BILLCOWIE1958
Well-known member
With many of our crocked players coming back to fitness approaching the critical end of the season what is our strongest and best 11 and what is the best system to play?
Does Lenny know 100%?
There are certain players that when fit will walk into a starting spot no matter what system we adopt
FORSTER
JULIEN
BROWN
MCGREGOR
EDOUARD
This basically leaves 6 starting places up for grabs
Certain players who were once certainties are no longer such I'm not saying that in the future they won't become mainstays again but in their absences due to whatever reason(s) opportunities have been availed to others who have grabbed them and appear to have made the position their own for the time being at least
The 2 main ones who immediately spring to mind are Christie and more long term Rogic
Christie missed out on a fair few games after the break through a combination of suspension and injury Fortunately or otherwise the injury rather negated his 3 match ban and in his absence N'tcham has taken over the mantle which Christie had enjoyed
Once back to full match fitness it will be interesting to see whether Christie slots back into the starting 11 at N'tcham's expense or whether the pair will battle it out for supremacy in that position
Rogic's situation is a bit more complexed in as much as he's missed far more playing time and seems a shadow of the player he was in Rodgers' initial 2 seasons and until he was kidnapped by the Australian National side at the end of 2018 and delivered back injured
Whereas Rogic was pivotal in the 1st 11s of both Deila and Rogers injury deprived Lenny of his effectiveness for long long spells and truth be told he"s never reached his previous levels of brilliance
The right back/right wing back berth depending on the adopted system has 3 players vying for the second position Frimpong Abt Hamed and Bauer
As our players Frimpong and Abt Hamed when fit should take preference over loanee Bauer added to the fact that in my opinion both are better players than the Austria
The fact that Frimpong is more of an attacking flair player I feel he's better suited to the position of wing back than Abt Hamed and the fact that the Palestinian can be a useful centre back in a 3 at the back system if required I'd choose Frimpong as 1st If he can bulk up a bit he can make the position his own
CB with Julien a preferred option we are left with Ajer Simunovic Bitton when required and the aforementioned Abt Hamed
Ajer has come on leaps and bounds since returning from his loan spell at Kilmarnock a couple of seasons back where he was transformed from a midfielder to a CB
He's still learning that position and is susceptible to craziness and concentration lapses at times but his height and strength offer compensation for his pecadillos and he breaks from defence at pace with his long lolling stride
Simunovic along with Julien I'd say was the most accomplished of the CBs although his fitness and inability (or preference) not to play in plastic surfaces is a major drawback
Bitton is more or less a utility player these days As primarily a midfielder the abundance of other options at the Club along with long term fitness issues has limited his appearances in his favoured position but he seems prepared to help out wherever and whenever required and has a good footballing head on his shoulders
lb / left wing back is a dilemma for Lenny
Bolingoli who seemed to be the preferred option at the start of the season has proved to be less than accomplished in that position and doesn't instill too much confidence I'm afraid
Whether he can't grasp the thread of what's being asked of him I'm unsure but left back isn't his position
He was NEVER going to live up to KT's reputation and ability so was probably on a hiding to nothing before he even kicked a ball
Jonny Hayes is a decent and honest player A work horse and speed merchant who is a willing practitioner in whatever position he's asked to play in
Greg Taylor is best of the 3 and since being given the opportunity and a run of games has shown the ability he displayed at Kilmarnock and made Celtic decide to bring him to Parkhead
Midfield Broony and McGregor are both shoe ins Broony showed against Clyde that he is desperate to play Inna's many games as possible because he realises that his playing days are beginning to evaporate and he wants to savour the time he has remaining
N'tcham has been a revelation since the winter break I don't know what Lenny has said to him but he's started to look interested again as if he REALLY wants to be here
I'm not sure if he's putting himself in the shop window hoping to attract suitors in the summer or if he's realised that Titles Trebles and hopefully Champions League football next season are pretty good options and the grass isn't always greener elsewhere
Look at Armstrong Wanyama and even Forster and although a different scenario KT
Elyanousi Looked the part until he was crocked and missed a fair chunk of games Good to see him coming back for the run in
Hopefully he can regain his previous injury form until the end of the season
Forrest ..... He"s been here forever He has the ability and the guile but more often than not doesn't produce at least not to the standards that we know he can
When Roberts was here he had competition driving him on and with Morgan now Stateside and Johnston not the finished article he probably needs more competition for his place
I doubt Shved will supply much pressure in that respect
Up front Edouard is the classiest and best player in Scotland bar NONE
I reckon he's the best striker we've had at the Club since Larsson and that includes Dembele
We've had a fair few decent ones over the past 15 years Hooper McDonald Samaras Stokes Zurawski Vennegoor Hartson and Sutton but Eddy us the best if the lot
For a 22 year old he makes it look so easy and he"s getting better all the time We really need to enjoy him for as long as we can because I really cannot see him being around much longer Hopefully I'm proved wrong We'll see
Griff. I just love the wee guy Got the shitty end of the stuck when Rodgers arrived as he made Dembele his preferred option and only playing 1 up front Leigh's opportunities were really limited although when he got his chances he always delivered
Now he appears to be on his way back to hopefully his previous levels and ability
Hopefully his personal problems are behind him and he is around for a good whiie yet
Bayo Nah!
Klimala From what we've seen of him so far could possibly do us a turn
Not fully match fitness yet but looking forward to seeing what he can do
So after all of that I"ll be honest I'm still not 100% certain who our best 11 are but with the squad of players Lenny has at his disposal hopefully Quadruple Treble and an extended Europa League run are on the cards
HH
Does Lenny know 100%?
There are certain players that when fit will walk into a starting spot no matter what system we adopt
FORSTER
JULIEN
BROWN
MCGREGOR
EDOUARD
This basically leaves 6 starting places up for grabs
Certain players who were once certainties are no longer such I'm not saying that in the future they won't become mainstays again but in their absences due to whatever reason(s) opportunities have been availed to others who have grabbed them and appear to have made the position their own for the time being at least
The 2 main ones who immediately spring to mind are Christie and more long term Rogic
Christie missed out on a fair few games after the break through a combination of suspension and injury Fortunately or otherwise the injury rather negated his 3 match ban and in his absence N'tcham has taken over the mantle which Christie had enjoyed
Once back to full match fitness it will be interesting to see whether Christie slots back into the starting 11 at N'tcham's expense or whether the pair will battle it out for supremacy in that position
Rogic's situation is a bit more complexed in as much as he's missed far more playing time and seems a shadow of the player he was in Rodgers' initial 2 seasons and until he was kidnapped by the Australian National side at the end of 2018 and delivered back injured
Whereas Rogic was pivotal in the 1st 11s of both Deila and Rogers injury deprived Lenny of his effectiveness for long long spells and truth be told he"s never reached his previous levels of brilliance
The right back/right wing back berth depending on the adopted system has 3 players vying for the second position Frimpong Abt Hamed and Bauer
As our players Frimpong and Abt Hamed when fit should take preference over loanee Bauer added to the fact that in my opinion both are better players than the Austria
The fact that Frimpong is more of an attacking flair player I feel he's better suited to the position of wing back than Abt Hamed and the fact that the Palestinian can be a useful centre back in a 3 at the back system if required I'd choose Frimpong as 1st If he can bulk up a bit he can make the position his own
CB with Julien a preferred option we are left with Ajer Simunovic Bitton when required and the aforementioned Abt Hamed
Ajer has come on leaps and bounds since returning from his loan spell at Kilmarnock a couple of seasons back where he was transformed from a midfielder to a CB
He's still learning that position and is susceptible to craziness and concentration lapses at times but his height and strength offer compensation for his pecadillos and he breaks from defence at pace with his long lolling stride
Simunovic along with Julien I'd say was the most accomplished of the CBs although his fitness and inability (or preference) not to play in plastic surfaces is a major drawback
Bitton is more or less a utility player these days As primarily a midfielder the abundance of other options at the Club along with long term fitness issues has limited his appearances in his favoured position but he seems prepared to help out wherever and whenever required and has a good footballing head on his shoulders
lb / left wing back is a dilemma for Lenny
Bolingoli who seemed to be the preferred option at the start of the season has proved to be less than accomplished in that position and doesn't instill too much confidence I'm afraid
Whether he can't grasp the thread of what's being asked of him I'm unsure but left back isn't his position
He was NEVER going to live up to KT's reputation and ability so was probably on a hiding to nothing before he even kicked a ball
Jonny Hayes is a decent and honest player A work horse and speed merchant who is a willing practitioner in whatever position he's asked to play in
Greg Taylor is best of the 3 and since being given the opportunity and a run of games has shown the ability he displayed at Kilmarnock and made Celtic decide to bring him to Parkhead
Midfield Broony and McGregor are both shoe ins Broony showed against Clyde that he is desperate to play Inna's many games as possible because he realises that his playing days are beginning to evaporate and he wants to savour the time he has remaining
N'tcham has been a revelation since the winter break I don't know what Lenny has said to him but he's started to look interested again as if he REALLY wants to be here
I'm not sure if he's putting himself in the shop window hoping to attract suitors in the summer or if he's realised that Titles Trebles and hopefully Champions League football next season are pretty good options and the grass isn't always greener elsewhere
Look at Armstrong Wanyama and even Forster and although a different scenario KT
Elyanousi Looked the part until he was crocked and missed a fair chunk of games Good to see him coming back for the run in
Hopefully he can regain his previous injury form until the end of the season
Forrest ..... He"s been here forever He has the ability and the guile but more often than not doesn't produce at least not to the standards that we know he can
When Roberts was here he had competition driving him on and with Morgan now Stateside and Johnston not the finished article he probably needs more competition for his place
I doubt Shved will supply much pressure in that respect
Up front Edouard is the classiest and best player in Scotland bar NONE
I reckon he's the best striker we've had at the Club since Larsson and that includes Dembele
We've had a fair few decent ones over the past 15 years Hooper McDonald Samaras Stokes Zurawski Vennegoor Hartson and Sutton but Eddy us the best if the lot
For a 22 year old he makes it look so easy and he"s getting better all the time We really need to enjoy him for as long as we can because I really cannot see him being around much longer Hopefully I'm proved wrong We'll see
Griff. I just love the wee guy Got the shitty end of the stuck when Rodgers arrived as he made Dembele his preferred option and only playing 1 up front Leigh's opportunities were really limited although when he got his chances he always delivered
Now he appears to be on his way back to hopefully his previous levels and ability
Hopefully his personal problems are behind him and he is around for a good whiie yet
Bayo Nah!
Klimala From what we've seen of him so far could possibly do us a turn
Not fully match fitness yet but looking forward to seeing what he can do
So after all of that I"ll be honest I'm still not 100% certain who our best 11 are but with the squad of players Lenny has at his disposal hopefully Quadruple Treble and an extended Europa League run are on the cards
HH
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