Shortly after Elfsborg cracked one against the crossbar last night I quickly scanned the Celtic team and had a thought. For the second season in a row we are taking on the Swedish champions but we’re missing two of last season’s big performers and none of this season’s new signings were ready for action. In short, this was Celtic 2012 minus Wanyama and Hooper. No wonder we looked unstructured.
Joe Ledley brought some vision to central midfield when he arrived, hopefully banishing the Brown-Kayal partnership to hidden corners of our mind once and for all. Anthony Stokes playing at the front of a wide diamond was equally effective. With the signing of Amido Balde, bids in for Kevin Doyle, and the addition of a wide-delivery-expert Derk Boerrigter, clearly Neil Lennon has a different plan for the months to come….. so there’s no real need for me to state the obvious.
Defensively we looked solid after a shaky opening few minutes. I’m not the only one who was a bit nervous about Efe Ambrose after he was (again) caught underneath a long ball, but he settled quickly. As we know to our cost, being great for 87 minutes is not how Champions League reputations are made, you are judged on your how vulnerable you become in your weak moments.
I said yesterday that Samaras and Commons were the two players who could cope at this level, which became plainly obvious during the game. Georgios was the one player who frightened Elfsborg, they either swamped him with four defenders or fouled him before he got near goal.
Kris is simply the most intelligent footballer we have. He is not the fastest, will never have the best stats, but he understands how games are won and is able to act accordingly. Without these two players Celtic would be distinctly vanilla.
Thanks to those who sent over their 1254125 Great Scottish Run details, I’ll have them on the page later.
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jeez_i_thought_blinker_was_pants
I’m thinking of tying my legs together next week when playing in goals!
Hvratski Jim,
Did Lampard not spend a long time with West Ham until Chelsea came calling with their big bucks???
Long time no post — consequently please be gentle.
Not really sure what to make of the season so far?
The exodus seems to be at the half way point …
And it is déjà vu all over again with our ham fisted recruitment programme.
4 players in and yet none can make a weakened starting line up in a CL qualifier?
It is almost as if PL and the Irish Raj can’t be bothered to make the effort.
We seem to be spending money but the shadow of AV looms large with some of the valuations as we tread water reliving our old mistakes.
We flog off TR — talented but no discernible progress in 3 years.
For another talented but half finished individual and this time he seems to have cost real money. If this is progress then I would hate to see failure.
Next up we have the spectre of MB coming back to haunt us.
First he seems to have cost £2.2mill — daylight robbery at all levels.
Then he has the affront to come back with his loan club and try a leg / embarrass AS.
And all the while it seems to same nonsense different year with AB.
How much did we pay for him as he looks to be the project to end all projects.
Consequently what happens next?
We have the money but we don’t have the ambition or the desire.
Got a call from BT yesterday. Wanted me to take broadband etc as I have virgin at present. the big selling point was that there would be “ten Glasgow rangers games” to watch.
I asked her how they could show games for a club that does not exist but no response. She just kept saying how could get these ten games. I then said I don’t want a package where my money goes to sevco. She then said “but you are not paying for these games. They are free.”
I then asked if they got the sevco games free or did sevco get a fee. Finally got shot of her when I said I will take it when they stop showing sevco.
gordybhoy64,
Gary Hooper was a typical Celtic signing: a young lhad identified as someone who might develop into a good player, whom we could sell on for a profit. Kevin Doyle isn’t that by any measure.
Madmitch. Why the abbreviations ? Name the names !! :)
Madmitch
TR..Rogne..? Out of contract ..no fee he left
Got MB..lost with the others
johann murdoch,
I don’t pretend to know all the players but I do know who we don’t need. If Doyle does play for us, then of course he will have my support. I simply don’t think he has what it takes.
Mad Mitch
“4 players in and yet none can make a weakened starting line up in a CL qualifier?”
If you need that one explained to you…….
So , press conference called to introduce our new signing from Holland.
MSM ask him for his thoughts on Sevco.
Hunbelievable lazy and some may say bigoted lazy journalism
AB Amido Balde?
Who is AV?
Not having a pop. Just interested.
Burghbhoy
Our players should be briefed to reply ….don’t know much about div2 teams
Parkheadcumsalford,
so as many say on here he was a project,i don’t think there were that many praising his signing at the time,had Gary not been a success we would have had numerous people criticising the board for buying another project
Ggh
AV stumped me too
I’m assuming AS..is Stokes
Parkheadcumsalford ..older experienced pro – good goal ratio – epl experience- would help likes of Baldie – not the chosen one but a very good addition hh
MadMitch
“the Irish Raj”
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
parkheadcumsalford
He did but I stiil think he spent a long time with Chelsea which counts enough for me.
I once was in london and decided to to to see a macth. The only game on that night was West Ham v Chelsea. This was around 1980 when crowd trouble was not uncommon and I had been to a few games against our ex glasgow rivals.
However, going to Upton Park on a tube full of Chelsea supporters was much worse than anything I had ever experienced in Glasgow. My pal and I have never sat so quietly in our lives.
Shame because Chelsea have had some great individual players over the years and I often liked their style of play.
AV ……Adam Virgo.
Celtic should tell players to answer all sevco questions with “no comment” .
They should also say that any mention of sevco will lead to immediate cessation of the interview and no admission to reps for the paper the reporter works for.
That would soon put a stop to it.
I think we will buy Doyle, and will be delighted.
His strike ratio in the epl with a crap team was 1 in 3, very good strike rate.
Not so good at Wolves, in the main due to him being a lone striker, which he isn’t.
Yet all the championship managers on here are discounting him, fuds one and all.
I agree with the poster, sorry can’t remember who, said that we shouldn’t have bought Lubo, as he was too old.
Get a grip, Doyle is an quality international player who will score for fun in the hoops, and would run through brick walls to play for us.
After all what we have wasted on duds, Doyle is no dud, and can be had for little money.
dearie me.
HH
BCW
Nice one
Cannae see Virgo’s signing causing any great concern in the corridors or power
We’ve spent much more on worse
Doc
Scored 4 2 nite, but still walked round knackered.
Young Kev was on fire and older Jeez commanded the defence.
HH
CRC
Watched the Swansea match and I liked the right back.Good awareness,athletic,and a good reader of the game.We are covered extremely well I’m that position,unfortunately for the player concerned.Playmaker please.
pfayr
Absolutely mate , if our management could take a wee bit of time to school our ghuys with some suitably witty Sevconian put downs we could all haves right gid laff!!
The MSM would soon stop asking us about them nonentities if our Bhoys constantly took this p***!!
johann murdoch
22:43 on 1 August, 2013
Parkheadcumsalford ..older experienced pro – good goal ratio
========================
NOT such a good goal ratio I think. 135 Wolves League apps, 27 goals.
TET
Pretty scathing there mate
Doyles record of late is dreadful ….
I’m also concerned that no one else seems interested in him
the bould bhoys
22:32 on 1 August, 2013
Shocking mate think of the innocent people out there that’s been charged for crimes they didn’t commit.
Pfayr Yes to stokes.
BCW good shout with Virgo.
This could be a new round for crc’s Friday quiz.
Madmitch. Good to see you back. This blog is more enjoyable when there’s a broad spectrum of civilised opinion.
Any news on whether we’ve signed the Swedish physios yet?
Be worth breaking the wage structure on that pair!!
CRC, while I just wandered, aimlessly. Felt really rusty tonight.
Still scored a nice goal, nice pass from Paddy1888, left foot shot.
Exiled
Thank God you agree
I cant understand the anti Doyle brigade
The player we should went for (last year ) Shane Long
But these fellas will run through brick walls
Burgh bhoy : I would sign both pairs.
Goal ratio have a look at international goals. As I said not ” the chosen one ” but I think a very good addition ..an opinion that’s all . Calm yer jets !
AS = Talented but a waste of space when he is offered a stage to shine / given responsibility.
AB = New target man, not looking good
It looks as if the cow would be safe even if he was weilding a double bass.
Can anyone tell the difference between TR / outgoing and VVD / incoming.
Raw, talented, prior reputation, lots of potential waiting to be polished up with some decent coaching.
So what is the difference in that one leaves in the night after 3 years and bu**er all progress.
And he is replaced by his Dutch “twin” for serious money with the same coaching requirements.
All this seems too much like the 2010 for my liking.
the bould bhoys
22:32 on 1 August, 2013
Remember the hoax call to the hospital that the royal was in ? Do you think that person was murdered ?
Anyway I await all the names of other options ..hurry up :)
jm
jets calm – just debating!