FORMER Celtic winger Davie Provan reckons Ange Postecoglou deserves great credit for what he has achieved at Celtic during a whirlwind arrival.
However, the ex-Hoops fans’ favourite also believes Neil Lennon’s successor must accept some of the responsibility for the team’s 1-0 loss at Ibrox a week ago.
Provan insists the Greek-Australian got it WRONG by playing Kyogo Furuhashi on the left wing and and starting with Odsonne Edouard through the middle.
The French striker played his final game for the club and blew the chance to go out in a blaze of glory when he fluffed a glorious chance early in the encounter when he hopelessly screwed a six-yard effort wide of the target after being set up by the Japanese international ace who had got into the game on the back of seven goals in as many starts.
GOVAN AND HELL…Odsonne Edouard woefully misses the target from six yards.
FRENCH LEAVE…Odsonne Edouard can’t believe his miss in his final appearance for Celtic.
Edouard was withdrawn late in the match with Kyogo moving to lead the frontline and he was denied twice by the keeper from netting a deserved equaliser for the visitors who had more than two-thirds of the possession.
Unfortunately, it was another tale of woe and Provan said: “Odsonne Edouard took the rap for Celtic’s derby defeat – but Ange Postecoglou shouldn’t be excused.
“If starting Kyogo Furuhashi wide left was a big blunder, waiting until the last quarter of the game to change it only compounded the mistake.
“Rangers boss Steven Gerrard would have been delighted to see Kyogo out on the touchline.
“Postecoglou has done little wrong since his arrival so he deserves some slack.
“If his first derby could have gone either way, you would never have known it given some of the guff that followed.
DANGERMAN…Kyogo Furuhashi lashes a shot at goal, but was denied by the outsttretched boot of keeper Robby McCrorie.
“My former broadcast buddy Mark Hateley believes the result gives Postecoglou a problem, saying: ‘I think he’ll be scratching his head and wondering what he’ll need to challenge Rangers’ A team. The B team was out on Sunday with so many players missing’.
“Really? Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent, Glen Kamara, Joe Aribo, Steven Davis, Connor Goldson, Filip Helander, Kemar Roofe and Borna Barisic are Gers’ B team?
“I know how it works when former players trade their credibility for a club tie. Celts have their own posse of cheerleaders.
“But if the Gers legend really believes there’s a big gap between the sides, he’s dreaming.”
Provan, writing in his column in the Scottish Sun on Sunday, continued: “Postecoglou will have been sick at the result and his own part in it.
“But having matched Rangers on their own patch, he’ll know there’s nothing to fear from Gerrard’s side.
“Those predicting another 25-point gap should be ignored. This title race will be no gimme for Gers.”
FACING THE MUSIC…Ange Posetcoglou talks to the radio media after the Ibrox loss.
The one-time Scotland international forward added: “The jury is out on Celtic’s transfer business. Edouard may have flopped at Ibrox, but he’ll be a huge miss for the Hoops.
“Those slaughtering him on social media have short memories.
“His numbers speak for themselves, but scoring in Scotland was never going to get him into the full French squad. He can do that from the platform of the Premier League.
“Losing Ryan Christie is another blow to Postecoglou, and you wonder what boardroom genius allowed him to run down his contract. More surprising was his choice of club.
“When a Scotland international is swapping European nights in front of 60,000 for the obscurity of Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium in the Championship, you really have to question his ambition.
“Whatever the Cherries are paying him, it’s not enough.
HIGH HOOPS…new Bhoy Cameron Carter-Vickers could solve central defensive problem.
“As Christie was heading for the south coast, Cameron Carter-Vickers was coming the other way. In desperate need of a centre-back pairing, Postecoglou will be delighted to have the 23-year-old defender.
“Ahead of the imminent return of Christopher Jullien, the pair could solve Celts’ problem positions.
“Elsewhere, Giorgos Giakoumakis arrives after a terrific season in Holland with Venlo.
“Still light up front, Postecoglou needs the Greek striker to hit the ground running. At 26, you have to wonder why he has just six international caps.”
One former Hoops great who reckons last seson’s top scorer in the Eredivisie can deliver the goods is Pierre Van Hooijdonk who predicted the new Bhoy will hit at least 20 goals for his new club, as CQN reported earlier today.
