25 Jul 2025 12:00:26
After watching the highlights of the second half its got to go down as a huge learning curve.
Scales getting pulled out of position on numerous occasions to intercept/ halt Ajax on the break, that's a CDM role its criminal and shouldn't happen.
Half hearted clearances and no closing down was the biggest frustration watching that.
When we attack plenty energy to go forward without too much quality or conviction at goal, but getting back in shape from the counter was appalling.
If we allow players space like that we are getting punished all day long, take away that wonder strike from the young lad our shape was simply woeful.
We need a CDM with legs and who can tackle, CalMac is great when we dominate possession but when we are under the cosh he doesn't have the legs or defencive attributes to deal with it. The lethargic support from the other midfielders also doesn't help.
It was a friendly, what we done to newcastle is exactly what has just been done to us, from not a great Ajax side.
Our squad is absolutely strong enough domestically we won't come under sustained pressure in enough games with the quality we currently have, but CL is an entirely different ball game especially the pace other clubs have.
Murray for me deserves a fair crack, CCV looks like he's struggling.
I think the biggest glare when playing top sides is:-
RB, without AJ we aren't strong enough, I like Ralston, domestically capable but hasn't the legs or ability for CL.
CDM, there is no one with enough quality to play that role against a decent opposition, Hetate, Arne, Bernardo and McCowan aren't holding midfielders, none are convincing enough defensively.
Rw/ Lw, we need one more in, Yang is improving and i think can contribute more to the team this year, new lad looks decent but not a pacy winger, think we need one more in similar to Maeda.
Striking options seem fair currently, and another winger might allow Maeda to cover upfront if required.
Those players on the fringes that have had game time in these friendlies need loaned out, they need experience playing first team football week in week out.
We have some young talent they just need the opportunity to develop, if they play in the lowland league unfortunately that will stifle their progression.
Need to get the ball rolling, list of CDMs id be trying to get are:-
Eric Martel
Johann Lepenant
Stije Resink
Iker Munoz
William Clem.
25 Jul 2025 14:27:37
Unless after watching highlights of one half of match you can convince BR to change his tactics and play an out and out CdM there is little point in Celtic buying one or two of the list u make .
U must be an outanding judge of a players ability as you watching highlights of the second half you decide our best centre half for many seasons, CCV is struggling in his first game since cup final.
25 Jul 2025 15:20:34
Turner1984,
I agree with much of your post.
As the squad stands at the minute, if Idah or CCV get injured then we've got a problem at both ends of the park.
I'd hope that a striker, winger, centre back and yes, for the sake of variety, a CDM are brought in pronto.
☘️ ☘️ ☘️.
25 Jul 2025 18:25:43
Jamie Vardy's the answer ?. Only kidding.
25 Jul 2025 19:16:41
9iar, I think Vardy and his hunt wife are more suited to that other mob across the city ?
☘️ ? ☘️.
25 Jul 2025 22:41:21
Wee Dessie its just an observation mate, I still try to play football at 40, i've studied football in many leagues since I was a kid, I can read a game, I haven't done my fast track badges to apparently become an expert in analysing something which I find so apparent, but if we look a little more at certain games last season its a trend you can't ignore.
Its hard to pick the bones of a team that rarely loses mate.
CCV is our outstanding CB, no denying it, was an absolute gem of a purchase, but he hasn't demonstrated being robust enough to handle an entire season, which we have depended on him, and more recently has looked vulnerable at times in his decision making, not saying the left side of defence has helped at times either, but sometimes you have seen a players peak, and notice they aren't quite at that level, but I ain't a fortune teller the lad could get back to that level and hopefully can stay fit to get back to that level we require him at.
As a club though you can't hope that will be the case, we should always look to improve, otherwise we accept boundaries of progression.
Rodgers at Leicester had Wilfred Ndidi, not a passing tactician, but a defensive blocker, who helped them win their first FA Cup, against a strong Chelsea side.
As much as Rodgers apparently is reluctant to tweek tactics half the time its probably who he has at his disposal combined with his philosophy of how he wants to play.
I like a Rum and coke, but I have coke always in the fridge, ginger beer works just as well, but never have the stuff in my fridge, probably because it tastes rubbish on its own, strange analogy I know but I'm sure you get the gist!
If he had someone breaking the lines allowing Calmac more freedom to open teams up with his natural talent im sure he would try it, Scott Brown wasn't used the same as CalMac is now, so he does tweek tactics, even if it seems marginal.
But let's be honest nobody can tell Rodgers what to do the man is a serial winner at this club, and he can do what ever he wants as long as that brings trophies our way.
And no wee dessie i told none of my geordie mates last week we were already good enough that we didn't need to improve after watching a 90 minute friendly, more that they are in for a tough season of they play as pish as they did.
26 Jul 2025 03:32:57
Great points Turner across both posts there. I agree with virtually everything you've said. I'd question you not drinking an Ice Cold Ginger ALE with a rum though.
Ndidi is the player who, although the links were tentative, would improve us the most. He's one I'm hoping the longer he doesn't move anywhere, we make an audacious bid. But he'll no doubt end up playing in a top league still. It seems to good of a signing for us.
26 Jul 2025 06:33:49
He has a 9m release clause which for a 28 year old is fair for his ability, but the wages would be an utter mile away, he's on £75k a week, he will stay in premier league.
26 Jul 2025 09:20:52
Ajax result was a bit freaky, we were by far the better team first half and should have been in front. For me, quality in the final third is the issue. Not sure what the stats said but over the 90 mins I thought we had more shots on target but Ajax goalie was in fine form and hitting woodwork twice didn't help. On the other and Kasper only saved one shot on target and they scored from the rebound.
I think we might benefit from Sinisalo's greater athleticism and I'm hopeful Yamada is a huge upgrade on Idah which won't be difficult. Hatate had another one of those games where he gave the ball away far too often and seemed to lose his usual composure in attack.
The most frustrating thing again tho was the exiting from defence. Against Sporting the first pass out of defence was being layed off sideways or round the corner to a wide player, however against Ajax it was fired back to the defence putting them under unnecessary pressure. Got away with it first half as they stood off but second half they were all over us like a rash, forcing mistakes and creating chances/ goals on the back of it.
Same against the Sevco last season. When they pressed high up the pitch we played into their hands. It's like we only have one way of playing regardless of how the opposition defend against us. We need to be more savvy/ adaptable/ unpredictable especially in Europe.
26 Jul 2025 14:22:47
Turner, I am not questioning your knowledge of the game, however, having watched just highlights of one half most people would think they would need to see more before making judgments.
Of course those who agree will think u are spot on, I am more at a crossroads from seeing the team I have supported for almost 60 yrs beating what is supposed to be a decent EPL team 4 nil to losing the 2nd half of game against Ajax by the same score, what perplexes me more was that Celtic were probably the best team in the first half against. Ajax and were unlucky not to be ahead . However, I don't think you saw even the highlights of the first half and so wouldn’t be aware of how that half went and thus how the overall game went .
I am sorry that u didn’t see it as it would be good to know what a man of your expertise made of the whole game, even if u only saw highlights of game .
I am not sure that Celtic would beat Newcastle 4-0 or lose 5-1 to Ajax if we meet either later on this season.
26 Jul 2025 15:42:45
I agree i watched the first half in the airport, had to board the plane so seen the finally result just before it took off and had to analyse the second half because first half those little dink balls over the top to maeda should've ended up with better end product, but I can't slate him he's the only one who is quick enough to get their with both ajax cbs nowhere near him, and if he was prolific he'd be easily our biggest transfer sale down the line.
Again no point analysing when things go well because generally its slick football, it under the cosh I was trying to observe, we have players that's heads drop when we do start giving goals away.
We need better options especially champions league.
26 Jul 2025 23:31:15
Turner if u ever watch Celtic then u would know that at no time were we anywhere near the strength we will be in CL . BR using pre season to give everyone a chance.