48 hours ago, Celtic fans were in relative equilibrium. Defeat in the League Cup and an injury crisis in central defence put paid to that. Maik Nawrocki injured his hamstring at Rugby Park. He played until the end of the game, doubtlessly conflicted by the team’s predicament, but as Oh did earlier this month, almost certainly exacerbated the damage.
We are four weeks from our fist Champions League game, with only new signing Gustaf Lagerbielke and Liam Scales fit and able to play in central defence. Neither have been tested at that level, or played together, and they need to navigate another month without injury before being considered for action.
Cameron Carter-Vickers has a chance of returning for then but is by no means certain, and as you and I both know, rushing a player back from a hamstring is never a good idea. Yuki Kobayashi should be ready, in the fitness sense, however, reruns of his Ibrox performance from last season will give Brendan Rodgers plenty to consider. Stephen Welsh will be out until the turn of the year.
Reframe this fortune for what it is. Celtic are lucky; this happened during the transfer window when the club are in funds. It is no more than a normal football problem to be addressed. Brendan will have an idea on when Cameron and Maik can be expected return, he will sign others if necessary.
359 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- »
WESTCRAIGS on 22ND AUGUST 2023 12:43 PM
In the qualifying game under ange did we not have a 21 and 18 year old central defensive pairing?
_____
Dane Murray played (18 I think). He was out injured for a year. I think he came back towards the end of last season but got injured again. I’m not sure, as it’s difficult to find and out for certain. I thought Murray looked a better prospect than Lawal (who looked very slow). I hope I’m wrong and he does well at Fleetwood. Don’t know what’s happening with Murray. BTW, we sold Juranovic, Starfelt and GG not for huge sums, so surely we could pick up some experienced players without too much outlay. I think we’re back to last day madness.
The lesser spotted Christopher Jullien says you.
Our treatment tables are full, says I.
WESTCRAIGS @ 12:40 PM, 12:43 PM
We are already at equilibrium in turnover
Celtic 2022 – £88.2m
Sevco 2022 – £86.8m
There are quite a few promising Centre Halves in the “B” squad, we actually sign players for the B team and Bosun Lawal and Osagie are CHs that we signed
We also have Ben McPherson and Dame Murray
Bosun and Ben have signed new contracts and are out on loan
Dane Murray is coming back from a long term injury
Hail Hail
we will be ok as we have T Ralston (never a defender) at right back who has had more loan deals than cash converters and no one wanted him until we give him a contract.
I dont believe we would qualify.
Everybody else is bigger, stronger, faster than us. Better prepared with better coaches playing in tougher leagues and able to spend their money on better players.
But it is a mute point, as we dont have to qualify, we got into the groups by winning our league scoring the 3rd best goals for in our history.
Our prioirity is this coming league, the best we can hope for in europe is not to be embarrased
We have a business model, I understand that. We have bought 6 young players under 23 years old.
So what does that say about our Academy prospects. ?
To amplify, what is the point of the Academy ?
HH.
SAINT STIVS on 22ND AUGUST 2023 12:53 PM
You only want 4 first team starters, why not a better 11 ?
Can you let us know who the four should be, where are they coming from ? what attract the first team starters to the scottish league ?
everybody that comes to celtic does so because they are affordable to us, but with ambitions of their own to go to a mega wage somewhere else.
that is the bit i struggle with, why is there a collective view that we just ask and they will come “because it is celtic”
utter guff, and that is the part that is delusional.
steel yourselfes for another of our better players attracting bids in the coming days and leaving.
—————————————————————
You are genuinely the most delusional alleged Celtic supporter I have ever read.
Not wanting to be cheeky, but surely you can’t be this stupid?
Where to begin?
Every professional footballer nowadays looks to earn the most money they can and to play at the highest level.
Ange and Rodgers have said this in the past.
Thats why Ange said the whole model of ‘buy more expensive, sell at a higher rate’ was quoted by him last year.
This was to bring in a better standard of player.
Players are told that if they show up well, especially in champions league, then they will be targeted by the EPL sides,
The club encourages this, that’s why Ange said not to get used to our heroes as they won’t be here long.
We are next door to England and are on Sky frequently and we get maximum exposure in Europe because we play in it every season.
So our players will be getting scouted.
If the players we are after can’t get the move to the EPL directly then they know going to Celtic gives them the exposure to get the move.
We have bought in projects and pool players but the money is there, according to the accounts, to bring in automatic starters who will massively improve us.
Stivs, you are the merchant of doom.
If you were in charge of Celtic we would have zero ambition.
so our ambition is just to better than thems and find our playing level in Europe competitions, more than likely the conference.
SAINT STIVS on 22ND AUGUST 2023 1:08 PM
I dont believe we would qualify.
Everybody else is bigger, stronger, faster than us. Better prepared with better coaches playing in tougher leagues and able to spend their money on better players.
But it is a mute point, as we dont have to qualify, we got into the groups by winning our league scoring the 3rd best goals for in our history.
Our prioirity is this coming league, the best we can hope for in europe is not to be embarrased
—————————————-
As I said, zero ambition.
Best you take up bowls or snooker as football isn’t for you, especially Celtic
KT would cost approx £4.5m (full salary) in a 9 month season loan plus whatever loan fee the Gooners would command.
Apparently they are only willing to consider sale right now but that could all change on Aug 31st.
If the opportunity came up for Celtic, would you take it?
Considering auto qualification into expanded CL next season and that KT was supposably fit all last season?
I’m hoping with the return of AJ, our Ralston problem will be out of sight for a while.
That leaves LB. Every bit as big a problem as our CB issues.
Taylor has been rinsed against Aberdeen and Killie. Despite this, Bernabie still isn’t seen as an option.
We need a LB.
So much to do and so little time left. The window to date will have BR feeling very let down.
Our aspiration must lie in European football.
Financial disparity is not justification for throwing the towel in.
What is the Financial disparity between our club and Kilmarnock?
What is the Financial disparity between our squad and the Kilmarnock’s squad ?
What is the Financial disparity on players renumeration .?
What is the Financial disparity on the respective managers contracts. ?
What was the score on Sunday ?
Whatever happened to Keep the Faith
One defeat and we’re rubbish – it’s football, other teams are allowed to try and to win.
Maybe my expectations are lower given my attachment to Port Vale.
RC on 22ND AUGUST 2023 1:01 PM
anyone believe we would have made the champions league group stage if we had to play in the qualifiers
====================================Why don’t you give it a rest?
And your 2 subsequent posts were just as stupid.
Celtic fan my arse.
Saint Stivs
Too much common sense
None of those challenging you can name even one player for each position, that we could sign, who would improve our team.
The easy job of an armchair football punter with zero accountability and even less football knowledge.
Let’s blame authority figures or bogey men for the inadequacies of our own wee worlds. That’s the game we play on here.
Don’t seriously ask anyone to come up with solutions.
SAINT STIVS on 22ND AUGUST 2023 12:43 PM
WESTCRAIGS on 22ND AUGUST 2023 12:40 PM
are you seriously scared of Rangers ?
I have faith that the organisation at Celtic PLC will do the right thing.
As they have done in 12 of the last 13 seasons.
————————
Well if we had lost the league in 4 of those seasons when our turnover was more than the 11 other clubs combined then the PLC would have had to flee the nest.
In one other season the huns were docked 10 points and went into administration then died at the end of the season so if we had lost that league then even you may have taken the blinkers off.
I make it 11 from the past 12 seasons.
If I was in charge of Celtic I would just do the same as the Executives do today.
Let the various departments hire the best qualified people they can afford to ensure continued business improvement by measurable kpi’s.
That is business. The business is in the sports sector.
It still has to have deliverable outcomes.
I certainly would not pander to managers whims on players when we know they are using us to get to the big leagues themselves. Ange – didnt even complete two full years.
Neither would I respond to pundits or “supporters” who are not qualified on anything particular with regard to business operations or football management.
I would do what I do in my own job, Minimise the risks to the business from making ungoverned decisions.
And I owuld stay off the internet, it is full of weirdos.
We have played 2 games on grass and one on an apology of a plastic pitch where we were cheated.
Most of our new players have less than 90 mins or thereabouts of game time.
Yet we have the gurus on here completely ignoring them, or dismissing them as not good enough vs journeymen pros who played half a season, or Portuguese wingers who had played less than a dozen first team games before they joined us. FFS
BURNLEY78 on 22ND AUGUST 2023 1:21 PM
Saint Stivs
Too much common sense
None of those challenging you can name even one player for each position, that we could sign, who would improve our team.
The easy job of an armchair football punter with zero accountability and even less football knowledge.
Let’s blame authority figures or bogey men for the inadequacies of our own wee worlds. That’s the game we play on here.
Don’t seriously ask anyone to come up with solutions.
———————
Oh right, so we have to actually name all the players to bring in?
Hahaha!!!
So Celtic do away with scouts and going to agents and read CQN opinions instead on who to sign!!!
Hahaha.
What a diddy
SAINT STIVS on 22ND AUGUST 2023 1:23 PM
If I was in charge of Celtic I would just do the same as the Executives do today.
Let the various departments hire the best qualified people they can afford to ensure continued business improvement by measurable kpi’s.
That is business. The business is in the sports sector.
It still has to have deliverable outcomes.
I certainly would not pander to managers whims on players when we know they are using us to get to the big leagues themselves. Ange – didnt even complete two full years.
Neither would I respond to pundits or “supporters” who are not qualified on anything particular with regard to business operations or football management.
I would do what I do in my own job, Minimise the risks to the business from making ungoverned decisions.
And I owuld stay off the internet, it is full of weirdos.
……………………………………
Again, are you living in a bubble?
Football has completely changed, try and catch up.
All managers and players are hired hands.
So they want to go to the top clubs in the top leagues where they earn the most money.
Celtic play the game too, as I said, Celtic are happy to go with this.
Read back what Ange said at the last AGM.
So we brought in big money for Jota, which is what the club want to do, but we haven’t spent big on his replacement, so the club are not doing their end of the new policy which was highlighted at last years AGM.
dont be so hard on yourself, your not a diddy, you just dont have any answers, which gives you a disadvantage when trying to explain your mutterings.
Bhoy from the Boyne – with another CL spot and 30 million up for grabs, I would take KT back on loan if available. He is way above the level of GT and is comfortable playing in a back three or four.
No brainer for me. Obviously his salary is higher than anyone else in the squad but at this stage he would fit straight in and I doubt Calmac or anyone else would feel put out.
If the extent of your ambition is not to be embarrassed in Europe you definitely set low markers! Is that because you lack ambition or is it that you parrot what our board appear to have is their ambition.
If you restrict yourself to that do you think Celtic will win the league this season?
Where is your evidence to support this? We haven’t actually turned in a good performance yet never mind a class display.
Given the obvious advantages of home game and MIB bias will our team overcome the obvious physical advantages of Sevco with some silky performance ?
‘Dreaming, I’m always dreaming’ could be your dog. Let’s hope it’s not your swan song.
Don’t know how song became dog!😀
Burnley 78,
We don’t get paid to find Celtic’s solutions. We employ professionals to do that.
We just discuss it on a Celtic blog.
HH.
BURNLEY78 on 22ND AUGUST 2023 1:26 PM
We have played 2 games on grass and one on an apology of a plastic pitch where we were cheated.
Most of our new players have less than 90 mins or thereabouts of game time.
Yet we have the gurus on here completely ignoring them, or dismissing them as not good enough vs journeymen pros who played half a season, or Portuguese wingers who had played less than a dozen first team games before they joined us. FFS
—————————-
How many of the 7 signings are automatic starters that will take us to a better level to try to compete in Europe?
Its noticable that even Stivs, the alleged tim, wont answer that.
Last season we got 2 points from 6 matches, scored 4 conceded 15, in a reasonable group.
Fourth worst record of the 32 teams.
So how many of the 7 will bridge the gap?
Remember we had 60 million at last accounts sitting in the bank so plenty of money to spend on quality.
Well?
Forget Tierney and Jota returning. Their current wages make them out of our reach.
We have a treble winning squad less 3 players. We have 6 new players added.
How come posters are back blaming Peter Lawwell? He’s back as non executive chairman. He is rarely in the office and has no involvement in signings, team selection, tactics. He was involved in the appointment of Rodgers right enough.
BR is responsible for the performance on Sunday. He picked the team, set the tactics, made the subs. He also prepared the team.
According to website we have First team pool of 40 players. 7 are on loan. Ajeti and Soro can be counted out. 31 remain. We currently have 7 injured. We still have plenty players. 24 available for Saturday.
Get on with it Brendan
That awkward moment when Ittihad replace Jota before Celtic do.
WESTCRAIGS @ 12:43 PM,
BTW: Forgot to answer your question, the game you are probably referring to is…
Midtjylland away
We played Stephen Welsh and Dane Murray at CH
Hail Hail
BOURNESOUPRECIPE :)
Salah supposedly.
https://readceltic.com/2023/08/22/thousands-of-celtic-fans-and-brendan-rodgers-can-see-exactly-what-this-club-needs-yet-the-board-seems-oblivious-to-it-therein-lies-the-problem/
Ooft, the glue is strong today.
Lots of guessing going on.
Injuries are back big time under Brendan as they were first time and at Leicester, is the only definite. The rest who knows.
There’s always money in the banana stand. ;)
KLV
Time for an experienced CB a la Kolo Toure?
Is there anyone out there to come in, plus the gap and accept limited game time for a year?
Looks like we’ll need it. If not we may end up playing 3 at the back by default for a while. Scales,Lagerbhoy and AJ probably.
Like I said last night, we surely need to address the midfield during this mini crisis too. Average defenders can thrive in strong systems. I’d take a bit of stodge for a few weeks if it gets us through some tough matches.
We have little luck but the strong person doesn’t care about that. They look for solutions. Embrace it bhoys.
Also, Celtic Fc – please get yer fingers out!!
I wonder if John Kennedy & Gavin Strachan are questioning their choices in not following Ange to Spurs?
JK should’ve pitched for the job as the main man at Celtic, continuity & all that, keeping the same style of play as Ange which he obviously understands having spent 2 years coaching it & Ange wanted them both at Spurs.
We’re betwixt & between now imho.
KEVINLASVEGAS @ 1:47 PM,
May I say, not a great time for your anti-fraudgers poison.
Like our Captain Calmac said after the game on Sunday – it is time to stick together
CCV – Injured last season, played on with injections, had an operation and is now in recovery
AJ – Injured last season, played on with injections, had an operation and is now in recovery
Welsh – Injured last season
Nawrocki- Carrying an injury when he came in
Hatate – Had an injury last season
Kobayasi – Been out Injured from last season
Hoes can Brendan Rodgers be responsible for this carnage.
I’m sure in an ideal world he would not have played Nawrocki on that pitch, things were far from ideal.
All our first team looked fatigued in the last part of last season.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
COSY CORNER BHOY on 22ND AUGUST 2023 1:39 PM
If the extent of your ambition is not to be embarrassed in Europe you definitely set low markers! Is that because you lack ambition or is it that you parrot what our board appear to have is their ambition.
If you restrict yourself to that do you think Celtic will win the league this season?
Where is your evidence to support this? We haven’t actually turned in a good performance yet never mind a class display.
—————————
I can dream about Celtic playing well in European competition, winning some games, scoring more goals and having closer fought matches.
The reality will be different. Based on past results, we will lose home and away in heavy defeats to the pot 1 team. We will lose home and away to the pot 2 team. We might beat the 3rd pot team at Celtic park, and draw to them away, with a bit of fortune.
That is the reality, like Morton in the Scottish cup,
We have not started poorly in the league, I don’t agree with that at all.
The performances were not top gear, but neither were they pish.
We were poor at Kilmarnock, that was a disjointed performance, it happens now and again. Particularly with new players. and especially with poor decision making by officials.
My belief we will win the league is because we have the best resources, hopefully the best manager, he will be backed before the window closes, and will have the mid season window to make corrections if required.
It has been like that for 11 of 12 seasons, why would it not be the same outcomes again ?
Celtic are 4/9 to win the league.
The Rangers are 3/1
Celtic are 150-1 to win the champions league. The Rangers are 500-1. City are 9/4.
If I new who the over ready starting players that would make a dent in that and are affordable I would run them from the airport myself.
The defence will be sorted when the injured players return.
CCV and Johnston will make a huge difference.
Left back obviously needs an upgrade,
Every winger in our 3 matches so far this season has given Taylor real problems.
If you are a manager of a champions league team watch the videos of our matches then its obvious who they would target.
I think the midfield and wingers are our biggest concern.
Ive never rated Abada and Maeda.
The drop in levels from Jots to the 2 mentioned is huge.
If they are our starters this season then it could be a long ride.
The midfield is crying out for quality.
O’Riley and Turnbull are too slow.
If we are to do anything in Europe then we must bring in better to play with McGregor and Hatate.
Harry Maguire will be available on loan…💣💣
Just sayin like….