Alistair Johnston

The one thing that I'd say that compares with covid season is I believe going off commmets from Rodgers since he came back is that Kennedy runs training. Think it was the same under Lennon, whereas as I think Ange was very hands on and Kennedy was probably lucky if he was allowed to put out the cones

 

He's part of a list of players that just aren't at it with Rodgers at the helm

 

He's part of a list of players that was signed to play a very specific system that only a handful of managers in the world play and is another who looks completely incapable of adapting his style of play to fit a new managers way.

* incredible transfer policy were we are now left with a lot of players that very few clubs will take off our hands unless they happen to have 1 of the few managers that play that particular way.

We actually backed a manager and allowed him to bring in his players only for him to * off at the 1st epl club that batted their eyelashes at him. * typical!!!

 

Thats where the boards * up. We backed him. Thats fine. We then should have just hired his old assistant or anyone else who played that exact way. Nope Desmond stuck his nose in because he was in a mood ange left and thought he knew better. What a mess.

 

It goes back to 10iar season when we all said we should do a complete restructure and should of hired a top level director of football who would set out the way we want to play and then hire coaches and sign players to fit it. Then we could replace players and managers without much upheaval as it would all be in line with strategy of director of football.

But in order for all of that to happen we would need to be a forward thinking, progressive and even just a component run club but instead we have a bunch of auld dicks who know absolutely * all and run it based on their outdated theory of what football is

 

He's played in a 3 at the back and as an out and out FB, so he's more versatile than you suggest. The inverted role was definitely new to him so not sure how what you are is true. He can definitely fit into our systems as he has in the past.

He has good attributes in terms of physicality and defending, and the tail end of last season he was showing he could get forward too. That last part admittedly was part of adapting to Anges' system. And that's the thing, the previous manager coached him into an almost unique role, as you point out, and others into playing a system that few would be familiar with. No reason the current manager/coaches can't do similar with this squad, particularly as the roles/system is more conventiional.

 

Exactly AJ admitted himself that he's never inverted before coming here.

 

Think he had played more as a defensive full back and in a 3 so he was well suited to inverted role.

He hasn't ever looked too clever when asked to play as more of an attacking full back but like you say he does have a lot of good qualities so hopefully he can be coached. Certainly still hold out more hope of him developing into 1 than Taylor

 

Aye I agree he's not a natural attacking fullback. Think that's true whether it be a more conventional FB, or inverted.

 

Iv actually thought he's looked as though he's been told to get forward a lot more last 3 or 4 games. He was poor on Saturday tho

 

what on earth was him and Scales doing for that corner? Genuinely baffling. No communication or anything, no one looks like they know what's going on

 

Listen you cannot blame anyone else for his poor performances but the player himself. He is struggling to do the basics. Was last year a one off. Is he an average player???

 

Taylor’s the player he’s closest to both then not buying into manager think we need to sell both and get in whobthe manager wants


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It’s unacceptable for a full back at Celtic to contribute next to nothing in an attacking sense.

Both of them should be getting a few goals each and hitting close to double figures in assists.

 

He was doing better under Ange. Whatever instructions Rodgers is giving, they are not helpful.

 

I understand that he was signed by Ange and he was told to play a certain way in a specific system.

However, he should be head and shoulders above Kilmarnock, Motherwell, St Johnstone players regardless of the system.

If we were asking him to play upfront or centre mid and he was playing * I'd say fair enough, but defending, passing and crossing occasionally is standard.

He's not the only one who's been * this season, which reflects negatively on Brendan Rodgers.

 

I understand why guys like Kyogo and Taylor are struggling under Rodgers system, but I don't get it with Johnston.

Under Ange he looked quick, strong, good with the ball at his feet and could defend and attack, he can barely do any of these this season, and that can't all be down to the new system.

Not saying we should be shopping for a RB in the January window, he's earned until the summer at least to recapture his form, but he's a complete shadow of the player he was last season.

 

Hasn’t been the same since he’s been back from injury tbh

 

I'd take their full backs all day long at the moment