Whilst there has been much said and spoken about whether Brendan Rodgers is nullifying Kyogo Furuhashi with his current tactics, one thing is for certain: Kyogo could really do with a goal (or two) tonight.
It’s readily apparent that the Japanese star is struggling in confidence at the moment and his saved shot from St Johnstone goalkeeper, Dimitar Mitov proved it.
The man who was been racing towards the century mark of goals for the club in the past two years has looked a very frustrated and isolated figure in many of our games this term.
The goals in Europe were fantastic and they showed his undoubted talent and lethal ability in front of goal at times. Having said that though, in recent weeks has seemed very much lacking in his cutting edge forward play.
Many of the strikes we’ve seen from Kyogo since he’s arrived on these shores from the J-League with Vissel Kobe have been so instinctual. The way he took that goal at Ibrox was sensational back in September and caught Jack Butland so unaware at the time.
Nobody thought he would’ve dared to take that shot so early and it was testament to how prowess in front of goal as well as his footballing intelligence. It really was elite level stuff and left the Ibrox club dumbfounded.
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: Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates after he scores during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Aberdeen at Celtic Park Stadium on November 12, 2023. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
He needs to get that sharpness back. It’s such a crime to watch him bereft of confidence when he’s attacking the goal and he really needs to get the ball in the net again if he can. Tonight would be a perfect opportunity for him to do just that. His teammates need to help him out though and be more on the ball with things.
None of this labouring sideways and backwards passing which makes the eyes bleed. No more going to play the early ball and then thinking better of it for the safe option.
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Celtic’s Japanese striker #08 Kyogo Furuhashi after the UEFA Champions League group E football match between Celtic and Lazio at Celtic Park on October 4, 2023. ( (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)
It was the same in Rome as it was this past Sunday in the first-half at McDiarmid Park; far too safe. We need to be braver for the sake of our star man and get him back amongst the goals and firing on all cylinders. That starts this evening at Celtic Park against Hibs.
Kyogo needs this tonight.
Paul Gillespie
