Paulo Bernardo

Was surprised that he got hooked after an hour, given how well he was playing and we were only 2-0 up at the time.
Is he not fully match fit or did BR just tell him to empty the tank??

 

Don't think he's fully fit he's behind the others with pre season. Don't think he played any friendlies

 

was superb on Sunday. The guy covered every part of the pitch, and tackle/stole the ball from them so many times I lost count. Running onto the pitch to lift Calmac when he scored summed him up for me.

Love this wee fella already.

 

Brilliant situation to be in, having to pick 3 from an awesome 4. for the midfield starting positions.

 

As long as we pick on merit, it’s a slight niggle of a worry for me that Bernardo got subbed for Engels when for me he was the best midfielder we had on the pitch up till then. Engels Rodgers will want on the pitch, we’ve shelled that money out for him. Bernardo is an easy option to keep as more than reliable back up squad man for that, but when he’s stepping up, and Hatate wasn’t then it should be Hatate making way and told if he doesn’t want to be the one making way step up into O’Riley’s shoes. But Hatate is more than capable of it, Bernardo I think is as well, Engels is a record signing for a reason so the manager see’s it in him. But it needs proven to play.

Much like Kyogo and Idah who are in a straight scrap for main man up there.

 

For me, he showed enough last year that he was going to be the next O’Riley. Perfect bedding in process ready to start and dominate in our midfield this year. He’s a Rolls Royce of a midfielder.

We need to be careful that we don’t wear out our relationship. Keep having their pants down and they won’t be loaning to buy any of their players. Any time we show interest in one of their players they’ll keep them for themselves

 

Hahaha very true. The next player we try to sign from them will probably get put straight into the starting 11 for Benfica

Embarrassing when we signed Jota my initial reaction was Celtic shouldn’t be signing a player not good enough for Benfica

 

Got a feeling he's going to be our next captain.

 

They are very similar players, very similar. If you look at it stat wise as well, they are. O’Riley a monster with chances created and last season he put the finishing into his game as well.

Bernardo has very similar but has what he needs to kick on with as well, but think he can do it. He’s shown in flashes what he can when not playing within himself, he seems a big game man to me though. I enjoyed his performances last season CL and especially Hun games. He has it in him, I really enjoy him being in the side. He understands football.

 

Agree with your analysis of Bernado. His bedding in for me and progression I expect to be very similar to MOR.

When MOR arrived he had strong squad competition in the midfield which pushed him to be more consistent in play. MOR’s first 6-18 months he increased his consistency of play, but were littered with opportunities that we thought he should be doing better with, we as fans were asking for more end product.

So far I see a very good player in Bernardo and I think he’s in that same stage where he needs to up consistency in play where he becomes a very reliable player, then followed by consistency of end product. Hopefully he progresses quickly like MOR did.

 

I don't think they are going to be too concerned, they probably made more money out of Jota than we have for little effort. 6m upfront (with no doubt a loan fee before that as well), plus 7.5m from the sell on compared to us banking 11.5m profit from his sale (less if you want to take his wages into account over the period we had him). I say probably as I'm not sure if we get anything from a sell on from his latest transfer.

I think they did OK out of it, and so did we.

 

We'll punt him before that..

 

Just scored

 

Crazy value we managed to get for the Portugal under 21 captain

 

Fancy him for POTY if I had to take a pint now

 

5 o’clock somewhere init

 

Looking razor sharp.