Callum McGregor

I don’t think it’s based on one Scotland game. The whole Scotland midfield was rotten, McGinn and McTominay were abysmal.

It just highlighted again a common theme that McGregor lacks mobility and defensive nous against good opposing midfielders. We have seen it plenty times in Europe. It’s no slight on McGregor he just isn’t a DM capable playing that position at the highest level.

He needs someone else in there doing the tackling and the harrying. The problem is as he gets older and slower the less and less effective he will get. We have to really start the conversation about a replacement for him and someone who can succeed him. Not right now but within 1/2 years we need to really think about succession planning and reducing his overall game time.

 

Yeah it's harsh to get stuck into him. The setup against Germany was absolutely horrific and no one was thriving in that. That was on Clarke.

 

He had a poor game but I honestly thought he was better than McGinn or McTominay tbh. The pile-on is pure anti-Celtic bollocks by the Huns in the media, nothing else. As for ITV, their coverage - from what I’ve read of it - sounds like a disgrace. The state of Judas Keane to be questioning anyone! As for that other prickface……..well, we all know why he’s greeting.

 

You misunderstand me, i meant rest for vital season ahead, also said in the heat of the moment after Scotland my nation lost 1-5

 

Apologies my man, I thought you were being overly critical - I get you now. Sorry again, no offence meant.

I’ve deleted the post now.

 

It's okay, it was like bar chat with massive pause

 

Haha, that’s a good way of putting it

 

Cal, for me, is in decline. Especially as a DM. He just does not have pace and mobility.
Remember when he came back from injury, he was rank for a few games, then came good against Hearts I think. He made one brilliant track back and tackle and everybody was creaming themselves, when in fact, he should be doing that constantly as a DM. Its more a miles on the clock as opposed to age, that 60 plus games a season has caught up with him.
I do think he is vital to us and having him fit and firing on all cylinders at the business end of the season is so important.
Suspect he is the leader on the training ground bigtime.
We need to help him, not playing him 3 times in 7 days. Manage his game time. And take him out of that DM position.
Dont think Iwata is the answer.

 

Hope he retires from international football. 60 games a season is * him

 

Looks to have completely lost any athleticism . Those little bursts of energy and forward drive seem to be gone from his game .

 

Looked completely burst. Doesn't have the legs to do 60 games a season now.

Very ineffectual. Should have been subbed of tonight.
Would give him 3 weeks off and look to sign a quality player in the engine room to help him.

 

Like the rest of them, a really poor tournament from McGregor. Looked slow, lethargic and devoid of any creativity. Just seemed to pass it sideways and backwards.

Hard to tell how much of that is Clarke's influence, but if we're being truthful he was poor for large parts of last season for us too, despite picking it up a bit during the run in.

If we're going to insist on him playing every minute of every game next season, we badly need some legs beside him. Said it a million times but I'll say it again, we need a proper defensive midfielder to do the dirty work in there for Europe.

If we go into the CL with McGregor anchoring again then we all know what the outcome will be. His performances in this tournament were very reminiscent of his performances for us in Europe over the last couple of years.

Some don't want to hear it, but it's blatantly obvious he just isn't good enough for that role; whilst he's never been physical, he looks to be declining in that area too.

 

He's playing in a team with about 8 other centre mids looking to do similar. He was * against Germany as was everyone. He was no worse than anyone else in the other 2 games. I've been critical of him as well at points last season but to judge him in a Steve Clarke side is unfair

 

I've not watched it back again since the game and replays but I can't believe he didn't hit that first time in the box.

 

Few players do, season after season, particularly year after year.

Made this point a year or so ago about McGregor and got pounded for it. He's still a class player but not planning on him playing less games, or being the answer in every situation is sheer negligence.

 

Needs to retire from Scotland to prolong his Celtic career. Time for him to move aside and let the younger generation get their chance. Fergusson, Gilmour, MCTominay and MCGinn are the future midfielders moving forward.

 

Two you mentioned are only a couple of years younger



MCTominay is 27 McGinn is 29