OPINION
Brendan Rodgers must instantly axe Craig Gordon from Celtic’s first-team after the goalkeeper’s poor performance against Hibernian on Saturday.
The 35-year-old had to pick the ball out of his net on two occasions during Saturday’s game as Hibernian secured a 2-1 win over the Hoops in order to delay Brendan Rodgers’ side lifting the league title.
Gordon was beaten twice against Hibs, despite having to hardly make any saves in the game and it was his own fault that he was not able to achieve a clean sheet.
The goalkeeper’s distribution was woeful throughout the match on Saturday, with Gordon’s ability with the ball at his feet once again exposed.
At least of one of Hibernian’s goals against Celtic came as a result of Gordon’s terrible ability to play the ball out from the back, as a weak pass by the goalkeeper put Jack Hendry into trouble, which then led to the goalkeeper being beaten.
Rodgers appears to love goalkeepers that are able to play the ball out from the back, and despite all his efforts, he has not managed to make Gordon adapt to his style of football.
At the age of 35-years-old that’s not going to change, for as the old adage goes, you cannot teach an old dog new tricks.
Therefore Rodgers must bin Gordon from his team for at least the Hoops’ next game against Rangers, as the Bhoys will not want to slip up in anyway against their bitter rivals.
It should be an easy decision for Rodgers to make as Scott Bain is waiting in the wings to take Gordon’s place in the first-team.
The 26-year-old keeper has been nothing but sensational in the four appearances he has made since arriving at Parkhead in January, and is comfortable when distributing the ball – something his counterpart lacks.
So while Gordon has put in some decent performances in the 43 appearances he has made this season, it is time for Rodgers to drop the axe on the veteran goalkeeper.