Century Bhoy James Forrest stole the headlines with his hat-trick in Saturday’s 6-1 hammering of Hibs and the one club man walked away with another match ball to add to his collection following an impressive first start of the season.
However there was another player going about his business in his usual determined fashion who grabbed a double of his own to provide a timely reminder of his qualities to Ange Postecoglou.
Giorgos Giakoumakis netted his fifth and sixth goals of the season against Hibs and gave burly centre halves Ryan Porteous and Paul Hanlon the run-around in the process as he played the centre forward role to perfection.
Celtic finally racked up the goal tally that they’ve been threatening for a number of weeks and the powerful Greek striker was pivotal to that.
The free flowing football the Bhoys displayed against the Edinburgh side was in stark contrast to the performance just seven days prior where a 95th minute winner was required to overcome a difficult St Johnstone side and come away from Perth with a narrow 2-1 win.
The scorer of the winner that day? Giorgos Giakoumakis.
Giako v Kyogo
So should Ange now be considering giving Giakoumakis an extended run in the team as we prepare for two difficult away ties in the shape of Motherwell at Fir Park and hearts at Tynecastle this week?
I’m on record as saying that Kyogo Furuhashi is the best striker at the club. A serious talent who has shown in his short time at the club just how lethal he can be in front of goal.
That doesn’t mean he shouldn’t potentially spend some time on the bench.
Form plays such a big part in football and at for now at least the momentum is with Giakoumakis.
Though Kyogo has seven goals (all coming in the league) to Giakomakis’ six (five league and one league cup goal) it should be pointed out that the Japanese star has netted only once in Celtic’s last ten games across all competitions – our opening goal in the 2-1 win over Motherwell on 1st October.
He did of course grab a hat-trick in the 9-0 demolition of Dundee Utd (eleven games ago) but that was back on the 28th of August.
None of this is to criticise Kyogo, who is amongst the hardest working professionals you’ll see, but goals are the order of the day and when called upon Giorgos Giakoumakis has rarely let Celtic down.
Strikers Live on Goals
All strikers thrive on the confidence that scoring goals provides and with three goals across his last two domestic fixtures it would seem wise to unleash Giakoumakis against Motherwell and Hearts this week.]
Both those sides are known for their physical approach – especially in front of baying home crowds – and these are battles which may be far better suited to the raw power of Giakoumakis than to the incisive movement of Kyogo.
Celtic are extremely fortunate to have the talents of both men to call upon, and I won’t be disappointed whoever Ange opts for on the day, but for me these occasions seem perfectly suited to the attributes of our Greek powerhouse.
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The form team atm for me is:
Hart
JJ CCV Jenz Bernabei
O’Riley Mooy
Forrest Haksaw
GG
…plus one other out of the rest of the squad.
The gaffers unlikely to play Kyogo & GG at the same time, nor Maeda & Abada along with the above simultaneously, so we’re likely looking at a midfielder, though the usual player to fit in there, Hatate, hasn’t been playing ‘his’ best of late.
Those ten i mentioned pretty much pick themselves on recent form, though a case could be made for Ralston in for JJ.
AP likes to mix things up though so the starting 11 is anyones guess