James Forrest

Forrest has done well to play as many games as he's done at Celtic in his career. A decent squad player but he other than an 18 month spell under Rodgers I have never felt he's been good enough as a starter. He can be extremely brainless and I think the fact that he still has to move his whole body shape to touch the ball with his right at 34 is damning on the coaching qualities at our club.

His record for us in Europe and derby games is very poor.

14 goals in 118 games in Europe: Attached is the breakdown

1 goal v Cliftonville in ECL qualifier
1 goal v Karagandy in ECL qualifier
1 goal (penalty) v Ajax in ECL
1 goal v Rosbenborg in ECL qualifier
1 goal v Astana in ECL qualifier
2 goals v Alashkert in ECL qualifier
2 goals v Cluj in ECL qualifier
2 goals v AIK Solna in EL qualifier
1 goal v Lazio in EL qualifier
2 goals v FK Jablonec in ECL qualifier

Only 2 of Forrest's goals in Europe have game post qualification and one of those was a penalty. So in 14 years of playing European football for Celtic as a winger, Forrest has one goal from play in the group stage onwards. The same amount as Mikey Johnston.

He must have played close to 50 derby games for us and I can only remember 2 goals from him in those games, the 5-0 rout in 2018 and he got a late winner at Celtic Park the season Lennon took the reigns from Rodgers.

Other than an 18 month spell under Rodgers he has not been good enough to hold down a regular spot here. He has the same amount of goals against Rangers as Greg Taylor.

 

Love the guy and he's a Celtic legend but he simply cannot be considered a starter for us going forward and tbh it's been that way since the end of 23/24.

Can still offer something as impact sub against tiring defenders but that's it.

 

He’s got 110 goals and 110 assists in 532 games for us.

He’s a club legend and any slander of him in the past is simply embarrassing.

He’s not good enough now, he’s been past it for a few years for me. But slandering his entire Celtic career? Nah. Especially the effort you go to with your wee ChatGPT posts. Hunnish behaviour.

 

Do you have any comment on how he has only 1 goal from open play in European football proper in 14 seasons and 2 goals in what must be close to 50 derbies?

It's clear you have an axe to grind with me as I showed you up on the nonsense you were talking elsewhere as you seem to be stalking me around the forum and getting very hostile with me in a number of threads - you wanted the only thread I started on here locked and you are now calling me hunnish because I cited some very underwhelming statistics on Forrest. Play the man and not the ball - that's the hunnish behaviour.

I would say a 1 in 5 scoring rate for a Celtic winger is on the low side.

Here are some comparatives, obviously a per 90 min ratio would be much more reliable:

Jota - 33 goals in 99 games (1 in 3)
Maeda - 63 goals in 162 games (1 in 2.5 games)
Kuhn - 24 goals in 69 games (1 in 2.875 games)
Abada - 29 goals in 112 games (1 in 3.8 games)
Sinclair - 62 goals in 172 games (1 in 2.77 games)
Roberts - 18 goals in 79 games (1 in 4.38 games)
Elyonoussi - 25 goals in 66 games (1 in 2.64 games)
Mikey Johnston - 13 goals in 93 games (1 in 7.15 games)
Yang - 7 goals in 68 games (1 in 9.71 games)

 

Last night was as poor as ive seen him, albeit he nearly sneaked a goal. Looked like a shell.

 

He should only be an impact player, which I still think he cam be valuable to us, but no way should he be starting games like this.

 

Currently our best winger and he's half the player he used to be and he can't play 90mins.

Let that sink in to show how much we are being * over.

 

Maybe it’s because every thread you’re in, you’re talking utter *.

As soon as someone challenges you, you ignore them. You’re a troll. You bring absolutely nothing to this forum, I’m * bored of you.

You’re using stats to make Scales look better than he is. You’re using stats to put down Forrest’s entire career. It’s strange.

You’ve got no idea what you’re talking about. Forrest played his entire career here, as a young player developing and now as an older less effective one. Comparing his career to players who were here 1, 2, 3 seasons is stupid. You use and twist stats as and when needed, as I said… strange.

Get a hobby.

 

Thats the reality of it right there. I am a big Forrest fan and he will go down as a Celtic great when he retires and rightly so. But the fact that he started last night and we all knew he more then likely would says it all about how the board has failed and hamstrung the team going into such a big tie.

 

I made a statement of complete and utter fact. Forrest has scored 2 goals in 50 odd Glasgow derbies. Forrest has scored 1 goal from play in European competition proper which was against Lazio in 2019.

You're an abusive little coward. I am not a troll, I have my opinions and I can stand behind them. You on the other hand are stalking me from around and firing abuse at me if. If you are not man to debate the issue then say nothing.

Did you ever wonder why Forrest played his entire career here? Did we ever reject a big bid? Did he ever turn down a more lucrative move. This is a winger who has 1 goal from open play in European proper competitions in about 50 games, a winger who has 2 goals v Rangers in about 50 games. A winger with 39 caps for Scotland who made his debut in 2011 and has scored the only goals for his country in a 5 day spell in 2 games with a hat trick v Israel and 2 v Albania. In the other 37 appearances for Scotland he failed to score a single goal.

None of that is slander, they are statements of fact and if you can't handle those facts and if you are unwilling to debate like an * then take your petted lip off the floor and ask your Mammy for some cuddles. I don't want to listen to a slabberer like you with nothing of substance to say. Debate the issue or don't but your abuse and insults add absolutely nothing.

Is 1 goal from open play in European football proper in 17 seasons the benchmark for you from our wingers?
Is 2 goals from open play in around 50 derby games in 17 seasons the benchmark for you for our wingers?

I feel as if they are derisory returns and that's why I've never really rated Forrest. You can't address that issue and resort to abuse, reflects very poorly on your character.

 

A decent sub to bring on and has done reasonably well from the bench this past few years, not his fault he had to start recently. But he was so predictable last night, kept cutting back inside and into traffic, just does not seem capable of skinning his man on the outside these days.

 

Exactly, is it his fault he’s still playing for us? Same with Scales, Ralston, Yang, Idah. They are either just about done or not good enough.

 

Its his age. Hes lost the initial spring to his step. He'll be fast still at top speed, just without the initial 5 yard burst that beats players. Type of player we should use on sat to give the guys a rest for Tuesday. No be the one needing a rest.

 

“I have my opinions”.

“None of that is slander, they are statements of fact”.

You need to proof read your posts.

Here’s a stat for you, there’s 1 * in this forum with a 100% bullshit record and 0% useful contribution.

It’s you if you’re wondering. Respond to what people actually tell you instead of repeating yourself, nobody gives a *.

 

I’d rest him against Livi, and due to lack of other options I’d start Nygren on the right.

 

Yang will start next 2 i think. His performances against falkirk and kairat off the bench will get him back in i think. Not sure if it will be forrest or idah to make way though.

There was a sense of idah being done being hooked at the break and not even getting 60mins

 

Saying he has scored one goal from open play in European competition proper in 17 seasons is a statement of fact. I don't what part of that you dispute.

From checking back, he has two derby goals to his name in 17 seasons. In that time we must have played Rangers 60+ times. If he's played in 75% of those he is close to 50 derby appearances.

There you are with the abuse again but seeing as you've opened the door to that let me tell you this.

When somebody has an opinion different to your is does not mean they are talking * or nonsense. When somebody is able to stick to the points being discussed without having to resort to insults and abuse and instead substantiate their opinions and offer a basis and rationale for them, that's further proof they are not taking nonsense.

When confronted with this scenario and all you can put forward is to tell the person giving their opinion in a civil manner and explaining why they feel that way and who actually are able to offer examples and incidents that support that argument, you resort to abuse. It might mean that you are the *. It might also mean you're a simpleton which is borne out the abusive laden drivel you spout on this board.

People will agree with me and people will agree with you but as you're a petulant little child you can't handle the real life scenarios us adults deal with.

 

Still a very useful player off the bench, as he showed repeatedly last season. But he should be our 4th or 5th wing option, not the best right winger in the squad.