Arne Engels

Needs some time on the bench. Bernardo currently is much better and changes the game when he comes in.
Engels still young and needs to take a step back and learn and get out his head a little

 

I was actually thinking Rogic might be closer to it. Took him time to adjust and he played a lot with the development squad. Look how good he ended up.

Not that I'd expect we'd have to do that for someone who cost £11m but just playing Engels regardless isn't working for him so something needs done.

 

If I was Engels I would be trying to get on the ball a lot more. He keeps running away up the park when we need him taking some possession further back.

I understand tactically that’s what he’s supposed to do but he goes too early and ends up not getting a touch for a long time, then when he gets it he’s in a difficult position and loses it.

He needs to make sure he’s on the ball more even just getting used to moving it about and being involved in the play.

He also needs to be more aggressive in the 50/50 and really grab games by the scruff of the neck. He’s too passive at times. Shy, almost.

He’s clearly naturally talented but needs a fair bit of work.

 

Rogic didn't come in with the same expectation or pricetag though, was more of a development player from the off. Engels, like Broony, has come in for big money and is a young midfielder who hasn't quite figured out where he best fits just yet - obvious qualities, but will take a bit of time to find his place.

 

Another was season 2 Matt O’Riley especially after Mooy established himself post World Cup.

He seemed to struggle to get his game going and how to play the role. If there was one position I would bank on Rodgers getting the best out a player it would be centre midfield. When Engels first came in and was getting a lot of plaudits, Rodgers was quick to say “he is a young player we are trying to mould him into an attacking midfielder.”

To be honest you then question is that what you expect for our outlay? Probably not but that isn’t the players fault, we put ourselves in that position waiting to that point of the window before submitting bids.

 

The difference with Brown was that Broony came into Celtic from previously being allowed to run about like a headless chicken at Hibs.

It took him a while to re-define his position (and also the off field trauma he was experiencing, lets not forget).

Engels to me looks like he genuinely doesnt know what to do tactically-wise. You watch him at every single defensive set-piece against us, he looks lost.

 

Was anonymous really, agreed with what James said above. He goes too high up the park with his runs, to me he is completely clueless about what he is meant to be doing off the ball.

He is almost non existant as an option to pass to, just the timing of everything is off and he hardly gets a touch of the ball, it's like he's trying to be too attacking that in the end he never gets near the ball.

Even when we end up attacking Johnston actually seems like the attacking midfielder as Engels just gets lost, he plays in areas Johnston actually ends up being good in but he's in those areas before the ball can get there then when it does he isn't there.

At the weekend i'd play him in McGregor's position and rest McGregor but mainly to see him in that role again. As Bernardo played there and looked lost and then Engels looked good, when it's the opposite in the higher positions Bernardo looks natural there and Engels looks lost.

He almost never moves from the right side of midfield, it's like he plays between one like 3 meter wide line from goal line to goal line, never really goes to the side of the pitch or the middle. Where as Bernardo when he came on he floats about everywhere, Bernardo I thought even ended up on the left as much as the right, he just seems to know the areas to float about in so people can pass the ball to him and he can get involved. Engels plays in like one area and waits to get the ball but cause he doesn't roam about much then nobody can get the ball to him and even when Johnston and Kuhn link together they mostly bypass him where as Bernardo when he is on links with them.

 

Yeah it is worth considering the personal circumstances Brown was going through but the running about like a headless chicken looking lost is where I see similarities.

I don’t think Engels looks like he knows where he should be as you say. He looks like someone feeling the pressure as well. My biggest concern with him is he doesn’t look great getting on the half turn which is crucial for playing at the top level.

I do however think he will come good. Might be blind faith.

 

I can't see it myself to be honest. I wouldn't be surprised if he is already working his ticket on the way out.
Looks completely uninterested and uninvolved.

He was hiding last night, and not for the first time.

 

I think it will turn out he is better in the holding role, he is quite two footed, good vision and long range passing he's also mostly played that area of midfield so thats whats natural to him.

Problem is he most likely will never play there for us since McGregor plays there, so he'd need McGregor to get injured to have a run there.

But he should get better at playing further forward over time as it's not that difficult. He is a technical and clever player just so far doesn't know how to move about in those areas to get involved.

Petrov, Rogic, Christie, Armstrong and even O'Riley all improved going forward after a year or two.