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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We shall indeed Phil my friend
JAMESGANG:
C’mon the Hoops…must be goals today there must be an end to the uncertainty when we take to the pitch.
TOSB @ 12:46 am
I am reluctant to get into this on a match day but, out of courtesy to the effort you made in posting, I will reply
Yet another tiresome veiled dig at Celtic fans.
We’ve been here before, It is not aimed at (all) Celtic fans but at some Celtic fans. I am sure that you have disagreements with the behaviours of some fellow fans and since you allow yourself to indulge in them, as you did here with your post to me, then allow me the same freedom you allow yourself.
Only if my specific criticisms fit your style of posting or support, does it apply to you. But don’t cross the stret to take offence.
What if Celtic win every game convincingly under John Kennedy’s tutelage? Why would he be such a target? You’re really just bumping your gums.
If we lose games because of obvious errors, yes, he will attract criticism. That goes with the territory. It might do you good from time to time to consider what you write.
Even if this occured, he would still get criticised. You read this blog- every managerr’s selections, subs and signings have been criticised. We all read the criticism Lenny got for playing Calmac at LB. What gets forgotten in the narrative to have BR’s time retrospectively rosied and Neil’s retropsectively diminished is that BR did the exact same thing.
I don’t blame people for criticising. Why should I? I criticise all of this myself so, if I was decrying all criticism, I am putting myself in the firing line too.
But I am not talking about poster who say :-
“that’s not the line up or formation I would have gone with”
or “I would have preferred Welsh to Bitton as CB”
or “I’d rather play a natural wide man, like Mikey Johnston on the right of the diamond than use Christie there”
I AM talking about expressions like:-
“what does this clown think he’s doing in picking X and leaving Y on the bench”
or “We’re almost at the end of the first half and we’ve not scored yet but this eejit still haasn’t made a sub”
or “Only somebody who knows nothing about fitba would play so-and-so in position X”
All delivered with the unjustified self confidence of someone who only sees a TV picture of what is happening during 90 minutes but is blissfully unaware of how blissfully unaware they are on what has been happening at every training session and in the fitness room.
You’re rapidly turning into the self-appointed blog bulldog who has a go at anybody who dares criticise anything Celtica.
Well, it’s taken a long time to “rapidy build up to this position but I would take issue with the “self-appointed”. It’s your expression and depiction of me so you have the ownership rights there. It’s not a character trait I recognise and so I will decline to own it.
I do like the expression Celtica, though. It carries on YOUR depiction of this being an all inclusive criticism of everything related to Celtic. Only huns would possess that trait. Neither you nor I can live up to that billing.
Our whole focus should be building for next season.
NFL being mutually consented will be absolutely pointless if there is no change.
HH.
Mikey Johnston
During a recent match I heard the commentator on Celtic TV say: “We haven’t seen the best of Mikey Johnston.”
And the thought crossed my mind… perhaps we have.
TOSB
I should have added that Tiny Tim’s post from this morning is braodly reflective of the Celtic Support that I hear.
It will not matter if he makes a good fist of his audition, he is to tainted by his association with the Lost Ten campaign to be offered the job AND be accepted by enough fans.
Its a shame but it”s true.
St Tams,
Totally agree on Greg Taylor.I honestly have no idea what some fans watch.Out of all the expensive loan full backs,who have prices around the 10 million mark,not one has been better than him.So many still punti g the “Too small” line.The same thinking that lost us Andy Robertson.
Still pining for KT,thats the problem.
DOWNFORSAM on 27TH FEBRUARY 2021 9:21 AM
@SPIDEY101 on 27TH FEBRUARY 2021 12:08 AM
Apparently DOF is a done deal. Donegal Fergal from City is the man.
============================
Hi – is this just a rumour – any info?
I admit I don’t know an awful lot about him (nothing, in fact) but, in general terms, I’m concerned if we are restricting ourselves to the limited ‘Celtic supporter’ / ‘Irish background’ pool of potential applicants for core appointments.
Not saying that being Irish and/or a Celtic supporter should rule anyone out of any role at the Club, but such factors should be a tiny footnote in the ‘Desirable’ section of job description.
HH
BGFC
TBB,
I think you have hit the nail on the head with MJ.I really would have expected to see him bulk up a fraction whilst out injured,as he needs to go that extra mile.Has undoubted skill,but very lightweight.
He also seems to be carrying the “I’m a star”syndrome that has affected Ryan Christie so badly.Just what is it with these guys?Deluded.
I really wish John Kennedy (the person) well today.
I’m sure Davie “it’s not a tackle he (Kennedy) needed to make” Provan and
the despicables at the DR who wrote the “Viorel Ganea, my agony!” piece – will feel the same.
Hail hail
Keep The Faith
Bored on a Saturday morning and trying to make sense of where Sevco ate actually at quality wise. I took a look at their EL opponents to date and at ours.
Lille sitting top of the French league. AC Milan sitting 2nd in Italy. Sparta sitting 2nd in Czech league.
Genk bottom half of Belgian league, benfica 4th but well off the pace in Portugal , lech poznan 7th in Poland and again, well off it points wise.
Antwerp are second in Belgium. But have lost 8 and drawn 6 league games and are 20 odd points behind Brugge.
If I could be arsed looking I suspect similar stats could be found from last season.
They have been incredibly lucky in drawing the teams they have. OK, they organise themselves reasonably well and play a game suited to Europe but they really have come up against dross.
We shot ourselves in the foot repeatedly. But honestly I am absolutely convinced that we gave better players amd if Julian was fit I would include our first pick defence in that.
What an utter waste of a season it has been. Hopefully we can salvage some dignity on what remains of it. Hopefully we learn from it too.
I think Greg Taylor is a more solid full-back than Laxalt.
I also rate Mikey Johnston highly.
Ajeti. Five million? Good Lord.
Turkey and st tams- Greg Taylor has been very dependable and is increasingly getting into dangerous positions and creating for us. Better than laxalt IMO.
Mikey Johnston receives great praise from his fellow pros for his skills and abilities in training.
He has yet to convince fans in his performances for the first team though.
He is one of the few who have not had a fair chance of a run in his preferred (either) wing position as he has not been consistently injury free and, when fit has been asked to play a main striker rolewhere he failed to perform.
It may be that he won’t make it at Celtic but I’d like to think that an injury free period would provide him with a platform to show us the undoubted skill we have not seen yet on matchdays. IMO he has far more to him than the more vaunted Henderson bhoys. I had high hopes for Euan but he failed to make the grade at Ross County and is likely to go the same way as his older brother- a good enough footballer but not good enough for Celtic.
Downforsam- is this a rumour or you have insider info? If it is him, the Maresca rumours may also be true I guess…
ROBERTTRESSELL on 27TH FEBRUARY 2021 12:17 PM
Turkey and st tams- Greg Taylor has been very dependable and is increasingly getting into dangerous positions and creating for us. Better than laxalt IMO.
——————————
I agree. I do like Laxalt – he is very energetic, and great at hassling opponents / good tackler. I think Taylor’s better at delivering half-decent crosses.
HH
BGFC
I am not convinced that Taylor is a better player than Laxalt but he is ours and he is steady but unspectacular. Like many, he has looked a lot better in recent weeks when given an extended run.
Laxalt has more drive and competitiveness in him but he is a lot more expensie for the little bit of upgrade he proovides. I remain happy to keep Taylor and let Laxalt go but I hope we can attract some competition for Greg, such as signing young Doig from Hibs, to see if there is ore to be brought out than we have seen as yet. Greg is improving but still has weaknesses in crossing and in defending. Not just aerially, his tackling can be a bit powderpuff too. Unless he really kicks on , I think there are better options out there within our price range
Play Taylor if fit before Laxalt every time.He is a better defender and is our player
Big George’s- laxalt is a player i would keep if he was affordable but he seems like he needs more development in his awareness defensively. Really good, complete ad dependable full balls are a huge part of any successful side.
BIG GEORGES FAN CLUB – HAIL, HAIL, WEE OSCAR on 27TH FEBRUARY 2021 12:08 PM
DOWNFORSAM on 27TH FEBRUARY 2021 9:21 AM
@SPIDEY101 on 27TH FEBRUARY 2021 12:08 AM
Apparently DOF is a done deal. Donegal Fergal from City is the man.
============================
Hi – is this just a rumour – any info?
I admit I don’t know an awful lot about him (nothing, in fact) but, in general terms, I’m concerned if we are restricting ourselves to the limited ‘Celtic supporter’ / ‘Irish background’ pool of potential applicants for core appointments.
Not saying that being Irish and/or a Celtic supporter should rule anyone out of any role at the Club, but such factors should be a tiny footnote in the ‘Desirable’ section of job description.
HH
BGFC
=============================
…that said – if the very best, top class candidate ALSO happens to be a MASSIVE TIM, then that’s good too :-))
HH
BGFC
BrendanWasThatVeryManForTwoYearsCSC
ROBERTTRESSELL on 27TH FEBRUARY 2021 12:27 PM
I might have seen one or two movies where “…dependable full balls…” was probably one of the essential criteria for the ‘actors’
HH
BGFC
Could anyone on here tell me how many penalties Sevco have had this season in
a) Scotland;
b) European games ?
I hope John Kennedy takes us for a few weeks until a new coach comes in and is given time to familiarise himself with the surroundings and playing squad over the remainder of this season. I wish JK well and think it wise that he goes off and learns his trade as a manager, perhaps to the English second division, far enough away from the hurt and it’s fallout (His hurt, our hurt, everyone’s hurt). Then comes back some day in the medium term and has a decent crack at it with a bit more experience behind him as well as the distance of time between then and now. The Celtic job is too big and too soon for him in the present circumstance.
Our rebuild starts with a new GK,and a new back 4.
Biton and Ajer are the best non CH pairing we have at the moment.Like it or not.Duffy and Welsh,for different reasons,should be nowhere near the team.Kenny,who has been very reserved,shall we say,so far, is our only RB,so has to start.Taylor on the left.Whatever system we are going to play,Soro,Calmac,Turnbull,have to form the midfield.If Kennedy really wanted to rumble things up,,he could give us width on the right,by playing Karamoko,wide right,and it has to be Griff and Eddy up front.Give them the 8 games,stop the chopping and give us a bit of consistency.
Barkas should start the 8 games.
HOT SMOKED @12.30
I make it 11 in Scotland and 5 in Europe.
Hot Smoked,
You would need to ask NASA.The guy who calculated the distance to Mars.Some figures are just too much for the human brain to take in.
What we are paying for 4 loan signings who are not automatic starters would pay the wages of a top class manager.
HH.
BJB
Thanks.
TB :-))
HOTSMOKED:
Welcome sir!
As for Ajeti, anyone who has seen him in the few seasons before he went to West Ham knows there’s a fantastic player in there. I just hope we get the right guy in to motivate a still young man to be that fantastic striker he is. Nowhere near his peak yet. And no better team at which to develop. I hope he too shakes off the ghost of 2020. And a few stones admittedly.
I would like to see if John Kennedy could be a top manager/ coach. I don’t know if many can step up from within a club of our size in the modern era because they simply wouldn’t get time. If JK has ambitions that way a spell away from celtic might be the thing for him.
I’m certainly not in the ‘get rid of Kennedy and Strachan’ too camp. But whatever the plan is i think there is a role for him.
Winning every game between now and the end of the season amd two sevco skelpings should not be a criteria on which to award the job but if there was clear evidence of better performance, better structure, better fitness, DoF in place, new first team coach etc would anyone consider JK suitable?
FOUR-LEAF CLOVER OVER & OVER on 27TH FEBRUARY 2021 12:42 PM
That is good to read.
ROBERTTRESSELL on 27TH FEBRUARY 2021 12:43 PM
If JK does a good job, I would think he deserves a chance,
How `good job` is measured is another matter.
Decent interview on Celtic with Hartson on Football Focus
Re. Greg Taylor.
I had a conversation a couple of weeks ago with an ex pro right back.
He says , Taylor isn’t Tierney, but never wastes a pass