Best Striker at the Club?

Who do people feel our best option up the top is?

Anthony Stokes


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7GpciiRcTs"]Anthony Stokes goal against Hibs - YouTube[/ame]

Stokes is a player who seems to frustrate many, personally my favourite and in my opinion, the best striker at the club. A man that is clearly not comfortable of the role of being the focal point in the attack he does however have a very important role in the squad - at least he did under Neil Lennon - he can drop deep and link up the play, his composure and skill on the ball is second to none within the club, his aptitude at pulling off a spectacular pass or something out of the blue is his best attributes for me. A steady goalscorer and a very steady creative man, he has a bit of it all. At 25 years old there is still room for growth in his play and I hope Ronny Delia can bring that out in him in spades.

His biggest weakness for me, despite him proving his scoring prowess and his propensity to set up his teammates his decision making can leave much to be desired, sometimes a bit greedy when shooting, sometimes far too selfless when setting up a teammate. There is room for growth there but far and away the best striker at the club at the moment for me. The position he plays is the one most likely to be surplus to requirements when it comes to Europe, can he prove himself indispensable on the big games?

Leigh Griffiths


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3Il3MILJgc"]Leigh griffiths goal Celtic v hearts - YouTube[/ame]

Leigh Griffiths is a player who seems to be a bit of a buzzbomb, enjoys the hard work and shutting players down, likes to make a nuisance of himself, knows where the back of the net is. Griffiths was in fantastic form after joining in Christmas, with the only downsides to his brief spell so far being off field behavior. Despite being very left footed he has shown that he is willing to go on his right when need be, again at 23 there is loads of scope and time to improve.

The biggest downside to his game or at least for a man in his position is some of the glaring opportunities he does miss glaring opportunities and his habit of being caught in situations not becoming of a professional footballer off the field. In Europe, you need to make sure of that one opportunity that comes your way, Griffiths so far, while having a good goal scoring record, does seem hit and miss infront of goal. Of course, if he doesn't shape up off the pitch, he won't get the time on the pitch.

Teemu Pukki

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJJVy__7Q64"]Finnish hitman Pukki smashes in great goal - YouTube[/ame]

Pukki as a player is a bit of a mystery to me, he seems to have ability and the roaster of clubs that have took a chance on him seems to back that up, having played previously at prestigious clubs such as Schalke and Sevilla. He is tidy on the ball, can unleash a ferocious shot, is quite quick and can finish at some very tidy angles. He hasn't shown it consistently at all at Celtic so far, finishing his first season with 7 goals, the best of his play came in his first two matches and then again after Christmas, where his place in the team was almost gone.

There is something there in Pukki as a player but I don't think I would be too sad to see him leave and again I wouldn't be unhappy at seeing him stay, confidence is the key for Pukki, if Ronny can bring it out of him fair play because there is ability hiding in him.

Amido Balde

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36K7Ej1sruE"]Partick Thistle Vs Celtic 1-2 Amido Balde GOAL - YouTube[/ame]

Balde is the man who needs the most work done, he is an imposing figure at 6'4 and he certainly knows how to throw his weight about, a surprisingly deft touch on the ball at times and likes to run at people with the ball, throughout the year the one on one work with Balde has been focused on the most, his link up play rose steadily in the small glimpses we got to see. Similar to Pukki he hasn't done much to show us what he can do competitively, however his appearances in the tournaments in Turkey and his lone role up front against Liverpool (again a friendly) were eyecatching.

Again though, there is a lot of work to be done with Amido, he is in every word the summation of the word raw. With his stature, his pace and his finishing ability we could have a very good player on our hands if we smooth out the rough edges. The time afforded to do that is generally not offered at Celtic, a loan move may be the best answer for the big man.

Tony Watt

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sizk1eiLSf8"]Tony Watt Goal v Barcelona - Celtic 2-1 Barcelona - YouTube[/ame]

What other goal would you show for Tony? The Barcelona goal is the standout of his career so far and it has threatened to overshadow him at times. Tony Watt is the most promising striker I have witnessed breaking through the ranks at a Scottish club, bar none (might mention I'm a tad too young for the Kenny Dalglish's and co). He is quick, he is powerful, he is skillful, he makes clever runs, he never stops working on the pitch, closing down players, generally wanting to win. Other players don't seem to phase him, whether it is superstar Catalan's or lowly St Mirren, Watt is 100% all the time... on the pitch...

Off the pitch is Tony's biggest problem, fresh from returning from a turbulent time in Belgium were he had bust ups with his manager Stanley Menzo, both Neil Lennon and his Scotland manager, ex-Celtic man Billy Stark both criticised his work ethic on the training field. As a very young bhoy there is plenty of time for the lesson to sink in, as again, in a very competitive league in Belgium, with a poor team, he impressed. Ripping apart the likes of Anderlecht.

Tony Watt's potential is frightening if he puts the work in, he is not yet up there as one of our best players though, I hope f he screws the nut and puts the work in by this time next year he will be.


There are others in the squad that may push for a place such as Holmbert Fridjohnsson and Bahrudin Atajić, above are the main challengers though, who do you believe at this moment is our main men to lead us into next season and beyond? Who will suit Delia's philosophy and kick Celtic onto the next level?

 

Don't know

I'll wait and see for Griffiths and Watt to be properly tested in Europe

Only considering domestically then I'd say Griffiths

 

Any particular reason why? I was heavily outperformed by Stokes at the end of the season, from the minute he came in, Stokes was the main man upfront?

 

Tony Stokes and it's not even close.

Good post that Dev.

 

Good thread this Dev, fair play. Could have tossed a coin between Stokes & Griffiths....I think Griffiths - as long as he doesn't end up getting the chop for * in Collins' porridge bowl or whatever he has planned up his sleeve to get in to trouble next - has potential to be top scorer up here, and by some distance.

 

Stokes at the moment. Watt has the ability although I dont think he will make it with us. Would love to be proved wrong.

 

Stokes right now, Griffiths or Watt could potentially be better.

We will see though, I'm inclined to think that Griffiths is the more likely of the two to surpass Stokes, again we shall see.

Nice detailed post btw

 

I see Griffiths as a proper striker and Stokes as a drifter or more of a wide man so I went for Griffiths, but with CL qualification fast approaching having to toss a coin between Stokes and Griffiths being our best striker is frightening.

 

None of them are particularly good. They're good enough to do the necessary domestically but not one of them would fill me with any confidence if they played up front in the Champions League.

 

Nothing special about any of them.

But of a bad bunch, probably Thumb.

 

Stokesy .

 

Griff.

 

Why is there no option for Stevie May?

 

Watt

 

Griffiths.


Stokes never 'heavily' outperformed Griffiths.

Agree. A would be worried if we went into the CL with either these guys as the main man.

 

Tony Watt will deliver in Europe for us this season under Ronny.

 

He outscored him, set up more goals, never got dropped once and in general got involved in the play, playing better.

He was much better.

 

Stokes was in a bar in belfast at the weekend. He was * on the aftershocks. Most worrying off all was he was carrying a gut on him

 

* knew it! Griffiths ya thumby *!


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