Physicality problem, especially midfield

Maradona was incredibly strong on the ball. Extremely physical.

 

Its been a decade since Barcelona won the Champions league.

You dont need to Bobo Balde to provide a physical presence there. You just need to be strong with and without the ball.

Engles is 6 foot. Scott Brown is 5'9. No contest as to which one provided more physicality in our midfield.

 

It's not as simple as physical strength.
The major issue is Celtic midfielders shrink into their shell in very high intensity games, avoid tackles they are perfectly capable of physically making, shrink away from taking responsibility and being positive and revert to uber safe, negative walking pace football because it's easier to do - but it's also so easy to play against.

It's a mentality and attitude issue, not a physical one.

Peak Barca always had an holding #6, whether Busquets or Mascherano - both happened to be world class with the ball too - importantly, they were not physically imposing in any way, just very, very competitive - something we are not.
The value of a top drawer #6 cannot be over estimated but the whole midfield must be willing to compete.

Xavi and Iniesta then and even today, Gavi and Pedri get stuck in, whilst our guys back away and avoid the responsibility or the battle.
Rodri injured at Man City, look how the rest struggled without that lynchpin.
Paul Lambert at Dortmund supporting Sammer and Moeller, hardly a physical beast, but could read the game and was not afraid of the battle.

 

That first paragraph seems about right.

Personally, I can't really relate to the second paragraph TBH. I don't really care what a has-been Hun right back thinks, doubt Maeda does either and don't think we need someone of Maeda's class to terrorise him TBH.

 

For CL games and the ones against the Huns, we do need a physical, combative midfielder. But that's a total of 13-14 games per season, at most. This is why I'm hoping we sign a CB/DM, or a LB/DM.

 

His last season not so much. After Henrik and Lubo left wd lost a good bit flair in that team that we couldn't replace. We tried David Fernandez and then Juninho...didn't work. Bellamy fit the bill but couldn't stay.

The last season we lost it on the last day but had resorted to just completely outpowering teams.

Valgaeren, Mjallby, Varga, Bobo, big Sutton and big bad John. Also Thompson, Lennon and Petrov were tough as nails too.
Imagine as a defender them all bearing down on you at a corner!!!

We definitely resorted to just simply power in O'Neil's last season.
* Scott McDonald though ya wee hun * ye!!

 

This just isn’t true. None of it.

 

Our three recognised first pick midfielders, McGregor, Hatate and Engels are not renowned for being combative. McGregor I would put down as a grafter, Hatate creative and Engels technical.Therein lies the problem, much the same as. In my experience and opinion, the most successful midfields, usually consist of two combative midfielders and one creative. The Villa game highlighted how easy our midfield was swotted aside, and we have lost the midfield in the games against the Huns this season.The balance in our midfield is way off, and something which needs addressed in the summer by the management, if we wish to scale greater heights, especially in the Champions League.

 

Watching Brighton midfield (in fact whole team) tonight, and it's absolute joy to watch - the sheer athleticism, positivity and sharpness as well as the willingness to put the tackles and harry the opposition is quite something to behold.
Totally outplaying Liverpool, creating multiple chances - just not taking them (MoR just missed a sitter! - edit just had an assist for 3-2 up)

That's what we should aspire to versus our walking pace, take care of the ball bollocks against more competive opposition.

 

Cup final lost, just reinforced that our midfield are so so weak.
Absolutely sick of our players passing sideways then pointing to others as to where they should pass.

Bernardo, Engels, Calmac, McCowan - then ended up with departing left back in central midfield.

We have to bring in all round 'stronger' players - from a mental and competitive perspective, not just physical.

 

It's honestly totally mind boggling that anyone watching us can see the issue in the midfield yet time and time and time again it's not addressed. Regardless of who it is but if a midfielder loses the ball when we're doing the horse shoe * the opposition are basically through against the 2 CB's

 

I’d only keep McGregor, McCowan (strictly backup), and Engels. The rest of the midfield I would happily punt, including the fringe guys like Holm and Kwon.

I’d sign two true DMs and a proper replacement for O’Riley (with a bit of zip), and bring McArdle into the senior squad permanently.

First choice:
——— New DM ———
New ACM — McGregor

Second choice:
——— New DM2 ———
McCowan — Engels

Gradually phase McGregor out and Engels in over the next season or so.

Also, get McArdle as much playing time as possible.

 

Weak as *. No dig or creativity.

 

Rodgers always goes on about pace and power. We have almost none of it anywhere on the pitch.

Midfield is weak, slow and mentally fragile. Maeda aside, no physicality in attack. At the back, bullied time and time again.

* crazy

 

Today highlighted again what more and more are noticing we need pace and power in the middle of the park cause we don’t have it.

 

Bernardo, Engels and McGregor is a midfield 3 that'll never work..

No pace or guile..

 

Starting to think this isn't actually a priority for Brendan or whoever is in charge of bringing in players.

 

McGregor is no way mobile enough to play in the "8".. if we are playing McGregor it has to be in a 6.. Bernardo and Engels lacks of guile and penetration has attracted attention to others within the squad. Too much money has been invested Bernardo and Engels so they won't be abandoned but loose. Similar problem with idah

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

 

We definitely have a physicality problem.

One thing which is for certain though. Players who are strong, fast and also technically tidy or skillful are * gold dust at our level. They all play with the best teams and every one and their dug is looking for them. It's not easy to recruit someone who is both physical and has some guile to break down a defence.

We all want it, but so does everyone