QuoteI'd rather an un-paid one alright ! His heart might not be in it to the same degree !Originally Posted by Olé Olé
A few comments about his hold up and control. I'm not sure if any striker is good at this. It is crap having a ball lashed into you with a paid defender up your backside. He seems to find himself in that situation more than most strikers.
I'd rather an un-paid one alright ! His heart might not be in it to the same degree !
Idah with the fourth goal today as Celtic wrap up another league title, lending further weight to the above theory that he's a better bet for a goal later in a game when the opposition is already behind and has to push out the field a bit.
And the fifth. Didn't start the game - came on as a sub when already 3-0 up.
102 league goals for Celtic now - I think 114 is their record in a season, from 2022/23. They already can't match the 99 points from that campaign.
The fifth was what I'd call a classic Idah goal, running fast off the shoulder of the defender and a really nice finish at the near post. That's what he does really well.
Is it though, when he's often brought off the bench? Celtic tend to score early too, so that reduces the chances of him being first scorer especially as he does a lot of work in deep areas.
I'm not saying I think he's had a great season but I think we're finding ways to put him down here. I felt even Eirambler's recent "tap in" comment (cup semi final goal) was a bit barbed. There was a time I and others were critical of him not being in the right place for tap ins so it's good that he's getting more of them. Againsty StJ he attacked the space well, got beyond his defender, kept his eye on the ball well with the keeper coming out and got a good connection. That's a good striker's goal.
For what its worth, not looking to find a way to put him down, I was just commenting on what type of game narrative suits his strengths. He finds it hard to make an impression against a low block but seems to have more success against teams that play - or are required to play - less conservatively.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
Gary Neville had a good breakdown of a tap in a few years ago. His main point was that the finish was the easiest part of the move. What's difficult is dragging defenders out of position, timing your run so that it's not too early for the defence to react to it, but not too late to miss the ball, and having the discipline to make the same run you've probably made a few times in that game alone (never mind the season, or your career) without any result.
That goes back to my original point about being disappointed in him not being the number 1 striker there. I believe he has the ability to be but didnt take his chance after Kyogo was sold in particular. Hes a very good striker, some days he looks very high level, but there arent enough of those days for whatever reason
Its really not that complicated!!!
Jota out for the long term:
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/a...s/c4gr74y02d8o
terrible for Jota, maybe good for Idah
The life of a soccer player. Everything was going well for Jota back at Celtic ( after a move that had not worked out for him ) then he gets badly injured in just an awkward, stumble/ fall. I suppose we don't very often feel to sorry for players but this was a bit of a tough turn for Jota !
Maybe not though...
with manager Brendan Rodgers saying it "shone a light" on his club's need to strengthen their forward line in the summer transfer market.
Started and scored. Definitely adding weight to the argument that he does better against tougher opposition. Only one who looks like getting a second as well
BBC discussion on Idah https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football...s/c05n439vzmdo
He had quite a good game yesterday but did nothing to move the debate any further forward. Missed a golden opportunity to put Celtic 1 up and 36 seconds later Rangers scored. Scales was outmuscled by Dessiers.
Then a lovely soft touch to set up his goal, which took a deflection but I think was going in just inside the post anyway. It his Souttar’s(?) elbow which knocked the ball downwards but didn’t change its line towards goal.
He won the ball well in the centre circle before under hitting a through ball to Forrest where a little extra weight would have made a goal more likely than not, and replays showed he had a gap to play in Maeda too.
He had another chance to score in the first half but took two touches when he only had time for one. And in the second half he shot over when he had an easy lay off to an arguably better placed Forrest. But I think forward have to be selfish.
Peter Grant in Sportscene likes him. He says he suffered from a lack of preseason but likes what he brings. He’s only played 2 full 90 mins and his output is good for the amount of time he plays.
Personally I was both impressed and frustrated with him yesterday. Frustrated because he had a chance to make a big statement yesterday and he only partially took it. But better than making no statement at all. It was a performance that continues the discussion into next season.
At least Packie Bonner is willing to offer his views on Idah and the need to get another striker in. Maybe he was the shushee?
I'm minded of Jack Charlton taking Houghton off in Windsor in 1993.
"What are you taking me off for? I'm the only one getting any chances!"
"You're the only one missing any chances!"
He has to score a vital goal in order to justify starting. I thought he did well enough with his one on one chance, the goalie had managed to get into a very good position and Idah's chip just clipped his shoulder.
Overall he took way too long in the season to get match sharp. His heading ability is almost zero though he did score from one last season, he's just a non-existent threat in the air in the box for set pieces. Yet he's talented enough to surmise he might develop next season into something like a better version of Jan Vennegoor (of Hesselink) but only in his dreams could he be the next Chris Sutton.
In his own way ~ Big Jack had a way with words !
Scored again at the weekend, if you include international and club, it's his first 20 goal season. 19 for Celtic, 1 for Ireland with a few games left. Hopefully his form as of late is enough to get him enough minutes - because he's scored those goals while being second choice for half the season
Last season he had 18. 7 for Norwich, 9 for Celtic, 2 for Ireland. 5 in the season before (3 for Norwich, 2 for Ireland)
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