Celtic Banter Archive April 19 2015

19 Apr 2015 23:37:23
I keep hearing people saying everyone makes mistakes I agree. But if me and my work mate was to make a blunder like that . I have no doubt we would be sacked. This is not Sunday morning park football this was a semi final in the oldest cup in world football what a joke. Their is two sides to every story. The fact is you can say it was cheating or in my view they are not good at their jobs either way the SFA have to make sure none of the official's work for them again ,

20 Apr 2015 00:16:10
If the SFA don't demote the three officials involved, then it is obvious that the referee condones or encourages cheating referees . Regan is reported as saying the officals missed the hand ball. That is pure lies .

20 Apr 2015 00:11:11
just seen it on sportscene,to me it was'nt as easy to see for the referee as everyone is saying,the way he was running in ,he was,or could've been unsighted at the crucial moment,(his eyeline blocked by a player )it would have been much easier to see from behind the goals,i am in favour of goal line technology but that might not have helped in this case,i think we should have something similar to the rugby thing with the referee inthe stand watching all the available camera evidence.

21 Apr 2015 00:39:45
Excuse me Aindoh , the referee had a perfect uninterrupted view of the entire incident . The clown on or off the line didn't have the same frontal perfect view. He is supposed to have said it hit the player's face , if he saw that he must have special x-ray vision , to see through from the back of the head .

It is bad enough that we had to bore the result IFA truly atrocious decision without a Celtic fan making erroneous excuses . It makes it easy for these " honest " mistakes to continue , if some of our fans make out false excuses .

19 Apr 2015 21:30:39
I have just got back from the match, I agree with what most people have been saying, it was a shocking decision.
If that referee was not biased, then he was totally incompetent, either way he should be brought to book.
Even though we were winning at half time, I had a feeling, that decision would come back to haunt us.
I know people say we were winning anyway, but it would have been such an advantage to be playing 10 men,look at the

20 Apr 2015 07:56:14
Maybe he's a mason. Maybe he got the Inverness supporters bus to the game.

20 Apr 2015 09:39:22
Cee maybe the Officals are just overly incompetent.

You don't want Celtic to win anything and of course you were pleased with yesterday's result, fair enough 😄

They are still the undisputed Champions of Scotland 🍀

20 Apr 2015 11:01:43
Correct MrsE u are without a doubt best team in Scotland. Half pleased, it done my coupon lol!

21 Apr 2015 00:47:04
Ceexxx . Did you support Rangers?
Do you support Sevco and if so why?
I support Celtic because I am proud of its history .
How can you support a team whose history is less than 2 year old .
You have no heroes, or legends in the past I feel sorry for you , not much wonder you want to mix with the cream of Scottish Football.

19 Apr 2015 19:39:11
Just to lighten my mood and I hope everyone else's my niece picked the Grand National winner and 2nd horse last week, she followed that up by not only having the winner at Ayr but 3rd and 4th also, her system? she liked the names of the horses or the colours of their jockeys tops, so my lenghty analysis of ground conditions, jockey/trainer combo, weight horse carrying, disatance, etc was well and truly trounced by my niece's non system lol

19 Apr 2015 20:22:45
F**k it mate there's always next time lol

19 Apr 2015 18:53:44
bitterly disappointed but I think over the piece we, noting their man advantage for around 60 minutes, the better team won. Before I get shot down, I would point out that up to the 44th minute; we were at no point in control of the game. Their possession statistics looked good. They caused us problems ever time they careered forward and the reason we struggled is because ICT do not seem to have a fear complex against Celtic. Their lad up front gave VVD and Denayer a horrible afternoon and Ofere was quite imposing too. Their young land Christie was outstanding. I don't think he gave the ball away once. They had energy on the ball and they had energy in the tackles and won just about every second ball. This seems to be the case when Celtic play against a competitive team; ICT are certainly combative and intelligent in possession. Celtic do not win enough tackles and are very poor on winning the second ball. They do from time to time and that ironically led to the Johansen miss and the resultant hand ball. A poor decision. A really poor decision. However buoys and ghirls, let us not kid ourselves. Up that point I was shouting at the doppy Biton for being sloppy on the ball and Commons for being posted AWOL. Johanssen was second best for most of the day too. Too many players of late have looked jaded and heavy legged. We have not pressed at anywhere near the rate we used to and we have virtually no cutting edge in the final third. Griffiths did not lead the line well today. He got his usual left foot pile driver away in the 1st half, but he did not lead that line as sole strikers ought to. He deserved his start but he had a really poor game. The ICT equivalent was able to keep Denayer and VVD in their respective places.

Decisions do turn matches but decisions, right ones and wrong ones, are made throughout the 90 minutes but we need to look at the whole picture. We have played ICT 4 times this season and rarely come out with pass marks. Why is that? It is not all about decisions. Our two goals today came from set pieces; the second a goalkeeping error. Why do we struggle in the final third with the incisive pass? Our sloppiness on the ball in the 2nd half of the season has not been corrected.

On the bright side, Forrest looked okay. I know I will be in the minority here, hut I would have taken off Commons because with 10 men you need pace and energy to make up for the missing man. Forrest was on to something today. Commons was not. RD made a decision based on reputations. Just my view. Commons had 60 minutes to make an impression and looked very weary. Forrest looked fresh as a daisy.

We should not be too disheartened. RD has weathered the storm and we still have a league to win. A treble in the first season could have been a poisoned chalice anyway. I don't think the overall season, and performances therein, have merited a treble winning campaign. There have been mistakes. There have been highs and lows. There has been frustration and adulation.

This perhaps spells out to Celtic players that we need to be hungry all of the time. It maybe says that we need to win the battle from time to time before we can play the Celtic way. We need to be up for the battle. Maybe next season we will know what level of energy it will take to win all domestic honours as opposed to charging around when 4-0 up in games going in to the closing stages.

The bigger picture for their goal (surely?) has to be why we were one on one with Matthews on the opposite side. It was amateurish. Why did Mathews go to ground? Why did Gordon lead with his legs and not his head and body. I thought the whole incident from the long ball to the decision was calamitous and showed a high level of naivety but then that's perhaps me being too harsh.

In RD I trust, but work to do .lots of work still to do . DON'T put this down singularly to a bad decision. wouldn't be fair

As an aside, congratulations to John Hughes

19 Apr 2015 19:44:50
Paradise a heard Danny Murphy say during the week that possession was the most stupidest stat in football!

Officialdom or lack of it cost us

A take on your points of Johansen & Biton a said the said myself we paid today a cost of NOT playing GMS & Armstrong during the week against Killie given they would be cup tied today that & Tonev entering the field McGregor would have been a better option given what Tonev did today or lack of it a never want to see him in a Celtic jersey again now!

A take your point also that JF was getting a bit of joy today and him staying on made more sense than KC

But let's not lose sight here at H T ICT might have had 57% of the ball but we were never in danger mate and were very comfortable IMO

19 Apr 2015 19:59:11
Paradise, a very good and fair analysis of the game today pal.
Scottish cup was a formality, hmmmmmm who said that, dn30.

19 Apr 2015 20:39:48
Bottom line is if the officials had done their jobs properly today which would of meant Caley coming out for second half with ten men and probably 2 nil down , Celtic would of went on to win by 4 or 5. But at the end of the day it was just another honest mistake by the referee and his 4 assistants.

20 Apr 2015 00:35:52
I think we have all praised Deila for the way he has looked after Forest in his attempt to nurture him back to full fitness . No doubt Forrest was playing well today but ICT were quick to get at him when he looked dangerous , in the normal course of events we would be talking about a penalty claim , and then on his next run he was chopped down for the free that gave us the lead . Forrest covered back well and I have little doubt that Deila intended substituting him after about the hour . If he had played the 120 mins he would probably been out injured to Christmas
Deila rested Forest and I think Commons last week end because of bad pitch and then gave them a run against Killmarnock .

19 Apr 2015 18:11:20
I honestly think this time the Club have to speak out!

Sometimes I can see how an official can maybe not have a clear view or be duped by a diving player but this is beyond incompetence and a 'mistake'.

There was more than one official with a very clear view and for the good of out game, they need to be held accountable for these decisions.

19 Apr 2015 18:25:24
Mrs E it was as if the officials were determined to put brakes on treble.

19 Apr 2015 18:44:46
Mrs E said as much earlier

League Cup final against Kilmarnock Stokes is denied a Stonewall last minute penalty

Semi final against Hearts in the Scottish cup semi final the hand ball last minute that they got that we never got the EXACT same decision at the other end that NL ran onto the pitch to remonstrate

Even this season TWICE at tannadice , The Scepovic chopped off goal and the VVD sending off and the soft penalty against us given!

Someone has to point out the "totting up" in big games even for future reference

Or if anyone please can point out the last BIG decision we got in a BIG domestic game please enlighten me?

19 Apr 2015 18:53:35
What is the point in the goal line officials as I can't think of one ever making a call. As for the 3 today all within 15 feet of the hand ball only says to me it was 11 against 16.

19 Apr 2015 19:03:03
I know some will cringe but I am not speaking with the advantage of hindsight , I flagged up the danger of McLean and Andrew Dallas having charge of our treble attempt . I know many on here watch games in various European Leagues , I very much doubt if anyone has ever seen a decision like we had to endure after 44/45 minutes today .
We told that these things even themselves out over the course , Mr Mc Lean chose not to go down that way when he awarded an equally blatant penalty and dish out the red card to Gordon .
We will know if the SFA is corrupt or not by what they deal with McLean Muir and Dallas. I remember when big Yogi Hughes hit the scrum Willie Johnston with his knee after both tousled on the ground . The referee ( I cannot remember his name ) was an International referee , after that he was demoted to lower decision and Junior football.
Our three cheats today must never be envolved in a top league game .

19 Apr 2015 19:05:48
These sort of disgraceful incidents have been going on for over a century and we rarely take them to task.
It has happened in many televised games so the evidence is available and the biased is overwhelming.
We are the most powerful club in the country and we generate income for every other club in the division, carry the flag for our country single handedly in Europe every season, earning cash for Scottish clubs every time we progress.
The reason we continually suffer from cheating officials and obstacles and hindrance from our Association is because we bend over and take it every time.
It's high time we flexed our muscles or made concrete plans to play our football elsewhere, away from corruption.

19 Apr 2015 19:09:23
Mrs E/DN30 forced myself to watch highlights, the referee has a clear view but even more important the official behind the goal is only feet away and is looking straight at it, I genuinely believe that all the talk from Ronnie about the treble has put the SFA heid yins in a panic and they have had a "word" with the officials, I predict these officials will now be fastracked onto the SFA's FIFA list "for services to the cause" Paranoid?just because I am paranoid it does not mean people are not out to get us. Cheating Barstewards and I want the club to make a statement. But even more worrying is we have a hard game on wednesday with a tired squad this is their next target to stop Celtic winning the league, we are Celtic we will overcome any and all obstacles and win the title hail hail

19 Apr 2015 19:35:01
I just think with HD telly and technology these days, officials need to up their game (or just do their job)

This is why we end up with conspiracy theories etc. That today could not be anymore blatant, ridiculous decision and embarrassing.

Hearts & Hibs have been speaking up and this time, I expect the same from Celtic

19 Apr 2015 22:21:01
We got cheated, no doubt.
But still we lead at half time 1 0. We should have been able to rise above it . Granted the decision cost us but surely we can see our own frailties cost us.
I've no doubt RD will be more worried about putting that right then an officials decision

19 Apr 2015 22:40:37
I've said as much down the page a bit Bobby but the decision itself needs addressed, it was diabolical!

Celtic were still leading but what we were doing in the lead up to the penalty, from the state of the corner to Matthews and Gordon is anyone's guess.

20 Apr 2015 00:06:14
Definitely , today was sore , but we need to look a little away from officials as bad as they were and look at our own downfall . We didn't do anything right leading up to that goal and sending off.
We were robbed , plain and simple , but we were winning 1 0. No point in only blaming officials , we need to look in house then learn . Blaming officials however shite they were doesn't help . Most damming stat is we were winning 1 0 with 45 mins left against Inverness?? Ffs should we not be able to hang on . As I've said earlier , the build up and the sending off was avoidable . Forget the **** of a referee . The theories off being hard done by . I live in England because my parents couldn't get a job in scotland . We know it happens , but if we'd defended well enough we could have stuck two fingers up to the lot of them. The referee was sh*te but we should have done better . We let ourselves down. Forget it and move on. I'm sure RD knows this and we'll move on stronger

20 Apr 2015 00:39:34
Mrs E I think our young players were not prepared to over come the decision made before half time and we're still playing in a shocked state of mind . Not unenough cover when corner was cleared

20 Apr 2015 14:54:58
I've only just watched the highlights, not good.

Their 3rd goal, the goalscorer was unmarked and had lots of space - what were we doing?

Tonev - strange one but shows we maybe don't have many options as we think. Granted GMS & Armstrong were cup-tied but they did play last week and were as poor as everyone else.

Forrest was the best players 1st half and suffers for Gordon, on hindsight should have been Commons.

If Brown and Biton are injured, who plays their role?

19 Apr 2015 16:34:32
Ive been feeling for the last few games that some of the lads were starting to look tired and its clear some have been playing with injuries. We had plenty chances in the first half to take a good lead into the second half even before the blatant hand ball and what should have been a sending off.
I'm still shocked we didn't get the decision but tbh I'm gutted for RD to not get the treble. I wasn't his biggest fan at the start but I don't think anyone can say theycan't see what he is trying to achieve and implement at the club. I know there is next season and if he isbacked by the board to clear out a few and bring in some hungry talent then is be right behind him for the treble next season.
Its never easy following Celtic but none of us can get enough!

19 Apr 2015 17:48:52
Two points. Decisions by the officials were shocking. Not buying the honest mistake stuff. The ref couldn't wait to blow the final whistle. It will be interesting to see if he gets left out of a couple of SPL games but probably not. Shocking. If we go 2 up it's a different game and they have 10 men so it is probably game over.
Point two. We don't convert enough chances and often we don't create enough chances. We play the same formation every game, teams know how we will set up and play. It will be sufficient to win SPL but in Europe these teams will diss us out in a heartbeat. I think we need more variety in the formation and the 4-2-3-1 for me just seems to lack that killer edge. I not just talking about today, I am making a general statement as to what I have seen all season. Today however was totally unfair and unjust.

19 Apr 2015 19:20:33
Johnnymac , I can't think about European Football at the moment . I was quite happy with our first half performance, forrest looked good and I think we should be talking whether he deserved a penalty or not . Bitton was absolutely superb in the first half and rattled the wood work The free kick from Virgil was superb , just struck home sweetly . Judging by what happened to Griffith's goal bound header, I 'm pleased that Mc Lean judged the ball to have crossed the line . I think we were sharp and dangerous in the first half .
If the anti Celtic biased official hadnt cheated us out of our second first half goal . I don't think Johhnmac you would be posting this post tonight .
The pre half time robbery affected the morale and fighting spirit of the team in the second . The decision was so blatantly wrong that although the Celtic players are well used to be at the receiving end of bad decisions , no players would ever be prepared to handle what was thrown at them today .

19 Apr 2015 15:06:26
Well well folks at least RD & NL have something in common now officialdom have robbed of them of the Scottish cup!

RD has to react to this in my opinion and say something or PL something really cutting because it is becoming almost blatant! this truly is shocking way beyond the realms of coincidence!

19 Apr 2015 15:40:49
Am absolutely fuming jamie!

Overall performance today, just shows how good players GMS and Armstrong are. We missed them today.


Well hope the SFA enjoy their moment, cause next season we will be back stronger and do the treble!

19 Apr 2015 15:41:43
Enoughs enough. Some fans that say we weren't good enough but it would have been game over had they went down to 10 and penalty been put away. If we put it down to our performance the cheats have got away with it as per usual

19 Apr 2015 15:53:39
Exactly what I've been saying tic tac. Totally agree. We have been robbed today. If they go in a man down its almost game over. If we score the pen it is game over. Ref and his we manican have cost us today. Yes people had bad games. Yes we are light in quality but we all knew that. We still done enough today before that robbery

19 Apr 2015 16:03:27
Yes I hope the sfa enjoy it as well,because it will be an embarrassing final crowdwise because it will be one of the lowest attendances for a cup final.I don't mind losing if it were straightforward but that was cheating of the highest quality.killy.

19 Apr 2015 16:04:12
DN30 Fuming does not cover it mate

It is like watching a re run of a horror story!

Don't follow the others train of thought that we were poor thought we were quite comfortable if am honest looked as though SJ was running on empty early on and Biton was carrying a bit of a knock as rumoured

IMO opinion if wee Paul McBride was alive he would be saying something "cheeky" about officialdom and powers at be would be to scared to bite back

But something has to be said DIRECT! Don't miss them , Even to plant a seed for future reference a really am waiting will be so disappointed in establishment if nothing is said or forthcoming

19 Apr 2015 16:28:10
We were still winning at half time and after the awful decision!

Thought our passing at times was woeful and 1 up front was not effective enough today at all.

19 Apr 2015 16:40:52
Sorry a meant comfortable PRIOR to the sending off , just to clear up

19 Apr 2015 16:56:22
IF we get the correct decision - red card & penalty then it's a different game.

But we didn't and the corner that led to their goal was just terrible, what was it? The defending for their other 2 goals as well!

19 Apr 2015 19:33:23
I don't believe there was much wrong with us in the first half . Bitton and Brown were cutting through the centre . Forrest , had a shout for a penalty, we hit the wood work had good shots saved , scored a great free -kick and robbed by a handball stopping a goal bound header .
To me that was ok and productive . The second half going a man down we were ragged and out muscled and out numbered in midfield and only a shadow of the controlled team in the first half .

19 Apr 2015 14:52:28
It would appear that normal service has resumed

19 Apr 2015 15:02:43
Played Inverness 4 times this season and won once! U'll get the usual on here about we can't win them all and how hard it is to win a treble! Utter crap! If we can only beat Inverness one time out of 4 then I'm sorry but this isn't good enough for our club! And as far as the league being a certainty then I wouldn't be so sure! Totally unacceptable performance today I'm afraid!! And if bringin TONEV on when we need to win a game is all we've got then it's worse then I thought!!

19 Apr 2015 15:04:18
Missed chances in the first half (we really need to be more clinical). Hen Gordons hesitancy cost us, alhough perhaps Matthews can shoulder a bit of blame. With 10 men we didn't get near. Credit to ICT.

Today though should teach people not to expect or demand trebles. Days like today happen.

19 Apr 2015 15:12:16
How is it being hard to win a treble utter crap?

19 Apr 2015 15:19:33
We need to beat Inverness and Falkirk to win a treble and can't! Yes at the start of the season it's hard to win a treble! Not when Uve got Inverness and Falkirk standing in your way! That's why its utter crap!!

19 Apr 2015 19:41:38
Wiss67 . Hindsight is playing a role in your Tonev rant . Remember we had three better choices who were not available Deila's options were limited and he had to bring someone on . I thing Deila has seen more of Tonev , than maybe you have over the past three weeks .

The reason we lost today was more to do with the cheating officials than the Inverness performance . I cringe when some people try to deflect from the corrupt game in Scotland.

19 Apr 2015 13:20:31
Steven McLean - we know what you are! Another in a long line of cheats and liars that were around in my old man's time supporting Celtic and are still being churned out year after year in a bid to hamper and hinder Celtic in any way possible.
The most blatant handball you will ever see to stop a certain goal and again these 'Honest Mistake Merchants' blatantly lie and defy.
That incident apart he has made some dubious and incorrect decisions since the KO and ICT have got every 50/50 decision.

On the game itself, we had a very lackadaisical and nervy first 10 mins, but got a grip on the game and should be 3 or 4 up, with their goalie making good saves.
Magic goal from VVD and most of the team are performing well; although
Commons is too quiet, and there are a few that might want to change their boots, but we are capable of scoring a couple more - even with these officials and I hope that shocking decision galvanises the team spirit even more and we tear this bunch of journeymen apart.

19 Apr 2015 13:37:44
Now it's uphill. Blatant penalty and sending off ignored first half. Now big Craig takes no prisoners and is red carded and they get a penalty.not paranoid as it is a penalty but can't help feel there is an undercurrent to prevent the treble.

19 Apr 2015 13:47:10
They still look fairly solid: should have capitalised with the even numbers. Zaluska is an able deputy and a loyal celt. Would like to see something different up top: the subs today are Guidetti, Scepovic and even Tonev!

19 Apr 2015 14:12:35
Don't understand how Commons lasted 88 minutes - I know he is capable of conjuring up a goal, but his body language and all round play have been awful since kick off.
Griffiths, Johansen, Broonie.anybody shut these biased, smug, Sevconian, SLY rat-bags up and gie's a goal in E.T.

19 Apr 2015 14:39:37
Backs to the wall and at least we are level. Now is the time for the players to step up that extra gear and run them down

19 Apr 2015 14:57:33
Spoke too soon. Treble gone. Bad call in first half but we still had time and manpower to take this game. Not much more to say really

19 Apr 2015 14:57:45
We fell far short today, the team were very poor. Totally agree that we should have had the penalty and the Inverness player sent off. However I'm more concerned about winning the SPL, Aberdeen will keep going to the very end. Time to re group and make one final push to the title. Hail Hail

19 Apr 2015 15:43:31
Said enough about the official already, but he did have a huge impact on the result. However, we defended atrociously against very average and awkward forwards and we really do need a half decent goalkeeper as both of them were far from convincing.
Far too many Celtic players were off form; Brown, Johansen and Matthews were maybe the exception and Forrest would have made a difference if he had stayed on. Commons or Bitton should have been replaced instead I think.

19 Apr 2015 19:55:26
Wise up Sack the board . Another couple of wins in six games is all we want . Aberdeen will lose and draw games in the run in .

19 Apr 2015 21:30:22
Chris, did my post say we would not win the SPL? We will but we need to keep going until the very end. Iv yet to see you post anything other than tripe. What do you do for a living?

20 Apr 2015 00:49:54
Sack the board, I am afraid that as every other poster doesn't state their profession I have no intention of telling you what mine was . I am a happy retired man .
I don't believe Celtic will have to keep it going to the end of the league as I think Aberdeen won't win all their matches .
Just because you don't like my posts doesn't mean you have to make a sweeping statement about them . I wouldn't waste all my free time describing yours .

Remember Sack the Board my concens of today's officials was posted long before today and some people thought I was cringe worthy . We can all know afterwards,

19 Apr 2015 08:31:40
Highlights of Man City v Celtic
https://youtu.be/WqjPXoXBlok

19 Apr 2015 11:21:28
Watched the highlights package yesterday, although the man city players felt they had the better of the game Celtic looked like they had the better of the chances.

Big Fasan looks a solid shot stopper but maybe needs to brush up on his penalty skills. All in all a terrific performance from the future stars of the club against a team who I am hearing are being held in high regards.

Well done Bhoys.

19 Apr 2015 08:06:28
Good Morning I would to see us make a couple of reasonable buys of good scottish players for the future before they go elsewhere John Mcginn at St Mirren is 20, National under21 captain always plays well against us gives Brown a hard game every time and would be the perfect back up to Scott. Graig Sibbald at Falkirk 19 looks like a good player for the future could be loaned back to Falkirk or teamed up with Henderson in midfield with the development squad in the champions league under 20s. Also I would like us to make offers for Stephan Hendry and Johnny Russell with Alladyce and Mclaren possibly leaving these players might not fit in with the new managers. The other player who could improve us in Europe is James McClean at Wigan on the left

19 Apr 2015 11:01:28
I agree,with all you said,James Mc Clean is different Class to what we have,and he will Walk to Parhead to Sign for us,he was on his way to us in Jan but was persuaded to stay and help Wigan, I am sure he will be in the door as soon as the Window is open

19 Apr 2015 13:13:06
I was saying yesterday I thought sibbald had a great game looked a decent player also Scott Allan looked especially good and might be a decent addition to the squad.killy.

19 Apr 2015 00:45:48
OK my tip for tomorrow ( only bet of you can afford to lose it ) is tje hoops to score in 10 minutes 4/1 @ decent bookies #HH all and beat of luck if anyone fancies it COYBIG