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| How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maloney? |
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| Written by Eeramacaroonbar |
| Monday, 13 June 2011 22:47 |
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What I couldn't accept , were the folk who questioned his ability, for me this was never in doubt. I think the first 5 games of the season put that nonsense to bed, as he was arguably our most consistent and effective performer. Maloney on his day is sensational, he has two great quick feet, a terrific burst of pace and is composed and clinical in the final third. He links up well with teammates and is a very intelligent player. I often argued with many a Celtic fan about how his decision making and end product were far more consistent and superior to McGeady's.He always knew when to pass and when to dribble unlike McGeady's head down and run into a "cul-de -sac" approach. Sure on his off days the game passes him by and he offers very little defensively, but just like Commons he is a match winner, and can play in several positions. This alone is a very valuable commodity when you are chasing the game and the manager is looking to freshen things up and change formation and tactics.Some will agree with that summation of Maloney's attributes, some won't. What no-one can argue about though is how easily he gets injured. The innocuous nature and regularity of these injuries is truly astonishing. I seen him get an eye-injury in the first Old Firm game of the season, and as he was coming off you could see the swelling on his eye appear. I was wanting him to do a Rocky Balboa - come to the side lines and say "cut me" then go charging back out. Fair enough it could have been the doctors orders that forced him off, but you just knew as soon as he started running towards the bench that his game was over. He seemed to want to come off There was a lot of talk in recent years that his injuries might have more to do with his mental rather than physical state. I could see the reasoning in that, as at one stage it was just one niggling injury after the next with him being out for months at a time. Like Phil O'Donnell (RIP) I just think his body is not designed for modern day football. While O'Donnell was all skin and bone, Maloney seems to be quite stocky for a wee guy and this combined with his explosive pace seem to cause him all sorts of problems whether it be his hamstrings or tendinitis. However we analyse it though - the simple fact remains that he is one of the top earners at the club and he can barely last half a season. For a guy on 20k plus a week, this cannot be allowed to continue. At the start of this article I stated it was a tough one, but when you actually weigh it all up, it really isn't at all. He needs to be moved on. With the signing of Commons and the emergence of Forrest and McCourt in recent seasons , there is ample cover, so it is just a case of freeing up considerable wages. This is easier said than done however, as he still has a year left to run of his contract. You have to wonder who would be willing to spend money on someone who has rarely been fit in the last 3 years and who is on such decent wages. It may well be that no-one comes in for him and we would have to keep him for another season before releasing him. This would be a strain on the resources, but I think there will be a lot of players leaving Celtic this summer, so this could maybe offset it. I would love nothing better than for Maloney to have another season like he did in 2005-06 when he was the first player in Scotland to win both the Young Players and Player of the Year Awards at the same time. He scored 16 goals that year and had 28 assists and also managed to avoid injury. I fear though that even a season like that would still not be enough to convince folk that he is worth a new deal. I was gutted when he left in January 2007. I got the impression that he wanted to stay, but Celtic were playing hardball, and his agent also seemed to be bending his ear. In the end it seemed he left over what. I suspect to him, seemed like a matter of principle as the reported difference in wages he was receiving from Villa and what we offered was not that big. After a few months, I think he realised he had made a big mistake and admitted as much upon his return. What I could not get when he came back was the folk (just like the ones who doubted his ability at the start of last season) who said they did not want him. Fair enough they seem to be vindicated given what has transpired in the last few seasons , but their reasoning was not based on his footballing ability , it was based on the fact that he turned his back on Celtic. I have no time for this sentimental nonsense these days, maybe in the seventies and early eighties there was this player - club bond, but the cold fact is that in modern day football all the players care about is No 1. It is a short career, and the money involved can see you set for life , which is no bad thing given the intelligence of some of them. People need to get with the times, and realise that no matter how much they kiss the badge - it means absolutely jack. Trust me if Izzy and Kayal are not offered the right money , they will be off like a shot as well. Modern day footballers can be horrors off the park and heroes on it. Take Ryan Giggs and Marlon King as recent examples. I’m not saying that they are right, I am simply saying that is how things are. To refuse to re-sign Maloney because he turned his back on us would have been silly. All that matters to me and the more realistic in our support is whether they can show form week in week out on the park. I would stop short of saying this in a Marlon King or El Hadj Diouf scenario by the way for those who think I am totally without morals. I really did think Maloney would be a Celtic great when he broke through to the first team. He obviously learned a great deal from training with the likes of Larsson and Lubo everyday, his technique and control were a step above anything else coming through the youth ranks at that time. Some of his free-kicks were every bit as good as Lubo's, and I thought his game reached another level in 2005-06 when he was electric. He was consistent and some of his best games came against the buns. Who could forget his 35 yard scorcher against Klos? Or his classy cut back for Hartson to score into an open goal against them a few days later? I still thought his best football was ahead of him even when he re-signed. In his first game against Falkirk, he looked as though he had never been away, with a great display in which some of his link-up play with Sammy was a joy to watch. I would hate to see us get rid of him and then see another team enjoy his best years while managing to keep him fit for a full season. The likelihood of that happening as we all know though is very slim. The most probable scenario is that he would play 15 games before succumbing to another injury that would force him out for several months. Frustrating and sad as it may be for a player who I harboured so much hope for, it is high time he moved on. |
| Last Updated on Monday, 13 June 2011 22:51 |
Comments
I also think Shaun sometimes falls into that strange footballing category of 'tries too hard'. A wee bit more of what McCourt, Commons and Stokes have would benefit his game. I don't know exactly what this is, but he needs it.
I have a real weakness when it comes to Maloney and more than anyone at the club except our bearded genius Paddy, I would love to see him become a Celtic great. But I fear he's missed the boat.
There has been countless times to back this up:
- this season, the dreaded match against inverness - was originally played out on the wing, and admittedly the game seemed to be passing him by. But for the last 15 minutes he was played up top, won us one penalty which we were awarded and definitely had more than a strong appeal for a second.
- At the beginning of the season, like the article said he was electric in the handful of games he was fit, and I think it was against Inverness again that he was unplayable, always dropping in between midfield and the striker picking the ball up, travelling with it and looking dangerous.
- A season or two ago, he played up top with Samaras at Motherwell, and we anihilated them in the first half being 4-0 up by the break.
And this is all because I think one of his greatest strengths is his link up play, as he has proved he can form partnerships with all of the strikers easily - name another player at the club able to do so. But this is a lot harder on the wing where his movement is restricted, and if we began to use him through the middle again I believe we will have Shaun of 2005/06 back.
Also, at the risk of incurring the wrath of a fair section of the support, regarding Paddy McCourt, whilst he has incredible skill and touch on the ball, and is a good squad player, im not convinced he is as effective as people see. He was the most used sub this season and often brought on late in matches where we needed a goal in the game, but when he is brought on again - look to see where he often finds himself picking the ball up - off our centre backs. He rarely made it into the box, and when we are sacrificing a striker and chasing the game, this isn't where we need our players to be.
Having said that, I hope we keepp Shaun and Paddy at the club, as they both have tremendous skill, and match winning capability (if they are in the right areas of the pitch!)
In the 2005-06 season he was mainly played on the left hand side when he won both player of the year awards. I remember countless times in recent seasons him skipping pass players on the left and playing an inch perfect pass/cross to a striker (setting up MAF's first goal for Celtic against ST Johnstone 5-2 game was wing play at it's best).
I also think you are spot on with his link up play being his biggest strength. He is a wonderful team player who seems to read and understand his teamates game very quickly. For me thats what sets him apart from McGeady - he is a thinker and definitley has a football brain.
The injuries though ............uurrggh.
But some of the other claims are just bizarre. Maloney the better player than McGeady, who is all "head down an into a cul-de-sac"? You're having a laugh. A "matchwinner like Commons"? Jesus H. I honestly don't know where to start.
I would actually turn that on it's head and say your comments are in actual fact quite "bizarre".
Commons has been an absolute revelation since he signed. I can recall 2 tricky games where he got us out of a hole. St Mirren at home (1-0 he came on with 15 mins left and scored the winner) and Hamilton at home(2-0 he scored both goals). How you can say calling Commons a matchwinner is "bizarre" is just plain odd.
The Maloney/McGeady one I'll give you is a bit more contentious, however I stand firmly behind what I say. McGeady's game often came to pieces in the final third ( his shooting in particular), whereas Maloney's decision making and productivity in the final third are much more deliberate and effective.
I actually watched a lot of footage of McGeady for Spartak since his move. He is a bit stronger and faster, but other than that is just the same. Does the hard bit and looks like a world beater then fluffs the pass or cross. Always threatening, never delivering.
Commons has been an absolute revelation since he signed. I can recall 2 tricky games where he got us out of a hole. St Mirren at home (1-0 he came on with 15 mins left and scored the winner) and Hamilton at home(2-0 he scored both goals). How you can say calling Commons a matchwinner is "bizarre" is just plain odd.
I don't think he was questioning the matchwinnig credentials of Commons. I suspect he was questioning your putting Maloney in that bracket.
Maloney has had one excellent spell in all his years. For six months under Strachan he was outstanding. He is certainly not worth the large wage he collects from us.Unfortunately no-one else would pay money for him now so we are stuck with him until his contract expires.
I always thought that people who said he was better than mcGeady were wrong, but 3-4 years ago it wasn't the craziest suggestion. Anyone who still holds that opinion is undoubtedly deluded.
Sorry James I misinterpreted what you were meaning before about Commons/Maloney.
I still maintain Maloney on his game is a matchwinner. I don't agree albert that he has only had one excellent spell. I think when he has been fit ( which I accept hasn't been that often) he has shown what he can do.
I mentioned earlier about his wing play against St Johnstone the season before last (5-2 game at home) - he destroyed St Johnstone in the first half that day. If that wasn't a performance worthy of the term "matchwinner" then I am at a loss to what is.
He made a mistake to leave, which he admitted. His form was sparkling on his return, before (yawn) he got injured. Believe me mate, he is dedicated to Celtic.
In fact, I think I remember Lennon made him captain..
I will never get the "Maloney on his day / game is..." arguments about how good he'd be if only circumstances changed. All talk. He never delivers.
As Cass and AK point out we're now SIX YEARS on from his one top season at Celtic (or anywhere, you could argue). How long before people accept we made a huge mistake in entertaining his return, let alone on top wages?
He's an imposter. McGeady has gone to the other side of the world having failed to get the EPL move Maloney jumped at after Celtic stood by him through injury after injury. Whereas Maloney got homesick and came back up home to sink without trace, McGeady has knuckled down, done his reputation no harm and if reports on the continent are to be believed attracted the attention of Zenit and Juventus. "Always threatening, never delivering"? I'm sorry, if you can't see the irony when you're comparing him to a player who spends more time on the treatment table than the pitch, I'm at a loss.
Who gives a toss who good Maloney *could* be if only he ever produced the goods? £1m a year is a lot of money to spend waiting around on him. So he destroyed St Johnstone once, big deal. Lee Naylor scored versus the huns more recently than the wee man, he worthy of matchwinner status too?
One thing is for sure, the club have been bloody fantastic to Maloney. Few down the years have taken more from Celtic in return for so little. I CGAF how dedicated or committed he is in his own head, the poor wee lamb. Give me footballers who play.
A curtain and a shotgun thats how.....
If he was a horse he'd have been shot a long time ago.
Free him and let him sit on someone else's treatment table
Consider this though, no matter what our opinion is, it is only one persons that counts and that is Lennon's.
This is the man, that in his first managerial season has made signings like: Kayal,Commons, Hooper, Ledley, Izzy, etc; who has transformed careers like Wilson's, and who knows what its means to play for Celtic.
If he didn't think a player was worthy of playing for Celtic or good enough he wouldn't have them there or will move them on when possible (as we have seen). He definitely wouldn't be giving them the armband like he has given Maloney the armband on occasions this season.
Since we aren't at the training ground day in day out, I don't think any of us are in a place to give the kind of criticism above (and it is as much criticism of Neil as of Shaun). Instead, based on his impressive track record we should trust Neil, and give the whole team our 100% backing, after all we are faithful through and through arent we?
Maloney in my opinion is a fabulous player when fit. But part of me thinks by keeping here we may only stagnate james forrests development. If we could get 500k for him? I'd sell up
Maloney perhaps knowing that he would need to 'stock up' to counter his diminutive size has maybe caused more problems for himself? I presume the sport science guys at the club know what they're doing. Besides it all boils down to what goes on in Shaun's head.
I wasn't that keen on his return from AV, as much for the cost of his increased wages (& fee) vs actual game-time than any other reason (the way he departed). There will be games where he's a good option to start but far more where he's better on the bench - if that suits all parties fair enough but I imagine we're paying a whack of money that might be better spent on a younger, fitter option.
Best of luck to him though.
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