Celtic Banter Archive March 13 2016

13 Mar 2016 22:46:31
I see the real Celtic fans are back on the site. Aye right, the usual RD doubters. Warburton doesn't have any plans other than pressing full-backs and Tierney and Lustig will sort that out as this Rangers team are not used to being pressed at the back.

14 Mar 2016 00:14:58
Norway 1 I will try to ignore the match against the lower league opposition until mid April as unless they get a couple of ridiculous refereeing decisions, they neither have ability of their players or management to better us.

14 Mar 2016 07:49:43
Its amazing how some people are fearing a mediocre 2nd tier team and classing it as a "big game". A team that has also had a run of very bad results this season as well.

If this Warburton lad was rated in any significant way, he would of been away at drop of the hat.

14 Mar 2016 08:58:03
I don't fear the newco and to tell the truth i never really feard the old co as long as we do what we are capable off then there's no competition on the day.

Just a question did anyone see san jose earthquakes 2nd goal yesterday?

14 Mar 2016 09:22:02
Dn30 people aren't fearful of rangers they are more fearful of what Celtic team turns up as we seem to be struggling past mediocre teams in our league on a consistent basis. We are far too reliant on lg at the moment and are carrying too many players out of form to be dismissing any team. Anyone who doesn't class it as a big game is an idiot as losing it will be intolerable for a long long time, Rangers will go in to this match fired up if the Celtic players go into it as a low key match like you are suggesting then that is a recipe for failure which should be unacceptable.

14 Mar 2016 09:39:22
Jim1972 I agree it will be intolerable if we lose. Not because its Sevco, but because they are a lower league side and we should see them off with ease. Our players will be just as fired up for game.

14 Mar 2016 10:08:53
DN30 it's a semi-final of the Scottish Cup, how is it not a big game?

14 Mar 2016 10:54:15
Kevbhoy its not the tie i'm refering to, its the opponent.

14 Mar 2016 11:12:18
DN30, If a semi final of the cup isn't a big match with a possible double at stake, then what do you regard as a big match? .
I'm not really bothered who the opposition are or what league they are in, we have to be prepared for the match.
My point about Ronny is that time and time again while he's been in charge, poorer teams have managed to get the better of us because their managers have got the better of Ronny tactically.
Just because we can't stand them, doesn't mean that they can't beat us.
I don't really know how good Warburton is as a manager, but I didn't know anything about Maribor's manager, or Malmo's manager, or Molde's manager, but they were all tactically smarter than Ronny, so we ignore the risk at our peril.

14 Mar 2016 11:20:22
Every semi final is a big game doesn't matter who you play.
As for who we are playing
I don't care if they are old rangers new rangers. The play in blue out of ibrox and call their self's rangers so I want to smash them.

14 Mar 2016 14:07:11
I have no fear of the rangers, they are a team full of lower league journeymen at best, with a manager who has never proved himself in the top leagues of ANY country. We on the other hand are a team full of international players . My fear is our manager won't set our team tactics up properly or won't pick the right players and play them in the correct positions or play players who are out of form, at least motivation won't be a problem, as I don't think Ronnie or a lot of the players will survive a defeat to Glasgow's newest team and I think they know this as well.

14 Mar 2016 18:09:49
At this point in time the next game we have in the SPL is the most important game we have to play . Too lose to Rangers 2012 at the semi final of the cup would be a terrible loss that I hope non of us ever suffer but by far the biggest disaster would be to lose the SPL as it has been obvious the Scottish referees have targeted us this year to prevent our success .

14 Mar 2016 18:34:54
Gerryc but its not just since Deila has took charge this has happened. Been happening for a long time before he took charge. People go on about Molde defeat, but they are a good side this season. there's no doubting Ole Gunnar solskjaer is a better manager than Deila, having more success in his managerial career. I can't see a justifiable argument there.

14 Mar 2016 20:02:20
DN30, Previous Celtic managers at various times were able to get the better of opponents who were better than us, Martin O'Neill got us to a Uefa cup final, he also beat Juventus who were very strong at that time, Gordon Strachan got us to the last 16 in the Champions league and beat a very strong Man Utd team along the way, and Neil Lennon again got us to the last sixteen of the Champions league and in the process beat one of the greatest teams in history in Barcelona.
These managers didn't do this by accident, it took tactical know how and good motivational skills to get these results.
I accept that Ronny hasn't had the money to spend as these previous managers, but that shouldn't prevent him from being tactically aware, or of being able to motivate the team, it's in these areas that I think he is lacking, we're okay against the smaller teams, but when we play against teams a little better than that, he seems to struggle.
An example of this is if you look at the results against Aberdeen and Hearts this season who are our nearest challengers, out of the five matches against them we have, 1 win, 2 draws, and 2 defeats.
This isn't against the cream of European football, this is against pretty moderate domestic opposition who most of the time we should be brushing away with ease.
Ronny needs to show that he's a bit more tactically astute, and that he can put some fire into players bellies in big matches, if he can do that then he'll start to win round a lot of the sceptics, but if he doesn't, then I think that they'll need to bring someone in who can.

14 Mar 2016 20:41:10
Gerryc Gordon Strachans side got hammered off Bratislavia. A team on a par with Maribor, but went onto do great things in europe reaching CL last 16 twice.

14 Mar 2016 21:12:04
DN that may be the case but Strachan learned after his first year what needed fixed and done well whilst Celtic were beginning to rebalance the books after Martin Oneils spending.
Ronnie has not learned from Legia, Maribor, Molde and at no time has a shock been on the cards. Every time Ronnie seems to be getting a grip on things i. e. Inter Milan, Ajax away, something silly happens, Van Djik red card he subs our best outlet etc.
When Ronnie came in i was excited hearing his views and ambitions now i worry about every game.
I hope he bests every team remaining and gets the double regardless if they play in Blue, pink or maroon.

14 Mar 2016 22:39:21
Jsean1989 i'm not slating Strachan in anyway. Imo he was best manager we have had since O'Neil. But facts are facts. No matter who is in charge, we have a history of suffering a shocker in europe. If you read my post you would realise what my point is.

15 Mar 2016 17:08:22
Fair point DN.

13 Mar 2016 17:55:47
So would anyone want Stubbs over Ronny now?

13 Mar 2016 19:36:34
Ronny's a poor manager regardless of the result today.
I believe we have enough ability in our squad to win the double, but what worries me is that if Warburton comes up with a tactical plan to stop us in the semi final, Ronny won't have a clue how to react, he's been outwitted nearly every time we've played in big matches.
It's the players I'm relying on to deliver the goods between now and the end of the season, if we have to rely on the manager, then I think that we are in big trouble.

13 Mar 2016 20:26:52
Nether Stubbs or Ronnie are good enough to manage Celtic. I for one have never shouted for Stubbs to manage Celtic but If you are suggesting Stubbs failings is a reason to keep Ronnie then I disagree because neither of them are good enough. But it's just the level we are being dragged to by Peter and dd. Ronnie was a cheap option. Stubbs would be a cheap replacement. We sign cheap players like Allen ciftci Christie gms but we still charge the faithful supporters premium prices it's just the way the club is going.

13 Mar 2016 21:56:51
I have said here before that I am not a Ronny fan.
My point was that people were calling for Stubbs to replace him and it would be totally pointless
The next manager must be experienced and demand respect
Not just some guy that's played for us and isn't any better than what we have.

13 Mar 2016 22:26:11
Gerryc you make Warburton sound like a poor mans mourinho.

14 Mar 2016 00:18:21
Warburton is still in short pants as far as his career in football management is concerned . He left City trading when he failed to convince fellow traders he was special . Since then he coached under 5 teams before joining Rangers.

14 Mar 2016 01:40:44
Although I was glad of the three points at Firhill, there is no doubt whatsoever that the team are not playing well - and have been very disappointing for most of the season.
Yes, there are a few improved performances like, McGregor, Mulgrew and GMS; but hand on heart - the only real consistency has come from young Tierney [who has been outstanding] and Leigh Griffiths {where would we be without his goals] and perhaps the introduction of Schiavchenko - although his lack of pace might worry me against a pacey striker [pairing with Simo may help].
Why the manager cannot get the best out of all or most of the team/ squad on any one day is a real cause for concern - and has been for months now, when at this time of a season, we are usually well and truly focussed, confident and ruthless in our stride.
The point is, I am worried that a lot of the players are either not playing for the manager or plating for each other and either way, I think we need a fresh approach and maybe a new broom to wack a few arses or sweep them out the door.

14 Mar 2016 18:16:11
Jungle Jim there may be no doubt in your mind that the team is not playing well. That is your opinion and you are entitled to it . I thought the team played well. Apart from a crazy penalty decision P T never looked like scoring where as Celtic opened up their defence frequently and could and should have scored more . It can't have been easy playing on a 20 yard wide pitch with a beach on each side but I thought Celtic settled quite well to the task .
I am more hopeful now than I was after the Dundee game .

13 Mar 2016 15:42:01
Afternoon Ed, Watching a wee bit of this LC final in between games

Said how stupid it was @ the start of the season to give away Jackson Irvine without a doubt best player on the park

Great article in The Scotsman in October about how we would rue giving him away!

Of ALL the midfielders we don't have a "spoiler" type and JI vastly turning into a great box to box player (y)

{Ed007's Note - Irvine was a good player for us but he's came on leaps and bounds since he's been playing regularly. We have Ajer who will come in and do that job and we also have Mark Hill in the development squad who is that kind of player as well, he loves to get in about it when the boots are flying and isn't shy of a tackle. I expect him to either go out on loan or push for a place in the first team squad next season

13 Mar 2016 16:28:53
Yeah Ed, Am happy with the Ajer purchase that is what we are missing a proper CDM big part of the missing link in the team IMO

Must admit know nothing of the boy Hill but will look out for him now for sure (y)

{Ed007's Note - He's from Hamilton and teams like Man Utd tried to sign him. He's only about 18 but he certainly looks the part.}

13 Mar 2016 17:02:16
Fraser done well in defence aa well just shows if you don't play them you never know how good they are.

13 Mar 2016 18:02:42
I'd say we should have one player like that in front of the defence. It baffles me when Ronny plays two defensive minded central midfielders against the SPFL teams.

13 Mar 2016 18:05:15
ED Mark Hill is 18 and is friendly with my boy. He has been talking about him for years as they were in the came class at Calderside.
He is a class player but as you know we always have class players at this age. Its what happens next is most important and hope he applies himself properly and goes onto to be a star because he has the potential no doubt.

{Ed007's Note - Cheers Ray. I'm hoping with the squad trimmed down for next season we see more of the youngsters pushing for a place in it.}

13 Mar 2016 18:28:37
Me too ed, I think if Ajer gets in the team next season then Mark should be saying to himself so should I.

13 Mar 2016 19:21:31
DRB I always liked Fraser too a great reader of the game and a very clean tackler but for me he lacked a yard of pace IMO

Had a wee look @ the boy Hill on CFC know it's only a pic but frame looks a lump of a boy for a youngster a bit like Kelhellar?

Again for me would love to get a few "bruisers" in the team

Watching West Ham the day they looked massive a like a bit of that in a team too (Y)

13 Mar 2016 19:43:58
Ed007 I know Ronny has indicated he wants the squad cut down and if he is still in position do you seriously think our squad will reduce to allow hill and Ajer a spot? I just don't see anyone leaving and I see stokes and Henderson returning along with new arrivals probably coming in the summer.

{Ed007's Note - Ajer will be in the first team squad next season.}

13 Mar 2016 19:53:40
Jamie I been saying for ages we have no real athletes or bullys in our team. Since the loss of Wanyama and VVD we are getting smaller and smaller.
Boy do I miss Aghate remember him, could run all day and nobody could catch him.
I think if anyone of our current squad tried what he did for us they would pull up wi a hammy lol.

13 Mar 2016 20:37:38
Yeah Rayman mate totally agree a love a big enforcer type,

Would love to see someone lighting quick also bud, but they cost a premium now mate even more so than an enforcer.

13 Mar 2016 22:03:33
Aghate was what 50 k from hibs? Their out there mate we just need to find them.

13 Mar 2016 23:12:44
Aye Agathe was £50k from Hibs. I'm pretty sure he must be wee Jamsie Forrests idol. plenty running about and very little end product. It's a tough one to try and pick who is the worst crosser of the two but Didi was definitely faster at least :)

14 Mar 2016 10:14:35
To be honest, I can't remember Forrest putting in a good cross ever, but I can remember a few from Didier.

And he was faster.

14 Mar 2016 14:46:10
Yeah Magic, I'd agree with that I suppose. Didi wasn't that bad. Forrest really is rotten. It'll be interesting to see where he goes and how he does after the summer. just so long as he does go.

14 Mar 2016 18:27:12
I think it's funny that Celtic fans should watch either a player who has been released or allowed out on loan and who plays reasonable well for the wee club. This means Celtic are of course blamed, whereas there is nothing to suggest that the former Celtic player would ever have made it with us . It's a hell of a lot easier to be noticed playing for the like of Ross Conty or Hibs compared to at a big club like Celtic . Scott Allan looked the part at Hibs, doesn't look anything special with us .
Maybe an exception Stokes looked v poor with us for the past year, and he has continued to look v poor at Hibs.
Some people even blamed RD for his bad form, is it Stubbs now😀😀.

13 Mar 2016 15:36:06
Well played Watford and good luck in the semi-final. I've been an Arsenal hater for decades and even more so when 'Winger Wenger' took over.
They are like the school bully who intimidate weaker, smaller targets but often 'bottle it' on the big occasion or against brave opponents.

13 Mar 2016 13:20:07
Will be in Phuket, Thailand next week! Does anyone know any bars which show Celtic games? Nothing on celticbars.

13 Mar 2016 14:56:39
Not sure on that but I do know where there's a great showing of entertainment using ping pong balls.

13 Mar 2016 19:16:26
Just watch out for the 'ball boys'

14 Mar 2016 09:13:18
Surely there's a bar called Thai Tims out there.

13 Mar 2016 11:47:58
For today's cup games, I fancy BTTS in Arsenal and Man utd games, and I am on Hibs in extra time at 12/ 1, Ross County are also 12/ 1 in extra time and both are 9/ 1 on penalties (if it goes to extra time, placing all 4 bets above gives you a guaranteed profit)

13 Mar 2016 12:36:08
Hibs been on a bad run recently but I fancy them to take this in normal time. Who knows what will happen with Man United but reckon you're on with the BTTS. Think Spurs will bounce back today, could see Villa getting peppered, no fight left in them. I put a cheeky pound on Kane FTS and Spurs to take it 4 nil.

13 Mar 2016 13:47:17
I think Ross co will win this and too good a price @21/ 10 to be ignored find it odd how the bookies can make a team from a lower division favourites. Also gone with West Ham they been playing really well whereas who knows what Utd will turn up again a great price @31/ 10.

13 Mar 2016 13:59:48
Put a treble on there west ham Ross co and spurs 21/ 1 fingers crossed.

13 Mar 2016 14:43:16
Tim your complicating things on your hibs/ Ross co extra time and pens scenario bet. just bet the draw.

13 Mar 2016 08:15:56
Was interesting listening to Deila talking about the difficulty in bringing young players through. One of the reasons he quoted was the pressure to win every game, which is even higher at a club like ours.

He was saying that it is hard to give them game time when you know a loss could mean losing your job. This is something I always suspected was a factor in the lack of talent being brought through in this country and something that we need to address.

So how can we fix this? Well there are two ways that I can see, although I am sure there are others.

1. Ship our players out on loan and hopefully they get game time at a decent level.

2. Have a summit involving in all the clubs, where they all make a commitment to bring through youth players and develop their youth development setup.

Option 2 would be my preferred choice because it would help ensure a healthy future for not only the clubs because it reduces cost but it will also benefit the national team to have good players in the future.

13 Mar 2016 08:35:05
RabMac, we used to have reserve teams leagues which gave players the opportunity but these were scrapped. At one time Celtic and rangers reserve teams were so good it was proposed that they actually get membership to the bottom divisions but that was knocked on the head as well.
The loan deal is probably the only route available and Celtic are used because it gives big clubs like Man City etc. a chance to get THEIR fringe players games at a higher level with almost guraranteed European games.

13 Mar 2016 08:50:17
For me the youth coaches aren't good enough. Also we don't have technical directors/ academy directors in Scotland! He mentioned Ajax, well their set up is better than ours. We've got a guy John Park who was moved from chief scout to football operations manager, but he takes absolutely nothing to do with the youth. We should have a conveyor belt of talent being given to Ronny - ready made to play! That's how teams like Ajax do it. If you're good enough you'll play, regardless of age, that always has and always will be the case! The reason they're not good enough is because of coaching and application. The desire has to come from the kids obviously, but they have to be inspired by the coaches. I read somewhere that the German youth players train around 30% more than the kids in the UK. Also I wouldn't be looking to Norway for inspiration, they're hardly bringing through world class talent every year. I know they've had a few but teams from France, Holland and Germany are doing it constantly.

13 Mar 2016 09:32:51
Delphic we are giving Ronny a string of youth players but as he said he won't play them because we are expected to win every game. Look at the boys out on loan. They would be developed here if we could give them game time. So they go to lesser clubs and the facilities and coaching is not as good but they do get game time but how many come back and play for us. A few but not enough. I don't think it's the development coaches not being good enough. If we went back to a reserve league I think it would help.

13 Mar 2016 09:53:18
I think they have tried different rule changing for this like having to have a certain amount of players under the age of 21 in your match day squad. changed the reserve league to under 20s sending them out on loan is what we do but how meny ever come back mcgregor is the only 1 I can recall ever been out and came back to be a 1st team player hopefully henderson and nesbit come back up play regularly.

13 Mar 2016 10:58:20
What about a B team? Look at a lot of the European sides that have them and the talent they bring through.

13 Mar 2016 12:02:58
RabMac your option 2 is essentially saying we'll start playing more young players as long as all the other teams have to do the same so that there's minimal risk to our club's success. We should be bringing more youth through regardless of the other teams because we have the best facilities in the country and, being the top team, should have the pick of the best young talent who should be able to make the step up to play teams like Kilmarnock and Dundee.

13 Mar 2016 12:09:37
Just read the Delia interview. Ronny is not wrong in what he says about must win now mentality from the board down. It seems Ronny is saying allow me a 5 year project to develop youth and bring them through. That is all well and good but as soon as he developed them Lewell will sell them so he is back to square 1. The reason we have loads of players is because Lawell looks at every signing and thinks he may be someone we can sell for a profit in 2 years. Ronny has stated that Ajax buy the best talent in their league and it looks as if he is trying to copy that by buying the "best" young players in our league? Maybe that is why we have the likes of Scotf Allan? Was an interesting interview. Issue for me is the Lawell but sell policy. He may know how to run a business but a football club is a different animal. No managed has any chance of building anything at Celtic. Just don't think Ronny joined up all the dots before he joined. It's been a lot more difficult than he thought.

13 Mar 2016 12:35:10
Good points johnnymac. I think lawell treats the squad more like a stock inventory than actually considering the footballing side of things.

13 Mar 2016 12:57:41
I agree with Kev - what other clubs do is irrelevant to us. If players are good enough it doesn't matter, because you have to win has nothing to do with it. Every team has to win - Ronny says we have to win, but he plays Teirney instead of Izzy, he must think he's better, so age doesn't even come into it! I'm looking at the last 30/ 40 years, - the last world class, or close to it, player we brought through was Paul McStay, that was 35 years ago! Of course coaches matter - any club will always get the odd one, like McGeady or Teirney, it's the law of averages. The teams with a proper structure and top youth coaches do it every season, it's constant! There's an Anthony Martial coming through in France every few months. All the clubs that can afford it in the Dutch/ French/ German etc etc are producing world class players - how can we not! Belgium is the most recent to sort themselves out! Anderlecht don't have more money than us to spend on youth, they've got the right people in charge, that's the difference!

13 Mar 2016 13:27:33
I think the development coaches are piss poor I was at Celtic for a charity match a few years ago
Mark McNally was one of the coaches to set up our team and run us through some drills his touch was so bad he had to get me and another boy to show the others. At the time he was on Celtics books as a coach at some level.
When coaches can't do the basics we have a big problem. A b side would be logical works for the best leagues so why not Scotland
Would also benefit our clubs by starting a Celtic cup involving Irish Welsh and Scottish clubs. 4 semi finalists from Scotland's league cup and the winners from each of the Irish cups and the finalists from Wales. This would give it experience of travelling and also get different teams.

13 Mar 2016 14:24:38
Interesting points.

One thing about Ajax though, and I think Edgar Davids was talking about this last week, is that one of the primary reasons -- especially in the early 90s -- for their commitment to youth development was their tactics/ style of play.

Their 433, at the time quite an outlandish style, was taught through all the age groups and they were bringing in ready made players for that system. Davids commented on how difficult, especially then, it was to buy someone who could play that system.

This is one of the things I think Ronny has changed. I believe we play the same formation at all levels and when youth players are given their chance, they should have no trouble slotting into the system/ style.

That neither defends/ attacks our current coaches, I just thought it was an interesting comparison to Ajax.

13 Mar 2016 14:44:51
Sounds like Ronnie is giving himself a ready made excuse for not playing youngsters, forget about bringing youngsters who are playing well into the team, the main thing is Ronnie must not lose his job, the pressure to win quote is a bit bizzare, every team has a pressure to win, i understand that when the teams not been playing that well all season and dropped points at this time of year become crucial, is just a reflection on how bad some of Ronnies selections have been through out the season, maybe he should have been introducing more youngsters earlier in the season.

13 Mar 2016 14:52:51
I'm sure the fans would have been really forgiving had that been the case.

Also, why is it so hard (for you) to remember his name is Ronny?

13 Mar 2016 15:25:54
I have been saying this for a while - I believe that RD will be at Celtic for a long time. I think the plan from PL is for the club to buy the best scottish talent or develop their own to then sell them on for big profits, if there was ever a time to do it then it is now when sevco aren't in the league and the pressure isn't as big. I also think that it is a good idea to be doing this at this time but we as fans need to know about it. I personally think that is why he has come out and spoken about it.

However the issue is that we still haven't really been doing it. I said on here a few weeks ago that Tierney only got his chance because izzy and mulgrew were out but he has taken it and is now first choice LB. I don't remember KT name being mentioned as a up and coming youngster ready to make the grade ( maybe he was but I don't recall) . How many other players do we have in the development squad that could also do this if given the chance? As fans we tend to give our own youngsters more of a chance than youngsters we buy from other clubs which is just human nature as they didn't have a transfer fee. If we had been getting the results and performances that we have had recently but with more of our 'own' young players in the team en I think we would be more forgiving than we have. I would love us to have a team of eleven scottish players winning titles, cups and doing it in europe and helping Scotland also improve as a national team. How far away are we for it now? Not too far I don't think?

Only in defence would we struggle to fill but for some reason Scotland don't seem to produce good CD any more!

Glad runny has come out and spoken about this and hopefully we will see more of our development squad given a chance in the first team towards the end of the season. Could we have a midfield five next year of brown, henderson, mcgregor Allan and christie? Or Armstrong, commons and GMS? Griff up front, KT at left back, would just need to have good CD, RB AND GK. Nae bother!

13 Mar 2016 15:33:13
Well for me i would think Celtic having a B team in the lower leagues would be better than bringing back the reserve league the same way Spanish team's do also one of the big problems in this country kids are not allowed to express themselves enough and big strong players are valued more than smaller more technically gifted players although times are changing slowly also someone was saying about Ajax's system but also the Barcelona system teaches the youngster's how to play their position in their formation early on and although I'm not a fan of the 4231 we use just now i do think it's a good idea to use the same formation right the way through the clubs system.

{Ed001's Note - how many youngsters are produced for the first team through having B teams in the league in Spain? It does not help them at all. Athletic Bilbao are the only team that has a working youth system in Spain, that is not because of a B team. It purely comes down to taking the bull by the horns, so to speak, and giving the youth products a chance to play in the first team.}

13 Mar 2016 15:44:30
ED001, Am I right in thinking that Bilbao's commitment/ reliance on youth was driven, in part, by their (official/ unofficial? ) focus on Basque players? Is that still the case?

{Ed001's Note - it is entirely driven by that, you are correct. They have a small pool of players to recruit from, so they have to concentrate of the best coaching they can possibly provide and developing from within.}

13 Mar 2016 17:40:57
There are very many reasons why it is difficult to bring through youngsters . MO'N said the demands for winning every game meant he near enough ignored the youth .
Sunderland football club get one player out of 250 that goes through their academy . On the other-hand Ulster. rugby who sign up youngsters solely from within the Province have a 75 % success rate from their arcademy . ( that means 75% play for Ireland at some level )
I think pitches like yesterday's weather conditions and standards of refereeing are all areas that make it difficult . Of course it is easier at smaller clubs like Partrick Ross County Hamilton where a few midfield injuries could well mean the manager has no option but to play youths . Maybe the league could organise special terms for young players who are loaned out, such as training with the lending club one day a week.

13 Mar 2016 17:48:52
ed i was not citing the Spanish teams because their record of producing players for their first team but more that i think the system in general could be beneficial to Celtic where youngster's get more first team football of a more competitive nature also Celtic can have more control over development rather than sending youth out on loan and also it could give more attractive opposition to the lower league team's.

{Ed001's Note - that was my point though, it does nothing to benefit the clubs that using the system. The players end up going elsewhere, not actually breaking through at the club itself. Loans are not the answer, nor is playing them in the lower leagues. The answer is to have the balls to pick them. Not many managers have and that is the issue.}

14 Mar 2016 18:34:00
The balls are usually manager or coaches at small clubs . Playing a couple of youngsters on 1st team and avoiding relegation will usually keep that balls in a job .
MO 'N and all Celtic managers since know the size of their balls won't count if SPL isn't won .

13 Mar 2016 00:01:27
From time to time some people post that R D has lost the dressing- room and shoite like that . What I thought was good about today's team, over half of them went over to the fans and gave them their top. I think that illustrates a happlness within the squad and I think that comes through the manager and assistants .
Of course our away fans are the best in the game and it would be wonderful if we could have the same backing at Celtic Park from home fans.

13 Mar 2016 14:23:36
Chris, I suppose in your world clubs like Man Utd are doing nothing wrong at the moment, it's just their supporters are complaining too much.
You should try and remember who are the ones that are being paid to provide entertainment, it's the players, they are the people who are taking money out of the club. The supporters who you seem to despise actually put money into the club.
I think that supporters have the good of the club at heart far more than a lot of the greedy mercenaries that you always seem to side with.

13 Mar 2016 17:56:02
Why pick on Manchester Utd and City Arsenal Chelsea Spurs and Liverpoolmthey have all spent 10 or 20 times and more than Leicester City . The big difference because of or despite the fans reaction to the team Celtic are still leading the league with a game in hand. These clubs in England are all trailing miserably a team which was very close to been relegated . Only the worse of those I named sacked their manager as the team sank towards relegation and for the next games the Chelsea manager's name was chanted and lauded throughout the match .
In Scotland we have the biggest budget, fair enough but the clubs in the SPL are far closer to Celtic than Leicester City is to these multi millionaire clubs .
I don't follow EPL but I don't see the same anger amongst all the big spenders for allowing the paupers Leicester City to win . Maybe someone could tell me if there are many clubs calling for the sacking of the CEO and manager either now or at the end of season

Gerryc can u imagine how the Celtic supporters would react if they were in 6th position, your comparison between Celtic and Man Chester United is v strange.