Reo Hatate

But it is coming off the back of a full season then...

He's also joining when his match fitness has dropped as he hadn't kicked a ball in anger for over 30 days and all of his opposition and team mates' fitness will be at their peak.

He's also joined a new country, new language and culture. Mentally and physically, the boy will be knackered.

 

Don't think we need the return of turnbull to give him a rest. There are 5 other fit and available CMs if we need to shuffle the pack and/or formation.why did we sign guchi if he's not even getting a look in?

 

Guchi has been injured, no? only just returning to the squad.

As for the 5 other players, the three positions all require different traits. Be like asking Bitton to deputise for Rogic (extreme example I know). I don't imagine Ange is willing to switch his formation and approach too much.

 

5 weeks between games is not coming off the back of a full season.

I get the match fitness thing and the reason for him starting to tire after the hour mark. I also get the adjustment to a new country etc excuse.

I'm not having a go at him btw, I didn't see the game last night. I just can't go this " coming off the back of a full season" thing. Its over dramatisation, most of our players usually only get a 4 week break with sc final and early euro qualifiers.

 

But the immediate return of turnbull, injured for longer, is enough to give hatate a rest?

That's why I said "shuffle" the pack. Bitton could easily deputise for rogic. He comes in and callum pushes up one. C'mon mate you know this.

If that we're the case then turnbull is by no means a direct replacement for hatate.

 

Yep agree with this it’s just an excuse. McGregor played about 50 club games last season plus probably 10 internationals. He’s made about 40 apps this season for Celtic and also a few internationals again.

 

How do we normally do after 4 weeks off in the euro qualifiers?

 

I noticed Ange giving him instructions immediately after the first goal.
Wasn’t long before he was off anyway

 

Each player is different in their return from injury. Maybe Turnbull will need time as well, maybe he won't. Add to that, Turnbull is an integrated member of the squad, Guchi isn't. So, much like Karamoko, I imagine Ange will be trying to ease them in to the team as well.


We saw last night though, what you suggest in regards to Bitton coming on and McGregor taking a more forward role. I do not expect however our combative midfielder to be shoved in to the number 10 role.

As for Hatate and turnbull being direct replacements. I think they will be. They are slightly different players, but as far as depth is concerned and rotation, I think we will see that those two are the ones to be playing for a position on the right side of the midfield pair.

 

Hes young aswel. He will settle.

 

OK, maybe usually was the wrong word to use, more like frequently.

Sc final end of may, about 27, 28, 29th euro qualifiers mid July sometimes as early as 10th. Back training 2 weeks before this, equates to roughly 4/ 5 weeks off.

 

Well possibly, but i would say turnbull is one of the most naturaly unfit players I've seen at us since JH.

There is an argument to be made for mcgregor being more effective further forward but that's for a different day.

My point is we have options if we need to rest players in midfield, which the manager said he doesnt do btw. Guchi is fit and available, how fit we don't know, but enough to be on the bench. All we can garner from that is that he is, currently, one of those options, turnbull isn't yet.

 

After his big injury it took him a good while. Majorly different injury so I’m hoping he comes back on fire.

 

We have 3 defensive midfielders all sitting on the bench while we play our best number 8 as a 6.
The solution is simple. Stop wasting mcgregor at 6 when none of the other 8s are as good as he is anyway

 

He’s also far and away our best number 6. And the 8’s that are infront of him are a much higher quality than those we could replace at number 6.

I’d take Hatate, O’Riley, Rogic, Turnbull over McCarthy, Bitton, Soro and Ideguchi any day of the week.

 

Yeah fair point mate if the 3 number 8s were actually playing well. I'd argue none of the 3 are on any kind of form.
We need to rotate/rest players like Hatate and given the current options Mcgregor is best solution until Turnbull returns

 

Aye, I’d be tempted to start Bitton at the weekend with McGregor infront of him but everytime he proves to me that he deserves some sort of place he invariably * up. Which is my biggest worry with him, and think he’s the best option there outwith McGregor