@Mark, watched Ryan Gauld again the other day (in an immensely enjoyable Aberdeen win away to Dundee Utd).
He was playing trequartista in a 4-2-3-1, though I think he has generally started wider.
Anyway, he had absolutely no influence on the game and go subbed about half way through the second half.
Aberdeen's midfield absolutely dominated Utd's, so Utd found it very hard to get Gauld the ball. They were reduced to playing long and trying to get their centre forward to knock the ball down to him, but that didn't work because their centre forward ain't much good at that.
Gauld, playing in the middle, was also up against Ryan Jack, who is probably the best defensive midfield in Scotland just now, so there wasn't much danger of Gauld being allowed the space to start running with the ball.
So I've now seen him twice and still know very little about him - other than the fact that he's incredibly amazing and due to sign for Barca any day now...
Peter Pawlett is the most interesting young player in Scotland just now.
He's not getting the hype because he's a bit older (and plays for Aberdeen), but this is his first season of being fit and properly used, so he's showing the ability he's always had.
Fast, aggressive trequartista who powers around the pitch contributing fully defensively while still being extremely productive going forward.
Been almost Nedved-esque in his performances at times this season.
And is really specialising in these bursting run in the channels to break through a packed defence:
No-one has figured out how to stop him because he's so quick and because he starts so deep that it's very difficult to make sure there is no space for him to drive into.
Celtic tried playing a centre half in midfield to mark him, but still couldn't stop him being influential. Extremely rare for Celtic to pull a move like that against another Scottish side, which just shows how scared teams are of him.
Pawlett is looking good against everyone.
Gauld, as far as I can tell, is looking very good against the shit teams, but having a very limited impacted against the better sides.
And this was a pretty special bit of defending last night from that McGhee kid that Juve were meant to be scouting: