Celtic’s Managed Decline and that ‘Wanna Sell Edouard’ Poll

As Celtic chase down a 19-point deficit in the Scottish Premiership and as we look to claw ourselves back into a title race, it seems selling Odsonne Edouard is a tactical approach being seriously considered in certain quarters. Go figure on that one.

Yesterday a poll on a board leaning blog was constructed to weigh up supporter opinion – or was it one designed to test the water – your guess is as good as mine on that one, has returned a verdict that the sale of French Eddy makes sense.

A poll responded to by 592 readers returned a majority of 77% in favour of selling Celtic’s best striker, and no not in the summer, in this transfer window (this amid claims the supporters trying to register a no vote were left frustrated). In what my scientist spouse would describe as an unsuitable sample size from which to gain conclusive evidence, the prevailing argument appears to be 457 votes indicates a supporter mandate to sell Celtic‘s best player. Job done but then what?

(Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Even if you accept the chase for the Ten is all but over and as a rival appears to disappear into the distance has anyone bothered to have a wee glance over the shoulder?

This season there are two Champions League qualifying places up for grabs. Celtic are four points ahead of third place. At present we are now just emerging from one of the club’s worst runs of form since the 1950’s. Are we so arrogant to believe we don’t require every available goal, to not only continue the chase for our title, but also to ensure we stay the best of the rest and at least have the opportunity to qualify for a sizeable fortune from Champions league qualification?

In terms of strategic planning, it’s up there with Kodak at the outset of the rise in digital photography. By sticking to its print processing, likely because returns were still pretty good in the beginning, Kodak ultimately lost 75 percent of its market value. Decisions, Decisions.

And anyone thinking the money from the sale of Odsonne Edouard would go anywhere near reinvestment in Neil Lennon’s squad might wish to consider Moussa Dembele and Vakoun Bayo by way of comparative values and abilities – or indeed Kieran Tierney and Boli Bolingoli. Did someone mention managed decline? Are we now voting our way to authorising that particular tactic to be continued? If we are, we probably deserve what we get.

(Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

I’m not saying all that money will end up in shareholders pockets of course, nor am I not saying Diego Costa hasn’t been lined up as a spectacular replacement – again I’ll leave you to make up your own mind on that one as to the likely outcome further down the line.

Odsonne Edouard is a player who hasn’t quite hit the heights this season, as with a number of players confidence has dropped and performances as a consequence have suffered, not all of whom have had Covid 19 to impact their physical performance either – worth considering.

Yet since Celtic changed formation, since a two-pronged attack with Leigh Griffith was reunited –one that has returned 18 goals in 12 starts together- Celtic have clicked, and I’d include an unlucky defeat at Ibrox as part of a steady incline. To break up that partnership in terms of our form going forward would be folly. If Celtic have any chance of returning from Dubai and sustaining a winning run a January punt of the family silver smacks of idiocy.

In terms of value Celtic need to keep hold of French Eddy. In terms of strategical planning, it is necessary to have a proven goalscorer in place until we can suitably plan for his succession. Is January in the middle of a lockdown such a good time to sell? I’d suggest not.

(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

We need Eddy to play his way back into form, and with it his value can still go north of £20million come the summer with a year remaining on his contract. Sell now in the current market, with a continent still in the grip of a pandemic, and the financial repercussions and hesitancy in the market evident and we’ll be panic selling at the worst possible time and our return would low, probably £5million lower.

Celtic need a reset and a restructure. From boardroom to dressing room that much is evident. That needs to be planned for – properly. Sustainable plans lead to growth. Knee jerk reactions for what would amount to little value bar a short-term financial shot in the arm and the gambling on more lucrative potential from Champions league qualification is not a sign of long term or joined up thinking. It is the reactionary approach that has got us to this point.

Avoiding such tactics was a decision made in the summer and for good reason. If we need a quick financial fix there are others in the squad being well paid and contributing little that could be sold in this window. The sale of our talismanic striker is certainly not one worth considering at this juncture.

(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Perhaps it’s a quiet week as Celtic recharge their batteries in Dubai and perhaps polls of supporters around selling prized assets are just a bit of fun to fill in the time, rather than dipping the toe into the water of supporters’ opinion for any ulterior motive. Perhaps.

Either way the sale of Odsonne Edouard makes no sense at this time. We need all the help we can get at such a critical stage of the season, and if Odsonne Edouard returns from Dubai refreshed and ready to go we have a strike partnership in place that strikes fear into our opponents.

If you don’t believe me run a poll and ask Scottish Defenders if they’d wish Odsonne Edouard to leave Celtic this month. I can take a guess at the percentages on that one.

Niall J

About Author

As a Bellshill Bhoy I was taken to my first Celtic game in the summer of 1987. It was Billy McNeill’s return to Celtic Park as manager and Celtic lost 5-1 to Arsenal . I thought I was a jinx, I think my Grandfather might have thought the same. It was the finest gift anyone ever gave me when he walked me through Parkhead's gates.

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