If not on the wing, where does Maeda find space?

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Brendan Rodgers post-match press conference in Yokohama was interesting on two fronts.  Almost a year after sustaining a shoulder injury, the manager revealed Kyogo did not start the game as the same issue left him short of the fitness levels even his team-mates were at.  If the medics have not resolved the issue by now, it is likely Kyogo will have a persistent weakness in the joint.

A more positive note was struck when discussing Daizen Maeda, Rogers said, “I thought Daizen was outstanding. I like him more through the middle. I think he does a good job on the side, but there is a reason he plays for Japan through the middle.”

This could be taken for a platitude to a player who scored a hat-trick, but Brendan added detail, “I like players at the top end who can really press the game and Daizen can definitely do that.

“It’s just about adding to players’ development. Daizen is still a young player who can improve. Of course, his strength is running in behind, but sometimes there won’t always be that space. So, can we develop his game and get him into areas he can work the defenders?”

That last point is critical.  In 90% of Celtic’s domestic games there is no space for Daizen to exploit, at first pass, his greatest asset is unsuited to our game.  “Can we develop his game and get him into areas he can work the defenders?”

I have no idea what that will look like.  The best example of Daizen at Celtic was at Ibrox in January, when he ran through the opposition defence to open the scoring, but that game was ultimately rescued by the innate ability of Kyogo to find space inside the box.  When fit, Kyogo will remain out top striker this season.

It has been four years since Brendan watched a bank of five defenders on the edge of their box with another four a few yards in front, so close, they could almost hold hands, his memory of what’s in store may be more generous to our standard opponents than they deserve.  Working them is entirely desirable, I just don’t see where Daizen will do this, if not on the wing.

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  1. “Oh the river Clyde was as busy as sin, as they awe queued up tae throw themselves in,

     

    they were looking for Lawrence to hing wi a rope, and it was effin Scot Symon insteed o the Pope”

     

     

    por cierto

  2. back to basics – many maulings in Europe. Rangers reaching a euro final. Their form last season was affected by disruption in management and major injuries. With CCV out of the team – we were woeful for a team of Celtics financial dominance. No cover at center back , and projects covering at left back.

     

     

    not good enough if we have aspirations in Europe and I suspect, the league next season.

     

     

    just my opinion – Rodger himself said we need more power and strength in the team.

  3. THE RETURNOF WEERON @ 3:18 PM,

     

     

    Yes, quite agree, the high press Ange played against the top teams they just managed to soak it up until we were tired out then hit us.

     

     

    My thought were not the team but Meada playing the way he did for Japan at P67 quotes.

     

     

    “I thought Daizen was outstanding. I like him more through the middle. I think he does a good job on the side, but there is a reason he plays for Japan through the middle.”

     

     

    “…I like players at the top end who can really press the game and Daizen can definitely do that.

     

     

    Remember Japan beat Spain and Germany in the world cup and Daizen played his part in those famous victories.

     

     

    Of he only last an jour we can bring Kyogo or Oh on to give us something different in the last third of the game.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  4. BOURNESOUPRECIPE @ 5:37 PM,

     

     

    Guessing you are including the ones that are like new signings:))

     

     

    Hail Hail

  5. Moderator1888 on

    CHAIRBHOY

     

     

    I was more impressed when Maeda came deep took the pressure from the defender (and pulled him out of position) and flicked it off to a midfielder

     

     

    He started many attacks like that

     

     

    And he seems suited to that as well!

  6. Moderator1888 on

    Also Hatate

     

     

    1 year in the SPhell and he has toughened up immensely

     

     

    The amount of times he put ina shoulder and won the battle was telling

     

     

    He has upgraded in strength in the last year

     

     

    And used it to his advantage

  7. Moderator1888 on

    Hatate had players bouncing off him

     

     

    And he never looked like it shook him at all

  8. The returnof weeron on

    CHAIRBHOY on 21ST JULY 2023 6:32 PM

     

     

    I totally agree….though I doubt that Oh would be happy at that scenario…..

     

     

    Cheers,

     

    Ronnie

  9. MODERATOR1888 @ 6:57 PM,

     

     

    Yes, that is another aspect of Maeda’s game that is invaluable, he’s far from just being a speed merchant.

     

     

    Reo definitely looked stronger and fitter, he will be crucial this season, maybe picked up a few tips from Mooy.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  10. Moderator1888 on

    Chairbhoy

     

     

    As much as I spat the dummy for Rodgers coming back

     

     

    He will get the best out of our players (and we are seeing it already with Maeda)

     

     

    And play with a subtetly and nuance that ange would not allow

     

     

    I am glad he is back and taking charge

  11. THE RETURNOF WEERON @ 7:11 PM,

     

     

    Well that’s the key question for Oh, how does BR give him the game time he definitely expects.

     

     

    With 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-4-1, we have options but they are not clear to me at the moment.

     

     

    Even though he’s rarely going to go two up front, BR often played Dembele and Edouard together, mainly OE as a number ten but often they interchanged.

     

     

    That’s the thing with Rodgers, if he thinks your good enough he’ll find a role for you.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  12. MODERATOR1888 @ 7:16 PM,

     

     

    Yes agree…

     

     

    Angeball was APs great strength but could be his worst weakness.

     

     

    Yet BR definitely deserves his reputation for bringing on players, when he went to Leicester he resurrected Vardy’s career.

     

     

    James Maddison another who came on at Leicester.

     

     

    Lot’s of potential in that Celtic squad and he’ll know it – he does divide opinion but the he’s the right man at the right time for us.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  13. Moderator1888 on

    BOURNESOUPRECIPE

     

     

    our revenge will be the laughter of our children

     

     

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

     

     

    And I grew up in deepest, darkest ayrshire

     

     

    And had the worst it could throw at me

     

     

    They are now in the decline

     

     

    The laughter will grow louder

     

     

    And Dundee Utd and Aberdeen will benefit financially as they did before……….

     

     

    Kniw what I mean??

  14. bournesouprecipe on

    Chairbhoy

     

     

    Down with these £2M guys, we deserve £10M players, places to go in Parkheid with fine cuisine, bouncy castles, face painters, the lot 👍

  15. Rangers reaching a euro final.

     

     

     

    ————–

     

     

    if reaching a final and losing is at the cost of domestic honours then i dont want it.

     

     

    on reflection, losing in seville to return home and be cheated of the title at kilmarnock hurts me as much now as then,

     

     

    it means nothing,

     

     

    taking part is as good a we can hope for.

     

     

    get real,

     

     

    who remembers who the 2004 runners up were or indeed who actually won it.

     

     

    would anyone be happy to reach a final at the cost of everything at home ? serious question.

  16. ice cream vans on the roof, indoor pitches and as expanded stadium with water slides for the weans ………

     

     

    and a min estada for the yoofs and the wummin.

  17. bournesouprecipe on

    Now that Ange is well away we don’t need to pretend we like Bluey or say fair dinkums repeatedly

  18. leftclicktic on

    Bada Bing

     

    Thank you for the Kevin Sinfield youtube link you posted last night.

     

    AwellspenthourCSC

  19. GREENPINATA on 21ST JULY 2023 4:20 PM

     

    Dear oh dear nothing.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    It was Celtic who made the announcement to great fanfare about the external redevelopment, museum and hotel complex.

     

     

     

     

    They have even had their plans approved by GCC.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    It wasn’t a CQNer who declared this. It was Celtic.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    So why is it such a negative to reiterate what the club themselves have stated.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    In the meantime the huns via our transportation facilitators have redeveloped an external building for match and non match events.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Dear oh dear indeed.

     

     

     

     

    ———————

     

     

    Can you get me a link where Celtic PLC “fanfared” when the projects would be delivered ? where the capital was coming from ? what the build programme would be ?

     

     

    Planning permission , is just that, permission for the plan,

     

     

    they committed nothing else.

  20. bournesouprecipe on

    What’s that Skip……tch tch tch

     

     

    someone’s fallen down the well? You say

     

     

    tch tch tch

  21. bournesouprecipe on

    Osaze Urhoghide Liam Shaw Liam Scales and ahem James McCarthy were all signed early in Ange’s first window

  22. MODERATOR1888

     

     

    if you dont want contributors arguing you would be consistent and delete that post which ask me to go do something.

     

     

    it was highly offensive, and the guy wont know why, but it is deeply personal for me. those who know me will also be offended

     

     

    delete it, issue a warning,

     

     

    you even added a comment later saying dont do that but left it on the blog.

  23. BOURNESOUPRECIPE @ 7:35 PM,

     

     

    Really!?

     

     

    I’m ashuming the Tenements are still there…

     

     

    The fact is, last season our best first team were brimming with €8-€12 mn+ players, sure we never paid that for them but it was their value none the less.

     

     

    If we can find a way of picking up a €25mn player for €6.5mn I’m all for it. The fact is that it’s not always possible.

     

     

    We have 60 mn+ in the bank, and we have 30 mn+ coming in for Ange and Jota, we are guaranteed € 60 mn income from the UCL this season.

     

     

    2 mn just doesn’t cut it anymore

     

     

    Ben Summers

     

     

    Ben McPherson

     

     

    Daniel Kelly

     

     

    Rocco Vata

     

     

    Already looking like 2 mn+ players

     

     

    Not at all unsympathetic to the real day to day plight of Glasgow folk, it’s shameful what this country has become.

     

     

    The Thatcherite revolution was always more about the people in the Chalfonts that the good folk of Strathclyde.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  24. Moderator1888 on

    Stivs

     

     

    I can’t win

     

     

    I delete a post or ban a bam

     

     

    (copyrighting the ban a bam lol)

     

     

    The whole blog goes mental

     

     

    I don’t delete a post……..

     

     

    I will do as I see fit

     

     

    The warning was there clear as day

     

     

    And was put there for the whole blog to see

     

     

    I aint deleted many posts for a while

     

     

    And I don’t want to start that again

     

     

    Appreciate you may not like that

     

     

    The peace on the blog has been hard won

     

     

    .

  25. Moderator1888 on

    If the post was highly offensive

     

     

    And he wouldn’t know why

     

     

    (and neither would I)

     

     

    Then the decent thing to do

     

     

    Would be to issue an apology and move on?

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