Scott Brown is the captain of the good ship Celtic
He brings good staring credentials
As we all know, Scott Brown was transferred from Celtic during the January transfer window and the midfielder is now looking forward to a relegation dogfight at the wrong end of the English Premier League.
However, away from the warped reality that Keith Jackson and Jim Traynor live in, Scott Brown has just been made Celtic captain by Tony Mowbray. Perhaps this is the decision that the player and manager had a meeting about a few weeks back?
Okay, less of the journo baiting and back to the news in question, is this a good decision?
Celtic fans have yet to see the best of Scott Brown and there is an argument that if Mowbray wanted to see the best of Brown, it was not the captains armband he should have been given, it was a Scotland top.
It has been a tough few years for Broony, no one will deny that but the number of Celtic fans who don’t believe the player has what it takes is growing and there are a number of reasons for this.
Firstly, when he played for Hibs, you could rely on Brown to play well against Celtic. His style of pressing and determination works well against a side with a lot of possession and his breaks from midfield could work well against a team that would press onto their opposition.
Therefore, Brown is a good player to play against Celtic but maybe not so good to play for Celtic.
In the hoops, Brown is the player being pressed hard and he comes up against opposition defences which sit deep, making it harder for an on-rushing midfielder to make an impact.
Brown has also showed a lack of ability to control the ball in vital times and his passing range doesn’t usually differentiate much from blooter.
There is no doubt that a fit and on form Scott Brown can be one of the best players in the SPL but the question remains whether Brown can be that man at Celtic.
It also asks the question; how Celtic will line up?
Tony Mowbray has usually been sticking to a 4-4-2 formation with two wide men leaving the two middle players fairly exposed. Hibs and Kilmarnock in recent midweeks have worked out that the middle players can be swamped which enables opposition teams to prevent Celtic from dominating.
If Mowbray sticks to his 4-4-2, will N’Guemo partner Brown? Does this mean Ki Sung Yueng will be forced into a wide position? If so, does it mean that McGeady, McGinn and when fit, Maloney are all fighting for one creative wide spot?
Does it mean that Mowbray will be looking to change his tactics and have a 3 in the middle?
With six strikers to choose from and try to keep happy (and with his wages, you can’t see Robbie Keane sitting on the bench), making Brown the captain and you would think an automatic starter, Tony Mowbray may have created some more problems for himself.
Would Scott Brown be your Celtic captain?
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A fit Scott Brown, mentally and physically, is a tremendous asset to any team. He hasn’t been completely fit, one way or another, since joining Celtic.
We’ve been criticised for a lack of fight/dig/application/add your own Scottish adjective here, and he’ll add that to a midfield three. He’ll do best with N’guemo mopping up and either Ki or Crosas spraying the passes. He’ll get beyond the strikers as well.
The defence is another matter.
Scott Brown as Captain has disaster written all over it. Not the sharpest button in the box, I think the job is way too big for someone of his stature in the game. He has been struggling to find the form that saw Celtic splash a very large fee in the direction of Easter Rd. Perhaps it will be the making of the man, can’t see it myself. For me Mowbray is placing a helluva pressure on the lad now not only to galvanise and lead the team, but also add bite to a midfield that’s been bossed all season, due to tactics, poor selection and loss of form.
Now Mr Ed, I know you don’t ahve much time for Jingle Jangle but c’mon, Celtic threatened legal action on this one and have went very quiet on that front. Why if they were 100% sure of their side of the story, did they not follow it up and give the Record one helluva bloody nose? My mole tells me that Jingle Jangle has a tape of Brown (remember him of the dull button variety) spilling his guts, that’s why.
If I were to pick a captain for Celtic, I would have a very hard job on my hands. Who is the natural choice really? Perhaps through time the Hoidveld chap might be the answer, but it’s too soon. I mentioned this on another article and it’s probably one of the biggest reasons that Celtic find themselves 10 points adrift, no leadership in the team.
Celtic said they were seeking legal advice…a shot across the bough as it were.
Both parties need to have a relationship – as much as they would like that to not be the case – so it was probably a bit of muscle flexing from both parties. The Records climb down from day 1 and their belief that Brown was for the off to Day 2′s aye, err, could go could indicate that they werent 100% convinced…but you would say it wasnt a completely baseless story.
Celtic absolutely lack leaders and that is something that can definitely be laid at Strachans door. He was not a man for having personalities and leaders in a dressing, good team mates maybe but someone to drag a team up by the bootlaces…no.
In the game v Kilmarnock, it was very noticable there was no Roy Aitken like leader to shake Celtic to life, no one wanting to take any responsibility – no one would say Aitken was a classy or skilful player but he had a big heart.