Callum McGregor

We hardly got annihilated.

It was a fairly even game. Our hard work in the first half was undone by a combination of a poor wall set up and Hart missing what should be a routine save. Then two red cards * us. Added to that Hatate had possibly his worst game in a Celtic shirt. Yet it's McGregor that's the problem? Massive lol.

 

Was quiet, but they obviously had him marked as key. Up to us to find other ways out.

 

Last night wasn’t Mcgregor’s fault but for some reason the club seem to fancy him as a CDM which he isn’t. Weird that Ange used him like that but at Tottenham he has Bissouma which who is polar opposite physically

 

I don’t think he contributes enough in our team. I have said it before and I’ll likely take a pasting but I don’t think he’s that good. He’s a decent technical midfielder who keeps the play ticking over. That’s just my honest opinion of him.

Looking at his game where does he excel as a midfielder compared to others?

strength ? No
Pace? No
Power? No
Passing? Yes (longer range less so)
Creativity? Average
Goal scoring? Used to be good now not so much but likely impacted by the role he is asked to play
Tackling? No

In Scotland he is an excellent player, at CL level I think he gets found out.

 

The issue is that you're looking at one game.. and not the terminal issue which is our record in Europe.

We're a easy touch for the majority of European sides which can tracked back to our powderpuff midfield.

But again, as I said, completely blindsided as with a fair chunk of the support.. so there's little point with having a discussion on it.

 

McGregor is one of the most consistent performers and regularly one of our better players in our toughest games though. Singling him out is daft.

 

No player is perfect. The art of tactics is to create a system where your best players' flaws are masked, and their strengths on full display. Teams have started to isolate McGregor since Rodgers came in. There are multiple ways of countering this. Rodgers needs to pick one.

 

He wasn't good last night and if we're honest he was at fault last year in a different system at this level as well away at Shakhtar, away in Leipzig, at home to Madrid..

If my memory serves me right he was caught out directly for goals in all of those games..

What should've been addressed hasn't been. He needs help in there and O'Riley can only do so much whilst still being asked to contribute going forward..

We were crying out for a physical defensive mid with athleticism. It's mental we didn't bring own in..

 

Completely bossed it at 10 men..

They could barely get near him..

 

Was off it until we went a man down, then stepped up and ran the show. Maybe he was man marked until Joe got sent off?

 

Thought he was good all game in all honesty. Far better today at collecting the ball from defence and linking the midfield.

 

Ran the show.

 

Thought he was excellent tonight, but he needs help to build the play from deep..

 

Excellent tonight but what chance does he have when one guy next to him is slightly off it and the other just loses the ball any time it comes near him.

 

Really stood out tonight. Seemed to find space everywhere to receive the pass.

Thought O'Riley and Hatate were fine but just didn't help him enough. Still would like to see if Iwata would work better in these types of games.

 

His best game in Europe for a few years. He's a different player when the opposition leaves him with space to operate in.