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Oooh my...
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i have been critical of the performance today but i agree its worth experimenting but at ibrox against a resurgent rangers is not the time or the place.
i would ask paul67 why your not criticising gordon strachan with regards to caldwell as this experiment has failed time and agin and doumbe is looking much better than caldwell. I think the biggest thing to come out of the experimenting is that hartley,pressley and gravesen are not compatible with our first team and should be moved on
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It's hard to say something that hasn't been said but to all those who feel we're headed in the right direction i would say (through gritted teeth) that a HUGE part of our league success is down to the incompetence of the other teams.
We've scored a pitiful amount of goals this season and, considering the sheer gulf in resources(downsizing or not) between us and most other SPL sides, it's normal to dish out a few drubbings a season. This hasn't happened. How many horrible low scoring games have we struggled through this season? I don't think anybody here expects champagne football every game but to watch us splutter our way through games ALL season has been incredibly depressing.
As for Europe and our much vaunted last 16 place - this was down to our seeding earned in previous seasons and I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who disagrees. A decent performance in Manchester,an SPL like bore-fest against Copenhagen, a win born out of stopping another team playing(Which like everybody else I was more than happy with)those amazing 45 mins against Benfica and another couple of humiliations away would not have been enough for a 3rd seed to qualify with. We were the WORST team in the last 16 by a MILE. This was also the opinion of foreign sports journos not just your scots ones with all the bias that implies.
Someone else said "if it looks like a duck...". Well this is the funny thing - it sounds like one, it walks like one... but it's winning trophies.
We can't sack a League Winning Manager. Pure & simple. But we're not blind - we know what we're seeing and it looks like we're going the wrong way.
One more season Gordon.
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antsman, I know it has been a hard day, and bullets are flying everywhere, but....
I did criticise Gordon Strachan for his tactics today, and it was me who recorded above that he played Gary out of position.
TTTT, mixed start to my weekend so far. We needed Jinky out there today….
Which reminds me…
Great to hear his name being sung 40 years on.
Off for a night out now with Mrs 67, so no one else post anything that is going to annoy me as the whole mood situation could go either way.
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Wooaarrgh! Feels better to have got the negativity off my chest!
To be a bit more constructive...
A shopping list -
2 full backs
A Striker
A midfielder worthy of the tag. That would be one who can tackle, pass(both backwards and forwards), shoot and has some international(2nd or 3rd tier country) or top level experience.
A change of attitude -
2 holding players in the SPL?
1 up front in the SPL(or even worse against THEm with the title in the bag!!!)
Playing players out of position for an extended period(JJ, Wallace)
A clear out -
The usual suspects
Am I hoping for too much?
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Uncle P -
"As for Europe and our much vaunted last 16 place - this was down to our seeding earned in previous seasons and I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who disagrees."
Pleased to be of interest!
I hold the bizarre view that it was down to beating eventual semi-finalists Man United, and trouncing Benfica 3-0.
The fact that we then went toe-to-toe for 180 minutes with AC Milan - now favourites to win the tournament - just reinforces the fact.
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Sorry Hoopla, mate I just don't think that would have been enough if we glad been in our traditional 3rd seed spot.
I also didn't see us going toe to toe with Milan. I saw us holding out and stopping them playing. Toe to toe gives the impression that we gave as good as we got.
We all want the same things here but we all watch the same things as well. What have we been watching all season?
For what it's worth, I am a supremely optimistic guy and not usually given to putting down the team. i spent a good 5 mins looking for my car the other day convinced i had parked it in another place and that the Barcelona traffic monsters couldn't possibly have taken it and I didn't boo like others around me when Fergus raised the flag.
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Uncle P,
So our relative success was due to our seeding? So,in other words we were rewarded for past good performances?
Paul, agree with everything you said. But then I would have played Doumbe from the start anyway. Enjoy your night out!
I'm not a fan of one up front. Hell, even two up front isn't overly attacking.
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Sir Paul.....
Your synopsis of today's game is a good one.
Celtic played like they have been playing for the past...oh!.... Twelve or so weeks.
What would that be?
They played today, in a Totally unacceptable manner!
Are Celtic just experiencing a longer that usual run of BAD LUCK?......
Did the Referee's performance effect the result
As you know, Fargo's famous definition of LUCK...I know you Know... but, for the benefit of those who have never heard it... here goes..
"Luck is the RESIDUE of Design!"
Who is the Master Designer,in this instance?
The Master Designer is the whole ball o' wax..
Take the Dundee United Renaissance... Fr'instance.
I hate tae bring dis up....but ah must, if ah must......
Take the complete and utter about face in the performance of The G.A.!
It all comes back to the Performance of the Master Designer!!
There are no two ways about it.
Mr. Strachan's Winning Technique, is no longer Techniquing, like a good Technique should!
Kojo.
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Using Kojo's (Fargo's?) lately logic, where would Manchester United and Ferguson be?
Luckily, the coterie do not run our football club. Mowbray to replace Strachan? Next, they'll be telling us that Ross Wallace is a World Class left back ;-). (Sorry, Ross. I hope you do well wherever you play.)
Extremely disappointed with today. However, we are still champions and in the cup final. R@ngers remain trophyless for the second season in a row.
Our manager has the opportunity and the funds to put things right for next season. August - Christmas 2007 will be critical for him. The main components of our new squad must be in place for the start of pre-season training. I make this point repeatedly. There is no point saving a few £k in wages when there are £Ms at stake in qualifying for the Champions League. I know there are other factors involved (players holding out for best possible deal etc) but we need to be pro-active and not held to ransome.
Chris
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Uncle P said...
"Sorry Hoopla, mate I just don't think that would have been enough if we glad been in our traditional 3rd seed spot."
You might be right on that, we'll never know.
But saying it was "down to our seeding earned in previous seasons" makes it sound as if the credit for the success was due to previous teams rather than our present one (and previous manager rather than our present one) - and I don't think that's really fair.
Let's say the seeding helped us - I'd certainly agree with you there...
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Sir Paul.....
Ah Yes! Ah almost forgot....
Just goat the latest prognostication from the Supreme Gazer o' the Tea Leaves..concernin' the imminent Dunfermline Confrontation!
It's.....well, owing to the already depressing depression, that today's result has created....
YE DINNA WAAAANT TAE KNOW!
Kojo.
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I said when Elvis signed that as a player I simply did not rate him, no other reason, I just think he's a poor player. Can anyone, with all seriousness now tell me I was wrong, if he plays next season the baw is bust and WGS will be gone by Xmas. Let’s get some pace and attitude across the mid-field………..power puff rubbish. Wattie will now sign any hammer thrower available and kick lumps out of us next year. JVOH……..I know the service was poor, but you must do much much much better.
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I'll now repost my final one from the previous thread - not in order to encourage debate on the issue, but simply because of the immense pleasure it will give me...
ON a lighter note...
Mr Dave "Andy Webster's Pimp" Whelan is now short odds-on fer the Big Drop.
"Take yir lumps Mr Whelan
And don't geeze nane o' yir lip
For we are for the Champions
And you're for the Championship"
Olé.
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paul67
yes u said gordon got it wrong but immediately countered it sying it was an experiment, where as caldwell is no longer that
Jan has been of the boil a bit the only player i feel we have just now who is consistent is mick
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Kojo
let Paul have his night out without more depressing things to bother him :o)
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Gordon J
Ehh...aye. That's exactly what I'm saying.
Much as I enjoyed the 2nd half against benfica and the final whistles against Milan(home)and ManU(home) I don't feel our European performances would have merited a last 16 place. That doesn't mean I wouldn't have bitten my grannies arm off for it!
Still here we are, at almost the end of the season, and those 45 mins are the only memorable sustained moments of (televised)football from a long season.
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Kojo -
EEK!
Is the Tea Lady ever wrong?
Or is the icy hand of Fate already pawin' our shoulder?...
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My dear friend, El DiegoBhoy...
Dark humour is part of my persona.
Paul, knows me well, in that respect.
As a matter o' fact.... between me an' you,only.....
Alyss gave us Good News.....
But, in keeping with our pact...
Don't Let Paul Know!
Kojo.
Yer pal.....who likes ye!
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My dear friend, El DiegoBhoy...
Dark humour is part of my persona.
Paul, knows me well, in that respect.
As a matter o' fact.... between me an' you.....
Alyss gave us Good News!.....
But, in keeping with our pact...
Don't Let Paul Know!
Kojo.
Yer pal.....who likes ye!
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Anyway...favourite moments of the season anyone?
for me...
1. Naka against ManU
2. Boruc's penalty save in the same game
3. Kenny breaking his duck against THEM
Any arguments?
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kojo
you read your tea leaves or get someone to do it for you
cos you don't have a clue as to how to read a game of fitba'
have you eve kicked wan?
I know you haven't
and I know what you are full of
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Uncle P -
No arguments there - and add to that going three up against Benfica.
And... I blush to write this, but I must Be Truthful... Dunfermline going 3-0 up in their SCottish Cup third round match.
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Paul Hartley does NOT deserve a league winners medal.
He has contributed NOTHING since he arrived.
He shouldn't wear a Celtic jersey again this season.
Gary Caldwell ?
Carlisle are looking for players of your calibre [apologies to Don't BrattBack]
Pressley-just go away.
You are not and will NEVER EVER be fit to wear a Celtic jersey.
Tommy G-
For an experienced midfielder-
today you were an embarrassment.
Today was the straw that broke this Celtic Supporters neck.
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John 18.16.....
"But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other desciple,which was known,unto the High Priest, and spake unto HER that kept the Door,and brought in PETER"
Fascinating... doncha think?
Kojo.
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EdwardU,
Enjoy your victory.
Next year you will be lucky to get even ONE DRAW against us, just you wait and see!!!
Noel,
Obviously you feel as sore as I do.
I hope Tinytim enjoys Justin T tonight as I shudder to think what he made of that performance today.
STAND UP FOR THE CHAMPIONS.
A Very Miserable Martin.
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Martin
I'm sure you'll cheer up again before too long.
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noel90
Never.
A Celtic supporter's back is never broken.
Faithful through and through, remember
A bad day at the office.
Don't say your gonna be like kojo
and ask "what have you done for me lately, Gordon?"
say it ain't so noel
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strachan's substitution of gravessen was the last straw for mad tommy - gone in the summer
pity but i don't think the same can be said of caldwells hooking, - though i wish he would go away
and take pressley.
caldwell was culpable at both goals, he lost boyd and the ball went under his foot in the so called wall.
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i live in california, which means that for today's game i had to wake up at 4:AM. although the game was, in the end, meaningless in the results category, it's awfully annoying to wake up at 4AM to watch us get spanked by those a-holes.
4-5-1? that was NEVER going to work. awright lenny, on your bike. you were worthless today. you too hartley. absolute crap. kenny looked decent, but still can't seem to control a ball... what a shocker! dumbe comes on and suddenly we see a decent crossing option on the right! who'd have thought that a dedicated fullback would be better at fullback than a centrehalf? certainly not I.
frustrated
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I take no pleasure in this, but those of you who label others for for being whingers/not true Celtic suppoerters/lacking objectivity etc. for daring to be critical of the current atrocious standard of play should note Noel90's remarks.
I am sure they are not made lightly.
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John,Martin-
Celtic are my weans.
I am loathe to EVER criticise them.
After todays performance they should ALL be grounded.
Until they learn just how lucky they are to pull on that Green and White jersey.
STAND UP FOR OUR CHAMPIONS !
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Paul67
`Gordon Strachan is experimenting at the moment'.
I feel compelled to ask in what way because other than his team selection and tactics being set out in an even greater defensive, negative manner (4-5-1 I ask you !)I see little difference from the start of the season. How about he experiments by putting out an attacking side for a change. Just a suggestion like !!
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E D B,
Just about to depart for the festivities, will pass on your good wishes.
John,
I think Noel actually said supporters NECK.
However I am equally sure that Noel and the rest of us will be faithful through and through.
It is just becoming increasingly difficult to keep on defending the team week in and week out with such poor performances.
STAND UP FOR THE CHAMPIONS.
Martin.
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Can I just add that our local freemason in the black didn't disappoint his hosts.
Celtic Gladiators
11 against 12
As usual.
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Okay lads lets get this in context!!
We have been lacklustre and playing rubbish since basically Milan. WGS did get his tatics wrong today. One up front baffled me, or was it really when you analyse it?
It would have worked if your supporting midfileders in Gravesen, McGeady and Naka were on song. Unfortunatley they were not.
Looking at WGS's tatics he was playing a 4 2 3 1 which is an attacking formation. This formation only works though if your players carry out the instructions to make it work which they never.
Which brings me nicely onto the players:
Caldwell at right back, massive bloomer by the manager there. He will realise that. Subbing him proves that. He should have had Doumbe on for the start.
Tommy G i think it's bye bye for him. It aint working out.
Steven Pressley will have to be replaced.
Paul Hartley i'm wiling to give until next season begins.Jury still out though. Mr Hartley will need to start showing more. Has to take the chance given to him to wear the hoops. Stupid foul to give their second goal.
I reckon big Jiri should have been in the centre today. It's time WGS to either play him in his natural position or sell him. The guy when in the centre looks like he could play.
What i will say though and i said to a guy coming out of the game today. Don't worry about it. Different personnel in the summer. I'm willing stake that come August if that formation was to be played again you will have better players to carry out the instructions.
Next season we will see a more faster, combatitive midfield. (ie Appaiah and Joseph hopefully, maybe even Joey Barton who knows). That is the type we need so we play Rangers at there own bully boy tatics which were pretty evident today.
Who knows maybe the Bellamy rumour might be true. Add McDonalds pace as well. Guy will do a good job for us. Mark my words.Then you would be looking at very good fast strong technical team.
I have no doubts that a predator goalscorer will also be bought along with another quality centre half. My point is i reckon Team 3 will be the real Strachan team. One we will rave about. I appeal to everyone just wait a bit longer.
I got a good feeling with regards this summer activity and type of football we will be playing next year. Paitence my friends. Things will take shape come August. Walter and co will not know what has hit them.
P.S.
Alan Hutton you tosser trying to act the big man does not work. Getting slapped down outside the Shed by bouncers hasn't taught you anything. You shat it big time when big Jan asked you to go ahead after the game in the tunnel.
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GM -
Yeah, we were dreadful today.
Three points however:
1) We've been pretty damn poor for the last six weeks of almost every one of the last ten seasons - this is not a new development.
2) If we're talking objectivity, the afternoon of a losing Old Firm match is the hardest time in the sporting calendar to find it.
3) If we play as poorly in the first six weeks of next season, I'll be in the same camp myself - because then it will matter, in terms of the League. However, if this does turn out to be true, I will also eat my hat - and I mean the floppy festival one with the wee zip pockets at the side...
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WGS-
Whose tactic was it for Artur to lump every kick-out into an area where Weir,Ehiogue and sometimes JVOH were able to contest it?
Whose idea was it to miss out our TWO creative midfielders in almost EVERY forward movement in the 1st half ?
I have my suspects.
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WGS-tell us more about the tunnel incident.
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My dear friend, Gallinero....
I share your pain.
Ditto wit' da early morn, bit.
It must be dat good L.A. air!
Yer observations o' da peculiar devices dat Mr. Strachan doth employ in order to improve the Team..says it all!
I agree wit' yer remarks...
We hiv been done tole, by the Three Cousins, that Double Drum is da Real Deal!
In spite of their glowing admiration of Double Drum's training performances....The manager has/has, to their utter perplexity, decided to over-look, Double Drum's potential value to the First Eleven.
This act of inexplicable short- sightedness, was the first clue in our understanding of Mr. Strachan's incomprehensible inability to make a sensible over- all ,team selection.
He is suffering from a one too many, a Blind Spot.
And the inept performances of the Celtic Team speaks loudly, in revealing, that chink in his armour.
Which, in retrospect is seemingly an unalterable one.
Kojo.
Yer Pal...... who used tae live in Hollywood.
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John_H ,
With regards Jan he made a gesture to Hutton after the tackle on Naylor suggesting he and Hutton go ahead off the field. That was all. Seen it from where i was sitting. Pretty angry big Jan was. He was wanting to knock him out then and there. No incident in tunnel just a phrase i was using. Hutton ass collapsed. Then Lenny waded in.
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Kojo-my old mucker.
are you talking about myopia ?
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Just to change the subject, because there's little left to say about today's debacle...
..did anyone see the Manchester derby? Michael Ball (remember him?) had a somewhate eventful Saturday lunch time. He started by stamping deliberately on Ronaldo in the third minute, behind the back of ther referee. Swalex saw the incident and was righly furious. Should have been a red card.
He then brought down Ronaldo for a penalty which was scored with ease, before a blatent dive in the second half "won" a penalty which was missed.
Obviously learned at lot in his short time at Ibrox.
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My dear ole pal, Noel...
Dat's da woid!
Ah only Knew that is rhymed wit' cornucopia... but da best ah could come up wit' wiz... Utopia....!
Utopia and Strachan in da same sentence?
AAAAAAAAAH dinna think so!
So ....
"Short sighted" was ma choice!
Kojo.
Yer pal.....who is feelin' a wee bit jolly.
An' why is dat?.... Tak Three Guesses......DInna need three? ...
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Kojo
Feeling Jolly?
is the sun above the yardarm then?
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The most depressing thing about today is that the 2-0 scoreline flattered us,it could have been worse.
No fight,unable to string more than three or four passes together before giving away possession,pathetic in every way.Anyone thinking that we have only played like this over the last few weeks is deluding themselves.The last four months have brought us much the same level of performance.
As a supporter,while delighted that we continue to pick up trophies it has to be said the the level of entertainment and quality from the team is generally dire.Even the most basic of opposition are usually only dispatched by the odd goal.Over the course of a full season that is unacceptable.
Is our G.O.D. to be enjoyed with narrow 1-0 wins over St.Mirren and the likes??
I can't see any level of domination coming to pass as it stands.Also,as a club who relies on it's supporters turning up every week to keep the till ticking over,it worries me how many people may eventually be turned off from coming to games due to the lack of quality on show.
Interesting times for the board I think,if they stick with WGS and things do not improve next season it may have financial implications at the turnstiles.None of us want another season of performances like this surely.
The big question is,do the board trust him enough to let him loose with a cheque book in the summer?If the answer is not a resounding yes,then maybe a change of manager is required.
Not Mowbray for me Kojo,but i'd give Mark Hughes a call and see if he's interested.
David
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Just in from the game and have to say the fans were magnificent today espically at the end where we would not let the huns know how disgusted we were. Our play today was symptomatic of how we have played for months gutless ineptitude of the players and the tactical niavity of our manager.
The only bright spot from last weeks mauling by the junior huns was the performance of doumbe, so why does Strachan play cauldwell at right back. Cauldwell is never celtic class and made a fool of himself in the media saying he wants to replace lennon. As Mr royal would say my arse.
Cauldwell should never play right back for us again and I for one would not mind if he never plays again period.
This season has seen a very poor celtic team win a very poor league.
Make no mistake we were hammered today by a rotten rangers team.
Cauldwell, hartley, gravesen, pressley and mcgeady were shocking.
At least mcgeady can play sadly those others can't and its time to go.
Hartley is a waste of money and whilst i cheered gravesen he looked like a joke today.
Also why oh why does miller with the touch of an elephant get a game before deek?
I am all for experiments but not against the huns.
Strachan better get his finger out and get us two full backs a new midfield and another striker. 6 players at least.
If we get beat at hunsvile early on next year then it's brown trousers time and taxi for strachan.
Oh and while he is getting rid of the deadwood he might get himself some tactics while he is at it.
Waltie has him in his cardy pocket at the moment.
Frankly walking back to the car whilst we sang difaintly many of us debated that if strachan walked out for man city we would even offer to drive him down.
Frankly disgusted and frankly appalled at how bad we played today
God Bless arthur at least he is a player worthy of the jersey.
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David - and others
Wasn't it only very recently that BQ was praising Gordon for his achievements?
That being so do you really think there is a snowball's chance of them moving him out the door no matter what we think?
I'm as disappointed as anyone else with the performances in recent months but I do believe Gordon has earned the right to continue as our manager.
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In all my days as a Celtic supporter, i've never been less surprised by how an 'old firm' game went.
All week i've expected what happened today, and that didn't feel very nice let me assure you. If i'd had a ticket i'd have been there, hoping i was wrong, but today was always going to happen i felt.
The manager of course, given that the league is won, could have proven me wrong and sent us out to have a go at their slow ageing central defence, and put them back in their place, but he was never going to, because he is too defensive minded.
Celtic are not Southampton Gordon.
Are you the man to spend our millions?
I'm not convinced you are.
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Failures today:
Boruc
Pressley McManus Caldwell
Nakamura Gravesen Hartley Lennon McGeady
Jvoh
Not impressed! I know we've got little to play for and I really don't think there is much to worry about considering Rangers would be desperate for a win but that simply isn't good enough!
A huge overhaul is needed to get rid of the pretenders. I know people were saying Jarosik and Gravesen should get better but unless they magically get 10 times better than they are just now they're not good enough for me.
Someone like Appiah or (in fact and) Barton is needed for the middle as well as a top class goalscorer and an experienced footballer at the back. As well as cover at least for the full backs.
Also, McGeady needs a kick up the arse. He's better than the players he plays against, it's about time he showed it!
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el diego boy
every celtic fan wants strachan to be successful but we need to see a team emerging.
We are a disjointed group of poor players lacking a tactical shape or even the makings of one.
I agree the board won't sack him they have him well trained and it would take ages to break in a new pet.
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I can't remember such a gutless performance against Rangers sine Dalglish was in charge.
Todays tactics was pass back, pass sideways and punt to our one striker with no support.
On a bad day for everyone our "flair players" were a waste of a jersey.
Naka is a very good player but he was again poor in a tough away game.
The only plus point for me was that it was only 2-0.
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while i am as disenchanted as the rest of you, GS should be in charge no question he has earned that right.
However next season is,on the face of it, going to be a whole new ball game. Rangers despite having much the same team as le guen look a different team. when centre backs with a combined age of over 70, one an everton cast off another deemed not good enough for leeds............yes leeds, dominate so easliy we must worry.
I think a clear out is required in the summer and i would say we are still in a stronger position than rangers, a clear out will raise money to add to what we have. however i would prefer quality players, yes gordon has downsized well but i would rather have say joey barton that miller,gravesen and jarosik.
perhaps a smaller squad with more quality, as gs seems reluctant to use squad players anyway. build on
boruc,mcmanus,naylor,mcgeady,naka and jan. that still leaves 5 positions and one right down the spine required. sell the dross like miller,jarosik,hartey,pressley,gravesen,zurawski and beattie
keep likes of caldwell,sno,riordan for cover
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We are in free fall and Mr Strachan is clueless. I wish he would go as I cant bear to watch Celtic anymore We are total mince but this is due to the manager and tactics and not so much the players. I am truly fed up with Strachan.
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Strachan will be here all next season and if we lose league(god forbid) be given the season after as well. thats the reality the board are behind him.
However i feel his position with the fans is shaky, the fans today were magnificent and i genuinely felt sorry for them
however if rangers are close next year people will inevitably start being happy with win very ugly as we will need to win.
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Guys, you can't be serious about Barton surely?
This is a guy about to face charges of assault on a teammate, and whose past charge sheet includes stubbing out a cigar on a teammate's eye.
He is a right nasty little piece of work, and I for one don't want to see him within fifty miles of Celtic Park......
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barton is still miles better than any central midfielder at celtic park. yes he can be trouble, but lennon has a rap sheet as well tho admitedly not as bad. lennon starts on his teammates on the pitch
strachans comments i just picked up, quick to shift any blame from himself
He said: "I'm very disappointed and we can't have any arguments.
"We played testimonial football in the first half and they played winning football and their winning football deserved to win the game.
"It all comes down to how many headers and tackles you win and how well you pass the ball and I'm afraid all the plusses go to the other side.
"There were not a lot of positives.
"But whatever your line-up is, the players are the most important thing.
"I'm not suddenly going to take the blame for everything.
"I don't take the credit for every victory so I won't take the blame for every defeat. We do it together.
"I will look at my selection and analyse that and then the players can look at their performance.
"And together we can hopefully come up with something positive."
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Ah, interesting McGeady's name has come up.
Anyone notice how he's gone compltely off the boil since Maloney was sold??
We're lucky if he performs one game in four.
Personally I'm not convinced. If being a professional footballer was just a matter of flicks and tricks, why has no one signed Mr Wu??
My kitten has more fight in her.
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can anyone of those wanting rid of our current manager tell me of another team who would sack a manager who has won 2 titles out of 2,and maybe 2 doubles?.no doubt performances of late have been poor but some supporters are showing no loyalty or support to a manager who has brought more success than any other in recent times
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Another game and another missed chance to raise our game and shake of the post Champions League slump that we are currently in.
Paul, I'm sorry for disagreeing with part of your match analysis but your ascertion that Lenny had a decent match is obviously clouded in the same sentiment fog that WGS is blinded by as he continually plays him in the run down to his departure. Lenny is done, has been for at least 6 months and certainly hasn't had a decent partnership in the midfield since big Evander got hurt. Hartley isn't helping either and my level of disappointment in TG gets lower and lower with each game.
The engine room of the team was non existant today, no dig, no mobility and surprisingly no leadership. The plaudits that Lenny has rightly been getting recently following "him" deciding to leave (not the club not offering a decent contract) is as a result of his first 6 years service, based on the last 6 mths he should be getting the same level of opinionated observations being heaped on Hartley who is a shadow of the player that played for the Jam Tarts.
Lenny still gets around the pitch after a fashion but even when the handbags kicked off near the end JVOH and a few others got there before him.
WGS reckons he wouldn't be able to replace him even if he was given £12m - if he is refering to the current model then he shouldn't be given 12p if that is how he values players. We are constantly being told that we won't see the true value of Lenny until he is gone, today and a few other performances in the last 6 months wouldn't back that up.
Lenny has been a giant for us since joining, he has put up with much more abuse, bigotry, media scrutiny and even death threats than any player I can think of in my time hear in Scotland and still turned in solid performances week in week out. He was an integral part in what should have been 7 in a row (1 goal and 2 minutes away) but he is done.
My other WGS concern (plenty more but 19 points, last 16 in CL, 2 in a row and a possible double trumps me as is constantly trotted out hear)is his apparent love of ex-Edinburgh based players. If we had to face a team with Caldwell, Pressley, miller and Deek in it, it wouldn't send many shivers down the old spine.
We get some decent debates going here when we are losing and that has happened a lot lately. Thought I would leave my own little hand grenade on Lenny and leave the room
Gerryb67
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This wasn`t the first Celtic side to go to Ibrox and lose it`s strength but it hasn`t happened for 7 years. I don`t like that!
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gerry67
Yes it;s time for lenny to move on but he has earned the right to play the last few games. Just realised we may win the league by 6 points as we have no chance at easter road.
Anyway if a donkey like caldwell and an imposter like hartley can get a game lenny has years in him.
Of course strachan won't be sacked but he needs to get his finger out and be ruthless.
We need major surgery and i hope he gets the cash we need.
Anyone at the game see the boy in the judo suit pure class.
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Gweedorebhoy-
"see the boy in the judo suit pure class."
That's the nicest thing you've EVER said about me.
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noel90
well you did have a black belt on!
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Today for the first time I am seriously concerned. It’s not often thankfully we see so many players playing poorly at the same time. Please tell me one who played well? However when form is not there the least we should able to expect of players who wear the hoops is a dogged spirit to do their very best. What concerns me was the (lack of) spirit of the players, the lack of leadership on and off the park and the avoidance of responsibility by key players. There were a number unfit to wear the jersey today and that has nothing to do with ability and everything to do with heart.
For those complaining about Gordon’s tactics today please stop and listen to the man. He said that by winning the title he had earned the right to experiment. It’s just a pity that the players seemed to think its time to go on holiday. I trust that come cup final day at least one or two find that they are.
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EDB - WGS to Man City a great idea.
Paul67 said,
`Gordon Strachan is experimenting at the moment'.Who is he doing this with,today was another gutless,inept performance and it's been like this for months,we were again out fought and out thought.WGS has purchased a collection of duds or they have no desire to play for him either way he is the problem and next season is a disaster waiting to happen.I want a team that wins with fight and fair in the Celtic way.
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I can't bear to read previous comments (I need to watch the old blood pressure) so apologies if this is not original;
Boruc: Best keeper for a generation without doubt but if I need a spectator to keep goal for us I'll pick someone from the crowd. Failed us.
Cadwell: Not a full back, not in this life. Should be a player but I now conclude he is mentally fragile & won't be able to handle being a Celtic player. Failed us.
McManus: Effective as an individual, but failed to let others know their efforts were not acceptable. I expected more of him in the Big Roy style. Perhaps inexperience in leadership. I suspect he will not fail again in that respect. Pass mark.
Presley: An effective stop gap during Balde's Caldwells & Mc Mannus's injuries. Actually better than I feared but still only a useful squad player. Tried his best.
Naylor: Not the first & no doubt not the last Celtic player to be booked for BEING fouled. Love his attitude and his appreciation of the opportunity which Celtic has given him. Pass mark.
Naka: Was this his not football playing twin brother? Hard to imagine a more insipid impersonation of a footballer. Failed us.
Hartley: I need to be careful here as I was roundly criticised for my comments the day he signed. Not yesterday, not today, not tomorrow will he ever be Celtic material. Failed us.
Lennon: Not good, not bad, just ineffectual. Seemed to play in a fog just like 90% of his team mates. Just my opinion but should never have been captain of Celtic. It would have been better for him if he had not. Pass mark - just.
Graveson: What can anyone say? There is talent, energy, commitment in a way best suited to non team sports. Sad to say (since it is hard to dislike him) something seemingly so good actually so god-damn awful. Failed us.
McGeady: He played? You jest? No idea what that performance was all about. Same as against Hearts except, unbelievably, actually worse. Failed us.
JVoH: Some weeks Sutton like, some weeks Wayne Biggins like (don't really mean that just couldn't think of anybody else). Put in a shift but no support or quality delivery. But bear in mind he was playing against pensioners! Pass mark (maybe).
Subs:
Miller: Can't defend his goal scoring record but un-Miller like he controlled & held up the ball better than JVoH & put in a shift.
Doumbe: Can anyone explain why he started on the bench? No, I thought not.
Riorden: ???
Gordon S: I am not one for letting players off the hook. Once on the park they have to deliver and aspire to their best performance irrespective of the coach. However, the whole ambience and mindset of the team was wrong, wrong, wrong. An absolutely disgraceful performance reminiscent of too many I saw at Ibrox in the mid nineties. Gordon you are well in credit in my account book but a very serious debit entry has just been logged. I was relieved to hear (unlike some previous occasions) your comments afterwards and see your badly disguised fury at what happened. Perhaps you will also consider your own contribution to the fiasco.
The faithful: Well done all. If we ever have a team which measures up to the support the world of football will be in awe. (PS Don't hold your breath waiting for the Scottish media to assess the quality of the self-policing by the blue hoards).
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gordybhoy64
My loyalty is to the club not to individuals.I realise that it seems strange for people to criticise a manager who's won back to back titles,but my personal concern is that generally our performances over the last six months have been consistently poor and we show no signs of coming out the other side of this run of form.
There seems to be no team pattern,we play with a target man but play with wide players playing on their opposite side cutting inside all the time and full-backs who don't get beyond them to provide width and crosses to the strikers.Where is the service to the strikers going to come from?
If you don't go wide you need to play through teams,but none of our central midfielders seem capable of getting forward beyond the strikers or able to thread balls through opposition defences to the strikers.Where are the goals going to come from?
We're playing table football rather akin to the type Mourinho has Chelsea playing,but on a drastically smaller budget.And I wouldn't cross the road to watch them play.Add to that the fact that we don't seem to like a physical battle these days and it's a bit of a sorry state we're in at the minute.
WGS has done a fantastic job in collecting two titles while cutting the wage bill and the average age of the side.However,I think his defensive tactics are holding us back in some respects and certainly not endearing him to a lot of supporters who want attacking football.
Are playing attacking football and winning games mutually exclusive?
I don't think so and I think the support would generally accept the odd narrow win if we were being entertained from time to time too.At the moment that's not happening and my worry is that if performances don't improve then we may see some of those narrow one goal victories we've seen this season turn into one goal defeats or draws next season.
David
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I enjoyed the privilege of a ticket for the Ibrox game for the first time in many a long year, so I'll now be known as the guy that's jinxed it.
I enjoyed the guys in the Sumo suits and the lad who was PLG in disguise.
I didn't enjoy the train trip into town to hitch a lift with a Supporter's bus- BNP chanting and songs threatening violence- there are groups of fans at Ibrox who need to be seriously confronted.
I won't comment about the game because we did not produce one today. There is no defence of our performance today but I will not listen to more urine about getting rid of WGS now. Kojo's suggestion of Tony Mowbray was not the most ridiculous I heard today. That honour must go to the guy on the bus who said "Strachan must go now cos he's not a tim ( I really want to believe he was self aware and sending himself up) and we need to get Jackie Mac in as player coach."
Edward U
We've both got 2 in a row now.
We've won 2 championships in a row.
You've won 2 games against the Tic.
Would any of ours want to swap our 2iar for Eddie's?
Thought not.
We'll still be champions in the morning.
I still need to continue some consolation drinking tonight.
Nite everybody.
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Martin
I went to see JT last night.
Today's performance was exactly what i expected.
Celtic played no better or worse than they have for months.
The difference was that the opposition was better than when we face the rest of the SPl teams.
The league is won over a whole season.
Thank god that Walter Smith was not in charge for the whole season.
I have been listening to excuses for month's.
First it was .We are so ahead ,that we are not trying.Then it was was we are nervous.Then it was we are tired, the job's done.
The bottom line is that we are lacking quality throughout the side.
Walter Smith has brought in two aging centre halves and we are now whipped.
There are so many things wrong that i despair.
The blame lyes firmly with Mr Strachan.
He has wasted millions,this season.
I pray that he goes ,almost on a daily basis.
We have two wide men with no pace and therefore they rarely beat there fullback and get in crosses that will turn, immobile, aging ,and cumbersome defenders.
I pray that we do not sell Bobo.
Lenny, going is bad enough.
He is as good as he ever was.
The main problem is that he is surrounded by inferior players to the ones he played with in recent years.
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setting free the bears - Urine we are experts on this subject we have been watching it for the last four months.
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P8ddy
I hope that you are lurking in the background.
Many have been dismissing your view on this Celtic side all season.
I believe you were the first to post on here some weeks ago that we would not win at Ibrox.
You are not alone, in not being fooled by the dropping standard of player that we are watching.
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At 05/05/07 00:05, whitedoghunch said…
there is not a chance of celtic losing tmrw.
Got 30-1 rangers half time celtic full time.
No chance this celtic team will get beaten.
Whitedoghunch,care to comment?
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Today was poor and painful, but when I got home, Mrs First uttered the immortal words: "If you're looking for something to do … ".
That's how I ended up sanding the garage door and applying new putty to the windows (aye, Blindlemon, me). Then I set up the new barbecue and cooked as the weans ran around like wee maddies under the lilac tree.
There was beer, wine, laughter, great food and love.
Conclusion: This has been the least painful defeat to Rangers in my entire life.
Roll on the next game. Come on the Hoops.
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Did the Huns sort out their disgusting singing today?
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test
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What a disappointing football day.
Just back from Vila Park, have been watching Sheffield United since 1955, family moved from Springhill when Southfield Pit closed. For Neg Anon I am a customer of Sheffield United, whatever that means. I am a Celtic fan,first visit to Celtic Park in 1951 as an 8 year old on Sharkeys supporter bus.
Not seen the game yet, but reading on here the performance has been poor, as has been the last six or seven games... Whats going wrong
It seems quite obvious to me.. there is no invention in the team, no Lubo, no Henrick,
Who in this team would get in Sheffield Uniteds side.. In my opinion only Naylor.
Kojo, Mowbray you have got to be joking,, What has he done for W B A lately, not a lot.
Gordon deserves another season.
Can he deliver the football we want to see, and at the same time win the league.. Tommy Burns was not able to do it.. Lets see if Gordon can.
Can he see Smith of,,,He is not intersted in Europe, his instructions are to win the league.
Gordon needs two teams,, one for Europe and one for the domestic comptetions.
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tinytim, etc. - I posted before that we might not win an OF game next season with the devil-worshipping Cardigan back in charge, but we will win the league!
He'll buy all the best Scottish knuckle-draggers he can find and stick to his forte, i.e. getting them to run through brick walls for him.
We will buy the quality that will give us the consistency to win the league. They will throw away daft points.
I am of course, assuming that Caldwell, Pressley & Hartley will all be squad players by then! ;-)
We should keep Doumbe - looks like a proper full-back/wing-back.
Bobo, Beattie, KM, TG (shockingly bad today) - sell them asap!
WGS - use the money wisely!
TTTT
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Paul
despite having those 3 strong personalities in midfield I cant fathom how they could produce so little fight. TG lost the head within seconds of coming on, over a foul he clearly committed and gave us a legendary headless chickenperformance yet again. Hartley the same, his biggest moment was complaining about a Hutton raised foot which to be honest the lad had pulled out of. The only reason i can think of for such lack of cohesion is that the players are not comfortable/confused with Prof 'we've been experimenting' Strachans instructions. I myself can't get over playing Aiden inside when today of all days we needed crosses in for Jan. Who was to supply, Lee with 40yard hit and hopes?
Doumbe showed some great pace and some exciting touches last week, he was the fresh unknown quantity to give us a new dimension up the right, I could have predicted our manager would leave him out, but why is only known to him.
Today was not a day for experimenting, yet GS insisted on confusing the team and all of us to do just that. To what end did we need to at this stage of the season? If anything it showed total lack of respect for such an important fixture and to our support. Today was about getting a respectable result v rangers, the draw a minimum requirment,particularly after our last meeting.Yet instead of playing even remotely like Champions we have a manager who has destroyed the feelgood factor with unreasonable, unfathomable and unfashionable tactics.
It's been a long season, we all need a break, GS has earned his but clearly needs it more than most as he has done nothing since Milan but dig himself a hole for himself, mineshaft deep.
Keep the Faith? I will as always, but I didn't think after being right behind him since his appointment GS could depress and confuse me so and could be so blatantly ignorant of what was required today and give us what was,in fact, no less than inept guidance.
Now I am going back to read everybody else's posts from today and no doubt find many are even more upset than me.
Hail Hail
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TTTT
Well said. Victory, sadness and smugness are so close and yet so fleeting in football.
Walt Disney will form a team of hammer throwers - die for the cause 'Scottish players'.
We will rebuild and renew.
And we will change.
I'm gutted to say this but I feel NL had a massive input in our team becoming back and cross field passing.
I've watched our team stop being cutting and incisive. I've seen free kicks in a reasonably dangerous area being grabbed by NL and quickly passed to the man next
