Celtic Banter Archive September 16 2015

16 Sep 2015 22:58:19
Think our manager is losing the plot completely with his latest quotes " we're on the up"? "We have to get back to what we did against Inter Milan last season"?"That was a very good away game"?"It shows we can do it in Europe". Do what exactly Ronny? Lose?

17 Sep 2015 08:36:28
When we went down to ten men he took off the best player GMS who was causing them problems up front in a game we needed to score.

17 Sep 2015 15:42:22
I really can't remember GMS causing Aberdeen too many nervous moments . I do remember the much criticised James Forest sending 2 shots / crosses just past the far post and almost scoring .

16 Sep 2015 18:31:03
tried to post earlier but error kept coming up don't know if it went through so heres a shorter version,, re the striker situation since Mowbray left 2009/10 we have signed or loaned 22 players and spent approx. 24 million ,,4.8 mill a season and 4.4 players a season yet we still need a striker ,,that is criminal ineptness imo as I re post I'm still struggling with the numbers ,,who is to blame managers board scouts ,,whoever we blame a total rehaul of our transfer policy needs undertaking

16 Sep 2015 20:21:55
Its a major failing that must be addressed. Some supporters think PL is doing a good job for the amounts pulled in for a few players like VVD, Forster and Wanyama but are happy to overlook losses accumulated through strikers signed.

16 Sep 2015 13:44:41
Afternoon Ed, Can I ask you and others your take / view on this LG "double whammy"

Firstly, The comments I think the beaks will over look this I cannot see him getting a ban for it simply because of the follow up one the potential ban over the Rudi Skatchel incident I think he will get a 3 or 4 game ban for this and I don't think there grounds for appeal if am honest!

He is the only one firing at CP at the moment in my opinion and the thought of him missing games is a nightmare just wondered what you thought he would get . Thanks

{Ed007's Note - I think we'll see him miss 6-8 games with 1 or 2 possibly suspened.}

16 Sep 2015 14:38:00
I know a lot of people don't like him but stokes could fill that gap in the spl,, but its also the acid test for big cifti to prove his doubters wrong he's got to be played at some point so until then.

16 Sep 2015 14:57:07
That's another reason they should have looked to strengthen during the transfer window, if ED is right and he gets a 6-8 game ban, it's a big chunk of the season, and the powers that be must have known it was a possibility.
I think it shows as well, that it's taking a risk relying so heavily on a player who is constantly getting into trouble, it's one thing missing matches getting injured, but it's quite another missing them for just sheer stupidity.

16 Sep 2015 15:15:27
It will be a big loss as we currently struggle without his goals. The club should expect a lengthy ban, just like the Ciftci one and RD should be looking at alternative formations in preparation and not just hoping Ciftci will emulate Griffiths - as they are totally different players and we may need to try two up front, with Commons, GMS or even Stokes as a partner for Ciftci - who has yet to find any form.

16 Sep 2015 15:19:40
That's steep Ed and we will miss him big time for sure!

{Ed007's Note - It's not the first time he's been in trouble over racism, they could hammer him.}

16 Sep 2015 23:26:31
I have been in agreement with Ed on Griffiths since we first spoke about signing him. it doesn't matter how good he is if he is too f##### stupid to keep his mouth shut. I also think that the management team should shoulder some of the responsibility. They know better than most that he is an immature git, so they should ban him from speaking to the press, especially right after a game when tempers can still be hot. In the meantime, I don't think we have anyone who has the right frame of mind to replace him. Cicti is not firing yet, Stokes is not good enough for the strikers role even domestically because he keeps drifting out wide, Commons appears to be on the wrong side of RD, so who do we use??

16 Sep 2015 13:32:06
I think by looking at last nights results, we should all get a wee reality check.
Both Manchester clubs with there £100s millions spent, granted Malmö aren't in the same class of opposition as the likes of juve but as a comparison to us, and Man city to juve it is.

16 Sep 2015 13:53:57
Spot on jbhoy, the money that is thrown about by English clubs is obscene, when you look at what Man City and Manchester United have spent recently they should be miles ahead of the opposition they are up against, yet continually fail.
I think it proves that it's the quality of player that counts, and not the size of the fee.

16 Sep 2015 15:29:33
It's not always about comparing ourselves to Europe's Giants as we have always known our financial and Geographical limits - even back in big Jocks days.
It's simply about what is right in front of your eyes every week and most of us can see we are under-performing and we are not at the standards we should be for a club of our size, reputation, resources and facilities.
Even since WGS left, we've lost a lot of ground in terms of quality, standard of player and capability of CL challenge.
Strachan and even Lennon managed to attract decent players within our very limited budget and made the last 16.
The current regime/team cannot negotiate the qualifiers.

16 Sep 2015 19:31:41
That's the point junglejim, but for some defensive blunders at home leg of Malmö game, we would have won comfortably, and the away leg was a makeshift defence, and more importantly poor tactics.
Man U & City have to be under performing too, with the resources and top European managers & players they have, even psg only managed to win by 2 goals against malmo

16 Sep 2015 10:23:59
I see Aidan Nisbett is in the Europa squad. anybody seen much of him?

16 Sep 2015 14:25:10
been following his career since seeing him in victory shield as a 14/15 year and he looks the best we've had for years

16 Sep 2015 02:01:55
So, where do we go from here then? It would be fair to say we're in a bit of a mess atm all over and everyone needs to give themselves a shake and get their heads together. Big players from last season have been replaced by inferior players and all is not well in the camp as rumours suggest with possible unrest and there is no smoke without fire.

I for one am not against the 4-2-3-1 formation(Yes, even against Killie at home), what I am against is the majority of the current players whom occupy the positions. Ronny could have a not TOO bad side if he just grew a pair and stood up to some players who aren't doing it for him atm, if he has suspicions of some players not willing to give their all for him then he should drop them immediately and also those who are not performing and are in poor form.

The way I see it, we have two very good players in Bitton and Lustig who should always play when fit, I feel with Lustig though he should be moved to CB because I've read before he feels comfortable there and it would perhaps prevent his recurring injury problems. I've watched him play there at CB for us on two big occasions against both Benfica and Karagandy at home in the CL and he was comfortable and reliable in that position for me, if not Lustig then honestly Ambrose is a far better option at CB over both Mulgrew and Boyata imo.

It's not great from here tbh squad wise for me and this is my opinion on our squad, so you have the.

Good Footballers: Bitton, Lustig.

OK Footballers: Izzy, Ambrose, Commons, Gordon(Poor form), McGregor, Griffiths.

Undecided Footballers whom I can't decide if they are Poor or OK: Forrest, Johansen(Poor form), Armstrong.

Poor Footballers: Brown, Mulgrew, Boyata, Ciftci, Stokes, GMS.

Undecided Footballers whom I need to see more of: Jozo Simunovic, Scott Allan, Ryan Christie, Fisher, Henderson, O'Connell, Janko, Blackett, Bailly, Rogic, Fasan, Tierney.

Footballers who need to leave for their own good: Boeriggter, Scepovic.

This is my opinion of the current squad, If Ronny took this stance with the current squad then I think we'd be better off as a team currently, hopefully he's beginning to realise who he can trust and who he cannot, obviously we need positions strengthened, especially the attacking areas.

But I think he should go with something like this from now until January.

--------------Gordon-------------

-Janko---Lustig---Simunovic--Izzy-

---------Bitton---Rogic----------

---McGregor---Commons----Allan---

--------------Griffiths-----------

Bench: Bailly, Ambrose, Forrest, Armstrong, Johansen, Tierney, Blackett.

Lustig as Captain, Commons Vice Captain.

The rest shouldn't be near the first team, I realise there's no second striker there on the bench but that highlights just how bad the situation is up top that I wouldn't trust Ciftci.

Anyway, Gordon needs to get his finger out and I would rotate those bench players with first team players depending on players form, I'd see how that went until January and then Ronny could look at his squad and see what positions needs strengthening, imo that side would put up far more fight that we're seeing currently and win us the matches required, especially domestically.

Doubt Ronny will be this brave though and in turn guys like Mulgrew, Boyata, Brown, GMS and Ciftci should they play may in fact cost Ronny his job imo.

16 Sep 2015 08:02:11
Absolute garbage about brown again

16 Sep 2015 09:53:48
I get you have a vendetta against Brown, sure he's had a dip in form as has Stef. But playing Commons. he's radically getting worse mate

16 Sep 2015 10:26:25
What's your issue with Brown? OK he's had a couple of poor games but get a grip!

16 Sep 2015 10:39:51
Ambrose is a better footballer than Brown lol oh deary me I've heard it all now! Funny thing is I agree with pretty much everything else, but Brown not even making the bench ahead of guys like McGregor, Ambrose, Commons and others really does show you up

16 Sep 2015 10:55:43
To be fair I agree that Lustig and Biton on form would be my 2 first picks also, last year I would have added Brown/Johansen/Gordon to that, so far this season the 3 of them have been rotten, and something must be going on behind the scenes. I really hope Gordon isn't another one who downs tools as soon as the get a new contract. My 18 players going forward, all things being equal, - Gordon, Janko, Lustig, Simunovic, Blacket, Brown, Biton, Johansen, Armstrong, Rogic, Griffighs. Subs, - Bailley, Izzy, Boyata, GMS, Cifti, Allan, Teirney. It's only fair we give Cifti/Boyata/GMS time but so far I'm not overly impressed. If I never saw Forrest, Mulgrew,Stokes, Ambrose, Commons again I couldn't care less. McGregor is another who hasn't kicked a ball since he got his 5 year contract. The squad in general though lacks real quality, real experience, and real talkers/leaders. On top of this we have absolutely no options up front. Some top teams have 5 strikers. Even teams like West Brom were desperate to get rid of a couple when they signed Rondon, because they had so many. You always have a chance though if you have 2 top strikers on the bench, we don't have 1.

16 Sep 2015 11:06:00
We all agree we have a very limited squad in quality, class and even basic ability, but the manager (or board) has assembled this group and will have to persevere with it.
We fail time and time again in the transfer windows to fill the positions we struggle with and replace the better players we repeatedly sell, with adequate quality.
Stokes, Mulgrew, Ambrose, Scepovic, Boerigter and Commons should all have been off loaded as they have either went backwards, never had it or in Commons case has done very little since his new contract - and we should have sold him.

I get your point about Brown and he has limitations, but he has remained at the club under three managers, so they must see something in him to make him captain - so we must accept he is part of the team (like it or not).

A big worry for me is at the turn of the year, we were doing very well, albeit with Denayer and VVD in command, but the rest of the team were playing well and we cruised to the title in style scoring for fun and playing good football.
This season we have stalled and went backwards and it's not just the new arrivals that have caused the transition; too many players are shadows of what they are capable of.

The next transfer window is a long way off and we are not usually that busy in January windows, so we have to find a formation the players are happy with and play to any strengths we still have - or we will fail miserably.

16 Sep 2015 11:18:19
rogic has had one good perfprmance so far .he was pish at pittodrie yet you have him in with biton the two slowest/ one paced players in the squad together. biton has got better but is not the player he is being made out to be yet and rogic is still to prove himself as well. then in front of that you have an aging slowing commons. we would get overran every week ,you would then put out wide an untested allen whose best position is in cm.

16 Sep 2015 19:35:22
Boerrigter has it made. , he certainly doesn't have to leave for his own good .
He has a two year contract at good wages and doesn't have to worry about first team football or drop in form .