Leigh Griffiths

Without doubt

 

Having concerns over their ability is hardly slandering them and given that all three are vying for the backup spot behind Edouard, it’s unsurprising that people draw comparisons. I’d have concerns over their ability even if Griffiths had come back fully fit and raring to go, so I don’t think your logic is sound here.

People always go on about giving players a chance or a run of games. I think fans just saying they deserve a chance is usually a lot of pish. Their main chance to impress and earn a spot is in training, which Klimala has done enough of to play in pre-season. Then they’re judged on their games. Thus far, neither Klimala or Bayo look good enough in my humble opinion. I’m certain I’m not alone in that train of thought. If they perform well then obviously opinion will shift.

Klimala has put the work in and has earned a chance in pre-season, but he hasn’t been particularly impressive, even if you take the quality of opposition into consideration. He doesn’t look particularly good on the ball, and in Scotland he’ll need to improve his link up play especially with his back to goal. He made some good runs off the ball in recent games but he also appears to lack that striker’s instinct that Griffiths has. His only goal has come from a goalie howler. I’ll be delighted if one of them turns out to be good enough but so far I just can’t see it. Also, what if they’re still * after a run of games with no goals? Do you still persist with them when we need to win every game. Of course you don’t. The ‘run of games’ thing only works if they start performing well.

To the contrary, I very quickly thought Edouard had more potential than Dembele and was one of the first to say as much. I think that in general, a player’s quality shows early. There are exceptions, but how many strikers that have looked unconvincing to begin with, have went on to be regular goalscorers for us? Not many. There are players who come in and you see their progression over a period of time (e.g. McGregor), but even with those types of players you can very quickly identity several positive attributes to their game. Then there’s players such as Dembele who you see a lot of quality in straight away and their progress is fast. I can’t honestly say I think Klimala or Bayo easily fit into either category there.

Klimala is 22 is 10 days, Bayo is already 23 (24 in January). Edouard, age 22, is lightyears ahead and has made huge strides forward to the point most expect him to beat Tierney’s record selling fee when he goes. Yet huge question marks still remain over Bayo and Klimala at a similar age with not a huge amount of development left in them. They’re getting close to the general age where most players are as good as they’re ever going to be.

 

Bayo has been a Celtic player for a year and a half, and has played 365 minutes of competitive football. That should tell you everything that you need to know.

 

Griff to get a game vs hibs according to the record

 

Griffiths trained with Neil Lennon's squad on Thursday and Friday after being dumped for trips to Loughborough and France.

Leigh Griffiths is back in the Celtic fold – and could be unleashed against his old side Hibs on Sunday.

Mail Sport understands the striker trained with the first team squad on Thursday and Friday after being left out of the group that spent two weeks in Loughborough and France.


Griffiths was blasted by boss Neil Lennon for letting his fitness slip during lockdown and warned to shape up if he was to have a future at Parkhead.

But the 29-year-old has rejoined the main side on their return to Lennoxtown and he is now set to get the opportunity to redeem himself ahead of the new Premiership campaign.
Celtic face Hibs at Parkhead this afternoon – and have lined up another bounce game on home soil against Motherwell tomorrow – as they step up their preparations for the big kick-off against Hamilton on Sunday.

Lennon is expected to give his star turns more vital minutes – but there will be chances for others to stake their claims.

 

and while that is not a large sample to judge on he has not impressed me any time he has played. I will take Griffiths any day of the week over Bayo.

 

LEIGH Griffiths has been taken back into the Celtic first -team training fold but it remains to be seen what the judgement is on his fitness levels.

The 29-year-old has trained with the rest of the senior squad since their return from a pre-season tournament in France this week.

Celtic play Ross County this afternoon and Hibs tomorrow in hastily arranged friendly games ahead of the season kicking off next Sunday against Hamilton Accies. One of Neil Lennon’s reasons for not including the striker in his squad for the training camp at Loughborough University and the trip to France to play in the Veolia tournament was an assessment that he was miles off match fitness.


Griffiths also missed last week’s friendly against Paris Saint-Germain in the Parc des Princes as Celtic lost 4-0.

Lennon did not mince his words in the aftermath of the decision to leave Griffiths at home while the senior side stepped up their preparations for the season kicking off. The Parkhead manager made his anger clear and while he stopped short of saying that he had finally lost patience with the 29-year-old, he did insist that he needed to “get his head down.”


Griffiths has stayed off social media since Lennon criticised his reaction to being left back at Lennoxtown – the striker had used his Instagram

account to post a lengthy

motivation quote from the 2006 movie Rocky Balboa about

rising up – but whether there has been a shift in fitness in the last fortnight to get him up to speed with the rest of the squad will be revealed in Lennon’s team selection this afternoon and tomorrow.

 

griffiths must of had some week as lennon said he had a lot to do to get back around it

 

Thats encouraging news.

 

Just so frustrating because if he's mentally and physically in the right place he's such a good player and a natural goalscorer. Would be such a waste of talent if he doesn't get back to it, missing out on his peak years

 

Him and Eddie were and would continue to rip Scottish football a new *. There are obviously better strikers than Griff but a partnership is hugely valuable and that’s what they’ve got. Hope it continues

 

Manager Lennon Leigh Griffiths , 29 Behind when the side went to play Nice, Lyon and Paris St-Germain.

The Scotland international has scored 115 goals in 231 appearances for Celtic.

"I gave him a bit of criticism while I was away," Lennon said after Sunday's 2-0 friendly win against Ross County.

"He's got himself in great condition. He needs a little bit of time in terms of his football. He will get some game time tomorrow [against friendly opponents Hibernian].

"It's a great boost. It's the minimum requirement. He's got himself to a really good level, so it's important he maintains that because he will be an asset for us."

 

Good to hear he is back in the fold

 

Panic over.

Where are the doubters?

Oh aye, banned.

 

Neil Lennon insists Leigh Griffiths is in "great condition" as he heaped praise on the striker's push to regain fitness.


The Celtic boss heavily criticised his player for slipping out of shape after leaving him out of pre-season trips to Loughborough and Lyon.

Griffiths did not feature in Sunday's friendly win over Ross County but Lennon is delighted with his efforts in getting up to speed.


The manager had "nothing but praise" for the way the 29-year-old has responded.

Griffiths is now set to feature in Monday's friendly clash against his former club Hibs.

"I gave him a bit of criticism while I was away," Lennon said.

He's got himself in great condition. He needs a little bit of time in terms of his football. He will get some game time tomorrow.





It's a great boost. It's the minimum requirement. He's got himself to a really good level, so it's important he maintains that because he will be an asset for us."

 

Great news.

 

To be fair, not much has changed. He still came back out of shape.

Glad he’s eventually put the work in but it’s hardly a cause for gloating. Hopefully shows up well tomorrow and is ready for Hamilton.

 

I thought Griff was "fat as *" . Read it on here.