Celtic Banter Archive February 21 2015

21 Feb 2015 23:37:51
So, what did Stokes do this time to be 'dealt with'?

{Ed007's Note - He was late back from a trip back to Ireland.}

Jesus, what's wrong with him, I live in Ireland and I can't wait to get out of it as often as I can .
Nearly all the people of his age has emmrigrated over the last 5/6 years.

Just a few days before our biggest game of the season, to me that is a real disrespect and lack of commitment towards the club. Thing with Stokes is he is always doing wrong then when it looks like he's turned a corner he let's himself down again

22 Feb 2015 16:36:52
Probably spat the dummy when we signed Armstrong as he knows his time is up.

A think you are spot on Rab made much the same point myself when a learned he had done what he had

I have thought Stokes was at worse a very good back up and squad player but when he hasn't the manners to return for training on time, I don't think we need him any more . Deila beds the Senior professionals to show good example. Stokes certainly hasn't and we need to be in a very bad way to call upon him again . I hope we don't have to rely on him.

21 Feb 2015 08:37:13
Hi Everyone, long time reader first time poster and love the page. I just wanted to add my opinion after the game on Thursday. For the first time in a long time (no reference to previous managers) I would like to believe that most supporters can see the direction that the club is heading in. I am not defending the poor results at the start of the season in Europe and was gutted at no champions league but belive in the long term it will prove to be a short term sacrifice while deila was implementing his ideas. Apart from a great atmosphere at Parkhead, it was hard to enjoy that campaign last year. I'm not saying the game v Inter was Celtic's greatest performance but it showed progress and was refreshing to see Celtic playing high intensity attacking football in Europe while the other team struggling to cope with 15 mins to go and players cramping.

Some of the players brought in during the summer ie Berget were brought in purely for the reason they knew Ronny's methods.He did make mistakes in selecting him in games. The 2 players who came in January have been excellent so far and Armstrong in particular showed against european opposition what Celtic have been missing. Commons Stokes and Forrest for all their experience of big games at this stage are still yet to do it in Europe.

Lastly, it was great winning the league by as many points last year but realistically no manager with such a dramatic change in methods was going to replicate that sraight away. The team/squad were settled last year and no manager at any level and any expense can come in with such upheaval and expect a consistant continuation of form.

However on a huge positive note we're still in with realistic shot at a treble and the players seem to be hungry for it and we've already proven that we can shake inter so i'm really looking forward to the 2nd leg.

GalwayBhoy
p.s absolutely over the moon for wee jay

Nice post mate, welcome. What you said has been said on here before and for me, is all true.

We had a squad who were asked to change their whole attitude to everything surrounding the game.This meant a new training and playing system, from a new, untried at a high level and a big club coach.

What we are seeing now, and have been for a few weeks now, is this new regimen working.We had 50-50 possession stats v Inter, and that was after going TWO down in 13 minutes! For me this shows a willingness to graft and the fitness to claw your way back into a game.

From day one myself and a few others, ED included, have had faith in Ronny. The unexpected bonus is the way we seem to be united as a whole club, there seems to be a real bond developing between fans and players and coach. All this from a man with no Celtic in his DNA!

21 Feb 2015 10:27:48
Thanks GJ, Deila was spot on keeping Henderson out of the team until things settled and as such kept him out of the firing line when results were average. He also showed a lot of trust in him bringing him on against inter and he repaid it by getting the assist for Guidetti. He could have taken an easier option with the substitution and brought on some1 older.

I was very impressed with our share of possession too, as many times in Europe against class teams, we are chasing shadows (even at home) and are lucky to have 30% possession.
Obviously I am not getting carried away and I do appreciate we are in the 'secondary' tournament and Inter are not at their best - however, they are by far the toughest test RD and the team have faced and the difference in attitude and resolve compared to earlier in Europe against lesser teams was night and day.

There has been criticism in the media of an over reaction by Celtic players and fans to this result; but we were not 'celebrating' a draw, but realising that this manager and team have turned a very big corner and we will get even better.

My only concerns are the same as everyone elses, that no matter how impressive Izzy is in possession in the SPL, he cannot defend against class opponents and for his age and experience, Craig Gordon - who has had some excellent saves - has to stop parrying the ball back into danger, as it costs goals.

The possession statistic. Yes, JungleJim. Since about Strachan's time it has been dreadful watching Celtic in public for precisely this reason. I'm surprised that it was only 50/50 this time out and suppose it must be that we looked fly every time we had the ball.

Izzy did have a poor game this time out. We weren't set up to play to his strengths. If we do need a more stalwart LB he's not the fella. In general though he's great. I wonder about the two CBs more, as they've never really had to deal with a true blood world class center forward .

@GalwayBhoy Great post mate (clap)

Great Post

Said before that I had my doubts on RD being big enough for the job. Two bites of CL left me unconvinced. I also liked NL and for me WGS was the best man for the job. I am always open to criticism and new thoughts and listening to some of the serious posters and Eds on here I gave him benefit of the doubt. He seemed concerned about the fitness of a squad who had romped the SPL and had a few good showings in CL. All that aside, I have bought in to what he is trying to achieve and he knows the players. He is not afraid to give youth a chance and I have been excited by what I see now on the park. He has a plan but has alternatives if gameplan one is not working. I think we can take Inter in Italy if the players are on form. CG had a bad night but overall, been great for us this season and his confidence is growing again. League winners medal and a couple of cup winners gongs and he will be on top again. Good days. Hail, Hail.

I have always liked Izzy and his non stop running up and down the wing, the man is like a non stop machine .
Of course Mancini noticed this and he targeted the left side of the Celtic defence and planned to stop Izzy's wonderful attacking runs . In this he was successful but Deila and Celtic reacted by been able to spring Matthews at will on the right side .
For a player targeted by a team of Inter Milan's ability Izzy held up his side well, and still got forward, just not as often as usual. In defence he sliced a clearance which hit a Virgil on the head and rebounded to an Inter play who scored a soft goal .
That slicing a clearance could happen to anyone but when one or two players do it at Celtic, they are blamed for it for years . I don't THINK Izzy was envolved in the build up to the other two goals conceded, so I don't think he is to blame more than others .

I think Henderson got sent off, for apparently argueing about a throw in during a preseason friendly. I wonder did Deila decide to punish young Henderson's lack of discipline .