-
first
-
Intersting point and not 1 I had realised about not keeping a clean sheet for a year (unless we count Milan after 90 minutes).
I have this debate with my mates a lot about why is it so different playing away from home. I think its more of a mind set than any physicality as both pitches etc will be roughly the same size.
-
the performance was almost as bad as your spelling, Paul.
ach, sure if you didn't laugh you would cry.
-
So how was the trip Paul? Since its only the 2 of us over here.
-
Naka was poor last night. I think he has lost confidence after the moscow game. hopefully he can get that back quickly.
The 2nd goal was caused by a poor cross from Wilson that didnt beat the first man, Shaktar then went down the field with the majority of Celtic players out of position or chasing back.
The crossing for most of the game was woeful - had the team not practised with this ball? It's not like Celtic couldn't have got some from addidas before hand to train with.
January - 2 Quality fullbacks with the £12M+ (not to mention the CL money we're going to earn this year) that is sitting in the bank.
Hail Hail
Pob
-
Paul67-
you say the game was lost in the tunnel but previously you had indicated the players were bursting to get on the pitch.
Can you explain what happened in between to reverse the mindset, was there some kind of fall out before the game?
-
Mick cant control under pressure and as I have said umpteen times will get found out in big European games. Caldwell lacks pace. However watched AC Benfica and Benfica arent clever.
-
Positional change apart, we played for the first twenty minutes or so like a team coming to terms with a different level of skill and pace from they were used to. That we had to make the adjustment and paid so dearly before we could was a great disappointment. If I want to look for encouragement it's that the progress up the learning curve was visible.
Last night was a big night for many, not least Skoosh and Dinky (his new name, copyright me). Hopefully they're quick learners.
We now need to beat Milan or Benfica (the latter would be better, going by Paul's theory.) Well, why not? Hopefully, team 3 has learned how not to start European games.
-
A whole year without an away clean sheet truly would be astounding. I am aghast that we are on the verge of what must be a record for a top flight team especially on playing SPL football. It simply raises the issue again of the culpable failure to address the defensive frailties during the summer. No wonder the CL teams are content when they draw us. We as a support have to bring to an end this feeling that we are up there with the big boys. Other teams and their coaches do nothing more than patronise us - the constant references to the wonderful support at CP is equal to "sure the team is pretty average but the crowd makes it very difficult to communicate on the pitch". Most CL teams are disappointed if they do not get at least a point against us, home OR away. That tells its own story which again traces its roots to a weak defence. Somebody tell me what the answer is - and I know its not "get behind your team" or "we played well in the 2nd half"
-
Killerheels - I too thought the same thing. The teamtalk must have sent out the wrong signals.
It's about time we went out had a right go at a team away from home. At the very least, it will be a different way of losing.
When Naylor wanted to waste time in the first minute, Shaktar sensed our fear. Only seconds later, we decided to play the ball all the way back to Boruc, not confident in our ability to retain possession. You know the rest.
The defeat aside we really need to beat the first man with cross balls - this is a big issue that needs addresses immediately.
As for the squad, it is safe to say that we paid the price (once again) for not investing in the defence. I agree with many that the full backs are out of their depth at this level. The modern European game requires an athletic, pacey aggressive full back. We don't have one.
A bit of perspective is needed though - this is a location where Barcelona were defeated not so long ago.
-
That is an incredible statistic re away games, and it tells us that collectively the defence are nowhere good enough. Given the fact it's Artur behind the sticks, it is even more of an inditement on those who have played in the back 4 during this period.
There were plenty warning signs on Saturday - you don't often see a 5-0 victory when the losing team creates so many excellent scoring chances.
Whilst our collective CL away record is obviously dismal, the reality, taking every game on it's merits is that you can only punch above your weight on the odd occasion. When it's £40m v £7m and you're away from home the outcome is predictable 90% of the time.
Anyway, onwards & upwards and I will be there at Easter Road to give the bhoys a cheer.
On a separate note, someone castigated Donati for being one of the worst players last night. Couldn't disagree more. Whilst he disappeared for 10 mins or so in 2nd half I thought he was our best player in the middle as regards having the confidence to hold and pass the ball under pressure - the sign of true class.
And on a positive note.....I do believe WGS when he said all players & management would learn from last night. His starting tactics were wrong last night but he has been proved right more often on the big occasion. The fact that we have so many CL novices should also be remembered.
Hail Hail.
-
It's not the end of the world as far as the group is concerned, but we have a hell of a lot of work to do to qualify. And by qualify I mean not finish 4th.
Comparisons with last year are not really valied. Yes, we again lost the opening away game, but last year it was to the no. 1 seed. This year it was to the no. 4 seed.
Milan at home now becomes even more of a pressure game. A point would be a good result and a draw in Portugal a great one.
The two games against Benfica will be the key the the group for us. Any less than four points would be a disaster. Six would be great!
But now the focus must go onto Sunday. We need to get straight back to winning ways and put the pressure onto Rangers who kick off an hour behind us.
-
Last nights performance reinforced my anxiety about our lack of quality full backs & experience at centre back. Our Scoting Team can find us world class players like Boruc, Donati & Nakamura, but what is the stumbling block when we're trying to acquire defenders of the same ilk? If Gordon Strachan & Peter Lawell have a genuine total football vision for Celtic, then its a waste of energy bringing in genuine quality players like Massimo Donati only to put them in a team with hit & hope full backs. It's nonsensical to me - like putting Ronaldinho in the Gretna team. We failed to address key positions in the summer & surprise surprise that was our undoing in Donestk.
My expectation before last nights game was not for 3 points, merely to compete & when alls said & done we were well beaten by a much better side who had pace & a football brain. There's been much debate about the wrong formation but if a player makes a mistake as McManus did, you can have 10 holding players - it makes no difference. Shaktar will carry the same goal threat when they visit Parkhead, so it would be foolish to discount them.
In reality i suppose we shouldn't really be competing when our opponents net spend is 20 times greater than ours. We need a wee reality check there i think.
We’re definetely on a par with Benfica & if we can pip them to a UEFA spot, I would happily take that along with some good home performances & a draw in Lisbon.
The other topic that Gordon Strachan touched on pre match was our restriction in unearthing talent from the South American market as this is not open to UK teams, so teams like Shaktar, Benfica & PSV Eindhoven can scour these markets for sublime players & sell them for a nifty profit in a few years. If that ruling had to change we would be laughing. Look at some of the gifted brazillians in that Shaktar team – natural football players who can make a difference.
Paul - is there anything the Club can do in terms of debate on home office re- employment rules for non EU players?
-
tully57
I agree re: Donati. He was perhaps the only hooped player to show the composure and vision on the ball that is demanded of a player in the CL. McDonald demonstrated vigour but the rest were, well, like a travelling Celtic team of the past 5 years or so.
Crossing - why do we rarely threaten from corner kicks ? Why do the big lads rarely get the heid on the ba' and if they do, often send it over the hills and far away ? Why is the success rate of crosses, ie beating the first man, not much better than 60/40 ?
These may seem like topics from a mineshafter's conference but I would rather debate these than pat ourselves on the back having beaten Inverness CT (population circa 40,000)(bank a/c circa 40,000) 5-0 at home.
-
The defence were certainly guilty of many things last night, but can't help feel that if a certain Dutch striker had been able to hit the target with his headers last night then it could have been very different. Second half one may been unfortunate, but the first half chance was a border line empty net given that goalie had wandered off.
And a big up for the officials - not only for knocking off the third goal, but also for letting Scott Brown have a bit of lee-way. Can think of quite a few officials who would have been only too happy to wave the red card at him.
-
First and foremost I'm in the club that’s delighted to be in the CL proper regardless of what we do once we get there, a Uefa cup parachute being the height of my ambitions, the coffee not only smells good it tastes great.
Chances are that the powerbrokers at Celtic are in the same club. To deliberately weaken the squad by selling Kenny Miller knowing that we had already qualified for the champions league proper kinda lets you know what our real priorities are, and winning the CL isn't one of them.
I am puzzled though at why we have a back four that can only perform at this level with a minder sitting in front of it. How have we got ourselves into this position? Surely we should have 4 players at the back more than capable of looking after themselves?
Like everyone else I agree the fullbacks need to be 'rested', along with Nakamura, though in his case the need for a rest looks genuine.
-
Perspective folks. If ICT can create numerous chances against us at Celtic Park, then we should not be surprised that a home team playing in the CL will do even more damage.
IMHO there is a fundamental lack of balance in the team / system when teams are able to create so many chances against us.
Would love to know the reasons why and how to overcome. Here's some thoughts, would welcome others views.....
Front men not closing down well enough at their end? (I appreciate workrate of SMcD but not enough & think we struggle with JVOH's lack of mobility).
Lack of truly defensive midfielder?
Lack of defensive strength being the flip side of our midfielders' creativity? (How often is your heart in your mouth when Aiden or Scott Brown tries to turn & dribble away from an opponent when deep in our own half?).
Lack of fitness in midfield as game goes on - witness Massimo's diminishing return as the second half progressed last night.
Full backs either off form or just not quite strong enough defensively.
Centre backs not commanding enough in air and not winning balls cleanly. How many weak headers/clearances land as a second ball at the oppositions feet?
Notwithstanding the above I am NOT a mineshafter (honest!). I just think for all the excellent individuals we have, and the fluent football we create, there is a massive down side in the shape of how easily teams can play through us. It's up to the manager and his staff to identify & sort the problems. I just hope that victories at the SPL level do not hide the problems underneath and that the work in progress that is Celtic can move on to a better level.
-
All of a sudden, Benfica have become the weaklings who we can take points off, at least 4 maybe 6 ? Again, two reality pills followed by large whisky required. Why don't we start from the premise that we are the weakest team in the group and each game we play is a cup final. If that attitude (one slightly closer to reality) was adopted across the board (and no, that's not an oblique reference to THE board), then we might just might spring a few surprises.
-
I cannot stand the whole "keep it tight" ethos
its a 1 off game with 3 points at stake
this keep it tight nonsense will never work for us, we shud be an attacking team, FULL STOP
We have one of the best home records in the entire competition, because when at home we attack. our record in the CL away from home is shocking mainly as we go there to keep it tight
why
our record is so bad would it not be better to try and actually win the game. we certainly cudnae get much worse!!!!
ATTACK
ATTACK
ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK
remember also that we shud have scored at least 2 last night with the chances of JVOH and McDonald.
Just shows that if u have a quality poacher u have a chance against anyone
I must add that our goals conceded away from home does not concern me, as its scoring goals that wins you games
as long as we score 1 more i dont care what the score is. we need to get back to that attiude. sure our defenders may not be the best, but our strikers certainly are not the best, hence another huge problem
our failure to recruit a poacher supreme was always going to haunt us
-
Gameover after 10 minutes and visions of Artmedia as no.3 went in.
While the mistakes were disasterous, the quality of our full backs left us hopelessly exposed. Naylor's confidence has disintegrated and he was barely prepared to put his foot on the ball in the first half.
As Paul mentioned, once Paul Hartley changed position he was excellant - probably the best player last night.
Two quality full backs required. Anybody know what Paul Telfer's up to????
-
Perhaps GS should take a leaf out of Big Jock's book, and arrange a closed-doors practice match against a team from the Portuguese top flight (in lieu of a training session) a couple of days before we face Benfica in Lisbon. At least our players will get a first hand taste of how the Portuguese play... skill levels, speed of movement and passing, etc., prior to doing it for real.
I too would prefer to finish 3rd and drop into the UEFA Cup (then have a wee run to the latter stages there...), rather than having the "glory" of losing in our first CL knock-out round.
-
Paul
Why the sudden realisation that our defence is not good enough to keep anyone out.
Some of us on here have been saying that for the past 3 years.
The fact is and we have to accept this is that
A. Gordon cannot build a defence or is incapable of seeing it's shortcomings. Feel free to calculate how much he has spent on each area of the team Attack/Midfield/Defence and you wont have too far to go to see why the deficiences are where they are.
B. The Celtic board are happy for us just to get into the Champions League and the money it brings. They have no intention of truly competing properly in it. They are happy for us to take all the beatings which will be coming our way. I dont mind this all I expect is that they are honest with the fans and admit they have no aspirations at this level. Failing to invest proper money in the defence will cost us every time we play decent opposition.
I have now accepted that we will always have a poor defence whilst under the stewardship of Gordon Strachan when teams such as ICT can create the number of chances that they did tells you all you need to know.
I have now accepted all of the these facts and will have lowered my expectations to that of the Manager and the Board.
Failure to see that our defence has needed surgery for so long is gross incompetence in my book.
But never mind as Brian says the Money is in the bank(again & again) pity it's not on the field.
As Neg Anon says I'm sure the jam will come in January08...August08.....January09 you get the picture.
To have spent practically zero in the transfer market for the last two years with our current financial well being defies logic and belief.
-
First job away from home is to earn the right to take part in the game. We have denied far better teams than Shaktar the right to do this at home and last night they did it to us.
Our away 'record' doesn't bother me as much as the manner in which these occur. All across Europe teams have shocking away records (Shaktar and Benfica included) but I bet they don't gift wrap the opening goal quite so nicely as we do.
I don't care if we lose in Lisbon and Milan as long as our opponents have earned those victories I will be satisfied. Too often we give teams, already gifted enough, a head start and that will always kill us.
Gloat away mineshafters, gloat away!
-
Paul
I know this may sound tongue in cheek but I think I need to pass this on as the defence will never get fixed. Ask Brian to pass this on to Gordon
Two average/poor fullbacks that cannot defend properly and who almost never close their man down leads to crosses always coming into the box....
These crosses are then met by two average/poor centrebacks who are both dreadful in the air leads to you losing goals.
This is not rocket science it is fundamental in building a decent defence.
Solution - Buy two good full backs who will attempt to stop the crosses coming in or have a central defender (akin to Bobo) who will attack there crosses and the opposing strikers and clear the ball.
I suggest doing one or the other as I accept the money is not there to buy a whole new defence but at least invest in two good defenders now and two next year.
-
The sad thing is the money was there to fix the fullback problems. Having it in January will probably be too late for the CL this season.
-
Last night was another case of the same again.Where is the learning that is taking place, two terrible goals to lose and Big Artur saved us several times so he did his job.
Our fullbacks are caught out continually by the ball over the top as they are too small, also in possession they give it away cheaply.
Celtic could have scored 4 last night 2 good chances for Jan, Mick had a header from about 8 yards that hit the back of his head out of the box and Chris pulled out a decent save from their keeper.5 games to go dont panic but I would definately like evidence of the learning that is supposed to be taking place.
-
No-one is gloating !! To suggest otherwise is, I hope, tongue in cheek. For goodness sake, Paul has put it up in flashing neon lights. We are one game from a whole year, 52 weeks, 365 days, of being unable to keep a clean sheet away from home. We're not playing CL football each of those weeks. We're playing Motherwell, ICT, etc etc. If this defence can't shut the door on SPL teams, then why oh why do we get ourselves in such a frenzy about the possibility of coming away with anything in the CL away games ? To criticise the coach, team, board for this failure in ALL away games is not mineshafting - its an expression of a genuine concern, one which presumably no-one suggests should be overlooked ?!
-
Bhoy Molloy
See above - Celtic as a club have no aspirations in the cl other than getting there hence the reason why we entered it with a poor defence despite having the money to fix it.
Let me tell you something on Tuesday 28th August 2007 I was told in no uncertain terms that Celtic would not sign another player before the window closed regardless what happened reagrding CL qualification. I found this incredible but my source is normally impeccable thereafter I paid no futher interest in the transfer window which I am glad about as I would have wasted a couple od days hoping that we might show some ambition and sign some decent defenders.
Turns out my source was right.
Ho Hum
-
Little piece from an excellent article in the Times:(http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/martin_samuel/article2485344.ece)
When United were last in Lisbon, their training ground was situated near to the site of Celtic’s victory. Now lightly used, mostly as a training ground by the Portugal national team, Ferguson led a small band of tourists from the club, including a camera crew from the company television network, MUTV, on a pilgrimage. According to his friend Pat Crerand, as the camera filmed Ferguson in the tunnel, he gave a running commentary, wondering aloud what his hero, Stein, would have been thinking as he walked out to face the Italians.
He marvelled at how a team from such a small country could grow to become the champions of Europe. “They should make a film about it,” Ferguson told Crerard. “They made one about that horse, Seabiscuit. They should make one about the Lisbon Lions, too.” Yet the video footage captured that day was not for public consumption. Crerand claims it was a memento for Ferguson alone; a private moment, for the gentle days when Lisbon is a city to be visited, not conquered.
-
After watching us being rolled over by Donetsk last night, I think we can say that we're up against it in this group and that , on paper, we are the weakest of the four.
I saw the highlights here in France of Marseille v Betsiksas. If only we were with one of these two teams ! Marseille are v. poor in the league but still had enough to win 2-0. A certain ex-Ger called Rodriguez got the first. That tells you all you need to know.
Donetsk would have taken at least 2 off of either of these teams last night.
I think we can still qualify and as one poster said earlier, each game must be treated as a cup final. A point, minimum, against Milan would be a good start. We then have to get 3 in Lisbon....a big ask, but on I'm sure we'll relish with the tag of underdogs around our neck.
Hail Hail !
-
Isn't it funny (peculiar) how a certain poster hasn't come on to gloat about about his/her/their favourite hate figure Neil Lennon and why we don't need a holding midfielder?
Last night's game is proof positive that a holding midfielder is absolutely essential, especially in the CL where almost EVERY team has one.
Make no mistake though, Shaktar are a GOOD side. Easily the best Pot 4 side in the tournament, and better than a good few Pot 3 teams. We will be lucky to qualify for the UEFA Cup this year, and an extra £5m spent in the summer wouldn't have made much of a difference to that.
So what do we do? Going 4-4-2 away from home against a team who have a very good player playing in 'the hole' ain't gonna work.
Going 4-1-3-2 helps counteract this, as it did last night, but against a team who have 2 very good full backs just switches that pressure on to our 2 full backs, especially from a team who are prepared to play with 2 at the back.
4-5-1 then, it would seem is the answer away from home. Actually, it's a no-brainer. Playing for 3 points ugly, and maybe getting more, is better than achieving no points gallantly. That's how it was achieved against France. No big secret!!!
As for Big Mick, OK he made one mistake last night, but hardly put a foot wrong for the rest of the game. If it was 4-5-1, it wouldn't have happened. As for the 2nd goal, that was an extremely well taken goal and as it proved, exceptionally difficult to defend against.
So, who would be the ONE up front??? McDonald, great industry, but too small. JVoH, good player, but not enough industry.
We DID have one such player, but he's now plying his trade in Derby.
Big, big mistake that one!
-
Paul67,
Picking up from what i said last night. We have not fixed the problems that we know exist.
Lack of investment in the defence has cost us dear. The gamble has not paid off this time.
I don't know the ins and outs but if the plan was not to spend more than 2 million net this summer and deny the manger to fund these positions then i think we got what we deserved last night.
-
-
Miller being in Donetsk last night would not have made one difference!!
Anybody thinks that Celtic taken 3 million for Kenny Miller is not a good deal need there head examined. Celtic done a great bit of business here.
My gripe would be that we never got a replacement in or spent the money soring up the defence.
-
Good overall analysis miketw10,
Find myself agreeing with just about everything you say about away CL formations. If we played the San Siro system and had Neil Lennon, we would've been much tighter, but the flip side of depending on Lenny in the last year or so is that we got little innovation from the middle. We get that innovation now, even though it was non-apparent at the highest level last night, so we can't have it every way.
Where I disagree is with Miller v McDonald. I for one am delighted to have been proved wrong on my initial reaction to the McDonald signing. He has proved already to be a far better player than I thought - in particular his strength and ability to hold the ball up. He can be greedy and choose the wrong option for the team when he's near goal, but that's a common striker trait. All in all, he is a player who has added a lot to the team, and I think he is capable of playing lone striker role.
All in all, he is a better asset to the team than Miller imo.
Remember the Miller experiment in Lisbon failed miserably.
-
I'm still waiting for someone to post some evidence that the Board held money back from WGS.
If Kenny Miller had done what Bobo did and refused to move our net spend would have been £5m. Would that have been better?
Or if Tommy G had refused to move our net spend would still have been £2m but we would have been £2m more in wages. This demonstrates the absurdity of talking about net spend on its own.
If Ronaldinho was on a Bosman and we paid him £100k per week our net spend would be nil. That's not going to happen of course but taking the theory to extremes highlights the flaw.
At the end of the day I am presenting information here that is in the public domain, and to add to this WGS said (so I am inclined to take his word on it) that he and the scouting staff simply could not source full back cover of an acceptable quality at an acceptable price and when we start paying over the odds for players then, and only then, can we start criticising the stewardship of the club.
In Paul's Brian Quinn interview the most powerful bit of information that screams out at me is the commitment to a rolling review (5 years in Celtic's case) and the steadfastness to stick with a measured business plan. Too many in football react and change at each cut and turn. Just read CQN. Management and decision making based only or primarily on the short term is a hideous gamble. The Celtic Board have absolutely no right whatsoever to gamble with my Club. And they don't. This is, in my opinion, without a shadow of a doubt their greatest strength, their resilience in the face of insatiable passion for football success at all costs.
What I don't see on our board is ego. I don't see the need to be liked. I don't see self promotion and I don't see anyone acting in any way that is not for the good of the Club.
Brian Quinn receives £30,000 per year and Peter Lawwell's remuneration is geared massively to football, not financial, success. All of the Board members appear to me to be Celtic supporters and the target for the Club is football success, pure and simple. I mean really, what else is it we actually want from them? To admit it's all a ruse? To admit they just haven't got what it takes?
I imagine we’d all have very similar views if we were sitting having a beer talking Celtic. Frustrations at not getting a player for a certain position, maybe annoyance at some of the customer services. But in the grand scheme of things what is the issue here?
For me it's simple. Move on from the transfer window frustration because although it's real, that's all it is - frustration. There is no undercurrent of mismanagement and no motive for skulduggery.
Despite what we read regularly this is a terrific time in our history, things that we control are actually going pretty great. I'm not promoting complicity for the sake of it, just rationalise the argument, I'm genuinely interested.
Happy clapping is the new rock 'n' roll!
-
Thats exactly right WGS, selling Kenny Miller and banking the money rather than re-investing it in the playing squad was not a 'great bit of business', more akin to profiteering, pretty sure thats the majority view on here.
-
In The Dark,
was that "Walter" who told you that?
Still think your 1000 or 5000 pound bet or whatever it was,was a good idea?
Did you put another grand on what you were told on August 28th?
Italiabhoy,
Warsaw Pact?
I know we aren't totally inexperienced in the Champion's league.
Some of the players have actually played in it twice for us!!!!!
But really,if our team had played and been beaten in the Warsaw Pact,they would all be at least 40.
Maybe next year we will be able to go to the Byzantine empire and get beat there as well
Settle down.
Bad game for us poor performance,and time to look forward.
These results happen in Europe(as we well know),always have,and they always will.
Bloody disappointing,but not that surprising.
We know this will be hard,and we know it will only get harder as the crunch comes.
Let's see how everybody travels,before we start lynching people.
-
3 million for our top scorer might have been a good deal but with no replacement what happens if McDonald gets injured/suspended ?
-
I think 1 up is an option if you have wide players with pace, intelligence and ability to both support the attack and defend. There are also very few players who can do the 1 up role well. Kenny Miller is not one of them, (whilst the rest of your analysis is good Mike) he is an option if your game plan happens to include the line 'I hope we can win this game through some absolute miracle but in reality I don't really believe it'.
That's the difference between say, Scotland at home to France (which was a miracle) and Scotland away to France (which was thoroughly deserved).
I want us to play 2 up in every away game but it's the midfield which requires the work. It may even be a case for Sno in the sitting role and Hartley, Brown and Donati ahead of them. This would require the talented Sno to turn up and not the frustrating version because there are two!!!
I'm just glad nobody has used the Bobo Balde name in vain yet!!!!
-
Paul67
I am not McManus´ biggest fan but I feel I have to defend him re the first goal.
Brown blasted the ball at McManus from 5 yards away and unless McManus had the developed the first touch and the composure of Henke overnight the only place the ball was going to hit was his shin and thats what ended up happening.
The Celtic midfield allowed the Shaktar players and especially their wing-backs (Srna was terrific) 40 yards of free space to run into and backed up the defence so far that McManus and Caldwell had to sit on the 18 yard line. For a team as competent on the ball as Shaktar it was candy from a baby stuff.
-
As it happens, and all things considered, knowing what we know now, etc... it's a good thing that KM DID go when he did.
Keeping an unhappy player is bad business.
Having KM in the team last night would NOT have made a difference, I agree, but if it was 4-5-1, then it most definitely WOULD have.
-
itz said...
Thats exactly right WGS, selling Kenny Miller and banking the money rather than re-investing it in the playing squad was not a 'great bit of business', more akin to profiteering, pretty sure thats the majority view on here.
______________
Nah m8, its only mineshafters who would make that assumption.
Happy clappers who are the majority on here will see it as brilliant business acumen.
-
Paul67,
Not quite an entire year, 1-0 win away to Falkirk on 1.10.06 (Aiden) nit pickin I know :-)
Now, if we don't keep a clean sheet away to Gretna on 7th October...
Now last night, normally before an away CL game the tension mounts, guts ache hours before kick off. Last night, nothing, knew the script, knew they were far too good.
Personally, for me, just reaching the CL is significant as the money will allow us to continue winning the league year in year out and, who knows, one year we might pick up another point on the road!
Some people may see this as lacking ambition. I see it as the real world were we compete at our level until some sugar daddy/mummy buys the club and, hands up, how many of us want that?
As someone who very rarely goes to away European games, my money goes on supporting Celtic domestically home and away. This is were the CL money helps us to continue winning. Call it bread and butter, SPHell etc. but this is also were the vast majority of us spend our time and money. So, if qualifying for the CL every season means having to endure results like last night then so be it. I’ll take 16 in a row over the last 16 anytime.
-
Miketw10 @14.37
Ah'll get right tae it,pal....
Kojo is still in Don'ask...
Dinna worry when he gets back...
He'll tak yer silly remarks tae task!
In da meantime, get dis and get dis good.....
Lennon played fur Many Many Years in past Cl Games.
An' we Still LOAST away FRAE HAME!
We lose because it's due tae NOIVES!
All da HOLDING PLAYERS IN DA WOILD, couldna hiv stoaped,
Big MICK'S BLOOMER dat He SOIVED!
Da trouble wi da Celts is Glaring!
IT IS BECAUSE OUR DEFENSE IS A BUNCH O' HAND-BAGGED SISSIES!
AND IT IS OBVIOUS, IT IS GLARING!
So dinna gie us dat Crapola...
Lennon, fur da last Two Years...
HE STUNK LIKE GORGONZOLA!
Kenny Miller? MAKE A DIFFERENCE? SO YE STATE...
Ah' no even answer dat...Because you in yer Heart knows...
Dat Miller is whit da Soccer Cognoscenti term...
Ah Flatterer to Deceiver,is faur frum Great... Plus, as everyboady knows ....EXCEPT YOU!!
IS THIRD-RATE!
CELTIC NEED... TWO NEW, "TAKE NO PRISONER".. FULL- BACKS...
SIX FEET TALL!....
PLUS, a COMMANDIN' CENTER HALF...
Who'll TOWER ABUNE DEM ALL!
Another Lennonesque HOLDIN' PLAYER?
DON'T MAK ME LAFFFFFF!
collie.
Tails Awaggin', Awaggin'
-
CaltonTongues
Are you saying Celtic should plan for winning the most important prize every season and not gamble huge amounts of money that could threaten the future of the club on a trophy that is geared towards clubs from bigger countries anyway?
Please, put away the reality pills and smoke some of this mate......
-
itz said...
Thats exactly right WGS, selling Kenny Miller and banking the money rather than re-investing it in the playing squad was not a 'great bit of business', more akin to profiteering, pretty sure thats the majority view on here.
______________
Nah m8, its only mineshafters who would make that assumption.
Happy clappers who are the majority on here will see it as brilliant business acumen.
-
Ah no,
Infested by the Walter Mitty CSC, coming out with the seedy storylines, substantiated by their "impeccable source" telling us of boardroom plots to bring down.....well I suppose the board...ripping off their face masks like the janitor in scooby doo to reveal the face of Sir Minty...
Gis peace...
Lennon is now a saint who operated in a successful away winning CL side and Kenny Miller is the greatest Celtic "one man up front only" striker of recent times...
Cue the reformation of Bobo Balde as a man who didn't make gaffs in Europe and Naka as a poor man's Steve Guppy.
We've definitely got areas in the team to address and it's frustrating we didn't. The manager made a judgement call on what he had at the back and market forces were crazy this summer where the full backs we were after (N'Daw) was being quoted in the 5 million bracket...
I get the feeling some of you fellas genuinely felt happy at the defeat last night so you could wake up today and feed us with your energy-sapping nonsense, complete with your smug overtones......
Wavy
-
Hey CaltonTongues,
I understand where you're coming from, but .....
Being based in France, I like to go to the away CL games as they are usually easier for me to get to than Celtic Park every other week !
Agree that the SPL is bread and butter and that's what we should be aiming to win every year.
For me the CL is a bonus. The cherry on the cake. I meet old friends, and make new ones. Visit some interesting cities and get to follow the Bhoys.
I guess we all know in our heart of hearts that we won't win the Big One. It's skewed towards the big 5 countries.
But maybe one day I'll be standing there on some foreign terracing and see us get 3 points. Then maybe soon after, next away game, another 3pts. Then we're on our way to the semis...then who knows.
The CL is the dream. The SPL helps create that dream. You don't get the 2nd without the 1st :)
I remember driving for 14hrs to Vigo withsome mates in the hope we could make it into Europe after Christmas for the first time in 20 odd years. A dream. Yet we did it.
Maybe before I pop my clogs we'll do the Big One again !?!?!?
Maybe our major shareholder will wake up one day and think "I can't take the billions with me. And I don't want to leave it to the govt. So, how can I make myself and 1M others happy ?? " . . . . .
-
Lastnight revealed the point where the interests of good business sense and footballing desire fracture and separate - the club as a business entity has no true desire beyond qualification for the group stages. Accordingly, we will never spend more than is necessary to win the SPL.
-
Kano
Ye hiv da right slant fur us tae tak...
So we loast da Foist Game?
But we kin still come BACK!
We did it last time... Ah seem tae remember!
Da League hiz jist STARTED...it's jist SEPTEMBER...
All we need is 12(?) Points.. by DECEMBER!
Ah'll nevah gie up!
Ah'm jist no da Type!
Ah canny help it!
Ah Nevah did Shrink, frae a FIGHT!
It's aye...
GET BACK IN DER....and ASSERT YER RIGHT!
It's noo dat we Separate, da MEN FRAE DA BHOYS!
Yer awe GROWN -UP NOO!
Ye MUST FIGHT BACK...
AN' PIT AWAY YER TOYS!
Panic is a Cancer...
Dat is da Badge Dat Signifies...
A CHANCER!
Who said dat?....
Ah jist did~
collie.
Tail's Awaggin', Awaggin'
-
I've never met a Celtic supporter who was happy to see us getting beat. A rare breed if indeed such a person exsists. But according to some on here they are everywhere! What a load of tosh. Please find another way to substantiate your point (caller).
-
Well, well Collie...
Touch a nerve did I? Cap fit did it?
If all the holding players in the world wouldn't have stopped that goal, how come when Paul Hartley was moved to the 'holding midfielder' position, the defence was improved to such an extent that Shaktar didn't score any more goals?
My take on the goal is that Scott Brown put too much weight on the back pass which McManus failed to control properly. On another day, another decision, he would have hoofed it into Row Z, as others have suggested.
David Platt called it right last night when he suggested that early on in a tie like that, a defender should just get rid of it and let the team bed in for the first 20 mins and get a feel for the game.
Oh and as for KM... I'm the only person who reckons he's any good, am I???? Tell that to Gordon Strachan, Alex McLeish, Walter Smith, Billy Davies and Glen Hoddle. I'm sure they'll disagree with you.
-
Blantyre kev – Your absolutely right to point out that the club is being run astutely – that’s totally valid.
However on the football field - towards the tail end of last season it was becoming abundantly clear that we had a weakness in the full back areas & we critically required an old head at centre back to partner either McManus or O’Dea
I fully endorse the clubs strategy in paying what we can afford for players & only signing players who can make a difference. We are slowly accumulating a good footballing team & there have been glimpses so far of exciting football. The frustration for me & many others is that had we addressed these key defensive positions in the summer, we would be very close to having a special team on the park & be able to face Champions League opposition without any anxieties .
Mark Wilson is a young guy learning the game, but you don’t have to be Felipe Scholari to see that his progress is slow & he ain’t a right back. No harm to him & in the SPL he has shown on occasion that he is quite resilient, but away to Man Utd, Copenhagen & Shaktar he has lacked physical presence or shown adequate defensive positioning. On the other flank Lee Naylor has been a very reliable player for us, but he looks out of sorts this season & without serious competition for the left back slot this situation won’t improve. Naylor as far as I’m concerned should be a squad player, however it looks like we’re going down the same route as we did with Stanislav Varga. He too was a decent squad player & should’ve only been used short term. As things transpired we kept Varga beyond his sell by date & this ended in tears & a shaky defence. Surely to god there are two full backs out there who are affordable, who are athletic, can hold a position & can use the ball. Right Where’s my Mould ins….
-
You are very quick to point the finger at McManus Paul and yes he did make a mess of a bad pass from Brown (I think).
But yet you can't understand why Hartley played where he did. He played there because he was told to.
Now I am not anti WGS but he must hold his hand up to that one. And no this is not 20:20 hindsight, I believe a lot of people expected Hartley to start in the position he ended up playing (very well) in.
-
BlantyreKev,
Just back from a smoke break, think I'll stick to the Mayfair.
Antibes,
I, like everyone else, hope yer dream comes true. Also, I'll give you yer 14 hours to Vigo and raise you 23 hours to Bordeaux on ma Birthday wae a toilet that was flooded before Bothwell Services.
-
BhoY Molloy and Itz - Any inside information on which fullbacks were offered to us who would have improved the side? Also how much were they offered to us for?
I am all for spending if its on quality but I am not for spending the £3m Kenny Miller money just for the sake of spending!
In saying that though , I know that quality left backs are thin on the ground but surely we can get a European class right back for a couple of million? Can We ?(again I dont know who was available and at what price)
We didnt spend on the defence in the window and I think it will cost us dear. But I do not know why we didn't spend.
Is it that :
1. Manager is happy with the defence?
2.Players we want arent interested in coming to SPL
3.The players are outwith our price range.
4.We are genuinly stingy and wont buy players.
5.The management wouldnt know a good defender from a bad one?
Anyone have the definitive answer or are we all making it up as we go along?
-
malceye
I agree with you up to a point. The short term goals of this board/management and team is to win the SPL and qualify for the Champs League every year whilst substantially reducing our level of debt.
If we look at the last 3 years, we have achieved this apart from Strachan's year 1.
The problem with this scenario is that as fans we will get bored with winning the SPL and only qualifying for the Champs league every year. On the other hand, anything less would be unacceptable.
What I am confident of is that the other part of the board and Strachan's lonmger term masterplan. That is to build :
1) A younger fitter faster entertaining team.
2) A group of players who will get better as they get older and gain more experience.
3) These players can be sold on for huge profits at a later date if and when required. We will hopefully hold onto the better players but everyone has their price.
4) The new academy at lennoxtown to grow our own superstars of the future and also to improve the facilities and add another attraction to entice players to our great club.
Don't get me wrong, I get as upset, frustrated, angry and disappointed as everyone else when I watch performances like last night. But I know that our club is in good hands and I an VERY hopeful for the future.
Hail Hail
-
Miketw10
So dat is your solution ?
A Magical, Covered in Fairy Dust...
HOLDIN' PLAYER?
We wid hiv mair success,if we employed the services o' a SOOTH-SAYER!
Ah'm sorry ah canny deal wi' yer Logic any mair!
Ah gie up!
Ah throw ma hauns up in da Air!
So ah'll leave ye tae wallow in yer dreams...
As ye weave yer Magical And Romantic Schemes......
About Lennon returnin in awe his Glory..... An'
KENNY MILLER... Playing...
LIKE JIMMY MCGRORY! scoring Winning goal... an' Holdin' Players being awe da rage...
Fugettaboot it!
I think ah'll close dis Page!
colllie
Tail's Awaggin', Awaggin'
-
Nae Bread,
I guess most of us are making it up, or having an opinion as it's otherwise known. There may be some who have inside info, but not many.
It's clear that we were looking for full backs over the summer. The easy answer would have been to have re-signed Doubme right away, but it looks like we were considering other options first.
The difficulty we have is being a big fish in a very small and ordinary pond. We will never attract the top players,and even the second teir have offers from mid table English, Spanish etc clubs to consider.
What's the answer? Wish I knew then I could tell the club. I guess we need to keep trying to find someone good enough to improve our side but not good enough that he gets more lucrative offers.
-
I've never met a Celtic supporter who was happy to see us getting beat. A rare breed if indeed such a person exsists. But according to some on here they are everywhere! What a load of tosh. Please find another way to substantiate your point (caller).
===================================
Itz - This particular breed of celtic fan requires the defeat of celtic to help provide a platform to air their conspiracy theories, their superior "I told ye sos" and their own particular brand of "we're all doomed" with a sort of smugness that illustrates a certain glee in showing how they got it right all along.
This particular breed of fan never feels the need for balance in their views, is markedly absent in comment at celtic victories nor a recognises the human frailty which exists in players on the pitch sometimes or within executives who must make decisions based on the long term interests of the club, some of which may be wrong at times and sometimes may be unpopular. This breed will never have to embrace that responsibility and will always be devoid of the complexities of running the shop.
This breed of fan enjoys the feeling of being a bit of a maverick, who rejects all those in authority (in the shape of the celtic board) and sees the world in simple good guys (those of a like mind who enjoy begrudgery) against the baddies (the board).
This particular breed is the sorta guy at work who saps your energy all day with their constant moaning, their superior airs and graces, their need just to have a good destructive whinge, even if the subject matter happens to be the thing they claim to love...
That my friend is the world of the mineshafter :)
Big Wavy
-
Message for London Tims
A friend is looking for a Celtic friendly pub close to St James Park area in London to watch our next home game Dundee Utd 29th Sept.
Celtic Bars lists about 40 London pubs but, as I have found to my cost in the past, there is a big difference between a bar which shows a Celtic match and a Celtic Bar.
Any advice will be gratefully received.
Polish satellite links , Japanese feeds, anything will do so long as he can abuse the referee loudly without being shown the door.
The Onlooker
-
At a guess, I would imagine Collie's post of 16:06 translates thus:
"I don't have an intelligent answer to your points!"
For a start, there is nowhere in any of my posts that advocates either magic or fairy dust. (We all know where that belongs, don't we?), and there's nowhere in any of my posts which advocate bringing any of the 2 players in question back.
The nearest I got to that was suggesting that it was a mistake to let KM go.
My logic only extends as far as the evidence put in front of me. And that was that we played better last night when we employed a holding midfielder.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't some of our greatest performances of recent times when we had not one, but 2 holding midfielders??? Lennon and Lambert?
-
Nae Bread Nae Brains
No inside info mate, I just think that the decision to sell Kenny with the transfer window about to shut was as clear an indicator as you will get in regard of what our real priorities are. Remember at that point we had already qualified for the CL proper and most other CL teams were looking to strengthen their squads rather than weaken them.
Its disappointing but all water under the bridge now, here's hoping that DR or CK get the playing opportunities that’s Kenny would have got and make the best of them.
Big Wavy - credit where credit is due - an excellent reply!
-
KANO,i knew i was waiting for inthedark for some reason,as you say his impeccable sources told him to bet the huns for the league and he was stupid enough to listen,maybe his sources are good friends of mr coral and mr ladbrokes,my only surprise is that it took him so long to come on to criticize
-
Onlooker,
Get yourself up to the Kingdom in Kilburn. Great bunch of fellas (in the main) at the spiritof67 csc.
Wavy
-
Does Spirit of 67 show home games ?
-
GordonJ. @16.09
Well done,my man... ye ticked all da Boxes.
Fur ah kin tell you, dat Pierre had nae success, in Capturin' DEFENSIVE PLAYERS....
Fur he wiz Financially Stymied, although he woiked off his SOXES!
Yer right...
FIVE MILLION POUNDS, wis da Price dat wiz Needed...
Tae Bring in Defensive Players,
Da TYPE... who in shoring up our weakness,dey would hiv SUCCEEDED!
Noo, we need mair dan WAN(!!!) DEFENSIVE BACK....
So a wee bit Arithmatic wull tellya..
Dat tae tak care o' oor wants....
WULL SET US, At Least.... 10 MILLION BACK!
A man wit half a Brain... an'Thoid Grade Education....
Kin noo see WHY ..... In BRINGIN' IN PLAYERS......
WE DID EXPERIENCE....
A WEE BIT, HESITATION!
Simply put....
I AM SORRY TAE TELL YE......
WE NEEDED MAIR DOUGH!!!!!!!!!
Hence... JAN. is da Date!
It in No Too Late...
Fur Over da SUMMER....
MAIR DOUGH ..WE DID..
ACCUMULATE!!!!!!!!!!!
Jan. wull tell, if whit ah am sayin'
it TRUE or NO!
BUT AH SAY DAT IN JAN.....
WE WULL HIV DA DOUGH!
MEANTIME...
We wull jist hiv tae bide... an' go wit' da tide!
collie.
Tail's Awaggin', Awaggin.
-
Danny,
They do indeed....£2.50 entry and a raffle included........
Itz - Cheers fella.
Big Wavy
-
Full back suggestions?
We could have got Melchiot ahead of Wigan. He was the guy who forced Doumbe to leave Rennes. Tall strong right back with plenty of experience.
And for anybody watching der hun tonight then check out Ludovic Magnin 6ft 1" LB for Stuttgart.
-
miketw10,how you can implicate scott brown in losing the first goal is beyond me,the blame lies solely with stephen mcmanus
-
Funnily enough we now have Collie telling us to wait till January next it will be August then January etc etc and no doubt Paul will echo the same sentiments.
Our transfer spend going forward will I estimate hover around the 2/3 million mark each season regardless of how much transfer money we take in from sales.
The proof is in the pudding.
If it don't make sense it don't make sense.
-
Onlooker, scroll back to the previous thread to see the comprehensive answer Big Wavy gave me yesterday.
I went up to the Cock Tavern in Euston last night which was fine. Been there before. Living near St.James Park as I do, it wasn't as close as the Marquis of Granby off Covent Gdn but any time I've been to that one in the past I've found it very crowded.
I haven't been to the Kingdom in Kilburn for a game yet but if your friend's nearer the west side of the park, a 16 going up Park Lane goes almost to the door.
-
I wasn’t all that surprised at losing last night. When you consider how we should have lost goals in the SPL but didn’t because of
1. Incompetence of the opposition
2. AB
3. Luck,
it stands to reason that a good team will actually score.
Many of us must feel like voices in the wilderness. How often have I written and how often have I read we need a full-back?
We got away with a 2 – 0 last night, an improvement on the usual 3 – 0, and we’re still in it thanks to AC Milan gubbing Benfica, so things are really going much as expected. A win would have been too good to be true IMO. I just hope when we do get our defence sorted out AB is still with us, and that Naka’s not past it.
HHB
-
Bhoy Molloy,
Could we have matched premiership wages ? Should we have for the sake of our wage structure ?
Would Magnin have left the superior bundesliga (plus Champions league footie) for the inferior SPL (with no guarantee of CL football until 3 days before the end of the window)..
Not meaning to sound like a smart**se but just highlighting some of the issues the club faces in reality when we spot the list of possibles. It's still a long way from a deal clincher and this summer I really felt that the Sky money in England left us completely at sea with potentials, throwing the market to crazy heights.
Big wavy
-
Big disappointment Ghuys....but SD are a good side and too many fans underestimated them.
Nevertheless we did not compete like we should have. The actual goals were easily preventable. I honestly think they went down a gear when they got to 2-0.
There is no doubt we all knew where WE thought the team needed strengthened but we are where we are.
BTW it is not that MW and LN are not tall enough it is just they are not quite at this level of quality (maybe yet for MW, probably never for LN). Bixente Lizarazu and Roberto carlos are no giants but are quality full backs.
Big Mick made two mistakes for the first goal...his touch was criminal but he followed that up by trying to undo his mistake by charging after the ball and commiting himself to a despairing challenge which left brandao with a gift. One of my critiques of the Big guy is that his decision-making is lacking at times and this was one of them.
Nonetheless whilst defeat hurts we are not mortally wounded. A great atmosphere at CP for our home games could be all the difference between having European football after Xmas or just hoping we can have the league sown up by Easter.
-
inthedark,having now seen the huns in a number games are you still quite happy to have had your four figure bet?
-
Big Wavy, Danny, daveinlondon, many thanks for the replies. My friend is a lurker and is probably already planning his route from the hotel.
Thanks again.
The Onlooker
-
If it doesn't make sense it doesn't make sense.....
Itz - That include your bet on the huns for the title ?
Doesn't make sense to me :)
Big wavy
-
BigWavy
Ah solemnly agree, wit' yer findin's!
Da T.V. money dat da Premier has ... FUR US!... is da Chains dat ur Bindin'!
Over da Summer...Celtic actually....Did,extraordinary well...wit' our MEAGRE RESOURCES!
You know dat WELL!
Dis Team dat We Hiv Assembled, is not too Shabby!
Except,of course... Da Defense... which, at da moment, is a Trifle slow an' FLABBY!
But, all in all......
Ah am Very Pleased...
An' ah think we ur guid enough... tae win da LEAGUE.....
WIT' EASE!
Oor Performances in da CL, wull IMPROVE, as we BUILD...
And ma OPTIMISM,concernin' dat....
WULL BE NEVAH,NEVAH,... BE KILLED!
WE WULL GET DER... WE WULL WIN DA CL CUP!....
An' dat is da Opinion...
O' Dis WEE PUP!
collie.
Tail's Awaggin', Awaggin'
-
"Three or four games on the road without a clean-sheet would be a concern in other times, but a full year tells its own story; away from home, Celtic are not good enough to keep any team out."
And it's all down to the defense. Sure the midfield and front can take the blame some of the time but our defense isn't good enough.
I like Strachan, I'm very much a Strachan supporter/defender but I think like many managers he doesn't like spending money on his defense.
McManus isn't Celtic class - for the 10 days before the Shakhtar game I thought he might have made a dramatic improvement but alas no. I think Caldwell is a decent enough player, not great but just good enough. Naylor... what can be said about how poor he has become? Wilson shows promise now and again but isn't good enough on a consistently.
Money needs to be spent on the back four - Rangers fans with their poor team are even laughing at how poor our defense is; marking it out as a major weakness.
-
I was stunned at the formation we started with, however after reading that GS thought we could go over there and win, I wasn't so upset, at least his tacticts were right for a team intent on winning.
Once again i say "however" he was naive in thinking this, Shaktar spent in the region of 48 million quid in the summer, we should have gone out to contain and then as the game dictates, change the system.
Why can't we have a full back who can cross, Wilson's cross early on hitting the first defender was the outset of the second goal and when he came back he was too slow closing down the man who crossed the ball, we've been dearth of fullbacks since Jacky and Joos played there.
Here's hoping we have a reason to bring two in at the January break.
-
What about Hatem Trabelsi. He can be signed today if needed as he unattached. Should he not be offered a trial or offered to train with the hoops?
-
Why change the formation or team at all for away games. It seems every time we do so, we fail. The old saying "If it aint broke, don't fix it" springs to mind. What we did to Stuttgart away, Donetsk did to us. Came firing out the blocks and killed the game off early. I don't know why Strachan doesn't adopt the same mentality. Don't allow teams to settle. Starachan says we went to win, so why not play the most attacking team?!
-
big wavy,have you not realised that "if it doesnt make sense then it doesnt make sense" is one of their favourite favourite sayings,and its inthedark who has bet the manky mob to win the league,sure it made sense at the time cause his sources told him so
-
Evenin all.
I came on last night, as disappointed as anyone at the result, but not entirely surprised. I couldn't work out why lots of folk were predicting victory over a team we had never seen playing. They were better than us on the night, but I still had my tuppence worth re McManus and his decision making. I felt he was culpable at both goals.
Unfortunately for us, we have got off to a bad start but there is still time to turn things around. It will be difficult, as I always thoughht it would be, but I will continue to support the team and hope that we progress, to the UEFA cup at the very least.
At the same time, I also asked the chief net-spend nutter, NegAnon, to answer a couple of easy queries re his vision of the way forward for the club. Needless to say, I'm still waiting.
Objectivity is always welcome.
Negativity for negativity's sake can GTF.
C'mon the Hoops.
-
Some on here who have been loud in their defence of our captain, when he has been criticised for perceived failings, are now claiming that those who have been doing so are coming on to gloat. I doubt that very much. Some supporters have been concerned about Central Defence since Bobo lost the plot. Our problems are compounded by our full backs losing form or confidence. All were culpable last night but better defences will suffer too.
I don't think throwing money at the problem will make any difference. Firstly, it will prove very hard in the winter window to sign the requisite QUALITY, even if they wanted to come, which is an open question at best.
Our manager sited another reason, which, as long we remain in the UK, won't change, i.e. the opportunity of signing from countries like Brazil, because immigration won't be loosened. That would be electoral suicide to Labour down here, un;ess the likes of Arsenal and Man U called for it and they have either enough money and glamour to sign the best (or they have structures in place, like feeder teams in Belgium) to circumvent the rules.
To me, the manager made 1 major mistake and I don't think, having watched the game, that it would have made a lot of difference in the end: not playing Paul Hartley in the middle from the kick off.
Now, we really need to climb the mountain that is Milan.
We shalll not be moved EVER.
-
Bhoy Molloy,i admit to knowing very little about Trabelsi,but does the fact that he is unattached at present not suggest that he is not too clever
-
Bhoy Molloy...
Someone posted last week that Trabelsi wouldn't get a work permit.
Don't know if that's true, but kinda backs-up what Gordon Strachan was saying about employment restrictions and other nations having an advantage in that regard.
-
Gordybhoy,
Ahhh I see.........
I much prefer the often underused :
"If it doesn't make sense, then I have succeeded in making myself sound like a little hairy budda who is wise with my thinking but not with my wealth"
:)
Wavy
-
Gordybhoy @ 1637
Then I suggest you watch the goal again without your 'anti-mcManus glasses' on.
Sure he was culpable, but he was certainly not the only one.
I find the word 'blame' to be a tad strong. I don't particularly like the use of the word in a team game.
-
Wizard
where's the objectivity in "support the team and hope we progress" ? This blog may as well close down if anything else is negativity.
-
We had an excellent fullback,more than capable of playing in the CL,who got drummed out because of his'attitude in training'
Going to Shaktar to win-being 2-0 down before the first tin of beer was finished is not'going to win'.
Going to win would be keeping it tight for the first 70 minutes,frustrate them,silence the rowd and then make the right tactical substitution to snatch victory.
The really frustrating thing is not losing,but that we manage to lose in such a feeble way.Gone are the brave nights where defeat can be blamed on the ref[Juve]or the goalie selling the jerseys[Bayern].
A month from now we will be setting off for Lisbon;the upbeat will be upbeat,the downbeat will be downbeat.
The end result will be the same-out of the game before halftime.
It must be a mental thing,at least in part.
At least if we now know the true value of the 5-0 victory in the SPL.
Anyways,as today is the anniversary of Gram Parsons'death I've got my tunes sorted out for tonight.
-
DBB
So we did, who's he playing for now? Maybe he played a part in being drummed out.
-
malceye.
I did not advocate that as a blog mantra. It is merely MY hope for the rest of the CL group.
My gripe is with the net-spend nutters who believe the bigger the spend equates to the better the chance of success, with no other variables allowed for.
Buying for buyings sake has never guaranteed anything. If it did, Chelsea would win everything going.
-
MAXIE1967 @1709.
Ya goat it! Ya GOAT IT ! YA GOAT IT!
ATTACK! ATTACK! ATTACK!
Wit' wiz it Napoleon said?
At da moment ah Fur GET!
Ah'll probably remember it, though... jist afore ah go tae bed!
Anyway....as done tole ye...
Celtic came ooot.... like
Wee Scared LASSIES, dat wur SHY!
Dey should come oot LIKE ROARIN' LIONS... der ATTITUDE....We UR GONNA WIN!
IT SHOULD BE....DO OR DIE!
Ah canny understaun' who Gordon, disnae dae whit da AMERICAN COACHES DAE...
DEY AYEWAYS AFORE A GAME....
GIE A TALK .....a ROUSIN' PEP TALK!
Dat MAKES DER PLAYERS BLAZIN' MAD!
Tae TEAR DER OPPONENTS TAE PIECES....Tae NUMB AN' SHOCK!
Kill! Slash! ...dae whatever is necessary.....
An' Believe me it WOIKS!......
DA PEP TALK IS A VERY NEEDED ACCESSORY!
collie.
Tail's Awaggin', Awaggin'
-
miketw10,i do not have any anti mcmanus agenda,but come on,the pass to him was hit too hard?,if that was the case why try to control it in the first place,just leather it up the park,and sorry but imo the blame certainly lies at his feet
-
TMC-He's not playing for anyone;further proof that if you leave Celtic it's downhill all the way;~)
However,can't help thinking that if handled differently he could still have been chasing back,putting in the tackles to save the day.
I expect footballers are no different from the rest of us working stiffs-some need a bollocking,some need a pat on the back,some just need to be left to get on with it.
-
dbbia
I think you're correct in the last part however I also think that some get to a stage where they have so much money and so little motivation that they give up.
Surely if anyone could have got a game out of him it would have been Martin O'Neill - who chased him from Villa.
If only Paul Telfer were a year or two younger :-)
-
My view is that although it was grim viewing I agree with Gordon that we were shell-shocked by the start we had, the first goal coming via a terrible error by Mc Manus who frustratingly didn't put a foot wrong in Paris last week.
The second? For me I'll prefer to give praise to Shaktar for some excellent play though I did feel it was Wilson attempting to double up on the man Caldwell had tracked that offered the option for the cross from the full back. For those who suggest that the Board aren't trying it is interesting to note that the scorer was approached by us during the summer.
After that 2nd goal Shaktar I felt were in cruise control for much of the game allowing us to come round and show a little more of the play we have been producing in recent weeks. A goal snatched by us might have seen a different outcome either way. We might have got back in it, they might have upped their game- who knows? Unfortuntely Naka had an absolute stinker and I'm certain he's in need of a rest - cue a Naka "special" come Sunday!
I'd like to see Killen given more of an opportunity to see what he can produce as JVOH can be subdued much to easily for my liking. Scott Macdonald? What a bargain. I reckon he and Kenny Miller as a twosome would have asked a few more questions of the Shaktar defence. Another question we'll never know the answer to.
The full backs? Its all been said. Unfair for me however that Lee Naylor is being criticised for everything and anything when he's clearly playing when not 100%.
I never rated Mark Wilson defensively before we signed him. Now he's almost as bad offensively. Strangely he was however solid when playing left back and I reckon its time to give Doumbe a slot to allow Naylor to recover properly.
From the start I felt we had a "Group of Death " scenario where a 3rd place would be perhaps our best then when the fixture order came out I felt convinced that 3rd would definitely be our best. Anything that we do other than to come 4th will not disappoint me too much as with this "new" team the learning experience and securing the tite this year are the really big prizes so that next year, both financially and in the playing sense, we may have the opportunity to go a little further than our best so far.
-
When all is said and done about the events of the last 24 hours we can sleep easy on one issue, at least we are not like AV/MON and have MK as a fan. When it comes to central bankers who are debt nutters BQ is only Ayrshire Juniors class while MK is CL material.
Where the comparison does fall down is the fact that MK is only a fan, devoted by all accounts but still only a fan. BQ however is Chairman of the CFC board with a large input into the running of the club. And how we have suffered for his lack of nous and business expertise. He really is a man of the 50's, five year plans are for Soviet era tractor factories and nothing else.
When it comes to looking for the root causes of the result last night he, and the man he represents have to take the majority of the blame. The fact that WGS has now started to mention the £2 mill net spend this summer means that even he has started to see the hopelessness of the situation. We can't go on as we are doing at the moment, stagnation eventually will destoy the current business model. Growth is a must based on "surprise and delight" on the park and imagination off it. Currently we have little of both.
Three things struck me when I was reviewing the game on Saturday -
1) We scored some good goals.
2) ICT had too many good chances.
3) The number of empty seats in the stadium.
BQ's business model for the club is predicated on 53K season tickets and merchandising. Last night's result will do little for both. The conservatism now being shown in the affairs of the club will, I fear, cause more damage to the club than "Black Sunday" and AMB rolled into one.
For me and for others on this site we really are seeing a train wreck in slow motion with the club. More of the same and the future will not be bright but it could unfortunately be "Orange".
Something has got to give.
We cannot as a club continue on the current path.
Either we invest for the future or we go back to 30K watching M/well and DU. The season ticket sales fall and the house of cards will collapse. If and when that happens and it will be a case of J'accuse DD / BQ / PL.
-
Wizard of Oz
What makes a net spend nutter?
I don't think asking for investment in the team at acceptable levels is being a nutter.
We all know the defence is very very poor with inferior players who would not have got a game for us a few years back.
We lack fullbacks with crossing or positional abilty.
Our captain has no organisational abilities and our best centre halfs are on the bench or in the huff.
We also lack a class forward why was this not addressed?
With the influx of capital from season ticket sales, merchandising, champions league and tours is it being a nutter to expect a level of say £7 million net spend.
I think this level is compatible with a debt reduction/stabilisation strategy.
It would also allow us to put clear green water between us and the huns.
We have been shortchanged by someone.
Either targets were identified and the board did not back the manager or the scouting system has let us down.
Yes players will knock us back but players exist that are better than who we have and who would have come to scotland and play in the champions league.
Something stinks and it aint the support.
I find it alarming that strachan himself has now mentioned the small and frankly disapointing net spend.
We are all supporters and we all have levels of ambition for the club. We all contribute in our own way to the club I just feel that our stewards lack ambition and a gulf could develop between the club and the board.
-
Anyone here not had their champs league tickets arrive yet?
-
ardoch
Mine arrived last week
-
gweedore mine arrived 10 days ago, but my dads ain't turned up...yet.
-
gweedorebhoy
Oan dis very subject....concernin' oor last Summer's Spendin',
Ah wrote aboot da whys an' wherefores....
which ah hiv done ...several times...
It seems dat it is nevah endin'!
Wee Didna ha' da Gelt...
Dat wid mak oor Targets become a CELT!
We needed mair LOLLY!
By sellin' oor Duffers.... we accomplished dat...
Surprised by hoo much, dat we goat...it wiz a Miracle .... By GOLLY!
Wait until January comes...
Until den ... patient be ye..
.
Noo is a time tae haud yer hoarses...
ADOPT A WAIT AN' SEE!
Be content an' enjoy... da Half a Loaf...dat we goat!
Fur der is naethin' we kin dae,
Until a Noo WINDAE OPENS...
NOT A JOT!
collie.
Tail's Awaggin', Awaggin'
-
madmitch,
Brian Quinn had a lack of nous and business expertise? That's an incredible statement. Just look at his CV.
HONORARY PROFESSOR BRIAN QUINN
Education
University of Glasgow - MA (Honours)
University of Manchester - MA (Economics)
Cornell University - PhD (Economics)
Professional career
1964-1970 International Monetary Fund: Economist - African Department.
1966-1968 Resident Representative, West Africa
1970-1996 Bank of England
1970-1974 Economist
1974-1977 Assistant Chief Cashier
1977-1982 Chief Press Officer and Head of Information Division
1982-1988 Assistant Director and Head of Banking Supervision
1988-1994 Executive Director, Banking Supervision and Banking
Operations
1994-1996 Executive Director, Supervision and Surveillance
1995 Acting Deputy Governor
Official Appointments
1983-1988 Member, Basle Supervisors Committee
1994-1996 Member, Basle Supervisors Committee
1989-1994 Chairman, Supervisory Committee of EC Governors
1994-1996 Chairman, Supervisory Committee of European Monetary
Institute
Other Posts
• Chairman and Managing Director, Brian Quinn Consultancy 1996 ~
• Chairman, Celtic plc 2000 - 2006
• Non-Executive Director, Celtic pc 1996 ~
• Non-Executive Director, Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority 2006 ~
• Non-Executive Director , Britannic Asset Management 1998 - 2004
• Non-Executive Director, Sumitomo - Mitsui Banking Corporation Europe 2003
• Consultant, G.E. Capital, Europe 1996 ~
• Consultant, McKinsey and Co. 1996 ~
• Consultant, World Bank. 1996 ~
• Programme Leader, Toronto Centre. 1998 ~
• Consultant, Bank for International Settlements. 2001 ~
• Member, Advisory Board, The Financial Regulator 2000 ~
• Member, Advisory Board, Toronto International Leadership Center for Financial
Sector Supervision 1998 ~
• Non-Executive Director, Bankgesellshaft Berlin, UK p.l.c. 1996 - 2002.
• Chairman, Nomura Bank International, 1996 - 2000.
• Non-Executive Director, Genworth Financial 2004 ~
• Chairman, Financial Markets Group, LSE. 1996 - 2001.
• Consultant, Monetary Authority Singapore, 1996 - 2001.
Honours
• Commander of the Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.)
• Fellow, The Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland
Have we ever had such a well qualified chairman? Has the club ever been on a sounder financial footing? Of course everything's not perfect and I would love to see two quality full backs on the pitch. But let's not fall into the knee jerk Blame The Board mentality.
-
Kano Hi from Dubai..
Here we go; sometimes I read things on CQN and go wow! It's not just me but this ghuy/ghirl sees it like that to...........and that helps, well it helps me to understand my own drink addled thought/football processes and personal bugbear(s) ....... like if we played Naka on the left and Aiden on the right then JVOH would benefit from crosses from the bye line and well etc., a few on here concur.......... just one of my thoughts but hey, last night in the Dubs with 100 or so willing us on, I felt .............you know... I'm not enjoying work just now so might go and buy a South Sea island and fleck off (if I could) but not just yet, although some of our less than motivated overpaid non-triers could retire and more if they wanted to do so .......... actually voiced that thought in drink and frustration at our caught in the headlights start to the game ..... So, needed a pick me up visit to CQN today and hello.....TMC says ...... "however I also think that some get to a stage where they have so much money and so little motivation that they give up"..... am I reading you right? Because for me, that certain malaise looks all too evident re some players/wage slaves at Paradise of late........
TBM
-
@ 17.23 DBBIA -
If it is the marvellous Gram Parson´s anniversary, then playing on the Celtic jukebox is the Burrito Brothers "Dark End of the Street".
With regards to our away from home performances in foreign climes, I am reminded of that mock Baked Beans advert that the Goodies used to do on their show, where they needed dozens of takes and always ended with the punchline.....GET IT RIGHT!!!!! I wish we could get it right.
As has been well documented here, Strachan got it WRONG by playing as if McGeady was in the team... but without him. McGeady is one of the few players that takes people on and unless we can drum it into our midfield, whoever they are, that their purpose is to take players on and to look forward, not back, then we are sitting ducks.
In the first minutes last night we saw our "keep it tight" midfield playing the ball nervously back to our defenders. They in turn, undoubtedly under instructions not to blooter it forward were then forced to play short passes inside their own half or even pass it back to Artur. The message to the opposition was clear; they are not sure what to do. My old sports teacher used to call it the hot potato syndrome, nobody wants the ball.
Compare this with the first 10 minutes at Celtic Park against Spartak Moscow when Naylor made long forward passes from midway inside his own half. At home. A speculative ball forward away from home is always a good option. At worst you give the ball away to them in their own half and our defence is at least not on the back foot.
A lot of people watching the game with me last night, and others on here have alluded to this, believe that it is a mental thing, we need to be better mentally prepared. We needed a more defensive line up and everyone should be thinking of getting a point. It is not realistic going into these games thinking about winning.
Positives.
We are learning
It wasn´t 0-3
The worst game in the group is out of the way.
This result will help focus us and we need to keep that clean sheet against Hibs.
-
Regarding the football last night we looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights. The lack of confidence was collective and it ran right through the team. This more than a lack of ability produced the defeat. The lack of fight, both mental and physical was an embarassment to the team and its history.
AB = Only bright spot in the display.
================
MW = Spectacularly bad after showing signs of form in the SPL. Offered nothing on the right once he was 10 yds past half - way. Looked completely out of his depth.
LN = Playing from memory, he has retreated into his shell over the past month. Needs a rest mentally and if he is being played when injured then it is now so bad that cruelty could be involved.
GC = All over the place, though he did put in the effort when he had the chance.
SM = The debate continues: Good / slow developing JC (L'pool) vs Ordinary / MM Mk2. Though in saying that MM had enough ability and personality to get 3 teams into the EPL. SM needs to stop believing his own propaganda and start to lead from the front. Big game and he hid. Some growing up to do.
===============
SN = Not as bad as some have suggested but not the man for last night's game.
SB = Learning curve continues.
MD = Good and bad personified. Lack of energy was plain to see.
PH = Starting to show his true self. Had me worried with his WGS inspired anaemic performances last season.
===============
SMcD = Big ask, up against some class, nearly made it.
JVoH = Something missing at the moment, hopefully just inspiration but when the prospect of an AB reject coming off the bench offers hope over his insipid performance then I fear things are looking bad.
However good or bad the performances are, if the problems are strutural then that needs to be addressed first.
4-4-2 is the issue for me.
We don't have the players to make it work at this level.
SN + AMcG don't do enough to support the MF or protect their respective full backs. Throw in a lack of form at LB and we really do have a problem.
Last night was crying out for one up front and SN / AMcG supporting.
Midfield has some issues, sales may have balanced the books but we are missing some dig / effort in LM.
SB = RM
MD + ES / PH = CM
SP / KM / SM = All candidates for LM.
However SB - MD - ES - PH is where its at for CL. I do wonder where JJ was last night.
-
Gordon J
No issues with BQ's CV, but asking him to run a PLC is like asking Shergar to pull a coal lorry.
He is demonstrably not the man for the job.
-
...new post on www.thelordofthewing.blogspot.com
cocerning Mick and it's all in the stats.....
no panic
-
Gordon_J
Noo dat is whit a call A RESOUNDING... KNOCK- OOT BLOW!...
A STINGING DEFEAT... tae MR.MADMITCH!
YE TORE HIM TAE SHREDS!
Ye pit awe his silly arguments tae bed!
Ye hiv bared him tae da Woild.... He is NOO, LEFT WITHOOT A STITCH!
Ye Hiv taken him tae School...Ye HIV VANQUISHED HIS PITCH!
He kin Nevah Evah again, say a Bad woid aboot da HONORABLE, Mr. QUINN!
MITCH is Muzzled forever....
YE HIV QUIETED HIS DIN!
collie.
Tail's Awaggin', Awaggin'
-
Gweedorbhoy at 18.24
Well said !!!! Our aims at board and supporter level do not converge. If we have reached the peak of ambition with qualification for the group stages and then adopt a laissez faire attitude it will back fire in a big way. Empty seats and apathy were in abundance last season and has continued into this season. If we have reached the glass ceiling then expect to see the apathy grow. Now, for some that will provoke the "begone with the part-time supporters" brigade. However, those punters contribute financially and their absence will begin to tell. Slowly maybe but enough eventually to make CL qualification a must rather than a windfall.
-
-
Ardoch check your admin fee my brother was stung badly, mine seemed to be ok though.
Collie I hope your right and we all have our tails a wagging. I just get a bit tired hearing wait until the next window and it will be alright.
The huns have spent big time mostly on dross but they are desperate for the league.
I think we could have left them behind with a centre half and a quality full back. I just hope we dont rue this at Mordor come october.
As regards Brian Quinn to be honest he seems a well qualified guy for a banker but we aint barclays or HSBC. Our currency is more emotional and i just think he lacks that entrepernurial touch.
Like him or loath him Ironside plays to the gallery and puts his money where his mouth is. Quinn talks big and acts small.
Malceye I sit in the northstand lower and not one game including Spartak has seen all the seats around me full. A very sad sight.
I know regulars that felt gutted after the window shut. We all pay big bucks to follow this club we deserved better.
-
The big question is, with Seville, have we all lived the dream ? Have the ambitions of the club already been fulfilled ? Should we look to a future in European competition or continue to languish in the glory that is now 40 years old ? Winning the CL may seem an impossible dream at present but any European final appearance would have been laughed at in the '90s, yet we did it. I am not talking about 40 million euros, just enough to strengthen a weak defence and "discover" a striker of the quality that we have become accustomed to (cf. Van Hoojdonk, Cadete, Sutton, Larsson, Di Canio, Hartson...). Then, the aspirations of the support and the club might just fuse together.
-
Collie / "CareintheCommunity" CSC / PL's ma
No such luck, although why I am addressing a talking / typing "dug" suggests that I am taking you pro board nonsense a little too seriously.
Please look at the esteemed Mr Q's CV, central banker with an economics backgound. Nothing more nothing less. Absolutely zero to do with commerce, business or brand development.
Consequently he is not the person to take the club forward in any sort of executive role. He is a talker not a do'er and should be treated as such.
Five year plan said it all for me.
Bag of sand at the moment, doesn't understand what's needed to go forward.
The MON phone call didn't help either.
Or the CV police / fan comments.
-
Malceye
The empty seats last season were more to do with lack of competition than anything else. We got beyond the group stages of the Champions League! People were bored with the football last season, I was bored with it; going to some games out of duty rather than through any hope of entertainment.
This season, so far, has been good. I'm going to Celtic games and coming back feeling entertained. I'm happy with the side and the style of play.
We have our weaknesses but who doesn't, we need to work on them and hopefully if it can't be trained into them (and I think people know who "them" is) then they'll be replaced in January.
The board are going to give a set budget depending on how much we can spend without taking too much of a risk - what's wrong with that? The more money we generate the more money we can spend so the board have to in our best interests as fans for the long term future decide what the optimum spend for expected results are... beyond that it's up to the manager.
-
Rintintin-good choice of tune,and one of my favourite songs of all time,especially the original[James Carr]version.
Also on the jukebox last night-19th Nervous Breakdown..
OOPS!We've Done it Again..
Looking at the big picture we should be aiming to finish third in the group;there was no need to go out to'win'last night;a hardfought draw against a tough team would have been a win,in terms of building confidence.
Let's face it,if we could go to Copenhagen last year and get thumped we weren't likely to get a win in Donetsk.
-
malone19
with an optimum spend of £2million yes indeed the results are expected
We are reaping what we have sown a very poor harvest indeed.
Does anyone expect ex motherwell and hibs strikers to take us forward in europe.
As regards the defence, well enough has been said.
-
I tried to find an consolation after yesterday game. There is nothing good on Ukrainian sites.
Did your media publish the interview with Artur Boruc?
-
The complete and utter embarrassment that was Celtic's clueless display against SD last night came as absolutely no surprise to me.
The paucity of our summer net spend screamed out that this board have no serious designs on making a real fist of Champions League football.
Success to Desmond, Quinn and co is to add £10million-plus to the coffers and invest as little of it as possible to reduce our debt.
I can understand their prudence to a certain extent, but to me it makes no sense not to have invested in two decent full-backs when it was clear before the transfer deadline that this is an area of the team that is an accident waiting to happen.
Yes, they have provided the funds for some excellent buys- Boruc, Brown, Nakamura are quality- but the board and Gordon Strachan have also wasted large sums on poor buys and big earners such as Adam Virgo, Graveson, Jarosik and JVOH.
And the policy of cheap journeyman signings such as Wilson,Pressley, Caldwell, Naylor,Hartley and Killen might win us SPL titles but it will never help us progress at CL level.
Even most of the board apologists that abound on this forum knew that it was tantamount to suicide to go into the Champions League with a defence that is clearly abysmal at this level and can't even keep clean sheets on the road in a mediocre SPL.
Since that disastrous 5-0 battering in Bratislava against Artmedia I have been convinced that away from home at the top level of European football Strachan is a tactical inadequate.
Some claim he was naive at SD but I think reckless and rash are the words that best sum up his tactics.
He was blissfully unaware of the consequences of not using Hartley to protect his lumbering defence and his 4-4-2 formation showed he was guilty of under-estimating SD.
I hate to say it but he doesn't measure up to Alex McLeish as a tactician.
This is his third campaign in European football and he has the nerve to make spurious claims that Celtic are getting better.
Who is he trying to kid?
He has learned absolutely nothing ( as his gung-ho 4-4-2 tactics proved at SD) in his three campaigns and has forgotten the lessons of his only two creditable European displays in Milan and Moscow.
I'm sorry but a 5-0 humiliation followed by three straight group defeats in which we conceded three in each game and a 2-0 defeat in the Ukraine that should have been four or five doesn't equate to progress in my book.
And his pathetic pre-match excuses about his net £2million spend compared to SD's £40 million gross spend just didn't add up.
I think if Mr Strachan did his sums he would find that SD have sold players this year to the tune of 50million Euros.
And his policy of isolating big earners such as Balde and Jarosik is straight from the shoot-yourself-in-the foot school of management.Why not put them in the shop window occasionally to attract interest rather than his petty policy of leaving them to rot in the reserves
I know Balde has his faults but he is a better and more experienced defender than any of those on show last night.Why pay him £28,000-a-week and not use him?
Paul67 frequently tells us how well the club is being managed financially. But when I look at the money that has been squandered recently on big-money flops and cheapskate mediocrity I'm not so sure.
We are not being well run if Strachan, Lawwell, Quinn and Desmond are all blind to the fact that our second-rate defence is seriously in need of major investment.
Fail to prepare, prepare to fail is a motto that fits Celtic 's approach to the CL this season.
And before the happy-clappers accuse me of jumping on a bandwagon after one defeat- I have been saying exactly the same thing since 2005.
The evidence of last night has unfortunately reinforced my belief that we will finish bottom of our CL group.
Forget all this GOD boasting.
The real measurement of Celtic's progress and status as a major football club is in the Champions League.
The fourth seeded team in our group showed that we aren't even at the races at the level that really matters.
-
gweedorebhoy
I think McDonald will be excellent for us. Killen was always bought as a backup and that's exactly what he is.
There was a £2m spend simply because the board managed to get rid of some of the dross for excellent money - surely they should be applauded for this?
We made some excellent buys in the summer, Donati and Brown are both young and classy players, McDonald as I have said I believe was an excellent buy.
Yes we need to sort out the defense and that is my one critisism of Strachan, he seems to think he can coach the defense into playing well when some of the players don't have the talent.
However the money we've made will ensure we can continue to spend from one season to another preventing what happened in the MON days where we built an excellent first team but then couldn't afford to get anyone else in until they were off the wage bill.
-
Watching Rangers at the moment. They aren't great but look mentally more prepared for their game than we did last night.
-
Malone19
Yes we got rid of the dross and when it's brought in by a manager you expect him to sort it. Pity Jarosik and Zurawski didn't join them.
While dross management is being done I also expect him and his backers to identify and fund development.
I respect Strachan and the work of the board over the last few years but i have to be honest and say I will not applaud a board and a manager that neglects to strengthen a squad in areas where everyone knows we have major flaws and inferior personel.
Strachan is a good lad but a poor tactician and judge of defenders.
It's a sad state of affairs if we could not improve unless we got out the dross first. This should be done in tandem with a progessive signing policy.
Yes Mcdonald will be good for us in the SPL and if he scores 20 a season then i will be happy.
As of yet he misses more than he gets on target, so i remain to be convinced. Sorry if that's harsh but he was very poor against spartak at home. Also despite his great assists on saturday he seemed again to have a touch of the millers about him when he tried to score.
Donati is brilliant in flashes but spends 20 - 25 minutes every game blowing out his arse. When he is fully fit then i expect a gem of a player.
Brown if the rumours in manchester are true will not be with us long enough for us to see him develop.
I even think his head has been turned by what i am assured are genuine moves to get him very soon by Fergie.
I am glad we agree we need new fullbacks but i guess we have a long wait.
-
gweedore,
I think the Brown rumours are nonsense. Utd don't need new midfielders, and I think the experience of Liam Miller, Petrov and Maloney might make him reconsider the wisdom moving to England, especially at such a young age.
-
J.:After eight minutes Shakhtar was leading 2:0. How did you yourself?
AB.: My first thought was how do miss ten shots (goals). I was ungry... anyway some time ago I promised to myself that I will finish my career if I miss seven shots in one game.I'm seriously speaking. So far my record is five shot missed in one game, but it happened many years ago when I was very young boy.
When the good team loose two goals,sometimes they can change the result, and they can play a little bit better. We could do only second thing. We did not loose more goals, but we did not score any.
J.:According to the internet Celtic site you were the best player of that game.
AB.: So? What that means?
J.:That you played very well and your collegues played not well.
AB.: We did badly in that game, I did my best in order to not loose more goals. Internet honourable for Artur Boruc is a poor consolation. It doesn't change anything.
J.: Not long time ago you said, you are not in a good form.
AB.:What can I say on the question like “how do you feel”? I like to answer joking. For sure I cannot say that I’m absolutely happy about my form. Good that I play well in games. Relly it would be stupid to complain too much but those who know me, know that always things could go better with me.
J. Celtic lose in 14 CL games (one after another)
AB.: Again, we bungled in a irst minutes of the game. It happens quite often last time and we must do something with that problem. I don’t know why it happens, we must change the attitude to our job. It cannot be like that. We made mistakes, it was our poor game, but nobody is crying. Life goes on, we will play another five games and still there are 15 points possible to win.
J.: Milan is the best in that group. Benfica, Celtic and Shakhtar will be looking for some points in the games between them?
AB.:In the previous CL edition, in 1/8 of the final, we acheived 0:0 there and here. They shot the goal at San Siro in added time, I don’t think they are out of our range.
J.: Did you speak to Mariusz Lewandowski (Pole from Shakhtar)
AB.: It was very short conversation between us.Actually we only shaked ou hands.
I was awfully nervous after the game. Then, there was no time for a longer conversation.
-
Malone19 - "We have our weaknesses but who doesn't, we need to work on them and hopefully if it can't be trained into them (and I think people know who "them" is) then they'll be replaced in January" - Lordie !!!
-
There is not a genuine Celtic supporter out there who believes that the current team is the finished article. I don't believe Gordon Strachan thinks it is the finished article either. Indeed, I would suggest there is not ANY team out there, be it Europe or elsewhere, that considers itself a finished article. Every manager on the planet, along with that club's supporters, would always like better players at the club and performing regularly in the first eleven. So each club will try, when the time allows (i.e transfer windows) to bring better quality to their club, at a price that they consider fair and reasonable. This obviously means that the limited number of quality players who are available, can afford to be choosy about where they play, who for and for how much.
Some clubs, like Chelsea, have an endless supply of cash which means that invariably, they don't negotiate a fee for a targeted player, they just pay whatever they are quoted and get the player in (e.g They needed a right back...Paulo Ferreira from Porto,reported fee £14m or thereabouts. Was he worth it btw?).
Other clubs are not so fortunate; they have a set budget to get targets in. If the targets become too costly, they are not acquired.
Some may then(net)spend above their budgets to chase a dream of success, but this invariably leads to desperate purchasing of second and third choice targets who are clearly not worth the money paid for them, and who ultimately fail to deliver the required results.
It could be argued that Celtic in the past have gone down the latter road, with Scheidt, Blinker, Sylla to name a few. It could also be argued that this is the Mint's perpetual financial model for RFC. It has led that club to, in real terms, the brink of bankruptcy, a fate only averted by favourable valuations of the stadium and astute debt juggling between companies. Would anyone like him in charge of our club? He after all, has allowed his manager to exceed his budget and become a net spender. But to what end? Quantity not quality!
I suppose the point about all of the above is that while I would love to see better defenders at Celtic, I firmly believe that the board, manager and chief executive all gave of their best efforts to make this happen. That it did not is not in doubt. We can only speculate why players were not signed.
Some on here believe the board just point blank refused to release cash. I for one do not believe that.I use Gordon Strachan's own explanation of not paying funny money for full back cover, to back up my belief.
We, as Celtic fans, can all dream of seeing the David Villa's, Fabregas's, Huntellar's and Gudjohnsen's in the Hoops, but we just can't afford their wages.We do not get the huge TV revenues of the big CL clubs, so we buy what we can afford and occasionally try to unearth a nugget. That is not a laissez faire attitude, that is realism.
And for those for whom aiming for a third SPL title in a row and automatic CL qualification is not sufficiently ambitious, what exactly should be our goals?
After all, we play in, and lead, the SPL. We are in the CL group stages. Were have we gone wrong?
ForeverandeverCSC.
-
When we had Sutton, Larsson, Cadete, Van Hoojdonk, Di Canio we didn't need to dream of such strikers. They are out there and not all have 23 million euro tags to their names.
-
HT from the Death Star 0-0
Rangers under the cosh for most of the half, but Stuttgart incredibly wasteful in their final ball. Rangers' best chance fell to Darcheville (who looks not bad actually).
Wattie playing with one up front. No sign of Boydichenko- a parting of the ways on the cards perhaps?
Closest to a goal came when Cuellar (this year's Boumsong) cleared a cross off his own post.
-
0-0 h/time at Minas Morgul.
-
italiabhoy
I agree they have a lot of players but it's all about opinions and rumours are always a good source of debate.
I was dubious but i can only go on what i have been told by people in manchester who work with man unt. and i am only sharing what i was told.
Fergie wants brown. He normally gets what he wants. We want Fletcher so i expect a deal to be done.
I was given some stick when i said miller had sold his house and decided to move down south. Funny enough it happened.
As i said it's all about opinions mine is brown will be sold by next summer at the latest.
-
19/09/07 19:34, gweedorebhoy said…
‘Like him or loath him Ironside plays to the gallery and puts his money where his mouth is. Quinn talks big and acts small‘
Murray led RFC to £88m of losses over the years 2001 -2004. Those losses were supported by bank borrowing.
In Nov 2004 he moved ± £50m of debt from RFC to MIH via a rights issue in RFC & financed (it appears) by further borrowing in MIH.
In 2005 RFC required £15m ‘Negative Goodwill Release’ to avoid another loss. Try banking ‘Negative Goodwill Release’.
In June 2006 RFC banked ± £18m upfront from JJB.
Last season RFC lost another £6m and net debt increased by £10m
Murray certainly plays to the gallery but ‘puts his money where his mouth is’?
Would you like the Celtic Chairman to follow suit?
‘Quinn talks big and acts small’ – a couple of examples?
-
Madmitch,
SB = RM
MD + ES / PH = CM
SP / KM / SM = All candidates for LM.
However SB - MD - ES - PH is where its at for CL. I do wonder where JJ was last night.
....is the answer Carbon Dioxide?
-
gweedore,
fair enough i'm not doubting your bona fides. if we were to sell brown that would certainly be a good indication of the level of ambition at the club.
ps- have you been to danny minnies in anagry? near gweedore i seem to remember!
-
Sky comes back from the ad break to show a Rangers fam giving Nazi salutes. Wonder if anyone at UEFA was watching.
-
Malceye.
I do agree, they are out there, but they can afford to be choosy and go to the EPL, or dare I say the Ukraine, where they get more than we can pay them.
Before last night, I had barely heard of Nery Castillo, Fernadinho or Lisinho. I would suggest they are/were relatively unknown players throughout western Europe.What did they cost collectively, somewhere around 26m euros.
Celtic will not spend that kind of money. We are in no position to compete with the oil billionaires' playthings.
-
Gweedoreboy ,
You typify the spoilt child syndrome among some of our supporters. Demanding this and that , "i wont applaud our manager and board" , blah , moan , gripe ,cry.
Catch a grip. You blow out of your own arse on here constantly and Its people me who have to put up with constant dross. Your opinions however warped , don't matter in the grand scheme of things.
As for knowing fergie's scouting techniques , you know what we all know , Sweet F.A. Let me guess , someone's cousins uncle was a manchester taxi driver who emailed you to say that fergie will sign Brown because he read it in the back of the Sunday People.
Look do us all a favor and dry up. You and your ilk only appear after a defeat to have a moan , claim moral high ground and pout profusely at your PC screen. Away and become constructive and stop complaining about things we cant fix.
Its over done , draw a line and move on. Believe me , I think you and sean south are the exact same person. If you dont like it , run along and cheer on Man.Utd or liverpool.
-
Italiabhoy
Was in danny minnies last year the steak was superb absolutly huge.
Also everything about the place is top class and im looking forward to going back shortly. I think it is open seasonally but might be wrong. Prices reasonable as well.
You been yourself?
Cubiest Funk
Quinn said he would ensure we built on the quality of the squad and make a good effort at a champions league push.
We had a net spend of £2 million we did not buy the wow striker, a decent fullback or even a half decent centre half.
The man is also a PR disaster when he is let loose by his minders.
He is a nice banker but we aint a bank.
Ironside may do it by smoke and mirrors I agree 100%. However he knows what he wants and that is the league.
He funded a team to do this. I personally think they are pretty poor but they did outspend us by nearly £10million which is in my view putting your money where you mouth is.
-
gweedore,
yip, went last year with the missus, and stayed for a few days. well impressed, beautiful part of the world you've got there.
-
enrico annoin
Fancy meeting me at parkhead and saying that to my face you sad little cyber bully
People are entitled to our opinions i happened to be off line for a few weeks as my daughter died at birth and i was to busy burying her than to bother your arse on here
So you git meet me at north stand lower 108 seat k9 and say it to my face
-
Rangers 0 Stuttgart 1 55mins
-
-
Ran 0 - 1 Stu
-
It's just stopped rainning.
0-1
-
Gweedorebhoy.
From another infrequent poster...You have my heartfelt sympathies. No parent should ever bury a child.
It would do some posters well to remember that we all have lives away from this blog. The fact that we are not all on every night of the year doesn't mean we are just here tobleat and whine.
Annoni...do the decent thing.
-
Good equaliser.
Mazy run by Hutton then a wee lay off.
1-1
-
2-0 Gunners over Sevilla 59 mins.
-
-
gweedorebhoy - desperately sad, take care of yourself.
-
Gweedorebhoy
Truly sorry to hear that.
The last we heard was that everything was well.
I can't begin to imagine how you and your wife must feel. My heartfelt sympathies go out to you both and of course all of your family.
-
rain back on :-(
-
enrico annoni
bet you could kick your own a..e
now eh
lol
-
Cubist funk wizard of oz thanks
I was a regular poster and yes i am of the mineshaft brigade but i respect others opinions. This site was great when my twin daughter died we are lucky enough to have a wee boy who survived.
I just dont need posters slagging me off when i don't get personal with others.
-
miketw10
Went well with wee boy but we had to wait weeks to bury his sister due to post mortums etc
-
gweedorebhoy.
YOU....a mineshafter?
I'd never have noticed.
;.))).
-
gweedore that is awful to read. Your wee bhoy must be even more precious to you now. All the best.
-
Enrico Annoni- Meet meet me outside the main entrance before the AC game and I will demonstrate why Gweedorebhoy is a pacifist compared to me.
I've never met Gweedorebhoy before but my family are from Derrybeg so perhaps our shared values are born out of Donegal defiance.
-
-
Have you ever been to gwedore, he probably feels at home in the mines.
Crap, pen to the orcs.
-
Penalty Rangers
Hutton taken out in the box
-
and scores
2-1
-
Rangers 2-1 penalty from the impressive Darcheville. Rangers look good.
-
Gweedorebhoy
Just makes the wee fella that bit more special. Hope everything goes well with him.
-
Basturk on. Were we not in for him at one point. Signed from Hertha Berlin
-
Gweedorebhoy………….
You have my deepest sympathy’s…………………….
My deepest condolences to you and you’re family…………..
BigJoeinNigeria
-
miketw10 he certainly is
Ardoch we actually have a mine in gweedore well an old disused mine if i ever get out of teach jacks i might pay it a visit.
Sean South Derrybegg not far from me i was actually chuffed to be mistaken for you i admire your views and i guess we share the donegal defiance
-
Spare a thought for Rangers, who are 'top of their league' at the moment.
Press will be unbearable tomorrow
-
Gweedorebhoy, my sympathies for what it is worth. Puts everything else into perspective.
-
gweedore, sorry to hear that. best wishes.
-
gweedore, sorry to hear that. best wishes.
-
Supercelt, apologies for the spelling. 3 hours sleep and a few minutes to write/research and publish before heading to work.
Greenlion2, the trip was great. The Ukrainian people were first class, too many fine examples to recount at the moment, but I was really impressed with the place. If you get a chance, go.
Killerheels, no idea what went wrong before the game, but they looked beaten before they went a goal down.
Hugh, “Dinky”, I like.
VargasShampoo, Celtic are well enough connected that we should be able to exert some influence at the Home Office.
Inthedark, long time no hear. Never an opportunity missed.
On your point regarding the defence: I think it is pointless blaming the defence for last night. We were poor all over the field, no composure or confidence. A couple of full backs would not have changed that.
Pggtips, I have not seen the goals on TV, so thanks for your explanation on the first.
CaltonTongues, it will be a year if we concede at Easter Road.
GerM, far from being quick to point the finger at McManus, I said his miss-bit was in keeping with the rest of the teams play.
Madmitch, you suggest that Brian Quinn is demonstrably not the man for the job. What is demonstrable is that the seven years he has been in the job are the third most successful seven years in our history.
You comment is demonstrably wrong.
Gweedore, Shankley got it very wrong. I hope you and Mrs G. are both coping at this time.
-
No sooner said than Barcelona score again, putting them on top.
What a relief!!!
Can anyone tell me... Why do we always get the hard teams and they... don't!
-
WizardofOz ,
No problem.
My original point still stands however. If the man wants to rant it out , he should be prepared to take it back. All I told gweedorebhoy was to wrap up.
Gweedorebhoy ,
Its not my fault you cant handle sharp criticism. Of course I'm sorry for your loss. How this needs to be brought up , well thats for you to decide why.
-
Gweedorebhoy, my deepest sympathy to you and your family.
If you don't mind there will be a wee prayer for your daughter in the Reilly house tonight.
-
In an effort to lighten the mood.
Banksy, flowers, some planets, a monkey and a good tune
-
Annoni - can you read ? "PUTS IT ALL INTO PERSPECTIVE" In light of the "situation" I suggest that you are the one who should "wrap up"
-
terrible night at ibrox.
-
FT 2 - 1
-
So much for all the Celtic happy clappers who insisted that Rangers would be lucky to get a point in their group.
They played with far more spirit, hunger, passion and tactical nouce tonight than the disjointed, clueless rabble that wore the hoops in the Ukraine.
Murray- yes the man that the CQN pro-board clique insisted was skint- has found a lot of money to buy an experienced team capable of winning the SPL title.
And coming from behind to beat the German champions shows splashing the cash may yet work for him.
Rangers are nowhere near as bad or skint as the CQN board apologists would have us believe.
Once again Celtic have failed to capitalise on a position of strength and there must be a real fear that Rangers could take the SPL title off us.
Darcheville looks a good buy and Smith has instilled a strong physical presence and an excellent team spirit.
We have let Rangers back in because we are run by men who are more concerned with financial results than football results.
The GOD boasting doesn't look so clever tonight.
I haven't felt quite so depressed since Black Sunday.
-
-
Paul67,
what time was kick-off local time over there?
-
annoni
you said i only appear to gloat and be negative. I explained why i was off line.
Anyway you are not worth bothering about but my orininal offer stands.
-
Sean South.
They have won one game.
How does that equate to being champions elect?
This is not in any way depressing.
I repeat...they have won one game...one!
Not qualified for last 16, not leapt above us in the SPL,not anything except won a home game.
Depressed? Not even close.
-
jamabhoy
Thanks for that
-
That's the up to our knees song started outside. Will they ever learn?
Answers on a postcard to Not A Chance.
-
Mike, 9:45pm.
Message for Bernard McEneny who was in touch earlier this month, your email address does not work.
-
A week is a long time in football as well as politics it seems.
On Saturday we were going to romp the league after we beat ICT and a poor Rangers side lost at Hearts.
No apparently we are a clueless rabble and Rangers are capable of winning the league.
-
Sean south
rangers win their easiest game and we lose our most difficult and that somehow signifies the end of the world.
Its not an ideal start but neither does it mean that they are anyway near good enough to win the league.
calm down
-
whooosh Yo! peeps what gives????
Bedlam restrained and incarcerated...
terrible week so far...fast forward to weekend.
welcome back from the east paul67>
it would be several generations of language violations if i really said how i feel about last nights performance.. started doing updates when i got in....
and now 24 hours later i get in from work and its no better...hmmm
the only good thing about mineshafts is to bury the crap scots media so far down....that it doesnt see the light of day.
-
The results for the Glasgow teams this week were not entirely unexpected - we know from past experience both at CP and "there" that Stuttgart do not travel well. Bit like us if truth be told. Not that this anticipation will be reflected in tomorrow's chipwraps Moscow beckons for the cardiganed one.
-
Sean South, their win does not affect us in any way.
From what I saw - whilst flicking between all three games on offer and missing all the goals scored - it was a poor game.
Gweedorebhoy, sorry to hear your news.
-
gweedore, bad news man...
puts it all into perspektive...
just wonderin about some peeps on this blog... no names but end of the world scenarios and ideation suck big time...sometimes there are more important issues to be dealt with.
pray it never happens to you.
-
gweedorebhoy, im sure most of us stopped thinking about football for a minute when we read what you wrote there. prayers im sure will be offered tonight by many of us who cant imagine being in that position.
However Enrico could not have known that and his comments cannot be taken with special offence because of what happened. You are on a board talking about football and have posted opinions that he doesnt like, on a football discussion im firmly on his side.
Also i think keyboard hardness from you is unbecoming and also from Sean South. Your sad loss doesnt excuse threatening another poster in my opinion. Sean South hasnt even got that possiblity. I am discusted by those threats. Whether they are aimed at someone i agree with or disagree with they have no place i think on a board like this.
-
Rangers well worth their win tonight. And yer man Darcheville will be a handful for us. He is strong and fast.
As for Stuttgart they were mince and how they won the Bundesliga I'll never know.
-
Sean South,
I get bemused by the logic that seems to imply that if we spend a load of money, Rangers are going to lose a load of games.
We can't affect what they spend, what risks they take etc. and the fact that they will hump most teams in the SPL this season will not be affected one jot by what we do or don't spend.
Our only measure comes in the games WE play - and that includes the games against them. If we are found seriously wanting over those four games then fair enough - you may have a point.
Otherwise, are we just supposed to indulge in some feelgood spending contest to give us all a fix????
-
Sean South
I'm not going to see your mineshaft and raise you a happy clap, but a liitle perspective would tell us the respective results of Celtic and Rangers at the weekend. For all the Rangers qualities you outline, they lacked many of them on Saturday. They were out-fought and out-played by a side we horsed 5-0. And furthermore, we would expect to beat Stuttgart at home now, wouldn't we? And I forget - how much did Rangers spend in the summer - I just don't think it's as much as you hint. No-one really suggested they were skint, (the catchy tune aside) but they gambled it all on red and it came up - if it hadn't done, they would have been in serious trouble, trust me. So they speculated to accumulate and won, but they began from a position of gash, so far behind us it wasn't true. Best about us is that we're a decent side, but a quick-learning one - one reason Mick is captain as he encapsulates that. We will do no worse that draw to Benfica away.
Paul, for all the eloquence of your post, did you really think Hartley was going to play defensive mid? That's not where he scored from in Moscow and not where he played. He did for Scotland, but I really didn't see him there in Moscow, or starting there last night. Also, the away goals conceded point is hard-hitting, but in the context of how averagely we played last season means little, but on how well we've started this, has relevance and does need addressing. Last season, you score 1, we'll score 2. This season, you score 1, we'll score 3, 4 or 5. Far, from from nit-picking Paul, but the sequence does include a cup final victory on neutral ground, admittedly against an already-relegated team - why can we do that?
Gweedorebhoy
Don't know you, not likely to, although I do now know where you sit :) What you typed transcends all however and my sincerest condolences to you - I suffered same as a wee boy with a sibling and it's tragic and the saddest and I cry to this day when it's spoken of in family circles. I wish you and your's all strength and courage.
-
Out of 16 CL games only 2 away wins. Just shows how hard it is especially the 1st game. Wonder if any experts know the ratio of away wins from 1st group of matches and the rest from previous years? Have we ever started off at home first?
-
can anyone point me in the direction of the 2007 Annual accounts (A full version - Not the cut down version on the Celtic Website)
Many Thanks
Pob
-
Timmy7
The Rangers game wasn't that bad. they rode their luck a couple of times, went down while Ferguson was off having his head stitched but came back pretty strongly, scored a good goal, won a penalty which was scored by Darcheville who looked good for all the time he was on the park and they could have scored again. They played with one up front with frequent support from midfield and it worked for them.
it was on paper their easiest game but that meant it was a must win ... and they won it.
-
Gweedorebhoy:Likewise I admire your capacity to love Celtic, but retain sufficient critical faculities to know when we, the fans, are being sold short.
Blind loyalty to any cause isn't conducive to improving the standards and aims of that cause.
My late mother's family hail from Strand Road in Middletown as you head down towards the GAA pitch and cemetry. Do you know it?
Wizardofoz: As a Celtic fan for more than half a century I'm afraid I do get very depressed and annoyed when Celtic chuck away an advantage that could have been turned in a massive chasm.
The parsimony of Desmond and Quinn is unforgivable in my book.
I have seen enough this season- not from one game- to know that we face a massive challenge from Rangers for the SPL title.
With the correct investment (at full back, centre half and up front) we could have been out of sight for not just this season but many more to come.
I really do fear that our star players such as Boruc and Brown will move on to clubs with genuinely big European ambitions once they realise the Celtic board are content merely to be also rans in the group stages of the CL.
-
Gweedorebhoy:Likewise I admire your capacity to love Celtic, but retain sufficient critical faculities to know when we, the fans, are being sold short.
Blind loyalty to any cause isn't conducive to improving the standards and aims of that cause.
My late mother's family hail from Strand Road in Middletown as you head down towards the GAA pitch and cemetry. Do you know it?
Wizardofoz: As a Celtic fan for more than half a century I'm afraid I do get very depressed and annoyed when Celtic chuck away an advantage that could have been turned in a massive chasm.
The parsimony of Desmond and Quinn is unforgivable in my book.
I have seen enough this season- not from one game- to know that we face a massive challenge from Rangers for the SPL title.
With the correct investment (at full back, centre half and up front) we could have been out of sight for not just this season but many more to come.
I really do fear that our star players such as Boruc and Brown will move on to clubs with genuinely big European ambitions once they realise the Celtic board are content merely to be also rans in the group stages of the CL.
-
sorry, WTF am i reading here? sean south... get a grip
molloy.... are you certifiable?
stuttgart are worthy opponents, they were just unlucky as we have been over the years at snake mountain...
are you just dissing the bundesliga because VFB lost a game thru a penalty?
love reading the comments and always post when i have time but some of this stuff is hard to take..
-
Just reading back there
Gweedorebhoy, my heart goes out to you. I hope the wee man can provide the joy and love on behalf of his little sister.
God bless m8.
-
Sean South,
over critical, over reactive and over emotional.....every, and i mean every time we have a reverse, the reaction on here is unbelieveable.....leagues are not won on a single game.....we got humped in lisbon last year....this board went nuclear.....shortly after that we beat man utd and qualified.....
-
A lot was made out of Celtic’s less than impressive away record in the UCL only one draw in 13 matches – (They didn’t mention the Nou Camp though).
BUT!
While it’s true that our European away record in general is pretty pour when we have played a two leg tie our record is somewhat better (i.e. average). Granted the calibre of the sides are not as high but a few nice scalps none the less – Ajax and the English spring to mind.
SO!
Why - after we lost the match in the first ten minutes 0-2 going on 5 - did we make a match of it?
WELL!
It may seem counter intuitive but I reckon we approach the UCL away ties the way we would an away leg of a two leg tie, that is keep the opposition goals to a minimum and try to get an away goal on the counter attack.
WHILE!
Goal difference can be important but these are nothing ro loose games IMO IF (as we did for 75 minutes of the game) we play our normal game we will get POINTS away from home.
Chairbhoywhothinksit’sthemindsetnotthetransfers!
-
I did catch one funny comment by the summariser at the huns' game (who was he anyway; 'Barry' this and 'Barry' that)
After a particularly horrendous sclaff: 'Whittaker, a nervous prod'
One amongst many methinks
-
aldo. Credit where its due. Rangers secured a good home win against the Bundesliga champions.
If that had have been Celtic we would all be chuffed to bits.
-
-
Stuttgard had a lot of posession and looked good until they got 30 yards from goal. Then they either shot wildly over or put in poor crosses/ One player. Hildegard I think. must have ghad 8 shots and didn't hit the target once.
Hutton made both goals with maxy runs, yes really. Cuellar made a few mistakes again but managed not to cause a goal.
Barcelona will be a very different prospect.
-
Sean South.
We must agree then to disagree.
I have already said on this blog and will repeat again now:
We will win the league. We are better than our only challengers Rangers.
The only thing that may stop us is the referees. One of their number has already given Rangers a helping hand by ignoring blatant sending off offences last weekend.
-
And the awful summariser was Garry McAllister.
He also said that Ibrox had the best atmosphere of any ground he ever played at!
-
I've only seen it once, but did anyone else thnk that Hutton had started diving before contact was made?
He certainly hit the ball well wide as if he was going to...
-
john - et all
on the gweedore v enrico annoni
whilst enricos "sharp criticism" was particularly sharp he did go way over the top imo.
so much so he brought out an irrational response from gweedorebhoy who suddenly went back to more important things and thought about real life, and his sadly lost child having been offended by enrico.
enrico was of course blameless for this, and 'square go's' outside block 108 have no place
on this fine blog.
however enrico should apologise to gweedore because he gave an example by using words which caused offence, and proved that 'the pen is mightier than the sword' or keyboard in this case
hail hail
-
barcabhoy
That's all very good but please tell us what you actually think of Celtic and Rangers.
Surely word has reached Barcelona of Walter's Warriors and how nothing, except maybe Celtic and Barca, will stand in their way of first place....?
Are you not worried about The Gloriously Dignified Resurgent Resplendent Glasgow Rangers?
-
gweedorebhoy
Just read about your sad news. My sympathies to you and your wife.
-
Of course, I fully accept that Celtic can not have any influence on Rangers team strenghtening or the amount of money that Murray decides to outlay.
My point is that Rangers had no choice but to opt for a policy of spending their unexpectedly large transfer kitty in bringing in several big, strong, experienced bread and butter players and a couple of half-decent foreign players in Darcheville, Cousin etc.
We were sitting in a far stronger financial position and should have been able to expoit our advanatge of the last two seasons to bring in top quality signings not the Doumbes and Killens of this world.
That is what would have made sure we didn't let them catch up- class players at full back, centre half and up front.
The SPL title this season will be a very close run affair and when that happens our record in recent years is worrying.
Looking at Rangers tonight I genuinely fear that they might outpoint us over four games. Smith has already proved that tactically he can at least match if not beat Gordon Strachan.
I hope my fears are unfounded but that defence of ours worries the life out of me... even if messrs Strachan, Quinn and Desmond seem satisfied with it.
-
Of course, I fully accept that Celtic can not have any influence on Rangers team strenghtening or the amount of money that Murray decides to outlay.
My point is that Rangers had no choice but to opt for a policy of spending their unexpectedly large transfer kitty in bringing in several big, strong, experienced bread and butter players and a couple of half-decent foreign players in Darcheville, Cousin etc.
We were sitting in a far stronger financial position and should have been able to expoit our advanatge of the last two seasons to bring in top quality signings not the Doumbes and Killens of this world.
That is what would have made sure we didn't let them catch up- class players at full back, centre half and up front.
The SPL title this season will be a very close run affair and when that happens our record in recent years is worrying.
Looking at Rangers tonight I genuinely fear that they might outpoint us over four games. Smith has already proved that tactically he can at least match if not beat Gordon Strachan.
I hope my fears are unfounded but that defence of ours worries the life out of me... even if messrs Strachan, Quinn and Desmond seem satisfied with it.
-
-
miketw10,
Spot on. Hutton was definitely diving before contact was made. If the defended had stopped himself rather than lunging in, Hutton would have looked very silly.
-
Sean South ,
Your cyberhardman technique needs work , being from belfast myself we're probably on the same ferryboat.
Gweedorebhoy ,
Your personal issues , tragic that they are , are none of my business. I never made any reference to this. If it helps I am truly sorry about your loss. I've been Reading this blog for a long time so I do know you for previous tirades. Hence my previous retort. I went OTT to get across my point but things have spiraled out of proportion. I am big enought to offer an apology.
Cyber-sabre rattling and arranged Square ups , are plain daft so I won't reply on these issues.
-
Paul,
A couple of points in your article which I have to say I disagree with. I would like to stress that I am more happy-clapper than mineshafter, but above all I'm a realist.
Firstly, Paul Hartley played in front of Lee Naylor in Moscow. He did not, as you suggest, operate in the central holding position he comfortably operated in against France in Paris and latterly against Shakhtar.
Secondly, Shakhtar will qualify from this group, I thought so as soon as their name came out of that 4th pot and I think so now. I would be willing to place a few quid on them coming out top of the group.
Ahead of last night's game I was praying WGS would go 4-5-1 and resist the temptation to go with 2 up front, at least until the latter stages of the game. There is hardly a European manager worth his salt who goes anywhere outwith their own stadium and plays two up front, especially when the four midfielders are 'attack-minded' as our are. Only the Holy Goalie having a stormer would have saved us with that line up last night, but we can only ask that of him so often.
Despite the fact we lost, we are exactly where we realistically would expect to be at this stage. I expect to have no more than 3 points after the first 3 game, and possibly only 1 point.
Those on here who were predicting an away win last night have to be congratulated on their optimism but that's all it was - blind optimism.
If we can get a win against Milan then Shakhtar will win the group and we will be in a three way fight for 2nd place. If we can't beat Milan we will be playing for 3rd place with Benfica. That the will mean games 3 and 4 become an old fashioned home and away tie where head to head outcome will be decisive.
Creating false expectations can only have one outcome. We have witnessed that outcome for some on CQN. A draw away fom home in Europe should be looked upon the same as 3 points at home. It denies the other team 2 of their vital 3 points while giving the away team 1 point. It equates to a swing of three points in the league table and should ALWAYS be viewed as such.
GET THIS AWAY WIN OUT OF OUR HEADS - AWAY DRAWS ARE WHAT ARE REALISTIC FOR CELTIC AND SHOULD BE OUR TARGET.
-
OJ Simpson has finally lost his mind
-
Some random thoughts prompted by last night's game:
If Artur Boruc stays with Celtic beyond this season, he will be showing KoK level loyalty; he belongs at the highest level. If we hadn't had him last night, I dread to think what the outcome may have been.
Speaking of Henke, he would have been proud of Lucarelli's header for SD's second goal. Phenomenal power and accuracy, despite the close attention of Lee, and the ball having been played low and slightly behind him. We may have made mistakes in the build-up, but the finish was perfect.
Our crossing ability is pitiful. The contrast with our opponents was glaring.
AC Milan at home is looking like a must-win match, I feel. Not in terms of our ability to qualify - but it would go a long way to banishing the bad taste from last night's encounter. I'm amazed we approached the game with such optimism...
...to approach a game with optimism when you are aware of the oppositions strengths and weaknesses is admirable; to approach a game with optimism when you are not fully conversant with every aspect of their game, is ignorant. Our players gave every impression of having no idea what was about to hit them.
Shakhtar would probably have beaten Manchester United or Benfica last night, but a true European team like AC Milan - or even Liverpool - would have bored them into submission and taken the draw. I'd love for us to learn that skill.
-
U2 1888
Well said. Thats basically the way I see it. If the 4-5-1 is arranged well enough, then it can quite quickly become 4-3-3.
4-4-2 is suicide away from home in Europe, especially if the attackers aren't top-notch strikers.
And as for the Attack! Attack! Attack! mob... Dear dear!
Decent teams hope for naive opposition like that!
-
Anyone who knows anything about football and who watched our defence on Saturday,will have feared last night's match.
And such fears were, sadly, well founded.
I've been told from a primary source that the board have yet to refuse a request from the manager in respect of transfer targets.
This,if true, would suggest that the failure to INVEST in key positions- centre half/full back/ striker- lies with the manager rather than the board.
This should not absolve the board from responsibility as they have a corporate governance responsibility to ensure that the management's strategy is sound.
My faith in their ability to properly balance the expectations of the club's supporters ( customers, if you must)with the their fiscal duties was somewhat shattered when the same source said "well, it doesn't matter what happens this season; we'll still make £7million profit"
-
Quinn - Failure
O'Neill - Failure
Strachan - Failure
Celtic 2007 - Hopeless
Board - Penny pinching
If you agree with any of the above exactly what or who are you comparing them to?
Sean South - For your own good I think you should consider following another team (possibly rangers).
-
miketw10
Totally agree, with our players we could effectively have 4-3-2-1 giving options to go 4-5-1, 4-4-2, etc. I note Harry Brady says virtually this on Celtic Underground - now that they are back up and running
-
Sean South ,
Celtic are top of the league. Unbeaten in the SPL.
Darchville and cousin ? Decent? Are you mad?
We lost an away game in the champions league and you feel as hurt as black Sunday? Shake yourself man.
Talk about sensationalism? No doubt the Follow Followers have a thread dedicated to you over in the bearpit.
-
I advocate the 4-5-1 for CL away games, where a point gained is more attainable than going gung-ho and looking for an away win.
Winning 'the Celtic way' to me is a pie-in-the-sky myth these days.
4-4-2 at home, with the crowd being the 12th man should be good enough for most CL groups.
-
Sean South 21:34
I haven't felt quite so depressed since Black Sunday."
You're easily depressed then if you're almost hanging off a lightbulb cause we lost to a team who happened to beat Barcelona at home no so long ago! And they think they have a stronger squad now.
Some perspective surely. Think we're guilty of delusions of grandeur and invincibiity if we think losing to a very fine side is a cause for despair. My moma done tole me sh*t happens sometimes!
Milan and Benfica will struggle there too.
Considering we drew the worst case scenario in the qualifier I'm mightily relieved we're at the party at all.
Remember:
YOU'VE GOT TO FIGHT
FOR YOUR RIGHT
TO PARTEEEEEEEE!!!
We did - very bravely - against a fine Spartak side - and we won - just - could so easily have ... but we won't go there - and the parties only just begun.
And we'll fight just as bravely again.
-
liam>
i dont think anyones mad on here ....
...
unless they are sitting with a pair of underpants on their heads, a pencil up each nostril... and saying ' wibble'
-
apoligies to anyone i offended i just got angry at what i thought was an unwarrented personal attack
To all those who have been so kind i thank you for your thoughts
Sean south i have walked that road many a time and have many relatives in that graveyard
-
gweedore..justifiable emotions from raw nerves.... understandable and excuseable....every passing day will be better
serutiku..you mean this party?---->
you gotta fight
-
Bed for me.
Nite all.
-
annoni
im away to bed thank you for your apology. We all have views mine are a bit minshafteresque but we all have celtic at heart
remember that.
Tomorrow will be unbearable the old media will have a field day with that result.
As much as i hate the huns they did play well and looked the part.
-
rubicon
agree with some of your comments
especially recalling the 5-0 win on saturday in comaprison to last nights mauling.
to a lesser degree ICT did the same thing on occasion but couldn't score. they still gave an a dodgy unprotected back four a hard time despite losing five goals - fact.
gordon strachan got his excuses in early in the daily record on the morning of the game, then was
naive playing 4 4 2 - easy with hindsight, but also easy with experience.
he hasn't learned the artmedia lesson yet and if not for artur it would have been just that.
if mark wilson and lee naylor are the best we can do at full back in the CL - then its good night from me.
hail hail
-
he's mad.....
-
-
The UEFA Champions League.
The big teams from the big countries who get the big, big bucks. They do well, don't they?
There are others (e.g. Levski Sofia lost 6 of 6 last season) who usually don't do all that well.
Then there's the big teams from the small countries. Usually in the CL and sometimes have a right good crack at it. Someday soon we might all be playing in the “Northern Rock Atlantic League”, but in the meantime…The ‘Tic, FC Bung, Ajax, Porto, Anderlecht and the like, how do these teams perform?
Not including last night or tonight, I have the following stats.
Celtic: 12 home matches, 9 wins, 1 defeat, 2 draws. 12 away matches, 0 wins, 11 defeats, 1 draw.
Bung: 21 home matches, 6 wins, 6 defeats, 9 draws. 21 away, 3 wins (one on a neutral ground), 12 defeats, 6 draws.
Anderlecht have been in the CL in all of the last four seasons. 24 matches: 3 wins, 5 draws and 16 defeats!
Bruges since 1992/93: 12 matches at home (4, 4 & 4). 12 matches away (3, 7 & 2).
My point?
CaltonTongues said:
"Out of 16 CL games only 2 away wins. Just shows how hard it is…”
I think they’re hard home and away!
It’s just that, our record in the CL is a strange one. Most teams are up and down now and again home and away, but mostly do better at home. Makes sense. Your fans, your grass, your tea-with-8-sugars at half-time…
But, we seem to have an unrealistically good return at home and the reverse away.
Why? B'difiknow.
And, by the way, Shakhtar have had the following "other" CL wins in recent years:
3-0 v Arsenal 2000/01
2-0 v Barcelona 2004/05
1-0 v Roma 2006/07.
Not too shabby. But, they’ve been well-gubbed away most times. Here’s hoping…
-
"Enrico Annoni- Meet meet me outside the main entrance before the AC game and I will demonstrate why Gweedorebhoy is a pacifist compared to me."
What a moron.
-
Despite the disappointment of the performance i'm not throwing the towel in yet. When the fixtures were announced I hoped to have 2/3 points after the first 3 games. If 2 I was hoping they would be in the away games but not to be. I realise I am putting our eggs in one basket and relying on the home games against Shaktar and Benfica now but my main hope is that if we travel to Milan with 7/8 points and with them hopefully qualified we can get the draw/win required.
Don't know if anyone else aware of this but I heard that we had agreed to allow Naylor to return to England (poss West Ham?) but pulled the plug on transfer deadline day and our Lee was not a happy boy.
Have only scanned the comments but my tuppenceworth is that we badly need 2 full backs. What's the story with Doumbe?
-
I wouldn't put too much emphasis on Shaktar's win against barca. The scenario there was the same one that I am hoping for in Milan. Barca had already qualified,rested key players and didn't fancy making a game of it on a cold night in the Ukraine.
-
gweedore bhoy,
I remember when you advised that you had lost one of your twins. I prayed for you and yor family. I am so glad that your boy survived.
You are within friends and I know that others feel the same when I tell you that we are all there to help each other.
My son is disabled which kills me to type but he is a born fighter and I will do my utmost to be his shining light in the valley of darkness..
Enrico doesn't mean to disrespect but I understand your anger.
You are a good guy and you need to be with your family right now and ensure that you all are ok.
Tons of love and respect
Cheers
Discybhoy
-
gweedore bhoy,
I remember when you advised that you had lost one of your twins. I prayed for you and yor family. I am so glad that your boy survived.
You are within friends and I know that others feel the same when I tell you that we are all there to help each other.
My son is disabled which kills me to type but he is a born fighter and I will do my utmost to be his shining light in the valley of darkness..
Enrico doesn't mean to disrespect but I understand your anger.
You are a good guy and you need to be with your family right now and ensure that you all are ok.
Tons of love and respect
Cheers
Discybhoy
-
CaltonTongues
We have not always started away
Juve was away (but only because the Rosenborg home tie was postponed because of September 11th) and Bayern and Man U were away, but Barca 1-3 was the opening game that season at home.
Technically we should now have had three away and two home starts, but its 4-1 in favour of away days because of 9/11.
-
Enrico Ammoni and others: Irony and sarcasm are clearly not qualities that abound on CQN.
For the record I was merely taking the p### not trying to arrange a "square go."
I am not even going to be at the AC Milan game.
If that intended p###-taking comment has been taken as a threat then I apologise without reservation.
I know that it is almost a mortal sin on CQN to question the direction in which Celtic are going- but I will repeat my heresy by again warning that Rangers will be formidable opponents this season.
-
Kingoh,
Shakhtar of today is a team on the way up. They have a wonderful coach, have signed excellent players and will progress way beyond anything they've achieved in the past.
I am convinced, with a favourable draw, that they will be in the mix at the quarter final stage.
-
Ah well here we go again!
Must admit I thought we’d get at least a draw even though I recognised our defensive limitations.
Watched the game alone in my hotel room. I haven’t read any of the blog comments & as I’m down South have had no access to the Scottish media (a small mercy).
WGS has done a fine job for us & I have grown to admire him but what on earth was he thinking? He has earned the praise but this time…
Surely security first &, if safe, expression later - especially away from home. Our defensive structure is such that its security is based on defence actually beginning from the halfway line with the whole unit moving together in mutual support.
I’m convinced Paul is absolutely correct about the game being lost before a ball was kicked.
I think the players didn’t have faith the way WGS had decided to play. As a unit our team is inexperienced and if there was collective doubt the plan was bound to fail. Self evidently the players were frightened to express themselves in the style WGS asked .
Whose fault is that? The players for not having faith in what WGS believed they could do or indeed faith in their own ability? The manager for asking the team to do something beyond it’s capability or it‘s will.?
Sorry Gordon you have to take the rap. You got it so, so wrong tactically & psychologically. I really hope you recognise it and get a collective arm round your guys ASAP. (You thought this team was beyond the Artmedia experience - you were wrong).
I understand and welcome where the manager is going with this team and I think we have some very talented players who are exciting and want to play on the front foot. The support has wanted us to play more dynamically for some time. But whoa Gordon! Your team is not tempered and hardened yet.
I am confident WGS will take huge lessons from this match one of which is that some of his players are not as self confident or gallous as he thought .
Another thing is the Celtic mentality which makes us embarrassed to win ugly (x-ref all comments related to last season Feb-May) but in the last two nights I’ve watched Man U & Liverpool do just that. Embarrassed? I don’t think so! Big Jock called it dungaree football - it is necessary sometimes.
I am a huge Big Mick fan but his mistake at the first goal was awful. It may console him to know however Billy McNeill made a really similar boob in the 1969 Qfinal against AC Milan, letting Prati in to score in 11 minutes as I recall.
Strange as may be I was able to find some positives (mostly after the match was effectively lost):
The Holy Goalie
Gary Caldwell, who seemed more alert than the other back 3 (no great compliment I agree)
Paul Hartley, best game in a Celtic jersey.
Massimo, I’m sure this match made him realise he is a level up on most of his team mates. I hope it doesn’t put him off!
JVoH, not brilliant but more mobile, worked harder & got into scoring positions.
Big disappointments too:
Naka, must have been his twin brother.
Skoosh, has come a long, long way in a short time but this one proved a step too far. He’ll learn.
CROSSING THE BALL!!!!
I want to think we will not play in such a traumatised way again. We have some very fine players and a couple of passengers too but the key is the manager. I expect him to be up to the job.
I AM STRACHAN.
-
mourinho has left chelsea
-
Sean South,
Your passion is admirable, but misguided. Celtic within the confines of the SPL will always struggle to attract players of real quality because those players have glamourous options elsewhere, glamourous teams to play for, glamourous teams to play against and huge salaries into the bargain.
Scotland is a microcosm of Europe. Celtic and Rangers are top tier in Scotland. Hibs and Hearts are second tier with the likes of Motherwell, Aberdeen and Kilmarnock third tier.
Given the choice of playing for Celtic or any of the 2nd or 3rd tier teams in Scotland, the other teams don't have a hope of attracting the best players for glamour reasons and for financial reasons. I give you Scott Brown.
The 2nd and 3rd tier teams don't have a hope of winning the SPL. They may get occasional wins, maybe even at Celtic Park and Ibrox on occasion, but not often. The reason is simply that Celtic and Rangers have better players and will mostly prevail.
In a European context Celtic are undoubtedly 2nd or 3rd tier, having progressed in recent years from 5th tier or worse. We cannot hope to attract the best players when competing with teams across Europe for their signatures for the same reasons as Hibs and Motherwell can't attract the best players in Scotland.
We can compete and occasionally win against better teams, but ultimately we will not prevail.
Without 'EPL' levels of TV income we will seldom be able to fund top tier players. Without 'EPL' level opponents we will seldom be able to attract top tier players to play for us in an SPL environment.
Without players of real quality we will always be reliant on a large portion of luck, both in the draw and on the football park. We got what can only be described as the 'lucky white heather' option from pot 4 in Shakhtar.
Spending money on real quality players is only part of the answer. If they don't want to come, spending it on lesser quality players is definitely not the answer. Keep it until we can persuade a real quality one to join us.
Exactly what criteria BQ, MON and WGS have failed in collectivelly and individually I fail to comprehend. Nobody wins all the time at anything.
Maybe if we could get Jose Mourinho we could punch above our weight as Porto did. I hear he may be available....
-
Everything's Gone Green
Indeed he has. Well done, scoop.
Stunning news, absolutely stunning. There were clues in hindsight after he claimed they would have to have 100 chances to score 3 goals, his relationship with Abramovich, the appointment of Avram Grant over his head, not signing Daniel Alves, 1-1 at home to Rosenborg, poor start to Premiership, Shevchenko, the Ballack thing. Ok, not so much the stunning thing then.
-
Club not confirmed it yet, 5Live discussing it but saying there's no confirmation if he's been sacked or resigned.
BBC site has the exclusive BBC news
-
Is too late for tomorrow's DR - "ABRAMOVICH SWOOPS FOR WATTIE - Russian tycoon jets in for secret talks with European hero"
LFT
-
I knew James Taylor could find some words to bring a lot of the days thoughts together.
I was fir Celtic first. Then you came into my head Martin B.
Now it's going to be your's and your's when I hear it.
Hoopla.
Bryan
this is lovely
-
lambs
Friday:
'My love for Rangers: How I Snubbed Mad Roman'
Wattie speaks to the Record
Saturday:
'We've tasted Euro Glory, Now Bring on the Dons'
Euro-star Hutton praises top boss
Sunday Mail:
'No Way Jose'
Murray rejects Mourinho pleas to join Wattie's backroom staff
-
109,
The Sunday Mail
" I watched the revolution unfold on Wednesday and thought... I cann't match the Ibrox heroes.... my decision was then simple"
LFT
-
Brilliant, lambs
'I lost out on Alves - Hutton was clearly the answer', an ashen-faced Jose Mourinho told me as he tried to come to terms with Rnagers' dominance.
-
Think we could all do with a bit of cheering up. PJBhoy in NYC, Gavil Guy, mncelt & other US-based CQNers in particular might enjoy this.
-
long time lurker, occassional poster....
have I missed something?
Gents, today the funniest man I've ever known passed on, Graham Bauld, 42 years old, not enough time for someone of his wit...
Just put last night in perspective for me, and I know we all have stories like this... Celtic is the focus for all of us, but...
Hail Hail to the happy clappers and the mine shafters alike, I'm breaking my heart but this club keeps us all together!
God bless all,
SC
-
I would say that Broadfoot's article in the Herald hit the nail on the head.(for once)
-
Mourinho leaves after only drawing with the men who come from the land of the ice and snow.
Truly Harald is a powerful wizard.
-
Jose Mourinho - my part in his downfall by Martin O'Neill.
-
-
Who would take a chance on Mourinho at Celtic Park?
It's not that I don't like WGS but he has something unique and I think he would be tailor made for us.
I remember hearing about his transfer budget when he was at Porto, it was on a par with what we could offer him.
Although in some supporters eyes they haven't forgiven him for Seville I think he would turn them round pretty quickly.
The guy is bursting with passion and he is on record as saying how impressed he was with us.
Interesting thought but it will never happen, our board are too conservative to make such a bold move.
-
How depressing CQN has become, the blatant glory seekers on here should hang their head in shame.
If we had spent our spare few million quid and got these mystical new top notch full backs and that world class striker, would we have beaten a very strong Shaktar on their own patch? I very much doubt it, get a grip folks and get into the real world and stop bringing the rest of us down
-
The talk of Milan at home being a must win game is A JOKE. 1 point would be fantastic and here is why. By the time we play AC at the San Siro Milan will have already qualified and as usual will play a shadow side. The chances of a shadow side playing are further increased when u notice the game is moved forward 1 weekto allow Milan to play in the World Club Championships. Milan tend not to care about results after they have qualified and routinely loose, a scenario likely to come about this year also. We must keep it tight and play for the draw and hope to snatch one. Get this 2 WGS !!!
-
Sharp suited man-
"hello Jose, Peter Lawell Celtic FC here,-do you fancy a tilt at the Cellic job?"
Jose-
"Ever since I saw your magnificent fans in Seville and the unique beauty of the Hoops I've dreamt of this day, of course I will take the job!"
Sharp suited man-
" Do you have any reservations about how the Celtic fans will take to you?"
Jose-
" No! When we(Celtic) are marauding all over Europe and slaying the Orcs at home they will soon forget about Seville"
Sharp suited man-
"Right, I'll tell wee ginger to pack his bags"
Jose-
"Naw,
keep him, he can deal with the meeja and the rhubarb tarts.
And bye the way GIRUY Chelsea Rangers, mon the HOOPS"
-
Bom dia Bhoys
Long time lurker and Fan
Since i have a we bit spare time on my hands now i was wondering if anybody could help me out in the seeking employment up there in Scotland.
Muito Obrigado
WG ?
-
Jose has done what people who have lived a life away from footy would have done. Taken the money!
Not easy for the away teams in the ECL. Well done to Man U.
Come on the Bhoys!
-
Jock, perhaps you are correct at about the ultimate outcome. However, would such players have created a challenge to Donetsk ? I would certainly expect so. That is all we demand. To challenge for victory, not "give up" as even the Donetsk players appear to have realised.
-
Let's make a move for Mourinho, salary in the region of £5m per year and a certainty to be appointed manager of Real Madrid / Barcelona / Internazionale / AC Milan or Juventus - whichever job comes first.
I'm not sure it's our board's conservatism that would kill this one!
-
Paul - you put some rationale into a debate which has split the fans since the start of this season.
Those in the "celtic are unstoppable" category and those in the "celtic are better offensively only" category.
Lets be frank - the attacking play has been a joy to watch and a vast improvement on prior seasons. Some games we won convincingly and others we were fortunate not to be punished due to poor defending, poor refereeing and poor finishing from the opposition.
We have been lucky!
Our defensive flaws have been there for all to see except the Celtic management team and the objective fan. Note- i'm talking about our defensive capability all over the pitch.
We had the opportunity to address this issue during the transfer window and didnt take it - the ambitions "for this season" are clearly SPL.
Perhaps the board has a longer term plan - someone suggests big spending in the next window, but i'm disspoainted that we didnt "sieze the moment" and bring much needed experience/power to our team even if it meant stretching our sepnding.
Maybe now, the overly optimistic fan will have an objective view on this team , lower their expectations and save themselves from a season of emotional turmoil where the champions league is concerned!
good post!
-
CaltonTongues.
You said
"Antibes,I, like everyone else, hope yer dream comes true. Also, I'll give you yer 14 hours to Vigo and raise you 23 hours to Bordeaux on ma Birthday wae a toilet that was flooded before Bothwell Services."
No way man ! You had 23 hours of luxury compared to us. 4 in a car, driving through a snow blizzard and NO TOILET on board. Had to hold it in all the way and was bursting big time as the car drove down the hill to Vigo town centre.
:-))))))
PS. For future trips, we always wear those adult nappies - avoids stopping and gives you more time in the bars for a beer once you arrive. Thouroughly recommend them ;-)))
Hail Hail !
-
Well well,
Did I really witness, as per the rantings here last night, the transformation of the Teddy Bears last night from Sunday pub league team to world beaters ? A begrduging well done to them for their win but I stand by the assumption that domestically we are by far the best team in scotland and I'm confident we'll win the league.
Gweedorebhoy - Don't know you but my thoughts are with you fella. My family has gone through something similar recently and has been dreadful. Time is a great help on it and I am sure the team and the folks on here will do their best to help brighten the days for you.
Hail hail
Wavy
-
tmc
your right. get him in now and tell him to hire
a minibus and stick paolo ferriera, wayne bridge,
ricardo carvalho and didier drogba in it b4 he comes
up to paradise.
-
Stebhoy,
We have been lucky!
Wavy : Unbeaten to date, top of the league and we have (I believe) the most miserly defence in the SPL. Can't all be luck can it ?
Note- i'm talking about our defensive capability all over the pitch.
Wavy - Isn't attack the best form of defence. If we are attacking and scoring doesn't that constitute some form of defensive strategy ?
We had the opportunity to address this issue during the transfer window and didnt take it -
Wavy - Factually correct but maybe we couldn't for other reasons. Pay the market rate this summer of £8-£10 million for our targets and miss out on building our midfield.
the ambitions "for this season" are clearly SPL.
Wavy - Er...yes. That's our bread and butter and guarantees us the entry (plus cash) to the CL. We ain't gonna win the CL.
Perhaps the board has a longer term plan - someone suggests big spending in the next window, but i'm disspoainted that we didnt "sieze the moment" and bring much needed experience/power to our team even if it meant stretching our sepnding.
Wavy - Stretching our spending ? Don't you mean overburdening our debt ? For implications of that see Glasgow Rangers FC.
Maybe now, the overly optimistic fan will have an objective view on this team , lower their expectations and save themselves from a season of emotional turmoil where the champions league is concerned!
Big Wavy - Expectations from me are winning the league and hopefully the cups, making a good accouhnt of ourselves in europe to still be there after xmas and definitely definitely a season of emotional rollercoasters - that's what supporting the tic means.
good post!
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Big Wavy
-
Big Wavy 16.55 last night.
Clarify please - who has bet 'the huns' for the title and why.
Thanks.
-
Itz,
It was Mr Innthedark I believe.
The why ? I believe he thought it was a sure banker for his spare 4 figure sum of cash he had lying around.
I guess it looked wobbly on saturday but with the backing of the mineshafters last night, seemes to be in the 'sure-fire' category again.
Wavy
-
What's the story with Hoopslegend Lee Naylor.
Is he'playing injured',as some posts have suggested?
He can't need a rest as he was off for a fortnight for the internationals,and it's only September.
Or is it just'difficult second season syndrome'as in Zurawski,JVH
-
Hi Paul,
After a quick skim through last nights posts a few of you seem surprised at the good performance A, Hutton had last night. I know the general opinion on here is that he is useless but I've made a few posts now mentioning him. He is a young player still learning (age 21 just back from a big injury) he still has faults, can be a bit niave in positioning and sometime lunges into a tackle that isn't needed. The other side of the coin is that he is strong in the tackle can break forward with speed, has a decent cross, and has the confidence to attack in the opposition box. I was laughed at the last time I said it but I think your own defence would be a lot stronger if you had him in it.
-
Itz :- I know I'm not the one you mean but I did, and I still think I'll collect at the end of the season :-)
MikeTW :- You may well be right and he may have played for the penalty but from my seat it looked a certain stonewaller.
-
Edward
The Hearts penalty showed the bad side to his game. Last night the positive side. I don't think you'll find too many Celtic fans having a go at other teams' fullbacks.
Wilson being described as 'foal-like' in the Herald was sadly accurate.
-
Edward
I don't think he'd improve our defence as I'm not sure he has any defensive attributes (other than his height). His performance in Paris was exceptional but he then followed that up with a mad dog lunge on the Hearts player!
Would certainly improve our attacking options on the right however as he seems to know how to play the attacking role well. I do think his intelligence (lack of) will hinder his career, interesting you mention the leg break - he picked this up trying to skelp someone!
Besides, I hear he's in the £10m bracket now :-)
-
Edward,
Timing is everything I suppose. I suspect had you posted that last saturday afternoon there would have been howls of laughter after his 'performance' at Swinecastle.
Yeah, we could do with an updgrade at right back. Hutton, the thug that he is, would not be that upgrade.
Thanks but no thanks.
Wavy
-
Hutton looked good going forward last night, but he is not that great defensively. A sending off, several yellow cards, a penalty given away and it's only September!
He was definitely going down last night after playing the ball too far in front of himself. If the defender had pulled out rather than lunging at him he would have looked very silly.
His run and pass to set up the first goal was superb, though.
-
it sticks in my throat to say it but I was impressed with the Alan Shullhutton last night. Having laughed at his first half attempts to bullet down the right and cross infield I squirmed at his second half "get intae them approach" which led to their two goals.
I honestly didn't think the Orsc were capable of coming back.
-
-
Edward,
Well done last night, it was a brave comeback. I wanted to mention that I got hounded off and banned for life for posting on Fascist Fascist. Was having a bit of a laugh(or trying to) regarding the 1980 Cup Final but they said I stank and should go back to Ireland amongst other unpleasantaries.
Terrific bunch?
-
K'heels -why would you go back to Ireland.I thought you lived in France.
Maybe it was the cheese they were smelling;~0
-
Killerheels :- That comes as no surprise, I have been banned from there a few times and can no longer be bothered setting up new accounts to get back in. They are a nasty intolerant bunch of morons who think anyone that doesn't follow their own views must be in the pay of the pope/IRA/Dublin or any other convenient hate figure.
-
Danny, TMC & BigWavy :- Thanks for the replies, as I said in my post he does have a tendency to lunge in when it's the wrong thing to do but seeing him weekly I feel he is inmproving fast and could turn out a good long term full back for the team. As for him being a thug, e may well be but that has never stopped a team from keeping a player before.
-
Edwardursus,
Hutton being in the Scotland squad ahead of Wilson is deserved.
If you look at the results of the German teams in the CL they are nothing special. Not surprising when you note that Schalke are 8th in the Bundesliga, VFB 9th and Bremen a cool 13th. No disrespect but Vfb deceive to flatter. I´d love to know how many unforced errors vfb made last night?
It was a great result for you but in the cold light of day you will see it as being the minimun requirement. I.e 3 points gathered at home. Our turn next against the CL champions!! :-) :-) ... and I´ll be there :-) :-) :-) :-)
That was Rangers first win in 7 consecutive matches in the CL and they haven´t lost in 7. An impressive record for a Scottish team participating in the CL and goes a long way to helping the coefficient
Rangers like Shakthar are 4th seeds and I´m sure the Germans are thinking what a tough group they find themselves in also. I fancy Rangers to get a draw in the Daimler Stadion but Lyon will now be hurting after Barca´s shafting last night. They are second in the Ligue 1 having lost twice already early on this this season both away.
I thought Rangers played well in the second half and that Watty got his tactics spot on as the result proved. I do belive that Lyon are a stronger prospect than vfb.
Who do you play before you meet Lyon ?
-
EdU -It must be your Ayrshire stoicism that makes you come on this blog as well to play the part of the'Convenient Hate Figure';#)
-
Minor frisson when I read the BBC headline'Chelsea appoint Grant as manager'
What's the Russian for'why is that man pointing at me?'
-
Ed,
Mmmh Motherwell away who are currently 3 points behind you.
I would be lying if I wasn´t already comtemplating a scenario where you slip up in the SPL again by going on to lose to Mark Mc Ghee´s team. Returning from losing atLyon to take on Hibs who are also presently 3 points behind you.
Ooooh it can all change so quickly
Enjoy the after glow of last nights results. I dont want to rain on your parade .....yet :-)
-
ANNAOAN :- Rangers are at Motherwell on the Sat before playing Lyon. The best of luck on your next game especially if you are going to it,. Though I have to say I doubt if you could have drawn a better team. I wonder how many of you would say one pint was a realistic target from the two Milan games, I know that what I expect from our two games against Barcalona. What I hope for is different but that's what I expect.
DBBIA :- I'm shocked lol, here was me thinking I was loved and wanted :-)
-
I'd like to correct the spelling error in the above. One pint would never be enough over two games but one point may be a different matter :-)
-
Edward...
Hold my hands up! Hutton had an excellent game for you last night and if truth be told, he was doing no more than a lot of people do these days... Playing for a penalty!
Got to say though, I was merely repeating what my son sitting next to me said.
Is it simulation? No, I don't think so, but neither is it 100% in the spirit of the game.
Well done for last night, and to be honest, I now don't think a last 16 place is beyond your lads.
Still say you got a whole lot easier group than we did though!
-
miketw10-
I tend to agree with you, Lyon don't seem to be the team of old and Stuggart don't have the Bayern feel to them.
Their dog fight for second place is definitely achievable, where as ours seems to me a whole lot more difficult.
If we mange to beat Milan at home it would be our best ever result in the Champions League.
-
new article posted.
-
Say what you like about the 'special one', but he was loved by his fans.
The wife was visibly upset this morning wakening up to that news. She is not a happy bunny at this moment in time.
-
Miketw10 :- I wouldn't disagree with you though I think if you had drawn any other pot four team the two groups would be much the same. Drawing Shaktar was a bit like drawing Moscow they were teams in false positions and a lot stronger than their seeding would suggest.
-
what about lee naylors performance in tuesday nights game, and every other game he has played this year? he is a disgrace
-
Gweedoreboy,
From last night, I can assure you that Kenny Miller has not sold his house despite his move down south. He only plans to be at Derby for a season and then....
-
Prophetofdoom
Deepest sympathies on the loss of your friend Graham.In mourning his death I hope you can take some strength from his sense of fun..i`m sure it is what he would want.
Edward
Congratulations on your demonstation of how to tiptoe through a minefield.As for last night you are forgiven..(provided you have a sincere purpose of amendment )
