Rude Gullit Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 20 hours ago, JECK said: The trouble is going to be fitting all these guys into the team. Agreed though, you can't help but feel we're going to have a good period especially with the strength in defence as well. I reckon wales, ni and republic would be bending over backwards to select Burke if they could. Agree. We're being way to shy about this just because he failed to set the heather alight when he got a few caps aged 18/19. I think it was crazy to completely bomb him out the way Strachan did, although I think he might have drifted out of the squad naturally anyway given the 18 months or so that followed (assuming it wasn't his treatment by Strachan that led to his decline in club form). He absolutely isn't perfect, but given the alternatives - Chris Martin, Rhodes, Griffiths, Fletcher - who is?!? We've got a 21 years old powerhouse forward, clocked as 3rd fastest player in the world and now playing and playing well. How's about we use him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JECK Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 22 minutes ago, Rude Gullit said: Agree. We're being way to shy about this just because he failed to set the heather alight when he got a few caps aged 18/19. I think it was crazy to completely bomb him out the way Strachan did, although I think he might have drifted out of the squad naturally anyway given the 18 months or so that followed (assuming it wasn't his treatment by Strachan that led to his decline in club form). He absolutely isn't perfect, but given the alternatives - Chris Martin, Rhodes, Griffiths, Fletcher - who is?!? We've got a 21 years old powerhouse forward, clocked as 3rd fastest player in the world and now playing and playing well. How's about we use him? Aye? When did that come out? Who was the top 2? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParisInAKilt Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 In the squad at the very least. Has Fletcher being playing club football much recently? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csinclair Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 45 minutes ago, ParisInAKilt said: In the squad at the very least. Has Fletcher being playing club football much recently? He's first choice striker at Sheffield Wednesday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rude Gullit Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 1 hour ago, JECK said: Aye? When did that come out? Who was the top 2? Okay, might have conflated my facts here - but it's still pretty impressive. Seems that: Has been second fastest in the EPL: https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/west-bromwich-albion/2017/09/11/west-broms-oliver-burke-clocks-second-fastest-premier-league-speed-of-the-weekend/ He was 16th fastest in the world in 2018: https://the18.com/soccer-news/fastest-soccer-players-in-the-world-today-2018-edition Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rude Gullit Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 13 minutes ago, csinclair said: He's first choice striker at Sheffield Wednesday 6 goals in 34 appearances, which doesn't sound great - but as we saw recently he works well with speedy wingers and attacking midfielders. Definitely should be in the next squad and would have no problem with him keeping the starting jersey. Just great that we have an option like Burke back in the frame now. Perhaps coming on as a sub might work best for him anyway - tired opposition defenders vs a machine like him? Could be match-changing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
romanticscot Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 Imagine how dangerous we would be on the counter with Fraser, Forrest and Burke all in form, we would be a threat against most any team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyD Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 28 minutes ago, Rude Gullit said: 6 goals in 34 appearances, which doesn't sound great - but as we saw recently he works well with speedy wingers and attacking midfielders. Definitely should be in the next squad and would have no problem with him keeping the starting jersey. Just great that we have an option like Burke back in the frame now. Perhaps coming on as a sub might work best for him anyway - tired opposition defenders vs a machine like him? Could be match-changing. The Wednesday fans seem to be losing patience with Fletcher. They admire and salute his hard work and graft, but bemoan his lack of goal threat. He is isolated tho, the Wednesday side has very little pace about it and Steve Bruce has been playing 2 defensive mids against bottom of the table sides in his opening games (who knows why), so Fletch is a bit on a hiding to nothing with that setup. For me Fletch has always been decent if he has runners beyond, so Fraser, Forrest and Christie would fit that. As Wednesday he has nothing like any of those. He'd also work well with a partner, but again, Rhodes was sent out on loan due to Financial Fair Play and Bruce seems to want to play 1 up top anyway. It's all a bit bizarre at Wednesday these days. For a couple of years (spanning 3 managers) they seem to have been doing their best to not win football matches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
er yir macaroon Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 2 hours ago, JECK said: Aye? When did that come out? Who was the top 2? Forrest and Fraser. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkyBlueScot Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 3 hours ago, andyD said: The Wednesday fans seem to be losing patience with Fletcher. They admire and salute his hard work and graft, but bemoan his lack of goal threat. He is isolated tho, the Wednesday side has very little pace about it and Steve Bruce has been playing 2 defensive mids against bottom of the table sides in his opening games (who knows why), so Fletch is a bit on a hiding to nothing with that setup. For me Fletch has always been decent if he has runners beyond, so Fraser, Forrest and Christie would fit that. As Wednesday he has nothing like any of those. He'd also work well with a partner, but again, Rhodes was sent out on loan due to Financial Fair Play and Bruce seems to want to play 1 up top anyway. It's all a bit bizarre at Wednesday these days. For a couple of years (spanning 3 managers) they seem to have been doing their best to not win football matches. Fletcher's never been a goal machine but as you say maybe we don't have to have that. When you have Burke/Christie/Forrest/Fraser/Armstrong bombing on goals will come. I'd still go for Naismith first though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caledonian Craig Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 15 hours ago, SkyBlueScot said: Fletcher's never been a goal machine but as you say maybe we don't have to have that. When you have Burke/Christie/Forrest/Fraser/Armstrong bombing on goals will come. I'd still go for Naismith first though. We have never really been blessed with prolific goalscorers especially not at international level. As long as we keep it tight at the back and cut down on goals we concede we have enough goal threat to get wins by the odd goal against decent opposition. Thankfully, it would seem in recent months some decent defensive options are becoming available to us such as McKenna and Bates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhumper Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 On 2/12/2019 at 1:32 PM, Rude Gullit said: Equally though if WBA played St Mirren they'd probably win 6-0 I'd fancy us against WBA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mccaughey85 Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 40 minutes ago, Squirrelhumper said: I'd fancy us against WBA. What st mirren? Sorry mate I think wba would beat st mirren quite comfortably, maybe 2 or 3 nil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caledonian Craig Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 Hmm well Burnley are far better than WBA and they needed pens to beat Aberdeen in Europe. I recall many boom mongers here forecasting an easy Burnley win because Burnley played in the promised land of the EPL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyD Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 15 hours ago, SkyBlueScot said: Fletcher's never been a goal machine but as you say maybe we don't have to have that. When you have Burke/Christie/Forrest/Fraser/Armstrong bombing on goals will come. I'd still go for Naismith first though. Yep, should manage. But there will be games, like Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend where Fletch had, i think, 3 really good chances and missed all of them.. and the game finished 0-0. To me that's the worry. In a 46 games league, you can take the odd game you should have won, but in international football you can't afford to be throwing away chances, as many of our recent qualifying campaigns have shown. So.. yeah, I like Fletch. But I'd be very happy to play give McBurnie a shot at being the main man. Or if Burke or Rhodes continue their form, then go for them. Feels like we need to take someone who can score regularly, but also keep an eye on the future. I'm not against Naismith, but he's 32 and Fletch will be 32 in a few weeks. Giving someone in form the spot against the Kazakhs and San Marino seems like a good plan, as we'll manage goals from elsewhere in the team regardless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ceudmilefailte Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 45 minutes ago, Squirrelhumper said: I'd fancy us against WBA. Don't know if WBA are preparing for Brexit but they seem to be adopting an "English players only Strategy" Still doubt if Kilmarnock's united nations 11 would get near them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tartan_McCole Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 Really looking forward to seeing how Burke copes with tonights game. Has been looking very sharp against SPL teams, but herein lines the real test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
er yir macaroon Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 1 hour ago, Tartan_McCole said: Really looking forward to seeing how Burke copes with tonights game. Has been looking very sharp against SPL teams, but herein lines the real test. Yes, will be very interesting. Edouard might start though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csinclair Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 6 hours ago, er yir macaroon said: Yes, will be very interesting. Edouard might start though. Good to see Rodgers has gone with Burke tonight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toepoke Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 9 hours ago, Tartan_McCole said: Really looking forward to seeing how Burke copes with tonights game. Has been looking very sharp against SPL teams, but herein lines the real test. Looks like he'll need a resit... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mccaughey85 Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 11 minutes ago, Toepoke said: Looks like he'll need a resit... Tbf he's barely seen the ball tonight. Celtic have been pretty poor, plenty of possession but no one is willing to make things happen and try and create a chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyD Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 Didn't see it, but had the radio on. Sounded like Burke worked hard, made a lot of runs, but no one was really finding anyone. Pretty much on a hiding to nothing as a forward if the balls' not getting near you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mccaughey85 Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 36 minutes ago, andyD said: Didn't see it, but had the radio on. Sounded like Burke worked hard, made a lot of runs, but no one was really finding anyone. Pretty much on a hiding to nothing as a forward if the balls' not getting near you. That's pretty much it in a nutshell, Celtic didn't really try to utilize Burke's main strength, they played barely any through balls where he could outpace a defender. Not sure Burke is really a striker tbf. Not at that level anyways Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csinclair Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 I watched the first half and a lot of Celtic's passes seemed to be going astray. I think I saw one time where Sinclair tried to play Burke through but he'd overhit it so the keeper got their first. I think he has the raw attributes to make a decent striker in a counter attacking team where he can just try beat defenders for pace then either have a shot or lay it off to a winger/midfielder running with him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 Not convinced by Burke. He has the physical attributes but not sure he is the best footballer in the world. Also is he a centre forward. Still time... squad player for us. Naismith would be my choice for number 9. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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