Wikipedia isn’t exactly the source of wisdom in the land, but a remarkable statistic jumped out at me this afternoon when I was trying to find out how many games Leigh Griffiths has played in this season, which already feels almost unbearably long. For the record, their stats are wrong. They haven’t been updated since 18 November, but at that point he had played over 20 times. That wasn’t the stat that jumped out at me.
It was this; as of that date, Leigh had 94 goals in a Celtic shirt.
This boy is on course for the 100 that puts him in our history books. I always knew he’d get there, to that magic number. From the minute he signed for us I was just not in the slightest doubt. Not only do I think he’ll hit that 100 figure – it is not in the slightest doubt, but then I once thought exactly the same about Kris Commons who bowed out with 91 – but I reckon he’ll hit 150 and perhaps even 200 in a Celtic shirt. Yes, I believe he’ll be here a while yet.
Leigh Griffiths was born to play, and score goals, in a Celtic shirt and Brendan knows this and loves this kid. He has been a superb influence on his career and he will continue to be.
The media seems pathologically fixated on the idea of unsettling this kid and trying to get him demanding a move. One of Radio Scotland’s commentary team actually speculated that Dembele being left on the bench was a sign that he would be sold in January; these clowns are absolutely determined to see this whole team broken up.
The very fact Griffiths has played over 20 times this season is a measure of how Brendan rates him. The sudden appearance of Eduard in a Celtic shirt should not be seen as a verdict on Leigh, no matter how many media outlets might want to hint darkly at it. I would put money on Griffiths starting in midweek, and on scoring at least once as the team is rotated yet again. They need it. Some of those players are dead on their feet.
Leigh is frustrated. That much is clear. He’s frustrated because time on the park equals a chance to grab those goals and take his place in the club’s history books; that place is waiting for him and is guaranteed. The chance will come; I reckon he’ll get there before New Year. That may or may not stop the speculation; I doubt it. Every time he doesn’t start a game the media spins it as some kind of snub. Some Celtic fans, by the way, do the same.
There’s a simple reason why Leigh has not played in some of the bigger games; Moussa Dembele is a better player than Leigh in certain respects. I know there are people who steadfastly refuse to believe this, but I draw their attention to the number of scouts watching Moussa on a regular basis and the never-ending cycle of speculation about his own future and the likely price tag we’d put on him if we were going to sell him. These clubs aren’t watching Griffiths; they know exactly what they are doing and so does our manager.
But Moussa will not be a Celtic Hall of Fame footballer. Leigh Griffiths will. That’s the real difference, and when Dembele finally moves in I do believe Leigh Griffiths, a better player, who’s learned from Brendan’s example and who has modelled himself into a footballer he never would have been without these alleged trials, will lead the line for us again.
The media is playing its usual game. Don’t fall for it.