There’s a good case for Paulo Bernardo to start against Hibs tomorrow afternoon at Celtic Park. Maybe a rest would benefit Reo Hatate who is clearly struggling to find his top form?
Paulo Bernardo at Firhill. Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
There’s been plenty of talk amongst Celtic supporters over our current midfield trio, and it’s efficiency in terms of balance, with those seen as the favoured starters Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and Benjamin Nygren reckoned to be too similar in style.
I can see the logic behind that thinking, and it has to be said that there is an argument to be had for a shake up of sorts by introducing a player who will bring something of a perfect balance to the centre of the park, and that man would be Paulo Bernardo.
Paulo Bernardo of Celtic vies with Shane Blaney of Livingston during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Livingston at Celtic Park on August 23, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Bernardo has been very unfortunate to have been consistently overlooked by Brendan thus far this campaign, and we’ve seen enough of him to know that his style of play would certainly complement our midfield.
For Paulo to be slotted into that midfield however, would mean someone would have to give way, and for me that man should be Reo Hatate, for a couple of games at least.
Reo Hatate of Celtic Crvena zvezda v Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Football, Rajko Mitic Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia – 24 Sep 2025Belgrade Rajko Mitic Stadium Serbia Photo Nikola Krstic Shutterstock
Reo Hatate is a naturally gifted player, one who is our most creative outlet, that’s not for debate, but recently he’s not been quite at his best, judging him by his own high standards and maybe he needs a reminder he has a bit of competition for his place?
There’s no doubt we missed Reo’s creativity at the end of last season, and we could and most likely would have won a treble had he been available for the Scottish Cup final showdown with Aberdeen, but we now have Benjamin Nygren who gives us that added creativity in the middle of the park to offset Reo’s absence.
It most likely won’t happen, but Paulo should be handed a chance over the next run of fixtures, just to freshen up the midfield if anything else.
With Celtic now moving to the busy three games a week schedule, it should mean that Brendan Rodgers will revert to the squad rotation policy that worked well last season. Strangely enough while the team got through that really well, we seemed to dip after the game in Munich and you;dn;t really find top form again last season.
Arne Engels – theRangers v Celtic,31 August 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Players in contention for a start in midfield tomorrow are the three usual first picks this season – McGregor, Hatate, and Nygren and you would expect at least one change tomorrow so that could be Bernardo, Arne Engels of Luke McCowan.
Luke McCowan of Celtic celebrates scoring to give Celtic a 1-0 lead. Celtic v St Mirren, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, Glasgow, 3 August 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace, IMAGO / Shutterstock (The Celtic Star)
Some supporters wouldn’t mind see Bernardo, Engels and McCowan all get a start but that’s not likely to happen.
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Agreed about changes to the midfield areas.
What I don’t like about Rodgers and his selection policy, is that it remains so one dimensional, in players getting game time, especially as the structure and style of play remains the same, so all round, we are so very one dimensional imo?
With an enlarged squad in operation this season, we have possibly 3 options available for every position at present. Which has already shown its value with Donovan this season.
Even at that, some positions don’t seem to be open to changes whatsoever, within a starting 11, which seems in place within Rodgers selection policy, which includes the subs getting used throughout matches.
Personally don’t believe that any player, should be guaranteed a starting position, within our starting team, unfortunately this doesn’t seem to be the case whatsoever.
Of course that raises the question as to whether the right combinations and partnerships are actually working, throughout the team?
With the performance levels so questionable, for some length of time now, especially within our bigger games as such, would suggest that they aren’t working to a sufficient degree imo.
The biggest change i would like to see tried, is for Paulo to be given an opportunity in the calmac role imo.
Could push calmac into the more advanced Hatate position.
Would allow McCowan or nygren in the right more advanced midfield areas.
Even Engels could be considered as the rotational role with Paulo in the calmac position?
As the 20man SPFL match day squad looking like it will continue with 6 options available within the midfield and attacking areas, calls into question as to what are our best combinations in these areas?
Kelchi is looking like our best option in the striker position at present, so should Kenny or shin be considered now as the rotational player going forward?
Maeda doesn’t look like a player in a good place mentally at present, but still think trying him on the right side could be an option imo?
Would hopefully like to see a few options tried out before the international break, especially with such a one dimensional style in place, with so many unanswered questions within it imo?
Reo a doubt for tomorrow, tight hamstring. Code for not playing…
No question that Hatate should be dropped, and I’ve been his biggest supporter, but him and Maeda have been like playing with 2 men down. All three of that trio have been found wanting. Paulo’s best game was as a replacement for Callum, and he was excellent in this role, so I think that also has to be up for consideration, give Callum a rest and time to recharge. Would like to see midfield of Bernardo, Engels and another of our midfielders in the more advanced role, see who works best here in this formation, maybe even Callum as mentioned above, he excelled there in years gone by.
There’s a good case for him to GTF at the GPO along with the rest of the backpassers. Celtic’s midfield is keech – 3 players playing 2 positions and none of them any good. No-one can pass forward, score regularly and tackle. Replace with Isiguzo and McArdle and play Osmand up front with Kelechi. Daizen is donnert and needs punted pronto.
Rodger’s biggest failing last year was not rotating the squad when he had the chances. It created fatigue in the squad at critical moments, and didn’t give other squad players valuable game time.
This weekend should be a stick-on for a few changes.
Included in those changes (because it needs to happen at some point before the issue is forced on the team) is that McGregor needs to be rested for more games.