Why the doubting on Benji? He’s a new signing with a great pedigree and he’s contributing goals and assists while still settling into team at Celtic…
Benjamin Nygren in action. Partick Thistle v Celtic match. Premier Sports League Cup tie. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Benjamin Nygren was heralded as a great signing after his summer move from FC Nordsjaelland, and rightly so as he arrived with a good pedigree at both club and international level.
However, Benji seems to have caught the attention of the over critical element of our support in recent games, which was further highlighted in yesterday’s 4-0 win over Partick Thistle, a game in which he provided two assists nevertheless.
In total the Swedish international has scored three goals and provided the same number of assists in his first nine competitive appearances for the club, which is pretty impressive stats in anyone’s eyes for a midfielder.
READ THIS…Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Celtic v Maryhill Magyars
Benjamin Nygren at Firhill. Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Benji has shown that he has an eye for goal after his goal at Pittodrie and his brace against Livingston at Celtic Park, and yesterday he further highlighted his worth to the side with two superb assists, created superbly from the byline, something we’ve lacked in recent weeks.
There’s been a lot of debate as to where Benji’s best position in the side is, with it being assumed he was a natural right sided winger, but it’s now abundantly clear that Brendan sees the Swede as a more creative central player playing that ‘8’ role, and that’s a position he looks more comfortable in. He certainly didn’t look comfortable playing wide at Ibrox.
READ THIS…Brendan Rodgers Media Conference – ‘Celtic building rhythm and confidence’
Celtic celebrations – Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Benji is not long in the door, and it will naturally take him time to bed in just like most new arrivals, but the signs are nevertheless looking good and I’m certain that we’ve yet to see the best of the Sweden international. Doubting Benjamin Nygren’s ability is both wrong and unfair and as the new connections come together all over the pitch Celtic will certainly get stronger and better in the eye too.
Yesterday was certainly a better watch and hopefully we can see a further improvement on Wednesday night when we take on Red Star Belgrade in our Europa League opener.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
CELTIC IN THE EIGHTIES by DAVID POTTER – OUT NOW!
Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Out now on Celtic Star Books. Click on image above to order.
Help raise funds for Celtic Youth Academy by playing the Celtic Pools Weekly Lottery and you could win up to £25,000. The lottery is £1 per week. Click on image to join.
Nygren seems better than Engels. (Heavy touches yesterday !)
That’s a start.
But Livingston and Partick Thistle aren’t Hibs or Hearts, it’s better to wait and see and not be carried away (either way).
I had friends that used to get ripped into Nakamura for being lazy, and well before that, at Brian McClair for being too slow. Brian McClair!
You can’t win everybody over. But if a player is contributing, creating chances, and scoring goals, then they deserve to be in the squad.
The only valid quandary in the set-up, which Rodgers will unlikely tinker with (but has been floated by one of the team her in the CS recently) is inverting the midfield diamond and going 4-2-1-3 rather than 4-1-2-3. I agree with that idea completely, and it’s a game plan we should be able to switch to fluidly during a match where the situation dictates.
The question is be would you put Nygren in that advanced 10 role, or would leave Hatate in with his more scheming style of play? I’m tempted to say Nygren as he seems more adept at getting on the end of things.
Blah blah imagination….