Celtic Banter Archive January 27 2015

27 Jan 2015 21:36:37
I saw a report that Police visited our training ground this afternoon. The purpose was to ensure Celtic players do not over celebrate goals. I imagine that gives the Ref licence to book our bhoys for smiling if they score. I wonder if Sports Direct training ground had or will get a visit. I wonder what Ronnie made of all this, and it's only Tuesday.

Simple handshakes will do for the first four goals then after that we can celebrate as wildly as we like as their end will be empty

27 Jan 2015 22:00:11
Don't think there's a need to visit Ashley park if there warning players about there goal celebrations! They won't get that close to our goal to worry about that! :D mite have known they'd try and spoil the game before it's even started! Warnings about goal celebration. I've heard it all now! Total joke!

They are not breaking any laws if they do over celebrate, the police have absolutely no case that will hold. I hope Broony scores and does the broony.

27 Jan 2015 20:32:55
See man utd giving fletcher a free transfer. Surely worth a punt as he, s wanting to play more games

No chance we'd match his wages. He will wait another 3/4 years then talk of his desire to play for celtic.

Is he a celtic fan?

All the Utd players are Celtic fans when they get near the end of their careers.

{Ed007's Note - Fletcher is a dyed-in-the-wool Celtic fan. Him and Wayne Rooney regularly hire/share a box at CP for them and their families, even to the recent Scotland v England game. I know a couple of members of Fletcher's extended family, some of them ST holders and there's no doubts where their loyalties lie.}

Yes he's a celtic man, that's not in doubt. But just once you'd like to see an already multi millionaire who's already made his money in epl, choose to come up here and play for the club they love. The reality is that as long as there is a contract on offer in England we won't see them till there mid 30, s. A nice little pension top up from the club they love.

If Celtic can't offer Commons more than a years contract what makes people think they will offer one to a 30 year old sick note as good as he may be?

27 Jan 2015 19:00:06
Disappointed in Ronnys comments by saying he thinks Sunday will be the biggest game of his managerial career. Imo the Maribor game was far more important. Talking of Sunday devastated to hear the news Moshni won't be playing because his country are still in the African Nations

.Stevie Maribor game is gone mate IMO RD in the beginning underestimated a whole load of things he appears to be learning now more than ever if he had dismissed this fixture forthcoming he would be taking pelters even on here!

He has a real real chance to hurt this mob IMO

So go Ronny Bhoy give us a "Ronny Punch" to do cartwheels too :-)

Maribor, seriously they did us a favour. We would have lost all 6 games in that group as we were not ready nor did we have the players.

It's a big game as he knows the fans will be out for blood if we lose, and for some reason there are more doubters of his ability than supporters.

I am more than comfortable that we will win easily and then it's Inter which will be the most important match of his career.

Kev: sad but true mate. Imagine our agonies had we to deal with CL football!

We had the players, they just were'nt being utilised to the best of their abilities, and the tactics were'nt the right ones for the games, nor was the team selection.

Fair point kev, but I like to see the other side. Think of the players we could a signed with potential 16m coming in.I not naïve to think we would spend that kind of money but common sense says we can buy better with it and attract better players.This is my argument against cup wins. Winning cups is great, with a treble its better. But how do we know if we getting better if we getting a treble every year but no CL.The only test we will get is in Europe and CL is the only place we make money.Can you imagine what our squad would be like the now without the CL last 2yr. Best part of 40m came in and I hate to think how bad we would be without that.I just trying to look at the bigger picture here.The more times we in the CL the more times Europe notices and it becomes expected and players see this.We will consistently have a better team being in it rather than winning cups alone. Best of both would be great but it never seems to work that way.

27 Jan 2015 23:37:02
Exactly Rayman the only way we can be judged on our progress as a team is in Europe, whether we win the SPL by 10, 20 or 30 points tells us nothing. I've said it before what Strachan done in Europe was unbelievable with the backbone of the team being guys like Caldwell, McManus, Hartley and Robson, shows what can be done with a tactically astute Manager

Agree Stevie and he is doing the same with Scotland. don't need a team of superstars (it does help though) but decent players playing to a well thought out plan, knowing the opposition and having ability to change the plan when things don't work as expected. WGS had all of that and more. (IMHO)

@. stevie I don't blame Deila for Maribor game, I blame board for taking a dangerous gamble not investing a few million for CL which cost £20m.

The buck stops with them and scepovic was only signed to appease fans who gathered outside after game. I've never bought this elaborate lie that scepovic was having second thoughts. Its too much of a coincidence that we do not qualify for CL and suddenly deal is off. If it wasnt for the fans gathering outside, lawwell would of got away with it and there would be no scepovic.

28 Jan 2015 01:38:07
Totally agree ray
Champions league anyday over these wi Diddy cups, let the wi teams fight them out, no money, no real recognition. At best send out a development squad, c how they do.

{Ed007's Note - So when Scotland had 2 CL places you didn't care if we won the league? Losing finals and semi-finals to Rangers didn't bother you? You don't want us to break Rangers record of leagues etc? Losing to ICT, Clyde, Morton or Ross County is meaningless as long as we're getting pumped in the CL?
It's called dominating the game, have CFC dominated the game since Rangers died? Winning trophies is what CFC does, it's the business they're in and you talking-down the trophies is talking down what the Lisbon Lions done, what we done in our centenary year and even TB's Scottish Cup win after how long without a trophy? You'd rather see us playing APOEL than see us win the 1989 SC Final?
I seriously have to question any supporter who doesn't want their team to win trophies, are we turning into Arsenal who celebrate the 'EPL Fourth Place Trophy' because they get a chance to get in the CL?
Anyone who doesn't want to see CFC winning trophies didn't live through Rangers 9-in-a-row years.
I remember a time I'd have gave my left nut to see CFC win a 'diddy cup' and snobbery like yours was a Govan thing.}

Totally agree Ed. Spot on.

I hear Celtic "fans" spouting this and I can't help but feel they have been spoiled.

I'm thirty now - and I definitely remember the 9 in a row years. The first trophy I saw Celtic win was TB's Scottish Cup. I was used to not even coming second. It was never guaranteed. I remember Larsson and Brattbakk scoring against St Johnstone - and the joy of winning a title. A joy had never known as a Celtic fan. (Even the Zagreb game - it was my first Champions League experience. Well the 1st game was, the 2nd was a disaster)

Trophies are what we are hear for. We want to compete - and we want to win. If not, what's the point?

Finally, this was my issue with the Europa League win vs Champions League Last Sixteen talk. How anyone can prefer qualification over winning 'a' European title is beyond me. All who witnessed Seville know how special it was - but it started with a slap from Basel. And I guarantee in ten years, twenty years (pffft even today!) people will talk/think back on that more than the will the time we got through and beaten by Milan/Barcelona/Juventus etc.

{Ed007's Note - It does my nut in, everyday I feel more and more disconnected to a lot of people who follow CFC. I wonder what Paul McStay or Tam Boyd would say about winning diddy cups?}

Poetic I completely agree regarding domestic stuff we all love winning the league first then some cups to back it up. Where I totally disagree is your point regarding Europa v cl. I would agree with you more if we were actually winning or getting close to winning Europa fact is we aren't. So why not play the cl. I will never forget us beating barca Man U Milan juve. I can't for the life of me remember our last Europa group usinese, I think a French team. Cl gets everyone so fired up and I can't believe that I'm reading some of our own fans wishing us out of the competition. Why not just contact Uefa and ask not to be considered for next years cl as the big boys might be to good for us to play against.

28 Jan 2015 02:48:31
I remember all to well 9 in a row ED,
I just don't think cups especially the league cup has any significance anymore.
Money comes from Europe now wether we like it or not, and at present Celtic as a club need European football more than winning a cup in Scotland. It let's us pay better wages and get a better calibre of player, this is dissing ar cup record, it's just my opinion and I don't claim to speak for all fans but I no a lot of fans wi simular options,
But as ever I respect and value your opinion. Low blow, me and govan snobbery.

I very much doubt any 30 year old remembers their 9 in a row. You remember stopping them with brattback and larsson and possibly as far back as tb cup win but I still shiver when I think about Andrews muggleton peyton etc

-Garybhoy

The question I was clearly referring to was whether we - as Celtic fans - would prefer winning the Europa League or qualifying for the last 16 of the Champion's League.

Whether we are close to winning it, or have a chance of winning it, is immaterial at this point. Although for what it's worth, I can say with 100% confidence that we have more chance of winning the Europa League than qualifying for the last 16 this year :P

-DaBhoyBhoy

Does it let us buy a better calibre of player of player though? We've been in the Champion's League more post MO - and in the last 16 three times. Have we seen a better quality of player? Or a steady decrease in quality?

-Jim1972

Thank you for the patronizing. I was playing for School teams and boys clubs from the age of 7, so trust me, I can remember how Celtic were doing at the time.

I remember being in tears at the Coca Cola cup final. I was there (and remember) Bryan O'Neil scoring a last minute goal against Rangers at Ibrox. It was the day after my 9th birthday. I remember Tony Mowbray scoring against them. I remember Liam Brady and Lou Macari. I remember Carl Muggleton. I even remember watching Rangers Aberdeen highlights (for the league title - and being so jealous of them.

You may have started following Celtic when you were older, but don't presume it of everyone else.

Jim1972 what exactly do you know what a 30 year old knows? i'm 31 and I can remember that mobs 9 in a row and the bad times we were going through. You have already been exposed numerous times for talking nonsense about football, now you are a pyschologist who knows what a 30 year old can remember pmsl! that's made my day lol lol lol

You may remember highlights but that doesn't mean a 5-10 year old knows what it felt like really. It probably didn't put you off your ice cream. ;-))

Dn30 you don't need to be a psychologist common sense would tell you no 5-10 year old knew fully what their 9 in a row was like. Do you think many 5-10 year old will fully understand this weekends fixture now and why it's not just a semi final?

Jim1972 speculating gets you nowhere. You don't know how 5-10 years you do not know are brought up. When I was that age celtic was big part of my life, from going to games with my dad, grandad and uncle. I knew the importance of games especially the rivalry with that mob.

Next you will be trying to say that I don't remember back in 1989 Mo Johnston signing for them and fully understand the controversy it caused. I think every 5-10 year old who had a passion for celtic understood that

Of course I would rather win Europa than last 16 cl. But we are a long way of winning Europa. Did you not watch the group stages. Ha ha. At the start of the season you always want to qualify for the big one though. And Jim I am 33 and remember there 9 in a row. just thought I'd throw that in there

-Garybhoy I'm not sure your point?

I just said - in response to your last comment - at no point was it suggested we would win the Europa League, so your comment on the group stages is irrelevant.

-Jim, there is a big difference between a 5 year old and a 10 year old. You should know that, being a qualified child psychologist.

If your going to make up fantasies about winning Europa cup then why not just fantasise with winning champ league? The reality is we ain't going to win either any time soon so better to make money in champions league

Poetic look at point 14. The first thing you ask is as celtic fans would we rather win Europa or qualify for last 16. That's why I mentioned how far off we are from winning the thing judging by the performances against Astra Salzburg and Zagreb

Seriously?

Ed, am I not saying this right! :)

GaryBhoy1888 -- Since you mention it, yes, let's look at point 14.

"The question I was clearly referring to was whether we - as Celtic fans - would prefer winning the Europa League or qualifying for the last 16 of the Champion's League."

Referring to. Not asking. And it was referring to point 10.

"Finally, this was my issue with the Europa League win vs Champions League Last Sixteen talk. How anyone can prefer qualification over winning 'a' European title is beyond me."

This "talk" had been going on for a while, to the point there was a poll about it. At no point did I ask the question. In fact, if you are looking to be pedantic about it, you could say I was questioning the question.

Jim1972 -- Seriously? I'll add this to your ever growing list of ridiculous posts.

This is my last response on the matter. Either it's too difficult for either of you to comprehend, or you're both being deliberately obtuse.

{Ed007's Note - I know what you're meaning.}

Poetic 2 things what's ed got to do with this. And why does anyone who's having a discussion on this thing start to spit the dummy when someone has a different opinion. I fully understand your hypothetical question. Last 16 cl v Europa cup. We have never won the europa cup or Uefa cup. We have qualified for last 16, 3 times in 10 years. Last 16 is possible. And winning the Europa cup is so far out of our reach just now. So hypothetically I would rather win Europa. Realistically it ain't going to happen. Hope your ok with that and if you wish to discuss this matter or any other then feel free I'm always open for discussion but don't get personal and spit the dummy your a grown man in your 30s its only opinions mate

Poet add this to my ever growing list of posts! Your Europa win over last 16 champ lge question means in reality you would prefer celtic to lose matches as that is what is required to win Europa as we start in champ lge qualifiers? ;-)

{Ed007's Note - You do know teams that finish 3rd in the CL drop down to the EL don't you?}

Yes but then your still hoping not to win to drop out?

{Ed007's Note - You're not as thick as your acting here.}

Your right ed but sometimes you just get peed off and argue for the sake of it. But choosing one or the other is pointless as I just want to be the best we can be and hope that is good enough wether that is domestic/cl or Europa

{Ed007's Note - It was a simple enough question but people were too interested in trying to look like a smart-ar$e rather than take the question at face value and answer it.}

27 Jan 2015 17:16:43
What line up would you play on sunday guys?
. Gordon
Lustig Denny vd. Izzy
. Boony. johanson
Forrest commons. Stokes
. stepovic


Would be mine.

Gordon
Lustig Denayer Van Dijk Izzaguire
Commons Johansen Brown Stokes Griffiths Scepovic

Zaluska, Ambrose, Mathews, Guidetti, Forrest, Biton, Fisher.

(Not sure how many subs in LC games?)

A hope for
Gordon
Lustig Denayer VVD iZZY
Brown Johansen
Griffiths Commons Henderson
Guidetti

That team will CUFF Sevco

27 Jan 2015 18:45:31
Gordon
Lustig,denayer,vvd,izzy
Forrest broony johanssen stokes
Commons
Griffiths!
That team will do the damage against that mob! Commons for a couple :D

Noticeable that Biton is not in anyones team. The guy deserves his place. Forrest deserves nothing. There been a lot of talk on here about how we can't keep the ball esp in Europe. Well Biton like Paul Lambert are not the flashiest players in the world but very rarely give the ball away.This is a skill that very few players possess.My Team:
Gordon, Lustig, Denny, VVd, Izzy.
Brown, Biton,
Commons, Johansson, Stokes.
Griffiths.

{Ed007's Note - Spot on, Raymundo (y) Biton does a good solid job in there protecting the defence and it's no coincidence that we've looked a lot tighter at the back with him (and Denayer) playing.}

Gordon
Lustig denayer VVD IZZY
brown Bitton
Mathews johansen commons
Guidetti

Not too different from your's Jamiebhoy.

Gordon
Lustig/Denayer/Van Djik/Izaguirre
Brown/Johansen
Griffiths/Commons/Stokes
Guidetti

The reason I didn't put biton in is I don't think he offers much going forward , Johansen offers much more in attack, I don't think we will need much defensive cover as they won't attack much . If you were asking me to pick a team for the inter game biton would be in . I also think Forrest could could run riot against foster .

Gordon

Lustig. Virgil. Denayer. Izzy

Biton. Brown

Griffiths. Johansen. Stokes

Scepovic

This team canters to victory, full of workers who play the team game.

Gordon,
Lustig, Denayer, Van Dijk, Izzy,
Brown, Biton, Johansen, Stokes,
Griffiths, Guidetti,

Commons, Scepovic & Forrest coming on after an hour to complete the annihilation.

'm with you Kev T, that's a Grand Old Team. Hail Hail

To be honest I agree re Biton - but I don't think that role would be required against Rangers because they won't play through us. Their lump ball tactics would limit Biton's influence, so pace on the flanks (to break) with the workrate of Brown and Johanson (and guile of Commons) in the middle would run amok. Against Inter however, I'd definitely put Biton back in.

I think he will b very useful on sunday he will ensure we keep the ball more. Also think they might go with Daly up top and hump it. Can put Biton in front of him so he not getting easy access to headers.

I already posted about Biton (below) and although he is doing a good steady job - and is always available - hir frailty in the tackle could see him a target.

I just don't hope he gets over excited and does a Barcelona

27 Jan 2015 11:37:10
Is it just me or is this the most boring transfer window ever?! We are hardly even being linked with anyone. To be honest I would love a bit of a clear out before we bring anyone else in. Far too many passengers for example, Boeriggter, Tonev, Wakaso, Twardzik and even Scepovic who doesn't look any better than Miku, Bangura, Brozek, Killen, Balde, Pukki. Thoughts?

I'd hardly call Scepovic a passenger!

Scepovic needs a run of games. According to his stats at Gijon he scored 23 goals in 39 games which is better than the other strikers mentioned.

I agree we need a clear out. Scepovic I like the look of though. Really thought he would get a run given our lack of form up top. Like a few of the players you mentioned, he hasn't had a fair chance.

Agree with you Jim Tim

27 Jan 2015 09:48:20
Still no news on GMS being brought in this window, Waiting until the last minute to offer pennies in the hope DU will accept. Get the deal done now have important games coming up. As for Armstrong he will end up in the Championship, If we wanted this guy we would buy him and not wait until a bidding war starts. Now have my doubts that we will get any new players in this window.

27 Jan 2015 11:11:30
There should be no doubt mate! There won't be anybody comin in! Let's just face up to that! We've proved were we are now.we won't even pay a couple of hundred grand for gms! And as for Armstrong,theres absolutely no chance of us getting him! He'll be in England next season at the latest! And as for AMBROSE,I'm not even going to start on that one! I'll be here all day if I do!

Stan19 I said the other day on here GMS won't be available for the cup games as he is cup tied, not sure regarding europa league as Dundee Utd played in the qualifiers, so why take him now as he would be in and out of the side.killy.

Maybe Dundee united have said they want him til this weekend for there cup game I would imagine all if any transfers in and out done on Monday

27 Jan 2015 11:40:16
Totally agree. The fact we won't pay 200k for a proven spl player isn't great. When you consider what we have spent on diddies over the years.

I think regardless of being cup tied GMS should be brought in immediately, For me every game is important as we have a Title to defend, Also to take someone in on the eve of this game on Sunday would give the whole place a lift. The clock is ticking let's see what Peter can do, He might suprise us all yet.

You could go even further Stan and say just getting him training with the squad would be beneficial with summertime qualifiers in mind

Totally agree Kevbhoy

JamieS I've said before there seems to be a total reluctance to pay transfer fees to other scottish clubs. The last 2 players we paid a fee for was Tony Watt and Dylan McGeouch over 4 years ago.

3 players we have missed out on who would of made a difference McCarthy, McArthur and Robertson yet club sanctions signing diddies over the years.

I think club needs a massive shake up from Boardroom down to scouting. Things have got to change.