We need possesion of the ball,organisation,crisp clear passing and skill.
We do not need trench warfare from our creative players.
Forrest and wee Mikey will have their day again some time soon…..you watch
SydneyTim on
Macjay. If we had our 2nd striker as Neil wanted in April but did not get fund’s for
Google boli comments after he signed He had not spoke a word to the boss
Peter lawell runs the club top to bottom
It is his fault we did not have a 2nd striker
GFTB on
ST 9.30am
“ I watched him v an awfull st mitten team from main stand Invisible most of game. Set up by Eduard for goal”
Did you witness who passed the ball to Edouard ?
The invisible man of the match ? That must take some doing, your obsession with James must make you a joy to be around when Celtic are playing
SydneyTim on
Lazy dynamite You put those two on
At iPox and I am away to bookies to put my house down on them
Game last year when we won in last minute v them with JF scoring. JF was a man down again
All this tosh about him being at the club for ten years. Lol. 6 years injured. 1 2nd fiddle to PR. 1 ok season and this year Awefull
Main thing is v them he has been an utter coward in 90% of games
Only in team as we won’t invest in 2nd striker
GFTB on
Just to clarify, I also thought James Forrest, Mikey J and many others wearing a hooped jersey were rubbish, invisible … insert your own adjective … yesterday … but I also appreciate what the same players have given us over the years and still confident they will reproduce this in 2020…..
McNut on
DENIABHOY on 30TH DECEMBER 2019 8:03 AM
Agree with much that you say, however their ‘Liverpool copy’ has worked in our past two meetings.
“Question is, do we fight fire with fire and change our whole set up or do we fight it with quality?”
Well like most things it will be a mixture of different things. Gerrard will continue to play the same system and look for better players to carry it out, perhaps a better centre-half and upgrades on Davis,Kamara & Jack. I would imagine, money, or no money, (when did it ever matter?), emboldened by yesterday and smelling success, they will be busy in the loan market next month – who knows maybe more Liverpool output/ input.
I was delighted when Elyounoussi was in the team, he seemed to give us confidence, Elhamed has also been a loss and will contribute greatly on his return. We need another strong centre-half, midfielder, and a striker before the end of January. Of course it’s not total doom & gloom, we still lead, but have much the hardest programme up to the split.
I would like a 3-5-3 system adopted and stuck with. I admire Frimpong, however he has too much football in him to play the right-back role – he could be wide in a five. Obviously Johnston with a new five-year deal is earmarked as our wide left player, however I would play Elyounoussi when fit. So who accompanies Brown and McGregor in the middle three? This is where I think there is a missing link, we have oodles of mid-fielders but are missing the right one. I think we need a new strong savvy ‘battle-hardened’ midfield presence.
Ryan Christie has shaded recently, perhaps believing all the nice things that have been written about him – he is a good player, however yesterday after ballooning a couple of efforts over the bar, he stepped up and, in my opinion, did not give the penalty kick the respect it deserved. A short run-up closes the angles for a keeper, he looks bigger in the goal because you start closer to him – Henryk’s bending run-up has been copied by many since, of course KOK might have copied it himself. Ryan has become a tad selfish this season – not heavy criticism, after all he has scored many.
So up-front? For me it’s got to be Eddy and Elyounoussi and a new striker – maybe Sporar.
3-5-3 and stick with it.
This should be our core 19 for the second half of the season.
Forster(Gordon)
Alhamed (Ajer)
Jullien(Bitton)
*New centre – back(Simunovic)
Frimpong (Forrest)
Brown(Christie)
*New Midfielder(Rogic)
McGregor
Eduard
*New Striker
Elyounoussi(Johnston)
ruggygman on
Everybody on here can go around in circles.
But everyone stop posting…. cos yir man MCNUT (@6.12am) has hit nail on head.
The answer lies within.
Geggenpressing philosophy.
The objective is to find a strategy to engineer through it… around it, or over it.
Is Lenny smart enough to grasp this ???
ruggygman on
Ajer was at fault for Katic winning goal. I’ll say that loosely, because the 2 corner kicks that pre-empted the winning goal, should never of been corner kicks.
However our hardest working players yesterday in my opinion, were the 2 centre backs (Jullien and Ajer), Frimpong at right back, and Brown in the defensive midfield role.
Relating to MCNUTs post at 6.12am about Rangers adopting Liverpool’s 4-3-3 and gegenpressing philosophy, surely our objective post cup final, and in light of yesterday is to find a solution that enables our forward 4 players to effect the game. Forrest, Christie, and Johnston were anonymous yesterday, because fundamentally the well drilled Rangers team pressed the right area’s, and shut off the space, at the points in the pitch where a James Forrest and Mikey Johnston receive the ball.
Its not the be all and end all solution, but Ntcham would of helped, had he started yesterday. If Rangers defence and midfield eliminate the space from 20 yards from their goal, up to the half way line… Then one possible solution is to play more passes in behind the backline. Get their defenders turning, running towards their own goal. Ntcham is the one midfielder we have, who can execute through balls.
Rangers backline are not as good as people think. Yet we barely tested them yesterday. Aberdeen put Rangers defence under pressure at pittodrie, with over-load of crosses in to the box, and filling the penalty area with numbers / bodies…. and the Rangers defence that night could not handle it.
PeterLatchfordsBelly on
We lost because their manager outflanked our manager. That’s been the pattern for the majority of the time since Lenny came back. 7 halves out of 10.
If our manager doesn’t learn how to change that by Ibrox they will win the league and our dreams of ten will be shattered.
That’s the unvarnished and unpalatable truth.
Still far too much straw clutching and denial amongst our fans.
SydneyTim on
Ruggyman. Our tactics and hunger are poor
I watched from behind the st mirren dug out as a fitness coach ( John Kennedy ) tried to move players about with a few whistles
Our football expertise is non existent. We are run by Peter lawwell as a business 1st with football strategy a distant 4th
You get the tactics right then you bring in players to fit
We are a long way back
On Boxing Day I saw Gary McAllister waking down Ashton lane. Years of experience in back up. We have Peters boy in JK to support Neil with tactics A complete rethink is needed with a director of football who would have a set % of funds on balance sheet and keep PL away from football affairs
DeniaBhoy on
A question – can you play a high press strategy against a high press strategy? Who wins?
What happens if we go toe-to-toe with them? How does it alter our line up?
ruggygman on
Peterlatchfordsbelly and Sydneytim … I agree with both your posts.
I fear too many fans, simply see the solution as a January spending spree. Sign this player, sign that player.
Until we understand that Gerrard has taken average players, Jack, Kamara, Goldson, Katic etc… and got them drilled, working within an effective footballing philosophy / system, then until we as a club find tactical solutions, then we can fling as much money at it as we want. But it will come with no guarantees.
We are currently being outsmarted on the training pitch. Outsmarted in the dug-out, and subsequently outsmarted on the pitch.
SuperSutton on
Just looked at the results in the SPFL from yesterday. Every result went against the odds.
Spooky Sunday.
#gooddayforthebookies
An Dun on
Napoli countered Liverpool’s press this seaon and last be defending very deep. Utd have had similarly frustrated Liverpool by sitting in – if you sit in, they can’t press.
ruggygman on
Deniabhoy
In short the answer is Yes.
Ultimately if Rangers played vs Liverpool, and played them at their own game. Liverpool win, because man for man they are far superior.
That is possibly an extreme example. However there are many coaches / managers and teams trying to execute the same philosophy. Your man at Southampton, cut from the same cloth. Same also the German at Norwich. The trouble these clubs have, is mainly inferior players.
PeterLatchfordsBelly on
Ruggyman
That’s my concern. I fear we can’t recover this situation because we have inferior coaching, not inferior players. We can’t remedy that now as sacking Lenny is unthinkable.
I hope my fears are misplaced, but I’m really not confident.
If you were able to get inside Gerrard’s head I guarantee he’s thinking – “I’ve got Lennon’s number and I’m not going to lose it now”.
SydneyTim on
Ruggygman. School boy tactics from inexperienced dug out people
Anybody could see from that team that we gave midfield to them
1. Get a new 2nd coach. Get JK back to being a fitness coach and being PL eyes and ears
2. Indentify winners to bring in
3. Do this now or it’s bye ten in Row
DeniaBhoy on
McNut – cheers, your views make sense. I guess it depends on whether Neil is prepared to accept that change in strategy and personnel are required. I am not convinced he will. Players like JF, Ajer, Boli and RC are playing well below acceptable levels yet there is little squad rotation.
Hope for the best, fear for the worst.
McNut on
AN DUN @ 10:18
Good point, but how do we get out?
Long ball to Eddy?
They hemmed us in at the second goal – it felt that a goal was coming.
We did nulify Tavernier somewhat yesterday, however Barasic then ‘turned it on’. No doubt they are the better team at the moment. Some of our lot are being ostriches.
ruggygman on
Peterlatchfordsbelly
Yip, you are right. Gerrard will have a quiet confidence that he has the measure of Lennon. The measure of us.
A few factors that could still benefit us, is Morelos’s indiscipline.
They squeaked a 1 Nil vs Killie at Ibrox, purely a result of his introduction. If they play 2 or 3 games without him, a defensive team that shuts off Kent, stands a chance of sneaking a draw vs them.
Similarly, Aberdeen at Pittodrie. For some reason, Rangers are not set-up, or can’t cope with Cosgrove, and Aberdeen playing direct football. They buckled under it, last time up there.
Reversely they seem better equipped to go to Livi away, unlike us. Rangers I feel are physically stronger than us, and this allows them to match up against Livi’s physical battle. Whereas in Johnston, and James Forrest, we have guys who duck out of a physical battle.
onenightinlisbon on
I was unhappy with the appointment of Neil in the summer but my hat is well and truly off to him and the team for the performances apart from a couple, yesterday being the most notable. One of the criticisms of Neil was his inflexibility and arrogance as a coach. One of the the criticisms of Mr Lawwell and the board also related to arrogance and inflexibility. This may cost us 9. Do they really care?
An Dun on
McNut – We’ve done it already at Ibrox. For large parts of that game we defended our half in numbers and our full backs got protected. Ajer and Julien cleared everything that came their way. Forster did not have a save to make that day.
I agree that yesterday was lost on the training pitch, it was no coincidence that our attacking players all had off days. We systematically struggled.
Which is why throwing money at this is not the answer bar addressing our obvious need for another striker.
Jimmynotpaul on
McNut.9.51
3.5.3.
Are you at it?
Greenpinata on
There is a norovirus bug going round at the moment.
Even recovery leaves patients lethargic, drained and sluggish.
If I didn’t know better ???????
henrik1967 on
When was the last time a Scottish club came to Paradise and ran all over the top of us the way they did yesterday?
They did the same in the cup final and yesterday and if fans are not worried I would suggest you seek help.
Hunt in packs is what NL did when he was first in charge in certain games and that’s what they did to us yesterday. Every time we had the ball there were two and three men not allowing us time on the ball to hurt them.
Brendan Rodgers warned us about standing still but as per usual the board are more interested in balancing the books than winning.
An Dun on
I think we lost because our wingers didn’t do the hard yards and get back to protect their fullbacks. All day Forrest and MJ came up against two players but our own full backs where left to get on with it. When good teams don’t match the effort of their opponents – they get hurt.
They were good yesterday, but a more coherent defensive display and we’d have at least got a draw.
PeterLatchfordsBelly on
Ruggyman
Just like the old Rangers, putting physical strength against our skill.
How many times yesterday were Bolingoli and Johnson simply brushed off the ball?
Lenny had no answers. Nothing in his locker.
henrik1967 on
Listening to that interview with Lenny yesterday he seriously is out of his depth tactics wise.
Our wingers couldn’t get into the game so we tried to mix it up a bit. Eh? By bringing on a defender and a midfielder. Listen, mate, you’re the f***ing manager and if you can’t sort it then we seriously are in big trouble.
macjay1 for Neil Lennon on
SYDNEYTIM on 30TH DECEMBER 2019 9:33 AM
Assertions , assertions , assertions.
Not a scrap of evidence to back up your assertions.
” Napoli defended deep, pressed in midfield and forced Liverpool out wide in search of space . . That created space for Napoli to attack . They took advantage of it ”
La Gazzetta dello Sport 18 9 19
NorrieM on
Still hurting today
Sydney Tim, I will repeat, I am in 100% agreement on James Forrest,
An Dun he is not being marked by 2 players, he is hiding between the 2, total lack of movement or intelligence to create space for a pass, often left Frimpong exposed, although space to run into with no outball
Mikey Johnson is a 20 year old Bhoy, with a huge future for us
Where I agree, we cannot play a team containing both Johnston and Forrest, this way we are giving up the midfield
We need to ditch the 4,2,3,1 set up
And for goodness sake accept the limitations of a Bolingoli as a player- replace ASAP
Hotel de Paris on
Anyone shocked at yesterday’s performance has not watched many Celtic games recently or indeed for large chunks of last season. The blame rests solely with our £15m CEO. From the low cost option of recruiting Lenny, the appalling scouting process, (evidenced by the leaked document) and the ridiculous handling of squad management. The latter resulting in a cost base, which makes (in the absence of CL income) the sale of our best players, a necessity rather than an option.
At the recent AGM, it was clear Lawwell carried the support of a large majority of those in attendance. I hope and suspect that some are now reviewing that support.
DeniaBhoy on
A few weeks ago, Gerard was on record as saying he had to trim the squad and that would take priority. We all took that as meaning they were skint and that with DK preparing to stand down, they had no one willing to put in any more money.
After the last two games, I think that they will revise that stance and to hell with the consequences to the balance sheet. They have the form and the ability to win the league (and the cup). If Gerard says he needs 1-2 quality additions, he will get them now. This is their moment. The one they have been dreaming of for a decade.
I would not be surprised at all if they pick up 1-2 top quality players on loan, Defoe-type calibre who have the experience to come in and deliver rather than young projects. All they need from them is 4 months good service. In return the players get the chance to pick up a title and a trophy.
Liverpool have already walked the EPL. Klopp might be inclined to help them out knowing he does not need all his fringe players.
David66 on
Guys we can moan about the board all day long and quite right to, but the players that were on that park yesterday did not even compete with an improved but very ordinary football team in Sevco.
Every single outfield player wearing that hooped Jersey yesterday should be ashamed of their performance and if I were a manager I would be making sure that I knew which players were going and which were fit to wear that jersey and stay. But NFL you have to earn your corn too ma man as Sevco looked fitter, hungrier and better organised.
It’s not hard to match a direct opponent in effort and in heart, but our guys were drivel.
Anyway here’s to 2020.
D. :)
NorrieM on
Any comment or action been taken by FtSPFL or FtSFA, on the following actions
2 Sevco players displaying threatening gestures towards the Celtic fans ?
What action will Celtic take, to protect their fans from potentially reacting to these serious threats by visiting players ?
A Sevco coach threatening a Celtic coach, seen live on TV
The assaulting of a camera, therefor individual carrying such, by the Sevco manager ?
This is not sour grapes – this is protecting the game and more importantly our own fans from any potential reaction to threats from low life football players, who believe they can do as they please on a football pitch
Wonder if Police Scotland will take any action on this behaviour??
DeniaBhoy on
I wonder what is the effect of these bumper contracts on the likes of CM and JF. On the one hand they cannot leave without us getting a fee , but on the other hand there is a danger of them knowing they are financially secure whether they are in the team or not. Might just remove a bit of the edge from their game, the need to improve is also somewhat diminished.
We’ve got 3 weeks to lick our wounds, spill our guts and complain about the transfer window before we play Partick in the Cup on the 18th January.
Meanwhile, the real work will be done by the players and coaching staff down in Dubai and when they come back.
By acheiving what they gave in their football careers, they have shown football talent and determination beyond the level of most on here, certainly of myself.
They are the ones who willl be charged with winning our league. We as fans will continue to be highly anxious and highly critical, enough to give Kris Boyd a wee waerm feeling when he commented on it.
Sevco are galvanised with the energy of a determined underdog.
I still believe our team are good enough, in a league race, to overcome their team, their fans and our fans.
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SYDNEYTIM on 30TH DECEMBER 2019 9:21 AM
‘Trench warfare?’
I don’t think so.
We need possesion of the ball,organisation,crisp clear passing and skill.
We do not need trench warfare from our creative players.
Forrest and wee Mikey will have their day again some time soon…..you watch
Macjay. If we had our 2nd striker as Neil wanted in April but did not get fund’s for
Google boli comments after he signed He had not spoke a word to the boss
Peter lawell runs the club top to bottom
It is his fault we did not have a 2nd striker
ST 9.30am
“ I watched him v an awfull st mitten team from main stand Invisible most of game. Set up by Eduard for goal”
Did you witness who passed the ball to Edouard ?
The invisible man of the match ? That must take some doing, your obsession with James must make you a joy to be around when Celtic are playing
Lazy dynamite You put those two on
At iPox and I am away to bookies to put my house down on them
Game last year when we won in last minute v them with JF scoring. JF was a man down again
All this tosh about him being at the club for ten years. Lol. 6 years injured. 1 2nd fiddle to PR. 1 ok season and this year Awefull
Main thing is v them he has been an utter coward in 90% of games
Only in team as we won’t invest in 2nd striker
Just to clarify, I also thought James Forrest, Mikey J and many others wearing a hooped jersey were rubbish, invisible … insert your own adjective … yesterday … but I also appreciate what the same players have given us over the years and still confident they will reproduce this in 2020…..
DENIABHOY on 30TH DECEMBER 2019 8:03 AM
Agree with much that you say, however their ‘Liverpool copy’ has worked in our past two meetings.
“Question is, do we fight fire with fire and change our whole set up or do we fight it with quality?”
Well like most things it will be a mixture of different things. Gerrard will continue to play the same system and look for better players to carry it out, perhaps a better centre-half and upgrades on Davis,Kamara & Jack. I would imagine, money, or no money, (when did it ever matter?), emboldened by yesterday and smelling success, they will be busy in the loan market next month – who knows maybe more Liverpool output/ input.
I was delighted when Elyounoussi was in the team, he seemed to give us confidence, Elhamed has also been a loss and will contribute greatly on his return. We need another strong centre-half, midfielder, and a striker before the end of January. Of course it’s not total doom & gloom, we still lead, but have much the hardest programme up to the split.
I would like a 3-5-3 system adopted and stuck with. I admire Frimpong, however he has too much football in him to play the right-back role – he could be wide in a five. Obviously Johnston with a new five-year deal is earmarked as our wide left player, however I would play Elyounoussi when fit. So who accompanies Brown and McGregor in the middle three? This is where I think there is a missing link, we have oodles of mid-fielders but are missing the right one. I think we need a new strong savvy ‘battle-hardened’ midfield presence.
Ryan Christie has shaded recently, perhaps believing all the nice things that have been written about him – he is a good player, however yesterday after ballooning a couple of efforts over the bar, he stepped up and, in my opinion, did not give the penalty kick the respect it deserved. A short run-up closes the angles for a keeper, he looks bigger in the goal because you start closer to him – Henryk’s bending run-up has been copied by many since, of course KOK might have copied it himself. Ryan has become a tad selfish this season – not heavy criticism, after all he has scored many.
So up-front? For me it’s got to be Eddy and Elyounoussi and a new striker – maybe Sporar.
3-5-3 and stick with it.
This should be our core 19 for the second half of the season.
Forster(Gordon)
Alhamed (Ajer)
Jullien(Bitton)
*New centre – back(Simunovic)
Frimpong (Forrest)
Brown(Christie)
*New Midfielder(Rogic)
McGregor
Eduard
*New Striker
Elyounoussi(Johnston)
Everybody on here can go around in circles.
But everyone stop posting…. cos yir man MCNUT (@6.12am) has hit nail on head.
The answer lies within.
Geggenpressing philosophy.
The objective is to find a strategy to engineer through it… around it, or over it.
Is Lenny smart enough to grasp this ???
Ajer was at fault for Katic winning goal. I’ll say that loosely, because the 2 corner kicks that pre-empted the winning goal, should never of been corner kicks.
However our hardest working players yesterday in my opinion, were the 2 centre backs (Jullien and Ajer), Frimpong at right back, and Brown in the defensive midfield role.
Relating to MCNUTs post at 6.12am about Rangers adopting Liverpool’s 4-3-3 and gegenpressing philosophy, surely our objective post cup final, and in light of yesterday is to find a solution that enables our forward 4 players to effect the game. Forrest, Christie, and Johnston were anonymous yesterday, because fundamentally the well drilled Rangers team pressed the right area’s, and shut off the space, at the points in the pitch where a James Forrest and Mikey Johnston receive the ball.
Its not the be all and end all solution, but Ntcham would of helped, had he started yesterday. If Rangers defence and midfield eliminate the space from 20 yards from their goal, up to the half way line… Then one possible solution is to play more passes in behind the backline. Get their defenders turning, running towards their own goal. Ntcham is the one midfielder we have, who can execute through balls.
Rangers backline are not as good as people think. Yet we barely tested them yesterday. Aberdeen put Rangers defence under pressure at pittodrie, with over-load of crosses in to the box, and filling the penalty area with numbers / bodies…. and the Rangers defence that night could not handle it.
We lost because their manager outflanked our manager. That’s been the pattern for the majority of the time since Lenny came back. 7 halves out of 10.
If our manager doesn’t learn how to change that by Ibrox they will win the league and our dreams of ten will be shattered.
That’s the unvarnished and unpalatable truth.
Still far too much straw clutching and denial amongst our fans.
Ruggyman. Our tactics and hunger are poor
I watched from behind the st mirren dug out as a fitness coach ( John Kennedy ) tried to move players about with a few whistles
Our football expertise is non existent. We are run by Peter lawwell as a business 1st with football strategy a distant 4th
You get the tactics right then you bring in players to fit
We are a long way back
On Boxing Day I saw Gary McAllister waking down Ashton lane. Years of experience in back up. We have Peters boy in JK to support Neil with tactics A complete rethink is needed with a director of football who would have a set % of funds on balance sheet and keep PL away from football affairs
A question – can you play a high press strategy against a high press strategy? Who wins?
What happens if we go toe-to-toe with them? How does it alter our line up?
Peterlatchfordsbelly and Sydneytim … I agree with both your posts.
I fear too many fans, simply see the solution as a January spending spree. Sign this player, sign that player.
Until we understand that Gerrard has taken average players, Jack, Kamara, Goldson, Katic etc… and got them drilled, working within an effective footballing philosophy / system, then until we as a club find tactical solutions, then we can fling as much money at it as we want. But it will come with no guarantees.
We are currently being outsmarted on the training pitch. Outsmarted in the dug-out, and subsequently outsmarted on the pitch.
Just looked at the results in the SPFL from yesterday. Every result went against the odds.
Spooky Sunday.
#gooddayforthebookies
Napoli countered Liverpool’s press this seaon and last be defending very deep. Utd have had similarly frustrated Liverpool by sitting in – if you sit in, they can’t press.
Deniabhoy
In short the answer is Yes.
Ultimately if Rangers played vs Liverpool, and played them at their own game. Liverpool win, because man for man they are far superior.
That is possibly an extreme example. However there are many coaches / managers and teams trying to execute the same philosophy. Your man at Southampton, cut from the same cloth. Same also the German at Norwich. The trouble these clubs have, is mainly inferior players.
Ruggyman
That’s my concern. I fear we can’t recover this situation because we have inferior coaching, not inferior players. We can’t remedy that now as sacking Lenny is unthinkable.
I hope my fears are misplaced, but I’m really not confident.
If you were able to get inside Gerrard’s head I guarantee he’s thinking – “I’ve got Lennon’s number and I’m not going to lose it now”.
Ruggygman. School boy tactics from inexperienced dug out people
Anybody could see from that team that we gave midfield to them
1. Get a new 2nd coach. Get JK back to being a fitness coach and being PL eyes and ears
2. Indentify winners to bring in
3. Do this now or it’s bye ten in Row
McNut – cheers, your views make sense. I guess it depends on whether Neil is prepared to accept that change in strategy and personnel are required. I am not convinced he will. Players like JF, Ajer, Boli and RC are playing well below acceptable levels yet there is little squad rotation.
Hope for the best, fear for the worst.
AN DUN @ 10:18
Good point, but how do we get out?
Long ball to Eddy?
They hemmed us in at the second goal – it felt that a goal was coming.
We did nulify Tavernier somewhat yesterday, however Barasic then ‘turned it on’. No doubt they are the better team at the moment. Some of our lot are being ostriches.
Peterlatchfordsbelly
Yip, you are right. Gerrard will have a quiet confidence that he has the measure of Lennon. The measure of us.
A few factors that could still benefit us, is Morelos’s indiscipline.
They squeaked a 1 Nil vs Killie at Ibrox, purely a result of his introduction. If they play 2 or 3 games without him, a defensive team that shuts off Kent, stands a chance of sneaking a draw vs them.
Similarly, Aberdeen at Pittodrie. For some reason, Rangers are not set-up, or can’t cope with Cosgrove, and Aberdeen playing direct football. They buckled under it, last time up there.
Reversely they seem better equipped to go to Livi away, unlike us. Rangers I feel are physically stronger than us, and this allows them to match up against Livi’s physical battle. Whereas in Johnston, and James Forrest, we have guys who duck out of a physical battle.
I was unhappy with the appointment of Neil in the summer but my hat is well and truly off to him and the team for the performances apart from a couple, yesterday being the most notable. One of the criticisms of Neil was his inflexibility and arrogance as a coach. One of the the criticisms of Mr Lawwell and the board also related to arrogance and inflexibility. This may cost us 9. Do they really care?
McNut – We’ve done it already at Ibrox. For large parts of that game we defended our half in numbers and our full backs got protected. Ajer and Julien cleared everything that came their way. Forster did not have a save to make that day.
I agree that yesterday was lost on the training pitch, it was no coincidence that our attacking players all had off days. We systematically struggled.
Which is why throwing money at this is not the answer bar addressing our obvious need for another striker.
McNut.9.51
3.5.3.
Are you at it?
There is a norovirus bug going round at the moment.
Even recovery leaves patients lethargic, drained and sluggish.
If I didn’t know better ???????
When was the last time a Scottish club came to Paradise and ran all over the top of us the way they did yesterday?
They did the same in the cup final and yesterday and if fans are not worried I would suggest you seek help.
Hunt in packs is what NL did when he was first in charge in certain games and that’s what they did to us yesterday. Every time we had the ball there were two and three men not allowing us time on the ball to hurt them.
Brendan Rodgers warned us about standing still but as per usual the board are more interested in balancing the books than winning.
I think we lost because our wingers didn’t do the hard yards and get back to protect their fullbacks. All day Forrest and MJ came up against two players but our own full backs where left to get on with it. When good teams don’t match the effort of their opponents – they get hurt.
They were good yesterday, but a more coherent defensive display and we’d have at least got a draw.
Ruggyman
Just like the old Rangers, putting physical strength against our skill.
How many times yesterday were Bolingoli and Johnson simply brushed off the ball?
Lenny had no answers. Nothing in his locker.
Listening to that interview with Lenny yesterday he seriously is out of his depth tactics wise.
Our wingers couldn’t get into the game so we tried to mix it up a bit. Eh? By bringing on a defender and a midfielder. Listen, mate, you’re the f***ing manager and if you can’t sort it then we seriously are in big trouble.
SYDNEYTIM on 30TH DECEMBER 2019 9:33 AM
Assertions , assertions , assertions.
Not a scrap of evidence to back up your assertions.
CQNPOTY@GMAIL.COM Then 19 more vote free sleeps.
” Napoli defended deep, pressed in midfield and forced Liverpool out wide in search of space . . That created space for Napoli to attack . They took advantage of it ”
La Gazzetta dello Sport 18 9 19
Still hurting today
Sydney Tim, I will repeat, I am in 100% agreement on James Forrest,
An Dun he is not being marked by 2 players, he is hiding between the 2, total lack of movement or intelligence to create space for a pass, often left Frimpong exposed, although space to run into with no outball
Mikey Johnson is a 20 year old Bhoy, with a huge future for us
Where I agree, we cannot play a team containing both Johnston and Forrest, this way we are giving up the midfield
We need to ditch the 4,2,3,1 set up
And for goodness sake accept the limitations of a Bolingoli as a player- replace ASAP
Anyone shocked at yesterday’s performance has not watched many Celtic games recently or indeed for large chunks of last season. The blame rests solely with our £15m CEO. From the low cost option of recruiting Lenny, the appalling scouting process, (evidenced by the leaked document) and the ridiculous handling of squad management. The latter resulting in a cost base, which makes (in the absence of CL income) the sale of our best players, a necessity rather than an option.
At the recent AGM, it was clear Lawwell carried the support of a large majority of those in attendance. I hope and suspect that some are now reviewing that support.
A few weeks ago, Gerard was on record as saying he had to trim the squad and that would take priority. We all took that as meaning they were skint and that with DK preparing to stand down, they had no one willing to put in any more money.
After the last two games, I think that they will revise that stance and to hell with the consequences to the balance sheet. They have the form and the ability to win the league (and the cup). If Gerard says he needs 1-2 quality additions, he will get them now. This is their moment. The one they have been dreaming of for a decade.
I would not be surprised at all if they pick up 1-2 top quality players on loan, Defoe-type calibre who have the experience to come in and deliver rather than young projects. All they need from them is 4 months good service. In return the players get the chance to pick up a title and a trophy.
Liverpool have already walked the EPL. Klopp might be inclined to help them out knowing he does not need all his fringe players.
Guys we can moan about the board all day long and quite right to, but the players that were on that park yesterday did not even compete with an improved but very ordinary football team in Sevco.
Every single outfield player wearing that hooped Jersey yesterday should be ashamed of their performance and if I were a manager I would be making sure that I knew which players were going and which were fit to wear that jersey and stay. But NFL you have to earn your corn too ma man as Sevco looked fitter, hungrier and better organised.
It’s not hard to match a direct opponent in effort and in heart, but our guys were drivel.
Anyway here’s to 2020.
D. :)
Any comment or action been taken by FtSPFL or FtSFA, on the following actions
2 Sevco players displaying threatening gestures towards the Celtic fans ?
What action will Celtic take, to protect their fans from potentially reacting to these serious threats by visiting players ?
A Sevco coach threatening a Celtic coach, seen live on TV
The assaulting of a camera, therefor individual carrying such, by the Sevco manager ?
This is not sour grapes – this is protecting the game and more importantly our own fans from any potential reaction to threats from low life football players, who believe they can do as they please on a football pitch
Wonder if Police Scotland will take any action on this behaviour??
I wonder what is the effect of these bumper contracts on the likes of CM and JF. On the one hand they cannot leave without us getting a fee , but on the other hand there is a danger of them knowing they are financially secure whether they are in the team or not. Might just remove a bit of the edge from their game, the need to improve is also somewhat diminished.
No easy solutions.
We’ve got 3 weeks to lick our wounds, spill our guts and complain about the transfer window before we play Partick in the Cup on the 18th January.
Meanwhile, the real work will be done by the players and coaching staff down in Dubai and when they come back.
By acheiving what they gave in their football careers, they have shown football talent and determination beyond the level of most on here, certainly of myself.
They are the ones who willl be charged with winning our league. We as fans will continue to be highly anxious and highly critical, enough to give Kris Boyd a wee waerm feeling when he commented on it.
Sevco are galvanised with the energy of a determined underdog.
I still believe our team are good enough, in a league race, to overcome their team, their fans and our fans.
But, only time will tell.