Even when Celtic are winning, Martin O’Neill is still left with more questions than answers.
That was proven during Celtic’s last outing when they needed extra time to beat St Mirren in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
For that match, O’Neill started with a midfield trio of Callum McGregor, Arne Engels and Benjamin Nygren, as Reo Hatate didn’t even come off the bench during the 120 minutes, even though six substitutes were used.
It sparked an interesting debate on Open Goal, with suggestions that Hatate is being treated differently by O’Neill than somebody like Engels.
Si Ferry: “See if that was a Hatate performance. You wouldn’t see Hatate for the next five or six weeks.”
Gordon Dalziel: “Exactly.”
Paul Slane: “So, why do you think that happened to Hatate then? If Engels has a bad game, he will still play or whatever.”
Si Ferry: “You would think maybe attitude in training. I don’t know.”
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Should Reo Hatate start matches for Celtic?
Don’t get it twisted, Hatate has had some great moments under O’Neill during his two spells in charge, and he has used the Japanese star.
From Hatate’s performance in Feyenoord to his cameo off the bench at Ibrox in the Premiership.
But ever since he was pushed to right back at Dundee United before the March international break, and he ended on his backside while Celtic conceded a goal, he hasn’t been seen since.
During that period, Engels returned from injury, and he was straight into the XI for such an important Scottish Cup semi-final tie.
But according to some of the Open Goal panel, Engels was pretty poor against St Mirren, and they feel, if Hatate had produced such a display, then he wouldn’t be seen for ‘the next five or six weeks.’
Si Ferry: “See when Hatate plays badly, everybody goes, ‘Oh, Hatate has chucked it.’ But with McGregor, there is no criticism there.”
Paul Slane: “But there is more of an attitude with Hatate, isn’t it. It’s not down to his levels. More his attitude.”
Gordon Dalziel: “I would play Hatate.”
Ferry: “I would play Hatate.”
Slane: “There must be a problem with Hatate. Martin O’Neill isn’t just taking him out. You saw at Ibrox how good he was, but then for the Dundee United game, he goes out completely.”
Andy Halliday: “Six subs last week as well.”
Slane: “Aye, there must be something there, because we know how good he is.”
Dalziel: “I agree, but tell me one midfield player. Nygren has scored goals. Apart from that, he does f__k all, right. But you can’t take 20 goals away, so you have to put your hands up.
“You look at Engels last week. I know he has just returned. He had one shot off the post. And then never seen the guy.”
Ferry: “Agree.”
Slane: “Martin O’Neill seems to love him, doesn’t he?”
Ferry: “See if that was a Hatate performance. You wouldn’t see Hatate for the next five or six weeks.”
Dalziel: “Exactly.”
Slane: “So, why do you think that happened to Hatate then? If Engels has a bad game, he will still play or whatever.”
Ferry: “You would think maybe attitude in training. I don’t know.”
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