again that’s three lefties and that has also had its vulnerabilities.

Surely Wilfried Nancy will be looking to bring in his own players when the window opens, but in the meantime he’s got to select the best players available to him, and Anthony Ralston isn’t one of them when playing in a back three. If he continues to persevere with Tony as a right sided centre back then we will continue to be exposed defensively and that’s a worry ahead of the trip to Fir Park to take on Motherwell then the Glasgow Derby at Celtic Park on 3 January.

Anthony Ralston of Celtic battles with Amar Fatah of Dundee United during the Scottish Premiership match between Dundee United and Celtic at Tannadice Park on December 17, 2025. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

If the manager sticks with his current back three I certainly hope that Anthony Ralston proves me wrong.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Celtic in the Thirties – Both Volumes Half in the Celtic Star Books Boxing Day Sale…

Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. ORDER NOW!

Both volumes of Celtic in the Thirties are now available on Amazon Kindle, with the links to order below. Signed copies of both volumes are available on hardback from Celtic Star Books and if you would like author Matt Corr to add a special dedication to your copies please let us know. Order hardback copies HERE or for Amazon Kindle click on the links below…

Click to order Volume One

Click to order Volume Two