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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Lifes too short, Off oot bye.
lefty
there are no assets left to fight over..
HamiltonTim
Yup. Bring in the crowds. Make it attractive to take the family to the game. Make it affordable AND easy to do.
20,000 seats to be filled every home game that are now empty. Make less on filling them but increase numbers buying at food and drink outlets. Oh at normal fast food main street prices.
If that means football becoming less male dominated have you noticed the amount of time young fathers spend with their kids now? Have you seen the rise in numbers (and standard) playing women’s football?
Instead of the bigot pound being the attraction, make it the family pound.
Social attitudes are changing, football has to move with those times or its a dodo.
watch yer arse on the way oot coco
I think Barcelona’s transfer ban has caused The Rangers problems. Surely there were just about to swoop for MacLeod Law and Wallace in a multi million pound deal?
masty is neil lennon and both of us are supporting wee oscar
The big hoooooooooooose & murrays Auchenhowie .
I also think this is another step towards 3rd rankers
We put our money in(the biggest criticism from zombies was that none of the rich bears had put their hand in their pocket for shares) and tried but they dont care, why dont you follow follow us and we will start again,
KevJungle – MURDO MacLEOD’s Title Winning Boots 4-2 LEGEND
13:34 on
31 December, 2014
BIG-CUP-WINNERS
13:33 on 31 December, 2014
________________________
Whatever…..I’ll counsell ye with this thought
better than you have tried….
===================================
Probably medically qualified too, eh ?
But back to the thing you are steadfastly avoiding the “Why” Question………….
VOGUEPUNTER 1327
Well,aye. But I wouldnae take yours!
Unless PF AYR had my back…
Belfast should be fun.
well done to wee magaret aspinall on her inclusion in the honours list….keep up the good fight magaret and always keep the faith…..justice for the 96…..YNWA..
Stringer Bell
13:25 on
31 December, 2014
Any luck with tickets ref my post around 12:30
Auldheid
Agree with all that and it was one of the areas I was alluding to earlier about inaction. I loved the gesture for unemployed fans at the Ross County game; could this be extended?
We should also be far more proactive with schools around Scotland and not just the Glasgow area. The school I work at has ran two buses this year to EPL matches where a block of tickets was purchased at a discounted rate.
HH
lefty
rumour has it murray park is still in the hands of the whyte family….ipox…WERES THE DEEDS?
Dear oh bleedin’ dear:
“@MattLindsayET Evening Times
“The war is over. The Three Bears have won.”
We can only hope Ashley takes a step back now
getting the families to the game would be a challenge.
week in week out now my nephews dont want to go.
not so long ago we would go to the games with 20+ of the family there.
this year we are down to 3 regular and 3 sometime attendees.
from the mouth of babes last wee, our 4 year old nephew
“why do celtic scor some goals dad, its still nuthin nuthin”
This buying of shares by the “3 bears”is the worst thing that could have happened to the huns.They have jumped the gun,obviously with the thought that the present board would not entertain them.The initial idea was to issue a fresh share offer,where the present shares would be diluted,but the cash would go to the huns.This now,wont happen.
Where do they go from here?.The only lifeline they had for raising money has now gone.Only the King across the water is left.I know.
They are well and truly f—–.Lots of hun on hun action coming our way,as they slip further into the slurping bog.
BIG-CUP-WINNERS
13:43 on
31 December, 2014
It’s the big chip on each shoulder, wan for Gerry and wan for Shug
Monaghan1900
13:46 on
31 December, 2014
Dear oh bleedin’ dear:
“@MattLindsayET Evening Times
“The war is over. The Three Bears have won.”
————————————————————————
I honestly nearly pissed ma self laughing at that..
are you asking me out on a date BCW? :)
turkeybhoy
I am almost certain king has some sort of ban on him taking any kind of money outta south Africa..
Well,that’s interesting.
KEVJ recently asked where-was it BCW-got the idea that he spent between five and eight hours on here disparaging a team he no longer supports.
And does an offski seven hours after his original post. Not a good day but at least he got plenty of advice.
Saint Stivs
Good point that and one that will put bums on seats…an entertaining team.
HH
!!Bada Bing!!
13:46 on
31 December, 2014
We can only hope Ashley takes a step back now
=======================================
I agree, as he has potential to improve them, whereas this recent share purchase might give them a step to control but not the funds they need.
Masty
Funny headline but only the fans turning up will keep the ship afloat.
Watch the gate next home game.
The bad ship TRFC has just swerved the rocks.
auldheid
agree but they had already been hit below the water line,taking in water at an alarming level..
new article posted.
Glendalys@13.25
Big challenge but a lot more money available in the qualifiers for Champions league proper as well. Quids in for getting that far. That’s why I feel it’s a nonsense to countenance anyone other than ourselves winning Spl this season. HH
Auldheid
That strategy has been more than successful in the NASL, a league that was withering on the vine.
Back in again afore ah really go off oot…..
___________________________________
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
13:49 on 31 December, 2014
________________________
Aye and no matter how hard they – huff or they puff – they’ll still no make KevJungle jump into a bottle.
Not too many folk going around these parts can say that, eh?
Still waiting on the ole SMSM’s prediction of the ‘bidding war’ breaking out for the Govan Messi…
BrentfordarebiggerthansevcCSC
Auldheid
I’d agree with all of your suggestions in that last post.
Lower ticket prices
Improve catering and subsequent pricing
Make the match day experience more enjoyable
However, I despair at some of the ‘examples’ of modern football.
Supporters having season tickets suspended for standing.
Supporters threatened with season tickets being removed for lateral movement.
Images of players scoring goals and the background is awash with spectators who can’t applaud because they’re too busy taking pictures with phones and iPads.
Kev j
Just remember you fed all that you fight against the day(s) you sponged a ticket off yer brother.
Still not seen that offensive post?
Did it ever exist?
turkeybhoy
13:29 on 31 December, 2014
Joe Filippis Haircut
13:15 on
31 December, 2014
bournesouprecipe. I do not understand what is going on over at Ibrokes but once again they appear to be pulling back for the brink.I have said from the start of there fiasco that they will survive in one form or another and I still think that is the case. H.H.
Of course there will be.Just what form is anyones guess.The buy out of shares helps them not a jot.Laxey,if them,have taken all the money.Nothing going into the huns at all.They have not pulled back from the brink.What they have now is a replacement for whoever sold the shares,nothing more.No fresh finance for the clubThey still need the £8-10 million to keep going.
——
So keep me right here……
It’s not that they’re veering away from the brink; applying the brakes before the brink or have attached wings to off set the effects of the brink in some kind of Chitty Hunny Bang Bang fashion?
Rather some misguided gummy bears (hard to believe given their expected business nous) have bought their tickets and clambered on board the Bigot Bus as it careers towards oblivion!??
I would love that to be so.
Time will tell. The MSM won’t.
WhackyHunRacesCSC
HH jamesgang
Guys…a very quick thank you to all for your good wishes, I am still on a high. May I take this opportunity to wish every single one of you a very happy new year. Paul 67, still the best Celtic blog by a country mile…All the best guys and I’ll see you 2015…
Neustadt-Braw
More great news – congratulations on the new addition.
HH
Proudbhoy
Düsseldorf Altstadt is the proverbial “bees knees”. I have lived nearby in both Monchengladbach and Bonn, with one or two excursions in that neck of the woods! As awenaw mentioned, try the Altbier (dark, like heavy) – a fine tipple. Enjoy.
HH
Happy new year from Spain to every Timaloy.
HAIL HAIL.
IG-CUP-WINNERS
14:33 on1 January, 2015
PFayr
Being serious for a moment.
I think we all acknowledge the club needed to take a punt, innovate if you like.
Something out of the ordinary was required to stymie our slow decline.
Now I ain’t got a clue if we will succeed, but I’m prepared to continue to support the club and in doing so give time for that hoped for change to happen.
• BIG-CUP-WINNERS
14:37 on1 January, 2015
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
Capello – rent-a-quote.
That rag needs tackled, they had one of the most snide pieces a couple of days ago attacking Celtic using the free ticket for unemployed supporters initiative.
• Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
14:38 on1 January, 2015
BCW
you think taking a punt eqautes to good custodianship or bad ?
HH
• Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
14:38 on1 January, 2015
Equates even
• Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
14:39 on1 January, 2015
BCW
What has he said that does not ring true ?
HH
• BIG-CUP-WINNERS
14:43 on1 January, 2015
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
Don’t be so pedantic……….
What we had was a slow decline. Maybe that will continue. Leaving things as they were it was certain.
• BIG-CUP-WINNERS
14:47 on1 January, 2015
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
Fabio Capello last night launched an attack on “long-ball” Celtic and insisted they have lost their Parkhead fear factor.
Long Ball……………
• Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
14:49 on1 January, 2015
BCW
No we did not. We were qualifying pretty regularly for CL. We were even making 2nd phase CL football Due to this our players were selling for double digit transfer fees in the millions We have never enjoyed such profitable times financially at Celtic. We chose to sell the players and bank the money. So how you come to a slow decline conclusion ?
HH
• Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
14:50 on1 January, 2015
BCW
He must be tuning into the last ten minutes of games :-)
HH
• BIG-CUP-WINNERS
15:01 on1 January, 2015
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
So how you come to a slow decline conclusion ?
The decline I refer to is, well, pretty evident at every home game when I look around.
Now the support are the club in my book and without that core the rest is gone.
Nothing seems to spark interest just now.
• Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
15:12 on1 January, 2015
BCW
If you sell your best players, bank the money, disenchant your best players and coaching staff, cooperate in the criminalisation of the support, stay silent on the governance of the game, downsize on the playing side, increase salaries on the back of the above for non playing staff, make up policy on the hoof and to suit. Then the only fans still turning up are those that hope the ‘punt’ eventually works out or the faithful who cannot accept/see that the above is about Old Firm realignment.
HH
• BIG-CUP-WINNERS
15:31 on1 January, 2015
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
15:12 on
1 January, 2015
BCW
If you sell your best players, bank the money, disenchant your best players and coaching staff, cooperate in the criminalisation of the support, stay silent on the governance of the game, downsize on the playing side, increase salaries on the back of the above for non playing staff, make up policy on the hoof and to suit. Then the only fans still turning up are those that hope the ‘punt’ eventually works out or the faithful who cannot accept/see that the above is about Old Firm realignment.
=====================================
Ah nice wee barb that “punt”…………..
Did Celtic , break the mould, take a chance or a “punt” on Mr Stein ?
Suppose you think Capello is right to label Celtic a “long ball” team ?
Thanks for the “Faithful” tag…………you seem to think it’s a negative ? Apologies if I got that wrong, the written word is sometimes easily misinterpreted. I’d be interested in your ideation of that sentence.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Now where were you slandered ?