Celtic Banter Archive May 08 2014

08 May 2014 22:06:22
samaras is moonlighting as the Austrian Eurovision song contender

08 May 2014 19:22:30
Right fantasy squad for next season time, within reason.

Forster/Zaluska
Lustig/Matthews
Virgil/Ambrose
Karim Rekik or Jonathan Tah/Mulgrew
Izzy/ Taylor-Sinclair or Robertson
Johansen/Bibras Natkho or Snodgrass
Brown/ Junior Malanda or Jordy Clasie
Aaron Hunt/Boerrigter/Griffiths
Commons/Armstrong
Choupo-Moting/ Forrest
Bendtner/Mame Diouf/Pukki

Loan:

Fisher (if he signs on)
Biton
Henderson
Balde
Watt
Fridjonnson

Out:

Kayal
Sammy
Stokes (bit harsh?)

Breaks the wage structure a bit but there's some class freebies in there. Regardless, it's a much better squad than our current one.

Outs. kayal, balde, pukki, derk, forrest, moyoloko, samaras, watt. ins. . Stefan de vrij, cb. (feyenoord) Soriano, fwd .( red bull Salzburg ), Snodgrass, Armstrong, McKay - stevens, may

Realistically I would like to see Armstrong and Snodgrass.

If Sammy goes this Summer (I'll miss him) then with his and Ledley's wages freed up - surely a bit of quality. Preferably a striker or creative player?

I'd probably keep Stokes and bring back Watt as well.

Making wholesale changes is unlikely to bring any meaningful improvement .

How'd you figure that one chris?

We need good results from the first week in August or is it earlier?
Can you imagine how a team with 6 to 8 newcomers would play against a team possibly mid way through the season . Lose out the first tie and the season is really over.

They can be integrated into the side at different times though chris. I know where you're coming from now, team dynamic etc. But if they're good enough they're good enough imo. Truth is we'll probably wait until after qualifying for CL before any real investment anyways.

08 May 2014 17:27:17
I really hope we take serious stock in the summer and totally scrutinise the whole squad if we are to improve.
Too many players started their Celtic careers with great potential and high level performances, but have fell away either through injury or plain mediocrity?
Established uys like Forrest, Kayal, and Mathews rarely feature over a whole season and have faded drastically in form.
Others like Mulgrew, Izzy, Ambrose and Stokes have been inconsistent over the whole season - especially in the CL where we were badly found wanting.
Boerighter, Moyoukolo and Balde have been poor signings with the jury still out on Pukki and Griffiths for different reasons.
(However I do think the arrival of Griffiths gave Stokes a much needed kick in the pants)

There are others that have come in for criticism and a number of youngsters like Watt, McGeough and Rogic have uncertain futures after rave reviews? Obviously a few will not be with us after the close season so in my opinion we do need to freshen things up and ensure we are better prepared next season.

Stand-outs for me have been Commons, Van Diijk, Lustig (before his injury), Forster and the addition of Johansen in January.

JJ

If we do not strengthen and don't get a favourable draw in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League, I fear the worst!

The only stand out in the group stages this season was Lustig and Forster. It was difficult to say with VVD as we conceded goals in every game and the qualifier with Karagandy was a shocker.

Domestically Commons has been great but not in Europe, same with Brown.

I'm confident Brown can step up and there will be no repeat of the Neymar incident and also Matthews if he can go injury free and regain form. I always like izzy.

All kidding aside, we need to strengthen in every position just to qualify I reckon.

Much as I like Brown and I rate him as one of our best players, but the one thing that you can't rule out is another incident like Neymer. One of Brown's best attributes is his combat nature and tigerish tackles . A smart diver like Neymer will draw fouls off a hard worker like Brown .

08 May 2014 14:36:00
just out of interest Any Ideas Who Helena Costa Might have scouted for us when she worked for us

Might have done a bit background work on Crosas' time at Barca. Maybe Hinkel at Sevilla too (not that a player of his calibre needs much scouting). Of anybody else, no one we signed I don't think mate.

08 May 2014 07:12:48
That's the 100 pts target out the window. Nothing but an ego trip for NL IMO. What he should have done is played the youngsters after league was sewn up. Another target was a 100 goals scored, sitting on 99 goals who would bet against a 0-0 on Sunday! Just hope if NL wants to team up with hooper again it will be him moving down there.

One by one these 'targets' have been shot down in flames as has the managers credibility.
The 100 points/goals along with the unbeaten run, (in a one horse league) was always a smokescreen for bigger failures and shortcomings in Europe and domestic trophies - not to mention some dodgy signings.

JJ

Och behave. Everone sets targets. He failed in cups and league was won so what was left? Maybe ifhe had thrown on the stalwarts in beginnining the 100 pts was still on. He palyed some fringe players and it did not happen. I believe our youngsters are the way to go but that's why we have a manager. Did he acheive ultimate target, yes. Could he have done better, yes. It is what it is. Under previous manager where we going anywher, no! I think he should have learned and I am willing to give him one more season to improve, if not, then its time to go.

The one hundred point target idea to try to keep the last half dozen games or so interesting . I think we have enjoyed some of our best attacking football and the fans were given more entertainment than if the team has just been going through the motions .

08 May 2014 00:25:40
What I have learned this season

The 2 teams in the Champions League final are not Champions

Arsenal will always be in the top 4 - which is good as you qualify for the 'Champions' League. No prizes for 5th

An attacking football team also needs good defence tactics

Lennon's so called favourites may well indeed be our best 11

Some don't want a family section at Celtic but want to play with stickers

Hibs have rubbish songs/banter and might be relegated as a result of this

Mourinho is a legend but only at Porto

Celtic will win the treble next season!

Mrs E, I always love your comments. (as its anonymous I sincerely hope you are not a 6ft+ tattooed neanderthal with a beer gut which could block the Clyde estuary!) Mostly I agree and working abroad so many times I rely on the regular members comments,

No tim, i’m not 6ft with a beer gut and tattoos lol A vodka gut, maybe though.

Mrs E, you do post a lot of sense.
Especially re Lennon's favourites also the best . Every manager who has any ability gathers a team together that he can trust . Players repay his trust by going and giving that bit extra.

None of Lennon's favourites do give that bit extra though, quite the opposite. They're usually the under-performers in the squad.

Chris, I hope you and Tim don't think I've got money to leave in my will or anything!

HB I don't think Mulgrew under-performs, I just think this is his level and he does what it says on the tin (so to speak). He can play Centre half, left back and midfield and is alright.

I don't really know who his favourites are but I've seen Mulgrew mentioned a few times, I don't see much better than him on the bench. What reason would you have to drop him, who would you play and why?

I too mrs E have no problem with Mulgrew nearly always getting picked . Celtic have been far better defensively in Lennon's time with a big defensive midfielder . I think Mulgrew is very good shielding Virgil and Ambrose

{Ed007's Note - We'll just forget the 14 goals we conceded in the CL this season shall we?}

Ed I don't mean I think Mulgrew's a world class player. I just don't think we have better players on the bench - which I hope can be rectified.

If we could forget about this seasons Champions League and the Cup finals at Celtic Park, that would be great. Ta

{Ed007's Note - Have you ever considered a career as NL's PR, he'd love us all to forget about it as well. I'd rather see young Jack Breslin in the squad than Mulgrew, in fact I'd rather see you in the team than Mulgrew.}

Mulgrew's best season in a Celtic jersey was at CB. Anywhere else he's been a bland, average at best player domestically and out of his depth in Europe!

The Champions League I can get over but the Cup finals are Celtic Park are a right sair yin!

HB unfortunately, most of them looked out of their depth in Europe this season