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Celtic Diary Saturday February 6: The Problem Is…

Thanks for all the replies yesterday.

By and large, they were constructive, thought provoking and interesting. As expected, it kind of degenerated into the usual mud slinging towards the end, some of you really need to be able to learn to disagree without being confrontational, but as passions are quite high just now, we sort of have to accept that and move on.

So, what have we concluded?

Apart from the fact none of us can say we’re entirely happy with things as they are at Celtic just now? Although its not exactly time to storm the car park and carry someones head off on a stick, its not actually as far away from that moment as it may seem.

The problems are running through the club from top to bottom. It appears that the current two game losing streak,- can you have a two game losing streak, or is it just a blip in form ?- is only the tip of the iceberg.

Let’s start at the top.

Dermot Desmond, not the owner, but the biggest shareholder. His word is law, and lets be honest, he doesn’t say a lot, at least publicly, where the club is comcerned. Every now and then he “steps in ” to issue a New Directive”, but as long as the money is coming in, he’s content to leave the day to day running of the business to everyone else.

 

desmond

He has other business interests, and his lack of attention can be interpreted as him treating Celtic as a plaything means he doesn’t head any list of Great Celtic Men, in fact , it would be fair to say he wouldn’t even be considered for entry on one. no-one would propose him, and it’s likely no-one would block him. He’s just sort of there.

When he intervenes, which he does on a fairly irregular basis, its to deal with the important issues, such as the appointment of Martin O’Neill ahead of Guus Hiddink, after the John Barnes /Kenny Dalglish debacle, but ither than that he appears not to really care.

So, why does he do it ? Why not just sell up and move on ? his view echoes that of David Murray, the man who sent Rangers spinning into oblivion, in that if he did move on, then he would make sure he sold up to someone with the clubs best interests at heart, without really showing that he is following that course.

Many supporters would like to see him invest in players, but its not as simple as that. Like any shrewd businessman, he doesn’t make money in order to chuck it away again. No-one would expect him to, well, no-one with any command of rational thinking that is.

After all, a sure fire way of becoming a millionaire is to start of as a billionaire and then buy a football club. Especially in Scotland these days.

But surely a couple of quid to help us along wouldn;t hurt ? Or, and I think he would go up in everyones estimation if he did, what about contributing to the Kano foundation, or any of the other charities associated with the club ? Theres several to choose from, and it would come off his tax bill, if , indeed he has one.

Billionaires and Celtic supporters make for uneasy bedfellows. Our mentality is a wee bit different from other supporters. We recognise our roots, and why we are here as a club. I wouldn’t like to be a billionaires hobby, so to speak, with money thrown around in the way that some of the English clubs do, but investment and contributions away from the playing side would improve his image, and make us feel like he is , if not one of us, actively trying to be.

Below him in the pecking order comes Peter Lawwell.

Loved and loathed in equal measure, well, apart from the loved bit, he drew roughly a million pounds in wages and bonuses from the club last year. He is in charge of a collection of businessmen we refer to as the board.

Recently , one of them, Lord Livingston of Parkhead-how’s that for an oversized ego?- voted in the House of Lords to support his lord and master David Cameron, who thinks poor people should be seen and not heard.

That enraged Celtic fans, as did the accusations that Livingston endured racial and other abuse from the support, which came from Iain bankier, another board memeber whom it seemed at the time would see his name pass into the language as a rhyming slang alternative to swearing. All of that blew over, as something else drew the supports attention, but like the baseball bat under the bed, it’s ready to be used whenever the need arises.

There is no-one on the board thus far mentioned deserving of any respect, which has to be earned, and thus far, they haven’t earned it. In fact, it could be argued, and with no small measure of success, that they have done the opposite.

The refusal to pay a living wage, the use of zero hours contracts, combined with what appears to be a patronising attitude towards those of us who pay our money, either directly or indirectly, into the club. all of which sit uncomfortably with a support which although broad in political beliefs, maintains a common  feeling of not quite socialism, but not too far away from it.

More than that though, the Celtic support is more politically aware than most, and more likely to rebel against injustice, perceived or real.

As it stands, the board are probably only one more PR disaster away from being not forcibly removed, but certainly made to feel they would probably be better off spending their Saturdays at the golf club.

Lawwell apart, board members don’t receive a massive wage, but its still a good earner for them. The support are beginning to resent them. and its not just about the money. The feeling is that they are not representative of the club, they are not, put simply, people who have “drunk wine in the graveyard ” .

And if anything, especially in the dark days of religous apartheid, we still prefer to be amongst our own.

Again, a little more effort required of they are to earn any sort of respect. Actually, some effort would be a start. We can move forward from there.

 

Lawwell, without doubt the main man, the big cheese, the head honcho,  has been accused of operating the club purely to make money. The bank balance is more important than the team sheet. Results on the pitch are important, but its what the share price stood at this morning that concerns him.

Thats unfair, because he does actually love the club. but , as with Desmond, he doesn’t always give that impression.

And theres something else.

If you were CEO at Celtic, wouldn’t you try to influence the manager ? Wouldn’t you suggest that you knew best as well ? After all, you would only need to put three Celtic fans in a room to get twelve different opinions under normal circumstances, and isn’t it perfectly natural that when a manager suggests a player should be bought, that if you disagree, you would try to talk him out of it ?

I’m prepared to forgive him the occasional error of judgement, and excuse him on the grounds that it would be almost impossible for me, if I were CEO, to stand up in the boardroom and yell into Ronny Deila’s face “you are not buying any more bloody midfielders” , because its my opinion and i would be in a position to offer it.

And of course, if he insisted, I could block it.

It would take a hell of a man to go along with things when he didn’t think it was the right move.

Here we may have hit upon a major issue.

Not quite who is picking the team, but who is picking the players that can be selected for the team ?

for example, Leigh Griffiths is doing rather well as a lone striker. Goal scoring throughout the team isn’t really an issue, but someone, be it the manager, the cheif scout-if such a person exists-or another of the “team ” has determined that we need cover for him, and this cover should be a big bustling centre forward who can hold the ball up , distribute it and bully opposition defenders.

The idea that he should be able to score goals as well seems to have been forgotten.

In came Ciftci, who was under suspension for biting someone, Cole, unfit, and Kazim richards, likely to be suspended for hitting, biting or stamping on someone. none of them are prolific goalscorers, so to include them in the side would mean shifting Griffiths either over or out.

Deila has stated his preferred option is to have one mobile striker supported by three advanced midfielders, so these acquisitions don’t make any sense. Not if they were his idea, that is.

Strikers have been a problem at Celtic for a while.Griffiths , if he stays out of trouble, on and off the field, could be the answer. The others make you wonder what the question was.

Are the suits picking the players, and if so, how are they choosing them ?

One theory is its all based on stats, the system operated at Brentford which saw old fashioned manager Mark Warburton part ways with the club. The idea is that players aren’t even watched, let alone scouted, and instead a list of options is presented to a “buying team ” -usually put together from a limited number of agents , to offer alternatives when , say, a striker is needed.

This would explain the similar profiles of our last three purchases.

They are all big, strong, seen more as a provider than a goalscorer, and all absolutely bloody useless.

Football management is changing. No club, especially one run for the benefit of shareholders is going to allow one person, such as happened with David Murray or Harry Redknapp, a free reign on spending.

But the most important thing in buying a player is in watching him. not on video, but on a wet Wednesday when his team are getting beat. We want to know how he reacts. We want to know if he keeps his discipline, if he puts in the effort, if he accpets responsibility or blames his team mates.

Football is a team game, and we need to know how he works in a team. You cannot see that on a video,and you will never persuade a player that he is the one you want if he finds out his agent recommended him.

It looks like players are brought to the club according to a template. Age and  sell on value in some cases look to be more important than what they can bring to the team, what qualities they have now, as opposed to what we can teach them. Football, a results business, is very much a “now ” business. Despite appreciating the idea, Celtic supporters don’t seem to be ready to wait for long term results if it means losing to Ross county on the way.

Above all, there is the mistrust of the club here, because every time we get a new hero, he’s sold on. and we cannot complain, because we sold him the idea of moving on after he was good enough in order to get him here in the first place.

Which might also poin tto a more destructive battle going on behind closed doors….

The management wants to build a team of young Scots, aiming for a concerted effort at european honours. deila’s track record, and indeed , success with one or two players so far suggests he just moght be capapble of doing this.

However, the club needs to sell. and Scottish players don’;t attract the big money, so we still have to pull in the foreign gems. The little nuggets which fetch a premium.

If we want to build a team that hangs around and grows together, we can’t do this.

If we bring in the non Scots and develop them for English cash a year or two down the line, we will always be back to square one, as we have sen this season.

Can we have it both ways ?

Is this, in fact, the heart of the matter.

Whilst the board were all for building from scratch, the sudden realisation that it will take time has scared them, and now they want to change it back, or at least try to get the two idea’s to work alongside each other.

This is crucial.

We can either stick to the policy of making our own team, which we get to keep, or we can revert to the one where we hang on to players for a while before they disappear into a southern sunset.

As it stands , its not about whether Ronny is capable, its about whether he will be allowed to do what he is best at. Manage and develop our own players.

A team cannot be built overnight, it will take three, four, maybe even fiuve years. These days, teams don;t really stay together that long. The contracts given to a number of players lately are all long term, four, five years.

New players tend to have a three year span, hinting that if they succeed they will be gone in two years. Which would get an optimum return, but again disrupt the team.

We are at a crossroads.

The support want a team to be proud of.

The club seems to want to make money.

In an ideal world, the money follows the success, is re-invested, and the success continues.

We are not in an ideal world, and the danger is the balance tips toward making and saving money. Keeping the club in business, but not for the support.

Keep the support happy, and show you care, and the fact is the club will never go under. Unlike another club not too far away, we are more aware, more ready to fight for what we care for and more capable of seing with our own eyes.

If money is needed, the support, for the right people in charge, will find it.

But only for the right people.

And theres a feeling that we don;t have the right people in charge just now.

 

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Monti
8 years ago

Quality article, Ralph.
The only bit I disagree with is when you said ” Deila may be capable “.
Two billionaires on a board who are at one of the world’s biggest and in my opinion, best club.
They need to loosen the purse strings and bring in some quality players, the money is there, they have it, spend it, if they don’t have the desire to do that for us, they can fuck off and sell it to someone who does.
The Celtic support is there for the team and the club, but the board need to match that passion, this is the key to success.
They spend on quality players, we go and fill the stadium, we are in the CL and everyone will be cool.
At the moment I wouldn’t pay to go and watch my club, that bothers me as I love them.

Get rid of the tories in the boardroom, get Police Scotland told they won’t be getting fed information on our fans any longer, get the stadium full and let the people sing!

” Celtic – a club like no other “?
Time to act like it then.

COYBIG!

schoosh71
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

All the ‘board’ has got, is matching ‘handshakes’ 🙂

Carl Bigginslater
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

What a load of rubbish. Utter rubbish. Tell me Monti who are these quality players Celtic would sign if the purse strings were loosened? What leagues would they come from? There is not a player in Europe who would not choose the English Championship over us. We can’t sign quality players. We’re left to sign nobodies from England and cheap lab rats from all over the world.

Monti
8 years ago

Erik Sviatchenko did!!
Other players that have came to Celtic? Forster, Van Dijk, Lustig, Wanyama,Ledley,Matthews, Hooper, Nakamura, Hartson, Sutton, Larsson….yeah, Celtic struggle to attract players. Lol

mike
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Bang on Monti,

See Big Fraser,Van Dyke and Victor all starred yesterday at our feeder club,
Celtic always have and always will atract the best players,we have so much to offer.

Phaco
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Long time no speak Monti. Well said. if you do not have the Celts in your very heart and soul, do us all a favour and “Fuck Off”. Shut the fucking door on your way out. Hh

celtsfan67
8 years ago

Great diary. I believe in the long term plan and hope we stick with it.
HH

8 years ago

I believe this management team have until the end of this season to prove to the support that they have the ability to put a team on the park capable of playing the Celtic way without fear and no shortage of attacking skill.Failure to do so will result in less supporters taking up season books as the home games this season has been dire to watch.

Monti
8 years ago

The long term plan of building a team is a sound one, however results and performances must be consistent as everyone moves along the road..
This is a big club, not Stromgodset.
I have no problems with the concept of building long term, but the choice of manager to drive it, has been an error…a massive one!

andybhoy
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

What will the Deila apologists response be should we fail to win the League. Will they still maintain that he is the man for the job?
Simple question.

BroxburnBhoy
8 years ago
Reply to  andybhoy

Andy if he fails to win the league he has to go and I believe he said that himself. Winning the league is the minimum requirement for him.

schoosh71
8 years ago
Reply to  andybhoy

I read somewhere on a blog yesterday, that they wanted Celtic to lose the league this year, so RD would get the sack. Is that how you feel?

andybhoy
8 years ago
Reply to  schoosh71

I asked the question to which you have asked a question, certainly not the answer I was looking for.
Or are you saying you would retain his services should the league be lost?

schoosh71
8 years ago
Reply to  andybhoy

I don’t think so, ‘the fat lady’ would have sung her last song, but hoping on it, is an attitude or mindset i can’t comprehend. HH

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  andybhoy

There is a world off difference between supporting a Managers ideals than being an “apologist”.
Now why don’t we all accept he is here till the Summer and see what happens regarding winning the League?
If he doesn’t then he will be gone it’s that simple.
Then the next guy get’s the same level of backing until he proves otherwise.
It’s that simple.

mike
8 years ago
Reply to  andybhoy

Andy,

We have the best oppertunity ever to get to 10 in a row,i hope to feck that the Board dont allow him to blow it.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  mike

Rosenborg won 13 Titles in a row between 1991 and 2004.
Surely that should be our target?

mike
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

It would be Charlie and beyond if we can get it right.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Why should that be our target?

DanTheMan
8 years ago
Reply to  mike

That in my opinion is the only thing that would be unforgivable and Deila knows it Mike. ☘☘☘

patrick street
8 years ago

A well balanced and objective look at the problems and issues.
The Deila question still remains. Is he good enough to take us further, no matter what the constraints which you rightly identified above? After all, his comparatively large budget and the quality of his players in the context of Scottish football is not adequately reflected on the playing field. Why not?

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  patrick street

Patrick,
In my opinion his tactics are shocking, Celtic play with two strikers, someone should have told him that as he came through the front doors of Paradise, for the first time.
My argument against playing one up front is an obvious one, if our main striker get’s injured we are relying on a guy standing in for him, Who hasn’t been playing?

Personally I would like to see the 3-5-2 used under MON or the 4-4-2 used at the moment with success by Leicester City.

The players are there to do this, the management can’t see it though, there is the problem.
If Lawwell does sign the players, maybe he should have insisted they ( two strikers) actually play together! HH

Uralius
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti,
Did you have a chance to look at my tactics on yesterday’s diary in the comments. I think you might appreciate them. I made it with MON tactics and Neil Lennon tactics in mind, while for the most part remaining close to Deila’s vision. It is a nice meet in the middle. I ruefully believe that it would work well, unfortunately it might piss off many of our AMC’s, but the younger ones can get out of their comfort zone and become more adaptable players as a result.

Uralius
8 years ago
Reply to  Uralius

*truely

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Uralius

Uralius,
I haven’t but I will!

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

“Celtic play with two strikers”
Celtic play with whatever the manager chooses to play.
We have played 4-3-3 we have played 4-2-4 and we have played with 1 up many times in Europe before under numerous Managers and no one batted an eyelid.
The reason folk are getting so animated is they don’t like change,you don’t like the concept we can play 1 up in Scotland and be as effective as scoring goals.
Well this Season we had scored more goals by game week 23 in the League than the previous 10 Seasons.
In fact you have to go back to 2003-04 to better it.
That Season we had Larsson Sutton and Hartson up front at Celtic.
Probably £30m worth of talent at that time.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Whoever is sat next to you reading posts out to you, get them to tell you, that Monti want’s two strikers because historically Celtic have had two strikers and it works well.
Based on the clubs trophy haul, this would be a fair observation.
Tell him not to leave any bits out….

marko
8 years ago

Ralph from being at the point of giving up viewing the diary because of its anti Ronny agenda about 8 months ago ( i threw the dummy tit out of the pram one nite:(….to now…i must i agree now with what u say..this is a long term vision…long term project that we need to get behind the team with…the almost non-stop clammer to get rid of Ronny only helps the huns…not us…hope some on here can finally see that…

mike
8 years ago

Ralph great work again it crystelises where we are at the moment,that unfortunately is going backwards at an astonishing rate.
Is Desmond the biggest shareholder i thought it was the fans?
irrespective,i have never known the support to be as disconnected from the board as now,there is a distinct pulling apart.The only way to solve that is for the support to invest together to have a bigger say in the running of the club.
A team cannot be built overnight,i beg to differ it could with prudent purchases a sound Management team with the right plan and with not a huge amount of cash,that as Monti says will reconnect the support,the team and the right Board,it is not working now and the support will not wait another 4/5 years,not after the watching pish we see now.

Brian53
8 years ago

You talk about buying strikers Ralph, I would imagine bying any players in todays over inflated marketplace would be a nightmare. We really don’t know the ins and outs of our transfer policy and who we bid/don’t bid for. We play it close to our chest and rightly so.

Strikers, DM’s and just about any decent players is way to expensive these days. The financial fair play that platini brought in is a farce, look at Man City, rumoured to be 11m a year for new manager, Neymar for 145m and they are also rumoured to be after Messi? FFS.

We can’t compete with the EPL or most of the Championship for that matter, well maybe Bolton! Any half decent striker we are after will have his agent circulate his availability around so what chance do we really have of getting him? Thats why we end up with the likes of Pukki, Balde et al.

We take what we can get and occasionaly we come up with a gem. That why we are buying up the young local talent as we have seen several example of these young men going to the EPL and being succesful. This is a good strategy.

It is also why we brought in Ronny (oh no not him again) To bring these young lads on.

Shit admin but again a great diary.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Brian53

Spot on the price we paid for Armstrong and the wage we had to offer him to bring him here because the mighty Burnley were going to use him as a bench warmer illustrates the problem we face in the local market perfectly.
If we operated in the Scandinavian Market as the top Scandinavian Club he would have cost us under a £1m and we would be paying him £5k a week.
The same player with the same level of ability.
This comparing wages in the same League is nonsense Armstrong was as good a player at Dundee United as he is on double the wages at Celtic.
We just pay him more ffs.

Steve Naive
8 years ago

The guy answering questions on Big Jock on Mastermind did quite well on him and even better on the general knowledge to win the gig. I even got one he didn’t.
Magnus… ‘What did Jock Stein instruct his players to do in his first game in charge ‘?
Me…’Pass ‘
Try the fish

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Steve Naive

lol naw he said “right lads first thing we are going to do is work on your muscle memory”.
Jinky replied “by runnin up and doon sand junes boss?”

Brian53
8 years ago

Just posted another that appears to be lost, won’t go what I did yesterday though. I’m I banned or something Ralph?

Brian53
8 years ago
Reply to  Ralph Malph

So looking at my post what made it stick? Seems if I write more that 1 para it gets stuck. Makes it difficult to interact? Service the blog? oil change, new filters?

Admin
8 years ago
Reply to  Ralph Malph

It even happens to our comment posts Brian so fear not..its not you..just the WordPress spam Software being pish

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Ralph Malph

I have noticed you need to use less paragraphs and if you shorthand is highlighted just correct it with full text.
Ie Celtic Fc rather than CFC …

mike
8 years ago
Reply to  Ralph Malph

Ralph,
Good point,why not give a wee illustration guide at the bottom of the diary for 2/3 weeks.
btw the diary helped me become a little more savvy on the p.c.
Im no fucking paying you btw.

Uralius
8 years ago
Reply to  Brian53

Brian,
It’s the double line breaks. Don’t leave a gap between paragraphs.

BondiBrian
8 years ago
Reply to  Brian53

If we’re talking IT stuff….what’s with the tiny craps font size option when posting a comment? It used to be big…Minnie it just me being a luddite. Anyone else have same issue?

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  BondiBrian

You can always enlarge the page top right of your screen 😉

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  BondiBrian

Ctrl up arrow and +

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  BondiBrian

Bondibrian,
I don’t have any issues regarding small things, no.
🙂

8 years ago

Dermot Desmond will encourage Peter Lawwell’s speciality of ‘low to zero risk’ strategies because all he wants to do is keep the ship steady until engerland opens her arms up and welcomes us into its top tier automatically and every one of his pounds turns into ten overnight and into a hundred within 3 years of that.

Why risk anything when you will win the league and also a domestic cup or two and have a crack at the CL with the Europa a cushion to fall on without any risk at all?

Both need to be removed. The rest of the board is made up of people who can further Desmond’s business interests and good guys to play golf with.

Totally unrepresentative of who we are.

Who and what they are representative of is the man who hand picked most of them, the man who started it all with the biggest con and duping is fans have ever been fed, that the club will be owned by the ‘fans’ – Fergus McCann.

Yet some call for a stand to be named after him and others have rewritten history in their own heads to make him out to be a noble Robin Hood type of character rather than the shrewd businessman he was.

I’ll stop my rant now.

Back to the team – the one thing omitted in an excellent article from Ralph is why not appoint a defensive coach on a contract until the summer right now?

We are in patent need of one.
Even if the board did it to appease some of us into thinking this will solve all of the above and stated problems..?

tom o'neill
8 years ago
Reply to  Eyes wide open

Given the state of Celtic in the early 1990s, can you name a suitable alternative to Fergus.

Abrupt, a bit of a tightwad, he nevertheless did as he promised. That included making a fair wad of money for himself. In doing this he ever hid behind a load of guff about being ‘The keeper of a Trust’.

The one promise he did not or could not keep, was that he would not give the ‘Keepers of the Trust’ one thin dime.

indeed it is believed that one of these ‘Trust Keepers’ came out of it with a couple of million and fringe benefits like free entry to Celtic Park for life for himself and members of his family.

Fergus was no saint, but what was the alternative?

mike
8 years ago
Reply to  tom o'neill

Here Here Tom,Stephan Brown the St Johnstone Chairman was fulsome in his praise of the Bunnet.For anyone to hand over most of his fortune (made from golf )to the club he loved was an astonishing thing to do.
Sometimes i wish he was still here to stand up for the support.

Voice of T'Reason
8 years ago

I am not going to defend anyone here in particular, certainly not intentionally.

The fans, including myself, want Celtic to buy better players.

I have long championed buying £3-4M players is preferential to buying £2M (yes I know the wages are higher but if you get exciting players so are the attendances). If a £4M player doesn’t work it, he goes for about £2M, if a £2M doesn’t work out he goes for two macaroon bars.

The things is, the board and shareholders honestly believe they are spending enough money and on the face of things, they’d be right. However, we are bringing in players that quite frankly do not live up to most fans’ expectations… or at least they are being made to train/play in a way which is detrimental to their abilities, fitness etc.

Some would argue that we are already the hammer to crack the walnut and that we should be winning the league, season in season out, as things stand. Even with the tribute act returning next season they are at best a mid-table obscurity team unless there is over investment all a sudden.

Nobody wants to put £10M+ down on players to win a competition which yields about £2M, that is how I think the board/shareholders see things. Whilst we, as fans, would say the SPFL is a means to an end, it is the gateway to the minimum of three home matches which has every Tim Alloy salivating, the excitement and atmosphere can be cut with a knife. I have felt it just coming into the city on a Champions League night, there is nothing like it and there are world class footballers who will back me up there.

Celtic fans need it, we crave it and we want it EVERY year. They will watch the pish for those matches, for that feeling because there is nothing like it. Memories of beating Barcelona is now something akin to a recovering drug addict remembering that last hit that was oh so sweet, but if feels so long ago and actually can’t remember if it was that good or not. We are addicted to that feeling and the board, our dealers, well they’ve substituted our gear with a watered down, inferior product but here’s the catch… we don’t have another dealer to go to.

They know it, we know and some will just quit, but more will hang on, just on the off chance that things get better. Just a little bit more, just a taste.

Hail Hail.

JIMBO
8 years ago

LOVE YOU MONTI! DELIA OUT !

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  JIMBO

Jimbo,
I see Aberdeen are now level with us on points, although they have played one game more…

Worried, very worried!

maryhillbhoy
8 years ago

Excellent post Ralph agree with most points but I simply cannot envisage Ronnie as being able to do the managing and developing bit sorry

schoosh71
8 years ago

DD wrote a £8,000,000 unsecured check when Fergus saved us, so at ‘heart’ level, he’s is a good guy. But that doesn’t mean to say he even supports Celtic, I believe he is a Man Unt fan and it’s his daughters who have a love for ‘the Hoops’. “Celtic has to pay for itself” is his idea of being a majority shareholder. I doubt he even knows what PL is making, plus his bonus. See if Peter doesn’t ‘Go To Town’ when it’s proven with facts in a court of law, that CFC ‘PLC’, were cheated and defrauded out of ‘million of pounds’ Trophies and Championships, while the SFA,SFL and SFPL ‘knew’ about it, is beyond parody. If Peter goes om his bent knee and says to his brethren at the SFA, SPFL and at Ibrox, that ‘The Mighty Glasgow Celtic’ will seek no recriminations against the cheats. DO NOT PASS GO, JUST GO. In this part of the history of ‘OUR’ club, Peter isn’t coming out shining so brightly. It only a matter of time before he moves on, for if there is no reaction about the EBT, RES 12 or LNS, his name will be mud, right up there with SDM, Green & Whyte. It still bring a smile to my face, when I think, that through their own bile and hatred to ‘everything’ related to green and white they have attracted two negatively challenged characters, who were ‘crooks in suits’ and they ‘obliterated’ them HH. Looking forward to seeing young Roberts, set up 3 today and scored a nice one too.

marko
8 years ago
Reply to  schoosh71

schoosch normally i pretty much agree with what u say bros…either i am too drunk, or i am just not intelligent enough or, mate i am just plain …not worthy, but i dont fecking have any idea what u talking bout man….ktf

schoosh71
8 years ago
Reply to  marko

Is Peter a mason? Just trying to be clever without actually stating what I’m thinking. It is a really big question, as regards Celtic Football Club and whether or not they are going to allow a charge, that one judge described, that this ‘WAS’ as serious as ‘Match fixing’. WHY is it being left to the ‘FANS’ to try and clean up ‘OUR’ game. ‘The Mighty Glasgow Celtic’ as the only big club left in Scotland is doing a disservice to all football fan, in allowing the ‘skulduggery’ at the SFA and SPFL to continue. WOW, if I’ve got people agreeing with me, seek medical help, I’m medicated. Shhh 🙂

schoosh71
8 years ago
Reply to  marko

SsssH, I’m medicated. 🙂

Uralius
8 years ago
Reply to  schoosh71

OK,
So let’s say for a minute that we do take Scottish Football to court. Who our what exactly do we intend to get our money back from? I’m all for getting the trophies modified with a strike through the seasons it was won by the dead club, but there is nobody that can give us our revenue back.

schoosh71
8 years ago
Reply to  Uralius

Bankrupt the SFA and SPFL, job done. 🙂

schoosh71
8 years ago
Reply to  schoosh71

There is another post somewhere, in the ethereal world that believes rangers are ‘still’ rangers.

Hugh67
8 years ago

Good diary yesterday and today as it shows that Celtic supporters care so much about the club – we just can’t seem to agree how best to improve the Team. ( although I believe Monti has mentioned one suggestion!).

However I personally get frustrated at the constant criticism of DD and PL.

We are legally a PLC and that requires us to manage our financial affairs in line with Legislation.

DD. I remember Fergus said that in our moment of need he proved to be a great supporter. He underwrote the first (and subsequent share issues). He didn’t want a ‘controlling’ interest in the club as he doesn’t have the time to dedicate to such a role and has therefore maintained his share holding to within the limit which, if exceeded , would require him to take a controlling interest.

We have many Celtic supporting millionaires who have contributed nothing to the club. Why not challenge them rather than continually criticise and abuse the one who has contributed ??

PL runs the PLC in a very professional manner. Considered to be one of the best CEOs in the very complex world of Football. He is a very keen Celtic Supporter which, though not necessary, is very helpful. Celtics governance under his leadership has been excellent but the vagaries and luck involved in football has meant that this has not manifested itself in good results.

Fair enough. This is all we care about as supporters and we want to see improvement. Poor performances in Europe means lower income means poorer players and the downhill spiral. One success in Europe would reverse this and gets us back to happier days.

I don’t believe that DD or PL are our problems. Maybe Monti has a point though I hope mot.

As an aside, we as supporters have a vital role in achieving this turn around. Our support in recent weeks isn’t above criticism!!

schoosh71
8 years ago
Reply to  Hugh67

If PL had taken a ‘world renowned brand’ and converted it from a £60 Million turnover a year, to a £300 Million turnover, I’d be showering with rose petals every time he entered ‘Paradise’. The only thing that has improved financially over ‘his’ tenure is his bonus. It’s also his ‘quickness’ to condemn Celtic supporters at every ‘whip and turn’ without even needing evidence. He will always and only be remembered by me, as the man who said “I’ii give them enough rope to hang them”, in relation to a Celtic supporters group. In my honest opinion, he’s not the man for us. HH

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  schoosh71

Spot on.
He’s charmed a lot of folk into thinking he’s doing it all for the Club.
Flannel merchant of the highest order.

Rebus67
8 years ago

Ralph,

Another good article. I think your format of posing an issue and asking for input, is a good one. You might consider doing this again at some point.

I have reservations on whether RD is the man for a long term strategy. Such a strategy is a recipe for keeping him in a job long term.

I suspect expectations and patience at Strom what ever were less demanding than at Celtic.

Rebus

Robert McEwan
8 years ago

I wish everybody would get off Ronnies back, msm everyday is full of it, will we get the same response tomorrow as warbsie could not beat beat Kilmarnock at crumbledome, every time Ronnie has come unstuck they were by dreadful errors outwith his control, as for two upfront lots of the big teams play one up front, as for the fans what happened to faithful through and through, half the stadium lacks atmosphere when we were o-o with thistle when the crowd got behind the team you could see they were lifted and led to winning goal, so come on lads stop dividing the support and unite.

deadhead67
8 years ago
Reply to  Robert McEwan

and how many times have we beaten killie this season ,oh yes none
RD is a fucking joke

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  deadhead67

Dundee United beat the Lisbon Lions 3-2 TWICE in Season 67-68.
They finished 9 th in the League.
Every side has it’s bogey team no matter who they are.

deadhead67
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Do not mention the lions in the same breath as the shit we have today,the lion played in a competitive league,with a strong hun outfit,

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  deadhead67

We are a lesser side than we used to be.
The overall levels have dropped including ourselves.
The Lions were miles ahead of the rest in that era yet (which is the point)they still lost twice to the side that finished 9th that Season.
They lifted 5 Trophies,beat Inter mIlan Man United and Real Madrid that Season yet lost to Dundee United.
It happens even at that level.
We are not as strong as we were 10 years ago.
The gap has decreased between us and them.
It’s that simple.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  deadhead67

Now chuck in lsoing your central defence,injuies to 3 more defenders and the loss of Brown Johansen etc through bad form we suddenly become that bit easier to beat.

Uralius
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Under MON we had our bogey teams. If we weren’t beating Aberdeen by 6+ goals we would draw with them. Motherwell gave us a run for our money a few times and ICT managed to get the odd lucky result. Shame our bogey team is Killie that’s my third most hated team.

Rebus67
8 years ago

How do I turn off receiving emails of posts? The emails seem to omit a link option to do this.

Rebus

deadhead67
8 years ago

Long term idea of building a team ok,but not with pisspoor scottish players,from 4 th rate team like dundee utd 3 very average players,bought while we let better players like Henderson and Fisher go out on loan,the idea the half wit in charge of the team has developed players is Laughable ,Biton was a good player before we appointed the guy nobody had heard of as was ROGIC,THEY WERE JUST INJURED.Then we have the loan signings ,are we secretly owned by Vladimir Romanov,we are playing in a league of crap teams and are getting worse year on year,Dropping a point to any of them is totally unacepptable ,10 in A ROW DONT MAKE ME LAUGH

schoosh71
8 years ago
Reply to  deadhead67

That’s not exactly true ‘in my opinion’. Nir and Tom are completely different players under RD. It is on record when Callum McGregor was doing well at Nots Co, Neil spoke of selling him. Buying the best young Scottish talent is the ‘only’ way forward for CFC, because English EPL clubs will not buy them. There is only one piece of football advice I ever took from my Da was, he’d rather have a team of players who tried hard (gave 100%), than a team of talented player who didn’t. HH

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  schoosh71

Schoosh,
Your dad’s advice was ” Senseiesque”

schoosh71
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

As A child, the first time I ever went to train at an organised football club, ‘Greenhills Villa’. The very first thing I was was ask by one of the kids was, “Are You A “Chinky”‘. So maybe i have always been interested in all things Eastern, which probably came from one of the coolest guys that ever lived. Bruce Lee. HH

8 years ago

Problem for me has carried on from last season. The Europa league last season was the eye opener for me that Ronnie is out his depth. We had to win one game out of our last two to qualify out of the group,we couldn’t do it,we had to rely on results going our way. It has continued this season,Malmo Molde Ajax should not be beating Celtic,even this group of players. Tactics are wrong and we are easily played against.
The board has put money in Ronnie just can’t manage.
We badly need midfield dynamos we are too small and weak to play Ronnies system,it doesn’t work.
Too many fancy flicks back passes no tackles,the midfield area needs sorted. We need players like lambert Robson Lennon etc not imposters who are not fit to wear the jersey.
Hail Hail
Ps we will still win the double.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Jimmybee

Jimmy bee,
Hi.
I agree with you regarding the midfielders, we seem to have about 6 attacking midfielders, I don’t know why we signed Scott Allan if we were going for Ryan Christie?
Doesn’t make sense to me, then we try and move for Kristoffer Ajer? WTF?

It’s the defence that needs fixing, mistakes have been made there, instead of persisting with Ambrose, Ambrose, tactics should have been altered so there wasn’t a place for him in the side.
Liam Henderson and Stokes put out on.loan when both of these players have a lot to offer Celtic.

8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti,
Agreed defence is weak the sale of Virgil and Denayer going back to his club left us short. We are trying to rectify that and I think the two signings at the back look good potential. When they get them going a good partnership I see forming.
Poor effe I really do feel for him every mistake he makes is punished. He never hides though and what you see is what you get. Not good enough agreed but he is all we had left.
The reason for so many attacking midfielders is easy it’s what the manager wants. He wants attacking midfielders to accommodate his lone striker. That’s the system he plays and what he wants us to watch. It’s criminal.
He has to go because it is just too painful and it’s not because of two defeats it’s the system and the dire displays we have to endure.
Against Ross County leading 1-0 and we go to 10 players,why didnt he go to 3 at the back We should gave been able to cope with them but to go like for like was stupid.
I could go on sorry but I’ve had enough,I did want him to succeed but it hasn’t worked time for change.
Hail Hail

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Jimmybee

That sytsem has Griffiths on one of his best scoring Seasons ever.
I also has us Scoring more goals in the opening 23 games in the League since 2003-04.
The fact Griffiths has only netted a THIRD of the goals scored seems to have flown over the heads of the detractors.
Hence why we have so many Attacking Midfielders at the Club.
It makes sense when you take all of the above into consideration.
90 goals have been scored in all Competition so far this Season Griffiths has 28 of them.
the Midfield have contributed 41 Goals between them.

Thewildgoose
8 years ago
Reply to  Jimmybee

Ajax should not be beating Celtic, why?

delbhoy
8 years ago

Monti i think the two up front thing is never going to happen , he only does it when we are desperate. Its clear he will continue with it. I think it isnt that bad if you have a goalscorer in the number ten position. Think of commons playing in this role when he scored 30 goals, the problem is getting support to griff. There is also a lack of creativity in midfield with brown and biton, need someone in there to put there foot on the ball and pick passes , i think brown and allan could team up well

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  delbhoy

delbhoy,
Maybe it won’t happen as you say, bit deep down I think Celtic would be better with two strikers at the one time up top.
There is a psychological side to football and the opposition facing two quality strikers must have a negative effect on the opposition.

Unless the guy up front on his own is world class, I don’t think it works at all.
Just my opinion m8

Uralius
8 years ago
Reply to  delbhoy

Playing Commons in the #10 role behind Griff is a mistake. I want to go back to the Larsson & Sutton upfront overlap. Where the most forward player while the ball is in our half is the #10 with Griff “investigating space” between him and the midfield. Then when we get possession we can find Griff in space or launch the ball to our big #10 with Griff overlapping him on the counter, by the time Griff gets to the box hopefully a wide player is there in support. Or he can just loathe keeper.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Uralius

I know I would rather we stuck with Rogic Allan Christie or Johansen.
Though the 41 goals scored by the midfield this Season is a marvelous return out of the 90 already netted don’t you think?

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago


Have to say I agree with almost all of your post today regarding where we are and where the support are etc.
The Club tried one way and got lucky for 2 years scooping massive profits in the process.
The sales of Wanyama Hooper Forster Van Dijk have probably netted us 2 years worth of Champions League revenue in real terms.
Now if you consider we ALSO netted 2 years Champions League money on top of that at the same time you have to wonder why it is we have so little money in the Bank?
Why it is we still owe the Bank £14m in Long Term Debt?
Then consider we were paid handsomely for the use of Celtic Park during the games this conundrum only get’s more confusing?
Money is being diverted through the Company somehow be it through shares or other aspects of the PLC it seems to be getting sucked up at an alarming rate.
It is my opinion (has been for around 3 years now) that several of the key men at Celtic be it Lawwell Desmond or whoever are going to retire from the Club soon.
The reason I say this is I believe the work being carried out around Celtic Park the past 2 years or so (at the Clubs expense) has been done so to make their share price as profitable as can be.
It is my opinion that if we as a fan base are serious about what we want from our Club then we as a collective need to gain control of it’s future.
Only then I believe will we ever get the Club back we all loved.
Let’s face facts here it is no longer a Club.
It is a Corporate money making machine that happens to have a Football team as it’s main selling point.
If we genuinely want a “Club” that has it’s fans interests put first and foremost then it is us who need to run it.
Our only interests lie with the team and the ideals of the Celtic we all emotionally bought into.
I we had fan ownership I do believe the Living Wage would be in place.
I also believe the cost of watching the side would represent true value.
I believe we would bring in quality as and when the money was available.
I also believe with the global fan base we have it is attainable.
Jock stein was so on the money when he stated Football without fans is nothing.
Because Celtic is in a position where we have so many fans we could compete on the big stage with the right strategy.
This would be my strategy if it were to come to fruition:
Every fan has a £20 share in the Club.
Every new fan then puts their £20 in when they sign up.
The Club reverts to a Non Profit making entity with much wider charitable aims.
A player fund set up where fans can contribute say £5 or more which is used to attain higher quality personnel normally out with our current reach.
A board would formed from within our own ranks,that is fans with genuine skills in finance,charity etc.
That board would be completely transparent.
Completely accountable and also elected on a 12 month basis.
Each fan would have 1 vote.
Any major decisions would be put out to a vote.
Season Tickets would be set at a rate compatible with normal living.
The Club would have an open and good relationship with the fan base.
Any concerns would be dealt with rationally and swiftly.
I believe if something like this was to be put in place most Supporters would back it.
There is a serious disconnect happening at Celtic plc now.
The punters are being taken for mugs.
The main reason being they regard all of us as punters.
This is fundamentally wrong for a Club like ours.
The sooner we return this Club back to it’s roots the better because I believe we as a Club could be a shining light in World Football if we did.
As a result our numbers could swell.
It can be done all it takes is the will to do it as we have the numbers other Clubs don’t have.

mike
8 years ago

Well said Charlie it is pretty much where i am at present,it would need a strong group to get it up and running,but only after a supporters poll to find out if it had their backing.
There are plenty of qualified supporters who i am certain would lend a hand.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  mike

I believe we have all the relevant folk out there who do this type of work day in day out Mike.
Now consider this if you were offered a chance to come in and actually run the Club you love doing the job you do elsewhere and were paid the going rate would you jump at it?
I would in a second.

Uralius
8 years ago
Reply to  mike

I would be up for helping whatever way I could.

Delbhoy
8 years ago

I tend to agree monti , does anyone mind the great ajax team from a few years back, they played the formation to perfection with kluivert up front. That team and one holder Davids and the rest attacked

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago

Something to ponder…
Last Season at this stage of the Season

Celtic
Top of the League (57 Pts)
Played 24 Won 18 Drawn 3 Lost 3
Goals Scored 48 Goals Conceded 13 (+35)

Aberdeen
2nd Place (54 Pts)
Played 25 Won 17 Drawn 3 Lost 5
Goals Scored 44 Goals Conceded 21 (+23)

This Season:
Celtic
Top of the League (55 Pts)>>> 2 POINTS LESS<<>>DRAWN 1 MORE GAME<<>>PLUS 8 GD<<>> 1 MORE POINT<<<<>>1 MORE DRAW<<>> MINUS 5 GD<<<

Now bear in mind our defence issues this Season as well as injuries to key men then ask yourself have we suffered that much in the League?
I don't think so.
Aberdeen have been at their best we have been a long way off our best.
Calm the fuck down.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Fuck knows what happened there to the Aberdeen figures?
Here they are ..

This Season
Aberdeen
2nd Place (55 Pts) >>> 1 MORE POINT<<>>DRAWN 1 MORE GAME<<>>MINUS 5 GD<<<

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

did it again Ralph we appear to have gremlins.

Aberdeen have 1 more point than last season that’s a draw intead of a loss.
They have conceded 5 moe goals than last thats minus GD by comparison.
Basically little has changed regarding them.
We have drawn one more and lost one more.
Score alot more but conceded more.
This has not altered the League position.
There’s a 3 point swing over 25 games.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Charlie Saiz,
You’re blinding people with statistics and you aren’t coming through, I don’t see or feel the point in offering up statistical figures.
You are talking to working class people, who gives a fuck about stats?

Do us a favour and opta out of the stats stuff and speak English.

Please.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

These are facts whether you care to acknowledge them as such is not that relevant because they exist none the less.
In plain English Aberdeen have kept the same level od consistency as last Season.
Aberdeen have added to their squad and not suffered any loss of form as a result.
They have scored the identical number of goals in the same amount of games but have conceded 5 more.
As a result they are 1 point better off than last year.
We on the other hand have suffered a major loss in defence with the departures of Denaayer and VVD.
Subsequent injuries in this department and in Midfield have had a severe effect on our defensive capabilities.
As a result we have drawn 1 more game than last season meaning a 2 point reduction at the same point.
We have conceded 8 more goals
But have also scored 16 more than last season at this point.
In effect even though we have had serious defensive issues it has only cost us 2 points in the League in 24 Games.
We know once our defence settles and our key men return to form we will be a much better side.
Aberdeen are as good as they are going to get.
Folk need to stay calm this is a blip nothing else.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Charlie,
Come on noo, we should be out of sight of the pack, Aberdeen are level with us tonight?
That to me is ridiculous.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

We werent clear at this point last season and we didn’t have half the issues we have had so far in this?
Perhaps it’s your level of expectation that needs adjusting Monti?
Aberdeen are not a bad side and we certainly are not an exceptional one.
The gap has lessened between us and the pack.
The Boards approach has seen to that.

BondiBrian
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Working class people don’t care about stats? Mon Monti bit of a sweeping generalisation, Naw? Anyhoo here hoping for a big win the day.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  BondiBrian

Bondibrian,
I don’t know about you surfers in Australia, you might have a fetishism for the stat thing and are all down with that, but if you walked into the Brazen head after being beaten at home from Motherwell and started arguing with folk about stats, you would quite rightly receive a slap in the pus!

Monti
8 years ago

Ronny Deila has more than enough players at his disposal to be doing a better job than we are witnessing.
Peter Lawwell has questions to answer, yes.
But the product, result and performances on the park, should be better.
I don’t think Deila is a motivational or indeed, inspirational figure.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Are they any better than what Aberdeen have at their disposal though?

andybhoy
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Only Hayes would get in the Celtic squad.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  andybhoy

So if I said on form right now..
Taylor or Boyata
Logan or Lustig/Ambrose
McGinn or Mackay-Steven
Hayes or Forest
Rooney or Cole

Who would you play?

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

All the Celtic players…..excluding Awfy!

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Given the choice right now I would start Taylor at CB with Erik.
Logan at RB
McGinn out wide on the right
Hayes on the left.
Rooney on the Bench Cole signing autographs in the Club shop.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Interesting,
You wouldn’t play Ambrose when available!!!
Very interesting.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

@monti
We are going off the theory if those Aberdeen players wee available for selection at Celtic.
They aren’t so Ambrose would start ahead of Boyata for me but not in front of Taylor if he was available.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Is that a serious question?

mike
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Charlie,
Wee Ratface has done a good job at Aberdeen,compared to his predesesers,just look at there support,home and away,Pittodries
Rocking,gates are miles up,a mini Celtic Park,just like when MON took over at Celtic Park,thats what we had and what we want to see again.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  mike

O’Neill inherited Boyd Larsson Morvcik Petrov Lambert and MJalby.
He then spent £20m on Sutton Lennon Valgaeran Thompson Douglas and Agathe.
There are no comparisons to be drawn with the way things are now.

mike
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Hope that makes you as sad as it does me,the dynamics in Scottish football have not changed that much to excuse the differencs.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

@Mike
We couldn’t sustain that level of player it was too expensive and as a result we are still paying the tab for it 10 years on.
The arms race with Minty cost them their Club had we continued in the same vein it would have cost us our Club too.
Now take a look at the current squad and ask yourself who would get a game in that Celtic squad under O’Neill?
Brown at a push for me.
Ge cost us £4.5m 7 year ago.
That’s our reality this level of spending is no longer in the equation we are now operating on a different scale.

mike
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Charlie,
Look at the level of waste,fed up naming them,
look at the players we sold to Southampton and see where we could be,add to that the management team 3off,the backroom staff 7/8off,we could save a fortune.Our club could and should be doing so mutch better.

mike
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Charlie,

BTW look at your own post regarding Leicester Shitty,doon below,the answers there..

Honest Hoops
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Spot on Monti
, RD is incompetent for a club the size of the mighty Celtic….

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Honest Hoops

Honest Hoops,
Look at the amount of fans who are staying away from the ground, that should set alarm bells ringing in the boardroom.
But as long as PL is getting hos £1m, he probably doesn’t notice the empty seats.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Honest Hoops

The mighty Celtic.
Oh dear.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

What does that mean?

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

That means we are no longer mighty.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Again,
What does that mean?

Uralius
8 years ago

Aye OK Charlie Saiz. We can see the statistics. We are all bringing ideas to the table to make things better. We get it our defense left us and we were only left with a defense of internationals. That’s right International class defenders every one of them. Oh aye and 3-4 international holding midfielders. We cannot solely blame injuries because even our backup players are on the fringes of national teams or have under 19 + 21 caps to their name. That’s just it, there is more going on here. I think the current tactic with a tweak or 3 will have its drubbing EVERYONE domestically and taking European scalps. Many of us are not calling for Deila to be said only trying to make things better. All of us supporters should be trying to make things better (once we have called down after 2 defeats to teams with average wages less than half ours).

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Uralius

Gordon can be billiant butthen he can also be erratic with an ever changing back 4
Lustig is not playing at his best injury has affected his Season
Ambrose confidence is not great the shite he gets is not helping
Jozo has been out with injury twice since his arrrival
Boyata is nowhere near International Level
Janko again has the potential but is injured
Izzy has not had a great season for 3 years
Tierney is a pup
Mulgrew is out njured
Erik looks very solid and no doubt will make a difference
Brown has been out most of the season and has underperformed
Johansen has been poor all Season including Internationally
Armstrong is not International class yet
McGregor has talent but is learning
Mackay-Steven has potential but has suffered from poor form
Rogic has real potential
Allan the same
Christie the same
Bitton can be effective his form has dipped to in recent games
Commons is injured
COle is unfit
Richards an unknown entity
Griffiths has class and is on fire this Season
Forrest can be a match winner on his day but again hot and cold

Who in that list do you consider world class?
I don’t see anyone all I see is above average players some of whom on their day can be very effective Footballers.
How many of them wil be sun=bject to a £10m bid this Summer?
I shall hazard a guess at no one not even Griffiths.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Again on wages we pay more for less because of who we are and the market we operate in.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

We paid over the odds for Armstrong because Burnley were interested we also offeed him more money as an incentive to fuck them off.
Had we been in Sweden he would be getting 5k a week.
He’s the same player who played for Dundee United being paid 3 times as much at Celtic has not instantly improved his level of performance because we pay him more.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

It would help if he played in a position he excelled in, an advanced position.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

@Monti He does play in an advanced position.
He plays on the left side of the attack normally.
We already have Commons Rogic and Allan fighting for the 10 role so where else could he go?

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

@Monti Sean Dyche said they were looking at developing him as he would have been a bench warmer at Burnley nothing more.
Burnley..think about that.

Uralius
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Why are all of these players playing below par? Boyata at 1 point was selected for Belgium. With 2 sports psychologists at the club why are all of these players under performing? I can see technically they are going backwards. Someone has told the full backs to take the risk and step rather than use the line and force the attacker out. Our players have been taught the lazy crossing technique that old fullback in the 60s used before decent foot wear became prolific. I could honestly go on. It’s appalling.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Uralius

At the level these guys are at playing the amount they do in training etc they should not need being taught the basics all they should be doing is teaching them systems.
The fact Forrest cannot cross a ball from a by line on what is effectively a billiard table at the age of 25 after 10 plus years coaching is a complete joke.
Brown Armstrong Joahansen could not pass a ball 10 feet to feet in the Euro games on plast pitches?
The fact Gordon hesitates coming for a high ball or the fact Griffiths has failed to bury most of his one on ones this season is a reflection on them not the coaching.
I’ll tell you why because Tierney Rogic and McGregor seem to be flourishing under him as a coach.
Could it possibly be some fans rate our players way higher than their actual ability?
Fs I have played on parks with grass too long and broken pottles on them,watched wingers sling in crosses with a semi soaked bladder with half the fucking panels missing?
These professionals cant’ put 5 out of 10 crosses in on a bowling green of a pitch?
Aye right.

Uralius
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

That’s exactly my point. Someone is messing with their muscle memory. It takes me 3 training sessions to be able to put the ball whatever the hell I want with my right foot and another 4 for my left foot. What the hell is going on. I can see all of these simple mistakes being made. Watching the ball and not the man, watching the man and not the ball. Not planting the balance foot properly etc. It’s a fucking shambles. Someone is teaching technique like a Numpty.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Charlie Saiz,
Don’t forget Efe, he can’t head the ball back to his goalkeeper with no pressure on him.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

@Monti
He headed the ball shot and made a mistake.
Once.
How many clearing headers has he had since?
Plenty.
In fact the last 4 games he played he was easily the strongest defender in the air we had.
But don’t let your obvious dislike for him affect your view on that.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Muscle memory…
This is George Best scoring against Celtic

https://youtu.be/d4KemP8PRzo

My brother was at that game he came back raving about the fact Best half fit (because he declined to train with Hibs first team)and made the Celtic defence in his words “Look like a bunch of fannies”.
Next up Paddy McCourt..

https://youtu.be/JfsG97Tzsr4

Perhaps one of the unfittest players to grace a Celtic top in recent memory going past players like they arent there.
Muscle memory?
Naw just natural technical ability and talent.

Uralius
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Aye Monti,
Go back and watch that again. Even from behind you can tell Efe is not watching the ball when he made contact us is watching the player. NOW I might make that mistake the first 2 times I had the ball in pre-season or maybe after being out for a few weeks, but I’m a wide attacker LIF, RW, LCF, #10. Being is a defenders bread and butter, that should have never happened I can only assume the players have too many instructions and they are over thinking what should come natural.

Brian53
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Charlie Saiz February 6, 2016 at 9:04 pm

Brilliant!

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

@Uralius
Mistakes do happen that’s Football.
They are not robots.

Uralius
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

@ Charlie Saiz,
I live Skittish football because it’s far more unpredictable than watching The top teams slog out a defend fest. My problem is they are making mistakes that children make. School boy errors. They should only make these errors once or maybe twice in a career. Which is why I am convinced someone who is not as qualified as he thinks he is to teach footballing technique is out there messing up Celtic and SCOTLAND’s brightest prospects. It is driving me bloody mental. If I was put into Celtic Park tomorrow to investigate and suggest a fix. I guarantee you I would be on the phone to Nakamura, Larsson, Lubo and Steve Guppy asking them all to suggest a technical coach. Then I would pick up the phone and call Mjialby, Lambert and McNamara and ask them to suggest a tactical coach. I would tell Ronny he can do what he likes with the rest of them, but those 2 stay.
Which brings me onto another point. Why did Stevie Frail leave? What was going on that made him decide aww Fuck it!

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Uralius

Uralius,
Excellent point regarding the sports scientists, could they not have got Stokes head in the right place?

8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

A very good point.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Charlie Saiz, are you sure Efe isn’t a robot, he keeps doing the same things…
Get the ball, six touches to control it, Misplace the pass/header…Celtic out!

Metal Mickey!

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

@Monti
Naw but I think you may be a spambot posting “Deila Out!” “Efe Out!” over and over and over again on a daily basis.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Charlie Saiz,
Have you got your cream raincoat on, greased down hair and specs on?
I see you on a bridge with a pen and note pad waiting for trains, or is it the stamp club for you? 🙂

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

@Monti
You should see me in full combat gear holding a rifle.
I picture you playing COD all night with your headphones on camping with Cold Blooded on thinking you are one shot Paddy in the hills of South Armagh…
Shouting “Tubefae Alba!”

Uralius
8 years ago

This phone is pushing me off.
*too many errors, you know what I mean

BroxburnBhoy
8 years ago

My heart has always been in the Premier League. I’ve had an offer to go to China as well,” said Moyes, 52.

schoosh71
8 years ago

WOW, it’s like commonsense has broke out in ‘The Diary’, where is Adrian, I need to be having a word with him. HH 🙂

mike
8 years ago

Managerial Appointments are crucial,supporters can spot a good one a mile away.
John Stein,the best of the best.
Wim. Jansen stopped 10 in a row,gave us Henke.
Dr.Joe gave us Lubo the best no10 ever.said Zidane.
Mon,Brilliant tactician and man manager,gave us Seville.
Neil Lennon,Great player D.M.and Manager the Bravest of the Brave.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  mike

Mike,
Ronny Deila gave us…….erm…..err…..

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

A league and Cup Double.

Brian53
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Someone to hate?

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Brian53

🙂

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Brian53

Now now Brian, I don’t hate him, I just think he’s in the wrong movie!

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Brian53

Brian,
Again, I don’t hate him, he is just not very good as a Celtic manager!
Results are showing that to be the case, he is gone in the summer!
Thank fuck!

mike
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti,

Heartburn,Anxiety attacks,Fear.

schoosh71
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

See the process of you going, “…….erm…..err…..”, that in itself is being ‘introspective’. What in fact is happening with “…….erm…..err…..” is ‘your’ conscious part of your brain asking ‘your’ subconscious part, for the answer of something ‘you’ have asked it. Sometimes you get the answer in micro seconds sometimes it takes, minutes months and weeks, I find ‘sleeping on it’, usually is the best way for me. HH

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  schoosh71

Boof out the park schoosh 🙂

Delbhoy
8 years ago

Apart from the sevco game has Ronny ever won a game that really mattered. Seems to me we lose them all

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Delbhoy

Delbhoy,
I raised the very same point this week, and many times under Ronny Deila’s reign, Celtic now lose big games.
To be fair though, the establishment denied him a treble last year, not one up front, not Peter Lawwell or the media…just Huns with a flag and a whistle.
Europe under Deila is as bad as it can get and it has not got better.

Bye Ronny, in the summer.

BondiBrian
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Ok Monti, how about you accept RD is here til the summer then indeed ‘Bye Ronny, in the summer’ point am making is back the team, get off RD back – we aw know yer take on him and fair enough it’s your opinion but c’mon man stop berating him everyother post. HAIL HAIL N as that.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  BondiBrian

Bondibrian,
Deila is a fucking joke figure and if you don’t like what I’m saying about him, I couldn’t give two fucks!

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Was Clyde a big game?
Was Morton a big game?
How about Motherwell to decide the League?
Inverness Caley to decide the League?
Every game is a big game when Celtic take the field.
We win more than we lose or draw.
NONE OF THEM ARE A FORMALITY TOUGH.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

THOUGH’

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Delbhoy

So how did he manage to win a League by 15 points and a Cup without conceding a single goal?

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Because just like last season, he has a squad at his disposal that is far better than his rivals.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

And when that squad loses it’s central pairing and subsequently has a rake of injuries in the defence department does it still have that same effectiveness that it did the Season previous?

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Further to that have you not noticed the attack meanwhile has become more effective even with these issues?

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

No it doesn’t but there should still be distance between Celtic and the chasing pack.
Are you saying we can’t beat Kilmarnock and Motherwell because VVD and Denayer have left?

Celtic have a far bigger selection of players at their disposal than any other side, this should be reflected in results and performances.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

@Monti
Yes we do but level of ability is not much better that n the standard elsewhere when they are not on top form.
Which many of them haven.t been this Season.
Form is temporary though as we all know.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

@Monti
No Monti what I am saying and I have been saying this for 19 months now is yes we are a better side on paper when we are playing to our capability but when we aren’t through Injuy,suspension or loss of form we are not that much better than our nearest rival Aberdeen.
Any team can win a Cup tie,any team and I include the very best Celtic sides in this too can lose games against perceived weaker sides.
The Lisbon lions beat Man United,Inter Milan and Real Madrid during a Season wherre they lifted 5 Trophies in that Season…
Dundee United who finshed 9th at the end of that Season put 6 goals past them in two ties they won 3-2 in each.
That’s Football it happens.
Whilst we are a million miles off the level of the Greatest ever Club side in Scottish Football history this proves it still can happen and does so regularly.
It’s what makes Football the exiting game that it is.
Life would be fucking boring if we turned up every week winning 3-0 4-0 5-0 etc etc etc.
Our side has not played to it’s best all season, our defence thanks to several issues out with the Managers control (losing Denaayer and VVD,injureis,loss of form)has been the main issue.
Yet thee we sit just as we were last Season after 24 games on top of the League only 2 point less and them one point more than we both managed last season.
Stop worrying we have gears to find,form to hit Aberdeen are as good as they are going to get.

Monti
8 years ago

One thing I would say to James Forrest tho, get a haircut son.
Needs to stop playing with his fringe.

Uralius
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Myself and a few of the lads over here play a drinking game called touch your hair. Whenever a Celtic player is seen touching their hair on TV we take a drink. Whenever Forrest comes on as a sub we all go to the fridge and grab another beer.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I would say keep the hair(your choice) but work on your delivery James because yet again you are lacking in this department.

schoosh71
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I believe this is one of the issues that got AS ‘binned’. ALL last season whenever the camera spanned on him, he was playing with his hair. Maybe he was doing it subconsciously, as he paid a lot of money for it and was tending to the ‘barnet’ properly. Football players making sure their hair looks good, while play a football match, need to go. only my opinion. HH

Monti
8 years ago

Manchester City 1 Leicester City 3

4-4-2

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Two goals from set pieces 😉

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Cities defence is shocking at the minute.

Brian53
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

When you think of how much their team costs as well.

My good lady works beside a man city fan and she says that although she still supports them and goes to all the matches, its never felt the same since the money men came in.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Brian53

Corporate Football don’t you just love it?

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Brian53

They are making such a deal about the fact it cost £22m to assemble it.
Vardy just signed a Contract worth £80,000 a week.

Leicester City.

mike
8 years ago
Reply to  Brian53

Brian,

It proves that £millions do not guarantee success, but watch what happens when PEP arrives,just proves my point re.Manager/Coach.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Brian53

@Brian
“but watch what happens when PEP arrives,just proves my point re.Manager/Coach”
Proves what exactly?
Pep hasn’t taken over yet.
The current Manager is still on for a Quadrupple and Pep will no doubt get £250,000 to throw at the side soon as he get’s the keys.
Would love to see him take the Newcastle Job and win the League with them?

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Charlie Saiz

Have they signed Efe? 🙂

mike
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

No but they are going to sign Efe Neymore.

Brian53
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Just watched the man city city game on motd. It wasn’t about the 4-4-2 that both teams seemed to play, it was about the movement of players off the ball, with several running into space all eager for the pass. Keeping their shape under pressure and breaking at speed, it was a joy to watch.
Man city had all the stats, Leicester all the goals. Could we play like that? Teams we play defend en masse and we don’t help matters with our slow crab like build up. There is no space to run into when the opposition immediately form 2 banks of five.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Brian53

There is when you have pace in abundance and players willing to work hard off the ball.
Hence why Commons was dropped in favour of younger guys like Rogic Johansen and McGregor who are willing to do this.
Deila obviously not knowing what he is doing accidentally stumbled onto this 18 months ago….

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Brian53

Brian,
What do you mean by ” it wasn’t about the 4-4-2″?
That’s how the manager has set his team out to play.
Surely it has everything to do with the formation?

Delbhoy
8 years ago

Fair point monti, we are def incapable of stepping up to the plate in crunch games. Really hope Leicester win the league. 5000 to one would have been worth a fiver at the start of the season !

class of 88
8 years ago

Got a spare for Sunday, any takers?

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  class of 88

Can the spare play central defence?

Monti
8 years ago

Ralph,
Any update on Tom Campbell?

8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti,, who is Tom Campbell and whats up?

Uralius
8 years ago
Reply to  Jimthetim

Tom is an author who has written more than one book on Celtic. He recently had, what I understand was successful open heart surgery, but we haven’t heard from him in a couple of weeks.

8 years ago
Reply to  Uralius

Please God he is ok.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Jimthetim

Charlie Saiz,
I recommend ‘ The Glory and the dream ‘ by Tom Campbell and Pat Woods.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Jimthetim

Must admit I haven’t read any of Toms books but I know he’s read some of my ramblings and smiled.
God speed Tom and HH

Whoriskey
8 years ago

Interesting article, Ralph, I think you are probably close to the truth. I say close as we know nothing about what our board wants and thinks apart from keeping debts manageable and making sure that Peter and Dermot never have to resort to using Provy Cheques. The lack of transparency from the board is shocking and we have to guess what their plan for the future really is as it’s not clear at all. I wonder how much our manager knows…not that he would be allowed to say. I would love it if we could be a fan owned club as Charlie Saiz, but why would these guys want to sell a moneymaker…don’t they tend to pass these business opportunities between themselves to keep the likes of us as far away from the top table as possible.

Whoriskey
8 years ago

On a different note, I read pensionerbhoy’s name in someone’s comment and it came back to me the pb has been saying for years Forrest is an imposter and we should bite off the hand of any bidders. He wasn’t wrong. As usual.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Whoriskey

Whoriskey,
Blah blah blah, Forrest I’d an imposter blah blah blah…..Meh!

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Is

Whoriskey
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Pardon…you were doing so well.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Whoriskey

Forrest…when he put Celtic through to the CL with that late goal v Karagandy, I bet Forrest was OK then though?
You criticise me for not ” supporting Deila” but you think it’s OK to keep blaming Forrest for anything that pops into your solitary cell?

Contradictory in the extreme.

Deila is good, Forrest is bad, Ambrose is good, bleat bleat

Whoriskey
8 years ago
Reply to  Whoriskey

Ok, but I think you’ll find that was my very first mention of Forrest in all the years of Etims so your reasoning is flawed and, if you have a wee read again, you will see I was merely agreeing with another of our, ahem, more temperate supporters. Further, if you have another troll through my posts you will find no mention of Samuel L. Ambrose…is this what you mean by “Contradictory in the extreme?” You see, Minti, you are in such a rush to condemn that you, at best, skim read any posts and then charge full ahead to your rage setting. Calm down Dear. Two questions for you; how many goals a season has Forrest provided for his wage and is that number higher than the amount of successful crosses he’s made? Also, truthfully, who do you want to win today?

Whoriskey
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Trolling, Trolling, Trolling…BAWSNIDE!

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Whoriskey

Whoriskey,
” Are you employed sir “?

Whoriskey
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Never give a dishonest Troll details. Be safe.

Jocsoc
8 years ago

We won’t get the club we want until we actually own it ourselves!

8 years ago

I think I’m the last one standing tonight. Ralph you still up mate? Monti? Charlie S? Urallaus is good compmpany too.

8 years ago

I’m away to my kip.

Tony Anderson
8 years ago

Great article and some great comments

DanTheMan
8 years ago

To change topic , is the rise of football in China in the past few weeks going to end the gravy train that is The EPL and will we see the arce fall out of The Sky/ BT duopoly?

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  DanTheMan

No, it isn’t!
The English premiership is now regarded as the best league in the world, Jurgen Klopp and guardiola arriving merely confirms that.

I wouldn’t take the Chinese league seriously, they should concentrate on making boiled rice and Chow mein.

andybhoy
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I watched an extremely interesting documentary last night about the history of the Great Wall of China and how they built it so effectively and strong. Myth had it, that they ground down the bones of dead, the poor sods that worked on it every day in life, when forensic tests showed in fact, the secret ingredient was sticky rice mixed into the mortar that made it so resilient.
Use it on the players, maybe they’ll be able to last 90 minutes without blowing out their collective arses.

mike
8 years ago
Reply to  andybhoy

Andybhoy,

You have been reading your fortune cookies? i have the same effect when i eat the wifes home made soup.

Happy Chinese New Year to everybody the Morra.

BondiBrian
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

casual rascism, right there.

Bit like Paddy’s should stick to eating potato’s.

Happy Chinese New Year, of the monkey!

DanTheMan
8 years ago
Reply to  BondiBrian

Agree Bondi , wonder what Phil would make of Monti and Andy’s comments above Dear Dear! ☘☘☘

DanTheMan
8 years ago
Reply to  DanTheMan

Sorry Andy not yours.☘☘☘

DanTheMan
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Money is now God in the football world and the Chinese are rolling in it . Their political leaders are now promoting it so the EPL should be afraid ,very afraid . A sleeping giant could be about to awaken.☘☘☘☘

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Wow racist too.
Lovely stuff from the forum bam.

DanTheMan
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

the only word I would pick up in your post is ” now’ You don’t just add water and it happens instantly Monti. But if they continue to splash the cash in a couple of years Guardiola and Mourhino will be in China.. Can’t wait!☘☘☘

Uralius
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

They should concentrate on reducing their carbon footprint so insects can live in their country again so they don’t have to hand pollinate their crops.

andybhoy
8 years ago
Reply to  DanTheMan

Amazing what footballers will do to inflate their gorged bank accounts. Go to China, play in a big polluted city and et voilà, you are an 80 a day man and you haven’t had a fag in your life.

DanTheMan
8 years ago
Reply to  andybhoy

Have you read what Eriksson said about life in China, he had difficulty separating Beijing and Lomdon . ☘☘☘

andybhoy
8 years ago
Reply to  DanTheMan

I would love to go there one day, but the pollution seems to be a bit of a problem.

Devoy45
8 years ago

Jim the Tim: Tom Campbell, born Glasgow 1934.Lives in Canada, just had heart surgery and is recovering in Ottawa. I’d recommend his “Dreams, and songs to sing:A New History of Celtic” Mainstream, Edinburgh, 1996. He wrote this with Pat Woods.Tom also has a new book coming out about Bobby Evans. Tom appears on this site occasionally under his real name and talks one helluva lot of sense, unlike many of us. He knows everything about our club worth knowing. We all wish him a good recovery. There’s a few good books left in him yet!

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  Devoy45

Devoy,
‘ The Glory and the dream ‘ is another excellent read, I think Pat woods helped with that book as well!

mike
8 years ago

Dan,
Judging by the cash they are offering to players and Managers all it will do for the moment is to keep wages rising,but think of the Chinese Nation filled with enthuseastic supporters its frightetning for the future.

Monti
8 years ago
Reply to  mike

In what way?
Can you name one good Chinese player? Du Wei?

mike
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti,

We are not talking about home bred players yet,but the money on offer to World Players,including btw.John Terry is staggering.They must be making an effort to raise there fitba profile like the USA.

Brian53
8 years ago

watching the link from etims twitter. An old Billy Connolly
interview I have never seen before. Great stuff.

andybhoy
8 years ago
Reply to  Brian53

Oh I him, the Partick Thistle supporter when it suited him.

BondiBrian
8 years ago
Reply to  andybhoy

Aye, imagine trying ti make yer way in the entertainment industry and no be seen to be a Catholic Celtic supporter in West of Scotland in the 70’s.

Gon yer sel Big Yin.

Iancelt67
8 years ago

bettet together billy opportunist twat

Monti
8 years ago

Watching MOTD this morning I note with interest Leicester City absolutely battering Manchester City, away from home.
Leicester City play 4-4-2 and are currently 5 points clear at the top of the premiership.
Don’t let people pull the wool over your eyes that Vary has signed a contract on 80,000 pwk, that isn’t the point, the point is Vardy works his arse off for 90 mins, like every other player.
Look at the running, effort, determination and desire of those Leicester players compared to Celtic’s slackers? Night and day.
Like I have said many, many times 4-4-2 works and Leicester City are a shining example of this.

Leicester City side was assembled for just under £23m, compare that to Man City, Man Utd and Chelsea?

Ranieri has them organised, he has them fighting fit, the players have desire and understand what their job is in the team, those players are hungry for it and they are up for it.

4-4-2 doesn’t work? My arse!

Doc
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

£23m? Deila spent £15.1m. Don’t usually use comparisons with English fitba but its staggering what a good manager can achieve.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago
Reply to  Monti

34% possession absolutely battered them so they did.
East Kilbride had 30% possession today to put that into perspective.

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