The only shift that the Celtic support is interested in from Leigh Griffiths would be a regular one that he’s so far this season been unable to put in on the park. Dave King has been bragging about another kind of shift, but that’s all really about shifting cash from gullible fans bank accounts into his own. And he could even be doing Celtic a favour if he rattles Dermot Desmond’s cage more than even ‘a million’ Celtic could achieve if they tried.
Griffiths though should not be getting involved because his chat is the kind of thing that is used to pin on a dressing room door. Celtic need to do our talking on the park to rescue what has been a desperately disappointing season, one where theRangers are quite clearly the form side and we are struggling from defeat to catastrophe and back again.
“Listen, they can talk however they like. We keep everything in-house,’ Griffiths told David Friel at Scottish Sun before proceeding to not keep it in-house. “We know what we are all about, if we keep doing our job and working hard in training, results will turn for us. We don’t listen to outside noise, it’s about what we do.”
There will certainly be plenty of noise at Celtic Park this afternoon if Celtic don’t beat St Johnstone and there will surely be no way back for Neil Lennon if that happens. Yet maybe Griffiths should be reflecting on his own personal responsibilities to the manager and to the football club that has stood by him through thick and thin. He might even conclude – as many supporters already have – that he’s badly let Neil Lennon down this season.
Start by doing your talking on the park Leigh
“Do I still believe we have the best squad in Scotland? One million per cent. I wouldn’t change anybody in the changing room for anyone else in Scotland.
“That’s my view on it and everybody else in there would feel the exact same way. But we need the results to start talking. Hopefully that starts this weekend against St Johnstone. We want to collect three points and move on.”
Griffiths went on to explain his recent and latest absence from the Celtic team. “I was just getting into a good rhythm and getting minutes on the pitch. It happened in training on the Monday morning after the Hibs game. It just felt a wee bit sore.
“By Wednesday I couldn’t train so I had to go for a scan. Luckily it came back all clear. These little niggly injuries are frustrating especially when I haven’t been able to help the team.”
None of this is helpful, Leigh. It’s on the park that you need to start doing your talking. And time is running out.