As 2019 started, so did 2020. Newco ended 2018 by beating Celtic and carrying momentum going into the winter break, but a 2-1 defeat on their first away game after the break gave Celtic the upper hand, which they would not relinquish. Newco did equally well by beating Celtic at the close of 2019, but yesterday went down 2-1 to (still) bottom of the table Hearts, their first away game since the break
It is not that Newco did anything wrong during the break and its certainly not, as Gerrard suggested, “eight players…..were passengers”. It takes a team to win a game but it takes a squad to win the league. Injuries and suspensions are only part of the story; players become jaded and opponents learn how to play them, all of which means sometimes you need a deep squad, even to play teams at the bottom of the table.
On Saturday, Celtic kept a clean sheet without three of their first-choice back four. They did not look comfortable defensively, but they had enough to get the job done. It is this second, and sometimes, third, tier of player that gets you through the winter months.
I could not believe Gerrard’s more general comments after the game. Instead of putting some perspective on a defeat after an impressive run of wins, he raised the spectre of slipping out of contention, “We need to avoid that level of performance from now until the end of the season otherwise we might not be in a title race never mind competing for the league.”
Can you imagine what this does to players’ confidence? He added, “I still think we have the bottle.” He THINKS they have the bottle! The last thing a player should hear from his manager is talk about bottle in a title run. Let others do their best to infect your club with poisonous words like this, a manager needs to contain setbacks, not turn mention of an innocuous container into a Molotov cocktail.
He has never won a league and with comments like that, no wonder.
199 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Siempre,
Maybe.Anyway,I am sure on a dreich day,the appearance of his missus in the stand would brighten up the fans.
The Hands
Didn’t we have 5 loanees 2nd half of last season?
Toljan
Burke
Weah
Benkovic
Arzani
Thanks for the responses folks.
I like Benkovic, he was there and he knows us and the league. I know he was subjected to the shitebag accusations but everyone gets that at some point. He would improve us. Why are we waiting?
@ TURKEYBHOY on 28TH JANUARY 2020 12:46 PM
Lack of game time is normally attributable to: lack of quality, not being fancied by the manager (notwithstanding quality) or, on rare occasions, (seemingly) orders from above- see Bobo/Sinclair.
Neil elected to play the first two games of the new year without any out and out wingers. This decision seems to have been based on personnel options. As soon as JF and MJ were fit enough to start, NL reverted to 4-2-3-1 and Arzani was dropped from the squad entirely.
If Arzani was good enough, he surely would be challenging either JF or MJ for a start. The fact NL changes his desired formation when neither JF or MJ are available, as opposed to playing Arzani appears to show that he doesn’t fancying him much. Let’s remember, MJ is hardly a superstar. He is in the middle of his first breakout season.
TURKEYBHOY on 28TH JANUARY 2020 12:48 PM
Good point:)
HH
Welcome Ismaila…may you never become an Escape goat…
WEEBOBBYCOLLINS
Ye need te get games to be an escape goat.
New article
Ave Ave
Hi mate following on from the good advice from St Tams may I suggest you also put into writing your predicament to
John Paul Taylor
Jptaylor@celticfc.co.uk
Tel:- 0141 551 4209.
I think they should be accommodating and your dad will get a move
Good luck
HH