Charlie Mulgrew defends Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda but that will not sit well with Celtic fans

Add as preferred source on Google

In years gone by, Celtic fans have taken great joy in watching Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda work their magic.

But it’s fair to say that hasn’t been the case this season, as the Celtic duo from Japan have looked like the shadow of players who have previously lifted so much silverware.

Charlie Mulgrew thinks a reason behind why Hatate and Maeda have been off colour is because of Celtic’s abject recruitment this season.

“Hatate, he has come into form a wee bit recently,” said Mulgrew.

“But even players like that, Maeda, they need better players to come into the building to make them better and improve the team. That hasn’t been done.”

• READ MORE: Si Ferry raises interesting Celtic point about Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney coaching setup

Who are you picking Celtic fans, and why?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Do Celtic’s proven players need help?

No Celtic fan will disagree that the recruitment has been beyond shocking this season, and it played a huge part in Brendan Rodgers walking out in October the way he did.

For parts of the season, such as the start under Rodgers, can be used as an excuse as to why Hatate and Maeda aren’t performing at their usual best.

But with the now-crucial post-split fixtures around the corner, and you haven’t even had a handful of great performances from the Ange Postecoglou signings, then that’s on the players and the players only.

Yes, Mulgrew’s comments on Open Goal have an element of truth in them, but it’s an excuse that shouldn’t wash with the supporters.

“I think it’s a mixture of everything,” said Mulgrew. “The players aren’t great. The players who have been signed haven’t helped that are there.

“Players like Callum McGregor need help. Players like Alistair Johnston being injured, so the likes of Scales needs help. I thought Scales was brilliant at the start of the season. These players need to be helped, and they haven’t been helped.

“Hatate, he has come into form a wee bit recently, but even players like that, Maeda, they need better players to come into the building to make them better and improve the team. That hasn’t been done.

“So, you are now relying on the same old players.”

How have Hatate and Maeda been rated this season?

One of the frustrations of watching Hatate play is that you know what he is capable of when he turns the screw and performs at his best.

Only recently, during Celtic’s two Ibrox visits, he proved that, but it was probably the first time this season you had seen anything meaningful from the player.

That’s probably why Hatate has a rating below seven by WhoScored, Sofascore and Fotmob this season:

Then you have Maeda; it needs to be remembered that he is Scotland’s PFA Player of the Year.

You have to question: How much of Maeda wanting to leave in the summer has played a part in this decline, because it has been sad to witness.

• Maeda’s WhoScored rating in the Premiership: 6.75
• Maeda’s Sofascore rating in the Premiership: 6.64
• Maeda’s Fotmob rating in the Premiership: 7.07