Celtic Banter Archive February 14 2018

14 Feb 2018 22:59:38
So I wonder if porto fans are saying they should be embarrassed about taking a hiding in Europe, and that they aren't really a CL club and shouldn't even bother. Probably not.

15 Feb 2018 08:27:18
Of course it's embarrassing to take a hiding no matter who you are or who against.

15 Feb 2018 09:38:33
Porto fans will probably be doing what we did. Identify where they are needing to improve to reduce the chances of getting horsed and get players in to help with that.

Maybe they will do something about it, unlike us who operate on hope and a few hail mary’s.

As teams get better across Europe it very well be the case that them and us won’t be considered CL teams even by our respective boards anymore.

Tonight will tell us all we need to know if we have any right to talk about ourselves in CL terms.

I’m actually quite calm today, as my expectation levels suffered a blow after the window, so I’m not expecting much. I still have the feeling if we play the way we can we can get a result, but playing like we can has been a fleeting thing all this season. Zenit are better than Anderlecht imo so it’s going to be a night not suited to a rabbits in headlights approach as we saw against Anderlecht and PSG.

I thought it would be a tall order even if we did bring in a few first team defenders and a good keeper. We did none of that so it’s an even bigger ask with our injuries and our key players not delivering so far. This game could be a turning point. Win and we pick up a charge to the end of the season. Get embarrassed and the confidence could fall further. Time for the players to step up and play like men. Not overawed weans too feart to play their game. Let’s hope they do. I actually think they will step up, but don’t listen to me, I would have lost my house on the window purchases. not that anybody listens to me, but you know what I mean, my vibe has been wide of the mark and I could be wrong about them stepping up too.

3.1 to us if we step up

2.0 to them if we don’t.

14 Feb 2018 21:44:11
I really feel sorry for BR and the staff tomorrow, any result will be a success
We could go into the game with as many as 7 players under 23

Having watched the CL games of the last two days the gulf is immense
With the money they have spent on their squads is there for all to see

Zenith spent 125 million in the summer what did we spend

Look at the experience in the top teams that cannot be ignored as we go into this match

Even in Scotland this season we have had to play lots of youngsters and that has shown in some performances

Look at the ages of the injured players

Gordon 36
Boyata 27
Armstrong 25
Griffiths 26

That is right down the middle the most important area of the park

Compper would have added a lot of knowledge had he been able to play maybe next season I hope we bring in some more older players next summer to add to the young talent that we already have.

14 Feb 2018 19:43:19
De Vris
Lustig Hendry Ajer Tierney
Brown Kouassi
Forrest ntcham Sinclair
Dembele.

14 Feb 2018 21:19:58
I really worry about the goalkeeper and defense as although I was a big critic of Gordon - De Vries is definitely not an improvement and has lost three goals already in two games, albeit with a tissue paper defense in front of him. In my opinion Bain is too much of a gamble, so Dorus has to have as much protection and experience to help him:-
De Vries
Lustig Simunovic Ajer Biton Tierney
Forrest Brown Ntcham McGregor/ Eboue
Dembele.

14 Feb 2018 21:44:16
Sinclair is a class performer. He has a great scoring record even though he isn't playing well. We need his experience and goals especially when we play a better team than us .

14 Feb 2018 21:48:34
Its another big European defeat coming our way. I reckon its 4-1 to Zenit. Goalkeeper big problem. So is defence. Dembele only attacking option. Big problems.

{Ed007's Note -

via GIPHY

15 Feb 2018 01:26:45
Glue and sniffer.

15 Feb 2018 11:47:17
Dorus
Lustig Ajer Jozo KT
Brown, Nitcham, Kouassi
Forrest, Dembele, Eddy

Is how I hope we go. Don’t think it will be that though, with Sincy taking Eddy’s place.

We have Rogic to bring on too which is a major plus as the big guy can do some real damage if he is on it.

{Ed007's Note - Lustig's injured, MP.}

15 Feb 2018 13:51:30
Aw feck. Then the back line would be completed with Hendry. I wonder if Kouassi can play right back and bring in Rogic.

Probably guarantees Hendry a start, good luck to the boy if it does. Talk about a baptism of fire?

{Ed007's Note - I've got the fear that we might go with 3 at the back.}

15 Feb 2018 14:14:49
Double feck that. I wish I hadn’t read you saying that now. That will rattle around my skull aw feckin day. Cheers.

{Ed007's Note - (yes)

14 Feb 2018 18:40:10
Guys a really tasty game tonight over in Madrid as Real take on PSG
Over 1.5 goals is 10/ 11 (surely a shoe in with two attacking teams)
Ronaldo anytime is 10/ 11
Bale 7/ 4
Neymar 5/ 4
Cavani 6/ 4
The draw is 23/ 10 (you will get decent odds for 2-2)
Over in Porto you cannot fail to back Salah at 5/ 4 or Firminio 7/ 4 (Firminio is Liverpool top european goal scorer)
Liverpool 6/ 5 to win, decent I think as Porto not the strongest.

14 Feb 2018 17:03:29
Hi Ed, after his man of the match debut for Dundee last night was there a reason we didn't sign Steven Caulker?

{Ed007's Note - He wanted to stay down south near his support network.}

14 Feb 2018 17:42:43
Ed, staying down south clearly became less important to him if he ended up at Dundee. Are you aware of why we lost interest in him or was there another reason why he's not at Paradise? HH.

{Ed007's Note - When Celtic were talking to Caulker he didn't want to move to Scotland so that he remained close to his support unit. When Dundee were in talks with Caulker he felt that he was ready to move away.}

14 Feb 2018 18:55:08
Best signing of the january window by any scottish club i. m. o, struggle to see logic in signing hendry for 1.5m and dundee get yer man for nowt🤔 himself with commper/ ajer would have been nice.

14 Feb 2018 21:11:04
Thanks Ed, your reply makes sense. I know it doesn't really matter now but out of curiosity isn't it strange that his agent didn't alert us about his availability rather than him sign for Dundee? HH.

{Ed007's Note - We had brought in Compper and Hendry and only Sviatchenko had left so there was no point. I wouldn't be surprised if Rodgers has had a hand in Caulker's move to Dundee though. Perhaps Caulker contacted Rodgers, their relationship is way beyond needing agents speaking, and when Rodgers couldn't fit him into his squad he offered Dundee the chance to speak to Caulker during the Hendry negotiations - remember there was a late hitch in the Hendry move, could that have been to do with Dundee having no replacement for Hendry and Rodgers put them and Caulker together? Caulker has said he only spoke to Neil McCann on the phone before deciding to come up and sign, he was training with Luton then 2/3 days later he rolls up here and signs for Dundee, it's a bit weird isn't it?}

14 Feb 2018 22:14:28
Didn't realise Caulker had Scottish family connections and can or could have played for Scotland, think Ngog was a good signing for RC, in the window as well.