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Midfield Moving Forward

Discussion in 'Celtic Chat' started by CountyDownFaithful, Sep 25, 2025 at 3:12 PM.

Discuss Midfield Moving Forward in the Celtic Chat area at TalkCeltic.net.

  1. Mr Diggler

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    Last season in some big games the trio of McGregor, Engels and Hatate were found wanting. Bernardo flatters to deceive. McCowan I like a lot but more as a squad man. It feels like McGregor, Bernardo and Nygren might bring a bit of chemistry. Three different type of player. Hatate is way off it this year. Engels hasn't kicked on.
     
  2. henriks tongue

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    Agree playing Nygren further forward instead of some other pish winger like Yang.

    We should just play our best 3 attacking players and allow them the freedom to work anywhere across the frontline instead of being tied into fixed wide positions.
    So that's Iheanacho, Nygren, Tounetki.

    Rotate the midfield more to bring in Engels and/or Bernardo with Hattate and/or Calmac making way where it makes sense.
    That's based on what we have today.

    Longer term, we desperately need a #6, desperately.
    It's as obvious as Man City not having a striker a few years back.
    How can it not be obvious to Rogers too - we were not linked with anyone playing #6 in recent windows.
    So you have to assume he thinks he can't do better than the captain.
    Until that changes, we will continue to struggle.
     
  3. James Gold Member Gold Member

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    McGregor and Engles sitting and switch McCowan and Nygren playing ahead of them.

    Hatate has run his race here and is needing dropped.
     
    PaulM1888 likes this.
  4. MagicBallBhoy Gold Member Gold Member

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    drop or move calum to the lcm bring in bernardo for the 6 role bring in engles for rcm, tounekti iheanacho and nygren and see how we go
     
  5. Mr Shelby Administrator Administrator

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    Something needs to change though and for me McGregor is a bit of an issue right now with progressing the ball.

    Not saying Bernardo or Engels are currently better players, but they're about 10 years younger and we've paid the guts of £15m for both. So I'd like to see them in roles I feel are more suited.
     
    constant likes this.
  6. Lupis Gold Member Gold Member

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    Everyone knows that since around February it has needed changed. Everyone that is bar the one person that can actually change it.

    If he hasn't been willing to change it in SIX MONTHS I really can't see him changing between now and January. It's going to be a slow, ponderous backwards passing few months (at a minimum) I'm afraid.
     
  7. Officer Doofy Come to me, human man Gold Member

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    It’s need changed for long enough. Hatate needs moved on. And I’m utterly sick of the sight of McGregor.

    We’re a bore to watch and that’s largely down to the midfield. McGregor is terrified to pass forward and has now started setting teams up to counter us by making stupid 5 yards, sideways passes just outside our box. Hatate can’t find a teammate with the ball. And Nygren plays like he’s wearing ice skates at times.

    Desperate for a midfielder who just loves to be aggressive, physical and win the ball back. With two creative players in front of him.

    Our midfield recruitment has been awful the last few years, with the odd exception. Bernardo, Engels, McCowan, Iwata, Holm…millions spent on them and none of them good enough to start week in, week out.
     
  8. constant

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    We have relied heavily on our forwards to win games for us, and our defenders to keep us in matches, when basically our midfield has been bypassed and over run. The sad truth is none of our midfield is really up to the mark, and no matter how you shuffle the pack, we are always going to end up with a dysfunctional midfield, very likely to get bullied rotten in most of the tougher games in the SPL, and certainly against the elite of Europe. It's been that way since Scott Brown left, and we have winged a lot of games since, largely depending on other teams to take points off Rangers.

    It's very hard to see how we can compete in the Hun games this season, no matter how bad they appear just now, if the evidence of the 0-0 game at Ibrox is anything to go by, and bearing in mind Rodgers has failed to win any of the last five Hun games, mainly because our midfield gets over run, and he stubbornly refuses to drop either McGregor or Hatate, when really both needed dropped.

    The definition of madness is to keep doing the same thing over and over again, despite it obviously not working.

    To keep playing McGregor, Hatate and Nygren as the midfield trio is self defeating and counter productive.

    Rodgers had the balls to axe his skipper Steven Gerrard when he managed Liverpool, why can't he axe McGregor for the good of the team too ?.

    It's an important matter that needs to be addressed, discussed and decided upon.
     
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2025 at 1:47 PM
  9. MagicBallBhoy Gold Member Gold Member

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    i dont think its the players as much as its the style they are being told to play

    rodgers out staying his welcome

    i think this style was introduced to almost bore the opposition into making a mistake and letting us in because teams park the bus in scotland

    remember when ange came in he wanted fast fast fast this slow * is what rodgers introduced, our best players were and still are the ones that ange brought in its under rodgers and the board selling our bestest players things have turned sour.

    in saying that even when we had khun oriley and furuhashi we werent always good

    but still we have talent there that can be getting used but rodgers is refusing

    i think we all want something decent to watch and its not been going that way for quite a while

    hopefully today we get some exciting pacey attacking football
     
  10. Paul67 Administrator Administrator

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    Absolutely no creativity from midfield, no matter who plays.
    Desperately need someone who can take the ball and make a defence splitting pass.
    Severely lacking.
     
  11. albashamrock

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    Bernardo had more shots on target than Engels had all game. Maybe it's time to give him a chance again.
     
  12. Guchi Gucci Gold Member Gold Member

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    Just doesn't look right at all. Can pick pretty serious faults in all 6 of them.
     
  13. Double Dutch

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    It's the setup and coaching that's the problem. A more creative coach gets so much more out of the players we've got. Absolutely zero chance of that with Rodgers.
     
  14. T.Rogne25

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    Said it a million tines before but we badly need a creative option in there. I’ve always felt Rogic has been missed, could roll a run of the mill pass into him 35 yards out and he would take it on his back foot away from two players.
     
  15. StainseyBhoy

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    Midfield three just isn't working, really think we should be trying a different formation for a few games
     
  16. TheHappyLoss

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    No one in midfield carries the ball or attacks the defender it’s just pass pass pass pass
     
  17. McChiellini..

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    It's massively stale..

    It needs an injection of pace and dynamism..

    At least 2 of the first team 3 positions need improving now I think..

    Hatate is stale
    Bernardo isn't really rated
    Engels you can see being sold at some point soon
    McGregor is obviously getting on a bit more

    It's a very predictable, one paced and weak trio..
     
  18. Sgt Neppers*

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    Needs to ditch the 4-3-3. Doesn't have the players for it currently. We've become predictable and slow. We must be a joy to scout these days.

    I'd get used to games against tougher opposition being tight. Certainly until January (no laughing at the back).

    Its a common trait these days wi managers, so wedded to their formations that they're * scared to budge from it. But its clear we to change it up or today will be a more regular scoreline. Especially the MF. As sharp as a sponge they are.
     
    Ryanm1984 likes this.
  19. Sgt Neppers*

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