Much like the rest of his teammates, Luke McCowan cut a forlorn figure on Tuesday evening at the end of our capitulation in Linz…
The 28 year old midfielder’s role in our collapse was highlighted on social media and that resulted in a pile-on that should never happen to a Celtic player merely for poor performance. Yes it was a costly defeat that saw the club miss out on a potential £40 million payday but that wasn’t the fault of Luke McCowan, Anthony Ralston or Dane Murray.
The blame lies with the three other Celtic men shown below, especially the one in the middle.
Luke deserved to be criticised for his part in the calamity, that’s part and parcel of being a Celtic player, but some of the criticism he duly received crossed a line, leading to the player deleting his Instagram account.
It’s since been said by former players and many supporters that Luke is merely just a scapegoat, and that is indeed the way I see it too. Other players were also culpable for our failure to hold onto a commanding 4-0 lead, not just the former Dundee man.
It was a collective collapse that started after Benjamin Nygren foolishly and negligently gifted LASK a way back into the tie when they were 4-0 down and rapidly losing hope. We’ll never no for sure but had that stray pass never happened Celtic could have got to the break ahead on the night and would probably have seen it out in the second half.
So the spotlight was well and truly on yesterday, in regard to what reception Luke would receive in the Celtic Park clash with Falkirk, the first outing since the Linz capitulation.
Luke was named as a substitute, even in the absence of skipper Callum McGregor, with Martin O’Neill opting to hand Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain his first start of the season. The Ox certainly delivered with early his best performance in a Celtic jersey.
Luke would have no doubt been nervous about coming on due to the midweek backlash, but he needn’t have worried as the Celtic supporters showed that the unfair abuse he received was down to a minority of ‘keyboard warriors’ or virgins as Sandman used to call them.
Just 17 minutes into the game, Luke appeared from the dugout with his fellow substitutes to warm up, and he received a warm ripple of applause from the supporters in the main stand, and adjoining Jock Stand.
Then on the 77th minute, the entire ground gave him a warm welcome as he replaced the outstanding Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with the score nervously poised at 2-1. Thankfully Celtic held on to maintain our one hundred percent start to the league campaign.
After his reception at Celtic Park yesterday Luke McCowan will be feeling much better about things this morning and hopefully can put that online abuse he received behind him and go on to have a great season in the Hoops.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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6 Comments
No amount of largely anonymous ‘fakebook’-type abuse would have made Luke McCowan feel any worse that he himself did at full-time on Tuesday. He will know better than anyone that his substitute performance was way below standard. As part of a dyed-in-the-wool Celtic family, McCowan didn’t need any further abuse to underline the enormity of failure on the night. As the article mentions, the unmistakable culprits for this failure lies squarely in the Boardroom. Sure, players can play better; and, frankly, McCowan knows that he fell below an acceptable standard. So too, though, did the majority of Celtic players in this match. Singling out one member of the team is a cheap shot, and reflects poorly on individuals who decide to do so. Are we disappointed? No, we’re devastated. Nevertheless, focusing on the current Board members in the quest for change is more appropriate, albeit that, even then, resorting to immature, personal abuse is counterproductive, and definitely not in line with the ethos of our wider Celtic family.
He should never have been handed a Celtic jersey again. Why reward such an abject performance?
A useless, weak, wee midget who should be nowhere near the first 11, or the bench.
The Laird of Linfield …..
So it’s the board fault upon the decision making taken by MoN on Tuesday?
That’s more embarrassing and pathetic outlook, than our collapse against Lask imo?
McCowan was bought on to replace nygren, who wasn’t playing well himself?
So no real complaints about the sub being made, and don’t think anyone expected it to work, out as badly as it unfortunately did?
Abusing players and management is regarded as a no no, within our club?
Yet abuse towards board members is regarded as fair game?
So where is the human elements involved, regarding abuse handed out within our club, where it shouldn’t really be in existence whatsoever imo?
McCowan is a worthy member of our squad, especially within our 8 homegrown requirements that’s required within the squad building process imo?
Like forrest, Ralston and Murray you wouldn’t expect much game time involved within European football still?
But they will be required more so as rotational options for our Scottish campaign, and helping managing game time for key players?
So in a positional sense, MoN has already decided upon Nygren, as his main attacking midfielder, backed up by McCowan, and still think Duran could also do that role if required also imo?
So don’t understand the moaning regarding the decision making of MoN, especially as McCowan offers a flexibility elements to his overall game also?
So delighted to see our supporters who seem to understand football, far better than the eejits who don’t?
Giving McCowan the respect he deserves imo?
The quality factor is always going to be an issue for our club, within the 8 homegrown quota factor, for European football?
Abuse and blaming the board for the likes, is nothing more than pathetic, and those involved would be better off, by starting to cop themselves on, than acting like idiots?
On the bigger picture, maybe Mcardle will grow to challenge McCowan for his squad position in time?
Much like Hatton might do regarding forrest?
Even Kennedy regarding Calmac?
That will be the age factor moreso than anything, but that also has to be considered within our bigger picture, and longer term plans also?
Giving out Abuse to our homegrown quota players, potentially could make our squad building process even harder for forming a European squad?
And that has nothing to do with the board whatsoever either?
Especially as it’s going to remain a managerial decision upon the issue?
A whole list of ‘questions’ are presented here. What is not provided though is awareness of the crucial distinction between constructive ‘criticism’ and ‘abuse’.
Luke McCowan – the man living the dream, will do anything for Celtic, except be fit, show any work-rate and stop pointing fingers at the other players.
The guy is so poor. He shouldn’t be anywhere near Celtic and this article is birthday card nonsense – him have a great season, I mean ffs, no one can believe that.