The best thing about the team’s performances in recent have, without a doubt, been the resurrection of our so-called fringe players and their return to a place of prominence in this team. It’s a truism of football that a crisis presents opportunities for players, and our often-overlooked footballers have a chance here to come to the forefront of the manager’s mind.
But I look at the likes of Liam Scales, James Forrest and now Iwata, getting into the team and doing well, and fulfilling important roles when called upon to do so, and I wonder if the term itself – fringe players, I mean – isn’t one that should be consigned to the bin.
It’s one of those football phrases that, the more I think about it, might not have a future in the modern game. Because what do we mean we talk about a fringe player anyway? Someone outside of the squad? What does that mean these days? The word “squad” is an evolving thing. When we talk about the squad are we talking the best eleven players plus eight or ten more? Are we talking about everyone registered for Europe? Or beyond that?
Would anyone have said Scales was “part of the squad” until recently? Or Iwata? Or Forrest? These are the sorts of players considered “on the fringe of the squad” … which is why it’s such a surprise for some people to see them in the team or on the bench. But really, what does it mean anymore to be “on the fringes?” Even if you accept that there are 18-20 players comprising your best eleven and some backups, are we to leave all the others out?
Looking at the bench at the weekend, who were you thinking might come in and play if we’d lost a central defender? Iwata, right? But he came in and played defensive midfield instead, which is his natural position. I would stipulate that a guy like that would be on the bench most weeks, a guy who can step in and function in different roles.
Forrest, because of his experience and his ability to put in big displays in big games, I think might be on the bench more often than not because his cool head is sometimes necessary if you want to contest a tough fixture or close out a tight game. S
Scales has been too damned good to ignore. I watched him grow into the Aberdeen team last season but never in my wildest imagination did I think he’d be playing at the heart of our defence on visits to Ibrox, Rotterdam and Livingston in quick section, and not look out of place. In fact, he looks like he was born to it. He’s a classic example of a player thriving under a new manager, and this is one of things, of course, that Rodgers has previous for.
What Rodgers did at the weekend was pretty near brilliant, and yet he was second guessed about it all the way, from Celtic fans to the so-called pundits. People like Keevins sneered from the sidelines that the decision to play Forrest on that plastic grotesquerie was some kind of vote of no confidence in Palma and Yang; it was no such thing. It was the manager picking the tools to suit the task at hand, and that’s what our big squad size allows for.
I still think we have too many players, but the beauty of this group is that it does give the manager the latitude to select players based on the job at hand, just as Postecoglou did, just as any elite level manager will do. And this will be even more evident with Rodgers than with the Australian because he’s more prone to tactical changes on the fly and mixing it up a bit.
So watch his team selections carefully.
But more than that, watch his subs bench choices, because that’s where you might see it first. Not for this guy the tyranny of the like-for-like swap; he will pick his subs bench based on what he might have to do in-game.
He will want options for if it’s tight and we need to hold our position. But he’ll also want options in case of injuries, or in case we need to step up a gear and chase a game.
There aren’t any fringe players anymore, that’s what I think. Rodgers will find a way to use everyone, because he’ll pick his team and his tactics based on the opposition, on the surface, on the and he will not be afraid to drop a big player if he think someone else can come in and do the job he needs doing on a specific day.
Like don’t be surprised if he picks Oh over Kyogo in certain games where he thinks we would benefit from that physicality. Don’t be surprised if he plays them both. I think we’ll see system with two up front before long.
As a Celtic fan, I am thrilled that we’ve got this guy back in the dugout, but even as a football fan who loves to watch the game, it is fascinating watching him work and trying to figure out what he’s up to.
I know what I watched at Ibrox and Livingston, I know they were masterful tactical displays, but the actual mechanics of how he did it … I have no more answer to that than The Mooch or The Mob Boss had, being on the wrong end of it.
You saw it on Martindale’s face in that interview at the weekend; he was shell-shocked that nothing he did against ten men even made a dent. When you consider the team that started the game, it is astonishing that we won so comprehensively. When you consider that we played for an hour with a man down it is almost unbelievable.
When you consider the ten men we had on the pitch at the end of the match, well that bordered on the miraculous. And this guy is just getting warmed up.
Yes, l would have said Scales was good enough to play in the Celtic 1st team. I,ve been saying it since signed him from Shamrock Rovers. I remember watching his first games for us in pre season and thinking this bhoy should be playing every week. The Irish League, weak as we might think it to be, is a great learning curve for young players. To say it’s rough and tough, would be an understatement. The truth of the matter is, l,ve never seen Liam have a poor game. His possession and ball distribution is excellent. So why would anybody consider him a “fringe” player, as you say? The only surprise for me, is he was loaned out to Aberdeen, as l thought he was excellent back up and competition for Greg Taylor. But then l suppose Ange wanted him to get experience, playing every week in the SPFL. Scales will be a brilliant player for us in the future. Not only that, but l think, after an amount of time at Celtic, he will fetch a pretty sum of money for the Club, or should I say “bonus” for Desmond and Peter?
Yep – Brendan is not too shabby at ‘improving’ players for sure…
Long may it last –
Scales has been a really nice story as well…
We might just find a few more Scales’ as the season moves forward –
And we’ve that regiment of injured players to come back into contention as well…
Without being cocky (That so much Sevco trait) I’m a bit more confident now than I was in the week running up to The Glasgow Derby on The 3rd September…
I’m still basking in the enjoyment of that day !
Yes it has been brilliant to watch and a touch of genius. James, there is a certain bunch of rangers fans that can tip the scales and put the rest of their demented souls out of their misery. Yes, I am talking about the Ref,s , if they were an honest bunch, he would already be looking for another job. Carry on Ref,s a new comedy coming soon lol
Iwata may be needed next week as Lagerbielke will miss the Lazio game so prudent to get him game time.
I don’t think we will see a free flowing Rogers team until after Xmas when we evaluate
ALL players and get over injuries and maybe some new players.
Time needed to try to find the best first team combinations and preferred positions for most so we seem to be using the time now to assess those options. Good thing is like Scales everyone gets a clean slate.
I think Brendan will be looking to put his own stamp on things in January with maybe a couple of players, keeper and striker options maybe and I think we will see some become truly fringe players being called on when needed like Turnbull, Forrest, Ralston etc when we have a fit squad.
I get the sentiment of what you are saying James but naturally the better, more accomplished, reliable, higher quality and consistent playing staff will get priorities it’s how things are. That’s not to say some players cannot rise to the challenge and give the manager a wider selection pool, ultimately that’s what Brendan will want.
HH
Fair play to Scales, the lad deserves a huge pat on the back and maybe even a wee bonus
Very much a squad game these days with a 20 man match day squad with the 5 sub rule also.
We still haven’t been able to play our strongest 11 on paper in any given game as of yet, so opportunities do present themselves to players, where scales has been the stand out benifitter to date.
Not bad for a lad who was expected to be sold in the summer, by many including myself.
Squad numbers had to be improved, especially with the same 16 players getting used constantly, which in turn was causing a few issues when injuries and loss of form hit ourselves at the back end of last season.
In that regards, I believe that we will be far better prepared over the course of the season with the increased squad numbers.
Consistency and confidence can be huge factors for the younger and newer player at a big club like ours with the demands so high.
This will become easier for them in turn, when our more settled players becoming more consistent in there own playing levels, which is starting to show nicely now, after a fairly slowish start for many.
Even this weekend a few decisions awaits Rodgers.
Does Bain start in goals ahead of big Ben? When many would think big Ben is still a better keeper than bain?
If Phillips is available this weekend, should he start ahead of Gustaf, with the lazio match in mind?
Or even start with what CB partnership that could be on show for the lazio game, even though Gustaf doesn’t deserve to be dropped either?
Would Forrest still remain as our best option to start, now we have a return to grass?
Big decisions to be made and that’s without knowing if any knocks have been received in training?
Yet the demands don’t change as 3 points will be expected regardless of the starting 11 and subs used.
This is where the manager really earns his money in getting the decision making right and allowing for all possibilities to be covered as best as possible.
Players in turn have to be prepared to take the opportunity’s that can present themselves within the ever changing footballing world, and all round i still believe we are and will be for any given challenge that presents itself against us imo.
The versatility of the manager’s strategies are a welcome improvement from the monotone tactics of previous manager.
It’s a shame we never used Doak and the other young stars before we lost them, not good enough for us but good enough for Champions league and English Premier league