Reo Hatate

I'd sell for 10m plus.

 

Doesnt offer enough off the ball.

 

He's class..

 

Sell.
He's part of the problem in our midfield.

 

Funny how small a margin can make such a massive difference in perception of a player.

AJ puts away the chance last seconds to equalise, from an exceptional pass from Hatate, then we are going off the scale in praising Hatate. Having equalised, with a brilliant finish, and setting up a last second equaliser through an absolute composed, quality ball. AJ missed though, Hatate doing the exact same game is suddenly the quality that makes the difference.

He stepped up as much as he could yesterday, even first half the save he forced from Butland us playing poor, and being the only midfielder trying to impose himself on the game showing for the ball.

His finish for his goal was brilliant. But first half especially, he was the only guy in midfield that was trying to step up in the right way. McCowan was trying so * hard, but was chasing every shadow, working like * the wrong way. Engels hiding. Second half, he had guys around him playing better, and that equaliser from him was quality, from both him and McCowan.

I think in the summer he’ll be away, it feels likely. But he is not the problem yesterday, the problem was others around him

 

I like Reo. He is a quality player albeit inconsistent. But I do have a feeling he might be sold this summer. Somewhere north of 10m and I don't see us saying no. We only paid 1.7m euro's for him so if we sold him for say 10m euro that would be a very healthy profit and I have a feeling if we get a bid at that level at least that we will say yes.

 

How long has he got left on his contract? If he’s not pushing for a move, we might give it another year because he’s shown better form and if we can get that out of him again, we’ll attract a bigger fee next season but I think, and I can’t pinpoint why I’m so sure, he’s going to be away this summer, him feeling it’s time to go. And us accepting a fee that we probably wouldn’t have after Ange’s treble. But if he’s fine and happy, depending on the contract, we know if he shows the form he has since maybe January that was missing first half of the season and shows it in the CL (like he did with RBL, and is more than capable of) we would know the fee next year if he doesn’t, we’ll get the same as this summer, and if he does do it, we’d be talking double than what we could expect in the summer.

 

He has 3 years left on his deal after this season so we are very much in the driving seat there. Can see what your saying about us being happy to keep him another year. That could happen. I just feel though that we will sell Hatate this summer if anyone comes in with 10m euro or more.

 

I think we massively rely on Hatate to provide creativity for us.

I also think if a ref does his job Hatate can do his more effectively as he is our main man for dropping the shoulder and evading a press. If he gets passed his marker and is cynically hauled back, his marker gets booked and he then has an advantage over that individual that they can’t do it again.

He done all he could to not only get us back in that game but win it. He was a foot out twice from getting a goal from the edge of the box, he tucked away the chance he did get and put one on a plate for Johnston at the end with a peach of a cross.

Don’t get me wrong he has his flaws in turning over the ball cheaply at times but I would say since the turn of the year, Reo has been in our top 3 performers with only Maeda definitely outperforming him during that period.

If I thought he would stay in the summer, I would be suggesting building our midfield and team around him more than wanting him punted. He was also a main man in Ange season 2’s team as the drop off in that team when he wasn’t available was clear as day.

I actually think we have a bigger issue with Engels and Bernardo as I am not sure where they totally fit with how we want to play, one could be an alternative to McGregor as a pace setter in midfield but I think the centre midfielder we sorely lack is a physical box to box tackling, ball carrier type, to play as a double pivot with McGregor or one of the others and have Hatate and another as a more attack minded playmaker type.

 

My worry is that if you add Lennon Miller to that midfield, it doesnt solve the problem either and that he would most likely be a like for like replacement for Hatate as it stands.

With regard to Engels vs Bernardo, i think that Engels needs to be better physically and positionally and Bernardo needs to be more consistent.
Bernardo was exceptional vs them at CP earlier in the season but since the turn of the year his performances have dipped.

 

Consistency has been his problem for me. I still dont think hes fully at home in the Rogers system. Under Ange I think he had more freedom in possession to be creative and move the ball quickly. Rogers is more structured and seems to want his midfielders to act more as "change the point of attack" facilitators for the wide men to do damage.

Dont know what the numbers are this year but seems like almost all the assists come from the wide men or full backs compared with under Ange when the likes of Mooy, Hatate, MOR or even Turnbull would regular be providers.

 

I haven’t seen enough of Lennon Miller to be sure on him but his big strengths to me seem a bit like Matt O’Riley when we signed him was, a bit one paced but can spot a pass, good spatial awareness and effective of the ball. I don’t think bringing in just Miller solves our midfield issues. I am not sure if Sidibe is the required quality but his profile is what I would like to see us sign for our midfield just now without losing Hatate.

If we lose Hatate again I am not sure if Miller is a direct replacement there either. Someone like Alvyn Sanches who we were linked with or Benjamin Nygren from Nordsjaelland would be a great pick up to replace Hatate’s role in the team. They both play higher up the park than Reo and have slightly different profiles but both create a good amount and provide a goal threat.

With Miller it feels like he’s too good a domestic talent at 18 for us to not try and sign him, but his fit isn’t totally clear either.

Bernardo for me plays far too much within himself as he has all the tools to be a very effective player. Again a little slow but can tackle, read the game well, can play effective through balls and carries a goal threat but too often just recycles the ball.

Engels for me has his qualities but is very much potential at the moment. I feel like he could really kick on but equally if someone offered me a profit on him just now I would consider it.

 

Yep, massively rely on him to unlock or go beyond still..

We need plenty more of that in midfield..

It's the area in the summer that needs the most surgery for me..

Hatate could go
McCowan for me isn't good enough to be close to starting games
Bernardo is too one paced and inconsistent, and also doesn't create or score anywhere near enough goals
McGregor is getting older and gonna have to be managed more

We need at least 2 new centre mids in. I'd seriously be tempted to sell Bernardo if possible as I think although hes a good player on his day, we can definitely get a player more suited to us. If Hatate and Bernardo go then we'd need 3..

 

Didn't play any minutes today against Bahrain

 

As I said with Daizen sounds good to me. Keep him nice and rested so he is all good for us when we return against the diets.

 

Another good performance. Unless we are guaranteed a direct quality replacement, I'd also be reluctant to sell.

 

Good game today.

 

We would struggle without him at the moment. I would wonder where our goals would be coming from without him. I not saying we wouldn't score just that they'd become a lot less frequent. Maeda is a reliable necessity at the minute.

 

Thought he picked up the ball in really intelligent places yesterday..

He's important to the way we play, in this system at least..

I actually think he has the best attributes to play the 6/McGregor role, in this system at least.

I think we may see a change in system next season tho, can see Rodgers reverting to more of a double pivot at times.. especially with KT back, a more traditional overlapping FB.. think we'll go 4-2-3-1 at Ibrox for example..

Beyond this season, Hatate may be sold but if we continue to play 4-3-3 he'll be very difficult to replace.