Luis Palma strikes one as a player whose abilities remain wrapped in an enigma. No doubt, he possesses skills that are in plenty. He is capable of netting some nice goals and getting his share of assists as well, but at times he seems a bit out of place in this team.
Ever since, Don Brendan has seemingly fallen out with the Honduran and he has been omitted not only from starting 11s but from several squads altogether in the past few months which indicates that something is wrong there.
Attitude? Form? Or perhaps it is just that the player does not fit within the parameters of the type of football the manager wishes to employ? All we know is, we can’t see him surviving at the club in the near future.
Rumors were circulating that Luis would go out on loan at the expiry of the transfer window, but it came to naught, leading one to contemplate whether there is any truth in Brendan’s notion that the player cannot add value to the squad.
Similar to the Honduran, Maik Nawrocki and Gustaf Lagerbielke are in a similar situation. They were both, brought in, shortly after the arrival of Brendan, but both, for some reason, are not considered good enough for a regular spot in Brendan’s Celtic team. In Lagerbielke’s case, sent out altogether to a loan deal with Twente in the Netherlands where they have a women’s team in the country to face Celtic FC Women who are coached by Elena Sadiku in the UWCL this Tuesday at New Douglas Park. The Green Brigade are putting up the Green Wall so over the last two days before the match, the green brigade spirit will be high as it will be Celtic’s history making first group stages match in the Women’s Champions League tournament.
Returning to the issues concerning Maik Nawrocki and Gustaf Lagerbielke. This further suggests that both players were purchased without Brenadan’s approval. Luis appears to have been acquired under the same conditions. Fortunately, it appears that Brenadan has more authority now, however the club’s interference in transfer processes has left us with players that the manager doesn’t seem to have any use for.
A slight afterthought, but is it possible Luis Palma is out of position? Perhaps he would be better suited as an attacking midfielder occupying the central position rather than on the flank which he does not seem cut out for due to his perceived lack of pace.
