[Link] winger James McClean.

Oh ffs Not this pish again!

Why is it that when someone gives an opinion on players or their performances, someone always pops up with this "scapegoat" nonsense, or "(insert name here) - basher/bashing?

* pain in the *.

 

With Paddy McCourt supposed to be leaving I think this would be the perfect signing, how else are we gonna have a * Army?

James McClean's * Army

 

No, I just don't have blinkers on when I'm watching a poor performance. I don't like to focus on negatives, least of all when we have just lifted the Scottish Cup, but he was the worst player in a Celtic jersey yesterday in my opinion. I don't think he does enough in big games to merit a start in them, which he seems to get even when he has been out of action in the games leading up to them.

 

For £2m I'd rather buy Barry Bannan, who's apparently been told he can leave Aston Villa for that price. He's far more versatile than McLean, and can play in that hole behind the striker, or on either wing. He reminds me of Commons in that way. I know we have Rogic and McGeouch who both play in that role and need more game time, but if Lennon uses the system that he did yesterday more often, I can see there being room for bringing in another attacking midfielder, so I'd go for someone like Bannan over an outright winger like McLean.

 

Id take him, people disagreed with me before but he reminds me of a young Barry Robson. aggressive, hardworking, decent on the ball, can cross and shoot from distance well but not the quickest.

 

He was also playing as a central midfielder. Which he isn't in a million years.


Saying that, he's had a few excellent Old Firm games and did you see him at Spartak away?

 

Barry Bannan Isn't good enough for Celtic either ive seen him play a lot and he really flatters to deceive.

McLean though i think would be a good signing pace and power which we do lack in the team on the flanks.

 

Couldn't disagree more. I find McLean very one dimensional. We do need pace, but we need clever play and versatility more, and Bannan provides that.

 

We dicussed him last week mate. I agreed with you on the Spartak game, but I think that's what he should be in big games (an impact player coming on from the bench). A team down to 10 and on the back foot with not much defensive duties having to be done is right up his street.

 

No. He is dire.

 

If Bannan was any good he would be in the Aston Villa team, lambert is giving youth the chance and bannan isn't playing, doesn't that tell you something? He has some nice touches but frankly he is overrated.

His passing is nowhere near as good as some people would have you believe and he doesn't have enough in the rest of his game to make it at Celtic, we have better players than him.

 

I've always been impressed with what I've seen of Bannan. The style of football Lambert plays doesn't suit him - that's why he doesn't get a game. He's looked good for Scotland on several occasions, and he's had some very good games for Villa in the past. He can cross excellently, and I totally disagree on his passing, from what I've seen. He maybe takes a few more risks than he should in terms of going for a killer ball, but I still think he'd add a lot to our team. As I say, he's a lot less one dimensional than McLean.

 

Is he that defensive minded? He seems to more of a deep-lying playmaker type.

 

Bannan is nowhere near as good as any of our current central midfielders - in fact, he is like a worse midget version of Charlie Adam.

Nice lad I'm sure, but best suited elsewhere.

McLean on the other hand, is strong, powerful and direct.

He reminds me of a more advancing Alan Thompson (without the left-peg wand).

 

He's not a central midfielder though - he's as much a central midfielder as the likes of McGeouch and McCourt are. He's an attacking midfielder, and has to be used as such, in behind the striker/in front of the other midfielders in a 4-2-3-1, etc. Judging him against the likes of ball-winners like Ledley and Brown is unfair, as that's not his game. Compare him to the likes of Commons instead. He's not as good, but then he's a fair bit younger.

 

Bannan is a CM mate.

He's the one who sits and tries to play the gate-opening passes.

Nothing like McGeouch/McCourt etc.

 

He's not a CM though; Villa play him at CM - big difference. Half the problem is that Villa play him far too deep (like Lennon has with Rogic here). But even regardless of positioning, he's a playmaker - he's not a ball-winner - and should be judged mainly on the quality of his passing, which imo is usually v good, although a bit overly risky in terms of losing possession sometimes, but if you have good ball-winners alongside/behind him that shouldn't be that much of a problem. I've seen him pick out some really good through balls (particularly for Scotland).

 

Who said he was a ball-winner?

He has been played at CM with whatever club he has played at. That would suggest that he is a CM.

 

Agathe was played as a striker at every club played for pre-Celtic. Just because a player has been consistently played out of position it doesn't mean that's where he's best used.

 

I knew you were going to bring up Agathe for some reason :smiley-laughing002::smiley-laughing002::smiley-laughing002:

He's an exception though.

Barry Bannan has played almost 40 games on loan between Derby, Leeds and Blackpool.

He's a centre mid, he is not being played out of position.