James Forrest

In one way it's a credit to him that hes still having an impact on games and is still creating that buzz in the stands when he gets the ball but in other ways as you say it's a massively damming example of how bad our recruitment has been over last couple of years

 

Never mind Carol. Who the * is Jim??

Jamesey has contributed pretty reliably over the last 3 seasons, and more. He's like Turnbull, an impact sub, just not as slow. Just not a player who should normally start the game.

 

Even at his peak Jamesy was a player that plenty of folk couldn't take to, so no surprise him still being used now is making people uneasy.

Far as I'm concerned he has the quality to contribute and that is what matters. Even next season he'll be a good guy to have around the place.

 

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has confessed he maybe should've utilised "certified winner", James Forrest, more this season.

Forrest, 32, has been restricted to just three starts and 20 substitute appearances. But Celtic's longest-serving player came up with a huge goal during their Scottish Cup semi-final triumph over Aberdeen last weekend.

He leaped off the bench to net his team’s second and played a crucial pass ahead of their third during a pulsating encounter at Hampden Park.

Fellow wide players Liel Abada, Yang Hyun-jun, Mikey Johnston, Nicolas Kuhn, Daizen Maeda and Luis Palma have all started more games throughout the campaign as Rodgers looked towards the future.

But now the Northern-Irishman has acknowledged that he would utilise Forrest more often as he looks to add to his 22 major trophy haul.

“He’s a certified winner, he knows what it takes, and having someone of his ability and stature around the team is very important,” the Celtic boss said ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Premiership trip to face Dundee


I think you’ve seen it in a number of the cameos he’s produced recently.

“He didn’t get so much game time at parts of the season he maybe felt he deserved.

"We were giving other players a chance who were brought in, but longer it goes on you see his qualities and what he brings to the team.


His mindset and the calmness he brings, along with his quality, will be really important for us.

“He’s a remarkable professional. There are times this season where he might have felt like he should have played more, and maybe I should have played him more, I don’t know.

“What I do know is I was never going to rule him out because I know what he gave me (during) my first time here and this time he’s been absolutely brilliant.

“He’ll be an instrumental figure for us, whether that’s off the pitch or on the pitch for us over these closing weeks.”









The Celtic boss dubbed Forrest as Celtic's "best" winger a few weeks ago, which raised some eyebrows considering the 38-time capped Scotland international's game time.

However, Rodgers reckons he still possesses all the key qualities you look for in a footballer.

“I think people were surprised by the fact that I called him the best winger a number of weeks back, but I think you see now what I was meaning – how he looks after the ball, how he takes care of the ball, his game understanding, how he protects it,” he continued.

“He very rarely loses it. He can create goals, he can score goals.

“I think the challenge now for any player as they grow older is the intensity at which the modern game is played, especially in a team where intensity is the demand. That’s how this team works and how my teams have always worked.

“But that doesn’t take away the contribution he can have, whether that’s to start a game or to end a game.

“When I came here the first time and when I left to go to the Premier League, I had no qualms about saying to people that he is arguably the best player I have worked with at receiving the ball on the touchline.



How he takes the ball, his body shape, how he feints when he receives it, whether that’s on the right side or the left side, and that’s something our younger wingers can learn from.

“If you look at some of the goals we gave away last week, it was from creative players giving the ball away. When you have talented players, they have a love of the ball, they keep the ball and that allows your team to move up the pitch.”

 

Aye the presser was basically just all about forrest.
Could maybe find his way to Germany if given game time with the amount of injuries Scotland has

 

With 26 man squad now I wouldn't be surprised if him and Fraser get brought as wingers incase the game needs changing.

 

Was talking about this the other day. Given form he's in and impact he's having on games. Clarke would be daft not taking him. Although no doubt he'll waste a squad place on Greg Taylor.

 

The impact this guy may have made if/when we do a double btw.

Instrumental.

 

Man of the match

 

And again.

 

Saved the day

 

If we win this title, give him another testimonial lol.

 

It's kinda strange, but the snails pace that BR plays at is actually suiting Jamesy.
Doesn't need the pace or running power so much, just a bit of craft that he has in spades.
Delighted for the wee man.

 

Two good goals from a player who has never been fully appreciated by the wider support. Still here, still contributing.

 

Reliance on veteran players.. Hart, now Forrest.

 

Brilliant!