Controversial Celtic Opinions

Or, you know, we could play with McGregor in the 6 where he's played all season and helped take us to the top of the league, unbeaten in months.

We just put in one of our most dominant displays against the huns in years with a midfield three of McGregor, Hatate and O'Riley. Followed it up with a demolition of Motherwell at Fir Park with McGregor as the 6 for most of the game.

Why even consider changing that? We're playing the best football we've played since Rodgers' first season and you want to tinker with the most important area of the pitch. It's mental.

 

Perfect example of why raw stats never tell the full story.

 

Ange changed part of that winning MF against the huns from O'Riley to Rogic, with Rogic getting two goals, same way if Bitton came in from the start I believe he would have also made a positive impact.

 

Why are you getting your wires crossed? I clearly stated during the winless run against the huns from December 2019 until Wednesday (although I will obviously exclude the game at the start of the season against them during that winless run due to it being Anges first game against them, I obviously meant under the management of Lennon/Kennedy/Strachan Jr)? CalMac was in every MF during that winless run, Bitton and Rogic weren't, had Bitton and Rogic been involved more against them during that poor run I'm certain the MF would have performed a lot better than it was

See this is what I mean with CalMac being captain, being captain shouldn't have you ahead of a better player in the position you play in just because you're captain. Happened with Brown for too long and can't happen again, I do rate CalMac but as a 6 I rate Bitton higher, I prefer CalMac as an 8, as a box to box player, he used to chip in with a fair amount of goals under Brendan and that part of his game is hindered a lot more when he plays as the deepest player in MF

 

I get what you’re trying to prove but this dataset is obviously nowhere near enough to prove it. They played completely different durations and phases of the game eg Motherwell we’re done when Biton came on.

However, I’d be looking at different stats like deep progressions, xg buildup, carries, passes into the final 3rd, pressures, regains, ball recoveries and probs a few more. I guarantee Biton doesn’t come out on top more than CalMac but he definitely will for some things.

So, it depends on what actual data you use, because it won’t all be one sided and also, my eyes definitely tell me I’d prefer CalMac over Biton every time. It just suits how we play.

A midfield of CalMac Hatate and rogic is stronger than a midfield of Biton, Hatate and rogic and Biton CalMac and rogic, at least imo.

 

All about opinions, even controversial ones as I knew this opinion would be hence why I put it in this thread, Bitton does also give you the added bonus of size with his aerial ability in both boxes when he plays, there are a number of small players in the team and I feel the extra height Bitton brings is a factor not many are considering when dismissing him as a consistent starter. Back in MONs day it was land of the giants in plenty positions, same under Strachan, when defending set pieces, I feel more than two CBs are required to challenge in the air

 

I know this isn't the debate but I'd love to see Ideguchi, Hatate and McGregor in a 3. I do think you lose some of McGregor's drive sitting deep.

 

Rogic for O'Riley is more of a like for like replacement.

McGregor has been the number 6 for the entire season. One in which we have won a cup, put in some impressive displays in Europe and now lead the league after battering our closest rivals.

Why the * would you want to change that?

 

Think McGregor is far better as a 6 than an 8. Particularly in this system. He's absolutely tailor-made for it.

 

Because I believe Bitton is better than CalMac in the 6 role, as I've stated countless times, we would enjoy even more success with Bitton in that position over CalMac, I'd be changing it to improve the team even more which is what I believe would happen if Bitton was given a run there

 

You're wrong.

 

Sincerely hope you're not involved in coaching, at any level.

 

That’s a mental take I’m afraid.

 

With your name you're hardly going to go with Bitton over CalMac are you lol

Likewise for you, Bitton is the better 6, CalMac much more suited to being a box to box MF as an 8

 

Hope somebody tells Ange soon. We could have won the Europa League if he'd only listened to RogicHasMagicToes.

 

Mate, I like Bitton. Think he's been a great servant to us over the years and think he has a great attitude. Sound technically, a decent passer, even has a decent shot on him even if he doesn't score many. But there's no chance he's better than McGregor, at any midfield position. Games where McGregor hasn't started there's something obviously missing in our team, he's a metronome that dictates so much of our play. For me, Bitton is a safe and tidy passer but in an attacking sense he's long been criticised for slowing play down too much and I agree with that.

 

Best team we've played against this season is Bayer Leverkusen

CalMac played as a 6 in the first game at home, Bitton played as a 6 in the second game away

I thought Bitton was the much more impressive performer in that role over CalMac against a very high standard of opposition, Bitton was much better at protecting the defence with the number of interceptions, tackles, duels won and his general reading of the game from that position, he also played a major role in Jotas goal in that game, first game ended in a 4-0 defeat, second game we were winning 2-1 until Bitton got injured after 76 mins, CalMac played as an 8 in that game and performed much better than he did in the first game in the deeper role

I know it's only one game each but I think it's relevant given they both played the same high standard of opposition in two separate games from that position and Bitton performed that position better

I hate the way it seems like I come across in a way where I don't rate CalMac when in fact I do, I just prefer and rate him slightly further forward in MF

 

You're not taking into consideration the gap between the fixtures and how used to Postecoglou's system the team was for each.

 

Whole point of this thread is controversial opinions.

Clearly @RogicHasMagicToes has a really controversial opinion that Biton is better than CalMac as a 6, which he’s entitled too.

I don’t think there’s a need to take the * out of it or slate him, guys entitled to his opinion.

You’ll probably find over 90% disagree with it but that’s the point of the forum. At least he’s also trying to back it up with a decent conversation about it as well with stats and stuff. Not just trying to bring the conversation down with * comments.