Cameron Carter-Vickers has picked up where he left off with Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic following the FIFA World Cup and fellow centerback Carl Starfelt has continued to notice the impact made by the American defender this season.
Carter-Vickers and Starfelt have continued to partner one another in Ange Postecoglou’s backline this season, leading Celtic to a current first place spot and a nine point advantage over Glasgow rivals Rangers in the table. After impressing on loan from Tottenham last season, Carter-Vickers has remained a regular in the starting lineup, totaling 22 appearances in all competitions so far.
The duo of Carter-Vickers and Starfelt has been key in Celtic dominance through the opening 19 matches of the league season, as the club leads the league in fewest goals conceded (15), goal differential (+46), and is tied with Rangers with eight clean sheets overall. Although Starfelt missed two months through injury, the 27-year-old has praised Carter-Vickers’ impact in the Celtic squad and alongside him as a teammate.
“Cameron is a really good player and I’ve enjoyed playing with him since he came,” Starfelt said in a pre-match press conference, transcribed by Glasgow Live. “I feel like we have a good chemistry on and off the pitch. We see many situations the same way. He’s a very strong player. You always know what you will get from him. He’s easy to play with.”
Carter-Vickers’ impressive 17 months in Glasgow has not only helped him overcome some frustrating moments at Tottenham, but also continue his overall development as a player. The 24-year-old centerback has forced his way back into the U.S. men’s national team picture, making his World Cup debut in a 1-0 group stage victory over Iran.
Carter-Vickers has returned to Celtic and helped the league-leaders pick up four-consecutive victories since the World Cup break, including Wednesday’s 4-0 shutout of Hibernian at Easter Road. Up next for Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, and Celtic is a trip to Ibrox Stadium on Jan. 2 with an opportunity to extend their lead to 12 points over Rangers with a victory.
It will be another tough test for Celtic in recent weeks, but with Carter-Vickers headlining the backline, the visitors will be favored to keep their winning run going.
I for one was glad to see CCV get a chance at the WC. Neither he nor Ream likely would have been in the equation had it not been for a steady stream of injuries over the past two years to the other preferred center backs. Both did very well – as did Zimmerman.
I wonder if GB will ultimately state that some of the formations and players were required to shore up our available centerbacks who are relatively slow. We didn’t score much, but we also didn’t give up many goals until the knockout game.
GB will never admit that his preferred CBs (Long and to an extent Zimmerman) were unable to compete at a level outside of CONCACAF. Yes, injuries forced Gregg to juggle players a little, but Gregg’s bias and poor evaluation & integration of talent was actually a larger issue than the injuries.
Miles Robinson was a forced change when Long was sidelined with an Achilles injury. When Miles went out with the same injury Gregg fast tracked bringing Long back (in camps before every playing a competitive game)…and ignored the fact that Long was not the same player he was pre-injury. During this same time Gregg completely ignored Brooks (every game starter for Wolfsburg), CCV (Stater for Celtic), and EPB (rotational starter for his clubs until 2022-23 season).
It wasn’t until the actual after the friendlies in Sept. that his preferred CB pairing of Zimmerman & Long was a complete disaster. Forcing Gregg to bring back Ream (a player Gregg had shunned for 12-18 months). The only reason Gregg did this was because he’d finally accepted the fact the Long & Zimmerman together was guaranteed to get the USMNT bounced in the Group stages of the WC.
I’ll not be surprised if Gregg returns as the manager that we’ll see him continue to favor Long & Zimmerman as the CB pairing. This will continue until Gregg finally gets FIRED by USSF after the 2025 Gold Cup.
No doubt Carter-Vickers will be a CB in demand in the summer.
I agree, but I’m still unsure where his level is. He’s got some physical limitations – he’s short and doesn’t jump well, for instance, nor is he at all fast – and he’s not a tremendous distributor out of the back though he’s clearly improved in that area. He is zero threat to dribble and take space, while somebody like Richards is.
Physically he’s a hoss and can’t be bullied off the ball, and he reads the game tremendously well. His positioning and awareness seem top-drawer.
I’m uncertain what that makes him as far as a “fit” goes.
What you’re describing is Carles Puyol like. Strong, smart and can’t be bullied. Not fast but an excellent reader of the game and has high situational awareness. I think mental quickness can help overcome some of the top speed (physical) quickness that he lacks. Also what he lacks is some top level experience and passing range to be a ball playing CB. But I like where his development is going. Been watching since he was 16 or so and he’s heading in the right direction.
You make some really good valid points, but he’s is 6’1. He is not exactly a shrimp. Look at Carlos Puyo at 5’9. I pick Puyol as an example because he was a bull and Carter-Vickers is a bull himself. Puyol wasn’t the fastest defensive player either (but faster than Carter-Victors) or as technical as maybe someone like Pique, who is 6’4, but he is still one of the greatest defenders Spain has ever had due to other aspects of his game. Puyol could play anywhere too: right, left, center. Carter-Vickers may never be the defender Puyol was, but he has some good qualities as you mentioned. I really hope he progresses and think he can be a really solid player for the USMNT.