FRANK MCAVENNIE is paid by Football Insider to be as controversial as possible when it comes to his Celtic opinions. There’s very little traction in it for FI and guys on their payroll to be positive.

The former Celtic star has been on the website over the past 24 hours having a go at Anthony Ralston for his performance at St Mirren – claiming the player has gone backwards.

I don’t mind criticism of players when it’s due and is constructive, but anyone having a go at Anthony Ralston after the first half of the season needs to wind their neck in.

Frank branded the player ‘hopeless’ against St Mirren as Celtic dropped points.

The game was frustrating but to point out Ralston’s performance is peculiar.

“I was at the St Mirren game and I thought, ‘Dear me he’s gone backwards’. McAvennie told FI.

“Oh my God, he was hopeless. He looked bit-part. Honestly, he was playing like he had just come off a building site.

“He was just crashing around into people. That’s the player I was always convinced wouldn’t make it.

“He looked great earlier this season, that’s why he got the Scotland call-up.

“But he hasn’t looked the same and I was so disappointed with him against St Mirren.

“I was disappointed with everyone if I’m honest but Ralston was really poor.”

Anthony went from having one foot and four toes our the door at Celtic Park to becoming a first team regular – proving a lot of people wrong – including me.

He deserves a lot of praise for his turn around and we all have our off games. Nobody covered themselves in glory in Paisley just before Christmas.

Frank, wind your neck in.