Midfield

It looks likely it’s not going to be available for us to select for much longer, and last two seasons when it was for long periods we couldn’t see it for a full year.

But the midfield of McGregor, Hatate and O’Riley… that three together might be the most well balanced talented I can think of.

The comparison is Lenny, Lambert and Petrov as the 3 in the middle who were best I’ve seen… Broony, Wanyama and Ledley also up there but whilst I love the three always felt just short of those 3 before them.


Calmac, Hatate and O’Riley though, fully admit defensively not near the 2 stated examples of other great midfield 3’s I can think of here but they for both attacking and defence and pure football I think they’re the best I can think of.

And I feel sad I don’t think we ever managed to see that consistently, with MOR looking to leave (rumours about Hatate there as well)

Where do you rate the 3 with those in years gone by?

 

It’s absolutely right up there. Hard to compare to such a contrasting midfield like Ledley Wanyama and Brown. Kayal was also a mainstay in that one. Oozing with defensive nous that midfield. Very tough to answer which one I’d prefer as well.

 

Kayal’s injuries at us I think he’d faded out at that point but was still in amongst it, that midfield was that strong we sold our fifth choice Ki for a lot of money at that time.

Depth wise - Broony, Wanyama, Kayal, Ledley, Ki and even Mulgrew if needed. That would be the strongest.

Best I can’t find it in me to not say Lambo, Lenny and Petrov but the three even as good as Petrov was attacking wise were exceptional defensive- then we had Petrov to attack as well. But there was a reason he was DM captain almost immediately at Villa when he left.


The three just now aren’t anywhere near O’Neill’s 3 defensively but attacking they’re far better, footballers they’re better I think and they are better defensively than they were attacking I think.

And Paul Lambert was one of 2 World Class players I’ve seen at Parkhead - Henrik the other. VVD was clearly going to be, but hadn’t got there yet.

 

Mate, I was just thinking exactly this and mentioned it in the O'Riley thread. Some of the football was incredible at the weekend.

 

J McCarthy - Soro - Shaw against Betis

Agree with all your stuff above! Rodgers first year with Brown - McGregor - Rogic was it mainly? Thought that was brilliant as well

 

Petrov, Lenny, Lambert best I saw.

Calmac, O’Riley, Hatatae better then Brown, Vic, Ledley domestically but Europe the other way around

 

Aye we'd have to be signing midfielders who had just won the champions league to be competing with the likes of Lambert et al.

Sadly those days are long gone, but definitely the current 3 are very good players.

Hopefully Bernardo can step in and fill O'Riley's shoes as he looks almost certain to be offski.

 

I think Wanyama - Brown - Ledley was a more solid midfield overall but the current is much better offensively

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Domestically they are very good and would be interesting to see win % when the 3 of them play together bcoz we are so far ahead of everyone else when they play together.

However the other 2 trios you mentioned done it at a far higher level at can boast some fantastic results in europe.

Imo that is due to their being a far better balance to both. Much more power, and defensive savvy compared to the current 3.

Still think if Oriley goes we would be better served bringing in a Wanyama type or a box to box powerful runner like prime Brown as opposed to a like for like Oriley replacement.

 

I think the balance is better with the trio just now when it comes to attacking and defending. The other two though were far more defensively savvy

 

Mcgregor isn't defensive enough for champions league. He gets exposed at that level every season as he does with Scotland.

 

I really don't want to see McGregor in the 6 role anymore, we do fine with him there domestically 90% of games because we dominate possession so highly and he's good enough all round, but covering the defence is definitely the weaker side of his game. Squad as is, assuming O'Riley is away, I'd much rather Iwata was in there, or a new 6 with him as backup, with McGregor shifted forward. There were more than a few games last season the shape/balance of the midfield was all over the place and looked much better when Iwata came off the bench and anchored it.

 

On technical ability and football IQ it’s probably our best midfield 3 but failed to make much of an impact consistently in CL.

Lennon Lambert Petrov was probably the best balanced for league and Europe being very consistent.

Brown Wanyama Ledley was more defensive but was absolutely key for CL.

 

Yeah, mostly absolutely fine domestically but definitely need more defensive midfielder for bigger games.

Even last season some of our best results/performances at home where with Iwata in as the 6 and Mcgregor further forward. 4 - 1 game v hibs is one that sticks out.

I like Iwata but would really like a someone with a bit of height in there as we still must be 1 of the smallest teams in the league

 

We're in December and we're still awaiting Bernardo, Engels, Hatate and McCowan to make themselves automatic picks next to McGregor..

All have shown glimpses and even McGregor hasn't looked himself recently..

They all have exciting attributes and now it's down to Rodgers to get that midfield fully firing again.. it's not really looked anywhere near good enough since Leipzig..

I don't mean to be over critical. At Christmas we're 9pts clear (essentially 10). First domestic trophy in the bag, undefeated domestically and only lost one CL game with an excellent chance of progression.. heavy schedule, injuries etc..

So, even when we take all those positives into consideration and there will be a rotation at this time of year.. I honestly think Rodgers needs to go with the same 3 in the next 3 games.. as if we can get firing by Jan 2 the league will be done, there and then at Bigotdome..

I'd like to see this 3 tried from the start, not sure we've tried it from the start too much..

McGregor
Engels Bernardo ​

But, whatever the three, we need to get it sorted.

 

Would like to see McCowan, Bernardo or Engels given a shot in the 6 role against lesser opposition at home to see how they get on. It would give McGregor a much needed rest or allow him to be pushed forward a bit as well at times.

 

Would love to see Engels there. It will never happen though

 

Bernardo was tried there at Fir Park and didn't look comfortable at all.. it's actually underrated how easy McGregor makes that look most of the time..

But I agree, McCowan is tidy enough to play the deeper role and think we're still trying to find where Engels fits into the team..

I said in another thread if we bring KT or even start Valle more often..and play more overlapping fullbacks. Id like to see one of them sit next McGregor at times.. especially in Europe and maybe v The Huns at times.. 4-2-3-1 can definitely work better for us, on occasion. Ideally we sign a DM to sit with McGregor, which releases him too.. in the meantime maybe try one if them next to him..

We've got options, good options.. it's just about utilising them properly.