Celtic Banter Archive August 22 2018

22 Aug 2018 22:38:56
Why does it feel like we are STUCK currently

No obvious targets
No momentum
Certain players low in confidence
Minus Griffiths, virtually no one that can deliver a set piece
Marquee players being actively marketed out of the club
The high energy high press boycotted with a more passive approach evident
Board and management misaligned

A manager and a player and the board making a complete mess of a situation with all stakeholders looking silly

Question marks over funds and quantum of funds available

A very big squad with majority of players ( taking good wages ) contributing very little

Emerging youth talent not coming through at the rate previously envisaged

ALL of this despite unprecedented mountains of cash coming in from season ticket sales, merchandise, sponsorship and pending tv deals

Our PR department have been abysmal. They aren't even countering the real bad news or even the fake news

We all said, on the back of the double treble, that COMPLACENCY would be the A1 danger and BAD PLANNING.

After the invincible season I think we've gone backwards, further compounded by Rangers' investment and new found belief

Ed, I love Celtic. I don't need Celtic to win all of the time BUT it feels like we are HUNG-OVER from top to bottom.

Leadership seems to have been lacking and togetherness.

Ed, is there a problem or do you think that it is a case of EXAGGERATED problems

Are we an attractive proposition currently? Is it a happy, hungry and motivated place to ply your trade?

Wins always help of course BUT the performances on and off the park has certainly left a lot to be desire

I can't believe that we allegedly knocked back £9m for a player wanting away, then called into question their commitment and motives, only to then want to keep them, only to then bid for a domestic defender, with a willingness to do business at £5m for the want away defender, only to then get a knock back for aforementioned domestic defender. that's BAD 👎.

23 Aug 2018 07:48:41
deidrykb, well said. Constructive criticism with real passion. HH.

23 Aug 2018 07:55:28
We have a squad of players who, for the most part, have achieved a double treble.
On top of that, we have had 2 years CL
Right now, we are seeing a few challengers making changes to their staff and the media are obviously having a great time with the positivity over the other side of the city.
We still have a squad which should dominate the home market.
We have just been dumped out of the CL and into the EL.
We have had a player who has now created discontent among players and supporters.
Hearts just dumped us (giving that cretin CL crowing points)
We have not strengthened our squad in the areas WE all recognise as weak.
There is no FEEL-GOOD factor for us right now and we are all hoping that "something" will happen before the window closes but most of us (if we are honest) don't really expect anything positive.
However, a few good results (starting tonight) will put us back on the upward slope of that roller coaster called Celtic. H. H.

23 Aug 2018 08:28:32
Top class TT.

23 Aug 2018 08:48:48
The signs were there last season that we were becoming predictable and our vulnerability in Europe has been there for all to see.
To his credit the manager has always said we need to keep improving and working hard to get better every season, but most of the players that have been signed in the last three 'windows' have certainly not reflected this and indeed we have lost more quality than we have added. Hayes, Compper, Hendry, Eboue, Benyu and Gamboa are nowhere near trusted enough to deliver the demanding Celtic standards, as are the inherited Biton, Christie and Allen.

The revolution we saw after the SC semi-final penalty defeat to Sevco in 2016 was well overdue, but is fast losing momentum, whereas on the other hand the 4-0 and 5-0 drubbings we handed out to them in quick succession last season has seen a very big reaction - obviously not anything like the scale or quality - but a boost nonetheless that has reignited the media pressure and negativity that lay dormant when we were flying out of sight.

The negativity around the club has been mostly self inflicted and that is a 'curse' we seem to never shake off; repeatedly failing to strengthen from a position of power and superiority and as usual the Celtic Board are the arch-villains with a severe lack of professionalism, prioritizing and positive planning.
So here we are ending August, with a 50% success rate in the SPL, out of the CL, unable/ unwilling to pay for the quality we crave and with a defense that defies the definition of the word.
We still have the best players around, but the confidence, fitness and focus is being hampered by distractions and disappointment.

23 Aug 2018 12:12:08
A wish bitton was available tonight rather have him at cb than jozo.

23 Aug 2018 16:01:31
Lethargy is the word you are looking for, its time for the out of date Lawwell to step down.

22 Aug 2018 22:15:50
Well Eds what do use think to the news tonight about McKenna and Boyata kissing and making up?

{Ed007's Note - Cute? I didn't even know they were a couple, Rich.}

22 Aug 2018 22:39:08
Well it's all been a wee bitch fight they've had Boyata wanting to play with new pals and Brendan no letting him haha but it's sorted now. In a more serious point how does the Boyata saying he's no fit to play morra to me that looks bad on BR after stating Boyata was fit now he's no fit what's that all about if they've made up?

{Ed007's Note - Brendan McKenna....... 😲

22 Aug 2018 22:58:33
Not been handled well from the start.

22 Aug 2018 21:18:11
Honest few words! The lack of transfers isn't all down to the board! Some rank players heading to the English championship for huge money! Any half decent player on 60k per week down south. We are competing with league one teams for deals! I think players would go for Brendan but maybe fear he will leave this season if top 8 team come in for him from premiership.
Mcginn would easily get in first 11! You boys have done nothing but slag Forrest and boyata off for years on here and they are two of are most consistent players. Forrest by far our best player.
Ajer seems to be loved but poor defensively against quality teams as too slow to be a top player.
Henry just gets the stick! He could turn out to be a good squad player in a couple of years time.
Eddy class, McGregor class and teirney class and Forrest class ans nitcham class but nothing else in the squad excites me apart from young johnson.

22 Aug 2018 21:45:01
Forrest? . wow.

22 Aug 2018 21:46:19
You have got to be kidding about James Forrest.

You will find it on YouTube, please go watch all of our goals from 17/ 18 and tell me how many came from the right hand side. I watched it earlier and it appears to be at least a 4:1 ratio of goals from the left to the right.

He scores the odd goal but he’s a right footed right winger who cuts inside. I understand when Arjen Robben does that as he’s a left footed player with a cracking shot. Forrest cuts inside only to pass to our CM, he creates almost nothing most games.

Him along with Craig Gordon are two of the most average players I’ve ever seen play for us but get away with it because they’re Scottish.

22 Aug 2018 21:47:16
Sorry i should add he has improved but still doesn't do enough . hitting the byline and crossing should be the first thing on a wingers to do list and he doesn't do it nearly enough .
HailHail.

23 Aug 2018 00:05:29
17 goals and 10 assists last season I thought! Top player. Twice the player Roberts was hence why Brendan always picked him.

23 Aug 2018 01:15:06
Roberts was out injured for most of last season and to be fair to forrest he stepped up a lot more . im not saying he's a bad player as u can see he is in certain games . quite a few times in europe . he just doesn't do it consistantly enough plus as i said he needs to hit the by line and create more assist . his superb season last year going by your stats is a pityful 10 assists
I want forrest to be the best player in our team . he's a bhoy who came thru the youths and i want that to happen all the time but he needs to improve again imo to be classed anywhere near the best player in our team
Hail Hail.

23 Aug 2018 15:49:31
Craig Gordon is up there with the best goal keepers ever to play for Celtic,
James Forrest is maybe not as good as some of the wingers from the past, but I would have him in the team before Paddy Roberts.

The whole shebang should have been splashed out to get McGinn, he is, or was easily the best midfielder playing in Scotland, don't understand the ones saying he would only be a squad player, I would have built the team around him, and made Brown the squad player.

McKenna would have improved the options in central defence, but can understand Aberdeen wanting to hold onto him unless they got offered silly money,

23 Aug 2018 16:31:09
If this Daniel Arzani can replicate this form he plays in front of Forrest.

22 Aug 2018 20:57:23
BR press conference he said that he likes McKenna but clubs have spoken and it has been made clear he's not for sale so that's that. Boyata has held clear the air talks with BR and SB which indicates to me that he's going nowhere and we are getting no one in transfer window might as well be shut now cause we getting nae wan in.

22 Aug 2018 21:21:49
This is very worrying that not only have we just approached Aberdeen for McKenna this late in the window, but it seems like we don’t have anyone else lined up.

Surely he wasn’t our first choice? Perhaps the club thought Boyata would sign an extension but it’s been clear for some time now that won’t happen so why such a delay?

It’s looking more and more likely that Boyata will stay but that really will be shocking business because no doubt he’ll leave for free next year.

I felt we only needed 3-4 signings this window depending on outgoings but it really has been a shambles and it reminds me of the Deila days where we were scraping the barrel on deadline day.

I don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes but I’m starting to question whether Rodgers is just not good at identifying players.

Fair play to Aberdeen for demanding a good fee for their player, I’d like to see him join us at some point but I think another year there will be better for him.

23 Aug 2018 16:00:05
Lawell is scrambling about like a man whose just lost £65m in the bookies and is writing out long shot lines knowing they will never come in, but wants to show he’s trying to recoup something. A smokescreen. They knew they wouldn’t sell, and you’re right, at this stage we suddenly think a guy up the road is the answer? An injured guy at that? Do they think our heeds button up the back?

Shambles getting worse by the hour.

23 Aug 2018 16:04:55
Must admit Brendan’s handling of this boyata thing has been awful! Now he’s saying he wasn’t quite physically ready last week, after saying after the Athens game he was! And it’s boyata himself who deems that he’s not physically ready for Sūduva! An utter farce IMO that’s leaving a cloud over the squad! Should have been dealt with swiftly when he refused to play last week and his agent said he’ll be off as soon as he can! Now we’re bidding for an injured Aberdeen player but we aren’t interested anymore! Complete shambles honestly! I wouldn’t hold my breath for any player of note coming in before the window shuts by the way! Amateur hour so it is!

22 Aug 2018 20:42:42
Put my hands up mally, didn't think he'd be good enough for us but he's bossing the villa midfield.

22 Aug 2018 23:12:25
You were so far wrong you were nearly right.

22 Aug 2018 20:28:02
Watching the villa game, that jonathan kodja is some player.

22 Aug 2018 20:44:05
Hope that bet comes in Brendan I’ve had £20 on it 😏.

22 Aug 2018 20:07:10
Folks smiths of greenock are selling the home and away tops for 39quid.

22 Aug 2018 20:12:41
Seriously or you having a laugh.

22 Aug 2018 20:20:40
Not been in it was 45 on release and guy in the gym said they have reduced it again.

22 Aug 2018 20:53:54
White tops a nice one as well, will need to pop in.

22 Aug 2018 19:08:13
If Boyata had played tomorrow night would that have cup tied him for the EL if we make it and sell him?

22 Aug 2018 17:29:08
Ed, just asking for your opinion, do you think our board realise they have messed up so far in the transfer window and will now try to make a statement with quality signings or do you think they'll settle for a loan signing or two with the attitude that that's all they were ever going to do anyway? HH.

{Ed007's Note - If the board don't realise they've messed up then we've got bigger problems than anyone thought and as for the quality of signings - one thing I'm sure of is that there'll be plenty of moaning about them no matter who they are.}

22 Aug 2018 18:44:30
I agree there will be moaning, whaling and gnashing of teeth - but that will be nothing compared to the riot if all these set-backs and sideshows, distract the players from winning the next three games.
The 'window' opened so promisingly with big Eddy signing for a club record fee, but dithering over McGinn, added to the centre half saga has taken away a lot of momentum and confidence in and around the club just now and results have reflected this against AEK and Hearts. BR now has to motivate and focus the team, while the Board try to get their act together and bolster, balance and improve the squad.

22 Aug 2018 18:18:37
ED I don't know anything about McKenna from Aberdeen. Do you think he's worth the money?
I think we need a leader at the back someone who can organise things, For a player to come to us from another Scottish club he would need to have a very forceful attitude to be able to command the respect of players who have been playing at a higher level in their careers than he has.

{Ed007's Note - When we signed Hendry I thought he was a better player than McKenna but it isn't working out for Hendry at Celtic and I'd probably offer him to Aberdeen as part of a deal for McKenna. There's no way I'd pay anywhere near £3.5 million for McKenna.
That young lad Lindsay that used to play for Partick has been getting rave reviews down south, even though Barnsley were relegated hewould be a better - and cheaper - option.}

22 Aug 2018 18:55:16
I think the biggest problem the Board have made is that they didn't react quick enough to change the person who has responsibility of selecting our targets . We bought four players in January and signed another on a long term loan . His loan was shortened . None of the other four have showed themselves good enough .
We even loaned a player out for 6 months, as soon as we signed him, who do we think we are, Chelsea, money bags Man City .
Our. Board should have carried out a root and branch inspection of the January window and see how we don't waste club's money just bloating the squad.

22 Aug 2018 19:00:06
The bottom line is that the board got plenty of praise when things were going well. Are they going bad just now, not really at the moment, but a blind man can see that opposition have improved by a good bit and we are weaker, the manager has said this several times. The anxiety amongst the fans come from realism of where we are heading towards. The squad needs players signed that will not only play but improve the first team. It really is that simple.

22 Aug 2018 20:34:30
Steve Gerrard has done to Rangers what Brendan done for Celtic and the board are sitting in the board room with their hands glued to the table, but that’s all right Mr Lawwell u count the money because u missed out this year in CL because u never spent on any quality signings and count again for next season because this mob across the road will take the title because u didn’t listen to BR or the fans who go every week .

22 Aug 2018 16:39:43
Eds with all the stories coming out today about McKenna bid and the different stories with Bruma can u update us in what's actually true and what's not true?

{Ed007's Note - Bruma is available but Celtic haven't shown any interest. Scott McKenna isn't available and Celtic had a bid turned down this morning.}

22 Aug 2018 16:56:48
Do u think this is Celtic trying to make like they are after these players when all the time there is no intention to do anything. They can then say they tried everything at the end of the window.

{Ed007's Note - No.}

22 Aug 2018 17:15:32
Do u know how interested Celtic are to n McKenna 3.5m if that's what they bid for him is true do u think they will go again with higher bid or will they use that offer for someone else? ED?

{Ed007's Note -

via GIPHY

22 Aug 2018 17:40:05
I think we will go back in with 3.75 and possibly Hayes or Christie as part of package.
The Bruma rumour I think will only happen if McKenna
Deal doesn’t happen. Personally I would like both, sell boyata and let Comper go.

22 Aug 2018 18:40:35
I have seen that Celtic have said they are not interested in Bruma. How accurate that is good only knows at this stage. Just hope we get someone in.

22 Aug 2018 15:50:18
Just in from work and seen we have approached aberdeen for mckenna?! our scouts have serious questions to answer, AND PL.

22 Aug 2018 10:16:54
Would everyone be happy if we were to sign Bruma and Chirivella but no other this window?

Say we could get Bruma for £6-7m and Chirivella for £3m, assuming we can punt Boyata for £8m that’s not too much to ask for. Potentially only around £3m net spend with the sales of Armstrong and Boyata.

There are definitely other areas we need improvement in but players need to leave before that can happen. I’d definitely be happy with that, fingers crossed we aren’t left with Man City loanees.

22 Aug 2018 11:02:39
I'd be happy with that, but is there a genuine interest in Bruma or is it just the rumour mill going into overdrive?

22 Aug 2018 11:03:31
As long as we do something to bolster our defence. Decided happy is unattainable within our strategy, but the necessity to finally do something to stop us throwing games through mistakes and replacing players not good enough would be a good start. But it will only be a start if the easily said words of bringing in quality are just that.

22 Aug 2018 11:24:34
I'd be delighted with that. Can't see it happening though unfortunately. I'd like to think there's a few deals moving forward that no one knows about but who knows. Not getting into the champions league definitely makes it more difficult. The arrival of Stevie G for them might actually be beneficial to attracting players.

22 Aug 2018 11:27:44
A net spend of 3m wouldn't be too much to ask, no. I would still like a RAM/ CAM though.

22 Aug 2018 11:34:44
I was just reading about that Bruma.
Seems over the last 2 years he's spent over 300 days injured and has had 2 knee operations.

Would he be a another gamble with big money needed to get him?

{Ed007's Note - He's had one knee operation that kept him out from March last year until October.}

22 Aug 2018 11:42:28
I’d be happy with both, Chirivella does look a player. Could do with another AM in before the window closes and a Right Back. If Scott McKenna were to sign that is dreadful business.

22 Aug 2018 12:16:38
Wrong ed007.
He had one around March 2017 then went back under the knife in June 2017.

{Ed007's Note - No he didn't it was the same injury and operation but it shows up as 2 different ops on transfermarkt because it crosses over from one season to another, it's his one and only major injury.}

22 Aug 2018 12:18:55
@Kev83 I read that the new Rangers CB from Brighton had a serious heart condition a couple of years ago so these things can happen.

22 Aug 2018 12:32:48
If we wouldn't spend 2.75 on McGinn then I don't understand how we are offering 3.5 for McKenna go figure? He isn't worth anymore if as much as that. Would rather spend a little more and bring in someone better even on loan with purchase option.

22 Aug 2018 12:46:48
Unfortunately, because of the haggling and complications with Hibs over McGinn, we can't afford to dither or under-cut so near to the deadline and clubs will know this and take full advantage.
Would still like to see us selling off some of the deadwood to help contribute towards better quality signings.

22 Aug 2018 12:59:14
I see any rumour that appears on here gets completed slated and the board and BR wouldn't let slip who we are targeting as we keep our transfer dealings quiet.

In all fairness I think BR hasn't a clue who the club actually targets. He will likely give his preferred targets to the board but it seems to fall on deaf ears.

The scouting team seem absolutely pish, or are they? Do they have the freedom to get on with their jobs or are they manipulated to scout what the board require?

The problem we have is BR has won a double treble without really having a great transfer kitty to add to his squad, therefore it gives the tight fisted board little encouragement to get their hands in their pockets.

Now we have no champions league football, our team has become weaker in personnel and the players aren't working as hard as they have previously.

My biggest worry with all of this is how do the so called gifted players stay motivated to continue playing for the green and white when the board don't seem to have the same ambition? We have a genuine talent coming through our youth team that could potentially be a world beater, how long will he stay at the club for when the board can't invest in talent good enough for him to progress with.

But I suppose there is no need to panic we will probably sell them for great money and the board will enjoy counting the money till the cows come home.

22 Aug 2018 13:06:56
Daily Ranger saying nothing in the Bruma link - not surprised as we are looking at a lower level player in McKenna.

22 Aug 2018 13:11:36
I stand corrected ed007.

{Ed007's Note - It's just the usual, Kev. People that run these type of hit-whoring sites are so desperate to find something negative about any player we're linked with they'll dive right in and write any old $hite without checking the facts.}

22 Aug 2018 13:23:18
Yeah supposedly Celtic say there is no interest.

Probably trying to ensure the fans don’t get too excited about it. It does seem strange we’re trying to sign McKenna if we are interested in Bruma too.

22 Aug 2018 13:34:34
I thought maybe it was something like a big main op then a wee tidy up later. Sometimes happens like that.

22 Aug 2018 14:00:29
Unless we are losing 2 Andy?

22 Aug 2018 15:22:47
Aberdeen hold all the cards regarding McKenna he's under contract till 2023 so they can name there price we should move on.

22 Aug 2018 16:48:07
Can someone explain how we Can't manage to get transfers done but yet others get the done no problem. And when we look at a player we get quoted stupid figures while again other clubs have to pay a fees a lot lower.

22 Aug 2018 20:07:06
The media has always created the big bad image that is Celtic . In the 60's and 70's when Celtic bought a player from another Celtic club, Celtic were draining the strengths of other clubs .
When Rangers bought a player from Scottish club they were investing money in the Scottish game .
All other teams in Scotland are buying players that there is no real demand and so they are easy to bring over the line . m
Managers and Chairmen in Scotland mostly like to sell to Rangers2012, & hate to sell to Celtic.