Hatate, expectations and craft

145

The weight of expectation around Reo Hatate is substantial.  Our midfield fulcrum (or former fulcrum) has started only four league games this season and made another four appearances from the bench.

He returned to action yesterday, when he came through 45 minutes against St Mirren, the same side he made his last appearance for Celtic against, on 2 January.  Normal footballers need a lot of gametime before contemplating an appearance at Ibrox two weeks on Sunday.  Reo is not normal, however.

His game is not based on industry, he is all about vision and touch.  His mind operates at a speed none of his domestic contemporaries can match, comparisons to Lubomir Moravcik are valid.

Alan Thompson is one of my favourite Celtic all time midfielders.  When he played, I wrote on these pages that he was the most influential Celtic midfielder since the Lisbon Lions.

He played in a midfield with Lubo, so you can imagine the feedback I got, but love Lubo as we did, Alan was more influential.  He was hard as nails, a prodigious worker, as well as a scorer and creator of several of the most important Celtic goals of the 21st century.

For around three weeks after returning from injury, Alan was a passenger.  Fans got on his back, he once memorably cupped his ear after scoring.  When short of full fitness, his systems just didn’t work.

Question is, do Reo’s different attributes allow him control the Ibrox turf the way he has previously done so, even short of match fitness?  I’m not convinced.  Proceed with caution.

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  1. bigrailroadblues on

    A meeting of the Shipbank Shipwrecks at the Old Ship Bank, Friday 29th March 12pm onwards

  2. Agree with you P67 on Reo. Don’t rush him back. We’re doing ok without him and will need him for the run-in.

     

     

    Got enough to beat Livingston and Sevco without risking him.

  3. GlassTwoThirdsFull on

    The game at Ibrox is actually 7th April. But I suppose there’s no such thing as too much oldfirm, at least not for the half that benefits from it.

  4. BIGRAILROADBLUES on 21ST MARCH 2024 11:14 AM

     

    A meeting of the Shipbank Shipwrecks at the Old Ship Bank, Friday 29th March 12pm onwards.

     

    ———–

     

    This ole ex Eton bhoy will be gracing you ruffians with my presence.

     

     

    I expect manners in my presence.

     

     

    D :)

  5. DAVID66

     

     

    I will be hosting an Etonian manners class for attendees prior to you joining.

     

     

    Worry not.

  6. lets all do the huddle on

    if we have enough to beat livingston and sevco without Reo then i would suggest we dont need him for the run in!

  7. BadaBing

     

    21ST MARCH 2024 12:14 PM

     

    Went to see The Fast Show Live last night

     

     

    …..which was nice….

     

     

     

    What was the verdict Bada?

     

     

    Little bit woe,little bit way OR brilllliant

     

     

    HH

  8. Tom McLaughlin on

    Might as well play Reo as soon as he’s available because he’ll be crocked again after a handful of games.

  9. LETS ALL DO THE HUDDLE on 21ST MARCH 2024 1:27 PM

     

    if we have enough to beat livingston and sevco without Reo then i would suggest we dont need him for the run in!

     

    —————

     

    We will incur injuries and no doubt suspensions with the amount of nothing bookings our players receive between now and the end of the season.

     

     

    He will be needed for the run-in.

     

     

    Kyogo thrives with Reo in the team as well.

  10. DAVID66 on 21ST MARCH 2024 1:15 PM

     

    BIGRAILROADBLUES on 21ST MARCH 2024 11:14 AM

     

    A meeting of the Shipbank Shipwrecks at the Old Ship Bank, Friday 29th March 12pm onwards.

     

    ———

     

     

    This ole ex Eton bhoy will be gracing you ruffians with my presence.

     

    I expect manners in my presence.

     

    D :)

     

    ============

     

     

    Best bring your rifle , there will be manners , but they’ll be bad ones …

     

    😁😁

  11. !!Bada Bing!! on

    AT- Was brilliant, very interesting as they sat and told their stories,of how they met,and where the characters came from, with live sketches thrown in, a very poignant tribute to Caroline Aherne as well

  12. BadaBing

     

     

    Glad you enjoyed 👍,i was wondering how they would go along without Caroline Aherne,a big loss to them,sign of great comedy is how timeless it is,still as funny today.

     

     

    HH

  13. Bhoyjoebelfast on

    Two at 2. CELTIC RELATED

     

    1) Four players same surname appeared in Scottish Cup Finals 56,63,67 and 7?

     

    2)Who made his Euro debut in goals for Celtic v Honved (1988) having already played v Honved for another Scots team?

  14. boondock saint on

    I was sitting last night thinking how cool it is that the Bhoys are coming to America, and to some random places and not the norm. I cannot wait to go to South Bend and see the real green and white in the Notre Dame stadium. I sat there last night watching random celtic videos on youtube, and found myself tearing up listening to the singing from the fans, and realizing how much I have missed that. My daughter came walking in to our TV room and asked me if I was alright and I told her I was ecstatic. I heard her talking to my wife upstairs saying I think dad is going through a midlife crisis:))))))), and my wife said no that is just him and Celtic again!!!

     

    Sean

  15. Bhoyjoebelfast on

    KELVINBHOY @ 2.46

     

    Yes.Good answer. Alan Rough previously played against Honved for Partick Th. 1971 UEFA tie.

  16. Boondock Saint – Yes, never been to Notre Dame so it will be a great experience to see the real green and white there. We will organise a CQN party for sure.

  17. Bhoyjoebelfast on

    HRVATSKI @ 2.52

     

    Billy,Bobby,Jim and Joe Craig. Good reply.

     

    Those two questions didn’t lasf long.

  18. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    “Question is, do Reo’s different attributes allow him control the Ibrox turf the way he has previously done so, even short of match fitness? I’m not convinced.”

     

     

    I am convinced …. They don’t.

     

     

    From previous, Reo takes a quite a few games to come up to speed.

     

     

    45 minutes against St Mirren at home.

     

     

    60 minutes in cup semifinal.

     

     

    Then hope he inspires in last six games.

  19. Bhoyjoebelfast on

    Two brothers played fof the Hoops in the ’90s.but did not play together in the same side..

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