George Burley on Scott Brown

[cat123]

"GEORGE BURLEY has defended Celtic's Scott Brown and praised Kenny Miller for passing a supreme test of character in Rangers' Old Firm win.
The Scotland boss refuses to join in any criticism of the Hoops midfielder who has never played on a winning side in a Glasgow derby since his £4million transfer from Hibs.
And Burley is tipping Miller to sizzle in the searing heat of Skopje on Saturday when Scotland play Macedonia in their first World Cup 2010qualifier.
But it was Brown who got the encouragement he needs in the build-up to that match.
Burley sat in the main stand at Celtic Park and watched the midfielder deliver a display that satisfied him, regardless of what anyone else thought about it.
He said: "Scott certainly isn't a concern for me. I think he comes in for a lot of unfair criticism.
"There were a lot of excellent performances on show on Sunday and his was one of them.
"Do you think he would be in the Celtic team if his boss, Gordon Strachan, didn't think he was playing well? Scott's form is why Barry Robson can't start a game for Celtic."
The Scotland manager was unlikely to be negative about Brown when he's days away from asking him to overcome uncomfortable conditions and help his country to a morale boosting win to open their World Cup qualifying campaign.
But the aggression in his voice vouched for the fact he was only saying what he believed to be the case" Taken from the Daily Record.

Got to agree I think Brown played well in the Old Firm Game.

[Daver]

Was heavily involved in the goal, played better than Hartley (as could have a paraplegic squirrel), overall didn't do it for me, i must confess - that was Burley giving him some confidence ahead of the qualifiers as he realises he has none at present.

All the talent in the world, still looks as if he is trying to find out what the fuck he's meant to be doing on the park, however - i sure as hell have no idea half the time...

[venegoorstrokes]

Originally Posted by cat123

"GEORGE BURLEY has defended Celtic's Scott Brown and praised Kenny Miller for passing a supreme test of character in Rangers' Old Firm win.
The Scotland boss refuses to join in any criticism of the Hoops midfielder who has never played on a winning side in a Glasgow derby since his £4million transfer from Hibs.
And Burley is tipping Miller to sizzle in the searing heat of Skopje on Saturday when Scotland play Macedonia in their first World Cup 2010qualifier.
But it was Brown who got the encouragement he needs in the build-up to that match.
Burley sat in the main stand at Celtic Park and watched the midfielder deliver a display that satisfied him, regardless of what anyone else thought about it.
He said: "Scott certainly isn't a concern for me. I think he comes in for a lot of unfair criticism.
"There were a lot of excellent performances on show on Sunday and his was one of them.
"Do you think he would be in the Celtic team if his boss, Gordon Strachan, didn't think he was playing well? Scott's form is why Barry Robson can't start a game for Celtic."
The Scotland manager was unlikely to be negative about Brown when he's days away from asking him to overcome uncomfortable conditions and help his country to a morale boosting win to open their World Cup qualifying campaign.
But the aggression in his voice vouched for the fact he was only saying what he believed to be the case" Taken from the Daily Record.

Got to agree I think Brown played well in the Old Firm Game.

I agree. He is not doing all he can but he has really improved this season. I think he is still trying to find the balance between charging around and playing safe. Part of his problem was he was used to Hibs breaking in numbers and lots of space for him to run into but at Celtic you face a deep dour wall of defenders. I have often noticed (Sunday was an exception) that he gets better as the game goes on (think Spartak home) and thats all to do with space opening up. He has had to adjust his game to a different situation and I think his new role is all about hastling and upsetting the rythm of the other team. Hopefully we will see some of his old Hibs box to box stuff again soon though. I hope we see him and Robson as a pairing for a few games soon.

[Col1888]

Agree Cat, i thought he was on his own in the middle for long spells. hartley was poor, which was a surprise. 2nd half we were too far away from them in the middle and they were passing it all over the place. I think a lot of Browns criticism is on the back of last season when he had personal issues to deal with. But i can't believe WGS left it so late on Sunday to change things. Also think Caddis should be in there, his enthusiasm and drive would have terrified some of those hun donkeys !

[Hammer]

He is clearly well respected for what he brings to the table. However if he played the same way he has done for Scotland for Celtic he wouldn't recieve any criticism whatsoever.

I still believe it's time to use him more sparingly just now until he matures into the player he has threatened to, which i still believe he will in time!

[patto]

I thought he was one of the better players on sunday, what about putting him on the right and put naka or maloney in the middle ?

[Kerr_OConnor]

i dont think scotland will get anything on saturday. burley just wasnt the right choice for me as manager. he lacks the presence that eck and smith had. hope im wrong but ive just got a feeling i wont be.

[Hammer]

I agree he was one of our better players.

I just think we could achieve the same reaction as we did for the final 7 games of last season by taking him out the firing line and playing Robson.

The 1 real criticism i have of Strachan from the weekend is that he never started Robson, the game is made for him as he showed last season by dictating the tempo of the entire 90 minutes from the offset.

Hartley said in the papers Celtic would get in the faces of the rangers midfield and stop them playing, both he and Brown never did.

[neverwalkalone]

Originally Posted by Kerr_OConnor

i dont think scotland will get anything on saturday. burley just wasnt the right choice for me as manager. he lacks the presence that eck and smith had. hope im wrong but ive just got a feeling i wont be.

I agree. I'm not feeling it either. McGhee would have been a better choice. Even Collins. Nothing to do with them being former Tims, just being articulate, positive, young managers. I cringe when I see Burley speak.

[sammybobo]

George Burley = Stevie Wonder.

[ellboy]

I think Brown had one of his most efective games for us against the Huns. He kept the head and played the game, he still fell out the game for long periods, needs to show the ability so many coaches and pundits believe he possesses.

[ChampionsElect]

I was over the moon when he signed and still want him to be a Celtic great, but It is frustrating to see the way he plays for Hibs and Scotland, then the way he performs for us. He gets on the ball enough, he just dosen't push forward and drive at the oppostition.

[micck]

As soon as our defence is sorted we will see a more attacking scott brown. he always HAS to track back and help our defence out of the mistakes they bring upon themselves.

[Daver]

Originally Posted by ChampionsElect

I was over the moon when he signed and still want him to be a Celtic great, but It is frustrating to see the way he plays for Hibs and Scotland, then the way he performs for us. He gets on the ball enough, he just dosen't push forward and drive at the oppostition.

I agree mate - but is that how he's being TOLD to play is my question? certainly, it's not in his nature and i find it so hard to comprehend..we all know that Grav refused to do the job he was asked, maybe Brown is, but is taking pelters for it. He looks lost sometimes, as if he has no exact idea as to what his role is...

[opTIMus_405]

george is needing to lay off the glue