Re: 42 # Callum McGregor / Mittelfeld
Verfasst: Mi 30. Mai 2018, 15:05McGregor hat zweifellos seine bisher beste Saison in den Hoops hinter sich, am Ende hat er 55 Pflichtspiele für uns absolviert (12 Tore, 8 Vorlagen).
There would be quite a few Celtic fans who would have Callum McGregor much higher. There are some in Scottish football who still don’t quite ‘get’ him and would therefore have him lower. Gordon Strachan? You’d imagine he would be nowhere near the former Scotland manager’s list. After all he’d be trying to shoehorn mediocre English Championship players in.
I digress.
McGregor is a somewhat unique talent in Scottish football. He doesn’t possess the lung-busting, bull-dozing energy of a Stuart Armstrong, the buccaneering of John McGinn, the controlling influence of Scott Brown or the incision of Tom Rogic. It is easy to think that if McGregor emerged in the early noughties he wouldn’t have found a place at Celtic. However, the Barcelona-fixation of the last 10-plus years — the way Pep Guardiola’s football influenced not only top level coaches but coaches at all levels down to grassroots — has opened more doors for players like McGregor.
The 24-year-old doesn’t have an obvious ability which is easy to pin down. Instead, it’s his awareness and intelligence of locating the right space at the right time in a game which puts him ahead of opponents and colleagues. There are few better at taking the ball in tight areas, using his body shape to both protect possession and progress play to move forward. He rarely loses the ball, completing more than 90 per cent of his passes and 87 per cent of his passes into the final third.
These qualities are alluring to Brendan Rodgers. McGregor has been afforded more trust and responsibility, while continuing to offer versatility. He has responded with his best Celtic season in terms of numbers. Eleven goals and eight assists in all competitions.
Best moment: Rather than pick a specific game or goal, such has his arrowed finish against Rangers in the Scottish Cup, simply being recognised as a key first-team player in the starting XI is a huge progression for the player.
Stats: No centre midfielder has had more touches in the opposition’s box than McGregor’s 69.
There would be quite a few Celtic fans who would have Callum McGregor much higher. There are some in Scottish football who still don’t quite ‘get’ him and would therefore have him lower. Gordon Strachan? You’d imagine he would be nowhere near the former Scotland manager’s list. After all he’d be trying to shoehorn mediocre English Championship players in.
I digress.
McGregor is a somewhat unique talent in Scottish football. He doesn’t possess the lung-busting, bull-dozing energy of a Stuart Armstrong, the buccaneering of John McGinn, the controlling influence of Scott Brown or the incision of Tom Rogic. It is easy to think that if McGregor emerged in the early noughties he wouldn’t have found a place at Celtic. However, the Barcelona-fixation of the last 10-plus years — the way Pep Guardiola’s football influenced not only top level coaches but coaches at all levels down to grassroots — has opened more doors for players like McGregor.
The 24-year-old doesn’t have an obvious ability which is easy to pin down. Instead, it’s his awareness and intelligence of locating the right space at the right time in a game which puts him ahead of opponents and colleagues. There are few better at taking the ball in tight areas, using his body shape to both protect possession and progress play to move forward. He rarely loses the ball, completing more than 90 per cent of his passes and 87 per cent of his passes into the final third.
These qualities are alluring to Brendan Rodgers. McGregor has been afforded more trust and responsibility, while continuing to offer versatility. He has responded with his best Celtic season in terms of numbers. Eleven goals and eight assists in all competitions.
Best moment: Rather than pick a specific game or goal, such has his arrowed finish against Rangers in the Scottish Cup, simply being recognised as a key first-team player in the starting XI is a huge progression for the player.
Stats: No centre midfielder has had more touches in the opposition’s box than McGregor’s 69.
