Matt O'Riley

Yeah. If we're lining up in the CL tomorrow and you ask me if I want Rogic or MOR, I'd have to ask which Tom Rogic. At his best, he was a level that MOR hasn't reached yet. He was one of those flawed geniuses who was world class in a certain dimension but at Celtic because he had major problems in one or more others. Kind of the inverse of Maeda.

MOR is less inconsistent, has fewer injury problems and offers more defensively, though (IMHO).

 

John Kennedy admits big fishes could soon be swimming after star man Matt O’Riley. But the Celtic coach is adamant the club will have a succession plan ready if the day comes for the Danish star to go to the big leagues.

O’Riley’s outstanding form in the Champions League and Premiership have attracted interest in his services with the January transfer window looming. Asked if it was important to keep top stars such as O’Riley, Kennedy said: “Yeah, it is. The model, we know, ultimately, when the big fish come, they come up with the money, then the players might have ambitions to go on and play in bigger leagues. We accept that.

“But it’s just having a steady flow. So Matty’s come in the past couple of years, he’s progressed really well and, when they are attracting attention, it’s because things are going in the right direction. That’s the nature of it. Again, we just have to make sure that, behind that, we have the next one in line.

“We keep bringing them through and everyone looks to a Matt, or players in the past. Jota last year, Kieran Tierney, Kris Ajer, Odsonne Edouard. All of these guys who have gone onto some of the bigger leagues. But it’s a good inspiration.

“Not everyone’s ambition is to do that. You get someone like Callum McGregor who will have had plenty of opportunities in his career to do so, but enjoys being here and now captains the club.

“You also have to accept some people’s ambitions and we do that. But, while they are here, we give our all to them in terms of what we can do for them and we expect the same on the other side that they put their work in every day to be the best versions of themselves.”

 

Genuinely stunned to see so many saying Rogic is/was better than O’Riley.

Think MOR is and will be a much better player. He has far more to his game than Rogic did.

Rogic had loads of special moments and was capable of magic, but so is O’Riley. If he was to stay here for another 4 or 5 years I’m sure his highlights reel would be every bit as good, and at a higher level.

 

Along with him slotting a screamer into the top corner against the Huns, not just a superb goal, he broke a Hun leg whilst doing it.

iconic

 

Are you actually stunned? It’s pretty obvious it’s comparing their Celtic careers, and Rogic has a great highlight reel for a Celtic career. And I suspect always will, because I can’t see beyond the summer at the most for O’Riley still being here. Lets hope he can do something as iconic as the Invincible Treble late winner in that time.


Dunno what that would be, but he’s capable of doing that sorta *.

 

Rogic could produce bit of magic n turn game but too often disappeared MOR can also do what Rogic did but is now starting to dictate games like calmac...

 

Ah, the fickle nature of the Celtic support emerges once again. Matt O’Riley is having a very good season and standing out when so many of his colleagues have been subpar this season.

But until he pops up with crucial last minute goals, scores in cup finals - including one to secure a treble - scores in games against Rangers, and performs at a high level consistently we can cool the talk of being ‘levels’ above Rogic.

For what it’s worth, I think he adds a lot more defensively and think he has the potential to be a better player. He isn’t there yet, though.

 

Aye.

As I said, Rogic had more special moments. But O’Riley is quite clearly a better footballer than Rogic.

He has far more strings to his bow.

 

Fixed that for you.

 

I would agree that O'Riley is a better all round player but Rogic had that special something that O'Riley hasn't yet shown.

Think MOR grew as a player when he got lumped into playing in front of the defence for a spell. Took him a while to get going again when he went back into his normal position after that but it has paid off.

 

Whats fickle about staying my opinion?...loved rogic...goal last minutes final against Aberdeen superb n showed his magic but how good could he have been? World class but disappeared too often...know wasn't in game then scored winner but be honest he was exactly same player when arrived till left...MOR showing he's capable of getting better and better...hope want being too fickle

 

Rogic was not world class, not even close. Nor is MOR.

 

Yes, it really seems like you rate the guy x

 

Read what actually said m8...not once did i say anyone was worldclass Said Could have been world class and also said that MOR unlike Rogic is getting better and better...

 

Rogic was the exact same player from arrived to he left? He was loaned to Japan and back to Australia, started off as a CM rather than further forward. Came to life under Ronny a few years into his Celtic career.

And then was a * magician for the rest of it.

 

M8 loved Rogic but if u think moving to Japan n Australia n different position in team was as good as he could be then agree different player but with talent he had improvement should have been him becoming world class or at very least dictating games not disappearing..agree magician n gave us goals like aberdeen in final...again he was superb not only commenting on thread question

 

That was me saying the bit ‘exact same player from when he arrived’ at us was nonsense.

And he majorly dictated games, he wasn’t on the periphery. Fitness held him back from stepping up a level, but he was a genius

 

M8 u know what i meant...wasnt meant literally...can u honestly say noticed major improvement from when arrived?...pointless arguing bout this as liked Rogic n don't want to sound like putting time with us down as he was superb

 

Maybe I’m remembering it wrong but did Rogic ever really do anything at champions league level, or even in tougher Europa League games?

For me that’s the difference. Rogic was more effective up to a certain level, but O’Riley has now been the star man in several champions league games.