Former Celtic defender Mark Wilson has backed up earlier claims that breakthrough Celtic teenager Jeremie Frimpong is a better player than Rangers captain James Tavernier.
A right-back himself, Wilson got stick prior to the last Old Firm [Scottish Sun] for claiming that Frimpong was a superior player than Tavernier in a wild Old Firm combined XI.
Frimpong was then sent off in the final, despite impressing, and Celtic won the match 1-0 despite taking a battering off the Rangers side.
Tavernier was immense on the day and Rangers can count themselves unlucky that they never walked away with the trophy from Hampden.
Frimpong was impressive but at only 19 still has a huge way to go in the game before he can match the consistency of the Ibrox skipper.
You get the feeling that Mark Wilson is either buying into the hype surrounding the defender because he’s an ex-Celtic player or that he’s at the wind-up.
Following the cup final result, Wilson claimed that his decision was perfectly justified.
“Last week I was asked to pick a combined Celtic and Rangers team for the cup final and I put Frimpong at right-back,” said Wilson [Clyde Superscoreboard 15/12/19].
“I got a lot of stick for it because he’s only played a handful of games.
“But I was basing it on ability and how good this kid is and what I’ve seen in the past.
“This is a guy who has made ten appearances, he’s now scored two goals, he’s got numerous assists.
“I’ve yet to see a winger go by him and that includes a £7million Ryan Kent.
“He’s phenomenal and it’s rare to find a player whose rose so quickly to success as he has.”
It’s incredible that Wilson leans to stats to back up his argument when they are so clearly stacked in Tavernier’s favour.
Frimpong has two goals and two assists in 10 appearances. James Tavernier has three goals and 12 assists in 32, 13 of those appearances coming in the Europa League.
Whilst Frimpong appears a real talent, any notion that he’s a better option than James Tavernier right now should be treated with all the disdain that it appears to aim at the Rangers captain.
