21 Apr 2018 21:01:16
It was a disappointing result today, though thankfully it hasn't derailed our season.
I don't think that we have become a bad side this season, but I do think a couple of teams have improved, namely Hibs and Kilmarnock. These teams have experienced managers who know the game and can organize their slides to be difficult to beat, they are also able to exploit the weaknesses in our team. Hibs have caused us problems in every game we have played against them this season so today was no fluke.
I hope in the summer transfer window we don't lose sight of these teams and try and buy some players who are better than we have now rather than projects for the future. We need to try and improve.
With the goings on at Sevco it's easy to think there is a chasm between us and everyone else, but not every club is as badly run as them, some clubs have people running them who know what they're doing.
Like everyone else I've enjoed the meltdown at Sevco, but today was a reminder that although they are a shambles there are other teams who are bridging the gap on us.
We shouldn't become too complacent.
21 Apr 2018 22:30:19
We certainly came back down to earth with a bump after last week. However, although I am very disappointed at passing-up the chance to win the title (at the ground where I saw us win two leagues in the 70's) , we didn't deserve a win today and Hibs gave much more than us man-for-man and were in our faces, forcing errors and defending well.
The title party is postponed, but although last season's team would have been home and hosed by now, we look forward to next week.
22 Apr 2018 01:25:56
Good points raised. Lennon and Clarke have done fantastic jobs. I think the one element we miss from a NL side is that man for man we would want to own our opponents, but of course we have progressed in many other areas. I really do want to see this quality over quantity ethos kick in this summer. Which is why talk of McGinn or McKenna is no good for me.
22 Apr 2018 07:53:37
Very good post Gerry.
22 Apr 2018 13:02:27
If we go for those two then we are having a laugh about becoming a CL team. They will be another two signings that disappear into the cupboard most of our recent signings reside. Getting a bit crowded in there, so let’s hope these rumours are as off the mark as most usually are.
22 Apr 2018 14:07:35
An edit to above, I thought the McGinn being mentioned was Naill :) . John would be a good replacement for Brown, eventually.
22 Apr 2018 14:36:19
Some very good comments made there.
When Brendan Rodgers first came in he brought Scott Sinclair to the club who at the time was an improvement on what we had. Since then though we have gone back to this taking a punt on players and hoping they work out. I don't know how much say Rodgers has on these players but not many of them seem to get in the first team all that often so he either is misjudging their ability, or he doesn't have much say in who is brought in.
I think that if you constantly bring in players who don't make the grade it is a drain on the clubs finances. To me it would be far better to scout fewer but better prospects to nurture for the future and use the remaining funds to actually strengthen the first team.
22 Apr 2018 14:55:50
There is 13 players picking up wages for nothing. He has total say on transfers, he wouldn’t allow interference. His return is poor. Two or three holding down a position is a situation where it Ronnie, would be slaughtered.
It is a waste of resources. We need a clear out and as you say, fewer, but much better players. Get rid of 7/ 8 bring in three defenders. And a goalie. Anything else I will be doing backflips, three defenders is an absolute must.
22 Apr 2018 18:19:45
Clarke has done a fantastic job, converting his artificial pitch to a very dangerous pitch that players hate playing . Fair play to Mc Cullagh he didn't present the pitch in such a dangerous state when he was in charge . Either he cares more about players welfare than Clark or he doesn't know how to treat pitch to make it dangerous .
Lennon has done a very good job, he has Hibs a very good hard working team, I think that is his Celtic training as we are always at our best when we get a high tempo. If the Hibs players continue to give NL what he demands they will be a match for nearly every team in Scotland.