The Wizard of Oz
£400,000 we paid for Tom Rogic from Central Coast Mariners and boy has that paid dividends. The scorer of our treble winning goal, his variations in skills through passing, dribbling and shooting only matched by the variations in the pronunciation of his last name.
"Raw-Gash" one such interpretation he most certainly is not. There's just so much to love about Big Tam . If he had pace he would be an English Premier League footballer no doubt about it. His quick feet for a big man mean that even though he lacks that raw pace he glides across the pitch, directly challenging is opponent to take the ball off him or face being beaten one on one- there are times that his close control and dancing feet suck in multiple defenders, retaining the ball and creating space for our pace merchants to exploit in behind.
His passing is often crisp, just this weekend we saw his composure in slotting the ball into just the right area, of making those gaps in a tight defensive effort and exploiting moments of weakness ruthlessly.
All of this and we haven't even talked about his shooting prowess. Tam loves a goal at Hampden and they are often spectacular affairs- the screamer against Kilmarnock ranks highly alongside goals in both of last years major cup finals. The goals in both cup finals were different in execution but exhibit the variety in Tams game. One was a beautiful shot whipped past the goalkeeper at his far post, the other was a mesmeric run with quick feet and finish at the near post.
Regardless of what happens from here on in the mercurial Australian has left a lasting impression on Celtic Football Club. At £400k he represents true value in this inflated market and his attitude is spot on. You don't read him gobbing off in the paper about what he's going to do- he just gets on with the job in hand.
So many strong performances have the magic feet on Tam as creator in chief. That we sometimes only get 60 minutes of him is a price worth paying for the telling contribution that he makes. He was the catalyst this past weekend for breaking down a stubborn Killie defence and I certainly have high hopes that this year will be another successful year for our Australian maestro (that is not a direct comparison with Paul McStay).
Tam Rogic
posted on 21/8/17
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 21/8/17
Gloaty - me too
posted on 21/8/17
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 21/8/17
comment by Stevethebhoy (an ! = excitement!) (U17159)
posted 9 minutes ago
Thought Tom's "goal" last Wednesday was very similar in creation to the one he scored in the Scottish Cup Final. The actual run was almost a carbon copy - defenders flummoxed by his skill and pace. Again, he opted to hit the shot with his weaker right foot. The only difference was that the near post gap that Joe Lewis had left at Hampden wasn't there, so Tom opted for the far post - he didn't strike it as cleanly and was ultimately fortunate that the defender, in trying to clear, only succeeded in diverting it into the net
As someone posted earlier, from day one with us (17/1/2013) he has been the epitome of professionalism - never a second's bother and he always comes across as a really nice guy
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STB....great to have guys like that at the club. I definitely hope we get a few more years out of him.
Despite comments about 'wan lung' etc he's now easily capable of lasting 90 minutes.
His passing will be some asset against tired defences late in games.....he can spot a runner like no other player we have (although our passing is generally top drawer right across the midfield now....even broony is playing the odd killer ball)
posted on 21/8/17
comment by Curly 💩 - I'm mumpsimus and I know it.' (except on a Wednesday, that is my obstreperous day ) - ITS JIST A BIG CLIQUE N'AT (U1103)
posted 55 seconds ago
comment by Cut me, Mick, cut me (U20769)
posted 3 minutes ago
The crazy thing is that this is Rogic's 6th season with us.
I can't get my head around that.
Just goes to show that you can't write off a player, just because he has a bad start/fitness problems.
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Mick
Is someone had asked me, I would have said 3 years...that's amazing.
Hopefully he'll get a testimonial.
At his very best, he's really top class
++++
He should get a medal for playing six seasons in just over four and a half years
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12/13
13/14
14/15
15/16
16/17
17/18
I nearly made the same mistake but as I said he was on loan for the first so this is really only his 5th season with us.
posted on 21/8/17
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 21/8/17
JBJ - also, when you add all of Tom's injury time up over the past 4 and a half years, it comes to a fair few months
He's also not 25 until December - his fellow Aussie Mooy scored a good goal yesterday but imho is nowhere near Tom's level - and he was sold for £10 million
posted on 21/8/17
comment by Curly 💩 - I'm mumpsimus and I know it.' (except on a Wednesday, that is my obstreperous day ) - ITS JIST A BIG CLIQUE N'AT (U1103)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Cut me, Mick, cut me (U20769)
posted 3 minutes ago
The crazy thing is that this is Rogic's 6th season with us.
I can't get my head around that.
Just goes to show that you can't write off a player, just because he has a bad start/fitness problems.
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Mick
Is someone had asked me, I would have said 3 years...that's amazing.
Hopefully he'll get a testimonial.
At his very best, he's really top class
++++
He should get a medal for playing six seasons in just over four and a half years
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Should be playing for the Rangers
posted on 21/8/17
comment by PointyBirds (U8853)
posted 2 minutes ago
Thirty odd comments and no one has found the time to say they'd love bummed off Rogic.
I despair on here sometimes.
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correct...I'd definitely gee him a shot
posted on 21/8/17
comment by Magnum (U16400)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by Stevethebhoy (an ! = excitement!) (U17159)
posted 9 minutes ago
Thought Tom's "goal" last Wednesday was very similar in creation to the one he scored in the Scottish Cup Final. The actual run was almost a carbon copy - defenders flummoxed by his skill and pace. Again, he opted to hit the shot with his weaker right foot. The only difference was that the near post gap that Joe Lewis had left at Hampden wasn't there, so Tom opted for the far post - he didn't strike it as cleanly and was ultimately fortunate that the defender, in trying to clear, only succeeded in diverting it into the net
As someone posted earlier, from day one with us (17/1/2013) he has been the epitome of professionalism - never a second's bother and he always comes across as a really nice guy
----------------------------------------------------------------------
STB....great to have guys like that at the club. I definitely hope we get a few more years out of him.
Despite comments about 'wan lung' etc he's now easily capable of lasting 90 minutes.
His passing will be some asset against tired defences late in games.....he can spot a runner like no other player we have (although our passing is generally top drawer right across the midfield now....even broony is playing the odd killer ball)
Mags
TR's contract runs out Summer 2019 - would be nice if we sorted something out before next summer to save us a re-run of the Armstrong saga