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James Forrest

Discussion in 'Celtic Chat' started by Drakhan, Jul 25, 2015.

Discuss James Forrest in the Celtic Chat area at TalkCeltic.net.

  1. Westlondonscot Gold Member Gold Member

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    Frimpong was however against a knackered St Mirren team for 10 minutes. So it can be hard to compare a 10 minute appearance to James's start.
     
  2. Officer Doofy Come to me, human man Gold Member

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    Perhaps, but it’s been the same when Frimpong starts. He’s constantly taking players on and being positive.

    Forrest tends to turn inside and play a pass rather than run at players these days.
     
  3. MagicBallBhoy Gold Member Gold Member

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    difficult to leave him out if hes contributing goals and the rest of the team arent playing well either

    sayb we take him out for frimpong is frimpong as big a goal threat ?

    dont think you can negate the effects even the players lives are having with this mental covid effect, i think this more than any other year in memory is suitable for a squad, need to keep freshing things up and looking at whose form is good

    none of this old pals act *
     
  4. Seán Mac D Gold Member Gold Member

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    Another one that I find it difficult to criticise when the system we play isn't ideal for him.

    Being asked to play RWB in a 3-5-2 burdens one of our most productive attacking players with defensive duties that he isn't used to.

    It also means that when we come up against a team playing 4-5-1 that they're 2 v 1 on the wings & can double up on him and he has no full back making diversionary runs to create space for him. He is most effective as a RW/RF in a 4-2-3-1 IMO.

    He would also be revelation in the 4-3-3 system that the huns employ with inverted wingers that play in between the full back and centre back

    It doesn't help that this season alone he's been asked to play RW and LW in a 4-2-3-1 and RWB and LWB in a 3-5-2. That's in part down to our inability to bring in a LWB.

    Despite that he's still on 2 goals from 6 league games, which is reasonable for a winger. Just like the rest of the team he needs some continuity.
     
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  5. Jeroen

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    That is the crux of the matter. My opinion? Frimpong hasn’t been as effective as Jamesy thus far; he may look more silky on the ball — which can lead people to draw erroneous conclusions that he is a more effective player — but he hasn’t been more effective than Jamesy. A prime example demonstrating Jamesy’s effectiveness is the peach of an 18 yarder he scored against Motherwell. We were pedestrian as * up until he scored the goal and, out of the blue, boom! We’re 1-0 up. Just like that. That’s what Forrest can do. He is a game-changer.
     
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  6. Foley1888

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    I would like to see us play a version of this system. We don’t need three CBs for most games and particularly if we had a good DM option who would drop in. We have two good attacking right backs in Frimpong and Elhamed but sorely need a Left sided option.

    You would then have two box to box midfielders from CalMac, Christie, Ntcham and Turnbull. The front three with Ajeti in the middle, Eddy occupying the left hand forward position he loves to play from and Forrest on the right or even switching Forrest out on occasion to play Ely just off in the 10 of a front two.

    For me this would suit our squad far better than the formations we are playing at the moment. We would still need to fill the attacking LB role and ideally bring in a new DM or try CalMac in that role and rely on the two in-front of him chipping in on the defensive work.
     
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  7. Seán Mac D Gold Member Gold Member

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    When done well it is an effective system but it can often look even more blunt than our 4-2-3-1 when up against teams with ten men behind the ball. Although that could be done to our superior quality.

    I do think the system gives better control in Europe than what we see at times.

    For the likes of Ely and Forrest I think it would suit them better than shoehorning them into WB roles for the 3-5-2.

    Something along the lines of:

    Barkas
    Frimpong Julien Duffy Taylor
    Ntcham McGregor Christie
    Forrest Ajeti Edouard
     
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  8. Foley1888

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    In terms of poor against a packed defence that probably depends on personnel as you say. They have few other options other than Kent to play on the other side.

    Also who is in your midfield would have an impact, they often play 3 fairly defensive players, where as utilising Christie in there with hopefully a Turnbull or Ntcham who both carry a goal threat would be different.

    The one area we would need to improve on is our left hand side option as Taylor leaves is inept there. Another would be a better DM to help out the CB when the full backs go bombing on.
     
  9. celtic warrior

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    Every single player is struggling to adapt to a new system, the fact there isn't a settled 11 yet and there is already plenty of over rotation will have knock on effects to the team
     
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  10. Henrik 07 Gold Member Gold Member

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    Celtic’s glitterati could be set for a new addition this season.

    The latest name, however, eschews the glamour and the cockiness of those who hog the headlines with James Forrest one of the most unassuming contributors to the list of those and such as those who adorn the Parkhead history books.

    It could be a season of particular note for Forrest as he knocks on the door of various Celtic centurion clubs. Currently just 10 goals shy of becoming only the 30th player to net 100 goals for the Hoops – Leigh Griffiths and John Hartson were the most recent – Forrest is just three games away from a particular European landmark.


    Celtic captain Scott Brown made history two years ago when he became the first Scot to play 100 games in European competition. Progression into the group stages of the Europa League this season would, barring any kind of substantial injury, open the door for Forrest to join him.

    “Having played with him, I am fully signed up to his fanclub,” said his former team-mate Erik Sviatchenko. “And that is before I knew about the kind of company that he could be keeping. He was one of those players that you could give the ball to in a really tight area and know that he could keep it. He is quite unorthodox in the position he plays but I think he was so loved by the players because he did so much for the team.


    “If you are a forward he is there really helping with the assists and if you are in defence or midfield then he is always looking to take the ball.”

    There’s more , too. Henrik Larsson boasts the record for European goals for Celtic – 35 for those who like to keep count – but in second place is the iconic Jimmy Johnstone. Forrest needs four goals this term to leapfrog Chris Sutton, Bobby Lennox, Griffiths, Steve Chalmers and Willie Wallace and head into joint second with a player who perennially tops Celtic’s greatest player charts.

    Neil Lennon’s side will face Latvian side Riga tomorrow night and, if successful, will go on to a Europa league play-off against either Sarajevo or Buducnost Podgoria. Any sustained European run this term will surely see Forrest’s status elevated into that elite bracket.


    If that isn’t a sufficient enough body of evidence to prove his worth to Celtic over the last decade it is worth considering that the likelihood if that Forrest will become the most decorated player in Celtic’s history.

    The winger currently boasts a haul of 19 winners’ medals, a return that currently places him fourth in the table of Celtic greats. Bobby Lennox on 25, Billy McNeill on 23 and Brown on 21 sit above him. It should be pointed out that none were within reach of those figures when still under the age of 30.

    It is odd, then, that Forrest might be the only Celtic player whose contribution is routinely played down by his own support. There isn’t a song, he is one of the first who feels the wrath of a disgruntles support if things don’t go right on the pitch and he rarely gets the credit both his longevity and input deserve.

    “Scotland is very good at honouring their heroes but I think it might be when James stops playing that the appreciation of what he does really hits home,” said Sviatchenko. “I am not sure why that is but James is a lot the same both off the park and on it.

    “At training I do not think I ever once saw him in a bad mood. He was always smiling. But he is also very relaxed in himself. When he signed a new contract when Brendan Rodgers came in, I think he was settled within his own mind that he would be probably be a Celtic player for the entirety of his career.


    “He might not be a player that there is a lot of noise around. But you can be assured that those who play alongside him know exactly what he brings. He can take so much pressure off and he also worked very hard at adding more goals and important goals to his game.

    “When you think that he can really take his place around the legends of the club it really brings it home just how instrumental he has been at Celtic. For anyone to be at a club like Celtic with all the pressure and all the demands for more than a decade – I think it is 12 seasons – and to make such an important contribution is quite extraordinary.

    “James is quite a private person. He is very humble and you would never know to speak to him that he might end his career as the most decorated player ever at Celtic. That is really something but he is someone who never seems to have a lot of fuss around him.

    “When he gets to the end of his career, people will see just how much he offered Celtic.”
     
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  11. McChiellini..

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    Shown up time and time again of late..

    Any news on his injury?
     
  12. Blochairnbhoy

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    Never like to see a player injured but it’s the only way he doesn’t start!
     
  13. Twisty Rodgers out !!! Gold Member

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    He looks scared to take a player on and actually ran away from a through ball because he thought the guy was going to tackle him if he did, at least that's how it looked anyway. On form he is a top talent but just now he's just not doing it. Best he has looked lately was cutting in from left wing, but he can't play as a lwb so shouldn't be in our starting 11.
     
  14. Henrik 07 Gold Member Gold Member

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    NL (on James Forrest): "He’s got bone bruising in his ankle so well have to see. It’ll have to be scanned either tomorrow or Saturday so he’ll not make the weekend."
     
  15. dbhoy72

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    Thought it was a bit poor, ppl saying they were glad he got injured, but he's been off a bit.

    Just think he's one who should be used more carefully, wouldn't even say no to on the left at times.
     
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  16. McGrory1888

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    Sums up how spoilt and fickle an element of our support is tbh. Shocking to see a player who’s contributed so much over the years be disrespected like that. Yes, he’s been nowhere near good enough recently but it’s hardly intentional and it’s not Forrest’s fault that Lennon refuses to drop him and take him out the firing line.
     
  17. JC Anton Get yer, hats, scarfs badges & tapes

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    Frimpong made all the difference when he came on and Forrest had done absolutely * all..

    Frimpong should start until Forrest can earn his place back, in terms of desire and energy its night and day.
     
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  18. moravcik1888

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    Ive been a big fan of Jamesy over the years but if its a straight choice between Frimpers and Jamesy then Frimpers has to play. Jamesy needs to find some form, he has shown some glimpses this season but by his own high standards he has been poor.
     
  19. MacEwan Himmy Butler Gold Member

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    Aye being glad an off form player for injured is absolute scum behaviour.
     
  20. DragQueenHoops

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    Having read that he's been carrying an injury for most of the season I'm not surprised. He has looked less sharp and a bit tame when taking people on. He hasn't looked anywhere near his normal speedy self for most of 2020.

    He'll have to do something special to win the rwb position from Frimpong.