Opportunity Knocks for Odsonne Édouard - a key man for Celtic

For many Celtic fans, the jury is still out on Odsonne Édouard but the doubters will learn to love him.

And that's because he is likely to be crucial to Celtic's hopes of winning a double treble in the remaining weeks of the season.

Odsonne hasn't had the smoothest of starts to his Celtic career and some seem

determined only to see the negatives in his play.

A French under-21 International, the comparisons with Moussa Dembele were as natural as they were unfair.

Moussa had a few in the support declaring that he would never make the grade (smug alert - not this blogger) before his exceptional talents shone through.

But he had had time in Brighton to acquaint himself with British football and an English-speaking culture, which Odsonne had not.

In truth, I think it's clear that Moussa is a more complete player than Odsonne but few forwards of Moussa's age have his range of attributes.

And, as Tommy Burns once said, a player's value should be judged by what he can do, rather than what he can't.

In Odsonne's case, what stands out for me is his direct running on the ball.

There are plenty of big, strong lads who look like they could run through a centre half but few could take the ball with them when they do so and Odsonne's touch and close control are good enough to suggest that he is capable of causing a Scottish Premiership pairing significant distress when he is fully up-to-speed.

He had two chances against Morton, which looked as if he should have done better on the first viewing, but actually required him to adjust his feet due to some very good Morton defending.

While he is not the most graceful of movers and his feet could be a little quicker, he nevertheless does have the ability and composure to retain control in tight spaces in the box and that's an excellent sign that he has the potential to deliver in pressure games.

(One way or another, most Celtic matches are.)

Speaking after the game Brendan Rodgers said: "Odsonne was the key difference in the game.

"He shows his quality, his hold-up play, his movement, his speed, then scores a very good goal."

Many Celtic fans may have forgotten how difficult it was to fill the role of "third striker" in a team normally starting with one forward.

With positions one and two being occupied by the young sensation, Moussa, and the talented braggadocio, Leigh Griffiths, it seemed a potentially unattractive proposition for an incoming player of sufficient talent.

Be content to accept that two other players have prior call on the starting position but have the quality and determination to make people recognise your claim to the place.

In that sense, Celtic were critically vulnerable when last season ended and Odsonne has done an admirable job in giving the team that other option and making opposition coaches have to account for a whole new headache if their Plan A was working.

But with Moussa only now coming back to his best form after hamstring problems (which the coaching and medical staff have been exemplary in managing - plenty would have rushed him back, to his long-term detriment), and Leigh's recurring hamstring injuries clearly frustrating Brendan, Odsonne is emerging as a crucial player for us.

And that importance looks likely to increase.

Such is the interest in Moussa that the summer will likely see intense efforts to prise him away from Celtic Park. And Brendan is very unlikely to hitch his and Celtic's fortunes to the durability of Leigh's calf muscles.

That scenario presents Celtic with a major recruitment issue - and a huge opportunity for Odsonne.

It is highly probable that we will have to sign at least one forward and probably two in the summer.

Various stories have indicated that the fee Celtic would have to pay Paris St Germain for Odsonne is €10m (around £8m).

Many Celtic fans have baulked at the idea of making the 20-year-old our record signing (even though our most expensive players were signed when Odsonne was at primary school).

Is he worth that money to Celtic?

Well, given market rates, the circumstances at the club and the fact that Brendan Rodgers has had

almost a season to work with him, probably yes, though he still has work to do.

But with Celtic's season, hopefully, lasting for another 11 weeks (if we reach the Scottish Cup Final), Odsonne has a huge opportunity, if he wants it.

That's less than three months to prove that he not only has a long-term place at Celtic but can start next season vying for the position of first-choice forward.

If Odsonne demonstrates his full potential and shows the hunger and professionalism required to be a top player for Celtic, then the fans may be clamouring for the club to break that transfer record.

Opportunity Knocks for Odsonne.
(And I mean that most sincerely, folks!) 
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Celtic and Morton's Scottish Cup game should be cancelled with Scotland in the throes of the beast from the east

Like most Celtic fans, I'm looking forward to the Scottish Cup game against Morton but it should not be going ahead.

Celtic's players will benefit from the chance to keep sharp without overtaxing those who will face The Rangers next weekend, while clearing one fixture as the club pursues another domestic clean sweep.

But the complaints of Morton's Chief Executive, Warren Hawke should not be dismissed as mere cynicism.

And anyone mocking him for using the expression "life and limb" would do well to remember the time-honoured advice against tempting fate.

I am still saddened by the childhood memory of watching a car speeding down the road, as would become apparent, to miss as little as possible of a Rangers match that had already started.

None of those fans would see the match and two would never watch a football game again. The driver lost control and collided with a lamppost.

It was the first time that my young self had been confronted with the relative importance of football and human life.

Bill Shankly was wrong. Football is far less than a matter of life and death - or it should be.

But the Scottish Football Association, in its infinite idiocy, apparently believes that encouraging fans to take to the roads during a severe weather warning, with predictions of freezing rain and black ice is what passes for responsible governance and administration.

Worse is the decision to allow Kilmarnock's visit to Pittodrie to go ahead.

Fans' interests are yet again being discarded when balanced against financial interests, organisational inconvenience and broadcasters' concerns.

That day years ago taught me something practical, as well as philosophical.

That football can inspire people to make poor decisions at a terrible cost.

That can be due to peer pressure, flawed risk assessment, fear of disappointing others or a host of other reasons. (I remember one Celtic fan proudly telling me that he had once driven from Glasgow to Aberdeen while suffering from pleurisy, such was his dedication to the cause.)

We know that many people will take to the roads tomorrow, even though they should stay warm at home, and the dilemma is understandable.

But we also know that those who choose to drive will not only put themselves and their passengers at risk but other road users.

As a Celtic fan who expects a comfortable win tomorrow (if the game is not called off at the last minute, which would not be a shock) it is easy to say that I would take elimination from the cup if it meant that no one would be ruing the day that thousands of people took to their cars and buses because of the irresponsibility of the SFA.

But the only victory worth having, this weekend, will be not having to reflect that football is not a matter of life and death - or limb - it's less important than that.

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Brendan Rodgers rightly backs Neil Lennon, who is both right and wrong – Confused? You will be...

For those outside Scottish football, the attacks that Neil Lennon endured have been so unfathomable as to make it pointless to try to explain.

I once tried to illustrate this to an English fan – not just the sectarian abuse that, in my experience, usually leads fans south of the border to mutter about everyone being “as bad as each other” – but about the death threats, the real bombs sent to him, the Hearts eejit who assaulted him, admitted it and still got off the hook, despite having sent a letter of apology.

I say this because I do not believe that Neil brought any of this on himself and I would like to address that before going on to comment on his behaviour at the weekend.

As with any top football manager, Neil is in a high-pressure job in which the competence or otherwise of decision-making – entirely outwith your control – can be the difference between winning trophies or losing your job.

So, it’s difficult to criticise Neil when he is exasperated with the standard of refereeing in Scotland, which would disgrace any professional league or association.

He was incensed at referee Kevin Clancy’s decision to award a penalty against Ryan Porteous and sometimes it’s refreshing to hear a manager call a spade a spade – or, thanks to Google Translate, a Scottish referee an amateur.

When Neil let’s rip, he really doesn’t hold back. Speaking about Clancy and Scottish refereeing in general, he said:

“It's hit Ryan here [on the chest]. The ball is going a mile wide as well. We've seen it again and he can't see it from the angle he's at. This is the same referee who didn't given us a clear handball against Rangers at Easter Road.

“As for me being sent off without really being over-critical of the decision at the time, he's made it personal because I criticised him after the Easter Road game. I am not happy with him at all.

“To send me off, I'm far from happy. And then I can't do my job for the last half hour. Why can't we send referees off when they are so blatantly ruining the game?

“I don't want him refereeing us again this season. But I probably won't get my way on that.

“Huge decisions have gone against us this season. I'm at my wit's end with referees at the minute. You ring John Fleming on a Monday and you get the same ‘Yeah, yeah...’,”

“You go round in circles and I've lost a lot of faith in it, to tell you the truth. That's why I've not really got on the wrong side of the law this season. It's amateur. Mickey Mouse stuff.”

Most of Neil’s comments will find a sympathetic audience with Hibs and Celtic fans. The best that can be said of Scottish refereeing is that it is abysmal. The worst is that it is corrupt and it would take a truly objective – or at least distanced – eye to try to discern between the two.

So, when Brendan Rodgers offers words of support, we can take it that he is not just backing his fellow Ulsterman but is similarly concerned by the standard of officiating.

As Brendan said: “I have seen a lot of strange decisions. The guys are doing the very best they can, but some of it I can totally understand where Neil would come from.

“It was something that is in the heat of the moment. He has obviously seen something clearly and for Neil it has probably been tagged on to one or two other incidents that has cost his team.”

Both Brendan and Neil are right about the decisions (which we are not allowed to attribute to bias in any form, lest we be decried as social media cranks by print and broadcast media cranks).

But, while many Celtic fans are jumping on Brendan’s comments as endorsing Neil’s criticism, the Celtic boss is, as ever far more measured.

Brendan has far too much nous, experience and training to go down the route of claiming bias and he would be unlikely to attach his name to such comments.

He may truly believe that the officials are “doing the best they can” (and most probably are) but making enemies of the same people who Neil chooses to go to war with is neither pragmatic nor Brendan’s style.

Neil Lennon has had few defenders during his time in Scotland and he will surely appreciate the most respected manager in the land extending public sympathy for his frustration with referees.

But that should not be interpreted as supporting everything Neil says.

The previous villain was Stuart Dougal, who did seem extremely ill-disposed towards him, and most Celtic fans took Neil’s side.

Is Clancy a bad referee – oh, yes! Does he have a festering grudge against Neil Lennon – probably not.

But while Celtic and Hibs fans back the warrior from our tribe, something else has been almost lost.

However, badly Kevin Clancy may have refereed, Neil Lennon’s aggression towards him should not be endorsed in any way.

This was not a player on the field reacting to a vicious challenge but a manager of a club with a great history, seething venom into the face of a match official.

Many will have enjoyed that, but this blogger did not.

Some people learn to nurture aggression as a “stay-away” defence. That can be because of internal fears or, for example, traumatic experiences.

But there should be a reasonable expectation that people can go about their professional business without facing physical intimidation.

Neil’s combative qualities largely served him and Celtic well on the football field, where there was never a shortage of hostile opponents more than willing to inflict pain and damage, given a hint of weakness.

But the role of manager requires more measured judgement and controlled behaviour than Neil demonstrated at the weekend.

Make your point, Neil. Fight your corner. Focus a spotlight on issues that demand debate.

But don’t do it nose-to-nose with a man who, however flawed, has never presented physical aggression to you and deserves to do his job in a safe atmosphere.

Otherwise, you will stand accused of trying to intimidate people in a manner that would not be tolerated in any normal working environment.

And you may find that the kind words of sympathisers like Brendan Rodgers become thinner on the ground.

Oh, and another thing – settle in at Hibernian. You will never be Celtic manager again.
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A last hurrah for Mikael Lustig at Celtic? But still time for joy for one of the good guys

The Swedish international faces a harsh reality

The tag of “fans’ favourite” can be a somewhat tiresome one. Often it is applied to a player who is not rated by his manager but who he drops at his peril.

That doesn't apply to Mikael Lustig.

Most fans hold him in high regard and, signed by Neil Lennon in 2011, the subsequent managers Ronny Deila and Brendan Rodgers usually made Mikael first pick for the right-back position, when fit.

But that has been the problem with Mikael – injuries have often curtailed his appearances.

Injuries can occur for various reasons – bad conditioning, bad training, bad tackles or bad luck.

And sometimes, it can be due to bad genes – as Kevin Thomson has been known to say when comparing his injury record to the astonishingly-resilient Scott Brown.

Lustig’s case seems to be more of ill-fortune than anything else. While he has played more games than ever over the past two seasons, the signs are that wear-and-tear has taken its toll on the player and his performances in the biggest games have suffered.

The match with Aberdeen was a case in point. A bad touch saw him lunging to recover the ball and earning a red card for clattering Gary Mackay-Steven.

Mikael didn’t really complain and neither did the fans, which tells its own story, given that Bobby Madden was the referee.

It’s sad to watch a dedicated player who loves playing for Celtic failing to meet the standards that we know he would reach if he were only in the best of physical condition.

He certainly has the quality and 63 caps for Sweden attest to that fact. But the European games in particular, when the defence has been placed under extreme pressure, have made uncomfortable viewing.

Of course, playing with the effects of injury can have a variety of effects far beyond speed, agility, reactions and the motions required to play football.

It can also be as mentally draining as it is physically and undermine the player’s confidence. That can lead to uncertainty or different decisions being made and hesitancy to commit or seek the ball.

Very often that makes a good player look bad because his game is being defined, at least to an extent, by his limitations, whereas his success has been built on his strengths.

This seems to be the case with Mikael. The spirit is willing, as the book says, but the flesh has other ideas.

His cause has not been helped by a paucity of options at right-back. Anthony Ralston was made unavailable through injury, when he looked ready to challenge for the first-team spot.

Anthony’s availability would have helped Mikael immeasurably as he would both have spared Mikael the burden of having to be ready for every minute of every game while also necessitating top levels of performance.

Of course, the other gap at right-back is Christian Gamboa, who doesn’t even have the excuse of being crocked. Gamboa reminds me of an old Evel Knievel toy – pull the chord and he’ll go incredibly fast in a straight line but that’s not the same as having a clue about where he’s going.

So, the fates have conspired against Mikael in more ways than one.

But it appears that his days at Celtic are coming to an end and this season may just be his last hurrah.

He still has what it takes against the Scottish Premiership sides but, for European competition, it seems clear that he will not do for next season.

Mikael has had great times at Celtic. He has won a haul of medals and has that rare quality of putting smiles on the fans’ faces.

His Rabona in the build-up to that momentous goal against St Johnstone will be talked about for as long as Patsy Gallacher somersaulting into the net with the ball between his feet.

And the image of Mikael running around with a deflated beach ball on his head, taunting joey Barton who thought he was going to teach Scottish football a thing or two will never fail to raise a smile.

Celtic always have something to play for and the possibility of back-to-back trebles is a target that should excite everyone of a Celtic mind.

It would also be fitting to see Mikael at Hampden on 19th May, clutching another winner’s medal, celebrating as only he can and heading off to the World Cup in Russia and then for new adventures.

Mikael has been a credit to Celtic, himself and his country in the way he has conducted himself and he has played football as it should be played – with professionalism, passion and joy.

If these are to be his last three months at Celtic, let’s hope that we all enjoy them and remember him as he deserves.

One of the good guys!


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Scott Brown is an all-time great Celtic captain – his Scotland retirement is good news

It may be a very long time before we have such a top-class player commit ten years to us again

There is one great advantage to being a blogger.

When you are right, you can quote yourself, with links and unbearable smugness, confident that most readers are too disinterested in your output to find all the times you've been wrong.

On Scott Brown, just about all of my comments have been in the former category and I'm a happy chappie today because I get to remind you of that again.

But, more importantly, I'm hugely relieved that Scott has chosen to retire from international football. (Ironically, shortly before Scott previously announced his international retirement, I had suggested the same thing.)

Scott clearly has a passion for the Scotland team that not all Celtic fans share, so I'm sure this is a day of mixed emotions.

But it is right for the player and that's a huge boost for the team.

You only have to look at Celtic without Scott, as in the insipid 0-0 draw with St Johnstone, to see how vital he is to everything Celtic do.

The intensity that Brendan Rodgers calls for comes from him, he takes the ball under pressure when his teammates are in trouble and turns defence into attack.

With the players under Brendan understanding where they should be on the pitch , Scott's pass completion rates have matched the finest players in Europe.

He can win the ball and seems to fear nothing but he has always had sharp attacking instincts. He has an enviable array of passes and can play-one-touch football at pace.

And he is also the only true leader we have on the pitch (with Kieran Tierney being the next best in that department).

And if that's all fawning praise, I don't mind that. More than ten years after signing for Celtic, Scott has taken his place amongst the all-time great Celtic captains alongside the likes of Billy McNeill, Danny McGrain, Roy Aitken and Tommy Burns while, as a footballer, he is the best central midfielder we have had since Paul McStay.

He has had his detractors in the past but they are mostly silent now. Few fans, let alone bloggers, wish to remind you that they once wanted him sold or considered an expensive player from Hibs not to fit with the plan.

But he has stayed, proven his quality and it may be a very long time before we have such a top-class player commit ten years to us again.

The announcement is good news for Celtic as we need Scott more than ever.

Now all we need is for Brendan Rodgers to learn his name properly. It's not Brownie, it's Broonie!

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Referee Bobby Madden is not just incompetent - he's dangerous and Celtic must act

Some might call him incompetent. Some might call him biased. Some might call him a cheat. Only referee Bobby Madden knows for sure.

But whatever else Madden may or may not be, today he was unquestionably dangerous. And that's where Celtic must draw the line and finally challenge the Scottish Football Association.

Over the past season-and-a-half, in particular, we have seen some disgraceful challenges in the

Scottish game, and Celtic players have suffered more than most.

Kieran Tierney has come in for particularly brutal treatment with fouls that could have caused career-ending injuries and a broken jaw in the Scottish Cup Final after what was nothing better than an assault by Jayden Stockley.

For that, players and their coaches are to blame in what is a damning indictment on the Scottish game.

Fans have been calling for Celtic to speak upas Pep Guardiola has done for his players in England – before someone has an injury that threatens their football career or worse.

This is, of course, where referees come in – in giving fouls and, just as importantly, the appropriate cards for actions that are dangerous, reckless or violent.

But they also have a duty to ensure that medical attention is required and act without hesitation in seeing that players are treated.

These men of highly-questionable ability and suspect willingness have the physical wellbeing of footballers in their hands and, in Scotland, are doing a horrendous job of carrying out their responsibilities.

And none are currently worse than Madden, who during the victory over Aberdeen at Pittodrie, left Kristofer Ajer prostate on the turf and bleeding from a head wound in order to allow Aberdeen a crack at goal.

The fact that the clash was an accidental one with his own team-mate, Jozo Šimunović, is of no relevance. Madden's first duty was to stop the game to allow Ajer to be treated and, whether through crass stupidity or any other reasons, Madden chose to delay what could have been vital treatment to the player.

The SFA being what it is, the football authorities are unlikely to take the action that they should – suspend Madden until he has retrained in safety and issue a clear directive to all officials that player safety takes precedence over any other considerations.

Celtic fans still keep alive the memory of John Thomson, who lost his life after what appeared to be a glancing blow to the head in a match against Rangers in 1921.

Football has moved on in many ways but the risk of dangerous head injuries has not diminished. We should, however, have officials who are better educated and sufficiently professional to at least get the easiest decision of all correct – to stop play and call the doctor onto the field immediately when a player goes down after a blow to the head.

Madden is a truly appalling referee in several ways, something with which the football establishment seems comfortable.

But points and trophies lost mean nothing in comparison to the safety of players and, any referee incapable of recognising that should not be allowed to play games with the lives of players.

Celtic, as a club, must protest to the SFA and demand protection for all players in the Scottish game.

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Celtic haven't quite wrapped up the Scottish Premiership title – but we've bought the paper

Celtic took a huge step towards retaining the Scottish Premiership title with a 2 – 0 win over Aberdeen in what promised to be a tricky match, following the team's exertions in St Petersburg on Thursday.

On a day in which the Pittodrie groundsman had apparently mistaken his lawnmower for a cultivator

, the football was never likely to be silky-smooth.

However, what mattered most was that Celtic's 10th consecutive win over the Dons establishes a nine-point lead at the top and effectively kills off whatever remained of the Dandie's challenge.

It's little wonder that the Dons boss, Derek McInnes was many Celtic fans' choice to be the fourth man for the Ibrox hotseat. Let's hope, as Aberdeen fans surely do, that The Rangers come knocking at Stewart Milne's door again in the summer.

BUY NOW: Aberdeen wisely
made this bottle in
crash-proof plastic

Earlier in the day this blog anticipated the real prospect of a Dons win, reckoning without Deek's remarkable ability to be thoroughly awful when faced with a side from Glasgow.

However, after an excellent win which saw glimpses of the Moussa Dembele we've been looking for all season and the (insert your own superlative here) Kieran Tierney showing exactly why he is wanted across Europe, we are now effectively two wins from being ready to call ourselves champions.

Whereas as loss could have allowed The Rangers the chance to leave Ibrox only three point behind on March 11th, winning the next two matches would leave Celtic at least 12 point clear and waving goodbye to the Would-be challengers.

After a difficult February, the players and coaching staff deserve praise for securing what is probably our most important league win of the season.



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No better time for Scott Sinclair to deliver for Celtic

Celtic fans were spoiled by the players and coaching staff last season. A return to Champions League football, a domestic treble without losing a match, goals galore and so many stellar performances that only the bizarre exclusion of Scott Brown for Johnny Hayes in the player-of-the-year voting stopped Celtic from having a clean sweep of the nominations.

No player did more to raise expectation sky-high than Scott Sinclair who won every gong going for his scintillating play.

In fact, having come from a trying time before Celtic to find his home an dazzle with his skills, this blogger even started to think of the potential for a story similar to another player we once got in similar circumstances – you know, the Swedish guy.

This year, however, it hasn't quite happened for Scotty. He has not had a bad season by any means and rightly points to his goalscoring and exception assists rate.

But the Scotty who can't wait to take defenders on, going left or right with equal apparent ease has been missing.

I suspect that the reason for that is to do with confidence – either that something has changed since last year or that he is intimidated by the expectation that his performances have created.

And that's a shame because he has all the attributes to be a top-class footballer.

After having been dropped a few times this season – unimaginable last term - today would be a great time for Scotty to start terrorising defences again.

If he does, then I think we will give Aberdeen a really hard time. And with the recent fitness and form issues of the squad, we need that.

Let's hope that this is the day we see the real Scotty Sinclair re-emerge.

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Signs suggest that Celtic will be under pressure in Aberdeen

The hard hat is on as I am about to do the unthinkable before a match.

And while, yes, I think that Celtic will win the Scottish Premiership and pull away when injured

players return to the first team, results and performances in February suggest that today offers Aberdeen an excellent chance of losing their “bottlers” tag at least for a day.

Those results do not make for impressive reading:

    Zenit St Petersburg 3 – 0 Celtic

    Celtic 0 – 0 St Johnstone

    Celtic 1 - 0 Zenit St Petersburg

    Celtic 3 - 0 Partick Thistle

    Kilmarnock 1 – 0 Celtic

Furthermore, the performances against Kilmarnock and St Johnstone were well below the standard we have come to expect while, against Partick Thistle, the defending was often atrocious.

So, less than 72 hours after playing in St Petersburg, it would be foolish to bet against the unthinkable – a Celtic defeat leaving us leading two teams by six points at the end of the day and newspaper headlines declaring that the title race is back on.

(Incidentally, it is ridiculous to expect a team to make the journey to Aberdeen so soon after flying back from Russia but that's the sort of support Scottish football gives to its European competitors.)

Today's will be one of the defining matches of the season. Any win will make an already improbable challenge from the Dons or The Rangers more than likely fizzle out.

A loss will see us heading to Ibrox in March with the prospect of the gap being closed to three points. That would certainly lead to unpleasantness and real pressure on the team

It's an unpleasant scenario but one that would not come as a shock.

But, for now, we keep the faith.
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