Aberdeen are back at Celtic Park tomorrow, 10 days after their previous visit, having arrested their record breaking run of six league games without a goal by beating Kilmarnock 1-0 last time out. Derek McInnes will be relieved to take part in someone else’s soap opera.
Prior to losing to Ross County, Celtic were on one of their best runs of the season: five wins in February since going down at home to the mighty St Mirren. The performance and result in Dingwall surprised no one, though, even after five wins, there is a fragility about this team.
When the man running the US has a codename ‘Celtic’, there is a bit of symmetry that we appoint ‘The President’ as interim manager. Having worked as a coach at Celtic for a decade, John Kennedy will relish getting his hands on the levers tomorrow, but he is no miracle worker. Knocking this team into shape will take more than a few tactical or selection changes.
There are some indicators I am looking for. Will he retain Scott Bain ahead of Vasilis Barkas? Almost certainly. Will Scott Brown retain his place ahead of Ismaila Soro? Not so sure about this one. Scott is a voice of authority among the players and will be a key ally to John. You and I are always looking to the horizon, so we would probably opt for Ismaila, but corralling a couple of dozen egos is a tactical job in itself. What we notice on the pitch is not everything.
If we do not have unanimous agreement on the unsuitability of Tom Rogic for the energetic, up and down the park, right side of midfield role, I would be amazed. We have too many No. 10s and not enough wide right options. A less-effective Ryan Christie is always preferable to Tom on the right.
Albian Ajeti, Leigh Griffiths and Patryk Klimala will all hope to make more of an impact under the new regime. None has had the kind of run in the team required to reach peak performance. All three will hope that changes between now and May. John should pick Albian or Patryk and stick with him, we need to find out what resources we have in these two before we go shopping again. No harm to Leigh, but we know all about him – and he’s a keeper (not that kind of keeper) for a while yet.
I doubt we will see a change from the midfield diamond, which apart from a haunting January provided a significant improvement in performances and results on formations from earlier this season.
Good luck, John.
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AT- guilty as charged sir.
John Kennedy will see this as his opportunity to show what he can do.
From the perspective of the club, I’d be inclined to play those that will be here next season.
I wouldn’t be playing Eddie, Christie or any of the loanees.
I’d be giving Barkas the last 8 games to show he wants to be here next season. I’d be saying to Ajeti and Klimala, you’ve got 8 games now show your stuff.
John won’t do this because like I said, he’ll see this as an opportunity and he’ll want to win games. He’ll play the want aways.
We’re in a state of paralysis at the moment due to Lawwell and Desmond the all knowing.
Next season will be huge ask for our new gaffer.
Bada/Gene
Thanks again.
Phoned the hotline. Getting it 1st week in March.
That’s a weight off…
Back to normality thereafter
What Larks CSC
MH – no worries! That league in particular have some bonkers appointments!! I think the likes of Wagner and Farke has led to lots of Chairmen taking gambles on exotic foreigners.
Be interesting to see how well they do against Slavia Prague – their manager is a “Kloppite” and should be on our potential list, though we’d end up making him have Kennedy and Lubo as assistants as they “know the club/city”.
Maresca was assistant to Montella at Seville and Pellegrini at West Ham, so a gamble if he is appointed!
31003- no bother, good luck
Whether they win or lose against Slavia, Gerard has led them to last 16 twice in succession. Rodgers has tried and failed 5 times to make the last 16.
With a league title and Europa Cup record, Gerard will be on someone’s radar this summer and I’ll be happy to see him and his coaches go. Turned a dreadful team into a cohesive unit and a losing mentality into a winners one. Like him or hate him, he’s done a remarkable job.
And save me from the idea that they are just lucky etc etc.
Paul67,
Interesting breakdown of John Kennedy’s mission, approach and options. What would be a successful transition from Lenny MKII to the summer re-build?
Beating the Rangers would be nice and is doable but as you say, finding our few grains of wheat from a haystack of chaff is more realistically a priority.
Also a lot of other “housekeeping” duties to get the place ready for our new CEO, Manager, Coaching staff and hopefully, technicial staff is key to getting anything at all out of next season.
Interesting game v Aberdeen, outwith Hibs possibly the hardest start it could be.
Glad he’s got Stephen McManus beside him, although we must look further afield for the rebuild, and there is every indication we will, having real Celtic men in the dug out is crucial during this transition.
Good Luck JK and Team
POR CIERTO @ 1:08 PM,
Yes, the Uefa Cup has been renamed the Uefa European League Cup.
Rangers were in the final in 2008 – there was the odd Charabang Trip down from Glasgow to Madchester… Remember;)
Hail Hail
Paul67
JK has to do something radical, to stamp his identity and disassociate himself from the Devon Loch season.
How he does that, with the same players and three training sessions I’ve no idea.
Log in tomorrow for the next instalment CSC
!!BADA BING!! on 26TH FEBRUARY 2021 1:19 PM
The SNP faction, must be glued to the telly…😵
I wish i could understand what they are going on and on about.
Fav U- they’re all lying, but a key witness is Wee Nippy’s man , and Salmond could take down the 2 of them.
Brendan Rodgers’ European Achilles heel exposed again.
Five attempts to progress from the 32
Five fails CSC
During an earlier G.O.D. Partick Thistle Nil – were four up in 37 minutes on Jock Stein’s Celtic
What Larks CSC
x
Anyone in the Glasgow area here lots of fireworks last night?
here = hear
Back to Work CSC
It’s been interesting to discover the role of the Lord Advocate over the past few days.
Essentially a government minister was in charge of the institutions (Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal) that brought the malicious prosecution against the Old Co liquidators.
Very interesting indeed.
GM
Keeping the heat off someone else?
BR
Be huns..possibly broke record for most pens in a european tournie last night.
Good summary P67 and hope we are all wishing JK some good luck for his interim role.
Interested about the diamond question as less than eloquently I guessed yesterday, i think it’ll go in favour of a tighter mid, but i guess we’ll see 🍀
Kennedy should have got the job until the end of the season when BR left. We would still have won league and Scottish cup.
Don’t be surprised if he’s still here next season.
BSR…lots of fireworks last night, heard from the foothills of the Cathkin Braes.
JHB
I have been preaching that this is about money and the poor performances are down to the players being disgruntled. First is the deduction in wages due to the covid affected season last season. I also believe that there was deferred payments in this season due to the late start.
However, I believe that these players were looking to be sold on as they were promised. This club has sold Forster, Wanyama, Armstrong Tierney, Dembele who went on to wages at least tripled, plus a bonus of a cut the transfer fee. Their agents were also told no one was leaving this year and they wouldn’t be happy, as they make most of their money with Transfers.
So the whispering agents would have happily pointed out that Duffy, Laxalt and Elynoussi were all on big wages at least 2 or 3 times of our squad. The fact that they were not very good would have an even more effect as all 3 struggled to make the team,
Now, Covid deductions and no promised big moves result in poor performance and the loss of win bonuses would only confound the situation. The poor performances resulted in European defeats and with the loss of bonuses which are based on performance.
Now this view is based on a large amount of supposition but can be believed by Lenny’s statement on “want aways” and players not wanting to be there. other claims were made that players weren’t following coaching instructions.
i have been at Celtic park for 60 years and have never seen a squad with wilful poor performance. At times Lazy, slow play like a training game, no urgency, no win ethic, poor quality. i have witnessed players not celebrating goals, not tracking back, no movement of the ball and players not wanting the ball, hiding in plain sight. This team could not be motivated and no change in formation or variations on selection seemed make a difference. Lenny tried different formations and personnel all to no avail. The support were puzzled from a quadruple treble to this
Now Ajer is a want away but has still been trying hard as his strategy is that his performances will get him the move he wants, while contrast with N’tcham who did no more than jog around the park.
Something has soured these players and my case is that its financial, I hope i am wrong as John K will not get a performance out of this squad and indeed Zidane would struggle. Lack of crowds and the whole COVID debachle would not help but all teams have faced these challenges
I think we need to get rid of around 15 players in the summer and build a new squad.
Deniabhoy…I will also be glad to see the back of Gerrard and Beale. Give the job to McAllister, he deserves it.
Probably the most hotly anticipated team sheet this season. Every minus will also be a plus and every plus also a minus – unless there’s a status quo of mediocrity…
U
Barkas
Kenny Welsh Duffy Laxalt
Ajer Soro Templeton
Callum Moi Eddie
Big Buoy @ 2.33
I concur with all you say.
Can I perhaps draw attention to a marked change in performance, which, to me at least, says much.
Look at our results up to 11 October and immediatly thereafter.
To 11 October – (9 SPFL matches) 8 wins 1 draw – 25 POINTS
GOALS FOR 25
GOALS AGAINST 5
From 12 October – (9 SPFL matches) 5 wins 3 draws 1 defeat – 18 POINTS
GOALS FOR 20
GOALS AGAINST 9
In Europe from 11 Oct – (6 EL matches) 1 win 4 defeats 1 draw – 4 POINTS
GOALS FOR 10
GOALS AGAINST 19
More points dropped, more goals conceded, out of Europe at the bottom of the group.
So why choose October 11? That was the day that Shane Duffy confirmed to Brighton fans…and the press, that Celtic were paying ALL his wages, reputed to be £40k/wk, far and away more than anyone else in the squad.
Was than when some ‘downed tools’?
So…where are we?
Shock and denial.
Pain and guilt. …
Anger and bargaining. …
Depression. …
The upward turn. …
Reconstruction and working through. …
Acceptance and hope
JHB,
Assuming the loan deal for one individual ie Shane Duffy is for one year. 52 x 40k = £ 2.080 m.
Even if we are only paying for 26 weeks it is still >£1 m.
Now tell me we cannot afford to pay the going rate for the most important person at the club : The manager.
HH.
someone reminded us the other day of of record in euro knockout round during PLs tenure
absolutely astonishing
shows what his strategy was
do the minimal in europe for him still to rake it in
how did he get awsy with it all these years
Drew1967 – Drew the vaccine is a dawdle, very, very thin needle, you do not feel a thing. I got mine on Wednesday. You will be fine Amigo.
Each area must be different age groups as my wife still not had her letter. Born in 67 also.
I see some on here older and not had theirs yet.
D :)
JHB
I so hope that we are wrong and we see a thrilling Old school Celtic performances, Wide players bombing forward, crosses fired in with pace, tracking back winning back possession players running off the ball working for team mates.
I so hope big John Kennedy can encourage a performance but i fear a team performance same as under Lenny.
Is it just a coincedence that we have few boyhood Celtic fans in the squad Duffy? Johnston? Ralston? so when it comes to drive then maybe a little something is missing
CADDINGTONCOMMON on 26TH FEBRUARY 2021 12:53 PM
Tried to catch you before, know someone that stayed near where the place in your moniker. If your moniker is Ann dictation where you hail from drop me an email lennybhoycfc@gmail.com
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Dessybhoy @ 2.22 – I don’t know.
What I do know is that something stinks.
For me the simple question is WHY?
Why were these guys maliciously prosecuted and who stood to gain if the prosecution was successful?
Pretty simple questions that no one in the SMSM seems prepared to ask.
That in itself should alert you to something being amiss.
Watched Slavia against Leicester last night and they looked like a decent team although questions do need to be asked about Rodgers’ European record.
Both Sevco and Slavia will be content with the draw and both sides will rightly feel they have a chance.
Re the jab:
Got the jab three weeks ago,told by practice nurse,once I got home to take 2 paracetamol and apply a frozen bag of peas etc to arm that was ‘jabbed.I was fine,no side effects whatsoever.
BSR
It would not surprise me ,they are well drilled will see if Slavia can give their defence some problems.
By the way Slavia are a well organised team,looked good yesterday.
Bhoyjoe
Wimp 🤭 :))