Leigh Griffiths

Too easy to level that stat as a criticism when he had more than a year out with mental health issues and injury, neither of which are his fault.

Also doesn’t take into consideration the bigger picture of how he’s been utilised in that time period.

If you don’t rate him highly that’s up to you, but my point is, we know he’s good enough for us, and we know he’s capable of getting goals and performing well. Can’t think of many players that don’t need games to get back into form. He’s looked promising when he’s played recently and I’ve no doubt he’ll score goals again soon. As good as Edouard has been it’s good to have a proven goalscorer in the squad to take the pressure off him from time to time. This is why I think the calls to loan him out are lunacy.

Although Lennon has alluded to us trying to sign a new striker, and I think we should, there’s no guarantee he’ll be a success, or not get injured. What level of striker are we able to get in Janury, within our budget, that’s also happy to come in knowing he’s a backup at best? I’d be surprised if we get anyone at Griffiths’ level (he’s better than given credit for imo), unless it’s a young promising striker. But even then we still need experience, which Griffiths has. I get the concern over him, but I still think he deserves the chance to show he’s still got a lot to offer. The club have supported him through a very difficult time and I’m sure he’ll be desperate to repay the faith shown in him. He’s still got a few years of playing at a good level ahead of him.

 

We know he was good enough for us previously.
You can’t state with any certainty that he still is. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since he was proven at that level.

 

Do we really? He had a couple of seasons when he first signed, but this is his 4th season with us in which he has under-performed.

 

People have seen us with 3 strikers but 2 have been injured almost the whole season. Griffiths had quite a few calf injuries prior to mental health issues, Bayo has been injured almost the whole calendar year. The manager had more faith in Morgan than those 2. We need another striker, fans obviously feel we have no back up. We have seen 2 December's running what it is like to have 1 striker and it doesn't work.

 

Aye.

He’s barely featured this season or last.

 

He’s impressing enough in training to be featuring again so I’ve no doubt he’ll prove me correct.

 

25 league goals in last 4 seasons...

 

It’s easy to cherry pick stats to suit your argument.

See what I said to Officer Doofy.

 

It’s easy to ignore stats & facts if they don’t suit your argument.

 

The stats don’t take into account the reality of why they’re like that.

 

They tell the facts / stats of his most recent time at Celtic.

 

Nope. Saying he has 25 league goals in the last four seasons cherry picks a stat that doesn’t tell the full story. The past season and a half have been a write off through no fault of his own, and he hasn’t been first choice pick, which will affect his tally too. When he’s been fit an available, he’s contributed goals, and not just in the league.

 

Ideally, it would be better to see

Minutes played - Goals
90 Minutes Played - Goals

That would give a better idea. I may tackle this..

 

It says that for far too long, he has been out of form, or unavailable for selection due to illness or injury.

While I have sympathy for him, I think that the time has come for the club to move on (at least on the field).

 

You can excuse & embellish all you want. His stats look very poor.
Don’t get me wrong minty, i want him to be given another chance to succeed.
But at the moment Morgan is seen as a better choice so using your earlier argument, must be showing more in training.

Also you asked-
“What level of striker are we able to get in Janury, within our budget, that’s also happy to come in knowing he’s a backup at best? I’d be surprised if we get anyone at Griffiths’ level”

We got Eduard in on that footing & he’s proven to be an excellent addition.

 

No stats ever tell the full story, but they are still the most current stats.

 

Whatever his return, he misses far too many games to be considered a reliable second-choice striker.

 

He’s probably only scored this season when we’ve scored 5 or more in the game.

 

19/20:

16 Appearances
3 Goals
512 minutes (equivalent 5.69 games)
2 full 90 minutes


18/19:

20 Appearances
6 Goals
1040 minutes (equivalent to 11.5 games)
4 full 90 minutes


17/18:

41 Appearances
14 goals
Can't be arsed...

 

Exactly. I expect Leigh will get to the end of the season to prove himself but it is becoming increasingly less likely to envisage him as a future player for the club. Lennon will bring in 2 strikers soon and he'll be done.

 

For context, we have played 36 competitive games so far this season.