The consequences of a brutal Scottish Cup tie at Alloa, permitted by the kind of soft touch refereeing that would see official intervention during martial arts bouts, has left us without our captain for an undetermined period of time. Callum McGregor’s facial injury was the most severe consequence, if not the most dangerous challenge.
We are likely to head to Tynecastle with Reo Hatate, who has played only 75 minutes for Celtic, and Matt O’Riley, whose entire experience is limited to a year in the English third tier, in central midfield, backed by Nir Bitton.
Should we get through this game unscathed, the experience will do us well as the same players are likely to be required when Dundee United and Newco visit next week. You would be forgiven for thinking these games will go a long way to determining the outcome of the season.
Saturday offered little encouragement bar the opening goal, converted by Giorgos Giakoumakis, his second for the club. Without Kyogo, Maeda and fourth choice striker, Ajeti, Giorgos has the stage to himself. He has started three games since joining from Venlo in the summer. This period could be the making of him.
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This is the time to see if James McCarthy is a Celtic player.
Thankfully Celtic don’t spend money they don’t have. So while full internationalist players like Ajeti, Barkas and Soro may have proved mistaken purchases, we don’t need to recoup anything for them. We will offload them at sone point.
As for Giakomakis, we are writing hm off after how many games? 3 starts? 2 goals. OK, missed a penalty and a couple of good chances but he has shown more than Ajeti has until now in terms of putting himself about and defending from the front. Give the guy a chance.
As fir starfelt and Julien RC, Carl is part of the tightest defence in Scotland. Julien was a big miss when injured last season. We have four good centre backs at present.
I’m just wondering if Ange might go 3-5-2 on Wednesday?
We do have that option and the players for it.
Hart
CCV, Starfelt, Welsh
Juranovic, Taylor
Bitton
Jota, Hatate
Abada Giakoumis
Other variations available!
For me it’s about the best 11 available getting on the park. Ange will know I O’Riley is ready or not.
Just as well I’m nor the manager eh?
RC
You are one of the peeple
In Giako’s defence also, he comes across as a fighter who isn’t going to hide. Just what we need right now.
Injuries sometimes lead to unexpected transformations – see Ryan Christie at Murray field for example.
Laser like focus on the available fit players is required. No time to lament the injured and absent. Support the guys in the Jersey and push them on.
Mccarthy needs to start on Wednesday night.
Only midfielder we have with a bit of dig and we will need it. Would also like to see Scales keep his place.
Bitton couldn’t tackle a fish supper. Continually caught the wrong side of opponent and gives away stupid fouls.
Re: a few comments about us adding steel/being more physical; a couple of games pop into my head on the extremes.
1. in 2006/7 I think, we were beaten at Ibrox and picked up a record number of yellows. We tried to match a thug team and the ref booked every foul by us. The lesson there was that you need to read the ref and you need to be cute about being a hard man, e.g., McLeod not Aitken.
2. fast forward for the 2008 run in. Hartley and Robson battered and bullied Rangers but always just on the right side of a foul or yellow. Both games I think. Strachan learned a lesson
Current team: on first look (and early in the season especially) we looked lightweight and no natural tacklers. It looks to me that Ange has been working on this.
CCV gets in early and hard
Starfelt is visibly trying to wrestle more when being fouled and doesn’t give up as many fouls recently
Rogic has worked on his upper body shielding hugely and is getting tackles in too
The new lads seem to like to get a toes in to disrupt players when chasing back
I think Ange has the view that a midfield player should have all attributes and not be purely defensive or offensive.
PS
I think Giakomakis has shown more than Ajeti or Klimala in the few minutes he has had.
Based on available info on the net we knew Klimala was a runner not a scorer and we knew Ajeti was a scorer but not a runner or worker (turned out to be accurate. To be fair , Ajeti workrate has increased so he is unlucky to get injured)
Giakomakis had one stellar season so we hope that he is in his best years. Find out soon enough as Paul says
RC
Honestly you are becoming a pain in the ass,
Your only contributions one or two liners slagging your favourite scapegoats,
We see what happened in Alloa & how the Huns reacted to conceding a penalty and getting their first domestic red card in 2 years.
We are up against it big time in Scotland. All true Celtic Supporters should circle the wagons & back the team to the hilt.
Players can read these sites, mind you if they have any sense they shouldn’t.
Sometimes in adversity a star is born, someone like Joey Dawson, Kenny or Riley might just get a run & come good.
Very tough game coming up, Please God we will prevail.
on the assaults:-
Tierney (elbow), Christie (head) and now McGregor (shoulder) all ended up in hospital/operating table after having their face smashed.
All regular Scotland players. Not a great argument for not moving south
PS
Starfelt had his nose burst this season and I think Welsh did early in the season
I can see Ralston at RB,and Juranovic further forward on Wednesday
I am having great difficulty trying to buy my Bodo ticket online. Any suggestions?
Are Maeda & Rogic definitely gone for the Hearts game?
In its proper order of the ‘Referees Vs Celtic’ debate/issue, and unfortunately not (yet?) publicly the reverse, it amazes me that the costs of professional sports insurance for players at Celtic is NEVER discussed… If I were an insurance actuary (I’m not), and if I had the data on ‘referee bias’ (I don’t), I would likely ensure/demand that the costs of insurance for players of Celtic were much higher! Similarly the costs for insurance for TheRangers would be correspondingly lower… Even if the insurance costs are normalised across SPFL/SFA competitions, I would (as an actuary) still consider that the risks of a Celtic player being injured would be higher and would therefore skew the data resulting in increased costs for all players…
In much the same way that it is easy to demonstrate that players of TheRangers receive proportionately much higher rates of red cards in European Competitions, I would expect that the rates of injury would be normalised in Europe. The exception to this would be that a European Insurance Actuary might consider banning Scottish Referees from involvement in European Competitions as the statistical likelihood of players being injured from an industrial/agricultural tackle more likely being allowed by a Scottish Referee would significantly increase! (If there is demonstrably no issue here, then Scottish Referees needn’t worry about potential income from involvement in future European games…)
To me, THIS is the smoking gun that Celtic should be looking at in any pursuit of achieving a level playing field of Refereeing Standards (sic) in Scotland… From an Employer’s duty-of-care-to-its-players perspective alone, Celtic should be asking data-mining experts to analyse and report on whether ‘referee-bias against Celtic’ is a real thing (statistically) or not. If it is, then I would think Celtic would have a Business-Legal Case to make against the SFA (who govern the Referees)… If the data just shows that ‘Scottish Referees are poor’ in comparison with their English and European counterparts, then the SFA should still be put under pressure to improve Scottish Refereeing Standards (sic).
I enjoy reading footballing player metrics like XG etc. being used to stimulate debate on teams/players, but I haven’t yet seen any Statistic which measures the likelihood of a player being injured when playing for any particular team… (I would think there might be other factors at play here, e.g. are players playing in colder climates more likely to suffer from hamstring injuries? etc.).
Analysis of BIG DATA is almost a Science these days and I for one think that Celtic should be vigorously pursuing answers! To misquote the X-Files, The answers are out there!
Yours in Celtic, 😊🍀
TB&F. 😊 🍀
VALE BHOY @ 12:56 PM
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL
That would take the national team manager to speak out about refs allowing brutality.
———-
Cheers Vale Bhoy
I hear what you are saying but I don’t quite agree.
The national team manager is an employee of the SFA – nothing more.
As such, he has no skin in the hypothetical I described – nothing to do with him.
But it has everything to do with his employers (who also are responsible for referees and disciplinary process).
Hail hail
MadMitch @12:35
A really good analysis of the physical and brawny nature of the SPFL and where Celtic fit into it all. And with fewer acronyms than usual, thanks . As you say, Vickers-Clarke has to be one of our role models at the moment and hopefully Giakoumakis can do it at the other end. Big hole in midfield though.
It is precisely in the heat of midfield that McGregor has gotten injured, not by myself, like Haaland of Borrusia Dortmund this weekend, but with an almighty thud from an opposition player. Any injury sustained has to be taken into account in the aftermath of events. Measures should be taken…. I could go on………………… but I can hardly type, I´m so livid about what happened to our captain.
Back to Basics Glass Half Full @ 12:50
You are offering the best solution I have heard so far. Celtic have been the backbone of the Scotland team in the last 5 years or so and they would suffer if we protected our players by not releasing them for internationals. It might be a dirty job to take on the SFA but that body is almost on its knees and there has never been a better time.
Valebhoy @12:56
How quickly you dismiss Steve Clarke, after having decided that he should do some talking. Clarke did his bit by calling out Rangers sectarian singing and took on Stevie Goebbels and company not very long ago. Celtic don´t have 100% exclusivity in being anti hun.
As Deniabhoy @12:45 said the forces against Celtic are omnipresent in the media and we are losing big time there. We do have clout in Scotland in other walks of life …but is anyone on the board interested in ruffling feathers.
Tom McLaughlin
Yes it´s staggering when you see so many updates from other Glasgow stadiums are on CQN these days. Watching Sevco is a form of masochism. Now we are getting news about their throw ins against Stirling Albion. Jeeeeeeeeeeeez.
Greenpinata @ 1:27
You say you were watching a Hearts match before the Celtic game on Saturday?
Couldn´t think of anything worse myself. And that they are good professionals.
There´s always a first time.
“Always look on the bright side” Bheaver @ 12:47
The “h” in your moniker gives you away.
Who would win in a fight between RC and St Tams?
CORKCELT on 24TH JANUARY 2022 2:41 PM
Are Maeda & Rogic definitely gone for the Hearts game?
——-
Hearts, Dun Utd and Sevco
Still not been able to buy my Bono/G ticket online.
Also, why do Celtic do this:
CLUB TELEPHONE NUMBER
0871 226 1888 – Calls cost 13 pence per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge.?
Why 13 p per minute?
Still think Jeando Fuchs could do a job for us, great at breaking up play in midfield and still only 24.
Accepting defeat in trying to buy my Bono/Glimt ticket online, I `phoned the Ticket Office. Two days before the ticket deadline and the office is open from only 11am – 2pm.
I am beginning to think they don`t want me at the game !
“ERATIC on 24TH JANUARY 2022 3:14 PM
Still think Jeando Fuchs could do a job for us”
He impresses me but who would he replace?
Cheery Quick news,
COYBIG
KLV
Not that anyone need be interested but by a pure fluke, I have managed to buy my ticket !!!!!
Hot Smoked
Glad you got the Bodo Glimt tickets.
Bit clunky for me when I purchased online.
Big “Click Here To Buy” box presented.
When clicked, it simply re-presented same page.
Had to click icon top right with no identifier – which then offered my tickets.
After that all ok.
IT eh?
HS
Similar to the Britton role when he plays, also good utility player.
Bitton 🤪
Hot Smoked re Bodo/Glimt tickets.
After one and half hours of trying and ready to give up, eventually the site opened up to process my purchase of the tickets. You would swear blind either Celtic didn’t want to sell tickets or wanted you to use the overpriced phone lines.
We will need a miracle to get maximum points from the next 5 games considering how many key players are missing. Lets hope the players available rise to the challenge.
As far as the Scottish referees go I’ve supported Celtic since 1950 and nothing much has changed in that time, 75% of them have always been a bigoted biased shower, although I think they have got even worse recently maybe because of the financial crisis that have engulfed their favourite club, through greed and mismanagement. Our board have been found wanting in defence of their employees and supporters.
ERATIC on 24TH JANUARY 2022 3:14 PM
Still think Jeando Fuchs could do a job for us, great at breaking up play in midfield and still only 24.
—————–
apparently Utd asked Alaves if they could sign Leandro’s wee brother at the same time but Alaves didn’t give too Fuchs………….
PS
We have a Fuchs already in Soro
CB
Very good …😂
Yes, pity about Soro just doesn’t seem able to step up to Celtic level!
Hand ringing quick news,
Again the board say nothing yadda yadda yadda, Have you ever thought that they realise there is no point?
who do they complain to? its obvious that its a hun show for the huns and we merely take part.
Not one thing I have witnessed since 2012 has told me otherwise. All these Celtic sites full of “we should do this and that” and its just a waste of energy, you don’t change a thing then end up infighting.
They control the media, the narrative and the whole game up here so I am thinking about spending my time and energy on something that matters. Penalties on tap, drop points and call a meeting, we still send our players to support the sfa and looks at Calmac, theres your reward and protection for serving your country.
sesspit.csc
KLV
Secret Shirt Co
@secretshirtco
·
6h
Bob Marley’s family have linked up with Bohemians for the Irish side’s latest away strip. Smiling face with heart-shaped eyes
Marley’s last outdoor concert was in Ireland at Bohemians’ Dalymount Park stadium. Flag of Ireland x Flag of Jamaica
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FJ2_nvfXsAgPEjQ?format=jpg&name=small
I have tried contributing and keep getting told I need to be logged in to do so. Well, I have been logged in. So, I’m trying this to see if it is printed.
SS
Redemption….. just love that song .
The transfer window is still open.
Go get another Centre forward Ange.
D :)
Well, that worked.
What I wanted to say was that I too had th3 misfortune to tune in to Radio Scotland’s programme yesterday where McIntyre and Broadfoot blamed Celtic for the deid tam writing to the SFA. I also heard Broadfoot saying he did not want to report Findlay saying that the deid team were liquidated. I turned it off, angered at the blatant bias. Radio Scotland sports department gets worse by the day and we have to pay for it. If our board won’t call them out, why not deny them any access? As things stand, they twist and turn everything to suit their agenda: build up the team from Govan. Angry? You bet I am.
nearly five o clock and we still have a sliver of daylight, marvellous.
KLV
Absolutely spot on. When PL spoke out against the Rangers a couple of times people on here were mocking him and telling him to shut up.
Couldn’t agree more, if we don’t raise the subject our enemies will see it as a big neon green light to take as many liberties with us as they are allowed to get away with, and on current (refereeing) form they are allowed to get away with a helluva lot.
The guy that broke CalMac’s jaw looked totally hyped up – as did the guy that flew into Ideguchi with no thought of consequences, mission accomplished, guaranteed pats on the back from mad Boab and even madder Bazza. And we don’t complain? Who is going to speak ups for our guy? They clearly need protection, c’mon Ange, cat got your tongue?