The Celtic captain will be well up for tomorrow. He can have a big say in proceedings at Hampden and the new management team’s tactical adjustment clearly suit his game…
Callum McGregor hasn’t had the best of times recently, but to be fair what Celtic player has? Although being the skipper he’s more open to criticism and he’s had his fair share in recent months, some understandable but most completely unjustified as the system Celtic were playing was leaving him isolated in that sitting midfield role with both Reo Hatate and Benjamin Nygren too far forward to offer assistance to the Celtic captain.
Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney sorted that out on Wednesday night by bringing in Arne Engels who plays alongside the captain , with Nygren pushed forward – and getting a goal – and Celtic putting on a show which will give the support confidence ahead of tomorrow’s huge match at the National stadium.
To me Callum McGregor is one of those players you don’t really take notice of until he’s absent from the side, a bit like Neil Lennon was back in the day. And that’s a compliment by the way. The Celtic engine room was in safe hands under Lenny and it’s exactly the same with Calmac controlling things on the park. Callum as well as having leadership qualities in abundance is also an extremely talented player as Martin O’Neill pointed out after the game on Wednesday night at Celtic Park. His ability is there for all to see in the middle of the park and we’ll certainly be relying on him tomorrow.
For me he’s also well suited to a more advanced attacking role in the middle of the park, a position he’s seemed to have taken up in the last two games, his excellent strike in the defeat at Tynecastle an example of his ability.
Callum has looked more like his old self these past few games, and the arrival of Martin O’Neill will no doubt have further boosted his confidence, as was evident in the 4-0 win over Falkirk, where he looked very inch the leader in the middle of the park, controlling the tempo, asserting his presence and always looking to go forward. The tactical changes brought in by Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney had an immediate impact and many players had their best game of the season in the Falkirk game.
That will come in handy tomorrow afternoon at Hampden as we look to book a place in the Premier Sports Cup final and get our first win over theRangers in 2025. On that point in the league there’s been three games at Ibrox and only one at Celtic Park and this will flip around in 2026.
Tomorrow Callum McGregor, who spoke very well at his media conference yesterday, will have a burning desire to defy his critics against our biggest rivals, and I expect him to have a big say on proceedings on what is hopefully our first Beautiful Sunday of the year.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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We are currently in the 5th season of the calmac role. The biggest requirements in the role given to calmac is setting the tempo of our play within such a role, especially as captain.
Worked very well under Ange, with ourselves playing such a front foot attacking game in operation. And in fairness calmac was carrying out his duties superbly, despite ourselves being open to the counter attack against better European teams.
Under Rodgers, with ourselves becoming a more possession based team, calmac was becoming less influential in the second half of last season, with teams opting for a more man to man marking approach used upon him. In turn we aren’t the best at playing a slow possession game, that involves limited moments of attacking quality on show.
Calmac still remains an undroppable player for ourselves when available, especially while holding the captain armband. Yet it’s only been on limited occasions that we have operated with a functioning midfield this season to date imo?
Calmac role remains crucial for that to work and function properly, especially without a proper defensive midfielder in place within our squad.
Agreed that a number of changes were made on Wednesday, that showed signs of improvement to our approach.
Setting a quicker tempo and getting the ball forward in a much faster manner, was most beneficial for our team.
We still aren’t the best team, in winning one on one duels in the midfield areas, but glad to see a return of the pressing in numbers, in order to recycle the ball far quicker also.
The question still remains for myself, as to whether Rodgers approach was strangling the life out of calmac more natural game?
Would confirm that calmac was playing to instructions given, especially with sitting far deeper on way to many occasions.
Strangling to set a fast tempo that Rodgers was calling for, but rarely delivered, especially this calendar year.
Tomorrow is massive to see how our midfield operates.
Still believe that it has far more chance of functioning better, than the approach Rodgers had opted for, with players following suit, by the looks of things.
Also believe that we have far better options available to ourselves in the midfield areas, which could well be crucial in deciding the outcome tomorrow.
Wednesday was a much better functioning midfield in operation for ourselves eventually, tomorrow is hopefully another step for ourselves heading in the right direction.
Believe that there is a far greater chance of that happening now, without Rodgers making the calls in our midfield approach imo?