Celtic Banter Archive July 18 2015

18 Jul 2015 19:00:29
Im not quite sure how we won that game by that margin if I am honest, not a great performance in my eyes. Griffiths probably the only player I can think of that would get mention, wee forrest is so frustrating though. He clearly has the ability and he had a few cracking runs today but his decision making is horrible. Ciftci again had a couple of headed oppertunities tht were weak at best. Defence still looking bit shaky but overall I suppose its a good win.

18 Jul 2015 19:19:19
Says it all when even in a nothing friendly and Ronnie used 18 players that Scepovic was unused sub.

18 Jul 2015 19:30:36
Forrest is Forrest. Finalbawitis, incurable apparently.

How much longer can we out up with his inability to do what he should? Pass the right baw at the right time to someone in our jersey. He is pish. Flatters to divert.

18 Jul 2015 17:12:10
Anyone know what channel the match is on wizwig??

18 Jul 2015 17:29:43
Premier sports

18 Jul 2015 18:59:29
griffiths gets a hattrick

18 Jul 2015 11:40:40
In my opinion we still do not have the right calibre of player to make this system work properly. We are looking for 2 goal scoring wide / advanced midfield players. We have 1 in GMS. We require a striker who can score for fun, link up, hold up and okay up top alone. We don't have one. We have a player in behind the striker who must be a free scoring and creative midfielder / attacking forward. The issue there is that this one position has someone's name on it ( johanssen ) but it knocks commons on his backside in terms of a starting slot ( concern over his energy in any case)

We are too weak in the forward 3 positions to work properly and this means that a bad day at the office for johanssen and brown males it a bad day all round.

We should be comfortable defensively in this system but I have a fear there too. Izzy is not a defender and our defensive midfielder ( biton ) is no lambert.

I think we have a decent squad but I don't think we have the right players for RDs 4231

Tin hat on.

18 Jul 2015 12:47:22
Are you still taking your Meds? Stick to the stand up comedy!

18 Jul 2015 13:07:34
I think that's why he is bumming up Forrest, in a bid to get the lad back to some sort of fitness and confidence, so he can play him and GMS on either side of the pitch.
I think we are still very fragile at the back (Gordon, VVD, Izzy, Mulgrew and Ambrose have all had games to forget) and although we will hold our own in Scotland, we will struggle against good European sides and that is where we want to compete as a club of our stature and expectation.

There may be another couple of player moves (in and out) still to come, before the transfer window closes and I would hope that RD has irons in the fire?.

18 Jul 2015 13:23:02
Paradisewon your forever puttin that tin hat of urs on thought we put them to bed after fergus left lol hail hail

18 Jul 2015 17:04:42
I totally agree PW, that secretary of yours knows her stuff. I find it strange we only play 1 up top when 90% of our games will be against inferior opposition. Yes I fully understand we need a system for Europe but is it really that difficult to have an alternative. No wonder fans constantly moan about no plan B.I posted about the midweek game when we went to 442 we were a better team only for RD to change it back. I think if u asked the strikers of this world would u rather play up top on your own or have a partner they would happily take a partner. You need to be a certain type of striker to be successful on your own, Drogba being the prime example.Its obvious to me Armstrong (a smashing player) isn't at his best out wide, nor stokes for that matter,not to mention Griffiths.Griffiths in my opinion is our best striker and will score more than others, plays better with a partner.Any 4 from Brown, Biton, Armstrong, Johansson,GMS,Henderson, is a strong midfield for me. The other factor is it protects our full backs better having a midfielder in front of them as they have a habit of being caught too far up the pitch. And Izzys defending is awful at times maybe he would be a better defender if he was protected.
I always thought a good manager gets the best out of his players, I don't know if u get the best out of players by putting them in positions they are not naturally good at.This is not a dig at RD its just an alternative thought.

18 Jul 2015 20:35:55
Rayman

You have articulated it so much better than me. The squad is decent but the system is not befitting. I will argue all day long about this with anyone who is game. Rayman you also highlight the differential between domestic and Europe. The system gives far too much respect to the domestic challenges.

Europe wise, not a bad idea or set up but we do not have the players to execute this system IMVHO. I am not trying to be controversial here folks. It is blatantly obvious

The other point about " protection" to bring out the best in izzy is not a bad shout either but of course the system doesn't give him protection. The more he is protected the less effective we become up top

Not a fan of the 4231 and predict difficulties ahead because because of it. This system doesn't just limit the squads actual potential, it stymies our options based on the squad we have. We are too narrow because we have wide forwards ( Forrest etc) who will not attack fullbacks and hit the byline. Too much cutting inside which creates a crowded middle to front and that plays in to the hands of domestic defences that like to pack the middle. Even if we did have width with one up top we still seem to lack bodies in the box.

We need a system that gets Gordon izzy lustig VVD boyata biton brown ciftci GMS griffiths and Johanssen on the park but it won't happen. Note with Armstrong in we will see griffiths or ciftci drop out