Should Brendan Rodgers think about swapping goalkeepers after Kasper Schmeichel error?
Since Kasper Schmeichel signed for Celtic 15 months ago, the Denmark goalkeeper has been a mostly reliable presence, his place in the team rarely questioned.
However, a couple of high-profile clangers have increased the pressure on the 38-year-old. With understudy Viljami Sinisalo waiting in the wings, could manager Brendan Rodgers be tempted into a change?
Schmeichel's latest error was glaring. In Thursday night's crucial Europa League match against Braga, the keeper flapped at an ambitious 30-yard effort from Ricardo Horta.
The ball swerved and dipped, and Schmeichel used the wrong arm to try to bat it away. Instead, the shot flew into the corner of the net, Schmeichel alongside it, and Celtic were a goal down on their way to a 2-0 home defeat.
You do not have to think too far back for another mistake. This time, it wasn't just a high-profile match. It was the Scottish Cup final with the treble on the line.
With just seven minutes to go of normal time and Celtic leading Aberdeen 1-0, Schmeichel somehow punched a low Shayden Morris cross backwards and into the net. Rodgers' side went on to lose on penalties.
Despite those blunders, the statistics show this season has actually been one of improvement so far for the Dane.
Last term (in league and European games, excluding qualifiers), he conceded a goal every 97 minutes. This season, albeit over a much smaller sample size, that time period has extended to every 180 minutes - or every two games.
He's already up to five clean sheets, nearing a quarter of his total last season (22). His save percentage sits at 79% compared to 74% last season. In the Premiership, it's as high as 89% - the best in the league.
However, it can sometimes be the goals prevented stat that tells you more of a story. It is calculated by taking the xGoT (expected goals on target) from shots on target a goalkeeper has faced, and subtracting the number of goals conceded.
Last season, Schmeichel's xGP was 3.2 in European competitions and the league. This season it sits at 0.0 - meaning he's not doing better than expected, but also not doing worse.
When Finland international Sinisalo has been given a chance, he has not looked out of his depth. The 23-year-old has kept a clean sheet in half of his 10 appearances, the bulk of which came at the end of last season when Schmeichel was injured.
Could Sinisalo now be thrust into the limelight at Schmeichel's expense?
Celtic fans, we want your views. Is it time for a change or should Rodgers stick with Schmeichel? Tell us here.
Category: General Sports
