Articles

The Maeda “solution” is not what the Celtic boss wanted. It only further weakens this team.

|
Image for The Maeda “solution” is not what the Celtic boss wanted. It only further weakens this team.

One of the inevitable things we’ll hear as board apologists try to make their case that this window wasn’t as bad as it seemed will be much talk about how the manager can simply move Maeda into the middle and employ him as a central striker. And I wonder if some of these people have ever watched football in their lives or ever listened to a single word that comes out of the manager’s mouth.

We basically had one specific task coming into this transfer window—just one. This was the easiest transfer window in living memory because we only had to really strengthen one position, and that was out wide.

In particular, I thought we badly, drastically needed someone on the left. But if we could find someone who could play both sides, that would be ideal.

Jota is above and beyond what I expected to get in a wide position—an experienced player we all know and love, whose talents are unmistakable. But I would have settled for some Norwegian wonderkid or whatever else the plan conjured up because, really, all we were looking for was someone to provide squad depth—the sort that isn’t provided by Yang and wasn’t provided by the likes of Luis Palma.

Palma, in particular, is a player who had no future at Celtic. He never clearly fitted the Rodgers system. I don’t doubt he’s a skilful and talented player, but there was no way we could rely on him as a backup. He was just taking up space at our club. I still believe Yang is doing the same.

But this is the beauty of signing a player who can play on both sides. Yang is no longer our cover player for Nicolas Kuhn either. And so, our wide pairing is intact—or at least it will be intact provided we play Idah through the middle, provided Adam Idah is fit for the rest of the campaign, provided he continues to score goals.

Our current wide men are Maeda and Kuhn. Both are having an exceptional season. They are the perfect fits for their positions. If you were looking for two identikit players to fill those roles, it would be those two.

Everything about their game lends itself to what Rodgers wants them to do. Both are good at putting the ball in the net. Both are good at drifting in from wide positions. Both are good at running with the ball. Both have the vision to spot a player and the skill to find him with a pass.

Both can play as central strikers if they must—Maeda has done so for his national team. But the second you move him from his wide-left position, you weaken that side of the pitch, because Maeda does more than just score goals. He is a tremendous presence on our left side. His work rate is extraordinary. His involvement in any game he plays in has to be seen to be believed.

Jota is still many, many weeks away from being able to do even a fraction of what Maeda does, and even fully fit, he will not provide the same energy. So, in order to play Maeda through the middle, we have to weaken the left-hand side of the pitch. Rodgers, who knows more about football than any of the people proposing this simplistic solution, is well aware of that. He is loath to do it.

Most important, he does not want to do it. He has never wanted to do it. At a push, he can if needed, but he never wanted to be put in that position.

So those claiming that Maeda can be moved through the middle and that it solves our problem—nice and simple—are deluding themselves and misleading, knowingly or not, the rest of us. It doesn’t solve our problem. It creates a new one, weakening the left side of the team and throwing it off balance.

It’s no coincidence that Maeda is having the best season of his career playing in that position. It is the position Rodgers designed specifically for him.

The minute you move him to play somewhere else, you unbalance the entire team. This is why Rodgers was crystal clear on wanting another striker signed. And it is ludicrous for those attempting to defend the board to even try to do it in this way when his comments are on the record and his wishes were made clear.

Do I think Maeda can play through the middle? Absolutely.

Does the manager think he can? Of course, he does. He knows he can.

But the manager does not want to play Maeda through the middle. The manager knows Maeda’s real strength is the energy he brings to the left side. He knows we have nobody in the squad—nobody—who can do it as well as Maeda. And because so much of our football is played down the flanks, he is leery about doing anything that denies us that energy.

He also knows that having two central strikers means we can rotate. He wanted a real backup for Maeda because his high intensity game lends itself to burnout if he’s not being managed properly. In suggesting that Maeda can function both as a left sided attacker but also expecting him to deputise for Idah up front means that, too, has been put at risk by the incomprehensibly bad transfer window from which we’ve just exited.

This is the position Rodgers has now been put in. This is the choice he’s now being forced to confront by our own board of directors. And that is some shameful stuff.

I don’t want to hear anybody endorsing this rubbish as if it were what the manager wants or part of his plans. It isn’t. Nor does it fix anything. In fact, it risks breaking everything.

Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

Share this article

22 comments

  • Jay says:

    Brendan made one mistake & that was acknowledging that Daizen could play in the middle. The minute he done that the board put the cheque book away & seen that they just sold someone without “needing” to replace them because we already have someone who can play the same role.
    Rodgers should have been categorical in Daizen was too valuable on the wing to consider changing his positions & if no other striker is signed we will only have Idah as a senior player to play through the middle. I hope Rodgers doesn’t play Maeda through the middle once for the rest of the season just to make a point.
    Yes as we all know he can but like you say we lose so much if he does. I also think GT not having Maeda in front of him would cause more defensive issues down than wing than we already have.

    My only thought would have been if we had KT back maybe not having Maeda for the defensive work wouldn’t be as punishing because he is a level above GT but we don’t so it is irrelevant.

    I’m glad the window is over & can just focus on the football again rather than getting pissed off at the lack of business in strengthening the squad.

  • Johnny Green says:

    I reckon the wee Duracell man can play left wing, left back and centre forward all at the same time, his energy and commitment is astounding. I get puffed oot just watching him.

  • BAM79 says:

    We enter these windows with the same positivity every year and we always end up disappointed. More fool us.

    So my hint of a silver lining in this is the hope that Cummings or Kenny can step up to the plate and show us some of that talent and buzz that has been surrounding them lately. We all bemoan the lack of young players coming through yet in the same breath moan when we don’t make that big money signing that then keeps them out the side.
    So without being an apologist for another poor window, this side I believe can cope to the summer with what we have(not ideal I know) And the eternal optimist in me sees the opportunity for one of these bhoys to make their case for the first team.
    Mibbe more fool me again but c’mon bhoys grab this chance with both hands and make names for yourselves.

  • JT says:

    it may not have been part of Brendan’s plan but that it is the way the cards have been dealt. It is doubtful Kyogo departed without Brendan’s approval, and he would have known that at that point there was no agreed replacement in the pipeline. The risk was taken in what was clearly a seller’s market and, as Brendan himself said, there is no point in in taking someone for the sake of it, if they are not the right fit. It would appear that Celtic were unable to obtain the right fit at the right price, and were not prepared on this occasion to spend about £4m over their valuation of player

  • terry the tim says:

    Be interesting to hear Brendan’s explanation why we failed to sign a striker.Possibly our targets were being well overpriced.
    Maeda will start as the main striker only if Idah is injured or off form.
    I expect Kenny to be given more game time and I think he will surprise everyone.

  • Clachnacuddin and the Hoops says:

    They obviously think the league is already won by not signing a midfield enforcer or a striker if even only for cover…

    I’d (after learning ma bragging lesson in 1987) never be so arrogant as to believe that to be the case…

    Yeah – We are in a decent place League Wise and its a magnificent feeling to be in that said position for sure…

    But Sevco utterly fuckin owned us at Liebrox at New Year…

    And if Brendan doesn’t change tactics then they could utterly fuckin own us at March at Parkhead as well and at Liebrox after the split too…

    Assuming we beat Dundee at Parkhead on Wednesday that’s it down to seven points –

    We probably do just have about enough as the clock is ticking on games but it could get borderline ugly if Sevco find away form…

    Nobody was wanting £77 million spent on a striker and midfield enforcer as we wouldn’t get by Bayern Munich even with that spending but Pistol Pete thinks he’s fuckin useful at poker when he evidently is absolutely fuckin well NOT…

    Time will tell what evolves and Brendan’s next press conference should be very very very interesting indeed !

  • JT says:

    That’ll be the hatrick, Clach; 3 uses of the F word.

  • iljasb says:

    You don’t have to be an apologist for the board to be more positive than the owner of this blog. Of course, the board played a part, as did BR. And Kyogo was clearly the chief instigator of it all. This was his last chance. Rennes wouldn’t want him if they get relegated and surely Kyogo knew this and certainly wouldn’t pay anywhere near 10 million outside of this window. It’s all about conjunctions of factors not individuals including individual board members. It’s not as if we need Maeda as a striker every week or every other week. That position is Idah’s. Kyogo anyway wasn’t banging them in and if forced to stay I think he would become like Eduard or Dembele – his performance would have dipped. But Maeda can fit there if necessary. Jota will bring something different as he can score and assist he might just be perfect for Idah. Kenny might surprise if given the chance. He’ll certainly be enough to give big Idah a rest in the last 25 or 30 minutes. Don’t let the perfect be an enemy of the good. This was a good window, not perfect for sure but good, good enough. Try to cheer up. It’s not necessary always to have someone in the crosshairs – the board, Clemente or some poor feckless journo – just try to enjoy the football and remember some of it was pretty poor even when Kyogo was around. At the moment I’m more worried about our defense!

    • SFATHENADIROFCHIFTINESS says:

      “You don’t have to be an apologist for the Board”,

      ..then spend the rest of your post just doing that….

      Supporters like you are a large part of the problem, you give the Board the validation to continue doing
      just enough and no more.

      The tax the Board will have to pay on the large Cash reserves would have paid for a ready made Striker’s
      Transfer Fee and Contract.

      The Board’s approach doesn’t even make good business sense and should have the Shareholders, big and small,
      screaming bloo murder.

    • Chris says:

      It just goes to show that Celtic have supporters who are genuinely thick as shite

  • terry the tim says:

    James your comments about board apologists and not knowing anything about football is frankly condescending.
    Only your opinion must be right.
    Maeda plays main striker for Japan, it’s his best position.
    He cannot cross a ball to save himself.
    We have just resigned the best left winger we have ever had in years who is a brilliant crosser of a ball.
    Celtic valued their main target the Brondby player at £8m but Brondby upped the price to £14m
    Does anyone think it would have been good business to pay an extra £6m for the player?.

    • Chris says:

      The horrendous business was done by selling Kyogo before the Vila game and not having his replacement ready to sign the dotted line. You deserve every bad bit of business after it if you run it that way.

  • Kevcelt59 says:

    These comments from people, tellin us everythins not as bad as it seems. This one, or that one ‘might’ come in and fit nicely. Can call me auld fashioned, but ah believe, if your in a position of strength and key areas still need addressed, ye strengthen them. Especially when yer sittin on a massive hoard of money and have the financial clout like our board have. They could easily afford say, a couple of players in the 12- 14 mill range, if that’s what it took. But this boards ambition stops after the domestic. This new CL format, gives teams like ours a better chance of makin some kind of impact and they still fail tae deliver. My fear now, is if 2 or 3 key players pick up injuries. Ye dread tae think what might happen and now ahm talkin about domestically. Comin weeks- months will tell.

    • Clachnacuddin and the Hoops says:

      They seen that Bayern Munich were rocking up and decided we wouldn’t beat them come what may…

      Which over two legs home and away is probably correct –

      But we still have a League and Scottish Cup to win and bed players in for one helluva HUGE Champions League Qualifier in August !

  • wotakuhn says:

    Clearly they do Terry. James your “Condescending”superiority complex is becoming embarrassing. Being more professional and less righteous rather putting all your board dislike, possible hatred, in one basket might be a start. BR it appears has not been wholly truthful on a number of issues and you seem totally blind to this or simply are allowing your elite hero worshiping to get in the way of what’s right in front of your. Reading this article sounds like Jota has no futurevplace in our team. We’re handcuffed to a shite league and there’s no getting away from that or it’s consequences on our club and use of its resources. You would have us throw good money after bad only to criticise that overspend at the most convenient time to you. Support your team. Hail Hail

    • Chris says:

      Its fuckwits like yourself that would see the team go back to being a regular embarrassment in Europe up till this season

      • PortoJoe says:

        I’ve no problem with people disagreeing on the outcome of the transfer window, but we don’t need the personal abuse. There are other sites where that hun-like behaviour will be welcome.

    • stvnmurphy says:

      Tut tut ladies enough of the handbag swinging at each other.

      1. James your “Condescending”superiority complex is becoming embarrassing”

      2. “ Being more professional and less righteous rather putting all your board dislike, possible hatred, in one basket might be a start.”

      3. ” simply are allowing your elite hero worshiping to get in the way of what’s right in front of you“

      Does anyone else smell a sevconian cat-fishing our blog. I’ll simplify this statement for those with a single figure IQ wotakhun is really a die hard rangers supporter disguised as one of us if I was James I would mute him.

      3.

  • briancavanagh says:

    If BR and the Board have made a strategic decision not to pay over the odds in January and review a replacement for Kyogo after giving Kenny and Cummings a solid run- I could see the sense in that. After its not the first time we have given youngsters a run.

    My criticism of the board is one; they don’t seem to have a plan to make the most from being shackled to a sh#t league – using it to ensure regular CL involvement should be it and two; if they do, they don’t share it and three; everything seems opportunistic and reactive -the love of the deal gets in the way of wise investment eg Adam Idah -hardball cost us an extra 3 million as an example. So let’s see what Kenny, Cummings are made of

  • Gerry says:

    I think it’s fair to say that, on here, we won’t all
    share the same opinions, but I think it’s important and regardless of differing viewpoints, that we respect one another, and not resort to ridicule or verbal abuse!

    Some believe that our board get it right, more often than not…whilst others, including myself, believe they have no interest in speculating to accumulate, because that would mean spending more money than they’re prepared to do.

    If someone ( anyone) from our board came out, on even the rarest occasion, and explained why they do business in the tardy manner, we witness every transfer window, then maybe we could get a handle on things.
    Or tell us that there is a grand plan to totally revitalise our youth program, to ensure we have a conveyor belt of talent, who will be knocking on the first team door, to ensure we do not have to spend millions on overrated players, then maybe just maybe, they’d get a bit more compassion.

    As it is, we went into this window requiring a lb, 1-2 wide players, and a dcm. We’ve emerged with Jota ( outstanding) and Schlupp.
    We’ve lost Kyogo, Valle and several other fringe players .

    We have been told that they knew for months Kyogo, our no 1 striker, wanted to leave, took the money from Rennes, and failed to give our manager the replacement, that he has desired and publicly stated about on many occasions.
    So if we are to believe that BR is ok with this, then who is fooling who?

    That is a key point to take from this window, and more importantly, that again, we have failed to strengthen in another period of huge superiority for our club.

    I’m sure the majority of our fans that contribute in so many different ways, to our club’s coffers, just want to see our team constantly invested in, to continue our successes at home, and continually improve on the European stage.

    After another dismal window, this would not appear to be the case with our board!

    If you stand still, you stagnate and allow others to get closer!!!

    No doubt, some may disagree with my points but I’ll respect that ! HH

    • stvnmurphy says:

      “I think it’s fair to say that, on here, we won’t all
      share the same opinions, but I think it’s important and regardless of differing viewpoints, that we respect one another, and not resort to ridicule or verbal abuse! “

      Someone with some courtesy and common sense there’s debating and there’s verbal abuse let’s keep it civilised verbal abuse portrays a serious lack of vocabulary I agree wholeheartedly with the aforementioned statement.

      • Gerry says:

        Cheers STV…it’s the minimum you expect when discussing emotive subjects!
        People will stop commenting if we descend into debating chaos!
        Regardless, we all love, or purport to love our club ! HH

Leave a comment

×