In defence of the defence

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Three years ago, we watched as Odsonne Edouard and Moussa Dembele tore up the early Champions League qualifiers, forming what promised to be a productive partnership.  Injury prevented them from finishing that qualifying group, neither started as we exited in Athens and Moussa left as the transfer window closed.

In all probability, the partnership of Odsonne and Kyogo Furuhashi will end before August is out, but while they are both here and fit, they have the potential to form a devastating attacking threat.  On Sunday, Kyogo was handed the junior role on the left, with Odsonne through the middle.  Both can work either position, a flexibility which increases their potency.

With so many areas of the team looking stronger than it was two weeks ago, defence remains the area Ange Postecoglou will seek to improve.  We need a second right back, with Boli Bolingoli’s position at the club unclear, we probably need a left back too, and as it could be months before we see Christopher Jullien, I could make the case for a central defender.

Without wanting to tempt fate, though, we need to give credit to the three young Scots in the defence, Greg Taylor (23), Anthony Ralston (22) and Stephen Welsh (21) have performed above expectations so far this season.  If Carl Starfelt stops beating himself up and relaxes into his Celtic skin, we will strengthen from a strong base line.

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  1. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Funny how moods can change quickly.

     

     

    12 weeks ago I was seriously hacked off that Eddie Howe wasn’t joining Celtic.

     

     

    Now I’m not.

     

     

    Not even slightly.

     

     

    Long road with bumps ahead obviously but we’ve got a good guy at the helm.

     

     

    Hail hail

     

     

    Keep The Faith

     

     

    We’re Not Half of Anything

     

     

    19-1

     

     

    We share a city AND NOTHING ELSE

  2. Oh Hampden Park was crowded

     

    The fans began to roar

     

    The Rangers fans were singing

     

    Of the sash their father wore.

     

    But very soon

     

    The changed their tune

     

    When the Celtic plan was set,

     

    For Lennox crossed to Billy McNeill

     

    And the ball was in the net!

     

     

    Chorus

     

    Putting on the agony

     

    Putting on the style

     

    One, two, three, four lovely goals

     

    Scoring all the while.

     

    There’s nothing in this whole wide world

     

    That makes you want to smile

     

    Like watching Glasgow Celtic

     

    Putting on the style

     

     

    Now Lennox he caused trouble

     

    With his running through

     

    And from a long ball from defence

     

    He made it number two.

     

    All that day he worked his way

     

    To make the Rangers prance

     

    And the Celtic End went round the bend

     

    Doing the victory dance

     

     

    Chorus

     

     

    Now just before the interval

     

    Came goal number three

     

    And this time it was slotted in

     

    By young george Connelly

     

    in his first cup final

     

    A day he’ll not forget

     

    When he walked the ball round big John Greig

     

    Into the Rangers net.

     

     

    Chorus

     

     

    Chalmers was our centre

     

    He gave his all and more

     

    And to him fell the honour

     

    Of scoring number four.

     

    A dribble down the left wing

     

    A shot which goalward sped

     

    And once again the Scottish Cup

     

    Was resting at Parkhead.

     

     

    Chorus

  3. Big Jimmy,

     

     

    I remember a Beach in the Calton in 2003 right across from the Barras.Specially installed for Seville.

  4. TURKEYBHOY

     

     

    There was a bar in the Calton called OASIS.

     

     

    Went in there about 7 in the morning , old guys suited and booted hats n all.

     

    Girl on the karaoke heavily pregnant singing “Like a virgin ” 😂😂😂

     

     

    That would have been around 99/2000 .

     

    we ordered 4 pints and 4 halfs , sorry you need to order something to eat , ok 4 rolls n sausage , you could have used the sausages as beers mats they were solid …great weekend that was .

     

     

    Someone from here maybe remember that pub , it was painted inside as if you were sitting on the beach .

  5. Tony Ralston and Greg Taylor have their strengths and weaknesses – if they only had strengths they wouldn’t be playing in the SPFL. What they need is competition and coaching. Greg can improve his final ball and running with coaching and practice, remember he didn’t have much practice in his previous team and when you do a lot of attacking, as at Celtic, the full backs are likely to be caught out of position some of the time. Again, team coaching can deal with that. Centre backs need reinforcing especially to allow Starfelt to play on the right and compensate for missing full backs, also to win high balls. Ange is clear that he wants the right men for his system and he should know by now who currently doesn’t fit that system. Looking at Barkas, Bolingoli, Ajeti on paper and at the fee we paid you’d have thought they’d have done a job but transfers don’t always work out the way we expect. Scales might be another Hendry, who knows, but he won’t cost much and his wages not high and he’s versatile so could be worth taking a chance on. Coaching will be key. Most players have challenges settling in and some who don’t have dips in form. In both cases confidence can be a big big issue. Fans need to be more supportive. SUch players don’t need the fans on their back – the manager will soon know when to let someone take a seat on the sidelines.

  6. I cannot wait to see our Japanese Bhoy tonight.

     

     

    How exciting is he.

     

     

    His work ethic, desire, determination and runs are a joy to behold.

     

     

    D :)

  7. Afternoon from Kefalos..we’re 2 hrs ahead.

     

    Game k.o at 9.45 over here.be well gished by then.Be a hard game but a good test for this exciting attacking Hoops team.

     

     

    Hail Hail Brothers

  8. Weebobbycollins on

    Big Jimmy…

     

    I found this on Celtic website…glad my memory hasn’t let me down…

     

     

    “But that wasn’t the first time numbers were worn on the jerseys, Celtic actually tried it in 1960 in the Anglo-Franco-Scottish Friendship Cup. In a match against Sedan, in France, the players wore yellow numbers, but in a horrible clash with the green and white Hoops, especially under the floodlights, it was virtually impossible to read them. Its lack of success gave the club even more reason to stick to their numbered shorts, a trend they were to become famous for.”

  9. Marsapa,

     

    Don’t remember that boozers,someone will.Too funny.

     

    Just before Seville,a shop opened across from the Barras.They were selling Sombreros,Beach Balls,all Celtic themed.Think t hey had sand delivered,spread outside,with the Umbrella,Deck chair,belting out Celtic songs all day.

  10. Some pesky Germans in for the Greek striker.Offered1.7,million,his club want over 4 million.

     

    The Media very knowledgeable about finances,except, I won’t go on,you know where I’m going.

  11. 21-5-79 Brilliant, just had the guitar out and sang the entire song. I was just a nipper then but have heard it sung before.

  12. Dexter P. Bampot on

    SLÁINTE ANGE on 18TH AUGUST 2021 7:23 AM

     

     

    Like many others, I have been most impressed with the development of Tony Ralston. Seems to get better with every game he plays and hopefully that will continue. He has reveled in the new~found freedom to move inside and support the forward line. Can score as well!

     

     

    So, here’s an idea ~ why not move him into right midfield alongside Calmac and Turnbull, with Christie on the left? Hopefully we will soon sign Josip Juranovic for RB and Scales for LB.

     

     

    Here’s how it could look:

     

     

    HART

     

     

    JURANOVIC, STARFELT, WELSH, TAYLOR/SCALES

     

     

    RALSTON, CALMAC, TURNBULL/ROGIC, CHRISTIE

     

     

    ABADA/FORREST, ODSONNE, KYOGO

     

     

    _________________________

     

     

    How about-

     

     

    HART

     

     

    JURANOVIC, STARFELT, WELSH, TAYLOR/SCALES

     

     

    RONALDO, CALMAC, TURNBULL/ROGIC, MBAPPE

     

     

    ABADA/FORREST, HAALAND, KYOGO

     

     

    ???

  13. ROBERTTRESSELL on 18TH AUGUST 2021 11:12 AM

     

    Is the game on TV tonight?

     

     

    ————

     

     

    Celtic TV if your a subscriber, or PPV for £9.99

  14. TURKEYBHOY on 18TH AUGUST 2021 9:58 AM

     

    Big Jimmy,

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I remember a Beach in the Calton in 2003 right across from the Barras.Specially installed for Seville.

     

    ………….

     

    DOH…How could I I forget….I helped to ” Decorate” Bairds Bar inside and out in the run up to Seville…including ” The Sand” ?

     

    DOH !

     

    HH.

  15. MARSPAPA on 18TH AUGUST 2021 10:16 AM

     

    TURKEYBHOY

     

     

     

     

     

     

    There was a bar in the Calton called OASIS.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Went in there about 7 in the morning , old guys suited and booted hats n all.

     

     

     

     

    Girl on the karaoke heavily pregnant singing “Like a virgin ” 😂😂😂

     

     

     

     

     

     

    That would have been around 99/2000 .

     

     

     

     

    we ordered 4 pints and 4 halfs , sorry you need to order something to eat , ok 4 rolls n sausage , you could have used the sausages as beers mats they were solid …great weekend that was .

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Someone from here maybe remember that pub , it was painted inside as if you were sitting on the beach .

     

    ………..

     

    Your Post reminded me of that Pub.

     

    I seem to remember being in it when we played at Ipox and me and my mates from Stirling didnt have Tickets so we watched the Celts in that Beach Bar.

     

    HH.

  16. PeterLatchfordsBelly on

    Compare and contrast Dom and Ange’s team building strategy with that goon Lawwell and his yes man Lennon.

     

     

    Lawwell did business at the last minute, mostly young, unproven projects ‘for the future’. Generally around the £2M mark, often on Dudu Duhan’s books, all with the hope of selling for profit to the EPL within 2 years. Most proved to be crap.

     

     

    In short, he ran the club for profit rather than prioritising team building and generating funds through on-field success, particularly in Europe. As a matter of club policy he made us weaker than we had to be. Lennon said yes please, I’ll take this job under any conditions. Let’S see what job offers Lennon gets going forward.

     

     

    Dom and Ange are getting players in relatively early. They are players for now, not some distant point in the future. They are experienced players, generally established internationals.

     

     

    In short, they are building a team, not a friggin’ balance sheet. They are not going mental a la Sevco. They are balancing the books and recognise we need to sell our star assets from time to time to prosper – Ajer, Eddy etc. However, it shows us there is better way to balance the interests of the plc and the fans than numb nuts Lawwell did. He prioritised the former over the latter.

     

     

    I think the AZ tie is 50;50. We could conceivably go out before the EL. That would be on Lawwell, not Dom. I can live with that if it happens, because I have faith in Ange to deliver the title this season – and ECL money next season. Unlike Lawwell, he’s not a man to pull his punches based on some cynical calculation of pecuniary self-interest. Given half a chance he’ll grind those insidious, cheating bar stewards at Ibrox into the dust. Unlike their sleekit former ally in our CEO office.

  17. IF Big Ange plays BOTH Eddie and Kyogo….I hope that he plays Kyogo thru the middle…or at the very least he tells Kyogo and Eddie to ” switch” positions during the game, with Kyogo in the middle and/or out wide left…and likewise French Eddie ?

     

    why would Big Ange listen to me ?

     

    LOL

     

    HH.

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