The January transfer window pretty much passed Celtic by this year, a tacit indication that the league is over and we have little to play for. Jonjoe Kenny (23) arrived on loan from Everton yesterday, by all accounts a good prospect who should up our game, but there will be no transformational change.
Kenny will permit Kristopher Ajer to return to central defence, however, with Christopher Jullien long-term injured, do not expect an end to bizarre defensive performances anytime soon.
Jeremie Frimpong took his potential off to Leverkusen for a sum few of us could believe. Whatever happens to the player, it was a good move for Celtic. The full back positions have been one of several underperforming areas this season. Jeremie, for all his speed and skill, could not match Ajer’s ability to get a cross into the box. He is only 20 and will improve, but we do not have the luxury of waiting for that to happen. The reported £11m (minus Man City cut) will be a welcome contribution towards a gaping deficit.
Just as I did with Jeremie, early in the season I lavished praise on the abilities of Olivier Ntcham. Like Frimpong, he has abundant talent, but successive managers have failed to get a consistent performance from him. Olivier will look at others who have retained their positions with performance well below his lowest level with good reason. He was not given the chances afforded to others, but that does not make him good enough. Pittodrie did it for me. I hope he flourishes in France.
I don’t know if Ben Davies is Preston class, Celtic class or Liverpool class. He was an unlikely target for a team aiming to win the English Premier League and the Champions League. Signing quality players on a free contract is the fastest way to improve your lot in football. It has been years since we have profited from this strategy. We didn’t get Davies over the line, so clearly this strategy needs to be reinforced.
Tonight’s opponents, Kilmarnock, have won only one of their previous five, a 2-0 victory over Hamilton. Of course, our 2-0 win over Hamilton was our only triumph in six outings last month. It has all the makings of a drunken 2am street brawl. How’s about it, Celtic, give us a performance?
276 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- »
Killie pies in Aldis..
Lovely..
No good for the waitrose punters on here..
HH.
💚
Genuine question – if Neil is on 12 month rolling contract, what is the difference to the club if he leaves now or June?
Surely hes due +12 months either way.
It is entirely possible I am misinterpreting such a contract
We can all settle down this evening to watch our latest humiliation unfold .
Jeez dermot must hate us Celtic supporters a lot
Well Beyond a piss take now
Olivier Ntcham starts a fight in an empty house, if only he ever got a headline for an actual footballing performance, absolute waster.
Players haven’t developed under coach who doesn’t develop shocker…….
BIG WAVY on 2ND FEBRUARY 2021 12:13 PM
“Nothing to play for……….”
Ah well, 10IAR. Would have been an historic hoot, ramming a stake through the heart of der hun at the same time.
Instead. We’re playing catch up.
The way things are going, we will probably be in no better position in 12 months time, unless we get a Martin O’Neill style appointment in time to turn things around.
Don’t like doing this, but Lenny has to go, and soon.
Gutted Ulryc
Team for tonight, the managers team:
Bain
New RB
Duffy
Ajer
Taylor
Christie
Soro
Turnbull
El Younoussi
Rogic
Edouard
My team:
Ah who GAF,
I cannot see me never caring about a Celtic game.
You’ll never walk alone CSC
Good old Ntcham , looks like he might have opened the door for our next Manager.
Garngad
No chance, if AVB is upset with
Marseilles transfer policy then ….
My team for tonight
Celtic FC Reserves
AVB is leaving in the summer anyway, at least ON can warm their bench and o doubt we’ll bbbe getting g a fee.
Is the programming language behind this site mocking me ?
Spidey101 11:12pm
Absolutely spot on. We are miles behind clubs who use this approach. Get in a DOF and a good coach who are on the same wavelength.
This is a one-off opportunity to completely revamp the whole football operation. Let’s not waste it.
Has NFL done the decent thing yet? (Maybe NFL stands for Never Fecking Leave?)
I hope Ntcham is a success in France. He never really settled. One brilliant game against Sevco and a brilliant goal in Lazio. That was about it.
“For the first time, I really think he’s in trouble,” said former Scotland and Hearts boss Levein.
“For the first time”……………………..Really quick on the up take is CRAIG.
is EH and his coaches still looking for a club
UJ- I would have thought he had 12 months from the day he left,some stories that if you sack him he gets more than that,or he can’t be removed until it’s mathematically impossible
Celtic……..You broke my Heart.
Big Jimmy and Mine.
D :)
ochone ochone
I’m forever telling people I can’t be bothered about Celtic :-)
Gene 1:05pm
I know, but a Bhoy can dream, can’t he ?
Star Trek’s force shield couldna deflect our problems
hh
Uncle Jimmy
I thought if they put him on notice today – they would have to pay him up to 2.2.22.
Whether he stayed or not. That may be wrong.
As things stand we are likely to have 1 first team full back (Taylor) at the beginning of next year: JF gone, Elhamed going in summer, Laxalt sent back to Milan.
We are likely to have 1 CB (Jullien) with Ajer likely off, Duffy returning to club and Elhamed gone. We still have Bitton but he should be 4th choice?
We will either be playing our 3rd choice keeper of 2019/20 or a youth player that inspires no confidence. I can’t see Barkas staying unless we get a top manager to resurrect his career.
We will have two wingers at the club – assuming Shved is sold and ME goes back (seems a certainty)- one of whom (MJ) has still to have a proper breakout season – he could do with hitting the gym; and the other is 30 in the summer which likely means performances are going to be on the wane.
We will have 3 first team central midfielders – Soro, Turnbull and CalMac- with Broony, Christie and Ntcham departing. Rogic will likely go too.
Up front, Eddy will be off, Griff will be 31 (how long will his career last given his lack of discipline and professionalism – I would get rid) and the futures of Klimama and Ajeti are completely up in the air.
I think some posters underestimate the mire we are in.
We require both a full playing squad/staff and boardroom revamp, all against a crippling financial situation, likely season ticket slump and against a resurgent Sevco who could be playing with CL money.
We could be looking at some bleak years ahead.
The Villas-Boas resignation would be rejected by any scriptwriter. But there we are, 2021.
For anyone concerned about the Killie Game tonight, Feb 2nd is officially Groundhog Day (yes, it really does exist). And Punxsutawney Phil predicts another 6 miserable weeks.
https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-about-groundhog-day?utm_source=EarthSky+News&utm_campaign=fae2af1734-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_02_02_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c643945d79-fae2af1734-394429693
And yet, all but 3 years ago we had a record turnover of £100m+, seeded CL qualification each year and £40m+ in the bank. I think we were also noted as being one of the top 32 most valuable clubs in Europe.
Paul, maybe an article considering how we managed to blow our position of strength in such startling and swift fashion?
Markiebhoy
I’m thinking the same. Ask mgt to leave, without notice, and we pay an additional 12 months.
I’ve read comments that “he’ll leave in the summer” though I cant see the financial benefit there.
Would 12 months notice being served be a notifiable event?
ROLLING_STONE on 2ND FEBRUARY 2021 1:38 PM
As things stand we are likely to have 1 first team full back (Taylor) at the beginning of next year: JF gone, Elhamed going in summer, Laxalt sent back to Milan.
We are likely to have 1 CB (Jullien) with Ajer likely off, Duffy returning to club and Elhamed gone. We still have Bitton but he should be 4th choice?
We will either be playing our 3rd choice keeper of 2019/20 or a youth player that inspires no confidence. I can’t see Barkas staying unless we get a top manager to resurrect his career.
We will have two wingers at the club – assuming Shved is sold and ME goes back (seems a certainty)- one of whom (MJ) has still to have a proper breakout season – he could do with hitting the gym; and the other is 30 in the summer which likely means performances are going to be on the wane.
We will have 3 first team central midfielders – Soro, Turnbull and CalMac- with Broony, Christie and Ntcham departing. Rogic will likely go too.
Up front, Eddy will be off, Griff will be 31 (how long will his career last given his lack of discipline and professionalism – I would get rid) and the futures of Klimama and Ajeti are completely up in the air.
I think some posters underestimate the mire we are in.
We require both a full playing squad/staff and boardroom revamp, all against a crippling financial situation, likely season ticket slump and against a resurgent Sevco who could be playing with CL money.
We could be looking at some bleak years ahead.
————————
I don’t disagree but same time look for inspiration. Think of Wim Jansen’s 97/98 team. We need coach and management team together we some decent signings to complement what we already have and as a team, we could really be the surprise package next season and claim back the title.
Here’s hoping.
From previous thread
PHILBHOY on 2ND FEBRUARY 2021 10:36 AM
GENE
We might be crapper.
(is that a word or even a sentence?)
——
Maybe not. But it’s definitely a thing!
HH jg
P67 used to often disparage sevco as the Espanyol of Glasgow.
Does his still apply? Or have the roles been reversed?
HH jg
Uncle Jimmy
Yes I think you are right.
I think the club would have to tell the stock market due to his position within the organisation.
So we would assume he has not been told he is for the off.
Surely if they did that he would be put on gardening leave? Will watch with interest.
SNP ministers have been called on to review minimum alcohol pricing as problem drinking rocketed across the UK during lockdown.
—
theres a shock
who would have thought the introduction of minimum alcohol pricing would just have been entryism to provide a plarform for it to be raised at every opportunity?
plarform=platform
JamesGang,
I think you are mistaking Paul67 for fanciful Phil Mac on the Espanyol quip.
Neil Lennon being more stubborn than a cat that wants out.
BHOY FROM THE BOYNE on 2ND FEBRUARY 2021 1:51 PM
JamesGang,
I think you are mistaking Paul67 for fanciful Phil Mac on the Espanyol quip
——
I thought not. But if so, I apologise.
Thanks.
HH jg