Callum McGregor

Love hearing him speak in the same way I enjoy Rodgers talk about the game. I think he is gonna make a top coach if he wants to go down that route.

Seems so tactically aware and emotionally intelligent in equal measure. Imperative we get a 6 in this window coming to prolong his level. He cant keep playing every game while at times clearly half fit. Even if he still doesn’t miss a beat with a calf knock.

Most underrated European campaign ive seen from a Celtic player this season for me. Thought he was exceptional in every game bar Dortmund.

 

Lenny I think it was as a pundit talking about him was saying something similar to this, about how much he is a coach on the pitch. And not just a leader, coach on the pitch.

And that was a great description for something I’ve been not able to put the words to. Broony as a leader was unreal, he was a force of nature and driving force, Calmac though? He’s so much more than just that, he does that, he drives us on when we need it, he leads but he’s not just that. Within the confines of Rodgers tactics and Ange before that, the tactical flow on the pitch, it is McGregor doing it. He decides if we pass and draw a team out then go in behind, if ee relentlessly go forward, if we slow it down or speed it up. And he teaches everyone around him that.

Him being out against the Huns at Parkhead that was the big thing. Rodgers sets the bigger picture and shape, Calmac takes care of everything within that to make it work.

Honestly, I think by now, he’s topped even Lambert. Who up until now, I thought nobody would come into that category for me. They’re very similar as captains, Lambo better defensively Calmac better going forward. Both good at what the other is better at still.

Lambo for Dortmund and what he done is probably the only reason we would hesitate to compare. Calmac for me, but at the least they’re in the same conversation as comparison.

I think I’ll get some stick for saying it though, some still don’t quite get the level Calmac operates. But really, back in the day, a lot done the same with Lambo

 

Anytime I hear him talking, his winning mentality is unreal man. We as fans are so used to success, think we sometimes can overlook how exceptional the relentless drive to win year on year that he brings. James Forrest by all accounts the same.

That’s invaluable, and fosters that mentality into other players. It’s not a trait that is often found in players that, they might want to win but thats not enough that

 

I love him. Absolute club legend.

 

Scott Brown was an unbelievable captain for us and someone i thought it was gonna be nearly impossible to replicate but personally I think Cal Mac is everything i’d want in a Celtic captain. He’s maybe come into it at the perfect time when its less about being a hard man and a shouter but the players always talk about him driving the standards everyday and you can see how influential he is come game day. It’s always off camera but he interacts with the support a lot too. Loved when he walked over to the corner after Idah’s winner in the cup final and started gesturing along the lines of “not long left, we are gonna need you to get over the line”.

I actually think Brown was underrated as a footballer at times but McGregor is definitely far better.

See every time you hear him speak, you get the feeling of calm knowing thats the guy thats driving the standards and culture in the changing room day to day. Makes you realise we are in good hands.

Looking at his age, next year may he his final season at that peak level so hopefully he smashes it. Been tough for him at times this year because nearly every team has played one up one behind out of possession literally to have a man sit on him, he always knows where to drag them in build up though and I think it’s been a factor in him ending up with the shooting chances 30 yards in. He likes that one when its into the strikers feet and he runs off his man for the set back to him.

Really * hope he’s bang at it next Sunday, he usually turns up at Inrox

 

We can’t take for granted how rare it is to have players that are hungry and never come off it year after year after year.

That’s the biggest difference between us and the Huns I think, the culture is so much better with us and that’s very difficult to change.

 

To be honest, it's not hard is it. Their fans boo them week in week out, have a go at them to their face. I can also imagine lots of players don't enjoy the hate that comes with the club. Bazza and his coaches thrive off the bigotry but I don't think he really understands that doesn't work for most.

 

We have been incredibly lucky to have a sustained period where we have had Brown and the McGregor in such a pivotal position in the centre of the park to captain the team and pretty much spend their careers at the club. Its provided us with real stability and leadership in the dressing room in an era where player turnover at the club is inevitably high. Two have had a decade or more of players of that calibre and mentality there as a constant has been invaluable. Hopefully we get a few more years from McGregor but when he does finish up its hard to see where we replace it.

 

If we win the Scottish Cup he'll be the first player in Scottish Football history to win 15 Cup finals, taking over Lennox and McNeill on 14, Forrest can join them on 14 currently him and Brown have 13.

 

He hasn't lost a final has he?

 

No, won 14 out of 14, he also won 4 out of 4 SFA Youth Cups at Hampden 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

So has won 18 out of 18 finals at Hampden.

 

Hopefully continues for the rest of his career

 

Tierney