Muzzy_Larsson

Again it’s opinions mate, that’s one way to look at it but most players we have sold to the EPL in the last decade have done relatively well. No other club sells players at that level from Scotland anymore, bar McGinn, another who has been successful in the EPL (via the championship), now being talked about for £40-50m when he could have been gotten for £3m 18 months ago. That’s kinda my point, there’s diamonds in the rough and bargains to be had for relatively low financial risk. I’m under no illusions in regards how poor Scottish football is, I just think it’s short sighted to turn your nose up at it, particularly when shopping in so called stronger leagues in recent years such as Portugal and at times France has been a disaster for you guys.

There’s been a few sides linked with him over the past few years, Bournemouth, Zenit, RB Leipzig are the ones I can remember. I kinda agree with your point, majority of our players wouldn’t improve you much and majority probably wouldn’t cut the mustard in the EPL. The obvious exceptions to that are McGregor and Edouard. The former I’ve seen dominate and put in man of the match displays against Lazio, Bayern Munich, Zenit, RB Leipzig, Monchnegladbach and a few other decent European sides. Rodgers obviously knows him better than anyone so I’d trust him on this one. Furthermore I’d imagine if he does try and sign McGregor given he spent the guts of £60m on central midfielders in the summer there, it’s only natural to assume the ones he has aren’t performing as he wants, particularly Tielemans as they are very similar types of players. I get this is subjective and I’ll have an inherent bias but it’s only my opinion, I’m not trying to pass this off as matter of fact, but imo based on what I’ve seen of Tielemans this season, and what I’ve read on here he’s been bang average. Based on that and watching McGregor for years In my opinion is he’s the better player. I can see the argument against that also, weakness of our league, Tielemans is younger etc so may in time turn out to be far better. I’m trying to make my opinion as balanced as possible despite the obvious bias by comparing McGregor to players who have left us and done well In top leagues and particularly how he performs in Europe against better class of opposition. I don’t think a reply, not from you, along the lines of the Scottish league is shit is balanced or informed. We all know it’s shit that doesn’t mean there aren’t diamonds in the rough though. Whether Tielemans would stroll it in Scotland is neither here nor there, of course he would but that’s not really important it’s who would be the better player for Leicester. Tielemans to my knowledge, outside his home country has had a good six months last season at Leicester, flopped at Monaco and hasn’t lived up to expectations this season, he needs to start delivering, for a £40m player you’d want a whole lot more imo and I think Rodgers is thinking similarly also given this reported interest in McGregor.

It’s that sort of snooty nosed, snob like attitude that saw Palace miss out on VVD for the tune of £8m. Thankfully, your scouting system and those running the club aren’t so narrow minded given the £19m bid that was rejected for McGregor in the summer. I’d imagine it would be things like McGregor dominating Milenkovic-Savic on his own turf, against the side that are second in Serie A, a player who has been linked with Europe’s top teams for in the region of £100m that will make them believe he’s a good option as opposed to run of the mill SPFL games.

McGregor being linked again in the rags this morning, £25m. I’d hate to lose him as we’d need to sign about three players to replace him. He’s kicked on to another level again this season, he’s been absolutely immense. I can see the logic in Leicester’s interest tbh, a bit too much sideways passing in your midfield and McGregor would pick up the ball, carry it and make penetrating passes forward more. I never seen much of him last season when people were raving about him but based on the games I’ve seen this season, which are a fair few then he’s a better player than Tielemans.

Given you guys should have had a penalty for the exact same reason they got one I’d say that’s pretty unlucky. Vardy, doesn’t look anywhere near himself which is a big problem in terms of scoring goals.

Been unlucky here, just looked a bit toothless second-half.

You'll do well to get rid of one of those players and get a fee for them in the summer. You've been trying to shift guys like Slimani, Ghezzal, Diabate, etc for years now and no one has touched them because of their wages. Best you can hope for is for clubs to take these players on loan and pay the majority of their wages until their contracts expire.

No

His wages won't.

He's been more in the lying back on the physio's table role when he's not been performing the splinters in his arse on the bench role. Avoid.

Morelos

A broken clock is correct twice a day.

Would put you to sleep so far this game.

Glad to hear this. If he does half as wel for your club as he did mine then you’ll have won a watch!

Yeah that’s a very good shout mate. I’d imagine it’s something we may need to do at some point before the season is out as I don’t see Klimala being ready to come in and make an impact until next season.

The last paragraph of the article, it's hard to know for sure as it's just a quote with no context but is Rodgers while defending Maddison then inadvertently warning Maddison that if he wants to beceome a real top player he needs to cut out nights out, alcohol, etc? I'm not saying that definitely is the case, just that last paragraph and the fact Rodgers was really vocal at Celtic about players having to be 24/7 athletes, not drinking, etc makes me think a little bit that while he's obviously unhappy at Maddison being scapegoated in the media he's also not entirely happy with his choices off the park either.

This ain't gonna be a popular opinion on here but imo the EPL is one of the main reasons football has headed to this state, it's created such an artificial bubble. I'm also a hypocrite as I pay for Sky and BT and watch any EPL game that's on TV if it doesn't clash with Celtic.

Very good observation mate, pretty much spot on. I think it was a masterstroke from Lennon in changing systems like you say, we look far more threatening with two strikers on the pitch now and are scoring a glut of goals. We toiled much of December and the wins we did get were by 1 and 2 goal margins in the main. Something had to be changed up as teams were getting wise to how we played and Rangers in particular seemed to know how to counter that. The trade-off like you say has been felt most in terms of Forrest as essentially he's not a wing back but more an orthodox winger. The new system certainly inhibits his effectiveness but I'd say overall we look far more potent so it's a bit of a quandry. The really interesting thing is going to be when Frimpong is fit again as he's become too good to leave out and is ideally suited to a wing back role so where does Forrest fit in? What makes this all the more interesting is that Lennon has always had a soft spot for Forrest as it was him that bled him into the first team in his first spell as manager.

Here we go ten in a row!

Good signing for them at that price, looks a great player. You'd imagine he'd be a direct replacement for Willian. If Chelsea get Sancho too, Ake back and a decent striker in they could be in good shape for next season.

Agreed and there's always someone who comes into a rich vein of form in the back-end of the season and ends up on the plane, why can't it be Barnes.

Do you know that for certain? What I read when he signed was Leicester have a £5m option, that's very different to an obligation to buy.

These things normally work by there will be a certain date that Leicester have first refusal on him at that price so in effect if you exercise that and agree terms with the player he can't go anywhere else. Same happened with Alderweireld and Edouard with us last summer. The latter is just Leicester protecting their potential investment. For example if Bennett came in, played every game, was a star and went to the Euros or something like that (unlikely I know), then Wolves would want a helluva lot more money for him.

In terms of numbers and form I don't see how guys like Hudson-Odoi, Lingard (who is utter dog sh!t anyway), Sessegnon, Nelson, Redmond, etc would be ahead of him. I've not checked but I'd wager his numbers are as least as good as the best of them and better than most. Going to the Euros if it happens could be superb for him and his overall confidence and mentality imo. I think he is a terrific player but you can tell from his demeanour on the pitch at times he's still a little bit of a shrinking violet. Going to the Euros and that becoming his breakout, if that's the correct term could be the thing that brings him out of his shell and elevates him mentally to possess that ruthless, single minded streak that you need to be one of the best. I've never understood the flak this guy gets on here at times, you only need to look at him for ten minutes to realise he has everything in his locker to be a top player. Of course he's a bit inconsistent, but he's young and you need to put up with that as a player develops and not gnash your teeth anytime he has a quiet game or makes a poor choice in a match. If Barnes was bringing his A game that we've seen in flashes every single week this season then he'd be close to a £100m player and Europe's biggest clubs would be circling like vultures.

I would have a sneaky bet it may be you guys Rodgers has been a big fan of him for a few years and tried to get him on loan at Celtic twice, his soured relationship with Liverpool meant it was a non-starter though.