Celtic Banter Archive July 23 2018

23 Jul 2018 20:52:37
Ludogorets, bate, would like to avoid hapoel, they're a banana skin for me, although with boyata and ajer, we should win.

23 Jul 2018 21:56:54
BATE have qualified for the group stages as much as us in the last 10 years despite spending nothing and earning nothing in comparison.

I hope this Peter Lawwell masterplan includes us having a strong Europa side at least at some point in my lifetime.

{Ed007's Note - We've been in the CL more than BATE in the last 10 years.}

23 Jul 2018 23:59:28
I am afraid P Lawwell may have his faults, but it isn't within his role to mastermind us having a strong European side in your life time .
A strong Celtic team is in the eye of the beholder and it consists of the 11 players starting matches, the remainder of the squad, the manager and coaches and finally the supporters.

25 Jul 2018 01:07:18
Barely more. Maybe once or twice more which is an embarrassment.

23 Jul 2018 17:16:25
Was on last night and thought I’d give my take on our current transfer window, do we need more players? Yes. But do we need them as desperate as folk make out? No imo.

Yes we need a new cb and a winger and a new rb

But on a different note look at this way. do we really need John McGinn this season if Lennon is taking the piss with the transfer fee? No. we have Nitcham and Kouassi coming through and we can get Mcginn for nothing next season when likely he will be in his prime.

Secondly regarding the cb, yes we need one but once boyata comes back I honestly wouldn’t worry as much, look at his wc performance, he was brilliant and imo this will be boyata at his best season this year, and it gives guys like Hendry to develop and take his chance along with ajer who’s only getting better, as for compper genuinely awful from what I’ve seen and not up to the standard we’re looking for.

Right Back wise. yeh I’d like to see one but maybe Brendan is considering giving gamboa a chance? A mean yeh Costa Rica has a bad wc but he was the stand out player when I watched them and imo deserves a 2nd chance and Lustig as a back up

& Winger wise - Patrick Roberts is a massive blow and realisticly im hoping we still land a qaulity winger but at the same time whoever it is isn’t going to take over Forrest spot and im positive Sinclair will regain his old form along with imo this will be Johnston’s break out season along with Morgan so do we need one as badly as some make out? No again imo lol

This season we look more fitter and determined than ever and Brendan will likely work his magic on Morgan and Johnston, Ajer and Boyata will be some paring and Gamboa deserves a chance after his wc performances. Not to mention yes we lost Armstrong but we already have more than enough cover in Rogic and McGregor and Christie.

Last thing al say is my point is we are not as bad as some might make out, it’s been a underwhelming winow and even saying that we broke our transfer record for French eddy who was a crucial signing to link up with moussa but we have players who can grow and fill the gaps, give it time lads! and stay positive the window isn’t as bad some make out. sorry for the long post btw aha.

23 Jul 2018 17:51:47
I know we can always do with quality additions - especially in the problem areas at the back; but I am always worried about losing our best players during the summer windows and not being able to replace them in time or have to settle for inferior stop-gaps?
Roberts was good for keeping Forrest on his toes and although I would have loved to see us signing him, we have Johnston, Morgan and even Christie to back-up both wings.
The vast majority of the current squad have the quality and ability to continue Scottish dominance and have another years experience of European football under their belt - which our rivals never attain and the manager has repeatedly stated he is keen to add more quality and keep improving the team. So be it.

23 Jul 2018 18:07:21
Can't disagree with most of that Chris especially the bit about McGinn. I don't think anyone thinks we're a bad team but some seem to want signings for the sake of it when the players we could realistically get are not any better than what we've got. Someone even mentioned some centre half the Sevies signed for 3.5 million saying we should be signing similar . Unbelievable😣.

23 Jul 2018 19:17:32
Good post there's nobody that sevco signed would get near our team the sevvies are creaming themselves about the boy far Brighton after about 2 games against amateurs. unbelievable Jeff.

23 Jul 2018 19:31:28
I'm very optimistic about the youth that are coming through, if they get their chance, and they need game time in order to develop further, will they get it with us, I'm not sure at all.
Young Henderson could be a cracker and hopefully he gets a few games under his belt this season.
The underlying factor is the hidings we received in the champions league, yeah we had some good results but we were found out at the back.
I am happy with the squad, but if we could get one solid centre back and right back then I would be happy.
Both would have to have pace and technique to fit with the way BR likes to play.
Yes we get priced out on players but I'm sure there are players out there in foreign leagues.
Does anyone know anything about where we scout? That seems to be the crucial mistake we've made in the past as we have made some dreadful signings.
Hopefully the lack of progress on acquiring those two positions is simply down to our scouts being busy looking for the right talent to join us.
Let's hope we do strengthen the squad with quality, not waste it on people like commper.
And finally just leave signing McGinn till January for the following summer, another full season under his belt with Hibs should only help him be ready to step up to the plate when he arrives.

23 Jul 2018 20:55:43
All good points. however it isn't just the fans that want players in.
It's the manager also. his quotes were that he had hoped there would be more in. that tells you he has identified the areas he wants to strenghten.
I am starting to give the club a bit of a break. the players we need I genuinely believe we can't afford. this must be so frustrating the the club and the manager.
I think the team has evolved over the last 2 years. the question is how much further can it go.
I think we are going to need some imaginative signings. am sure they are looking everywhere.

23 Jul 2018 21:05:39
boyata was untested against panama and tunisia, with alderweirelc and vertonghen next to him, i wouldn't read into those performances too much, we are looking for him to lead the backline and instil confidence in front of him, neither of which he does for me when tested.

23 Jul 2018 23:24:30
Agree with most of what you’ve said apart from Gamboa getting another chance. He’s proved he’s not up to it. Zero confidence on the ball.

I thought a right back was a priority either in the window but not so sure now. If we keep playing 3-5-2 then we won’t be playing one anyway.

24 Jul 2018 00:12:20
Roberts was excellent at keeping the medics on their toes, I checked last season I thought we might have taken back sick note .
He was so good last season that no one wants to take him off Man City hands .
I am sure if Brendan and his scouts can get a sniff at a player they want for a position they are worried about they will do what they can to sign that player or players up.
We will be slower parting with a prize asset than we are acquiring one .
Remember Brendan's position (s) he wants to fill may be different than the supporters want.
I remember a couple of seasons ago the fans wanted young Forrest out, but thank God the different Managers knew better.

23 Jul 2018 16:38:18
Correct me if am wrong, but was Athens last league trophy no 18 years ago. 93/94 season?

23 Jul 2018 16:56:08
Naw it was last season 😂.

23 Jul 2018 11:11:08
We’ll play AEK Athens if we get through, don't know much about them nowadays but would have thought there would be easier ties.

Like I said last week if we can’t beat teams of this quality over two legs then we don’t deserve to be in the CL.

{Ed007's Note - AEK only won the league - their first in 24 years - because PAOK were deducted points because their president was running about with a gun on the park. I can't see the second best team in Greece causing us too many problems.}

23 Jul 2018 11:52:12
While I am still confident of reaching the CL group stages, it just proves the point that from now on in for seasons to come, qualifying will be that much harder with Champions League standard teams as opposition. Both Rosenburg and AEK Athens are regular fixtures in european football. We can expect the same next season and the season after that.
Celtic really need to find a way to raise our coefficient to elimate these hazardous early season ties.

{Ed007's Note - This is AEK's first competitive match of the season, with a new manager and they sold their 2 main CBs and striker this summer.}

23 Jul 2018 11:53:08
Their top scorer was Sergio Araujo (once linked with us) and he's gone back to Las Palmas - for now.

23 Jul 2018 11:54:24
Not going to lie Ed as much as I trust your info I googled it, thought you were having me on.

Wtf?!

I see their team is filled with Greek players, even if they were all in the Greece national teams first 11 I wouldn’t be too concerned with that.

{Ed007's Note - It'll be tough over there, Andy but I can't see us losing either leg.}

23 Jul 2018 12:02:42
Ach at least we are not going to fekin Kazikstan lol.

23 Jul 2018 14:45:03
On my phone, it said it was 'Cork City v Celtic/ Rosenberg', in the next round, I thought, mmm that's a good draw.

23 Jul 2018 15:15:20
If we lost to Rosenborg Aindoh, we would play Cork city in Europa qualifier.

23 Jul 2018 15:27:06
This is where Brendan earns his huge wage packet. He's been slowly adapting our team for the European game which has let us down so much in the past. Dominating domestically can be marked off the board, Europe is now where we see our team really mature and go forward. I don't think we should fear any team we are up against as on our day we can beat anyone. It wasn't that long ago that it was Fortress Parkhead with various Euro teams coming and leaving defeated. Who can forget Barcelona, AC Milan, Juve, Man U to name a few.
Would love to get us back to that position where teams are cacking it when they play us at home.
I'm confident we can get through to the group stages but it will be tough.

23 Jul 2018 15:52:38
Best get those signings in pretty quick.

23 Jul 2018 16:49:43
Right Stevie, understand now.

23 Jul 2018 17:29:15
Ed, you say the second best team in Greece shouldn't be a match for Celtic. The Greek league has been ranked higher than ours for probably close to 20 years so I would imagine any of their top 6 would be.

Why wouldn't they? Do you watch a lot of Greek football?

{Ed007's Note - Yes.}

23 Jul 2018 19:22:49
Never mind that Zikos let's get to the important stuff can you tell us where we can get a decent Greek salad in Athens? :-D.

23 Jul 2018 19:34:44
I also try and keep up to date with Greek football, (not as much as I used to to be fair) . Personally I think that AEK will give Celtic more of a game than you Ed.

I haven't seen anything from Brendan Rodgers Celtic that would warrant a favourite tag (very poor in Europe of late) and I wouldn't be surprised if AEK win.

{Ed007's Note - I'd be amazed if AEK win.}

23 Jul 2018 20:01:52
Haha, think a gyros would be more suited to a boozy trip to Athens.

On a serious note try and keep safe. Crowds can get nasty if there is a lot at stake. Last time I tried to go to a game in Greece I was refused entry for safety reasons. Watched the game on TV only to see a full blown riot where the stadium was set on fire! With seats (on fire) being thrown into the away end! Dodged more than a bullet that day.

23 Jul 2018 20:53:08
Very poor in Europe of late? Based on what?

Being beaten by teams with hundreds of millions of pounds worth of players?

We came 3rd in our group as a pot 4 team, what more do you expect when the other two teams are PSG and Bayern?

23 Jul 2018 21:48:00
Based on us getting absolutely tanked probably.

23 Jul 2018 22:44:02
AndyH93 - not simply because Celtic were beaten by Man City and PSG and Anderlecht. But more the manner in which they were beaten. They got slaughtered. I remember watching the PSG game thinking that it should have been double figures.

And I don't buy into the "but they spend hundreds of millions" BS. Any manager worth their salt should be able to set a team up to be well organised and difficult to beat, highlight weakness in the opposition that you can exploit and hopefully with a bit of luck get a win or at least a draw.

Also, which PSG players would have got into the Barcelona team that Celtic beat? Not many.

Brendan Rodgers domestic record is unbelievable, but his European record so far has been extremely poor. Imo Celtic shouldn't view just getting to the group stages as a success they should be looking to get there and get respectable results and finishing 3rd should be the minimum expectation, with the odd year getting out of the group.

24 Jul 2018 07:26:00
So we’re supposed to go from dominating possession domestically to parking the bus in the CL?

What’s been evident under Rodgers for me is that yes against the top teams we will struggle (as expected) as they can keep the ball better than us and have more of the ball to exploit us defensively which admittedly we haven’t been great.

However under Rodgers we’ve been much better than under previous managers against teams of a similar quality. I would suggest AEK Athens fall under that category wouldn’t you?

I just can’t see how us getting pumped off PSG has any baring on our games against Athens.

24 Jul 2018 07:27:02
Zikos good post. BR has to change how we play in Europe. We set ourselves up to get smashed. European record is poor.

24 Jul 2018 00:16:36
If you are beaten, you are beat, it doesn't matter by one goal or twenty, you get no points .

Ed, Do you think will the weather be warm in Athens when we play there?

{Ed007's Note - It'll be anywhere between 24 and 32 degrees according to Google, it's at 30 for today.}

24 Jul 2018 16:26:26
AndyH93, for the record I actually think that Celtic will beat the current AEK team as ed mentioned they have a new manager and would doubt they will be as well organised as last year. If they are as good as last year Celtic will struggle especially at home as they were extremely well organised defensively and didn't lose many goals, even away from home and when they did they generally also scored.

However in regard to your post in how getting horsed by PSG is relevant to playing AEK is there is a tactical stubborness to BR. He refuses to change his tactics and always plays for the win. Imo that's just crazy, sometimes the win is almost impossible but the draw isn't and you also get points for draws! That is how teams of Celtics level get past the group stage.

Also you forgot to mention how they also got horsed from Anderlecht (granted not to the same extent) .

23 Jul 2018 07:21:16
I know it's been talked about many times before, but I'd put in a cheeky wee offer for Steven Caulker. Really light at the moment CB wise, an if he could help us through the CL qualifiers it could be a masterstroke. Dunno what BR and PL have line up though. You would think something MUST e going on behind the scenes.

23 Jul 2018 10:55:10
Was he particularly impressive for Dundee last season? Why not a cheeky wee offer for Berra or Ambrose?

23 Jul 2018 12:07:42
Your clearly at the wind up kev f@@@ing berra 😘😘.

23 Jul 2018 12:15:37
Can't think of too many centre-back opponents in Scotland that have really impressed me enough consistently recently to merit the hoops.
We have already signed Hendry and he was a stand-out in a bad side.
The continent has proved to be a good source in previous seasons with guys like Rieper, Balde, Mjallby, Valgaeren, Vega and Van Diijk;
We have also had Rogne, Loovens Schiavchenko and Mjastorovic, who had their good and bad days and I am sure my fellow posters with better memories can come up with more examples (good, bad and ugly) .

23 Jul 2018 14:25:32
My point is he had a better season than Caulker Mally. We should be setting our sights much higher. I was open to the idea of Caulker last summer but he's now a year further on and not looking particularly good for Dundee.

23 Jul 2018 15:26:16
Fair point kev but ad have caulker over berra any day.

23 Jul 2018 16:31:59
Said it before, say it again, The CH we should be signing from the SPL is Cedric Kipre @ Motherwell . He can play @ RB too. I don't think he is even 22 yet bags of power and pace. I accept he is a bit raw but that can be honed

Before anybody highlights that he was sent off TWICE against us let's face it he was hard done by TWICE adds to our French contingent too boy was at Leicester when they were champs! (Y)

23 Jul 2018 16:57:17
@Jamiebhoy7 - We shouldn’t be touching any defenders in this country with a barge pole.

23 Jul 2018 17:56:32
What is this obsession with caulker the guy has done nothing in his career to justify buying him . Hendry is better and I think he's our weakest cb.

23 Jul 2018 17:58:06
Kev we buy the best YOUNG talent in our league in most seasons so why not a defender?

23 Jul 2018 20:56:11
Kipre is woeful.

23 Jul 2018 21:49:29
Pretty sure we bought Hendry 6 months ago Jamie.

24 Jul 2018 00:18:24
Surely a miss type . He didn't mean a cheeky wee offer for Chaulker, he really mean't a stupid wee offer.

23 Jul 2018 05:49:33
Predict this will be Broonies best season in s Celtic strip, he is going to smoke every midfielder in the league.