Ross McCormack is unwavering in his assertion that Celtic’s Daizen Maeda is not a central striker.
The Japanese sensation was transferred to the position after Kyogo was sold to Stade Rennais in January, and Celtic reaped significant profits.
Maeda concluded the previous season with 31 goals scored in all competitions, demonstrating a significant improvement in his finishing skills since the Ange Postecoglou era.
The 27-year-old has not been in the best of form to begin the season, and he was unable to score again as Celtic and Rangers were unable to reach a resolution on Sunday.
McCormack contends that Celtic’s Maeda is not a striker.
At Ibrox, Maeda was deployed as the primary striker, with Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Benjamin Nygren on the flanks. This decision served as a definitive indication to McCormack that he is not a central striker.
McCormack, a former Rangers player, was interviewed on the most recent episode of the Open Goal podcast, which also featured Simon Ferry and Paul Slane, two former Celtic players.
Slane: “Do you not find it perplexing that you would not play in behind or down the channels when you have a player like Maeda up front?”
McCormack: “He is not a striker for me.”
Ferry: “I believe he is a striker, but if you play in behind,…” He is exclusively a striker when he is positioned behind the striker.
McCormack: “He is not my friend; he is incapable of kicking the ball accurately.” He is incapable of completing the task or kicking the object accurately.
Ferry: “He scored 34 goals during the previous season.”
McCormack: “I am indifferent, my friend. I am indifferent.” One-on-one finals for the cup? One-on-one with an Old Firm employee? Champions League (against Kairat Almaty)? He is not a striker.
“For me, a striker is an individual on whom one can rely to secure a goal.” What is his identity, then? “Everyone sits deep against Celtic, so what is the purpose of him playing up front?”
Celtic may incur the cost this season.
Celtic are in a precarious position due to Maeda’s disconcerting start to the season, which has resulted in only one goal scored in seven games.
Although Celtic supporters anticipated the signing of a high-quality striker on the transfer deadline day, this did not occur.
Kasper Dolberg supported Ajax, while David Datro Fofana declined a transfer to Celtic from Chelsea in favor of a move to Charlton Athletic, which ultimately failed to materialize.
The Hoops are currently pursuing Kelechi Iheanacho, who was released from his contract by Sevilla. Brendan Rodgers has previously collaborated with the Nigerian at Leicester City.
At present, Celtic’s only recognized central striker options are Shin Yamada, Callum Osmand, and Johnny Kenny.
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