Andy Irving

BBC Gossip linking him again....
Haven't seen much of him, seems a bit meh, is he significantly better than what we have??

Celtic are set to step up their efforts to sign Scotland midfielder Andy Irving, with West Ham United prepared to sell the 25-year-old. (Football Insider)

 

Defensively without a doubt. The main thing that I like about this link is that it means SURELY by * Rodgers will eventually start playing mcregor further forward in his best position.

Bernardo plays a bit deeper for Portugal u21s. Not sure why we always bring him on for Engels or Hatate who play up the top end of midfield. But Irving/bernardo in front of the back 2 would be a good rotation. Engels/hatate/mcgregor/mccowan further forward is a brilliant midfield to choose from

 

I think I like that midfield, if we keep them all we’d be more than sorted. Then add some youth if/when needed.

 

I don't think McGregor has the legs to go box to box as an 8 over the course. The odd game here or there or when switching it up, fine..

He's very much a deep lying playmaker type now who builds and controls it from there. What we need is someone next to him for the tougher games in Europe and domestically away with real snap/physicality and energy..

Bernardo the couple of times I've seen him for Portugal has been an attacking 8, sometimes the most forward of the 3. He's deffo no the answer anyway..

 

Engles, Bernardo, Irving and, given his age, McGregor are all more suited to playing in a double 6 in a 4231.

Mccowan is a decent back up number 10. Replacing Hatate with a proper creative AM and midfield would look good

 

Not excited about this one at all.

If anything it makes me think McGregor will continue to play week in, week out and we’re going to run him into the ground sooner than we need to.

Happened with Brown towards the end. Clearly needed a break and never got one.

We need a statement signing at CDM. It’s by far and away our biggest weakness in our team and it constantly gets exposed in the big games.

 

How anyone can suggest the way forward is getting rid of Hatate and playing Bernardo in a double pivot is way beyond me ....

 

So you'd rather continue to play Bernardo as an 8?

Hatate has wanted out for over a year. He's going deal with it

 

Aye Bernardo had a poor season.. nothing to suggest he should be starting for us.. some can't see past him .

 

Show me where at any point I suggested he be a starter.

What I actually said is he's better suited playing in his more natural position so is Engels

 

I'm like a broken record with it chaps..

All we hear is aye he'll come good. Approaching his 3rd season now..

No one knows what he excels at. His numbers are terrible for a Celtic 8. He isn't quick. Physically can be good at times. Isn't a sitter. Doesn't ever ever influence a game from the start. Has the odd impacts off the bench. He's as boring as it gets..

Calls for him to be the one to swap places with McGregor and dictate the play are in for a real shock if * forbid that ever happens for a period..

Probably won't happen but I hope he's punted pronto. There's loads of midfielder that could come in and offer far more than he does..

 

Wasn't really referring to yourself.. just in general.

I think we may see a double pivot as KT doesn't really invert.. but Bernardo wouldn't be one of my 2

 

Nah wouldn't be one of my starting 2.

Think if that's way we are gonna go it will be McGregor and Engels with Irving and Bernardo as back up options.

 

So weird he ended up at West Ham in the first place.

I’m hoping it’s a case of a Scottish player being available and our name being attached, because we can do better.

 

Bernardo is a timid, lightweight, technically average player - so far.
I'd he was Paul Bernard from Dundee, would be getting shorter shrift here.
If he doesn't start this season on fire, sell in Jan.

Equally tho, don't see Andy Irving being any better.

 

Paul Bernard = sheep legend

 

I think this would be such an uninspiring signing. I'm sure he's fine but I don't see him coming in and tearing the place up, and I feel that's what we need. The midfield definitely lacked that attacking spark last season.

 

No I would rather Bernardo didn't continue playing for us at all. Certainly not as a * 6 next to Mcgregor. If you think having Bernardo and Andy Irving as 2 options for a double pivot seems a reasonable suggestion then that's your business.
Hope to * Hatate isn't away and I hope the noise that the gaffer has instructed the board not to sell him is true , but if he does move on I hope we bring in some real quality to replace him , not promote inferior players closer to the starting 11.

 

I said once the dust settled on his cup final horror show that folk would soon warm to the notion of him "reaching his potential " again and be calling for him to play next season.

 

The only game we beat the Huns this season over 90 mins was the only game v them where we played a 4231 and it was Bernardo and McGregor who played those positions.

Maybe it's a crazy notion but I quite like the idea of playing players in their most natural position and stop trying to make them what they are not just to suit the managers preferred formation.

Absolute same goes for Engels. A natural number 6 that Rodgers continually plays as an 8 despite the fact he contributed absolutely * all in terms of goals and assists from open play