19 Sep 2016 09:57:37
Hopefully O'Connell simunovic and boyata get runouts on wed and Saturday as I don't see any benefit to kolo as he's not had any positive impact so far and at 35 I only see a guy running down his career with a big fish in a small pond. I've never been convinced with Erik at the back as he is often out of position and his distribution is poor. I'm also fearful that Brendan will turn a blind eye to the goalkeeper as he's his signing as is kolo and that will look bad in his eyes and therefor persevere with them. It's fair to say lustig is our best rb and should play there at least until Gamboa settles in to the squad.
19 Sep 2016 10:21:40
totally disagree regarding kolo jim, the guy has steadied our defence and could see what he brings, if he was running down his career mate he couldve earned quadruple the cash he is on atm. defence looked lost yesterday without him imo, the keeper situation is a concern but will reserve judgement on DDV till he's played more than 4 games.
19 Sep 2016 10:55:28
How can you say he's steadied the defence when he has played in 8 competitive matches and hasn't kept a clean sheet in any of them? I'm not saying it's all his fault as I think the whole defence has actually been worse than last season regardless of cl qualification. I'm reasonably happy with our attacking options but our defensive midfield and defenders is a concern.
19 Sep 2016 11:18:49
Jeezo we get pumped of Barcelona and draw yesterday and everybodys all doom and gloom, because we haven't kept a clean sheet the defence is at fault, were going to get chances againt us jim because of the way we play now, but to say toure isn't better than what we had last yr is ridiculous imo, now your saying boyata should get another chance? why not bring efe back in also since they were last seasons back 2, unbeaten in the league so far and playing attacking football that leaves us open, seems some fans just need to have a scapegoat,
19 Sep 2016 11:30:24
Yes I do think boyata should get another chance as he's young enough to learn from mistakes with better coaching. At no point did I suggest playing efe so why mention him? I did mention O'Connell and simunovic which you ignored. I said I am reasonably happy with our attack but if they aren't firing it's important our defence bails them out which at present doesn't look likely do you think conceding goals in nearly every match is good? Even putting Barcelona aside. If you don't question them now when do you question them? when we get put out a domestic cup and say goodbye to another missed treble.
19 Sep 2016 11:37:34
Jim1972 apart from Boyata comment who I think could be Efe's twin brother agreed on your other 3 points. Not gloom and doom Bhoywonder but Still a question mark over big Erik the Viking for me. Nae pace, positional sense questionable and distribution as Jimbo said poor. Kolo-been a steadying influence at times but still a question mark for me as to what he gives us at 35 and certainly didn't think we'd bought Paul Elliot when I watched him. Goalkeeper unimpressive so far to say the least and thought of him playing in the Chapmions League gives me a squeaky bum but still to see if Brendan has humility to admit mistake and put Gordon back in in between the sticks. And last point in agreement with Jimbo Lustig is our best right back at the moment until if and when Gamboa proves different.
An last point in agreement with James.
19 Sep 2016 11:42:02
I agree about toure steading the ship - we would be beaten in the league and out of CL for sure without him.
possibly BR feels 1) he won't be here more than a season and 2) maybe he's "too big" a presence and therefore feels he needs to reign him in and get the long term (2 seasons) guys up to speed - or assess if we still need to buy there.
But he has already more than paid his wages getting us into the groups and his experience my be invaluable for O'Connell et al. Also possible coaching job whist he earns his badges.
19 Sep 2016 12:01:40
didnt ignore it jim but they weren't part of our defence last season, you stated our defence was better last season, i just don't agree with that pal, you want to see changes for alloa so let's bring in boyata who imo has done nothing since he has been here, and jozo who is just back after 8 months out, people on this forum have been saying for ages that lustig should be moved in one but as soon as we conceded yesterday he shouldn't be in CB position, so let's go with a back 4 of lustig, boyata, jozo, teirney, will you say the same if we get beat with they 4? and like i said ill reserve judgment on DDV and gamboa till they have played a good few games for us, same was said of sinclair when he signed and now according to some he's the new messiah, i also don't think we wouldve conceded the 2nd yesterday if toure was playing, but seems we fans just like a moan when we don't trounce teams by 4 or 5.
19 Sep 2016 12:04:47
Toures done well imo think he needs a settled partner been a bit chop changy he's had lustig young oconnel Erik and now jozo who I think should be the man and keep lustig at rb if fit the bhoy Gamboa looks a bit jankoish to me but he needs time.
19 Sep 2016 12:36:32
My final point on this for now, we are in the champions league not because of kolo but because of a great scoring match at home against hapoel the defence nearly blew it away.
19 Sep 2016 12:53:15
Got to agree Jim, BR has got us playing good attacking football and the addition of Dembele and Sinclair, plus the resurgence of Forrest has been very encouraging - as has Rogic's performances + LG.
However we have a lot more quantity in defense than quality and even a class act like Toure is finding the pace and pressure of games at Celtic a wee bit too much at his age.
However, surely we can find the right blend with a settled unit, between:- Gordon, De Vries, Fasan, Gamboa, Lustig, Toure, Simunovic, Boyata, Ambrose, O'Connell, Schiavchenko, Tierney and Izzaguire?!
19 Sep 2016 22:19:44
Some people don't want to be pleased . In nearly all our domestic games this season before yesterday we won every game with plenty to spare . We may have conceded a goal every game but I am sure any team with an emphasis on attacking and successful at attacking as we are don't consider the loss of a goal as the end of the road . I preferred us beating the Govan team by scoring five even though we did concede one, than a drab 1 nil game .
Surely we don't want our full backs to stay back and our two wide men to spend most of their time in our half.