Menu Close

Celtic Diary Sunday February 4: Lazing On A Sunday Afternoon

Well, thats another defeat.

Image result for panic gif

Bad pitch ? Poor tactics-predictable even ?

Injuries not helping ? Those before and then during the game.

Nah, lets face it. Celtic had an off day, and Kilmarnock had a good day.

The 1-0 win for the resurgent Ayrshire side was a lesson foir Brendan and his players. Not in the sense that it should give everyone a proverbial kick up the proverbial arse, but a lesson in how to grind out a result, with organisation and discipline, against a better side.

One that none of your players would get a game for, one where all the players are outwith your budget…

I’m sure I’ve heard something similar used as in excuse for european hammerings this season. and last season.

If anything positive can be taken from the defeat yesterday its that football is a great leveller…and Kilmarnock set out with a plan and stuck to it. a plan designed to frustrate and negate Celtic.

We should take a leaf out of that particular manual when it comes to Europe.

Celtic didn’t play well. Early injuries to Dedryck boyata and Kristoffer ajer unsettled the team, not least in that none of the players wanted to be the third injury on the day, and so arguably played beneath themselves.

Kilmarnock have been accused of not watering the pitch, shortening the pitch and stopping Celtic from playing football on the pitch.

From their point of view, whatever they did worked.

From our point of view, maybe take heed of that and perhaps become a little more frustrating and negating when we are up against bigger and wealthier clubs…

 

Yesterday was disappointing, especially after the high of the first half performance last Tuesday against Hearts, where the players simply swept all and sundry aside.

But the consistency of last season isn’t there this season, and so every game is now an adventure, and the old bookies lines are being filled in pre match with a little less confidence than we are used to.

It’s not so much about those who have been injured. Tom Rogic and Patrick Roberts have suddenly become world class in their absence, but in trith neither has really put in a decent nonety minute shift, as both are a little too predictable to be considered great players.

However, both are impact players, and when brought into a game after others have worn down defenders, they can be devastating, as they are when used for the first hour to do the wearing down, and others can finish the opposition  off.

Maybe thats whats missing right now, there is less strength in depth when it comes to the imprtant task of chaging a game.

Although Aberdeens act of chucking away nine points to “rangers ” was seen as typical of them, we should be grateful to McInnes for being unable to work out where his true allegiance lay, as three wins for the Dons would have had them sitting at the top of the table this afternoon, and one can only wonder at the meltdown that would have caused on the internet…

 

What to do ?

well, after a transfer window unique in that it actually made the team weaker without selling any star players but bringing in squad numbers, ( Musonda apart ) there’s little that can be done but for us all to get behind the players and hope they can find their rhythm again.

Otherwise it’s going to be a long couple of months.

There’s little doubt that Celtic can still win all three trophies , but that doubt won;t remain that little if something doesn’t change, and change now.

Its time to roll up the sleeves and get on with it.

 

Elsewhere, as you probably noticed, Stewart Regan has goibem and the SFa are wondering whether a replacement for him should come before a replacement for the national manager, and if that should happen before they decide on a national stadium or a new sponsor.

It’s a clusterfuck, and hiring Leeann Dempster, of Hibernian , as the media seem to be angling for, isn;t the way forward. It’s a sort of sideways pass, in fact.

When the new CEO is chosen, and thats the priority right now, he or she must have had no prior connection, either personally or professionally to anyone currently or previouly involved with the SFA.

Although Regan was head of the organisation, the others on the board are equally responsible for all the mistakes of the last decade and beyond.

They, too, must be asked to resign.

In the meantime, an independent review or inquiry into the business and dealings of the SFA over the last ten years, including a full audit, must be commissioned by the Scottish government.

If only to put our minds at rest…

and while thats going on, how about a mass resignation of clubs from the SFa, or at least the threat of it ?

If Scottish football does not seize this moment to clean itself up, it never will.

Get rid of all of them, and start again.

 

 

 

0 0 votes
Article Rating
144 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
D'Fhinnein Mick
6 years ago

RALPH

The pitch is FIFA sanctioned.

As for mass resignations,rules state that player registration reverts to the SFA in such a case.

Strangely not applied in 2012,but you better believe it would be in future.

Tim Buffy
6 years ago

“Stuart Regan has goibem?”
Hope he can get cream or pills for it.

Morto
6 years ago
Reply to  Tim Buffy

Hope he can’t!

BJF
6 years ago

Haven’t seen a game since PT but there are good coaches at most of the clubs now and BR will need to vary thingsmore. New guys have to settle, we are no longer invincible but the strongest squad in the league. Don’t follow how bringing in players made us weaker, don’t panic Capt. Mannering, pitch and injuries were probably a leveller.

Hueymac
6 years ago

The pitch is a disgrace to top flight football and is always going to favour The home side. That said, we played right into their hands. By the time we constantly passed the ball across the back line or back to goal, they had 10 men behind the ball every time.
We lacked pace, guile and and directness to draw them out. Forrest and Sinclair should have driven at them and committed them which may have created some space to get in behind them but their First touch was invariably to pass the ball back,
Not a disaster but thought it a strange statement that Brendan said on that type of surface, you need more technical players. On that shithole of a surface??.

Monti
6 years ago

The thing is, if we had won the match, no one would give two fucks about the pitch.
Celtic’s build up is too slow and ponderous, allowing opponents time to get back into position and regroup.
You can go through the whole line up last night and ask them if that was good enough for Celtic football club?
Was that performance befitting their status as Celtic players? No was it fuck, so each and every fucking one of you WAKE THE FUCK UP, starting next week v Partick Thistle!
We need more from these players individually & as a team, the players have had their fortnight in Dubai, was it no fucking long enough?

NO shots on target in 90 mins v Kilmarnock, that is fucking embarrassing!
It’s time to stop the back slapping & banging on about fucking trebles & unbeaten runs, these were great things and the manager and players deserve all the credit for that incredible run, but it’s in the past and we need to go again and get the team flying.

I don’t think Hendry should be getting thrown in from the start, let him come on off tge bench when we are leading well, that way he can express himself with the pressure off.

Celtic v Partick Thistle 4-3-3

Bain

Gamboa
Simunovic
Bitton
Tierney

Brown
Ntcham

Sinclair
Mcgregor
Forrest

Dembele

Get the fucking finger oot!

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

4-2-3-1*

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago

I notice Zenit have been in Dubai for a while,preparing to visit the intimidating fortress that is Parkhead.Mancini is promising that they are keeping their goals for the Celtic games.C’mon Roberto,giesabrek,I know we had one but it doesn’t seem to have helped in any way.
Tickets for Zenit are still available.Some wealthy guy on here stated that Celtic fans could fill the stadium twice over even with prices that are,in this financial climate,steep for the ordinary guy with a couple of kids.Plc though,business is business……

Cartvale88
6 years ago

Gambia, are you having a laugh.
Agree regarding your other depressing issues. Give Clarke his due, he arranges his team, firstly to make them difficult to beat, secondly breakaways.
We had no one to break through their lines, consistently trying to play through them , Mussanda came in and suffered from the sideways system.
The way Celtic play is being Sussed out by the opposition, BR has to go more directly with his style of play.
Great result for Lenny, a team up for a fight, the knuckledraggers are beiling today, makes up for the loss in dankest Ayrshire.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Cartvale88

Cartvale,
Brendan brought him to the club, so should you not be directing that at Brendan?

BondiBrian
6 years ago
Reply to  Cartvale88

“Great result for Lenny, a team up for a fight, the knuckledraggers are beiling today, makes up for the loss in dankest Ayrshire”

No for me it doesnay. The huns, for me are irrelevant. Another team winning doesnay make up for a Celtic defeat as the league stands.

Anyhoo..MON THE HOOPS!

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  BondiBrian

” makes up for the loss “?
Does it fucking really?
So it doesn’t matter Celtic lost as long as Sevco lose?

What fucking thought process is this?

schoosh71
6 years ago

Now that regan has gone, we need the SPFL to ‘take out’ the SFA.Outsourcing the funds that required by EACH and EVERY school. NEEDS of A sports scientist to be appointed in EVERY school but the crux of the matter is, this will stop at the SNP who will not fund before they eerily self implode (they have to go, all of them.:)

I think the real loss in the Football fraternity goes deep into exactly what has been done to support them associated in helping these kids.
From where I’m Standing the kids have given up a whole lot, in that they weren’t allowed to play for school teams or even have a kickabout with their friends. the clubs treat the kids as if are in business with depreciated assets although they might no know it. HH

D J Smyth
6 years ago

Pitch been FIFA sanctioned is a red herring .
Pitch needs to be kept in a certain manner , simple thing about correct amount of watering makes a massive difference .
Pitch was narrowed & shortened & that is very sharp practice . Referee was brilliant throughout , he used two different criteria to decide what constituted fouls & cards , one set for Killie & one set for Celtic & he never mixed them up.

I respect our young players who would had their reservations of the pitch from outset & would had their worse fears confirmed by the early injuries to both our centre defenders . Players didn’t want to end their 2018 season at the start of Feb & I wouldn’t blame them

Morto
6 years ago
Reply to  D J Smyth

Regards refereeing, checked the stats at half time:
Celtic fouls 3, cards 2.
Killie fouls 10, cards 0.
No wonder they were hard to break down.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Morto

Aye it was the referee, the pitch oh…and the masons 🙂

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Mentor? Lol

You are a trolling piece of shit!

BondiBrian
6 years ago

The pitch was a disgrace, nae other word for it. The ref was rubbish. But Celtic were shite N aw. So, lesson learned ah hope.

MON THE HOOPS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monti
6 years ago

Odd…an unprovoked attack by Una on myself, completely and utterly unprovoked attack i may add, telling me to ” go fuck yourself ” and accusing me of being happy if not willing Celtic players to be injured……..

And that’s me ” starting on Una “?

Fuck off!

Fud

BondiBrian
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Sakeman, he’s auld enough ti fight his ain battles.

Pure ridneck stepping in.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  BondiBrian

Because he’s probably stoned out his pus!

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Weered, it’s words on a white background, it means nothing to me what they say.
Words matter when they come from people you respect, anything else is a drop in the Ocean.

HH

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Gary Bawgag,
My Mother & Father didn’t teach me much now i come to think of it…..i learned a lot more from your mother.
A very educated and giving person!

BondiBrian
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

“Bondibrian why do you take everything so literally…???”

Oh, the irony.

Big Shuggy
6 years ago

How are all the Etim bed wetters today? Pampers changed refreshed and ready to go? Good

So another two players go off injured to join the 8 already injured.
Playing a team on a terrible plastic pitch that have been playing well and have been well organised by Steve Clarke.

Yesterday we didn’t play well,maybe Brendan put his faith in to many youngsters. Was this due to injuries? i am not sure.

Monti our resident cure for insomniacs and head bed wetter said we shouldn’t be getting beat by a team with Kirk the hun broadfoot in it.
Every team loses games they shouldn’t have.
We had roy Keane in the team when we lost to clyde,unfortunately the older ones among us will be able to give us many examples of games we should have won but lost.Even the Lions lost games.

We lost a game get over it but keep the pampers on as i think you might have a few more wet nights before the end of the season

BroxburnBhoy
6 years ago

Could be a conspiracy!

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  BroxburnBhoy

Its a theory that rings troo, because, the names may change but the text remains the same, also there is a common subject
masonic bastards. 😉

Mike
6 years ago

Here’s the thing Gary, Gringo, Garrincha, We are not daft, we know that there is a cabal of freemasonry around Scotland and the U.K. you just have to look at the local papers to see the number of Lodges, we know that the refs. the huns, the Royal family, business, the SFA. It reaches into all elements of U.K. society, especially the Polis. So it wouldn’t come as a big surprise to think that the Celtic board are as embedded in it as well. Where there’s muck there’s brass, the auld
saying goes, the trick is to look out fur the signs and when you receive the squirmy fingers recognise it for what it is, another tit looking to fuck you over, Baden Powell was probably one as well
as he saiz “Be Prepared”.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

BTW I have copyright over FUR and all other funny wee sayings, like
yoo, troo bloo et cetra and yoo hiv tae pay me to utilise those words.
By my calculations, your due me a tenner. Yoo cood argue that I am a masonic bastard, but bastards ok, masonic, no way Jose.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

SSHHHUOOSH its a secret! fiddly fingers type welcome.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Well said Baldy, but knowing that its there and being able to stop it, well that is another matter entirely, perhaps you could enlighten me, on how to help stop it, i’m always willing to listen and to learn. Baldy you wont be the first poster to question my (cough) poetry, others have suggested that its rank, dinny see that masell though. Mibbee we could share that trunk load of your prose, mine are beginning to run oot.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

I did reply….Baldy, but some masonic bastard stole ma post.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Weered,
Absolutely……brother!

PK
6 years ago

I’m glad to see a new and young team emerging under Brendan, one possibly for the future in Europe. And remember, Scotland is not that easy. I’m sure in time things will get better than ever imagined. Right behind the team.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  PK

PK,
We are ALL behind the team & manager, but it is right to point out the things that aren’t going right.

Mike
6 years ago

I lied the “Dave Clark Five” cos i.m feelin Glad all over, but Steve Clark is beginning to get on my large breasts.

6 years ago

The park was a disgrace. I think in future if the park is like a thread bare carpet Celtic should refuse to play on it. Brendan will have the full support of the supporters and hopefully the board. tell the ref it is a danger to our players and could cost us millions if our players are injured. Concede the game give them the 3 points and go home. The publicity would be fantastic.

Saying that Celtic were absolutely shite and the best thing about the day was Rodgers admitting it as well as some of the players. Happens sometimes. It could have been worse 3 or4 nothing with the chances that they missed. But we need to do something about things like the pitches before the season starts not after getting beat.
On another site they were actually saying the players look as if they lack a bit of confidence and they ere actually wondering why. Jesus you don’t need to be a football genius to work it out. they have not been the same since the European campaign when they were humiliated for two months running. Of course this has an effect on players because they begin to think maybe I am just an SPL ham and egger and maybe I shouldn’t be on the same park as these guys. This has bled into the domestic form and Celtic have been a dshadow of the team of last year. No one is looking for a repeat last season was a one -off but if we are being honest Celtic have been worse than shite in about 3/4 qrs of the games this season, particularly aT Celtic Park. Too much ‘in Brendan we trust, don’t criticise our unbeaten heroes’ pish as well. And now every one is beginning to have a go because it is practically week in week out that they are performing poorly. Aberdeen away and Hearts during the recent game in the first half are the only games that Celtic have been anywhere near the standard of last season.

Many of the players got swept up in the unbeaten run and the 67 celebrations and performed regularly way above what they are capable of doing consistently. Sinclair is the best example. Scott Sinclair is doing with us what he has done at every club he has been at; he performs well, geta a big move, goes back to his usual standard gets punted and performs well for a while, then slips back and gets punted. Sinclair is not as good as he played lastss eason. he won’t be that good for us again. I believe he will be attempting ‘to rebuild his career in the Championship after a torrid 18 months at Celtic’ next January. we will get 1.5 mil for him from Hull/Preston/Sunderland or some other. Remember 6 moths ago some Celtic supporters were saying he would challenge for a place in the England team for the WC.

The team is very predictable at the moment and I feel strange saying this about any Celtic team but they are dreadful to watch. Boring as hell. The manager needs to inject some life into them and not only get them winning regularly (4 games in a row would be a start) but also entertaining us again.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  john

John,
Very well said!

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Talking of Semen….how is your mother?

D J Smyth
6 years ago
Reply to  john

John it was because the pitch was a disgrace & as you say Celtic should have refused to play on it , because of that the Celtic players had no confidence , they were afraid to turn , change speed jump or do any of the things that are done naturally on a football pitch . It’s not the artifical pitch itself that is so dangerous , it’s the way Steve Clarke had the pitch prepared . He is just as low down a cheat as Smith Mc Coist Calderwood Mc Cann. & the rest of them

Mike
6 years ago

Its absolutely right to criticise the team manager and players, everyone knows that, everyone recognises that, players lose form or confidence, or come up against a team that has someone with a point to prove. We have to acknowledge that apart from a threadbare pitch, Stevie Clarke is doing a fantastic job at Kilmarnock, his results back that up. We acknowledge that the team is only showing glimpses of how it performed last season, but you must take a barrow load of injuries into account, a full teams worth. All elements come into the equation, its what you do about them to overcome these elements.
It seems to me though that although supporters are entitled to express criticism, some elements of the support cannot wait to shout out about whatever there perceived criticism’s are. If its not one thing its another, perhaps its a sign of the times that we live in, or perhaps its just that they like to moan. For me, I love that our travelling support sing and sing and express their love of the team and mostly give it their full backing. Players react to criticism but they also react to praise and encouragement,
its when the sticky times appear that the players need our full support. God Bless The Celtic.

Monti
6 years ago

Dismayed to see some of us going on about pitches….do we think our players have never played on this type of surface before?
Like i said previously, if we win well we wouldn’t mention the pitch, so we can’t when we lose.
Team selection/formation & players application were to blame for us losing, fuck all else.

Mulumbu had a good game up against Broony and suddenly he’s Real Madrid bound.
Stevie Clarke is a guy i like but just because he organises a side well suddenly he’s a master tactician?
I don’t get that, what i do get is OUR side and it’s Jekyll & Hyde decide when to fucking turn up or not.
The hairdryer treatment is needed & i hope Brendan fucking drills it into them today at training.

God bless the Pope!

Rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti,

I agree with your points about the pitch and about the team selection.

Are you saying that it is time for BR to go? He seems to be firm in terms of how he wishes to play. He has responsibility for onfield performance.

Rebus

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Rebus67

Rebus,
ANYONE who wants Brendan to go is clearly insane, but i’m not going to hide from clear issues with our club/team/players.

Rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti,

We are agreed on that. How about suggesting some workable solutions?

I am suspending myself from the blog for at least two weeks after my performance today with you and Mike.

Bye,

Rebus

Mike
6 years ago

When the Norwegian was manager, I read pretty much on a weekly basis about Brown and how bad he was, no one knew that he had a bad injury with his hamstring and that he was playing through the pain barrier giving his all for the team. Fuck me this weekend I read some twat saying that young K.T. was minging, a young lad who if you cut up his arm, like a stick of Blackpool rock, it would say CELTIC, he lives and breaths Celtic. Critisism also of young Hendry, playing his first game fur the Tic. another like K.T. an ex ball boy at Celtic Park, of course he would be nervous, who wouldnt be, I thought that he was brilliant. We only guess at what is going on behind the scenes, we know absolutely nothing, just guessing. God Bless the Celtic.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

” Brilliant “? Come oan tae fuck yoo…..

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Away in raffle yersell, The team you picked up the thread has Gamboa in it, Gamboa FFS. a player that left Celtic in the lurch at last seasons C.L. qualifiers to play in an International friendly, he needs punted pdq. Thank feck Ralston’s on his way back.
# Not in my name.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Mike,
But Brendan brought Gamboa to the club, are you sayng that was a mistake?
Also we have a defensive crisis, yet you don’t want to consider playing Gamboa, an experienced international defender? But….you think young Ralston is going to return from injury and everything will be sorted.?
Lol.
Why bring Gamboa to the club and not use him even sparingly?

Celtic Symphony
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Morning,Monti.
Yes,Gamboa was a mistake.
But,tell me one Manager,even Ferguson at United,who has got it 100% right ‘re transfers ?
Killie deserved their win.
Injuries,meant KT couldn’t get down left wing to create.
Bitton in defence is a liability.
He was at fault for goal,ball went right by him.
On to Cup on Sat.
Unique Treble to be won !
HH

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Brendan wanted the Liverpool right back as far as I know Wilson I think, but yes Gamboa was a mistake and we have a problem at right back. We need a right back with the same quality as K.T. Gamboa is mince.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Btw you are putting words into your answers saying what I said about bringing in young Ralston and everything defensively will be sorted, now I never said any such thing, again you are distorting what I said.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

” puting words into my answers “?
How can i write a post without puting words in it ?

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

A good idea that, you not posting words, just signs
and here is one fur you. V.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Mike,
Andre Wisdom

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

🙂

BondiBrian
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Boyata gets slated every week by some. Brendan picks him.

“But Brendan brought Gamboa to the club, are you sayng that was a mistake?”

Totally inconsistent and IMO myopic take on individuals in the team.

The Roaster is one of the first ti bleat on & aboot ” In Brendan we trust”

Buckknows whut relevance the pope hus ti dae wi Celtic gettin done by Killie.

Id be very surprised if the Roatser was even a practicing catholic. But ah suppose if he bleats on aboot the pope then we know he’s no a proddie.

Sad really.

Mike
6 years ago

Yes Weered he certainly was, patriots don’t you just love them.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Well Baldy having visited Rome often and being an Italia phile, all my life, your wrong there, you see that is the problem with blogs, you really don’t know the other posters and people often make the wrong assumptions about other posters. If you and I ever met face to face and had a discussion about, well everything, only then you would be able to make a judgement about the other person.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Well then Baldy, I have nothing to fear, being that I am a truthful person, even to my moniker.
To me the real problem with society is people who want power, power over other people, their selfishness, greed and naked ambition to do everything that they can, to the extent of treating the weak and infirm with abject disdain, there is a name for them, they are called politicians.
Nothing emphasises that more than the Romans.
BTW if we were ever to meet face to face, I would be required to frisk you.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

No never a cop, 35 years in business and 25 years in farming, never ever claimed to be the smartest or the cleverest, just an ordinary Joe. who tries to live his life honestly and who treats people, those who deserve it, with respect.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Yes respect is a word that I have a lotta time for, the vast majority of Tims on here are respectful, but respect has to be earned and it is not a definitive subject. Now I don’t know ANY of the board members and because I don’t know them I will not comment on them individually. Although I have a copy of the accounts, I have not had the time or the inclination to read them, when I do read them I might have a better understanding of them. But I know that it takes an awful lot of money to maintain the stadium, lennoxtown, the management team and the playing pool. What I am suspicious about is money being set aside to pay for the cost of the new hotel and museum, I am very suspicious of that. I also know conversing with Weered is that he is a decent and honourable man, having met Monti on a couple of occasions I can assure you that he is a decent person, who likes a laugh and a wind up. Neither of them I recognise in your descriptions, they are not criminals either, just two decent bhoys. Who if you met them you would enjoy their company.
Another thing that I know is that there is a lot of intelligent Tims who like you love our club and would be the first to call “Foul” if any sign of criminality was observed by the board, naturally like you they see them with deep suspicion, suspicion is not an absolute thing, proof is another matter and if any proof of this appears, you will here that cried from here to Babalon.
Please tell Una, that we are asking for her and wish to see her back on the blog. Respect to you and yours.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Mike,
Thanks for your kind words, the feeling, as you know, is mutual!

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago

I don’t buy into this nonsense about tactical geniuses like Clarke.Park the bus for most of the game trying to catch us out on the break or at a set piece,narrow a pathetic pitch.Note that Celtic mostly play up the left wing with KT usually having to do most of the work.Simply,get your multiple defenders to drift over to that side leading to Celtic stalling and going into backpass mode.Then it’s the to me to you garbage at the back.The amount of times Forrest stands in loads of space without receiving the ball is a joke.All teams have sussed out how Celtic play,despite some players saying that we have something up our sleeves.Have yet to see evidence of this.Some of us do have contacts at various levels at Celtic and let’s just say,things are not happy clappy at Our Club.A couple more defeats,will heads drop even further? KTF?

6 years ago
Reply to  Rob O'Keeffe

Good post rob

Rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  Rob O'Keeffe

Rob,

You cannot leave it like that! If you do not want to name names, give us a gist of the problems. Manager vs Board? Manager vs players.?Players vs players? Que?

Rebus

ROB O'KEEFFE
6 years ago
Reply to  Rebus67

Rebus, you are respected on here. I’m at work but will give you more details later. See if it turns up. WordPress is a. nightmare for me. HH

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  ROB O'KEEFFE

Rob,
I’m still struggling with this TAX RETURN form….do you know someone who can assist? 🙂

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Rebus67

Walloper!

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

RAZZLE was decent!

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago
Reply to  Rebus67

Reply to Rebus and Gary.Hope it turns up,unlike the Roll of Honour.
Firstly players.Good bunch,get on pretty well.Some are not happy and want to leave.Armstrong,Dembele,Simunovic and couple of others.Manager v players.Players(not all) dislike certain training methods and two have been very vociferous about this.An example,as D.Mond pointed out,was training in the snow when injury list was already growing.Anyone not toeing BR’s line has info leaked to certain journalists portraying them as not being well behaved off the park etc.Players have pointed out that we can’t persist with this “European” style of football in the Scottish league,we have to play the Celtic Way and also not get bullied by the hammer throwers.Davies stated Dembele would probably leave only to be hauled over the coals.Manager v Board.Does anyone think BR is happy with amounts of cash being made available?Dealing in hundreds of thousands in bids ? Board have put him in his place.His signings,in general,have been poor and not strengthened where we badly needed it but that’s the vicious circle.The Board know that we are not going to be sitting at the top table,4 qualifiers to even reach the C.L. groups?Why invest heavily is their reasoning? The Board.As you state G man,we were meant to be cash rich,relatively,but all of a sudden it costs a fortune to run Celtic and again,you are correct,questions have to be asked about “operating expenses”.The Board.P.L.receives severe abuse but could walk into a much better remunerated job any time.He is good at what he is allowed to do.Again G man,you are correct,there are sinister elements at Parkhead,hence the no shouting about stripping titles and the recent joint bid with the Sooside Sectarians to prise Scotland games away from Hampden.Business as usual…..

Noelskytrot
6 years ago

Gaz,
on Prince Philip. Two of his sisters were married to high ranking Nazi’s and he wasn’t adverse to a bit of seig heiling, in fact most of the royal parasites were into it.

Noelskytrot
6 years ago

Always good to read the differing opinilns on here but I just want to say….Let’s get right into all these thumb tapping feckers that play in the SPFL. C’mon Celtic.

Celtic Symphony
6 years ago

Are you seriously saying,the gap is the same between us and PSG,as between us and Killie,therefore we should be able to do a Killie on PSG,Bayern and Barca ?
Dearie me !
Talk about being negative.
Could be a long 2 months ? Yes,if your glass is half-empty.
Thank God,my glass is half-full,and I’m looking forward to a historic back-to-back Treble,never achieved before in Scottish football.
Nurse for Ralph !

6 years ago

What i don’t understand is giving the ball to a player who is double marked while others are free. Too one dimensional. Musonda and Sinclair had to beat two men to get a cross in therefore failed to do so most of the time. Sinclair was doing this for fun last season but it has not worked this season there must be someone free to make a run and create space unless we are playing against 13 men. During the first half Musonda got the ball and was quickly tracked by 3 defenders and the ball eventually ends up going back rignt into our own half. where is the movement? i know space was tight but surely we have the players to create a wee bit of space through imagination and intelligence.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  john

John,
Good points!

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  john

Rogic and Armstrong and wee Paddy Roberts, players out injured, creative players.

6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Spot on mike, too early for musonda to find his feet. Different game in Scotland. Brendan plays European style football it doesn’t always work when you’re playing against hardy Scotsman on their own patch fighting for their lives. In a war of attrition the game gets evened up especially when you’re creative players like rogic and Roberts are injured

BondiBrian
6 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Musonda is gonny get clattered every gemm he plays in the SPLF. Hope he gets used ti it cos the ref’s will no protect him.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  BondiBrian

Bondi,
Agreed!

Monti
6 years ago

Big Shuggy,
What you on about?

Monti
6 years ago

Blessed are the cheesemakers!

Mike
6 years ago

To me the reason that K.T. is used more often, is because he is the best out ball, playing up to Sinclair, who is being double marked and yes he although scoring more often than we think, doesn’t appear to be linking as effectively with the forwards as often as he was last season.
The reason to me that he K.T. is being used more is because our right back Lustig is out injured and because of this the service to Forrest has been limited. Everyone was saying rightly that centre-backs was the problem, but for me another problem area is right back, Lustig looks as if he has been injured for a while, will Ralston be a good replacement for Lustig, we hope so, he in my opinion is better at defending. Clarke doesn’t need to be a tactical genius to set up his team effectively, he does play up to his strengths however, a terrible pitch, being narrowed and a defensive set up, playing to his strengths. What I don’t understand is how a team that blows Hertz away could not be retained to do the same at Kilmarnock, injuries perhaps and we have a barrow load a full teams worth.

Rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Monti,

I agree with most of that, especially the Sinclair part. I think last season the 4231 worked because 1. Sinclair was not only playing on the left wing, but was playing across the park linking with both Dembele and other parts of the “3”. 2. Dembele was on fire and taking most of his chances. Neither of these things are happening this season for a variety of reasons.

Now for a difficult question for you. Your posts are understandably negative towards the team/manager at the moment. What do you think should happen? Are you saying BR should go….Because it is his team, his tactics and his responsibility for onfield performance. He is making the decisions that matter vs Hearts, Killie and all the other domestic teams. Should he be replaced?

Rebus

Rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  Rebus67

For Pete’s sake! I meant “Mike”!!! The last post is addressed to Mike.

I guess I love you too much, Monti! You are always on my mind and other crap tunes. Set me free from this torment!

Sorry for the confusion. I guess I can write of my last comment.

Maybe I should just chuck this blogging lark.

Crap, crap, crap! Kicks chair across the room,

Rebus

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Rebus67

😉

Rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Mike,

Sorry. No excuses, just Sorry.

I shall give the blog a rest.

Rebus

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

No, No way Jose and there is absolutely no apologies required, I/we value your input into all things fitba.
If you go, then we will come and getu.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

🙂

6 years ago

If someone’s double marked then there’s space somewhere else tharlts where guys like musonda need to come into play. Dembele has to move his sizeable buttocks to give a lead.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

We don’t move the ball quickly enough, you will have seen Brendan shouting “two touch’s” trying to encourage them to move the ball quicker
when we move the ball quicker the opposition don’t have time to close them down. Also by not having a good right back Forrest has to come back deeper to collect the ball. I don’t know the reason why they are not moving the ball quicker, this sideways shuffle only gives opposition teams more time to adjust and recover their positions.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Mike,
James Forrest isn’t immune from criticism, he was poor on Saturday & i expect more from him.
Dispossessed too easily at times on Saturday, he needs to keep tbe ball better than that.
I don’t expect Forrest or Sinclair to just go flying past people EVERY time they get on the ball, but i do expect them to be brave on the ball & show more for the ball.
James went on the outside of his marker ONCE during that game, they double up and he has to come inside.
He needs to be braver on the ball & demand the ball more, Kilmarnock were far too comfortable on Saturday.
Sinclair? Get’s his fair amount of goals but double the missed sitters.

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

No your right he is not, but my point is that because Lustig is out injured Forrest has to come back more to collect the ball. He and Lustig have been complimenting one another in the way that allows both of them or one of them to stay wide. to stretch the game.

6 years ago

Look we missed Griffs movement against Kilmarnock the rbs do an ok job. Forrest at times had to drop deeper because the ball was being lost up front and in midfield because of sideways passing which gave the opposing team the time to keep their shape. Armstrong and rogic drove the midfield last year with brown. Now it’s something else. Too many changes to the line up and maybe a bit of arrogance by rodgers judgement in believing any formation or personnel he’s chosen to do the job. The backline were fine you can’t blame young Hendry here. He did everything right. The injuries to Ajer and boyata didn’t help. I don’t think there would have been a game in Scotland played on Saturday where two centre backs had to come off plenty of teams have played at rugby park this year without losing two defenders in the one game. Maybe the training methods need to change

6 years ago

I was surprised that the team was changed from Tuesdays. Big Jozo glass knees saw hnedry coming in and he was OK but i don’t understand why he played Musonda. Would it not be better to give Charley his debut on a pitch like celtic Park and try to give him a perfect full debut, resulting in a fully confident player. Surely playing Eduoard and Dembele and getting the ball forward quickly and unsettling Kilmarnock would have been the way to go rather than try to play silky football on that surface against a committed team. Also lashing the ball at the goal whenever within sight might have produced a few on target and the amount of bobbles could have seen a shot or two end up anywhere. It was not a day for a total football exhibition and we persisted in trying to do the same thing. Sinclair was also the wrong sub but who else was on the bench. Would McGregor not have been better. However, I am first to admit that in the great scheme of things I know next to fuck all.

Mike
6 years ago

# Me too.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Definetely Mike, fucking clueless 😉

Mike
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

😉

Mike
6 years ago

The thing is, you pay big money to bring in a new player, his sole desire is to play fitba. its the reason Musundo came to Celtic, he’s fit locked and loaded, good to go. Plus the more he plays the more he gets integrated into the team, he gets to know how the other players play, that’s the obvious reason why he was picked, but with that pitch, i’m not sure that I would have played him, horses for courses.

Mike
6 years ago

Your wrong there Shuggy bhoy, try eating Monti, its like eating leather, Gary Baldies though are very very tasty.

6 years ago

Dembele is a bit of a viduka. Everything in his locker waiting to move on. Nearly carbon copies of each other. His heart isn’t there enough like vidukas wasn’t. Celtic are a stepping stone we all know it. He now has the comfort knowing he will be picked because we don’t have anyone else

BondiBrian
6 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Ian ah met a guy in Croatia who owns ah sports shop ah went in, ah got talking aboot fitbaw. He knows Viduka & his family well. He say the Viduka admits ‘taking the piss wi Celtic’ only played aboot %60-70 of his potential and was never really bothered unless he knew there were scouts in the stand.

( BTW ah got a cracking free Maradonna T Shirt of the bloke in the shop! )

Iancelt67
6 years ago
Reply to  BondiBrian

Wish he’d have upped the anti v rangers that season I remember one particular game at parkhrad where he missed sitter after sitter only to get a legit goal chalked off. Then Danny Wallace scores their one chance. Hunbelievable!!!!

6 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Or was it rod Wallace ?

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  BondiBrian

Did you & the wife get some free white powder with the Diego Armando Maradona top?

Sniff.

jrw
6 years ago

Agree with much of what is being written here today.
Yes, the pitch is a disgrace, but we ought to have been good enough to win; we have done so many times before on Rugby Park’s plastic pitch, but then again SC knows what he is doing and knows our to organise a side to defend well. And other managers see this too – most are now pressing us high up the park and double teaming on Sinclair.
We are far too slow at getting the ball forward at times – too many sideways and back passing – we need to be quicker such as we were against Hearts last Tuesday, especially in the first half. Then again sometimes patience is needed as well organised teams will take time to break down. But far too often we see players in space, but no one has the vision or ability to pick them out with a decent pass.
There is another consideration: a ridiculously congested fixture list; what is the point of having a short winter break when there are nine games to be played in December first, followed by four in the last part of January and then seven in February? I think this asks too much of the players, and it is not just a matter of physical exhaustion, there is also mental tiredness too. Keeping up such a high pace is a tall order, even for the best of players. They are not robots and although we rightly agree with the motto ‘Celtic jerseys don’t shrink to fit inferior players’, avoiding injuries, less time for recovery, playing with an extremely high levels of expectation and an unrelenting demand for 90 minute plus alertness is much more of a challenge when games come thick and fast. There has hardly been any break for the team over the last two years with two early starts for Champions League qualifiers, the intensity of the six group stages games, so it is little wonder to me that they are running out of steam and suffering so many injuries.

Celtic Symphony
6 years ago

I thought Twitter was bad !
The negativity towards Brendan and the team,on here,is shameful.
Every team has dips in form.Our players aren’t robots.We were spoiled last season,which was unique.
Faithful through and through ?
Are we in a great position for another Treble ?
I rest my case.
Brendan Rodgers CSC
HH

Celtic Symphony
6 years ago

Plants vs Zombies ? lol
OR
Psychoactive plant ?
Stay off the weed !

Monti
6 years ago

Bondibrian might not agree with that.

Celtic Symphony
6 years ago

Just back in,from Peter’s mansion,GB.
Getting frosty out there,as well.lol
Thank God,Pete’s driveway is heated.His chauffeur kindly drove my car back home for me.Couldn’t believe the room Pete has on his driveway for so many cars !

He sends his love,GB.

Monti
6 years ago

CS,
LOL…..Don’t let this clown get you down m8

Celtic Symphony
6 years ago

I don’t let anybody get me down,Monti.
Not even the Mrs.lol

Mike
6 years ago

I have some sympathy for Symphony, you see when you love a club and have done fur many years, you are brought up to admire the great things that the support brings to the club, the good it does for many, many causes, its difficult to read that its being bought/brought
into disrepute by its so called leaders. To me the club isn’t about the “Leaders” its the support and the manager and the team and when they are constantly belittled and derided, well it gets on your tits, you want to scream…”shut the fuck up” stop with the negativity, of course I would never do that, because to me its the way of our World as we know it.

Celtic Symphony
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

I don’t need or want sympathy,Mike.
I’m not a happy clapper,or board plant.lol
Yes,I also have issues,’re our board’s make up,and governance.
However,as a fan,a supporter,whose hardly missed a home game in 40 yrs,I like to concentrate on the team/Manager.
My gripe is,these are great times for Tims(football wise).For any fan to say otherwise,then they are seriously deluded.
Cheers.

Monti
6 years ago

Boyata out!

Mike
6 years ago

Symphony has my sympathy,

You know that he loves the Tic.
the negativity is making him sick,
he’s fair ragin, at the bunch of pricks,
who shouts Brendan oot, ya bunch awe dicks.

Celtic Symphony
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Yes,Mike.Nice one.
All for constructive criticism.
Such is fiba,Killie done a number on us.It happens,circumstances didn’t help,but the league wasn’t lost.lol
Back to winning ways at home on Sat,was only a week ago,we played very well against Herts.
That’s fitba !
HH

Mike
6 years ago

No it really was shite, that sorry excuse fur a poem, but in the main I agree with a lot that you post, I did post a reply to you before but it got lost in the Foggy Dew. “Don’t let the bastards get you down”. an apt saying, always stay true to your thoughts. Variety is the spice of life. T.G. (Tommy Gemmell).

Celtic Symphony
6 years ago
Reply to  Mike

All about perspective,Mike.
I take other viewpoints on board.However,too many seem to be panicking,on here,and it’s all doom and gloom ?
Our form is concerning,but injuries to key players don’t help.
I have faith,in a Manager,we are really lucky to have.
Cheers.HH

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago

No need to panic.Just simple facts.The team look dispirited and multiple injuries haven’t helped.We are now looking over our shoulders but players coming back should give us a second wind and get us to the Double Treble.HHGF7.

BondiBrian
6 years ago

Dunno aboot anyone else but the Killie gemm makes me vey buken fearful of Zenit comin ti toon.

Monti
6 years ago

Bondibrian,
Likewise!

Big Shuggy
6 years ago

Ralston played in the 3-0 victory over St Johnstone this afternoon in the sfa youth cup.

Could the defence for the zenit game be Ralson simunovic Hendry and tierney?

charlie
6 years ago

the narrowed doon lumpa baldy carpet for a pitch and the injuries wer a big leveller maisty the team looked like the wer runnin oan eggshells but fuckit these things happen roll on saturday COYBIG

charlie
6 years ago
Reply to  charlie

fuckin referee wis a disgrace anaw the guy mulumba loooked no a bad player but if broon woulda ran about tacklin like that he woulda been aff

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  charlie

Baws!

charlie
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

nae baws

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  charlie

Any other excuses Charlie?
The pitch?
Thr ball not having enough air in it?

charlie
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

no excuses mate …facts

jimmybee
6 years ago

We got beat 1_0 we have never played well on plastic pitches. We got 2 centre backs injured early that restricted Brendan in how he could change the play. Im sure it wasnt the finishing 11 he would have wanted.
The midfield were poor, kouassi got booked early this affected his style.
Ntcham and Broony never got us going as Killie closed us down.
We should have been quicker stronger but we werent get over it.

charlie
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

canny argue wae any ae that jimmy bee

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

Jimmybee,
Pitches? Should have been?
That’s what Lennoxtown is for, turning should have been’s into excellent performances.

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago

Good to see Ralston put in a powerful performance today to help the young Bhoys reach the semi-final of the Cup and should be available for the Zenit game……

Monti
6 years ago

Suffragettes?
Worst thing that ever happened!

Monti
6 years ago

Fuck Gringo, Fuck Garrincha & Fuck you!

Mike
6 years ago

EBT Simpletons that you see, Walter bliddy Smith, Walter bliddy Smith?

# NOT IN MY NAME.
Mair of the same,
Walk on Bye.

Una
6 years ago

Contacts in London have heard that Rodgers will be Chelsea manager by the end of next week.

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago
Reply to  Una

Interesting Una….I thought BR was meant to be “here” for 10 in a row?…..

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Una

AHAHAHAHAHA

Celtic Symphony
6 years ago
Reply to  Ralph Malph

McGinn replacing him ? lol

Celtic Symphony
6 years ago
Reply to  Una

Nonsense ! lol

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago

Early question: When Celtic played Man.City last season in the C.L,what tactics did Celtic successfully nullify in order to get two excellent results? Now,which system of play do Celtic persist in using?
P.S. Very poor result for Chelsea last night(hooray).Wonder if it would be “morally” correct if BR was asked to take over from Conte?

Follow us on Twitter @ETimsNet