16 Apr 2019 09:17:25
Good to hear that Griffiths is on the way back but should he really get in the squad for the cup final?
Shouldn't the players who got use there retain their places?

1.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 09:47:55
For me if he's 100% mentally and physically then he should be in the squad as he's one of our best players Kev. He will obviously need some game time prior to the Cup Final. I look forward to his return, he has been a miss.

2.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 09:54:46
What does that say to the rest of the squad who have played every round of the cup though Stan?

And wouldn't you say the players that have got us to this point have earned the right to finish it off?

3.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 10:35:27
For me Griff has been our biggest loss this season. He is the kinda guy that turns draws into victories and salvages a point from games we are trailing in. I think we'll be ok without him for the remainder of this campaign but I do hope he is back in a good frame of mind and ready for pre-season. HH.

4.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 10:44:06
Bob I'd love him to get some game time before end if season and a few goals to get monkey aff his back but I think the bhoys that have got us to the final should be ones who finish it off.

5.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 10:59:37
Of course he gets in the squad. He’s still our most dangerous attacking threat for me. We only have 1 recognised striker at the minute in Edouard. He’d be a great option coming off the bench. The stage could be set.

6.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 11:13:25
So Ice man what about the players that have got us there. Basically just f**k them they don't matter?

{Ed007's Note - It's a team game, Kev. Going with your logic why did Rogic get a place on Sunday when that was his first SC appearance of the season, what about the guys that got us to the semi-final, just f**k them?
Considering KT's only played in 2 of the 4 ties we've played in - one out of 3 before the Aberdeen game - should he have started on Sunday? Scott Sinclair has played in all 4 ties compared to Hayes 2 appearances so who plays on the left in the final?
If we need a goal at Hampden in the final who would you rather see coming off the bench, Burke or LG?}

7.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 11:18:21
We need him to bang one in against the huns and tie a scarf round the guarded posts.

8.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 11:35:00
Right now Burke ed because Griffiths ain't going to be anywhere near match fit.

{Ed007's Note - Can you give me the lottery numbers for Cup Final weekend as well? There's nearly six-weeks until then, that's longer than a pre-season and LG has been back doing double training sessions for about 3 weeks now plus he was going into Lennoxtown to train himself since the end of January. If we can't get Griffiths PHYSICALLY fit well before the SC Final we should be seriously questioning our medical & sports science departments.
If you read what Neil Lennon actually said:

"What have we got until then, six weeks? Yeah, it is realistic for Leigh. But he’ll have to play and train for at least two weeks going into that final, so he then has a target of four weeks."

There's no mention or indication whatsoever that the SC Final would be LG's first game back, he's saying he'll need to be back playing in 4 weeks time to have any chance of making the final. So you're saying that he won't make it?}

9.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 11:40:53
Kev I get what you’re saying mate and I understand your point it would be a bitter pill to swallow for the individual who missed out. But like I say we only have one recognised striker and what if Edouard picks up an injury between now and the final. The balance on the bench needs to be right and for me Griff would get a spot on it.

10.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 12:05:43
That is not an issue for me Kev we name our best 11 along with our best bench at all times so if Griffiths is 100% then of course he has to be included. The squad that was named for each round was obviously the players fit and available to the Manager on the day, the final will be the same and if Griffiths gets game time from now until the final it would quite frankly be ridiculous to leave him out.

11.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 12:12:02
Plus Burke ain't a striker end of. and if both are on the bench and we need a goal and lenny throws on Burke instead of griff and we don't win you can just hear the critics just now.

12.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 12:42:32
Bang on Stan best team possible no place for sentiment when it’s a cup final let alone treble treble final. Best 11 all day long. Wether griff falls into that category come the time will be judged then but def best 11.

13.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 12:54:49
No time for being sentimental it is another moment of creating history and you pick your best squad to achieve that imo. Griffiths deserves to be part of that squad more than Burke he's our player and by far the better player out of the 2.

14.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 13:32:39
Ed it looks like Lenny is concentrating on 'our players' rather than the 'loan players' we have at the moment. Burke, Weah, Toljan and Benkovic are definitely not playing as much as they were under Rodgers, I know Benkovic has been injured but Jozo was chosen to start at the weekend. Do you think this is an indication that Lenny knows they won't be with us next season? He did say he had a meeting with Lawwell and Congerton so i'm sure this must have been discussed he would have been told who was staying and going. I think out of the 4 most likely to return would be Weah, Shved is in great form and will be direct competition with Forrest next season so I really can't see us shelling out £10m+ to buy Burke to compete with 2 other wingers on the right or to play him out of position as a striker. Might be wrong but that's how i see it.

{Ed007's Note - Burke failed a fitness test for Sunday's match and as you say Benkovic is on his way back from a nasty ankle injury. I think Toljan was more brought in to compete with Lustig and keep him on his toes rather than replace him for the final six months of the season - and to be fair Lustig has been playing well.
Weah came on on Sunday and the Club have already sounded out PSG about extending his loan for next season.}

15.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 13:55:16
That's great news Ed, the lad clearly loves it at Celtic and what's impressed more than anything is his attitude. It's good to know things are already being planned for next season, thanks for the info.

{Ed007's Note - No probs mate 👍

16.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 13:56:13
Ed as you see on my comment I said right now.
Ice man the injury thing is a different thing altogether. No one is missing out just to squeeze him in that way.

{Ed007's Note - Considering Burke missed Sunday's game through injury you've no idea how fit he is right now - what if he's not allowed to run for a couple of days?}

17.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 13:57:48
I think Weah will be here next season. Especially if we reach the champions league proper.

18.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 14:25:44
Fingers crossed Kev, We have still to see the best of him. Love the energy he brings to the team. Who knows it might lead to a deal similar to Edouards.

19.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 20:16:51
I absolutely see Kev’s point of view and as a manager you have to be mindful of players attitudes and how they would react to someone taking their place in a cup final when he wasn’t involved in getting them to the final. However, Griffiths is, in my mind, a Celtic legend and I think his very presence at training would have the forwards thinking, ‘it won’t be too long before he’s back in the team’. For that reason, I think they’d accept it and if it was my choice, I’d play him. For some reason, Rogers didn’t like Griff. Don’t know if it was his lifestyle and off the pitch behaviour that caused it but Griff suffered and I accepted it because I thought Rogers was some kind of god. What a fanny I am. One of my first thoughts when Rogers slithered off to the pub league was ‘Fck him, at least Griff will get a game again. If Neil gets the job next year, I think Griff will get a fairer crack of the whip and if he does, he’ll prove that he’s the best striker we’ve got at CP. I think he’ll go back to scoring 40 goals a season.

20.) 17 Apr 2019
17 Apr 2019 00:28:15
Agree with Welshybhoy that on 25th May we are not just playing for the cup but a treble treble and therefore need to play our best eleven. For me without a shadow of a doubt Griff is the best striker that we have and if the manager sees fit to play him or have him in the match day squad then I will be delighted. Of course someone will be disappointed but that's the nature of the beast as it is a team sport and the manager picks the team. I'm sure that every time we play there are players disappointed not to make the squad.
I can't remember now whether the decision to stop playing and get help came from Griff himself or he was told to but it has increased my admiration of him that he was willing to undergo the humiliation of it along with the sickening chants from the people etc for the good of the team. I would love to see him back scoring against the rangers for the sickening chants about his health and in so doing put himself into reckoning for a place in the final.