James Forrest

Some good words from Callum



The scorer also singled out Forrest for high praise after the winger tormented the German defence all night and set up the goal for McGregor with a wonderful assist.

“James was excellent,” said McGregor. “He was asked to play in that full-back role and he was up and down the pitch all night.

“I’m delighted for him, what a shift he put in and it was a great ball for the goal. He’s got that quality, you see it all the time from him.

"He’s come through the Celtic Academy and gone on to play 250 times for Celtic which is an incredible achievement. If you’ve played 250 games for Celtic, then you’re doing well. It’s guys like James that I look up to.”

 

This would take an awful bit of effort to prove, but I’d hazard a guess that Forrest may be better suited to play with Dembele just as Roberts’ style of play may match up better with Griffiths. Jamesy (and Hayes/Tierney, for that matter) are good at hitting aerial crosses that can find a good target man like Moussa. Whereas Roberts and Sinclair/Tierney would pair up well with a striker like Griffiths, who is better with the ball at his feet.

Perhaps too simplified, but maybe the stats/performance could back up this hypothesis?

 

Full back role? Didn't look that way.

What a fabulous performance, I cant recall him making a better performance including domestic games and considering the opposition was quite incredible.

 

Paddy must have had mixed emotions watching him tearing Bayern a new one. He’s got some work to do to get back in.

 

If he is going to be played like a right wing back at times then I don't see why him and Paddy can't play in the same team. 3421...

Gordon
Lustig Boyata Simunovic
Forrest Brown McGregor Tierney
Roberts Sinclair
Dembele
​

Tasty.

 

Against an Anderlecht that would be fine I think but against the big gun's I'm not sure I'd have McGregor in a 2 with Broony..

 

I was thinking more for domestic games tbh, but in Europe last nights lineup was ideal.

 

Got you. Agreed mate..

Has to be the way forward. I genuinely think just little tweaks to that here and there and we've found a formula that suit's us down to a tee in Europe..

Brendan has always wanted to try that 3 at the back rotating formation and last season he was doing 2 up top and still trying to find the perfect way and personnel. I think we've got it now (although I know we've used it a fair bit in game's this season but not to the effect of Pittodrie and Bayern last night especially) to the point it may be our way to go every week domestically instead of the flexible 4-2-3-1..

 

Perfect balance for European football, and domestically it's more attacking than a 4231 which we can get away with.

 

Has to play against anderlecht after last nights performance.

Have always felt he gets a raw deal from large parts of the support and took a great deal of pleasure watching him prove a number of people wrong when they questioned his place in the team pre-match.

3-5-2 could be a winner for us moving forward with Forrest on the right and Tierney down the left.

 

Best he's played for a long time, if he keeps it up we won't need to worry about paddy going back so much..

 

Watched the game back tonight and * me that's a 10/10 performance for a winger against that level of opposition.

Also I didn't fully appreciate how good the assist was at the time, sublimely weighted pass for Callum. Iniesta does that and the footballing world creams itself.

 

On a night when the focus was very much on one James, the £60million Columbian superstar Rodriguez on-loan to Bayern Munich from Real Madrid, it was his diminutive namesake from Prestwick that stole the thunder at a booming Celtic Park.

A scintillating performance from the home side’s James, the rather less exotic-sounding Forrest, saw the winger acclaimed by all who were present on Tuesday night to witness his performance, and no doubt many more throughout the continent who saw it on television.

But as good as Forrest’s showing was, and it was very good, it is perhaps surprisingly rare for such universal praise to be showered on the 26-year-old.

His manager, Brendan Rodgers, not only saluted his display against the Bavarian giants in the aftermath of the game, but went as far as to say he was one of the best wide players he has ever worked with.

When you consider that Rodgers’ past alumni in those areas includes the likes of Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana, that’s quite the accolade.

But still, Forrest splits opinion among the Celtic support. His contribution on Tuesday night was beyond question, but his critics would say a failure to produce that form consistently has long since been his major flaw.

Or is Forrest, like many enigmatic wingers before him, just under-appreciated? For his teammate Stuart Armstrong, there may be more than a grain of truth to that theory.

“Sometimes that’s true,” said Armstrong “He’s been at the club for a long time.

“He’s a quality player and we get to see that every day in training. He showed against Bayern what a top-quality player he is when he takes it to the next level.

“Sometimes injuries give opportunities to other players and Jamesy has certainly taken that in his stride. I’m really pleased for him.

“He was absolutely terrific. His link-up play, his balls into the box, his through ball to Callum (McGregor) for the goal was outstanding.

“Just with his overall play, he was a threat. He was a fantastic asset for us during the game.

“It’s been tough for him, with a lot of competition for places. He’s been out of the side at times, but he showed in front of a full Celtic Park and against top quality opposition that he’s one of our best.”

Armstrong was very nearly the beneficiary of an early moment of quality from the right-foot of Forrest, and the fact he was unable to take advantage of the chance the winger laid on a plate for him in the opening minutes was one of a few sources of regret for Celtic on the night.

“It was a beautiful ball from Jamesy and I’ve watched it for what felt like an age,” he said. “I felt the defender was going to get a little nick on it, which put me off slightly. But I was very disappointed not to take that chance so early in the game.

“I came close with another one in the second half as well. It’s always an aim of mine to get on the scoresheet every single game and I had a very good chance on Tuesday.

“It was just one of those things. It was a great counter attack and I’ve run a long way to get there. Usually, you’d just like to stroke it into the back of the net, but it just didn’t happen for me.”

 

My criticism of him in the past has always been his attitude.. especially when he chooses to sit on his * after a challenge. He was superb against Bayern and i hope he can take that confidence into all future games..
If he can do that against world class players then it is up to the refs in this country to give him some protection and allow him to play the football that he is capable of.

 

He was in the exact same position as Tierney on the opposite side. Done * amazing as well.

 

He hasn't went in the huff after a challenge the whole time Brendan has been here. Straight back up to try and win the ball back.

 

Exactly this, he's been told to sort it out if he wants to be a part of this team and he has been a changed man, not unlike others in the team mind you, since Brendan has come in.

 

As i said, all about his attitude NOT his ability. IF Scottish football wants to produce a better quality product then the officials have to up their game by quite a bit and start protecting skillful players.
With so many actors in the modern game i realize the officials have a hard job but i have no problem with officials making it clear that 'cynical' challenges & tackles will be punished in first instance - just as long as new clubs have the same rules applied

 

First thing I noticed with him under Brendan. Another thing I’ve noticed? He still does it with Scotland

 

Moral of the story? Don't * with Brendan!