1. Having trouble logging in by clicking the link at the top right of the page? Click here to be taken to the log in page.
    Dismiss Notice

Odsonne Edouard

Discussion in 'Ex Players' started by CelticKurd, Aug 31, 2017.

Discuss Odsonne Edouard in the Ex Players area at TalkCeltic.net.

  1. Henrik 07 Gold Member Gold Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2012
    Messages:
    160,756
    Likes Received:
    88,533
  2. Henrik 07 Gold Member Gold Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2012
    Messages:
    160,756
    Likes Received:
    88,533
    Kylian Mbappe was deemed not ready to make the cut, despite being marked out as a future superstar. Instead, Odsonne Edouard - 11 months older - was chosen to carry the hopes of a nation.

    It was a bold call from coach Jean-Claude Giuntini, and the striker did not disappoint. A star was born as France swept to glory at the Under-17 European Championship five years ago.

    "At the time, Mbappe was in construction," Giuntini says. "We needed to give him time to bring him in calmly at international level. But for an under-17 player, Odsonne had impressive emotional control, especially in front of goal."

    Here, Giuntini, who has spent the past decade in charge of the French national youth sides, tells BBC Scotland about his role in the making of the Celtic striker.



    Bringing out his hidden qualities'
    Euros success was the crowning achievement of the four years - from under-16s through to U19s - that the pair worked together.

    The Edouard who first joined the national set-up was an unassuming, shy teenager with a prolific scoring record in the Paris St-Germain youth academy.

    His potential was clear to Giuntini after one training session. A natural finisher, with the temperament to match. For some strikers, missing chances clouds the mind, sows doubts and brings a tension to the muscles when the next opportunity falls their way.

    Edouard simply refused to be flustered, and that cool-headed prowess has been a key factor in his haul of 28 goals for Celtic before the season was halted, and 62 in 126 games for the Scottish champions overall.

    The building blocks of a top-class striker were in place. Giuntini relished the task of fleshing out that skill set, as well as broadening his tactical understanding, and he found the pupil eager to learn.

    "With the France team, he realised all the things - physical and mental - he had to do to become more complete at international level," the 63-year-old says. "He worked hard and his 'hidden' qualities appeared.

    "He developed his athletic potential and his tactical range. Especially regarding the diversity of his moves on the pitch - ball retention, the ability to be unmarked to receive possession to his feet and deep in the opposition half.

    "He also improved in the collective side of the game - preparation of offensive moves, defensive press, ability to come back and defend."


    From silent assassin to joker in pack
    Those improvements came to the fore at the Under-17 Euro finals in Bulgaria.

    A Scotland side featuring the likes of Robby and Ross McCrorie, Harry Souttar and Glenn Middleton were the first casualties of the striker's excellence that summer, Edouard netting the second in a 5-0 trouncing.

    That sparked a personal goal glut that carried France to the trophy, Edouard's shyness melting away as he went on to be named player of tournament and finish as top scorer with eight goals in six games, including a hat-trick in the 4-1 rout of Germany in the final.

    Edouard was lavished with plaudits, but he steadfastly stressed the group effort, saying: "It's a massive pleasure to be a European champion. It's very satisfying to be top scorer, but more so because we won the competition. The honour is down to the work of everyone in the team."


    Giuntini noticed the striker coming of age on and off the pitch.

    "At the beginning, Odsonne was a bit quiet then he became more and more open, with a jokey and mischievous side.

    "He had the confidence and the obsession with scoring all great strikers need. He never doubts his qualities. But this behaviour can create panic - for the opposition defenders.

    "He had an excellent sense of anticipation which gave him a remarkable ability to read play. And he had a considerable skill for shooting - his efforts were targeted, precise and powerful."


    'He needed to get away from France'
    Six months later, Edouard was voted PSG's youngster of the year by his peers in the Ligue 1 superpower's academy.

    But a first-team breakthrough never materialised and his club career didn't follow the same upward trajectory as his international exploits.

    A season on loan at Ligue 1 rivals Toulouse was aborted when Edouard was charged with - and subsequently found guilty of - shooting a passer-by with an airgun fired from his car.

    Just as a career of huge promise looked in danger of going to waste, Celtic stepped in to offer an escape route in summer 2017.

    That loan spell was converted into a club record £9m permanent move 12 months later, and Giuntini takes great satisfaction in seeing his former protege flourishing.

    "It is always complicated for a young player to leave his reassuring environment," he says. "But Odsonne probably needed to go elsewhere for new challenges in a different context. Moving to Celtic helped him to grow up.

    "He is performing very well and feels loved by the Celtic fans. I feel very happy for this endearing boy."


    Regular football must be his priority'
    With two years remaining on his Celtic contract, Edouard's future beyond this season is uncertain.

    His record in Glasgow - and 11 goals in just six appearances for France Under-21s - has reportedly attracted interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs.

    Giuntini believes the player's continued progression can lead to full international honours in a France squad stacked with world-class forwards, such as Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann.

    And while the suspension of football gives Edouard plenty of time to mull over his plans, his former coach sees no reason why he should be in a rush to leave Celtic.

    "The most important thing for Odsonne is to keep playing regular football," Giuntini says. "He needs to accumulate confidence and maturity to keep up his improvement.

    "A call-up to the France squad would be wonderful for him. He must and can still improve - because this last step is the most difficult.
     
  3. Henrik 07 Gold Member Gold Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2012
    Messages:
    160,756
    Likes Received:
    88,533
  4. Henrik 07 Gold Member Gold Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2012
    Messages:
    160,756
    Likes Received:
    88,533
  5. Dazza

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2007
    Messages:
    11,522
    Likes Received:
    2,926
    Fav Celtic Player:
    Boruc
    Can't imagine him shooting someone with an air gun from his car :56:
     
  6. Smithy

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2009
    Messages:
    3,343
    Likes Received:
    871
    Location:
    Edinburgh/Newcastle
    Press linking him with Arsenal for £25M. I'd hope we would hold out for £30M when he does leave.
     
  7. Westlondonscot Gold Member Gold Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2018
    Messages:
    14,656
    Likes Received:
    11,348
    Location:
    Ealing, in Lahhhhhhndan
    Fav Celtic Player:
    Calmac
    I think we would have, but financial uncertainty will lead us to sell
     
  8. celtic warrior

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2007
    Messages:
    15,552
    Likes Received:
    7,101
    Arsenal can * off.

    It was the wrong move for KT and will be even worse for Eddie, they won't play him to his strength, thinking instead he should play to the style of auba.

    * off you non peng twats.
     
  9. vortex666

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2010
    Messages:
    1,267
    Likes Received:
    487
    see sky sports up to there usual ...negative stories about rangers about to appear ..lets make up some negative * for the tims ...on the app not one but 2 stories about eddy leaving ..
     
  10. DonnyCelt

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2010
    Messages:
    10,989
    Likes Received:
    10,277
    Edouard will be here next season I'm sure of it
     
  11. McChiellini..

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2012
    Messages:
    103,487
    Likes Received:
    75,076
    Location:
    Looking down on the mutants..
    Fav Celtic Song:
    For those who are in love.....
    I'd be disgusted beyond belief if he was sold for 25..

    We got 25 upfront for a crippled KT who'd barely played for month's..

    Eddy is genuinely one of the best young strikers in Europe for me..
     
  12. StevieBhoooy!

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2012
    Messages:
    21,255
    Likes Received:
    24,013
    I’d hope we tell Arsenal to do one!
     
    Skelleto likes this.
  13. eire4

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2006
    Messages:
    16,867
    Likes Received:
    6,188
    Location:
    Chicago USA
    Fav Celtic Player:
    Henrik Larsson
    I would be surprised if he was sold this summer unless someone offered over 30m which in this climate and with the fact that next season is likely to be without fans and thus a whole season more losing a lot of revenue is not a very likely scenario.
     
  14. greengrocer

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2009
    Messages:
    21,025
    Likes Received:
    4,581
    Location:
    In grocer shop
    Fav Celtic Player:
    Mjallby, Larsson, Lambert
    See tbh ... after having to right off a season I dont even feel a transfer window is fair at the moment.
    Fair enough if you're a free agent but just doesn't sit well

    People being made homeless and redundant due to a global pandemic yet football teams who have probably laid off a lot of staff will go and * millions on players?

    Not right man


    Plus....Eddie is here for the ten
     
    Aidan O’Shea likes this.
  15. Slaw Gold Member Gold Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2008
    Messages:
    37,150
    Likes Received:
    8,286
    25m would be laughable if accepted
     
  16. Seán Mac D Gold Member Gold Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2014
    Messages:
    21,826
    Likes Received:
    41,065
    £25m in the context of World Football 2 months ago would be nowhere near enough but Football economics are going to have a massive readjustment because of this pandemic.

    Clubs will be looking to punt players to plug gaps in their accounts which will drive fees down. Clubs in general will have less money to spend with revenues down right across the board: matchday, merchandise and sponsorship will all be down over the next 12-18 months at least and that's going to shrink the player market.

    I guess it's all relative. We'll just need to wait and see how the market reacts.
     
    DennyCelt likes this.
  17. vortex666

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2010
    Messages:
    1,267
    Likes Received:
    487
    Just seen sky sports news they have actually got edouard in a arsenal strip already .its even on there app saying it's a done deal ...* me I know that they have a office inside ibrox must be working overtime making up these * stories..I really hope we keep these hun loving * banned fae Celtic park
     
  18. Gyp Rosetti Gold Member

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2010
    Messages:
    52,893
    Likes Received:
    38,673
    Location:
    Govan
    Fav Celtic Player:
    Rogic
    Fav Celtic Song:
    Celtic symphony
    Arsenal are buying no *, there is probably only 3 or 4 teams down south with any dosh to spend due to this crisis. They also overpaid on Pepe which has put them up * creek as reported.
     
  19. StevieBhoooy!

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2012
    Messages:
    21,255
    Likes Received:
    24,013
    Are sky still officially barred from CP ?
     
  20. greengrocer

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2009
    Messages:
    21,025
    Likes Received:
    4,581
    Location:
    In grocer shop
    Fav Celtic Player:
    Mjallby, Larsson, Lambert
    Hmmm...aye teams are signing players right now. Good one

    Not to mention the financial black hole the EPL teams are currently under with a possible 750million to be paid back to sky
     
    Gyp Rosetti likes this.