Celtic’s dominant 4-0 victory over DC United last night was littered with positives.
Despite it only being their third pre-season friendly of 2024/25 so far, the Hoops were on form, playing some effective, eye-pleasing football.
Manager Brendan Rodgers utilised his lengthy squad in the match, giving opportunities to several players. One of those was Bosun Lawal.
The midfielder came on just after the hour-mark but only 23 minutes later, was subbed back off in place of Francis Turley.
Lawal looked a frustrated figure as he came off because there was nothing wrong with his fitness and he didn’t appear to have any injury issues.
Rather, it looked like Rodgers subbed him out because of a poor cameo in which he misplaced a few passes and failed to control some simple balls, but also to give young Turley an opportunity, too.
With vast competition in the Celtic midfield, it will be intriguing to see whether Lawal eventually earns a berth in the first team when competitive action starts back, but he won’t be pleased with how things went against DC.
Class pre season for Rodgers at this stage is more about potentially looking at players, who could be trying to stake a claim for a position in our 25man squad, with CL positions in mind?
Yet we would still require a fair degree of flexibility within our midfield and forward areas to keep the balance right within such areas within the squad imo?
Lawal remains a long way from adding the attacking role into his midfield game still?
So if Rodgers intends to be looking for 7 midfield players within our 25man squad, there still needs to be a fair degree of quality within there overall game in attacking and defensive qualities within there game?
Lawal has some way to go before both aspects of his all round game is possibly at a standard for Rodgers liking imo?
Same possibly applies to Holm and Kwon also at present, which is normal enough for the younger players to be stronger in one side of the midfield role moreso than the other?
So it remains as to how Rodgers intends to set the midfield areas up for next season?
Still think that we might require some more attacking midfielders within our squad imo?
Seem to have plenty of options available to ourselves in the holding and defensive roles of the midfield areas, for which Lawal looking more suited for imo?
Still think there is a place available for Lawal within our squad, especially as he fills the homegrown quota also imo?
Maybe Rodgers won’t see it that manner and could have totally different plans in mind regarding Lawal for next season?
With the expected arrival of Paulo on the way, along with Oreily possibly departing, there still remains competition for places available in the midfield areas, weather that be from within, along with potential outside players who could be in the reckoning also at present?
Rodgers possibly is still looking at a few decisions to be making upon just who will be making up our 7 midfield positions available within our overall 25man squad for next season imo?