I watched Hull batter Leicester City on TV last night without putting the ball in the net. The sheer volume and quality of chances entitled Hull fans to some consolation in the valid football adage, ‘these days happen’. Those absent from Celtic Park on Saturday are likely to assume we similarly battered Ross County, but they would be wrong. County defended throughout but were never under anything close to intense pressure.
This is one of the right times of the season to have a performance like that, they are of little use in the first week in February, when the transfer window is closed. Clues abound as to where we need to strengthen, most pointing to the forward line. John Guidetti’s drop in form over the last month has dropped like a stone, but he’s still comfortably holding onto the striker position. Neither Stokes, Griffiths nor Scepovic are putting pressure on a young off-form player.
There is also the playmaker position, which appears to be on the bench. Kris Commons has been dropped before in his Celtic career, often for important games in Europe, where more industrious, but less talented, players were chosen. I spent most of Saturday’s game waiting on Kris coming on, but if his general level of fitness counts against him for a starting position, his lack of 90 minute outings since his injury earlier in the season means that his late-game cameos look even less industrious.
As I’ve been saying since July, we only have one playmaker and if he’s not playing or off form, we’ll struggle. With a match-fit Commons on from the start yesterday, we would have won comfortably. I’m happy to accept we need a playmaker who’ll cover 15k in 90 minutes, so sign one, but if we’re going to let Commons go, or wither on the bench, sign two, before we end up dependent on one man again.
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fanadpatriot
15:43 on
29 December, 2014
Scott Allan of Hibernian is as good as any young player in Scotland,.I know he didn’t settle in England and moved around a number of clubs,but after that experience he may just be about to reach his true potential.Will be on small wages at Hibernian so that is not a problem.Commons is on his way out, he may just be his replacement.
I said after the hun game,that his was the best midfield display I have saw in ages.Great skill,great vision,gallus,full of it,tracks back,and according to reports,this was not a one off.
I would leave him at Hibs for the rest of the season,and if he continues this form,go for him in the summer.Think his nose is of the Azure persuasion right enough.So was Kennys.
I can understand that events on the park can lead to frustrations in the stands, but there is no excuse for the clown in section 112 on Saturday calling our keeper a dirty OB . More surprising was that no one challenged him but myself. It should never be tolerated at Celtic Park.
HH
sips @17.15
* Agrees with this *
Dexter
Yep, so sack Ronny, re-sign Kris as player manager. Kill two birds with one stone.
guess whos back
back again
to offend
I get the blame for everything that I do.
HH
The way I see it, we lost one and drew one. BIG DEAL. We had 7 straight wins before that. Any team in the country would be happy with that. I’m not attending on Ne’erday, but I would be gobsmacked if the result was anything less than a win for us. COYBIG. The rest of you, get a life or just get wrecked. :-)))))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Sipsini
May well be the case, he is hardly rolling up his sleeves and getting the fans on side, if he was showing half the form or effort of last season, those that be would have to give him the 2 year deal, as it is, not many will lose sleep when he goes. What has he done since he came back from injury, spare me the he hasn’t been given a chance…… Once again on Sat he had 23+ 6 mins injury time, anonymous, but maybe it was too cold for him
Sipsini
Not you sir.
sips
Guess who’s back? Glad to meet you on Saturday. :-)))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Glasgowdave,
There are some real zoomers in 112, I’ve been in there for about 4 years.
Scott Allen plays well against sevco and we should buy him – get a grip
HT
Agreed kiddo. Hope you had a good one. :-)
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
celt for life
17:26 on 29 December, 2014
Sipsini
May well be the case, he is hardly rolling up his sleeves and getting
——
The biggest cheer I heard on Saturday was when he came on as a sub.
Awe naw
That’s why I posted as was. :-)) hope you had a nice break. :-)
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
WeeFra
Hanging in there mate hope you’re well.
I’m not saying Kris is a weak link – although I’m admittedly not a fan – I am saying that I don’t think he works hard enough on the pitch.
We can overlook that in the SPL if we like. We can’t in Europe. In the CL, Commons is well below average technically. Coupled with his lack of ‘mobility’ he can’t cut it.
As a club we should encourage a culture of a minimum expectation of 100% effort for 90 minutes. With and without the ball.
There is no argument against that.
If Forrest – when fit – worked as hard without the ball as with it, he’d be playing at a higher level.
What Ronny is saying is obvious stuff which we probably all agree with, I continue to hope results will come once he establishes the better practices.
If we have a gifted youth team player, I’d rather he look at Johansen as an example than Commons.
If Kris Commons signed the contract he’d lose two stone overnight, and be back in ‘ the system ‘ in jig time.
* For system read runabout alot and chase me, chase me *
I should add that I would like Commons to stay, but the Commons of the previous seasons, not the one that is currently impersonating him
turkeybhoy,
It’s not prema donnas commenting, it’s Celtic supporters who want to voice their opinion on the mis-management that is being witnessed.
We should have a team on the park more than capable to break down the so called parking of the bus.
We are crying out for a play making mid…let’s see what the January window brings!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2890000/Chelsea-starlet-Islam-Feruz-wanted-Cardiff-Bolton.html
Would this guy be getting a game if he was still with us you think?
Does super salary have a garden in Newcastle???
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Kris Commons will be at Celtic until the summer. He will be used as much as Sammi. Interesting that the Bobo dilemna has happened to our last two managers. Coincidence of course.
HH
HT
Glad you are all well. We’re fine too. Take care. KTF.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
bournesouprecipe
17:30 on 29 December, 2014
If Kris Commons signed the contract he’d lose two stone overnight, and be back in ‘ the system ‘ in jig time.
* For system read runabout alot and chase me, chase me *
——-
Sense, at last.
Does Guidetti look any quicker or more mobile?
Kris Commons covers 367.748957349853498m per game [approx].
HT,
No prob mate, HH
Efe Ambrose covers 352837.73192319m per game [ but 46% is in a parallel dimension]
weefrathetim
I had a very quiet relaxing time. It was great. Thanks for asking
HH
Weefra,
It had been a long time coming, sorry I couldn’t hang around.HH
dbbia
Splurted a bacardi and coke there. Brilliant. Lol
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
awe naw
Good, us too at our daughters. Have a good new year buddy. :-))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
The guy who scored 32 goals last year is absolute sh#@$,let’s get rid of him ,great idea……
#idespairsometimes
hun skelper
16:10 on
29 December, 2014
glendalystonsils
15:47 on 29 December, 2014
Aberdeen have had a good month and some think there in with a shout haha embarrassing to hear some of the shit Celtic supporters say about our club
Bang on.Watched Aberdeen last night.Rank.Very lucky to get the points.
Some rocket on here last night wanting RD to defend our position in the league.
Come May,we will see who was right.
On another subject, what the blazes is going on with the pitch at the moment, thot it was bad at the last home game but was in a shocking state on Saturday.
I know it had to be relaid due to the Commonwealth games but after watching the footage on the fiscal web site about how they sent ground staff to pick the very best grass available, what has gone wrong?
weefrathetim
you too mate. A guid new year to you your folks and farm
HH
Guys – the rockets never leave…..
they just change kostumes………………………………
Sleekits…….
HHH.
♫♫♫♫♫ ” He’s fat, he’s round, he’s worth a gazillion pound ”
♫ Mark McGhee ♫
♫ Mark McGhee ♫
*Repeat till fade away*