Scott Brown

You are creating a problem when there isnt one. We have always got 2 or 3 first 11 players out/not fully fit. Broony deserved to play because Forrest was ill, Commons totally non-match fit, Kayal was out. What is the issue? There is always room for most of our fit best 14 or 15 players because 3 or 4 are always out. Yesterday Broony had to play because Sammy and Commons are rubbish on the right. We also needed someone who could cover for an ill Mathtews who was struggling against a very good Dundee U left side. I really dont see the problem. Its just not that often we have more than 11 of our best 15 100% fit. We even played 2 players who were under the weather yesterday - Stokes and Matthews.

 

Everybody fit and on form?

Commons Kayal Ledley Broony

Not seen us play better than we have with that midfield. Right now?

Samaras Ledley Wanyama Forrest

I don't think Samaras' form will last and by the end of the season it'll be.

Forrest Ledley Wanyama Broony

I really dunno though, I hate playing with two wingers we get overun in the middle.

 

OK until we prove that we can play with 2 wingers (which has often failed at crucial moments) I would play

Forrest-Vic/Ledley-Kayal-Broony

Simple reason is that I think having a CM-*-wide player on one side makes us solid.

I dont think Ledley-Vic-Kayal-Forrest works as well because Ledley is not great wide IMO.

However, it an issue that almost never exist in reality as we always have CM injuries or Ledley or VIc filling in at the back. If everyone is fit by some miracle we can judge them by current form.

 

So you would either shunt Forrest to a position that - IMO - he doesn't shine or you would have Ledley and Vic competing for a CM place all to keep Brown in the team?

I really don't agree with that at all.

Brown is a bench player for me, to be brought on when protecting a lead or to cover for injuries.

Certainly not Celtic captain or first pick.

 

If we only play 1 winger in many of our games (which I think will be the case) then its either Ledley on the left or Broony on the right and IMO Broony is a lot better wide right than Ledley is wide left. Ledley to me looks very lost when played on the left wing. Broony may not be perfect but as a wide-deployed CM I think he is better than ledley. If we were playing 2 proper wingers then Broony would probably have to drop out but I suspect that will be in the St. Mirren at Parkhead kind of games.

 

I think Ledley is FAR superior to Brown in their respective wide positions. In fact I really like Joe on the left, especially when Izzy is overlapping him, he can then tuck in to protect the midfield or can cover for Izzy on his many runs forward.

He has also scored a few goals playing on the left and having a wee bit more freedom to support the attack.

 

The poorest midfield two over the last couple of seasons together were Ledley and Ki. They could not win a game together.

Interesting debate going on with Forrest here. I really like him on the Left and the Right. Playing with 3 CM types gives him a bit of a free role. We must never play with 2 wingers and 2 strikers in the SPL. Never.

 

Going to have to agree to disagree. Ledley just doesnt have the mobility or the ability to twist or turn or the change of pace to be able to play wide. He is technically neat and clever but he is never a left wing in a 4-4-2.

 

Who will play in the Scotland first 11? Brown or Forrest?

 

Not sure. COuld be on the right and left or Broony could play CM. Scotland tend to have 4-6-0 formations so there is plenty of room in MF

 

The bit in bold?

You just described Brown for me.

 

I think that's something that definitely can't be aimed at Scott Brown.

 

Now your are showing signs of madness mate. Brown has rough edges but noone can question the fact he is mobile, gets up and down the flank like mad, has great ability to shrug off challengers under pressure, has pace/change of pace and links defence and attack. he did all of that a lot on Saturday. You can get submilemly talented players who cant play winger due to a lack of mobility like that. One of the main reasons Naka was not played on the left was that he lacked the pace and mobility to do down the outside. Ledley is the more technical player but he is unsuited to playing wide. Put it this way pushing ledley wide diminishes his game while it actually improves Broony.

 

Why?

What does he offer from there? I agree if Brown has to be in the team he should be on the right but there are better players for the position.

Forrest offers more pace, directness, close control and link up play, he has also weighed in with a few goals. He shows up Brown in that position if I'm being honest.

Ledley on the other hand looked really good when he got moved to LM last year, got forward, linked up well, got into dangerous positions and scored a few a goals. He also tucks in and makes a much better CM and can cover well for Izzy as I said earlier.

If a CM type is going to play on either wing then it's Ledley for me every day.

It's a no brainer for me mate.

 

Couldnt disagree more. I would admit that Ledley is arguably a better CM but there is no way he is better than Broony in a wide attacking role.

 

Brown has a bit of pace no doubt, he also has very good upper body strength to hold off players.

But where is the goals? Where is the assists? Where is anything really?

 

he might not be as good going forward as broony but he provides cover for izzy when he bombs forward, something forrest or commons couldnt do.

 

true but Ledley does that from LCM position anyway. Its noticeable when Ledley used to get replaced by Ki that Izz's overlapping was not covered well. Its one thing that Vic will have to learn to do when Ledley is not playing.

 

BROWN, he reminds me of a dog, in and about a empty dog compond, always runing about, sniffing at one *, to the next, with nothing more in his heed.