Physicality problem, especially midfield

When’s Ajers contract expire?

 

Busquets behind though definitely helped them get on with their jobs

 

To be fair after 1 or 2 games I thought Soro was gonna be the next kante

 

Mate Rogic talent wasn't just his ability to hit a ball.

Fitness was his down fall but he was otherwise a very good physical player and was hardly weak on the ball.

I will always defer back to the absolute chaos he was causing with his pace and pressing against Man City and his ability on the ball that clearly showed physically he was a specimen. Just after 65 minutes he was blowing out of his *

 

What was noticeable is how quickly we turned over possession v Villa..

Don't think there's an easy answer to that tbh, without a change in tactics and ethos.. as long as we try and play our own game v teams who have better players we'll likely come up short.

We lost an incredible amount of 50/50s too..

 

Same thing happened in the Hun Cup Final and 3-0 game at Ibrox. Needs addressed and quickly.
Either sign a monster DM or play two DM's.

 

One * of a shout. Home grown at club as well.

 

That’s how we roll, sell them and get em back for peanuts

 

Think the issue was further highlighted again today granted in a fairly meaningless game but so many times we just got bullied. I'm desperate for us to go out and get a big * for the middle it would improve us a team and also individually improve every other midfielder in the squad at the moment Mcgregor included

 

The main problem is that big the CDM we all know Celtic need, is stymied by our undroppable captain Callum McGregor being the man in possession of No.6. It is an enigma that Brendan will have to sort out for next season for sure, we can't keep letting our midfield get so easily bullied and overrun in important games.

 

Callum is at his absolute best when hes given freedom of movement to dictate forward play.

The problem, for me at least, is when hes shackled by having to attempt to do the job of a CDM, which unfortunately is not something hes very good at.

Surely a real defensive mid in there would facilitate Callum, rather than hinder him. I dont see much tactical or set up tweaks needed, other than dropping one of two players who have been woefully inconsistent this season. Engels deserves time imo. I truly believe there's a player in there, and again, with a real cdm in behind him, just like Callum we'd see his game excel.
Hatate has been, imo, a * disgrace this season. His usual flashes of brilliance dont make up for the fact that in 90% of his games hes an empty shirt.

Get rid of Hatate, bring in a real defensive mid, and sign Lennon Miller as an understudy to Cal. et al. Done.

My only major worry is that Rodgers doesnt see it as a necessity. Given his experience and knowledge hes probably well aware he could do with one, but will sacrifice it to fill other slots, or, make the usual 2-3m signing which turns out to be pish, with real money allocated elsewhere.

For me, its THE most important position that needs addressed.

 

Signing a new striker is more important than signing a DM, in the summer.

 

I think most of our midfielders are very inconsistent (McGregor aside). Hatate, Engels, and McCowan have all have looked absolute class at times this season but also have games where they look terrible. Bernardo hasnt really got going.

They arent a physical bunch but I think at their best we dont really need much physicality. The problem comes when their passing is off and things arent going well they look very lightweight next to midfielders who dont have the technical ability but are more comfortable getting stuck in.

I cant see us spending decent money on another centre mid this summer. Maybe a cheap project type player but its probably there are other priorities in defence and up front that need fixed.

 

Its like we all can see that Cal is not a DM and is much more effective in a more forward/roving role, except BR. Saying that, guess he has little options right now.

 

If Maeda stays i wouldnt hold my breathe on a new striker

 

McGregor turns 32 next month amd hasnt played that role for in 5 years. He'll continue as a number 6 despite the fact hes not a defensive midfield.
With that being the case we need to compliment him with more physical players beside him in the number 8 positions.

It doesnt need to be a Wanyama type of player to add physicality to the midfield. Signing a player in the mould of John Mcginn would do that

 

We don't have enough height and physicality for the Scottish game but it's particularly noticeable in Europe where we look like wee boys against men.

 

Bernardo leads us in successful tackles per 90 with 2.1. Then it’s Yang and Kuhn at 1.3.
Although we would expect we wouldn’t feature high on these numbers due to all the possession we enjoy, we need our starting midfielders to be giving us more. There is a bit of an imbalance that needs addressed and finding that player who adds steel whilst providing quality in possession won’t be easy

 

IMO, midfielders with physicality is not really the priority for what we do or the style of football. I get that a lot of Scottish Football does depend on this, but Barca & Spain did pretty well with the likes of Xavi (5'7) and Iniesta (5'8) in MF. And yes, I know they had Busquets playing there at times, but they also played as a 3 with Mascerano, who again is only 5'8.

There is undoubtedly physicality and height needed in the team, ideally at CB or up front, but in MF I don't think is a super high priority.