There were signs of the same old from Celtic against Red Star Belgrade, on top of a few positives, such as the second-half display and Colby Donovan’s rise.
But Reo Hatate’s performance has come into question again after he was selected from the get-go by Brendan Rodgers.
There have been two regulars in the middle of the park for Celtic – the captain Callum McGregor, and the little Japanese maestro Hatate.
But is their reputation standing before them? Because the Celtic Park faithful certainly think so.
Celtic fans don’t hold back on Reo Hatate’s performance against Red Star Belgrade
On his day, Hatate is just magic to watch, and he could argue that he is Celtic’s best player, but that’s also his weakness.
Perhaps fans rest and rely on that too much, and in truth, just get months and months of mediocre performances, with the odd quality display here and there.
That’s the message the Celtic fans are trying to put across because they believe Hatate needs dropping to the bench after his poor showing in Belgrade.
@declancfc67 is concerned: ‘Serious conversation needed about Reo Hatate, btw.’
@steviecam1 with a very harsh take: ‘When do we accept that Reo Hatate is rotten?’
@20MinuteTims thinks the signs have been there with Hatate: ‘Hatate has been murder this season and it’s being exposed quite badly here.’
@Bell_O_The_Brae feels Bernardo can do better: ‘Hatate couldn’t find a teammate with 10-yard passes all night. He was so bad that he was more of a threat to our defence than the Red Star forward line. Bernardo can actually carry the ball up the pitch from inside his own ½, vital away in Europe.’
Another mention of what Hatate does with the ball, as @chris21810 added: ‘We need to talk about hatate, giving the ball away every time, waste of a jersey.’
The Japan star is driving this fan ‘mad’, as @bga024 stated: ‘Hatate drives me mad, through ball doesn’t get to him and instead of chasing where the ball’s going to, he’s got his head up looking to the sky, disappointed he never got the pass.’
@Gastro_Celtic questions what is wrong with Hatate: ‘Hatate has been playing easy balls short for what feels like 9 months now. No idea what’s up with him.’
@JayCeeBhoy called for certain Celtic players to be rested: ‘I think it’s time we gave extended rests to the following. Schmeichel, Carter-Vickers, Hatate, Maeda.’
@BhoyCeltic88 feels it could be the end of two Ange Postecoglou signings: ‘Feels like we’re seeing the end of the Ange revolution with Maeda and Hatate. Both are great players, but they look like their heads are already elsewhere.’
@KesDevaal with a brutal take: ‘Good to see Hatate celebrate his 150th Celtic game last night by needlessly giving the ball away 150 times #slack.’
@CELTICBOB1967 raised the case for Engels and Bernardo: ‘You’ve got to wonder why Bernardo and Engels can’t get into our midfield. McGregor passes to the side or backwards, Hatate keeps giving the ball away, and Nygren just plods along. Far too boring!’
@RonnieJM67 urged Rodgers to make some ‘big calls’: ‘Positives: Iheanacho, Colby & Tounetki, Scales Negatives: CalMac, Hatate & Maeda Brendan needs to make big calls and drop these 3, midfield is dysfunctional & Maeda is phoning it in. We have capable players who can step up.’
Hatate’s stats for Celtic against Red Star Belgrade
Celtic have club-record transfer Arne Engels on the bench, as well as Paulo Bernardo and Luke McCowan.
Perhaps it is time that they were brought into the fold on a regular basis because, for the 68 minutes Hatate was on the pitch in Belgrade, he didn’t impress.
- Passes: 35
- Passing accuracy: 71.4%
- Total tackles: 1
- Fouls: 1
- Fouled: 2
- Touches: 44
- Unsuccessful touches: 3
- WhoScored rating: 6.02
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