Joe Ledley

Ok, I'll stop critising Ledley, I forgot it wasn't allowed.

When I said midfielders should do everything well I didn't mean they should be perfect. I meant they should have multiple attributes that benefit the team as a whole. Brown, Kayal and Mulgrew have more than ledley.

To finish, I think Ledley is a decent player. But when all fit wouldn't get in my first 11.

 

Ledley has a few flaws, but I really couldn't give a *. Only two that blink on my radar are that he is terribly one sided and some of his shots on target are lightweight, but he does an excellent job at putting his body about, reads the game exceptionally, has a good header on him and brings about a balance to the midfield area when he plays. I'm probably right in saying that he has one of the bast passing rates percentages of any Celtic player? (ILTC, where are you? :icon_mrgreen.

I made a wee funny, but a relevant one.

He isn't called "Super" Joe Ledley for nothing

 

Nobody said you aren't allowed to criticise, we're giving you valid opinions back.

Out of interest, do you go to the games? I've found watching Ledley live is a far dofferent experience. Same with Scott Brown actually.

 

I used to have a season ticket (Lennon's first full season) then I moved for a job. I still generally see about 8-10 live games a season. I agree that you pick up so much more when you are in the stadium.

I just want to make myself clear. I don't dislike Ledley. And he does have his strengths but I think if Celtic want to move onto the next level then he shouldn't be in our starting 11.

Your points about covering for attacking players is a good 1. And why I actually wanted him in the team for years. But our back 4 and keeper is much stronger now which should give us licence to attack more and I just think having Ledley there is unnecessary. With the exception of player Barca or Bayern.

 

What would you prefer as your midfield? I've never found Kayal and Brown as an effective partnership, tends to leave too many gaps in the middle.

 

Brown and Mulgrew. I actually feel Mulgrew brings a lot of the same things that Ledley does due to his versatility but also adds in his tremendous crossing, passing and a goal threat.

If you watch Mulgrew in CM he tends to mark up really well and covers when other players go forward.

 

He * better naw leave . Far too important a player and he should be 1 the first names on the team sheet when fit .

 

I agree that Mulgrew is edging close to him, he doesn't do the things Ledley does as well as Ledley does though, although they are quite similar in.

Something Mulgrew trumpts him in is his passing though, Mulgrew is the best passer in the team outside of Commons. Well, the spectacular passes anyway. With Ledley you find he rarely gives the ball away.

 

By the way, before this year I would have put Ledley as my first back up behind Wanyama and Brown. I assumed Ledley would play every game one Victor left. And I was fine with that. But Kayal seems to be close to his best again and the emergence of Mulgrew as a top CM was surprising. I can only see Mulgrew getting better and better the more he plays there. And I just can't find room for Ledley without overpacking the midfield with CMs. A mistake that has been made in the past.

Fair enough to those that like the 3 CM system, but I don't.

 

That's not how football works. Our back 4 are strong yes, but we generally like to push both our full backs forward. To do this you need cover from midfield. It's no surprise that wee see the best from Izaguirre when Ledley plays.

I actually think Ledley is a victim of his own football intelligence. He reads the game better than anyone else in our squad and spots danger really quickly. He then positions himself well and the danger is snuffed out. If he ran about and put in last ditch challenges then he would be get more praise I think.

For me, Celtic are a better team when Ledley plays.

 

Spot on!

Last season I was watching a game with my dad and said to him that I didn't see why Ledley was so good for us, and he pretty much explained it just like that. I now notice it all the time, especially on Sunday there.

 

It's modern day football really. And it's fantastic to watch. But as you, I, and many others have said, you must have a player in midfield like Ledley for it to work, otherwise, you can get horribly exposed.

 

What do some Celtic fans see in this guy ?, to me he is Mr Invisible.
He has done nothing all season, is a passenger in our midfield, and I honestly can't remember when he made a meaningful contribution or last scored a goal for us.

 

But "he loves us".

The guys a ghost.

 

ive been saying it long enough but would love joe to prove me wrong.25k a week for wot,have to say as well tho brown was poor today

 

I feel weird. For the past few seasons, he was my favourite player ... then, this season, I am starting to see what you're seing (or not seeing, to be more specific) with this Mr. Invisible thing.

Am I crazy?

 

Just doesn't do enough for me. Mulgrew now brings what he does and mulgrew has that little bit more in his locker to do the spectacular. In a 3 man midfield we need brown, mulgrew and a playmaker.

 

I don't think he deserves to be our best payed player. Would not like to see him leave on a free but I don't think he should be part of our startin XI any more.

 

He isn't our best paid player and people have short memories.

"He's been Mr. Invisible this season" - aye, because he's been injured and not playing.

 

He's been pish when he's played Dev. I admit, the time to worry will be when he's played 10 on the spin and still under performing but lets not try and twist it, he's been poor.