Menu Close

Celtic Diary Monday October 25: From van Dijk to duffy, From Tierney to Taylor

You can stop fretting now.

 

I think I know what the problem is.

 

Neil Lennon defends Celtic's Peter Lawwell over bonus โ€“ HITC

 

 

One of these guys uses us as a plaything, only getting involved when he fells like it, whereas the other gets involved far too much.

 

Yesterday, Celtic put on probably their best show of the season, snatching a 3-3 draw from the grasp of victory up at Aberdeen.

 

We can draw positives from that, and we can draw negatives.

 

There were signs that some, at least, of the players are fully aware that they will have to battle to allow Celtic to remain supreme in Scotland, and there were also signs that for some the pressure might be getting to them, and ultimately prove too much.

 

Manager Neil Lennon included Scott Bain in the line up, adding more uncertainty to an already uncertain back line, which won;t do the confidence of Vasilis Barkas any good, although Barkas is probably already fed up of being the whipping boy, and would have been glad to be out of the range of Shane Duffy, who thankfully only hurt his pride yesterday.

 

Mo Elyannoussi and Olivier Ntcham also started, but that proved to be a mistake as well. Granted Ntcham made a bigger impression than usual, but it wasn’t until the introduction of Scott Brown and Leigh Griffiths that a bit of heart came into the side.

 

These two injected a sense of urgency and direction, with Griffiths now eyeing a first team role with Oddsone Edouard out of the frame for a while.

 

If he stops sulking long enough, there’s still a blank page to write on his contribution to the club.

 

Brown showed that he still has a part to play, although it may be limited to similar cameos more often than not.

 

Elyannoussi, undoubtedly a capable player, but along with Duffy and Albien Ajeti, who unfortunately isn’t a loannee, we’ve actually bought this one, hopefully having kept the receipt, give the impression they are here for the ride and the glory.

 

There used to be a fan who sat behind me in 411 who throughout the game would simply repeat “Come on, Celtic, dig “.

 

Maybe the lockdown and his enforced absence has had an effect on the team, and if we are to admit supporters any time soon, I vote for him, and put him near the touchline so the players can hear him.

 

 

Celtic should have secured all three points yesterday, a spirited double come back to leave the score at 3-2 in injury time would normally be a season changer, but a lack of concentration combined with not a few nerves led to another penalty for Aberdeen, and a costly conversion.

 

Quite simply, although a number of the players have been over the course, they have been supplemented with too many who haven’t, and they are not up to the standard required. They’re still better technically than anyone any of our opponents have to offer, but with modern transfer policies based on statistics and monetary value, we’ve not replaced the quality of Virgil van dijk or Keiran Tierney with anything that approaches a similar level.

 

The inevitable result of such downsizing is that the quality suffers, whilst fans demand the same results, week in and week out.

 

Over the last few years we’ve seen an exodus of quality, one or two at a time, and it looks very much like it’s coming back to bite us.

 

In a sense, perhaps the work put in by the manager to persuade a few this summer to stay was needed, but if someone wants out, they are never going to give one hundred per cent, and again, we’re seeing the results of that.

 

No one of great significance left, but equally, no one , Laxalt excepted, of real quality came in.

 

If you can’t that quality, then the next best thing is heart, and Shane Duffy fitted that bill perfectly. One of us, an EPL international defender, but he has yt to raise his game to the level required, which has clearly taken him by surprise.

 

When Jason Denaayer debuted for Celtic, he had a lackadaisical first couple of touches, and was caught out. wathced him adapt throughout that game, and he went on to cope admirably alongside Virgil van Dijk.

 

Thats what Duffy needs to do.

 

Adapt.

 

Quicken his speed of thought and action.

 

However, it all boils down to the selling of players worth tens of millions and the buying of players for considerably less. The odd nugget apart, you get what you pay for.

 

For years now Celtic have sold their biggest assets, apparently to balance the books, but there seems to be little thought going into replacements.

 

Greg Taylor is a more than decent defender, but supporters are holding him to the standards they held to Keiran Tierney, which is unfair to say the least and counter productive at best.

 

He’ll learn from Laxalt and go on to greater things, the same could be said for Patrick Klimala, who whilst showing and doing everything to earn a place has to play second fiddle to Ajeti, a different kind of forward who , granted, scores goals, but only when he’s goven the chance to, and right now Celtic aren;t creating those chances, and a more direct approach, as shown by Griffiths yesterday, is required from the front men.

 

It’s unfair to expect the team to perform at the levels of the last few years when we have a regime that doesn’t replace our top performers with , well, top performers.

 

The inevitable downward trend seemed to surprise us, and we’ve blamed everyone on the coaching and management side for this, when in fact silk purses and sows ears come to mind.

 

Even if the players who came in this summer were top notch, circumstances have meant there has been little opportunity for them to work together as a unit, there has been injury and illness, doubt and disorder.

 

And we are all guilty of blaming whoever we think is at fault.

 

In a nutshell, given the regular downsizing, any manager would have struggled to retain the levels of the last few years, which is not to say that he couldn’t be doing a few things a lot better, but how about some support for a man who deserves at least that ?

 

It’s too late to say he should have asked for more money, he’s spent a few quid but in todays market what you get for ยฃ5m will not replace what you sold for 25.

 

This scenario has been on the cards for a while, and now we’re faced with it, we have to deal with it.

 

We need to be supporters, and we need a little more patience with the team, the coaches and the management,

 

Sentimental bullshit or not, it might yet prove to be our biggest weapon.

 

 

 

 

 

3.9 21 votes
Article Rating
158 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Hoople
3 years ago

I very rarely comment, but you have managed to sum up exactly how I feel, therefore it is a brilliant article!

James
3 years ago

At least bring in a coach to work with Neil……

Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  James

Nearly all newly appointed football managers insisting on taking the job with THERE own trusted team especially his assistant. Lennon was weak on taking the job without insisting on it being HIS team. Either that or Lawwell made it obligatory that it had to be HIS choice of who Lennon’s assistant would be. If Lenny did do that, then he rolled over to Lawwell. He Lawwell and his master Desmond run all aspects of the club including the football department, Lennon should have learned his lesson first time round and stood up for it to be his choice and his alone, now he is reaping the consequences of his own lack of foresight…

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Mike,
Exactly!

Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Kennedy was kept on because that’s what Lawwell wanted, Lennon may have accepted it, but Kennedy would’nt be his first choice. Both Lennon and his assistant at Hibs (Gary Parker) left at the same time by mutual consent and after an internal revue, after an exchange with several employees. They were not dismissed but it was in both parties interest that they both left. Lennon had no clout, he had no employment, so was likely to do what Lawwell wanted him to do and that was to accept his place-man JK.

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

” Lenny approved of this “?
How do you know he had any choice ?

Mike
3 years ago

In the last three games, Celtic have scored 4 goals and conceded 8, there is the problem. No team can expect to win anything when they are leaking goals at that rate. I remember before the season started that one of the regular first team players remarked ‘ there is always pressure it builds and builds’ and I thought mmmn strange thing to say. It may not be an emergency as such, but it needs fixed pronto. My first response would be to dial 999 and request an ambulance and a doctor, a defensive coach like big Johan, he worked as Lennon’s assistant previously and who is better qualified, to coach defensive technique? That would be my initial response because it seems to me that John Kennedy appears to do SFA. or to sign Stan Welbeck, his father was a bomb disposal officer.
Depressing, not high pressing, moles instead of goals…

Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Yoker, I replied to you over the page, its currently being moderated.

Yoker Bhoy
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Got it Mike.

Steven
3 years ago

What a crock of shit this article is van dijk left years ago and weโ€™ve had plenty cbs since whoโ€™ve won multiple trebles and league title and weโ€™ve replaced tierney with Laxalt now a 13 million pound player from Milan who we couldnโ€™t agree a few for hence the loan, lol the managers a fraud yet to win a treble of his own and failed in every big game cup finals and semi finals European qualifiers and breaking negative records left right and centre,heโ€™s a dinosaur of a manager doesnโ€™t coach the team and is tactically clueless he failed in domestic competitions first time round loosing to Morton Ross county st Mirren Kilmarnock hearts this time heโ€™s failed in Europe cluj Copenhagen Ferencvaros heโ€™s lost back to back games at home to rangers and has us chasing a ship wreck of a club in our biggest season a could say more about Lennon but Iโ€™m sick of speaking about him weโ€™re stuck with him till he fails and thatโ€™s why Celtic fans didnโ€™t want him because we knew he would and what that would entail it seems like his mate wrote this article trying to deflect from him

Tim Buffy
3 years ago
Reply to  Steven

Ever heard of full stops? Thatโ€™s a hard read.

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  Steven

Tierney wasn’t replaced by Laxalt, he was replaced by Bolingoli ( spits ) & Taylor.

Sery
3 years ago
Reply to  Steven

The article is spot on . Lennon will sort this out and you with your negativity talk #hite

henrik
3 years ago

this isnt fresh news lennons made an arse of it doing all he can to get ntcham into the team when he doesnt justify his selection,messed with the shape now we are all over the place,yes constantly selling our best players is a problem but lennon is the biggest problem presently

BJf
3 years ago

Ralph pass marks for you today but Virgil has been gone a while and we have won the odd trophy since then. Really want Mikey Johnston back to inject a bit of life into the team. Better attitude yesterday but the defence is struggling. Duffy needs better defender in his right, El Hamid or possibly even Ralston but then how do we utilise Frimpongโ€™s talents? The league is nit win in October, the opposition will have their down time too, not sure they have either the quality or the quantity to deal with that.

Whitearra
3 years ago

OK, we probably didnโ€™t deserve to win. But, does anybody know the rule regarding advantage? Following McGregors foul in the box, Collum played advantage only for the player to hit the bar I.e. he took advantage and messed up. Not
Celticโ€™s problem! Why then bring it back? Also, (not that I wanted it), why wasnโ€™t McGregor โ€˜red cardedโ€™ for denying a goal or โ€˜yellow cardedโ€™ a second time and sent off?

3 years ago
Reply to  Whitearra

The advantage rule was used properly m8. Within a 2_3 second time frame is the normal point of assessing the situation and if the goal scoring opportunity was utilised. The ref called it correctly and was right to bring it back.
McGregor was indeed lucky not to be red carded .

Morto
3 years ago
Reply to  Whitearra

Unfortunately Collum applied the advantage rule correctly. The ref has the option to bring the play back if he feels that no advantage was gained. Thatโ€™s open to interpretation of course but strictly speaking he wasnโ€™t wrong. Regards McGregor, I thought he was very lucky not to see a second yellow but then Collum didnโ€™t award any cards at any of the penalties so at least he was consistent even if it was consistently wrong!

BornCelt!
3 years ago

Like the article, sentiment, Father Winifred, Malley, 67 and all that, is our biggest asset and allows us to decide to keep up our season cards without a refund claim, though the items have been lost in the post. Elhamed’s tackle, or lack of, against Farencvaros, Duffy and Callum Mac in each others way against Milan, Duffy caught in possession against the Dons, they know it and all at vital times. Must do better, perhaps Callum Mac is trying too much, so play your game young man, Broony is irreplacable, but the team will adapt. Too many enforced changes due to injury, fitness issues, sitting at home, where too many are not able find their rhythm. Broony slowing down, only thing Ely did well yesterday was fall over in the box for the pen. Like Bain back, though the score does not agree with me, but the ball was moving quicker from him at the back. Till Barkas finds form or another found. And here we are. If we win the game in hand, 3 points behind with so much to go for. Grif looked hungry and a wonder goal. If Scott Brown has slowed down, give him a player-coach role and put away the ego, let him have a say on tactics and selections, I would rather upset Lenny right now, who does not believe in telling off players anymore, as you rightly mentioned earlier Ralph, but a furious Broony might bring in a little fire. Bit like facing Moyes after Red-Nose Ferguson. Yes, sorry Mr Moyes, will not do it again, while secretly texting your mates to confirm will be at the pub with the ho’s at 8. With Alex, would have turned tee-total after his rages. In modern terms, Broony has seen the house built around him. No-one knows the club, players and traditions like him and he has the nous and respect to buck things up without too many changes and he can still play a wee bit when needed. HH!

tex
3 years ago
Reply to  BornCelt!

Callum Mac needs to be playing further forward ,him and big Rogic should be playing together every week.Ellounoussi is a passenger .the coaching staff are a joke.I,m not looking forward to this europa game this week .

BornCelt!
3 years ago
Reply to  tex

Totally. Callum’s run and goal yesterday was wonderful, he is asked to cover at the back which must cost us many a goal. Since when do tactics mean playing out of position. except when absolutely necessary! HH!

Gman71
3 years ago

That lot have managed to operate on a similar budget and buy in the same market, the difference is in the professionalism of coaching, Michael Beal is a top coach and slippy a figurehead, strachan certainly isnโ€™t a top coach and neither are jk or nl simple as that unfortunately. When duff left lawell scoured the globe for a replacement and guess what he found? His old mate Gordonโ€™s son at league 1 Peterborough ffs!!! Thatโ€™s why our players are pissed off, no respect for the drop in standards At the club and who can blame them

Delbhoy
3 years ago

This page seems to be all about what excuse can we come up with today to help lenny . Absolute nonsense, van dik was years ago.. we have an expensive assembled squad which is better than last year but the players are quite simply not playing for him . Can argue the rights and wrongs of that all day but it’s fact . We down sized on the manager and got what we paid for . Everything Rodgers did and the professionalism Rodgers brought to the club has been eroded . One look at Lennon sitting stern faced in his untidy tracksuit and you can see why the players aren’t motivated . He looks like he can’t be arsed , his substitutes are like for like , team sheets chucked together . I would rather have an enthusiastic kid than play that joker ntcham who will never fight. Ellounoussi is here for a holiday, I’m praying for mikeys return . To many players are off it and that’s the managers responsibility. Desmond needs to step in and bring in someone of Rodgers ilk, Martinez , howe even try and get poch. We should never have took such a backwards step after Rodgers, we should have kicked on but choose the hibs manager. It is this that’s coming back to bite us on the arse

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago
Reply to  Delbhoy

Agreed. Time waits for no man. As one happy clapper keeps referring to the fortunate Barcelona win in 2012 as some kind of master stroke by Lenny. Celtic were in a European Cup final in 1970 and semi finalists in 74. Four years later we had the ignominy of playing Burnley in the Anglo Scottish cup.Time waits for no man and Lenny has had his time.

sfa unfit for purpose
3 years ago
Reply to  Delbhoy

Brilliant

Delbhoy
3 years ago
Reply to  Delbhoy

Duncan , you pull up all the stats that show how amazing he is , what about getting pumped in qualifiers twice with the same tactics . I am not pining for Rodgers but it is clear to see whatever you think of the man he was a professional in everything he did . He could change games in an instant which Lennon seems unable to do. The amount of unfit and injured players is ridiculous and points to issues behind the scenes . Word has it Lennon got rid of all the modern aspects Rodgers brought in . I think Lennon did well by his own admission with a group of Rodgers players who had a winning mentality , now Lennons stamp is on the team you are seeing a drastic change in attitude and quality

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  Delbhoy

Delbhoy,
Completely agree!

Barkas -private pilot
3 years ago
Reply to  Delbhoy

Thatโ€™s about it. The small details Rodgers put in place have been treated with contempt. However I hope NL has a philosophy and an end product in mind. I feel he runs on intuition as opposed to constructive approaches to the game. I think the team he put out which was basically the team that ended the game against Milan is a reactionary move. I get the feeling all that pent up anger he used to get out with the numerous flash points he had during his last tenure have come home to roost in spiteful ness against his own players. He is a fucking hot head trying to put a lid on it

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  Delbhoy

Utter drivel, it just is!

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  Delbhoy

It’s not vital for the Celtic manager to be a ‘ Celtic man ‘!

Clown

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago
Reply to  Delbhoy

Thatโ€™s my point. A bygone era. How quickly did we go from being a top 6 European team to a team that couldnโ€™t qualify for European competition. Hopeless CL qualification fails and no clue how to manage a reasonably large and talented squad against Bealeโ€™s Sevco. Granted Lawwell has a big portion of the blame to own, but Lennon is his own worst enemy for allowing him to set almost all the agendas in regards to coaching and recruitment.

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

Salivate over Rodgers, me? Again youโ€™re talking shite.

Monti
3 years ago

What’s wrong with multiple personalities?
We all get on…..

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago
Reply to  Delbhoy

My span of attention to your posts dissipates at warp speed. A green hun you say. What a pathetic little stain you are.

Frank
3 years ago

Sorry to have to say the biggest problem is the guy in the padded jacket with NL on the front.

3 years ago
Reply to  Frank

Agreed

Cartvale88
3 years ago

Lenny, Lenny what can be said, . The truth is he is reactive not proactive. Game after game this season the team go one down he then sits and ruminates, only then bringing on players that should have started.
The argument is they are not fit, in the current climate you have more than enough subs to replace them.
Again yesterday the first half was dire, think the Wankers, AC and yesterday. Only when things go wrong does he take off the useless numbers. Ok you can argue he has seen the problem, the problem is indecision.
Ajeti, Elyanoussi, Frimpong, Ncham are poor, and yes you can hang out Duffy but what was Frimpongs position yesterday?
He has become an enpty tabard, possibly the ten is weighing too heavily on him and he has the fear factor. Screw the Europa and go for the league.

Monti
3 years ago

Neil Lennon & his backroom team is not working, i’ve seen enough from the start of the season to make a reasonably balanced judgement.

OUT NOW & take Duffy with him, he has been shocking, Greg Taylor? Ffs man

Barkas -private pilot
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Cue for Duncan and a four thousand word diatribe for the defence

Barkas -private pilot
3 years ago

Actually respect the time you put in. And you make good points. Itโ€™s good to have polarised views on here for healthy debate. It dilapidates into some funny and some not so funny personal attacks. Keep it up.

Barkas -private pilot
3 years ago

Well unless they have a replacement manager with some local knowledge waiting to take over I agree. Itโ€™s too critical a time. There is the โ€œbounceโ€ you get from a new guy that might get us back to parity before itโ€™s too late but thatโ€™s just hypothesis.

Monti
3 years ago

Q. Why was Brendan Rodgers allowed to bring his own team in, yet Neil Lennon wasn’t?
Why is that?
Neil isn’t solely to blame, a few of these players need a rocket up their behind.
It’s a fkn joke

Barkas -private pilot
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Think Strachan s grandson is in line for technical director with his new Ps5

Monti
3 years ago

He wouldn’t know how to install the game.

Monti
3 years ago

I thought we brought a sports psychologist in, how much is he taking for this nonsense.
It’s a manager, a defensive, a midfielder & striker coach they need to bring in, hopefully they know what their doing because this lot are fkn useless.
The team should be fired up to the fkn max….but they aren’t!

Andy
3 years ago

The writing was on the wall after the first league game of the season. Hamilton scored a very soft goal and could have scored 4 that day, we have had a soft centre for a while and against a better side we would have lost that game. We have been shambolic defensively and poor overall.

Until we sort the defence out we are not going anywhere.

Lets be honest, although the huns are not world beaters they are well organised, play with a system that is working consistently and clearly know their way around a pitch. Their performances in Europe tell you everything

DGC
3 years ago

Really sorry gents but I can’t completely agree.
The biggest downsizing has been in the management and coaching teams rather than the playing staff.
We saw what a top level manager can do with limited means.’He-who-shall-not-be-named’ took a defence of Saidy Janko and O’Connell into the champions league!
There is more than enough quality in this Celtic squad to repeat that feat and to be putting a team like Aberdeen to the sword but the players don’t look fit, they don’t look like they know what they should be doing when in or out of possession and they have no clear identity as a unit – all of that lays with etc Manager and his team of coaches.
The McGregor goal was the first time I’ve seen Celtic play a slick give-and-go 1-2 in the opposition box for what feels like a year – that used to be the hallmark of the invincible team and it looks like the players have forgotten all the moves that made them champions. Instead we persisted with the frankly dump tactic of trying to get wide and crossing when the wind made it almost impossible to flight accurate balls into the box (for a small target man so not sure of the wisdom of the ploy anyway) – after the first 10mins of the first half they should have had the sense to change approach but the in game management is very poor.
I’m utterly certain that a good quality coach could take this group of players to the last 16 of the Europa League but I’m afraid our current manager and his team fall well short of that level

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  DGC

DGC,
Spot on m8

Bgbhoy
3 years ago
Reply to  DGC

Well said. Rodgers took a LC team from the bottom half of the table to 1 win from the champions league group stages.

It is laughable that anyone would try and compare the two. Lennons โ€˜successโ€™ last season was down to the players who still had the professionalism installed in them by Rodgers

Now that we have 3 players from the game Rodgers era left we are now in a Neil Lennon nightmare.

Weโ€™ve spent 17.5 million. Thatโ€™s on Lennon. Shambolic

sfa unfit for purpose
3 years ago
Reply to  Bgbhoy

Are you saying Lennon picks all the players Celtic sign ?

Iljas Baker
3 years ago

Play definitely improved with Christie and Rogic as they injected some urgency into the team and Calmac followed suit. But overall we were ponderous coming out from the back giving the Dons too much time to get organized. The defense had no shape and didnโ€™t seem to know what they should be doing. Itโ€™s not just individual mistakes, thatโ€™s part of it for sure but these are more likely when the defensive unit is in disarray.
Unfortunately opposition defenders can cope with Frimpong fairly easily these days and heโ€™s no longer the threat he was. But the answer is not for him to come inside where itโ€™s congested. And defensively he doesnโ€™t offer enough – a lot of Donsโ€™ moves were up his flank and Duffy is not at game fitness level yet to make up for his shortcomings.
Letโ€™s assume a number of players were hoping to get a move to a better league during the summer, this fell through because of Covid. It put a damper on the transfer market. Who came in with bids for them? Almost nobody. Lennon saying if they donโ€™t want to be here they can go was another twist of the knife. They canโ€™t go even if they want as no one decent wants them now. Add on top of this the injuries to key players, the lack of fans, the quarantine fiasco or at least uncertainty. Players have taken a big hit arguably much more to cope with than Rangers who also have a more settled squad and team. Hence bring in a sports psychologist. I think the playing of Calmac, Rogic, Christie and Ajer suggests it might be beginning to reap dividends but itโ€™s early days yet. Donโ€™t lose faith in the players or the coaches and manager. Make suggestions by all means but respectfully and donโ€™t write anyone off. Thereโ€™s a long way to go. Wouldnโ€™t encouragement be worth investing in?

Iljas Baker
3 years ago

Remember Ralph VVD was not exactly who he is now in his first season. Nor was Henke a star player in his first season. And I donโ€™t think Tierney showed what a star he would become initially. Give the players some time. Make suggestions by all means but donโ€™t write them off yet.

Steve M
3 years ago

For me the (delayed) Cup will be the test. If we don’t win it then NL has to be gone – preferably the next day. He’s had long enough to put his own stamp on the team and the results are, so far at least, not impressive at all – it just doesn’t cut the mustard.

Steve M
3 years ago

Wasn’t it Stalin who said “there are no problems, just people. Remove the person, remove the problem ” – or words to that effect.

mcklintop
3 years ago

See I love being a Celtic fan but I don’t always love Celtic fans. The amount of revisionism on display is stomach churning. So many fans have done so many u turns that Boris is laughing at them. When the window closed you’d struggle to find a Celtic fan who didn’t think we’d done decent business. And remind me when was the last time we replaced a ยฃ25m player with another ยฃ25m player. In case you haven’t noticed our, pretty successful up to now, model is buy low and sell high.

The fans were crying out for 3 -5 -2. IMHO our best formation is 3 -5 -2 but this only seems to work when the 2 are Edouard and Griffiths. Maybe the other strikers will come good but I’d love to have those two firing on all cylinders. Then the clamour was for a return to 1 striker up front. It’s not the formation it’s the players available to play in the formation.

For me the biggest puzzle of the window was bringing back Moi. I didn’t see enough last year to justify the wages. Other than that I was happy with the window. And remember when Porto allegedly offered ยฃ10m for Ntcham? Anybody who doesn’t think that sounds like a good deal now?

Unquestionably Duffy needs to improve, I actually feel he plays better alongside Bitton than any other CH. I’d have Bitton, Duffy and Ajer as a 3. Barkas needs an injection of confidence from somewhere, for now I’d give Bain a run in the team. Saturday for me finally confirmed that Frimpong isn’t a defender and he shouldn’t be in a back four. I’d definitely have in in the 3 -5 -2 though.

We are still the best team in the country, but we need key players back and fit including Forrest and we kick on.

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  mcklintop

mcklintop,
All good & valid points, however we can’t just go ‘We’ve had injuries & the huns haven’t, there is more to this i’m afraid.
If the manager has lost the dressing room then he has to go.
The performances have been average all season.

Barkas -private pilot
3 years ago

It is funny how the huns werenโ€™t crying for the head of Gerrard after his monumental collapse as we have for Lennon. I think there is a case for lennon that he is more of an employee without the latitude Gerrard has ie his own team. Is it the case they didnโ€™t want to pay off Kennedy at al bring the tightwads they are. He agreed to it maybe the lure of managing Celtic coloured his thinking away from future failure due to not having people he may not trust?. Itโ€™s almost looks like he is doing the job under duress and paying lip service to the fans he in interview. I sense he feels shackled. He does have to be more accountable however and not blame. He took the job on

Barkas -private pilot
3 years ago

*Due to not having people he trusts

Trevor Mullen
3 years ago

If we are talking about not replacing quality players then surely replacing quality management should be included, losing Rodgers has been as big as losing Tierney , Lennon is not good enough to mange a club the size of Celtic ,he should never have been given the job and I would get rid of asap. Shane Duffy has huge heart but unfortunately lacks quality and a horse and cart would turn quicker which is why he should be dropped for Julien who is quicker and technically better , goalkeepers are also not up to scratch and Bain shouldn’t be selected unless the first choice keeper has his leg amputated, finally Celtic fans have to face reality in than no matter how big the club is , it’s almost impossible to attract quality players to Scottish football with the wages on offer and those that do come are looking at 12-24 months max with the intention of heading down south.

Delbhoy
3 years ago

I agree with a few people that lenny should have had his own back team and not have individuals forced on him . He should never have accepted that . That said I think someone like big john Hartson or a man like Peter Grant should be involved to show these players just who there playing for

Barkas -private pilot
3 years ago
Reply to  Delbhoy

Grant and guys like yogi are fucking epsilons made to coach Forfar and Raith. With the nest egg we have letโ€™s aim higher

Frank McGaaaarvey
3 years ago
Reply to  Delbhoy

Peter Grant was in the dugout during the glory months of Tony Mowbray. The fact that no-one knew he was even in there says it all.

Tenaka Khan
3 years ago

While the thrust of your article is correct Ralph, you left out the biggest downgrade. I can still remember my feelings of utter deflation when NL was announced as the permanent replacement for Rodgers. Listening to some of the stuff he was coming out with over the ensuing months it was obvious that he wasnโ€™t maintaining the behind the scenes infrastructure which was such a big part of the Ratโ€™s success. It was obvious that many of our players had bought into this modern day professionalism model. Our current malaise was always inevitable but the majority of the blame lies with Lawwell. He saw the benefit of hiring a top class manager. He received a huge compensation from Leicester which would have let him source a suitable manager. He was able to see how NL wasnโ€™t up to spec with modern managing. He chose to ignore all this when he gave him the position full time. Iโ€™m saying this as someone who isnโ€™t normally a Lawwell brasher, btw. My choice would be to go for Chris Hughton.

Admin
3 years ago
Reply to  Tenaka Khan

“He saw the benefit of hiring a top class manager”

A very good choice of phrase.
Whilst I am sure the players and fans saw the benefit…did Lawwell?

What would he have seen?…someone endangering his powerful throne?…someone not interested in buy cheap and sell on?…someone not interested in having signings thrust ( remember Shved anyone?) or sales thrust upon them?

Cole Burns
3 years ago

If ยฃ5m had been spent on McGinn they would now have a ยฃ25m player on their hands and be still sitting top.

For the money spent on Bolingoli they could have had both McKenna (who`s a lot better than Duff(y) and the young left back, Hickey, from Hearts.

Those three would have helped put Gerrard and his lower-league purchases in their place.

Even Shankland would have been worth a gamble.

Also, if they are going to lose their best young talents to the likes of Bayern then it is time to close Lennoxtown.

highseastim
3 years ago
Reply to  Cole Burns

I note that Taylor is mentioned in the thread heading, if he had been putting in the crosses that Frimpong and Laxalt have done in the last three games(no goals from either). he’d be getting slaughtered, and also if he was so badly out of position as they have been.

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  highseastim

Taylor is out of his depth, a bit like Duncan among adults.

highseastim
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

My point is the current full backs have been massively exposed, yet seem to escape criticism!!

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  highseastim

Mike Bassett^

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  Cole Burns

Cole, it wouldn’t have taken ยฃ5m for McGinn m8, ยฃ3.5m would have done it.

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Villa paid less than ยฃ3m for him.

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  Cole Burns

Spot on

The Cha
3 years ago

If the only remaining defence of the manager is sentimentality then there really is no remaining defence.

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Indeed

Monti
3 years ago

More nonsense from the site nosebag, the one thing you constantly do is ‘ get behind ‘ anyone who hurts the club.
You did it with Ambrose when he was clowning his way through games, you did it with Deila when he was getting the top tier shut & refusing to play our best players.
It ‘s like you get a kick out of going against the obvious?
Very odd….

Chris
3 years ago

Ralph
Sevco have players who were bought for less than ours, except Kent.
They are getting results with this.
So I can’t go along with your argument at all.

Chris
3 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Good point.
Sevco haven’t had any CV casualties, but they have had a few injured.
I still think we have the better players however our manager and coaches are poor.

Funkyy
3 years ago

Err Ralph, this is Monday 26th October!!

Monti
3 years ago

To Duncan Donut,
It’s interesting how you defend the indefensible yet when it comes to Brendan Rodgers, a manager who is top class in his field, you refer to him in persistent, derogatory tones.
A man who lifted the club to new heights, winning every trophy available to him before leaving, yet it irks you?
The irony in this is that if he came to the club, won nothing, you eould be defending him to the hilt?

You truly are a piece of shIt.

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

It’s not just three games, it’s been ALL season.

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

God help us^

Barkas -private pilot
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

And a draw against the best dons side since fergies

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Is that the same guy who presided over Supercaleygoballistic and screwed us over for ยฃ600,000 whilst playing golf most of the time?

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

……. and?

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

He was all our hero. Pity he turned into what he did whilst suing the club for his own shortcomings.

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

Again, what is this all about. It doesnโ€™t detract from his scummy behaviour when suing the club and blowing ยฃ5m on Rafael Scheidt. As for Griffiths, his behaviour sums him up. Canโ€™t be fit for an extremely important season and letting the manager down big time. You really donโ€™t see the irony in your post?

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

. I responded to your Dalglish comments with my feelings on the guy and how he left the club after his disastrous reign, nothing to do with being negative. What about Griffiths, why was that posted and do you not think heโ€™s damaged the manager by not being ready to play, something he is paid extremely well for? As Bart Simpson would say โ€˜the ironing is deliciousโ€˜.

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

Letโ€™s make it clear, all your interested in is cheering yourself up.

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

Oh, and you still havenโ€™t answered the Griffiths letting the manager down issue.

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

Prius? Why thanks for that, you certainly know your place.

Monti
3 years ago

Still name calling?

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Dalglish appointed John Barnes, soon after that i had no interest in anything he had to say.

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I think the only thing your certain about is that you are certain you may be right.
You aren’t though.

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

So it’s all down to injuries?
The biggest squad & most expensively assembled squad in the league can’t cope with a few injuries?

Mwahahaha

The Cha
3 years ago

Jeez, the sooner your carer empties your permanently pooped pampers and hopefully settles you down, the best for everyone.

The only person who has been caught out for using multiple ids is yourself.

You are, as ever, a hypocrite.

3 years ago

The Celtic accounts are in and we should be very worried come January. Players will have to go its as simple as that.
Now let’s look back on Sunday and ask ,your team is 3_2 up and your full back hasn’t been at the races your central defenders are getting pulled all over the place there’s 4 minutes left and you want to make a sub.
You take off the guy who has assisted in the 2 goals but who do you put on.
Turnbull who is a midfielder so like for like. Or Ralston or Welsh defenders who could sit in and shore up the win.
Answers on a postcard please to Neil Lenon.

Barkas -private pilot
3 years ago
Reply to  Jimmybee

No sacking and a pay out for Neil then and no new manager

Monti
3 years ago

Oh dear

The Cha
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Such a shame, as he used to be such a thoughtful, intelligent poster before he started cacking his kecks.

Oh wait.

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

That is always his retort when heโ€™s getting frustrated. A whining little girly and a completely pathetic individual.

Monti
3 years ago

It’s the name calling thing he does, Montildo, spastic, retard, plums etc….
He’s like a playground bully who knows deep down he hasn’t the tools.

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

Difference with us girly, you seem to forget that most of us have met Desi and Ralph in the flesh. So run along little stain and stop talking shite.

sfa unfit for purpose
3 years ago

As usual you can’t answer anyone without a little personal abuse thrown in.
You meeting Ralph or Desi makes you no less toxic.
Its a schoolgirl claim….

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

Brave cvnt are we? I wasnโ€™t talking to you, so go fvck yerself. Selective when the abuse is coming from your bum chum.

sfa unfit for purpose
3 years ago

This

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

Troll.

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

Another thing dipshit. Stating we have met Ralph and Desi was in response to his lies about me, Bg, Monti and Cha being one and the same person and posting under multiple accounts. As Ralph and Desi are the sites moderators and we have indeed met in the past, then that should put to bed the Donuts conspiracy theory. Heโ€™s tried that one before but he seems to think he can bad mouth anyone who doesnโ€™t tow his party line.. so as I said before, go ram something of your choice up your jacksie.

sfa unfit for purpose
3 years ago

And this

sfa unfit for purpose
3 years ago

You seem incapable of an adult conversation.
Toxic.
Brave would be the way you threaten and abuse people from your keyboard.
More to be pitied than scolded….

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

Youโ€™re nothing but a bottom feeder. No need to pity me ya roaster. Scolded? Who the fvck do you think you are.? Whoโ€™s been threatened? If you can point that out to me Iโ€™d be extremely amused. Is toxic your word of the day?
Hereโ€™s a wee tip, drop the SFA from your moniker and stick with whatโ€™s left, you insignificant twat.

sfa unfit for purpose
3 years ago

And the hole gets deeper….

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

Hahaha, really? Aye, thatโ€™ll be In your own little, pickled in sickness, decrepit little mind.

sfa unfit for purpose
3 years ago

Mental health issues are real and fully deserve correct treatment.
Someone spouting so much venom may well be a cry for help.

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

What a sad little troll we have in unfit for purpose. When you grow up what do you want to be?

Monti
3 years ago

Duncan

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

Iโ€™m not sure about this hole youโ€™re referring to getting deeper, but Iโ€™d imagine your hole must be like the Clyde tunnel with the butt fvcking your currently taking.
Anyhoo, must dash, this has been fun playing with my own little troll.

sfa unfit for purpose
3 years ago

I think you will find i accused you of being a troll several months ago when you and your bum chums ( or possibly your multiple accounts ) decided to take the personal abuse a stage further and derided my wife in a few hilarious posts.
Is there much lower to go , my kids maybe ?

It was obvious the thread today would rattle your cage , an lo and behold your commenting on my hole.

For you information it is completely free from any fvcking.

Common sense should prevail , but you can’t resist the abuse as its all you have to offer.

Fill your boots.

I haven’t laughed so much in quite a while.

sfa unfit for purpose
3 years ago

Lol
Now the conspiracy men will be in meltdown

We are all feeling the hurt from our recent performances , or lack of them.
Its how we react as Men ,Fans and a Club that is important here.

As you said previous the rest is just noise.

I cannot stand personal abuse , bullying or keyboard warrior syndrome.
There is absolutely no need, and lets face it its not the hardest thing to swat away.

Love in over
HH.

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

^Irony alert^

Monti
3 years ago

Some enjoy adversity & those who damage the club, positively revel in it.

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

Continuing with the trolling I see, itโ€™s what you do best.
From the same self righteous character that Donut exudes, the two of you are a perfect match.
From random, inane political outbursts to sleekit comments to other posters, another one who doesnโ€™t seem to know the meaning of irony.

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

You really have no shame Duncy do you? Quite happy to post utter lies and and then act the victim. I dare say the army taught you well. What a pathetic excuse you and your wee lapdog troll are.

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

Bullies you say. Grow the fvck up you sleekit lying piece of nonsense.

Monti
3 years ago

Bullying dugs for a bullying owner, let me guess their names….
Hammer & Chisel

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

Nice brush, donโ€™t know about the mutts.

Monti
3 years ago

Warren point is a good walk i hear

Monti
3 years ago

Ffs what are those things?

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

Do you think anybody gives a ?

Monti
3 years ago

” bum chums “?
I see a similarity between you & Duncan, couldn’t be could it?

sfa unfit for purpose
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Cmon Monti.
Thought better of you.
Here you are piling in
So many guys in here must be easily recognizable in the street , walking about with big spoons on their backs

Monti
3 years ago

You didn’t tho, nobody does.

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

Pathetic troll.

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

Still waiting for your reply regarding Griffiths lack of professionalism and leaving the manager short of options this season. Whatโ€™s that I hear?

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

Thatโ€™s not what I asked. Be honest for once and answer the question.

Monti
3 years ago

” Key workers “?
Another veiled dig at the disabled.

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

Listen Duncy, next time we have a gathering for a game, why donโ€™t you come up and see for yourself? Would be fun donโ€™t you think. Watch the Celts, beer and a massive fvck off food fight in the restaurant. Oh, silly me, I was forgetting your life time exile from Celtic Park.
Now back to Griffiths?

Monti
3 years ago

If there’s any food being thrown, throw it to me ๐Ÿ™‚

Monti
3 years ago

Well allow me to retort, as an unwelcome & unpopular regular on the ‘Random thoughts’blog by the late, great Paul McConville, i was stung by the mans sudden death, as were many people, the blog continued for a wee while but a lot of people lost the will, not through my posts but with Paul not being there, it soon wrapped up & we all had to find a new home.
After looking through a number of Celtic blogs, for me the ETims diary was the next best thing to ‘Random thoughts’ so much to Desi & Ralph’s glee, i moved in here.
THE thing i noticed first wasn’t the inaccurate nonsense Ralph was bringing to us on a daily basis, no, it was this chap called ‘Charlie Saiz’ he stood out to me because i noticed that nobody could post anything they felt without it being hijacked by you & not letting go until you tried to talk folk down, constant it was & in many ways bullying.
Now i have let myself down on occasion i can’t argue that but i’m not a bully.
I do like to ‘take on’a bully though, as a victim of bullying at times in my childhood i know the effect it has, so when i see it i challenge it.
Incidentally those couple of guys who made life a bit hard for me when i was a kid admitted to me later that they ” wouldn’t try it now” , i knew that though & let it go but i didn’t want to let it go, but i did.
So this might make you aware of why i don’t like bullying or indeed to be called one.
I confronted you & continue to because i think you are a bully.
I have no desire to know your name, where you live, what you claim to have done as an occupation, it’s none of my business you see.
You have used unacceptable terms on here referring to people as retard, mongo, window licker, montildo, manchild, muppets, plums to name just a few, there are people on here who have kids with disabilities which you have been made aware of yet on you go.
If you think you are a tough guy who can get away with this stuff then be prepared for the backlash that comes.
I’d urge you to grow up, stop the name calling, stop making false claims about James Forrest being a mole which is nonsense, stop accusing people of having fake accounts.
As you can see from the list of things you have a fair bit to cut out.

Now, you have a nice day, wear a mask, wash your hands & be safe.

Signed,
OC of the Fife barber shop quintet republican army.

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

” Violence “?
That’s a strong claim son, could you give an example of this?

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

It’ll be over when i decide it’s over!

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Accept you have done wrong as i have & we move on, keep your s@ite up & we go again.

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

Not true, I remember you throwing a hiisy fit when I outed your real name years ago. Youโ€™ve got more aliases than Smith & Jones, Cyan Oโ€™Bacteria, Charlie Saiz, etc etc.

Mike
3 years ago

They make walk in his shadow, but they will never fill his shoes. This is my favourite photo of the legend that is Jock Stein. He set the bar at such a height that it will be extremely difficult for other to reach.

celtic-manager-jock-stein-1st-july-1966-EMNRC1.jpg
Monti
3 years ago

Is that you in a bush in Armagh with your commando book?

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Man of many disguises.

Monti
3 years ago

No Poppy fascists about this weather with their tin rattling?
Shame that!

3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti a wee guy was accused of playing sectarian songs as an orange walk went by. He had the sam song on full blast. Went to court and got found not guilty.
The irony of the police taking a guy to court for sectarian music whilst attending an orange parade.
Only in fair Caledonia. Eh.

TicToc
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti, I reckon we should wear the Peace Poppy on the hoops (white on a green background, so no problem there) and it would shut the whole FN lot of them up and maybe even shame them into understanding there’s NO GLORY IN WAR, NOT EVER.
Hope we’ve got some players back for tomorrow night but would prefer we weren’t going ANYWHERE whilst Covid is so prevalent, ditto for international games which I’ve never cared about for decades.
HH
FC not PLC

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  TicToc

TicToc,
The thing i hate about the Poppy debate is the brow beating in society to wear it.
From my school days until & including now, i won’t be brow beaten into anything.
A man once told me to get on in life ” be a yes man & keep your head down “.
I said ” naw i can’t do that “!

TicToc
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti/Duncan, that’s precisely why I advocate wearing a Peace Poppy on the Hoops, it shuts that orange, fascist scum up in the SMSM and elsewhere and can’t be argued against. It’s a way to try to show them up for what they are; cowardly bullies who hunt in packs. I never have and never will be coerced into anything and have never worn any form of Poppy. But if I was in a bar and came across an ex ‘sodjer’, as with anyone else who was down on his luck, I’d probably buy him a pint or two. Deep down I have a charitable heart but it doesn’t go out to orange scum and never will. I wholeheartedly agree about the “yes man” thing. It’s the backae the bus shoite and not for me, “No Nay Never…….”
I’ve nothing against Charity emblems/icons whatever on the Hoops either. The closest club to Celtic for me is Barca and they proudly wore Unicef for many years, not sure if they still do but they’re moving in the wrong direction recently, i.e. capitalist.
Anyway, I’ll try to add a pic to lighten the mood……..
HH
FC not PLC

Boris De Pfeffel Pig1.jpg
TicToc
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

“Forward he cried, from the rear, and the front rank died…….”
Courtesy of Pink Floyd, Us and Them, another classic from “The Dark Side (of the Moon, not Glasgow).
HH
FC not PLC

Trumpimages.jpg
Monti
3 years ago

I see Neil Lennon having a go back at his critics & defending the players & himself, this was good to see & the club need to defend themselves better at times.
However the most worrying thing for me was when Neil said he was ” very tight ” with Lawwell & Desmond “?
Maybe that’s the problem.
While i’m glad to see Neil come out swinging ( maybe he could swing for Duffy & wake him up ), a lot of questions still remain.
Let’s start with Neil, why would you agree to take the job but not be allowed to pick your own backroom staff?
Why are players being played through injuries & the identifying of injuries not accurate?
Who is bringing signings in? Is it you or Lawwell?
Why are we struggling in spfl games ( you can’t point to a few injuries)?
Why are we consistently not ready as a team for CL qualifiers?
Why did the team take to the field against the rangers & underperform spectacularly?
Why is there no plan B to change the tactics/shape of the team?
Why on Sunday at Pittodrie when the team somehow got 2-3 in front did you not change the system & ‘dig in for the points’?
What does John Kennedy do in this situation, does he offer advice or just sit there biting his nails?
What does Gavin Strachan do in general?
Why in the Ferencvaros game, our biggest game of the season, with Celtic on top & back in it at 1-1 did you not go for the jugular but in a manner that didn’t compromise the defence?

Well?

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Quiet lad, you are out your depth!

TicToc
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Top questions,Top post.
Lawwell is knee-deep in all of the shit at CP and probably delighted after the new huns game at CP which I pointed out afterwards. A bean-counter is not the right fit for fitba generally and for Celtic ever. Lawwell certainly proves that “Why are we consistently not ready as a team for CL qualifiers?” LAWWELL, that’s why. He must’ve cost us ยฃ100 million just in the last few years with his parsimony.
GHTF.
FC not PLC.
HH

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  TicToc

Cheers Tictoc

sfa unfit for purpose
3 years ago
Reply to  TicToc

Totally correct TicToc.

So how is it so many blame just the manager ?

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

What are you saying? If you mean I changed my name from Andybhoy to henkesdreadlocks, that was before Rodgers took the job ffs. A good while would suggest months, maybe a year or so, but not 4 years plus.

Follow us on Twitter @ETimsNet