The media has a strange system for imparting news to people.
They will report a press conference with a Celtic boss in two segments.
I had already written, and published, my article bemoaning Callum McGregor being stuck in the defensive midfield position when the second half of Rodgers’ own media interviews were published last night … and I was pleased to see that he was basically saying the same thing. He wants Callum further forward.
I said I was pleased. I was not surprised.
It was Brendan Rodgers who made Callum McGregor the outstanding footballer he is by playing him in exactly that role. To understand this, you have to go back to where Callum was, originally, at Celtic; he was a left sided attacking midfielder.
That was his role when we sent him to England on loan.
Whilst there, he showed himself up as a potent attacking footballer. The club he went to was Notts County; just look at his scoring record there for a hint of the player we were to see in full flow under Rodgers. 14 goals in 41 games. That’s why we brought him home.
It was Ronny Deila who invented the current Callum McGregor, by playing him in the unusual role of a holding midfielder. In hindsight, I am glad Ronny did that. He crafted McGregor into the complete midfield player in doing that, because his multi-role functionality as a great squad player developed during that time. But it was Rodgers who set him free.
In Rodgers second season, McGregor, Forrest and Sinclair all got more than 10 goals each, with a dozen of them coming from Callum from central midfield. He got another 13 a few years later under Lennon, playing in the same attacking role. He does it brilliantly. He has 63 career goals for our club in total, amazing considering where he’s played much of his football for us.
Brendan knows we’re missing out in not having him further up the field.
Where I was genuinely very surprised to read his comments was when he said that he is prioritising the midfield star we’ve been looking for in the January window.
“It is one of the areas I want to improve in the team,” Rodgers said. “What we have is, we’ve David, whose strengths – with the greatest of respects – are to play against low blocks when we’re trying to nick a goal. Getting around the pitch is maybe not a strength. When you go into Champions League games you need that ability to run. So, then Paolo has played in those games. It’s finding that sort of complete package, really. Callum has played in that deeper role for a few years but [moving him forward] is something I’ve thought about.”
I cannot express enough my delight at both of those revelations.
But especially the idea that we should be looking for that “complete package” footballer in January.
I thought that task would wait until the summer, and that Brendan wants him in now suggests two things; the first is that we seek a greater level of preparation for the next Champions League campaign, and the second, and perhaps more important, is that he wouldn’t be saying that if he we didn’t have someone in mind.
So I think the target has probably been identified already and much of the work done to secure the signature of the player he wants.
You would think so, right? Just based on his comments.
I had said in the article on Callum that this position would probably wait until summer, but Brendan clearly doesn’t see the sense in that and I can’t argue with his logic.
Bed this guy into the team for the remainder of this campaign and come next season he’ll be raring to go. It’s smart stuff. It’s sharp thinking. And if we know who, the deal can be done quick.
This should be music to all of our ears.
Rodgers sees things as clearly as we do, and he has the authority and the funds to shake it up. I love that we’re proceeding with this, at pace, instead of giving a hostage to fortune for the summer.
Two years ago, we went into the January window behind in the league and the signings we made put us top and went a long way towards securing the title for us. This time we have a lead; if we go into January having maintained it we will be overwhelming favourites to win another one.
If we bring in the striker – we pretty much have to – in the same speedy timeframe, a lot of the questions we were asking ourselves from the summer’s window will have been answered in this one.
It will chill everyone out a bit.
It will confirm that Rodgers has got the changes that he wants.
And it will virtually guarantee the title returning to Celtic Park.
…and a goalkeeper.
Totally agree buddy Callum is wasted as a holding midfielder
also needs a good striker in the John hartson/Chris Sutton mould big nasty good footballers who can score goals and we change the game
Maybe another 2 full backs IE right and left back
The time Celtic have used to allow Calmac to evolve and beome the player he is has taken too long. He’s 30 now. We need him where can be most effective on the park. He’ll need to drop back in the next few years, I’d imagine. Let’s get this situation sorted in January so we can make the most of it.
Don’t see any mention in the article of the “Iron Man” who’s being trumpeted in the headline. We need more physicality and maybe a bit of a nasty streak in all areas of the team.
Iwata could be that ‘iron man’ but we won’t find out if he isn’t given more game time . We could do with a back up enforcer in any case as Iwata seems to be the only player on the books who might fit the bill . The Asian cup could also leave us with zero strikers at a crucial stage of the season so that is even more of a priority .
I hope we don’t sign this Danish 21 year old ‘project’ who record in the Danish league doesn’t exactly excite- what makes Brondby think he’s worth 7.5m? We need to signing someone like Sydney Van Hooijdonk, who has scored over 50 goals in a decent league like the Eredivision. We need to start making better decisions. We should have signed Vinicius Souza last season when we had the chance, instead he went to Espanyol, and after a solid season in Spain he’s now at Sheffield Utd. But I echo what others have said: why is Iwata not getting a game? Is he too nice on the training field- too quiet for his own good- or is there a communication problem? He’s a very strong looking guy with a great touch and was player of the year in the j-League last year- why hasn’t happened for him so far? He had the brilliant cameo against Hearts and scored that fantastic goal and then never got a sniff for a month and a half. Bernardo was getting a game before him, even though he’s done heehaw and is another clubs player. Then at the Weekend Iwata comes on and sets up the goal for Forrest. Will he again be conspicuous by his absence? The same is true for the likes of Lagerbielke and Nawrocki- how in hell is Stephen Welsh ahead of them? Why don’t we flog that lump of wood Phillips to back to Liverpool- surely he can’t be ahead of promising young players we’ve paid big money for? Some of the decision making is quite bizarre at times.
It’s a surprise that Iwata hasn’t kicked on, or had more opportunities in that holding midfielder role, as it’s obvious he has the talent. Maybe it boils down to training performances or lack of trust in anyone but CalMac playing that role…but it certainly would have allowed McGregor to be utilised, where he is most effective. I read about criticism of our skipper and that he doesn’t score enough goals but that is certainly down to where he is played.
The January window will be hugely important, and gives us the chance to add 2-3 quality signings that will secure another title.
If we can come through this run of December fixtures, virtually unscathed and/or extending our lead at the top, then the second half of this season should be very positive!