Liam Scales

I think that's a bit harsh on Maeda, mate. I thought he was outstanding in the CL.

I also think Scales's performance at CP in the New Year game was quite mixed. There were obvious reasons for that (starting with an inexperienced partner, changing partner midgame for one who wasn't fit, dealing with Taylor's inability to win duels against his winger and AJ's meltdown) so I'm not blaming him there; but it was very mixed rather than brilliant.

I don't even think he's streets ahead of Starfelt when it comes to passing. He can do things that Starfelt couldn't; but I've also seen him give it away in dangerous areas far more than Starfelt (e.g. in that New Year game, although nothing like as bad as AJ's that got Welsh injured). Swings and roundabouts for me on that one.

He is more of a leader and I could see him as a future captain (which you can't really imagine for Starfelt); but Starfelt was the better CB for me. TBF, though, although 25, Scales still has some development in him due to his history, whereas Starfelt was in his prime, so the comparison might not be totally fair until we see how Scales develops. Even I admit that Scales was incredible for a couple of months in the autumn. If he can recapture that and keep it consistently, I might be willing to reconsider; but here and now, I'd take Starfelt all day.

 

Taylor is the most recent, an obvious case of hype getting in the way of realism. Ralston is another one, people were demanding to know why he wasn't starting games ahead of JJ and AJ. Every time MJ turns up, people will tell you, 'oh he deserves another chance', when he deserves his marching orders. People will still tell you Forrest has something to offer when that's not been true for several years.

A lot of the guys we now agree aren't or weren't up to par were also the subject of misplaced optimism well beyond the point where it was obvious they didn't have it. Pretty much any academy player that gets a start from us is going to come good until they don't.

Again, I'm not saying that it's not a totally natural thing to do, but I do think it makes people overlook blatant shortcomings in homegrown players. I'm not saying it's deliberate bias either, I think people genuinely don't know they're doing it.

 

He played 3 and sent off in one, injured the rest was he not? But aye, I get what you’re saying and agree there, I was more thinking who did over all the games and the campaign cos I’d also put Bernardo in there, he was comfortable and pressed very well. Think he played a specific role that BR wanted, and it was press, keep the ball, play safe. Cos it doesn’t look his natural game that either.

But that was over half the games, one a dead rubber, that I celebrated like * winning so I’d add them in with no qualms. And Palma as well now I think of it, 2 goals and was unlucky not to get 3 Maeda being a bawhair offside with a toenail on the ball the Lazio game. Unlucky not to match Sammy and Dembele for best ever return in a group stage for us with 3.

I think when Starfelt wasn’t getting the easy option off his team mates, round the start, he done similar * or would go forward and turn back horrifically. Was more similar to the way Phillips would stride out on the ball for me.

But his high percentage of successful passes, higher than Hatate or Mooy or Calmac even. Doesn’t mean he was better on the ball, meant he wasn’t giving an option to try anything outwith the very simple pass he was good at mate.

Could you see Starfelt dealing with the amount of chopping and changing of partners like Scales has this season? Honestly the battlecry even under Ange was CCV being out was * terrifying.


EDIT: Scales in the new year game giving it away in dangerous areas? That one at Parkhead? I was there under the influence a bit and thought he was excellent, whatd I miss?

 

Jesus mate, Taylor gets ripped to shreds off the support every * week. MJ, don’t get me started I think it’s a shocking level of abuse that boy gets for having to be the option we’ve turned to this year, shouldn’t be the case, not his fault, but he gets a level of vitriol I find mental.

he’s no good enough and needs to go but he’s not a got a lot of fans amongst the support I’d say.

Ralston, I’ll give that as opinions, I like him and what he brings. Thought JJ was overated as * with Ralston being a better option for what we needed. AJ I’ve only said twice, start of December, deserved dropped because Ralston came on for him a couple times and done better and everyone needs a kick up the *.

Mate, think back, infact James Forrest here 15 years, 2nd top scorer and top assister over 4 Trebles. Doesn’t even have a song.


Think back to the reaction to Calmac getting the armband on here after the Covid season, got called * quiet and a Hun on here.

Academy guys, they’re hyped up right up until the first game they play like a young player learning the game - then we as fans go for the neck.

We’re * awful for it man.

Think we do the last point to foreign guys with a fancy name as well, hype up then a bad game or two ol’ stereotypes come out.


Look at the Hatate thread from start of this season compared to end of last for an example of that.


Honestly though, Taylor being yer first example there, do you not see everyone saying get a * LB

 

Can only speak for me and anecdotal evidence of the group of fans I watch the games with etc. but there’s not been loads, and he has dealt with so many changes in that backline, he’s dealt with it a lot smoother than we have any right to expect. I’d be surprised if he’s had 900 minutes this year with another CB. That’s 10 games. That’s usually something when it’s 10 games in a row mistakes are still expected, due to a new partnership.

 

Aye, people are now saying we need a new LB, and last year the same people were calling him POTY and denying that he was suspect at the back. This is the problem, everyone can see it in hindsight, but because of sentimentality for homegrown players it takes a while to get to a realistic collective assessment of that player.

If you honestly think Ralston is a better option than JJ, you're in that space still. That's nothing but sentimentality. Not trying to get into it about the merits of specific players, but Ralston like Taylor struggles to defend at even an SPFL level, nevermind Europe.

 

Been a consistent 4 windows or so, probably more now I think of it of demanding a new LB. Look at the Berny thread at the start wild fanfare, he was a massive part of our success in the treble last year but did you actually see a large amount of fans wanting him to be PotY infront of the likes of Kyogo or Jota or CCV? And Hatate was the other shout I seen but he was * unreal for about 6 months so the 3 that done it full year was always gave the shout from everyone.

Was he nominated for any chance of fans PotY that we vote for on the Celtic website? Can’t mind him being anywhere near that. He was a big part of that team though definitely, played a massive part in that inverted role and made a fuckload of space for Calmac. * when he’s been good this year its the times BR’s decided to let him go inverted, rather than the style he’d rather that GT’s shocking at.

I wanted Ralston there because he was more creative and our weakness was set pieces at corners, and Ralston was much better at it than JJ. JJ had almost zero creativity for us, think he got like 3 assists all in for us.

Was also well aware that JJ was a better player a higher level btw, and 2/3/4 games on the bench with him being outperformed by Ralston might give him a * kick up the * and actually make the use of how talented he was. The season we’re talking about here, the defending point, statistically you’re wrong with that. The thing JJ was better at was interceptions, he was exceptional at that and was almost twice as much as Ralston. But TR and Calmac was the ones trailing him neck and neck at that.

 

I stand corrected but still a considerable amount. Rodgers wanted Schar. What a signing that would have been.

 

Think we got close to Schar and he knocked us back in 2018 because Newcastle got interested in him.

 

I called McGregor a hun and backed Mikey til the end

 

Obviously not our biggest concern, but * me is he a problem.

For the style of football we play, we need our centre-backs to be a lot quicker than he is on the ball. And the worst part is the fact he doesn't even look for runners. He'll pretend to and then watch them making runs in behind the defence only to stare at them as they do it before making a simple 3 yard pass instead.

Infuriating when you're trying to set a quick tempo

 

Aberdeen were noticeably letting him have the ball because of how ponderous he is on it.

 

I think that comes from having nothing in front of him. If the rest of the team play well then Scales will distribute the ball no problem.

 

Thought that was his worst game this season

 

Yeah he was poor today but look at what he's surrounded by, utter dross

 

Aye, he was poor today, probably his worst game of the season.

 

Nawrocki was poor for the goal but I’ve not seen much criticism of Scales for it. His recovery pace to get back and stop the shot was laughable.

 

Scales was poor today, but the goal wasn't on him.

 

I feel Scales gets away with a lot I remember Starfelt would get attacked for anything and everything. Even goals that weren't on him. Scales somehow escapes blame.

 

It wasn’t his fault, no. Bernabei and Nawrocki were terrible. But Scales’ attempt to get back was shocking.

A quicker defender probably gets a block on the shot at the end.