Celtic’s recent league form has led to Brendan Rodgers’ summer recruitment coming under severe scrutiny.
Out of the eight new players the Celtic manager brought in only one could be classed as a real success.
Luis Palma was given the unenviable task of replacing Portuguese winger, Jota, in the summer and whilst he has done a relatively decent job, it seems he has still to convince some that he is the real deal.
Assessing the wreckage of Celtic’s 2-0 defeat to Hearts, Paul John Dykes believes Palma needs to do more for the team, especially when they are on the face of adversity.
Dykes said, “I do think of all the wingers that we have brought in and we’ve seen a fair bit of Yang and a fair bit of Palma, not so much with Tilio, I do think there’s something with Palma.
“I’ve mentioned before that it is a mentality thing with him and it’s a discipline thing as well whereby if you’re not winning and he’s not getting the ball and he’s not getting the opportunity to do what he wants to do, he hides.
He’s an empty jersey.” (A Celtic State of Mind)
Luis Palma shows promise but must do more for Celtic
The Honduran winger has at times been impressive for Celtic this season. Goals and assists in the Champions League prove that he has quality.
But when the chips are down, it takes character to be a real success in a Celtic team.
It’s all well and good putting on a show when the team is flying and winning but when the grind is on, and I mean really on, Palma doesn’t seem to put himself out there.
Against Kilmarnock, Motherwell and now Hearts, Palma was posted missing. He simply cannot do that in the next two fixtures.
Livingston will prove to be a game where the sleeves need to rolled up. And when Rangers come calling Palma had better make sure that he puts in 100% because the Celtic fans will not stand for anything less in the Glasgow Derby.
