Celtic Banter Archive May 16 2016

16 May 2016 19:53:35
Just wanted to point out young Mikey Johnstone's scoring record for the under 17's this season! 32 goals in 29 games! 24 goals in 22 league matches and 8 goals in 7 Glasgow Cup games! Fantastic achievement made all the more impressive by the fact he is a midfielder! Would love to see some of the kids given an opportunity in the near future 🍀.

16 May 2016 20:29:48
If you good enough, your old enough.

16 May 2016 15:34:12
Could it be that the big benefits of Ronnys reign will be seen in the next few years with some of the youth that has moved up under him?
Rogic teirey mcgregor Christie and a few more to come?

16 May 2016 15:42:52
Absolutely.

16 May 2016 15:54:32
Plenty more to come . nesbitt hendry hill Archibald miller breslin kellehar mcart to name a few . all under 21 with younger ones pushing them . I'd like to see 3-4 seasoned pros 28-30 who have a proven track record and develop the young bhoys.

16 May 2016 16:21:58
Shouldn't you credit lawwell and park for Christie as they take the blame for Allan Armstrong etc also mcgregor developed mainly due to his year at Notts county's the timing of his return benefitted Ronny initially although he became predictable when played out wide after a couple of months as his best position is and always has been central.

16 May 2016 16:33:02
Maybe, goes to show we gave the right guy - the wrong job at the club? Too late for tears now.

16 May 2016 16:41:37
Jim1972 I do credit the board quite often. Also mcgregor has came on loads being involved in big games with our first team.
Lennon had spoke about moving him on before Ronny came in
Seems Ronny has changed a lot behind the scenes when it comes to the youth and hopefully it means more make the jump from development squad to first team squad.

16 May 2016 16:45:20
Yes Jim1972, I do credit them. We do sign some good players, it's how many poor ones, and how quickly the good ones are replaced though that I have issue with. I credited them when I said at the time Christie was a decent signing. Probably the only player in Scotland at the time I would have liked to see us sign actually. Still a way to go for him yet but looks like a promising young dynamic player.

16 May 2016 18:33:04
Passing time. Right job wrong time.

16 May 2016 19:47:25
Again agree with some comments I do think Rd was the man to take us forward, not just the 1st team, but the club as a whole so don't think it was the wrong time, I feel with the power to hire n fire (instead of pl n JP) a bit of finance 2 sign his own players to play the way he wanted, high pressing, quick passing, intelligent movement and an attacking stle which we saw, hey maybe not every game but that never happened under Strachan, Mon or Lenny either n again developing a football identity, style of play and progressing your youth takes time n with an elynouusi and 1 or 2 other good signings as well as the dross out the door I do believe things would have went even better under Rd, so I am also gutted. Only good thing is the work he has done already n if it can b progressed then we should start seeing more Celtic players actually coming from our own youth which is rd's way. Hail hail.

16 May 2016 20:40:31
I'm astounded to read some of these comments!
We won 7-0 in a meaningless match against a Motherwell side who had the beach in their heads! Now all I'm reading is RD was the right man after all, we having a laugh!?
If we had lost or drawn on Sunday I know I would have been reading good riddance RD etc etc.
Let's not have short memories guys RD took this team backwards along with JC and JK and the rest of the cronies upstairs, now onwards and upwards and let's hope that this time next season we are talking about how much we have improved as a team as if we get any worse we are going to be 2nd best to this new club across the city!
The most important decision in years is about to be made by the board and I have zero confidence in them getting it right!
Hail hail.

16 May 2016 21:44:27
You're astounded Jones? I don't believe we're anywhere near to being second best to Rangers next season! RD or no RD. Because why, they managed to win on penalties in a one-off when we were way below par? They'll be nowhere near us in the league. I'm much more worried about the Mutton Molesters. Then Hearts. Then County, St. Johnstone, Motherwell. While I'm at it Dundee and Caley will only get stronger too imo.

The comments generally aren't really to do with the one performance on Sunday, more to do with the bit of a shake-up RD has made behind the scenes and how it may help youths step up.

But he'll be away before the fruits of labour can really be eaten.

Kris Commons of all people said in the press ages back that the team were struggling to get their heads around how much more they needed to do for RD because they hadn't trained that way in years! 'That way', by the way, was studied by RD off his own back from the likes of Klopp and Guardiola. Now I'm not directly comparing RD to those two either. What was interesting is that from the way it was worded though, the players used to, but stopped at Celtic!

I mentioned down the page about Celtic players going to other clubs and not being fit enough. But it's not all about fitness and nutrition of course.

There was also bridges needing to be built between the gaps from youth team to first team. I think we're already seeing that. For winning so many youth trophies why have we bought so many of other clubs' young players in Scotland?

I'm told that under RD there are more and more kids spending time with the first team, getting used to drills and movements, making the transition easier. It's an Education, which is like schooling - it doesn't happen over night, probably not quite after two years either. The only thing it requires is patience.

There are so many players, important ones too who have said that either (a) they feel RD has really helped their game; or (b) admitting that it is their own performances that have let us, the fans, down. Need I remind you of some of the disaster moments at awful times this season?

Good riddance? Good luck I say. He's been unfortunate I feel and will be successful sonewhere again. Perhaps one day, after a bit more learning, back here.

16 May 2016 21:59:16
I agree with with you in regards to the youth setup and how things changed but he failed in my eyes in regards to improving the team! Can u honestly say you enjoyed this season!? can u honestly say we have improved? not behind the scenes because we the fans don't see that so I can't comment, the standards on the pitch dropped! Tactically it never worked either! fair play RD stuck to his guns playing 4-2-3-1 he believed in that system but it cost him his job!
I don't care what anyone says but the newco are going to be our biggest challengers next season! we are in a mess look at the squad we have 2 squads of midfielders and a pile of primadonas who need shipped out the door now then we can start to think about bringing players in.

16 May 2016 23:58:31
They won't be. Honestly matey don't worry about them! I can honestly say I'm delighted to have won the league. Similarly to what I've noticed other posters saying, I grew up watching us finish 3rd and 4th so will never not be delighted to see us crowned champions. That said, relatively speaking, just winning the league isn't acceptable, no. Less points this season, but more goals. Bit of a step sideways this season really so no real improvement no, but we haven't gone backwards I don't think.

17 May 2016 01:16:18
R D was in the middle of a project which in a couple of years will have 2/ 3 youngsters coming through to the first team squad every year . Unfortunately for him and us he won't be here to reap the benefit . I think in concentrating on the youth he seemed to lose the confidence of the more experienced players . The team was crawling along slowly and bearably acceptable until it played Rangers . Against Rangers, who were probably the worse side we played under R D the team collapsed for what ever reason and R D had to go, he just couldn't stay after that . The players let him and us down big time.

17 May 2016 03:29:11
RD let the fans down time after time. He was an imposter and that's why he had to go.

16 May 2016 10:05:21
Now I know yesterdays game was just an end of season party but I think it shows how we could have/ should have played under Ronny without all the drama surrounding him, without the pressure and without the so called bad apples in the squad. It also shows that these young players can and will perform for us. Was really impressed with Armstrong yesterday and Johannson looked better in the withdrawn role. And a couple of cracking goals to boot. Hopefully whatever manager comes in we see these bhoys in the team instead of the lazy trouble makers. Along with a good spine, these bhoys and some confidence I have high hopes for the future.

16 May 2016 10:52:32
Just a few quality signings (and I mean quality) added to that bunch and we'll be looking ok. Always maintained we have a good squad of players with potential to improve.

16 May 2016 10:58:24
I think Ronny is a very cautious manager from what I've seen.
The team yesterday were excellent, but if it hadn't been an end of season game and we had a match next week, I'm pretty sure that he would change the line up and go back to what he sees as his tried and tested picks. He has done this all season after a decent performance.
I think that there's been too many games this season where we look as if we're playing with the handbrake on.
I hope that the new manager will allow the players to express themselves and play with a bit of freedom, there will obviously be times when we will need to be a bit more cautious, but in the majority of domestic games at least, I see no reason why they shouldn't play as they did yesterday, it's what the fans would love to see.

16 May 2016 11:11:05
The problem being JimTim is we need a manager in that sees the potential and can work with it. 2 or 3 top experienced signings will see these boys come on more.

gerry, Ronny has had to be cautious, the pressure surrounding him was insane. It's all if's and buts now but that's the type of football I would want to see week in week out. (depending on the pitch we're playing) .

16 May 2016 12:27:35
cmcbhoy, I don't think the pressure surrounding him was any worse than any Celtic manager has faced.
I think the pressure on the next manager will be far greater, as he will have to endure the press and medias attempts to undermine him as their heroes are in the top flight.
If Ronny was struggling to cope with the last couple of years, then I don't think he would be able to handle what's coming in the next couple.

16 May 2016 12:54:04
It was to an extent gerry, the lack of any competition and this weird thing where we have to qualify for Europe made it so. The papers and fans jumped on him from day one. My theory is is that if there was better competition we would have been a different team altogether.

The media were all over Ronny because there was nothing else to talk about in the papers (or nothing that they wanted to talk about)

16 May 2016 12:57:18
It is hard to draw solid conclusions from one game against a Motherwell team who offered little resistance, but there were a lot of positives with a return to form recently from Armstrong, Lustig and Johansen and great displays from Christie, Rogic and McGregor among others.
RD relied too much on Bitton, Brown and Johansen when they were off form or injured for fear of losing rather than playing more attack minded players who may have given him the high tempo attacks he promised, but rarely delivered although the late addition of Roberts helped.

Too many of those collecting medals yesterday should have a look in the mirror as only a handfull of the squad gave consistent champion standard performances and hopefully there will be a clear-out with Common, Forrest, Stokes, Ciftci, Cole and even Bitton and Brown looking for a 'fresh challenge' and the goalie situation needs attention.
Allen and CKR were given little chance to show, but neither could have improved on yesterday's squad and may well join Izzy in pondering the future?
Izzaguire lost his place to an emerging talent and doesn't want to be a back-up lb, but I would have liked to see them both on the left as they might have gelled really well?

I hope the new manager was watching the game yesterday, appreciating the potential and enjoying the football - we should have produced much more often.
It's a while since we scored 'seven in the sun' and it was terrific to see 7 different scorers including young Jack Aitchison - and both full-backs, which is a very rare treat.

16 May 2016 14:38:53
You would like to have seen them both on the left? I don't think playing 2 left backs is tactically sound. It would be a worlds first I would have thought and could possibly draw some criticism from anyone with a brain. Unless of course you mean alternate them for the same position because there's no way Izzy is an attacking midfielder.

16 May 2016 15:56:52
Izzagire is a much better wide player than a defender as anyone with a brain will tell you, having started out as a winger.

16 May 2016 20:35:09
Izzy has been a great player in his time 4 us but it is kt who is no1 now so it's time he moved on, especially to get 1st team football. On players out, commons, Forrest, stokes, Allan, janko as ed007 said is homesick so he will be out (although I'd like him 2 stay, what I've seen of him think there's a player there) mulgrew (although may be kept as backup 2 jozo n big erik) Ambrose, bitton no doubt will be sold, but again I'd keep him for at least another season. Ciftci, cole and scepcovic then Blackett as well which cuts the squad down 2 a good number and add 2 or 3 better quality players 2 blend with the current players plus youth 2 come through and we will be looking alright, however it all depends on who is brought in, manager and players alike, let's hope the new manager gets more input in signings and continues 2 blood youth Hail hail.