Celtic Banter Archive August 29 2020

29 Aug 2020 19:45:09
Bayo scores two goals on his debut, playing in a 3-5-2.
They may have been pumped 4-2 but can we really say the guy got a real chance at Celtic. Maybe he just needed a run in the team where he wasn’t playing up front himself.

29 Aug 2020 23:07:31
I liked Bayo. The time he got two against the Jambos but Levein bitched to the SPFL and got his own boys credited for own goals. The way he closed down defenders trying to clear the ball. I though he had something different. A bit like Griffiths - doesn't conform but plays according to his own script and that's probably what NL didn't like and showed him the door. Good luck to the guy - hope he scores a barrow load for them.

29 Aug 2020 23:18:56
It's the same old story - like with Riordan, Scepovic, Pukki, Watt, Murphy, Bangura and even Tony Cascarino, they can't handle the pressure of playing in the Hoops. No use crying over spilt milk.

29 Aug 2020 23:50:35
Would have been easier for him to get a run of games if he wasn't constantly injured.

30 Aug 2020 00:06:59
We're doing the same to Klamala it seems.

Maybe that's the business model. Take on young talent. Demonstrate a serial commitment to their neglect. Pukki?

30 Aug 2020 00:22:01
He's only on loan. If he plays well enough he could get a 2nd chance. Though I don't know if a future fee was agreed as part of the loan deal?

30 Aug 2020 07:42:09
They have an option to buy though.

30 Aug 2020 10:00:31
It's up to him if he wants to sign permanently though marco.

30 Aug 2020 10:40:47
Well after the way we have treated him I really think he will sign.

30 Aug 2020 11:00:24
Isn't his contract up at the end of this season anyway.

30 Aug 2020 11:03:31
He scored two in the french second division! He doesn't have a first touch. Was never going to be good enough for us.

30 Aug 2020 11:18:48
Wyllie - 2023.

30 Aug 2020 12:26:06
we are going on about bayo i mean come on. the biggest mistake we have made this window was not getting fletcher over the line and i know most would disagree with that but he would have been just what we needed during this spell,

29 Aug 2020 17:42:31
First of all I would like to apologise to you all for this post. But I feel I have to get it out of my head Each hour I look at the Celtic web pages to see if Lenny has been sacked I don't say that lightly because if any of you knew me I don't like seeing any one lose their job. But we are going for history this year and having Lenny in charge for this important year with his error of judgement being polite I have came to the conclusion that the only thing that is saving him is finance to pay off him and his back room staff to bring some other person in and fund him for a rebuild would be to high in this current climate so I guess we are going to be stuck with
him and have to pray he doesn't make to many cock ups along the way to 10.

29 Aug 2020 18:36:31
Of course he staying. Get a grip man.

29 Aug 2020 18:50:16
Do you think he should be staying?

29 Aug 2020 18:57:22
The fortunate thing for him - and the players is actually the absence of the support at this time; because the atmosphere and reaction would have been hostile and pretty volatile after another calamity.
The next month and a half will be crucial in determining the reaction and remedy (if any) to the current situation.
NL having to perform a public 'U Turn' on the want-away players will add extra tension to an already unreal atmosphere and the team must make immediate amends on Sunday or the pressure will be really on.

29 Aug 2020 19:28:32
And he also reckons that there's no reason Boli will not play again for the team and will be picked if needs must. Obviously after the suspension.

29 Aug 2020 19:52:40
We have by far the best squad in the SPL and to me the only danger of us not achieving 10 is Lennon's team selection and set up. He was manager at Bolton who were in financial trouble and Hibs as that's his level! The appointment was a joke and it was assumed he was here to see us over the line after Rodgers left yet he is still here. He's a puppet to Lawwell and has split dressing rooms wherever he's went. There's no wonder s many players are looking to leave under his management.
There is no chance of him walking regardless of results as he'd struggle to get another job as manager anywhere else.

29 Aug 2020 19:57:02
Tony I don't think Lennon was the right appointment but there is no way the club will sack him after one match.
We would need a bad run of results and to fall well behind in the title race before it got to that stage.
We have had some bad results over the last year but they have been spread out so his record doesn't look too bad, although that doesn't tell the whole story.
My main gripe with him is that he makes the same mistakes over and over again, but the club will probably take the view that he wins the competitions that we should win so until that changes he will be here.

29 Aug 2020 20:05:48
I agree with you gerry.

30 Aug 2020 07:44:09
If we lose today I think he will be sacked before things get worse.

30 Aug 2020 09:04:35
I agree gerrymandering but one more will be one to many hh.

30 Aug 2020 09:06:56
He will be let go if there is an uptick in unrest and it becomes legible in terms of key players performances. it will be evident in the performances whether he is the right man to build togetherness and consistency

Today isn't a day to double down on want away stars and highlighting who it is . that's not in the plan for today and nor should it be.

29 Aug 2020 14:29:35
Who will get the nod will he leave ajer out christie and give kamala and soro a go and play 2 up front hope he does because that Jersey should be pulled on with players who want to play not the ones that think there a legend in there own minds so be strong lennon and leave them on the reserves and ship them out asp as turnbull can fill his boots and soro needs to be used as well and kimala he is hungry to impress so give them a chance.

29 Aug 2020 14:43:08
This would be my team today:

Barkas

Elhamed Bitton Jullien

Forrest Brown Turnbull Calmac Elyounoussi

Ajeti Klimala.

29 Aug 2020 14:50:05
He won't . playing klimala ( unless he pulls the " he's now fit" card) will raise too many eyebrows.

After his presser on friday, ajer plays unless he plays the muscle strain card. if ajer doesn't play tomorrow he'll be away during international break for 12m plus add ons to italy or Germany, or a Southampton or everton.

29 Aug 2020 18:36:20
Think Bitton is injured, he didn’t train in the latest session.

29 Aug 2020 18:53:46
He was fit enough for the bench and should have played. He'll feature tomorrow at some point. If not in the starting lineup then swap in Christie.

29 Aug 2020 12:31:46
Watched all the highlights shows since start of season to have a look at Turnbull. going to say this very quietly and tentatively. but his style of play. positioning . passing range . shooting . running gait etc reminds me of matt le tissier. might be a coincidence that I've been back on the bevvy during this period though . but he looks to have something about him.

29 Aug 2020 13:10:01
If that’s the case,
Celtic will have another genius wearing the hoops.

29 Aug 2020 15:13:33
Turnbull IMVHO will be magnificent for Celtic. I'm sure of it

Talent
Talismatic
Fire in the belly after setback
Hungry
Grounded
Hard working
Recovery
Versatile as a CM or ACM
Eye for goal
Eye for assists

He will be o'Donnell and burley and rogic rolled in to 1

The Bhoys a star
But will they tempt Hickey or will Hickey want the foreign education prior to returning to EPL?

29 Aug 2020 15:37:06
Only thing is Lenny has got Turnbull in goal this weekend.

29 Aug 2020 17:06:46
Well all he has to do is save one shot to get ahead of barkas statistically.

29 Aug 2020 11:46:02
As a Kinning Park bhoy it is sad to hear that the one remaining Tim pub in that area The Stanley Bar has closed as of Friday. My memories are of the supporters bus leaving from the Stanley and all us weans standing outside, coach driver would never let us onboard, waiting on the adults finishing their drinks before boarding the supporters bus. We were ALWAYS late getting into match.
Kinning Park was vibrant back then with the Gray Dunn's biscuit factory around the corner, my mum worked there and us kids got lashings of "broken biscuits" Across the street was St Margaret's school with it unique roof top playground, the school is long gone but the building was saved because it was a listed building.
Paisley Road West had lots of shops and there were tenements everywhere, all now long gone.
As people moved away and shops and tenements were pulled down the poor Stanley Bar could not survive.
But I have all my memories of a great neighborhood, filled with Tims in "enemy land" hail hail.

29 Aug 2020 10:24:20
Tomorrow is a cup final

A. win to settle the nerves and rbe anxiety

A. win to move the dial ever so slightly on from Wednesday

We then have the international break

Celtic do have an " unhinged " look about them

A goalkeeper who has had little to do but when called upon has offered little ( I think he'll be fine incidentally) but playing with a ropey defence isn't ideal

We have no stability at right back
We have lack of cover at left back
We have a flaky central defensive core with form poor

We have a captain and DCM that fans are divided on . should he play should he not

Callum is the latest to be linked but I'm advised that he is here for the 10 and that there's nothing in it ( equally he has racked up 270 games or so and IF he wants a change who can blame him . I think he's here for the 10 and I think he wants to see out the 10)
Ahead of Scott and Callum we have the ib / out Ntcham, again no stability and little prospect of forming in-game understanding
We have topsy/ turvy christie who can bang it in from 30 yards bit can't deliver a corner and frequently balloons passes over people's head ( he is too jumpy and too eager and needs to keep not simple and work through the team)

James has been posted MISSING
Moi has a positional crisis and will struggle to fit in to a 3 5 2, the formation many fans want to see even though out current middle CBs are toiling.

Eddy remains the great hope

We have an unfit ajeti
A not trusted Klinala ( who has been here for 9 months)
An AWOL/ injured griffiths
A perennially injured rogic

This is a MASSIVE CHALLENGE . it is like a series of storms ( poor form. wantaway stars . low confidence . a lot of chopping and changing. A season where setbacks are magnified . )

DUFFY won't solve this
Another signing won't solve this

This requires a RECKONING . a top to bottom reset and refocus .

Yes we can punt 3 players and amass 50 to 60m but if anything, buying players has just got a lot tougher .

The EPL is flexing again . wages are rocketing.

Celtic don't have time for projects.

What we need is the players that are here to STAY for a while longer and for back office deals to be done re bonuses and assurances around teenager valuations for next season.

We need stability to deliver 10 and EL groups . STABILITY and you won't get that with 4 out and 6 in, noting the other 3 in .

Sevco have flirted with similar issues around morelos and kent . but they seem to have steadied.

We need to project harmony and togetherness and then see tackles on the park and headers won and chances taken

We need a plan A ( formation ) and players backed
We need a plan B
Ans we need to see these plans through

Lennon and Brown need to run 121s with senior players and decipher whether they have the energy and commitment to go to the well again

If we can get to the other side of that. this WILL BE MORE POWERFUL than any transfer .

We need to back our captain, he has a HUGE role to play . and I guess at the moment NL needs encouragement.

Sunday is a key game for a lot of reasons. we need the breathing space . a defeat and more rumoured unrest and there could be a change

And PS . Motherwell won't be a pushover . they need a positive result too.

29 Aug 2020 11:05:36
Excellent post agree with most of that apart from Duffy who'll shore up the central defence . he's played at the top level his whole career and is exactly what we need. agree we need cover at both full backs. its incredible we find ourselves in this situ.

29 Aug 2020 11:43:54
Mally, Duffy will help but Duffy and Turnbull will be FAR MORE EFFECTIVE in a stable switched on environment .

My point was that the best bit of ao singular business we could do is pursue stability and cohesion and swarming around a GOAL .

If we bring duffy in and we leave the rest of chance OR sell in volume and purchase in volume we will have our work cut out

Let's see the response versus Motherwell.

29 Aug 2020 11:44:14
Nicely put Lubo; We have been through this situation for the past three years, with all the same flak, fall-out and doom, but this season we must add the uncertainty and disruption of the C.V., on top of player unrest, unreliability and a stop-start season intro.
Like it or not; this is the manager and (majority of the) squad that will carry our hopes for the season and they have all the experience, character and determination despite this difficult set-back.
We need more responsibility ON THE PITCH from our senior players and the manager to play them in their best (proper) position and if he has to use the substitutions as required and not as a last resort.

29 Aug 2020 12:29:37
That is a brilliant post Lubo.
I can see Celtic eventually changing to a 3-5-2 when everyone is up to speed.
This formation suits McGregor. ( I’m happy you think he’ll stay)
I don’t think we use his full potential in the 4-2-3-1 formation.
The last 3 months before the shutdown he was on fire and scored several goals.
If Celtic can get back playing the 3-5-2 we will definitely see a big difference in Calmac.

29 Aug 2020 12:31:27
You're right, what we have is what we have and if we achieve our key aim itll be because of them, not in spite of them.

29 Aug 2020 10:04:36
Have to say l am surprised and disappointed to see that Lennon has now done a complete u turn on his comments from after the match the other nite.

I am not sure why he didn't just stick to his guns. To me this now makes him look silly and weak. I know we all want the best for Celtic and that's having players on the pitch who want to be there. So what now is he saying ah it's ok and it's all happy in the camp now.

I am not sure how he is going to turn this around and as most lads on here l assume would think if any player doesn't want to be here at this great club then u know where the door is.

Some of these player need a serious reality check. They are simply been allowed to have the privilege and honour to wear a Celtic shirt and follow the famous names who have gone before them.

They need to remember and be reminded CELTIC is a way of life!

29 Aug 2020 10:25:16
Totally.