Even Ewan Murray is laughing at Mad Dog McFarlane’s Tav claim

Ewan Murray, the Guardian’s golf reporter finds it almost impossible to resist commenting about Celtic on Twitter.

If there is a chance to criticise the club or more likely the supporters he’ll be all over it, the memories of Dens Park in 1986 left a very deep scar.

However even Murray could see right through the bizarre claim that James Tavernier has been the best player in Scotland over the last five year.

Clutching data from ‘Stats Bomb’ the brains behind the Rangers Review and Celtic Way, Jonny McFarlane made the claim. If that is the findings of Stats Bomb it is perhaps time to bomb them out.

During the last five years Celtic have had multiple players who have surpassed Tav’s medal tally plus many others that have attracted interest from clubs willing to pay transfer fees.

At right-back alone Josip Juranovic and Jeremie Frimpong have left for the Bundesliga after just 18 months at Celtic collecting winners medals.

For just £1m a month you can subscribe to the top content from Jonny and the sophisticated bears at The Rangers Review.

I know there are differing opinions but I think history will be kind to this call. If you go by data – consistently best player in Scotland over last five years. If you take a more traditional view look at the goals from RB. Top scorer in EL. Captain of the 55 team. Strong case. https://t.co/q4MlI0SG07

— Jonny McFarlane (@jonnyrmcfarlane) February 20, 2023

OBV, but let’s not get our knickers in a twist over it ? I concede it favours full-backs and there’s also the eye test. Think you’d concede he’s very high in that conversation given his outstanding attacking numbers.

— Jonny McFarlane (@jonnyrmcfarlane) February 20, 2023

“If you go by data”

The numbers are from the industry-leading company Stats Bomb. Happy to post for you to have a look at…

— Jonny McFarlane (@jonnyrmcfarlane) February 20, 2023

You’d be better posting it to the clubs in serious leagues who have shown no interest in buying him.. instead opting for Frimpong and Juranovic.

— Ewan Murray (@mrewanmurray) February 20, 2023

And yet, with upwards of 10m to spend a leading German club opted to buy him. Not James Tavernier. What a strange business.

— Ewan Murray (@mrewanmurray) February 20, 2023