Celtic Banter Archive July 12 2015

12 Jul 2015 16:19:04
So with 4 new players in the door I was wondering what everyone else thinks we need before the end of the window. What positions and do we have specific people in mind? For me I still think we need a top striker, someone like finbog would be ideal but I can't see it happening. Either one of the 2 blackburn forwards as well (rhodes/gestede) but again the money their looking for seems to be obsurred.

Other than that I think a centre half is all we really need to replace VD who I think will leave as soon as the qualifiers are done. I seen Vlaars contract expired but i'm assuming the wages he would be looking for would be sky high.

I was one of the people who were looking for a new left back as well but I have changed my mind and would like to see the young lad tierney be the back up to izzy.

12 Jul 2015 17:56:19
Left back - Who knows, hardest position to fill it seems! (Any suggestions?)

Defensive midfielder - Kara

Winger - Juan Delgado

Van Dijk replacement - Brandon Mechele

12 Jul 2015 18:41:45
I've seen Kara a couple of times, he would be a good signing but I think there's a few premier league teams in for him so would depend what the fee was.

I haven't seen either of the other 2 to be honest. what kind of prices are we talking?

12 Jul 2015 19:05:18
£2million for Delgado and £3million for Mechele are the figures that have been quoted in the media. I think we've done well so far to get 4 in at this stage given there is still a lot of dead wood needing shifted! I think that could be the priority for the next few weeks of the window. Starting with Boerrigter - is he not on about £20k a week!?

13 Jul 2015 10:16:49
Kara played for norwegian side Tromsø for some seasons (dont remember how many though) but was the best DM in the whole league when he played. But I would go for Kristoffer Ajer. 17 years old, captain for his team and a real gem!

12 Jul 2015 12:10:22
Was hearing James McCarthy may be moving for around the 20m mark. Got me thinking would you rather have him or Broony? Easy choice for me lol.
Interesting to see RD thinks Forrest will be a big player for us and he says JF was only 40% before but now believes he up to 60%. If this is the case we can expect big things from him. let's hope so we waited long enough.
On to wed game I think the team picks itself, though for the home game I would have Cifti in for Armstrong on he left so we got more goalscorers on the pitch and use Armstrong in away leg. What you guys think.

12 Jul 2015 14:38:49
Cifti more a g8alscorer than out wide for me and gms is out left anyway for me its gms on left commons in middle with forrest yes him on right and give lg first half up front with cifti coming on second half hail hail

12 Jul 2015 15:16:37
Commons instead of Johanson??

12 Jul 2015 16:09:25
Tompo88 lol cany believe I forgot about johansen sittin wae a riddy lol commons for stephan mabae use commens second half hail hail

12 Jul 2015 16:51:33
Haha yeah I was wondering and in that case completly agree lol

13 Jul 2015 20:44:51
What about Armstrong one of the first names on my team sheet?

12 Jul 2015 00:05:27
Following on from paradisewons comments, I've not posted too often on here, but would like to see if others agree with what I think about our team this season.

Gordon. Great keeper, more than happy to give bailly a shot though as I think he could be good.

Lustig. One of our best players, think he could do a job for anyone.

Izzy. Give him a break. 80% of games he's our best attacking threat/creator.

Mulgrew. Utility man, would never start in my book.

Van dijk. Think he's class. But not as good as denayer. Would think boyata could replace him.

Brown. Great captain, lacks class of a Lambert or mcstay (even tam Boyd).

GmS - best signing in a long time. Will score 15 goals next season. Think Armstrong will take another season or two to reach top quality.

Commons - useful for teaching younger players.

Johanssen - great worker, not a natural goalscorer though so would happily use him as a worker in midfield like Brown.

Scepovic - I think he's a natural penalty box striker (but I do have a soft spot for him). Celtic don't have a place for him in the current set up! Better than pukki, bangura, murphy, blade.

Henderson is a good prospect, like how he moves the ball and tries to impact the game.

Bitton - massive player for me next season, I think you have to play him

Forrest - I'd get rid of him, not good enough, remember how much people slated didier agathe, Forrest is slower and has worse delivery!

Cifcti- good signing, think we need a bit of bite up top, am happy with him and Griffiths although I don't particularly like either of them!!

Would like to see a naturally gifted left sided player, think that'd give strikers more to work with.

Before the window shuts I'd like to see a strong centre mid, a left sided (Alan Thompson type) player who can also play in centre mid and possibly a proper centre bacK (maybe in the grant hanley mould)!!

Do other fans agree?

NT87

{Ed007's Note - Without harping on and going over old ground I reckon that's a pretty fair and balanced assessment.}

12 Jul 2015 00:28:53
Nice to see you back posting NT87:
surprised Ed agrees about Gordon??or is that the wrong Ed?
just about spot on with the teams assessment.

Now about--- Ciftci. here we go.
Are we looking at a new Chris Sutton type leading our attack. A player that bullies the defenders. if so its a long time coming?

{Ed007's Note - He said he's more than happy to see Bailly given a chance and I said I wasn't going over old ground. If I had started about CG again it would have just been nitpicking. At least I know you're paying attention (punch)

12 Jul 2015 00:37:27
Cheers ed, happy to have your approval!

{Ed007's Note -

12 Jul 2015 00:56:03
Regarding Izzy,i would love to see him move up one.I think the guy bursts a gut to offer options on his side and maybe less running would produce more quality. His final ball has been pretty poor for a few years,a bit more time might help this.Possibly a nice option for certain games.

12 Jul 2015 04:53:55
NT87 I take it the "a bit of bite upfront" is no pun intended.

12 Jul 2015 09:51:20
NT - without sounding as if I'm posting with a start a fight in an empty room kinda post, I just want to give a reply and my reading of your view. It seems to me you've slated half the team and don't seem very confident going into the new season.

Craig Gordon - good keeper but
Izzy - a defender but no mention of this
Mulgrew - nothing positive
VVD - class but
Brown - great captain but
Armstrong - will take another season or two
Commons - nothing of his ability
Johanssen - not a natural goalscorer (he's a creative midfielder?)
Scepovic - don't have a place for him
Forrest - nothing positive

You've saved the biggest compliment for Dundee Utd players and Cifcti in particular which I find a tad baffling. As I said, I could be reading this all wrong.

Like it or not, but we play in Scotland and Forrest is one if our leagues best players. He's been hampered by injury no denying that but what other options do we have in the development squad or bench that are better?

We've been debating on here for a good couple of years about the development squad yet not 1 of them recently has done anything of note so we have nobody there. Lustig can create maybe down the right hand side, GMS is left footed and can blow hot and cold just like any winger so if you sell Forrest - what are your other options when we're sitting at 0-0 and struggling to get past a team sitting in?

All I'm saying is good Managers and teams need options, not a rigid stating 11 with nobody on the bench.

That said, this is definitely a make or break season for him.

12 Jul 2015 10:27:57
Mrs E I don't think my post was negative at all, although there were a couple of 'buts' in the post I wasn't negative, I said Brown was a great captain and VVD was class? Only thing I'd say was if there was an option of keeping denayer instead of VVD I'd have preferred denayer. Just my opinion.

Also I was just giving my opinion on some players, wasn't analysing there whole game. Everyone knows izzy is a defender, I don't need to tell people that. Gordon is a good keeper, but the new keeper should get a chance (what's wrong with that).

I agree Forrest can be good, I just think we could cut our losses with him and cash in if possible. I said I didn't like Ciftci, I just think he's a decent player of who's type we don't have, not exactly lavishing praise.

I wanted to see if other people were of the same mind as me, obviously not everyone will agree though so thanks for your reply and a lot of good points made!

12 Jul 2015 10:28:45
Forrest could be good. He just isn't. If you have any games taped watch him. He monotonously hits a crap final baw. Takes shots that require a pass to a team mate.

He flatters to deceive. I would live nothing more than him ramming my words down my throat. I've been waiting a long time. It's not just his fitness. It's his ability to get the ball over, or through that's the problem. Skinning someone isn't enough. Being effective and a threat us required.

My heart rate goes back to normal everytime he gets the ball in the final third as he invariably effs it up.

RD talks him up, but is bringing in players to cover the positions Forrest can play. It's up to James, for me, this year he needs to step up or more on. He is 24 now and we're still making excuses for him.

Well, I won't make excuses anymore about his final ball or shooting. They are both pish and if he doesn't know that he too should watch games of himself.

12 Jul 2015 13:23:45
Good spot with the pun frewbhoy ^^^^^