Sky Sports pundit James McFadden had some advice for Celtic in how they should have handled Kelechi Iheanacho’s return from injury after the defeat to Dundee United and it simply did not make sense.
McFadden is a fairly popular pundit amongst the Hoops fans but even when he suggests that Iheanacho should have been told ‘not to run about as much’ during Celtic’s defeat to Dundee United, you know the game has gone.
With seven games to go, every Celtic player has to be all in for the battle and give 100%, but after McFadden’s take on Iheanacho, the Hoops support will be wondering just what he is talking about.
Should Martin O’Neill take some of the blame for the loss to Dundee United?
McFadden says Celtic should have told Kelechi Iheanacho not ‘to run about as much’
Iheanacho’s Celtic return from injury at least eased one of Martin O’Neill’s selection concerns, but McFadden’s advice on how the Hoops boss should have managed the Nigerian striker is simply baffling.
McFadden said on Sky Sports, “Some of the changes I didn’t really understand. I know Iheanacho has not played a lot of football.
When pressed on some of the changes he was talking about, McFadden continued, “I think McGregor, moving Hatate to right-back, Iheanacho when he comes off.
“Yes he’s going to tire, but tell him not to run about as much and still be the focal point, then.
“I actually thought he started the second half pretty bright. He was making runs into the channels, he was holding it up.
“I think you lose quite a bit when he comes off.”
Why McFadden was completely wrong about Celtic’s Iheanacho
Look, we kind of understand what McFadden was trying to suggest, but the Sky Sports pundit actually contradicts himself here.
If the Celtic striker was told not to ‘run about’, then his effectiveness at playing the channels and trying to create an attacking edge would have been null and void.
And if Celtic were to ask a forward to just stand around to be a target man against a side like Dundee United, who haven’t won a game since they beat Wilfried Nancy’s Hoops at Tannadice in December, that simply would not wash with the Parkhead support.
Iheanacho should never have started. Maeda should have been the striker with Sebastian Tounekti used on the left wing.
The Japanese striker would have tired out the United defence and then Iheanacho could have been brought on for the second half, or even the final 30 minutes where his power could and probably would, have broken through one of the worst defences in the league.
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