Celtic Banter Archive August 04 2016

04 Aug 2016 15:52:31
In the "ironic but unlucky" category.
One of my ex bear pals, fresh from his betting escapades at last weeks tie, was convinced Ambrose would play so placed two large bets on a penalty in game at 5/ 2 and ordering off at 7/ 2 he WON his bets but not in the way he had hoped. lol.

04 Aug 2016 21:26:50
Get it round him lol.

05 Aug 2016 00:33:18
You have far too many "bears pals" for my liking Timalloy.

04 Aug 2016 16:39:09
Hi Ed was wondering if you knew how many season tickets we have sold this year compared to last year. and roughly how much extra £pounds we've made.

{Ed007's Note - We're about the limit of 52,000 which is 11,000 more than last season. At roughly £500 it's an extra £5.5 million in the bank.}

04 Aug 2016 21:26:02
Cheers Ed that's a lot hopefuly we see it on the park.

{Ed007's Note - It would make a pleasant change.}

04 Aug 2016 23:39:20
Second that lol.

04 Aug 2016 18:25:48
Just saw what Dembele said on penalty he scored. Liked what i heard, he looks very nervous which makes me think i was wrong what i said about him recently. Hope he does well, beginning to think he was trying too hard to get that first goal. Think i was just paranoid we had signed another striker that was another failure.

Wasnt at game and just saw Craig Gordons howler for their goal. Only way we are going to see what Fasan is capable of is give him game time. Start of season is best time. Good keeper in his day but never the same since his serious injury a few seasons ago.

04 Aug 2016 19:56:29
Well said Dn think the big man will be of and running now.

04 Aug 2016 20:06:22
You wrong DN? surely not.

04 Aug 2016 22:27:49
Don't agree it was a howler. sorry! Talk me through what he should have done.?

04 Aug 2016 23:11:18
I thought when Toure came on he initially unsettled the defence, you could see him instructing the defence to push higher up the park, that's when we were caught and Gordon had to become sweeper keeper, unfortunately he's no Manual Neuer and thought he could of done better by heading it out wide instead of into the danger area.

04 Aug 2016 23:42:28
I'm with you on this one Prodigal Bhoy. CG has become a bit of a bomb scare but last night he had to try and get rid of the ball and it just happened to fall to their midfielder who managed a perfect strike. I'd say it was more unlucky than anything.

04 Aug 2016 16:40:12
Anyone know what's happening with Commons.
Is he injured or just out of favour, and if it's the latter does that mean his time is up at Paradise!

04 Aug 2016 17:20:51
He had an op at end of the season and didn't do a pre season.
Think he's back training now but is a bit behind the rest.
Whether he's in the managers plans is anyone's geuss to be honest.

04 Aug 2016 17:39:36
Hopefully the latter, and my prayers will have been answered these last couple of years!

04 Aug 2016 19:35:39
Agree with u gerrybhoy, he should be punted asap, can't wait till he is gone, he caused problems 4 Lennon n Rd and we should never have renewed his contract (which was helped by his pr guru missus) . Unfortunately nobody thinks he's worth paying 4 at the moment, hoping he buggers off 2 hibs. We need people with pace, who are willing runners, ability to beats man and hit the target more often than not and they need to be able to pass, clearly not describing commons.

04 Aug 2016 20:13:22
Very very fickle bunch are football supporters, the guy has been our best player the last couple of years, who cares about his wife, it's simple don't read any stories about her.
Commons might not be the player he was 2-3 years ago but, can probably still come off the bench and win a game.

04 Aug 2016 20:20:28
get stevie g in on jan and watch him run :)

05 Aug 2016 00:26:12
Commons will be poty.

05 Aug 2016 10:04:17
Same Iv read/ heard that he's not a good guy his Mrs is poison but just look at his goals record, he's done a fair bit n gave me some good memories in the hoops. His time is over I think, but yeah we are a fickle bunch.

04 Aug 2016 14:53:36
Ed, is there any news on PR? Hope it's not too serious!

{Ed007's Note - There's no news yet mate.}

04 Aug 2016 16:04:07
Griffiths seemed to take a heavy knock as well when he was tackled as he was about to shoot, he carried on but I hope it's not too serious either.
I thought Dembele did really well with the penalty, it seemed an age before he was able to take it, he did really well to keep his nerve under those circumstances, a lot of experienced players would have found that situation difficult, so fair play to him.
I thought we deserved to qualify, despite the fact that Astana needed a goal on the night, Celtic were the team that was trying to win the match. I don't know anything about Astana but I expected them to be a bit more positive than they were given the first leg result, so they can't have any complaints about the outcome.

04 Aug 2016 13:35:28
Soooooooo. Was Sinclair at the game last night or was that a croc of shnit?

04 Aug 2016 14:15:13
Looks like it was 'a croc of shnit' lol.

04 Aug 2016 14:32:45
I didn't see him . 😄 I think it was a load of nonsense.

04 Aug 2016 15:01:35
cant see it maself lads, their season kicks of the same as ours,

04 Aug 2016 16:49:48
There would have been a photo surely.

04 Aug 2016 13:03:31
Kev you are spot on. We really should have scored at least 3 goals in that game and that is our problem. We do create chances, we just don't put them away. If we had scored 3, mcgregor etc would not be getting any grief. The main problem is really about scoring and has been for a long time now. Yes we have lost soft goals but we are not converting chances either. Great to be through but Need to be more clinical upfront.

04 Aug 2016 14:41:35
Johhnmac, M O'N always claimed that creating the chances was very important and it would be a lot worse if we were not creating chances . It is frustrating getting the right player the ball in a little bit of space in the right area and he not scoring, we seem to be missing the target too often which is worse.

04 Aug 2016 20:25:15
That is the main issue. In the play off round and ( if we qualify ) in the group stages CFC will come on to the field as the underdog more often than not. We won't get that many chances. On that basis we have to convert at. An ever higher rate from fewer chances to be competitive

I think LG has done a great job but I wouldn't say he was clinical to the extent that he'll put away 1 of 3 proper chances.

When you don't score " enough " it exaggerates and accentuates perceived weaknesses elsewhere IE poor midfield or lack of creativity or weak central defence.

We will concede soft goals and make mistakes. All teams do. But in the CL playground we are going to have to be more efficient with the limited chances we do get

The other thing for me is that CFC don't seem able ( at this level ) to project manage a game to a successful close when in a good position. Is that nerves? Is it lack of leadership? We can't kill games off effectively. Perhaps that links in to possession?

I recall Celtic park after 8 minutes against Malmo 2-0 up and we managed to make a hash of it. It's not been the first time. We need to learn and fast.

04 Aug 2016 22:01:09
Paradise I don't think we will be so easy to beat under BR. Ronnie only played one way and had no idea how to shut down a match. It won't happen as much now. Problem however will be lack of goals.

04 Aug 2016 22:41:22
We can all quote bad results in the past, but when that manager isn't with us any more I am not sure of the significance . One think is certain if we continue to give away cheap goals whilst not under pressure, we will struggle to shut out matches . I doubt if we play Efe again in Europe as we seem to be getting our centre backs options built up.
B R has a big decision to make on Gordon and I remember judging Goalkeepers was Jock Stein's major weakness, hopefully Brendan gets it right.

04 Aug 2016 11:30:45
We were the better team last night and deserved to go through but I felt we passed around our CMs always taking them out the passing! I think we need a CM who can either spread the ball about and bring the ball forward, McGregor isn't the answer at all shouldn't have started maybe if rogic gets more consistent he could be the answer!

04 Aug 2016 12:36:08
I agree SOS we always try to go down our right because Paddy Roberts shows us something! We have nothing in the middle brown sits so deep doing the defensive side of things, by the way he had a very solid game, but for me McGregor offers nothing! He can't tackle can't head the ball, he very rarely drives past players and doesn't play that defence splitting pass! He is not good enough to be a starter week in week out! Anyone that thinks he is better prepare them self for a long season ahead because if he is our answer to a playmaking midfielder we are in trouble.

04 Aug 2016 13:49:30
I think Rogic should be in the starting line up for you every week. The guy needs to be played just behind the strikers. I don't think he is a great defensive midfielder but can fill the number 10 role with ease! This is the role he plays with the Socceroos and always manages a great performance. He is a very skilful lad and needs a good run in the team!

04 Aug 2016 14:46:12
Rodgers demands a hard working shift from all his mid field and attacking players. He got that last night resulting in Astana not been able to pass through or run at our centre halves to any extent . Maybe Rodgers doesn't think Thomas Rogic can put in such a shift.

04 Aug 2016 15:40:48
I would give Armstrong a run in CM. Is that not his natural position anyway?

04 Aug 2016 16:27:06
Lustig had some of the most telling balls last night I thought.

04 Aug 2016 16:02:58
I'd honestly like to see Henderson given a chance in there. Armstrong and McGregor haven't started the season that well and we need someone with a bit of drive to get us up the park who also likes a tackle.

04 Aug 2016 17:24:21
Lustigs long balls were great last night.

04 Aug 2016 18:37:08
Kevbhoy was talking about Henderson to my mate earlier. don't know what the story is with his situation. don't think another loan is going to help him break into first team. If he has any real future at club, he has got to be in squad this season.

04 Aug 2016 23:48:59
I tend to agree with a lot of the above. McGregor simply ain't good enough. Rogic is the most talented of our attacking midfielders but is getting little opportunity due to his defensive prowess or lack of it. Surely not every player with flair has to be accomplished in defence? Liam Henderson is a far superior player to McGregor and has me totally stumped as to how he cannot get a game. Armstrong continues to be played out of position and is down on confidence but would like to see him tried in the league playing the centre midfield position.

04 Aug 2016 10:59:37
I had nails before the match last night, now I have none. Over the moon we made it through. Imo. In the short period of time I feel o'connell is improving in every game. Like most of us, I am concerned with our goalkeeper, Gordon. I also think we require a play maker in midfield plus if Roberts is out for long period, we need another wide man. I think we require another striker for cover. Wow there is Rodgers four players lol. Ed, any word on sinclair. It feels there is no ending to this transfer. I haven't read all the previous posts incase I missed anything.

04 Aug 2016 13:52:02
Tom Rogic! He is the playmaker you should be turning to! He has been continually played out of position and needs to perform the role he is more accustomed to!
(Yes, active member of the Tom Rogic appreciation society! )

04 Aug 2016 14:50:06
Playing well down under doesn't necessary mean a player can hack it in Europe or SPL . T R tends to play better when he comes on for last half hour and maybe would have come on if Paddy hadnt been injured.

04 Aug 2016 23:51:16
He should have been sent on instead of Johansen OB.

05 Aug 2016 01:16:48
Aussiebhoy . Some may agree with you, but I will go along with B R but if we were changing a mid fielder in second half might go with Rogic.

04 Aug 2016 10:09:49
Guy what has young mcgregor got to do to get some praise from some fans?
Last night he worked his arse off
He broke up their play
He put us on the forward foot quite often
He created chances for team mates
He had a couple shots himself.
he had a good game.

04 Aug 2016 10:26:52
Personally a thought he was poor last night, as was Armstrong no killer ball or goal threat from either broony was our most creative midfielder and he was quite deep most of game, but am not saying bin them just thought on that showing they need to be better for us.

04 Aug 2016 10:38:29
Last night was about grinding the result out playing against a very stubborn defensive side and we done what we had to the whole team was playing good until Roberts went off then we had to reshuffle all the outfield players done a good job imo some people just expect to much to often.

04 Aug 2016 11:11:55
Gordo87. There were several killer balls. Griffiths seen the whites of the keeper eye a few times and really should have score from open play.
Mcgregor set up Griffiths twice and Armstrong for shots on goal
He also won the plenty of time including the time that johansen put Griffiths through.

04 Aug 2016 11:12:54
Tierney was superb as always, I'm always annoyed with brown but last night can't fault him. Armstrong was poor last night, Iacked a creative spark big time. I think rogic could make a difference. If Gordon stays no.1 I think he's going to cost us, it's not one off he keeps making mistakes in big games and any team who scouts us will be aware of that. Anyway we are through! Get some quality in before the next round! Hail hail.

04 Aug 2016 14:59:58
Some of us have spent weeks trying to point out to the negative posters on here that Brown's temporary slump in form would soon be over .
Funny those who went really over the top seem to have disappeared.

04 Aug 2016 09:01:09
Now the dust has settled. One things for sure, I am getting too old for tension like that.
Main talking point will be CG I guess. Not sure how culpable he was for that goal. Seeing it again looks like he had to come and it was a brilliant piece of skill and awareness to score. I think he looks like he has errors in him due to his inability to command his area and for a long time his distribution ihas been shocking.
My main concern is the lack of creativity in the midfield. Armstrong had a shocker. McGregor just not good enough at that level. The determination and will to carve out a result was there for all to see and they made it happen. Big Kolo needs to, ahem, get fitter let's say, but boy he is a useful addition. Reads game so well. All in all job done. so far.

04 Aug 2016 09:37:16
Agree about mcgregor and Armstrong on that showing no where near good enough, on toure a thought he looked quite fit.

04 Aug 2016 09:56:58
Thought Armstrong was woeful last nite, looked totally lost! Think him mcgregor and Forrest will be found wanting if we get to the group stages. but I can't fault any of them for effort and commitment, thought the team out in a great shift to get over the line! We're just lacking that bit of guile and quality in midfield. when wee paddy went off early we looked so one dimensional out there! Wee KT was the only one trying to get forward and that ultimately led to the penalty! Really hope BR has a few quality signings lined up! And on that subject, anybody heard about Sinclair today? What about u ED? I know u fancied him to be signed by the weekend! And there was rumours he was up last nite. any info buddy?

{Ed007's Note - I've not heard anything new mate.}

04 Aug 2016 22:52:44
We have just come through against the most difficult team that we have beaten over two legs and all we seem to be able to do is talk how useless some of our players are . If that is true other players bust have played exceptionally well to overcome playing with players that are no good . I haven't read much praise for them .
Find fault surely when they deserve it, but after last night, to show you human, a little bit of praise wouldn't go amiss.

04 Aug 2016 08:48:42
Anyone know the current status with Simunovic. Obviously he's out injured but is he training or close to playing.

04 Aug 2016 08:52:27
Heard he is training but not with the full squad yet.

04 Aug 2016 08:52:27
Heard he is training but not with the full squad yet.

04 Aug 2016 08:38:09
The relief and joy at going through to the play-off must not hide the deficiencies we still have in the team/ squad.
Like, in the last few seasons, the same culprits are making the same game changing mistakes and these players have to be replaced.
The addition of Dembele and Toure, shows we are trying to improve and qualification will help attract even more quality.
We are still keeping possession well, but chances are still being squandered and I think we need more of a goal threat from midfield as we are relying on Griffiths and Roberts far too much - and we needed two PK's to win that game last night.
However, we are in a good position to progress as the confidence will be boosted after the result, but we do need to sort out the repeat offenders as soon as possible.

04 Aug 2016 08:23:46
A lot of praise for the team in general last night Tierney is an absolute star oconnel was excellent Jankos best game but thought broony was immense.

04 Aug 2016 08:19:16
Great result and atmosphere last night!

Lots of posts about new signings for me we are crying out for a ball playing midfielder, someone who can see and make a pass to release Roberts, griffiths, de belle etc a lot quicker than we do!

Not like me but I would give credit to brown the way he protected and took the ball from the centre halves in that deep role.

It looks to me as though things are shaping up and At least last nights results make us more attractive to transfer targets.

04 Aug 2016 22:58:36
I think the problem with any playmaker we sign is that to fit in well in our set-up he has to be a good worker.

04 Aug 2016 07:52:50
Thought BR got it spot on last night 3 good quality signings and team will steamroll the Scottish league and shock a few teams in Champions league.

04 Aug 2016 13:16:33
Bhoywonder I agree that CG needs to improve. To be honest I have not seen enough of Fasan to say if he is or is not good enough to replace Gordon? The header that lead to the goal was poor but he was unlucky to lose a goal because of it. I would be more concerned about the cross he missed that resulted in the goal that was offside. Thought that was shocking. We do need a top keeper and it ain't Craig Gorden.

04 Aug 2016 06:53:51
WOW, what a night :-) Honestly feared the worst after their equaliser so was buzzing that we went through. I honestly feel we would have collapsed last night had Deila still been the gaffer and there are signs BR has put a bit of steel into the team. Sad to say but Gordon just won't do. He cannot be trusted anymore. Also thought. Dembele showed some lovely touches in the passage of play which led to the penalty and nerves of steel to tuck it away. Well done the Bhoys on gettimg through. Coybig.

04 Aug 2016 07:31:43
Well said Sean Gordons a liability dembele hopefully will take off now and u could see toures class and organisational skills when he came on and he's drill got pace, time for some new players tho crying out for somebody on the left.

04 Aug 2016 07:41:06
I agree with everything you said there but we got to this stage last season let's not forget. And it was ultimately poor individuals that let us down, which last night could easily have be the case. Thankfully though, like you suggest, bar the first LRI game, we haven't hid away from a challenge collectively. Toure and Dembele have improved us no doubt. Not overly fussed on Sinclair but I'd still think he's a step up on Forrest so there's another wee area we'll look a bit stronger. We haven't actually spent significant money yet, considering the wages we've trimmed especially, so Sinclair for a few million and then either good wages on an experienced keeper or a few-several million on a good young keeper shouldn't be too much to ask. Once we qualify, another ST would be a bonus and I'd be pretty happy with that for a window.

04 Aug 2016 07:45:25
Agreed mate we need someone on the left asap. If we could get someone in who could link up well with Tierney we will be onto a winner. As for Toure: well he is undoubtedly way above anything we had. Really pleased we got him and his experience will be vital to guys like Eoghan O'Connell.

04 Aug 2016 08:06:30
We've been crying out for a bit experience at the back for a while. Toure is an incredibly shrewd signing imo. I'll tip my hat to BR for that. O'Connell really looks to have kicked on too btw. If we can get rid of Ambrose and get Jozo fit, I'm happy enough with our options at CB. You're right about Tierney too, until Forrest got shifted to the right he was frustrating KT, too many times he just doesn't provide an option. As for when he was on the right, Janko can bomb on all day. But he only looks effective on an overlap just now. With PR, Janko gets plenty of that and if he finds himself a bit crowded, PR is there waiting and dances them into space. Forrest just didn't have that with Janko either and too often Janko found himself two on one. JF is fast, and only fast. He doesn't capitalise on it though and I really don't think he has much of a footballing brain. He took the option of a pass a bit better than he normally does though last night, clearly we were told to just keep ahawd and be calm.

04 Aug 2016 05:19:12
Just been listening to BR press conference, Praising the young defenders, and pointing out the youth in the team. I am starting to feel really positive for the up coming season. Lots of youth and energy around celtic park. The squad is coming together we still need a few to leave too many players may stifle the young players coming through but a couple of quality additions with experience to back up all the potential would be great. There were only 4 players in the squad yesterday over 25 and only 2 more excluding Ambrose in the rest of the squad. When we when to seville nearly the whole team was over 27.

04 Aug 2016 00:07:00
Who's in the pot on Friday? And are we seeded?

04 Aug 2016 00:50:32
Seeded yes dundalk Copenhagen d Zagreb an Israeli team an a Bulgarian team.

04 Aug 2016 07:56:02
Credit where it's due but surely Dundalk would be a dream of a CL play-off tie.