Celtic Banter Archive February 05 2015

05 Feb 2015 19:49:26
Wakaso just scored for Ghana. He's playing really well. All good news for Celtic.

His energy level is superb, easy a case for him to be deployed away from home in Europe, took his goal superbly!

Kept an eye on him the whole tourney played well throughout. Looking forward to having him back. From what i've seen in the past and his month I think he's worth signing permanently. Of course, he has to start doing it in the hoops.

Good finish too, I hope Ghana win so Wakaso comes back full of confidence and shows us the player we expected has played really well

06 Feb 2015 13:03:43
JimTim he needs to get on he pitch. I bet if scepovic was playing in an international tournament and getting solid 90 minutes he would be banging them in and playing out his skin. Celtic don't seem to do that with players. They would rather persist in playing james Forrest when he is 70% match fit and injuring himself after 2 games. Here's hoping we do get him full time he has a good pedigree and is a good prospect.

Agree Pedro. I've been wanting Scepovic to get a good run for a couple months now but it just isn't happening. Think as jamie says Wakaso is a worker so brings a great balance but is capable of something special too.

Bravetart- agree, as long as he`s not played the same day he arrives back in Glasgow.

Final on Sunday, worth watching it folks, watch where he plays him seems to play the Biton/Brown role for Ghana, not on the wing where he plays for us, just could not believe the ground he covers!

05 Feb 2015 17:51:07
I am delighted we are on a run of results and we are gaining momentum and it augurs well for the title run-in and challenging for both cups.
Add to that the quality additions to the squad, without losing any important players in the window and we look to have a big advantage on our closest challenger(s).
I have a little concern about missed chances and the fact we do not have a consistent striker - or two - running riot in the SPL as we have done in the past.
Guidetti is really misfiring, griffiths, Scepovic, Wakaso, Stokes and Commons are all capable of more goals.
I am very keen to see how RD utilises the full squad he has assembled and the competition for places will maybe get that 10% more out of players to fight for places in what should be a successful season?

Of course, none of us likes the chances that get away, however the so called experts always say that it is a lot worse when the team is not creating chances.
Griffiths is very busy whilst playing in front of goal and I think that his style often means the goals are shared around.

I think that between now and the end of the season, we will have to make a judgement on Guidetti and Scepovic.
They were brought in to replace Stokes and Griffiths, but are being kept out of the team by them.
It may well be that they are just taking a while to settle in. But if by the end of the season they are still not in the first team, and scoring goals, then I think we should be looking to move them on and bring somebody else in.
we need to become more ruthless in front of goal.

I am not sure the two strikers were bought in to replace Stokes and Griffiths, more like to over alternatives.
I think Guidetti's top form for the first couple of months plus the adulation of the fans had a negative effect on Scepatovic, as he had a quieter beginning to his Celtic career . It appears now that both new players are not challenging Griffiths and Stokes enough .

Its a credit to RD, He got a lot of unfair critisism early on and now he's turned it all around and we are still in for a shout of winning everything, that's good management. It could all go wrong very quickly but what more can you ask of they guy? Apart from a few extra points in the league and CL qualification he's done the best he could realistically CL would have been too soon for us. Let's just hope with the new signings we can finish the job domestically and have a respectful EL campaign too.

05 Feb 2015 15:40:00
Guys/Ed since the window shut I thought I would spark up a wee debate. Scott Brown is now without doubt the shining light in the league. He is head and shoulders above the rest of the midfielders in the league and now seems to be running games as never before. So since he is now doing this has he improved immensely or has the standard dropped elsewhere? A lot of debate before about the league now more competitive than previous 2 years so would be interesting to get your points guys.

It's hard to say whether the league is improving or not, I think Deila 's formation allows Brown to express himself better. He is probably at his prime now 29 years of age and is obviously enjoying the challenges .

I don't see rd playing either of the two new signings from the start, unless peter tells him 2, oh wait that's over the road that happens , lol.

Hard to say if the League has improved, I'd say some Clubs like Aberdeen & Dundee United have, Whereas Clubs like Motherwell & Ross County haven't so overall I don't know. I think Scott Brown continues to improve and is a huge asset to the club. Without him we are not the same team. Midfielders have come and gone throughout his time. he has remained. Scott Brown loves being at Celtic.Class & Loyalty is hard to buy these days. First name on the sheet for me.

I think brown is maturing but I seriously think u are underestimating how much he has done for our MF in the last few years!

Weighing everything up I think the standard has got worse in Scotland.
We currently have no Edinburgh clubs in the top flight and the obvious absence of Oldco is a factor.
Aberdeen and Dundee Utd have shown this season that they can compete, whereas Motherwell and Inverness are maybe not as difficult opponents as before.
The standard of the current Celtic team is definitely not as strong, although Brown has been with us long enough to show he is a top player.

I'm surprised his name hasn't been mentioned along with VVD getting touted for the BPL. He could more than cut it at his current level IMO

It's the players on the pitch, no matter who they play for that determines the strength of the league . Rangers 1872 fans always had a belief that they deserved . To talk about no Govan team or no team from Edinburgh, and hint that makes the SPL weaker, is of the same line of thought.

Scott brown has always been a top player for us. It seems to be forgotten that he was the scottish players player of the year in 2009. Except for the Mowbray season when his siter was ill he has been fantastic for us. If it teaches us anything it is important to have the right management team, do you remember peter grant saying he would have driven SB to England himself to sell him

Totally agree 100% SOS BHOY, Scot Brown is showing a fantastic mature side to his game. He has lost the hot headedness that has blighted him for years. His performance on Sunday was nothing short of world class in my opinion, and he will be pivotal for the run in.
The long term plan for RD is slotting into place and keeping Commons for another couple of years is another brilliant coup.
Mon The Hoops!

Groutdoc I couldn't agree more u are right on the money! We are lucky to have such an influential captain he wants to be here and if he finishes his career will go down as a legend and deservingly so!

It's a testament to Scott Brown that he will get a Testimonial at Celtic. Very rare for footballers to be at a Club for so long these days.

Hi rayman I think Brown has just got better & better mate, a said shortly after game finished was the best game he ever played in a Celtic jersey looked so psyched up for it

But a tell you am watching Ghana & if Brown needed a rest for 1 game a think Mubarak has borrowed Broonies boots lol he is playing deep like Brown & covering every blade of grass!

I think the league standard has dropped a little, but broonys performance's in Europe and for Scotland have proved he is a much better player now than he was 2 - 3 years ago . He was always combative but he controls games now.

The reason Brown's name is not now been tauted for the Epl is that neither he or his agent are not talking up this wish of playing in the EPL. All our better players who have moved to the EPL, have all done so after letting it be known that they didn't wish to continue at Celtic .

@Chris02 I'm surprised BPL teams haven't bid for him regardless of whether he or his agent have pushed for it. He's been our best player this season by a mile in my eyes.

There were a few enquires some years ago but these were rebuffed by the club and with neither his agent or Brown himself making noises there is no appetite for a deal.

For sure Broony has matured but kept his drive. I was very impressed when we played that team from the lower league. They tried to crowd round him a couple of times and he just walked away. Still got a few seasons left in him as well.

Some great points guys. As I said he now bossing games as never before. he always been a top player but for a few discrepancies. I just think he is now more mature and has finally "learned" the game. he now major candidate for POTY along with CG.