SCOTT BAIN has come in and replaced Craig Gordon since the turn of the year and not conceded a single goal prompting many Celtic fans to declare he’s the new number one.
But if there was ever a point in Celtic’s history when there was not a clear number one at the club, it’s probably now and Brendan Rodgers knows it. Not because we have inept goalkeepers, but because we have two top men who bring very different things to the table.
Brendan Rodgers was asked about Bain in his post-match press conference where a journalist asked the question ‘Is Bain now your number one?’ The Irishman replied diplomatically by re-stating Bain is enjoying a run in the team while Gordon is also still very capable of getting back into the side.
Rodgers not defining his number one creates competition and pushes Bain to be the best he can be in every single match.
Scott was quick to point out the no goals conceded stats can be slightly deceptive, and the goalkeeper is only a cog in the wheel when it comes to clean sheets; he is absolutely right!
We have gone back and checked the stats and the goalkeeper has only had to contend with eight shots on target in six games. Two of those games he didn’t have to deal with a single threat to his goal and four shots on target came against the Airdrionian’s where his ridiculous triple save made sure of a clean sheet in the Scottish Cup – that’s the only real time Bain has been appropriately tested. The goalkeeper stood tall against St Johnstone when there was an early breach of the defence and went onto have a quiet game.
Hibs (H) – 0 Shots on Target
St Johnstone (A) 2 Shots on Target
St Johnstone (H) 0 Shots on Target
Hamilton (H) 1 Shot on Target
St Mirren (H) – 1 Shot on Target
Airdeonians (H) –Â 4 Shots on target
The real improvement Bain has brought the team is his distribution and the overriding reason why Brendan Rodgers has chosen to drop Craig Gordon. Bain’s footballing brain and ability to pick out a man is far superior to Gordon’s who has put the Celtic defence under immense pressure with some of his sloppy play.
Craig Gordon is a proven shot stopper and on the evidence we’ve seen SO FAR is the better shot stopper between him and Bain.
This assessment doesn’t mean Bain is a poor goalkeeper, far from it, but Rodgers knows the goalkeeper is still to be tested over a long period of time and under more pressure than he has been under in 2019.
We look at Celtic’s League Cup win and Bain made every appearance for the bhoys including the final, that was a sample of pressure for Bain, and he held up to it.
Some ties are coming up where I expect Scott to hopefully excel and make Brendan Rodgers declare without a doubt he is the number one goalkeeper; Valencia (Both legs) and Hearts away. If Bain can navigate through these games and show his shot-stopping ability is right up there with his distribution, then there will be no way back for Craig Gordon.
I counted five saves contained in the triple save.
I don’t think many Celtic fans will share the views in this article. Gordon may have the edge as an instinctive shot stopper but Bain spreads more confidence through the defence and through the team as he is much more reliable with the ball at his feet . He is almost as good a passer as Callum McGregor.
Put it this way we do not need to buy another keeper if it is the case that Bain is our number 1 then we are in a good place with keepers and if Gordon is the backup plan and plays when needed then great news for our team to have two world class keepers we already know other teams would like Gordon as there back up keeper so for now all is good we now have two world class keepers who push each our to be the one……