Scott Brown’s career is certainly one to look back on with pride, but to say he’s done is kneejerk nonsense.
The Hoops captain has done it all at Parkhead. He’s dominated Glasgow derbies, won seven-titles in-a-row, and led the Hoops to back-to-back trebles. He’ll be a legend when he decides to hang up his boots, and his place in Celtic folklore is secured.
Yet, his display in yesterday’s Rangers clash at Ibrox was one of the worst performances he’s ever had at the club. How incredible it is when you consider it was only earlier this year he was dancing around the same ground and bossing many of the same players.
Plenty of supporters have used the contest yesterday to come out now and claim that he’s done.
A prolonged spell out of the team has been followed by Brendan Rodgers trying to shoehorn him into the last week’s two big away days. He was decent enough at Pittodrie in Celtic’s 4-3 win. Yesterday, however, will forever be one to forget for the Hoops captain.
He was stumbling over the ball on the rare occasions he had it. And if he wasn’t doing that, he was releasing some dreadful passes to his team-mates. He even lost many of the usual 50-50 duels that he usually bosses in these fixtures.
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Brown deserves more respect and opportunities
Many of the Celtic supporters will have seen the Scott Arfield photo of him imitating the “Broony” celebration in front of Brown. It was a horrible image for Celtic fans to look at, and it symbolised to many a player who’s coming to the end of his Celtic legacy.
Yet, in reality, this was simply a poor performance from a player who’s been out the side for too long.
To say Brown is on the downward trend just because he didn’t perform at Ibrox is nonsensical. Many will point to his inconsistency this season, but much of his season has been broken up by injury.
Had Brown been in the team week-in, week-out since the start of the season, he would’ve been much cleaner yesterday. All we saw yesterday, however, was a player still looking to find some form after returning from injury.
Too many are using Brown’s age against him here. If the Celtic captain is still performing as poorly in several months’ time, then fair enough. But at Brown’s age, it’s difficult when you consider his game to expect him to come in fleetingly.
The Celtic captain deserves the chance to win over his doubters again. And if given the chance, he most definitely will.