Celtic Banter Archive January 24 2021

24 Jan 2021 19:19:56
Apparently Stefan Johansen is going to be available for transfer from Fulham.

30 years old, good pro and plenty of life in the legs - any thoughts?

24 Jan 2021 19:24:13
He wasn’t good enough when he was there and not good enough to get a game for Fulham so not for me .

24 Jan 2021 19:41:09
Stefan was Scottish player of the year when he played under Ronnie Deila.
I’m surprised he only turned 30 years old a couple of weeks ago.
Stefan is very similar to our recent signings and that is he’s not played too much football in the last year.
He still gets his game for Norway but we can’t afford to take anymore chances on players who can’t hit the ground running.
We’ve took multiple risks on similar players recently and the risks haven’t paid off.

24 Jan 2021 19:47:40
Not what we need to move us forward. I liked him as a player when he was with us though.

24 Jan 2021 20:17:36
Very good player with a great engine that we let go too early but yesterday was yesterday.

24 Jan 2021 20:23:44
Yes, why not Pedro.
I mean bringing old players back to the club always works out, whilst we are at it we should give Effe, Izzy and Mika a shout since our defence is crap oh I also here that big Rab Douglas is still turning out for Arbroath.

24 Jan 2021 20:58:07
Jonbhoy sarcasm is the lowest form of wit. Pedro made a comment. Agree or disagree but don’t try to make yourself look big by making others look small. You achieved the opposite.

24 Jan 2021 21:30:57
Thank you bhoys for taking the time to comment, also appreciate your views.

25 Jan 2021 09:59:43
Great player who jumped ship to early because he would have flourished in rodgers team. Became the whipping bhoy of people who didn't have a clue because he was a favourite of ronny and keeping that clown commons out the team.
That being said I don't think it would be a good move to bring him back.

24 Jan 2021 18:39:47
Can we look at real targets and really what's out there

Roy Keane not sure but put him out there

Mon again the same as keane

Jack Ross not for me

Howe is a maybe i think it would be down to working conditions

Stevie Clark would do a job but not sure if he would want it

Larsson not done well as a manager for me

Cucoo bad spelling great player no bad coach could be a shout

Lambert he wouldn't come

Moyes he's happy where he is right now


Petrescu he's had no bad success with smaller budget than us can come in handy with recruitment.

Any other suggestions?

24 Jan 2021 19:11:42
Rich T, I personally think that the changes that have been reported as having started, behind the scenes, to reshape the footballing side of things at CP, will go a long way to deciding what level of Manager we are looking to attract.

I mentioned the other day that based on the disaster that this season has been, I believe DD will step in and fix this as he's done before - I hope he does.

If reports are correct he's bringing in one of his son's to possibly replace Lawwell, we know there will be a revolving door for the players and the team will look very different to those we been watching in recent years. Will Scott Brown be there next season?

I'm hopeful he brings in a manager of the calibre of a MON or BR, who that will be - time will tell.

24 Jan 2021 19:34:11
theres plenty of coaches out there why has it got to be down to the same names.

24 Jan 2021 20:29:15
Could I put forward a name for debate. I put forward this current Assistant Manager last year but because his team were conceding goals and in the mire it didn't look good. This year however his team are doing quite well and it is only a matter of time before he lands a No. 1's job. (John Terry)
Yes, it may take him a short time to sort us out but regardless of who gets the job, there could be a major rebuild required.
Slippy played under some good managers at Liverpool, but look at the ones Terry played under at Chelsea. Mourinho, Scolari, Grant, Benitez, Hiddink, so you would think he's picked up enough from that lot to make a go of it.
If we are not going down the top tier route, is he worth a shout in anyone's opinion?

{Ed007's Note - Apart from upsetting #MoralityCSC....

via GIPHY

24 Jan 2021 20:50:35
Sergej Rebrov, Xabi Alonso, Kjetil Knutsen in that order
Neil McGuinness chief scout
Dof I m not yet sure who.

24 Jan 2021 13:02:44
Ed007 its 9 days to till the window shuts and its gone really quiet from transfer news. This to me indicates new manager in the summer with no signings until then either cause really what could we do transfer wise that will change things for us just now what do you think ED007?

{Ed007's Note - About what?}

24 Jan 2021 14:05:45
Ur thoughts on the next few days of the window do u think we will make any signings be it players or new manager?

{Ed007's Note - There won't be a new manager so you can forget that. Depending on how things look with the virus this coming week we'll either sign a CB and a winger or nobody. If football is going to be stopped there's no point spending money you don't need to.}

24 Jan 2021 14:19:47
Oh well would be good to see a couple of players in but with regards to any going out do u think this is the best time to profit on selling a couple of players if bids come in.

{Ed007's Note - I thought Ntcham would have left by now but maybe the Covid and isolation situation is affecting that. Ajer won't be moving during this window and unless Edouard pushes for a move neither will he.
If it was me I would have told Edouard's agent to find him a new club this month.}

24 Jan 2021 15:01:55
Yeah me to as i think we would get more for Edouard now than the summer Ntcham could still go i think there is still a week to go but will see i can't see us getting anyone in cause looking at CB we have Welsh for cover with Elhamed and right now with the diamond we don't need a winger in my opinion.

{Ed007's Note - I forgot all about Elhamed, he's another one I expected to be be away by now.}

24 Jan 2021 15:09:27
I am surprised there apparently have been no bids for Eddy, Ntcham or Christie with a week to go - especially Eddy?
The consensus now seems to be that Lennon will stay on until the end of this 'dead' campaign, with a full overhaul in the summer.
If that is the case, I don't see us making any significant additions when we are just playing for second place and a cup.
Personally, I would have preferred a change before now so we could at least prepare for next season, instead of our usual stuttering starts and perennial disappointing CL qualifier record.
Because there are several options open to Celtic right now, but I appreciate the preferred candidate identified may not be available until the summer and if so, we wait and wonder?

24 Jan 2021 15:37:08
See i don't get that we won't be able to get the right manager till the summer its not like a players contract that's will end n the summer we can go and get any manager in with paying comp. for him.

24 Jan 2021 15:53:19
Surely a new manager needs to be announced before renewal time? That happens towards the end of the season?

24 Jan 2021 18:26:01
all this hype about a new manager who do we think are better than what we have got those who are better would not touch us with a barge pole because they have a reputation to think of that is why rodgers left celtic will not pay the money for real class players top class managers want top class players way above what celtic want to pay for. all these so called top of the range manager would never work on a budget when they come to a new team they want an open check book they have no time to develop young talent just look at the english top teams very few home grown players infact few english managers because everybody wants instant success off the peg let's get behind what we have got and support the whole of the celtic family.

24 Jan 2021 18:33:18
Don’t see much activity this window at all, hopefully a few of the want aways go
Probably best to wait until the manager decision is made.

24 Jan 2021 20:22:23
Loans in if anything. Lenny won't be given money to buy any new players as the money will be earmarked for the new manager.

24 Jan 2021 10:39:36
Hi, I don’t want to sound depressing but this talk of Rafa is embarrassing and this is a symptom of what the management/ hierarchy have done by not acting quickly in replacing Lennon. A lot of Celtic fans clutching at straws now hoping for a Worldy! This article has been made up by the Sevco fans! We should all understand that there’s a limit to our finances for a manager. Rogers arrived to a huge number of fans but if we’re honest he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by getting a good job down south. That it seems was always his plan and his advisors would have discussed this prior to his appointment. We need to get real, we’re in a mess and the next appointment will be in some ways a gamble. this I am sure of. Hope I’m wrong though. 🍀.

24 Jan 2021 11:36:33
Stuart Slater, that name’s a blast from the past.
He was the clubs record signing back in ‘92.
It took Stuart until December to score his first goal for Celtic.
And It was his first goal in 73 games. ( 53 for West Ham and 20 for Celtic )
He was a likeable guy but he couldn’t handle the pressure playing for Celtic.

24 Jan 2021 11:45:36
I don’t why I wrote 20 games without a goal for Celtic.
It’s worse because it was 23 games and his first in 76 games altogether.

24 Jan 2021 11:54:20
Buzz, and I’m starting to feel the pressure supporting them! 😂.

24 Jan 2021 12:27:02
Buzz, I seem to remember something being said about Stuart Slater and keepie-uppies, apparently he could do 12,000 in a row or a crazy number like that.

Shame he couldn't score goals.

24 Jan 2021 12:31:33
I remember after Wim Jansen (what a manager he was) had left and we were waiting on who was going to replace him.

Me and a pal had been out on the town, I'm sure it was a Saturday night, and a bit worse for wear got the early/ first edition of the Sunday Mail and whilst tucking into my chips I read we had signed Dr. Jo Venglos - WOW, that was a shock to the system!

24 Jan 2021 12:41:42
I can remember that game he scored his first goal.
It was a midweek game against Aberdeen which ended 2-2.
We had friends up from Wrexham and we took them to the Jungle and they loved the whole experience. Normally we stood in the middle of the Celtic End.
Stuart Slater opened the scoring and then later Rudi Vata made it 2-2 with also his first goal for Celtic.

24 Jan 2021 12:47:30
Pedro we are currently on our worst league run for 21 years, having not won in 4 league games.
But when Dr. Jo took over 22 years ago after Wim stopped the 10,
Celtic won our first 3 league games of the season but then we never won our next 5 league matches.
So if we fail to beat Hamilton on Wednesday, it will be our worst league run since Dr. Jo was in charge in 1998.

24 Jan 2021 13:04:22
As we mentioned just the other day Buzz Bomb, there could well be a few more unwelcome 'records' before this season is over.

Keep the stats coming, they're superb!

24 Jan 2021 10:11:22
The Rafa stuff is just rubbish we should stick to reality NL will be in charge till emd of season where Celtic will then try to bring in a new manager with two weeks of the window left there will be players come and go hopefully the right ones. There will be change but who and when well that will be the big question.

24 Jan 2021 11:56:36
I agree rich. All this attention on rafa or other managers. Lennon is here till the end of the season. Our main concern now should be finishing second. We are 4pts and one game in hand on Aberdeen in third. It's the one season in a very long time that there are 2 place for champions league qualification. And to not finish 2nd is just unthinkable but at the min not unrealistic on our current form. It's a sad state of affairs that this is the position we are in but it is and we now need to get it right asap. The sxxt show that has gone on is done and all the focus now need to be finishing second and securing that spot. To not finish second is simply unthinkable!

24 Jan 2021 09:13:39
gilliam ballague has said benitez won't be happening he's had offers from germany and an international team but will be taking a rest before deciding his next move.

{Ed001's Note - Balague's main source and how he got famous was because he is close friends with Rafa, so he would probably know best about this.}

24 Jan 2021 09:40:42
Balague > Mirror.

24 Jan 2021 11:50:28
definitely a no go by the sounds of it then ed. cheers.

24 Jan 2021 15:34:29
Until we have a manager and coaching system that develops and promotes our own young players the merry go round will continue.
We can't compete to buy top talent, we waste any profits from transfers and projects, best players move every year.
Big name managers are not interested in giving game time to kids, they won't risk reputation and want the level of player we will never buy.

24 Jan 2021 04:04:04
Leigh Griffiths is another one that can go after comments about fans having a short memory regarding Lennon. If he thinks trailing 23 points in league is acceptable, then he is at wrong club. He has got a cheek preaching the moral high ground.

24 Jan 2021 05:59:59
I’ve just read his quotes there. Before I say what I’m going to say we all know his recent problems and acknowledge them, however really griffiths Short memory us fans have eh Well it’s no that short that we can remember u turning up unfit pre season, so much so u got sent packing. How about u remind us since we’ve such short memories of how much football you’ve actually played the past 24 months in comparison to the wages you’ve picked up from the club? What is actually happening with the PR department at Celtic? Who thought it a good idea to let this clown out to defend lennon? Take it it’s the same guy who let lennon do that absolute shambles of a press conference last Monday. Quicker the board get this management situation sorted out the better for all. Not for 1 second I’m suggesting him as manager but could u imagine griffiths face if for say a Roy Keane rocked up. He’d put him through a wall .

24 Jan 2021 06:53:01
Since December 2016 ( over 4 years ) Leigh has played the full 90 minutes in only 11 League games.

24 Jan 2021 07:03:41
I agree Gary mate. Griffiths along with a few others at club are living in cuckooland if they think Lennon is not to blame for absolutely abysmal season.

Granted Barkas and Duffy are not good enough, but any manager who is at least half decent would drop players and go with next best option. Hazard and Welsh would of been a lot safer and possibly we would not have dropped as many points. Added to that playing Brown is a liability, turnbull and soro should of been starting a lot sooner.

I hope new manager is in place this month so clearout can begin.

24 Jan 2021 09:12:01
griff has a point lenny is a club legend and he does not deserve the abuse aimed at him. yes a new manager is needed but the abuse is not. if you have a poor season at us you don't not abuse that person who has gave some much to the club you thank them for what they have done and humbly let them know its time to move on for the club to move forward. the board have hung lenny out to dry they have the power to make the change and they did not.

24 Jan 2021 09:20:19
This is the same LG who didn't bother his arse to get fit at the start of the season.

He's very lucky as any other manager would have sacked him.

24 Jan 2021 09:27:19
I empathize sincerely with his mental health problems, but he has also contributed to this seasons epic failure, with his fitness shortfalls, attitude and the disciplinary matters.

24 Jan 2021 09:45:44
Leigh Griffiths is right. Celtic fans do have short memories. Won last 9IAR. Quadruple treble. Hit a bad patch and guess what. Fans turn on the players and club. Disgraceful. Just remember, you can't win every game. Celtic fans are the best in the world when the team is winning. Lose, the fans are the worst in the world.

24 Jan 2021 09:58:41
Aussie get real mate. It’s absolute folly to suggest Celtic fans have short memories. How could any Celtic fan forget the past decade? Infact the best part of 20 years Celtic have in the main bossed Scottish football, but that cannot overlook the facts of the situation this season. Most fans could accept a challenge on the title, most expected it, what we won’t accept is what’s been dished up this season in terms of results, performances and sheer dross if I’m being honest. Lennon recently likes to refer to the recent treble he achieved. Can u remember that game against hearts? Was hardly even close to a walk in the park, we so easily could’ve lost that game, lost the quadruple treble. Apart from a good 35 mins” we were absolutely rank rotten the entire rest of that game. Like it or not, time for change is long long overdue.

24 Jan 2021 10:23:53
gerry you say we could have lost that cup final but we did not we win it. so that is how you see it we could have lost im going to moan instead of actually acknowledging we completed the quadruple treble and made history we could have lost the final in the first treble in till big rogic stepped up did you moan about how we could of lost that final. if that was a champions league final would you have been complain no it was a final we win so acknowledge the achievement.

24 Jan 2021 10:47:28
Ok United ireland I’ll accept your point, however ask yourself this, this season on its own, do you see a confident management team that know what they’re doing? Do you on evidence so far in the main ( despite what they’re saying) players that looked half arsed and in anyway interested in playing for lennon? Can u explain to me how a team as successful as we’ve been all of a sudden need a sports physiologist to try bring back confidence to the players? The ast majority of these players have been serial winners, so where has the lack of confidence came from? If fans or a Certain percentage want to ignore what’s happening now that’s fine, but based on this season, results, performances, points on the board, the fact that at no point we’ve even managed to put even the slightest bit of pressure on that lot across the city, how that doesn’t concern even concern the hardest of lennon fans is beyond me. And it’s a wee point on that recent cup final. If fans think that performance was close to being acceptable then fair enough, no wonder the seasons panning out like it is because that’s the attitude and excuses we’re hearing from lennon and the players now on a weekly basis, it’s boring, it’s repetitive and in all honesty it’s nonsense and I’d suggest most fans ain’t buying it anymore.

24 Jan 2021 10:56:43
Someone should be monitoring what is said by club employees. just about the right time to wind up fans.

24 Jan 2021 10:58:31
United Ireland post has nothing to do with abuse Lennon received, he didn't deserve that and likewise the fans don't deserve to have a manager at helm who is not producing results. Leigh Griffiths should focus on repaying the club and fans for all the support he has received last 2 seasons by getting fit enough to last 90min.

Aussie Ray Lennon never won quadruple, he won a treble and finished what Rodgers started. You can twist this situation and put your own spin on it till your hearts content, but fact of the matter is John Barnes has got a better win rate percentage than Neil Lennon. It was Lennons tactics and players he chose this season that has got us where we are. Bye Bye Neil.

24 Jan 2021 11:23:23
Think this calls for buzz. No way does Lennin have a worst record than barnes. Think its harsh to only look on this season!

24 Jan 2021 11:33:12
Lennon was there for Celtic when they needed him. When Rodgers left. Won the league andcups since. Fans turn on him when he hits a bad patch. Disgraceful.

24 Jan 2021 11:39:09
It may or may not be harsh to judge on this season alone, but I’m afraid that’s nature of the beast. Happens at most clubs, even the cream clubs in European football, it’s not a new phenomenon. It’s certainly not about bashing lennon with a stick, we all know as player as manager what he’s done at the club, but come on, we cannot sit by and say that what’s been on offer this seasons close to being a acceptable? We’ve a team at this moment 20 odd points behind, now come the end of this season had we lost the league and gone toe to toe losing it by mane 3/ 5 points then gutted we’d all be but at least we’d have competed. The league being over ( in my eyes) before January cannot be acceptable given where we’ve been to where they’ve came from. As a club we’ve been blinkered by the progress they’ve made, all this “ are they coming yet” it’s all come back to roost. Even now u see them planning for next season pre contract signings, what are we doing? We’re waiting and waiting and waiting without a clue as to stick or twist, we’ve an abundance of players either not good enough, wanting out, or on loan that’ll all be heading out the door. what’s the master plan here?

24 Jan 2021 12:05:03
Lack of planning isn't down to lennon. I agree we need a change everyone can see that and noone is denying it. Lennon looks like a broken man. His contribution to Celtic should never be overlooked or forgotten though. Not many celtic managers have a record that stands up to his.

24 Jan 2021 12:12:30
Garry no master plan, unfortunately caught with pants down and lacking in ability to react properly, the difference between a Rodgers and a Lennon, manager and a caretaker
All this we always start slow, can go on a winning run, they will implode etc multitudes of excuses covering up the factual situation. at a lose and not knowing how to fix it.

24 Jan 2021 13:31:29
Buzz that is unbelievable stats on griff 11 games of 90 mins in 4 years Wow I love the griff but they stats are damning By giving him such leeway it surely breeds indispline and unprofessionalism in rest of squad? If Leigh can turn up not fit and remain in squad why can't I I know he's had issues and for that I wish him all the best but in a purely football sense it's not good enough.

{Ed007's Note - Is it because of LG's indiscipline or unprofessionalism or is it more to do with the fact he's been second choice behind Dembele & Edouard and that we played with one striker? How many games did LG start in that time?}

24 Jan 2021 13:52:25
Point taken Ed 007 Still thought he would have had more 90 mins than that though I wonder how many of they games over 4 years he's been unavailable due to lack of fitness as well though.

{Ed007's Note - Until he returned from lockdown overweight there was never any questions about LG's fitness, he obviously had time off with personal problems but I don't think anyone can hold that against him or being out with injuries.
If you look it up most of his appearances over that time have came from the bench and nobody said at the time it was because he was unfit or acting unprofessionally, it was because Dembele and then Edouard were first choice.
It's like saying Super Jonny Hayes was unfit etc because KT and Sinclair were starting in front of him.}

24 Jan 2021 14:49:36
garry im not saying everything is rosey and agree we need a new manager to. but what i am saying is don't moan at how we won that cup final it was won and that's the main thing the quadruple treble was achieved celebrate the achievement instead moaning about the performance if you want to moan about the performance you are just running your memory's of the historic achievement

look that game we played against the sevies a few weeks ago we were top of them in the game did we win no does it mean anything even though we were better team no why because we came away with nothing did it mean anything to them even though they were pish yes because they got the 3 points and extended there lead do you think they care about the performance no . the cup final we came away with the quadruple treble so yes it means everything regardless of the performance

phil Griffiths was one of the main reasons why we blew everybody away last season after dubai yes dubai haha and sent us on our way to our 9th title to get back to that form after suffering from mental health issues is very well done in my book i have a mate who can't even hold a job down because of mental health issues. so yes griff is right. now that things are not going well a lot of people have very short memory's.