Trying so hard not to get drawn in to transfer window nonsense but our old pal Chris Sutton got the better of me last night on BT Sport. He has been assured Moussa is happy to stay at Celtic this window (presumably by the player himself, or his agent), so concludes that somehow Chris Davies is undermining the player by suggesting he is not playing due to transfer speculation around him.
I have not spoken to Moussa’s agent but I have heard lots about him. He is thoroughly professional and if Chris Sutton did manage to get a word from him, he is likely to have been 100% on-message. There have been no amateur dramatics from Moussa’s side, but that doesn’t mean the world and Own Coyle’s auntie doesn’t want to sign him.
January is famously a rubbish month to sign players, so if anyone wants to acquire Moussa, Celtic will hold out for top price. The same is true for our signing targets. Brendan has significant funds to spend, but the last thing he needs is to load the squad with more of the same.
When the manager arrived 18 months ago, improving results was a fairly straightforward proposition. Now, after twice qualifying for the Champions League and winning all four domestic trophies available to him, the job of improving Celtic is considerably more difficult. These are the joys of planning for successive trebles and a third consecutive season of Champions League football.
We are a week away from the window closing and the ball is in play, but you will not receive a bling hit this month, just to keep everyone happy. We will do the right deals or no deal, like it, or, express mild frustration, followed by a cognitive alignment indicating acceptance of the inherent wisdom. Or just lump it.
Being able to hold your nerve is another joy of planning for a successive treble.
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TRADITIONALIST88 on 24TH JANUARY 2018 1:26 PM
SUPERSUTTON on 24TH JANUARY 2018 12:30 PM
How many goals have we lost due to Boyata’s poor passing. Or in fact, due to anything which can be attributed directly to Boyata.
Remember, there are only 19 to choose from for this season in the SPFL.
======================
The problem is about his poor positional sense, distribution, and general clumsiness. This doesnt mean the opposition always take advantage. He got skinned near the end of the game last night with nothing more than a guy knocking it past him and running after it. Thistle narrowly missed scoring so does that mean we forget about it?
We are making life harder for ourselves than it needs to be with clumsy defending and poor ball retention/moves breaking down due to unforced errors.
Ps. Boyata passing a ball 5 yards into midfield is not a ‘lovely’ pass, its a very basic pass. And he still manages to fire the ball at players with unnecessary force at times. But the biggest problem is the guy can’t defend.
—————–
Thanks for the reply.
One of the problems with “nearly scored” is that it isn’t a goal. During the years of zonal marking there were many pointing out the frailties and citing that opponents get a free jump at the ball. And sure, there were many times when the opposition would win the heard. But it was ineffective. Indeed we went a calendar year without conceding from a corner using that system.
So the fact that Boyata was easily beaten but Thistle didn’t score doesn’t cause me much concern. Mostly because it was an isolated incident.
I asked for an example where a Boyata mistake had cost us a goal and no one as yet has cited one let alone multiple times.
And on to his passing. Too hard? It’s a trait of most players since Brendan became manager. Under hitting a pass,is by far more of a risk than over hitting. In my coaching days I advocated hitting harder and relying on the receiver having the skill to control it. Notice also that when Rogic is playing the passes to him are typical much more ferocious than to anyone else.
A simple 5 yard pass to a player who has made space in the midfield may be just that. Simple. But it requires Boyata to be patient on the ball and choose when to make that pass and when to do choose the easier option. Especially when the consequences of misplacing the pass can be much more serious than say, Broony, McGregor or Nthcam trying a simple pass in behind the defence. Which, noticeably were often over hit and either out the park or through to the keeper last night.
Again, I’m waiting on Celtib by Numbers to provide the facts. Then I can interpret them in my favour.
Dallas.
My wife is doing much better, thanks for asking my friend.
Young Lee was playing for Sunderland U/23 v Leicester u/23 last night. They won 2.0 he scored both. :-))
Just think, Sevco were desperate to sign him.
SFTB.
:-))) :-))
Hail Hail
JIMMYNOTPAUL ,deep apologies my friend for not asking about your wife.hope she is doing well.ktf.
Big Packy 7.12.
No need to apologise whatsoever.
There are so many more worse off.
Hail Hail
!!BADA BING!! on 24TH JANUARY 2018 7:02 PM
Ron- rumour Kouassi to Birmingham on loan…
if rumors are true then it must be get 90 mins weekly game time as our captain is first pick for the foreseeable future, while his body lasts.
Sorry Paul67, I don’t buy this.
You misleadingly characterise a new signing as a “bling hit”, as if signing a new player is unnecessary and a tiresome ritual.
But it is surely clear to you that our team is being made to look very, very ordinary by some very poor teams (Hearts, Sevco, Thistle). Some of the football last night was mind-numbingly bad. I’d be staggered if Brendan is happy with what he’s watching.
Indeed, he looks and sounds a bit narked these days.
We don’t need a “bling hit”. We need a creative midfielder, and a right back, and possibly a new striker, if we are to make any mark in the Europa league and qualify for the CL (and, by the way, if you think this January is a “rubbish” time to sign players, try getting them in the door in the World Cup summer, when the CL qualifiers start).
Celtic routinely fail to strengthen from a position of dominance. At the moment it looks like that’s exactly what’s about to happen again.
Gordon: Not good enough. Great shot-stopper but fails to command his box and his passing is woeful;
Lutig: used to be very good; past it now and a liability;
Ajer: decent but never a CH;
Boyate: Dreadful. Clumsy, slow and terrible passer of the ball;
Tierney: Excellent;
Forrest: Excellent when on form but too often not involved;
Brown: Flawless:
McGregor: Quite good sometimes but, overall, lightweight and error prone;
Ntcham: Really coming on to a game now;
Sinclair: Not a patch on last season and lacking confidence;
Dembele: Head in the clouds; Edouard: Promising but not the real deal; Griffiths; Off -field issues might be a problem.
Manager: Mainly good but cannot see what is obvious to so many on here.
The above is a synopsis of many, many comments on CQN. How on earth this team has managed to do so well is beyond me.
JJ
Note to self: Proof read before pressing Post Comment.
Hot Smoked,
Recent form is much worse than last season. That’s why we need to strengthen.
The past is a foreign country.
I take it Brendan will be at Dens tonight. Hendry starting for Dundee, McGinn starting for Hibs
why would he be watching McGinn , not good enough, plenty of endeavour but lacking in quality.
Bada Bing (previous page)
I feel that Scott Brown has played his last game for Scotland.
JJ
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42809696
but in scotland they get a job on the beeb
Italiabhoy
I don`t agree that `Recent form is much worse than last season.`
JJ
RON67 on 24TH JANUARY 2018 7:30 PM
There is interest. Allegedly.
oh yeah ron !
Birmingham fancy Kouassi?
Dey do Ron ,Ron, Ron
Dey do Ron, Ron.
Madhun drafted into the Huns team…
Mark E Smith has died.
RIP
Just hearing from an Irish source that Liam Miller has lost his battle with cancer.
Only thirty six years of age. So, so sad
If Brendan is at Dundee I would expect he will be watching Hibs
Because Brendan has not signed anyone (bar2) then it doesn’t mean they haven’t been trying to sign. Either the targets don’t want to come or the money is to much or both. We need to consider the effect of new players on our existing players as well. A way must exist for our young players to be given a chance to make the first team.
We need to sign players who will improve our team for the European games. that is why Brendan has only said he would like a creative player. He has also said that he will be disappointed if he doesn’t sign anyone.
Now we believe from previous windows that Celtic don’t have a single name but something like 3 to 5 potential targets for any given position. So as the January window is not preferred by players then there will be players who won’t want to move.
Notably, there are few transfers happening yet in this window and it is expected there will be a small flurry before the end of the month. It is not certain that we can land any of the targets.
I don’t think that transfers for the sake of the media or the fans is the way to go. We need to target players who will improve our first team or who have the potential, to improve the team. That seems to be our policy. If ,like Forster, Wanyama and Van dyk, they are sold for big money, that is because they improved our team and attracted cash rich EPL clubs.
Buying 9 or 10 players every year does not a lot for building at team. Strachan did this and while a part success, we never saw a fluid team.
I much prefer Brendans approach
Jimmynotaul, Lee only turned 18 three months ago and although not physically the strongest or tallest , he knows where the goal is.
His dad told me he sees Lee up against some really physically imposing opposition players but he uses his nouse to deal with them as best he can.
JC also told me if Lee is up for the weekend , he tries to get to our game .
Evening all
Watched bits of last night’s game again there. Not much different from what I thought last night. Mostly poor first half but a fair bit better 2nd half.
Boyata gets a lot of stick but he made a nice pass to Forrest in build up to 2nd goal. Overall the big Belgian is not commanding enough to ‘lead the defence’ but you could say that about virtually every centre half we have had since pre-Seville Bobo and arguably Rieper in 97/8.
Like most supporters I speak to I am concerned at the lack of movement in the transfers in department. Italiabhoy has to a large degree called it right as to what we require but it is easier said than done. We can probably afford the transfer fees being asked but I wonder if we are having to pay more to players to come in wages than clubs in better leagues would have to pay players of equivalent talent to compensate them for coming to a league many will consider a Dead End. But for all that if there are no more signings this window it would seem to me to be a real failure by Celtic. But there is a week to go so I will keep my powder try.
Ears still largely blocked- two hour window of near perfect sound earlier today excepted. I am sure I am missing matchless dialogue on Coronation Street as well. Hopefully all good by Friday.
Jimbo67
ALMORE
So sorry to hear that Liam has passed.
Far to young.
God help his family and those who remain.
RIP LIAM.
Just to pick on the points of last night and second season syndrome.
I fully understand Brendan not signing more players as he lost Moussa, Tom, Stuart and Paddy for most of the season, those guys were worth 50+ goals between them last season, that is a heavy miss for any team. Scotty and James have had extra attention due to these guys missing which is making it easier to play against us, resulting in predictable and flat comments and performances.
If we can get any of those guys fit this season it will result in a better performance from the whole team.
Lustig is only being shown up as well as the above guys are missing resulting in him being under more pressure. Last season the whole team were flying this season half that team is missing.
One thing,I would bring Christie back and replace Callum.
Don’t get lead by the media.
KLV
It looks like there is very bad news about Liam Miller.
RIP. Truly tragic.
Almore- also rumours it’s untrue…
Almore
I heard the same mate about an hour and a half ago. Source is decent but didn’t want to post in case it’s not true. I pray to God it isn’t true. Very, very sad though, if true. 36 years old. Same age as me! :(
Hail Hail
Roccobhoy
Almore.
Tam McManus has tweeted, that rumours about Liam are completely false. He is not doing great but is continuing to fight it with everything he has.
Hail Hail
Tam McManus on twitter saying that Liam Miller stories are false…. Not sure if it’s the ex-Dundee player, quoted as working for a The Herald…
Almore on 24th January 2018 7:52 pm
So sad
devastating for his family
Apologies for the post about Liam
It was posted on twitter from a few Celts
Again rumours about Liam Miller passing away are completely false. Don’t know what these ghouls want to achieve by spreading absolute lies. Idiots. He is not doing great but is continuing to fight it with everything he has. Give him and his family a bit of respect.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Watching Feyenoord playing against Utrecht.
Feyenoord away strip is a cracker,green and white socks,green and white shorts and a hooped green and black top.
They also have a a very good player called Larsson.
Allways kinda liked Feyenoord and their fans seem to like us.
Previous Post was a tweet by @The_Tman10
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Not referring to anyone on here but who the hell starts these rumours about
Liam miller?
They’re either malicious or ridiculously careless , but either way the lad and his family surely have enough to deal with without such scandalously inaccurate stuff flying about.
Apologies about Liam Miller post if not true. Conflicting stories about his passing. Only posted it when others in Ireland were accepting it as true.