Everyone has been able to see that Matt O’Riley hasn’t been playing at the level he did throughout the first half of the campaign. Maybe he was a little uneasy about Atletico Madrid’s interest in the January window, which was covered in depth earlier today on The Celtic Star?
Matt O’Riley has improved tremendously under Brendan Rodgers, adding goals to his game while providing his customary assists. He was unquestionably our most prolific and reliable player. He was favored to win Player of the Year because of his excellent form.
But that superb form has dipped since returning from the winter break, and he’s looked a shadow of the player he was for the first half of the season. He was of course the subject of that £18m bid from Atletico Madrid late on in the transfer window, and it’s widely accepted that it’s had an effect on him, hence his poor form.
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It’s only natural that he would have his head turned by such an offer, maybe that’s the most obvious conclusion, but could there be more to it than that? Matt has played a lot of football this season and there is a lot of expectation on his shoulders due to his fantastic form, so maybe the pressure could be affecting him just a little?
Maybe the best way to sort that would to take him out of that pressure pot by resting him and the game tonight against Dundee would be the perfect opportunity. A place on the bench would be much beneficial to Matt. It would give his legs and mind some much needed respite and make him all the better and stronger for the challenges ahead, starting at Tynecastle on Sunday.
Playing the same lineup each week is not going to win this league title. We may anticipate a few changes from the Saturday lineup that took the field against Motherwell. With Carter-Vickers expected to start due to Nawrocki’s injury, as well as the expectation that Idah and Yang have performed well enough to be on the field at 7:45 p.m. this evening.
Is Matt O’Riley in the same league as Callum McGregor, who is so important to the team that he plays when healthy, or does Brendan see tonight as an opportunity to rest him? Still, Captain Calmac was rested for the bout with Buckie Thistle!
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