Callum McGregor

Theres still wee flashes in games were he bursts past a couple of players. Generally when they are sitting so deep that he ends up further up the park than he normally is these days. So I still think it's there in his locker.
The problem is we have gotten into a way where we don't seem to believe we can play with someone else in the deep midfield role.

 

The question for me is games like that yesterday do we need a defensive midfielder and a back 4?

Injuries and poor recruitment create an issue but could we not look at playing more of a

3–4-2-1 or 3-4-1-2 but in the back 3 I would play Johnston and my wide players in the 4 would be wingers, play Palma in a free role and play two strikers. We have no obvious Hatate replacement so just play McGregor and O’Riley.

The issue is we have such poor options in the wide areas and up top beyond Kyogo, if we played the likes of Palma as a playmaking 10.

We need some serious recruitment come January but I can’t see us getting what we need.

 

No I don't think we need the 4 and a dm.

We certainly don't need a bang average left back playing as a 2nd dm either.

A lot of times during his last spell Rodgers played the style you have suggested. The problem as you say is options in wide areas. There is absolutely no way we can play that system with Taylor as left wing back.

I'm actually suprised Rodgers hasn't hit * it yet and just went with his style of playing and just made do with Bernabei until he can sign a proper 1 in January.

 

Where I don’t like Bernabei in the type of system I am suggesting you would maybe get the best of him as more an offensive left midfielder/ wing back. I don’t think he is the long term answer but just now it might not be the worst thing to do.

In the Sydney Van Hooijdonk thread I saw a lot of comments about how limited he looked and scouting reports back this up but we were crying out for a powerful striker at the weekend that knew where he should be to get on the end of things and finish them off.

Especially in the air but right across our midfielders and forwards getting into the box were often static and making little to no effort to get a run on their man. The few times we did we got two penalties and Yang had a free header that he should score.

 

Yeah said it in 1 of the other threads but we are crying out for a Giakoumakis type of striker.

 

Really quite gutless in Europe this season.

Moment in the second half summed it up. Made a rare driving run forward at speed, but instead of trying a killer pass turned around and passed it all the way back. Really, really poor from a player capable of far better. Whether he’s being asked to play as an anchor is irrelevant, he’s gutless when it comes to attacking these days. Afraid to take a risk.

There’s absolutely no point in having Kyogo if we play like this. Must drive him crazy.

 

Can't shield the defense to save his life, he'* 30 and become criminally slow.. and we insist on him playing him as a 6.. the lynchpin of our midfield.

Our refusal to bring any physicality to the midfield bites us in the * time and again.

Genuinely he should be dropped with his performances this season..

 

SIGN A * HOLDING MID

 

Agree on Mcgregor but this constant defending Kyogo by blaming everyone else is * bizarre. He was absolutely * honking tonight and offers absolutely * all. That has * all to do with Mcgregor or anyone else

 

I'm sure there's probably some tactical reason for this that goes over my head but it looks like he just jogs about behind the opposition players when our cbs have the ball instead of moving into space and demanding the ball and starting attacks.
Obv I love him and think he's a cracking player but he's too passive for me sometimes and passes it back and sideways too much.

 

Hiding all game ffs

 

He had a poor season so far by his standards.
Needs benched until he finds his mojo.

 

A glaring issue and anyone who can’t see it is completely blinkered. And I don’t just mean the fact he’s quite blatantly never a CDM.

His all round game is miles off it just now. He’s offering us absolutely nothing.

 

I'm just not sure what he does that's positive these days. Doesn't defend well, isn't strong, isn't fast, doesn't score goals, doesn't create goals, doesn't dribble past players.

He's good at knocking the ball 5 yards sideways but there's not much else to his game lately. I said it last time but as long as he's operating as a lone CDM at this level, we'll never win a game in the Champions League. I stand by that 100%.

 

Looks to have lost a yard, definitely..

 

I think his age (partly) and the very high number of games he has played in his career (more importantly) is catching up with him and have thought so since the second half of last season. Not in the sense that he's done or can't play at a high level anymore but in the sense that he needs to have his game time reduced. He's a high-energy player who isn't young and has been consistently overplayed by 4 managers and it's starting to show.

It's not too late IMO, but I honestly think that if we don't start resting him for some games, then a year from now he really will be done and it will be like watching Broony and Lustig's last seasons.