Celtic Banter Archive July 05 2013

05 Jul 2013 19:11:53
The ousted chief executive - still the biggest shareholder at Ibrox - is calling for urgent changes amid fears of a looming cash crisis at the club.
Green has lodged a legal letter saying ex-chairman Malcolm Murray - described by insiders as his "nemesis" - must be axed as a director.
He also wants Murray's ally Phil Cartmell ditched - and for bus tycoon James Easdale to finally join the board after months of wrangling.
Sources close to Green claim he's even considering returning to run the club in a day-to-day role if changes aren't made.
His demands came in a formal request for an emergency general meeting of shareholders, which the club was examining yesterday.
An insider said: "Charles and other investors are unhappy with how the club is being run - especially the influence Malcolm has.
"There are worries that cash raised in the stock market float last year is being rapidly eaten into. Costs must be cut and revenues raised or Rangers are in trouble.
"But all we see is players being signed and season ticket prices being frozen."
The move comes weeks after a separate group of investors loyal to Green made similar demands for a crisis meeting.

from the s*n today . shammy

Seems the true investors are looking for some return.I still think they expect another administration, hence the stockpiling of players.Sadly for them it might take that to really get rid of chuckles.This could get messy very quickly.I assume the sneaky-jabba nonsense was rushed to try and shunt this into the sidings. green jhedi

I was talking to my cousin about the influx of players and we agreed it was very suspicious with all the financial uncertainty with them running at a consistent loss - with no proof of accounts and boardroom upheaval.
So it would seem that GJ is correct in his 'stockpiling' conclusion.
The 'stooge-managed' interview with the 2 fat laddies is another conjuring trick to distract fans from reality.

Jungle Jim

More like 2 fat ladies. To be fair the two fat ladies had some talent and knew what they were talking about unlike those two goons. Sopotcelt

It's all just part of whytes switcheroo tactics.

05 Jul 2013 16:19:54
Even before the league starts I have read a few post about lennons tactics and formation, the facts are that every league and cup games in Scotland is the other teams cup final when they play us, and when it's us that play in cl it's are cup final so Lennon has to deal with defending teams at home and attacking teams in Europe, his tactics have to constant and me personally thinks he done brilliant last season, ok ther were some knocks in he road but the outcome was a double, long lucrative run in the cl, only the hoodoo of Hamden with st mirren was the bad point, so I think like 99 percent of us that the 1 percent that is moaning already should try getting behind the boss as its his decision and I for one glad it is, hail hail the boss lenny

05 Jul 2013 14:58:51
Im travelling in south america at the moment but will be in cancun by 17th July. Does anyone know any bars which show Celtic games. Cheers

The cancun heid?
ur "the juan and only"
beards baur?
by the waey don't get the jail there because "jesus loves ye!"

The bestist entertainmint oan cancun is oan the busses wae the singers and wee guys playin the guitars? plus ye kin get a beer, buy dope and get yur nat king fur a £1(thats a single by the waey)

05 Jul 2013 14:47:51
I was just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on the different formations played by Neil Lennon last season and what they would like to see this season. I know if we qualify for Champions League we have to adapt to a different kind of opposition (no disrespect intended to Scottish football)

I thought throughout last season's CL campaign, Neil Lennon got his tactics spot on and maybe with more confidence we would have beat Benfica at Celtic Park in the first game. Barcelona at full strength, you have to defend and frustrate their game.

The scoreline against Juve was not pretty, at Celtic Park the killer was definitely the early goal and Ambrose just back from the Africa Cup of Nations. Juve were always going to be tough nuts to crack due to their style play and not to mention how crafty they are. Should have had at least one penalty although, the penalty getting past Buffon might have been a different story with Celtic's recent penalty history.

I thought we pressed them for most of the game and had the majority of possession but without any real threat and how do we cope if we come against a defender like Lichtsteinar (dirty rat bag lol) again? Juve knew Celtic were a threat at set pieces and were very physical defending them, which paid off!


Balde is 6ft 4 and no lightweight but lacks experience at CL level. Sammy didn't play and Ledley was injured. Forrest started although on hindsight was also carrying an injury.

I know i'm going on about this particular game but this is what we could be up against in a couple of months. Would you start with the 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 again as Neil Lennon did?

Then there's the domestic front, I really hope last seasons complacency is gone. 7 draws and 7 defeats needs to be bettered this season but in saying that, other Clubs are not just going to let Celtic win. It looks like Wanyama will be away and I assume Hooper as well. I think Kayal will step into Wanyama's role but we were without Scott Brown for a massive part of last season. I can't see a midfield of Brown, Ledley and Kayal getting too complacent this season. Brown brings that urgency we were missing.

Ross County were not a Club I enjoyed playing last season and with the split we were up at their place 3 times last season with not one win and squandering a 2 goal lead! Derek Adams has Ross County well organised, stubborn and playing until the final whistle. They usually play a 4-5-1 yet Neil Lennon played (in the first 1-1 game) a 3-5-2. 3 CB's to 1 CF?

I do have a problem with our defence and would like to see more pace from the back and get the ball passed out quicker to an attacking player. I do not like this attacking as a full team and prefer to see Kelvin Wilson stay a bit further back.

I thought the game we played against RFC in April 2012 (the last Old Firm) was fantastic football and we never let them play at all, with good use of the Izzy and Matthews almost in the wing back roles. I enjoy this style of football and do not see why it cannot be used more in our domestic games if we can get a strong Centre Back pairing (I'm not awfy technical minded so feel free to correct me or add in formations) ~ Mrs E

@Mrs E: I think on the whole he showed up pretty well.Barca away was not pretty to watch, but tactically he was pretty shrewd.I also think the players need to have a look at themselves.You can prepare a team and shape them perfectly, but if they don't concentrate, or make a stupid mistake, the manager gets stick?

Ambrose sold the jerseys against Juve.As you said this changed the whole pattern of our play.Having said that I thought till the second goal we were playing well.What we saw were experienced Italian league players.Cynical and clinical in the extreme, and not without some real quality don't forget.

Balde has got the physical presence we have lacked for years.I would expect him to tear the SPL apart to be honest. Not through any show of genius I have seen, more through the fact he is so big! If this guy develops and works really hard at his game, he could be the offer physical threat as Drogba had. I am curious to see how he is used.

Balde leads to your formation question. I think we can play in many shapes with a genuine target in the side. Keep the spine strong and rotate the squad, competition and freshness will be vital if we reach the group stage.

Domestically? Pretty mixed last season. To the end of the season our home performances were in the main impressive.In some we carried a bit of luck before we took control.We also were exceptionally sharp in a lot of them.I am of the belief that this team has not yet evolved into the finished product.But I do know I am looking forward to the start of the season.

You notes on Ross County I agree with.For some reason he has a problem shaping up against them.Again to be fair I have seen some horrific mistakes against them.As we stand right now, players we have and assuming they are a success, what shape and players would you go with? When you actually think of the names we are very strong, we may lose two but I think we will see more in.

There were flashes last year, when it clicked and we were on it Your last paragraph cannot be argued against.We now have some big pacey boys at the back, and Virgil seems to be very comfortable on the ball, and competition for places.I would be very disappointed if we don't press teams in every game, Europe included.Lenny has a real chance to make huge strides here.He will have to get a trusted spine and fit in the ball players. green jhedi

Formations nowadays are still important but not really a reflection on how the team will set out given where and when they have the ball and/or attacking and defending.
A Celtic team playing SPL showing a 4-4-2 depending how pernickety you want to be will only have 2 CBs playing at the back with LB and RBs playing as "wing backs" so in effect you have 6 in mid and then 1/2 from mid pushing on to forward positions having 3 up at times, 2-5-3 which in effect can be the way we play causing izzy to be caught out on the left or Lustig on the right, Matthews is an exception:)
In Europe depending on the opposition a 4-4-2 would be more regimental.
Formation and tactics can be a long and boring discussion and many variations so can be confusing, but your right in what your saying Mrs E. Also depending on who Lennon has fit on the day would contribute to his formation, I would rather stick to a formation than play players out of position!

Bigbadjohn

I think I just want more urgency on the domestic front than last season and as you say GJ, sometimes that's down to the players themselves rather than Neil Lennon. I like Neil Lennon and considering his age and inexperience, I think he has done fantastic and surprised quite a few!

Balde does look the big, physical player we have been crying out for upfront and I have high hopes. He certainly will not be so easily to 'wrestle'.

The Barca game at the Nou Camp was a heartbreaker but we got the deserved 3 points at Celtic Park. It'll be interesting to see how Neymar shapes up at Barcelona, my jury is still out on him. There's no doubt he had plenty ability but this falling over when a feather hits him annoys me and will he live up to the hype?

I don't think we could play the wing back formations in Europe but it would be no problem domestically. There's a poster above saying Club's facing Celtic turn up as if its a Cup final but that's been the case for years and not an excuse that washes with me (although I did see McCoist use this excuse yesterday in an interview). Any Manager worth their salt at Celtic knows exactly what most (not all) Scottish oppositions will do when they face our Club and that will be to frustrate them and try not to let the team play the passing, attacking game.

John, it can be a gamble having players out of position and I think we have that with Mulgrew more than anyone. I've seen criticism if he's in midfield but he was in midfield against Barcelona at Celtic Park possibly due to injuries (I can't remember). ~ Mrs E

05 Jul 2013 12:14:05
Thurs going to be a day of reckoning!
Cue banjo music, illicit stills and hill billies in the trees.

There sure is, and the reckoning is when UEFA sets the record straight and states its a new club with no claim on the old club history. Because an honest reckoning is due in all of this charade.

What is all this "day of reckoning" talk?

I'm not seeing anything other than on the rumour boards.

If someone could explain I'd appreciate it.

I hope they do release a statement then we can get past this we just want to play football and I just want to support my team!

Larky Bear