Celtic's Odsonne Edouard feeling the Samaras effect

By Connor Gordon

October 23, 2018

After one imposing year, Odsonne Edouard has become Celtic’s number one striker. And fans are starting to notice similarities with former cult hero Georgios Samaras.

The loanee turned £9million buy from Paris Saint Germain this season arguably hasn’t proven to be worth his massive value.

With only four league goals this season he is playing catch up to last season’s eight playing second fiddle to Moussa Dembele.

Another player with a similar goal ratio when he arrived was Greek forward Georgios Samaras who also came originally as a loanee from modern money giant, Manchester City.

Samaras left Manchester City once the big bucks came to the club. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Like Edouard, Samaras burst onto the scene with an impressive half season. His performances earned him a permanent contract at Celtic.

The Greek went on to blow hot and cold for the rest of his Celtic career. He would score 73 goals in all competitions but became a cult hero for important goals and playing style.

Different routes the key to Edouard success

Edouard has that similar playing style to Samaras already yet they are completely on different paths at Celtic.

Edouard has arrived at Celtic with raw talent and with Brendan Rodgers’ guidance he can harness his array of talents.

Samaras arrived more complete and experienced having played with Herenveen and Man City.

Similarities in their playing styles include being a menacing presence up front and using their bodies to wriggle free of their opponent.

(photo by Vagelis Georgariou/Action Plus via Getty Images)

Both also have had to compete for the main striker role, with Edouard already beating Samaras in that regard, but also as a wide attacking player.

This worked out much better for Samaras as he used his superior pace and experience to make the role work for him.

Edouard wasn’t as impressionable but still utilised his task and was scorer turned provider for Dembele before he left.

Burst through and side foot the way to score

Where both players are glaringly similar is that they are confidence players. When they are both going through the motions, they use their momentum to push themselves on.

Their shooting styles when through on goal are practically the same with the late opening on the side of the foot to glide ball into the net.

Both players did and do frustrate when not playing their usual game and the two players have went through goal droughts in their time at Parkhead.

Moussa Dembele has hit the ground running in Ligue 1 with Olympique Lyonnais. (PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP/Getty Images)

What Edouard has is time on his hands.

However, he needs to heed Rodgers’ advice and guidance in order to get there and show why he is the best young player the manager has ever worked with.