Sadly, it looks like James Forrest’s time at Celtic is coming to an end. Last night on The Celtic Star, James French compared the contribution from Hyun-Jun Yang to James Forrest in the game against St Mirren.
To be fair he could have also done the same thing with Luis Palma and also Daizen Maeda and reached similar conclusions, that Yang was the star of the four wingers utilised by Brendan Rodgers in midweek.
Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock
James Forrest has often been the whipping boy for a section of Celtic supporters, and unfairly in my opinion.
He’s served the club well and has made 476 appearances for the club scoring 101 goals and assisting 100 plus as well. He’s also won an astonishing 23 honours with the club. That is legendary status.
But James is now 32 and it’s safe to say he is past his best. With his style of play and injury problems James career was always going to hit that brick wall, and sadly, that’s what has happened.
Celtic v St Mirren – cinch Premiership – Celtic Park Celtic s James Forrest during the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Picture date: Wednesday November 1, 2023. Photo Andrew MilliganJ
That’s not a dig at James as he is a superb talent and has been a great servant for the club, but every player has their day, even the best of them.
James no longer has that bursting bit of pace to get past players and his goal scoring touch seems to have gone also. That’s what James game is based on and if he’s no longer got it, then it looks very bleak.
He missed a chance against St Mirren on Wednesday that a couple of years ago he would have scored. The same thing happened at Easter Road and there has been a couple of other examples this season. His body language also suggests he knows his time is coming to an end.
Brendan though still thinks he’s got it, so we have to trust him, but I can’t see it. Sadly, James’ time looks like it’s coming to an end. Hopefully he proves me wrong and if he does no-one will be more pleased than myself!
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Matt Corr’s new book Majic, Stan and the King of Japan is out now and Neil Lennon, the Celtic captain that season, has written the foreword for us.
You can get a signed copy of the hardback version direct from Celtic Star Books by clicking on the image below. It’s also available an an e-book via Amazon Kindle and please note that all colour photographs that appear in the beautifully presented printed hardback book are also available in the Kindle version of Majic, Stan and the King of Japan…
