4.5 million reasons why Scott Brown must show Celtic what all the Hoop-la was about

When Celtic beat Rangers in the hunt for £4.5million Scott Brown's signature last summer, any rational Hoops fan was delighted that we had acquired the hottest young Scottish talent going.

Much rejoicing and mickey-taking was evident amongst the Bhoys after Rangers dropped out of the chase due to the rising wages being negotiated.

Rangers supporters had even been singing, "We’re gonna take Scott Brown," at a match against Hibernian at Easter Road.

Oh, how the gloating went on. Oh, how the gloating has subsided into a bit of a whimper.

There is no denying the talent of Brown but one must question his aggressive streak and, at times, simple ball control. He made a good start, with boundless energy on show and some man-of-the-match performances alongside Massimo Donati in the middle of the park.

However, too many yellow cards and complete vanishing acts in many games started the tongues wagging.

Is Celtic’s current formation suitable for Brown’s style of play? Gordon Strachan plays with two wide men every week. Every possible duo in the middle of the park has been tried.

Rangers signing of Kevin Thompson, who was Brown’s safety magnet at Hibs, made sure there would be comparisons as to who was adapting to life in an easier fashion at the bigger clubs.

It has to be said that Thompson is an extremely vital cog in the Rangers midfield and Brown has struggled to adapt.

Is it the pressure? Does Brown need two players with him in the middle of the park? Perhaps, because it seems that Brown doesn’t really know what his job is in the Celtic midfield.

Due to the two wide men adopted by Strachan, the middle of the park cries out for a fetching and carrying duo. Much better suited, it would seem, to Barry Robson and Paul Hartley.

Brown is far too rash and clumsy in the tackle to be a defensive midfielder, yet he seems unable to make as many lung-bursting runs as he used to. His touch, at times, is appalling for a professional footballer. He seems stifled and confused.

Is it the orders from the management team? Are we playing to the strengths of a talented player who was bought to be built around? It’s frustrating for everyone concerned.

Strachan has a strange habit of signing players and then asking them to do something completely different. Should these type of plans not be instigated in a steady fashion?

With three games left for Celtic, it is highly unlikely that Brown will feature as long as Robson and Hartley stay fit for a nail-biting run-in.

A large sum of money was invested in Brown and there are no doubts that he will be used and relied on heavily next year. It is of paramount importance that Strachan, Brown and Celtic work out some way for him to showcase his skills to the maximum.

Brown will move on in a couple of years and Celtic will be looking to make at least double what they paid for him. On current form, that is unlikely but Brown has youth on his side and a valued reputation throughout Britain. It would be a shame to discover that he failed to fulfill the potential.

He is a solid lad and does not involve himself in any shenanigans outside of the football world. Perhaps the jump to Parkhead affected him in more ways than even he expected.

The players and fans know how much talent Brown has and, in a debut season, glimpses of skill coupled with a surprisingly tolerant support have not led to full-scale criticism of the young Scot.

Unfortunately, if Brown thought that this year was a pressure cooker, then if a marked improvement is not made next season and he still fails to get among the goals, then he may suffer the full force of the Celtic crowd.

Let’s hope, for Scotland’s sake also, that this is not the case. Good luck, Scott Brown.