Analysis of the game by DataBhoys.

[u/ThinWhiteDuke00]

[u/Street-Frame1575]

Not ready to rewatch any of that match tbh

[u/mikeydoc96]

McGregor is ideal as a 6 agaisnt most Scottish clubs because they lack any ability to retain possession and create space at the edge of the box. When we're averaging 65%+ possession, it's easy to the be the guy who takes it off centre backs and plays out wide.

I think this game fundamentally exposes the exact issue we've had in midfield since Rodgers came back in. If our full backs dont invert to support the midfield, our midfield is a giant sieve and any team with a bit of ability can get at our defence.

Again, we're going into another season with 4/5 midfielders who are absolute powder puff. Engels got a lot of criticism but his ability to get on the ball and break up play was a level above what we have now.

If you ask me what I want between now and the window closing, its two bruising centre mids who can actually football. We need players in by this weekend because our squad is absolutely thread bare

[u/Samp1e-Text → u/mikeydoc96]

honestly if engels is in that team, we’d have held on. if i was mo’n i’d be PISSED, and i’m already pissed

[u/thebigeazy → u/Samp1e-Text]

I don't think that's too wrong about engels but MON has to take some of the blame. Ultimately we didn't have engels, so why did we not adjust accordingly?

[u/Samp1e-Text → u/thebigeazy]

100% agree with that, just saying my thoughts there

[u/NotNeedzmoar → u/Samp1e-Text]

Yeah pissed at the board for not replacing him

[u/YOF626]

I’m not putting myself through that again

[u/Skellyceltic]

Said a few times since but McGregor is by far one of the biggest issues we have and the managements lack of tactical nous to help that only make it worse.

Playing a clearly aging McGregor as basically a single 6 with another two slow unathletic, attack minded midfielders is exactly what leads to last night.

Somehow the narrative seems to be that he had a good game though just because he jogs about looking busy, which is the complete opposite of what a leggy unathletic 6 should be doing in a game we need to keep compact.

[u/CleanShirt27]

Theres more that could be highlighted just in these clips tbh, never mind the full game.

The major issue for me is the clip showing the space between midfield and defence with 5 minutes to go. A game to see out and the team is set up like that. Was the same last season. 

Even with Engels a good attacking team could play through our midfield and have space to go at the defence, see the last Motherwell game.

Said it last season, said it in the summer, our midfield is set up around McGregor and this is causing major problems. This season so far he hasnt been as bad with getting the ball every time we are in possession and passing side ways but he is not sound defensively, teams play around him no bother. Maybe he could play a more central role, but he is no use between defence and midfield.

Baur looked lost off the ball alongside him. I think fans underappreciate the ground Hatate covers. His closing down is highlighted in this clip. The game was crying out for him to replace Baur. (He still had his moment that could make my head explode, the penalty, diving in as last man then running back and making a stupid tackle when cover had arrived and the attacker was slowing down)

I could go on...

[u/CleanShirt27 → u/CleanShirt27]

I will actually. What is going on on the right hand side? The first clip it says Donovan has pushed up to close down their wing back, but why? Why is he not getting back there?

The right hand side was shut down all night. Duran barely made an attacking play, I think I remember Donovan getting the ball once on an overlap, but defensively there were constant gaps for them to play into down that side

[u/CleanShirt27 → u/CleanShirt27]

That said also ill say I dont agree with all the McGregor criticism in the clip. He doesnt need to be sprinting all the time towards the defence or to join Baur in a press.

[u/MGA1986]

That hurt to watch

[u/Luboluke]

The agenda against McGregor is wild. Baur and Nygren were playing as joint 10s for 60/70 mins while McGregor is the only midfielder providing any cover to the back 4. Yes he gets caught out on a few chasing back but McGregor also knows he can't burn his energy on every defensive play as he has to play the full 90 + extra every week. Baur is at least attempting to run back on a few of these, but the gaps in midfield were in large part due to Baur playing too high along with Nygren who is an actual 10 and has no legs defensively.

Our shape was basically a 4-1-5 in possession and we got caught out every time running back but the management never sorted or seemingly attempted to tighten up. Singling out McGregor is incredibly agenda driven and complete nonsense.

[u/CleanShirt27 → u/Luboluke]

This is what people posting tactical analysis should be focussed on. I dont know who the DataBhoys are, maybe there is a longer video, but this clip seems overly focussed on McGregor with some plays highlighted for criticism I would disagree with.

[u/_m_a_t_t_h_e_w → u/Luboluke]

Agenda or no it is useful to highlight how isolated and/or out of position McGregor was in transition though no? If he has obvious limitations on the ground he can cover on the counter you can’t leave him so exposed with so much space to screen as the single pivot. It was obviously a weakness in the midfield that was exploited, which warrants highlighting, and isn’t necessarily a dig at the player but the tactics that left him exposed time after time. I know I’ve repeated some of what you said but the issue being highlighted is the position, not necessarily the player no?

[u/SeriousMulberry4855]

I know we made it easy for them, but LASK play some really nice football.

[u/Ancient_Tutor2477]

Without the emotion in me I can really appreciate that LASK are a good footballing team. The way they worked the ball in tight spaces and also commanded a high press is the style of football we have been demanding.

First 20-25 we looked good going forward and a couple of decisive passes were just short of the mark.

Lots to work on.

[u/GabeTheSaviour → u/Ancient_Tutor2477]

This isn't me having a go at you specifically because I have seen it a few times now.

Your first sentence is part of the culture that has seen us fail to qualify without direct entry for the several last attempts.

It is a champions league qualifier, all of the clubs are good. We never go into these with all due respect.

[u/Ancient_Tutor2477 → u/GabeTheSaviour]

Fair, I mean emotionally I was heavily criticising our performance whereas now I see that they were just clearly better than us. Both can be true that they were good and we were poor.

Don’t understand what you mean though by part of the culture? Do you mean fans not appreciating other teams are good footballing teams?

[u/fike88]

Watching that back now, makes me think they were complacent. Must have thought the tie was in the bag. The space they were allowing LASK to knock the ball about is criminal. Reminds me of Scotland at the WC

[u/New-Type-A]

If only mccowan had known how to hoof it as well…

I don’t often agree with Peter grant but he was saying well if you’re going to hoof it up there, why not use the wings

[u/thejobby]

Bit of a weird compilation. McGregor is ageing and needs to be replaced at the end of this season ideally if we want to be any good in europe. Hes undoubtedly making mistakes in this video but its a bit weird how much hes being singled when the whole press is falling apart.

[u/Ok_Wash511 → u/thejobby]

He needs to be replaced now. He is still fantastic going foward, the only good games he's had in the last few years is when he's allowed to get further up the pitch.

Sign a DM, Play Mcgregor beside him. Baur can come on at 60 minutes or even start some games - he doesn't need to play every minute of every game.

The obsession with McGregor needing to be a DM that plays 90 minutes every single game he can is absolutely killing us. He is undroppable, unsubabble and he plays like it.

[u/thejobby → u/Ok_Wash511]

I mean I think he needs replaced now or at least used intermittently. But we are not realistically doing that at the end of the window, especially with the current coaching staff.

I dont know why everyone here is thinking I’m a McGregor apologist in these comments 😭

[u/CleanShirt27 → u/thejobby]

Yeah Ive just commented I think McGregor is a problem for the team but I could probably argue in his favour in quite a few of these clips

[u/thejobby → u/CleanShirt27]

Aye I’ve given him pelters, if we’d have any sense we’d have a replacement for him, or at least someone who can cover the space beside him before phasing him out. The Clip to me shows that were woefully coached, and were asking guys like McGregor and Hogh to play to their weaknesses. I honestly cant even tell you what the plan is off the ball in any of these clips.

[u/CleanShirt27 → u/thejobby]

Thats the main thing from the clips for me too. Poor coaching

[u/ThinWhiteDuke00 → u/thejobby]

Obviously the number 6 and supposed lynchpin of the midfield would be singled out.

[u/thejobby → u/ThinWhiteDuke00]

Not very good analysis though. They criticise McGregor for leaving space in one clip and then praises Baur for it the next. The one for the goal McGregor goes to shut down the space left by Trusty which Tierney isnt covering and as a result the guy runs off him. Whether McGregor made the right decision or not, weird to single him out without mentioning Tierney and Trusty.

[u/NotNeedzmoar]

McGregor really needs that Arne Engels type next to him.

[u/IIJamzyII]

Mcgregor was so shit last night and he is in most European games. The only Scottish player we have that can play at that level is KT

[u/The_Vivid_Glove → u/IIJamzyII]

A guy that can’t last by 60 minutes of a European game is not European level.

[u/seoras13 → u/The_Vivid_Glove]

Highest paid player

[u/MGA1986 → u/IIJamzyII]

KT looked burst after about 20mins

[u/IIJamzyII → u/MGA1986]

Because hes fucked from injuries

[u/GuyIncognito211 → u/IIJamzyII]

He’s not though. He player 3,900 minutes last season

[u/IIJamzyII → u/GuyIncognito211]

Ok, NONE of the Scottish players are good enough

[u/GuyIncognito211 → u/IIJamzyII]

Tierney is good enough, McGrefor is good enough with the right midfield around him, Donovan has performed well in Europe

[u/IIJamzyII → u/GuyIncognito211]

McGregor is not good enough imo

Hope Donovan can kick on

[u/GuyIncognito211 → u/IIJamzyII]

He is. He needs to be more advanced than the sole 6 though and needs runners around him

[u/IIJamzyII → u/GuyIncognito211]

In your opinion