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Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!
I'm only recovering from it now
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Lennon was the poorest I have ever seen him today, Hartley non existent.
Beattie...... insert your own comment here!
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Arthurlee - roon ye!
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I really don't know how on earth, Paul, in all confidence you can post "Celtic will still win the league". At this moment in time I would not be at all confident of getting the three wins we still need.
As for "large areas of the team need replaced"... Mmmm, whose fault would that be?
Go on, be brave, take a stand, go against type, criticise Strachan.
I dare you.
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from the last blog:
I was disappointed yesterday to hear WGS bleating about the penalties. He was right but by going public he was either going to get every decision going (not a chance) or by putting more pressure on refs and get none. Today Aiden was fouled constantly and got nothing JVOH was knocked about, little or nothing, Naylor fouled, kicked and punched and he gets booked. 3 minutes of injury time when no trainer on the pitch and 4 subs used was another funny one.
Today should have put pressure on Rangers but has only given them a boost. Lennon and Beattie should not play again this season and if Caldwell has to play its at centre back and nowhere else, his distribution is awful.
Last rant - when was the last time we played on a pitch that didn't look as if cows were kept there during the week in Scotland.
Got what we deserved today.
WGS needs to start earning his stripes.
Gerryb67
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What happened to younger , faster , fittter ?
Lenny can only be described as, older, slower , narkier.
Paul Hartely - more like JR Hartley.
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lennon's time is up though. He should have went last season with BBJ and have left us with the good memories. I would hate to think of Lennon in the future by rememebering his last season.
Where is the mill this week, stumped by start the week?
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At least in 2005 it was an end to an era this is Strachan's second season they are his players so it's his fault. Pressley sold the goal along side caldwell who allowed the boy to get his shot in. His refusal to drop Lennon is baffling but it's his call. His refusal to play in his words "the best finisher at the club" in Riordan and persisting in playin Beattie who must never wear the hoops again. Times up Gordon!
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Gordon Stachan failed to react to the obvious today.
20 mins into the 2nd half,Aiden was flagging physically after an outstanding 1st half Riordan should have come on,Lennon was a spectator a long with the rest of us and could have been replaced at anytime with Gravesen,why wasn't he?
We did not finish Dundee Utd off because of the failure of the manager to change a struggling team.
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Enough is enough. If the Board csn't see what is transpiring before their eyes they are culpable of a gross deriliction of duty.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, if they have any balls they will thank Gordon Strachen for his efforts at the end of the season and find someone who can take the team forward.
He has had two years and resources beyond the wildest dreams of all managers in the SPL. Yet we are watching a very, very poor football team.
If someone had told me two years ago that I would be watching Steven Pressely, Paul Hartley, Gary Caldwell and Kenny Miller in the Hoops I'd have laughed my head off.
Sorry Gordon, you can take your "vision" and stick it where the sun doesn't shine.
Can anyone answer this: what has Hartley contributed since he walked in to the team in January?
Why did we sign a right back in January only to play a centre back who has been out for 4 months in that position today?
Really disaapointed with JVOH today. Can anyone imagine Chris Sutton being bullied by a donkey like Lee Wilkie. Jeez!!!
We have had our heads in the sand laughing at Rangers while Rome burns.
Wake up folks.
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paul how can you say
'difference in the league is more than twice as large as it was then;'
in 2005 we had a 7 point lead with 4 games left with no rangers fixture to worry about.
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When was the last time you enjoyed watching Celtic....?????
The Benfica game?
I'm getting sick of wasting 90 mins of my life on these guys. I'm sick of players like Craig Beattie getting 60 mins in a game such as this after his performance against Falkirk.
And as much as it pains me to say - Neil Lennon is going downhill fast. He plays most of his games now almost facing our goal. That 'extra yard in the head' has gone South I'm afraid. It is as if he is anticipating/expecting chasing backwards.
I would also like to know what instruction Paul Hartley is receiving. Posted missing or haring up the park chasing lost causes that his forwards don't bother with and finding himself hopelessly out of position as a result.
There seems to be a general malaise about the team. The passing is poor and ill conceived - we're getting back to having defenders that are happy just to clear their decks - against Dundee Utd?
But for Stillie showing Naka where to put the ball we're gubbed today. And deservedly so.
My biggest worry is that I could not see anyone on our bench changing that result today - Not TG not DR etc.
I'm am officially raging - going to find my power animal and my happy place - I might be some time.
Failthful through and through? Sometimes Celtic you make it very difficult
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The league is still ours, when we do win it the party will be the better for it.
Where would you rather be 14 points behind with 7 games to play or 14 points ahead with 6 to play? I know where I would prefer to be.
We need to stay strong over the course of the next month and then sort it out in the summer afterwards.
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Caldovaro is coming back from injury so..play him out of position.JJPDBlue is the new Stephane Bonnes.
Unfortunately these'blips'have a tendency to pick up momentum and before you know it the paddles are on the chest and someone's shouting'clear!'as the season flatlines..
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Strachan is sounding annoyed and frustrated on Radio Scotland. He hasn't particularly slated the team or anything (nor should he, that should be kept in house)but he is definitely annoyed. By the tone of his voice. He's mainly frustrated again with the strikers, i think he wants rid of most of them while accepting he has to stick with them untill the end of the season. The inept strikers is the main worry because nothing is sticking at all.
I think it's easy to be critical when things are not going well. I'm really annoyed by the way this season is finishing but at the same time I don't think the situation can be improved too much until the summer as the options are limited. A win next week will relieve most of the worry and i'm sure we'll stroll over the finish line after that.
Unlike some people i'm firmly behind Strachan, but he does need to sort this situation out before it escalates into something to really worry about.
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Keg, from the previous article, you fail to understand the point about our Generation of Domination.
This season we will turnover somewhere between £30m and £40m more than Rangers. You should know the significance of this. Celtic badly needs fresh, proven, talent, but the resources are there in abundance.
Over the previous six years our financial advantage has averaged £3m per season. This amounts to a very marginal advantage, compared to the financial results Celtic and Rangers will deliver this summer.
If you want to discuss the poor form, or lack of bite in the team, fair enough, but the difference in the long term financials we have compared to Rangers are stunning.
Frank, the difference was 5 points with 4 games left in 2005.
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Bhoy_Molloy said...
Strachans interview. Total denial or stupidity. We should be very worried.
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Think back to just a very short time ago...to the aftermath of the away game in Milan. There was euphoria on this site. We had 'the makings of great young team'. The future was looking very rosy.
So, what's happened in that short space of time?
Can anyone explain why we are so flat and why large areas of the team now need replaced? I'm at a loss.
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Beattie -not Celtic class
Miller - see above
Zurawaski- Lazy lazy lazy.
Caldwell- on the pitch?.
Presley - brave blunder man
Hartley -Fernadez anyone?
Lennon - soft music +tapioca
Graveson ?????????????
Jarowsik ??????????????
Telfer see Lenny
Balde.- would play him tomorrow.
A clearout or a cull. Its how many of the above should stay and an argument for them to do so must be put forward. Otherwise cull is the order of the day. Why Celtic would even have to consider this going into a third year of rebuilding is beyond me. ps JVOH has to do more.
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Funny how it's easier to see the light when you sit in the dark of the mineshaft.
You were warned a long time ago.
I just hope when we win the league and probably the Scottish Cup that none of you forget how shockingly poor this Celtic side has been.
Fast, flowing football - what a joke.
Poor, ponderous passing around the middle of the park has been Strachan's legacy to this team.
How he equates that to possession football is nothing short of miraculous.
How he's managed to pull the wool over most people's eyes on this blog for the past year - with the help of the leading happy clappers on the site - is an illusion worthy of Houdini.
I despair to think what other SPL mediocrity he will see the Celtic jersey shrink to fit.
Come on down bhoys the mineshaft is open and taking guests
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I'm with wbtim.
I'll take any ugly win, starting next week.
We've 3 home games. Motherwell, Aberdeen and Hearts. Surely, even given the many weaknesses we're showing, we can win these.
There's also a fair chance we could pick up a point or two at Killie away. Even win the league at Ibrox?
I am haunted by 2005 and cannot go there at all. Trying to be upbeat.
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Not sure why there is anyone suprised about this result. The only surprise is that we've managed to scrape so many wins this season with the poor standard of football that has been dished up by Strachan's team.
Today was just more of the same. Only difference - we didn't get lucky today.
Previous posters have mentioned Strachan's dereliction of duty. I have to disagree - I would rather talk about his incompetence.
Would any care to care to suggest why this present manager should be entrusted with the task of building team #3?
G.O.D - Generation of DROSS
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Gordon Strachan is doing his best to ruin a decent team.
The problem for me lies in the central midfield and up front.
I like Craig Beattie but that first touch, no.
Neil Lennon thanks but you are now a liability.
Paul Hartley, you are as I expected.A journeyman who is again producing his Hibs form.
Jiri Jarosik is no worse but gets more abuse.
Thomas Gravesen hasn't been great but hasn't had a long run in the team.
For the love of God how long before McGeady and Nake play on their natural wing.
I must say that seeing McGeady run at defences from central midfield would do for me.
If I was from Man City I wouldn't be looking in Glasgow for my new manager.
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Form an orderly queue for the mineshaft.
I haven't been idle these past few months - oh no. I've been improving the decor and I've opened up several more tunnels.
Plenty of room, come on down, come on down.
PS
Happy Clappers welcome - especially deep tunnel prepared for you
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Celtic fans don't do knee jerk reactions but if they did...
I'm reading alot of talk of the manager this, this player that - I'll concentrate on supporting my team, the team I love. Not love to hate as I suspect many of you do - or so it seems.
I'll be backing the manager and the players and giving them all my support between now and the end of the season. Once the final whistle goes on the final game I'll happily debate the manager's future and that of any of the players. Not before it.
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why is everyone reposting their comments from the last article?
Just because there was no comment doesn't mean it wasn't read.
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I think this team needs some serious surgery come the summer time,
Lennon and Hartley, well, what can you say????
Caldwell at right back, what can you say????
Beattie ?????????????
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Timlord,
I cannot join you down the mineshaft - to me that's retreating. Living your life in the dark means you can be frightened by things you can't fully see. Scared of the shadows on the wall (with a wee nod to Patowasatim)
Walk towards
the light, timlord!
Better to have loved and lost than not have loved at all (though I do prefer the Flashing Blade version)
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Al Obundy
I'm not a very big fan of Zurawski, but I wish him all the best. I cannot agree with you and say he was lazy today. He tried to do the best for a team but there was no team today. I saw a lot of missed passess from midfelders and no ammunition for strikers.I can say that JVOH missed the target twice, or it will be better if I say he could pass the ball to Zurawski and he did not do that.Very egotistic play from JVOH today.
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Like everyone I'm disappointed that we didn't win, worse still have given the FoD something to look forward to in the run in: slight hope.
I was looking forward to seeing some young hoops getting an airing, after wrapping things up.
I'm now just wanting this league out of the way, and see some work being done to strengthen the team for next season.
Hope Hope
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Newtaggs,
Lets hang on in there.
We do need to sort things out in the summer though.
when we beat Hearts a few months ago with JJ scoring the winner at Tynecastle, I thought we had a great midfield that day with Sno and Tommy G, but we never stuck with it. We should have stuck with a winning combination, but we didn't. We looked mobile that day and were able to shift the ball quickly, nowadays we labour too much. I would really hate to think of Lennon in abad way in years to come.
Finally, what a pity big Evander is injured, cos what a player he is going to be. What we need is strength and power in our midfield. Right now now we don't have it.
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Today a Celtic team supposedly "chasing" the league was outplayed and outfought by a Dundee United team with "nothing" to play for.
That is truly alarming.
Our central midfield was totally non-existent. Lennon's performance was at times embarrassing, while Hartley ruined a number of promising opportunities by attempting to score a 25-yarder. Sheer selfishness.
McGeady totally faded in the second half and Nakamura was kicked off the park.
The manager's reaction to what was plain to every pained viewer? Zilch.
I am beginning to get VERY worried.
What the hell is going on? We look a SHADOW of a team right now.
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While I have lived through too many awful days supporting Celtic to ever take anything for granted, I do think too many people are jumping on our manager too quickly. (Too many toos there I do believe.)
Confidence seems to be in very short supply; so, it is down to us to offer the support and encouragement necessary. As has been trumpeted more than once at Celtic Park, do we only sing when we're winning?
Paul, please don't take us back to 2005. It is still too painful for me (even if CQN did provide the help I desparately needed at that time.)
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Oh and I meant to mention, Naka to compliment the strength and power.
Lets hang on in there.
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thismancraig - you may not want to debate the merits of this current team or the manager. Fine - that's your perogative.
But please, spare us the tired line that by being critical of the team and/or manager that you cannot be called a supporter. It doesn't wash - not to mention the fact that it is condascending.
This team lurches from one poor performance to the next. The sooner the reasons for this are addressed the better as far as I'm concerned.
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Here we go, because many have bitten our tongues and have now decided to speak out, we are not true supporters.
TMC, open your eyes for god's sake.
Paul, financial superiority over Rangers is useless unless it can be translated in to success on the pitch. At this rate and under this manager it isn't going to happen.
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This Man Craig
You are a poster on here whom I enjoy reading and respect. But please allow me to take exception to your post re - Loving to hate Celtic.
I don't love to hate Celtic. I don't hate Celtic. I do though hate to be frustrated by them. And I think it is every and any football supporters right to express their disappointment, anger etc at performances and results that hurt. The degree to which this expression is pursued is a personal matter. Ultimately what we say on here will not alter GS's plans.
I think a statement like yours ends up casting a wide net.
I too, like you, think this team will make it over the finish line first. I think a few players would drag the dead carcass of it over the finish line if needs be.
And I probably will be positive tommorrow. but maybe not so much today.
Cheers
U.
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can i jusy say (long time since posting due to change in jobs but stillAt 31/03/07 15:03, GM comment is absolutely spot on, just thought after reading someone elses thoughts which mirrored mine was worth stating.
And the people who have the knives out for Lennon, including Paul, after a bad game, we have a 36 year old who has a bad game and he is the one who gets a mention, yet there were 9 other more youthful players out on the pitch who dont get singled out. Same old same old.
I have yet to see Hartley put in an average performance for Celtic, yet this guy signs and walks into the team, i have however, seen Thomas Graveson have mediocre games for Celtic but make more telling passes and have more of an influence on the game, within those mediocre performances. Yet Strachan seems to believe that Hartley is a automatic pick. On what basis? On what grounds and on what evidence?
Those shots he had, had written all over it, an average and typical SPL player.
Aiden definitely bulked up during the summer, but watching him recently and with Ireland, he is still a helluva way short of being of the physique capable of being a regular start.
When we had the league wrapped up last season, we were awful, atrocious, lost and drew games left right and centre, but atleast we had it wrapped up, the motivational skills of the manager are surely being exposed once again..
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thismancraig i'm all for supporting the team when i'm at the game,and equally i see nothing wrong with critisising the team after the game, either in the pub among fellow tims or on here among them.
The team have the same look as the team that blew it at Fir park.
Gordon Strachan seems to have the same inability as Martin O'Neill to see the obvious when the pressure is on.
The team needs a shake with Lennon the first casualty,he is worse than a man short.
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Ulysses
I know people don't love to hate Celtic but there are people who act like it. There is a grudging acceptance of success and a rush to panic and shoot our mouths off (me included!).
I strongly think it's time to back the manager and the team as they stutter over the finishing line.
Maybe Gordon has taken them as far as he can, maybe some of the players have to go. The time for these sort of discussions is after the season. Let's face it, we're hardly likely to sack him tomorrow are we?
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Nice to be home. Going straight to the club to watch today's match was a great cure for jet-lag.
I thought we were going to hold on, especially after Robson went off. If we had, it would have been a great result. And nine times out of ten, Daly would have hit that shot over the bar.
The problem is, we leave ourselves no margin for error. We created more chances in the second half and I think, if fit, Zurawski should get the nod again next week to partner Vennegoor of Hesselink. McGeady did very well to set up two very good chances in the second half for the man we would all have wanted on the end of them.
JVoH was unlucky in my opinion, particularly with the second effort, just before United scored.
For us, goals, goals, goals is the only way. Therefore, to create more chances is essential. Therefore, Gravesen and Riordan ought to play a part against Motherwell.
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Terry
I know we can debate all the merits of the side but there is also a time to back them to the hilt. This manager and this set of players are the only one's going to win us the league, we have no alternative but to back them.
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Paul 67,
In response to your comment I think you are a very clever guy and an excellent celtic supporter. This site is a credit to you. Sometimes you come across as an accountant though.
I am a football fan. Dominance to me is measured only by how many trophies get polished, not pounds in the bank.
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A wee win for Dunfermline today would be interesting. Next week, Rangers are away to St Mirren. They could and should be fighting for their lives and it's a while since anyone did that against Rangers (us included).
All the calculations we make about when we can clinch the title have to make the assumption that Rangers will win every game. I think it very likely that Rangers will drop points before we play them again. If they do, it will make a huge difference.
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A wee bit of financial advice for thedoom merchants.
The best price you can get on Celtic winning the league is currently 1.01
That's right, 100/1 on.
If you genuinely believe the title is in danger, you will easily get 50/1 on Rangers on Betfair. Just think of the killing you'll make, and away and put some money on it.
Me, I'll pass.
Hail hail.
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Hoopla,
With you on that one. The bookies know the score.
Hang on in there
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thismancraig, When it was 1-0 today the manager should have taken Aiden off and replaced him with the goal threat of Riordan,Gravesen should have replaced Lennon.
I believe the manager is not utilising his squad when he leaves Aiden and Neil on when they are clearly struggling.
If only he was using the full set of players then i would agree with you,i think he is makeing the wrong calls .
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I don't know, we're in with a realistic chance of winning two trophies.
We’re not playing well, but we’ve made scoring opportunities over the last few games which haven’t been converted. I feel the missed chances
that we’re seeing (and throughout the season), has been/is our weakness, and one which has led to frustration throughout the team. When strikers convert their chances the team performs.
We’re continually denied penalties to make our life easier. And yes, I would have tried out
more options from our pool of players instead of sticking to those who were going through a bad patch, but you also have to remember WGS has won us games with his subs.
This is Neil Lennon’s last couple of games, and deserves a better send off than the one he’s getting.
The team needs support.
Hail Hail
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Just a reiteration of a point I made the last time I posted (before the Milan game):
Managers, like the rest of us, are stuck with the personality they developed in their early years. Their failings are ingrained and they fail, when they fail, in the same way time after time. Strachan's failures are always distinguished by a lack of adventure. Coventry went down, Southampton lost the FA cup, while not giving it a lash. Neither club was ever shown up by stronger, better-resourced opponents. They were always brave, fit, disciplined, full of good trainers etc. But they never slipped themselves either.
Celtic under Strachan will not let us down like MON's team did in 2005. On the other hand they'll never excel themselves - or, to be accurate, they'll only excel despite the manager (i.e. when the crowd or the occasion picks up the team once in a blue moon).
Absent a swashbuckler at the helm, what this team needs is a good player, not necessarily brilliant, with a strong personality. Someone willing, even keen, to frighten the weaker sisters in the team and dispute with the manager. How we could do with an Aitken, a MacNeill or even a Tommy Gemmell. Our good players haven't got the personality, our personality player is worn out.
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Terry
If JVoH had stuck away either of the very good chances Aiden set up for him, keeping Aiden on the field would have looked like an inspired decision.
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Had a wee break to mull over the game and listen to Gord's view of the game.........
The last thing that I want is to watch this team be dragged over the finish line in it's death throws....it's better than that, but I'm furious that anyone (Gord) thinks we played at all well today.
Capitulation in the dying seconds for a team known to fight to the end is a stark warning to all at Parkhead - get it sorted and win with a few points.
Anything else is failure to improve and a throwback to bad times.
Brines did his job today...our guys were punched, kicked and muscled off the ball with relative immunity and we did not have the fight to turn the tide. Regular assaults on Naylor, Naka got nothing...JVOH applaudes the Ref after being fouled and gets booked...
Not going to comment again on individuals - todays bunch are missing the cojones to finish this off.
Unacceptable for a Celtic team....
Hail Hail
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Celtic First.... Fare point.
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GM15.03
Almost verbatim of my own views.
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The starting 11 today wouldn't win the league next season.
Most of us know the players who are not up to it,therefore they shouldn't get a game, except for the thankyou at the end of the season.
I would rather drop points with a couple of young players from the reserves than with the same old faces.
O'Dea looked good again.
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Have to agree re Brines - poor display. And I have to add he missed some fouls for their lot as well. But in the first half I saw Nakamura being bundled off of the ball and then Naylor getting a few good dunts and knew then it was going to be a long day - Between Brines/Us and Utd's determined play. The foul on JVOH which he gave against him and then booked him for his reaction was unbelievable. I did though expect that to fire the big man on to score the winner for us...
Ah well.
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I see a certain Aussie has scored twice...so far.......
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Oh This man craig...
Remember you stated during the week that if there was no transfer window MacDonald would be in our starting eleven?
Well he's two goals to the good just now...
Well called.
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keg 15.53 - The two things go hand in hand. The ability to win trophies and the bank balance cannot be separated. As I understand Paul's definition of G.O.D. it will be our ability to win the majority of trophies (not all) while still being financially healthy.
Believe me when I say that had Rangers been any other team in the country, the mess they created for themselves getting 9 in row and with DA would have had them shut down.
I'm not implying above that it was some sort of establishment cosnpiracy by the way. Merely that Bank of Scotland would never have foreclosed on one of the top two teams in a league they sponsor.
On a different note. Unfortunate result today. I think it's worth reminding ourselves of our position in the league. 11 points clear (probably). Had we been sat in this position with a more even ditribution of wins and losses we'd all be quite happy. And before anybody pipes up, I'm well aware of the difficulties of breaking a run of bad form. But we broke a run of losses today, which is the first step on going on a winning run.
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i agree with alot of points here. i have never been a big strachan fan and this "better quality football than mon's team" is a bit of a myth. i however think to suggest sacking him is a bit much.
one worry i have is his persistence with some players e.g. hartley,lennon,jarosik, beattie but refusal to give others like gravesen,riordan,doumbe this opportunity
why for example is caldwell played out od position rather than giving doumbe a crack, why sign him if he is not able to play against likes of dundee united?
the football we have played most of the season is awful and i am seriously wondering whether i can take another season of it
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like most of us today i was outraged by the this inept performance with the team and management decisions. i've said to myself "be calm this will be ok", but its not. we cant even hold on to the ball when the match is nearing its conclusion,(this is not just this game there have been many others),and winning ugly doesn't wash anymore we've used up that card.
what about running to the corner flag with the ball, blootering it out of the park or even do the subs bit like most clubs and waste time.
oh no not us we continued to loose the ball and give hope to the opposition.....this is going down the biggins and muggleton way of football. complete garbage.
we have an array of talent here why is it so bad? why can't the manager inspire? has he a problem in the dressing room? are the players completely nackered trying to achieve fitter and faster?
sorry bhoys i've tried and tried
gordon is useless.there i've said it.these players even kenny are not that crap.they're rudderless!
in the garden shed with the door firmly shut
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Caley THistle equalise
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caley score
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Well played Scott McDonald, but Scott Booth made a good point today about Paul Hartley, which may apply to McDonald too.
Playing for Celtic, there is far less space available to play in attack. Therefore, the opportunities people tuck away for other teams may be harder to come by.
Bring in a bit of extra quality and they may not be able to adjust to getting assaulted by hammer-throwers like Lee Wilkie every week. It's not an easy dilemma to solve.
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I missed the game today. I was unaware of the early kick off, logged in at 7am here on the West Coast and C67 tells me a game had just finished. What I thought; finished? Oh that works well I was thinking as the missus was giving me a dodgy look. . . the one (she has several) that communicates ‘fine, I am pregnant have a two yr old ripping up the house and you are disappearing for a few hours into your den to watch “soccer”
Fine lets see the score then I’ll go back upstairs. 1-1 I stared at the screen, 1-1, no this can not be happening. How has mediocre team suddenly becomes a bad team; what was the tipping point?
I was home for at Christmas and caught 3 games, poor in all three. All the games I caught on C67 or in the bar this season were poor; as for the games I watched last summer here in the US. OMG. . . that was a portent of things to come. The best predictor of future performance is past performance, so I entered this season with foreboding. PLG at Ibrox was a concern but as the moonbeams started to look like light reflected through the bottom of an empty candy jar I felt our inability to manage our own shortcomings was the only threat to winning the league. That played out as I had expected, bailing wire job with a few marquee (if unmotivated, that’s the managers job) names.
My experience with Celtic and the SPL this year can be summarized on this continuum - Interest slid to apathy, to contempt to concern. Maybe it is having kids now, maybe it’s the distance is finally getting to me, or this is simply the least inspiring season I have ever lived through. I should be shot, but I only watched one CL game; 2nd half against Man Utd.
The moroseness I have felt this season despite the CL “success” and the massive (if now shrinking) lead in the SPL has interested me… am I just done? My Uncle followed for 30 yrs and just quit, started back when he had a grand child at an age where he could take him to games. I think he goes now for the kid not for the team. I see why- going to CP at Christmas was a bitter sweet experience. I had my son and my dad with me, which was awesome. Still it was a net-net an emotional loss. The lack of atmosphere at CP; apart from the two Polish lads sitting by us were the only pocket of enthusiasm and energy in a sea of ennui was soul-crushing. That just added to my growing malady as to my
motivation to follow corporate Celtic and their custorters© (customer/supporters). I looked round who was having fun here? Answer nobody. On and off the park I am finding it hard, really hard. One of the main reasons I have been posting less, cos I seem to be caring less. Is anyone else of a certain age feeling the same way?
“Something’s mean more. much more,than cars and girls” Prefab Sprout circa 1992. Should Celtic and football be added to that?
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Neil Lennon finished. Ive said it before not a Celtic captain.
Craig Beattie - would you please just shoot with your first touch?
Gary Caldwell not a right back.
Gordon Strachan... one more result like this in the next two, three at a stretch, games and its shoogely peg time.
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performance and team selection today were totally unacceptable.
beattie is not good enough - his 1st touch is poor , his second no better. can't believe zurawski is being criticised, he received no service and a decent pass from big jan would have killed the game.
lennon is at fault also it would seem, he is too slow. can anyone remember him sprinting around the pitch 5 years ago, no , neither can I , his game has changed little and it's not his fault the quality of player around him has deteriorated. he hasnt had a settled midfield partner all season. both gravesen and jarosik were signed as central midfielders yet hartley was bought in january and is now ahead of both. this to me shows why strachan is not the right man to be in charge.
pressley was signed to bring experience to the defence. my view of pressley was that he was a limited player, with a lack of courage against big strikers (e.g. hartson, sutton ) i have seen nothing since to convince me otherwise. we only realise how good bobo was when we see the very poor replacements we have for him. id have him in the team tomorrow, alongside o'dea.
man city & newcastle in for strachan apparently, they can have him, that's his level. winning the league this season will not prove how good he is, just how lucky. the huns should be dead and buried by now , instead they are still "believing"
paul67 - its not all about money and turnover, its about goals and points and at the moment we are showing no evidence of any generation of domination in that department.
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Paul,,, Dropped eight points from a possible nine, can!t afford to drop another eight from nine or there will be problems.
Whats gone wrong, the team seem jaded,tired in fact.You suggested that they might not have prepared well for the Falkirk game. Do you know that to be the case.
Did the prepare well for today, many players away on international duty last week,that would have had an efect. The pitch was poor and it seemed to sap the strength of Naka and Aiden.But who could we have replaced them with,the squad is not strong enough. Both fuul backs were a disappointment, never really got forward.
Next week we will see the real Celtic, a few days rest,revitalised and the forwards on song. Hope Telfer is fit.
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Tifin
What tosh.
For a start, Neil Lennon manifestly is a Celtic captain. The arm-band is a bit of a giveaway.
One more result like this in the game at Ibrox will mean we only need one more win if we manage to beat Motherwell. One more result like today's, if it comes in the game at Ibrox will, frankly, be a fine result.
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Can all the Strachan attackers not just come out and admit that they don't like the wee man because he's not a Tim?
At least then we'd know what we're dealing with here with some of this nonsense.
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1-1 at Ibrox, Aberdeen win away
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Paul67...
This season we will turnover somewhere between £30m and £40m more than Rangers. You should know the significance of this. Celtic badly needs fresh, proven, talent, but the resources are there in abundance.
And there are signs that the resources are being squandered. McDonald, Pressley, Hartley, Virgo et al represent a squandering of finite resource. They also dilute the talent pool. I keep banging on about this, but it's hard fact. I said it about Miller, and I'm saying it about McDonald - they are not good enough.
It's revisiting the problems that Billy McNeill, Lou Macari had - that is to value quantity over quality. We would be much better to have an excellent core of 16 players, and fill the rest with youth. If they're good enough, they're old enough.
Over the previous six years our financial advantage has averaged £3m per season. This amounts to a very marginal advantage, compared to the financial results Celtic and Rangers will deliver this summer.
And yet, into this gereration of domination, the problems that a few of us have warned about all season and were berated for are coming to pass. As has been my regular refrain, dredit where it's due, but lets not ignore the very real problems we have and the limitations the manager shows.
If you want to discuss the poor form, or lack of bite in the team, fair enough, but the difference in the long term financials we have compared to Rangers are stunning.
The team with the fiscal advantage doesn't always win. Chelsea are second in their league and beset with problems.
We need strong leadership in football operations as well as finacially.
Rangers will beat us at Ibrox.
Further, regarding Neil Lennon. THere is no reason Neil shouldn't be able to enjoy another season or more in the top flight. THe problem is the lack of shape, of positional discipline in the team leaving Lennon horribly exposed. McGeady, Nakamura, Jarosik, Gravesen etc are all profligate players. The team cannot cope with so many indisciplined players.
In defence, our only complete center back is being forced through the door marked "exit". McManus is promising but not the finished article, Wilson never will be, Naylor needs to prove he's not having a Chris Morris Running on adrenalin season, Pressley is, frankly as far removed from the concept of competant centre as I can imagine, Caldwell likewise (he's very accident prone), and Telfer is, sadly, retiring.
And this isn't mentioning the wages we've wasted on the French guy we signed, only to "aladiere" him. Good fiscal management indeed.
With regard to asset management? We're as lacking in appropriate asset management now as we ever were under O'Neils hoarding regime.
/p
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Well trying to find a good point from today.....
Lovely Naka goal
Young McGowan scored a brace furra Morton...Mon'e'Ton
McDonald score a brace....keeping his eye in for next season..
Oh Aye......they lost 2 points as well..against 10 men..Well done Caley....
Hail Hail...clouds are lifting today...
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Right could one of our seasoned statos give us the state of play after today - 3 wins? 8 points? is the status still quo?
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Celtic_First,
That's a pretty outrageous generalisation to make. IMHO Gordon has done ok so far, but this season the football has been soul-destroying- utterly bereft of flair or "the Celtic way"
Even when we were winning it was unsatisfactory, now we are losing/drawing, it's not only dreadful to watch, but embarrassing too.
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Great result for Inverness. Radio Scotland drawing a comparison with our result at every opportunity.
We were against ten men for two minutes. They were against ten men for 85 minutes (including stoppage time).
We were away. They were at home.
I'm delighted. But it's also frustrating because if we had held on today, the Rangers result would have meant we'd have been able to clinch the league next Saturday against Motherwell. As it stands, the Kilmarnock game will do it, if we beat Motherwell.
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Italiabhoy.
Apologies. Not all the Strachan-attackers. Just some of them.
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Hmm 1-1. End of a winning streak. Polar opposite to us hopefully.
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Just to add:
If we beat Motherwell on Saturday and St Mirren beat Rangers, we are champions.
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Celtic _ First
I think it is unfair to say that all Strachan attackers don't like the wee man because he's not a Tim.
This is undoubtedly true of some people, but I would say this is a minority.
He has had plenty of goodwill, and it is well acknowledged that he inherited a struggling and aging team. I would simply say that signings like Pressley and Hartley indicate that he is trying to recreate a poor mans version of that struggling team.
His peak at Southampton was trying to get a 0.0 in the Cup Final with Arsenal. He done this with limited resources and could be applauded.
He has significantly more resources at hand than Craig Levein and yet cannot inspire his side to show similar levels of fight. Incidentally it was a pleasure to listen to Levein after the game, to hear a manager not look for excuses and behave with dignity is something that wee Gordon should look at.
Wim Jansen was not a Tim, neither was Dr Jo, I would have either back tomorrow to replace Strachan.
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Ulysses
We need 6 points.
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long term reader, first time poster today. I have to say, I am astounded at the number of knives out for Strachan.
He won the title in his first season, and has taken us to within touching distance of the title (doubters take your 50/1 on Rankers if you like). And if that was (party) because of inept opposition, we got to the last 16 of the CL, and came close to knocking Milan out. And some want his head. Unbelievable.
From where I sit, the malaise which has descended in the last few weeks is borne out of the apathy which an 'unassailable' lead brings. Now, after a couple of bad results, the apathy has turned to frustration... because we all know that when you take your foot off the gas, it's not always easy to step it up again. It's now the job of WGS to ensure that this current frustration doesn't descend into panic.
I have every confidence he'll do that. If you don't share this confidence, then go take your 50/1
hail hail
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Two wins after ICT did us a favour at iPox - I think!
Jinkywhosnervesaretooshatterdtocount
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Think a few people getting carried away. League is more or less in the bag for a second successive season, semi final of the scottish cup , last 16 of champions league.Guys calling for Strachan to go bang out of order. Granted we are going through a slump at the moment , but is by no means terminal . The best thing to do in this situation is get right behind the team next week from the start . Championship within touching distance . Personally feel we are going in the right direction. On reflection we have progressed from last season ,have money to spend in the summer and a double coming our way.
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My Saturday night is back on!
I think this title run in will, hopefully, be more like 98 than 05. Celtic, playing poorly, hobble over the line. the sooner, the better.
Would like to see better fitba but we are only two wins, at the most, away now.
I'll actually enjoy the celebrations all the more now, given the palpitations of today. Its a funny old game!
I suspect Wattie, Ally and wee chick feel worse than us today.
Can't believe the guys slagging Scott(2 more today)McDonald before he's pulled on the hoops. Even Tracy Barlow got a fair trial!
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Cardiffbhoy
I have already apologised for the generalisation in my reply to Italiabhoy. I'm glad you at least agree that this seems to be the motivation for some of his detractors.
On matching Dundee United's fight, see my post above regarding the dilemma of bringing in a bit of extra quality versus coping with the over-physical environment of the SPL.
There aren't many Henrik Larssons in a million.
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Could Aberdeen pip the FoD into 2nd?
Breathe out Bhoys
Hail Hail
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p8ddy agree with most of your post other than Neil Lennon.
When we attack the impetus invariably goes out of the move if Neil Lennon gets the ball.
He has slowed in the head.
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Ah, I was waiting for the "you don't like Strachen because he's not a Tim".
What a crass comment.
I Went to a proddy school, i WAS christened and married in the Church of Scotland and I attend all the games with the son of a retired minister.
The religion of Gordon Strachen is a complete irrelevance.
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celtic_first I actually like Gordon Strachan. If you check most of my posts I come out in support of the wee man. I suspect there are darker elements amongst our support who detest Strachan and mistrust him because he is not a 'Tim'.
I use the term Tim here and not Catholic because that is what you used. Normally when I say Tim I am referring to a Celtic supporter.
Strachan may be a Hibee at Heart but you can bet your boots on his wages, heart and investment in our club that he has been affected by our club. He might even be a TIM now.
I stand by my point that Neil Lennon is not a Celtic Captain. You know exactly what I mean by this. Roy Aitken was a Celtic Captain. I never once saw big Roy throw his hands up in despair or stop running in disgust at what one of his team mates had just done. Roy also had the decency to leave Celtic when there was a crusade against him because his best days were behind him. He recognised no one was bigger than the club.
Lennon is like a Ligthouse who can only turn his warning light through 180 degrees. The last bulb is flickering.
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Great result from Ibrox today. What a scunner that must be for them!
However, we MUST heed the warnings from our play since Christmas, which has been awful. We cannot start next season like we've finished this one, otherwise, like the grateful dead they are, the Huns will rise from their earthy graves again!
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test
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Gordon Strachan is not a Tim. I have confronted posters with this in the past when I felt the manager was receiving unfair criticism and wondered if this the reason or part of the reason.
The reaction has always been the same. No one ever admits that this is part of the reason they think he should be sacked for delivering a championship and cup in his first season, being three or four wins (possibly fewer) from the same haul in his second, plus reaching the knock-outs in the CL.
I agree it was crass of me to phrase the notion in the general way I did today, but I've already apologised for that.
But I didn't point the finger at anyone in particular and a couple of people have already acknowledged that this sentiment exists in an element of the Celtic support. I say get it out in the open and deal with it.
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GM
"The religion of Gordon Strachan is an irrelevance."
Do you think I need you to tell me that?
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Celtic_first
Are you going to apologise to all Strachan's detractors? What an outrageous generalisation.
And we complain about lazy journalism!
If you took off your blinkers, then removed your green-tinted glasses, you might be able to see the real reason why Strachan has his detractors.
Cos he's not a Tim - what utter drivel.
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Although still annoyed by earlier today, the result from Ibrox relieves some of the pain. Only two from the title now?
Hang on in there, and lets get things sorted in the summer, team 2 has not been the success we wanted it to be, but we have bought players who will have sell on values and will only help with this summers budget.
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Bhoys4
more like testing
Hail Hail
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… or alternatively, we could take the route Notmalcontent prefers, which is to pretend this attitude doesn't exist.
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Maybe it might be better to use a phrase like "not one of us" but it certainly seems to be the case that some Celtic supporters can't abide our manager. Can I just ask everybody on here to get behind him and the team for for the remainder of the season? We haven't really got any option. (Personally, I think he has done well, although I'm longing for Team 3 and fast flowing football.)
I take it the result at Ibrox has made things a bit easier in the nerves department. Caley seem to be their nemesis this season.
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It's true that Team 2 has disappointed at times, but it has been unlucky with injuries.
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It's time for Celtic to start playng attacking football, and before anyone starts, we do have the players to do it.
If teams in the SPL are going to defend against us with ten men behind the ball as I keep hearing time and time again, then our attack should come from the midfield.
Concentrate on getting the ball forward and into the opposing teams net or box. We should be controlling games from the midfield but let's drop the holding roll and get a set midfield, because we haven't had one since early this season.
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Eastender,
you are mostly correct, but if you go back and look at the last 20 years results 9 and I'm sure all the way back if you could be bothered 0 you will notice that following any defeat in a really big match e.g. old firm games or big euro matches then the next two or three results ar ususally poor, as if the stuffing had been knocked out of the players. That has happened now and due to fact the our players are better quality than the rest of the SPL ( how often this has been stated on here this season! ) and have the prize in their grasp i expect things will improve now. As for cardiffbhoy. I think if you go back and look at results under Wim and Dr Jo you may change your mind again. The fir this year may not be vintage but it is a winning formula ( anybody want TB and the three amigos back - possibly the most entertaining team i have ever seen but....)
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Celtic_first - May or may not exist. Personally, I don't know a single Celtic supporter who thinks that way. As far as I was aware, this half-truth was propagated by the likes of Keevans.
Do you have any evidence to support your statement?
It's quite staggering - dare to criticise Strachan and your tagged as either a bigot or a non-supporter.
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I think the team selection was wrong. I know Naka scoreed but he looked tired, not surprising as he played in Japan in midweek. In many games playing Naka and Aiden is a bit of luxury, it leaves 2 central midfielders, one of which is Lennon who is running on empty. Too often when teams play 4-5-1 they get overun.
I also thought the officials were shocking Beattie, JVoH and Naylor all got booked for precious little. Also a number of bad offside decisions.
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surely it must be a concern if depite what he has achieved strachan still has plenty detractors?
if it gets tough next season he may well find patience very thin with fans
i think the reason he has his detractors are summed up with
1 - poor football being played
2 - crazy tactical decisions
3 - refusal to drop underperforming players yet not give others a chance
4 - his personality - some people just don't like him
5 - his inability to rectify problems
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maybe one day I'll learn to type and even learn grammar. 9 is ( without holding shift key and 0 is ). i is usually I. My dad was an English teacher and would be ashamed of me. I'm sure there were other spelling, typographical and grammatical entries too.
ps about a thread over two months ago which i never followed up on He has informed me that you can get 5 ands together if eg you own a business and get a sign made saying "Joe Bloggs and sons". You notice a mistake and tell the sign writer that the spacing is wrong and that the spaces between and and and and and ar too small and can he fix it. You all probably came up with a similar solution if only I had been paying attention.
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pin76,
You are right about the officials today. Every 50-50 we won seemed to result in a free kick to Utd, yet JVoh and Naka were battered all over the place. (JVoH has now received one red card and one yellow card for clebrating a goal and throwing his hands up in the air in digust. In a league of hammerthrowers, that is a joke).
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EDB - cheers. 6 points? That's very do-able wouldn't you say?
God it's amazing what Mr Christie's team can do for your temperament. And no SMcD next week against the mothers. Home then away - just what we're needing - back to paradise for some TLC from the fans.
It's also amazing what 90 mins of someone else's football can do for you.
As a wee aside - how many years will it take for professional football players to understand that head butt is a straight red card?
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Notamalcontent
I am not the only person posting this evening who has picked up on this attitude.
When I detect it, I will challenge it. I have already acknowledged several times that the way I have challenged it this evening was clumsy and I have apologised for that.
I will continue to challenge it.
You are wrong to infer that I would attribute this attitude to anyone criticising Gordon Strachan or his team. Constructive criticism is one thing. The disappointment and frustration we have all been feeling since the game against Rangers is something else. Ad hominem attacks on a man who has achieved most of his objectives in the hardest job in Scottish football raise questions in my mind if it is coming, in some instances, from people who want Celtic's manager to be a Tim.
I repeat, if I pick that up, I will challenge it. Each time I have done it, it has been a deeply unpleasant experience, easily my lowest CQN moments, but I have done it again this afternoon because I feared the debate was beginning to go down that road.
If that is an incorrect assessment of the mood of conference, I apologise. If people come back and say: "I don't like the way the team is playing, but this is not part of it for me," fine. The more people who say that, the better.
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What is WGS playing at????
Well simple really - he wants to be six points clear with three games to play.
The recent inept displays - nonsensical line-ups, lack lustre performaces what's it about????
Well HERE's THE DEAL WGS wants to win the Championship at Mordox.
Hasn't pulled the wool over old Waltie - he is going to make sure we're Champions ASAP;-)
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Celtic First u are talking mince
The reason plp are picking on strachan is because the football is dire
He perists with lennon and we are struggling
I have never seen any mention of the not one of us on here
Till you get some evidence please desist from this
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Celtic_First,
Your apology earlier was gracious.
Re: attitude to Gordon. I really think this is a bit of media 54!t- stirring as much as anything. Keevins in particular is fond of bringing it up.
Similarly, Jock Brown spoke darkly of the perils of not being "Celtic-minded". At the time I thought this was a ruse to distract us all from the poor job he was doing.
If people don't like Strachan I honestly think events on the pitch are the main contributing factors.
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Barry
I haven't got any evidence. I have already said I'm asking out loud if this is part of what is going on because I suspect it is. I am not the only one.
I will continue to challenge this if I think it's there. If I am wrong, good.
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My friend GM, of course we will translate financial superiority over Rangers onto the field, despite all our shortcomings we again win the league and improve next season.
Danny, you accuse me of singling out Lennon and failing to single out 9 other outfield players.
In fact, I ‘singled out’ Caldwell, Pressley, O’Dea, Lennon, Gravesen, Beattie, Miller, Vennegoor and Zurawski.
Exactly nine outfield players. When the team fails, it fails as a team, including your favourite.
Keg, I know, you are right. Dominance is about trophies, but I firmly believe that long term dominance of trophies is determined by money.
That is why we will dominate, not because we have better players or manager at this point in time.
Tifin, you have made me think there. Maybe Craig Beattie is shooting with his first touch.
Maybe the advice should be ‘shoot harder’.
Oldbhoy, I think the malaise goes deeper than just preparation. We are short in a few crucial areas.
Celtic First, do you want to start a riot :-)
Though I disagree with all the ‘sack the manager’ brigade, there are football reasons behind their views.
P8ddy, you are far too quite to write off Scott McDonald. He will soon be a Celtic player, give him your support until he provides you with evidence that he is not worthy of it.
Welcome Eastender, keep tellin’ it.
Pauldominic, thanks for pointing out the 9/( 0/) situation, you had me confused for a moment.
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Paul
I definitely don't want to start a riot. If I did, I'd start a 'songs' debate.
I may be being over-sensitive, and if I am I apologise. If there were only football reasons for the 'sack the manager' comments, I'd be relieved. I suspect some who harbour more sinister views give vent to them when times get tough. In passio veritas.
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celtic_first
Interesting stance to take - assume that the Strachan detractors are all bigots until they explicitly state otherwise.
So far this afternoon, I haven't seen any personal attacks on the guy. I have seen lots of criticism of his management but none of this could be classed as personal.
And I am not buying into this "hardest job in Scottish football" business. How can this be so? He has significantly more resources at his disposal than any other manager in the country and his principal rivals are in a state of disarray. Given these circumstances I'd reckon even PLG would have achieved similar.
So you'll have to do better than that in your defence of Strachan.
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Notamalcontent
You completely and utterly misunderstand what I am about here. I am not out to defend Gordon Strachan. I am challenging sectarian attitudes amongst Celtic fans if I think they are there.
I have in the past, and would in the future, challenge racist attitudes amongst the support. I have been threatened with physical violence for doing so. Being unpopular for a wee while on CQN is toffee in comparison.
The Celtic manager's job is the hardest in Scottish football because you have the pressure to win every game that the Rangers manager has, but without any of the a priori support and good will that the Rangers boss gets from referees and the media.
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Pauldominic
I can remember that far back, the difference for Dr Jo and Wim were that they were up against what even we have to acknowledge were a decent huns team.
I do stand by what I said. Funny thing is if either of them had stayed then maybe John Barnes would never have arrived, and obviously Martin O'Neill may never have arrived either so maybe we should be thankful that they are not still here.
I dont mind Strachan, im probably on the fence. I think in fairness Ants has summed up in 5 points why he has his detractors.
As to the referees being out to get us.
Beattie deserved to be booked, if his 1st touch was better, he would not have needed to go in studs up on the keeper.
Naylor tried his best to get booked all day with wee niggly fouls, his booking should have came earlier.
jvoh has been booked before for dissent, he knows what the refs in scotland are like so why react like he did, a booking was the only option the ref had.
ps brines did little to protect the footballers. he never does.
consolation is that the huns are worse than us.
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Pauldominic
I can remember that far back, the difference for Dr Jo and Wim were that they were up against what even we have to acknowledge were a decent huns team.
I do stand by what I said. Funny thing is if either of them had stayed then maybe John Barnes would never have arrived, and obviously Martin O'Neill may never have arrived either so maybe we should be thankful that they are not still here.
I dont mind Strachan, im probably on the fence. I think in fairness Ants has summed up in 5 points why he has his detractors.
As to the referees being out to get us.
Beattie deserved to be booked, if his 1st touch was better, he would not have needed to go in studs up on the keeper.
Naylor tried his best to get booked all day with wee niggly fouls, his booking should have came earlier.
jvoh has been booked before for dissent, he knows what the refs in scotland are like so why react like he did, a booking was the only option the ref had.
ps brines did little to protect the footballers. he never does.
consolation is that the huns are worse than us.
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Don't usually post on the evening of a bad result because most posts are just venting steam. But I'll break the habit today.
Nobody is happy about the style of our play recently because we have not been cavaliers this year- we have been stuffy roundheads. Resilient and tough and scrappy- all good qualities but not quite our style.
I'm still not a mineshafter or a Private Fraser panicked by the Black Sunday experience. I was cheered by hoopla's post of 15.56-
I will take winning the league ugly and I will celebrate big time when it comes. I don't want party poopers telling me we are lucky or that WGS is not good enough. When I'm celebrating our double (I hope), I want to be surrounded by joyous fans. Mineshafters on a night out should leave their picks and shovels at the door. Private Frasers should take their valium before they join the party.
On this site, if people have negative points to make and can back them up, they are, of course, fully entitled to express their view, but should not be surprised or upset if fellow Celts disagree or have a come back at them.
The negative points occasionally surprise you and make you think. Just after I was cheered by hoopla's post, I was brought back to earth by deliasmith's post of 16.07. I have butted heads with this poster previously but I have to say that his post today was well argued. Credit where it's due- I may not fully agree with the point that a coach's character is fully reflected in the team's play on the park but it did make me stop and think.
We have a long way to go from where we are at now. But I'm still up for two parties in late April and again on the 26th May. Emdy else fancy partying?
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Anyone care to agree with me that even Henrik wouldn't score 20 goals a season the way this team is set up week in week out?
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Paul67...
P8ddy, you are far too quite to write off Scott McDonald. He will soon be a Celtic player, give him your support until he provides you with evidence that he is not worthy of it.
Scott McDonald will get my support. Just like Pressley, Camara and every other player that pulls on the hoops. That doesn't alter the fact he's not good enough. I said the same about Miller, and having seen the player on enough occasions, I think it's a fair comment.
But, as I say, whoever pulls on the Celtic jersey will get my dogged and annoying support and loyalty. There will be no shortage of encouragement from me.
CQN...
Regarding the wider debate on "Strachan isn't a "tim" therefore I/you/we don't like him"...
If "tim" means Catholic, then believe me when I say I'm probably closer to the church of satan than the Catholic church, so it's a non issue for me. I don't care for religion or notions of god. I'd be more worried if he was guided by "faith" rather than less. If "tim" means Celtic supporter? Frankly I don't care who he supported/supports/has a soft spot for. To base assumptions purely on who the team a manager supports would be to ignore the benefits or problems any manager could bring to the club.
I'd kill to have Mourinho - and he's as anti celtic as it's possible to be (at least in the eyes of most Celtic supporters after Seville).
A football manager is all about abilty. When a professional is contracted by a club they give 100%. Regardless of who they support.
I do have an agenda though - that agenda is transparent. I want the best for Celtic. It's my only agenda.
/p
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EDB-NO!
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paul67
a bit depressed by the evetns of today, not just our performance and result but also the reaction on here. got to say your blog has depressed me most of all.
the team that got us 19 points ahead in the league and through to the last 16 is the one you name-check here as needing to be replaced
a loss of form of a number of players, out and out tiredness of the entire group and a dip in confidence have all conspired to produce a series of performances and results that are disappointing.
BUT we will win the league, should win the cup and got throught to the last 16 of the cl. our best season in terms of results in ages and yet apparently we have a poor team in which large areas need to be replaced and a clueless manager who should be given his p45 by the board.
the team should be judged over the entire season, not since christmas, or over five games.
same with the manager.
if anyone is advocating the sacking of a manager who wins a domestic double, the league for the 2nd time in 2 years and qualification for the last 16 of the cl for the first time needs their heads examined, in my opinion. it feels like there are plenty out there who are willing us to lose the league so they can be proved right about him.
i would also like to ask what sort of radical changes strach could have made to the team today to bring about the big change in form that we need.
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celtic_first
I am well aware that there are bigoted elements within our support. However, generally speaking I don't find this manifested on here.
You would save yourself a lot of bother by not assuming that anyone critical of Strachan is motivated by bigotry.
Personally, my critcism is based on the standard of football being served up by Strachan's team. Quite simply, it's not good enough.
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Which is it?
Chances are being created and readily missed by the strikers OR the midfield are not creating chances for the strikers.
The team needs a player who will make things happen from any position. Maybe Hartley and Naka were suffering from the Internationals but hopefully excuses won`t be required next week. It`s a sair fecht!
Surely they`ll manage 6 points in 6 games!
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Paddy
If, as I suspect, you are directing the last part of the above post at me instead of the whole of CQN, I will give a conditional response.
I know your views on this. They have always been clear in your posts. Yours are not the views I have been trying to question here.
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Taking time to reflect on where we are, my views are:
Our efforts to conquer AC Milan seem to have drained the team. When this is coupled with the team's mindset being so many points ahead and a surprising number of players playing poorly all at the same time, we are in a slide that causes legitimate concern to all fans.
The memory of 2005 when our team choked in the run-in makes us real twitchy.
In the short term we need a shake up in the team.(Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.)
I dont think it serves us well to hammer individual players over their performance.There's a pretty good concensus on who's not up to scratach at the minute. Gordon needs to show he's brave enough to make changes, even if at the end of the day he (we) fail. Players should only be playing who have earned the right to by performance.
Rebuilding in the summer is imperative, we all know that. I'm encouraged that scouts are working harder than ever. For once I would love to have some decent players in early for the new season.
I do think there are some over reactions to a slump, although I understand the frustrations, concerns and we are more than just a team. But we tend to roll out the usual candidates for the guillotine and vent till we're red in the face. I'm just as concerned as anyone, but can we not tone down the catastrophic rhetoric just a wee bit? Having said that, everyone has a right to react whatever way they want.
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Notamalcontent
You say: "You would save yourself a lot of bother by not assuming that anyone critical of Strachan is motivated by bigotry."
That's fine then, because I have never assumed or said that.
You also acknowledge there are sectarian attitudes amongst sections of the Celtic support, but you don't think it manifests itself on CQN so I should just shut up. Fair enough if that's what you think.
But I won't shut up.
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to say henrik wouldnt score 20 goals in this team is just plain ridiculous.
how many chances has km missed recently?
outwith jvoh we havent a striker who could finish a sausage supper. if we did then all the games recently where we have dominated in the first 15 mins and not killed it off would have been a stroll in the park.
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Sometimes not playing is good for your reputation. Perhaps Gravesen Jarosik and Riordan will benefit but I would like to see a young player brought in to bring more energy into the team. Any candidates?
A mention for Ross Wallace who scored the only goal for the Black Cats at Cardiff today.:-)
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How many did Paul McGowan grab for Morton?
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Well said Canajunbhoy!
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Watchow, I have called the great performances so I have to call the poor ones. I think we are very short in central midfield and up front and I expect us to completely overhaul both areas in the summer.
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CanajunBhoy
You state that "Rebuilding in the summer is imperative". Agreed, absolutely. However, why would we entrust the job to Strachan? This is his team, it is one year old. It should be maturing now.
If Strachan was taking us in the right direction, why would we need to be rebuilding? Surely we should be enhancing the team, not undertaking the third re-building exercise in three years.
Where is this manager taking us?
EDB - same thought has occured to me. I have always thought that the strikers' low goal return is down to the few chances that are being created.
This makes each chance all the more important that it is converted and puts extra focus when they're not.
Not taking anything away from Henrik, but he did miss his share of chances. But you always knew that there'd be another one along shortly. The same could not be said for this current side.
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CQn is a bit like the old Tubby Hayes song,"Hello mudder, hello fadder", with the last line :
"Now that things are getting better,
Mudder, fadder kindly disregard this letter".
Anyone under 45 won't have a clue what I'm on about, but it reflects the change in circumstances between 2.30 and 5.00pm today.
Does anyone have any figures on how many of our players were on International duty last week?
Not really an excuse, as we have been poor for weeks, but a bit of mitigation on the day.
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CHEER UP BHOYS!!!!
Just heard....
The Yoofs beat Kilmarnock 4-0 at Barrowfield!!!
Scorers: Mark Miller , Kevin Cawley , Paul Cahillane and Michael Graham.
Rangers Yoofs drew 0-0, so we go top of the league by one point with four games to go. The wee Bhoys still have Hearts (twice), Falkirk and St Mirren to play.
They face Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Wednesday night in the Youth Cup semi-final.
Now smile!!!
PS, Gowser got two for Morton today.
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celtic_first
You say "I have never assumed or said that."
Well let me remind you what you did say:
"Can all the Strachan attackers not just come out and admit that they don't like the wee man because he's not a Tim?"
Is this not a fairly broadbrush swipe at Strachan's critics? No-one's asking you to shut up, certainly not me.
But cutting out the lazy comments would be nice........
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I tell you what If I was a hun id be needing to change my underwear several times a day, aberdeen are closing the gap..
the negativity being spouted by many on this site is astounding and nauseating, I truely hope the negative ones on here dont live their lives so pessimistically
Hail Hail
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San Fran Tic,
I understand your dilemma as I have been there before in similar circumstances. We share the same challenges in suporting a team from a very long way off while emersed in a totally different environment and culture from our homeland.
I have been "away" for 34 years and my kids were born and raised in my adopted land. For a number of years I was in a Celtic wilderness with the focus of starting a new life in the colonies, trying to raise a family and have a decent career. Lack of internet and satellite games in those days, coupled with the above caused me to "lapse" a bit, but my heart for the Tic could not beat any differently. Once the family-raising challenges reached a certain stage and the opportunity to see the Bhoys live on tv came along, my head got in line with my heart and I picked up the pace again.
Once a nephew of mine was talking about buying his first strip for his young lad and he was going to get him a Manchester Utd one, even though my nephew was as big a Celtic man as anyone. There were lots of valid reasons for this (household was 50% green, concerns about walking the streets in West Scotland with the wrong colours on etc).But I said to him "you have a duty to do.You are a Celtic man and your son needs to be raised as a Celtic bhoy."
San Fran,I'm a bit older than you so if I may be so bold as to offer you advice :take whatever time you need for your most important priorites and your family is first. Do not be concerned about how animated the fans are at CP, the form of the team,or if you have to turn yor attentions elsewheren for a while.
Because Celtic is in your DNA, in your genes. You, like the rest of us have this green heart which will always beat in a certain rythym.
Once a Celtic man, always a Celtic man.
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Evening guys... Some Celtic fans really need to watch themselves in the way they act. Not talking about the supposed 'bigoted' singing that the media would have you believe is sung by our. But I'm talking about the way that some fans mimic opposition players through 'Sebo' chants...However funny they were at the Livingston game in February when they really started, they're really starting to wear thin! This drives opposition players on and leaves us looking stupid at the end of the game. I just wonder whether the same people who were making these chants were the ones critising Artur today after the game. The chants were particularly evident at recent Huns game when Sebo chant was made so often it became infuriating, and subsequently led to him having a reasonable, if not ineffective game. This kind of behaviour leaves us with egg on our faces, I use the plural for the simple reason that WE ALL have to deal with the consequences of retaliatary comments made by journalists and Huns alike (whether there's a difference I don't know) after results like today and the throwing away of the Championship in 2005.
Let's be proud but NOT bad winners and not turn into what the Huns were like in the way they rubbed our noses in it in the 90's Let's rise above that and enjoy when we win the league, this season and in years to come.
Poor game today guys, but ICT handed us a Get out of Jail Card. I just hope that Lennon is not allowed to 'Pass Go' this summer and is thanked for his services but is told he is no longer needed.
Forza-Celtic, Celtic Ole!
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Paul,
The equaliser at Tannadice was very similar to McDonald's in 2005.
However I was more afraid of 1980 repeating itself - ie the last time we were in the European Cup after Christmas and team fell apart.
Thankfully ICT (my new favourite team) has surely prevented history repeating itself ugly side.
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notamalcontent,
At 18.27 you asked why we should entrust the job of rebuilding the team to Strachan?
In my view it's quite simple; if he wins his second title in succession (and I have absolutely no doubt that he will) then he will have earned the right to take us on further.
As an Auld Haun who has seen more than my fair share of Celtic sides who played "good" football but won little or nothing I'm happy to follow the mantra of "results, results, results". I can tell you right now that I'll settle for a similar lead at this time next season & I won't worry too much about how we play to get it.
If through some inexplicable lapse we don't win the title this year then Gordon will deserve to take the flak but unless & until that happens he will have my 100% support & it's my belief that he's entitled to accept that from every single Celtic supporter.
Speaking of which, I'm pleased to see that Timlord is enjoying himself today....
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Tom the tim
I agree about the sea change on here between 2 and 5. But that is what I love so much about the site.
Call me hopelessly naieve, but I feel a lot better about 6 points than I did about 8 points - don't know why over and above the obvious but I do. I was also worried that Walter Smith's politically correct virtuous XI was going to keep on surprising me with win after win. Good to see them pass up a major opportunity to turn the screw. And they in turn now have to look over their shoulder at the dons.
So, yes Mudder, Fadder, things in Camp Grenada are a wee bit more entertaining...
Cheers All
U.
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Wee point the crowd was excellent today we did back the team to the hilt just as usual that shower didn't back us.
A combination of not good enough, not trying hard enough and not enough managerial skill is starting to frustrate the away paying public.
Maybe if some of the posters on here would actually go to a game perhaps they could get an understanding of what the attending support is actually having to pay for.
Yes we have won the league but come on we are the worst team to win the SPL i can remember.
Yes i loved milan and thanks for the memories and all that but come on apart from benfica, man unt and love street we have been a very poor football team.
Today was a nightmare. Apart from the complete lack of shape to the team who would have thought we would make lee wilkie look like a player.
I remember the 6-2 game at parkhead against dundee before seville and i saw the hun donkey weep but yes that was when we had strikers.
Thank god the rest are so bad.
Roll on saturday and get the points we need so we can start the clear out. Pity i am in ireland for easter but someone will take the season ticket im sure.
PS i dont know anyone who dislikes strachan because he is not a tim.
I know a lot who dislike him because of the way our team looks and plays.
Anyway heres hoping for a hibs victory over the junior huns.
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paul
the part of your blog i found depressing wasnt the criticism of the performance but the fact that the team apparently needs an overhaul.
this team has won the league, will, hopefully win the cup and took us to the last 16 of the cl.
just because we suffer a dip in form and confidence doesnt make us a bad team. there are very few teams out there who can go a whole season without something like this.
this is a wobble, we have a team playing without confidence, tired and lacking creative spark. it happens. we managed to continue winning during the cl months, looks like its all catching up with us now.
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Congratulations to all Tims who retain an active interest in this season. Unlike the players we are not paid £000s to maintain our focus - so we should be excused.
The players need to look at hemselves - if they had any decency they would hand heir wage packets back.
WGS? Sorry can't like him - he simply wrankles me.
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Luckily events at Greyskull this afternoon have spared us an almighty collapse & we will now go on & win the title. However it has to be said there are 2 key failings in this Celtic team that are central to us looking unconvincing:
1) the midfield is flat, there is no change of pace & they are supplying their strikers with very little amunition.
Lennon has been a Celtic legend but i'm afraid he looks isolated & off the pace. Hartley looks frightened to make a decision. At Hearts he was a goalscoring tenacious midfielder, but so far he looks no better than Sno. Why is he starting before Gravesen? Also the balance of the midfield doesn't look right with both McGeady & Nakamura in the starting 11. Both players look deadly when in central positions just behind the strikers, so why does Strachan have them wide where it's difficult for them to build play/momentum so far from goal.
2) this group of Strikers must be the weakest forwardline we've had for some time. Miller & Beattie are ineffective & our 2 best strikers Venegoor of Hesselink & Zurawski can definetely score goals, but lack an understanding & struggle to stay fit. This is affecting everything about our play.
I hate to say this but we really miss Petrov & Maloney
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when we had wayne biggins at centre forward and lou macari as manager then there was justification for the mineshaft....compared to those days this current Celtic team is like watching Brazil 1970.....
..the reality is win with style is goal one ...and then win even if it's not stylish is goal 2....if you can't win lose with style.....if you lose with no style there are big problems...so on that basis we are bouncing around between rung 1 and rung 2 of the ladder.....with some decent investments next year we should spend more time on rung 1...in comparison out traditional competitors are struggling to get off of rung 4...
it's not great stuff from us just now, but a combination of injuries, highly questionable refereeing decisions, loss of form from some players and the odd bad decision by management has still not resulted in us being anything other than CHAMPIONEES !!!!
....as Paul said we have the resources to solve our problems....our competition only have chick young and bfdj's fairy tales to hang on to...
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Paul
Cash is indeed the key.
We have spent just over £5,000,000 on players in and recouped over £8,000,000 on players leaving.
The reduction in overhead has lead to the inevitable reduction in quality.
While the balance sheet looks fine, the quality of individual on the field produce performances like today.
Spend what we earn, but spend it on quality.
We have waited long enough.The quality of player coming in this summer will be watched with much intrest.
Lets hope the Mcdonald acquisition is a footnote on the celtic signing spree when we are finally gearing up for the next campaign.
We are not a bank, we are a football club.Live within our means for sure,but dont boast of record profits then wonder why the natives are restless with the mediocre , quite frankly boring performances we have had to endure this season.
Football is about goals.We have scored a staggering 25 less than at the same time last year.
The cash is there, spend it.
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Notamalcontent
The key word is "attackers". That is not the same as criticism.
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Kevtic, 1980, the year we first sang “We’ve won the league again, fly the flag, fly the flag”.
Remember it well.
Watchow, we will see an overhaul, I am sure of it.
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Well done Celtic today!
One more point towards winning the championship, and only six more to go!
Again, well done Gordon Strachan and the boys!
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Gweedore: Not sure if your comment was directed at me...Seemed to link slightly to what I was saying. I don't like to present my Celtic supporing past as a badge of honour, but season ticket holder for half of my life and went regularly prior to that. The fans were in good voice I agree, however, there is a ned element that is in our fans... Fans that I encountered in Milan. The only trouble I encountered in Milan was a ned asking my pals for Cocaine, who then threatened us as he said we were being 'Wide' for our answer...Get these guys out. Guys who need Cocaine to enjoy Celtic, or guys "Buckied oot their nut" and who think that's what it's all about - they're wrong!
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I was one of the Strachan believer's and was interested and impressed by his theory on how to play the game and the training techniques required.
Now it all seems like a bunch of pretentious rubbish and we are rubbish. I have never been so bored by the drool we are being served every week.
I hope that Strachan proves me completely wrong and i will eat my words all day long if he does, but we seriously need a major overhaul in the summer!
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notamalcontent, thanks for your comments.
My view is overall the team has been successful results wise and is showing progress in improving the player talent level somewhat (not there yet though). What has not improved and the biggest non success for the manger is in the style of the team. We have not improved any in that area from Mon's era. Pace, free flowing style is the stated end game and we havent got there yet. So my score for Strachan is 2 out of 3 (player quality + trophies)and thats why I would give him more time.
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The 'performances' during the entire campaign have by and large been exactly the same as what was produced today - substandard.
We accepted them because by hook or by crook at the end of the day we usually managed to win. You say that large areas of the team need replaced, but who decided that that team was good enough in the first place? Why should we be confident in Strachan's ability to replace them with the required quality next time around?
If Strachan was to leave in the summer then i don't think too many Celtic fans would be distraught about it, that just about sums up how much confidence he's managed to inspire despite the trophies won.
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Sorry Paul, after reading it again i realise i put that part across wrong, it should have been separated into 2 factions.
The part i included you in, was with the people who are quick to highlight Lennon after a poor performance, as has happened on a few occasions over the past few seasons, more readily than others.
I should have then made a distinction when making the next point, which was about the (same) people who will make a comment only commenting about Lennon, after a bad performance.
Since the comment, the trend has continued and, from who, what and from when i can remember from this time last season, the same people are doing it all over again.
Another point that i feel should be mentioned, is following on from something Strachan has said on several occasions, which was about the running Telfer does off the ball to make space for Naka. A valid point and even though i might not agree, i understand where he was coming from.
Putting a centre half in the position to do that job was a mistake. If this Doumbe fella really is that bad (not going into why he was signed) on the day our 2 right backs were injured, then why not put Hartley there (when he seemed to think that was such a good idea last week) Not saying i agree with that either, just trying to find some sort of consistency, or logic behind a few of the decisions in recent times
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Lennon
Jarosik
Balde
Telfer
Beattie
Miller
Gravesen
Riordan
Zurawski
Double drum
Marshall
At various times through the season there have been suggestions that the above won't be at CP next season. How many do we realistically think our manager would like to replace?
#8
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paul67
sounds to me like you've been worn down by the mineshafters
the time to judge a team is not in the middle of the bad period, its at the end of the campaign.
this team has had it relatively easy up to now, but we all knew that it had to hit a bad period at some time. just to jettison some because of a loss of form shows remarkable short-sightedness, something i didnt think was in your make-up.
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After watching today,like everyone else was very worried..still am but obviously after the Caley result just not quite so..
Dont know who ref was over at the Bigotdome today,but i have to say was pleasantly suprised that he only got his pre match instructions half-correct by not awarding the 'culturally traditonal' last minute dodgy penalty and only opted for the red card part of the double whammy.
There is a God!
I said on here last week WGS would be under severe pressure if it went wrong today..it did and he was..until the final whistle went in Govan.
Another Get out of Jail card for Mr Strachan..
Maybe its an Aberdonian connection luck thing..Fergie,Big Eck,WGS?
They all seem to carry their fair share of it.
Simply not good enough!
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Pity Artur Boruc didnt get into the crowd and thump that "fan". Would have taught a few a lesson. They pay their money so they can say what they like eh? Well then , let them recieve the consquences.
All I see is a lot of spoilt whinging gloryhunters who have an ego and a foul mouth who dont understand what it means to be a supporter. Yes , things are not going to well but unfortunately thats the nature of the game. It happens.
You get what you deserve in this game. We and the team sure got it today.
Bye Artur , I wish you well.
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Kojo......well your thoughts?
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As long as we have "wrong- sided wingers" and wing backs who don't get to the goal line, we will always play a narrow game through the middle, which is easy for opponents to defend against. They just have to get men behind the ball.
I posted on this during the week and invited everyone to watch for the number of times we got to the goal line. This current style is like watching the narrow game of the Barnes team, minus the creativity of Lubo, Berkovic and Larsson and Viduka up front. I know Henrik was missing for most of the season.
If it wasn't successful with that talent, how can it be effective now.
Perhaps the backs are being curtailed in their forward movement because of the weakness in midfield and the inability of Lennon and Hartley to cover runs through the middle.
I have no problem with Caldwell playing today as the boy needs games and was obviously rusty..
Defensively, the back four were not the problem, but we lacked width, as we have all season.
Midfield will be addressed, as will the attack, but it is wing backs who can attack that we need.
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at the end of the season it looks like theres every chance we will end up with a domestic double and a last 16 place in the champions league
and apparently a manager who isnt fit for the purpose and a team in need of a major overhaul
do you know how stupid that would sound to an outsider? in terms of results we havent had it this good in years yet all we seem to be able to do is bitch and moan.
what were our objectives at the start of the season - last 16cl and spl champions. that would be seen as being progress. job done, but apparently not. there are some spoilt people out there.
sometimes i think the "celtic way" thing is a millstone round our necks. mon NEVER played football the "celtic way." but he played winning football. same as wgs.
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winning is fine and what it's all about, but please a wee bit of style......this SPL has been murder
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Not ashamed to say my mood has shifted since 4.48.
I just want this league closed. ASAP and have done since day one. There are a lot of physical and psychological reasons for the slump in form. The longer it went on, well it wasn't likely to get much better. Just get over the line!
I would like to win the Celtic way, but winning sure beats losing.
I agree a lot of the SPL performances have been unattractive.
But, this is the league we play in. I'd like to see Arsenal go to Tannadice, Inverness etc every other week and see how they do.
A week tomorrow we could win the league. Beat Motherwell and TFOD will be facing a match point against a hungry St Mirren. Winning it at Love Street, sweetness follows!
There have been real highlights this year. Benfica H, Man U and two top performances against Milan.
We, the fans find it hard to raise it at home, in a manner of speaking, little wonder the players. Grind it out and regroup nin the summer.
Trust Gordon Strachan with the funds?
He's delivered a CIS Cup, hopefully 2 leagues and a Scottish Cup, and real pride in Europe.
Most of his buys have hit the mark and the ones that haven't can surely be punted with little financial loss. A lot of good young lads coming through too.
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newtagggsybhoy,
I agree.
The Celtic fan suicide watch was ended at 4.48pm. Pills and razor blades away till next week then.
Getting through the testing times builds character. I'm pleased with this season whilst sometimes we have been poor but soon changes are afoot in the summer. After 2 years of building on the inside we have a solid team foundation on which to build. Unless your Chelsea , Rome wasnt built in a day.
A learned Man.Utd fan pointed out to me today it took fergie 3 years and a bit of luck to build his current team. There was pain and hardship and threatning to sack the manager but the club stood strong and now the fickle fans have forgotten their recent times. A lesson to be learnt.
Sometimes we need patience.
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THIS IS WRITTEN IN THE COLD LIGHT OF REFLECTION KNOWING THAT THIS WEEKEND EFFECTIVELY CANCELLED ITSELF OUT AND WE STILL NEED what we needed, that is 2 more wins after today and league is ours.
However, at the moment is that going to be good enough, WGS is doing his best to turn it into the worse anticlimax ever.
Today is one in a long line of tepid, pathetic uninspiring, unentertaining games and when is something going to be done to stop the rot.
Some observations:
1. when vogts played caldwell at right back used to wet myself laughing, yet we play him there today. Naka was totally isolated and had no support like he usually does.
if doumbe not good enough to play today why sign him?
lennon looks like been on the sauce for 2 weeks and hartley a shadow of the player who played agianst us.
Beattie must NEVER start for us, not good enough, neither is miller, magic has his faults but did more in a minute than beattie did the rest, he can actually find a fellow celtic player, something our strikers have difficulty with.
Disaapointing that JVOH didnt finish the game, has been poor in recent weeks.
TG and riordan should quit celtic if they cant get on today.
Only plus for me was mcgeady, skill and passion, pity the rest couldnt manage even one of them.
VERY DISAPPOINTING, WGS must stop the rot now!
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Evening All . . . . Is it safe to come out? No mineshafters looking to abduct me?
JohnBhoy - good on yhou! the future is bright.
ICT - now love that headline from the dark days!
barcabhoy - did you really need to take me back there?? On second thoughts glad you did all is well in the world tonight :-) Are you in Dubai?
My mate who I got to all games with is in Aus right now will be home before end of season now that was one really happy Celtic Fan today she really believes its on ice just for her! I think she might be right!
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I have thus far been on the fence with regards to WGS. When we won the league last year I said he had earned the right to see what he could do this season. However, I now believe that he has taken this team as far as he can take it.
The standard of football we are witnessing week in week out is abysmal. Unattractive, uninspiring, lacklustre. Call it what you will. This is Strachan;s team and his players. His tactics and team selections baffle me. His persistence in playing guys who have proven time and time again that they are not and never will be Celtic class (Miller, Beattie, Jarosik..) is another mystery.
He has won two league titles by simply being marginally better than the worst Rangers team in history, not by being any good.
This league should be over by now and we should be running out some of the younger guys and building for next season. Instead, the luck he rode earlier in the season seems to have finally run out. We will likely still win the league this year thanks to Rangers continued ineptitude, but alas as a Celtic fan I want more than just being slightly less crap than the huns..
If Strachan goes back to England in the summer I will certainly not lose any sleep.
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watchow
No "apparently" about it - Strachan is NOT fit for purpose - never has been. If Strachan was fit for purpose we would be walking this very ordinary league, convincingly beating all who came before us, playing attractive football and scoring a barrel-load of goals.
From your statements it would almost appear that you don't actually watch any of our games. Can't you see how poor we've been ALL season? Maybe you just watch "highlights"?
This bad run didn't start against Milan. It's been going on for the entire season.
Don't know about you, but I think that a bit of entertainment now and again would be nice. Someone alluded to a match against Dundee (just prior to Seville I think). That's what I call entertainment - goals, chances, skill - it had the lot. When did Strachan's team produce anything akin to that type of performance? Is it really too much to expect?
I don't deem reaching the last 16 of the CL a success. "Competing" in the champions league latter stages would be a success. We contained Milan. We weren't competing. I would be willing to wager that of the 16 teams at the stage, we created the fewest chances. That brings me no pride.
As for winning a double, I won't be counting any chickens, especially playing the way we have been over the last few weeks.
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I suspect too many of those under 45 have lived on a diet of success and can't appreciate the good times. Listen to the likes of Dick Byrne and Tom the Tim. I will take any type of win to land the league again. We have all too often played football the Celtic way and won nothing. Enjoy our success.
One thing troubles me about the talk of a clear out and the bringing in of new class players, because we have the wherewithall. How many really class players want to come to the SPL?
Our manager deserves our support until the end of the season and then we will have the occasion to judge him and our team. He has my vote.
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Lads, correct on any win....my worry is WGS is turning us into Coventry/Southampton, lets not forget there is a young generation of Celtic fans who need convincing.
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Am i correct in saying if we beat Motherwell next saturday and Dignity FC lose on the sunday we will be champs without kicking another ball in earnest.
Keevins mentioned on clyde that someone had thrown their scarf trackside at the end of game,
If true i think thats taking it a bit too far even after another shocker.I didnt witness it on setanta...anyone?
The scarf thrower couldnt have been around in the Luigi/Biggins trophy laden era methinks.
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Enrico
A solid team foundation to build on?????????????????
Eh - don't think so.
Apparently Strachan doesn't rate Gravesen, Riordan or Doumbe enough to play them
Most watchers on here don't rate Miller, Beattie, Magic and Lennon(anymore).
Hartley and Jarosik haven't impressed anyone nor is Pressley seen as a player to build a future back four around.
Boruc will most probably be sold to the highest bidder in the summer and Nakamura's free kicks in the CL may see him heading out the exit door.
Young Aidan has his detractors and Balde would have been gone in january if it wasn't for his leg break.
So how do we have a solid foundation to build on?
Your solid foundation is likely to contain a goalie from Inverness a backline made up of hibs, hearts, Wolves and Dundee players a midfield with one genuine talent (Aidan) assuming Naka is punted and a forward line with one decent, but injury prone forward and an untested boy from Motherwell.
Solid team foundation indeed.
And don't get me started on the manager who has a playing budget that dwarfs any of his rivals in the SPL yet can't get a side to produce anything approaching a decent game of football on the field - and that's week in week out.
The game is up, down the hill and into the mineshaft.
You were warned.
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I want this season to be over. Getting up at the crack of dawn every Sat/Sun to watch this team is losing it's appeal. I don't think I have missed a game this season and can only think of 3 or 4 games where I thought we played really well. The end of the entertainment coincided with the end of the Champions League dream. I might get re-invigorated for a Cup Final although we are by no means there yet. I can't get excited about winning this league, possibly because there is no competition. We could field our U21 team in every game from now until the end and still get there with points to spare.
My hopes for next season:
1. Much as I detest TFOD, we need them to be stronger next year.
2. A top drawer central midfield player (Circa 5m)
3. A top drawer Centre forward with pace, control and 20 goals (circa 7m)
4. Physically strength training for Naka and Aiden - our two most creative players
5. Taxi and best wishes for the following: Pressley, Jiri, Lennon, Miller, Beattie
6. Cameo appearances (to allow others to rest) for Hartley, Caldwell, Magic
7. First 11 as follows
Boruc
Wilson,McManus,O'Dea,Naylor
Aiden,Graveson,ANO,Naka
ANO,JVoH
JVoH and Graveson need to step up and prove they are good enough. We have not yet seen enough from either of our two big money signings.
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Parkheadcumsalford (20.23) - couldn't agree more. During Rangers' NIAR, I remember being astonished at the way their fans would criticise their style of play etc. I also remember thinking that I would never get so blase about winning trophies. And for all the great football we played under Tommy Burns, it won us (almost) nothing.
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Timlord-
Like you i am becoming less than convinced by what i am watching.
The foundations dont look quite so solid as some people would have you beleive.
Benfica they cry but Remember Benfica..actually i do because it was my daughters first big euro game with me.
Also remember we could have been a couple of goals down by half time on another night.
I do think we will get there now but im sure WGS will make us suffer some more along the way.
Any talk of Doubles is nonsense, as St Johnstone wont be easy, never mind the Hibees if we do get there.
I just hope Team3 is better than 2..alot,lot better.
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Celtic_First...
If, as I suspect, you are directing the last part of the above post at me instead of the whole of CQN, I will give a conditional response.
Hiya, sorry - I wasn't trying to make a point directly at you. I think that there is quite a lot of suspicion amongst Celtic fans regarding the reasons behind Gordon Strachan's unpopularity. I think it's been driven by the likes of Keevins et al (again, not a comment at you, just an observation based on the amount of fans who derive their opinions from the daily record - which is not a trait apparent generally in posters on CQN).
I just wanted to place in the open my thoughts on the subject given it was a point of debate. I honestly wasn't trying to pull you up or make a pointed remark. You would have been a victim of the now infamous bolding had that been the case :-)
I know your views on this. They have always been clear in your posts. Yours are not the views I have been trying to question here.
Thanks for that - I guess I'm maybe a little more self conscious since Bonsai Celts attempted character assassination earlier in the week.
Which I've been good and not replied to - despite severe temptation. ;-)
/p
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notamalcontent,
A matter of opinion, I know but, sorry, I just don't get it.
Strachan is NOT fit for purpose
I disagree - Strachan's purpose is to win trophies & er...that's it. He won two last year & hopefully he'll deliver two this year. Like you I'd love it if we won every trophy going but, as history has shown, that's an extremely rare occurence.
This bad run didn't start against Milan. It's been going on for the entire season
Even although up until Milan away we had only lost one league match all season? Wasn't that a good enough run for you?
Don't know about you, but I think that a bit of entertainment now and again would be nice
Don't know about you, but I've been watching Celtic for almost 40 years & every time we win, believe me, I'm entertained.
We contained Milan. We weren't competing
It took Milan two games & extra time to get ahead of us. But for a ridiculous refereeing decision early in the 2nd leg we could well have been in front. Don't get me wrong, Milan were clearly a better team than us (they were UEFA's number one ranked team, after all) but I don't see how you can say we didn't compete.
Did you ever consider changing your name?
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lynott67...
I just hope Team3 is better than 2..alot,lot better.
If the rumours are true, it'll be team 1 we are concerned with.
Or to state it a little less obtusely - Toungues are wagging that Gordon will be plying his trade elsewhere next season.
I hinted at this months ago - but now the chatter is louder. Maybe nonsense, but as I say, a lot of speculation is going on in knowledgeable circles.
/p
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p8ddy-
yeh,i did hear that rumour do you thinks there's much in it?
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"He has won two league titles by simply being marginally better than the worst Rangers team in history, not by being any good."
And he got through to the last 16 of the Champions league because Man Utd and Benfica were rubbish, not because we played well.
And we looked good taking Milan till extra time because they are the worst champions league team ever and they are all old or something....not because we played well.
Come on. Need I remind you that last season we didn't just sclaff the league, we cantered away with it. Much as we have done this season until recently when a natural malaise sets in from the fall in Europe and being so far ahead.
Sure we have problems that will be addressed this summer but some folk need to get a grip. If I was a Rangers fan I'd be laughing my head off at this knee jerk stuff, it's exactly what they would want to let them back into the race.
First Strachan was the wrong choice buuut people said they'd eat their words if at the end of the league we won it....then we did.
Then Strachan was too naive for Europe...but people would GLADLY eat their words if we did well...then we did.
I haven't seen all this word eating, more like just waiting for a chance to spout off again.
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mncelt
Midfielder 5m
Forward 7m
get real
money guarentees hee haw.
If nothing else since Christmas we have seen the players who should not be Celtic players next season. They are pretty obvious.
I am just concerned that the manager thinks Pressley and Hartley will be first team starts next season.
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mncelt
Midfielder 5m
Forward 7m
get real
money guarentees hee haw.
If nothing else since Christmas we have seen the players who should not be Celtic players next season. They are pretty obvious.
I am just concerned that the manager thinks Pressley and Hartley will be first team starts next season.
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If the rumours are true, it'll be team 1 we are concerned with.
Maybe you should read the full title of the blog again, there's a point about lazy journalism in it somewhere.
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Why does strachan persist in playing lennon all the time he's too slow!!!
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lynott67...
yeh,i did hear that rumour do you thinks there's much in it?
At first I thought it was idle speculation. But I'm hearing it from people closer to the club than I'd like (by that I mean, generally, rumours are given less credence the closer to the club you go).
I guess we'll find out soon! Although I'd imagine the current collywobbles the team are experiencing will be doing nothing for his wish to stay.
Looking at it dispassionately, I think a lot depends on how much Strachan values his skills. If he thinks he's a true great manager I think he'll stay and try and take the team to the "next level". If he thinks he's been lucky he'll leave with reputation intact.
I think he'll leave at the end of the season, but as a previous dissident of the Stachan regime I would take that news with very mixed feelings.
/p
/p
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Must have missed something. 19.55 post says WGS " & real pride in europe"!!(Artmedia & last 16 this year) Sorry to say but Pride in Europe is a long way away for WGS and his team.Believe me not any of the teams in the Champions league next week would have feared playing this very average team and a manager who is out of his depth.
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I have not caught up with what has been said on here today as i wanted to post my own thoughts without any influence from others.
There is a common denominator in the Celtic midfield that renders it very impotent, Neil Lennon.
"gravesen's not lived up to expectations", "jarosik just does'nt have it", now Hartley is getting it. Even last season it was more often than not Petrov's fault. Neil is finished and should not have played in even half the games he has this year.
GS is making it hard for himself by sticking by Neil. A five man back four is not what we require to win in the SPL. We have to get in the oppositions faces as much as they get in ours. Then we need to supply our creative players in more advanced positions with more space to work in. This requires a dynamic CM pairing applying pressure higher up the pitch.
This is not a tirade against NL as he has been a great servant to the club. His time has certainly come now and to leave an unblemished legacy GS should rest him from now on.
Hail, Hail
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P8DDY
As a long time admirer of your posts I'd be really interested to know how you would set out the side from the current squad presuming they were all fit.
I'm convinced there are enough players in the squad to steamroller SPL opponents, but as an ex-player I would love to hear your view
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Dick
I did consider "notahappyclapper" but it just didn't have the same ring to it!
I cannot argue with the facts you present regarding the trophies Strachan has won. However, I would contend that any manager worth his salt would have achieved similar. When taking into account the standard of opposition over the last two seasons, to me this isn't any great success.
Bottom line - my view is that this group of players are underachieving. We win games 1-0 - I think we should be winning 3 & 4-0 given the players at our disposal.
Responsibility for this rests with the manager.
Despite what others may think, I enjoy the victories as much as the next man. I am not advocating style over substance but my goodness, how long are we put up with the turgid performances? As long as Strachan remains manager, I fear.
p8ddy - fingers crossed.
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What a fabulous set of results today...
(Chairbhoy, 17:39, exactly!)
If Celtic win at Ibrox they will be the SPL Champions regardless of everything else that may happen over the remaining games.
Bring it on!
...and fly the flag.
...then:
Get rid of Beattie, Miller and Lennon.
Give Gravesen a chance in central midfield. I know he has many critics, but whenever he actually manages to get on the pitch his effort and commitment are there for all to see, and the consistency of performance will not come unless he gets a settled run of games to build up his fitness and an understanding with those around him.
Give Jarosik a chance to show what he can do over a number of games. He has the ability but I suspect that he is having his confidence and morale sucked out of him by Strachan's persistence in misusing his talents, if at all.
Give JVoH a rest, and get his persistent injury/ies sorted... Surely questions must be asked of whoever conducts the club's medicals!?
Get Riordan up front with Zurawski. They are both tremendously talented players with prolific strike rates, when given the chance.
I'm afraid I don't know what to make of Hartley though. Even playing for Scotland against Italy he looked out of sorts. Maybe he too needs a rest. Or some counselling, after all he went through at Tynecastle. Perhaps he just needs some help to clear his head and put it all behind him. Let us not forget these guys are just like you and I at the end of the day, only better at football. And richer!
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Paul, You say its not just tactics,there is an illness in the side. What do you know. Can you let us know. If all you are saying is that the mid field and stikers are not good enough I understand,but I get the feeling you are hinting that it is more than that. Let us know, no secrets on your blog.
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Know what really gets on my thrupennys, nearly all the posters on here refer to Gordon Strachan as Strachan all the time yet when the sainted Martin is mentioned he gets MON even Their manager gets called Walter Smith.
If so many of you are unhappy with WGS then who would you like to see in charge.
Obviously the next man would have to be Celtic minded to give him a bit of a head start in the popularity stakes.
Pat
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AC Milan drew 1-1 away to Roma today, so they are still 3 points off the CL places in Serie A with only 5 games to go. Their failure to qualify would improve Celtic's chances of being in pot 2 again (should Celtic get through the 3rd qualifying round unscathed!)... unless of course Milan finish 5th in Serie A and win the CL!!!
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Bri
19.55 was me. Unless you didn't see the game against AC in Milan, we we well due a stonewaller in the first 10 mins which might have done something.
Also with 10 mins to go, the tie being 0-0, we were denied exactly the kind of decision Man U got against us and Juventus certainly got against us a few years back, to deny us progress into the last 8.
Being a glass half full kind of guy, I'd call that giving us pride back in Europe.
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send for Mowbery
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Have to agree with you regarding Neil Lennon undoubtedly been a great servant but like you i feel he is the common denominator in a bad central midfield.
I dont believe for a minute that WGS will drop him but i hope for his own sake at the end of season Neil jumps before he's pushed...hopefully as a Double winning Celtic captain.
It does worry me that we're becoming a SPL select X1..and i think of the old saying..'if you pay the men peanuts you end up with monkeys'
Whilst not exactly on peanuts our players,if you downsize too much you could end up with a team of Sebos!
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nearly a bad result
hail hail
bring on well
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Well said Pat!
Lubo.
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was at the game today and want to post about 20 or so knuckle dragging muppets who started a chant about "if you hate Scott Macdonald clap your hands". What sewer did these cretins crawl out of ? It was quickly met with loud booing and not repeated. Sparked off a reaction that could have caused some problems. Why do these idiots go to the games ?
First league away game in a while and thought fans gave excellent backing and singing much improved. But why do some still persist with "Its good to be a Roman Catholic" Have we not got sufficient self confidence these days to drop that song ? But mainly it bugs me that this song does not in any way represent some of my season ticket holding mates. So let's drop it (for the few who persist).
Cannot believe the anxiety being shown. I for one will be happy for WGS to rebuild in summer. Will he not be the first manager since Stein to win 3 in a row when / if he sorts out the current dip in form and moves forward with team 3 ? The Uncle Watty / Aunt Sally double act has lost its novelty and if Aberdeen can steel themselves............
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Fair play, notamalcontent - as I said, it's all down to opinion.
I should say here that in no way do I consider WGS above criticism -like many others here I've been baffled by some of his team selections recently. As long as the record books show us as Champions, however, that's good enough for me.
P8ddy would know more about this than me but my gut reaction after the type of disappointing displays we've seen recently is to look to the players, almost regardless of who the manager is (although I know that's a pretty sweeping statement).
Whatever our opinion on Caldwell, Pressley, Hartley, Beattie etc. I believe that they are good enough to beat the likes of Falkirk & Dundee Utd.& that they should take on responsibility for their failure to perform.
Anyway, here's hoping Team 3 will turn us all into happyclappers - even Timlord!
All the best, DB
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timlord for the SPL
Back 4
3 box to box midfielders
nack in the hole / left to right
2 upfront
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Viewfaethewindae,
Are ye suggesting that timlord would be the goalie :-)
Lubo.
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Like most on here, my emotions today have gone from depression to a sort of feel good that you get after a win.
The reason being, obviously, that we have ended the day in the same position as we started it,therefore, we are a game closer to the title.
At this stage it is all about points differential.
I get tired of hearing about the "Celtic Way". I grew up supporting that myth and have plenty memories of trophyless seasons and a cabinet full of moral victories. It does not dilute my love for Celtic, but having witnessed the Stein Era, the Celtic Way of football for me is flavoured with pragmatism. You have to earn the right to play attractive football and that was something Jock taught not only his players, but also the support.
Sometimes a game would be won in the first ten minutes, sometimes the last ten minutes and believe it or not, sometime not at all.
The fancy stuff kicked in once we subdued the opposition.
Don't let a league title slip by without appreciating the achievement because they are not guaranteed. Enjoy them when we get them, mes enfants.
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Good point Tom.
Celtic have one point more than they did yesterday, and Rangers can win two points less than they could yesterday. That's three points in Celtic's favour today... sounds like a win to me!
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There must be a place on this Blog for those of us who are not mineshafters nor cloud dwellers?
The recent displays are all too similar in as far as lack of goals, lack of swift attacking moves, lack of basic skills from some players, lack of brave team selection by the manager lack of excitement.
My own solution would be a drastic re-think of team selection and tactics for the remaining games.
Celtic are going to win the League but to save it from being an anti climax I would scrap the 4-4-2 system (after all celtic are normally up against a lone striker)and plump for an attacking 3-4-1-2 formation. My team for Saturday would be
.................BORUC
TELFER.....PRESSLEY....O'DEA
NAKA.....GRAVESON....HARTLEY.....McGEADY
.................RIORDAN................
.........JVOH.............MAGIC.........
My pre-match instructions would be quite simple..."play as you like and show off the skill factor. You are better than any other team in the country".
Anyone disagree?
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timlord said...
As a long time admirer of your posts I'd be really interested to know how you would set out the side from the current squad presuming they were all fit.
You've just CQN that you have very poor taste! :-)
OK...Given what we have, it would have to be -
Boruc
Naylor
Balde
McManus
Telfer
Thompson
Lennon
Petrov
Nakamura
Venegoor Of Hesselink
Craig Beattie
Although this is taking the team from the start of the season.
Without trying to sound horrible, the midfield as it stands is a morass. I'm embarrassed that for the first time in years we don't have a workable midfield - and certainly not one that's capable of beating SPL teams with consistancy.
We've missing Thompson and Petrov terribly.
The current midfield I don't believe is capable of holding position and has, basically, been found out.
If pushed I'd replace Thompson with Naka, push Caldwell to the right mid slot and Gravesen into the Petrov role.
It's as close to disciplined as squad two can be (I think).
And thank you for your kind words :-)
/p
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Yip,
Boruc
Telfer Odea Caldwell Naylor
Hartley Gravesen Jarosik
Naka
JVOH Magic
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Celticlover, 22:17: Can't really disagree with that, but Telfer at RB?
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notamalcontent
it may be all about opinions but you've got something wrong - i've seen either in the flesh or on telly almost every single game this season.
strachan can only eat whats on his plate. spl will be won, we did better this year than we have ever done in the cl. your comments on how well we should be doing in the cl suggest either a naivety, an arrogance about celtic, or an alternative agenda against strach
and i dont remember a performance like the one against a quality team like benfica for a long time. we might not have scored 6 goals but it wasnt against dundee was it. i would have thought as someone who obviously sets his standards for celtic high, you might have had the bar a little higher than that. or as they arent walking the portugese league are benfica rubbish?
this is my opinion - a lot of us, myself included were sold on mon's ulster catholic/lifelong celt/celticminded thing. he played us and he played the media much better than wgs, who clearly is a more straighforward man and doesnt care for these sort of things. wgs wont play the dewy-eyed sentimental celt nonsense. its my opinion that mon played on that stuff, i find wgs a more honest man. people will always be quicker to criticise cos of it.
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bigchipsuk
not sure we'll see the white cafu in a celtic shirt again.
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Sir Paul...
Wellllllllllllllllllllllllllllll!
I have just returned from the local Oasis...
And I have this knowledge to pass on to posteriteeeee....
Imbibing, Imbibes..does nothing to Diminish the state of Abject Dejection!
I have not one thing to add to what has already been said,in response to today's most disappointing disappointment.
I ain't not Shrink..... for it is all a bunch o' Psychological Fibbertygibbet!
We were riding high in Europe....and then shot down in the S.P.L.!
Who can figure, the unfigurable?
Strachan has gone from the Penthouse to the DUNNEY!
Maybe, the intoxicants which I had earlier partook(Partook?....ed)( Like it,pal?.... jist made it up...I t'ink it will fly...don't you?)are now kicking in.
For, suddenly it has all become clear.....
Celtic will Win the League,after all is said and not said!
And the G.A. will finish Second...
So, when we look back... all will be forgotten,and the question still unanswered, as to why Celtic had managed to turn a SET, GAME,MATCH....into a Serial Potboiler...one that made the Peril's o' Pauline, look like a Picnic in Aspen!
Oh! And one more thing.....
Strachan shall not leave!
That rumor is the height o' idiocy!
Hail! Hail!
Now, for da Cup!
Kojo.
Feelin' NO PAIN!
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What a day! Huge downer followed by a happy chuckle at the huns feeble effort to beat 10 men over 80 mins hee hee!!!
Even the refs can't help them !
Anyway.. what about us?
After watchin that dross today it's obvious that we have no shape, no leader. The midfield were sitting too deep and the forwards were playing as individuals.
The ref allowed the game to turn into a junior league game.
When that happens in the SPL we need hardmen in the team, we have none at the moment. Naylor was the only one who fought back and got the required response.
I think what Strachan has tried to build over the season is a European type of football team. Time on the ball, movement and passing.
That can work against the same type of opposition, but not in the hammer throwing SPL. Too many teams (and refs allowing it) have bullied us this season.
Let's get this season over, but Gordon, get a bit of dig into the team for next season.
We need bigger, faster, fitter and dirtier for team 3.
Hail Hail!
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Paul.The generation of domination that is about to arrive,hopefully will bring us in some class players,we certainly need someone to waken up this team.There is a malaise running through this team that will need to be fixed.
At the start of the season I thought that the team were playing decent football,and as much said this was as good a team as I've seen at Celtic Park.
I was up at Dundee and the team were woeful,I hate picking on individual players but that was a joke to-day.I would'nt give pass marks to any players in Celtics team,they were crap.
Beattie should never play for celtic again,
HHBhoy you said Lennon has only a couple of games left,so lay of the critisism,Well I hope he's just played his last game for Celtic.
Aiden,what can you say about this lad without offending a lot of Bhoys on here,He had a couple of scintillating runs in the first half and a couple of lay offs in the second half, That would take about (in playing time)3 mins, at the moment he is an expensive luxury,the potential is there in barrowloads,But if you are quite happy with 3 or 4 mins of good play then who am I to critise Aiden,Just think of the times he lost the ball to-day before you call for my head,And dont come away with (he's only a wee lad)give him a break,That same wee lad is earning close to a million a year.
The rest were bad,but I've done enough slagging off tonight.The only good thing that came from to-days game was nakas free kick,I know the keeper was at fault covering his line,The thing that impressed me was their wall could'nt have been more than eight yards from the ball and he gets it over the wall and into the postage stamp,he's the best dead ball man I've seen in a Celtic jersey,(well maybe Lubo would give him a run for his money).
Lastly Gordon Strachan was'nt to blame for what we saw on the park to-day,when the team was announced I thought it was an okay team,He cant kick the ball for them.My excuse for the team playing so badly was twelve players on international duty this week must have taken something out of them
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shammy
great post. agree 100% with everything you say.
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kojo
Alcohol is a depressant which usually increases feelings of depression. Since I have no wish to forego alcohol's benefits, I would recommend that a) you drink moderately in good company and b) you drink champagne/ cava as I find the bubbles quite uplifting.
I hope to have good reason to indulge myself in mid to late April and again in late May.
If any poster has the cojones, I challenge them to come on after we have secured a double on 26th May and suggest WGS be sacked.
I could not blame Gordon for walking away in June as we are slowly turning in to the Rangers fans of the 90's where winning is not enough.
We were not a force in Europe between 1977 and 2001, We were not a force in the SPL from 88 to 98.
This is much better.
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watchow
Arrogance or ambition? I could list many 'smaller' teams who compete regularly at the business end of the CL. I'm sure you know who they are.
Why shouldn't we aspire to do likewise? My own ambition for Celtic extends beyond making up the numbers in the last 16 of the CL. And certainly extends beyond seeing a single half-decent performance in an entire season.
Unfortunately I doubt that I'll get to see that ambition fulfilled under the present manager's stewardship.
All Strachan has to do to win the fans over is to build at team that wins, yes, but one that excites us also.
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Watchow
Great post, just as I was thinking. But don't even suggest it is anything to do with Gordon Strachan not being 'one of us' or folk might feel sensitive on here !
MON or should it be 'O'Neill', just to be consistent with the 'Strachan' abusers, certainly 'played' us, and our board.
The debt generated by O'Neill's manipulation of our board, and malaise which GS inherited in the 'bloated' over rated squad, meant GS first season was a huge challenge which he rose to with great success, and 2 trophies. His second was supposedly against a new regime at Rangers under a 'crack continental coach' of the highest pedigree, he has risen to that also.
If, as I suspect he will, he heads off to pastures new, he may well have a better trophy average as Celtic manager than ANY before him. He will also have a better Euro record than any bar Jock Stein.
Anyway hopefully notmalcontent, and the others will show a level of integrity, and refrain from staying on at the league winning celebrations, given the pain you are clearly enduring at GS teams SPL dominance.
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Watched the game and was happy with the three points we were about to get then was so so angry as yet again we do not concentrate for the entire game.
Motherwell away, Ibrox and now Tannadice, six points tossed away, sitting on a one goal lead and losing a last minute goal.
Those six points would have made us CHAMPIONS tonight.
But to the real point of my post,
I went to work at 15.30 in a state of depression, came home at 20.45, had my dinner and watched a film.
I have JUST FOUND OUT THE IBROX SCORE.
I LAUGHED OUT LOUD.
The depression has lifted
MON THE HOOPS,
Martin.
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No doubt the many informed contributors on here were around me at the Man U game, moaning about us not playing 'the Celtic way' throughout the game rather than backing the team.
If you listen to the pathetic crowd that night they were behind the team for about 20 minutes out of 90. Looking at the posts here, some folks ought to stick to reruns of the Brazil 70s, and the Jinky video. Clearly real football games is not for you guys.
Those who remember the 78/9 season will appreciate this. Mike Conroy, Vic Davidson, Johny Doyle, Tom McAdam, Roddie McDonald, Andy lynch, Alan Sneddon, George McLuskey.....all very ordinary players, playing ugly football.....eg the Friday night v St Mirren, the 1-0 v really crap Hearts, lsing out v Burnley, and v Rangers 3 times....horrible football, but we were so behing the team that big Billy was almost deified at the end of the season.....Most football actually is competitive, and not a circus show, we have no devine right to win, our manager has delivered. If you don't like it then you can always find other stuff to get on with on a Saturday afternoon.
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At 31/03/07 23:13, Shammy
Since my last post I have been mulling over in my head as to what is the basic problem with us and I came to the same conclusion as you did.
GS has tried to build a non tackling, hold the ball, European style team, which , given good enough players, will bring success in the CL. However the game in Scotland or more to the point, how the rules are interpreted, are not conducive to this style, therefore the hammer throwers are allowed to pitch their mallets with impunity.
It is interesting to note that PLG tried to introduce the same philosophy over there and was defeated by his own players, aided by a traditionally minded media and had to admit defeat.
The trick seems to be to have two styles of play, one for the home market and one for the European market, but I don't think that is feasable, therefore we are left with the conundrum of how to play controlled football, without the tackle and not be bullied. Mmmmm.
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notamalcontent
the reason we strach hasnt taken us further inthe cl is the same reason that mon didnt, or any of the managers before them.
our local talent, the main building block around which foreign singings can be brought in is not up to the standard of dutch or french. and beyond that its all about money. our domestic league just doesnt generate enough for us to compete with even the bigger french teams.
look at the last 8 in the cl this season. its all about money.
look at valencia's bench in teh cl games. joaquin cost them the best part of 25m euros - he's not starting.
strach cant be blamed for that.
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Notmalcontent
Please do name all these 'smaller' teams who 'regularly compete at the 'business end' of the CL.
Pklease also give me many better Celtic performances in the premier trophy in our history.
I can only think of 2 (67 and 70)where we have got the better of superior teams than this season.
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My dear friend, Johnbhoy....
Eyes are now regaining the power to focus....Great!...There is a God,after all!
Thought you would like to know that the Three Cousins....recommend .... Mr.Miller..... is is Mark?
Anyway,he is a stoater...their collective word,naturally.
So whadya say? Whadya say?
Now read this twice..for ye'll nevah see it in print, again...
How about...next year...hmmm?...re-phrase dat....
How about Sometime...next year.
A Celtic STRIKING PARTNERSHIP o'
McDonald and GOWSER?
Personally I am darned fed up,trying to see a JUSTIFICATION for a Musclebound Big Yin...mostly playing a lone hand, in every game that I watch....
Hasn't the Penny found it's destiny yet?
Think about it.....Hard! No too hard, now!
Heinrik was anything but MUSCLE BOUND!
Agree!
I rest my Vanderbilt!
The big lone striker is a bunch o' daisies!
Fuggettaboooooootit!
The more I think about it... the more I like it!
McDonald and Gowser..... now dat's a mighty fine Sandwich!
Hail! Hail!
Celtic for da Double?
Ya Betcha!
Kojo.
Yer true freen', who LIKES ya!.....
here is secret.... any freen that likes his freen is rare wan..... Freens are always AWFY JEALOUS and they jist USE YE!
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Can we please stop all the waffle about Celtic experiencing a "blip" or a current loss of form.
We are now reaping the rewards of several months of seemingly inexplicably poor football - the only differnce is our luck has run out, as was bound to happen (except for today when we deserved to lose, but escaped with a draw).
So now we drop points instead of winning them - the performances continue to be rubbish.
Whatever is going on now is certainly not down to individual players.
I was neither for nor against the appointment of Gordon Strachan, just interested to see what it would lead to.
After the first season I thought we were on a winner - two trophies and signs of good football to be played if everyone was allowed time to settle in and develop.
What do we have now after further investing several millions in what was already a winning team? What do we put out as the chosen eleven?
A goalkeeper who is very good, but who, without exception, makes mistakes in every match. Still being lucky as well as good is not a bad thing for a goalkeeper.
Let's pick a defence consisting of four men of which at least two, preferably three, are carrying injuries (they are "good teammates" after all). When injuries don't even allow that let's pick a centre half returning from injury at right back - he must be better than the international full back who has never had the chance to be a "good teammate".
The heart of any team - the midfield. We don't have any pace or drive in central midfield, so let's keep Gravesen on the bench and, while we're at it, let's play Jarosik anywhere except where he built his reputation which lead to us bringing him to Celtic.
We also lack creativity there so we stick McGeady and Nakamura out wide to minimize their effectiveness - can't have them messing up the grand plan with their skills.
Now that we have established that we can't/won't move the ball quickly from back to front, nor can we provide incisive, defence-splitting passes for our forwards to feed off - let's throw in any forwards who are fit, or reasonably close to it, and hang them out to dry when they fail to make up for the failings of everyone else. If these forwards have their own failings i.e. lousy ball control and can't score - that's o.k. - they run about a lot and are "good teammates".
What use is Riordan? He just scores more goals than anyone else we have, but he doesn't eat seaweed or live the preffered lifestyle.
Forgive, or not, my cynisism - but Jock Stein believed football to be a simple game and maximised the diverse skills of the players at his disposal to create a functioning unit.
It just doesn't work the other way round, but our current manager doesn't seem to understand that.
Big Jock is reported to have said that his greatest achievement in football was to keep wee Jinky playing for 5 years more than he might have. I don't believe JJ would have had a chance under our current manager (sorry, coach - he seems to lack management skills).
I can think of no more scathing criticism than a genius who can't get a game because of someone else's ego.
You don't have to agree or disagree with any of the above, just try to understand why some of us are critical and have been for several months.
Cheers
Alex
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Aother Alex
Big Jock managed in a very different era to that which we have today.
The players, and agents hold many more aces in the 'power' game today. Who knows if wee Jimmy would have still been a Celtic player, he might have been touted by his agent down south by now !
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watched the game live on Setanta and also saw the "highlights" on Setanta this evening; several points...
Brines was a joke today and I do not believe his appointment was anything other than planned by those who have an agenda against our team.
The sardonic jeers when we eventually were given a free kick in the second half , followed by our fans rendition of "that's why we are paranoid" says it all.
I cannot recall ANY team getting so many free kicks in our half during the least 35 years. It was just like the bad old days!!
The Naylor booking was awesome... he was elbowed in the face, then kicked then elbowed again and when he remonstrated with Robson, he was butted full in the face ( none of the "gesturing" that McManus was sent off for against Falkirk ).
As far as the team is concerned. I'm still amazed that Neil Lennon seems bombproof to the failings over the last few years...yes YEARS!! I have sat through so many "poor" NL performances over the last 3 years I've almost lost count and I would add to an earlier poster's observation about his central pairings with other players which have not worked out...Petrov, Jarosik, Graveson... I could add Keane, Maloney, Hartley, McGeady...everybody seems to be playing below their "normal" form when they play alongside Lennon, maybe it's about time we queried where the problem really is. One thing for sure, I've never seen a team take so long to get from back to front than this current Celtic team ( England excepted where the central midfield seems to be dominated by two" pass it sideways" players).
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Burnley - PSV & Porto spring to mind.
And we must have been doing something right in seasons 71/72 & 73/74 when reaching the EC semis.
But anyway, what's the point of dwelling in the past - and what's wrong with a bit of ambition?
Watchow - answer me this - do you believe that Strachan is getting the best out of his squad?
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alex
your assertion that wgs would not have played jj is hypothesising the likes of which i have never seen even on here.
how you can criticise wgs for something like that is completely beyond me.
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Burnley 78
You got that right - Big Jock managed.
As for the rest - who know's?
Do you have any info that JJ would have been sufficiently impressed by an agent to leave his beloved Celtic?
Times do indeed change - management skills do not, they just evolve, as do most things.
Cheers
Alex
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Regardless of how poor the oppostion have been over the past two seasons. The fact is Gordon's Celtic have been very consist at winning SPL matches, just as Martin's Celtic were at winning matches against the inferior sides in Scotland.
Had Strachan's Celtic won the titles with only a few points to spare we could says "it's only because the others are rubbish".
However the fact is we won the league last year with a massive pts difference and are currently 13pts clear despite our worst spell in two seasons.
So get off the manager's back because the last few games will have been good for us in the long run as the manager will now have a crystal clear idea of who needs to leave Celtic in order for us to progress even further.
Gordon Strachan has done very well considering the size of the task that awaited him after black sunday.
The two things he must do in the summer is recruit a good penalty box finisher and add much needed pace and strength to our light-weight and ponderous midfield.
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watchow
Sorry sunshine - I say what I think as I have always done.
Regarding that which is beyond your comprehension - please don't blame me, I plead not guilty.
1. Read ALL of my post
2. Try to understand ALL of my post
3. Please pass comment on ALL of my post. I'm sure you mean well, bit you're not doing yourself any favours here.
Cheers
Alex
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Bit should, of course, be but.
Sorrt
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no need to apologise for saying what you think - it's what we all do. i would be worried if you said what you didnt think.
regarding that which you think is beyond my comprehension, i read your post. here's a quote
"I don't believe JJ would have had a chance under our current manager (sorry, coach - he seems to lack management skills).
I can think of no more scathing criticism than a genius who can't get a game because of someone else's ego."
i dont see any genuii on the bench at cp at the moment so i can only think you're referring to jinky. see i did understand that you mean that he wont play deeks because he likes a pint and a rammy, but to compare deeks to jinky would be idiotic and i cant imagine for a minute that you're doing that.
i wont go through all your post, its not a critique of the whole post, i'm just commenting on something that i disagree with.
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genii ses
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Cracking free kick today from Naka. I'm not sure how many he's scored this season but it must be a lot and I don't think i would be able to think of another Celtic player who has scored as many free kicks in a season as he has.
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Makes me think about all the Celtic fans around the world
Every Country In The World
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ding!
its just come to me. some people will never ever accept gordon strachan as celtic manager. theres no point in trying. its like a weight off my shoulders, i feel so much better, like light and floaty. i've just..let...it..go...
however, i now am starting to see a black mark out of the corner of my right eye that normally means i have a migraine coming, so its not all gravy.
goodnight all and hail hail.
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Watchow, keep that right jab going and you won't see any black marks!
Keep the Faith...
Nite All ..
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Sean
I think I heard he has scored 10 league goals. 5 of them against Utd.
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So free kicks in league 5/6 maybe
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No idea probably less.
Memo to self.
Stop commenting on things you don't know the answer to
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it's a good thing we've had plenty of goals from our midfielders this season otherwise it would have been more difficult.
Injuries have played a part on the teams form. With Wilson missing most of the season, and Naylor having to play through injuries we've not had the same threat from wide areas. Ontop of this Naylor's crossing has deteriorated as the season has gone on. But then again when they have set up chances the strikers haven't finished.
Once Jan has a run of games without injury and we get someone in to partner him we should see a much better Celtic team. There were times under MON that we'd only have a few half chances in a game but it'd be enough to get by. We're not gonna get another Larsson but a solid striker who can put the ball in the net and hold the ball up to let our midfield get in the game will see us much more comfortable in games.
Bellamy wasn't in the Liverpool team today. Was he injured or just out of favour? If it's the latter then maybe we could tempt him to come north of the border again.
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I would guess around six. If it's the case it's a fair amount.
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I would guess around six. If it's the case it's a fair amount.
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Interesting debate this evening.
Been away.
This really is a very poor Celtic team. But I dont blame GS or the players. You know who I blame - and they did the same that led to Black Sunday.
Hey Paul - is it all the supporters fault?
I see you have ducked the debate.
I wonder why....
We reap what we sow, and I for one am completely sick of this.
Generation of domination my ar**
Incidentally I believe we are now being told of great spends this summer.
AYE RIGHT
Global warming has harmed the jam. Seems the balance sheet is now more important.
I WANT MY CELTIC BACK - MY PAL FELL ASLEEP TODAY WATCHING THE HOOPS.
Incidentally - I love these regular posts trying to scare folk on the danger of celtic being taken over by a rich businessman who does not care for the club.
SOUND FAMILIAR TO ANYONE????
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Neg anon - do you mean "interesting" in the ancient Chinese curse way?
May be tempting fate to say but think we won the league today - kind of wonderful - to a dirge like beat - in keeping with the spirit of today's blog.
Sadly Edward, for you the war is over. ;o) No great escape this time - no Steve McQueen on set.
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I've said it before and I'll say it again now: I'm pleased that no one on here is managing Celtic (although I could see Paul67 in a commercial role : ) ).
P8ddy, there you go again with your stock retort that certain players aren't good for Celtic. Not good enough to most likely secure back-to-back titles! Not good enough to be 13 pts clear in the league! Not good enough to reach the last 16 in the Champion's League! P8ddy perhaps you could explain to everyone just how good Celtic players should be and where we will get them from given our relatively limited resources (and the relative unattractiveness of Scottish football). And while you are doing this perhaps you could suggest a few of the players we should sign for next season.
Could it be that our current dip in form, or should I say results, is primarily a reaction to the Milan and Rangers games (where we put a lot in and got nothing out)? Could it be that our lack of stylish football is down to the way that teams are set up to play us (every week we seem to be playing in 'cup tie' football matches)? Could it be that our more skillful players really are getting a raw deal from Scottish referees? Could it be that an away draw with Dundee Utd is not as bad a result as some might have us believe? Could it be that, on balance, Dundee Utd were just a little lucky to scrape a point from the game yesterday?
The quality of football this year has been pretty poor for the most part and I agree with many that it is painful to watch. However, the fact is that we are the best side in the SPL at this time. BUT we don't have the right to pummel teams and we certainly have no right to win every game we play. Sometimes I think I must have fallen asleep and woke up to found out that the rules of football had changed in Scotland - namely that as long as Celtic turn up they will be granted victory by the opposing side.
However much disservice many of the comments on here do to WGS (and God forbid that he browses CQN), what does it say about the remaining Managers in the SPL?
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Ian
As Noel would say, can I be in your gang? It could be sir, it could be.
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Poor game,poor result.
Team looks tired and jaded,all of them,not just some of them.
Worried? As far as the winning the league is concerned?
Not a bit.Ask the bookies.They generally know their stuff.
Disappointed? Yes. Would be good to go out in a bit of style and have it wrapped up by now.
Then what,disinterest for the last 7 or 8 games of the season?
Half empty stadium after the trophy has been banded about?
Youngsters played(as has been called for routinely on here)so they can be subjected to abuse and invective for not humping everybody in site 4-0 with "fre-flowing" football?
There has been much criticism of players only playing for the money.
Tell you what,even for someone like me,I would seriously consider giving Celtic a bodyswerve,if the opportunity did arise to sign for them.
Give me a good reason why good players should sign for Celtic?
Apart from the much vaunted walk-ons before the game starts,woebetide you if you should happen to fall behind in a game.
Abuse and hostility rains down on you from disgruntled "fans".
You play your heart out,receiving death threats from paramilitaries for the pleasure,only to be ridiculed by a large part of the fanbase.(This is not a recent thing,remember quite clearly the captain being booed for having the temerity to pass the ball back when we were drawing in the UEFA cup semi-final)
Sometimes I feel the saying"the supporters get the manager and team that they deserve"describes no team better than Celtic.
Would also mention something that has not been discussed,regarding the rather turgid end to the campaign.
Anybody considered the fact that since we are a PLC and not a club,that there may well be,if not a direction,then at least a wee nudge,nudge,wink,wink,towards us delaying the winning of the Championship by at least a few more home games,thereby minimising the chance of the abovementioned half-empty stadium?
As far as the palyers are concerned.I think we would be foolish to think that up front we need JVOH and a.n. other.He has not played enough(due to injury)and has not scored enough goals to be considered the main attacker.I feel we need two more(excluding Scott McDonald)One more if Zurawski stays.I expect Kenny Miller and Craig Beattie to leave,but I have a funny feeling Zurawski will still be here.
I hope Jarosik and Gravesen remain,would like to see Jarosik given a sustained run in his correct position,and would also like to see Gravesen given a sustained run too.I am aware he has his faults but I like Gravesen.He is skillful,strong,can score goals,can run and he doesn't get bossed about.
Would like to see a mid of Sno,Gravesen,Jarosik and Nakamura,with McGeady,Caldwell and Hartley to swap about where required,depending on opponent and shape required at the time.
Neil,thanks very much,but like all players,your time must end,would rather you did so gracefully and went straight to retirement from Celtic.Don't think you deserve to be booted about in the lesser leagues for another year or two.
As for the defence,I am worried that Artur will leave in the summer.He has his faults,but he is the best keeper I have seen between the posts at Celtic.If he goes,he will be missed,(although picking keepers appears to be a lot easier for Gordon Strachan than it was for Martin O'Neill)
Lee Naylor,for me has been the find of the season,and my pick for player of the year,had a wee dip for a few weeks,but apart from that has been very good,at what was seen as our problem position before the start of the season.Is fit as a fiddle,is fast,can tackle,has decent positional sense,has a decent cross,and,although seldom seen,has a shot like a rocket.And we seem to have a back up in Doumbe for him(although as yet unseen)
Right back,for me looks like being a problem for us.Unless Mark Wilson gets back to what we thought he would become,when he played at left back for a long while(remember thinking,if he is this good in his wrong position,wait till we get him on the right)I think we will need to consider this position as a prime candidate for one of the three "box office" signings I feel we need.Telfer has been good,a lot better than his standing would suggest.But he will be gone in the summer.
Centre backs,we have Bobo,Steve McManus,Steven Pressley,and Darren O'Dea(and you could also add Caldwell to the list).
I like Darren O'Dea,but it is a bit much to expect someone of that age to be a permanent start just yet in so important a position,hopefully he will continue his development and become what I am hoping he does.
As for the others,I get the feeling Bobo will be gone.
That leaves us with McManus and Pressley.Two not too bad centre backs who can do a job.Pressley with only a year or so to go.
Therefore,here is where I feel we require another of the "box office" signings.A strong commanding centre half with similar attributes to Bobo,without the terrible ball control on the ground and the lack of composure he suffers from at times.
As for the other "box office" signing,I think everybody will agree,that it is required at the front.
I think we are,finacially at least,in a very comfortable position to deliver these three requirements,as we have spent nothing(net) in two years.
I would prefer to see the three mentioned big signings than six or seven lesser signings.
Oh and by the way,I also think Gordon Strachan should be here to manage them!!
He deserves that at the very least.Even if most of you feel that all he deserves for two league championships,is abuse and the sack.
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ah well at least they forces of darkness lost ground yesterday as well. think we will wrap it up in the next 2 games. the draw will probarbly suck the life out of the FOD title charge more than it would have done for us. it IS stillin our hands, we have had our blip/stumble/poor form/bad luck/deserved results? from the recent games now we will push on through. in the summer WGS will hopefully have a clearout and as ALL managers do bring in some good players and not so good players who he thinks are good players...
chin up chest out and keep the faith
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back page of todays paper reckons bellamy has told "friends" he would "walk back to glasgow" if celtic wanted him and rafa wants to sell him...........
i was thinking about our current lack of quality
would anyone agree on offering big wages for players who are on bosmans, only bosmans. take for example steve sidwell and sylvian distin. both on a free. say we paid them £30-40k a week on a 3 year deal works out at a maximum of £6.25m total package on wages with no fee, the equivelant to big jan £3-3.5m and 25k a week. i know we have a wage structure but any thoughts on this?
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would be up for that as long as the players knew the score on the clubs policy so we dont get a dicanio and cadette script again
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ants
That would work for me.Only problem is other players might expect similar when re-negotiating like Maloney.
If they signed a 3-4 year deal we have to sell after 2 or 3.
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can understand what u mean about when renegotiating.
i would say always a 3 year deal max so we don't end up with thommo,bbj and sutton situation
it would still be a gamble but given their age they would still be easily shiftable in 2 years if it went wrong
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Kano - 2 Thumbs Up!!!
I posted these links the other night but it was pretty late & so they might have gone un-noticed. I think they're still worth reading though;
England fans' abuse of Steve McClaren
The downfall of Leeds Utd.
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celtic also linked with giving jaun pablo angel a 3 year deal in todays newspaper
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Kano
Great post, mirroring many of my thoughts re 'playing for Celtic these days'.
Greatest fans in the world ? Most should sit at home and watch 'highlights' of a golden era when we could beat euro giants Basle, and 2 pubs team and get to an EC semi.
GS is on his way to winning 2 leagues in a row, yet we will have a moaning, whinging home support unless we win by 3-0 or more next Saturday. If the team win the double the GS might well leave Celtic with an average / season trophy haul greater than any other manager.
Notmalcontent
Re lst nights point
Please provide the measures by which we consider Porto or PSV as much smaller clubs.
As I see it they play in bigger leagues with more CL access, more TV revenue, have won more Euro trophies, dominate their respective domestic situation, attract mostly full houses, and have well structure financial control.
If these are the only 2 you can think of then I would argue they are at least on par, but not bigger, thus the point is actually that there are no regular last 16
CL teams with less resource than Celtic.
Facts are we have beaten more top Euro teams this year than any other than 67 and 70.
72 and 74 teams saw us beat the might of Ujpest Dosza, and Basel respectively as our only major scalps after winning vs to pubs teams in 1st and 2nd rounds. These great Euro runs are a fable. In both years we lost to the 1st really big teams we played.
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Serutiku @2.16 :- I don't think I could possibly disagree with that and it has been that way for some time, though a couple of straws have been clutched at recently:-) What I will say though is that much as this season has been a huge let down from my point of view I'm a lot more optimistic for next year than I was a month or so ago. I don't think this is just blue tinted glasses making me feel this. Since Mr Smith came back our results have been as good as anyone's and although it looks like we wont have the same sort of spending power that you have that hasn't held him back recently. I expect next season to be a nail biter for both sets of fans.
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Whoops !
nearly fell down one of those mineshafts while I was scrolling past all the suicidal stuff from last night.
Think this is bad ?
You should see it over on FF
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New Rangers Website .
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Not posted for a while.
Felt Very angry after yesterdays game (watched in the pub).
Before people point to back to back league titles (which correct me if I'm wrong we havent won yet) and the last 16 of the Champions league as reasons to be happy - THESE ARE THE VERY REASONS I'M ANGRY.
It was this squad / team that got us to at least 19 points clear in the league - Why the total capitulation???
I want to hear the manager admit there are problems (I dont need to know what they are) and that the boardroom and the Dressing Room HAVE a solution and are working on it.
I guess Scott McDonald is the first piece of this solution.
I also hope the reason Beattie gets a game is to not destroy (by dropping him) any value he may have before selling him in the summer (asset management and all that).
Two more gripes and then I'd better get back to work.
First, It seems to me that too many of the passes by Celtic players are received by stationary Celtic players - This does not lead to free flowing football, nor does it help to split defences etc. Also while the reciever of the pass is stationary it allows the defending players to get much tighter on our players, which could be why we are seeing so many 'assaults' on our players.
The Second gripe, Artur Boruc, for Gods sake learn to kick a moving ball! This is something that can be practiced and improved. I'm not looking for Zidane'esk distribution but if the ball has been played to AB it is probably as a last resort. But he should be able, EVERYTIME!!, to find the oppositions half or put it out for a throwin as far away from goals as possible. Watch his kicking ... it's scary!!
Hail Hail
Pob
6 points to go.
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Burnley78,
I remember the Ujpesti Dosza win in 1972, thank goodness they were just coming out of their winter shutdown. In 1974 the Celtic team played their best to beat Basle after two close games. I don`t think Jock Stein reckoned that he had a great Celtic team at the time but they did reach the last 4 and left a legacy that subsequent teams have found hard to compete with.
Thanks to Craig Dargo and his valiant teammates! I got a much better sleep than I would have expected at 2.25 yesterday. :-)
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Defintely subscribe more to the happy clapper rather than mineshaft philosophy.....usually. Nevertheless, I feel that yesterdays's display was DIRE. The team appears lacklustre with no energy.
Caldwell's distribution was woeful but he is just back.. how bad must doumbe be then?
Naylor off the boil a bit but will come good again.
Naka beautiful goal but lacks bite.
Lennon...great guy but I hope he moves on in the summer,
Hartley, jury still out for me,
Beattie, shouldn't be in aCeltic Jersey, the 5 yard trapping of a ball summed it up,
JVoH, like others struggling,
McGeady, one of the few shining lights,
Pressley done a job and more than competent,
McManus, I feel will be good,
Boruc....good keeper, just not as good as he thinks he is.
GS, I commended the manager for making early changes in a game, early in his Celtic career, I think there is a nervousness beginning to show. Still the man for the job though. What does it take to get Riordan a game up front? I hope that this is not just pig-headedness from GS.
Will still win the league with time to spare, but for those of us who have seen many Celtic teams stuttering in the bleak years, I would like it signed sealed and delivered so that I can relax.
What worryy's me is, how can it be classified as progress if we buy our next generation of players from teams that we used to regularly gub? (Pressley/Hartley/Riordan/McDonald/Caldwell et al)
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Like a lot of posters who vented their frustration and anger at the most recent poor display from the players, I am concerned that we have players on the sidelines who simply don't get the run out they surely deserve.......
It honestly seems to me that Mr Strachan rewards below average performances with a run in the 1st team, and that gets my blood boiling more than ever.
Jarosik, Miller, Lennon to name a few, and I know there are easily a few more that could make that list off passengers as long as your arm !!
How can we as a team be bristling with competition for places, when the same plodders offer little on the park but get the jersey the following week. Is that Gordon's fault or is our team so full of cash cows that he simply doesn't see the effort in training from others?
I wish I knew the answer, cos I keep seeing guys like Miller and Beattie making me cringe week in week out and fine lets wait until thge end of the season and see what happens, but quite frankly some players have burnt their bridges and need to be told they are fringe players at best and take it or leave.
I'm not a mine shaft resident nor do I live on a cloud with green tinted shades on, but this really is a team that defies logic at times, and all the free fastflowing talk that was banded about two seasons ago has never emerged, why?
Please Gordon can we explain where it is going wrong? Cos we seem to be tryingh to buy the players who have some quaality about them but it all seems to go pear shaped behind the scenes.....and ultimately on the park on a saturday.
I was so impressed by our play against ECL sides at times, and we see glimpses of it for a few minutes here and there but then wee allow ourselves to be bullied by our SPL residents.
I can't recall who said it but we maybe do have a team more attuned to a european style of play, but unless I'm sadly mistaken we need to be able to compete and mix it with the roughest to win the SPL year it year out. We get builleed week in week out now and it's not eeasy to stomach........
I don't think Rangers can sustain a serious challenge over the entire season next year as I don't believe they will have the quality in depth......the honeymoon factor over there will soon evaporate once the squad thins down and is filled with half decent SPL players........(or is that not what we are doing ourselves??)
I don't want to see us play fantastic football and win nothing, so there must surely be a balance as we as supporters, fans, the lifeblood of Celtic FC need to see some real signs that our team 3 is a reality and not just words on someones notepad.
Nuff said cos like most I could waffle on for hours, but what good will it do. We will prevail and be crowned SPL champions soon enough, even if we don't win all our remaining SPL fixtures I don't see RFC winning all of theirs either !!!
Hail Hail........
With a four leaf clover on my breast,
And the green and white upon my chest,
It's such a joy for us to see,
For they play football the Celtic way.................
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the biggest frustration for me is craig beattie and paul hartley.
hartley came straight back in after suspension, why his form never merited it
beattie - when will strachan realise he is not good enough.
strachan constantly says he wants to improve players but he has to accept some like beattie will never cut it. i assume he must of tried to rectify his poor ball control but its not worked as yesterday showed
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morning guys
ainsley to partner jan
hail hail
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noel90
your hum website is cracking!!!!!
like the trophy cabinet bit the best.. what flavour is it orginal or orange?
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that should read HUN not hum...
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appoligies to any HUMS that may be reading.....
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Yes yes I am perverse but when things are not going the way I want I seek my pleasure elsewhere.
Yesterday was always going to be easy.
Ian Brines was the referee.
Honestly I don't get angry, instead I watch and try and understand how he arrives at the decisions.
Since his arrival in the top flight he has been flawless in his outstanding ability to card and punish Celtic players when they themselves are fouled.
Add time when teams need a goal to draw/beat Celtic.
Add no time when Celtic have a chance of a draw/win.
I tip my hat to you Mr Brines for the most consistent performer of the year in our game.
Picked up another point yesterday smashin.
And as everybody else has blamed somebody in their posts for not winning I will point the finger at myself.
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Can we kill all this talk of Celtic more suited to a European game under Strachan.
We had one outstanding performance in Europe this season agaist Benfica at home - although I have to admit I thought we lacked a cutting edge in that game in the first 45.
Beyond that we were repiad the compliment by Benfica away, struggled to take Copenhagen (yes that's Copenhagen) at home and succeeded in throwing away a chance to top the group by losing away to them.
As to Man Utd weplayed well in the first leg but lost and were outplayed in the second leg but won thanks to one piece of outrageous dead ball work from Naka and a superb save from Boruc.
They were indiidual moments from individuals which saw us qualify - noy team work - which outside the first man utd game and Benfica at home was sorely lacking.
Strachan has built a team which looks week after weektobe losing its way.
Fast flowing football? you have to look at the manager he sets the team out and he makes the signings.
down the hill and into the mineshaft - you have been warned
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A couple of things.
Why do some so called 'fans' continue to berate our own team ? How do i explain to my 10 year old that you always always back your team then he sees Boruc suggest a square go with one of our own at the end of the game ? Come on guys, we're all concerned with the way things are going with the team but let's not give the old media more fodder to hype up our 'collapse'.
Secondly, congrats to you all for the 'That's Why We're Paranoid' singing yesterday. I do consider myself to be a pretty level headed fan but the bias we see against us from idiots like Brines week in week out is now getting silly.
When are we going to see post match interviews with guys like Brines ? The SFA need to get their finger out : JVOH got nothing, Naylor booked for BEING headbutted. Some of this stuff is inexplicable........
FT
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my defence is always April 1st and a heid injury but beware.
suing bloggers
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whitedoghunch and fife_tim beat me to the punch but brines is as bad as I've seen...he will never be fair for celtic
...wilkie has had his injury problems but jvoh should not have been expected to carry him on his back for 90 mins, never mind have brines give him a punty up.
Chris
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Back off the news of the world today craig bellamy saying he would walk up to glasgow to sign for celtic and regretted not signing when he was up here go get him PL
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Nakamuras Goal
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Tell you what - I`ll walk down and CARRY Bellamy back if thats what it takes to get some class in the team!!
The natives are certainly getting restless now.
Neil Lennon seems to be the scapegoat big time - settled - his fault we are so poor at defending! attacking! Goalscoring!passing!shooting!tackling! winning headers!
No we are a mish mash of a team and the news is - it aint Lennons fault.
We resemble a Hearts Hibs select of a couple of years ago!
I did not want Caldwell - I did not want Pressley - I did not want Hartley - I did not want Riordan.
Some seem to think Lennon makes Paul Hartley run around like a headless chicken on speed ?? way beyond me that one. Some seem to think its Lennons fault Jarosik has about as much bite in the tackle as my 7 week old daughter!!
There are very few SPL players good enough to play for Celtic - time will tell if McDonald is good enough. I think Scott Brown is and he will improve.
Players I would get rid off
Caldwell
Pressley
Telfer
Marshall
Jarosik
Miller
Riordan (no point in keeping him)
Players only good enough for the bench.
Wilson
Hartley
Beattie (could go to Hibs along with Marshall with hopefully Brown coming)
Majic
Players I would Keep
Boruc
Van the man(still not convinced another season though)
Balde (nothing - absolutely nothing - I have seen says there is a better centre back at the club)
Naka
McGeady
Lennon(one more year for me)
Sno(send him somewhere in the summer to turn him into a mean M*****F***** and we could see a real player)
Graveson (although i think he will be away)
Naylor
McManus(still time?)
O`Dea
So lots of wheeling and dealing to be done - lets invest wisely - and blow the huns away!!!
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personally i would like to see the following go
pressley - not CL level and waste of a wage o dea is just as competent
magic - getting on and last chance to get some money for him
beattie - not good enough and may get a small fee
hartley - much the same reason as magic
Miller - time and again cost us points through bad finishing another season like that and nobody would buy him so cash in now
Marshall - no better than average and money would be useful
lennon - time has come waste of wages next season
Balde - would like wages off bill to help finance a high quality centre back e.g distin
Riordan - if he is not deemed good enough for bench sell him to raise money for someone who is
i am undecided on the following
Gravesen and jarosik - could they do it given decent run in proper position?
caldwell - possibly a decent squad player
i would love to see strachan buy through the spine
a top centre back to play with mick
a quality centre midfielder who can play holding or a bit more advanced (sidwell maybe.....)
a quality winger with view to possibly bringing naka in behind the strikers (this would mean sacrificing jarosik or gravesen)
a top quality striker
this is just my thoughts i think boruc,naylor,mick,wilson (on his early form) naka,aiden and jan are a good base
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We will probably be told we cant afford Bellamy - I dont believe this to be true - simply because we have so much dead wood.
I would think £2 million for Miller possibly £1 million for Majic - thats half of Bellamy`s transfer fee right away.
£30,000 per week would bag him if he is so keen - and thats the above`s wages - so simple - replace two average players with a top notcher - we could maybe even have a bit of vision and start doing it all over the park! replacing say - Caldwell and Pressley with one top notcher although we would maybe have to add £10,000 a week to that package.
Jarosik could be replaced for one as he is on very good money - its never as hard as people think - it only needs commitment.
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Having watched the game yesterday it seems like we are employing table football tactics at the moment.
Everyone plays in their positions,our full backs rarely push forward beyond the midfielders resulting in crosses from deep areas if at all.Our midfielders rarely get beyond the strikers to offer support.
My confusion comes from the fact that we weren't playing like this at the start of the season,so why now? Is it lack of confidence preventing the players from pushing on or is it direction from the manager?
I'm no mineshafter and I believe we have the basis of a good side for years to come,but just when I think I can see where WGS is trying to take this teams playing style we seem to take two steps back.
Reading through some of the comments today,it seems to me that we have been anaesthetised by the performances we have seen so far this season.Most of us are happy to win matches when not playing well,but to have witnessed so few genuinely impressive performances over a whole league campaign is concerning.
It does seem to ridiculous to question a manager who may be taking us to successive titles and doubles,but it's just a symptom of what we have all witnessed this season.It's not about just getting to the CL lat 16 this season,are we showing signs we'll be able to do it over a period of years?
I've given it some thought and I still don't really know.I think I'm WGS ambivalent : 0 )
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vinnie
i think your point is very valid, rather than look at what your spending look at what u can do to cotribute to it
pressley,magic,bobo,lennon,hartley,jarosik,gravesen,miller,beattie could all arguably go and this could be anywhere between £100 and 140k a week OFF the wage bill, also raising say £7m in fees. add that to what we should already have available and we should be able to buy real quality
i noted strachan said no strikers will be leaving in the summer unless they ask to tho? very concerned if thats correct
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EDB made a comment yesterday re:Larsson I countered rather briskly BUT I do think he has a point.
The way Celtic play football has radically changed the days when average strikers like Jorge Cadette could play in average Celtic sides and look like Super Stars are no longer the case
– NO criticism of WGS implied, it has really being an ongoing process for the last ten years – HOWEVER our results if not our football are the better for IT!
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Paul,
Ah saw da game,thur's nae need fur Fear,
Jist listen tae da woids o' dis canine CHANTICLEER!
DA Trouble is no in da Stars,nor kin be cured in Pubs or Bars,!
An' da the Answer wulll no be found in Banks,
An' dis is no da time FUR PANIC IN DA RANKS....
No ma freends the answers easy,
In fact as da Boss wull say....
It's Friggin' .....EASY PEASEY!
The Cause is dis, an' listen well,
it's da thing that WISNAE SHOWN ... By WILLIAM TELL!
Ah'll mak it clearer,in a toot,
if ye dinnae know whit Ah'm oan aboot!
It's NOIVES! It's NOIVES!.... it's as simple as dat,
DA CELT'S ARE PLAYIN'......
LIKE.......SCARDEY CATS!
In steed o' feenishin' like Attila da Hun.
Da Celt's ur FEELIN'...
THUR UNDER DA GUN!
As Kojo said, while in his Cups.....
Is true.....an' will be repeated by dis Wee Pup!
Da Bhoys are Human an' dat's a fact,
Their anxiety is written awe o'er
Der ACT!
It happens tae awe o'us, when times ur best,
An' even I have suffered frae it!....
So gie yer tongues a rest!
Da NOIVES WULL LEAVE..... An' Fade away......
Only TWA GAMES TAE WIN.....
TAE MAK OOR DAY!
collie,
Tail's Awaggin', Tail's Awaggin'
Ah could smile..... fur it's awe a Joke.....
That Gordo is considered tae be A PIG IN DA POKE!
So Get a Grip....da League is won!
We'll CELEBRATE .....In May!
At Parkheed, in Da SUN!!!!
or sta
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Just watched the Embra derby. Can anyone enlighten me as to exactly what Scott Brown would bring to our team?
He looks every inch a midtable SPL midfielder.
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Collie,
Bellamy??? Aye or Nae?? Is Pierre and WGS considering it?
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WGS
There are players who tae ah've Inferred......,
But tae, "My Guid Friend"...
Ah've NEVER REFERRED!
So, dae no think or have a Notion....
That Celt's' will bid fur.....
Mr.Perpetual Motion!
His time is past.....Alack! Alas!
But, we are in fur someone, who is jist as fast!
Collie.
Tail's Awaggin', Awaggin'
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timlord
Could you please tell me a time when you were happy as a Celtic supporter ?
Clearly it gives you a lot of concern right now, yet I can barely remember it being better since 1970.
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Collie,
Drop us a riddle. I'm assuming he aint UK based as guys who are as fast as bellamy are Henry and Robben.
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Collie,
Drop us a riddle. I'm assuming he aint UK based as guys who are as fast as bellamy are Henry and Robben.
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Will be pleased if we don't go for Bellamy.
Despite the jitters of the last few games, one thing this team has shown IN SPADES this season is incredible resilience and fighting spirit, time after time digging in for three points when it looked like a draw.
We do need a mobile top-quality striker to partner big Jan.
But we don't need a mouthy wee nyaff who disrupts team spirit time & time again wherever he goes.
-
Found a song that might help Timlord through the day!!!
In the black dismal dungeon of despair
In the black dismal dungeon of despair,
Pined with tormenting care,
Wracked with my fears,
Drowned in my tears,
With dreadful expectation of my doom
And certain horrid judgement soon to come:
Lord, here I lie,
Lost to all hope of Liberty,
Hence never to remove,
But by a miracle of love,
Which I scarce hope for or expect,
Being guilty of so long, so great neglect.
Fool that I was, worthy a sharper rod,
To slight thy courting, O my God.
For thou didst woo, entreat and grieve,
Didst beg me to be happy and to live;
But I would not; I chose to dwell
With death, far from thee, too near to hell:
But is there no redemption, no relief?
Thou savedst a Magdalen, a thief -
O Jesu! Thy mercy, Lord, once more advance;
O give me such a glance
As Peter had! Thy sweet, kind, chiding look
Will change my heart, as it did melt that Rock.
Look on me, sweet Jesu, as thou didst on him!
'Tis more than to create, thus to redeem.
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Reidy said:
"First Strachan was the wrong choice buuut people said they'd eat their words if at the end of the league we won it....then we did.
Then Strachan was too naive for Europe...but people would GLADLY eat their words if we did well...then we did.
I haven't seen all this word eating, more like just waiting for a chance to spout off again."
Bang on. I have to say I must have missed all the word eating too.
We won the league - no word eating.
We established a 21-point gap the following season - still no word eating.
We qualified for the CL group stages for the first time ever - not much word or HAT eating there either.
And then we made AC Milan *sweat*, over two legs and extra time.
Gordon Strachan will still be here next season. And I am edging into the camp that believes if we WON the frickin Champions League, there would still be folk on here telling us how:
1) it was luck
2) the other teams were crap
3) our true direness will soon be exposed
4) we have to get rid of half our team
5) the jury is still out on Strachan
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Italiabhoy,
He could replace Hartley tomorrow and we would be a better team for it.
Our team is full of mid table SPL players at least Brown is a very good one!
Burnley 78,
You can barely remember it being better since 1970? have you been in a coma?............What about 71,72,73,74,75,77,79,81,82,86,88,
98,01,02,03(seville),04,06!!
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burnley
I was delirious after Benfica at home I really thought it was the start of something - false dawn unfortunately.
I walked away from Old Trafford with my head held high after our 3-2 defeat honestly thinking that if the game had been at Celtic that night we could have taken them and I was leaping like a salmon and screaming like a madman when Naka buried that wonder goal against Van Der Sar and Artur saved us with his miracle stop in the dying minutes.
There are other occasions too which I won't bore you with. I love this team as much as the next man but I think there's something not right.
I've been saying it for a long time - I was born to question and I'm questioning this team, or at least the way the manager lines it up and gets it to play.
He sure talks a good game but I haven't sen too many.
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timlord,
well said,I agree.
-
Shurely-
The Stupidest Thing Ever To Appear On A Football Pitch .
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vinniethedog said:
"You can barely remember it being better since 1970? have you been in a coma?............What about 71,72,73,74,75,77,79,81,82,86,88,
98,01,02,03(seville),04,06!!"
This is what I don't get.
The current team is a *country mile* ahead of the late 70s and 80s teams you mention. It is patently obvious.
Do you think those teams could have scored twice at Old Trafford, beaten Man U and Benfica at home, then gone toe-to-toe with AC Milan for 180 mins plus extra time? The very idea is ridiculous - as our ACTUAL European record at the time shows only too clearly.
This season is our most successful in Europe since 1970. I include 2002/2003 in that, because those of us who haven't been in coma ;) will recall that we failed even to qualify for the group stages of the CL that year, never mind the knockout.
I can't understand why anyone would want to ignore this season's historic European achievement, or devalue the team and manager which broguht it.
-
Anyone else remember being at Semi Finals in the early 70s........72 and 74?
-
My dear friend, Hail Hail....
I just goat up....
Bender! Bender......
Wow! my Heid is still TENDER!
Anyweeeey....
Ye ma friend,are sooooooo right!
Of course we ur a good team....
Ah Know I had the answer last night.... and collie reminded me!
The reason fur the Deplorable Deplorableness(Whit?.....ed)( No dinnae gie me any or yer cheek.... ah'm no in the MOOOOOOOOOOD!)
O' the Celtic Team.....
Is......
NOIVES!......
We hid a wee touch o' it even.....
LAST YEAR, AT THE FINAL RUN IN!!!!
The lads who are callin' fur wholesale chinges....
UR CAKEY!
Chicken Little....
WHAUR ARE YE???
NOIVES.....I SAY.. IT'S ONLY A BUNCH O' DA WOBBBLEEEEEES!
Celtic Will Take stock.....
An' Recover their Composure!
Celts fur the DOUBLE!
Did someone say Double?
I don't mind if I do!
Kojo.
Yer pal..... till the stars cease to twinkle!
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viewfaethewindae
I still want Athletico Madrid to lose every game I see them play.
I was only 8 when we played them and wondered why most of the Celtic players sprinted off the park to the tunnel.
Sods law when I'm old enough to see them again we are playing behind closed doors.
I took a day off college to stand outside the ground, why?
They weren't hit hard enough!
A bit like Rapid Vienna, I'm still bitter.
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My dear friend, HOOPLA!!
I had the wrang, fellah....
Put da blame on booze,pal...put dae blame on drink!
"Ready, when you are C.B.!!
Forgie ma stupiditeeeeeee,
Hoopla, my freen!
Kojo.
Still ma pal?
Ach ah dinna blame,ye!
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Rubin Ayala......made Chopper Harris look like a pansy
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Kojo -
Speaking as a man who got to his kip at about... ooh... 7am last (night?) - I really can't hold it against you. :)
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Í have just logged on and read only some of the posts over the last 24 hours. Amazing! At last some of you have began to question the merits of having a Manager like WGS! Bloody fantastic! But what kept you? Has it not been obvious for months that something rotten was going on in the managerial department - did you feel it was not politically correct to do so before now? Was WGS above criticism. As one post said "when was the last time you saw an entertaining Celtic performace?" When was the last time you witnessed a tactically astute performance from the bhoys? Were you/are you REALLY happy with WGS's constant post match drivel? Why the truckload of posts slating the players but WGS escapes or has up to now? Why did so many players lose their form? why did DR never get a game? I personally don't think we are too far out on the players - yes we could lose about four to six which would be a normal end-of-season transisition for most clubs - but what we need most is a Manager that befits the great club we are. I have been consistent with my opinions of WGS ever since Bratislava - check them out if you wish. Quite simply WGS must go and BEFORE any mass exodus of the players!
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FollowFollows definitive list of Rangers -Haters-
in the comments section here
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You know what happens when someone sticks a pin in your balloon..........
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Bellamy : If you want a move to Celtic do you inform your agent and get him to contact Celtic or do you tell the News of the World ?
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ballymenacowbhoy said...
"Has it not been obvious for months that something rotten was going on in the managerial department"
No, it's been obvious for months that:
1) GS has led our club to its best Champions League showing ever, doing what MON (another fine manager) tried and failed to do for five seasons
2) some folk's personal agenda seems to let them ignore this fact
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Collie, Collie
Dont tell me a riddle fur oor wee fast freend.
just tell me straight up that'll ease my own groan,
If its not our I_spy, which for i had hoped, please tell me its not that wee guy from the North,
his hamstrings are tight like a banjos wound tight, one spurt of his speed and his hammies go ting.
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I always say give credit were credit is due.
This championship that we are on the verge of celebrating will be a very sweet one indeed.
Because it will only be the third time since our nine-in-a-row that Celtic will have completed back to back titles.
Therefore we should be delighted and put the last month behind us.
We manager now knows the players who's futures lie elsewhere and the areas that need strengthening.
Hail Hail
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why does bellamy want to come to us now when we offered to make his loan deal permanent and offered him a good wage and he turned us down?
why would he move from liverpool, the team he moved to in a "dream move" from the club he joined us from.
newcastle, celtic, blackburn, liverpool and back to celtic all in the space of 1/2 years.
great player, but for someone with a poor injury and disciplinary record i'm not sure he's worth it
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I have know agenda against wgs - in fact I know of no Celtic supporter who has.
Hoopla,
If you think our run in Europe was better this year than the Seville year then I just shrug my shoulders - give me Seville anyday!
Collie - somebody as fast as Bellamy ?knowing the present regime - that`ll be Ivan Sproule then.
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vinnie
i know your view of the board will mean you find this hard to believe but we offered the money for bellamy, both for the transfer fee and wages. it was his choice to go elsewhere.
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This Sums Up How Bad Strachans Celtic Are.
Roon Ye- Timlord and the rest of the soothsayers of doom.
Cheers to The Hoops of The Huddleboard for the sig.
-
Take it from me.
There is no way on earth that Celtic will re-sign Craig Bellamy.
We will not commit that amount of money ,to the signing of one player.
-
TinyTim-
I think we will.
However-that player will NOT be Craig Bellamy.
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Dick Byrne, two excellent articles, I read them when you first posted them, thanks. Should be made compulsory reading for all football fans.
Kano, you are on form today.
Burnley78, if only we had those days again; when most of European football was semi-professional. Did you know Linfield got the EC quarter final in ’67? Lost narrowly to CSKA Sofia.
Ballymenacowbhoy, you say you have not changed your view of Gordon since Bratislava.
Were you right in what you thought he would bring us?
Did you expect his team to win the league last season or this?
Did you expect his team to qualify for the knock out stage of the Champions League?
Did you expect his team to take Milan to extra time when they got there?
If you expected a manager to do all this, but still want him sacked, you had unreasonable expectations.
If you did not expect his teams to achieve anything like this, you were clearly wrong in your assessment post-Bratislava.
There is a phenomenon in life when people set their views in stone and cannot recognise evidence that they were wrong.
Tell me what it is, did you expect Gordon to deliver all of the above after that game in Bratislava, or were you simply wrong in your assessment?
Sacking a manager is a non-trivial issue, unless you want to turn you club into a laughing stock that no one else would take serious.
Talking about sacking a manager when you are 13 points clear in the league – and about to do 2-in-a-row, your joint best run since 1974 – is not the way I hope the Celtic support mature.
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Noel
You have mail.
-
vinniethedog -
I'm not out to devalue the Seville year - it was a great achievement, and a great time to be a Celtic fan.
The point is that I don't understand why some folk (and I'm not aiming this at you specifically) seem to want to devalue THIS year's achievements.
THIS year we reached the CL knockout stage - and acquitted ourselves very well when we got there
In 2003 we didn't even make the group stage.
THIS year we are going to win the league too.
In 2003 we didn't.
THIS year, I am confident we will also win the Scottish Cup.
In 2003 we didn't.
My point, again, is not to devalue 2003 or MON, but to ask why some people who were wanting to canonise MON in 2003 are now so down on Strachan, when from a lesser initial budget he has arguably achieved even more?
I honestly don't understand it, because the footballing achievement is there for all to see - and so *then* I start to try and see some other agenda or factor which might explain this weird contradiction.
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My dear Cousin Vinnie...( Yer a dug as well) ...ain't ye?
Ye shouldnae, tak a stab at predictin'
Ye may jist GET, whit ye ur Thinkin'!
Fur stranger things thur are oan dis earth,
In fact, may no even beat the Perth!
It widnae be a bit surprisin' if Ivan the Terror,
wiz oan da Horizon!
But, he is No the One who Chugs, that I am whisperin'.. in yer Lugs!
collie,
Tail's Awaggin', Awaggin'
Ah Could smile....fur Ah really know.....
If we get this guy....
Da GOALS WULL FLOW!
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Evening Bhoys.
Could I ask those who want WGS to leave who they would replace him with?
Actually I found it remarkable how few point we have dropped in the last few months considering the season has been over since Nov.
If we looked at the r*****s game we should have won, same with the Falkirk game and yesterday a draw was probably deserved and there was the superb performance against Milan.
I suppose there will always be people who feel dissatisfied with Celtic and dress it up with having high expectations and aspirations that celtic can do better but really they will never be happy.
Also I have a friend who's favourite hobby is going onto the FACIST FACIST web site and winding them up but apparantly there are always people on the site who agree with him and have no idea he is playing the agent provocateur and I sometimes think the same sort of nonsense goes on here.
Unfortunately with the same results.
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Collie said:
"But, he is No the One who Chugs, that I am whisperin'.. in yer Lugs!"
Collie - "You're bard..."
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tinytim
we had the money first time round - he just didnt want to come. we would have signed him but he just chose to go to blackburn instead
why would things have changed since then?
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Could I also say I felt nothing but contempt for the scottish press after their reaction to our pre-season.
They have an agenda which is about selling newspapers and are 'morally bankrupt'(direct quote from a well known 'journalist' relative).
But why did we get the same reaction from celtic fans and why do we have fans screaming for WGS head?
I know the reasons must be varied but I just don't understand.
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Let us - by way of comparison - examine another association football club from the dear green place.
Interesting to see David Murray is now talking about the "doomsday scenario" for Rangers.
This fits exactly with how I see the situation. Rangers is a Doom Ship - not the team or the management, but the whole institution, in its widest sense.
The feudal worldview they represent has long been unfashionable, outmoded, and generally past its sell-by date in European culture. "No-one likes us, we don't care." Indeed. But now we're passing beyond that, the identity is entering the final phase of its cultural cycle, where it is simply considered unacceptable, beyond the pale. Simply The Beast. It is being cast adrift on the ocean, like a great stinking barge full of toxic waste.
The Doom Ship. With its crew of haggard and embittered mariners from another time, their fate now sealed by the stars - bulkheads rotting, cargo ridden with maggots and rats, its very structure groaning with rot and plague. Fated in its final years to trawl hideously from port to port, seeking sanctuary, but greeted with only terror and dismay by the good folk of every harbour.
Whew.
Confronting the truth & that...
Feels... good.
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While I think Bellamy did well for us the first time, I hope we don't go for him again (assuming it isn't all just paper talk). I presume he is in some sort of bother with Liverpool. Wasn't that his dream move?
Does anyone know of any realistic targets we can go for, by that I mean players who will fancy coming to the SPL and are available? The likes of Sidwell you can be sure will stay in the Premier League. That's where every decent player wants to be (sadly for us).
A lot of our support need to wisen up and realise what a drawback it is being in the SPL and not just financially. I think our manager is doing a fine job given the circumstances. I seriously doubt that anyone would do better. And, in case you think I don't realise it, I long for the promised fast flowing football, like everybody else. But I can remember often being a lot more forlorn following Celtic and not so long ago either.
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Everbody chill out here.
I mean come on????? Before MON we would have done anything to get manager like MON and WGS to win us a league never mind impose ourselves in europe.
Because we have been so spoilt over the years we just take these things for granted.
It is not always easy to pick a correct managers. See Newcastle, Leeds, Rangers, Real Madrid, Nottinham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday. Inter Milan even struggled for years before Mancini.
Granted i haven't been too pleased with some of the manager's decisions over the past month. But everybody is allowed to make mistakes.
I'm willing to bet this time next year there will be a lot of humble pie getting eaten regards Gordon.
Wheels are ready in motion to rid the dead wood and bring in not only quality players but quality back up as well to allow him to play the game he wants.
Scott McDonald signing may be prove to be a master stroke. Pace, skill, but more importantly he can score and is a confident lad. This is the sort of back up JVOH and his partner will need. Unlike Beattie and Miller who are unale to do this.
Lennon will also be gone and replaced will a similar type of player but more mobile and will not slow the play down. Appaiah anyone??
The guy has only been here two years. Granted performances of late have not been that great of late.
However, one thing you can say about Strachan is that he has given youth a chance to play. How many times over the years have we heard from fans that Beattie, and other youth players should be playing.
Well the manager has played them and what have we found out that some can not hack it. Wallace, & Beattie especially.
Would we have ever known what O Dea could have done? McGeady has signed up in a new contract. Introducing Sheridan in a scottish cup tie when we are losing.
Wait and see what the summer brings. We are potentially looking at a double and entry to the CL again.
I'm willing to bet we will be watching nights like Benfica more often next year. These things take time achieve and to try and accomplish such a vision and win leagues at same deserves some sort of credit don't you think??
I haven't been happy of late myself with the way the team is playing but surely it can't be as bad as the 90's and waking up to Walter Smith's blue and White army every day.
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Hoopla @20.19,
Please do not hold back, if you have something to say, then
BE A MAN AND SAY IT.
Enjoyed your post, I have thought the same for a long long time.
i went to the Celtic v Hibs semifinal at Ibrox in 1995. It was the first time I had been there for over twenty years.
As Paul, Kevin and myself were walking under those iron gates, I said to the boys that
THIS PLACE REPRESENTS ALL THAT IS WRONG IN SCOTTISH LIFE.
Nothing has changed, we are still looked upon as second class and always will be.
Any advances we have made in recent years are tolerated not welcomes, or even worse are tokenism.
SECTARIANISM, I LOL, IT IS ENDEMIC AS A FAMOUS CONDUCTOR ONCE SAID.
MON THE HOOPS,
Martin.
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Hoopla
Ye are real cute, the wan that means... Astute!,
Tae notice sich a line ...an' pick it oot!
Ah see ah'll hiv tae watch ma P's An' Q's.... if da ither readers
ur as slick as YOUS!
collie.
Tail's Awaggin',Awaggin'
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Collie,
Woof!! Woff!!
Through us a bone... Where is the striker based. Europe, Uk??
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Hoopla, I think I will hold onto that 20:19 post of yours. Loved the imagery.
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Big Jan Interviewed For Dutch TV .
Cubist Funk or SDS care to give us a brief translation ?
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Watchow
Where are you getting your information from.
gordon Strachan is on record saying that he did not make a formal offer for Craig Bellamy because it would have meant using up his whole budget on one player.
Gordon strachan (not me ) has stated that he did NOT make a bid for Craig Bellamy.
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WGS
Da Bone has bin Thrown....
if ye dinnae deign tae pick it up ....
Then, please don't blame dis collie, Pup!
The clue is there,but it's hard tae see,
If ah say too much, then it's Coventry fur Me!
Fur da stakes ur high...an' it's gettin' harder tae capture...
A player who'll introduce da fans,
tae Rapture!
Thur ur people watchin' whit ah say,
an' no always in a freendly way!
Ah'll say dis much aboot oor Target... at da Present time,
He'll be as easy tae capture,
as ole Harry Lime!
collie.
Tail's Awaggin', Awaggin'
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noel90
he says its cold then talks of his high regard for somebody called 'Brines' I think - difficult to hear in his native tounge.
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Noel90
Craig Bellamy cost Liverpool £6million plus his salary.
I bet you a pint of Guinness that, Celtic do not sign a player, and pay a £6million transfer fee plus wages this summer.The days of us spending this on one player are gone.
The only way that it would happen would be if we receive say £8million for Boruc and spend £6million of that money.
Even at that ,we probably wouldn't spend it all on one player.
Celtic will not spend £6million pounds more, on transfers in, than out, next season.
I am not saying that they should ,either.
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wdh
Is that Dutch for tongue:o)
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Tinytim-
£6,000,000 [including wages].
I'll have a pint of Stella.
WhiteDogHunch-
I know what date it is.
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Martin, Paul - glad you enjoyed my nautical observations...
I think I'll send them to the "Rangers First" campaign - I gather they're in the market for a rebranding that emphasises their Traditional Values. ;)
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Collie - Is it Michael Owen?
Team I’d like to see start at the next game.
Boruc – This is a no brainer.
Naylor
O’Dea
Pressley/McManus – Take your pick
Telfer – Naka plays better when he’s around.
Jarosik – in the middle in front of the back four, that’s what he was bought for FFS!
Hartley
Gravesen
Naka – I think Naka should be allowed to roam.
Zurawski
JVoH
Subs.
Riordan – For Hartley/Zurawski if it’s not working.
McGeady - Obvious
Doumbe - to replace Naylor if he suffers any more assualts from the hamer throwers, or if WGS wants to take off Telfer late on (To thunderous applause from a thankful support)
Do not care who else.
Tin hat is now ON.
Oregonbhoy
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I am lacking faith in whoever is scouting the players that we are signing.
This season they have mostly been failures.
Our big target last season was Niko Krancjar.
He was eventually priced out of our range.
He has been a complete flop at Portsmouth.
He is now being linked with going to European giants, Hadjuk Split.
I wouldn't give Mr Strachan another thin dime to waste.
When we win the league ,i hope ,that he decides to go.
He will have done well to win what he has so far.
He should cut his losses and go before he is found out.
As for his aftermatch interview yesterday.I had hoped that he had outgrown such churlish behaviour.
He is a total embarrassment when he behaves in such a manner.
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Noel
Did you receive mail from me?
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Collie,
Any Malteasers? Dying for some chocolate. Off it for lent
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Tinytim,
I got a mate who is a pompet fan and he thinks Krancjar is class. Redknapp not been giving him a constant run of games though
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I can recall a discussion with Celtic-supporting friends 4 years ago on two issues(1) The midfield and (2)the goal chances created/converted.
(1)The midfield, it was agreed , seldom ever dominated matches .
(2) The goal opportunities created were much less than the immediate previous years but thanks to Henrik, Sutton and Hartson the conversion rate was higher.Indeed thanks to them we got out of jail on may an occasion.
I remain of the opinion that in the last 4 years the midfield still seldom dominates a game notwithstanding Petrov and Thomson at least moved the ball forward with speed unlike the pedantic flow of play consistent with the present incumbents. Celtic's overall play yesterday was in the main poor yet nonetheless they did manage to fashion out the game's best goal-scoring opportunities ( Beattie and JVOH 2) but unlike the Larsson/Sutton era the conversion rate of chances is much poorer in comparison - at this moment in time.
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Martin42
I think James MacMillan would rather be known as a composer. I would argue that he is Scotland's greatest ever, not just greatest living composer.
He is a great conductor too, right enough.
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i have spent much of last night and some of this morning (in california) reading these comments, and i must say: celtic may be the most sentimental club around, but our fans are by far the most fatalistic i can imagine.
alright, the last 4 games have not exactly been the best, but come on - as one poster said, we are two wins from a 2nd straight league, in the cup semis, reached the last 16 of the champion's league, and in the meantime strach has lowered the average age of the squad by almost a generation! AND, he's achieved it all without a guaranteed go-to player like Henke.
now, you can call the level of competition inept if you want, but there have been worse campaigns than this, with better teams, and the huns did make the last 16 last year, which tells me that in general, the scottish league is improving.
let us not forget that MON's last year was particularly frustrating, and for strach to come in and help wipe away the horrible, horrible feelings that surrounded the club and its fanbase at that point is something to be applauded.
a four game spell of bad play should not overlook the fact that strach has done a very good job at the club.
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OregonBhoy,@20.52
Ye know for me to Legitimize a Guess, is da very last thing tae which I'd profess!
We'll let auld Earth tak a few mair turns,
An' then we'll see if oor interest still Burns,
Fur Targets come and Targets go,
"it's very hard tae keep up with the to and fro..."
And that's from a Guy .... WHO IS IN DA KNOW!
At this very time awe things look fine,
But dat could change like a lady's Mind!
The Boattum o' the page, is where a Player maks his sign
An' 'til he does.... then your guess's as good as mine!
collie.
Tail's Awaggin', Awaggin'
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El Diego-
yup.
and replied ages ago......
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Darwin Has Some Explaining To Do.
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Hoopla@20:19
Well said mate...Big storm clouds ahead for HMS Bigotry !!
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the money was there for bellamy, the board made it available, all of it, transfer fee and wages.
celtic were trying to get bellamy to stay up to and beyond the end of the season. this included wages and a transfer fee
maybe strach didnt think he was worth the money but the board were prepared to spend all that money on the one player.
i have no doubt that if we were in a position to get someone of that quality we would pay the necessary amount.
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tinytim
how do you know krankjar was our main transfer target - was that not just newspaper talk?
our scouting network is doing just fine in my book, teh system is in credit in my book, given what they have to work with, the problems with attracting qualtiy players to scotalnd and the money available.
by the way, whether strachan goes or not it wont make any difference to the scouting network. after the overhaul we gave it a few years back the personnel will stay the same. most of the signings are on ray clarkes recommendation, they are as much his than strachs.
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Martin42
Up until UEFA made some noises in the 80s sectarianism was treated in Scotland as banter and harmless.
Crowd trouble was drink related according to the press.
I can remember a comment in the press in the mid to late 80s by a someone connected to Rangers stating that they did employ Catholics in the non-football side.
The signing of Flymo was both a "get it round you" to Celtic and Rangers showing that they were changing.
One out of two wasn't bad.
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Yeh,i suppose we sometimes need to take a reality check regarding our problems.
The Big worry i have for next year is the point docking for the singing of 'bad' songs.
For as sure as night follows day..if der hun is docked you can bet your bottom dollar we will be too.
Doesnt matter if its one two or only a handfull singing add ons like '..be no protestants at all'
Make no mistake about it, we will get hammered,just ask Jim Farry if you dont beleive me.
In theory we should be reasonably safe but i fear not.
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lynott67
You should save this post for an "I told you so" session because I bet the bank with my house as a rider that you're bang on
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Chic-
Its a stonewaller-
The huns would be in the 2nd Division after a few seasons if the docking was carried out properly...but..this is Scotland!!
Yep folks and you all know what that means..
When we have so called supporters singing 'if you hate Scott MacDonald clap your hands'..well be afraid ..be very afraid..
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lynott67
you're right. its scary that the future of our club can be affected by a bunch of buckied-up neds who go to the away games. by no means all, but a small number.
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Celtic First,
Yes you are correct, he is first and foremost a composer and a very good one to boot.
I like his music and have a couple of pieces.
Lostrambling,
Rangers will only change when the gun is firmly pointd at their temple and with a Catholic finger on the trigger.
They will do the minimum required to save their skins.
As many have said on these pages these last few days, they will change, not because what they do is wrong, but to save a European ban.
However I think the bigger picture is even more depressing.
It suits our First Minister well to go after a bunch of Rangers supporters, that deflects attention from the root causes of the problem and shows him to be caring.
Those causes, to me at least, are the Scottish Establishment, our lords and masters, the Financial, Judiciary, the Police,The Civil Service, all these establishments are riddled with Sectarianism, not forgetting, of course the Church of Scotland and theGeneral Assembly.
Was not their treatment of Our Holy Father outragious, when in his Papal Visit in 1982, he was not allowed into the Headquarters of The Church of Scotland.
Jack McConnell has a long way to go and the trouble at Ibrox will not go away until the root causes of the problem are fixed.
Then of course there is The Act of Settlement, but then we need to consult the Commonwealth to change that one, some hope.
No wonder I am depressed.
Cheers,
Martin
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Evening.... Yes yesterday was not the best performance we have had. I would say the worst we have had this season BUT we will win the league and thats all that matters.
I have skimmed the posts since yesterday morning but bhoys would you rather win the league or not. Would you rather as the greatest quote ever on CQN when someone said when we got beat at the bigotdome his mate said to him 'would you rather be in their end celebrating or in our end watching them celebrate' I always know the answer.
Also can someone answer me three questions
1. Why Did Jan get booked?
2. Why did Lee get booked?
3. Why did that ICT player get sent off?
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Also let me say no one will be deducted points for singing sons as then the SFA actually has to do something like tell people what songs are acceptable.
Also for the people who say that they do not know people who do not like Gordon as he is not a Celtic man then let me say you need to get out more as there are people like that out there.
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1. he's got sticky out ears
2. he's got a long nose
3. cos he elbowed lee naylor, kicked out at him and then headbutted him. should have been 3 red cards.
these are the only explanations that make any sense to me
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When Martin referred to a conductor rather than a composer. Maybe it wasn't James McMillan he meant, maybe it was Andy Cameron who used to conduct regularly on the buses to Castlemilk.
tiny tim
you said of WGS:-
"He should cut his losses and go before he is found out."
What makes you think that you have found him out? Is it not a possibility that it is your view of WGS which will be found out? What would it take to decide the matter? Would 3 leagues in a row still be inadequate? Is failing to reach the CL last 16 next year a sackable offence for WGS when it was not for MON?
I have asked the mineshafters before. Tell us when WGS will have passed your test to be Celtic standard? What will it take?
On the 26th May, I will ask you Primo Levi's question, "If not now, when?"
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greenlion2
1. because somebody Wilkie I think elbowed him in the face.
2. Because somebody Wilson I think head-butted him.
3.I am at complete loss but having watched it a few times can only put it down to the Brines principle.
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completely misread the post there
missed the ict bit - thought it was du.
not drinking makes everything stop working properly.
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TinyTin you owe me mail.
I watched a clip of the guy Dodds getting sent off at the bigotdome and I thought if thats what you are sending people off for then we would be playing 7 a sides every week.
I read a few reprts today from the Herald and they all had comments like the referee booked too man yplayers but apart from that he had a good game.
At the bigotdome he said the ref was harsh to send off Dodds but from my angle he got it right!!!
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Watchow for you
ICT
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gl2
cheers for that. nothing really suprises but thats a shocker.
theres a great photo on ff at the moment of the rankgers end at 90 mins. 1-1 against ten men pushing for a winner to keep up the pressure on us and the stands about a third full and plenty of them are on their way up/down the stairs to the exits.
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floodlights on at celtic park 12.20am
very odd
just had to share it with you
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Tomorrow's big story.
Good time to be champs
If I were you, I'd brace myself for more grinding out of league titles. The next couple of years will be no time to come second in the league race.
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Test
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Yeehaa!!
Okay Okay... it has all been said I know I know...
I watched the game for the first time since losing to Rangers....
I got to say I like WGS and I think he is doing a decent job and to ask him to leave is madness IMO....
My thoughts on the game was we played very poor except McGeady whom I thought was immense DU did not know what to do....
After the match I thought we were very lucky to escape with a point and got to say that our team seems to be dis-functional. JVOH was kicked around by LEE WILKIE???? FFS...... That is quite sad and frankly unacceptable ankle injury or not...... Beattie was non too clever also, Hartley (1st time watching him in the hoops) NOT impressed one little bit, I hope he improves and improves fast.
Onto Defence, O'Dea was okay as was Naylor however to play Caldwell at right bag beggars belief?
Summary: A VERY poor performance by the Bhoys and be assured WGS knows this and will turn it around..........
Hail Hail
SPCwhohathefaithand
hasnoneedtotakeup
timlordsinviteto
themineshaft!
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Having been following Celtic since the fifties ,I do not enjoy going now,it's dire to watch.ok so winning a title ugly is better than losing it.However playing football the Celtic way is important and WGS needs to sort it out now,the problems all stem for midfield Lennon is at the end of the road,everything is accross the park or back,allied to no pace,we have no chance.
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Don't expect too much from El Gordo in terms of tactical/positional innovation as we limp over the finishing line.He's one of those managers who confuses stubbornness with strength.Don't look for round pegs in round holes,either.
Fisher:
North or northwest 4 or 5 increasing 5 to 7, perhaps gale 8 later. Slight,increasing rough. Fog patches, occasional rain. Moderate, occasionally very poor.
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I would count myself neither a "mineshafter" or "happy clapper".
Also, got my season ticket in 1989 (age 11) and still have it today so have seen some horrendous days and teams for celtic, particularly in my first 7 years so have a sense of perspective.
However some things really bugging me the now. MON got slagged for his teams playing poor football and that he was never at training. To my memory although there were some poor games, we played a lot of fantastic football and scored lots of helluva late goals battling to the end.
I started off not sure of WGS then grew to think he was a good manager and am starting to go full circle.
Keep hearing younger fitter stronger but the amount of late goals we lose questions this. At start of season were losing late goals when winning 2 nil, 3 nil so the loss wasnt a big deal but myself and friends complained that neeed to sort that out as will start to lose late goals when it counts - now seems to be happening.
The football on show is appalling, so where does this reputation of great football come from, WGS has taken to long to act on this, we all saw the rot set in months ago.
Many things puzzle me from saturday - why no fight, why no fitness, why caldwell at right back, why no doumbe, why no graveson, why no riordan, why beattie from the start, why no spirit, why no passing.
As someone pointed out to me, going one up and setting your stall ok if your southampton manager, you need to step up a gear when manager of a team like Celtic.
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01/04/07 20:43, noel90 – at your service
Frits – How are you Jan?
JVOH – cold
Frits (on pitch) – amazing, no fences!
JVOH – it’s almost always a sell-out, big stadium but crowd are right on top of you – you hear everything. Atmosphere during my first game against RFC was amazing.
Frits – unbelievable that you have become a hero so quickly.
JVOH – that’s a bit strong.
Frits – no, we’ve been in shops in the city centre & they all say ‘Jan is great …. Jan is the man’
JVOH – that’s great if the fans think that
Frits – Everything here feels different to a Dutch club – agree?
JVOH – Football means more here. It’s linked also to religion.
Frits – Are you Catholic?
JVOH – yes but it was not a factor in the decision to come here. The club explained the background when we were in discussions.
Frits – For the viewers at home, Celtic is the Catholic club & RFC is the Protestant club?
JVOH – yes. Originally they were friendly but the relationship deteriorated.
Frits – are you lonely here or have you settled in OK?
JVOH – I was really well received by the club & players & I found a house quickly. I scored a couple of goals in my first few games & of course if things go well professionally it makes everything easier. I felt at home immediately.
Frits – do you think the free form web world, responding to special interest groups with interlaced linking (to You Tube amongst others) forms a threat to conventional broadcasting?
JVOH – given the quality & quantity of work produced by the Noel90 organisation, the mainstream media should be very very worried.
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I see Aberdeen are only 5 points behide the 2nd placed team. Maybe the media and the ranjurs should be more concerned with that than dreaming of catching us.
We play Aberdeen at home on the 2nd last game of the season.. mmmmm
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Monday morning conversation
1) Hey gaffer how many games do we need to lose to win it at Ibrox.
2) laughing - Just the wan draw now
1) Good - that'll be Kilmarnock then
2) nervous laughing - dont go there.
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At 01/04/07 23:37, setting free the bears said…
asks if not now when?
how about when we dont get knocked out at home to falkirk, when we dont lose at falkirk for 1st time in 10 years, when we dont go 3 games without a goal never mind a win, when we do better than only score 1 goal in 4 games, when we start playing football that isnt tepid, boring and unertaining.
I'm not slagging WGS cos he isnt "a celtic man" a phrase i hate, there seems to be a thinking here that you criticise WGs and it isnt cos of the really really poor entertainment on show, its because od some "celtic minded" conspiracy.
Its actually positive discrimination on here sometimes, people are scared to say miller is not very good in case they get labelled a bigot, had miller not played for rangers in his past a lot more people would be questioning his playing credentials.
Might be the world we live in now, but some of us actually just call it as we see it, regardless of a player/managers past.
And this might be the fact that like all teams we are having a little bad run of results in a season, I think whats worrying some of us is we have been playing like this for too long now and been getting away with it results wise, now thats not happening and the last 3 games have been so poor with no sign of improvement.
1 shot on goal first half? simply not good enough.
Big summer ahead as need to see what signings we make and importantly in what positions, mcdonald a good start.
Dont think its much to ask to watch a team with a proper full back, never want to see caldwell or hartley in that position.
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Kano,
Excellent post. If you live in Scotland then the next time I am back in the country I would like to buy you a drink. We should invite Negative Anon as well
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Morning Paul/CQN
Another one for the stas guys here and all those interested in who should be our centre midfield lynchpin next season.
The following list is of the centre midfield players with the most apperances for chapionship winning sides in Scotland and England.
1999/00 - Ferguson; Keane
2000/01 - Lambert; Scholes
2001/02 - Lambert; Vieira
2002/03 - Ferguson; Scholes
2003/04 - Lennon; Gilberto
2004/05 - Ferguson; Lampard
2005/06 - Petrov; Lampard
2006/07 - Lennon; Carrick
Whilst in no means an exhaustive survey, I think this would tend to suggest that 'British' type centre midfielders are certainly the way to go for championship winning teams.
Whether it is something to do with knowing the club or simply knowing the best way to play in the domestic league, I would point out that only Carrick is likely to be the top man in his first season at a club.
I simply can't see our manager moving on Lennon, Jarosik and Gravesen in one transfer window.
#8
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ticketyboo 11:07, as I have pointed out previously, if Celtic win at Ibrox and Celtic lose every other game, while Rangers win every other game, then Celtic will still be the SPL Champions.
That really is the only game that matters. Apart from the Cup SF and possible Final, of course.
Mone's a double.
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...or even "Mine's a double!".
I'll "mone" (moan) if we don't do the double.
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bigchips,
you've missed the point.
There are some players who WANT to go to ibrox and come away crowned as CHAMPIONS.
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Re midfield players. It crossed my mind when I saw Carrick scoring for ManU that all their midfield players are expected to get in the box and score. But then isn’t that what midfield players are supposed to do attack & defend ?
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Just read the article from the Guardian about the possible breakaway. Fascinating stuff. It sounds like it could have enormously good consequences for us, if we were to get out of the SPL and into a league where our income was massive compared to what it is now. Of course, the question is: would we be welcome?
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After stewing all weekend, I've come to the conclusion that all our problems stem from the departure of Stan Petrov.
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a classic from kds just now
Don't know if any of you are listening to Talksport just now. George Galloway is doing a talk in about Iran. One knuckle dragging angry mob member called and stated we sould bomb ra lot of um. George replied you are a Rangers fan aren't u. The baboon replied I ah um. George said I can always spot them with their angry anti fenian, taig attitude that comes from the slopes of Ibrox. It was hilarious the angry ape was going ballistic.
George Galloway CSC
The current buns are queing up to get on now. George is now pointing out the high amount of bigots at Ibrox. Tune in now if u can it's hilarious.
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Perhaps a little more competition from the also-rans is just what is needed to re-energise our players into playing with more passion, commitment, energy, and hopefully skill? For both fans and players alike, the now routine procession to the title is becoming a little tedious post-Xmas.
Having no real pressure to perform is detrimental to a player's appetite. The recent home game v Rangers being a prime example of the reasons for the current malaise. We lost at home to our greatest (nah, strike that... our closest) rivals and we didn't really care that much as it was completely meaningless with regard to the destination of the title.
Think of when you play (or have played) footy youself. If it's just a friendly or social kickabout you're not that bothered if the other team score a goal or win the game. It's just a friendly. But if it's a crucial league or cup match you will give everything you can to prevent the opposition scoring or winning.
It's not really any different for the Celtic players. At the moment they are so far ahead of everyone else that it doesn't matter if they win a few, so many of the games have assumed the status of "just a kickabout".
Personally, I would love to see them go through the season undefeated, or winning every game, scoring a record number of goals and conceding the fewest ever en route. But in reality it never happens like that. As soon as it is sewn up (and remeber, the bookies paid out around Xmas!) they relax, and this inevitably leads to a drop in standards and a few slip-ups.
The paying customers are however entitled to demand a quality product, and the clubs management hierarchy should be taking steps to ensure that this continues to be delivered regardless. Let's hope that they are.
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Bigchips,
Youi've probably hit on the cure for the malaise.
Next season, instead of going on an unbeaten run in the first part of the season, drop a few points here and there , just to keep the pack close.
Then after Christmas, step up the pace and let the adrenalin kick in, because that is the stuff that wins games. It will be like a turbo boost and the surge will propel players and fans towards an exciting league climax. Sussed.
Gordon Strachan's problem is, he had the team peaking too soon and after Milan, we were left with relatively meaningless matches, save for the Scottish Cup.
It's all GS's fault after all.
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tom the tim, whose fault is it then?
ITs WGS who picks the team, its him who plays beattie its him who plays a centre half at full back, its him who watched the midfield over run and not do a thing about it, its him who has watched the malaise over the last few months and not rectified it, going by the amount of diagrams and paper in and around the dug out then the team follow exactly how WGS wants it played, the players deserve criticism for their performances but so does the man who picks him!
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new article posted.
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Gordon and Gary
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