17 Jan 2021 23:16:23
Lads can I ask ye what is Paul Mcstay doing these days. He never really stayed in football after retirement.
17 Jan 2021 23:27:42
He moved to Australia a number of years ago and runs his own software company.
Use our rumours form to send us celtic transfer rumours.
17 Jan 2021 23:16:23
Lads can I ask ye what is Paul Mcstay doing these days. He never really stayed in football after retirement.
17 Jan 2021 23:27:42
He moved to Australia a number of years ago and runs his own software company.
17 Jan 2021 18:49:15
If we hadn't went to Dubai and had been able to field the team which had been playing well up until then, I'm confident we'd have taken 6 points rather than the 2 we managed from our previous 2 games and with the rotten mod dropping 2 points today it might have been game on rather than league over. Would still have been an uphill task but at least we would have had a chance.
17 Jan 2021 19:42:47
If we never went to dubai more than Julien might've caught C.V., since Scotland had a worse C.V. rate than Dubai at the time. All ifs buts and maybes.
17 Jan 2021 20:10:13
Wylie there should never have been a need for any ifs buts and maybes. We should never have been there it was a monumental act of self harm and gross mismanagement on the clubs part that has effectively cost us the 10. Those responsible should resign.
17 Jan 2021 20:30:58
Agree JFP. Totally irresponsible. So many bad management ideas this season.
17 Jan 2021 20:49:50
Yep this situation has been engineered albeit unintentionally I presume, by the management team.
This could have been avoided and maybe kept this season alive
Hindsight easy but history was in the making now it will be all about the team that stopped the ten and probably by a stack load of points.
17 Jan 2021 20:56:22
The ten was lost when action wasn't taken in October when it was clear to all things had to change. Them dropping a couple of beans nothing sadly.
17 Jan 2021 20:58:23
Wyllie CV kicked in March 2020 and we managed to prevent it taking hold within the club due to the strict protocol put in place . We then go a jolly bhoys outing to Dubai knowing fine well the figures in Dubai were going through the roof (a simple google would have shown this if you weren't aware) and also knowing the UK was going into lockdown in the coming week.
Can't believe you're trying justify this decision down.
Total gross management by the club in one of the most important seasons ever!
17 Jan 2021 21:04:59
Did not a women's football team, might have been England, come back from Dubai, the week before we went out, and most of them came back with C.V., or is that just a story that's going around, never checked the veracity.
17 Jan 2021 21:24:46
Where we are in the league has nothing to do with going to Dubai the damage was done long before that.
17 Jan 2021 23:34:24
Where we are in the league has everything to do with going to Dubai, the idea we should go to Dubai, as some kind of training, bonding, warm weather, piss up session, against staying at home and playing some games in hand and getting some cold weather training as well, shows the kind of delusions of superiority mentality that is afflicting our club at the minute, we should get back to basics, the players should remember that they are professionals, they should earn their money, the manager should remember, his job is to put the best team on the field, he should forget about friendships and loyalty, and remember his job.
18 Jan 2021 07:33:33
Oldkilly I know where you're coming from. The signs were there for all to see a long time ago when we had a the usual crap coming from some fans like "In Lennon we trust" and "we will still win the league by 10 points".
My point is that we still had a chance to get back into the league and you can never tell what's round the corner in football, but by going to Dubai after losing to our biggest rival, we more or less handed them the league with what followed.
18 Jan 2021 13:15:05
When they went to Dubai they were 19 points adrift of them do you honestly believe we would have won the games in hand with the players who are self isolating, the same players who couldn’t lay glove on Ross County. We have been abysmal since the season started, and they will not be crumbling as some have suggested. We are fortunate Aberdeen and Hibs are as inconsistent as we are or we would be struggling to finish second.
18 Jan 2021 18:27:44
Oldkilly, Yes I do believe we would have won the last 2 games with the same players who totally outplayed Rangers up until the sending off. The same players who in the 3 games before that had beat Dundee Utd 3-0, Hamilton 3-0 and Ross County 2-0 but you seem to have missed these games and choose to go back a further 6 games to bring up the Ross County defeat which I think was Scott Browns last start was it not?
Aye ok we'd be struggling to finish second, what a load of crap.
17 Jan 2021 18:04:08
Was watching the game and listening to Wullie McStay and John Collins commenting for PRAVDA yesterday what a cringe. They were obviously toeing the party but you could hear what they weren't saying. It sounded to me as if it translated as bawz burst the team doesn't know their roles and the manager has lost the plot.
Equally bizarre comments from McGregor as well after the game that seemed to convey the same sentiments.
'They (Livingston) understand the game and get it forward they use their presence and the ball. We didn't really understand the game in terms of trying to build out and giving them territory in that's what they want. '
You could hear his frustration.
17 Jan 2021 18:11:51
JC arms were like hypnotic windmills.
17 Jan 2021 18:39:40
Absolutely JFP, Willie McStay talked a load of crap. Collins at least had a go at the youngsters on what they should be doing, day in - day out, to become 1st team players.
KT used as a great example - 'he signed when he was 7'
17 Jan 2021 18:48:44
Tu et Petrus I thought it was just me that was listening to Wullie McStay’s analysis and thinking ‘Whit? ’. I concluded since he played and was involved in some capacity with the youth I think that it must be me. He was making that little sense I was actually hoping that he wasn’t sober.
17 Jan 2021 19:08:17
Willie McStay won Sligo Rovers a historic treble in 1994 as a second division side.
He took them into the top division and also won the 2 Irish domestic cups.
Willie McStay will always be a legend in Sligo.
17 Jan 2021 19:23:17
BB his brother is a legend to me.
17 Jan 2021 19:27:59
No, it was me also JFP (we're turning into Jack and Victor) !
Buzz, did Willie, Paul and Raymond ever play together in the first team? I'm sure Willue and Paul did in the early 80's.
17 Jan 2021 19:30:42
Paul remains my all time favourite Celtic player and a gentleman.
17 Jan 2021 19:55:47
Raymond never played for first team if I mind right.
17 Jan 2021 19:55:54
Pedro
Paul and Willie played plenty of times together in the 80s.
They also both scored against Rangers in a midweek 3-0 victory at Celtic Park.
I don’t think Raymond actually played for the first team.
My memory might be playing tricks on me but I think the closest Raymond got to playing was in a midweek fixture away to St. Johnstone.
He was an unused sub and I think Celtic won 3-0.
I can remember the fans shouting for Raymond to get on, so he could play in the same team as Paul.
Back then there was only 2 subs, so I don’t think Raymond got a chance after that.
17 Jan 2021 20:18:00
Cheers Kev and Buzz as always.
17 Jan 2021 20:28:20
Pedro I had a look back.
The game I’m thinking off was a midweek 4-2 victory at McDairmid Park in January 1992.
Paul McStay opened the scoring and Celtic were leading 4-1 and I think that’s when the fans were singing for Raymond to get on.
18 Jan 2021 10:00:34
Raymond ended up working at Phoenix car sales for abit (linwood) dunno where he went after that.
17 Jan 2021 17:52:03
Whatever may unfold at CP in the coming days, week's (month's) .
For any real change of direction at the club to take place, I think most of us agree that Peter Lawwell needs to go, after 17 years.
However, I think it's just as important that whomever replaces PL does not have the same passion to align our club with those over at Ibrox.
17 Jan 2021 19:08:42
Lennon, Kennedy, Strachan, bankier and lawell all need to go new fresh start because as of the summer at least 6-7 first team players will want to leave as well!
17 Jan 2021 19:24:27
I think I must have missed something about Bankier? Why should he leave?
17 Jan 2021 21:44:47
Sevconian here. Celtic have won 9 in a row and a historic quadruple treble under Peter lawell. Rangers are 20 points ahead, this season, but nothings won yet. Look at Lennon's current record v previous managers. He's doing well. Duffy's duff, but Celtic are actually doing ok. Lennon has lost the dressing room and brown is done. If yous draw or lose at livi, then everything is over.
17 Jan 2021 17:42:44
So after seeing JFP post about Ralf Ragnick and thinking what a appointment that would be but maybe a bit to ambitious and unlikely so I thought what about one of his prodigy's that maybe viable and I thought of Jesse Marsch . Who would you guys realistically want in as the next manager?
17 Jan 2021 17:53:07
Sergej Rebrov, Paulo Sousa, Kjetil Knutsen
Salzburg manager is not realistic possibility for me.
17 Jan 2021 18:09:30
roberto de zerbi frightening job at at Sassuolo and wouldn't be impossible.
17 Jan 2021 18:18:44
Knutsen is another great shout.
17 Jan 2021 19:26:03
Ragnick would be a dream but I can't see it happening sadly.
18 Jan 2021 00:41:43
Does any of the Eds know what sort of salary Rangnick was on at Leipzig as manager or now currently as a DOF? I'm sure the money we paid BR would probably surpass that so I doubt the salary would be an issue it's whether Lawwell would fund his vision an ambitions for the club or he sees the Scottish league as too much of a step down in his career. But his reputation of turning unproven players into sizable profits for the clubs he's been at should make him a perfect candidate for Lawwell.
{Ed007's Note - I'm not sure how accurate these figures are but he was apparently on €3.5 million p.a. at RB Leipzig and last summer AC Milan were willing to make him their highest paid coach ever on €5 million p.a.}
18 Jan 2021 13:05:30
If he refused that then there's no chance us getting him if his salary will eclipse the chief executives.
{Ed007's Note - It wasn't over money he turned them down.}
17 Jan 2021 16:02:23
do wee have a full squad for this weeks match or is players still having to isolate.
17 Jan 2021 16:04:36
yes players will be back UI.
17 Jan 2021 16:08:08
I thought it was 3 games they had to self isolate for UI.
17 Jan 2021 16:08:20
Players back monday.
17 Jan 2021 16:08:49
UI I believe the Dubai 13 will be freed and will be available.
17 Jan 2021 16:09:24
I’m sure Gavin Strachan mentioned Monday UI.
It will give the players 2 days training before the match on Wednesday.
17 Jan 2021 16:12:08
cheers guys. another wee question how come we don't have a game next weekend.
17 Jan 2021 16:24:41
Were off to dubai again.
17 Jan 2021 16:55:06
Hahaha imagine 🤣.
17 Jan 2021 17:00:20
United Ireland
We were scheduled to be playing St. Mirren away but they’ve got a league cup Semi Final to play next weekend.
I think that away game will now take place on February 10th.
17 Jan 2021 17:51:06
Excuse after Wednesday will be players haven't had much training and need to get up to speed 😂😂 can see it now.
17 Jan 2021 15:53:49
As has been said.
Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.
Unfortunately Celtic don't act ie let Lennon go till the end of the season. I'm thinking (or more in hope) that whoever they have in mind to come in is already employed and maybe waiting till the season finishes.
How on earth Kennedy managed to get to assistant manager is beyond me. I'm sorry but seeing Kennedy standing on the side lines does nothing for the confidence.
We have filled our back room team full of average coaches is it any wonder our performances lack creativity, fitness, effort.
I don't think the team are as bad as the weekly performances suggest. You don't become a bad team over night. This has been in the making since December 2019. After getting out played by Rangers we went to Dubai and came back playing a 352 and it worked. It also papered over the cracks cause let's face it we weren't doing to well up to that point all be it we kept pace with Rangers.
But the start of this season showed how inept our coaching staff rely are.
Brendan Rodgers showed with a bit of no how, you can turn under achievers into invincibles.
We need a manager and coaching staff who commands respect, has that know how.
I don't think we need a whole new team, just new ideas and fresh motivation.
17 Jan 2021 19:24:23
We actually do need a whole new team, all these players either have loans expiring, contracts running to last 12 months, expressed they want to leave or simply aren't good enough.
Hazzard
Ralston
Duffy
Ajer
Elhamed
Laxalt
Christie
Edward
Brown
Elyonusie
Ntcham
Rogic
Gutman
Perez
Dembelle
Bayo
Boli
Shved
Plus none of the youngsters looked capable the last couple of games.
New squad needed and work needed now to start putting it together.
17 Jan 2021 21:36:56
You could add Barkas and Bain to that list.
17 Jan 2021 14:55:25
I'd make an approach to buy Lewis Ferguson from the Sheep in this window.
No matter who comes in, he can do a job and he'll increase in value.
17 Jan 2021 15:20:25
If he is in the £2m - £3m price range i would agree. But they wanted £10m for McKenna off us but settled for £5m. They will hang us out to dry with fee. Might do a job though as we need a bit of steel to replace Broony.
17 Jan 2021 15:28:17
We should be buying the best young Scottish players but god only knows what's going on behind the scenes. Hopefully change is in motion but no doubt NL will be here till the end of the season. Propaganda will appear the week before renewals. We need a manager who can come in and assess the squad and get the rebuild started asap. Fail to prepare Prepare to fail sums us up.
17 Jan 2021 15:43:33
Fully agree Pedro. Love to see him in as he has proven himself in the league. Especially in case we lose McGregor in the summer.
17 Jan 2021 16:25:55
There are a few players at Hibs who have caught my eye also.
17 Jan 2021 14:02:04
Had a quick look at current squad and after taking account those that seemingly want away, those that aren' t good enough, those that are at best decent squad players I was left with Soro, McGregor, Turnbull, Forrest and Griffiths - who I'd class as first team starters who want to be here next season . Four of the five mentioned have had little game time this season . Big clear out and re-build required on and off the park.
17 Jan 2021 14:40:25
I know he is not popular but I would add Taylor to that list and Johnston, Macinroy, Robertson, Connell and O'Connor.
THe problem lies in finding good enough replacements. The only standout in Scotland is Ferguson, any from England will be average and expensive.
How many foriegn players have been excellent at any price big bucks don't guarentee of success.
17 Jan 2021 14:51:30
Agreed Jonace apart from Johnston (Mikey) , he thinks he's a player and he's clearly delusional.
17 Jan 2021 14:52:30
Fair assessment av stated earlier we need a whole back 4 presuming ajer is away. a keeoer.2 wingers. and another striker. the prob is getting rid of the dross we've signed. We'll have to take a severe hit on most of them. gross mismanagement of the highest order.
17 Jan 2021 15:14:24
Mikey is a good player why do people bash him so much? Yes he’s not the finished article but he’s got a lot of potential and he’s been injured most of this season when we’ve been crying out for wingers.
17 Jan 2021 15:21:37
Damien Duff said Mikey was biggest talent at club. He must have something but for sure has struggled in last few games.
17 Jan 2021 15:30:13
He trys to hard and needs to bulk up. Forrest has been a huge miss this season.
17 Jan 2021 15:30:32
InschBhoy, I hope I'm wrong and he goes on to become a legend at CP but all I've seen is a greedy, selfish player.
In terms of potential and not being the finished article, he's 21 years old and 4 months older than Lewis Ferguson.
17 Jan 2021 15:48:22
Imo Johnstone ain't making it at us . he lacks power and a modern manager will look for that. hate to say that about the boy. He drifts in and out of games. not sure either about Harper and dembelle there's work to do with as well.
17 Jan 2021 16:11:25
Mally, Harper could well be away in this or the Summer window with the MLS calling.
Don't know much about Dembele but I thought our Youth set up had a strong group of players with a few getting close to the first team - now I'm not so sure.
17 Jan 2021 16:14:14
not just duff all the coaches and the best manager we have had in years all said the boy is a real talent and the players all say he is unreal. there's a player in there.
17 Jan 2021 16:52:01
Ferguson turnbull soro and mcgregor
I like that midfield I’d also go and sign Gallagher from Motherwell.
17 Jan 2021 17:13:45
Mickey has talent, but he is too weak and slight. He needs to bulk up like Pat and Christie. A breath knocks him over. He has been utterly woeful the last two games. Utterly woeful, he had a chance to stake a claim, but blew it. Until he gets stronger he's a boy down.
17 Jan 2021 17:31:08
My biggest fear is there’s NOTHING coming through youth team that are of real genuine quality. If you can’t get a game with 13 players out or stick out when squad has majorly underperformed all season.
There’s no Forrest, Tierney or Mcgregor coming through. In days gone by we would at least have somebody from youth team banging the goals in who would make the bench and get a run out in dead rubbers at end of season but we had to play without a striker yesterday which worries me for future.
17 Jan 2021 18:46:47
Get some decent wingers in and we won't rely so much on full backs. Not convinced diamond is long term solution. It's become the new 352. Whatever shape the new manager decides on we need to be able to mix it up. This season we put everything into 352. Teams worked us out and we were stuck.
17 Jan 2021 18:48:19
Players develop at different rates so yes he still has time to reach his potential. The older he gets the better his decision making will be. Ferguson is a great young player but you can’t compare Ferguson and Mikey just because they are a similar age. Mikey loves to dribble at players and sometimes we look so pedestrian passing for the sake of it we need players like him. I would love to see Celtic developing our own players and when players like Ferguson come along get them in. Turnbull Ferguson mcgregor midfield would be really good balance.
17 Jan 2021 14:01:38
Ralf rangick in with Gallagher as 1st signing 😂😂😂😂 sorry ones far too good and out of reach and the other is pish.
17 Jan 2021 14:56:37
Welshy, it's a bit harsh saying Ralf is pish (LOL)
17 Jan 2021 15:31:23
Frank Gallagher more apt.
17 Jan 2021 13:43:17
Ralf Rangnick would cost us circa £3m per year which is ballpark BR money. Let's assume he would be the difference between selling 50,000 and 25,000 season tickets which I think is a reasonable assumption. That equates to a £12.5m annual financial differential. Dermot Desmond hardly needs a calculator to do the sums. Particularly if Ralf Rangnick is the man to rebuild the team and youth development and our scouting system. With regard to procurement alone his contact list would be worth the investment.
17 Jan 2021 13:47:35
we can only dream to get that man in there's no way its happening unfortunately.
17 Jan 2021 13:20:53
Declan Gallagher could do us a turn at centre half.
17 Jan 2021 13:32:50
Av said that a few times mate get him for peanuts .29 get 3 year out him. no brainer.
17 Jan 2021 13:49:14
When u look at what we have now its a no brainer. Not a standout but when u look at how far we have fallen he would certainly do a turn.
17 Jan 2021 13:56:38
Mally / Chinks he got his head to every ball that came into the box today which we badly need ASAP and never lost one.
17 Jan 2021 14:11:19
Yep, I said it the other week re Declan;-
* Scottish International
* knows and loves the Club
* has competed in this league
* over 6ft 4
* 29 yrs old
After Ralf comes in he can be a good back up.
17 Jan 2021 16:28:48
Better than Bitton and Duffy as a CB that's for sure.
17 Jan 2021 12:45:02
Hi Ed, not posted in a while as had some family issues anyway hope you are well and thanks for keeping the site going through these trying times.
Along with all the good and valid points being posted I feel that these three have also been a major factor:
1-Not securing Fraser F, he definitely covered up our defensive frailties.
2-Losing Damien Duff, standards of fitness and organisation seem to have slipped badly since he left.
3-James F injury, Like him or not we have dropped loads of points since he went out the team.
The wheels have come off pretty quickly and I think a good manager will sort out our problems, get us fit and organised, ship out the deadwood and those that are not 100% committed, keep the faith and Hail HailðŸ€.
17 Jan 2021 11:30:38
Thanks for the comments on Ralf Rangnick question there seems to be a lot of positive feedback I was unsure.
He's available. Is it a possibility?
17 Jan 2021 11:49:04
JFP, I don't see why not, but you maybe better phoning Mr Desmond and tell him because, He's not Irish so probably has never heard of him and also the amount of time it takes for us to get business done, some other team will snap him up shortly.
Good shout though, that's the level we need to be looking at.
17 Jan 2021 12:02:22
JFP, Hoops88 has said Sylvinho will 100% be the manager next season so there's really no need for us to speculate as to who our next manager will be. It's not often he's wrong after all lol.
17 Jan 2021 12:09:23
Hey JFP, I've been reading a bit on yer man Ralf and what he did with Red Bull.
It'd be a win/ win for DD as he'd put a winning team on the park both domestically and in Europe, overhaul the youth set up and increase the clubs value.
17 Jan 2021 12:20:20
RJ10 aye I think Ralf Rangnick would be a shout. Strange you should suggest I phone Peter Lawell as he’s not Irish because I was actually wondering. We agree the interference from PL in football matters has been a problem and that the business men should run the business and the football men should take care of football matters. So here’s my question. When PL, NL, JK and NH go who is there to make uggestions to DD with regard to future manager or DOF options given he’s a business man and not a football man. Where does he get his guidance.
PS: On the Irish note if its Roy Keane I’ll be renewing my season ticket to retain my seat but I wouldn’t go. He should never have worn the jersey never no time for players who want to come at the end of their career because they’re ‘supporters’ never mind being manager. He’s no Martin O’Neil or BR either for that matter.
17 Jan 2021 12:23:53
Pedro he appears to be exactly what we need focus on youth development and established but relatively unknown players and a reputation for attacking football.
17 Jan 2021 12:24:14
Hed do for me J ðŸ‘.
17 Jan 2021 12:26:00
I'd hire Roy Keane a consultant Psychologist LOL.
17 Jan 2021 12:36:51
I'd argue getting Ragnick in the door would be an even more ambitious move than bringing in Rodgers. Really can't see it at all.
17 Jan 2021 12:42:10
Mally me too but has DD even heard of him? Apparently his focus on youth and established younger players but not household names was such that he was unhappy with AC Milan signing Zlatan Ibrahimović at 38 because he felt that was taking the club in the wrong direction. Exactly what we need.
17 Jan 2021 12:47:14
Sounds good but we'll go down the cheap route as per.
17 Jan 2021 12:47:44
Kev BR was on similar money as he is on and apparently it’s all about the challenge for him. We can certainly offer him that at the moment. Give him the remit and free reign to rebuild the team and youth development and scouting system. Speculate to accumulate. PS: BR only came because he’d nowhere to go in England.
17 Jan 2021 13:15:54
I agree, the Celtic 'job' is a project alright especially when you talk to someone like Ralf about performing and progressing in Europe.
With the money we'll bring in for the outgoing players (50M+) we could afford him and Ralf would be an investment as he'd save us wasting money on 'projects' for the future.
17 Jan 2021 13:31:18
a dream to get that man in so much so i don't even think it would be possible but we can dream.
17 Jan 2021 14:13:37
Liamlennon, if we got Ralf (humour me) would you change your name to liamrangnick? LOL.
17 Jan 2021 15:20:27
pedro in a heartbeat i done it with lennon lol.
17 Jan 2021 10:46:50
Neil peter Desmond what are they thinking right now i be looking for a bus ticket this is the worse season how could we be in this state how could they accept this do they think paying fans will be thinking renew the season tickets with these people in charge its a non starter until the fans can get there club back winning with a plan and a decent manager who knows how to win I can't even think going into a season with them in charge and they have ducked every question we lucky if we finish second 6 games out 20 really is this acceptable for fans who stick by the club the machine needs fixed as the cogs have come off so do the honorable thing and resign.
17 Jan 2021 11:11:16
Agreed Chalky, it's an unmitigated shambles.
17 Jan 2021 14:08:54
But yet they stay. is their heart in the club or the wage packet.
17 Jan 2021 10:39:44
Any thoughts on Ralf Rangnick as manager or DOF.
Or whether Eddie Howe would be the answer.
17 Jan 2021 10:53:35
Manager and dof.
17 Jan 2021 10:55:53
I would give my left baw for Rangnick.
17 Jan 2021 10:58:24
With such a rebuild required I'd rather we went for Ralf and give him full control of everything.
17 Jan 2021 11:09:42
It's a good question JFP and I'm sure we've all got suggestions/ favourites even.
I honestly don't know the answer, anymore than the next guy on here but what I do know is that what we have right now, from PL to NL (inc John Kennedy) has been a disaster this season and it's getting worse.
New CEO for the day to day and a new structure for the playing side for both 1st and youth set ups.
The guts needs to be ripped out of this Club with new, better, professionals brought in with far higher standards than those that have been served up on the cheap this season.
17 Jan 2021 11:09:48
Definately Ralf Rangnick for me as manager and in charge of all football operations, without interference from the other boardroom members.
Nothing against Eddie Howe, but we need a bigger name than him.
We could have a massive rebuild on our hands and Rangnick would be a top choice.
17 Jan 2021 11:15:08
Agree DRB, a D. O. F and manager is the way forward.
Base the footballing model on teams around Europe in countries/ leagues with similarities to ours.
But here's the kicker, do it right, don't pretend or set it up to fail - that's the acid test.
17 Jan 2021 11:33:05
Does he know about the West of Scotland culture?
17 Jan 2021 12:14:01
He's top of my list for either position.
17 Jan 2021 09:40:42
View has his work cut out if it's him. we need a new back 4 2 wingers and prob 2 strikers. and he'll need to take a hit on the dross kennon and co have signed deary me what a mess. this could be the biggest points difference ever. the board are every bit as guilty. they fell asleep at the wheel.
17 Jan 2021 10:53:42
I think they were actually blitzed in the back admiring the views while misguided beliefs drove the bus towards the cliff.
17 Jan 2021 11:16:02
Mally Nick Hammond needs to be put on a taxi in London Road with PL, NL and JK. Procurement has been horrendous. Money has been spent but unwisely. Serious questions need asked about our youth development and our scouting system as well.
17 Jan 2021 11:17:15
Mally the revolving door should start now. Get top dollar for those who want to leave, get rid of the loans and start looking to the future.
17 Jan 2021 09:27:19
The boy Robertson has played 19 games in a proper league in England but can't get a game for rogic and wee Mikey . Lennon has list the plot and Eddie Howe would be a massive upgrade if it's to be him. get him in just now and it gives him to the summer to sort this mess out.
17 Jan 2021 11:18:35
Who ever comes in has to totally blitz the team. we have players who think that they are gods gift to football. now the real truth has been shown its time for real change.
17 Jan 2021 14:16:48
All now comes down to investment will those want always be sold at worth or market value cos they have been playing p@sh?
Will the money brought in be used on team strengthening or to cover C.V./ euro deficit?
Dropped points at Motherwell was an opportunity to pull the gap back but hibs/ Livy performances prevented that, C.V. should not be an excuse with the size/ quality of squad.
17 Jan 2021 08:28:51
What worries me other than the obvious is that our crop of players coming through are nowhere near good (or fit) enough. I posted about 6 months when there was a clamour for Dembele to get game time that he was "miles off it" from a trusted source in the game. Looks like he was correct, but perhaps a good fitness coach and structured training might turn them into players. At the moment I consider we have about 6-8 players worth keeping, the rest can do 1.
17 Jan 2021 10:54:40
Lenny is the god bod of fitness. lads clearly not trying hard enough 🤣.
17 Jan 2021 06:28:02
I remember BR saying when we signed Shevad, that it wasn't his signing and that we have to many wingers. How things have changed now that the only decent winger we have if any is Forrest and he's injured. Lennon is trying to play a formation true out the season when we have no wingers. The board and hammod are signing players that we don't need and not seeing the weekness in our team. I don't know do we blame Lennon for our signings this year or the board. Our standards with Lennon have dropped dramatically in the way we play as a team done to the fitness of the team. I'd like us to have a look at Eddie Howe I think he is young with a good style of playing football. But my gut is telling me DD will appoint Roy Keane.
17 Jan 2021 07:12:46
It looks like the signings Celtic made in the summer were for a 3-5-2 formation.
We never played it from the start because our forwards weren’t fit enough.
Then Lennon only started playing his preferred system several games in to the season after we signed Duffy.
When the formation that worked so well last season was failing, he went back to a 4-2-3-1 system but we found ourselves short on wide players for the season.
If only Lennon could see what the fans could see and that was to try a diamond formation with 2 strikers earlier.
Our season might of been different and Celtic could’ve put up a better fight.
But waiting until the end of December to try the obvious, was criminal.
In a nutshell Celtic started a massive season unprepared.
We usually make a slow start due to the way we constantly delay our summer signings but this season Celtic for once, never recovered from not being ready to hit the ground running like our rivals.
This season has been a calamity from the board, management team and all our players.
Collectively they’ve all been a shambles and no one is blameless.
17 Jan 2021 07:16:37
If it were to be Keane just close the doors and give them another title.
17 Jan 2021 08:06:15
Unless something is happening in the background and their is a cunning plan this won’t be one title lost
League is lost change now and rebuild would be the way ahead without C.V. but do finances allow? Are the board willing to invest properly and do they really care as long as they get the tickets sold?
Is there the nonce or balls in the higher management to fix this
This is turning out like a Baldrick and Blackadder sketch.
17 Jan 2021 08:06:35
From the word go pre season it’s been a disaster. Celtic like they do every season tae an eternity to do their business. Now if that was generally the case and we were waiting on out and out quality then you’d maybe understand it, but it’s no more than bang average being brought in. On the other hand ( ad I know I won’t e popular for saying it ) across the city business in the market is done pronto and it has to be said, it might not be names that get their fans excited but in the main I’d say most of the signings made by them work, they’ve fitted in and contributed. Now that comes down to proper homework, whereas you’ve us running around lie headless chickens snapping up guys in the final days/ hours of the window that haven’t kicked a ball in long enough, paying absolute fortunes and not 1 has turned out to be close to a decent signing. Now wether that’s down to lennon, Hammond, lawwell or even a collective, the one thing that is for sure is it’s not bloody good enough!
17 Jan 2021 09:19:37
Good post Garry bang on . prob is who's going to buy theses duds they'll hang about like a bad smell picking up wages and contributing nothing not their fault but the management.
17 Jan 2021 06:20:08
Growing up in the 90s was hard to take watching the Sevconians lifting the title year after year. For me this is hurting me more as this is not a good rangers team. When you have a manger that gets out played by rangers its not good enough. Lennon has brought this club back towards that era of the 90s and as a Celtic supporter all my life I followed them true good and bad, never ashamed to wear our team colours.
For a new manager to come in I think it is going to take us a long time to become the team like the invisible as we saw yesterday we have players who don't play for the Jersey or not good enough for the club. it's it's going to be a long road ahead and we haven't been producing raw talent for a long period of time due to or management team lack of intelligence to help them break into the first team.
So it's not the first team is the issue it's what's coming true the ranks isn't good as they are not progressing their development with us and the players left aren't good enough. Young Dembele, harper, ox flex and I say Henderson will move on aswel. We need a manager like Klopp who has total control of the football side so our youth teams play the same way as first team.
Look at liverpool all the injuries and their young players just fit into the first team. We had a team yesterday on the pitch and it was like they hadn't a clue what tactic s where. My apologies about big big post but I'm fed up of Lennon and his coaching staff. I'm not angry anymore just hurt.
17 Jan 2021 08:30:42
I would have to disagree a little with the above the south sliders are not a bad team, they have gelled well and are on a good run this season, individual players may not be the same perceived cost value but performances this year are at least better. Their keeper and back line as example performing much better. how much is McGregor worth? But his performances in comparison to the 5 million guy.
If this seasons performance was similar to the few previous years then points would have been lost and the gap either way would be much reduced
In short the south sliders are in a much improved totally unpredicted position. The fact the Parkhead management did not see this coming and mitigate against it is my issue, or did they and they scouting/ signings let things down after all good money was spent with all of the main assets retained
Where this goes now is anyone’s guess but how this is repaired is crucial for the next number of years. this has the potential to trigger the sliders on an extended rein reversing the roles completely
At the beginning of this season what would you have got on odds for where the league table is now and how many fans would have been ‘uncomfortable’ with an away game to Livy? I can see the same as yesterday where at times Livy dominated and were unlucky not to get three points.
Accept a lot on here won’t agree with above but I do think a dose of reality is needed if this collapse can be fixed.
17 Jan 2021 08:34:57
Youth players who you expect to make the grade should be training with the first team all the time, or loaned out for valuable game time.
The amount of youth talent wasted in the past few years because of miss direction is astonishing.
The young players without integration and challenge will not progress, playing u19 league pish will not progress them, they should at 16 be ready to get on the pitch and start playing, simple, these 3G pitches should be their speciality they train and play on them enough through the ranks.
I to had the joy of the 90s being my first era as a Celtic fan and in all fairness we played good football, they just won more, however right now this is by far the worst Celtic team I've seen.
No solid GK, no defensive general, no solid creative fullbacks, zero wingers with flair and pace creating endless opportunities, no dominant midfielders who dictate the play, and the prolific strikers are fading.
Its a sorry state of affairs from top to bottom.
Not only is the football we play shocking, but the wages these players receive in order to produce this garbage.
WE WILL NOT LURE GREAT PLAYERS, simply because the challenge in the SPL is woeful at best, the only players we will get are agents laughing stocks. We should be scouting all European countries that have a lower wage structure than our own. That way we will be able to attract the right talent. There is no point buying a bang average keeper for 5m from Greece when we could've got a great keeper from Croatia for 4m. The model needs adjusted and dedicated to.
We clearly have agent ties that need completely severed, and Hammond needs replaced!
Livingston players earn an average salary of £40k per year vs £840k average salary at Celtic, that is a shocking return we are seeing on the pitch.
We will never challenge in Europe unless the right structure is in place, it needs sorted now.
17 Jan 2021 09:34:38
Great post CP, think you speak for a lot of us.
16 Jan 2021 18:20:19
Jonney Hayes would walk into this Celtic team and could put in a cross. Another player we left let go who is with better than what we have now on the wings. Was these players hayes, sincler let go by Lennon or the board?
17 Jan 2021 07:16:53
Sinclair was on big wages and in the end, wasn’t a regular starter.
He totally lost his confidence for some reason.
17 Jan 2021 08:41:28
Sinclair lost confidence? I’d say he fell into the same bracket as the rest off the players under lennon, is that not why he went out and brought in a sports psychologist? Only us could go from out and out serial winners to a bunch of players totally void of confidence yet no explanation as to why?
17 Jan 2021 10:13:40
Agreed Gary I think the cultural difference at the club and drop in professionalism between Rodgers leaving and Lennon arriving had more to do with Sinclairs failure to get in the team and ultimate departure than losing confidence. On his game he was better than anything we now have and his goals and assists speak for themselves.
17 Jan 2021 11:01:49
Agree Gary and JFP, I could be wrong but when NL admitted that a Sports Psychologist had been brought in it automatically undermined him, his coaching staff and players, only serving to invite the wrong type of questions from the press.
NL did it again when he spoke of players 'who didn't want to be here' suggesting some players were looking to be transferred away from the club during the summer window.
For someone who's been a player and manager for 20+ years these are basic mistakes (or were they? ) when dealing with the press as the headlines that follow heap more pressure on the manager and team.
John Kennedy who's been at Celtic since 1999, initially as a player and then the vast majority as a coach (in the coaching set up) to say there were 'minor slips' when referring to the protocols on the Dubai trip was a sports writers dream - these guy's are writing the headlines for them whilst doing more and more damage to the club.
If John Kennedy doesn't follow NL out the door shortly for that press conference alone then there's something going on, I'm beginning to wonder how this guy manages to keep a job whilst managers and coaches come and go but JK remains.
Some suggest he's a highly regarded coach, if so, why is he still with us? He's never been offered the No.1 job at Celtic or the top job elsewhere when practically every club in the Premier League has changed managers in recent years?
It can't be down to experience as his playing career finished around 12 years ago.
17 Jan 2021New image uploaded to the Celtic Player Sightings page entitled, Any truth in this?
17 Jan 2021 07:29:29
According to the bookies Eddie Howe is now odds On favourite for the Celtic job.
A manager we’ve been linked with for months and he’s been available all season.
I personally don’t think Eddie Howe will be our new manager because if he was a serious contender, his appointment would’ve been confirmed months ago.
17 Jan 2021 10:05:22
Surely if lennon was to go it should be now, why wait until Thursday? If he wins then we sack him or he jacks what’s the point. He may as well go now, what has Kennedy done that he’s offered a football operations job? And strachan still in a job . A complete new sweep is what’s required .
17 Jan 2021 12:26:57
Buzz u any knowledge on who’s howes back room staff were/ would be?
17 Jan 2021 12:54:08
his number 2 at bournemouth is now the main man there.
17 Jan 2021 02:14:39
Today’s display v Livvy was the worst Celtic performance I have every seen in over 45 years watching and supporting the club. Every player (bar laxalt, McGegor and Soro) hit the ball one time when it came to them. Like a pub team. I have coached top level youth teams against Barca, AC Milan, Ajax, Real, Sevilla etc and trust me these kids at 10/ 12 yrs understand the game better than our first team. I have seen such teams (Spanish amateur teams) demolish Spurs, Man City, man utd etc - because of the coaching education and CONSISTENT Methodology they receive from the earliest years. If anyone doesn’t believe me, drop me a note and I will point u to some footage.
The coaching at our club - top to bottom - is pathetic and decades behind global practice. We need a top to bottom overall from DOF to grass roots and player ID. Don’t tell me mikey Johnston and Ralston are Celtic class. They won’t save our future. Complete overhaul required with experts from Spain or Germany being put in place for next decade.
17 Jan 2021 05:12:16
Kev67 I hear you mate, i've worked with kids from Europe and South America and seen them go into great teams and boys from England too. Worked my ass for some and their not interested, just get pissed off and start the game again, you do that?
16 Jan 2021 23:14:31
Its the season from hell. CL, EL, LC, 20 odd points and counting behind, boli, cv, demonstrations, getting absolutely tonked by them at CP, dubai, rogic up front. deary me!
If you don't finish first you fail. Bradys, macaris, etc finished 4th with seriously inferior squads is not as bad as this. Accountability is required. Top to bottom. Even if we go on a unbeaten run, this season will be worst i ever remember.