For the last few weeks, one of the recurring complaints amongst the Celtic fans has been about the form of Scott Brown, with many of the club’s supporters believing the time has come to drop him.
With Brown approaching the end of his career, a lot of fans are wondering if he’s over the hill.
Pundit Tam McManus thinks it’s a combination of his age and the lack of proper training during lockdown that explains his poor displays so far.
The former player-turned-pundit spoke to Brown during the summer when the lockdown had people confined to their homes and players were not allowed to train with their teammates. He said Brown found it particularly difficult not to be training every day, which McManus believes becomes more of a requirement as players age.
Most Celtic fans think it is high time Lennon left Brown out of the side, for the good of the whole club.
https://twitter.com/DBestseventy2/status/1334627304979488772
https://twitter.com/AlanGannon3/status/1334541907192655872
Brown’s even worse mate he needs dropped
— Celtic_bhoy_1888 (@1888_Celticbhoy) December 4, 2020
https://twitter.com/caesarsmum/status/1334866741248339970
Here is Brown’s map for defensive duels- not great locations for a DMF to be losing duels. In addition to that “defending,” neither offered much ball progression or creativity. Throw in Rogic offering little outside of the well taken goal, and the midfield was basically a ghost. pic.twitter.com/IiefAP3Hw9
— jucojames (@jucojames) December 4, 2020
Last night reinforced my belief that McGregor, Christie and Ntcham can’t tackle and can’t really defend (Rogic goes without saying, but at least he’s a genius at times). Brown can’t compensate for them any more.
— Sweetie (@Sweetie44444) December 4, 2020
If we can't give Soro a run out in a dead rubber when can we. Running Brown into ground every few days helps nobody.
— paul steel (@paulsteel30) December 3, 2020
Neil Lennon has a big squad at his disposal, and these supporters would like to see it utilised better, especially as players like Soro and Turnbull aren’t getting as much of a chance.
https://twitter.com/AlanGannon3/status/1334824255482179584
I find Soro even more puzzling. Brown's legs have gone yet he won't play Soro.
— St.Anthony (@Stephen4_2) December 4, 2020
Brown has been such a huge part of Celtic’s success over the last decade, it could be argued that Neil Lennon naturally finds it difficult to consider life without him.
But with the other players available to the manager, Brown’s role could be filled by others.
Most of these Celtic fans think it is time the club started to blood the next generation of players who will be at Parkhead when the captain is gone.