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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BCW.. I do indeed. Son in Stuttgart and daughter in Edinburgh…..and I don’t mind at all ;))
He he,
I thought BCW was being fly..
masty is neil lennon and both of us are supporting wee oscar
19:53 on 29 December, 2014
Gerry
with all due respect mo chara, kris commons couldn’t lace lubos boots, as far as I can see he has been offered a year’s extension, but he wants 2
Not saying that at all. I agree but nevertheless in todays money, he is all we have in the way of creativity and finishing from behind the striker(s).
Commons I believe has been offered a new contract,if he doesn’t want to sign it that’s his prerogative .Thanks and goodbye,enjoy Bolton etc.,
Mmmm-
Homer- ” Kids- from now on there are 3 ways of doing things: the right way,the wrong way and the Max Power way ”
Bart- “Isn’t that just the wrong way ? ”
Homer – ” Yes – but faster “
Fanad
kinda the way i see/feel about it.
I am sorry Gerrybhoy if Lennie offers £300,000 for Kris Commons I think it would be best for all concerned if Celtic accept the offer.The manager does not see Kris as a first team regular in a new set up and Kris does not look happy sitting on the bench.So the time looks to have come to thank Kris and wish him well in the future.H.H.
Mighty Tim
May Dougie rest in peace.
Thinking and praying for you all my friend.
GerryBhoy
19:51 on 29 December, 2014
Getting a bit fed up with fholks on here (to include Kojo) running KC down; he lacks pace yada yada. He was our top scorer last season and was our most creative midfielder. They want to get rid of him. Do they not all remember when Lubo came to us? Older than Kris is now, lacking in pace…..BUT…. was a fitba player. He became one of our legends. These moaners need to think about that, where Kris is concerned, before trashing him on this blog. He still has much to offer under whatever system RD wants to use.
KC is a fitba player and we don’t have many.
HH
Gerry
Back to lurkin’CSC
———————–
Commons has always been a hit and miss player, one good season then one average/poor.
Ronny has given him game time this season, and he’s certainly not playing anywhere like last seasons form.
He also been offered a new contract but hasn’t signed it.
I might have it wrong but has Commons been compared to Pirlo and now Lubo on here today :o)
Celtic never finished in the top two of the SPL,in Sir Minted’s first seven years at Govan.
@etims
mighty tim supporting wee oscar
19:47 on 29 December, 2014
Good evening bhoys and ghirls. Thank you to all for thoughts and prayers the other day for my father in law. Sadly Dougie passed away this morning in the western infirmary after being unconscious since boxing day. Once again thank you all.
Zico-Maltese bhoy my heartfelt condolences to you and your wife and family. Stay strong my friend YNWA.
HH
KTF
UTLR
Sad Sad news guys
Prayers offered
HH
Mighty Tim
Condolences on the loss of Dougie. Keep strong
Jimbo67
mighty tim
condolences
“When I came to watch Celtic play Barcelona at home last season, it was unbelievable. Think what it would be like if Celtic could get horsed 6-1 by Legia Warsaw, but win due to a clerical error?”
Ronny Deila, July 2014, Celtic Parallel Universe.
the_huddle
20:02 on 29 December, 2014
Not comparing him to Lubo at all.
Todays team does not match up at all and KC is the only creative player we have. Agree that RD does not rate him in his “system”, that other managers well and truely sussed; so it would probably better for him to move on. My point, however badly put, is what other creative fitba players do we have on board now?
From a very, very good source I was told that Commons was unofficially told that he’d get a two year contract and the opportunity to become involved in a coaching capacity.
Unfortunately, that agreement was with Lenny.
GerryBhoy
Anywhere near Bremen ?
Been thinking of a weekend there and trying to figure out if tickets are easy to come by for a Werder match. I think they play Hamburg in April and had been looking at that, so any advice you may have would be greatly received and appreciated.
Paul
Have to disagree with you on your analysis of where we are and where we are going wrong
The reason that the old No 10 type player is in such short supply is because most team don’t use one now
The likes of the Devine Pirlo is a one off and while he can take some teams apart it is notable that in Europe at the highest level Juve have been soundly thrashed recently because their opponents knew how to stop him
Most teams rely as RD has identified on a system where the players have all to play an important part
That works when you have quality players in all the right positions
Our problem us that we lack the right type of player in some key positions – most crucially we don’t have one proper defensive midfield player on the books let alone in the team!
If we want to play two top as some want we would either have to three at the back or sign the players in midfield to give us four box to box players – instead we try it with one SB!
To break down teams that sit in there are basically three ways to try.
Through – but we are certainly not Barca -so that’s out
Round -which we try with Izzy on onside and Lustig or Matthews on the over
Forrest is the only players we have who plays wide and can get past his man with his pace
Over – but we completely lack the physical presence up front
So IMHO that’s what we need to address in January
1. Proper defensive mid
2. Back up defensive mid
3. Powerful CF
4. Winger
HH
bstr
that is why I don’t understand why Aberdeen especially weren’t on the LNS ruling
Mighty Tim and Zico
rip for respective in laws.
God bless…
BCW
just watch that horrible hun mob hamburg, they won’t take kindly to seeing the hoops,
GerryBhoy. The answer to your question is we have no real creative players but I am sure the manager knows that.I know that is hard at the moment to believe but I feel we have to trust him and let him get on with rebuilding the team.H.H.
BCW,
unfortunately for this project, I live in SW Germany near Kaiserslautern and the French border, so that is about a 6 hour drive from Bremen in the north. However, I’ll have a word with my neighbour, who is a HSV fan and see if he can do anything about tickets for that game. Get my email addy from Paul, send me a note and I’ll be in touch.
HH
Gerry
Hamiltontim
Like I said, put Ronny out to pasture, and give Commons a 2 year contract as player-manager.
His treatment reminds me of when Lenny got marginalized by the Mowbray regime.
Zico-Maltese Bhoy
Mighty Tim
Condolences to you and your families.
GerryBhoy
20:06 on 29 December, 2014
the_huddle
20:02 on 29 December, 2014
Not comparing him to Lubo at all.
Todays team does not match up at all and KC is the only creative player we have. Agree that RD does not rate him in his “system”, that other managers well and truely sussed; so it would probably better for him to move on. My point, however badly put, is what other creative fitba players do we have on board now?
————
We don’t really have any creative players at the moment, just players that can (or should do a job). Score goals when put on a plate for them. We do create a lot of chances (aprt from Ross County game). The forwards do their job we’d have less issues.
KC last season certain starter, this season not. No point playing someone who isn’t in form and is looking to leave in January, it’s pointless.
Up over goal
when exactly did KC last have a good game for us?
BCW, the game is in Bremen on Saturday 18 April
HT a troll:-)
Mental!
mighty tim
Sincere condolences to you and your family. RIP Dougie. KTF.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Zico.. mighty Tim
Just catching up.
Heartfelt condolonces to you both.
HH!!
doc
OH YES HE IS? Well it is that time of the year. :-))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
GerryBhoy
Thanks mate. I’m sure one of the guys on CQN is from Saxony area, just can’t remember who. I’m planning to go to the Bremen fan areas. The HSV crowd, as Masty mentions, probably wouldn’t take too kindly to a handsome Tim.
doc
Sorry…? Should be !. Hahaha
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
GerryBhoy
Yeah the 18th is the date I was considering. Celtic’s fixtures is the problem just now.
masty
Define ‘good’.
Stuck on in the 68th minute yesterday, he created more chances than any other player.
It’s difficult for a player to perform to the best of his abilities if you don’t play him in his best position.
Your question suggests you don’t rate him, yet he’s still clocked up a better goals/assist rate this season than the Norwegian T-1000.
masty is neil lennon and both of us are supporting wee oscar
20:11 on 29 December, 2014
BCW
just watch that horrible hun mob hamburg, they won’t take kindly to seeing the hoops,
That is entirely true. I took my daughter to see us play them at CP and she was shocked by their “fans” aggression. She has told me, she will never attend a fitba match again. My neighbour though is a HSV fan. He is a Prof/Dr at a local Uni here and is absolutely astonished that his fellow fans are regarded in that way. I have attempted to bring him into the fold by giving his 11 year old son one of my old Celtic tops……we’ll see how that one works out!!!
BCW….was certainly not planning to get you into the Hamburg end!!!!!
Just thought he might be able to access tickets to the home end :)))))