Yet another lacklustre league draw today at Paradise, this time to Livingston – and it really is the final nail in the coffin for the Ten In A Row charge now, with theRangers 20 points ahead despite Celtic’s two games in hand.
Evidently, the Dubai debacle didn’t help proceedings against ‘Livi’ – 13 first-team players are still missing due to Christopher Jullien’s positive COVID-19 test, and this has tellingly shown the gulf in class between those first-teamers who opted to come into close contact with the Frenchman, as opposed to the reserves who seemingly didn’t.
Still, you’d expect the experienced first team players who are left able to play – notably Callum McGregor, Tom Rogic, Shane Duffy and Diego Laxalt – to step up and show themselves when needed; yet they’ve failed to do so.
And another first team player – Jeremie Frimpong – has also come under scrutiny despite being just 20 years of age, with Celtic fans’ ruing his recent form for the out of sorts Hoops’ side.
Frimpong signed as an 18-year old fledgling last summer for just £350,000, after being undervalued by Manchester City following his progress in their academy – and the Dutchman burst onto the first-team scene in Glasgow’s East End almost immediately, recording two goals and three assists in just fourteen league games from the right-back berth.
However, much like the rest of the side, Frimpong has come under strong criticism from a hurt Celtic fanbase, who are starting to question whether the speedy man from Amsterdam has the credentials to make it as a first-team player at Paradise.
Frimpong for me just doesn’t cut it ! Another one trick pony
— thehoodedshamrock (@thehoodedsham1) January 16, 2021
Frimpong’s first few months in the team were excellent. He has regressed massively since the start of 2020.
That’s not on the player.
— J (@JDM4321) January 16, 2021
I would be quite happy if I never see Rogic,Laxalt,Frimpong & Duffy in the hoops again!!
— Kerrydale Meltdown (@KerryFail) January 16, 2021
Watching frimpong and laxalt down the wings makes your eyes bleed.
— Calum MacKay (@Calmac_88) January 16, 2021
Been saying it all season Frimpong is garbage
— jido71 (@jido71) January 16, 2021
Evidently, Frimpong has quality – that is clear for all to see. He’s also young and learning, which means he isn’t going to be anywhere near the finished article either, and so Celtic fans’ need to be a lot more lenient in their treatment of someone who they can’t expect to play like Cafu week in, week out. However, Frimpong is in a poor spell of form – he’d be the first to tell you that – but it is up to the club to find a way to get him back to his best.
