Celtic Banter Archive April 03 2016

03 Apr 2016 18:28:45
I was at the game yesterday and have to say it was the best atmosphere at CP this season by far. I'll be honest, when they scored first I thought here we go again but huge credit to the team they dug in and put on a real solid show from then on. One worry I have is GMS. I know RD is obsessed with getting the players fitter and has hit us with some stats about the players losing "X"kg collectively but surely in some cases such as GMS he should be encouraged to hit the gym and beef up a wee bit. I felt he was being shrugged off the ball far too often yesterday and he was quite weak in the tackle. Roberts is similar but he has the natural pace to compensate. Overall, good signs going into the last 8/ 9 games.

03 Apr 2016 23:44:08
GMS looks a bit of a weekling but I have to say he is currently playing very well so I wouldn't want to see any beefing up that might reduce his effectiveness . I saw once yesterday him mis controlling the ball in the middle of his own half and he was very quick getting his body into position to win back the ball.
Yesterday was one of our best performances of the season against a Hearts team that put everything into it and although we were not perfect I would be loath to moan about any one player.

04 Apr 2016 11:49:04
I wasn't having a go at him in terms of Saturday's game OB, he definitely worked hard and was probably one of the better players, it's just a general observation that he gets disposessed quite often due to his lack of pace over a few yards. At United he used a lot of flicks and tricks to get by opponents but seems less keen to try that sort of thing, probably due to us fans getting on his back if it doesn't quite come off.

04 Apr 2016 21:45:09
Kevbhoy, u are probably right about the fans getting on his back if a flick doesn't come off . It happened in an European match .
Mare important because R D has the whole team practically, moving forward together, I think R D has reduced the risks any player takes on the ball. We cannot afford to lose the ball anywhere between 18 yd line as we are all on front foot . That's why quick passing is very important GMS is more of a team player now .

P Roberts seems to have the speed and takes up a good angle to run past a defender without putting ball at risk.

03 Apr 2016 13:44:49
Really enjoyed yesterday, more so as this was a big game for us. Walking up to Celtic park there was a strange feeling, it was almost like the old days, everyone united in one thing, supporting the team.

Last week at killie you could feel a shift in attitude. Having said that i feel the away support always back the team harder than when at home, but last week was different. there was an awareness that maybe this team needs to be loved? We are still a young relatively inexperienced team, certainly in the winning trophies department, but in stages yesterday we looked disciplined and forceful.

Hertz are a very decent team and surprised us by the pace they opened at. They were quick, first to every second ball and very composed in their passing. They were giving us problems. Happily we never buckled and gradually took control of the game. But not all is green in the garden.

Broony. I am a huge fan but he is well short of his A game. A rest maybe? He will start in the semi, so maybe a break would work for both parties. We have enough players to cover, clever move by RD leaving Biton out by the way, as he and McGregor could slip in.

Just seen the sheepies half time score so on to the next one! If we stand behind the team i am sure this group have it in them for a double.

03 Apr 2016 14:34:12
Another great post. You should do it more often again.

Yesterday in terms of atmosphere and feeling around the place was the best all season. I think a lit more of the fans are pulling in the same boat now with the scent of success getting stronger.

03 Apr 2016 14:57:58
The mood amongst the fans changed at Kilmarnock with Rogic's goal, if the referee had blown his whistle before he scored it the fans reaction would have been a lot uglier, certainly from what I could hear.
The result yesterday was great, but it was our fourth match against them this season yet we seemed to be wrong footed by them for a lot of the game.
What I find worrying about this team is their inability to learn from previous matches, against Aberdeen early in the season we were out battled at pittodrie, when we went there again in February, it was exactly the same, we had learned nothing. Against Kilmarnock, twice before this season they had frustrated us, yet when we played them a fortnight ago we still hadn't figured out how to break them down until Rogic's wonder goal.
Then yesterday as I said, it was our fourth match against Hearts this season and yet we didn't look as if we expected their physical pressing game, yet that's how they played against us on the three previous matches.
I'm sure we have done enough now to clinch the title and please God we lift the Scottish cup as well, but I don't think that we should be happy with the quality of football that we are playing.
When teams in Scotland are able to stop us playing, and no longer fear coming to Celtic park, then I think that something is wrong, and we need to do something to try and reverse this.

04 Apr 2016 00:05:08
Gerryc we have played Hearts 3 times previously and they played two defensive lines of four . Yesterday they were far more offensive, so having played them before wouldn't necessary have prepared us for Hearts yesterday . Despite their different tactics we beat them reasonably comprehensively . We will win the league and unless we have a disastrous performance in the cup, or suffer from mad bad refereeing decisions we should have a double .
The funny thing about it is that last spring I was very optimist about this season, but it has taken us a long time to get our rhythm and so I just can't be sure we will build on yesterday's form and be comfortable next season.