Celtic Banter Archive February 24 2016

24 Feb 2016 22:53:10
Artificial surface at CP? Thoughts? I'm totally on the fence so need opinions to sway me.

25 Feb 2016 00:48:10
Never, the league is bad enough! The pitch at Celtic Park has always been good, and the grounds man (I think his name is Hayes) has won loads of awards! Anyway hopefully it's back to its best next season, it was brutal on Saturday! Good artificial pitches are OK for flat/ short passes. Long passes where the ball might bounce is different. It's part of the fabric in Scandinavia, these teams were part time 20 years ago, because Ronny Deila likes them means nothing - players hate them. It's hard enough trying to sign decent players without telling them we don't even play on grass!

25 Feb 2016 01:00:23
Just reading the paper there, as well as Ronny complimenting plastic pitches he's said James Forrest is like Messi! He thinks everyone in our team is brilliant which makes you wonder why we are so average! Truly bizarre!

25 Feb 2016 08:53:10
Fair points there Delphic. I was thinking I don't particularly see the need for it at CP. Our turf is usually fine apart from the expected lumps etc over winter. I think the question was posed to RD rather than him suggest it. There are a few grounds in our league could do with it perhaps and the powers that be may come up with another one of their ideas to 'level the playing field' in more ways than one. I don't think the Scottish league is that far ahead of the Norwegian though to be honest.

25 Feb 2016 09:27:12
Jim I don't think plastic is just about getting games on, although it's a big part of it. It's also a community and cost thing. Accies park is used by everyone from there boys to the first team training it's also used for local events schools etc. Celtic don't need to be training on cp as they have Lennoxtown. They have barrow field for the youths. And they have the finances to hire other parks for development should they require. Celtic park will always be grass for first team only. I can't see that ever changing.

25 Feb 2016 10:16:48
Totally agree Delphic! But to be honest his comments don't really come as a surprise, just more garbage from a guy way out his depth! Comparing Forrest with messi is just another cracker to add to his growing list of utter pish he talks! And the idea of getting an artificial surface at parkhead is a non starter! Those surfaces shouldn't be anywhere near top level football! A bit like Ronnie really.

25 Feb 2016 11:31:02
I used to think he had this realistic and philosophical view on football and everything regarding Celtic results, performances and players etc - but I cringe when he is interviewed because he is clearly not seeing what most of us witness every week.

25 Feb 2016 13:55:45
He's a health guru, dietitian so I'd imagine his knowledge of footballers and pitches would be right up there with Jane Fonda.

25 Feb 2016 14:30:06
Just touching on the artificial surface question. I'm sure I read or saw it somewhere that a pitch can be laid where natural grass has artificial grass woven through it. It is then cut as normal but has the durability of a totally artificial surface. Anyone else heard of this.

25 Feb 2016 15:16:45
This story about pitches is just the media creating headlines when there are none.

This is not the first time Deila has commented on artificial pitches and his answer has always been consistent.

He says that the optimum choice is always a grass pitch that is in good condition and well maintained. However, he did say that a good artificial pitch is better than a crap grass pitch and is better suited to playing attractive football. He made these comments last year when he saw how bad Hampden was and also the state of some of the away grounds.

25 Feb 2016 14:41:35
Not for me JT, Ball doesn't skip/ bounce right, Knew a boy got horrific injury via hard surface like this

Surfaces play a part mate in games part n parcel for me, saying that would rather have summer football (y)

Never @ Parkhead surely?

Your thoughts Ed? surprised you not intervened on this thread already mate? (y)

{Ed007's Note - I'm not too sure where I stand on them mate. It says a lot that the best one in Scotland is our own at Lennoxtown though and I wouldn't mind seeing a club - not us - installing a top quality artificial pitch to see how it goes.}

25 Feb 2016 16:30:03
Yeah your right Lawman, - a few of the top clubs in England have it, so does Murrayfield! I think they are the most expensive 700k ish, but I think they are the best! The current pitch at Celtic Park was from a Dutch company who are supposedly top drawer (they do Ajax's etc) but for some reason it's been awful this season! Ronny has been consistent, like you said Rab, he ideally likes grass, then a good artificial then a crap grass, it's not just about that though it's the perception they have. In Scandinavia they know nothing else, they have had them for decades, everywhere else in the world hates them! Jim you said that the the Norwegian League is probably better than ours now, and your probably right, but that doesn't mean we should make ourselves any more of a laughing stock. We have at least got a proud history in Scotland, Scandinavian teams are still an after thought! Clubs should be using covers on their pitch in the bad weather! You get them in other sports - even 4 covers to cover the 4 quarters of the pitch. Covers, good watering and good drainage is the answer for me!

25 Feb 2016 16:37:48
Thanks lawman lol. Are you talking about the 'desso' pitches? Sure Wembley has that (? )

25 Feb 2016 16:45:49
Defo summer football for me too jamie. Would be a much better solution for our game!

25 Feb 2016 17:46:39
Yeah JT for sure (y) / Ed, for me seen to many of these pitches for me this season

We must have hit what 3 or 4 even in European campaign

Would not liked for one of our players to have sustained Waghorn injury via it, Thought when LG took that knock in EK game we were in big bother (y)

{Ed007's Note - Waghorn was already carrying that injury and should never have played, it had nothing to do with the pitch.}

25 Feb 2016 18:41:48
Research suggests that artificial surfaces are no more dangerous than natural grass. A hard bobbly surface has got to be just as much a concern.

25 Feb 2016 18:58:35
I never knew that Ed (y)

{Ed007's Note - They took a risk and it backfired so they've nobody to blame but themselves.}

25 Feb 2016 19:19:57
Ohhh I like it when they are at fault Ed :-D Never tire of that (y)

{Ed007's Note - Hoi you! Show a bit of respect. (giggle)

25 Feb 2016 21:15:56
Unfortunately most if not all posters on this topic have no idea as how a manager or a real supporter speaks of a player . The manager will either want a good price for Forrest if he leaves, or have Foresst back playing again at a high level.
That is why R D speaks highly of Forrest .
Unfortunately most on here can only speak negative bad nonsense, and then they wonder why a player is playing without confidence .
When will we ever learn?

25 Feb 2016 23:26:33
My god! I was amazed at your last post but hadn't scrolled down . So that's how it works, rd says forest reminds him of messi and all of a sudden his price rockets . What a masterplan . Can't believe others haven't thought of that . Is their houses made of chocolate where you live old boy . I bet it's the best chocolate too . Your so lucky.

26 Feb 2016 07:58:44
Artificial grass isn't the best choice, but it helped our league very much. The pitches here isn't the best in the start and end of the season so for our league it has been wonders. It could be done like at Old Trafford where some of the pitch is artificial, but the top of the surface is real grass.

{Ed001's Note - those 4g pitches are possibly dangerous though. The rubber they use to protect the surface contains carcinogens and there is a campaign to ban them. Also it makes the surface too firm. Better to use artificial grow lights and under soil heating to get a better pitch.}

24 Feb 2016 22:05:38
Ed to comment on other rumours do I need to register seperate, tried to comment on bets pge but won't let me sig in?

{Ed007's Note - It should be the same log-in mate. If it's still not letting you fire in a message using the 'Contact Us' link at the bottom of the page and Ed033 will have a look at it.}

24 Feb 2016 22:36:04
Marty, I've had no problem using the same sign in info as I registered with this site for any others. FYI.

25 Feb 2016 10:28:32
Thanks ed and tim, got it to work - no idea what I was doing previously!

24 Feb 2016 21:08:59
Hibs getting pumped 3-0 off Morton at home. That should make it easier for us to acquire Alan Stubbs then lol.

24 Feb 2016 22:30:11
Lets not laugh and sconse too quickly here Morton pulled our kecks down in a cup tie not that long ago!

25 Feb 2016 08:27:31
Against half a team Drewzybhoy and it certainly wasn't 3-0.

25 Feb 2016 14:46:00
No kev it was 1-0 aet and it was more embarrassing than hibs getting beat 3-0 by a team in the same division. Our half a team should still be capable of beating most premier teams and certainly all championship teams.

25 Feb 2016 14:59:18
Have to disagree with you Jim, I don't think it's more embarrassing at all.

24 Feb 2016 07:21:48
Question for timalloy, who do you place your penalty bets with? It's not an option with my online bookie. I see bar a had another pen against Arsenal last night.

24 Feb 2016 17:13:14
He can sign a pre contract with clubs in the summer unusual contract but true.

{Ed002's Note - No, James Forrest has a contract like any other player. It finishes in June and he can sign a pre-contract with any non Scottish club now if he wishes. The interest is from Norwich and Les Ferdinand is also considering a scout's report on him.}

24 Feb 2016 17:13:47
@pattybhoy I am with Sly but other online bookmakers do it also shop around for best odds and offers. Myself I never had my penalty bet on last night, how stupid am I?