Celtic star taking extra sessions to improve weak area

Celtic fans have always been keen observers of the flaws in certain players. And quick to mention, discuss and get frustrated by those issues. It’s great to hear an example of a player working hard to improve a specific development area.

Also in all the recent criticism flying around after Celtic’s poor performances, learning of some very personal and individual coaching from the management team is also very reassuring.

Last year Jeremie Frimpong burst onto the scene with some blistering performances. He has carried those into the new season, to the extent that he’s very much a marked man for the opposition. Marked where they have kicked him, like on Sunday and shadowed by a couple of players at a time to try and shut him down.

There has though been criticism of a part of his play. Frimpong can get into some incredible positions getting past opposition players with his skill and pace. But his final ball suffers at times and could be so much better. He has also seemingly been instructed to cut back inside in some games rather than going past players. Maybe that’s to play someone else in with a more controlled ball.

The Celtic FC site covers an article in Celtic View where Frimpong talks about how he is being coached by Neil Lennon and others after the team training sessions. Frimpong is staying behind to work on this development area for him. He’s a young lad with lots to learn so it’s great to know that this is being addressed and worked on.

By no means is this next point a direct comparison of Frimpong with Cristiano Ronaldo, but it’s worth remembering that as a young raw player in the Manchester United team, Ronaldo used to irritate Sir Alex Ferguson enormously. He’d show incredible skill and pace to get down the wing and then often give the ball back to the opposition with a poor pass or cross. Ronaldo took lots of messages and help on board to show that young players, with coaching and practice can develop enormously.

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Frimpong told Celtic View what he has been up to in his own extended coaching:

"“Consistency is obviously really important so, as a team, we’re all focusing on finding those high levels of performance and building on them game to game.“We need to improve individually as well as a team and I’ve been trying to do that.“I’ve been staying on after training to work on some areas I want to improve on. I’ve been focusing on crossing and delivery into the box. I’ve been getting into those areas but my final ball was letting me down.“I want to improve my crosses and passing in those areas because I know it can really help the team. The coaches and gaffer have been helping me with that after training and it’s something I’m going to keep work working on.“When I got the assist in the Lille game, I was really happy because I’ve been working hard on it and it made a difference for the team. Hopefully, I can get many more assists.”"

How refreshing and reassuring, great to see a player working hard on a recognised development area with Lennon and the coaching team’s backing and support. Some of the criticism of the manager recently about not featuring much at training is also knocked on the head by this too. Hopefully it will all come together in some even more productive forays up the pitch by the young Dutchman.