Former Celtic player Davie Provan has called on Neil Lennon to add experience to his first-team squad, claiming he feels sorry for captain Scott Brown after last week’s defeat to Rangers, writing in his Scottish Sun column.
As we know, the Bhoys turned in a rather dismal performance in last week’s derby, founding wanting in most areas of the pitch.
Not many players got pass marks for their performance, but Provan thinks that Brown stood out as one of our big stars on the day.
The Sky Sports pundit now thinks that the 34-year-old needs far more experience around him moving forward into the rest of the campaign, claiming experienced professionals coming in could provide a big boost to Lennon’s dressing room.
As quoted by The Scottish Sun, Provan said: “Surrounded by younger team-mates, the veteran was left playing Rangers on his own at times. Listen, I’ve never been in the fan club but I felt sorry for the 34-year-old last Sunday.
“Celtic’s obsession with buying potential to be sold for profit leaves Brown carrying the team. No disrespect to youngsters like Kris Ajer and Jeremie Frimpong but Brown needs help from older heads.
“Now and again you have to buy the finished article. Someone who can come straight into the team and improve it. A Lubo Moravcik, Paul Lambert, Chris Sutton type. Those kind of signings give the entire dressing room a lift.”
This Celtic team packed with winners
While the idea of signing real experience during this January transfer window shouldn’t be dismissed, Provan fails to recognise that this current Celtic team is already full of players who have experienced great success at Celtic Park.
Callum McGregor and James Forrest are both ‘treble treble’ veterans while others such as Fraser Forster and Christopher Jullien are both senior professionals too.
It’s true we have some young players still learning their trade in the team, but that’s been the case at Celtic for years and it hasn’t halted our progress over the last decade.
If anything players like Odsonne Edouard, Kieran Tierney and Moussa Dembele have been a massive benefit.
Celtic shouldn’t be throwing out their entire signing strategy because of one match, so I think Provan is perhaps barking up the wrong tree here.
There are some issues that need to be resolved at Celtic Park, but there’s no reason to abandon what’s brought us here and allowed us to experience incredible success.
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