Application rejected after disappointing interview

Thursday 21 April 2011

WITH highly-paid agents working unseen on their behalf, grateful managers quick to wax lyrical about their abilities and a willing media happy to hype their every achievement, there is no need for footballers to subject themselves to job interviews.

Custom byline text:

matthew lindsay matthew.lindsay@heraldandtimes.co.uk

A match in direct opposition to a club interested in signing them is perhaps the closest they ever come to the ordeal professionals in all other walks of life need to endure in order to secure gainful employment.

So, while Alexei Eremenko, the Finnish midfielder whose inspired performances for Kilmarnock this season have sparked suggestions of a move to Celtic, may have been primarily concerned with helping his side achieve a positive result last night he could be forgiven for having ulterior motives. Impressing Neil Lennon, who has publicly voiced his admiration for the Russian-born player of late, and so engineering a lucrative transfer to Parkhead in the summer may have helped to motivate him before kick-off.This, though, was not an ideal platform for Eremenko to showcase his considerable talents and he did little, if anything, to persuade Lennon it would be a worthwhile investment adding him to his already sizeable squad. Try as he might, the 28-year-old, who has been named on the shortlist for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award, was helpless to halt the visitors’ onslaught.Due to Joe Ledley’s hamstring strain, Eremenko found himself in direct opposition to Biram Kayal. Many Scottish football observers, especially those who view the world through green and white tinted spectacles, believe Kayal deserves to be singled out for the various individual prizes which will be doled out next month.Certainly, the Israeli seemed far more deserving of recognition than his feted adversary on the basis of a completely one-sided encounter. In tandem with Scott Brown in central midfield, he experienced no difficulty stamping his authority on proceedings and dictating play. Shortly after teeing up Anthony Stokes for Celtic’s fourth goal early in the second half, Kayal was withdrawn. With another three points secured, Lennon was keen to ensure his prized asset did not suffer a knock which ruled him out of the Old Firm game at Ibrox on Sunday afternoon.Eremenko will have been as relieved as anybody inside Rugby Park to see him replaced by Ki Sung-Yueng just after the hour. The 50-times capped internationalist, who is on loan from Ukrainian club Metalist Kharkiv, did have his moments but they were few and far between and quickly forgotten amid the glut of goals for the title chasers.With his team trailing 1-0 early on, Eremenko played a neat one two with David Silva and set up his team-mate for a clear shot at goal inside the Celtic area. The feeble attempt was easily dealt with by goalkeeper Fraser Forster. Eremenko then had an opportunity to give his side a lifeline at 2-0, when the hosts were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position 25 yards out. The Finn’s effort was poor, though, and rebounded back off double goalscorer Kris Commons. And that, pretty much, was that.Eremenko is the latest in a long line of players who are linked with moves to Old Firm clubs after performing encouragingly elsewhere in Scotland. Some, such as Steven Naismith and Mark Wilson, justify the expectation. Others, such as David Fernandez and Derek Riordan, do not. On this evidence, Eremenko would appear to have little to offer Celtic and would, if a transfer transpired, end up among the latter. As was obvious last night, there is such strength in depth in his department of the Parkhead team that he would surely struggle to get a game ahead of Brown, Kayal, Ki and Ledley.If this had been a normal job interview, he could expect find a letter dropping through his door in the not too distant future which read: “Dear Mr Eremenko. Thank you for your interest in the position of Celtic midfielder. Unfortunately, due to the high quality of the applicants, you have been unsuccessful on this occasion . . .”

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

Application rejected after disappointing interview

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED