I was annoyed at Dundee United, who were poor in the first half – not even setup defensively as well as teams near the bottom of the table, but then flipped into an effective pressing side late in the game. They are third in the table on merit and could have caused Celtic more trouble, had they gone for it earlier in the game.
So much of the football we watch is ‘Defence v Attack’, so all in the stadium were alarmed when it was announced that Nicolas Kuhn had dropped out of the lineup before kick-off. Nicolas is our most effective opener of tight defences, and the late change seemed to impact Celtic’s flow. Early in the game the ball most often went left, to Taylor and Maeda; Johnston and Yang were less involved.
23 minutes in, however, Johnston found Yang (unconventionally) to create the opening goal. United manager Jim Goodwin was correctly annoyed at his defence, who had chances to clear, but were not as sharp as Daizen Maeda.
Luis Palma made a late cameo appearance, flavoured with a delightful outside of the foot pass to create the opening for the second goal. The pass was followed by a perfect example of ‘less is more’. Another cameo – Paulo Bernardo – dummied the ball before it rolled into the path of Reo Hatate to score.
That defeat at the start of the month seems a long time ago now.
299 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- »
Palma to Valeycano on loan.
Big mistake.No idea what BR has against the boy,but he is an exceptionally fine player.Loaded with skill.Of which we have all been graced with witnessing.
Too many short memories.
Oh,and on FF last night,sheer rage spewing forth from the enamel heads.
” Rodgers has signed a load of garbage.That Engels,stinking the place out he is that bad”
“Something has to be done about this assistance from the refs.Clancy at his usual”
“See Kuhn is injured.Dont know why teams are scared of him.Just do what we did.He is nothing special”
Father forgive them,they know not what the fek thy are slabbering about.
Good evening all from the Victoria Bar. Very quiet in here, must be the balmy temperatures. 🙄
TurkeyBhoy – I 100% hope you are right. It is what I want too. but I remain skeptical about the board’s ambition to step up a level in Europe and fully backing Brendan.
I think if there was a title race and a chance r2ngers could win it the decision would be easier for them.
Liam Kelly Sevco Goalkeeper moaning about them drawing against Hibs,FFS he let in 3 goals
SAINT STIVS on 9TH JANUARY 2025 12:31 AM
Like telling your weans to stop swearing and they then keep saying jobby.
———-
An astute, authentic and funny observation. HH
On Palma, I always noted how he celebrated wins even when he was on the bench. Always comes onto the park with a big smile on his face and takes part in all of the celebrations.
Never appeared to take the huff.
His problem is Maeda is key to Brendan’s game plan as his speed, goal threat and tracking back to cover GT makes him pretty much irreplaceable This means Palma’s appearances are likely to continue to be limited to 20 mins off the bench.
At the same time, we shouldn’t forget Palma’s contributions and his excellent CL games last year.He did not look out of place in those games.
Hope he shines during his loan spell.
Saint Stivs on 9th January 2025 2:57 pm
all of europe is talking about this, are the refs now actually forced to get things right.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ggnt7GsW4AAYElC?format=jpg&name=900×900
Saint Stivs, interesting table there. I’ve posted previously about a big change this season re, R2ngers not getting the penalties they got so used to getting when they needed them, plus having penalties awarded against them. Those two changes from previous seasons have resulted in them losing valuable points in crucial games.
Now I was absolutely NOT convinced that wee Wullie Gollum would/could enforce changes to the refereeing fraternity and their seeming love affair with all things Ayebokes, but perhaps it is time to accept that ‘something; has changed and, so far, it is not to R2ngers’ advantage.
Ave Ave
Dyche bagged
Saw this morning Mourinho was favourite to take over from Dyche.
Chairbhoy on 9th January 2025 1:25 pm
Not really criticising Celtic here.
I watched highlights of Spurs Liverpool after watching our game.
its like a different sport
yeah paul67 – that pass by palma wow! I’m glad BR still sees that in him.
Watching a bit of the Jimmy Carter funeral. Trump sitting next to Obama, can’t imagine either are very happy about that 😀
obama , coolness and dignity personified
by contrast and everything about the image is
trump looks like a big orange ice cream topped with some soft nougate.
lets invade greenland, panama, canada , mexico, straight from the fascist expansionism playbook.
whats in our best interests.he says.
Never seen any of the 4 ex Presidents shake hands with Trump, Obama must have got the short straw
or the small dinousaur hand ?
in other news.
wall to wall cover of the la fires.
not from any ordinasy citizen perspectave but the millionaires who have lost everything.
well, apart from their vast fortunes kept in offshore accounts.
goes gaza even register with these people.
DENIABHOY on 9TH JANUARY 2025 3:11 PM
I think until recently , you would have been spot on with your predictions but I’m hoping the board will be mindful of the CL qualifiers to come . I’m pretty certain that the manager will , and would prefer to have sqad enhancements bedded in for a few months by getting them in now .
It’s Thursday, it’s 5 o’clock it’s…wrong fooking day. Dearie me 🙄
Deniabhoy
ref
Personally, I am inclined to think that having the league all but wrapped up by the 9th of January will mean the board are less likely to sanction any big moves this month. Even if we lose a star player.
It will be an interesting watch. And I am not slighting the Board, their job is to evaluate the potential risks, uncertainties, and potential rewards of each decision.
——————–
The vast cash riches paid for cl league participation is quite literally a strategic game changer.
More than ever before the risk/reward analysis has to also ask the question as potential outcome “what is the cost to the business of not taking part ?”.
This season, dont spend till we know if we are through to playoff phase, and then who we actually have to play could see us progress again, that last 16 spot, worth as much as a whole europa campaign.
BUT SPEND FOR SURE WITH A VIEW TO NEXT SEASONS PLAYOFF QUALIFIER, which will be the richest one off game in our history.
If its Keran, Jota and a Scottish player, get them in, let them join a winning squad, and remembering the FSR ratio of wages v turnover. But if moving for them i cant see it happening until after 22nd Jan.
Unless
GlenDalysTonsils – I hope you are right
SaintStivs – Good points, especially regarding Jan 22nd
The organist at the JimmyCarter funeral must be an ELP fan
When we let United come back into the game last night i found it “brugge” like in our set up.
was there any prep in the players heads for patterns of play for the YB game, and Brendans wind ups to the fans, does he need a fully committed support 13 days from now ?
as to playoffs, we could still reach top8 with 6 points , and we could still be bottom 8 if we dont add anymore,
but playoff has to be realistic, and then we could have Rel, City of PSG in a game, or conversely, lisbon or monaco.
its been a brilliant format for our participation, i can see why heads turn to relative european success.
on a completely different subject.
Dronefella posted more footage of Barrowfield, as to the buildings themselves, pretty functional but they could have been so much better on sustainability and renewables.
Maybe the internal fit up will be state of the art for technology and analyisi, i hope so.
As to the landscaping, given its winter, it will be muddy embankments until springtime gets stuff growing.
£12million doesnt get you must these days.
As i siad to my chinese colleague when we went up the great wall “it will be nice when it is finished”.
The departure of Bernabei permanently, and Welsh and Palma on loan should be enough to fund one decent permanent signing.
TB – I quite like Palma too.
His instincts upon receipt of the ball are to slow things down though … so (I think) I can see why Brendan would prefer a different type of wide man.
Is Dundee’s home game tonight going ahead?
Just checked Dingwall weather for Friday night and Saturday through to 2pm.
I’d be surprised if the game goes ahead.
If it doesn’t – I hope authorities cancel it on Friday so our management and players don’t travel and can get a genuine rest this weekend.
dundee tonight, no wind no rain, zero degrees.
they can always blame the pitch
Who are the enhancements that anyone is holding out on in their imaginary worlds ?
Who is saying anyone has not been backed ?
Last I saw we signed a Portuguese midfielder and Belgian midfielder and an Irish striker for close to £25m and all 3 are not definite first team starters each week.
Are we still talking about biscuit tins ?
We have not yet qualified for last 24 in Europe never mind last 16 despite our very well financed squad. Financed at another level compared to WGS teams who got to the last 16 previously.
Brugge, Zagreb and many of the other competitors around us work to a budget far less than we do.
as it stands
atletico r milan v celic or man city,
to spend or not to spend dermo that is the question
Saint Stivs
Spot on re the qualifier for next years CL being the richest game in our history.
Planning for that is critical. Not just spending.
SAINT STIVS @ 2.17
SKY have the rights as you know, with PPV / Celtic TV selling the unwanted for television games , like St Mirren and Dundee Utd. The decision to do PPV was bound to affect actual attendance whether your ST or general sales and the game wasn’t sold out AFAIK. I’m sure Celtic know that is going to happen when the decide to take the PPV money, they don’t care whether there are ‘bums on seats’ or not, so long as it’s profitable.
PPV is a detail in the greater need for ST exchange or resell modernisation by Celtic, with the caveat that it’s already one of the biggest and most successful in the UK.
scotlands champions will play either of the chamipns from
Ausria.
Switzerland
or Norway – Bodo Glimt
-16 in Dundee. Nae luck ya hun canutes.
” We need to strengthen in general in the January window. We know what we’re looking to do and we’re 100% confident the club will do everything to support that. We have deals we want to do between now and the end of January “
Brendan Rodgers 5th January
Don’t known if the emphasis was on “ the end of January “
With James Forrest still injured, only Yang and Palma are back up wide players for two CL games, so wouldn’t think either will move, most likely Luis Palma .We need another wide option possibly the much linked Michel-Ange Balikwisha because we always have “ millions of wingers “.
Greg Taylor similarly, will be highly unlikely to move in January. By far and away the best left left back ( inverted or not ) at the club. Barca project Alex Valle is back up, but hasn’t kicked on from a decent start. Therefore GT remains a key figure for CL qualification and those two games.
If we did bring Kieran Tierney in, the whole thing hinges on the loan period till summer, prove your fitness and well buy you back ( makes sense to me ). Some wag has counted 10 separate, some long term injuries since we got £25M for him. If it was the same player we wouldn’t be getting him on loan and we wouldn’t be in the mix to get him permanently.
A midfielder and a striker? No stars going out unless there are replacements lined up? CL next stage this year, and a qualifier next year, it would be difficult to see Brendan Rodgers and those who back him on the board do anything to hinder the progress that has been made since he got the gig.
Disapointed to say the least that this ol’ditty didn’t get an airing last night….
“We don’t need yer Colin Stein, Eusebio or Alan Gilzean
Cos we’ve got someone twice as good, his name is Harry Hood
Harry, Harry, Harry Hood
Harry, Harry Hood”
Jimmy Carter RIP
He was like a new Kennedy after the Vietnam War. Ironically, it was another Kennedy, Ted, who blocked his bill in Congress to improve healthcare. The 52 Americans at the US Embassy held hostage in Iran for 444 days marked his presidency, but they all arrived home safe and well and free. It’s his life after his presidency which reveals who he was. A spiritual yet down to earth man. I recommend people find out about his legacy.
Back to Basics – Glass Half Full on 9th January 2025 5:27 pm
Is Dundee’s home game tonight going ahead?
Just checked Dingwall weather for Friday night and Saturday through to 2pm.
I’d be surprised if the game goes ahead.
If it doesn’t – I hope authorities cancel it on Friday so our management and players don’t travel and can get a genuine rest this weekend.
—-
Still very cold but no snow forecast and I expect the game will be ok (assuming not too foggy😁).
B78 @ 5:36pm
A number of valid points well made.
Your stance on the conditions upon which Brendan should reasonably operate is clear.
(Makes for interesting debates on here with those who take a very different view)
Do I think Brendan will be supported in this window?
Yes, very probably.
Do I think he’ll be given a blank cheque?
Not a chance.
I’d be very surprised if we outlay more than £5m net (fees plus earnings for life of contracts).
Fag packet maths but if it holds? Most we can expect in January is a Kuhn priced player and a Trusty priced player.
As for the money outlayed in summer, two points I’d make.
First – Brendan can take time fully integrating players into his squad. I am highly confident Engels and Trusty – if injury free – will be regular starters from the start of next season.
Idah’s performances to date simply do not justify the fee paid – yet.
Again though I’m confident he’ll improve.
He is the likely most expensive we bought in the summer 👎
But we bought well with Bernardo and Kuhn 👍
Swings and roundabouts.
Second – budget comparisons with European clubs are valid.
Others with higher rankings than us get it done cheaper. Granted.
Not fully like for like though?
Players (particularly non Europeans) are more willing to go to Belgium than Scotland.
Better football culture and infrastructure nationally.
More competitive league but still room to develop talent.
(We don’t win a particular trophy it’s a disaster)
We sometimes mitigate by throwing more dough at players to come here.