Arne Engels

don’t you be apologetic double down fs

He constantly moved inside to stop the space from cutting outside to in at the edge of the box, forcing wide crosses more often than not. Which I think was the plan. Hatate done similar pressing more other side, but he was keeping the space Lookman loves to exploit and done it well IMO.

Pasalic we rode our luck with, we left him doing that late run not tracking, McGregor 2nd half started to. Honestly mate, the defensive job the full midfield done was excellent, even though its not as obvious as the guys at the back. And I didn’t think for one the manager was capable of getting that as a gameplan and 2) our players being able to do it.

 

Watch him. Watch Hatate anaw actually.

McGregor plays deepest which we know. Calmac doesnt play no6, but he has to cover spaces rarher than automatically go to put tackles in.

Engels plays ahead of him (agreed yes) to cover other spaces, and Hatate covers the other spaces for balance of getting the break of the ball.

What Engels DOES NOT DO is actually cover the spaces very well. It's almost like a defender who zonal marks and makes no attempt to actually get involved with a player going to win the ball because it's in the space outwith his zone.

For me he completely hides, doesnt burst a gut to get into the RIGHT spaces defensively, and half hearted attempts at blocking.

Partly btw, that's probably down to the areas he's been told to play in, but I think that's ironically a bit of an excuse. He's not good enough in this position.

And it wasn't just last night. It was Aberdeen. It was Ross County, Falkirk and Dortmund.

Needs to be much, much better.

 

Both Hatate and Engels were marking zones and angles last night, and it worked mate. I have a few gripes with the quality going forward from both at times when we had the opportunity to make the most of hard won possession but defensively? Not a chance, we forced them to have one way to attack, and the midfield (and the wingers as well) were absolutely key to that. The side Engels was up against is the danger side for Atalanta and Lookman especially, he covered that space where he likes to drag defenders away from, and then spin into that space. Our midfield didn’t allow that space and didn’t get distracted from that job, and they had to just cross the ball in for us to clear it more often than not. And by 20 minutes to go, they’d ran out of any idea to counter it.

The other games you’ve mentioned, I’m of the exact same opinion, majorly. And that’s why seeing what he done last night I’m that happy with it.

 

We'll have to agree to disagree, cause for me he just carried on his recent form into last night. He looks we'll versed at making himself look busy without actually doing anything of substance.

What these matches recently have shown is how desperate we are for a holding midfielder.

 

What did you make of the midfield defensively against Atalanta? Up until then I’m identical thoughts on the midfield to you, did you see no difference in what they done between that and Dortmund?

 

They played far more narrower. Other than that, I genuinely seen nothing different.

For me, Engels and Hatate for the most part leave Calmac doing the job of at least two men, which makes him look worse btw!

 

Engels sat deeper because the whole mid to back line didnt play suicidally-high as we did in Dortmund.

That was down to being set up far more responsibly by the manager.

 

Thought that was the first I’ve seen defensive support around Calmac. Since 2-2 Atletico game last season where O’Riley done it brilliantly anyway.

Engels also was the guy getting beyond Idah stretching the game, and also being back deeper more compact.

The wingers weren’t starting as high up the pitch, doubling up as well. Thought the full team had a cracking defensive performance.

And Calmac looked far away from bad as well, he was a candidate for MotM for me along with the two CB’s, the keeper and Kuhn.

I didn’t think we were capable of a Rodgers team away to a better team in Europe being that compact, squeezing away any space in the middle of the pitch and forcing them to attack where we are comfortable defending it. Still rode our luck a bit, but it was so different than what I’ve become used to under BR. Barca’s, PSG, Dortmund etc.

 

Its not though, the age and stage of their careers is a highly significant. Also Schmeichal will be on high wages, so if he were to start performing like Barkas, he too would quite rightly come under scrutiny.
I dont disagree with potential, but fee aside, any other midfielder in that side is getting dropped after two performances like the ones he has shown in europe.
At top clubs that has to be the ruthless nature of competition for places, regardless of who you are or how much you cost.

 

Need to accept that we have bought a young player to develop. We also need to realise that inconsistency is what happens with young players. I've seen enough to suggest he's going to work out fine. He does need managed though and imagine he won't play every game here on in. I think we might see McCowan and Bernardo start on Sunday.

We have spent £ms on other young players where they have and don't look like they have the ability to progress. Odin, Lagerbielke, Nawrocki etc have all been a waste. I don't get that feeling with Engles even with the record outlay.

 

Thought he fizzed in a couple of decent corners as well as getting a decent shot off. But with the way the whole teams was playing, and the defensive work he was asked to do, he didn't get that much opportunity to attack.

Seen some comments about his defensive positioning, but don't remember Atalanta playing through us in the middle of the park much so it can't have been that bad. Most of their threat came down our right hand side.

 

I think he is getting caught too high up the pitch when we turn the ball over, which isnt entirely his fault as id imagine part of his remit is to get up and offer support to the forwards.

But id like to see him just sit and play as a centre midfielder. His height and athleticism would be a great asset to us in there.
Rodgers spoke about adding power and he clearly has technical quality of which im sure the best is yet to come.

 

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has fired back at any untoward criticism at record signing Arne Engels after his short period at Celtic Park - stating that the Belgian is 'nowhere near the finished article' as he continues to develop in Glasgow.

The Hoops arguably picked up their most impressive result in Wednesday's exceptional 0-0 draw at Atalanta, keeping the Italian outfit at bay - but Engels, who cost £11m, appeared to garner criticism for his 75-minute cameo


For now though, Rodgers can't dwell. Attention turns back to the Scottish Premiership. Squandering a 2-2 draw against Aberdeen would not have been on Rodgers' to do list and with no European game for two weeks, it represents a real chance to edge away from the Dons in the title race and create some breathing space so that they can focus on at least qualifying for the knockout rounds of the Champions League


But, ahead of the trip to Motherwell, the Hoops boss spoke about any criticism angled towards Engels, who has made a decent enough start to life in Scotland with the Hoops having fared well on all fronts this season - stating that even Callum McGregor struggled at Parkhead initially and that in time, the Belgian will warrant his price tag.


There's critics in the game, and people have an opinion - you have to respect that. For me, we've brought a young player in who is nowhere near the finished article.


"I think sometimes there is a price around him and that might feel that you're buying someone who is the finished article - he's not. He came in here as a 20-year-old player who has got great potential, and it's my job along with the staff to develop that.

 

Sounds from presser Brendan is going to take him out of team for a wee break
expect Bernardo/Hattate/Calmac to start this weekend

 

He shouldn't even need to say that tbh.

If he started off poorly and hadn't shown anything to this day, then aye, I'd understand the worries, but before the Dortmund game he was largely excellent in every game he played, you could tell he had something different about him.

A couple of poor games later, two of which are away to two top European teams and one away to a venue which was prime for a European hangover, and you've got people questioning if he's worth it.

Either way, I'd be starting Bernardo/McCowan at the weekend over him, need to start fully rotating the midfield, we have the bodies for it.

 

Interesting that Rodgers saying he was deployed deeper to try and quell the threat of Lookmam..

Who tbf was quite quiet, for him.

 

I agree with this I think he has looked good in games against Hearts, Falkirk (cameo off the bench), Bratislava and Aberdeen.

Done fine against St Johnstone, Rangers and Atalanta.

Had a poor game up at Ross County and in Dortmund like most of the rest of the team.

In 9 appearances he has 2 goals, 3 assists and has hit the woodwork twice. Two of those appearances were 20 minute cameos.