Pat Bonner is a pundit that watches Celtic almost religilously week in, week out as part of his punditry duties for the BBC.
The former Celtic hero has great insight into the game and has shared what he has noticed about the difference in Kyogo Furuhashi’s game under Brendan Rodgers compared to what it was like with Ange Postecoglou.
Summing up yesterday’s performance against Ross County, Bonner believes that Kyogo is not performing to the levels that he once did under the Australian because of how Rodgers now has Celtic set up and playing the game.
Bonner said [BBC Sportsound], “Under Brendan, there’s a little bit more patience, more passing, more square, more getting it up, open up and wait for the moment.
“I also think that this may be just taking a wee edge off of Kyogo when he plays. Because I’ve watched Kyogo when you watch the 11 v 11 game when you’re at the stadium, you see Kyogo still, when the ball’s deeper, making runs.
“Making that double movement that he had was brilliant under Ange because he would trick people into an area and then he would go and check back and get it.”
Kyogo’s movement is something that I will go on and talk about later tonight but there is no doubt that Rodgers has taken that part out of his game.
The Japanese striker is now being asked to come deeper and, in many ways, this is benefitting the team as a whole.
We are seeing space opening up for players like Matt O’Riley and Luis Palma to come in through the midfield and the flanks to score more goals.
But it is taking the best part of Kyogo’s game out of him. His ability to play off the last defender is what made the Celtic fans fall in love with him and is responsible for the majority of his 60 goals for Celtic so far.
It does seem like Rodgers is going to stick with this. Especially after we saw both Kyogo and Oh on the pitch together and the Japanese striker dropped into the hole behind the Korean.
And it’s strange as Kenny Dalglish believes this tactic is actually working in Kyogo’s favour as the former Hoops hero thinks he’s playing his best football at Celtic right now. It’s amazing how opinions differ.
As long as it works for the team then I don’t see any reason for Rodgers budging from that tactic. Celtic are still eight points clear at the top of the table and playing decent football.
Until that changes, Bonner and Kyogo, are going to have to stick with it.
In other news, ‘He means it’: Chris Sutton blown away by 23-year-old Celtic player’s ‘quality’ passing vs Ross County