Matt O’Riley has lost out of a place in a combined Glasgow Select to Todd Cantwell!
Glasgow World is a fairly newish website, trying its best to gain an audience by naming both of the cities football clubs in almost every headline.
At every excuse they shoehorn the two clubs together with lists and comparisons a key element of their content as they attempt to draw in traffic with through a mix of click-bait and Search Engine Optimisation.
Comparing the efforts of the Ibrox club over the last decade with St Johnstone would be a more serious exercise but would go against the targets with Glasgow World utterly dependent on the long dead O** F*** as they try to create a digital audience.
Achieving credibility doesn’t seem to be much of a priority with the discerning Celtic supporter having a sixth sense for the sort of nonsense being pushed at them from outside sources.
The latest wheeze from Glasgow World is to select a joint team from the two city clubs after what the describe as a flurry of transfer activity, something that may have escaped the notice of Celtic supporters. For unknown reasons only ten players are picked.
For the benefit of Glasgow World and ace reporter Ben Banks the SPFL champions and Scottish Cup holders have yet to make their first summer signing.
Jack Butland does make it into the side ahead of Scott Bain, as does Captain Disappointed at right-back while Alistair Johnston and Tony Ralston are away on international duty.
Celtic are given the one available central defensive position and the left-back slot goes to Greig Taylor.
The real hilarity comes in midfield where TikTok is handed a place that has been artificially created after Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley were merged into one position.
Clearly Banks has rarely been near a football match if he thinks that Cantwell gets a place in a combined XI, a view not shared by Phil Clement.
Facing a must-win match at Celtic Park in May the former Norwich starlet didn’t make the Starting XI of the Serial Losers, looking to win the match in the second half Cantwell remained in his cage as Nicky Raskin, Scott Wright and Kemar Roofe were sent on by A Proper Football Manager.
Banks explained his thinking in a classic Glasgow World three pager:
DM CALLUM MCGREGOR
For sitting in front of the back four, the Callum McGregor and Tomoki Iwata combo is the superior option. Ryan Jack has left Rangers alongside John Lundstram who sometimes held this role in the Ibrox side. Mohamed Diomande can play here but better suited in the box-to-box role.
CM CELTIC
Hatate and O’Riley in midfield is a tried and tested formular. Diomande and Raskin have shown potential and gave them no end of problems in the Scottish Cup final, but the Celtic pair are out in front. Paulo Bernardo’s arrival will only strengthen Rodgers’ team in this area.
CAM- Todd Cantwell
What you get from any of these stars from one weekend to the next is a bit of a guessing game. But with Todd Cantwell, Ianis Hagi, Tom Lawrence and Kieran Dowell all capable of playing here, the depth puts them in front here.
An alternative career in Recruitment is unlikely for Banks although his bosses will be impressed by the surge in clicks his combined XI gets.
With the Clement Revolution on hold the former Monaco boss is desperate to get rid of Cantwell, Hagi, Lawrence and Dowell to raise funds and reduce the bloated wage bill.
Perhaps Celtic should stick in a bid or two to put TikTok or Sick Note in hoops to gain an extra place in the Glasgow World Combined XI?
Last season without being an attacking midfielder O’Riley scored 18 goals in the SPFL with his superior opponents coming up with Cantwell 7, Hagi 0, Lawrence 2, Dowell 2.
Banks also opts for Cyriel Dessers ahead of Kyogo Furuhashi with James Forrest and Daizen Maeda providing the service for the Dessers to conjure up incredible misses from.
Glasgow World Combined TEN: Butland, Tavernier, Carter-Vickers, Taylor; McGregor, Hatate, Cantwell; Forrest, Dessers, Maeda.
Banks has achieved a nice 6-4 balance with one place missing in his side, further trashing the credibility of his publisher.
CLICK HERE for Keevins performs incredible u-turn on Rodgers as he accuses Celtic fans.
CLICK HERE for Ibrox messenger lets slip over December re-opening.
