Is the Dane Murray Slander Getting Out of Hand?

I understand the frustration with Dane Murray. He has made mistakes in a Celtic shirt, and his performances against Hearts and Benfica last season raised legitimate questions about whether he was ready for regular first-team football.

But I do think some of the criticism has gone too far.

I actually thought Murray had a good game against Hibernian. He looked more composed and competed well, and I think he deserves credit for his contribution to the victory. The problem is that, much like Carl Starfelt during his time at Celtic, people often remember the mistakes more than the good performances.

Starfelt was regularly criticised for individual errors despite being a key part of a successful side, and I worry Murray is heading down a similar path in the eyes of some supporters. Once a defender develops a reputation for making mistakes, it can be difficult to shake it, even when he puts in a decent performance.

I have already said that the partnership between Murray and Liam Scales is not working particularly well. Cameron Carter-Vickers coming back into the side has reminded us of the difference an experienced defender can make, particularly in terms of positioning, composure and organising those around him.

That does not mean Murray has no future at Celtic.

Shaun Maloney has spoken positively about Murray’s talent and the belief within the club that he can become a top player. The important part is giving him the right environment to develop, rather than expecting him to be the finished article overnight.

We cannot spend years complaining about Celtic’s lack of a pathway for young players and then turn on one of our own academy graduates the moment he struggles.

Murray needs to improve. Nobody is disputing that. His positioning, decision-making and consistency must get better if he wants to become a regular starter.

But there is a difference between criticising performances and writing off a young player’s entire career.

For me, the criticism should be about whether Murray is ready to start every week right now, not whether he deserves to wear a Celtic shirt at all.

He might not be the answer to our defensive problems today, but that does not mean he cannot become part of the solution tomorrow.

Let’s judge him fairly, give him time to develop and remember that even the best defenders had to start somewhere.