After so much slow build-up play this season, and so many misplaced passes, the sight of Roberts, Christie, Allan and Griffiths pinging the ball around the field was a revelation. I know the game was won before the three substitutes grabbed hold of things, and that there are vastly more challenging scenarios than Inverness at home, but the new blood have asked a big question of the incumbent three attacking midfielders.
The comfort on the ball the three substitutes brought was also contagious, Lustig looked less like a panicked fawn as he confidently back-heeled the ball into space.
The balance in the team has shifted damagingly in favour of players who can run, or perhaps jump, but who are unconvincing with the ball at their feet. So much so, Craig Gordon clears the ball up the field, instead of playing-in Bitton or a central defender, more than we’ve seen from a Celtic keeper in decades.
Christie, Roberts and Allan will not change this overnight (the latter’s misplaced pass against Ajax was costly), but they are doing enough to justify some faith in their selection. New Douglas Park should be an ideal opportunity to strut their stuff.
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This lad, a busker in Dublin is playing support at the Sean Heuston 1916 Society event on Easter Sunday night the 27th of March, Cowiebhoy mentioned this earler. They had only 60 tickets left the other day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMwSt9ULdEQ
Clogher
TinyTim
Eddie requested the spare for Friday for me. The magician HamiltonTim conjured me a Hamilton ticket earlier. Thank you T. Hope to see you again soon.
Hail Hail
NEGANON2 on 22ND FEBRUARY 2016 10:08 PM
Macjay1 ah there are a few sacred cows in your post.
======================================================================================
And a few red herrings in yours.
Or is that Red Hands?
The Battle of the Boyne took place in Ireland.
The 12th marches commemorate that victory .
No argument there , surely.
No anti-Irishism . Quite the reverse.Support for Irish protestantism and the Ulster plantation.
Anti Catholicism……………..loud and clear.
Macjay1 I think we are in agreement. Not about your red herrings mind :)
Good point in the blog. We now see a team that is the opposite of what RD promised us. Square pegs in round holes, there for athleticism rather than skill and the proof is in the dire football. It’s not even as if we reach the level of WGS or Lennon’s functionally grind we just seem aimless.
Can’t see JF being a great loss. Good luck to him. We’ll always have Karagandy and a terrible penalty in a league cup final.
The long wait is over
I heard Davis. I think he needs his medicine reviewed…
delaneys dunky.
The drunk end of Rose Street, I think? :)). Now what end is that. I’m coming through by bus and don’t want to get of the bus at the West End,and the bars at the top of the East End,I’m not into walking long distances and Rose Street is about a mile long.
By the way Rose Street hasn’t got a drunk end, the whole streets a drinkers paradise.
Lennon’s passion
”James is stupid to knock back guaranteed 4yr sick pay. ”
Classic haha!
Calton
Was saying on here last night cannot understand the mentality of those who go to the games and then boo someone in a Celtic shirt but I can understand the feeling of disappointment at JF rejecting a 4yr deal. Most on here would give their right arm to run out in a hooped shirt in a competetive fixture. I think Celtic have displayed a lot more loyalty to JF than he has displayed to Celtic and ,if the truth be told, I know who was more deserving of the loyalty.
Coaches are obviously seeing much more on the training pitch than we are seeing in the matches. Maybe it’s a Petrov situation in the sense that he wants to go but Celtic want to get a decent fee for him that they wouldn’t get when the players contract is running down. Difference is Petrov recognised what Celtic did for him.
HH
Without obviously not knowing any details of JF’s contract offer, it may be permissible to speculate.
So, here goes.
Perhaps, due to his injury record, he was offered a contract weighted towards appearances.
Or.
Perhaps he didn’t like the role he has been given, I.e., playing wide left.
Or,
Perhaps he sees the writing on the wall and doesn’t see a regular place in the team.
Or,
Perhaps his agent has Sussex out a deal down South, in the land of bilk and money.
*Sussex = Sussed
An alternative gig on Easter Sunday might be, Charlie and The Bhoys, at The Button Factory, Temple Bar, Dublin.
They are playing on Saturday the 26th (night of our doo) and the Sunday. Tickets are available through their website.
Temple Bar is in the city centre.
Sorry for the late notice, I only saw this today.
Night all.
Clogher
James Forrest is one of the few Celtic players to get me out of my seat. He has smooth acceleration, keeps the ball close, can lay off to a team mate, and can finish with control.
He has had to acclimatise to playing within his injuries and his sciatica. And after two injury ridden years he has shown signs of doing that under Ronny recently to better effect.
James difficulties are well known but it is far easier to ascribe them to cowardice, a hun father and a “swinging the lead” attitude than it is to acknowledge the factors he has had to face. On top of trying to play your way back in after what might have been a career ending condition, he has had to share joint top slot in the Favourite Scapegoat category of the CP faithful.
When fit, Ronny picks him as does WGS for the national team. When unfit they strive hard to nurture him back to effectiveness but every missed game is treated as another example of his cowardice and swinging the lead, probably caused by his da’s hunnishness.
James is such an easy scapegoat that I can post 20 minutes into a CQN matchday report that “JF is anonymous again today” and get 3 instantaneous replies in complete agreement despite the drawback that he isn’t actually in the team on this occasion. It is dead easy, such is James’ rep, that posters won’t even let the facts get in the way of the pre-judged perception.
But, sorry as I am to see him go, given the level of talent he has, I have little interest in players, once they leave, other than to wish them well and hope they earn us a few bob on the way out. How anyone who decried the boy as a coward or a lead swinger can criticise him for leaving is beyond me. The posters who would have punted him for nothing and driven him to the airport, prophesying a non-league future for the boy, want to also criticise him for ascribed faults.
He was offered a contract- he turned it down. So far, ho hum and hum ho- an age old story that will be repeated many times. If he has turned down an offer from Celtic, you can guarantee that his agent has a definite offer from a club that will pay much more than Celtic will, and I doubt that club is English League One or Two either- that is just ye old Fox and The Grapes type thinking- cognitive dissonance and resolution.
I wish James well and regret his leaving. If he stays fit or gets fitter, we will regret this development. If his injuries worsen, Celtic will not lose out but the boy himself will.
Kieran Tierney, Scott Allan, Ryan Christie and Paddy Roberts all looked good at the weekend but they are all new bling. James broke through at a time when it was hard for youngsters to break through. He has played 116 times and scored on 23 occasions. These guys we are praising have yet to do that and good luck to them if they do.
If he has made his final decision then I do not wish or expect to see much of him in these next 4 months before a sale is arranged. My interest is in the boys who choose to stay. James has been with us since the Seville year- he and his “hun” dad deserve some respect for that commitment. I wish him well and expect to see him being picked up by clubs a bit more prominent than the level his detractors expect to see.
I hope he does well. I hope his injury record improves. I hope he achieves what he is capable of. I won’t care too much, however, once he has left Celtic. But I thank him for what he achieved while here. I hate to see talent go but once it has stopped being Celtic talent, my interest drops off somewhat.
Good luck, anyway! You lived the dream.
SFTB
Class.
S.F.T.B.
James is such an easy scapegoat that I can post 20 minutes into a CQN matchday report that “JF is anonymous again today” and get 3 instantaneous replies in complete agreement despite the drawback that he isn’t actually in the team on this occasion .
===============================================================
Drawback.
Like it.
;-)
sftb
I’m glad you’ve retained your ability to ‘get out of your seat’ at the sight of James Forrest in the Hoops, quite a few of the rest of the squad are managing to get Celtic fans out of their seats for weeks on end, it seems?
Your anticipated defensive post of James Forrest was inimitable and reminded me of your equally supportive and spirited defence of Shaun Maloney and almost every other, ‘scapegoat’ player, so labelled.
I cringed at ‘hun dad’ and ‘coward’ but I was surprised nobody mentioned the King Billy tattoo on the wee fella’s arm, maybe the support forgot. ☺
Bourne
All inclusive.
:-)
I wrote a completely forgettable piece on JF a wee while ago. See even I have forgotten when.
The gist of the piece was that it was time for him to shape up or ship out.
We, the club and fans, placed our hopes in him being a crucial member of a successful side.
Instead no one misses his presence in the starting XI and there is indifference about the prospect of him plying his trade elsewhere next season.
I will be disappointed in this outcome as he obviously has not fulfilled our hopes and has disregarded the faith and confidence we had in him.
The competition for midfield places is fierce and only someone dedicated and determined is going to force his way into becoming a challenger.
Under the present circumstances it would be remiss of Ronny to pick him in the starting lineup or indeed on the bench.
We,owe it to the youngsters who are playing on longer contracts to let them move ahead of James in the pecking order.
Giving the likes of SA, both of them, GMS, RC, TR and PR their opportunity to stake a long term plan will help satiate the support and give Ronny even more breathing space, rather than play someone who is not making sufficient effort and maybe doesn’t even want to be here.
to stake a long term plan
To stake a long term claim.
It’s been a long trying day and I need some rest.
I see this so often on the board when the celtic perform – like suddenly the solution has just arrived! Pinging the ball around was a revelation” – there was also quite a few revelation comments when we hit the Accies for 8 as well! Did not see so many revelation comments in the games following that! And how many of the QSG played in that Accies game? Reality is I could have come on Saturday and brought my Unclie Dan along for the ride too! How many of us play football? So if you do HOPEFULLY you will have had that moment when the opposing team are a beaten docket and the Gaffer sends you on for a wee confidence booster, to make you feel better and to seal the deal – mind you he has confidence in you but its been hard to get you game time! You then become Georgie Best – poetry in motion! Look it was nice to see on Saturday but for the sake of Hendrick take stock of the situation. ICT were done, deflated, demoralised by the time the newISH young guns came on – save the revelation comments for when it really counts!! Like say a wire game for the SPL title (doubt it!) and CL qualificiaton games! And just so you my stand in the current situation you can refer to my post of 2 weeks ago where I am total pro-RD and total pro-QSG! The future looks bright at Celtic as I said then and yes we COULD be on the cusp of something special HAIL HAIL!
How is it that, the CQN-War & Peace – type of posters…..
…can see the invisible JF and yet, they couldny see….
….the invisible KC ?….Strange ? Hmmmm ?…
Cliquey stuff….
For me….JF was thee only one that I seen under Neil or rather, during Neil’s managerial era that had a sort of, Celtic looking kind a player aboot him.
Then,….in Neil’s last season in the CL-group stages in an away game to, Ajax….there was a crucial pariod in the game were….had we scored….Ajax’s bottle would’ve went….imho.
As it turned oot….we broke up the pitch, Hooper / Sammy racing into the box waiting for a, well timed cross from JF……it didny come!
JF, hesitated and….in that moment of doubt….our chance was gone.
That one instance told me that, despite allof the ‘bigging-up’ of JF by Neil….JF didny hiv it.
Anyway….the rudderless ship sails on…..
SFTB,
we have been arguing about JF since forever it seems, you have always been a big supporter of his and I have always had my doubts and remained to be convinced, he never reached the consistency we need for a Celtic player. The fact you still call him a boy at 24 shows clearly to me you over invested too much emotional attachment to him. At 24 he should be as strong as a horse and hard as nails, he’s no and that’s his problem not ours.
In all his time I rarely watch him make a real challenge to win a 50/50 tackle in fact 60/40 tackles seemed beyond him, a number of which were discussed and the reason given to justify his lack of commitment was USUALLY that he was just back from injury and should not be taking chances.
You advise he has played first team football for 5 years, and played 116 games which averages out at approx 23 games a season.
Just to clarify for you, that was 116 league games, in all competitions he has played in 187 games to date since his debut at the 2010 Scottish Cup final, which includes 63 off the bench (so appearances), of 382 games played since his debut his appearance rate is approx 48% mostly down to medical treatment but there will be lack of form or the manager did not want to expose him to danger :) in there surely, for me that’s not a great return (stats from Celtic website).
Like you in the beginning I hoped he would succeed and thought the Scottish game and lack of protection was creating many of his injuries but this has always been the case for our players, its no good enough granted but that’s the game we are in and players need to man up and deal with it or do what James done and spend too much time shirking tackles and trying to start Mexican waves every time he went down. All of our up coming young players are given the same treatment, right now young Mr Tierney is showing them all how its done, hard as nails and committed to keeping his jersey.
When JF took a couple that was him chucked it and the opposition knew that, it created its own vicious circle that encouraged a couple of challenges early on to nullified him for the rest of the game.
Looking forward to this being dissected :)
Kevjungle,
Is that a new clique : War and peace.
HH.
Another way to look at the JF situation…..the McGeady syndrome.
When Aiden played for us….the opposition players were told to double-up / treble-up on him, especially after Naka left us.
Ye see, the opposition knew that if, ye marked Aiden oot the gemme….Celtic were beat.
When Aiden was the top bhoy, we had hee-haw in the midfield for the opposition to worry them…even Broony was a heidless chicken.
Also, Aiden had to be the ‘sole’ danger man as, numptees like – Nguemo & Crosas were in midfield….ah mean, wtf was that all about ?
Know what ?
There are still folk on here who look upon Crosas as a, former Barcelona player.
Nae wunder the board are laffin up their cuffs eh.
For me….JF was mismanaged by both, Neil and Ronny.
Ah mean, when have ye seen JF being asked to run onto the ball, rather than, getting the ball with his back to the goals with 2 / 3 / 4 hunlike animals waiting to ‘chop’ him….knowing they’ll get away wi it ?
JF should have been played like, Kevin Gallacher or, Ralph Milne…imho.
Nae savvy in the dug-oot = players waisted.
The rudderless ship sails on…..
Greenpinata on 23rd February 2016 6:13 am
______________________________________________
Aye:)…..might as well be.
Ye see, the trick is….to be in as many cliques as ye can….:)
Only saying – CSC
HH
Cliques r us.
too may jiggery-poakiry spellin mustikes being made….
….mmmmmmh…..
Has JF left the club ?
Or, has he displayed no faith in Ronny ?
The much maligned JF will….imho….
…go to the EPL to further his career…..
…sumthin Ronny wulny dae….imho
…Or, Celts will bring in a savvy-manager who’ll turn JF into a ‘Celtic’ player.
…hmmmmm ?
…..the rudderless-ship…sails on….
Are Celtic PLC….instructing Ronny to bring in awe these, trialist-types cause….they know that the huns wulny be in the SPFL next season ?
…..hmmmmm…..
How long till the safe-standing-area is complete ?
How much will it hold ?
How much to get in ?
HH
How do you respond to the black-bar at the top of the page that ask’s…”How are you KevJungle ?”
…….Hmmmmm ?……
Where’s Jobo when ye need him ?
….Hmmmmm ?…..
…..bed-time-zzzzz…..
Great Jungle chants……
…9 ina row, 9 in a row, 9 in a row allo, allo….
….bed-time-noo-zzz……
Good morning my friends and welcome to another day in paradise. A beatiful dawn is breaking over East Kilbride as I type revealling a completely clear sky, hardly a breath of wind, frost on the ground (and windscreens). Life’s good!
Stil plenty time to join a very worthwhile clique – Last Man Standing 7 – which kicks off this Friday. Just drop an email to cqnpredictor@gmail.com and we’ll get back to you this evening with full details.
Major police incident westmuir street all traffic being diverted.HH
If Scott Allan is just a young Bhoy trying to break through, so must James Forrest be
Both area 24
For me neither are young Bhoys, should be 1st regulars by this age ?
Hail Hail