Former Celtic midfielder and club legend Peter Grant finds criticism of a current Hoops star strange and unjust.
Greg Taylor, who returned from injury at the weekend against Kilmarnock, has been given some flack lately, but Grant believes it to be mystifying. He thinks that when Taylor was subbed off an hour in against Kilmarnock, the game took a swing for the worst for the Celts.
Indeed, it was Alexandro Bernabei’s man, David Watson, who drew Killie level early in stoppage time. The teenager rose above the Argentinian full-back who made claims for a free-kick after a rather soft nudge on his back amid the goal.
It remains to be seen whether things would have been different had Taylor been on. Grant certainly thought so as he defended the 26-year-old: “It’s weird”, he said (Go Radio via Glasgow Times).
“Greg’s getting a lot of criticism but I felt when he went off on Saturday, the game changed.
Celtic’s Greg Taylor reacts REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
“I don’t mean necessarily with Bernabei coming on, I know he’s getting a lot of criticism, I don’t necessarily mean with that, because of the position that Greg plays and how well he plays it, but that was a blow.
“I know it was probably 60 minutes he’s got to go off, I understand that, but it was a big change in the performance even after that and that’s the fine lines.”
Celtic’s left-back situation has been up for debate over the past few years. Most supporters agree that a better first-choice option in that position could be signed and played over Taylor.
Despite this, he has given his all and drastically improved over the past few years. He is well ahead of Bernabei in terms of steadiness and ability, and having him fit for the run-in will be significant for Brendan Rodgers.
