Our Midfield

I know there is other areas of the team more pressing currently but a lot of the same issues we've seen were there again tonight no physicality 3 players looking to do the same things and we're so easy to counter attack against.

Nygren in pre season looked really good playing in the 10 yet we have him sitting a lot deeper now with Hatate in front of him

 

It's far too slow..

We need more athleticism and runners to go beyond..

 

Completely agree with this. With a real clever number 9 and some proper wingers this team would transform .

 

It's a big, big problem..

 

Brugge weren't all that yesterday. I like Onyedika, but he did nothing.

But yeah they were good against us last year

 

And up again. The #1 issue for the team.

Same issues continue v Kairat.... no natural #6, no athleticism, no positivity, no physicality, mentally fragile and anxious, shirk responsibility, play at walking pace, can't tackle, won't shoot - apart from that, all good.
Midfield needs a clear out.

 

Bumping this one too, it's at the heart of everything wrong with the team.

 

Why do we insist on players on the opposite side?

Left footed Nygren at RCM
Right footed Hatate at LCM

Also done the same on Saturday with Engels and McCowan.

If we play with inverted wingers then everything constantly comes in the way into busiest area of the pitch, players always need to take an extra touch to get back into their strongest side and in turn slows everything down

It can't be so they can cut inside and shoot because no * ever has a shot from outside the box anymore.

 

With what we have, it's a big issue..

McGregor is slowing down and we don't have Taylor coming inside anymore..

Engels HAS got the athleticism and physicality when he wants to in the engine room. More than anyone else for me..

He's our big buy and isn't going anywhere. Play him around McGregor and have Hatate or Nygren further forward..

McGregor as the 6 isn't changing. Engels ro the right where he can whip balls in and link with Nygren (or whoever is on the right wing) Hatate or Nygren in that more advanced role..

We really should've added more dynamism in there but that's definitely no happening. Bernardo and anyone else are nowhere near it..

 

You can rotate and replace the wingers and strikers as much as you like, but if the midfield don't move the ball quickly onto the front 3 you will always struggle.

Kuhn-Kyogo-Jota would struggle with the terrible supply from our starting midfield.

 

So our midfield is effectively 3 of..

McGregor - Hide and seek champion who has no pace or strength, and quite simply refuses to play forward passes. No defensive nous at all. He's our captain and lynchpin.

Hatate - One good game every month or so.

Engels - Weak as * with absolutely nothing about his game.

Nygren - No pace or power. Holds on to the ball too long.

* great.

 

Everything about it is horrible..

Painfully slow
Weak
Open
No combinations
No box to box runners
No dynamism
No real tempo in there

It's shockingly bad..

 

This thread comes up after every hun game so it’s quite clear that we need a shake up. How Rodgers can’t see this is concerning.

 

Having quality in attack has glossed over our midfields short comings in attack. You get the ball to your Kuhns and Jotas, they do the business, the movement in behind of Kyogo and Maeda and Abada creates space and time on the ball for our midfielders. As we're toothless in attack and everything is breaking down with our wide players or they are passing it back to our midfielders to do the job this exposes them.

CCV was our most creative outlet today - that's a huge worry.

 

Loved the bit with Soutar just jogging through the middle. What dynamism we have.

 

Engels offers little. CalMac is heading in the wrong direction form wise. Hatate contributes almost nothing anymore. Nygren isn't a CM from what I've seen. Bernardo never seems to take his chance and McCowan can be good but also can look unequal to the task. Our current MF options right there. Personally I'd try Bernardo in the Cal role with Engels and LM either side. Something needs done and those 3 played really well together when we battered the sheep at Pittodrie last season.