Could it be we are all getting a little carried away with Jeremie Frimpong?
Is it possible we are creating a bit too much hype for an 18 year old just starting out on a professional career? Are we passing judgement on a breakthrough talent before there’s enough evidence to warrant such praise?
There has been a fair bit of knee jerk reaction to players this season. Boli Bolingoli was written off early on this season and is now a first choice left back and only the debate around who deputises for him remains, with Greg Taylor and Jonny Hayes playing second or third fiddle to the likeable Belgian.
Christopher Jullien had his own detractors as he watched on from the sidelines and was a little slow getting up to pace and winning a place in Neil Lennon’s starting eleven. Now he’s part of as strong a defensive partnership alongside Kris Ajer as we’ve seen for many years in the Celtic first team.
Mohamed Elyounoussi was also a slow burner when it came to winning the affections of the fans. He took a bit of stick himself as he showed flashes without really impacting games. Now when news broke of injury to our Norwegian loan signing there was a collective intake of breath, such is his importance to influencing Celtic’s attacking play. This change in outlook came through match time and simply getting up to speed. Now the Celtic wide man is quite simply the first pick when fit.
So are we in danger now of overplaying the impact of Jeremie Frimpong because he has started so well and do we need to counter that expectation?
Not with this one we don’t. It seems Neil Lennon’s eye for a player that attracted Peter Lawwell so much that he offered Lenny the chance of a second stint as manager of Celtic is bearing fruit again.
As Lenny and Damien Duff took in a development match against Manchester City little did they know they were spotting a talent so impressive that he would grow from a £350k development player-or project as the previous regime used to call them – into a first team player within a few short weeks.
With John Kennedy’s seal of approval and Nick Hammond’s previous knowledge of the player, a toe was dipped in the water and the question asked of Manchester City. A £350k deal that after two years could rise to a still rather insignificant sum, was the final deal reached and Jeremy Frimpong headed north to Celtic.
Now you could argue he’s not only a first team player but that Lenny is possibly kicking himself that he didn’t have the kid registered for European football. It’s hard to think of a young player who has grasped his opportunity as early and with such flourish as Jeremie Frimpong. The 18 year old is as near as damnit now to being Celtic’s first choice right back. Opportunity has of course knocked with injury to an also impressive Hatem Abd Elhamed but even without that it’s difficult to see how Frimpong wouldn’t have been first pick in any case.
I’ve read lofty comparisons made this week by Celtic historian David Potter and The Celtic Star’s American blogger Larry Cafiero to Celtic’s greatest ever player Jimmy Johnstone and while many would scoff at such heady comparisons – and normally I’d be scoffing too – on this occasion there appears to be real weight behind their words.
Have you seen a player in the Hoops who drops the shoulder quite like Frimpong, who then has an afterburner burst of pace to leave defenders in his wake and when it comes to a final ball he has that composure to pick out opportunities for teammates? The opposition know it is coming but it’s executed so well that they can do little or nothing about it.
His post-match press conference was also telling. Just like Jinky, Frimpong was a winger. The comparison will probably end there as his self-confessed inability to shoot is the reason an Under 15 coach pushed him to full back rather than right wing.
Detractors would say he’s not been challenged yet. But he has been, it’s just he’s met those tests head on and simply excelled. You can’t say you haven’t been challenged when what you’ve really achieved is to meet each of those confrontations and come out unscathed.
The next tests will of course be two games against the Rangers but I have no concerns whatsoever that those challenges will be met an overcome like everything he’s risen to so far.
You can see he has an infectious personality, he is easy on the eye and he plays with a smile on his face but he also has belief in himself. He appears driven and on the pitch he gives every ounce of effort. Ally all that to his undoubted skill and there is not only a player who will develop still further but one that is also ready now.
The chances are high that by the time the next round of the Europa league comes around that Jeremie will be in that elite European group, he may even be the first pick. He has already earned that chance.
When it comes to Jeremie Frimpong you can believe the hype.
Niall J