29 Jan 2019 14:21:49
I know we still have 2 more days until the window closes, but does anyone think Lawwell will write a cheque for a defender? NO, me neither.
I see the apologists for the board are on already saying "we do not need any defenders" DESPITE Ralston injured, Benkovic injured, Boyata (not effin interested) Tierney injured. How long has the board known about our defensive problems 18 months at least, even Brendan said at beginning of January that "this window was important" and STILL no defensive cover.
So who to blame, well US the fans, because we let Lawwell away with doing the minimum, and sometimes not even that much. Pedro has let the fans down on so many occasions, not just with lack of signings, but on Resoltion 12, on the cheating referees, all Lawwell wants is to count his fat bonuses each year, until his UEFA job comes upthanks to the SFA, and we call him a CELTIC MAN.
All the apologists on here are ruining our club. Lawwell has taken our club BACKWARDS.
29 Jan 2019 15:02:38
I'm sure we will sign someone even if it is just a loan.
At the end of the day we will have a list of targets that we will pursue and this may or may not come to fruition. Personally, I don't want to sign someone just for the sake of it, even if it means not getting anyone. Would much prefer to wait until we get the right player in.
29 Jan 2019 15:04:13
I must admit to thinking that Lawell would defend and stand up for the club when he was given the SFA position, but it has just turned out the same 'hear no evil see no evil' as the Jack McGinn days.
The amount of injury (especially long term) problems we have had, has been unbelievable and although we have such a big squad, I have said on here many times, that too many are not good enough to rely on for any run of games and there should have been a clear-out before now; because as it stands, our beloved board have BR over a barrel.
However, they could always try to make a last minute, fast buck on the likes of Ntcham or A N Other and bring in a defender? Aye Right!
29 Jan 2019 14:44:18
Tim av been banging on about signing defenders for ages, fed up with folk saying the squads bloated, it doesn't matter we still need quality at rb and now cb if benk out for season, it's not a case of if it's a must or Pedro is letting Down not only Brendan but the thousands of fans world wide, He's always boasting about the money we make and have in the bank and says all profits go back into the football department but that plainly isn't true. c'mon Pedro 2 days to go.
{Ed007's Note - Firstly, I do think a CB will be brought in on loan if Benkovic's injury is as bad as been reported but we have a £52 million wage bill and we can't just keep adding to that without causing problems even with CL qualification.
The Club have been actively trying to bring in a RB all window - AND last summer when Rodgers had Lawwell chasing a player that had told us he didn't want to come to Scotland - now we're down to third or fourth on the list with Toljan so at least the fans will be able to moan that he wasn't first choice if he signs or blame Lawwell for not paying £10 million for Castagne (another player that didn't fancy coming to Scotland) or Rodgers first choice CB Scott McKenna? If we signed McKenna for the £8-10 million Aberdeen are looking for the fans would be on here slating Lawwell for it.
So what exactly has Lawwell done wrong? Rodgers himself has stated he has final say on all signings - yes even Shved. Lawwell didn't force Boyata to stay did he? What about Rodgers previous CB purchases in Hendry and Compper? Even after Rodgers f***ing up his previous defensive buys (Gamboa???) Lawwell still sanctioned a loan move for Benkovic.}
29 Jan 2019 15:14:20
Sorry Tim on for ten 2 trebles b2b and most likely a 3rd euro football after Xmas and that’s us gone backwards? Apologist I’m not realist definitely.
29 Jan 2019 15:14:28
Yes I do, I still think 1 or 2 players will be confirmed.
29 Jan 2019 15:16:30
Well said Timmalloy, as a club our poor recruitment process has enabled the other lot to get closer to us. We should have been so far ahead of them by now 10in a row would have been a foregone conclusion. We’re screaming for a rightback yet it seems impossible to get one, why is that? Either BR doesn’t think we need one as he’s got 2 internationals (his quote) or the players he’s identifying PL won’t pay the money! All bull during transfer windows.
29 Jan 2019 15:55:58
Recruitment has not been the problem as we still have the best team and best squad in Scotland by a considerable amount. Our problem has been injuries and some players not performing for one reason or another.
29 Jan 2019 16:29:29
Tim, whilst I applaud your passion, your take on what is happening is far too narrow. The Board of CFC rule what happens, communications, strategy and importantly Finances. The CEO can advise, even cagole but cannot instruct. So in future get your concerns off to Lawell, but please copy in all Board members as its they who call the shots.
As for BR he is doing a fantastic job, on all fronts, so his input really is crucial for they way forward; not the panic and fake news spewed by the Media and sadly some of of our supporters.
29 Jan 2019 16:36:56
cannot argue with that ed the squad is bloated with bang average players at 1 to 2 mill mark just think if he went a wee bit more we get better quality although it's not always the case.
29 Jan 2019 17:34:00
The 50 odd million wage bill is the real problem here. As Ed says we cannot go on just adding to it. Until we get the likes of Hendry Allan DeVries Compper Hayes Gamboa Boyata Benyu Mulumba and maybe Kouassi and Biton (although I've got hope for Kouassi yet) off the wage bill, it will be loans for the foreseeable future and so it should be. I would say at the moment we own around 11 real proven quality players Tierney Ajer Brown Ntcham Rogic McGregor Forrest Christie Sinclair Eddy and Griff if he can get back to what we know. Fingers crossed Bayo can be added too. Our real problem in the transfer market is convincing players that are better than what we've got to come and play in Scotland . Hope we've learned a lesson to stop signing mediocrity and handing them 4 year deals.
29 Jan 2019 17:48:28
Tim is it Lawwell's fault we have a squad full of players who are nowhere near good enough? Is it Lawwell's fault we have brought a full backline? De Vries, Gamboa, Commper, Hendry, Izzy? Apologists as you put it😂😂 Nah I just say what I think whereas you seem scared to criticise BR as if he is some sort of messiah! BR has well and truly been backed but its apologists like yourself who turn a blind eye to his woeful record in the transfer market and his/ his scouting staff's appaling lack of ability to spot a player.
I said on here last week his childish point scoring in his interview's won't do him any favours especially with Bhoys like me who see's the situation for what it is. Let me ask you a question Tim, how much of the clubs money has BR wasted so far?
29 Jan 2019 18:22:20
I thought the wage bill was closer to 60 million ed?
Rogers not backed 🤔
He's signed
2 goalkeepers
5 defenders
11 midfielders
2 strikers
20 players in 2 1/ 2 seasons
On top of that he demanded a new playing surface which cost millions, several improvements to Lennox town and got both.
Gone backwards? 🤔
Can't see how that's true when we have won the last 7 trophies and qualified for Europe after Xmas for twice in a row.
29 Jan 2019 18:37:04
No club that I can think of gets every signing they make spot on, there mistakes at every club.
29 Jan 2019 18:50:20
The bottom line is we have been dross apart from a few games in the first half of the season and that's why the league's close at present. We will kick on and win the league by double figures.
29 Jan 2019 19:34:06
This seems to be one of those eternal discussions as there is no right answer and depends on everyones starting position. It seems to me that we have our beliefs and then we juggle the statistics to confirm our beliefs.
I believe that the board and Lawwell are operating the biscuit tin mentality and are not backing the manager to put together the team he wants. Now I can quote the McGinn fiasco, how we have lost out on players as we won't pay a extra couple of million, a weak defence which hasn't been strengthened etc
I believe that the club is in a stronger position because of Lawwell. He is not a football manager but a CEO who runs the club like a business to generate a profit and for sure is very competent and successful at his job. Who could have even dreamed just a few yyears back that we would have a manager of the calibre of BR at Celtic or that we would pay 9 million for a kid just starting out on his professional career (a kid who buy the way may find it difficult to get back into the starting eleven due to the recent loan signings) . Its obvious that Lawwell can't release the money to bring in Joshua Kimmich or Dani Alves etc. Even if we had money to burn does anyone really expect world class players to want to play in Scotland. I think our greatest assets are the young players who come through our system - KT, Calmac, Forrest, Mikey Johnson etc. As others have said BR has brought in quite a few players and yet the team is largely what he inherited,
As I said no easy answer but we have to trust.
29 Jan 2019 19:38:52
He's definitely made some bad signings, but then he's obviously been advised as he's said himself he can't scout himself, so he relies on there Intel. abd he seems to be asked to shop in the lower end of the market and yes u can pick up gems but your more likely to pick up a dud, so maybe they've learned from your commpers and hayes and are showing patience much to our annoyance.
29 Jan 2019 19:47:50
Timalloy, to be an apologist there has to be something to apologise for and given our recent performance on and off the pitch, there is not, so I’ll file your post along with a load of other recent posts, in the ‘pish’ folder.