Last season, who was the breakthrough player? It’s obvious when you sit down and think about. Who was the guy who came out of nowhere, staked his claim, got in the team and stayed there? The one who nobody would have predicted at the start?
It’s easy, right? It was Liam Scales.
We might not think he should be in the team this season, we might want to see someone better brought in so we don’t have to watch him every week, but the truth is that he’s now part of the squad and he earned that with some of those displays last season. He impressed us when he stepped up and he held it down in spite of two big signings who he managed to keep out of the starting eleven, and this is a credit to him and the boss.
Every season is an opportunity for somebody. Pre-season can throw up a hero. Or it sometimes has to wait until the campaign kicks off.
But the chance is there, and every now and again someone reaches out and grabs it, and this season it already seems clear that the guy who is impressing most in the pre-season out of those who would have been in the squad but not necessarily in the team is Nicholas Kuhn.
Against DC he was decent. Against City he was exceptional.
Obviously, as a Celtic fan I want to see every player at the club be a success. But I have to confess that every now and again I have a special desire to see someone succeed, and I’ve been waiting to praise Nicholas Kuhn to the heavens since Radio Clyde did one of the most disgusting hatchet jobs on a new player arriving in Scotland I’ve ever heard.
I thought he had a decent end to last season, without necessarily setting the world on fire. But he’s explained several times what happened there and he’s talked about how he lost a little upper body strength and had to work hard to get it back. By God, he has it back now and he looks stronger, fitter and more capable than at any point since he signed.
And with two goals and an assist against City, all in one half, I wonder if we’re not seeing the start of something. Pre-season is always a tough time to make these kinds of calls, but whilst a lot of the team have just picked up where they left off last season (and that is good, of course) Kuhn looks like he has just raised his game to another level entirely, and that stood out even amongst some other very good displays, and let me tell you; it’s a very welcome sight.
Not only because it strengthens our team immeasurably if this boy is going to be firing on all cylinders in the next campaign, but because we badly need people who were seen as only squad players to step up and make a big claim to being starters.
So far so good from him. Chelsea is up next … and then the real stuff starts. Another good display against an EPL side and I think he’s played himself not just into contention, but into a place where he’s going to be very hard to drop.
Well, let’s hope your right because it was bad enough losing Joda but we lose Liel Abada as well. You can’t afford to lose too top class wingers like that without affecting the squad.
I did mention this to you in a previous comment James (for a previous article) but it seems to have not made the grade for some strange reason. My point being that perhaps Brendan is using pre season to make refinements to his shopping list. Kuhn being a case in point. Perhaps we have a new player without having to shell out anything at all. Let’s hope so.
I think that Nicholas Kuhn….
1) – Can destroy The Sevco Huns –
2) – Can make Clyde Superscoreboard choke on their vomit when he does just that in point 1)…
3) – Can make Celtic a fortune when he’s sold on…
Go on Saint Nicholas – You Can (Kuhn) do it !!!
James, I share your frustrations with most things Celtic but I’ve said on numerous occasions that the 2nd season is the proving ground especially for those from other continents. When Kuhn arrived he was talking about breaking into the German squad, an ambition to be nurtured, also, an indication of how well he was playing before he signed. Palma has all the talent, he has a determination to win and if he can follow instruction he could top class. If we get those two up to their potential plus we have Maeda, whom I love, likewise Forrest, we’re ok. I believe in Yangs potential too
Also James ,it’s great to see this highlighted without piling too much pressure on the lad. If he’s loose and plays his best stuff it benefits us all
One swallow does not a summer make.
I said to my Son after the D C United game
Kuhn will be the top man this season
never seen the City game but by all accounts he was M o M.
As Celtic fans, we want to see every new signing make their mark, and if possible, immediately hit the ground running!
The majority of us will also give players time to bed in and settle in their new environment/league, whenever possible.
As you say, that doesn’t apply to our sycophantic and biased media outlets or excuses for pundits. Their negativity, is more based on wishful thinking that our players fail, than giving them a fair appraisal.
When Kuhn signed for us, I genuinely believed we were getting a player of real quality, based on BR’s & other comments at the time.
To say I was a bit underwhelmed by his performances post signing , would probably be a bit of an understatement. Nevertheless, you could see there was a player in there and, allowing for the reasons he gave, cut him some slack.
I’m delighted that he shone against M City, and really hope that we now have that genuinely talented player, ready to sparkle in a Hoops jersey.
I’m sure our manager is equally delighted and hoping that one or two others, can step up in a similar way. If he can also get the signings he has identified, then it could and should be a fruitful season for us Hoops fans !