Our two loan signings on the final day of the transfer window, Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers, have been crucial to the (presumptive) outcome of the league title, the latter more so than the former; Cameron could easily have won Player of the Year. Despite this, it is Jota who is the more important to secure on a permanent deal.
Having watched Newco suffocate our midfield twice in a month and Bodo/Glimt do the same earlier in the year, to the extent that we struggled to build periods of possession, never mind attacks, we need to answer the question, why was this?
When our central defenders have the ball, they face options of either trying to find a full back or Callum McGregor, or hope that someone further up field is in space. Those options were snuffed out by Newco, causing a nervousness as players took possession with an opponent breathing down his neck.
What would Kristoffer do?
Kristoffer Ajer would step forward with the ball, drawing opponents off their markers and immediately creating space. He could then play a short pass or, if he was not challenged, continue a run through the middle.
It is reasonable to claim Celtic have the best two central defenders in the league, even the previously maligned Carl Starfelt is a model of solidity. The problem is, neither can carry the ball forward as effectively as Kris Ajer. We need at least one central defender with this attribute, preferably two.
Ange Postecoglou is not going to change the way we play. Next season you will see our central defenders in possession looking at man-marked team-mates. We either address an identifiable problem, or we are in for more of the same.
The first job of a defender is to defend, and we all remember the shambles of last season, even with Kris, but despite my fondness for Cameron and Carl in this respect, we need a rethink.
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You gotta wonder how some guys have reached this seemingly mature stage of their lives shielded by the presence of alternative views in thw world…….
HH
JHB
I’ve bet against Rangers.
Or at least I have them down for a draw in my Euro accumulator.
We lost a league when we didn’t make the marquee signing of Fraser Forster. The same could happen with CCV. Or perhaps Postecoglou is already eyeing up another central defensive pair… .
Completely different would be talking Celtic.
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 5TH MAY 2022 4:28 PM
When Dalziel took over the reins at Somerset Park he allegedly made this guy’s life an absolute misery, all because he was a Celtic supporter. I am told he was regularly ridiculed with words like taig and fenian in front of other players.
*isn’t dee el’s wife one o they Taigs Fenians etc and mibbees that’s why they gave him the sugar lump.
RIMTIMTIM on 5TH MAY 2022 4:41 PM
We lost a league when we didn’t make the marquee signing of Fraser Forster. The same could happen with CCV.
###
FF was a more crucial player than CCV. You can compensate for a reduction in quality for outfield positions by improving others, that’s not an option with a keeper.
TONTINE TIM on 5TH MAY 2022 4:51 PM
I’ve heard his wife, and maybe (my recollection is hazy) his stepson, are indeed of The One True Faith. I think they’re also Catholics.
Maybe Dalziel used to be a bigot but was saved by the influence of a good wummin. Worked for Billy Wolfe.
‘Jota more important than CCV’
Not for me he isn’t. CCV is the rock that holds the team together. He will be hard to replace if he doesn’t stay.
As for tonight, i had hoped that RBL would do the job but after 17 unbeaten they seem to have lost their way in the past couple of weeks. The nightmare scenario is a real possibility I’m afraid.
God bless Bobby Sands who died on this day
https://youtu.be/c6mXOYcp57I
HH
TONTINE TIM
isn’t dee el’s wife one o they Taigs Fenians etc
Pass.
It WAS 30 years ago.
I think the defence also needs a Wynyama or Broony
type midfielder/enforcer (in their prime) who can bolster the midfield
and who will block anything before it reaches the defence.
On the subject of Christopher Julienne I think Ange will not throw him
into any games just now because remember he hasnt played top flight
football for over a year now and just taking Kyogo as an example who was
out for 3 or 4 months and isnt match fit yet and for the moment can only
give us an hour every match therefore with Julienne I think would take a lot
longer to get any sort of fitness plus the mental side of the game where
he needs to be tested if he can go into a hard tackle 100% again after his
serious injury
I think close season will be important for Julienne playing games where
they are only friendlies where he can build up his fitness and confidence
Hopefully he is not a big girls blouse as has been mentioned but if this is so
get rid
ERNIE LYNCH
Who’s Billy Wolfe?
I think if CCV and Jota want to sign we would sign them, if not we move on. I am pretty confident that Ange will have a list of players to look to join Celtic and his strike rate has been brilliant so far
I remember Wolfe being discussed on CQN not that long ago,wasn’t his second wife a catholic.
Ernie
Maybe he was unhappy in yon psychotic way at the curtains like my ex msp,had a wee penchant for setting them alight he had,
How many OO members are in the party jim Murphy ran? Is he in US still?
It’s a non existent fear you try to build on re Wolfe you can’t build that fearsome inclusive narrative when you have OO members in your midst
its a long time coming the outing of orange scum in North Lanarkshire Ernie,the OO are at honest in what they want,Labour? And ps that ban should extend to all partys
HH
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 5TH MAY 2022 5:09 PM
ERNIE LYNCH
Who’s Billy Wolfe?
###
I suspect any attempt on my part to enlighten you on that issue might incur the displeasure of the Moderator.
AN TEARMANN on 5TH MAY 2022 5:20 PM
These characters are all part of the weft and weave of Scottish life.
Scary, isn’t it?
The logic is hard to argue against paul67. What ccv does to the spine of the team and to erase the pain of last year is impossible to let go. Do not let ccv escape!
+ COYBIW
If the OO is such a drain on anybody’s life who’s bloodline came from Ireland why would you stay on an island with such a controlling influence that the OO obviously has over your life making you a whining misery guts??
Once upon a long ago the OO used to stick in my craw.
Then this magical thing happened…. I grew up.
Should try it sometime. 👍
ERNIE LYNCH
Thanks for biting.
😉
My son just texted me to say he’s sitting next to Jermaine Defoe on a flight from City Airport to Glasgow.
He told my son he’s going to Glasgow for the game, to which my son replied – What game?
EDWARD NYGMA
What is this OO?
Uncle Tom Cobley and all
I noticed yesterday that the Americans are calling up CCV for a couple of friendlies, first time, I think, he has been in the frame, so to speak, for a few years. A good season in Scotland, loads of game time, and a fair bit of Euro football has not done him or his career any harm. Problem is that he an EPL player, for whom Spurs and his agent will want to maximise value. Out of reach. Am I the only one on here who reckons that his playing partner Carl Starsfeld going forward looks like he is towing a bus?
Only question, is it a Parks O’ Hamilton?
TT
Heard the same about Dalziel,also him or his wife got a hard time from the fans.Find him very fair on SSB more so than a lot of our X Celts in the paper etc.
CCV as important or more important than Jota. He has been an absolute rock for us this season and will be even better with support and a better left back.
We have scored a ton of goals (thanks Jota) and we have conceded very little – the latter is more impressive given the risky open style we play (thanks CCV and Starfelt)
If they lose tonight – it will be regarded as an awful season! They have been so lucky thus far on so many fronts (VAR goals disallowed, VAR penalty for a dive, played dortmund in empty stadium, played dortmund without Haaland, actually lost out on last round but for change in away goals rule …..)
Could mean their name is on it – they are not a bad side – or could mean their luck will run out!
Stebhoy
I’m sensing that you are trying to be mature and fair about their chances but your heart is screaming out ‘mon the Leipzig!!’
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/citizen-smith-who-tv-sitcom-uk-politics-returns-robert-lindsay-marxist-jeremy-corbyn-a7631306.html
Is this the Billy Wolfe you are talking about?
http://www.judecollins.com/2017/05/orange-order-worlds-oldest-terrorist-gang-ruaidri-ua-conchobair/
I loved Citizen Smith. The idea was to ridicule socialist activism but as a boy it emboldened me😎
Ccv is the best CH we have had since vvd . We should be worrying more about other positions , forrest, Johnstone, two not interested when the going gets tough , jota s### it on a few occasions on sunday too as abada did also . Our midfield fell out the both games v old firm ,we need players in there with bottle , they knew they were too tough for us , we are too wee and soft in the middle our wee guys need backing up . We all saw the semi final it was plain as day . One or two incoming is nothing near what we need . H H
For those interested in the history of Scotland, there was an interesting programme on Radio 4 (BBC Sounds) on Melvyn Bragg’s ‘In Our Time’ series this morning 9.00am on King David I (1084 – 1153) and King from 1124. Had a few other titles into the bargain. Youngest son of Queen Margaret (later Saint) and Malcolm and a very interesting man of his time. Amazing what you can learn in 45 minutes.
And, for those who think Radio 4 is a bit highbrow, dont forget, they used to say the same about the Neanderthals.
Yes hoping they get pumped – but they also get more favorable decisions from Dallas Uefa refs.
Hoping Ange has learned we need more physical players in the team. Giaka was essential this season at a critical time.
We are “too wee” and skinny in left back and in midfield – I would have played Welsh as a holding deeper midfielder against rangers – boy knows how to tackle! and will learn to stay on feet with experience
shaunamura on 5th May 2022 4:36 pm
Absolutely, I’m with you mate. Some rose tinted spectacles regarding KA. He had one good season and was terrible in the air for a big guy. Also his use of the ball was no better IMO than our current pairing, I just don’t see the rewriting of history regarding KA. I was glad to see the back of him TBH.
Good evening all from the Victoria Bar. Wherefore art thou, hun appeasers and trolls. Gerrintaethum leipzig!!!!
The player i have been impressed with all season is Starfelt. He made a few mistakes early on and then had to prove himself constantly
Compared to Ajer he is a massive improvement in terms of positioning, tackling, heading. The Ajer run thing is a bonus.
Tellingly Ajer has been put at RB for Brentford and has done well. Danny Murphy excoriated him when playing CH early in the season