Celtic Banter Archive July 17 2014

17 Jul 2014 00:13:42
It looks as if we have a strong enough team to see off RK and progress to the next qualifier but I strongly hope we see some investment between the second leg and then rather than risk going through all the qualifiers with basically the team we have now and then investing a bit once the CL money is safely in Pedro's pocket! In my opinion Izzy and Efe both need some SERIOUS competition or replacing altogether. At least one speed merchant (if Derk stays fit I think he could be really good) and a quality striker. I was also disheartened to see Stokes played through the middle and Griffiths pushed out wide where he's clearly less comfortable. I think our best striker is Griffiths, Stokesy just doesn't do it for me I'm afraid

It really wasnt good enough the other night. The nervous reshuffle worked a few times in the game and we could of been a few more up. obvious point was the lack of freshness in our side. For me as well lg has to be played through the middle. Not much to chose from otherwise. Murrayfield will be a very different level of game.hopefully. plus point we all screamed out for youth involvement and as a result we are half way there. Its sad that I'm trying to sallow the pi$h of my last few sentences. It should of been a walk over . Make a positive signing and it will lift and push the team.

It wasn't great rglen8 but I think it was about 20 shots on goal. Hit the woodwork 3 times. On another night it could have been 5-0 it just didn't happen on the day

I really don't understand Lawwells thinking - he took a huge gamble last year in not signing anyone earlier, we just managed to scrape by Karagandy, so we nearly lost £15 million as a result. We don't want the club to take risks, but in the name of God what is wrong with buying 2 top young players at maybe 4/5 million each, they are assets, and will help us progress, we can also sell them in the future. Atsu for eg last year at £5 million, now we're scraping around trying to get a loan deal. That's why most of my mates/family aren't getting a season book this year - we feel there is absolutely take take take. As I've said before - you can't fool all of the people all of the time. Because of our penny pinching and looking for CONSTANT bargains, we have an over sized squad full of average players. Lawwell and Park are far from the geniuses they think they are/are made out to be. If we should a bit more imagination/respect to the fans, we would sell at least another 10/15 thousand season books. But as we know, that would be far too normal! We only do Cheapest option for everything, with a bit of bungling thrown in!

Best shout I've seen from you Kev bud. ;) Agree with the lot.

RD is bigging up the quest to find wide, quick players, fair play, but I never underestimate the importance of a finisher, which to me, we are lacking in quality. Somebody with a bit of everything, that will put them away ir can be hit from crosses when our opponents sit deep. It's been too long since we had a 30+ a season striker, which at our domestic level especially, shouldn't be so hard. Mame Diouf on a free ffs PL!

I've said before, and will stand by it, if (and if my auntie had a set of balls she'd be my uncle, said this before too) Boerrigter stays fit and gets back to how he was, he'll be a first teamer no doubt. Especially in a front 3.

Then Efe, as a young CB/CDM, a great player to have in a squad*, but it's still a position I'd like to see a wee bit experience brought in, I know for a young lad, Efe does actually have a wealth of experince considering, however, is still very rash for me at times and struggles under real pressure, but an older head should be in there either alongside Virgil or brought in and Ambrose pushed up or maybes a back 5 if it's considered.

*Squad, it's refreshing to think rather than any 'usual suspects', RD will shuffle the team/shape according to form/opponents. As for my back 5 plan, I doubt we'll see it so often; But a good playing philosophy doesn't come over night and there will certainly be games we have to try and ride out in the CL.

As much as I might seem doom n gloom at times, I still feel there's a good basis for a squad, just that bit quality in each area needed. Been a few windows now though and my tune hasn't changed, neither has the clubs.

I agree with Paul1; We are stagnant and have still not replaced Wanyama or Hooper properly after stumbling into the group stage last season - by a baw-hair - against Karagandy only to be totally embarrassed in the CL.
There are too many injury prone players still there and a severe lack of width, flair and power to mix things up when the predictable play through the middle breaks down or creates nothing. There are no 'shirt sellers' at Celtic for the first time in years and the standards and quality at the club have been allowed to fall drastically in the past 12 months and Lawell is taking us granted as usual.
The only positive aspect at present is the encouragement of youth.
I know it is early in this 'window' but most other clubs seem to have a strategy and have made signings and we are overdue a bit of flair/quality at Celtic - or we will have another season with the sole consolation of a 'one-horse' league title.

Cheers Jim! But I can't believe you've ever disagreed with my expert opinions before haha

Surely the reason we have a new manager, is that he will improve the players and the team . I think we have almost all given Deila the thumbs up, so why don't we trust him to get us through the qualifying games and have the work done on a couple of targets who will be glad to come to us when we are actually in the Champions League.
Hail Hail .