Nobody can stop Daizen Maeda when he is at his free-flowing best.
There is a reason why the Japan star won Scotland’s PFA Player of the Year last season, but despite that goal-crazy form, he hasn’t been able to replicate it during the opening months of this campaign.
On Thursday night, as Celtic beat Feyenoord in the Europa League, the supporters witnessed Maeda back to his energetic best.
But the negative noise around Celtic’s versatile forward this term hasn’t gone down well with James McPake, who had a stern message for the critics.
How much would you sell Daizen Maeda for? 
Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty ImagesJames McPake defends Celtic star Daizen Maeda
There has been the suggestion that Maeda had his ‘head turned’ because he wanted to leave Celtic in the summer, and he never got his wish.
But speaking on Go Radio, McPake wanted to debunk all of that, as he stated that people in Scotland are ‘too quick to write people off.’
McPake noted that Maeda can’t always produce his ‘prime’ performances, and it’s normal for players just to have a dip in form.
“I heard something as well, an interview the other night, and they are talking about Maeda,” said McPake.
“Just how his head had been turned. He hasn’t been the same player at Celtic. They should have got rid of him then. Done this, and done that.
“As a country, we are just too quick to write people off. How about he is just going through a bad bit of form? Just because he hasn’t been, as you said there, prime Daizen Maeda from last season. You can’t be that way all the time.
“He was excellent against Feyenoord. Hopefully, he is going to get back to that, because we need players.”
McPake on the negative noise around Celtic
You would have to go back a very long way to match the chaos that has engulfed Glasgow this season.
For the first time in history, Celtic and Rangers have parted ways with their managers in the same campaign, and many dark clouds have been hovering over both clubs.
But once again, McPake hasn’t liked the negative way the Hoops have been perceived.
“It’s disappointing, the Scottish football fans, we are in a stage, at the minute, any time Celtic are playing, any time. Rangers are playing in Europe, that we are all worried,” added McPake.
“Our game is going to take a bashing because both teams are going to lose. That’s not the way it should be. It’s just about getting that back.
“And confidence is a big part of that. Martin (O’Neill) coming in – that’s starting to gather a wee bit of pace again.”
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