Winning the league is hard, or at least it should be. Aberdeen are finding that out as they unnecessarily dropped points on Saturday. Celtic have had it easy for so long we’ve forgotten a few truths of competition.
Sitting 6 points clear, and (again) confident of winning the league, we can constructively appreciate the job Derek McInnes has done at Pittodrie. They are very likely to come up short this season, but the gap between them and Celtic is not the chasm it used to be.
For years we discussed that what Scottish football really needs is teams like Aberdeen and Dundee United comfortably outperforming Motherwell and Inverness. No disrespect intended for the latter two, but Aberdeen have hugely better resources, if we are to receive a genuine challenge, it will come from there.
I was also delighted to see the 15k attendance at Pittodrie on Saturday, reflecting the bounce that has occurred at Tynestle this season. Figures like that will help Aberdeen (and Hearts) solidify. Both can make a profit at that level.
Progress isn’t linear, so don’t be surprised if Aberdeen or Hearts don’t leap forward next season, but the chances of them being overhauled by a smaller club is slight. The future looks healthier than the past.
445 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- »
I’ve read a number of posts talking about the quality of football.
I’ve watched a lot this season, between travelling. And the comment that stands out to me was from my wife in the game against hearts. She doesn’t come to too many games but even she pointed out their is only one team trying to play football.
This has been a pattern in most games, 10 or eleven behind the ball, let’s try and survive and hit on the break.
Now in Europe we suffered from the rope a dope in the Malmo game also. This is what, I believe is driving people from the game. Scottish teams defend aggressively and hope to steal something. There have been a few exceptions to this with ICT and Dundee Utd, however they suffered as a result.
We should be able to break down defences, with creativity, but it is tough if you get no protection, and the referees give little protection.
I think we need to percivier and increase the tempo with good one touch football, which has been apparent on many occasions but not consistent enough. It is interesting that guys like Scott Allen are applauded for trying and failing yet more seasoned players are barracked. We need to relax a little and let the team develop.
I am confident that we will prevail and will learn from mistakes.
Oooooops,forgot the link!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m-lguKIzAaA
Morning all.
I saw on Sportscene that Paton of Du was being lauded to the skies. Has he not been hounded out of football for his assault on our former Polish goalie? Imagine the uproar if one of our team had plead guilty to such behaviour? Didn’t one of our former players lie on oath defending him too? Yes, just further evidence that you can get away with anything in Scotland if it is anti-Celtic. Makes me sick.
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD
Shush your mouth,old bean. You’re paranoid,none of what you see is happening as you see it.
Or so some-on here and elsewhere-would have you believe.
Here`s a wee exercise if you have nothing much to do.According to quite a few, Celtic are `Rubbish`.
That being so, EVERY team in Scotland is, obviously, worse than rubbish. So, the wee exercise is to find the appropriate description for all the teams below us.
So, Aberdeen are one step below `rubbish`. Poor? Very poor?
Hearts. Dreadful?
Of course, it might be easier to accept that Celtic are, in fact, not rubbish.
JJ
PS I know it should be `Celtic is` but that just sounds wrong to me.
Jungle Jim Hot Smoked on 1st March 2016 8:27 am
____________________________________________________
Hail Hail fella.
40,000 empty seats say that….
…Celtic ‘are’ rubbish cos…
….Ronny ‘is’ rubbish….imho.
No amount of smoke-screens will fill the 40,000 ’empty’ seats.
In fact, rip oot 40,000 seats and build a, 40,000 safe-standing-area at a cost of say, £5 to get in ?
Anything else is, Kevin Costner ‘field of dreams’ type p#sh…imho
Thought this might be of interest to some on here ,
http://www.thenational.scot/comment/cat-boyd-im-proud-of-my-irish-background-why-cant-glasgow-celebrate-st-patricks-day-like-everyone-else.14404?utm_medium=social&utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_term=Autofeed#link_time=1456815699
FourGreenFields on 1st March 2016 8:37 am
______________________________________________
Thanks for sharing that – Hail Hail.
It reminds me of some rather, ugly remarks that I’ve been on the receiving end of, either individually or, as part of a group…..mostly in the work place.
The main one being, not being aimed at me specifically but, said within earshot for my benefit is – “…if ‘they’ want to be Irish, why don’t they go back to Ireland ?”
…or….”…this is oor country, like it or leave!”
Neganon2(God Bless him)…is correct, Scotland ‘is’ institutionally anti-Catholic-Irish-Celtic.
It has, forever been thus….
HH
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD
What penalty did the SFA impose on Paton ?
I don’t remember any .
KEVJUNGLE
Hope things are good with you .
Shocking that we can’t celebrate St.Patrick’s day like the rest of the world .
FGF,
I don’t remember any either. I don’t read the SMSM; I presume there were no articles condemning his behaviour among them either. Does Wilson still get a gig with the media?
Kev
I go to the Home games. I would not like to be there if another 40,000 fans were allowed in!!
JJ
Why is St Patrick`s Day so widely celebrated? Is it simply because so many had to leave Ireland a settle elsewhere?
JJ
`….and settle elsewhere.`
I desperately want Ronny to succeed, but the red card fiasco shows how out of his depth he is as a Celtic manager.
He just looks like a man lost these days.
Michael (or Martin) O’Neill in the summer? DD finally takes an interest..?
FOURGREENFIELDS
You joining us for a knees-up in Dublin?
JUNGLEJIM HS
Everyone loves a party,mate. Only a dour Calvinist couldnae enjoy a sesh like St Patrick’s Day.
There’s yer answer…
FourGreenFields on 1st March 2016 8:53 am
______________________________________________
Us descendants of the refugee’s have to live under a veil.
We just have to fox our way roon the system as best we can.
Don’t ever forget that, the poor, hungry folk gave the world the Irish diaspora’s greatest ‘gift’…..Celtic Football Club.
And, the downtrodden, oppressed community that gave the world the Cellic, also gave Scotland it’s greatest ever sporting achievement in Lisbon 1967.
Just think how that will always stick in they’re craw….eating them….brilliant.
To guage our predicament….it’s like a mini-version of Nazi Germany in the 1930’s.
God Bless all Jews and Tims….apart from Lord Livingstone.
HH
Hi TET
Just realised you are not on hotnail …:-)
You have email – hopefully
HH
JUNGLE JIM HOT SMOKED on 1ST MARCH 2016 8:54 AM
Kev
I go to the Home games. I would not like to be there if another 40,000 fans were allowed in!!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Well, you’ve been called out before about this – not by me – and, put in yer place.
Let’s not go there…..
Hi Kev J
1965 – 66 Celtic average home attendance 24,102
and
1973 – 74 Celtic average home attendance 24,752
Ronny Deila has welcomed the increasingly likely presence of Rangers in the Premiership next season and believes it will be beneficial for Celtic and the rest of the top-flight clubs in Scotland.
Rangers are now 11 points clear of Hibs at the top of the Championship, with a far superior goal difference to the Easter Road side, and appear near-certainties to win the title and secure the automatic promotion place.
Celtic manager Deila has faced Rangers just once since taking charge of the Scottish champions almost two years ago, enjoying a comfortable 2-0 win against them in last season’s League Cup semi-final at Hampden.
The prospect of regular league fixtures against the Ibrox side, absent from the top flight since their financial collapse in 2012, is relished by Deila, who feels Rangers will bring greater interest and attention to the Premiership.
“It is a big club and if or when they go up, they deserve to be there,” said Deila.
“It’s going to be an even more interesting league. Of course it will bring more spotlight on Scottish football. It will be good for the whole league.”
Deila remains on course to lead Celtic to their fifth consecutive Scottish title, and the second of his tenure, as they currently hold a six-point lead over Aberdeen at the top of the table.
The Pittodrie club are the only side to have provided even the semblance of a genuine title challenge to Celtic in the absence of the Old Firm rivalry.
But Deila is uncertain whether Rangers would pose a greater threat to Celtic’s domination if they are promoted this summer.
“It might mean us being pushed more,” added Deila. “Hopefully not! But we will need to wait and see.”
Deila, meanwhile, has dismissed the claim from his Rangers counterpart Mark Warburton that he was disrespectful towards the Englishman with his contribution last week to the ongoing debate over the use of artificial pitches in Scottish football.
Warburton has been the most strident critic of the surfaces, calling for them to be banned from elite football in Scotland.
Deila, however, has no objections to synthetic pitches if they are of sufficiently high quality and revealed he would not oppose the potential installation of one at Celtic Park.
The Norwegian also described the case against them as “very old fashioned”. That comment irked Warburton who accused Deila of being “disrespectful”.
But the Celtic manager insists there was nothing personal towards Warburton in his remarks and he remains convinced artificial pitches will become increasingly prevalent in the future of football.
“That was not [directed at him],” said Deila with regard to his ‘very old fashioned’ comment. “I have my view on artificial pitches. Others have other views on them. I wasn’t talking about his comments beforehand, it was just about artificial pitches. I think in 15 or 20 years’ time, it’s going to be a lot different to what it is now.”
scullybhoy on 1st March 2016 9:24 am
________________________________________
….and ?
Good to see Rogic rubbish the negative stories
Also good to see the club being linked with Hendrie from West Ham. He was a good prospect at Hamilton. Tierney has established himself and I wouldn’t hold Izzy back if he wants to go. I’d like him to stay but if he wants to play I’m afraid he needs to go elsewhere.
Word is, Deila is one more bad shift away from a big shift.
Deila foot in mouth over Boyota. What a shocker. Sack the clumpit.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
Yes mate ,can’t wait .
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD
Dont buy/ read the papers either mate but as long as your anti Celtic then I’m sure you will get a gig with some form of media in Scotland.
KEVJUNGLE
Hail Hail mate .
La Bella Italia .
Fiorentina 1 -Napoli 1 .
Great result for Juve .
Top 3 in Serie A .
Juve 61pts
Napoli 58pts
Roma 53 pts .
Napoli look to be blowing it yet again…. Support doing their seemingly ritualistic thing and venting their delusion at the owner , the Manager and the players..
Another dry and sunny day -way down south . This winter has been very dry . So dry I have been forced to buy water from the council .The only time in 15 years .
Today’s get out and work choon —
Dr Alimantado- Best Dressed Chicken / She Wreng ( Sun and Star ) . A gem of a choon from 75.
Timaloy29 on 1st March 2016 9:32 am
________________________________________
Hail Hail fella.
Yeah, Rogic has some guid stuff about him.
There are a lot of guid players at Celtic Park right now.
I think that, LG was heavily hinting that it’s John Collins who is the guy to make players better – look at the conveyor belt at Hibs under his watch – folk, seem to think that Collins is the problem in the camp coz of the way that Commons spat the dummy at him in Molde.
If, Commons could lace Collins boots….we’d have a right guid player at the park.
As I was saying, there is guid talent at the club….LG was hinting that, Collins is thee guy who’ll make it all click together….imho
HH
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
Anything planned apart from the Saturday night session ?
Morning Bhoys. Big Peat OF Islay Whos word are you talking about ? or is this just more pub gossip ? H.H.
May god shine on you Bobby sands
For the courage you have shown
May your glory and your fame be widely known.
Joe
I can’t say it’s true, and I won’t say it’s not. But there’s been talk. Oh, a lot of talk.
http://youtu.be/NcJpEp1mCGs
FOURGREENFIELDS
Ireland v Switzerland Friday
Charlie and the Bhoys Sunday-I’ll need to talk to my Dad about this one.
Fairyhouse Monday Grand National.
My Dad will be showing me round his old haunts as well,and we can always rely on expert local knowledge!
Looking forwards to it immensely-and to meeting up wi the good guys again.
Big Pete
I heard similar last night
The people of Ballyglon are coming over by bus, thousands of them.