Celtic Banter Archive December 30 2013

 

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30 Dec 2013 16:59:11
Hector Bizerk Season Rap Up:

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30 Dec 2013 15:13:48
Not a rumour but just thinking, only target I'd really like to see coming in would be someone of Finbogasson standard to bed in for the CL qualifiers. We may be light in CB as well and there may be a bit of a case for bringing in cover if Fraser isn't seen as being ready but all the other targets we could do with the tweak the team should definitely be held off til Summer. The amount of youth players we have and guys out on loan who could be given a 5 month run out without dropping too many points sound like me to be a better option than trying to sign moe players that we don't presently need for inflated prices. Balde, Pukki, Watt, Bangura, Borighter (if he ever gets fit!), Rogic, McGeogh, Atajic, Twardzik al need to b given a chance at some point to show if they're worth keeping.In response to the silly Zlatan link, I really hope we don't end up signing another retirement fund loan/short deal. Its not even 10 years since we had Dion Dublin! Daviebhoy77

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30 Dec 2013 14:17:03
Sacha Baron Cohen to head back into Tv production, films etc after the new year. Sacha stated his latest character played at parkhead under the name of Samaras hasn't quite worked out. And was surprised he wasn't caught out by the borat-esque type of gangly runs.

Jagshemash!

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Hah classic!

Tompo88

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30 Dec 2013 14:03:01
Bt sport showing ICT v Celtic 14.30-1600.

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I couldn't bear to watch Samaras and Forest for 90 mins again . I'd rather watch Wallace and Grommit . Wait a minute! DH

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30 Dec 2013 13:59:53
It appears we are in for yet another pro sevco assault in the coming weeks. Writing in the Scotsman, Andrew Smith gives his slant, or Jack Irvine's if your a cynic like me, on the Celtic Attendance issue.

Firstly, anyone who goes to home games can see crowds are down. The most obvious reason for this, at this time of year for sure, is money.During this recession some people have not had a raise for FOUR YEARS.There is also the problem in attracting younger fans to matches, the competition for the teenage pound is fierce. This brave new digital world offers so much more to kids than a freezing football match can. The days of going to the game with your Dad are, if not over, teetering very close to it.

There is also the ridiculous attempt to make any fervent fan some sort of criminal. Herded like cattle to be searched, then filmed by Police during the game, is not the 'matchday experience' people expect attending a game. When I was young you grew to love Celtic by going to games with your Dad and graduated to going with your mates.Standing together and getting right into it! can you do this now? Not a chance. It seems to be sit straight, shut up and watch the game, applauding politely when we score.

Celtic have to answer questions on this, they are quick to cash in on CL nights atmosphere, which is provided by fans, but seem determined to drive the passion out the game. How much did they make from the magnificent tifo at the Barca game? How much publicity did the club get from the worldwide viewings of it? Did they pay for any of it? NO! Very quick to cash in though. This is another reason for poor attendances, fans are getting fed up with a poor product and being fleeced. If money is tight there are lots of other things to separate you from your cash.

Mr Smith raises the attendance figures issue. I have sat at games with an attendance being given of k46.Clearly there is not that amount there, and it would be foolish to claim there was, but we know why. These figures are given, season tickets.this has been well documented.Sevco do the same thing, have you seen much being made of their numbers? Keevins, in an op-ed piece in his poor paper regarding sneaky's job prospects states, ' ibrokes was full at kick off but half empty at full time'. Really Hugh? I also heard you give the attendance, on radio this time, as k42, again, really Hugh.Look at the pics from the game, there are plenty of empty seats, but reporting on that has no relevance to the pro sevconians.

Of course if there is a pro sevco lobby it stands to reason there must be an anti Celtic agenda by some. Motherwell fans damaged fifty seats and let off fireworks v Thistle at Firhill. Has anyone seen any splurge by the record regarding this? Any babies or ninety year old's scared and had to leave the game? The damage caused will, on the amount of fans in the area, be around the same as Celtic fans on a pro rata basis.

On SSB Keevins made great play of the fact that, after a great Celtic performance, we were talking about damage to a stand and other incidents. Lately Murderwell have had a few defeats and have been pretty poor.Yesterday they won 5-1 playing very well by all accounts.Shame SSB will be full of condemnation for their fans behaviour tonight, won't it? Is that not the rule?. Or is it only Celtic who get this negative press?

When rangers died they should have received the same treatment every other club who spent too much, no worse no less.Instead of slanting your reporting to sevco being the answer, try the truth, rangers were the problem.David Murray threw cash at the klan and they loved it.Timmy was in his place and big names were arriving at ibrokes. Reporters took the succulent lamb and printed what they were told. When they died EVERY paper said it.Then Chuckie told a tale of buying honours and blu-tacking them to the sevco history, all six weeks of it! Was he asked questions about this ludicrous sham? No. And the merry go round started again.

If rangers had been treated as the rules decree we would be much better off.Clubs, including ours, would find there level and the ridiculous wages would stop.Young players would get chances, DUFC for an example, and the national team would be stronger.I remember pre Murray.We had strong hertz, DUFC and Aberdeen were all capable of winning something.The problem at that time was simple, rangers were rank rotten and sliding into mediocrity.And as we have all found out, that won't do.

Sorry about the length ED, but I am half canned!

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As a footnote to the above post it seems Shiels has been told to find another club. This hot on the heels of Glenn Gibbons excellent piece on the sevco fiasco. And I thought xmas was away for another year! Oh for a Dunfermilne, a club who behaved the proper way in administration, win tonight. But after seeing the penalty they were given in the last game I won't be heading to the bookies

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Unfortunately GJ the fans have a part to play as well or at least be realistic.

Scottish football went from a two horse race to a one horse race - hardly attractive.

Football grounds in the UK like St James Park and Anfield have regular high attendances and the fans are affected financially in the same way we are, they probably have to pay more than us to see their team. Liverpool and Newcastle have not been winning trophies on a regular basis recently.

I would bet my January wage if we drew Rangers in the Scottish Cup instead of Aberdeen at Celtic Park, it would sell out.

A Celtic manager has never had it so easy domestically and to an extent rose to the challenge by getting the Club to the last 16 of the CL. However, he has allowed complacency in the team and by not dealing with it - this is affecting motivation and morale in the squad.

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@Mrs E: I can't agree with you using the Newcastle and Liverpool attendances as a comparison. In the EPL you will watch, in a high percentage of the games, good football. There is also the attraction in seeing some truly great players and teams don't just come to defend and sit in.

On our support, if I am honest I have been very disappointed in the crowds since rangers died.I will defend any fan who has it tough financially, my own mate being one, but some are using this and other excuse not to go to games. I support Celtic, not Celtic when they played rangers.

To the stay away fans, how strong would we be if you made the effort to attend a game? Our income has dropped sharply, that is undeniable, and the effect on the atmosphere at games is the same.

On the squad, your right.Too many players seem to be phoning it in for my liking. This should be rectified by Lenny, and quickly.Sammi and Joe should not be near the team unless they sign a new deal. Lenny must also see beyond this Forrest blind spot, he has done nowhere near enough to merit a start.

Against the Jags we should be shaking the team up.They will be wary after that hiding v murderwell and we must go for the jugular.This team have a lot to prove still.

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I only used those 2 as they haven’t been winning trophies of late but the fans are there.

I’m not an EPL basher they way some are, I watch it and will freely admit that (although they can offer up some crap at times). It may not have the most quality but cannot be beaten for competiveness. Liverpool went from first to fifth in a couple of days and teams like Bayern Munich are lucky they play in a Country with a population of 80m. Manchester United scudded Bayern Leverkusen 5 – 0 in Germany a couple of weeks ago with David Moyes in his first CL campaign. (BL are 2nd place in the Bundesliga). Whilst the EPL remains competitive, it will be attractive to fans, viewers, sponsors, Players and Managers.

The problem with Scottish football will not be resolved overnight but the fans have to be more realistic about what players find attractive and its certainly not a one horse race in a poor league.

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30 Dec 2013 12:45:23
Might get called stupid and an idiot but I really hope this unbeaten run ends soon because lennon will persist in picking the same old dross week in week out sticking with his trusted favourites not giving any the youth boys a starting chance incase it backfires durin a game and we lose the run. I'd happily sacrifice the unbeaten run for the younger lads getting a chance and giving the team a bit of a fresh spark because let's be honest apart from hearts and m.well away our standard of football this season has been pretty rotten to watch

GunnieBhoy

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30 Dec 2013 13:45:28
Totally agree Gunniebhoy, the team is stale, it's time for a drastic reshuffling of the squad & an urgent input of innovative forward thinking tactics.

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Totally understand your frustration, people will complain if we lose our unbeaten run but in all honesty with recent displays I doubt we will go all season unbeaten anyway. I would rather get beat trying to unearth our own talent rather than hoping to unearth someone else's talent which is a more costly gamble. It's long overdue that balde or Atajic partner stokes upfront .stokes has shown that he can be a good partner upfront not as he is currently being used. Recall Henderson and watt and lay their celtic careers on the line till the end of season and see if they can cut it then we know if they are any good. My team till end of season
Forster fisher vvd efe izzy commons Henderson brown Matthews stokes +balde/watt/Atajic/pukki

Jim

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Lenny knows that that's why he wants to bolster his squad in January we are on a winning streak that you want to end why so you can get players to leave or be benches what other players have we got that can do a better job eh young ones Tony watt is a prime example of young ones who come in your full of crap mate a 1 nil win is as good as 5 nil in my eyes away to places like Perth and ict at Christmas time and get wins and clean sheets is good a mean we hadn't won in Perth for two years now stop letting your behind rumble and get behind the manager instead of acting like a sevco fan who want the manager sacked for drawing a game for losing a record of winning every league game in a season

Ayrshire bhoy

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To Ayrshire bhoy why can't celtic fans air concerns without being compared to sevco fans. You say back the manager fair enough if that's what you think is best but remember he was party to signing pukki balde derk rogic Biton yes they also signed some good ones but few would deny our standard is dropping and some would like to see our youth given a run rather than sign dufc or Egyptian potential a chance. I won't criticize him greatly for Europe as we are the underdog but domestically and particularly at home he is not getting a good enough standard of play for the players he has at his disposal.
Jim

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@Ayrshire bhoy your the ****in problem mate your 1 of many fans acceptin absolute rubbish on the park just cause we are getting wins so u r the idiot. Am a season ticket holder so a support the team and the manager iv never once said a want him sacked. The team is stale, boring, predictable if your happy with that then good for you but i'm not. And don't ever call me a sevco fan again!!

GunnieBhoy

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Let's be honest, this is a league that anyone on this site could take over from Lennon + win. The title has been a given for a couple seasons now, but it's down to HOW we win the league rather than IF. Winning the league based on unattractive, boring, predictable, bland, stagnant football + tactics is anything but credible. If Lennon was scraping results because we were playing 2-3 youths every week then I could accept that; but he's picking the same established underperforming garbage every other week! It's time Samaras, Forrest, Ledley + Stokes were dropped; and we give some game time to Biton, Balde, Atajic, Paul George, the Twardzik's, McGeouch, Fraser, Toshney, etc!

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Gunniebhoy your jumping the gun a bit I dislike pukki a lot think he's absolute gash tbh stokes and Forrest are poor too but let's be honest who the hell wants to play in Scottish league one horse race there is no competition and that's why the named players are playing poor samaras is samaras I think when he plays against better opposition he plays better I know the players signed by Lennon are poor but how many managers make great signings every signing unless he has money to burn a mean if Lennon had millions and millions to spend he would buy better signings he signed hooper ledley wanyama Forster fling ki in as well who have or will make the club lots of money I believe if you play crap teams week in week out you get drawn to there level I will judge after January to see who he signs to bed these players in for cl qualifiers the board hung him out to dry sold best players and did not reinvest the millions they made back into playing staff I am also a season ticket holder and enjoy winning but if your that bothered about how stale and stagnant football they play then beat it I don't think am the ****ing problem am just realistic as I said earlier a 1 nil win is as good as a 5 nil win in my eyes

Ayrshire bhoy

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So Ayrshire bhoy your happy watching celtic playing this way every week in a league that most games we should be winning far more easily a mean we are scraping by teams especially at home surely and this is what a don't get with Lennon we should be changing things up a bit giving other players more of a chance a mean we are going to win league anyway so why not try a few players or is Lennon that stubborn he refuses to drop his golden bhoys a mean surely even you agree samaras and Forrest offer nothing so why can't our own coaching team see this am a fan of Lennon will always love the guy but a feel as if he and celtic could maybe be doing with parting ways unless something changes we had a chance to totally dominate Scottish football and to play in a more attractive style yet we seem to be going backwards at an alarming rate as do some of the players yet they still get picked just feel as fans we deserve better for the money we spend and the support we try to give

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Ayrshire bhoy the fact that you have just admitted u think pukki is rubbish and forrest and stokes are poor just proves the point of my original post that younger players should be getting a chance. There is something wrong when these so called big players are struggling every week to finish off teams of poor standard yet nothing changes player of tacitcs wise its just the same rubbish every week. A respect your views mate end of the day we all love our club a just didn't appreciate comparing me to a sevco fan because i'm criticising our managers player and tactical choices because as fans its our right to do so.

GunnieBhoy

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On no terms did I say I was happy as I said earlier we are being brung down to the level of other teams we are playing teams who play 11 men behind the ball and as our strikers are gash they're struggling to break down defences if teams play like that it's going to be hard to break them down hearts did it hibs did it at parkhead and I think going to places like Perth and ict at Christmas time will be hard do you think were capable of winning 5 6 7 nil every game we play in I just think am being realistic I do believe the squad needs shuffled and more investment and dampwood rid of but as we are winning while playing very poor then if squad is improved then maybe we will hammer teams


Ayrshire Bhoy

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Am not saying we should win 5 6 nil every week but we should be winning a lot easier than we are with our resources and money spent we should be dominating teams I don't buy into this dragged dwn to there level pish either that in my opinion is dwn to coaching and players attitudes am not comparing our team in any way near the level of bayern Munich but how many teams in there league do they scrape by what am saying is they are so far ahead they don't get dragged dwn to other poor teams levels and that is where celtic should be aiming to be we will never have a better opportunity to move so far in front of the competition that we will win league easy for years to come and changing the way we play a just feel the board and coaching team seem happy just plodding along scraping by in Scotland while getting pumped in Europe and accepting patronising compliments of European teams as if its an achievement a for one wish we started behaving and trying to become a bigger player in Europe than this small mentality team we are becoming just now

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Fellow Celtic supporter's, I can't disagree with anything anyone is saying but just a thought, when the great Tommy Burns was our manager, we were playing the best football since big Jock's team's, with Tommy we won one trophy, I don't know how many time's I read in the paper, football's good to watch but we are winning nothing, coming from Celtic supporter's, loved watching Tommy's type of football but so down hearted at the end of the season wehen we won nothing, Tommy's team was full of great footballer's, afraid in my opinion we do not have that type of player at parkhead just now, at the moment, nearly every game, we are playing with passenger's.This is where Lenny has to open his eye's, after 10 mins you know when 1 guy is going to turn up or not, it's funny how the 2 best game's we played have not included him and his wee mate on the other side, you are right Lenny has his favourite's, think it is now time to give someone else a try, I was thinking on Sunday waht doe's big Van Dyke think when he see's Sammy running into dead end's, not lifting his head up to see player's in better position's than himself, I have got to say Stokesy is guilty of this on many occasion's too, I think the point I am trying to make is where do you start.I will also say I believe the supporthave their part to play, why not treat EVERY game like a CL game and give the player's a lift, just my thought's
Tambhoy

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{Ed007's Note - Why don't the players approach EVERY game as if it is a CL game Tam? I was talking to a friend about this today, if you don't give 100% in every game you play then to me you're a fraud, and not worthy of wearing the Hoops. You're letting down your team-mates, your manager, your club and the fans but more importantly you're letting down yourself as a man and as a professional athlete.
It's high time some players at CFC realised that at a club like ours anything less than 100% in every single match in unacceptable, if they aren't prepared to give that then show them the door, no matter how chummy they are with the manager or who they think they are.
Every player should come off the pitch physically and mentally exhausted no matter who the opposition is or what size of crowd is there. Look at the difference in our team if Brown isn't playing and he is hardly in the Zidane mould of midfielder, so why does he make so big a difference to our team?
NL never accepted half heartedness on the park as a player so why is he accepting it so easily as a manager?}

@12 Think in the real world your right, player's should be up for it 100% of the time but do you not agree the whole of the support should be doing their bit, it show's the player's we care, so they should as well
Tambhoy

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{Ed007's Note - It's swings and roundabouts there I think Tam. If the team is playing well it gees the crowd up and begins a snowball effect. The fans aren't getting paid to be there, quite the opposite so for me it should start with the team. If they can't be ar$ed why should guys pay to travel to Inverness, Aberdeen or Perth etc. Teams are no longer afraid to come to CP and that is down to the team and manager.}

@12 ED the reason Brown make's a difference is because he is a winner and willing to put his head in where it hurt's, first pick for me every game
Tambhoy

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{Ed007's Note - I totally agree with you on that Tam. I've had many a debate with people on here about Brown, there are others who should be following his example with his dedication and will to win, no matter who it's against.}

30 Dec 2013 10:17:42
What a difference 12 months makes. Out our entire squad only Forster, Matthews, Izzy, Ambrose, Virgil, Broony, Sammy, Stokes, Commons, Ledley, Mulgrew, Lustig, Kayal + Forrest have made over 20 league appearances for Celtic. These 14 guys are always the ones who are starting or come off the bench. When are we going to start mixing it up a bit? Come the summer another two of those players will be gone, Sammy + Ledley. Sammy's lost interest, he's served his purpose, now it's time to move on. Ledley I'd like to see sign on, but I don't see it happening. We're grinding out results, but let's be honest, it's painful to watch at times. Team selections are stale, subs are stale, tactics are stale. Ambrose shouldn't be anywhere near the starting XI, we might be keeping clean sheets but I think that's more down to the quality of opposition, he was a bombscare yesterday again - McKay (like May on Boxing Day) got in behind a couple of times, and his attempts at clearing usually land in or around our own box. I've said before about not being a fan of Stokes, and if it wasn't for his Irish republican roots he'd have been witch hunted out the club for his poor performances. Virgil, Commons, Lustig, Broony + Matthews have been consistent to good when they play, as we've become a custom too - Forster's had little to nothing to do this season domestically. If Virgil goes to the World Cup with Netherlands + impresses I think he'll be gone before the summer window closes, same goes for Forster as well. Kayal's been inconsistent since coming back from injury. It's time to either invest in a decent playing squad or give the youth a chance!

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C'mon HB, a bit harsh on Efie surely? No centre back will expect to shut out a decent striker for ninety minutes, especially when we were two players down yesterday.The big man was erratic for sure but has tidied his game up considerably. I agree with the Stokes comment though, if he was Scots/English I agree he would be getting more stick.

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Aye the 'Thunder' NL promised has fizzled out to a wet fart this season.
Obviously the manager was 'betrayed' by the Board in the transfer window and what came in was vastly inferior to what went out (VVD) apart.
The CL campaign was such a contrast to last season and although we did carry some luck then, we also brimmed with fight and passion and that was absent apart from the must-win Karagandy game.
But the biggest disappointment is the lack of desire and performance of most of the existing players.
Too many are not playing for the manager or the jersey and without Commons' goals, we would be in dire straights. There have been stand out players like VVD, Izzy and Lustigg, but the rest have been very average.
Things look very stale and pedestrian and although we are on this unbeaten run -there is very little flair, style or even decent football being played.
Maybe it is time for a clear out or do we need a change of manager to breath life back into our club?

JJ

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If I was on the board I would be reluctant to give the manager anymore cash to spend.

The size and depth of our squad is superior to anyone else in the league.

We have some really good prospects, who have to bide there time for reasons unknown.

Lennon brought all these players bar samaras and brown in, he has to take some responsibility for not using them effectively.

Frewbhoy.

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Probably am being a bit harsh on Efe GJ, but I've got a feeling when we do concede a goal it will be down to his error. He lacks a bit of composure - whether that's headering or kicking it away, or even trying to pick out a pass. Quite the old fashioned style of CB, except he lacks the crunching tackles! What ever happened to Toshney + Fraser? Both had a bit of promise, gave game time pre-season, etc the past couple years but never broke through regularly. They must both be early 20s now? Also, Joe Chalmers at LB as well. Izzy went through a right bad spell but his position never came in to question. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Lennon's favouritism will be the eventual cause of why he'll lose the fans backing. Picking Ledley + Sammy when they don't want to sign a new deal. Picking Forrest 24 hrs after him getting the jail. Continually picking players when it's clear they're off form and need a reality check, ie dropped to the development squad for a week or two to remind them how good they've got it to be at Celtic. I think FrewBhoy's right about money as well, I want to see Lennon spend on the team - but they board will clock that he's spending money on benchwarmers + gradually reduce the financial backing he gets until he isn't getting a penny!

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