Celtic Banter Archive January 24 2018

24 Jan 2018 22:58:29
I see Scotland will now play in the Nations Cup. can't really see the point to this at the moment and I do not really know much about it. I read about games being played Sept/ Oct so it will impact on teams competing in their leagues and cups. I used to love Internationals but I now I find them a pain and inconvenience.

25 Jan 2018 09:25:03
It's actually a good thing TT as you are playing opponents of a similar ranking. Look at Belgium, great players and do nothing at tournaments yet they are 5th in the rankings because they pick up points by beating the likes of New Zealand and Bahrain in friendlies. This way you can work your way up the groups and get a fairer ranking. Same for teams in top groups who get beat they will find their true level also.

25 Jan 2018 10:07:00
Can somebody explain to me what this even is? Is it the group for the next euros?

25 Jan 2018 10:17:09
Not directly linked to qualification but i think there is a way for Group winners to go to a play off Mp with winners getting in via the back door. So it will help the likes of Scotland.

25 Jan 2018 10:20:31
Fair enough StanP but it will inevitably affect at club level which nowadays concerns me.

25 Jan 2018 10:48:51
Cheers Stan.

25 Jan 2018 10:56:33
No worries Mp, probably a lot more to it that's just what i read recently.

Unfortunately so TT but it will effect all clubs with a decent standard of player. Always has always will.

24 Jan 2018 21:10:43
When did Mcginn sign bask on at Aberdeen. I thought he was heading for hibs.

{Ed007's Note - 1st of January, Kev as soon as the window opened, it had been arranged for a while.}

24 Jan 2018 21:46:02
Total missed it. 😂.

{Ed007's Note - You were probably in a drunken stupor ;)

24 Jan 2018 22:04:52
Watched a part of the second half of The rangers v Aberdeen game, on YouTube, think it might have been the rangers TV, thought The rangers were far superior to a poor performing Aberdeen side, if Aberdeen continue playing like this, they have no chance of second place, and might struggle for third,

25 Jan 2018 15:28:05
Aindoh, you can't really pass judgement on both team's performance if you only watched a bit of the second half .
Anyone who watched even the whole second half Thistle v Celtic would have been reasonably satisfied by our performance, yet we were dire in the first half.

24 Jan 2018 20:43:12
After watching last night's game the worrying sign for me is there seems to be a lack of pace and energy in the side.
2nd have was better but we can't gamble on playing for 45 out the 90 in each game.
Is still find it odd that we ain't even linked to anyone. we all new about commper coming in a few weeks before it happened.
What are people's thoughts on players coming in, how many and in what positions?

24 Jan 2018 22:21:44
Jungle john, where do we start. Lustig is past it. Not just because of mistake last night. Hope Ralston returns soon. Another centre back. Left sided attacker to replace or back up Sterling. Get Paddy back quick. Need an additional striker. Griff is great but Dembele has packed it in so i hope he goes and we use some of the funds. A creative mid as well. Throw in a keeper so there are 5 or 6 positions we need to look at. Half a team.

24 Jan 2018 22:56:22
I know we have to strengthen in defence but we are struggling with middle to front. The midfield don't seem so dynamic going forward and the intention is more ball retention instead of applying pressure with and without the ball. Which is how we were playing before the unbeaten run. Our style of play changed during this run to one of not being beaten. We need a shake up in there with someone who is more attacking minded. ON is improving but I still don't think he is the answer in there, Rogic is but cannot be relied upon, Armstrong is probably just running down his contract. Personally I would field Paddy Roberts in that number 10 role think he is better in there with SS and JF wide. We desperately lack creativity or a more forward thinking midfielder who offers this, the next game against Rangers will be interesting especially as its at debtdome.

25 Jan 2018 08:21:11
I honestly think we need a LW to push Sinclair was hoping to see some movement in regards to the young 6ft 3 Serbian winger we were linked with a week back.

For me Sinclair's touch has been woeful for a while now and is not taking on players with the same confidence he did last season. Along with RB I would say LW is one of our weakest positions.

25 Jan 2018 15:22:06
Maximum of 1 coming in I think jungle, but if no one does, I wouldn’t be surprised, still, league should be in bag, all comes down to Scottish Cup for another treble, not seen anything of Zenit, although you’d have to imagine it will be pretty hard to get past them, they admins on here seem to think there will be deals done, but the pesssimist in me doubts it, we will see.

25 Jan 2018 15:29:26
kwaj The next game against Rangers will be interesting, last season we drew with them and beat them 5-1 . I can see no reason why we can't beat this lot by 5-1 .
Our poor performance before Christmas will have given our players the kick up the arse to remind them what they have to do.

24 Jan 2018 19:00:23
Hard hat time Ed!

Do we want the zombies to win the night and stay eleven clear or just do what we usually do route for anybody playing them 😂😂 🏆🍀👍.

{Ed007's Note - I'll be wanting Aberdeen to win but I think it could be a draw.}

24 Jan 2018 19:30:40
Sevco to be beaten all day long. Christie to score the winner just to upset them even more😛.

24 Jan 2018 19:28:37
ED Sutton last night says that his source in Celtic says MD happy does not want to leave BR are saying he might be hear might not are they wanting the money in for other players or just trying reverse phsycology and trying to put other teams off from signing him?

{Ed007's Note - We don't need to sell to buy.}

24 Jan 2018 20:28:30
I wouldn't wish the barstewards good luck in a raffle! ☘️.

24 Jan 2018 20:56:17
I will never root for the undead.
Cmon the sheep and they’re snowy white fleece’s

Do we reckon Christie will make the grade with us?

24 Jan 2018 21:30:47
Was watching the above game for a short time and give him his due with the resources he has Murty has them playing pretty decent. Then again it was only Aberdeen who were rank.

24 Jan 2018 16:33:49
OK guys got on a couple of football bets tonight.
Aberdeen are 3/ 1 and bigger with some bookies, yes I know they have a poor record in Glasgow, but tonight Mc Innes will have something to prove and young Christie will be playing also. Take the 3/ 1
My other bet is in the Arsenal-Chelsea cup tie.
My bets are any team in extra time 11/ 4, or any team on penalties 14/ 1
I have done 2 singles and 2 doubles on these outcomes.

24 Jan 2018 18:02:32
I thought 3/ 1 looked like value myself Tim. Took a treble with Chelsea and Dusseldorf at 18/ 1 though.

24 Jan 2018 15:28:12
@Jim1972

C'mon Jim show the site my messages that not only slagged other Celtic fans but where i was also patronising to them. Me telling Celtic fans to relax because there is 15 days to go of transfer window is 'slagging them off' 😂

Talk about exaggeration and growing arms and legs to a story! That's like getting a punch to the nose and going to the police and telling them someone shot you. let's get one thing straight seen as you were so keen to bring it up, i don't come on here to make friends, or enemies, i come on here to given an honest opinion. Today i can argue with you for 12 hours, tomorrow i can agree with you for 12 hours. That's what makes it a great site. It certainly does not involve 'slagging' other Celtic fans or being 'patronising' to them as you also state. I respect all Celtic fans opinions whether i agree with them or not they have the right to their opinion just like i do. So don't come on here talking utter drivel that i slag other Celtic fans. Get your facts right Jim.

24 Jan 2018 15:51:20
I have absolutely no need to try and search a couple of days ago to check something again. I saw it and I remember it and I know how it looked to me. Either check yourself or don't it's no fuss to me but I'll make my opinion when I want about serial posters being patronising to fellow fans about lack of improvement in the team. Have a nice day😀.

24 Jan 2018 16:37:36
You too, enjoy your afternoon nap Jim1927.

24 Jan 2018 17:24:09
I think your last post kind of sums up everything don't you. Trying to ridicule someone who pointed out your hypocrisy perhaps you should look in the mirror.

24 Jan 2018 17:46:32
Excellent glad you noticed it Jim very observant. Look stop trying to make out im something i ain't getting sick of your S@#% now if im honest. You are posting lies.

24 Jan 2018 17:51:04
And it's hypocrisy now, that i can deal with. Saying i slag Celtic fans and patronise them nah i'm not having that Jim.

24 Jan 2018 18:05:00
Now now bhoys.

24 Jan 2018 18:25:27
C'Mon guy's, somebody's going to get their tights ripped lol.

24 Jan 2018 19:58:39
Ok your not having that doesn't mean I'm not 😂 your going to have to agree to disagree son. onward and upward hopefully with some better players signed tho.

24 Jan 2018 20:20:17
C'mon girls put the handbags down.

24 Jan 2018 20:48:52
If you get a bit of a slagging for a post, I don’t think it should be taken personally, just take it with a pinch of salt, it’s no big deal, Stan said something about me being full of doom and gloom, and playing undertaker music if I was on the PA system on match days, had a wee laugh when I read it-think that’s how it should be on these sites, can’t say I’ve seen anything really nasty up here, and that’s good.

24 Jan 2018 21:24:45
Well said mate anything i say on here should be taken the way its meant to be taken, in jest. As i said earlier i don't agree with everyone one here and i certainly don't expect everyone to agree with me, but i draw the line at any suggestion i have slagged off anyone on here. Utter bull.

24 Jan 2018 21:27:57
And yes Jim i hope so, with a week to go i am now starting to get frustrated but something has to happen soon.

25 Jan 2018 15:29:29
Everybody has the right to their opinion. That's all it is an opinion. To hope or even expect someone, or even everyone to agree with you is a non starter.

There is always an irritation when people see themselves as self appointed guardians of the Celtic mind set. Who question you as a supporter. Every sight has these super fans and you have to just laugh at their arrogance.

The page is called banter for a reason. I get pelters but I don't give on feck what people think of my opinions. I do get kissed off when people call into question wherever I'm a supporter. But, that seldom happens and is always from the aforementioned Guardians of the Celtic Galaxy.

Derogatory personal remarks say more about the people who say them. Always remember that and just laugh at how easily some people get personal is my motto.

The thing that amuses me is you could get a dozen of us in a room and we would have a dozen versions of what is required to improve our team. That's just the way it is. And always will be.

24 Jan 2018 10:55:36
Just seen Br presser, interesting. i would guess that we are playing hardball with his agent. Maybe he wants him to go for 10m and we are not having it, hence no shop window.

Question is, if correct or near to it, should BR play him? 'focusing on players who will definitely be here'. Other side of the coin is we are trying to sicken the boy into asking

Either way supporters need clarity on this one.

24 Jan 2018 11:17:16
Our track record shows that the board are all too eager to sell our assets when a big offer (in their eyes) is made and it would seem the valuations being banded about last season and early on this term had made their minds up to sell. However between injury and uncertainty over his future we have a player who has lost form, fitness and contentment with Celtic and that is partially down to them as I would not be surprised if any incoming players were dependent on money coming in for Dembele?
OK, agents do what they do when they sense cash and commissions, so we are in this situation with time running out - and those huge offers evaporating - with the chances of MD signing for a better or bigger club than Celtic virtually zero.
I would have liked to hear from the player as he seems to be in the dark as much as us.

{Ed007's Note - Have you never thought Rodgers is sending out a message to these clubs to either put up or shut up and stop unsettling OUR player? Until there is any actual offer for Dembele it's all just speculation. What's Dembele's agent done wrong and are you seriously saying that Celtic and Dembele's agent are trying to sell him without the player knowing?
Didn't Rodgers say the other week he's never known the press to write as much sh1te as they do up here?
Crystal Palace would be interested in Dembele if they can agree a fee but they are led to believe thatvthe player has higher aspirations than playing for them, Brighton are in the exact same boat. As of right now there's has been no bids for Dembele.}

24 Jan 2018 12:18:14
So where do you stand ED? Play or not? It seems a bit strange to have him benched, although BR is going out on a limb with his Odsonne praise, with game time a priority. On Odsonne, i think he needs to play in a two, or slightly deeper, as close in when Griff came on he looked much better. there's a player in there for sure.

{Ed007's Note - Well there's only one game to go before the window closes so I don't think it matters if Dembele plays in it or not.
As for Edouard, he's still a young lad who has only played about 30 first team games in his career, he is getting into positions where he's getting chances in front of goal but seems to be overthinking things rather than just play by instinct and he has shown he's got an eye for a pass so I'm not paying any attention to his detractors, if it wasn't Edouard they'd just be moaning about someone or something else - they seem to crave something to moan about. I'd like to see Edouard play as a No.10 or the second striker position in a front two.
Look at Ajer as well, he came in after the Hearts debacle and we kept FIVE clean sheets until we gave away a penalty last night but suddenly he's not good enough for some - it's preposterous and shows a complete lack of understanding about player development.}

24 Jan 2018 13:58:10
Ed if you don't mind me asking. What do you make of Chris Davies stating to the press that Moussa has decided he wants to go? Before this it was all speculation from the press and for all we knew Brendan was easing Moussa back into action with the Zenit games coming up. I find it weird that the player and his agent have been silent and when Brendan Rodgers has spoke he hasn't come out and said he's our player, he's happy where he is and we don't need to sell him.

{Ed007's Note - Davies didn't say that though did he? He said:

"But there is also an acceptance that MAYBE Moussa feels it is the right time for him to move on."
All he's said is that Dembele was MAYBE eyeing a move away which in reality has been the case since he signed, we are a stepping stone for him and Dembele is simply now more open to a move than he has been in the past, he's not asked for a transfer and he's not pushing to get a move. We told him and his agent when he signed that if an acceptable bid is made and the player fancies the move then Celtic won't stand in the way and the Club have stuck by their word. That's how we get these players to sign for us.
Rodgers and Davies both said that Dembele was happy here and wasn't causing any problems. How can Rodgers come out and say he's not for sale when we signed him with the promise that the Club wouldn't stand in his way if an acceptable offer is made?
Dembele is more than happy to see out the rest of the season as a Celtic player and move in the summer, there's no urgency on the player's - or his agent's - part to get a move in January. The plan was always that he would spend two years here and that'll happen unless an acceptable offer is made. So far there has been no bid for Dembele.}

24 Jan 2018 14:50:23
He's been for sale since day one. That's never been in question. His stock isn't at its highest but we'll make a tidy profit regardless then find the next one. On it goes.

{Ed007's Note - Your second post and you're coming out with sensible stuff like that! I'll give it a week....... ;)

24 Jan 2018 15:08:57
I thought Ajer done ok last night, he gave the ball away on halfway line in first half, partly due to lack of movement in front of him, but I think he done ok, the lad up front didn’t get that much service in first half, but worked quite hard, when couple of chances came, he snatched at them a bit, but there’s a player in there, just don’t see us paying £7m, if we do bring in another player, think it has to be a creative no 10 type, but don’t think it’ll happen.

24 Jan 2018 15:33:52
I sacked the booze as my new year res. It might be a week ed you may be right.

{Ed007's Note - Hopefully see you on our live chats in the future mate. They're a real eye opener.}

24 Jan 2018 07:40:11
I meant to add how impressed i was with Griffiths not just on the park but his interview afterwards. When asked why he did not start he responded by stating the obvious that he is returning from injury. Also said the club has 3 top strikers and if he is on the bench at the weekend he will be ready again when asked to come on. His passion when scoring was great to see. I think we are a far better team when Griffiths plays and he now needs a good run of games so that he is match fit and back on form for Zenit.

24 Jan 2018 08:44:31
Agree mate, was a breath of fresh air when they have been looking to get a reaction from him. Proved his worth last night.

24 Jan 2018 08:52:24
I think LG has it all DB, guaranteed goals, excellent delivery from corners, freekicks, workrate, passion. For me he is No 1 and deserves to start from now on as we are a different team with him involved.

24 Jan 2018 09:55:33
Definitely Stan, Only issue is the physicality at times when we play with him Sinclair and Forrest up top.

I do think we should be playing with another striker starting domestically. Always thought Griff and Dembele should have played together in the same formation as the second half last night a lot more.

24 Jan 2018 12:04:56
Totally agree lads! Griff should be the main man til the end of the season! Dembele obviously hasn’t got a future with us and while I like big Edouards commitment and always gives 100 % he’s nowhere near griffs level! The Wee man is a born goalscorer and needs a run of games to get him up to speed again!

24 Jan 2018 15:52:05
I'd like to see us tinker more with the formation. Quite happy to start 4 5 1 but change to 4 4 2 in 2nd half which BR does in certain games. Im looking forward to seeing more of LG over the next few games.

24 Jan 2018 06:55:02
I thought we looked worryingly awful last night. No creativity or leadership in midfield for vast majority of game. Edouard's excellence that BR talked of didn't reach me I'm afraid. LG great when he came on but apart from him no one else got pass marks for me. Under par from back to front and Zenith will destroy us if we play like that.

24 Jan 2018 09:42:54
We started the game very well; however after 15 minutes without a breakthrough with almost 75% possession - we ran out of ideas and lacked creativity and craft.
There was also a lot of panic and hesitation in defense and that contributed to their goal and it could have been worse.
However when we reverted to two wide men with Edouarde and Griff, it made a big difference and we deserved the win.
The creativity will return with Roberts and Rogic if we don't pick up a gem in this window, however we really do need to address the back four situation and that includes the hapless Lustig.
I must mention Scott Brown who was immense all night and everything we did well in the second half emenated from him.

24 Jan 2018 10:53:17
I thought Brown had moments like drive and assist for goal but also thought he was missing for a while too.

24 Jan 2018 02:52:45
Might be an unpopular opinion but i think that we could be doing with replacing mcgregor. He gives it all effort wise week in week out, but i think we need a new face in that creative position to give the team a bit of spark.

24 Jan 2018 10:05:02
Mcgreggor has been utter gash for weeks. A man down.

24 Jan 2018 00:07:22
Eds have u heard BRs interview after the game when asked about players coming in he said he would be disappointed if he did not bring anyone in but needs quality they are hard to find and can only get when available are u still confident we will?

{Ed007's Note - Yes.}

24 Jan 2018 00:21:48
That will do for me ED cheers mate.

{Ed007's Note - You better get some sleep, Rich, you're more hyper than a kid waiting on Santa!}

24 Jan 2018 09:05:38
And am still waiting for santa to come haha.

{Ed007's Note - It depends what you asked him for, I asked for another Treble but it won't be delivered until May.}

24 Jan 2018 16:20:18
I've asked for a creative player and I've been a good bhoy fingers crossed.