I’ve heard a lot about Patrick Roberts. He’s burdened by enormous expectations, compared to the greats since shortly after his 17th birthday. Manchester City moved 2 starts and 17 substitute appearances into his Fulham career – £12m on the basis of 399 minutes football.
He’s here to force his way into the team between now and the end of the season, and be ready for the European challenges ahead. I think we’re going to enjoy watching this lad.
We saw around 80 minutes of Erik Sviatchenko on Sunday. As I said yesterday, he’s probably our best defender, not that that is taking enormous liberties. In Virgin van Dijk we managed to recruit a dependable defender who wasn’t scared of the ball, and was first to organise those around him. If Erik’s near that standard, he’ll do well.
Ryan Christie (20) is a No. 10. We need a No. 10. He’s 12 years younger than Kris Commons, the only comparable player in the first team squad. Kris has been our MVP for more seasons than anyone else currently on the books, but we’ve been far too dependent on him, which has become acutely evident recently, when he’s out injured.
There’s an argument that we could have done with another No. 10 during our European campaign but it’s far from clear Ryan would have got his chance. We’ll see a good bit of him before the end of the season.
Many of the things I could say about Colin Kazim-Richards I alluded about Carlton Cole when he signed. He’s a physical presence, not easily intimidated, should be an effective foil for Leigh Griffiths.
Colin joins with an actual rap sheet. Online comments yesterday recalled the reaction the day Griffiths signed. At the time I wrote that it’s important for Celtic to affirm positive values in Leigh’s life. The player hasn’t looked back, he’s every inch a positive role model. It’s now important the club and Colin work to ensure a similar result.
Aidan Nesbitt (18) is also a No. 10. He’s the player you’re most likely to hear development and youth coaches talk about. The next stage of his development required him to play against men. Four months in the Premiership playing for Partick will achieve this.
Farewall Nadir Ciftci, who is off to Turkey until the end of the season. I described Nadir as less like a Ronny Deila player than any other I’ve watched and known Celtic to be interested in. He has a touch and is a better player than we’ve seen, but he was built from different material than practically all other Deila signings.
Last month’s business will hopefully mean we have a settled and secure defence for the qualifiers, something missing at the beginning of this season, something missing on Sunday afternoon. The Kazim-Richards signing could go a number of different ways. The player will get his chance to live up to his own expectations.
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PETEC on 2ND FEBRUARY 2016 10:43 PM
“The Family is of utmost importance in Switzerland.”
What do you base this on??
Money is of the utmost importance here, it’s all people ever talk about, a Soulless land populated by button pushers..
Sunday was poor on many fronts.
Thompson was typical of Mibbery and Ross County’s second should never, ever have stood. I thought Efe’s red card was justified but the card was out almost before his minimal contact with the County player.
Despite this it would be short sighted to ignore the part that Celtic played in the final result.
I found Ronny’s substitutions to be utterly bizarre. McGregor has been a lynchpin recently and was the wrong player to be sacrificed in my opinion. Armstrong participated practically nothing yet remained on even when Bitton was replaced.
Most worrying for me was that we never looked like clawing our way back into the game even when only 2-1 down.
A huge improvement will be required if we’re to get a positive result in Aberdeen.
Aberdeen 1 Celtic 2.
Petec
“There is something afoot”
KevJ?
What is the Stars
Just remembered how we met way back in the mists of CQN time you were talking shite then too:))
Beatbhoy,
He’s a likeable looking lad too..
Yes.That quick passing move in the second half was sublime.Had the Liverpool defence in knots.
starry plough on 2nd February 2016 11:05 pm
PETEC on 2ND FEBRUARY 2016 10:43 PM
“The Family is of utmost importance in Switzerland.”
What do you base this on??
Money is of the utmost importance here, it’s all people ever talk about, a Soulless land populated by button pushers..
——————-
Did Switzerland pass the law about giving everyone a monthly benefit? Thought it was quite an interesting idea
What is the Stars on 2nd February 2016 10:59 pm
Petec
Are you drunk or bonkers
The abyss? ? No I don’t think so.
Switzerland? ?
Only contribution to world culture, the cuckoo clock ( actually they got from the Germans in return for minding nazi gold)
As for Oor ronny, he will get a result tomorrow and will be well on here until the next hiccup.
Such fun
………………………………………………….
I never go to the Doctor now, I feel with good reason.
Am I drunk?
I’d say I’m Dr. Unk.
WITS, you have an encoded tips within your tips, I’m not sure you realises this…….. In 179004 years, well………
Anyway, I digress thanks for all the tips, yer a Genius. You probably won’t believe me, I reckon you are a guy who can, if people want to listen, well they can stop being Greedy Gamblers. You always promote that.
HT, you never mentioned Griff missing a penalty
starry plough on 2nd February 2016 11:05 pm
PETEC on 2ND FEBRUARY 2016 10:43 PM
“The Family is of utmost importance in Switzerland.”
What do you base this on??
Money is of the utmost importance here, it’s all people ever talk about, a Soulless land populated by button pushers..
………………………………………………………………………………………………
What my Wee Brother tells me when I’m online playing Counterstrike with him – throguh voice comms…. Still to ask him about this June 5th Referendum and I reckon he won’t have a vote.
Starry plough
I am in good company on here so
12 inches
eddieinkirkmichael on 2nd February 2016 11:10 pm
HT, you never mentioned Griff missing a penalty
—————-
Or that outstanding save the keeper using his foot from Griff.
Someone posted on here last night that Celtic never created a chance after scoring, that’s what we’re up against.
the_huddle on 2nd February 2016 11:09 pm
See above comment.
Eddie
Personally I thought we were lucky with the penalty, it was very soft.
It’s only an option but when we went behind I never thought we’d win it.
Cultsbhoy
Burghbhoy
Have a read at this.
http://swissramble.blogspot.ch/2015/06/celtic-everythings-gone-green.html?m=1
He agrees PLS wage should be lower but also explains the constraints on growth.
He is a well respected bean counter and concludes Celtic or PL (if it’s his personal decision overruling the Board and club policy ) is “damned if he does invest to get into CL damned if he doesn’t.
I’ve gone back to him to ask – with qualifying rounds to negotiate which means CL group and rewards not guaranteed, how much in Celtic’s straightjacket situation should they invest over a 3 year contract period to break even?
I did not inlude risk of injury or regulars heading south in the summer or lack of match fitness although a sensible risk analysis should factor these in.
My view now is we are costed out of the CL as would be ANY Scottish club, but with the Europa paying a bit more, if we got two teams in it after Xmas, we would have a much healthier domestic competition where no one died by speculating to accumulate with future winnings or tax payers money or debts not paid.
We can ignore economics, scream lack of ambition all we like but it’s economics as explained in the link that govern our policy.
We were in Europa after Xmas last year but failed this. Have a title and LC win with another two domestic trophies to be won.
What we are doing by insisting that CL qualification is a must and urged by a media to stupid to recognise the economics at nest or malevolent at worst, is making a rod for the back of ANY Celtic manager.
Time we stopped building hurdles that cannot be vaulted and measured success against those that can.
What is the Stars on 2nd February 2016 11:13 pm
Starry plough
I am in good company on here so
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I’m with you Bro.
It’s the Serious intellectuals you got to watch oot for….. oh there urnae many on here, IMO there are not any, and that is Great.
Kojo possibly could be classed as such because of all the hate he took and still boxing like there was no tomorrow, the guy was Top Class and humble as anything because he never held a grudge.
Paul67 possibly will emulate Kojo. I don’t know how they know each other but they do.
The Holy Spirit is so powerful. It really is so Powerful.
the_huddle
They have what’s called direct democracy here so if you get enough votes on an issue it goes to a peoples referendum, this action on the Basic Income comes from private citizens and it is driven out of Basel by a decent enough bloke, so they got more than a hundred thousand signatures so it will go to a vote but the Council that run the country have already advised the country that they don’t think it’s a good idea..
If The Swiss vote for it I will run naked behind WITS round Nelson Mandela sure in a tandem of rebelliousness the likes of which have never been seen!
Just back from sunderland versus cited – dreadful game but exciting -epl written all over it
Any truth in the giggs rumour
DAVID POTTER’S MATCH REPORT: CELTIC 1 ROSS COUNTY 3
02Feb2016
POSTED BY KEVINGRAHAM
POSTED IN ARTICLES, MATCH REPORTS
Yesterday’s cataclysm (and that is not too strong a word) will be difficult to come back from, but it must be done soon, for Aberdeen on Wednesday are demanding our attention, and the fear is that we may now go into freefall. It will be the supreme test of Ronnie Deila to bring us back from the “slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” that we supporters suffered in agony yesterday.
I am frequently accused by my detractors of being soft on referees. I am not one who, by nature or inclination, sees conspiracies involving rolling up one’s trouser leg and shaking hands in a funny way, but yesterday it must be said that the main cause of Celtic’s misfortune was Craig Thomson. Two awful big match-changing decisions, and loads of other ones particularly in the failure to spot the use of elbows by Ross County defenders.
The sending off of Efe Ambrose astounded me at Hampden itself, and once I saw it at night, my impression was confirmed. It may have been technically a foul (although that was dubious) but how could it be a sending-off when Efe clearly tried to pull out of the clash, and there was still Craig Gordon to beat in any case? Frankly, that decision changed the game. 1-1 with 75 minutes to go and 11 v 10 is not an easy position to be in.
Yet Celtic fought hard for the rest of the first half until just after the turn around when Mr Thomson got his second decision wrong. How could he NOT spot that obvious and deliberate foul on Craig Gordon? Once again, at the game itself I thought something was wrong and the TV at night confirmed it. Rightly was Craig Gordon upset about it all, and how dare Thomson give him a yellow card for protesting!
But then the horror of a defeat like this is that we were given a chance to get back in, but couldn’t take it. Leigh Griffiths obviously didn’t want to take the kick, and it was one of the worst penalties ever seen with no thought given to placing it. Just straight at the goalkeeper! There was no way back after that, and both the players and the fans knew it. In fact most of us suspected it even as early as the 15th minute as Efe trudged up the tunnel, victim of a crazy rule sadly misinterpreted by a glory hunting referee.
So the semi final hoodoo strikes again at the soulless place that Hampden was yesterday. Celtic had their deficiencies, but the biggest charge against them surely must be that of failing to rise above adversity. It was an awful, awful day and I now begin to suffer some vicious visions of what might happen at Pittodrie on Wednesday.
The treble has gone again, but two trophies remain. Develop a ruthless streak, Celtic and go for them! I only wish the players could have seen the devastation of the fans at full time. I only hope they shared it.
Craig Gordon – 9/10 – cannot really be blamed for the defeat. Some good saves.
Mikael Lustig – 7/10 – enigmatic, but basically failed to produce the goods when we needed him to do so.
Efe Ambrose – for all sorts of reasons, I wept for Efe last night.
Eric Sviatchenko – 9/10 – impressive, considering that he was making his debut, and in what circumstances!
Dedryck Boyata – 6/10 – poor. Indecisive throughout and posted missing at the third goal.
Kieran Tierney – 9/10 – another good game from the youngster.
Nir Bitton – 6/10 – poor and failed to make an impact when we needed him to.
Stefan Johansen – 6/10 – a decision really has to be made about this guy. The way that the support are turning on him so unanimously is quite frightening. But it is also significant.
Callum McGregor – 8/10 – bad luck for Callum today. He had started so well.
Stuart Armstrong – 7/10 – tried hard, but not one of his better games for the club
Gary Mackay-Steven – 7/10 – started well, but failed to maintain his early promise
Leigh Griffiths – 6/10 – just what was his problem? Long before he missed the penalty that might have made the difference, his body language told me that he was not happy. He was on the receiving end of many fouls (not always given) but was it all because he didn’t want to face his beloved Hibs in the final?
Scott Brown – nice to see him back, but he didn’t make much difference
James Forrest – brought on too late. He might have made a difference because he runs hard, and is so unorthodox.
Referee – see above!
Ross County – I would like to be magnanimous and gracious, but afraid not after the fouling. I hope we give them a real hammering on February 13, and I’m also now supporting Hibs in the Scottish League up final. Alan Stubbs, Dylan McGeouch, Liam Henderson, Tony Stokes – there is a lot to like there, and there may yet be green and white ribbons on the Scottish League Cup!
Outlook – a dark day for Celtic. It is not being over dramatic to suggest that Celtic’s season hinges on Wednesday night. The clamour for Ronnie’s head will be difficult to resist in the event of another defeat
One aspect of the substitution after the red card was very strange. With 75mins to play on a huge heavy pitch you need to plan your 3 subs to take the strain of those players who are struggling.
Ronny took off McGregor who had only played 13 mins. We had many options open to us that could have saved the need for a substitution until second half.
Q . Was this move a reflection of lack of confidence in Boyata ?
The Onlooker.
The 2000 age group, and it has been a long Time since I Witnessed them, will be coming on to the scene.
Don’t be Rosicrucians FFS……….there are so many other Orders oot there as well.
Wake UP.
Patience
Celtic
starry plough,
Ones a Rapper?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5Pm7BL-hyo
The Big Faz show on MOTD
“How could he not spot the obvious and deliberate foul on Craig Gordon”?
Devils advocate here
the ref is trying to watch a lot going on in the box
Craig Gordon is wearing the grey strip which makes him practically invisible.
It has been accepted for many years that the best strips for keepers are garish yellows or red, they make the keeper look big and help them fill the goal. I know it is stretching it a little but perhaps if CG was wearing a louder strip the offence may have been witnessed.
It seems crazy that the small margin of advantage is thrown away, get rid of the grey Craig and put on a few pounds of muscle.
I thought when it gets to a Referendum it then is up to the people to decide?
Not spoke to ma wee Bro since Saturday, only became aware after listening to a podcast.
It is very worrying IMO, the Printing of Money has been off the scale, that certainly isn’t working hard to gwt precious items out of the Earth.
This is a Massive Year.
Starry plough,
Are you Swiss or based in Switzerland?
A following up question, and it will depend on your situation, will you be able to vote on a referendum?
petec
It is up to the people when it gets to referendum, the gov’t can say what they want but ultimately the people will decide, I’m impressed that such a radical idea has got so far, can’t see it passing though, although you never can tell with the Swiss, they might fancy being the first in Europe to have it.
If they do they will never get rid of me:))
HH
petec
You can only vote if you have a Swiss passport mate. I don’t so no vote for me.
I’ve been here 15 years but never felt the desire to get a Swiss pass, my Mrs is talking about it now!!
starry plough on 2nd February 2016 11:55 pm
petec
It is up to the people when it gets to referendum, the gov’t can say what they want but ultimately the people will decide, I’m impressed that such a radical idea has got so far, can’t see it passing though, although you never can tell with the Swiss, they might fancy being the first in Europe to have it.
If they do they will never get rid of me:))
————–
I’ll move into your spare room if they pass the law :O)
I’d guess it’s similar to Norway?? don’t they give every household an annual benefit from the oil money??
Just watched Leicester v Liverpool.
The blue team were excellent.
What a goal from vardy.
Danny Murphy the best analyst on TV.
Klopp.the German Ronny.
We get beat in big games cos the opponents get lucky.
Crock of shit.
Starry thanks for that info.
My wee Bro doesn’t have a passport either, I think he has been there for about 7 years noo.
He initially went over to cover for a dude doing national service.
I don’t think ma Bro will come back to Scotland. :((
The World is very Strange right now, don’t rule anything out.
Auld heid
Interesting article – thanks.
In depth financial assessment that both outlines the challenging context we operate within but also for me signals the weakness of Lawwell’s approach.
Areas of concern include:
his own salary and bonus – interesting that the remuneration committee exceeded the 60% bonus he is contractually entitled to. ..
The importance of progressing in Europe- the consequence of failing to do this is the requirement to sell players
Most worrying however is the impact of match day takings- Lawwell is singularly failing in this respect.
For me Lawwell is a guy who wants to manage the challenging dynamics but does not want to lead us out of the challenge. He is concerned with survival not growth. He is risk averse and consequently we are shrinking. If he were more speculative we might grow.
His bonus and salary needs to be tied to metrics of bums on seats and growth in profits as well as team performance in Europe. From what I observe these metrics show decline while his reward grows.
Good article
Good Night Celts
Bring on the Sheep..
Auldheid
So we’re costed out of the ECL now? What, like Malmo? Or Gent? Or BATE? Or Zagreb? Or etc? The kind of mechanistic, soulless, voodoo economic excuses for the dross being served up by the Celtic boardroom to excuse failure and stark lack of ambition. Always the rest of Scottish football’s fault. Wonder how the Scottish football context compare’s to Sweden’s, Belgium’s, Belarus’s, Croatia’s or Greece’s? Kind of argument that Lawwell seizes on to manage expectations downwards. If all we can aspire to is the occasional run in the boreathon of the EL it’s hard sell for the business genius. Only aspect of Celtic’s operation that remains at premium European levels is the CEO’s salary. Funny how that survives this economic winter…
starry plough on 2nd February 2016 11:55 pm
petec
It is up to the people when it gets to referendum, the gov’t can say what they want but ultimately the people will decide, I’m impressed that such a radical idea has got so far, can’t see it passing though, although you never can tell with the Swiss, they might fancy being the first in Europe to have it.
If they do they will never get rid of me:))
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have no idea the difference between Nations, I do know my wee Brothers house is ridiculous in comparison to Anything in Dumbarton or anywhere in any area I frequent.
The Dandy fella, well, he is still renting his Dumbarton property, so hope Springs Eternal he will return wan day.
The Surveys say that most people would keep on working. The estimated cost would be $205 Billion a year. It is interesting that JC is also wanting peoples quantitive easing.
IMO, we need to look beyond these things. What are the Rulers REALLY wanting to bring in?
I have a really good idea myself. I’ve said it plenty Times already.
“Be alert and of sober mind” – I can’t stop sinning.
Just seen it,with approximately 15 minutes to go the petulance and stupidity of Johannsen could have resulted in Celtic being reduced to 9 He had obviously given up even with 15 minutes remaining on the clock. A point that most seem to have glossed over.
THE ONLOOKER on 2ND FEBRUARY 2016 11:48 PM
Interesting observation.
Last season an indifferent December saw us dropping four points either side of Christmas to Dundee United and ironically Ross County.
This prompted a jubilant media and some Celtic “fans” to proclaim the challenge of the Dons and predict them to lift the trophy, despite the fact that we had games in hand.
A rampant New Year however, saw us on a run of 8 straight wins, culminating in a 4-0 thrashing of Aberdeen at CP.
With a 6 point lead we are in a far better position for tomorrow’s game at Pittodrie.
I am sure Ronny will have the side suitably prepared and motivated and the players themselves inspired by Broony’s return will want to atone for Sunday’s loss to County.
This not a do or die match for Ronny.
He and his side cannot have this label hanging over the game.
It only feeds into the media’s attempts to unsettle the fans and undermine our team.
As long as Ronny is our manager we need to give these lamb bone suckers the cold shoulder.