“He seems to be quite blinkered” – Former Celt’s strange Postecoglou team selection criticism

Abada or Maeda?

Who would you choose to be in your starting lineup for Celtic?

When push comes to shove and you had to leave one out, who would it be?

Both players play vital roles in the team yet both players bring different qualities.

Maeda is a workhorse. Chases everything down and starts defending from the front.

Abada brings a great attacking threat and goals.

But then, so does Maeda. In twenty games, the Japanese striker scored eight goals and created five and Abada scored fifteen goals in fifty games, creating eleven.

So even looking at those stats, it’s clear from the averages that Maeda does bring more to the team.

But former Celtic defender, Mark Wilson, doesn’t seem to think so.

Speaking on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard, Wilson was quite scathing about Maeda’s inclusion in the Celtic team ahead of the Israeli winger, “When it comes to Maeda he seems to be quite blinkered and plays him all the time.

“It was the exact same when he was signed.

“You remember Abada scored so many important goals last year for Celtic.

“And then he was the one that made way for my Maeda and he was always the one to come on and play a bit part after that.

“I felt sorry for him. I thought he was exceptional last season. And similar today.

“I thought he might have been in with a shot of starting.

“And of course, he doesn’t but he comes on and makes a difference.

“I think Celtic, attacking, look better with Abada off the right with Kyogo or Giakoumakis through the middle and Jota off the left.”

The stats don’t lie though.

From last season’s averages, Maeda scores a goal every 2.5 games and creates an assist every four.

Abada scores on average every 3.33 games and creates a goal every 4.5 games.

So Abada may look better in the team, but statistically, Maeda is doing more to keep that jersey and justify his starting position.

Although the Israeli winger’s goal on Saturday may have changed the manager’s thoughts on that moving forward.

With the transfer window almost close to an end take our *BRAND NEW* quiz and test your knowledge on Celtic’s most expensive transfers.