Joe Hart weighs in on Reo Hatate debate as he explained his former teammate is ‘hit-and-miss’ following Celtic’s 0-0 draw with Dinamo Zagreb at the Maksimir Stadium…
The Japanese midfielder has undoubtedly been inconsistent for the Hoops this campaign, and his performance on Tuesday evening was one of his poorest displays of the season so far.
Hatate or Engels for Hampden?
Now, with Luke McCowan cup-tied for Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup final against theRangers, Brendan Rodgers has a decision to make in midfield whether he will go with Reo Hatate or record signing Arne Engels alongside skipper Callum McGregor and the inform Paulo Bernardo.
Don’t know what you’re going to get
Hatate’s eratic 65 minutes showing in Zagreb brings up the midfield debate for yet another time. Whether it be the crucial winner against Aberdeen at Pittodrie or the sensational performance versus RB Leipzig, or the wasteful display against the Croatian champions on Tuesday, you just don’t know what you’re going to get from the 27 year-old playmaker.
Hitting those high standards and performing consistently seems to be an issue for Hatate. Whether this passes the Brendan Rodgers starting lineup test on Sunday remains to be seen, but Celtic’s middle of the park will need to be on it this weekend in order to deliver trophy number 119 in the club’s unbroken history.
That’s not a criticism
Analysing Reo Hatate’s performance on commentary with TNT Sport, former Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart said, “I think he could be even more hit-and-miss and that’s not a criticism. That’s because he’s got Paulo Bernardo, he’s got Callum McGregor behind him.”
“He’s not really having to think about going back. He’s a player who will try things, they might not come off, but when they do, he slices through defences.”
Rotation in the central area has been prevalent for Celtic across all competitions this season, but with the emergence of Luke McCowan, Hatate’s position as a regular starter must surely be under threat.
A big performance is much-needed on Sunday. But as always, only Reo knows what type of Reo performance we will get. Hopefully it’s more like the Leipzig one rather than the Zagreb outing.
Conor Spence
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I really don’t get this level of criticism, been thrown towards Hatate?
We went to atalanta, and we we snuff out there attacking threats, we class it as a masterclass in defensive play from ourselves?
Yet, when we were upon the receiving end of such a game, we are looking for scapegoats in return?
Personally, I don’t think Rodgers expected Zagreb to play, such a low block and man to man tactical approach against ourselves, especially with them at home and needing the victory moreso than ourselves?
Would that be regarded as a criticism towards Rodgers, and not having ourselves prepared for the unexpected?
Course it wouldn’t?
Hatate remains our most effective player in trying to break down, a resolute defensive set up, especially at CL level, with what he is well capable of producing, and has done on many occasions for ourselves also?
Never happened for himself and ourselves on Tuesday, yet none of our players could find that extra bit of quality, that was required within such a game?
So will give credit to Zagreb for there defensive display?
But in turn, when was the last time a home team at CL level, actually took such a tactical approach against ourselves?
Can’t recall myself, which is great testament to just how much respect Zagreb gave towards our attacking threats, on the night imo?
If we could have found that early goal, then a totally different game could well have played out,especially with Zagreb, having to come out moreso?
The scum have shown nothing to suggest that they have anything like the discipline or the organisation required, to produce anything close to what Zagreb managed on Tuesday?
With that in mind, would be very surprised if Hatate wasn’t to start in the final on Sunday?
Especially when he still has the quality to destroy the scum on the day imo?
Weather Hatate is able to deliver is another story altogether, but to potentially write him off, after what he has produced for ourselves is nothing more than nonsense imo?