Nir Bitton

Really like him. A positive defensive centre midfielder. Isn't the fastest but gets stuck in. Covers plenty of ground as well.

 

Still letting midfielders run by him for fun. Really needs to protect the back 4 more, he seems happy to leave all that to Broony.

 

I honestly don't rate him.

Aye he can spread the ball about a bit but he's worse than a man short and gets bullied off/on the ball far too regularly

 

He's Ki.

Playing in a midfield that offers no protection.

 

That must be why I hate the * then lolol if he's Ki!

 

Suspected you might. He's not as good as Ki either, not as creative or as much of a goal threat.

He has the tidyness on the ball and controlling the tempo but he is a man short defensively. With Ki I didn't mind because he was in a formation that had Ledley and Brown covering for him or Kayal/Broony. That was fine.

In this midfield we need every man to be counted defensively. Problem is even our defenders can't be relied upon to give themselves a good defensive showing.

 

Cannie argue wae that tbh.

Defenders need * shot tbh - akin to proper schoolboy defending.

At the start of the season i was hoping big Charlie would be taking the mantle of being the "defensive" midfielder sitting in front of the back 4 in a 5 man midfield, but right now i'd kill for a Wanyama or even some dirty wee * like Lee Cattermole kicking * outta the opposition.

 

I don't think it would do as a shred of good to be honest, every single player is isolated when it comes to defending. No looking out for each other at all. We're alright pressing going forward but that leaves a free run on our defence when teams get by that, there's no cover for players.

We miss Joe Ledley in that regard.

 

I think it would mate in all honesty.

Too many times ive seen our players going in half-heartedly and/or giving the opposition too much time when pressing them.

And as for our defence, i think some of them have forgot the basic * rule of "clear your line!" - nae wonder Gordon is going mental almost every match.

 

I think mot clearing the balls down to the defence. Well, onviously Wanyama would :icon_mrgreen:

I just look at Broony in there and he's cutting a frustrated figure for me, he's the only one that is filling in the defensive gaps, we need more players doing that.

 

His job should be in protecting the back 4 and getting the ball forward but notice in the united game how forward he would go and Brown would sit back meaning Deila is going all out attack and hoping the pace of the Defence and Midfield get back in time to cover an attack. Bitton certainly wasn't the only one letting runners by him, first goal Brown never covered the guy in the box Erskine i think, Matthews let players run off him all game.

 

I agree but Brown usually does, I don't think Biton does. The rest I agree with though, it's the set up that's getting us into bother defensively. Players not doing their jobs properly only highlight that problem further.

 

Which is the exact reason I like Charlie Mulgrew in there, that's something he does. Despite his patchy form this season.

 

If we're playing a midfield three (and Kayal is leaving), he has to play along with Brown and Johansen. Mulgrew is not quality in the middle of the park, and Bitton is a far better player than Henderson (even if people don't want that to be true). He's never going to be a flashy player, but he can keep us ticking over.

 

Yeah its a rare lapse from Brown and highlights the defensive errors this season. It wouldn't be a hassle if we convert more of our chances, but we look so much better with Bitton in there, even when Mulgrew was in there other teams would be straight on top of our back four and he would only pass the ball sideways. When Lustig came back from injury we looked far more balanced so sooner him Denayer are back we will be more solid.

 

He actually has very good close control and am sure he's done a few Zidane turns already :smiley-laughing002:

 

Quite good, coming from you..

 

Are we not on at 6pm

 

6pm in the san siro.