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Through the round window

So how was the window for you?

The transfer window has closed and I thought I would look back at the piece I put up a few weeks ago – Jan 10th – ( you can read it here)

The piece at that time covered the signings of Martin Compper ( now injured), St Mirren winger Lewis Morgan and young Australian starlet Leo Mazis and concluded with the words

My gut feeling?

I hope we sign some peaches but the dark side inside of me fears I can see a few more wee “For the future really” players coming in with standard Peter promises of “But we are well ahead with our summer plans and all that” rhetoric.
Lets hope I’m so very wrong.

Well was I?

The vast majority of time between that post going up and the closing of the window was all rather dull for Celtic fans in all honesty. There weren’t that many rumours ( Ralph tried his “M” best) and there wasnt much of a buzz about the place as the Winter break completed and the side got back to domestic business.

Results were satisfactory enough but the performances werent overly inspiring and the team were looking in the need of a good lift. A lift that we all hoped would come as the calendar approached Months end and the close of the transfer window.

The fans seemed to be split between “In Brendan we trust” and “Lawwell get the finger oot” and in truth the window carried on without much for anyone to get overly concerned about. There was the odd rumbling here and there about a young centre half at Dundee but nothing exciting for the fans to celebrate or salivate over.

The shit however truly got real for Celtic, and that includes Management and fans, during the Hibs 1-0 victory on Saturday with bad injuries to Craig Gordon and Leigh Griffiths, which saw them  joining the current crock\knackered list at Lennoxtown.

Suddenly all eyes were on Peter and the Biscuit Tin and the first cry that went out was for a keeper.

With Gordons knee injury and our kid keeper already out on loan, the hunt for another glove wearer began in earnest. We duly started off being linked with the Motherwell keeper, that went round the houses a bit with Celtic offering hundreds of thousands for Carson which Motherwell rebuked and asked for silly money. I like to imagine Celtic smiled and gently said “Thanks but fuck off”

Then after various links including the Liverpool 3rd choice keeper, we duly ended up with the Dundee unwanted keeper who was actually out on loan as a backup at Hibs and then as part of the merry-go-round, we then sent Scott Allan who had been on loan at Dundee down to Hibs and in turn Hibs then sent Simon Murray up to Dundee.

A true case of WTF or SPFL Camaraderie depending on your point of view?

Who knew getting a bench warmer could be so hard eh?

So keeper wise, Craig Gordon will be out for 12 weeks at least according to initial reports and it will be Dora the Explorer in goals from now on and new arrival Scott will be biding his time for that one big chance of grabbing some glory. In a nice twist Scott Bain was on the bench for Hibs last week and now he gets to move 20 yards to the left.

 

With our quality centre half signings taking a hit with Compper injured, Brendan pushed for Peter to push and push up at Dundee. Not content with taking their unwanted keeper, we gave them an undisclosed yet record fee ( This was a guy who cost Dundee hee-haw – so canny work there by the men in blue suits. ) for Jack Hendry. The thought of Neil McCall smiling smugly doesn’t sit well ( Paper talk of Rangers contacting McCann about signing him was classic Level 5 pR nonsense of course) but the deal was duly done before the midnight hour struck.

 

The lad is 22, has been at 5 clubs before Celtic yet he has only played 41 games in the last 3 years of his professional career. Fresh or fragile?..There’s a question mark for me there and anyone hoping for top quality centre half signings will be disappointed, it was always doubtful though as hinted at in my original piece, but Brendan to his credit ( or great Diplomacy skills) seemed happy enough with the acquisition.

With the Griff out, , the fans were wondering if we would see another striker but that was never likely to come to pass at such a late hour, nope, not even a link to Brendans buddy Rickie Lambert shocker, but there would be a slight twist to that tale.

Come the Hearts midweek game, Brendan surprised everyone by not deciding between Moussa or Odsonne as his lone striker. Instead he played them both, and how it paid off. Odsonne scored a cracker and a rejuvenated Dembele made 2 goals and scored the other in the 3-1 victory over greeting face Craig Leviens team. The futures bright, the futures 2 up front!

But wait…that Hearts game and 2 up front wasn’t the only thing that made people smile of course on a cold January Tuesday.

We had another new signing.

Taking up the Number 67 jersey and appearing midway through the second half, came the new darling of the Celtic crowd, step forward Charly Musonda.

The starlet arrived from Chelski the night afore ( with his Mother brilliantly usurping Celtic by announcing his signing before them) and immediately the fans saw the biggest smile in a Celtic jersey since Paul McStay smashed the ball into the net at Ibrox.

Trust us when we say that the young talented playmaker will really light up the Scottish game. Having watched his half time warm up, I reckon he has more flicks and tricks that Paddy Roberts and some poor opponent is gonna get tore to ribbons, that is of course if the hackers dont catch him first. One audacious lob pass to Kieran Tierney was just one example of the guys vision and skill and there will be plenty to come, especially with Brendans guidance.

Musonda’s arrival seemed to have everyone feeling a little better, even poor Morelos over at Ibrox who was sat waiting on his taxi to the airport and a flight to China didn’t mind sharing the back pages with our 18 month loan signing. Some folk, yours truly included, have questioned the clubs loan-in policy but when such heralded talents can arrive and we can see them over a sustained period, there isn’t too much to argue about really.

So all in all, where are we window in and outs wise –

In this January came a back up keeper to our back up keeper, 2 centre halves and an attacking midfielder, and also a young aussie winger for development.

Out this January went Lian Henderson to Bari, loan deals for a Conor Hazard and Kundai Benyu and a host of young Bhoys alongside exit style loan deals for Erik Sviatchenko and Nadir Ciftci. It seems that we may also have avoided losing Moussa to Crystal Palace as well as Leicester tried to grab Paddy Roberts in a Man City package deal for Mahrez that didn’t come to fruition.

In and Out came Lewis Morgan who will hopefully help bring St Mirren up this season to help develop his winning mentality.

 

So it was pretty much a mixed bag and folk will argue the highs and lows no doubt. The main thing is we have cover where needed, the team seems to have been given a lift at the right time of the season and we have more young talent to develop who can hopefully carry on this winning streak.

The long await for buying a proven top class act may still elude the dreamers amongst us but for now we can sit back and enjoy Charly Musonda running riot in the Hoops alongside Paddy Roberts who will soon return from injury.

Life aint to bad, even if it is just on loan!

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Polo
6 years ago

Grand so.

Mike
6 years ago

Great article Di.mond geezer. A couple of good things that came out of the Scot Bain loan signing was, that he fell out with Mc Cann, that to me was a plus and the second, was that we always thought of him as a good keeper.
Was never aware that young Jack Hendry was at Celtic when he was very young before being released and I kind of admire him for not giving up on his dream, I hope they come true.
I cannot wait for Charly to get up to speed and the thought of him playing with Paddy, Dembelle, Forrest, Ntcham, Kouassi, Griff. Sinclair, Brown, well every other Celtic player, excites me. Am I happy about the centre-half signings, absolutely NOT.

Mike
6 years ago

It never came up on the Regan farewell article, but gonny say it on here.
Quite rightly Auldheid and the Res.12 bhoys and the other bloggers are being feted for the absolutely brilliant work that they have put in behind the scenes and that work is continuing. But one name will be missing, he I know also put in a lot of work behind the scenes, offering advice and working tirelessly for the Resolutioners, Auldheid in particular, to help pursue the crooks and the conflicted to justice and to bring out all the true facts. Step forward RALPH MALPH, you deserve as much credit as anyone else for your continuing tireless work.

Bribhoy
6 years ago

Completely missed the biggest arrival at Celtic Park this window – formation unpredictability! The knowledge that we are willing to play three at the back and/or two up front is just as exciting as the arrival of Musonda Jr. I believe in Brendan’s ability to deliver a result against Zenit more now than I did at the start of January!

Bri

Monti
6 years ago

Transfer window? Fucking shite!

portpower
6 years ago

We`ve what Gordon Strachan wants bred.

SteveNaive
6 years ago

Right, let’s start turning the screw and dishing out a few hammerings. Hail and indeed, Hail

rebus67
6 years ago

Good article, Desi.
Perhaps my views on the window are typical of many others(…perhaps, not!) I am neither overly pessimistic nor am I euphoric about the outcomes.
As I have said, fans form opinions on limited data. For example, we do not know what efforts were made to bring in a quality, experienced CB or a #1 choice keeper. Celtic are much better now at operating under the radar. On that point, does anyone really believe that PL did not have influence on Regan’s decision? If so, I’d like to smoke what they are on!
Given our situation….the standard of the league; money on offer, we have severe constraints on bringing in proven, quality players. The CL is an attraction, but not if we are regularly on the end of 5 or 6 goal batterings. A player development strategy seems to be the appropriate way forward. Looked at through this lens, the signings of Morgan, Hendry, Benyu etc make sense. Trouble is that any benefits are not immediately obvious…they will take time. A key feature of grow your own is that it needs to be a production line that continuously supplies players. This means that we have to recruit globally to feed the academy. For every, Forrest, McGregor, Tierney, there will be around 10 others that do not make it with us. Developing players is a slow process and fans want to see immediate improvements through the transfer market. Frustration peaks around the “Window”.
Back in the MON days, we bought a team. A trio of 6 million signings, a real bargain 750,000 player, and a couple of 3-4 million players were molded into a team that was successful both in Europe and domestically. In today’s market you will not get that level of player for 6 million. You will get a Gary Madine from a struggling second or third tier team in England. It would cost double or triple that to bring in similar level players today. To make matters worse, not only have transfer fees sky rocketed, but salary expectation have as well. Unless I am totally misinformed, Celtic cannot and do not shop in the 12-20 million market. The club’s revenue has not increased at the same rate as salaries and transfer fees so it would be “Rangersesque” to pursue the MON strategy today.
I think that we have a manager that likes to work with young players and he is, apparently, good at it. He will also realise that there has to be available routes from the development squad right into the first team. Plugging these routes by buying average 6 million pound players is counterproductive. It is a fine balancing act…one that is not ably supported by the January transfer market.

Rebus

rebus67
6 years ago

Desi and Ralph,

Long post gone into cyberspace. Any chance of recovery?

Rebus

BJF
6 years ago

Clearly Brendan ( and Peter Lawwell ) played an absolute blinder. Bain was excellent in the Championship for Alloa and Hartley always saw him as a future Scotland keeper. I like loan signings to freshen up the team and their eventual move on will challlenge young players to try and fill that spot. Most agree that Boyata’s form has returned after the break and if Jozo is prepared to settle down and stop chasing every route out then with Ajer and Compper we have ready made cover. Will Hendry also step up, certainly hope so, Armstrong, Griff and Paddy to come back things look good, another treble…. why not?

Celtic Symphony
6 years ago

Satisfied with the window.
Brendan speaks highly of Hendry,I can see him replacing Jozo,the morra.
Musonda is a great bonus.
The best bit of business,was keeping Dembele.
His head was right,on Tuesday.I can see him banging in the goals now.He;’ll be back to his Hunskelping best in March.lol

Broxburnbhoy
6 years ago

The question is – are we in a better position as a squad andna football team after the window than before the window? I think the answer is yes.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Broxburnbhoy

Nurse Ratched?

The Budgie
6 years ago
Reply to  Broxburnbhoy

Yes, agreed better overall position. Think of who we could have on the bench if all injured players were back.

The end prize is 10iar and we are clearly planning for that with the young players being brought in. I’m fine with sensible management of our resources. Remember the SFA \ SPFL and the SNP don’t allow Celtic tax breaks.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  The Budgie

How can you say we are better overall, when we are clearly weakened in the Goalkeeper position?

Rebus67
6 years ago

Since my long post has vanished, let me try a shorter one.

Jack Hendry better be good. This guy is 22, has not played many first team matches, was valued 250,000 euros, and we paid something like 1.37 million euros for hom according to the transfer market website. “In BR we trust” and I do, but this will be a real test of his eye for a player.

Rebus

jimmybee
6 years ago

Boyata and Jozo are highly rated by Brendan.
The 3 at the back i think will be the way forward for us, pushing Tierney further up.
With Jozo unable to play 2 games a week, and Ajer progressing Hendry and Compper will be very useful recruits.
We look much better and more importantly the players look much more comfterable in a 3.
De Vries
Boyata Jozo Ajer
Compper Hendry Even Bitton can play in there.
So for me we did well.
Charlie will be the darling of the hoops for the length of his contract.

Rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Jimmy,

Great post, not must because I agree with it!

We are stronger when we were already strong enough to win the league at least.

Charlie….a lot of hype but let us wait and see.

Rebus

Celtic Symphony
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Boyata is rated by BR,Jozo is no longer rated by BR,due to being injury prone.He’ll be off in the summer.
I’m intrigued to see Compper.He could bring Ajer and Hendry on.
Bitton ? Sorry.Should have loaned/punted him and Gamboa out.Neither of them are defenders.Bitton won’t get his place back in midfield.
HH Cheers.

Monti
6 years ago

Neither is Ajer, he is being groomed as a pretendy defender who will be found out in bigger games, namely Europe.

Celtic Symphony
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Too harsh,bud.
Ajer has the height,physicality,and pace to be be a very good CB.
He has youth on his side,let’s see him develop before binning him.
Cheers.

Monti
6 years ago

The transfer window was an unmitigated disaster, some of you guys need to open your eyes.
Celtic need to cast their eyes to bigger targets if we are to progress in Europe.
Guys like Bain, Morgan & Hendry will do a job in domestic football, but can they drive the club forward in Europe?

10 in a row is blinding some people to the bigger picture, which is our club being able to compete in the CL not getting regularly humiliated.

Remember the words of Jock Stein – ” Build a side for Europe & Scotland will take care of itself ”

We aren’t doing that!

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti,correct.I note that Dempster held a ST for Liebrox for 20 years.What a surprise that her name is being touted as “successor” at the SFA.Not much will change with that mob.Right,a few holes before the game…….

Monti
6 years ago

What’s happening with the compliance officer btw?
Has he got back to Lawwell with his ‘ findings’ yet? If not how no?
Or are we ‘ moving on ‘ as well now?

Strip the fucking titles!

Mike
6 years ago

Monti, some of what you say I agree with, but big Jocks era no longer exists, even now Wenger is stating openly that the game has been taken over by the money ballers not the foot ballers.
There has to be some action taken by UEFA to stop this, huge influx of money being thrown at certain teams to BUY success at the expense of open competition.
HE’S YOUNG NOT AULD,
HE IS OUR POT OF GOLD,
TIERNEY HEI’S IN THE CELTIC FOLD.
KIERAN TIERNEY. C.S.C.

Macca
6 years ago

“Bain was excellent at Alloa”…..says it all really

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Macca

Lol absolutely!

Broxburnbhoy
6 years ago
Reply to  Macca

Players have to start somewhere. Are we saying any player we buy must have a pre qualified european pedigree? Only those who played in Europe’s top leagues may apply? I wonder if someone had said of Van Dyck – he played well for Groningen and then the rubbishing started – like says it all. Well actually it doesn’t say anything.

Yoker Bhoy
6 years ago

Many of us, myself included, have pretty mixed feelings regarding the window but now that the dust has settled, we just have to crack on with what we’ve got and focus on the job at hand. Despite having no fewer than 8 important players injured, Brendan can still field a pretty strong team. There are quite a few positives at this moment in time: –

1. De Vries and Eboue (two almost forgotten men) have done really well since being called on.

2. A changed system of 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 to greatly bolster the midfield certainly paid off against the jambos. This extra steel in our midfield will not only enable us to completely overrun Scottish teams, it will provide vital protection to our defence as well. It’ll be interesting to see if Brendan uses something like this against the Russians later this month.

3. I believe that the signing of Charly Musonda will provide great entertaimment for the fans and, more importantly, a vital spark of creativity that we have sadly been lacking in of late.

4. There are some initial signs of the feel-good factor that we enjoyed throughout last season coming back again. A high morale among players, technical staff and fans alike will help to carry us through the rest of the season as we continue our quest of winning trophies in Scotland and competing in Europe.

Anyway, today we have to take on a tricky opponent on a tricky artificial surface. I think our selection will be along the lines of:-

(3-4-3)

De Vries

Boyata Simunovic Ajer

Kouassi Brown Ntcham Tierney

Forrest Dembele Sinclair

Subs: Bain Gamboa Hendry Bitton Johnston Musonda Edouard

Hendry, Musonda and Edouard to feature

Prediction: Kilmarnock 0 Celtic 2 (Ntcham & Dembele)

COYBIG

JD (Johnny Doyle)

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Yoker Bhoy

Yoker,
Title stripping? What’s your thoughts?

Yoker Bhoy
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Totally with you on that Monti but a lot of persistence and patience will be required. There are ongoing legal cases which will take a long time to resolve. Living abroad I’m far less well-inforemed than you guys as to what’s going on but I would love to see a complete SFA clearout, the tarnished titles stripped and wholesale changes to the entire Scottish set-up. If we never restore prestige back into our game, at least we can restore some transparency, fair-play, dignity and self-respect. Enjoy today’s game m8.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Yoker Bhoy

Yoker,
There needs to be a mpve to get justice done, justice will be seen to be done if the titles are removed, if not then Celtic need to bring the game down?
Put it this way if i was the Celtic CEO, the compliance officer would be getting hounded every fucking day……..and the rebs would be on the stadium tannoy.

Yoker Bhoy
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Yes, keep the pressure on. I’d like to see more of these online petitions circulating to protest against the SMS, the SFA and even our board for their lack of coherence and perceived lack of interest in all this.

Monti
6 years ago

The ONLY way i will consider turning the page on the cheating years, is for the titles to be stripped, that and only that will do.
This needs to be cranked up to new levels, why is Lawwell not breaking down the compliance officers door?
What are WE going to do if Lawwell does nothing.

Enjoy your prawn sandwich Peter….ALL eyes are on you!

Mike
6 years ago

Sitting at the bottom of the table, hardly winning any games, no players to talk about, every player is rubbish, stadium is a coup,
manager a numpty, nae money, WE ARE DOOMED.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

What we doing about title stripping?

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Or have you ‘ moved on ‘?

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Moved on, don’t think so, I prefer actions over words.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Go on….what actions have you taken then?

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

That’s fur me to know.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

A lotta great bhoys are working away behind the scene doing there best to clean up the Scottish game, bhoys like Auldheid and his merry men, including Ralphy.
The SFM many other bhoys feel the same as we do, THEY are the bhoys, me, I am nothing all I do is to support them in every way that I can. Our debt of gratitude to them grows daily. THEY are the real stars of Scottish fitba. We wish them well.

Mike
6 years ago

Even Wenger is now saying it publicly , fitba. has been taken over by the money balllers, not the foot ballers. UEFA has to somehow stop the money balling in fitba. its buying titles and trophies, we should not be competing with cheating in Scotland or Europe.

Mike
6 years ago

PSG winning the French league by 11 points.
Bayern Munich the same,
Man. City.
Barca. Real Madrid, they are BUYING football titles and trophies.
Sterling saying today they are butchering us by the tackles, its the only way they can stop us. Football true Football is being corrupted by £ £ £.

Honest Hoops
6 years ago

My mixed feelings; are we stronger for Europe…no…are we stronger for winning the league for the foreseeable future…….yes…at a canter….no….will it make the league seem more closer / competitive due to the signings therefore trying to make it look more exciting although the standard has slipped….yes….it’s a business model being developed…a take it or leave feeling I have for this transfer window…

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Honest Hoops

I am the same, mixed feelings, I would have preferred to see a more experienced centre-back coming in and definitely another right back.
When you look at the team overall, they are very young, an awful lot of the players have still a lot of development in them, is that a bad thing? who knows. In Europe, we are still progressing but when we reach the C.L. itself its nigh impossible to compete with these huge money ball teams. When Wenger, a vastly experienced manager starts to complain, even in his league, we must listen and try to exert some pressure on EUFA to get them to reel in the money ballers, to try to make a case for more parity, or else fitba. real fitba. has no real future, like the huns, money balling with stolen money, cheating titles and trophies.

Yoker Bhoy
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Morning Mikey, the whole moneyball thing is becoming increasingly sinister and very visible with the restructuring of next season’s Champions League, the 2022 World Cup in Quatar, the disgusting imparity with regard to TV rights etc etc. There should be a maximum ceiling for both transfer fees and players’ wages, much like the American system they use in the NAFL. Referees should be carefully monitered before selection, UEFA and FIFA should be under constant scrutiny from an international watchdog and any proposed changes should be democratically voted on by representatives of the respective FA’s of each member nation. Wenger’s protest could be a very good sign; I hope many more important figures in international football will now stand up to voice their disapproval.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Yoker Bhoy

Hi Yoker, interesting times, (as usual) I totally agree with you (as usual) we view things the same way. Money, the disparity between leagues and now teams such as PSG, Barca etc. is only adding to the disparity, we need the European governing bodies to sort this out…quickly. When people like Wenger start mentioning it, it is more and more being brought out to the fore. Keep well and KTF. D.D. (Dixie Deans).

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

” in Europe we are still progressing “?
Really?

Mike
6 years ago

Regan, bye bye, McRae the Highland League, still in situ. a loud voice in the scheme of things, Petrie, accountant, still in situ.
We must rid ourselves of these peepil.
Petrie…despised by the Hibee fans.
McRae….someone who cannot even run a tombola draw. Saiz it all really.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Yes we must rid ourselves of these cretins, but we can’t allow their replacements to be their clones.
Craig Brown was telling folk who would listen to him, ” we should bring in someone without a footballing background “?
I mean WTF?

Yoker Bhoy
6 years ago

Musonda to start with Sinclair on the bench.

Mon the Hoops!

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Yoker Bhoy

Yoker,
Just seen the interview with Musonda on BT, the young lad has a lot of belief in himself and he spoke well.
He seems to have the right attitude to succeed, good luck Charly

” Entertain, entertain, entertain ”

COYBIG!

jimmybee
6 years ago

Very strong looking side again.
Good luck to our new signings today.
Good to see 3 at the back again.
Jozo never plays on this surface so a good recruit in Hendry.
Cracking game coming up. Stevie clarke a good guy and knows the game inside out.
COYBIG 4_1 the hoops.
Dembele Charlie Boyata Jamesie all to score.

Yoker Bhoy
6 years ago

Let’s hope he can put on a real show this afternoon. Gaun’ yersel’ Charly bhoy!

Cortes
6 years ago

The stench of hypocrisy from UAE Citeh about fouling is overwhelming, coming as it does from a team with Kyle Walker and Fernandinho. And notable among the whingers is none other than sleekit pooches Sterling.

Nauseating.

Mike
6 years ago

COYBIG. CELTIC, CELTIC.

Una
6 years ago

Well done to the our resident witch doctor monti thats boyata out for month or two.

Una
6 years ago
Reply to  Una

Predictive text put in- the-btw before u say anything.

jimmybee
6 years ago

You forget how much a bad pitch can influence a match. The pitch obviously not been watered and dangerous. Ntcham struggling on the surface and injuries to players that would never happen on a good pitch. Still believe we will win but now much harder.
Disgrace that we have to play on surfaces as this. Looks bad on tv must be worse for the players. Booking for our player a joke.
COYBIG show us your metal.

Mike
6 years ago

The pitch is a bitch, two players out injured WTF. There is a few stray passes but Steve Clark is the best thing to happen to Killie ……ever. Dig in you bhoys in green.

jimmybee
6 years ago

The pitch is a fuckin disgrace obviously never been watered all fuckin week.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

It’s been raining……

Monti
6 years ago

Woeful first half performance, the Kilmarnock keeper has not faced a fucking shot on goal??
Some f these Celtic players need to wake the fuck up & get moving their feet a it fucking quicker.
Injures to Boyata & Ajer have disrupted the flow? however as a team it is not good enough.
GET THE FUCKING FINGER OUT CETIC!

HAIRDRYER TREATMET,BRENDAN, GET THEM FUCKING TELT!

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Spelling Monti, spelling…..

Noelskytrot
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Agreed, Monti. Fecking awful.

jimmybee
6 years ago

Big Hendry doing well thank feck we got him

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Jimmybee,
In what way did Hendry ” do well “?
He looked nervous to me.

Noelskytrot
6 years ago

What a shite 1st half, get the fecking finger oot, Celtic.

jimmybee
6 years ago

The injuries have knocked us back we started well but that has definatly knocked us back.
Ntcham clearly not enjoying the surface no wonder for me Edouard on Ntcham off go for it hoops.

rebus67
6 years ago

One thing is clear from the first half. UNless Ajer and Boyata recover quickly, we shall struggle in defence.

We started with three CBs and now we have one left, Hendry. He has been steady mostly but sometimes his inexperience shows through letting the ball bounce and in his positioning. Both Brown and Boyata were covering for him in the first 10 minutes.

Killie and the ref have disrupted Celtic and we have created zero chances from outfield play.

Kouassi’s booking has weakened the midfield and his enthusiasm has been quelled.

Killie are well organised and now have the confidence to counterattack effectively.

Intriquing game and could go either way. First goal is vital.

Rebus

rebus67
6 years ago

Post gone missing, again

Rebus

jimmybee
6 years ago
Reply to  rebus67

So has mine just as well

Mike
6 years ago

When Kris Boyd runs the Ground….Shakes!!

highseastim
6 years ago

Too much un-needed tinkering with the starting eleven.

rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  highseastim

High,

I agree. Edouard and Dembele played well together. Why change that?

Rebus

Rob(Under par)O'Keeffe
6 years ago

Everything is looking excellent for the rest of the season,the golf that is……right Dermot it’s your honour…..

Una
6 years ago

No coming back from this, as useful as a pencil with no lead.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Una

Sometimes you need to stimulate the pencil before the lead kicks in, you know, sort of turn it on?
Looking at your pic…..i’d doubt that is possible.

Una
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

What pic u cretinous woman hater.

Cartvale88
6 years ago

Who is to blame Lawell or Rodgers, a lacklustre performance of side passing. And back passing, how many shots at goal.
This is not the Celtic way.

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago
Reply to  Cartvale88

Totally correct Gary……

jimmybee
6 years ago

We struggled on a very poor pitch it was Lincoln red imps again.
We lost our 2 Centre backs didn’t help.
But fair play to Killie they deserved it. The goal scorer bullied Ntcham all day long.

highseastim
6 years ago

19 million, we’d be lucky to get 19 thousand for Dembele, midweek game apart he’s been rank rotten this season. McGregor can rest easy this week, at least he won’t be blamed.

Noelskytrot
6 years ago

Absolute rubbish from the team today. We got what we deserved, fuck all. Too many backward and sideward passes. Not good enough.

rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  Noelskytrot

Noel,

Against that type of triple marking there are only two effective moves. Pass the ball to a player who has occupied the space left by the defenders. Secondly, do not try to dribble through them but go to the bye line and cross the ball back across goal. Both Sinclair and Forrest stop when they get a pass, allowing the defenders to gang play them. With Tierney double shifting as a FB and a CB, he could not support attacks down the left wing. Sinclair is not confident enough at the moment to attack on his own. So, he gives the ball away.

On the other flank, neither Hendry nor Brown effectively supported FOrrest. Hence we had no punch at all.

Let’s hope that we suffered the effects of a one time perfect storm: Killie’s game plan; our injuries, and too many changes to the team(forced and unforced).

Rebus

Noelskytrot
6 years ago
Reply to  rebus67

R67,
You’re right about the marking systems etc but I think with our quality of player we should be turning any SPFL team over. Hopefully when we are restored to full strength we’ll be back in business.

rebus67
6 years ago

Excellent example of “Rope a Dope!” Congratulations to Kilmarnock for a good game plan that they executed very well.

Celtic were clueless in the final third.

One of the worst ref displays I have seen. No consistency in Clancy’s decision making at all.It should be highlighted.

Injuries took away our best attacking threat…Tierney.

Dembele ineffective. Ntcham had a poor game, getting caught in possession too often. Kouassi nullified by his booking(unfairly).

Sinclair is powder puff and has lost confidence.

Celtic MOM? Nobody but the best of a clueless bunch would be Tierney, Bitton, Forrest with Hendry making an OK debut.

What was it? One shot on goal in the 88th minute?

Rebus

FredCDobbs
6 years ago
Reply to  rebus67

Tierney was fucking minging. pre and post injuries.

celtic MOM? are you fucking kidding they were all crap sauared. worst player on the park award… stand up james forrest

rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  FredCDobbs

Fred,

I guess we watched different games.

Rebus

FredCDobbs
6 years ago
Reply to  rebus67

did tierney complete a pass once? not counting passes to the back line.

Rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  FredCDobbs

Was there anyone running into space up front?

Tierney ended up double shifting…playing as a CB and then trying to perform as an attacking LB because the attackers were woefull.

Cut him some slack.

Rebus

6 years ago

Musings couldn’t lace rogic boots. Missing our best player. Rogic

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