Callum McGregor

100% 60-70 games a season for a decade catches up with anyone.

He’s not been as peerless as he can be this season but he has a minimum standard he doesn’t drop below and he clearly is the leader which is why he doesn’t tend to get a rest.

Also, I’ve said it for years. Best finisher in the squad, if he plays as an 8 for his whole time here you see a consistent 19/20 season numbers wise.

9 goals from your midfield anchor is crazy.

 

The consistency talk about him genuinely baffles me, weirdly the most consistent players in midfield are ones I’ve seen this crop up the most for as long as I can remember a Celtic team. Lambert got it, Lennon did, Broony did, Ledley did and now Calmac. And it’s players if I had to answer the most consistent players I’ve seen, them, Henrik, Sutton, Mjallby and CCV are the absolute stand outs for consistency.

i don’t get it. Can someone try and explain his inconsistency to me? Can’t even see how anyone can come to that opinion

 

Weirdly anytime I can remember him getting a rest, he’s not been as fresh next game. Him being retired from Scotland he has more rest than he ever has before. Now we’ee out of Europe as well, there’s going to be a lot more weeks with two games rather than a midweek. He’ll be fine

 

Is Callum McGregor okay?

Yeah.

He just felt a little bit of tiredness in his calf. So I didn't want to take any risk with him. And Luke coming in was fantastic. Arne Engels just dropped back in.

 

Thought we looked better when McCowan replaced him, definitely needs more time off between games.

 

Whether you think hes slowing down or aging at all, we should've been doing this a lot more previously..

He's played so many games and far too many minutes after games have been long won..

 

We just looked way more dynamic when he went off

 

We need to utilise the option of swapping him and Engels positionally on the pitch seamlessly, they bring different attributes in both positions, it’s more unpredictable options added to our game, keeps the other midfield off kilter needing to think about where to be with the majority of teams we play dedicate a guy to just follow and try and stop Calmac orchestrating our play.


They’ll follow him shifted forward for a bit until they click, leaves Engels in space, McGregor attacking a lopsided midfield trying to defend and most of all, he’s the best goal threat we have in midfield.

 

He's been brilliant for us again this season. Things got better in this game when the changes were made but that's why we have a squad/bench with players who can make a difference, they can be utilised as required.

 

Absolutely love watching Calmac playing for Celtic, one of my all time favourite players, alongside Paul McStay.

With that in mind, I really want to continue enjoying watching him play for the next 2/3 years, which looks impossible under this current workload.

There’s an interesting article this week in The Guardian, about Raheem Stirling and how many players struggle after 500 appearances, which immediately draws us back to CM.

Let’s hope the club do the right thing by our captain, and we get to enjoy him producing his best for Celtic for plenty more games and trophies in the future

 

He'll be glad of a bit of rest now. The amount of minutes he plays a season must be up there with the highest in world football.

Hopefully once the leagues wrapped up we can get Engels in there for a few games and let him rest or give him some minutes here and there nearer the end of games when the tempo drops a bit.

 

Got a link?

Edit: found it https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...ng-decline-after-hitting-the-fateful-500-mark

 

THERE was no sign of Callum McGregor at training at Lennoxtown today ahead of Sunday's Old Firm clash against Rangers at Celtic Park.

The Hoops skipper has been withdrawn early against both St Mirren and Hibs as he manages what has been called a 'minor calf problem'.



Brendan Rodgers has previously said "we don't take risks with the captain" and he's indicated that again today by letting him sit out the Friday session ahead of the third league Old Firm clash of the season.

McGregor has played a huge amount of games in his career and the need to manage an Achilles/calf problem was held up as a major reason for him announcing his decision to quit Scotland.

But SunSport understands that the midfielder IS expected to train tomorrow and if there's no ill effects is set to take his place in the Hoops starting line-up as usual.

He's been given the nod to do media duties ahead of the game as usual

 

Wouldn't want him starting if he's less than 100% or at any risk of aggravating an injury, we won't be suddenly lost without him.

Start Engels in the deeper role with Hatate and McCowan if there's any doubts for him before the game.

 

Agree with this 100%....would go as far as to say it has already started....
I believe we are seeing Engels and to a degree Hatate slipping into the space in front of the back 4, therefore rotating the out-ball and keeping the opposition markers guessing....add in Bernardo looked like he was getting groomed for the role (before injury) and allegedly it is one of Schlupp's potential positions. Then we will see more regular rotation both IN-game and as we set up for a game.

 

Celtic captain Callum McGregor has issued a personal injury update, ahead of his side’s Glasgow Derby match against Rangers this weekend.


The skipper came off against Hibernian in the Scottish Cup quarter-final last weekend with a suspected injury, as he was replaced by Luke McCowan with 15 minutes to go in the tie.

Previewing this Sunday’s match at Celtic Park, the midfielder was hopeful of his chances concerning participating in the derby. He said: “You (the media) would have noticed that I was not with the main group today.

“I’m just trying to step it up – I did a bit of individual work with the physio guys today. Hopefully, I have no reaction and then I will be all good to train tomorrow.

“If I can train tomorrow, then I will be fit.


When asked about the location of the injury, McGregor said: “It’s a calf issue. The club are giving me every chance by leaving it as long as we can to be out on the pitch and ready.

“It has been a tough week, but I'm doing everything I can to be available for the group.

McGregor has been an ever-present for Celtic this season, playing 44 games in all competitions for the champions. In a rich vein of goalscoring form this campaign, the captain has scored nine goals from midfield – many from outside the box.

The last time the two sides met at Celtic Park, McGregor scored a long-range effort to make it 3-0 on the day.

The 31-year-old has made 508 total appearance for Celtic in all competitions, scoring 73 goals. He has won 23 honours during his time at the club, including nine Scottish Premiership titles, eight League Cups and six Scottish Cups.

He was named Scott Brown’s successor as captain back in 2021, following the Celtic legend’s departure to Aberdeen that summer

 

We need at least one, possibly two extra CMs in the summer.

We use 5 every match yet only have 5 total in the squad.