Here we have two similar players but with completely different goals this season.
Kris Arran Commons arrived and an argument could be made that he out-shone nearly every other Lennon signing last season. 14 goals in 22 games. The habit of scoring in big games and a low fee ticked the box: LIKE for the English born Scotsman.
He says:
On the back of last season I’ll be looking to get to the 20 mark If I could get 60 goals over the next three years then I would be very happy.
Surely if he achieves that then he will be revered and worshiped at the alter of Celtic?
On the other hand instead of the sometime Celtic captain, last season, making statements like the above we are waiting and wondering if Shaun can recover from another injury ravaged season and see him kick on.
A lot of the IPAD Generation will laugh at the thought of Maloney being as good as Commons and will openly mock my view that Maloney has more ability than Commons. It always seems to be that Maloney is recovering, coming back from or trying to regain his form after injury. There is always an excuse for his talent not being fulfilled and this causes you to question mental strength.
If that doesn’t stop this season it’s not hard to see Shaun’s contract being run down and him being the best player by a country mile at a Dundee United or Aberdeen.
For me that would be a waste.
Previously on thecelticblog: Click Pic for delights.
I dont think Shaun Maloney is good enough to be at celtic. He has some amazing skill but in big games he always seems to be hiding (apart from the game he scored the wonder goal against them before he left) and in physical games he seems to get beaten to the ball easily – like against caley thistle in the last few games of the season there where he was bullied a lot.
However, I hope he proves me wrong. Hail Hail.
I disagree. Shaun is good enough to play for Celtic. He just doesn’t believe it. Hence the problems you state.
i hope your right and Shaun proves us doubters wrong but i wont be holding my breathe. he’s done nothing since coming back. He always misses the big games through injury and when he does play you’d think he wasn’t there. all he can do is run up & down the park with no end product. I’ll be the first to come back and apologise if he plays a big role bringing the title back.
As a product off youth I think there is a lot of will for him to do well.
You’re right about Maloney, incredibly talented player. I guess it’s true that the iPad generation don’t remember the 2005-6 season where Maloney scored 16 goals and won player of the year! Let’s hope he can do a Wilson and stay fit. People have short memories, even this season he was our only attacking prospect for the first few weeks of the season.
You got a new log in or different Iain?
Different Iain, I’ve never posted here before.
Welcome Iain 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZECrmmK568
Great goal. Better than Naka’s?
Very tough call, I’d say Maloney – just.
Ive always liked Maloney, felt he needed to score more but he always kept defenders on their toes, he needs a big season for us now though.
As previous poster said he was a main attacking option at the start of last season. Not this season though.
A bit like McGeady he played best when Nakamura was here and there was another creative outlet in the team. I think we’d see a much better Shaun Maloney playing alongside Ledley and Kayal, with hooper in front of him. He never had that last season because of injuries to himself and others.
Unfortunately I’m not sure if Commons Ledley Kayal Maloney works.. In tighter games it might be interesting to see 4-5-1/4-3-3:
Hooper
Commons Ledley Kayal Brown Maloney
It’s been proved that 2 forward type players in a middle 4 doesn’t work. I’m for a 433/451/4411 hybrid system.
Correct, Maloney is better than Commons.
Problem is down to injury.
If Maloney could stay fit an entire season he could be the best player in the country – hence Wenger attempting to sign him when he was here first time round before he got his first bad injury.
Maloney also suffers from being played out of position. Whenever he Is utilised more centrally he controls the game, creating chance after chance. He is not a winger or a wide player yet is often pigeon holed as such and consequently he is isolated and left on the peripherals of the game?
Would Wenger play Fabregas as a winger?
Is he pigeoned holed because of the ignorance of fans – see “too small to play as a striker” claim – or the ignorance of British coaches – see GS playing him out wide where he did have has best season – using the same logic and not grasping the player in the hole role?
Plus Lennon has used in CM on occasions.