Leigh Griffiths

Think everyone is looking back at hoppers time here with rose tinted specs.

He played poorly in a large number of games domestically and in Europe despite playing in a far superior Celtic team than griffiths.

 

Great post

 

The turn of pace to set the goal yesterday was unreal.

 

Yes, a guy in ma work was going on about Sinclair's pace for getting into the position he was(which was impressive) I said that Griffiths was even more impressive as he had the ball at his feet, what a ball. * Yuss

 

Was a quality counter attacking goal.

 

Couldn't believe the pace Griffiths showed there, brilliant stuff and was so intelligent the way he slowed down to fool the Hearts LB into thinking he was going to try and hold it up.

 

I only have two questions for those that are happy to have Griffiths as our first choice striker for the next 5 years or so during Brendan's reign.

1. Do you have enough trust and faith in him to score when it really matters, both in Europe and tighter games domestically where chances become much more limited, particularly in Europe. Do you trust him to finish that 1v1 chance he might have in those games or do you trust him to put away his only chance that may break to him at that level be it a big chance or even a half chance in the box?

Something imo which is crucial to have in a No.1 Celtic striker and for me I had this sort of trust in Hooper for example, a great poacher and clinical with limited chances at a higher level for us.

2. Do you feel he has enough attributes to his game to be our No.1 Celtic striker? Do you feel he has a good enough first touch, composure, technique and is his hold and link up play where it should be? Is his passing, ball control and decision making at a good enough level? Does he time his runs well enough, does he bring others into play and have enough skill and strength?

What he does have for me is work rate giving 100% every match, a sweet left peg with plenty of power behind it, decent with his head, when under pressure and no time to think is when he's at his most clinical for me, first time shots when again no time to think he can also be deadly.




For me though, there are just too many important crucial attributes missing from his overall game for me to be happy enough with him being our No.1 striker. When the stakes get higher for us in bigger and tighter games, it's due to these missing attributes that I feel he becomes almost invisible for us in Europe against much tougher opposition than we face domestically.

It's a shame because he does have some decent attributes as well and he is a very decent domestic SPFL striker, Just too many flaws needing ironed out which I have no faith in him doing in a short space of time.

I don't see anything wrong with having this opinion, I think this is a very fair analysis and view that I've put forward, but the hate I feel I get because I hold this view is unwarranted. Getting called a Griffiths hater and clueless is just silly.

 

I want you to suggest a player that we can realistically get that is better than Griffiths. You can't say Stevie May though.


To answer your two questions, yes I trust him to score as that happens to be what he is amazing at and yes he obviously has other attributes, as highlighted in his quality assist yesterday.

 

That's actually a fair and balanced post though, you get called a Griffiths hater because you say ridiculous * like Tony Watt is better than him, or that scoring 40 goals a season is nothing special.

 

You keep going on about critical goals in tight matches then bringing up the ones he misses. What about all those tight games only he scored in last year? There's plenty to choose from. I'd happily have griffiths for the next 5 years. Strikers mature with age. He already has the scoring down, he'll become even more clinical with age.

Infact yesterday's tight game was won because of griffiths assist again. That's top qaulity. Don't know what more you expect.

 

1. You're Stevie May chat was boring 10 posts ago.

2. I don't get paid as a scout for Celtic and it is not my job.

Fair enough if you trust him enough after reading my two questions but I can only disagree.

But there are bargains out there, just need to look hard enough.

Look at Andre Gray, a better striker than Griffiths and only cost £500K a couple years ago from Luton for Brentford, it doesn't matter where they come from but they are out there. It's things like that we can't miss out on and need to be more aware of, especially when there just below our noses. That is just one example.

 

I agree with that bottom bit definitely Sean. I admit I'm a critic of his at time's, and point out his flaws but he's without doubt a good player, and an excellent striker for us..

Near on always comes up with the goods at the end of the day

 

Yep. The best team's in the world would've been appreciative of that counter and how devastatingly quick and effective it was..

If that was Ronaldo and Bale working that the * fest would've been flooded..

 

Did you read the two questions I asked?

So you fully trust him to finish limited chances in Europe and you also feel his overall game is good enough for us at that level? Fair enough if you do but again I disagree.

Look at him in Europe last year, Ajax and Molde home and away, very ineffective/invisible and the chances that did come his way he passed up, again at home to Inter and Salzburg. It was the same away in Malmo away (In fact he kneed a guy in the baws that game as well which could have seen him sent off).

It's all very well saying that was under Ronny and the team were mainly poor so didn't help Griffiths out, but that didn't effective Kris Commons last year who was scoring and creating goals almost every match in the EL Group Stage last season. There are too many excuses made for him now for it to be just coincidence, he misses far too many guilt edged chances at that level that come back to haunt us that is not untrue.

 

He's been finishing limited chances in Europe this season.

 

He scored clinically away in Astana when we needed it....you know, that Champion's League competing side from last year..

 

Yet you've ignored how yesterday was a tight game against one of our strongest oposition in the league, away from home and who made the difference? Griffiths.

 

If people are still doubting griff they really haven't been watching him he scores at the times we need it most he's a big game player . I remember Ronny or Lennon saying he was the best finisher at the club he's probably the best finisher in Scotland just now and has been for the last year or 2

We shouldn't be looking to replace we should be looking to reinforce him but in all honestly i think dembelle will come good. We should NOT be having this convo about griff' quality it's a slap in the face to him i fancy griff to score against anyone and that's being honest you give him the chance he will put it away

 

I agree, there can't seriously be people doubting Griffiths just because he hasn't score in 1 game and missed a sitter....

 

When he leaves and we are stuck with another amido balde type player we will realise just how good this guy actually was.