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.

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

145 Comments
  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4

  1. Bhoyjoebelfast on

    ●Not Celtic related.●

     

    A pal asked me to name 5 football teams,three in England 2 in Scotland that have places of residence in their name.He said 5,so if any more comes up…..I’ll blame him.

  2. Aipple & Bognorbhoy thanks for the response earlier old chaps.

     

     

    One has to wonder why one would keep the company of Govanhill lackies, rogues and all round bounders.

     

     

    I will lower my class and standing in our community to spend an afternoon supping some Earl Grey and consume some Eton mess and I will report back my findings of these commoner scoundrels.

     

     

    I may partake in some alcohol and frivolity all in the name of science to see how this class act accordingly.

     

     

    Toodle pip

     

     

    D. :)

  3. Looks like it’s Wales going through 4-1 now

     

    Playing Poland, 5-1 agin Estonia, Tuesday, is no stroll in the park though.

     

    Israel out, Iceland marchons.

  4. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    BHOYJOEBELFAST @ 9:11 PM

     

     

     

    A pal asked me to name 5 football teams,three in England 2 in Scotland that have places of residence in their name.

     

    ——–

     

     

    Stenhousemuir?

  5. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Single storey extensions?

     

     

    Bolt-on Wanderers?

     

     

    Windy night. I’ll get my coat

  6. !!Bada Bing!! on

    Postponed games are meant to be played on the first available midweek, obviously the huns have told them otherwise

  7. Bhoyjoebelfast on

    Yes the five my pal gave me

     

    Crystal Palace, Aston villa, Newcastle utd, Falkirk and Stenhousemuir….and why not Barnsley.I’ll inform him his question now requires SIX answers.

  8. Cosy Corner Bhoy on

    Wee Bobby Collins : You might question Tontine Tim’s recollection of his performance and jubilation that he had had the game of his life and against us not for us but I can assure you I was at the game and he was like a dug wi’ two tails and happy as a pig in shit!

     

    Btw this site does ma auld Heid in with all these ads and multiple intrusions

     

    No wonder I mostly read but your opinion re TT needed challenged

  9. VOGUEPUNTER on 21ST MARCH 2024 7:57 PM

     

    MELVIN UDALL on 21ST MARCH 2024 7:53 PM

     

     

    Was thinking the same,someone in Edinburgh council going to get their arse kicked🥹

     

    —————

     

    Let’s hope so. Although, half of them will probably be going to the game. 😳🤷🏼‍♂️😂

  10. Bhoyjoebelfast on

    His last 3 games for Celtic,before he left the club were in consecutive days,played in Scotland ,England and Ireland.

     

    Clue ●80s departure●

  11. Evening all.

     

     

    A wee tune to finish of an eventful day.

     

     

    A band described as ‘Heavy Metal’ nothing could be further from the truth.

     

     

    Jimmy Page & Robert Plant – The Rain Song

     

    https://youtu.be/FWDuMk_9HWg?si=Af2BJBZurXE3KGaf

     

     

    Nite y’all

     

     

    My eye’s nipping :)

     

     

    Stay classy

     

     

    Tell your friends, they’ll like it.

     

     

    It’s good to be a Tim.

     

     

    HH

     

     

    Brian.

  12. Turkiyebhoy

     

     

    Can you post a links to your 9.10 post please

     

    I know JF can be a prolific blogger but i dont think he has any sub blog,always post as himself,also the post from cqn your referencing

     

    Thanks.

     

    HH

  13. BadaBing 7.02

     

     

    I have difficulty with that link for some reasons.

     

    Is it to do with the sail to season ticket holders here for the upcoming games in the U.S?

     

     

    HH

  14. COSY CORNER BHOY on 21ST MARCH 2024 10:03 PM

     

     

    Wee Bobby Collins : You might question Tontine Tim’s recollection of his performance and jubilation that he had had the game of his life and against us not for us but I can assure you I was at the game and he was like a dug wi’ two tails and happy as a pig in shit!

     

     

    Btw this site does ma auld Heid in with all these ads and multiple intrusions no wonder I mostly read but your opinion re TT needed challenged

     

     

    *Thanks, CCB, I know what I saw and IMHO it was just a job for him and never displayed any desire that others did even those NOT born intae a Celtic minded family such as Jonathon Gould for example who still talks fondly of his time with us.

     

     

    And NOT just those 2 games I mentioned but there was also a game against the deid team where we were on top when mcsleekit was pushed to the edge of the box at the hun end when he ran out and pulled him down when there was no sign of apparent danger, in his 7 seasons with us he only played 101 games.

  15. Good morning all from a 6 degree, very windy and wet Garngad.

     

     

    Big Jimmy – Hope you are well sir.

     

     

    BB how are you after your cataract procedure, hope you are well.

     

     

    Thank goodness its Friday.

     

     

    On a personal note that’s me lost 1 stone 5 pounds in 3 weeks, that’s just sticking to a good diet,, also getting pre op assessment for 1 of my knees on the 8 April.

     

     

    Does anyone know how long after the pre op assessment that I may get the actual operation?

     

     

    Right shower awaits.

     

     

    Later have a good day bhoys and ghirls

     

     

    D. :)

  16. 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.

     

     

    We needed to win play Iwata and you have less of a chance of winning Reo can provide a title winning pass and that risk is worth taking.

  17. Also Paul,

     

     

    The reason we are having this chat is also due to our clubs risked reverse attitude and why we find ourselves in a title fight.

     

     

    Having to go to our nearest rivals and win with Reo you have a better chance as we all know.

  18. !!Bada Bing!! on

    Techy problem- can anyone recommend a download for a laptop, to play plug in speakers? I have Realtek built into a Lenovo, and sometimes it plays, sometimes it doesn’t, when linked to a projector, to play a presentation, thanks in advance

  19. garygillespieshamstring on

    David66

     

     

    My last op, the check was about a week to 10 days before the op.

     

     

    I think they need to do it fairly promptly so that nothing changes much between the check and procedure.

  20. Som mes que un club on

    Worth noting Brendan wasn’t exactly desperate to play Reo at the start of the season.

     

     

    4 starts were not down to injury alone.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4