Eboue Kouassi

He’s looked class every time he’s played.

100% a pler in there.

 

Another player who has been underused.

 

Broony ill, Armstrong injured and then even Ntcham having a nightmare and subbed at half time..

Still doesn't come off the bench..

Hmm..

 

I disagree.

Rodgers clearly rates this kid highly, but he's only 19/20 years old and hasn't even played 20 games in his professional career so far, 10 of those being in Russia.

He's been given this season to integrate into "British" fitba, and the climate of Scotland, as well as Celtic.

Plus the fact he is well down the pecking order of central midfielders:

Broony
McGregor
Ntcham
Rogic
Armstrong
Bitton
Eboue

I have absolutely no doubt we will be seeing far more of him next season though.

 

Bitton and Armstrong have had injury problems this season that have kept them out for months at a time. Ntcham has been quite inconsistent, despite showing he good he is fairly often. Brown has been sensational but he is 32 and could definitely be rested a bit more against pish teams. Even if that means starting the game and coming off after 60 minutes to give Eboue a run out.

Eboue has been here since January 2017 and he's only played 9 league games. I get that you need to integrate people in to the squad and the style of play, but that is ripping the * out it a bit. Particularly when he wasn't cheap.

The most frustrating thing is that when he has played, we have seen his talent.

 

We should be able to rest Broony but we’ve rarely killed off games to be able to do so. I think that was the plan earlier this season, when he played Ntcham and Kouassi. We were gash.

It’s worrying how much we need Broony. We haven’t made games comfortable enough for ourselves to leave him out I’m afraid.

 

That is true, to be fair.

Still, I'm not buying that Kouassi couldn't have played more this season. Excellent against Zenit at home. Started in the away leg and got subbed at half time. He hasn't kicked a ball since.

I just don't understand it at all.

 

No, I definitely agree he could have been used more but that’s been one option that’s been closed off to Brendan I think.

 

The fact he is seen as Brown's long term successor...well, when are we going to actually see him play?

Brown has just won POTY and Players POTY. He's playing as well as he's ever done and according to himself and Rodgers, he still has at least another couple of years in him. So is Eboue expected to sit on the bench, or actually, not even make the bench because he often doesn't...for another 2 years?

 

I want us to buy McGinn and to give Hibs Kouassi for a year. Get him a season with 40 odd games under his belt.

 

Especially when you see how Ajer has been thrust in to the side and now a mainstay a couple of year's younger, in arguably a harder position. Don't even need to mention KT..

Brendan has proper raved about him and I feel we've been patient on the back of that. I really don't get he couldn't play at Easter Road on Saturday though when our captain wasn't well, Armstrong was out, Ntcham had a mare and McGregor is never a centre mid in a 2..

We completely missed energy in that middle of the park and he has that and steel in abundance..

Even the notion of him having a couple of ropey game's away at Rugby Park and Dens taken in to account. He'll only get some consistency with a run of consistent game's..

No way should Broony be playing the level of game's he is anyway..

 

I think McGregors best position is a centre mid in the 2

 

Aye what am I on about..

I mean against Hibs in a 2 when Rogic isn't tracking back. I didn't fancy that change at the time..

Forget that bit

 

Aye Rogic was * by that point but was too dangerous to take off.

 

He deffo should've had a loan given what's happened..

Also I don't see how he can't be ready for run of the mill domestic side's with all due respect to them, but start against Zenit against in the knockout stages..

 

Was our best attacking player, even though he missed 2 brilliant chances..

Probably as big an empty shirt as I've seen from Rogic defensively. Giving it away in dangerous positions and getting caught out..

A 3 of Broony under par, McGregor sitting in a 2 and a Rogic no bothered about tracking back is asking for trouble against a quick Hibs side bang up for it who's key area is central midfield..