Odin Thiago Holm was named in the Celtic starting lineup in the league for the first time on Sunday. The Norwegian youth internationalist came into the team and didn’t seem to put a foot wrong.
After the game, Brendan Rodgers outlined his thoughts on the midfielder’s performance, indeed noting he could have done more. He said (Daily Record): “It’s like with Odin, we gave him a start and he needs to do more. We said it at half-time that if you don’t start, then you come off because there is always someone to take your place. Being mentally strong is important.”
The 20-year-old continued in the second 45 but he was subbed off eight minutes into it. David Turnbull, a totally different player to Holm, came on in his place and scored.
Despite Reo Hatate’s absence through injury, there is vast competition for a starting berth in the third midfield role of the Celtic team. Players like Holm, Turnbull, Paulo Bernardo, and Tomoki Iwata are all fighting for a place which is only positive.
Thought Holm did OK myself, but not the easiest position to fill in either.
The link up play down our right with AJ, Oreily and yang was working better all round than that of Taylor, Holm and Palma in the first half imo.
Palma was in devastating form, so it was looking like it was working really well, and certainly creating opportunities for ourselves.
I would say it’s not easy for any player to play the Holm role, due to Taylor crowding the position, and making runs all over the place?
Until a player starts to understand the game of Taylor better, then not the easiest of fixes either, and will take a bit of time to gain the understanding within each others game, but also signs of improvements also.
Even Hatate has had his problems adjusting to the role at times within the 3 man midfield.
Did turnbull look more effective when bernie came on for Taylor?
Maybe, and for all the hard work Taylor puts into his game, and with such high energy levels also, he still wouldn’t be the easiest player to understand his game either imo.
Will take a bit of time still for any of the player’s involved to understand Taylors role, and will improve also, but not an issue of major concerns either imo.