Does Time Make Us Remember Players Better Than They Really Were? Celtic Look Set To Sign Greg Taylor
Aodhán Ó Conchobhair The longer a player is away from your club, the better they seem to become.
That’s exactly why the rumours linking Greg Taylor with a shock return to Celtic have divided supporters. Reports this week suggest Taylor would be open to returning just a year after leaving for PAOK.
But is bringing him back really the right move?
Or is it another sign of or club struggling to move forward?
The Greg Taylor We Remember Isn’t Always The Greg Taylor We Watched
Greg Taylor was a very good servant to Celtic.
He won trophies.
He adapted brilliantly under Ange Postecoglou’s inverted full-back system.
He became one of the most technically intelligent left-backs in Scotland.
But let’s also remember what the conversation looked like before he left.
Supporters questioned whether he was good enough physically for the Champions League.
His contract situation divided opinion.
Many believed Celtic needed an upgrade.
Now, just twelve months later, those criticisms seem to have disappeared.
Time has a habit of doing that.
Sentiment Doesn’t Win You Titles
This isn’t really about Greg Taylor.
It’s about Celtic’s recruitment strategy.
If the club genuinely believes Taylor is the best left-back available, then fair enough.
Bring him back.
But if the move is happening because it’s familiar…
Because it’s easy…
Because it’s cheaper than identifying somebody better…
Then that’s a problem.
Elite clubs evolve.
They don’t keep circling back to yesterday’s answers.
Supporters often accuse the board of lacking imagination in the transfer market.
Re-signing players you’ve only just allowed to leave would only reinforce that perception.
Have Celtic Become Too Comfortable?
This is beginning to feel like a recurring theme.
Former players return.
Former managers return.
Former coaches return.
There’s nothing wrong with continuity.
But there is something wrong with stagnation.
Football moves quickly.
Recruitment has to move even quicker.
The best clubs are always looking ahead.
Sometimes Celtic seem more interested in looking backwards.
Memory Is A Powerful Thing
Even players who received heavy criticism during their first spell like Greg Taylor often become more popular once they’re gone.
Distance softens opinion.
The bad games fade away.
The good moments remain.
That’s human nature.
But recruitment shouldn’t be based on nostalgia.
It should be based on improving the squad.
The Bigger Question
Whether Greg Taylor returns or not isn’t really the issue.
The bigger question is why Celtic are in this position at all.
The club allowed him to leave.
We’ve failed to sign Saarachi.
If the answer to losing Saarachi is to bring back the same player that divided so much opinion this time last year, then you have to ask whether any real planning took place.
Greg Taylor would undoubtedly improve the squad in terms of depth I feel.
He’d also contribute to the European need for Scottish players.
I feel this is the right move; time will tell, however.
Key Takeaways
- Greg Taylor’s potential return to Celtic raises questions about the club’s recruitment strategy.
- While Taylor was a solid player, past criticisms about his physicality for the Champions League lingered.
- Celtic risks stagnation if they rely on familiar faces rather than seeking fresh talent to improve the squad.
- There’s a growing concern that Celtic may be too comfortable, preferring nostalgia over forward-thinking strategies.
- The bigger issue isn’t Taylor’s return but why Celtic allowed him to leave and failed to secure better alternatives.
Bhoycie 
Eric Knott 
Site Staff 
Phillip Cooney 
Not fit to lace Serrachis boots, good servant or not, another backward step if true.
Not fit to lace Serrachis boots, good servant or not, another backward step if true. Was never good enough for Europe, weak link who was repeatedly targeted, even in the league.
Definitely a backward step, Taylor was a weak link in defence. Most teams targeted the left back area knowing his weakness. The no brainer signing should have been Sarrachi but as we all know the board dismissed that option for a reason that no one knows.
Definitely a backward step, Taylor was a weak link in defence. Most teams targeted the left back area knowing his weakness. The no brainer signing should have been Sarrachi but as we all know the board dismissed that option for a reason that no one knows.