Liam Scales

If all we want is domestic success and to remain 1 or 2 steps ahead of the huns then he's more than he's fine.

If we have any ambition left to do anything close to competing in europe then he needs improved upon.

 

Hey now, I said a brain fart in the post lol.

As in, watching his game, even a game like today where he was solid in defence and strong enough in possession, you can see the mistakes coming down the road a mile away.

Even today for example, that wee blonde * who lunged in late on him, did you see what prompted it?
Scales had the ball, one touch, two touches... Third touch... gets away from him. The opposition player spotted it and flew in after a closing him down. Scales got to it first and the opposition player was late, took him out. Clear yellow card.

But...BUT, a better player, maybe a player with more guile, or even a faster player dispossesses Scales there, maybe Scales is the last player, and takes him out. Straight red. Or maybe it simply leads to a faster player clean through on goal.

We see things like this in his game all the time. Pulling players down in the box or clattering into them trying to keep pace.

That's what I mean when I say a brain fart in the post. He's no efe Ambrose, or Gary Caldwell, but sure as * better opposition will target him, just like they do Taylor. I noticed Scales even getting closed down a lot more in the second half today, obviously instructed to do so, because he IS a weak link, certainly in terms of concentration.

We need better. It's as simple as that for me.

 

He actually was near flawless for about 60 minutes, I mind one pass I think to Kilmarnock's midfield but even then up to that point he'd moved the ball on fairly quick and I only mind one time when he should have passed to Forrest down the wing and never and noticed Taylor raging at him and pointing.

But from 60 onward he went down hill again probably gave the ball away like 3 times in 10 minutes around that point and undone himself from looking better than last season to just about as bad as usual.

If he'd kept composure that period between like 60-75 minutes i'd have come away from the game thinking he's stepped up a level but that period of passing it to their midfield like 3 times adding to the time he did it in the first half, 4 times in a game is near shocking levels. Even Boyata only did it like once every 4 or 5 games.

 

Weirdly its probably easier for him in the CL though, last season I thought he was really good in the CL games as his main weakness is panicking on the ball and giving it away but in the CL teams are usually that open that theres plenty of space he probably feels more relaxed and like he has time.

In the League when he gives it away it's 9 times out of 10 because he's trying to pass it through people into a midfielder and theres barely any space but you don't really get that in the CL, theres probably double the space as teams aren't camping in their own half.

 

you can praise the performance but still want an upgrade. Thought he was really good yesterday. All defenders will lose a couple of duels with a player like Vassell it's only natural.

 

Scales looks to me like a guy who lacks confidence in himself. He always looks like he's unsure what to do with the ball at his feet. He shows flashes of being a bit dynamic coming out from the back and carrying the ball forward and then fluffs the pass. I actually think that there's a good player in there. His header yesterday was instinctive and he didn't have too much time to think about it.

 

He was fine, unlucky not to have scored a second, folk love clutching at straws over Scales

 

Exactly this we will win SPL with him but will be badly found out in Europe.

Shows where some people's ambitions sit when they say no upgrade required.

 

A manager's dream CB is one who continually gives the ball way under little pressure?

 

I'm sorry mate, but what is it exactly these stats are supposed to prove? That Scales is a better CB than CCV? Or that we shouldn't be looking for an upgrade because he supposedly had a "better game" against a mince Kilmarnock side than our first choice CB? Really?

Those stats merely state (for me at least) the positioning of both players, with Scales always further up bringing the ball out from the back, and CCV guarding the rear. The only stat there that's surprising is the tackles, which is bizarre to me, considering I fully remember CCV making at least 3 or 4 tackles after pushing players out wide, and scales having to make the same amount after passing it to wrong options.

C'mon now ffs guys

This is getting silly. I agree we need a Scales type CB to COMPLIMENT CCV, we can just do better for our first 11.

Zero idea why ppl are getting their knickers in a twist over this. He's a decent option and a solid domestic CB.

I want better, and we can easily find better.

 

I thought Scales was our weakest player yesterday; but to be honest, I don't think that's the reason they started to close him down more. I think what happened was that they had allowed him tons of space on the assumption he was the one player that couldn't hurt them and, credit where it's due, he proved them wrong on that with some very dangerous passes. I think they realised their mistake in the second half and started putting a bit more pressure on the ball when he had it.

 

Far too many Celtic fans criticising Scales, have scant memories. If it was not for Scales, the chances are we would not have won the League and Cup, given that our prize CB signings Nawrocki and Lagerbielke, failed to come up to the mark, and Welsh was/is no hoper.

My guess is they will just have to accept the fact that Brendan's first team CB pairing for the season will be CCV and Scales, with likely Nawrocki been given another chance to earn his spurs. Dane Murray as back up.

 

The problem is not Scales, he is doing a magnificent job given his price tag and coming from the LOI. My issues is with the players he's keeping on the bench, Nawrocki and Lagerbielke.

We spent £4m on Nawrocki and he should be holding down a place in our starting XI and pushing for a spot on the Polish NT, but he's warming the bench.

Lagerbielke looked like two million dollars in Allsvenskan, but coming here he looked like a scared deer in the headlights. His Glasgow derby debut didn't do him a world of good, but I still expect a lot more from both him and Nawrocki.

 

For me, when Scales is posting significantly better stats than CCV, that tells you how useful those particular stats are. There's a reason why they got their guy on Scales rather than CCV as much as they could and there's also a reason why they allowed Scales much more time and space than CCV (although they overdid that IMO); and both those decisions will be reflected in the numbers for those particular stats.

 

Also scales is young, played another full season with us followed by a good pre season meaning he's developing. No reason he's not suddenly goo denough either. Same happened with big ajer.

 

FWIW I totally agree that we need better. I thought he was great up until Dec last year then fell off a cliff after January. I'm just pointing out that he had a far better game than CCV, who was solid himself, but Scales is still the one who gets criticised and shat on.

Find it pretty weird that after a very good game folk will complain about a few loose passes even though his passing stats were far better than his counterparts.

It seems like anything good he does gets ignored, while anything bad gets a massive light shone on it. It's just unfair at this point.

 

So unlucky not to get a second later when his shot was cleared off the line.