Celtic Rumours Archive July 21 2012

21 Jul 2012 23:17:14
Ok so I'll be the guy in the middle, we got pumped tonight, I agree that most pre season games don't hold much water but witha week and half to go till CL qualifier that we need to win to have a 50/50 chance to even get to groups, it's past the time to hit the ground running!
Some will say we're panicing/worrying, it's no, it's feckin real! Best chance in a long time to make groups so its serious stuff. The nxt run or 3 in Europe "could" have a big say in future for Celtic or Scottish Fitbaw in general!
Game time will cure all, but £10-15 mil for groups needs new faces, we all know what we need, will the board deliver? 1 name to through into the mix, cacau German midfielder/ playmaker, getting on a bit but still top class although had a rough time over last 2-3 seasons would walk SPL and help in CL, sure would be a snip?

Bigbadjohn

We must spend this hiding the £££s has all happened before and we paid a massive price, Steven Fletcher ring any alarmbells??

The Celtic money men are in a position though where there is great uncertainty over the financial future of all of Scottish football. That said, we all hope to see a new face or two. On the park, it doesn't look to me like this 'three at the back with wing backs' is going to work. The players need time to adapt to it, granted, but it's a different game now to when that style was successfull under O'Neill; plus, we don't quite have the quality, aerial prowess or ability to hold the ball up and pick a pass that Sutton and Larsson had.

Has nobody learned anything from he last few months. Hiding the £££'s? What do you suppose we are planning to do with hidden £££'s. We are in debt. Manageable debt, but debt nonetheless. That means we have no £££'s unless we borrow it. That means increasing debt whilst revenue falls. See where that leads? Ah but we'll be in the Champions league you say. Really? Sure about that? If we are great, it paid off, we're all happy. But if not, s**t, we're f**ked! Even with a couple of quality signings we're only 30 - 50% to get there. Is everyone liking those odds and wanting to play roullette with the future of the club? Perhaps we'll sell ki and someone will take dead wood like rasmussen, murphy and wilson off the books. If so grerat, that'll give us some slack. On the other hand, maybe we're stuck with them. Maybe sky will walk away too, and maybe we'll loose next week. If so, I wouldnt want to be the person who chose to increase our debt. Paul

21 Jul 2012 22:24:19
We have been very patchy to say the least in most pre-season games since even WGS time, but it has become a very bad habit; that in recent years has seen us seriously under-prepared and caught cold going into these early qualifiers that can prove a tall order for any big team with similar season pattern.
Obviously to get into the groups are harder than ever with only the chosen few with lucrative guarantees.
The difference in class from MON's day is a 'gimmie', although we do have some half decent players in the team; but I am very concerned at the reluctance to bring in and establish a class central defence pairing for far too long, which manager's usually prioritises.
Also, we still do not have - in my opinion - a true experienced and tactically aware backroom presence and personality since Tommy sadly passed.
We have been un-impressive so far and a trip to Ajax has really backfired, when we should be building confidence, fitness and team moral before the Helsinki ties. But I hope The Celtic can get it right with a full-house to cheer them on as usual.

Jungle Jim

Well said Jungle Jim. Sopot Celt

Full house? dont make me laugh! I will put a wager on right now there will not be a full house this season unless you make the group stages? any takers?

J

Whats up J those big bad eds from your own site barred you for being thick.
Tambhoy (original )

21 Jul 2012 21:49:22
watched the game and quite frankly on the evidence shown we aint up to it,i know its only pre-season
and were not firing on all cylinders but as i said in my last post we need to buy a couple of good CB'S
I know it means we have to spend money,but the old saying is speculate to accumulate.
If other clubs across Europe can invest, four or five million on two good defenders would reap dividends
£4-£5M as against £12-£15 for qualifying.....no brainer
Green Judge

21 Jul 2012 20:55:20
Hi ed just watched the game. We need to get that defence sorted big time. I thought the Big Fella did alright in goals none of the goals was his fault. Izzy and Adams not sharp enough yet. The young left back look good when he came on. Rogne was very poor. The board have to see after to nights games we need a few signings. That's the best kick up the jackcey any team could get going in to the qualifiers. Darl Murphy feels like a new signing haha. Bigirishmac {Ed007's Note - Hi BIM mate, nice to hear from you.}

Agree with you, but we expect far too much of our wing backs in most of the games we play the 2 centre halves are always exposed when teams attack us at pace. at least 1 defender who ACTUALLY CAN defend would be nice.(not another Wilson)

At the back we are so poor, rogne and charlie out of their depth. Izzy destroyed. For me tho the midfield was redundant. Not a thing from any of them. Need to be ready for a team that is halfway thru its season, not going to be easy.

I agree BIM, Twardzik looked decent at left back. I'm hoping Izzy and Matthews ain't fit rather than being out of their depths! Who would you bring in? We badly need a few CB's, an attacking mid and a clinical striker. Stokes is clinical although at times he drifts out wide, we need a striker that plays in the 18yd box only. Murphy did put himself about when he came on and can be direct when he runs at teams, but can't see him being a success in Europe.

DazzaBhoy

21 Jul 2012 20:37:21
A think sum fans need to take a step back n give the team a break what right do we have to say we should be in champ league yes Celtic are a big team but we are not able to compete with teams in Europe even so called average nations are far more technically gifted and fitter we just need to support the team no matter what and give our youth a chance to shine and live within our means
Dez

It is NEVER acceptble that teams are fitter than us, and they clearly were. Thats just not on.

21 Jul 2012 20:27:05
If I were NL I would sell Ki now and reinvest the money on 2 centre halfs
to try to get us to the CL then if I had any further monies I would buy a target man.....I may be on my own with this but I would sell Hooper to so I could get more to buy a big striker

JGD

Would agree with the selling of Hooper but do you think we can replace the centre halfs we have with better ones with the money we have to spend ...To be honest I think Ki is one of the few players we have suited to European football ,Samaras been another .....TTTS

I agree selling Ki as we've got midfield cover in abundance and he would fetch a good fee but IMO selling Hooper unless a silly offer comes in is suicide. Stokes will get a decent return but I'm unsure how many goals the rest of our strikers will bag.

HH
pfb79

Totally agree we need 2 CH's sell i would Hooper & stokes as both arent gonna cut it at CL level & keep Ki as he is techincally the best footballer we have at the club and is creative compared to Kayal Brown Ledley or wanyama! As for Sammy i thought id never say this but we missed him tonight,he offers alot more than the 2 we played vs Ajax !

How many players do we need squad of 40 and still rubbish we need a manager who can spot a player to improve the team not just to fill a position

21 Jul 2012 20:22:40
i'm not one for reading too much into friendlies....but, by god do we need to sharpen up!
Ajax didn't even look as if they got out of 2nd gear, and made it look like they were playing some division 3 outfit.

i know it's all about fitness and trying new formations etc, but that was a pretty strong team we sent out tonight, and i really did expect a bit more effort.
i know we are notoriously slow starters, but Lenny's really going to have to do some work on the team before we face helsinki


taco

21 Jul 2012 19:32:27
Anyone got any idea if Charlie's red card will carry a ban and if so for what competition? {Ed007's Note - He will serve ban, it can be in any domestic competition. The disciplinary panel will decide probably.}

21 Jul 2012 19:02:50
What's the Team tonight Ed?

Gazcfc21 {Ed007's Note - Forster; Rogne; Wanyama; Mulgrew; Matthews; Brown; Forrest; Ledley; Izaguirre; Hooper; Stokes;

Subs: Zaluska; Lustig; F. Twardzik; K. Wilson; McGeouch; Commons; Bangura; Murphy.}

21 Jul 2012 18:35:09
Getting our arse handed to us on a plate inside half an hour against albeit a better side but this is all the proof i need that the boards decision not to spend any money unless we get into the group stages is biscuit tin mentality at its worst! We are crying out for a decent CB!
Utter shambles in defence, anyoe who thinks Helsinki is a given is a fool.

PL & NL need to re-evaluate their plans or we will be shown up for a poor side!

Rant over!

pfb79

To the person who clicked unbelievable which part don't you agree with cos i think my post is on the money. I will say however we played a bit better in the 2nd half then again I was using a poor stream!

HH
pfb79

21 Jul 2012 17:33:03
just watched the 1st half of the Helsinki game, they look a well organised unit, they defend in numbers, close down well, physical side, they seem to like playing the ball wide, a couple of tricky players in wide areas, also they have pace, however technically not brilliant, seem to lack ideas as they are struggling to break Haka down, but look dangerous on the break

I watched the 1st half of the Helsinki game myself & TBH if we dont beat this lot we may forget about it! the only threat that i can see that they will pose will come from the left hand side. With Brown & matthews/lustig we should we have this under control !

Are you watching Ajax game? Deary me. Let's hope for some changes in defence. 3 at the back isn't working here......stan

Celtic 3 down to ajax that defence is a joke

Im watching the ajax game & i cannot believe how far behind we are with our technical ability not to mention our sunday league defending ! i really fear for us if we qualify for the CL.

21 Jul 2012 15:16:07
Afternoon ED007 I took a look at HJK's form in Finnish League. They have 30 points from 17 games, but out of 9 away games have only won 3 times and drawn once but lost 5 times. Their goal difference is For 27 against 15. They have not lost at home in league yet this season, but their away form looks ropey. It may be to our advantage to have first leg at home, if we can score early I think we will win 2 or 3 nil.
I think we can score in both legs as it looks like although they score goals they lose quite a few also. We really need Champions League
football this season, so come on Bhoys hail hail Timalloy

Timalloy like your reasoning,but our away record in europe is the pits.If we dont have at least 2 0 we are in the s::::....jimthetim..YNWA..HEART FELT SYMPATHY TO CLAUDIO REYNA AND FAMILY...

I agree mate, we need a 2 goal start going over to Helsinki and not to concede at home. 2 nil or better at parkhead or i will be worried for second leg. I would llke to believe we are a different side away from home after last seasons performances in Rennes and Udine but i've seen it all before and travelled away from home in europe many times with high hopes, only to see us getting slaughtered. My prediction is we will get through but we will have to play well in both games as there are no easy games at this level. James Forrest will be the difference

Stevensee88

Our defence is crap as well

21 Jul 2012 14:35:38
Hi Ed hows things ?

Do you reckon Lenny is bluffing with regards to signings ? For us to gain entry the last qualifier is going to be tough although not as tough as before , with Arsenal, Ajax i do say.

If we don't succeed not all doom and gloom, a parachute payment of just less than 2M plus an easier group than last years group of death.

I just hope it doesn't come back and haunt us

Jason {Ed007's Note - It's a strange one Jason. We bid £3 million for Artjoms Rudnevs in May yet now we won't be signing anyone unless we reach the CL group stages, not even any mention of needing to sell before we buy or anything. As I said last night, maybe the players NL has targeted will only move to a CL team.}

Sorry ed but just to state that although you may have a point .anyone who doesn't want to play for the shirt ie Celtic fc regardless of where we are I wouldn't want in the first place . {Ed007's Note - Thinking like that then you will be in for some disappointing times. We can't use CL football as a carrot to entice players here then fault them when we can't deliver our side of it.}

21 Jul 2012 13:31:00
any sites showing the game tonight ?

Firstrow sports at 6pm, but you can watch Helsinkis home league match as well 4.30 ko, interesting to see what this team is like

Google chrome, go to football icon

The game tonite is on premier sports

PREMIER SPORTS 5.55PM

Vipbox is a good site for getting the games always seems to work fo me

21 Jul 2012 08:45:29
Ed, do you think Josh Thompson is worth a shot? I seem to remember him being not bad as an 18 year old? {Ed007's Note - Thompson has been told he can leave the club.}

Not even close to the standard we need. If he played week in week out I would fear the worst. Would rather have wilson there and thats saying something

Skooter

Big tam rogne and charlie mulgrew will have to do for now me thinks

20 Jul 2012 23:55:54
Celtic have made an enquiry about Genoa defender Cesare Bovo. It is believed though that Genoa will only sell the player for a fee of around £3.75m

He wont be playing for us then.jimthetim.