OPINION – Mikey Johnston surely won’t be here another season? A summer move would be the best outcome for all parties…
Mikey Johnston had an impressive loan spell at West Brom last season and was expected to move on during the close season, but at the moment he is with the Celtic squad on our stateside tour and scored in last night’s 4-0 win over DC United despite blotting his copybook by missing a spot-kick.
Mikey is an extremely talented player, that’s not in question, but it still seems that his future lies away from Celtic. Mikey is no longer a promising youngster and at 25 he’s a seasoned pro but he appears to still suffers from a lack of consistency and the physical and mental demands of playing for Celtic.
Brendan Rodgers knows this all too well, so what’s his reasons in taking him on the USA trip? Maybe to get him up to scratch and showcase his ability to any interested club, just like Norwich having Adam Idah away with them on their Belgium tour. Mikey will remain a Celtic player, under contract, until something changes. West Brom do not appear to have the financial resources available to buy the Republic of Ireland winger, but other Championships have also show interest, including Norwich City.
A move for Mikey would be the best thing for the player too. No harm to the boy, but it’s obvious to everyone that he is unlikely to succeed at Celtic and his best bet is to move on elsewhere.
Brendan seems to have a soft spot for Mikey, when he should be exposing him to the same criticism he recently dished out to Bosun Lawel and Odin Thiago Holm. Maybe he has privately and I’m wrong, but if we start the new season with Mikey Johnston as part of the first team then questions will rightly be asked.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
We had Larry Henry Jr, Managing Editor – SBI Soccer at the game, reporting for The Celtic Star and you can enjoy his match report using the link below…
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Why not take advantage in this perfect storm, offer Norwich Johnston in a swap for Idah?
Sadly have to agree surrounding Mikey and his future within the club now imo?
Mikey for all his talent that he possess is fast becoming one of our most frustrating player at this stage of his career?
Can certainly understand why Rodgers took him to the USA, because I still believe that Rodgers will be looking to finalise his 8 homegrown options available to himself, by the end of this tour imo?
Using Mikey through the centre, would indicate that Rodgers may well be looking for a player that can play through the centre and out wide also?
We already have Maeda, as a possibility? Interest in the lad from antwerp who could do likewise, seems like an option Rodgers is looking for currently within the squad imo?
Got no problem with giving Mikey that opportunity, but yet again wasn’t surprised to see Mikey as not going to be the solution either imo?
So currently fail to see where Mikey is going to warrant a squad place for next season imo?
Don’t believe that we require Bain to make up our homegrown quota any longer either, and would be surprised if Rodgers goes for the 3 keeper option for the CL squad just to fulfill that requirement?
With the expectations of Calmac, Ralston, Welsh, Taylor and Forrest going to make up 5 of the 8 requirement?
Still leaves ourselves in the position of weather, Anderson, Murray and lawal and maybe even monty? could secure the places available within the homegrown quota for next season?
Or do we still have to buy in Scottish players to fill the quota required?
Think Rodgers is going about the process in the right manner, in looking within first before looking outside of the club?
For example, a huge requirement seems to be for another LB to be bought into the club now, yet could the answer be within Anderson?
Could he be a replacement for Taylor, especially if Taylor doesn’t want to extend his contract?
Same applies to Murray and lawal within there positions also?
Another CB which is expected, and made plenty of sence looking at Scott mckenna as a possibility, yet for the wage demands that comes with mckenna, actually going to be better for ourselves over a 3 year period that Murray could offer ourselves?
Lawal isn’t an attacking midfielder by any means at present, and looking doubtful he ever will become one either?
Yet could Rodgers be looking for another Calmac type of player that can play both the holding sitting midfield position, along with been able to push on in the attacking position also?
Could be what Rodgers is looking for next season, with both lawal and Kwon in contention for the place available within the squad at present imo?
So overall, I don’t get why so many are so intent on making the board current targets for the lack of incoming players, especially when Rodgers currently seemingly to be making his decision making from within before looking outside the club?
Still expecting Paulo and idah to be added to the squad still and depending upon how the next 2 games go on the USA tour, then there might not be as many places available within our squad for next season, as many are currently trying to make out?
But these decisions will be made by Rodgers, no one else and still believe that the board will support Rodgers decision making upon the whole process involved imo?