20 Mar 2016 20:35:14
folks
take a wee look at the BBS highlights online for the march yesterday and have a close look at Brown
the total lack of interest in stopping a cross ball (Boyd narrowly misses)
the slip (and the length of time it takes to get back on his feet)
the misplaced pass that opens up another Killie chance when he had about 3 celtic players available
The bhoy is either injured (and shouldn't be playing) , showing such abject form (and therefore should've been hauled off) , or simply not interested (judging my this highlights package this would appear closer to the truth)
Our CAPTAIN should be leading by example. Even out of form CAPTAINS have a role to press and harry and out-try everyone else (surely? )
he has had some good spells (purple patches) but he needs to either speak up and declare injury, or rise up and play and behave like a captain should
CFC are in need of major surgery / rebuilding because the aggregate "loss "of form has now become an epidemic.
Is it "loss" of form or was there never really any "form" to lose? Are we a poor reflection of the Celtic that we came to love over many years? Obviously the players don't pick themselves, but what has happened to us.
Gordon
Lustig
Izzy
Boyata
Brown
Johnassen
Armstrong
Forrest
GMS
Bitton
Commons
The list goes on.
Is it form?
is it quality?
is it management?
Is it a bad apple (or apples) that have infiltrated?
Where is the drive, unity, hunger, camaraderie, love of Celtic
A great goal yesterday mind you, but those who say "this will be the catalyst to spur us on", we've been saying that for weeks and months now .
. we were seconds away from another lacklustre below par draw yesterday when we had a league title to gun for . AND WE WON (which is a good thing) , but it surely doesn't go far enough to cover up the gaping holes across the team
. we don't even have a CENTRAL MIDFIELD now .
20 Mar 2016 20:50:45
I noticed this weeks ago and if you ask me he looks like he is not giving 100% and at times deliberately giving the ball away in dangerous areas. If I were Deila he would be dropped and shipped out in the summer as this is not acceptable for any Celtic player, never mind our captain.
20 Mar 2016 22:06:34
Rab I usually agree with most things you say but to say he deliberately gives the ball away in dangerous areas is a bit of a statement. I don't believe he or anyone else wearing any team shirt would do that. I agree that he is poor at the minute and that he could be still carrying an injury but to put a positive spin on that - he has the heart and desire to play through injury and in pain ( if he is ) and that is leading by example in my book. But on the flip side of that the argument is that he isn't performing to his best due to it.
20 Mar 2016 22:27:09
Commons Celtics 2nd top scorer this season also joint top in Europe bitton 8 goals so if they r having bad seasons what chance have the rest.
20 Mar 2016 22:31:46
I'm baffled with Brown's body language in recent weeks, you watch him rallying the troops at the start of a game then goes on to play as if he isn't giving a f***. As Rabmac says it's almost as if he's deliberately giving possession away. Maybe he's got a few quid on the opposition to score! As I've said for weeks something behind the scenes is just not right, it was glaringly obvious the commitment of the team wasn't there in the back to back games against Accies and Dundee . Just need to get this double over the finishing line and hopefully get things sorted for next season. HH
21 Mar 2016 01:10:00
Over the season I have raised - and agreed with many of the concerns in your post and in particular the lack of attitude, fitness, form, or ability of so many of the squad at our disposal.
However, I am pretty sure Celtic will not sack a manager, 4 pts clear, with 30 games played in the league and a cup semi-final coming up soon, even though we are stumbling rather than strolling
So we have little choice but to support the team and manager, for the remainder of the season and hope we do not blow it.
Many of us are not just concerned about the underlying causes of this continuous slump or 'epidemic' and lack of leadership, but with the direction the club has taken over the past few years.
In my own humble opinion, I do not think the majority of the players are happy with the current regime and the apparent enforced team selections and additions to the squad; although I did see enough of a reaction at the end of the game to suggest we still have a few players motivated and focussed on the job in hand; albeit tinged with relief and a get-out-of-jail-card for RD.
Unfortunately for him and the team, when the captain is missing in action so often, the manager is often in a no-win situation, because if he drops him, the split in the dressing room can become toxic and affect performances and moral even more.
I do think RD has tried different permutations, desperately trying to find a blend, but it boils down to - if Griffiths doesn't score, we struggle to get a goal or a result; which raises the point about a lack quality and experience, outwith the 'mutineers'
21 Mar 2016 06:57:09
I really don't a celtic there is a lack of quality because when everyone is fit we actually have a pretty good first team and decent strength in depth. Our problem just now is a lack of application from some players, which are causing weaknesses in our team.
If you watch some of the players, you will notice they are not closing down, they are not trying to get into positions to receive the ball and some of them are moving into positions that make it impossible for them to receive the ball.
Back to Brown, I was actually a fan and have defended him many times on here. I even went to the trouble of checking his opta stats (only available for euros) and pointed out be had the 2nd highest pass completion stat in our team. However now I see him missing very easy passes in dangerous areas. The other weak the ball got played to him and he just swiped at it and nearly missed it completely and scuffed it high into the air and it went behind him. This I indicates to me that he lacks concentration or deliberately does not care. Also you used to see him chasing down players but now he just jogs and makes little attempt to catch them, which was always of his strengths. If you don't believe me watch him in the upcoming Scotland matches and then when he plays for us. Something is not right with him just now.
21 Mar 2016 08:11:17
It have heard it all now, deliberately giving the ball away in dangerous areas what absolute garbage. go away and have a word with yourself. Are you seriously trying to lay that really poor performance at Brooklyn's door. The team selection was another of Ronnie's tales of the unexpected. The shape of the team and the system is dreadful and broony in particular is being asked to provide cover too often for Lustig who is frequently caught too far up the park.
21 Mar 2016 08:55:11
I am sure I read a few weeks ago that the manager said he had rushed him back fromy his last injury to soon.
He has never been right since that lay off and I think he is almost certainly still struggling.
21 Mar 2016 14:18:11
Dont think he is deliberatley giving the ball away i just don't think he is good enough. If he is carrying a injury he shouldn't be playing. I noticed that he ran beside the chap that crossed for boyd and he never even attempted to put a challenge in. It really grinds my gears that players particulary full backs don't make any effort to stop a cross going into the box. But brown is on borrowed time and to be honest he's been on it in my opinion been on it for a while. His passing is terrible he is scared to venture forward when he has bags of space to run into and he never seems to get into double figures. Think he is one of the most negative players we have. Johansens forms went downhill but u still see him try but its seems a lot fans give him flak but no broony he's been getting away with it for years.
21 Mar 2016 19:05:48
Arnt we very lucky now that we don't have to depend on the Sun or Daily Record to bring us down to earth with an over critical account of our team's efforts and our captain in particular . Paradise won for some reason doesn't mention anything good or even average that our captain did during the course of the game . Surely if u were a Celtic fan and not SMSM you would draw attention to both sides of Brown's performance, so that as well as highlighting his weak points, you would also be helping to build confidence and trying to get Brown back to what he was.
21 Mar 2016 20:47:34
Old Boy, I know in my case I have given an honest account from what I have seen in recent weeks and for much of the season.
Before Brown came to Celtic I rated him but he did not impress me under Strachan or Mowbray. However, once Lennon took over I thought he vastly improved, to the point that he became a key player for us. This continued under Deila. Last season I thought he was outstanding and probably his best season, not only was he pressing and tackling well, he seemed to have improved his passing (in European competitions over the last two season he had the second highest pass completion percentage) , he was also getting forward more.
However, this season, I have been very disappointed with him. From what I have witnessed he looks like he can't be arsed. He is not chasing down players, he is making little effort to tackle them and his passing has been terrible. As I pointed out his passing in recent seasons has been one of his strong points, as has been his tenacity. This makes you wonder, why has he got so bad?
I really urge people to watch how he performs for Scotland and then contrast that with how he performs for Celtic the next time you watch him.
22 Mar 2016 12:22:39
Rabmac, I don't completely disagree with you . Brown had a poor first season with us, coincided with the untimely death of his beautiful sister. From that season to this Brown has been a great player and a wonderful captain . This season especially since his injury Scot 's form has been poor I think because of the good service he has given over the years, he doesn't deserve ridicule but does deserve more game time to get his form. Back.