Celtic Banter Archive August 26 2014

26 Aug 2014 22:54:58
ED, if you were the manager (out of interest) what Celtic players would you keep going forward as part of a new look squad. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. 1, 2 . none?

Im interested.

{Ed007's Note - Not counting youth/fringe players or loans, I'd keep Lustig, Matthews, van Dijk, Biton, Brown, Johansen, McGregor and maybe Kayal.}

I think Matthews looks a shadow of the player we signed a few years ago and I wouldn't shed any tears if he left along with Ambrose, Mulgrew, Derk and Stokes.

Cheers ed

so no izzy, ambrose, commons, griffiths, pukki, balde, boeritger, mulgrew, stokes, forrest, and i'm guessing zaluskas …

interesting times

Kayal brings nothing to the table in my opinion. Agree with the others.

26 Aug 2014 22:19:50
So what is your view then tonight Ed?

Of that dire, dreadful, disaster?

Was it just me or did anybody else notice when the cameras turned on him he looked like a "rabbit caught in the headlights"

Somebody should have told him the support was there for him!

Still never mind Ed only 5 weeks till November!

ATVB JB7

{Ed007's Note - The thing is, Jamie, I'm disappointed by tonight's result but not really surprised.}

Well Ed, A will back you via a previous thread mate a would rather see PL go than RD mate, a LOT of us raw tonight if there has been a "mini protest" tonight, then GREAT! Shape of things to come somebody better tell them we got rid of a previous board . history can be repeated atvb

26 Aug 2014 22:31:18
ED, not sure if you can shed any light on this, but I've been told form a good source that both Wakaso Mubarak & Stefan Scepovic won't be signing, that it was a deliberate ploy by celtic to delay the transfers until after the champions league qualification, and the excuse that will be used is Mubarak had work permit problems and for Scepovic couldn't agree personal terms, do me this is cheating us fans!

26 Aug 2014 22:57:56
Spot on. That is exactly what will happen. I posted last week that I heard there was a problem with the Murbarak signing but was not told what it was. It just might be that the Board were waiting for CL qualification before agreeing a deal. How can they back RD now. They will be looking for a new manager so they will give him nothing to spend. Loan players only. Joke.

BobbyBhoy can see right through lawwell. Can you remember in january the propaganda about signing a £6m striker?

Thing is we the supporters are all mugs for letting them get away with this for so long.

Boycott needed

DN30, bang on…the board need to know that we won't follow on blindly …it is a 2 way street

put a team on the park that will compel us to show up in numbers

hope and progress will get backsides on seats …

down-sizing and penny pinching will not

26 Aug 2014 22:23:26
Johanson, effe where our 2 worst players along with stokes . Mathews did not look him self he did not look fit . We really need a am and a cf

26 Aug 2014 22:15:02
Were do we start. team selection Ambrose at right back? Lustig & van Dijk centre half? Biggest game of the season. I that makes sense Ronny. NOT! That was a team selection from an inexperienced, under qualified manager, Commons on the bench.? He might not be everyone's cup of tea but he's got an eye for goal and can pick out a pass. Kayal in the team. That guy was finished 2 years ago, as for Berget express he's a poor mans Georgios Samaras. As I'm typing this I still can't believe we are out of champions league.

IanL

I am amazed that you put out 6 lines of retrospective wisdom without mentioned big Chuck Mulgrew …he'll be delighted by that.

when your stand-in captain is below average you know you're in for a long cold winter

I agree with a lot of what you say regarding the team selection but the biggest point for me is the continuous selection of Charlie Mulgrew in midfield. What does it say for the other midfield players in the squad when a second rate left back gets a game in the midfield in front of you. The other big surprise for me was Denyer not playing. I would have thought Lustig would have played RB and Jason in the middle with VVD. Its going to be a long season and I don't think many will fork out their hard earned for the Europa League!

Agree, he's went down hill big time.

Don't think he (Mulgrew) was ever up the hill. A more over rated player than I have ever seen. Too slow and an ego the size of the planet!

{Ed007's Note - You've obviously forgot about James Forrest.}

Agreed ED but as he's never on the pitch I thought I'd spare him.

{Ed007's Note - That's a good point.}

26 Aug 2014 22:09:27
Ed not going to dwell too much on tonight because the less said the better but there's something that puzzles me and in wondering if you can shed any light on it! We lost 6-1 on agg to the poles and there's a realisation we need to invest in the team! Then by some miracle we get a second bite at the cherry! RD states we will strengthen the team befor the tie! The two players we attempt to sign are Tonev, who is out for 6 weeks and Wakaso who still hasn't been signed! What is going in Ed? Are the board point blank refusing to invest in the team (thus the reason Lenny left and Keane turned the job down)? The fans need answers!

{Ed007's Note - In February Peter Lawwell said:

'Neil will have substantial funds to spend in the summer, we’re in arguably the best financial state we've ever been in but it makes no sense to keep the money in the bank. We want to invest in the club by investing in good footballers that create value for the club.'
'Celtic can buy a £6-8m player if the value is there. We would not buy a 29-year-old at £8m on a four-year contract at £40,000 a week because that is dead money. But if there’s value in signing an £8m player we will look at it.'
If there was any disappointment in January it was that we wanted to get as many players in as we could, to embed them and have them settled for the qualifiers. But it was very difficult and it’s getting more and more difficult, especially in January.'
'We made a few bids, and we felt we were in a good position to get players, but if clubs don’t want to sell then there’s nothing you can do.'
We would like to get our business done early this summer, to get one or two in to make it more possible to get through the qualifiers. But there are no guarantees.'

If you ask me RD has been lied to a much as the fans have. If Lawwell and the board aren't willing to move the club forward then the fans MUST do something to remove them. Obviously his usual fan club will have their excuses but the blame for this lies solely at the feet of Laweel and the board, they have scrimped and scraped for years whilst refusing to invest in the team, they appointed Deila (who I still back to turn things round btw) and then didn't back him in the transfer market either.}

Viva la revolucion.

I was thinking last week Ed looking at your pic, that, like the green and gold scarfs at United, maybes V masks at our home games?

26 Aug 2014 22:53:01
Ed I can't agree that RD can turn this around. First point he has a team of at best average players. Bergett whom he brought in is poor. There is no width. No one took a ball down the flanks and tried to go past players. The players don't seem to know what they are trying to do. As fans we can't see what RD is trying to do and maybe he is not too sure what he is trying to do either. This is another Tony Mowberry job. He changes 10 players on Sat and we get beat. He justifies it by saying a win on Tuesday night will show if he was right or not. We lost so point proven, he got that decision wrong as well. Too inexperienced. 6-1 down to Warsaw and now tonight's result. Disgraceful. He will be gone by Christmas but let's hope this stupid board don't think that Henrik is the solution.

There won't be enough fans at home games now to make any sort of impact or get msg across lol

Well said ED, like u I do think RD can be a good manager for us. Totally agree with your opinion of the board too. I really hope when I see the headlines in the papers tomorrow the press actually have the bottle to let the fans opinions of the board be told and not focus to much on RD. Bottom line here is Lennon chucked it not just because he fancied a crack at it down south but for me it was because he was as pissed off as the next celtic fan at us continually sell your best assets and replacing the with below mediocre players oh aye and probably because lawell was talking pish when he said there'd be substantial funds available for new players. As far as I can see lawell and co think the fans came up the Clyde in a banana boat. Well Mr lawell rest assured the fans have had enough just watch the attendances fall drastically and I also include the games in the Europa league aswell!

Im with you ed I also think RD will turn it round, heard a lot of fans comparing him to Mowbray ffs the guy is just in the door and as you said he as well as the fans have been let down by the board, my only worry now is I just can't see us signing anybody before the window closes now and that is going to make his job even harder, would like your take on it ed ie.transfers.

{Ed007's Note - There will be signings made, nothing's that happened makes me doubt that, Wullie. RD needs to be allowed to bring in his own players and given time time to implement his ideas.}

Few fans at games is the LOUDEST message in a language that the Board will understand

26 Aug 2014 22:06:32
I know a lot of people will be calling for RD's head and everyone's entitled to they're opinions, but let's remember 1 thing here, it was the celtic board who put him in charge, it was the celtic board who failed miserably to back him in the transfer market knowing fine well we needed fresh faces for this season, and I'm sick fed up hearing how RD is tactically inept etc etc that may be true but like I say, WHO put him in charge in the first place. Is it not time the celtic board put they're hands up and say" sorry WE got it wrong"

GarryC…you are 100% spot on…but we only see the Board when a flag is unfurled or when the annual results come out

celtic may be in safe hands but we ain't going very far on the park…lack of quality on the park will lead to lack of interest in the team and that will blow a hole in the 5 year business plan

so what next…speculate to accumulate or a further diminution of the product on the park

i know what my money is on …

thank god we weren't playing MK Dons!

The buck stops with the board mate. And fans can be fickle, for somebody nobody wanted, a lot of people have really bought into everything RD has been SAYING. He deserves time though if it's a plan we're going for. More importantly he needs quality players, which for whatever reason the board and even some fans aren't prepared to do. You can't play sexy football without sexy players. No matter how hard you rub sh*te it never looks like silver. That said, our qualifiers have been terrible, and we should have one, at least once.

Yep let's back the manager because he talks good. Can we stop talking about diets and domes and just get a bloody result that's what your paid for not talking a load o piisshh.

{Ed007's Note - At least he's not on Twitter talking pi$h and trying to punt his own merchandise.}

26 Aug 2014 21:57:47
disgrace no desire, no will to win, substitutions tactically inept, takes off kayal wtf?, ambrose must never pull on a hoops jersey again, guys a ****in joke, I never come on here and slate the team but enoughs enough, as soon as lustig came off and ambrose moved in 1 I knew the writing was on the wall.the one guy that can play a pass is left on the bench, all rd fault, absolutley gutted to be put out like this, b******* to your tiki tack football, mowbray tried and failed, get a manager in that knows the scottish game,

Bhoywoder not rds fault comes down to lawwell not wanting to spend. Have god known this 4 how many transfer windows. lawwell must go and as 4 efe and charlie don't get me started

26 Aug 2014 21:57:05
Apoel Nicosia from Cyprus can beat Aalborg from Denmark 5. 1 on aggregate. We cannae even get a result against legia or Maribor.

26 Aug 2014 21:45:11
Sh*te team
Clueless manager
And dirty miserable board members.

26 Aug 2014 21:42:09
Why do we put up with this
That guy is a plonker of a manager
Get rid of him before we have nothing left

I totally agree, two bites at the cherry, we are becoming a laughing stock, should have had a manager with European credentials as this was not good enough, humbled by not one but two mediocre teams. The board need to look closely at themselves.

26 Aug 2014 21:40:03
Delia and Lawell have embarrassed our club. Tatically inept. Out his depth.

26 Aug 2014 21:36:19
Over four games against Legia Warsaw and Maribor, that's Legia Warsaw and Maribor, we haven't won one. Don't deserve CL. Don't look like a team. Some don't even look interested. Never mind though, there are plenty here who would prefer a crack at the Europa League anyway.

Question: If when we're most needing a goal, our manager thinks our best chance is playing Virgil up front, why don't we play him up front all the time?

26 Aug 2014 21:19:14
Ambrose is the worst defender I have ever seen! Your times up Efe! Now Efe off!

It's about time people realised.

@ JimTim its beyond a joke. When I read he was starting just had gut feeling there was going to be a disaster

The worst part is there isn't really any alternative.

26 Aug 2014 21:37:53
Mulgrew can leave with him.

Was that not the general opinion after the legia game and yet he still plays? Not one single player tonight gets a pass mark and I said after the weekend game that if we fail to get through this tie RD will be under severe pressure. For me I know RD picks the team but full responsibility must lay at the feet of the celtic board. THEY hired RD, THEY failed to back him at the most important time of the season. Desmond, lawell and co HANG YOUR HEADS IN SHAME!!

SH** I am a fan of RD but for him to leave Ambrose on the park when he saw he was well not good just can't get my head around it As for the new signings kiss good bye to them the board will come up with some propaganda why they did not sign

26 Aug 2014 20:19:43
Shocking! Get Ambrose of the park and get commons on the park. We are way to deep and making basic mistakes all over the pitch. We are asking for trouble and will concede if it carries on like this.

Yip. Ambrose, Mulgrew and Izzy look indecisive when put under a bit of pressure. The Maribor players seem to be playing on it too.

26 Aug 2014 20:07:28
Playing one striker - and Stokes for that matter - was not good enough to beat them over there and we seem to be playing into their hands with a formation that suits their style and tempo.
I am not confident with Efe and Mulgrew both in defensive roles and we really lack fire power.
McGregor is being relied on far too much these days and although he has sparkled, he needs help.
I hope we don't lose a sucker punch goal and the nerves set in or we are in real bother.
Come on You Bhoys In Green!

Nostradamus yer a fekin jinx!

26 Aug 2014 18:53:44
Ed, do you think they will unveil Scepovic and/or Mubarak at half time to give the place a lift?

A think it would be a clever thing to do?

{Ed007's Note - I doubt it.}

Also ed. If we go out tonight do you think that both transfers will still go ahead?

{Ed007's Note - Yes, Chris, as far as I know neither deal is dependant on CL qualification.}

Thanks Ed. Hopefully it won't come to that.

{Ed007's Note - Fingers crossed :)

26 Aug 2014 17:35:02
Now that Henrik Larsson has confirmed what I said all along about him turning down the CFC manager job does that put him in the same bracket with some fans as Owen Coyle and Roy Keane and he should never be offered the job in future? Here's Larsson's exact words:

'Yes, I declined the Celtic job. This was something I had to think about. In the end I chose to remain at Falkenbergs.'

Interested to see if the apologists come on and tell us why it's "different".

If this did happen, I for one am glad he did. Of all the (legitimate) contenders, none excited me as much as RD, in terms of philosophy and style, and I'm more than happy to see how Celtic develop under his stewardship.

{Ed007's Note - That's why I posted it, I'm interested to hear from the posters who said he was never actually offered the job or that a deal had been struck for him to replace RD in November and you only get offered the chance once etc etc. We'll call it the Fickleness Scale :)

I wouldn't want henrik as our manager could u imagine if he was a failure? I would never think about saying anything negative about him after all he done for this club but that's just my opinion, would you have him as manager ed?

I said the night before NL left Larsson was the favourite, I still think if it was within the timeline to walk he would have, I still thought PL appointed RD knowing HL WAS available in NOV! ( to appease the masses!) HL has gained/earned nothing as a coach!

Having turned us down he SHOULD NOT be asked again atvb jb7

There's a couple more who refused too. Strong suggestion Moyes did. Owen Coyle and Keano weren't my choices but not because of having turned us down but that's by the by. I'm warming to RD a little bit, tonight is a big factor though.

I didn't want Larsson back as manager. He hasn't done anything significant to merit appointment.

That will be me accused of hating larsson now

26 Aug 2014 18:51:27
Henrik would not break his contract. We know that from old. He may come in Nov if he was offered however if it goes wrong with RD we will need an experienced coach and that's not Henrik. PL might feel it would initially be very popular but unless the results came with him, we would be back to square 1 again. I hope RD makes this work. I would love every game to look like the Dundee Unt game. We looked different. In Europe we will need to play a less aggressive style and I hope tonight will be a great night. I am a bit worried as this lot are a decent side and we tend to struggle a bit with counter attacking teams so fingers crossed.

{Ed007's Note - Is that the same Henrik that took Feyenoord to court to get his move to CFC for £650k rather than the £2m the clubs had already agreed? I often wonder if he got a bigger signing on fee and wage deal out of it....}

26 Aug 2014 19:04:11
Of course it's different Coyle and Keane are experienced managers where as Henrik isn't so he maybe wants to wait till he has more experience.

{Ed007's Note - And........

I never said he wasn't offered it I said I didn't want him to become our manager and possibly damage our memory of him!

"Of course it's different."

I knew it would be said - but I'm still shocked someone said it.

26 Aug 2014 12:58:25
Ed do u think there is a possibility of a uturn by celtic tonight and letting the gb in or is set in stone

{Ed007's Note - I can't see it, not for tonight anyway.}

Are they barred or just relocated and showing some sort of defiance? surely its the team first even for the gb bhoys involved?

{Ed007's Note - They've been relocated to the supporter's club in London Road.}

26 Aug 2014 07:25:28
Just reading the poll of the day - should football stadiums have free wi-fi?

Celtic does they have that Celtic Live app.

I don't know if they 'should' have it though but I find myself moaning about a lot of modern things today lol I'm not sure of the cost involved to Celtic or if the money would be better spent elsewhere.

Such is the modern game fans like to take photos and post online while at the match and do think a valid complaint is not having a mobile signal.

I've used the internet on my phone at the football myself but it's not an important part of my matchday experience so it wouldn't bother me if Celtic didn't have wi-fi.

AND what's with these folk that take iPads to the football?

{Ed001's Note - that's why I asked the question, it drives me mad when I am sat next to some bell who isn't watching the game live and getting involved and singing etc. They are always far too busy texting mates or filming the action and watching it through the screen. I would prefer it if no one was doing that, it ruins the atmosphere because they are too busy trying to hold the camera still to do anything else. I just don't understand what is wrong with enjoying the moment, rather than having to take thousands of pics and videos of it to look at later and remind yourself of how much fun you could have been having if you weren't so busy filming it!!}

Free wifi up until kick off then turn it off, totally understand why Manchester United have banned iPads, tablets etc, folk moan about crowds & atmosphere at CP, it's fans who generate atmosphere and in continued absence of GB whole stadium has got to play it's part and get involved rather than texting, twitter or FB, need to be 12th man tonight, if worse case scenario happens it's going to be a long season!

Ed I don’t know either, if they banned mobiles it certainly wouldn’t bother me at all (I know this wouldn’t happen)

It used to be the match itself and the fans were all part of the one experience now they seem to be 2 separate shows. As you have said, how can you be enjoying the experience with a mobile phone in your hand and the camera on. I’ve seen some fans trying to move fans out of the way who are standing in front of them holding a phone in the air to be met with abuse – its not right.

I know younger fans maybe don’t know better as this is all they are used to, but there’s no excuse for any older fan to think this is the be all.

Well said Ed001 and fully agree with Mrs E not part of my match day experience either, I leave my phone in the car.we are there to support the team. financially & vocally.

{Ed001's Note - so would anyone here complain if tablets computers, laptops, etc were banned from the grounds? I know Man Utd have banned them now, though purely to try and stop all the youareatube clips floating round from games, but I still think it is a good idea after sitting down and thinking about it. Maybe I am just old? I don't even use youtube unless someone sends a clip to me about something we have been discussing. Maybe we just have a future of only watching football through someone else's phone on streaming sites??}

All these pieces of electronic nonsense should be banned from Celtic Park . If someone wants to make or receive a phone they should have to go down to the area behind the stands .

Whats the point in going to games if you are just going to sit there messing about with devices?

I used to sit with my dad in the family section many years ago and there was a lassie who sat beside me who was more interested in playing snake on the old nokia. I can remember I used to think that it was a waste of a ticket and that there would of been someone out there who perhaps was desperate to see game and couldn't get ticket.

Wifi will only make matters worse.

I am a dinosaur and technophobe and think if you pay £25 - £30 for a ticket to watch a game then watch the game!
It used to be the case that you could not get in to the grounds with most items - plastic bottles, cartons etc and I even had trouble getting an inhaler past the police at a big game years ago so how can people carry hefty gadgets into grounds anyway?

{Ed001's Note - dinosaurs are far cooler than iPads anyday mate! I agree though, make them leave it outside and enjoy the game. Nothing worse than some tool holding up their tablet blocking your view at a game.}

26 Aug 2014 00:09:29
Isn't it interesting that there will be no confirmed signings pre champions league outcome

It wasn't so long ago we were talking about CL 3rd round timelines for signings and wildcards etc

Nobody came in

ED, on the assumption that we do go through, what level of activity (in and out) do you anticipate

Will it be a GK, the big striker, the Ghanaian only? And do you think there will be any high profile exits?

The team needs to be improved and I fear that the guys coming in when offset with the guys going out may only lead to slight improvement.unless the guys coming in are markedly better than those going out .

Given that one is potentially a GK, it isn't looking like we will be getting a 2nd left back, an attacking/creative midfielder and a 2nd striker.

Will Tonev, Wakuso Mubarak, Scepovic and Lindegaard (and Berget) be sufficient ED and who would need to stay to make it (at least appear) that CFC are building something half decent.?

tomorrow prediction

celtic 2 maribor 1 AET

UI just don't see celtic dominating with the same eleven that played in slovenia; the players and their qualities are such that such an "11" couldn't be expected to dominate .we would have 1 up front and 2 midfielders that only know how to run backwards or sideways

there will be a disproportionately higher pressure on young McGregor tomorrow and that (I think) is pretty telling . and galling.

I hope we do it but I would (for tomorrow at least) put commons on the park instead of Kayal (or Mulgrew) .

I would go with Johanssen and Kayal in the middle with commons tucked in behind stokes with beret and mcgregor out wide .with a more conservative back 4

the same line up (I think) would result in less possession, less chances, and a low energy performance (bearing in mind they are a counter attacking team). Can we rely exclusively on set pieces? Should we rely on mere set pieces?

Will RD drop his captain or will he play Mulgrew and Johanssen and lose Kayal for the sake of commons

the same eleven in maribor (designed not to lose) would be a strange choice to make for a winner takes all home match to get in to the CL Group stages .

big decisions for RD