Last night, David Turnbull and Tom Rogic were so ineffectual in that Celtic midfield it defied belief. McGregor, as usual, was left trying to cover every blade of grass – setting up attacks as well as doing his best to nullify the Bayer arsenal of weapons.
In the end, it would prove too much for any one player to get to grips with. I dread to think what might have happened if Callum was not fit enough to start last night. It really could have been a cricket score if truth be told. The main problem of the Celtic engine room, is that we are asking two players who don’t have the greatest of tanks to perform a backbreaking shift. Neither of them seem up to this task on the evidence of the season so far.
However, last night was a new level of inefficiency from both Turnbull and Rogic. Turnbull. Man oh man, what were you thinking boy? Yet again, we’ve shot ourselves in the foot and gifted a team we should be in front of an opportunity to put us to the sword. That first goal, David Turnbull might as well have gift wrapped for goodness sake. Better still, just walk it into the net yourself – save Hincapie the hassle.
And why was he so intent on slowing the play down when we broke after the ball had been lost by Leverkusen in transition? It really baffles me why he kept slowing down. Signs of fatigue maybe? Whatever it was, it’s of no use to Celtic or the way the manager wants the team to play. David Turnbull has talent – of that there is no denying. Having said that, if David can’t find consistency to his game then he will never reach the top. Teams like Leverkusen will be a pipe dream.
As for Rogic, I really had no idea he was playing most of the night. He was like a fart in a trance. Made no attempts to try and hassle the Germans at any point. Tell a lie, he did once and got booked for elbowing a guy in the face. That was his only contribution of the night before being hooked – and not before time.
Rogic is another who’s consistency levels are well below what we’re looking for. I don’t know if Tom is suffering from burnout after the cameos of last season, to the nose-to-the-grindstone stuff under Ange, but something is up. The thing that irritates me most about Tom, is that he refuses to use his big frame and put himself in the war zone when the chips are down and he isn’t having a good game.
He just sauntered about last night openly admitting he was having a stinker. Simply not good enough at this level.
Celtic are badly in need of a change up in the midfield. It needs revitalised for Pittodrie on Sunday, and I personally would like to see Liam Shaw given an opportunity to show us what he can do. He looked decent enough in pre-season, so let’s see if he has what it takes with the big boys.
Hell, I thought Bitton looked the part in his natural position when he came on last night. Now that he’s not being asked to be a fish out of water, why not see how he fares against the Dons. Reintroduce some of that physicality we’ve been sorely missing for some time now in the midfield. I feel there is a player with a point to prove in Bitton as well.
One thing is for sure, if Rogic and Turnbull are included again and play like that, our season could be up in flames before Halloween.
Paul Gillespie
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Hi Paul an interesting article.. Can I remind you and all reading your article that for the past season and a bit, Scott was slaughtered and turnbull trumpeted as this great midfield player..
My fellow celtic fans who I criticised for these stupid comments and disrespect towards broony.. I salute you.. Fools