“TOO GOOD FOR THIS CELTIC TEAM.” SUTTON PRESENTS AN UNFORGIVABLE VERDICT.

FORMER Celtic goal hero Chris Sutton believes he has identified the cause of Kyogo Furuhashi’s worrying drop in scoring rate at the champions this season.
The former England international believes the Japanese frontman is “too good for this Celtic team”.

Kyogo’s figure has dropped alarmingly in comparison to his tally this time last season, and he had to be content with a substitute appearance in the dramatic, nerve-wracking 2-1 victory over Hibs at Easter RoaAnd, as Kyogo lay on the turf following Joe Newell’s desperate challenge just inside the box, VAR ordered referee Nick Walsh to review the incident after missing the foul the first time around.
Inevitably, the spot-kick was awarded, and new Bhoy Adam Idah, who was chosen ahead of the fans’ favourite to start the match in Edinburgh, swept in his second spot-kick of the night to secure a crucial victory.

Sutton is concerned about the forward’s lack of a goal threat after joining the Hoops for £4.6 million from Vissel Kobe in late July 2021.

The ex-Celtic marksman stated, “Kyogo Furuhashi’s influence is being completely destroyed.”

“There’s a good chance it will lead to the slow death of Celtic’s title hopes. Brendan Rodgers has been outspoken about the need for quality, but he can’t seem to get the most out of the country’s best striker.

“He has now been dropped from the team. If this trend continues, could he eventually decide to leave? Kyogo has gone from being Scotland’s most feared forward to barely appearing in a game.

“It’s actually quite remarkable and, for me, it’s not got that much to do with the boy himself.”Now, before I go any further, I want to make it clear that this is no slight to Adam Idah. The Irish striker was given an opportunity against Hibs, and he took advantage of it, scoring twice. Idah may perform well for Celtic, but don’t tell me he’s a better striker than Kyogo.

“It is almost painful to see what has happened to the Japanese in recent months. Last season, he made 31 starts and scored 27 league goals. This season, it’s eight out of twenty-one.

“He is a difference-maker. He’s proven to be a big-game player over the last two seasons.”

Sutton told the Daily Record: “Kyogo’s record against Rangers is phenomenal. He’s a proven matchwinner with the sharpest movement and brain in the Premiership.

“His awareness during the give and go and shot that resulted in the second penalty at Easter Road decided the game. The issue is that levels have dropped around him. Not Kyogo.

“That is due to a slip in his supply line’s standards. Ange Postecoglou found a way to supply him, whereas Rodgers did not.

“We keep hearing the need for speed, yet Celtic have a guy with the sharpest feet and the sharpest mind who hasn’t operated fully due to the team who, f”Celtic have a proven gem who’s on a different wavelength than most around him, and it’s a failure of the environment. In truth, he is currently too good for the Celtics.

“I’m not saying you build a team around one guy, but you do find your best players and develop something that works for them. Nobody can watch Celtic right now and say that’s happening. It defies logic.

Sutton, a top media pundit, added: “Think back to how many goals Kyogo scored under Postecoglou when one of Celtic’s wide men raced away on the flank, squared a ball across the box, and the livewire was there to knock it in.”

“It is extremely rare now. The wide players are nowhere near the level required at the moment.

“Luis Palma has done well for me, but he’s no Jota, and the way he kept cutting back inside onto his right foot from the left flank at Aberdeen was impressive. How will Kyogo get his chances when this happens?

“Liel Abada didn’t do much on his side, but it still surprised me that all three were just benched for Hibernian. It was almost as if they were being used as scapegoats for Pittodrie, and things at Easter Road remained relatively unchanged.

Brendan’s failure lies in failing to maximise Kyogo’s potential.

The fleet-footed hitman was sent sprawling as the game came to a close, with the Hoops on the verge of dropping two crucial points for the second consecutive game after a dismal 1-1 draw with Aberdeen at Pittodrie the previous weekend.
“Nicolas Kuhn displayed that Palma trait of coming inside. He didn’t appear to want to take his full-back on to the byline. Neat and tidy, but more is needed, and Daizen Maeda was warmly welcomed.

“Now, I like the Japanese for his energy and work rate, but you’d think this was Lionel Messi returning.

“Maeda appeared to be the biggest threat in Leith, but there was still a lack of quality delivery, which isn’t happening for any of them.”

“Cameron Carter-Vickers and Reo Hatate are significant losses for Celtic, and the club must find a way to compensate for their absences. However, the most pressing issue is Kyogo. He’s a pale shadow of the striker who dominated Scotland for two seasons.

“With three goals in his last 15 games, he’s not even a sure starter anymore. That is a staggering state of play, and he has been the victim of subpar work around him.”

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