Odsonne Edouard is a player who contributed massively to Celtic in his five years in Glasgow boasting an impressive record of 89 goals in 196 appearances…
Originally signed on loan from PSG in the second half of the 2017/18 campaign, ‘French Eddy’ became an instant hit and scored a memorable winner at Ibrox on Beautiful Sunday that was massively responsible for the infamous ticket allocation spat.
Odsonne impressed Brendan Rodgers so much so that the Irishman persuaded the club to splash out a then club record fee of £9 million to bring the French under 21 international to Glasgow on a permanent basis.
The Frenchman helped us win numerous honours, eight in total, including two trebles. He had a knack of scoring vital goals, whether that was in derbies, cup finals, or in Europe, he more than proved his quality.
There is however a false narrative hanging over Odsonne Edouard concerning his attitude in his last campaign at the club, which is regularly called into question, the usual phrase used is that he ‘downed tools’ during the Covid season. That to me is totally uncalled for and the stats instantly banish any accusations over his professionalism in his final days as a Celtic player.
Eddy scored 22 goals in 40 appearances in all competitions in that rather unforgettable campaign. Yes he underperformed by his own standards but he was far from the worst offender in that disastrous COVID campaign that seen us finish without a trophy as we lagged far behind behind a theRangers side who were deservedly crowned champions for the first time in their history.
Celtic boosted about how great the transfer window was that summer yet it turned out to be disastrous. Not Odsonne’s fault.
Momentum was lost when the club had games postponed by the Scottish Government after Boli Bolingoli decided to break the Covid rules by travelling abroad from Prestwick airport to meet a young woman. Hardly Eddie’s fault.
The decision to take the entire squad to Dubai in January, same again not the fault of the French striker.
Many were guilty of not playing to their full potential that fateful campaign, but Eddy was nowhere near the top of that list, finishing a dire campaign as top scorer is proof of that.
The team just didn’t get going and with no supporters in the grounds it was tough of Celtic but actually helped theRangers – they have never won a Scottish Premiership title with their fans going to games.
If you look back at the first ten in a row attempt by Celtic it was also a season where everything that could go wrong did and when Rangers FC had their chance they couldn’t do it either. Celtic’s second attempt had a global pandemic thrown into the mix and that played a huge part in us like Jock Stein’s Celtic in the 1970s and Walter Smith’s Rangers side in the 1990s, falling at the tenth hurdle.
Did Celtic supporters blame it on Kenny Dalglish, or did Rangers FC fans blame Brian Laudrup? No, so why is Odsonne Edouard continually singled out for ‘downing tools’ in season 2020/21. He like everyone else involved is partly responsible for what happened but his is only a tiny percentage. Did Henrik win the league every season he was at Celtic? No he didn’t.
Edouard was one of a number of players who were looking for a transfer at the end of the previous season but COVID prevented that happening – and the others involved don’t seem to get the grief he does. It wasn’t his fault that Fraser Forster dragged out his decision then opted NOT to return only after the club had released Craig Gordon and instead spend £5m of the worst goalkeeper we have ever seen play for the club.
Odsonne eventually moved on to pastures new the following season and fully deserved his move. He didn’t rock the boat when his move didn’t happen in summer 2020, like for instance Moussa Dembele had done, yet Mousse gets plenty of love these days from some Celtic fans but Odsonne gets the false downed tools narrative continually.
To many others, myself included, his contributions to the club were much appreciated and he certainly doesn’t deserve to have his name discredited in such a manner. To call it into question is quite frankly ridiculous, a quick glance at his stats are full testament of his ability.
What do you think? Have your say in the comments section below…
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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Imo anyone who thinks “theRangers side who were deservedly crowned champions ” needs to realise the entirely different standards to which they were held accountable to the covid rules and restrictions as it wasn’t just the lack of fan scrutiny they benefitted from , also if the rules were applied correctly then Celtic would have been well past winning ten in a row of league titles, Hail hail .
From some performances I remember, he definitely downed tools. Whole season not entirely his fault, which to me is obvious and renders your analogies here as unnecessary.
My main frustration with him was that he never quite seemed to hit his full potential. Even with the impressive stats he had at Celtic it always felt as if there was another level available to him. He’s a very good player, with a great player fighting, but never quite managing to get out.
With regards to Dembele, he has consistently courted favour from the Celtic support, revelling in the Skelper nickname. Another decent striker with very good stats, but his career trajectory post Celtic raises questions over his true level and his level of commitment.
Covid season was nothing more than the opportunity of keeping hun scum in business, and we had to suffer losing the 10iar as a consequence imo?
You simply don’t keep players at the club, who don’t want to be there, and eddy was just 1 of a number in that category.
Off load players who did want to stay, and insulting them with the offers made to them?
Yet followed up by bringing in expensive players, along with the likes in expensive loan deals, who all failed miserably?
Any surprises that our changing room wasn’t a happy place to be, along with lenny totally out of his depth to deal with a situation placed upon him?
So don’t hold any grievances towards any of the players involved as such.
Yet I was also glad to see the back of the French connection involved at the time also.
Never ever want to endure the likes within our club again, and for myself eddy would only be a reminder of that season?
As he has done nothing since he left ourselves, wouldn’t say the attitude he showed in his last season with us was totally wrong either, and seems to be within him and not able to fulfil his potential as a player in return imo?
Still remains a huge NO for a return to ourselves in my book?
Stats can and do lie sometimes, you know?
They also never tell the whole story.
Our eyes seen him play. Our eyes watched him barely run, not close players down or track back.
Watched him scratch his chin as he wandered aimlessly around the park with barely any interest in the game or the score.
He scored a few penalties and tap-ins that season. He played nearly every game & any striker for Celtic should be getting at least 20 goals a season considering how many chances we create.
Don’t try and gaslight people with false narratives. We remember what we remember.
If you disagree, that’s fine! That’s normal!
Be boring if everyone agreed about everything eh?
He downed tools.
Can’t agree with you. My memory of that season is that he did down tools but he was only one of a few that wanted away but didn’t get their move. My memory is of a guy that played at half pace and didn’t try. OK his stats seem good was how much better would they have been if he had been trying.
Did he not miss a few matches after catching the virus or was that my imagination? Think he is definitely a favourite of Brendan, so if chance arose, I would not be surprised if he did turn up, he was a guest at a POTY event was he not?
Also maybe after his monumental flop at both Palace and Leicester he would return with his tail between his legs and try to restart his career … Do remember his last match for us v them however and that day he dis look as if he couldn´t be arsed …