Our Midfield

Don't mate...... I can't handle the thought of us not signing a left back.

The only comfort I had today was telling myself it would be the last time I'd need to see him start a game

 

to be fair to Taylor last year him getting injured at Ibrox actually changed the game bcoz we were absolutely dominating them. The wee man is definitely more suited to the inverted role but Rodgers wants overlapping fullbacks and Taylor is able to do it. I'd still play him before anyone else at left back until Rodgers gets a guy able to play the position the way he wants it.

 

McGregor is a part of the problem. Wee, weak and lost a yard of pace.

Hatate and two others - ideally two new signings but that won’t happen.

 

Our midfield is slow, weak and predictable. Pains me to say it, but they're gonna be bullied next week.

 

Unfortunately I agree with you. They will run rings round us. The only hope we have is they get put out on Wednesday and their confidence is shot, otherwise * helps us. And they are * by the way, that’s how bad we are at present.

 

If they do get put out by PSV. They smell blood and know we're there to be got at. Wi 50k cheering them on, I fear the worst.

Zero leaders to drag us through this as Calmac looks lost...

 

See O’Riley, Turnbull and Calmac today. Can anyone confidently say what roles they were playing and how we set up as a 3 in the middle?

 

Mooy is a far bigger miss than many seem to understand still.

Next week we will get run ragged.

 

Nah, moving away from the inverted fullbacks and losing the extra numbers in the middle of the park is the big miss.

 

Will keep saying it but not signing a CDM will be our downfall this season.

It MUST be a priority signing after the last two games.


McGregor looks * and it’s hardly surprising given the amount of games he’s played in the last few year.

We are hanging him out to dry at the moment.

 

Nonsense.

To judge McGregor based on 3 competitive games vs. the prior decade is ridiculous.

Prime Iniesta would struggle to look good in a midfield 3 as immobile as Turnbull and O'Riley. Both of whom were an absolute joke today.

 

mooy and hatate were crucial to our peak performances last season

You are also right with what you say, but them 2 missing or away….it’s sure as * not helping

 

We lack any dynamism in the midfield. We are slow, weak and timid.

Pace and power is something Rodgers wanted to add to the team, it’s something we are crying out for in the midfield.

I don’t particularly rate Cantwell or Raskin etc, don’t find them very talented but they are quicker and will more than likely outwork our pedestrian, powderpuff midfield next week.

 

Tbf he’s also been a mainstay in a midfield that has done * all in Europe for years.

He’s been brilliant for us and is still a very good player - but he’s part of the problem.

 

Mcgregor is part of the problem for me in the sense that for some reason we seem * bent on playing him as the most defensive minded midfielder whilst O'Riley and Turnbull are the more forward thinking players. If we could go out and sign an actual proper holding mid and free up Mcgregor to play forward which for me has always been where he plays his best

Ideally in a couple of weeks our midfield will be

CDM
Mcgregor Hatate/O'Riley/Turnbull ​

 

Ange recognized the midfield problem a year ago-no physicality. So he went and signed that Danish boy but it never worked out.
Here we are a year down the road and still no midfielder enforcer. Thats why we get bullied.
Surely there is someone in Scandinavian leagues or the Balkans that could come in for reasonable coin that could do a job?
Since Brown left, we are so fickle in middle of the park. Ant thats where opposition target us

 

...and he's literally been one of the only one's whose shown he's capable of competing at that level, even when being shoe-horned into positions that don't necessarily see him to best effect.

Our problem at elite level is mobility. When he's been in beside Turnbull, O'Riley, Mooy, Rogic, Brown, Bitton etc. he's already up against it

If you're intent on playing a central 3 then it's a necessity that they can all get about the park. Ange didn't sort it and now Rodgers hasn't either.

McGregor is still by far and away our most consistent CM.

 

I've high hopes for our midfield this season..

McGregor back to his best v scum
O'Riley clearly thriving under Rodgers
Hatate to come back in
Holm looking like everything you'd want from a midfielder.
Bernardo an exciting signing..

Amazing what a good result v the scum does but I'm honestly excited by our midfield options.

 

I still think we could do with more legs in there and physicality but the tweak definitely helped..

O'Riley dropping back in to help McGregor and Taylor coming inside also. We should keep it like that for now..

There was no way our midfield was suddenly * poor, but we did look weaker.....and that is clearly down to the system we were playing before the weekend..

Hatate will massively benefit in this system when he's back...and help..

Holm will definitely also be a plus and so so exciting. Can't wait to see more of him..

I'd imagine Bernardo will come in and play a bit higher up instead of Turnbull so that should definitely be an upgrade as well..

I was getting worried but the faith is restored. Promising signs..

 

I'm concerned about his consistency. He looked an absolute master of the midfield when he first started playing under Ange and everyone got excited, then he went through a long period of missing sooo many passes. I'm assuming for this reason Ange stopped putting him in the starting 11, and after Ange left Matt seemed to act like it was a manager problem.

I think Matt either needs to mature and accept when he is going through a bad patch and to take responsibility, or a replacement needs to be identified. I fear his form can tank at any moment.