Reo Hatate

Brendan, just in the last run of games, it looked like Reo Hatate was finding some really good form. How do you assess that his development in the time that you've had to work with him?

Yeah, I think he's a big talent but it's just consistency. My big thing is about getting him working harder and pressing the game - that's my number one thing with all players, if you press the game well you'll do all the other things well. I think last year was a bit hit-and-miss for him, just purely because he was injured a lot and then when he came in I've seen flashes of his quality. Then, over the course of pre-season, he was fit for pre-season, he got himself fitter and there's no doubt he's playing well now at a consistent level and that's just the challenge he has. In terms of ability, he's got some wonderful ability – his nutmeg, his pass that he had here - what a piece of ability. There's not many people that can do that but it's having the consistency and having the mentality to do that, whether you're playing Kilmarnock, or whether you're playing Leipzig in a Champions League game. I've been really pleased with Reo and now it's just hopefully consistently he can perform consistently.

 

Second half he was outstanding, properly turned it on. Another 90 minutes under his belt too, can’t wait to see him on Wednesday now

 

Rodgers is transforming him into a 90 minute player.

There were loads of calls to sub him today at HT and early in the second half (myself included), but he properly turned it on and finished the game strong.

Just needs to perform consistently within those 90 minutes every week now. He does that and we're laughing.

 

Rodgers subs and the timing of them this season have been excellent. One criticism I had of him last spell. How he’s handled Hatate recently has been perfect man management

 

Absolutely rotten. How people don't see how much of a hindrance he is is beyond me. Passing is terrible

 

Possibly his worst ever game for us tonight. Was absolutely * murder.

How McCowan doesn't get on tonight is mind boggling.

 

Lost for words at how bad he was..

His decision making was a disgrace and I cannot believe he lasted the 90..

Heading when he should be taking a touch
Turning when he should be shooting
No seeing the pass
Lost count the amount of times he made twh wrong choice and was almost left squatting as a result

Pitiful that..

 

Nothing came off for him tonight. Would have had McCowan on at some point.

 

*....Sell

 

Absolutely abysmal, and not for the first time.

Lackadaisical, shocking off the ball, poor work rate, decision making atrocious.

He should think very carefully about his alleged ambitions to play at a ‘higher’ level.

He is nowhere near good enough to be playing for a better team than us. An odd flash of brilliance here and there isn’t enough to get you a game for a top team.

If he wants to go to Brentford or Crystal Palace that much I’d consider letting him go. Especially if he’s making a big deal about it.

 

Yeah he was pretty bad tonight. I can't sugarcoat that one.

 

Getting extremely angry at how bad he's been recently. Just utterly clueless. He has some good moments now and then, but he's clearly never improving.

He's been making the same stupid mistakes for years. It's on Rodgers too though. He needed hooked for McCowan at 55 minutes.

 

He is just not a very good football player. Gives it away, looks like he is towing a caravan when he tracks back. Personally I’d get rid.

 

That might be his worst performance for us, was rotten and how he lasted the entire 90 is a mystery.

Would be very tempted to start both Bernardo and McCowan against Zagreb, but McCowan will need a run of games first.

 

Pathetic performance. Should have been * off at half time.

 

Agree tonight is the worst he's ever been for us. It was almost comical - every single thing he did was wrong. Only thing you could say is he kept asking for the ball and getting involved, which is more than you can say for Engels.

 

Hatate gets a much easier ride than he deserves from a lot of Celtic fans, especially his European performances. He has done a lot of good for us, no denying, but at times he can be a liability. He certainly was tonight.