I’ve heard a lot about Patrick Roberts. He’s burdened by enormous expectations, compared to the greats since shortly after his 17th birthday. Manchester City moved 2 starts and 17 substitute appearances into his Fulham career – £12m on the basis of 399 minutes football.
He’s here to force his way into the team between now and the end of the season, and be ready for the European challenges ahead. I think we’re going to enjoy watching this lad.
We saw around 80 minutes of Erik Sviatchenko on Sunday. As I said yesterday, he’s probably our best defender, not that that is taking enormous liberties. In Virgin van Dijk we managed to recruit a dependable defender who wasn’t scared of the ball, and was first to organise those around him. If Erik’s near that standard, he’ll do well.
Ryan Christie (20) is a No. 10. We need a No. 10. He’s 12 years younger than Kris Commons, the only comparable player in the first team squad. Kris has been our MVP for more seasons than anyone else currently on the books, but we’ve been far too dependent on him, which has become acutely evident recently, when he’s out injured.
There’s an argument that we could have done with another No. 10 during our European campaign but it’s far from clear Ryan would have got his chance. We’ll see a good bit of him before the end of the season.
Many of the things I could say about Colin Kazim-Richards I alluded about Carlton Cole when he signed. He’s a physical presence, not easily intimidated, should be an effective foil for Leigh Griffiths.
Colin joins with an actual rap sheet. Online comments yesterday recalled the reaction the day Griffiths signed. At the time I wrote that it’s important for Celtic to affirm positive values in Leigh’s life. The player hasn’t looked back, he’s every inch a positive role model. It’s now important the club and Colin work to ensure a similar result.
Aidan Nesbitt (18) is also a No. 10. He’s the player you’re most likely to hear development and youth coaches talk about. The next stage of his development required him to play against men. Four months in the Premiership playing for Partick will achieve this.
Farewall Nadir Ciftci, who is off to Turkey until the end of the season. I described Nadir as less like a Ronny Deila player than any other I’ve watched and known Celtic to be interested in. He has a touch and is a better player than we’ve seen, but he was built from different material than practically all other Deila signings.
Last month’s business will hopefully mean we have a settled and secure defence for the qualifiers, something missing at the beginning of this season, something missing on Sunday afternoon. The Kazim-Richards signing could go a number of different ways. The player will get his chance to live up to his own expectations.
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Pheersy
Sfa rules for referees. .. winters didn’t mention that the rules change when refereeing a celtic match but that was probably because there is no chance of my fenian colleague ever reaching that pinnacle
Hello fellas, sorry to post again, but still hoping to find a ticket for the game tomorrow. If anyone has a spare that would be excellent.
THE EXILED TIM on 2nd February 2016 7:23 pm My old brain is what it used to be, can anyone remind me when we have lost a game that was down to Efe
——-
Juventus, Aberdeen away two seasons ago when we lost our only game (error caused VVD to get sent off), dropped two points v Fenerbahce. Sure there must be others.
No I don’t hate the guy, but he just makes too many mistakes. Poor concentration and decision making.
So it could have been a yellow card and penalty if the contact is deemed as accidental, that ref was never giving us that, not with a treble on the line.
Hail Hail.
There’s only one effin Efe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-orpZjETzFY
As I said the award of the penalty is open to debate,however I can see why it was given,CT had 2 questions to ask…. was the challenge deliberate the 2nd was it an obvious goal scoring opportunity.
I could argue either way for a penalty… I would struggle to justify a red card.
Delaney’s, hopefully bump into you on Sunday.
Looking forward to going to a stadium I’ve never been to.
When Craig Gordon was sent off against Caley last season, in my mind it was the wrong decision, as he did not deny a goal scoring oppurtunity. The Caley player, Watkins, had already shot at goal when Craig fouled him. It was a penalty and Craig should have been booked.
Watkins should have walked in that game due to his persistent fouling and when he raised both hands to Virgil.
The exiled tim, further to your earlier post re Efe, he has conceded two penalties and was at fault at Fenerbache’s first goal at Celtic Park. These are the only goals conceded this season you could say he caused. People always forget the good things he does , he took one for the team against Hearts when he stopped the Hearts player going through and after Nir was sent off v Thistle, Efe won plenty of headers in our box when we were under a bit of pressure.
I think he should leave for hs own sake as he has now lost the support of some of our support.
Glass2/3
Juve was down to Lenny, Efe should never have been on the pitch.
I will have to take your word for the VvD thing, as I can’t recall it solely being down to Efe, I do recall the midfield being nowhere and Efe copped the flack.
But if that’s all that folks can come up with in comparison to the amount of games he has played and excelled, I am still bewildered as to why folk think he is a bombscare, unless they are believing the media pish :-)
HH
Vespacide I will answer your comment one last time as I am not sure if you are at the wind up or you really have no idea of the rules.
If the contact is deemed as accidental there is no foul…
TET
my brain is quite damaged with memory being one of the parts that suffers most but it does not prevent me spotting Efe is a hapless hopless defender
Pheersy
According to Thomsons bosses there is no argument over the colour of card .. it’s yellow.
Only issue is the colour of the defenders shirt
Dallas
I asked what games we have lost due to Efe, I know he was at fault for losing a goal or two in a few other games, but nobody bothers about how he is left exposed time after time, yet the mid don’t kop any flack, it’s always Efe who gets it.
WTF do people expect, he cost very little, had he cost millions, aye, he would deserve everything coming his way, but for what we paid for him, and for what he has done for us, we have had superb value from him.
HH
WDH
FWIW, I disagree.
HH
The we need a new right back …Lustig is done
I was a huge fan …his legs seem to have gone and his defensive lapses all too regular
LB seems reasonably covered ..as for CB ..surely we can fashion a decent partnership from what we have …a bit concerned that Jozo might be a sicknote …hopefully not.
Just need some decent midfield cover for the defence …
I only watch Scottish football, I have no idea what the rules actually are, don’t the operate on a sliding scale spectrum depending on the hue of teams shirts and the importance of the fixture ?
Hail Hail.
WDH
Empirically ..Efe cannot be considered anything else
Few decent games…monumental error …dropped for a few games …back in again …few decent games …monumental error ….repeat …repeat ….
TET
FWIW
I’ll have forgot we were discussing it in about an hour or two
Warburton watched MO’H tear his defence apart… Thinks to himself ‘I’m signing that guy’
I watch the same thing but I think to myself ‘new defence required’….
my team for tomorrow
CG
ML Efe Erik KT
NB SB SJ
PR LG CKR
Stoke side scores for Hibs, 1-0
Stokes scored for Hibs
Hibernian FC @HibsOfficial
GOAL!!!! Stokes
Stokes 2nd goal for Hibs
Both Henderson and Stokes would be in my 16 match squad this season
Would like to see, therefore won’t happen
Gordon
Lustig Boyata Sviatchenko Tierney
Brown McGregor
GMS Allan Christie
Griffiths
Stokes scores…now as many league goals as Ciftci and more than Cole
Keep an eye on that Stokes guy
2 in 2 so far
Dallas.
I hope you are well.
I see it looks like Lee has snubbed that Scottish Championship side and looks to be signing for Sunderland. The only issue that appears to be holding it back is length of contract.
After Celtic park the stadium I have been to the most is Airdries as my son played for them. If you have tickets for the main stand, then make sure you are well wrapped up. It is always freezing the sun never shines in that side. Stand has good seating and reasonable facilities. Enjoy.
Tickets purchased for EK game. Might just make a day of it and bye a few pyros to improve the atmosphere.
My biggest disappointment with this transfer window isn’t who we brought in, but that we didn’t offload some of the deadwood in the team. Apparently, we have 52 professionals on our books – way too many for our income streams.
Hugely disappointed with Sunday’s result but tomorrow night is a big game for us, a chance to open a gap with Aberdeen and give new/fringe players some game time in subsequent matches if we win.
On a different note, I am applying for a Kilmainham Gaol visit for Easter Saturday at 11am. I can’t guarantee anything as it may already be booked out, but if interested let me know at:
dublin2016@mail.com
Great finish by Vardy as Leicester go 1up v Liverpool
The exiled tim at 8.40.
Efe playing at right back , in Ronny’s first season, when Mikael Lustig was out injured seems to have been the time where some of our support took a dislike to him. He was left exposed so often as the players were trying to come to terms with Ronny’s system. Also players coming back from international tournaments are prone to poor performances.
PF
it is a bad joke he is given a game and an insult to supporters
Vardy is having some season.
THE EXILED TIM on 2nd February 2016 8:35 pm
Glass2/3
Juve was down to Lenny, Efe should never have been on the pitch
– ——
Wouldn’t argue with that to be fair.
I’d actually put both goals v Fenerbahce down to him. His body position at the corner was wrong and so he didn’t see the guy running in front of him.
This is his biggest problem – watches the ball too much and doesn’t see what’s happening round about him. Same with first goal v Molde away, although by no means the only contributor to that goal!
Oh, and I would NEVER be taken in by the MSM!
An Tearmann.
I know you usually scroll back.
Luke was all set to go on loan to Dumbarton,but is back on the treatment table with tendinitis. However due to nature of his contract he can still go on loan after the window has closed, so depending on how soon he returns to fitness he might still have the option to go to there.
Hail Hail my friend.
Vardy goal
https://vine.co/v/iJhUO7X2hdt
Twitter rumours ????
Betfair @Betfair
BREAKING: Rumours Ryan Giggs has left Manchester United and is expecting to become next Celtic manager in 48 hours.
BREAKING: Rumours Ryan Giggs has left Manchester United and is expecting to become next Celtic manager in 48 hours.
Lionsroar
Hopefully a joke