Brian McClair is edging a fierce but friendly Twitter debate over who was the best Celtic striker on the eighties.
Charlie Nicholas has a lot of backers, Frank McAvennie played the lead role in the most historic successes while Mo Johnstone is airbrushed out of history by most Celtic supporters.
Frank McGarvey, Andy Walker and George McCluskey contributed plenty of goals to title wins but over the decade it is hard to look beyond McClair.
Signed and sold by Billy McNeill, he never played for the legendary Lion but in-between he bagged 122 goals without ever being the first-choice striker.
Davie Hay preferred to play Jim Melrose alongside McGarvey at the start of the 83/84 season, early the following season Johnston arrived while Alan McInally and Mark McGhee also had spells up front with McClair dropping into midfield.
Nicholas during season 82/83 was incredible, eclipsed only by Larsson 2000/01 since then but when he moved to Arsenal his career went in a different direction to his bank balance.
In October of the Centenary season McAvennie brought a new dynamic to McNeill’s side, soon followed by Joe Miller.
Walker was the top scorer with 32 that season but McAvennie’s total of 18 included two in the Scottish Cup Final which is the enduring memory of that season. The former West Ham man also got a double in the New Year derby win.
All of the strikers contributed to Celtic’s rich history but with almost 300 replies it seems that McClair edges Nicholas out for his four seasons at the club.
At their peak for Celtic who was better, I’m too young to know… take the hate out of it…
Brian McClair
Frank McAvennie
Mo johnston
Charlie Nicholas— wyatt (@wyatt7777777) June 20, 2020
McClair by a country mile ! None of the others come into it. If you don’t believe me checks the stats.
— Marcas O’Greachain (@MarcasOg135) June 20, 2020
At Celtic you have to think who was the most successful or important. Nicholas was brilliant, McClair a great goalscorer, but Macca won us the double in our Centenary year, has to be @MaccaFrank ??? What a player, what a man ???
— Michael McCahill (@MickMcCahill) June 20, 2020
McClair went on to be a success at the highest level
— Declan (@Dechass) June 20, 2020
Charlie: Sublime skill, flamboyant & deadly in front of goal. Now a c*nt
McClair: Brilliant player, intelligent & great goal scorer. Underrated by some. Good guy!
Mo: Judas c*nt
Macca: All-rounder. Absolute machine. Contribution for centenary double is immeasurable! Good guy!
— Kevin Barry (@KBG1888) June 20, 2020
McClair, made it in England won a league title a European trophy + was the 1st Man.U player to score over 20 goals since George Best
— Jinky & Bobby ??????? (@savoyst) June 20, 2020
Nicholas was most skilful and had 1 great season.
Judas most athletic – had 3 good seasons
McAvennie strongest physically – one good season
McClair – most consistent, deadly in front of goal and best team player – 4 great seasonsMcClair for me.
— 3rdFrame (@The3rdFrame) June 20, 2020
?????
— wyatt (@wyatt7777777) June 20, 2020
Macca all day long Nicholas never peaked at Celtic as he went for the bright lights and money of London and it killed him as a player they even made a documentary about him making money kicking a white leather ball ????.
— Celtic Da ????????? (@Eddy22French) June 20, 2020
Only managed to see McAvennie and Charlie at the very ends of their careers.
Judging on their careers outside of Celtic, McClair, McAvennie, Nicholas.
I don’t remember the other lad at all— Declan McMurphy (@DeclanMcmurphy) June 21, 2020
