Nobody is going to deny that Kasper Schmeichel has deserved criticism this season, but at times, it can go too far.
That was proven on Open Goal when Paul Slane suggested that the Celtic goalkeeper is ‘overweight’ amid his poor form.
But Ross McCormack was on hand to defend his former Leeds United teammate by stating he has always been like that throughout his career.
“I know what he is like,” said McCormack. “I have played with him in terms of professionalism and all that. He is meticulous.”
Before Slane responded: “Looks overweight. What professionalism?”
And McCormack added: “He has been like that his whole career.”
But the jibes at the Denmark international didn’t just stop there, because they even wrongly questioned why he hasn’t been starting in recent matches for Celtic.
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Kasper Schmeichel criticism at Celtic is going too far
Schmeichel was on the bench at Ibrox, as Celtic came from 2-0 down to rescue a point against Rangers, as Viljami Sinisalo will keep the gloves for the Aberdeen trip.
Martin O’Neill has confirmed that Schmeichel is absent through illness, despite the Open Goal panel talking nonsense that he ‘chucked it’ against the Gers, and just didn’t want to play.
But now that O’Neill has confirmed the news, it proves that the conversation between the likes of Si Ferry, Slane and Andy Halliday wasn’t acceptable.
Added to that, referring to his weight without knowing any facts is also pretty childish, and thankfully, McCormack was giving a proper insight into what Schmeichel is like because he played with him.
Don’t get it wrong, some of the stuff aimed at the 39-year-old is correct, he is making mistakes, and probably shouldn’t be starting, but there is a way to go about it.
Si Ferry: “Just quickly on the Schmeichel thing. Do you think he was sick (against Rangers)? Or do you think he’s on the bench, and he has chucked it?”
Andy Halliday: “Nae chance he was sick.”
Paul Slane: “Nothing wrong with him. I actually think he has been honking all year.”
Ross McCormack: “I am not willing to say something like that. I know what he is like. I have played with him in terms of professionalism and all that. He is meticulous.”
Slane: “Looks overweight. What professionalism?”
McCormack: “He has been like that his whole career.”
Slane: “I am talking about now at Celtic.”
McCormack: “That’s what I mean. The way he is at Celtic right now, he was like that at Leeds.”
Slane: “And he threw people under the bus all season when he made mistakes.”
Ferry: “Throwing people under the bus in terms of what?”
Slane: “Giving the ball away. Hands up and blames them (his teammates). We have seen it throughout.”
Ferry: “But do we not say now that’s gone from football, and you do need a certain somebody to set the standard if somebody is giving the ball away, you need to get on them, no?”
Slane: “But it’s his fault. He’s giving the ball away. It’s his responsibility. He is one of the experienced players, and you haven’t been a leader this year.”
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