I got my wish last night, that Leigh Griffiths would reach the 40 goal mark for the season, and what a great goal it was too, memories of Love St ’86. Also delighted Leigh was aware-enough to mimic Henrik’s ” five zero” gesticulation when he reached 50 in 2001.
40 goals for Celtic in a season is a very rare achievement, as Paul John Dykes pointed out this morning, it’s now only been done 13 times in 128 years. Jimmy McGrory (four times, three in a row) and Henrik Larsson (three times, two in a row), are the only two who have achieved this more than once in their Celtic careers, so Leigh knows what he needs to do next season to get a really special place in the history books.
As for the other pertinent points from last night’s game in Perth, I can cut Stefan Johansen some slack. McDiarmid Park was a farmer’s field not so long ago, and St Johnstone’s first goal looked like it came as a result of a plough intervention.
Efe Ambrose is another story. Last night’s decision to challenge (Logan Bailly) for a ball inside his own six-yard box was inexplicable but consistent with his general awareness this season. When the new manager is in place, someone inside Lennoxtown needs to find the earliest possible moment to sit him down and play the Efe highlights video.
We have a good central defender in Erik Sviatchenko (club captain in the making), and one who could become so in Jozo Simunovic. If Jozo gets himself fit for July we should be well-placed for the qualifiers, but those two aside, we are struggling in central defence.
Out of contract Charlie Mulgrew is in the latter stages of his career, but can be trusted to do a job without causing unnecessary alarm every week. Mikael Lustig’s days as a rampaging full back may be limited by his persistent hip issues, so playing as auxiliary central defender, as he often does for Sweden, works on paper.
I’d be far from confident facing Champions League qualifiers with Efe or Dedryk Boyata, who could still makes Belgium’s Euro’s squad, but if Jozo’s fit, signing a right back, with Mikael covering central defence, feels like an appropriate use of resources.
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SFTB 8:58am
A very plausible analysis but like you if none of us are privy to the inner-workings – we can only speculate on the format.
A hypothetical example of your analysis:
RD – I need an experienced 6’4″ centre-back – played 100+ games – capped.
PL/JP – here’s one that’s 6’4″ within the price range – unfortunately he’s had few first team appearances and only been capped at Youth Level: Boyota?
PL/JP – here’s one that meets your criteria but he’s only 6’1″: Erik?
Now I’m sure that when RD asked for the 6’4″ CB – he doesn’t turn up at a meeting with PL/JP only to find he’s being offered a 5’4″ winger?
Who knows – maybe that’s actually happened?
Aff oot! Catch your reply later. H!H!
SFTB
Pretty much how I see things, but I didn’t put it quite as diplomaticly as you did :-)
I have said from the start that it’s the right policy, as long as the scouts are doing their job, it will work.
As for all the middys in the squad, I reckon a scattergun policy has entered the equation, pity that RD didn’t get the def middy he asked for a year or so back, but he is gone now so who cares.
HH
Sorry guys- work is calling- I am presenting a paper in the next hour or so- so replies will have to wait till evening.
Good to see such good natured and civil responses on the blog
setting free the bears for Res. 12 & Oscar Knox
Good luck!
Tony Donnelly67,
‘I only hired the managers and scouts that signed numerous duds. I wrote the cheques and never asked any questions.’
‘We’ve identified a few good ones in the past and sold them for a profit.’
‘No comment on Res 12.’ (perhaps fair enough if it’s going to UEFA.)
‘The pesky social media types won’t let it go so we might have to be seen to do something.’
No supplementary questions:)))
Coneybhoy,
Your right, Ireland is a very new democracy having had to force the British out of the 26 Counties. As you well know the imposition of the Water Charges was a step too far for many given the austerity measures imposed by the ECB and IMF. In fact many were critical of the fact that there wasn’t large scale civil unrest here when people lost their jobs and homes.
I don’t know if you recall what happened in London when Mrs Thatcher tried to introduce the Poll Tax? Here people waited and simply voted at the election (child politics ?).
It’s better to concentrate on the positive though. My kids have never seen an Orange Walk. At one time there were around 300 Orange Lodges in Dublin. If you choose to stay in the ROI, it is likely that your children will grow up with no conception of the Freemasons for example.
As a ‘political child’ Ireland in the last year became the first nation to vote Yes in the Same Sex referendum.
There is plenty to be very critical of here but please spare us the platitudes. As I remember you were pretty vocal in your support of a party that was rejected by the people at the recent General Election.
I hope your disappointment at the recent election results isn’t a factor in your analysis.
HH
SFTB
Where’s yer hard evidence? :¬)
You’re pretty much there. The key issues are how much rein the manager gets in adapting the model, and how active he is in player selection.
With Ronny, the sense is that he was on a rather short rein, and he was more passive than active.
Liverpool operate a “transfer committee” whereby the signings are made by consensus, and that resulted in them replacing Suarez with Balotelli and Lambert – a striker designed by committee!… What was Brendan Rodgers’ role in that?
See this for some context: http://statsbomb.com/2016/05/the-death-of-traditional-scouting/
This for a humorous GIRUY: https://twitter.com/mixedknuts/status/730425034012020736
And a short piece with Brendan Rodgers on the difference between scouting as a “business model” and a “winning model”: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/brendan-rodgers-liverpools-transfer-committee-must-choose-between-a-business-model-or-a-winning-a6859111.html
Having exhausted their deliberations,The Committee swoop to sign wee Carlton Cole.
Going with the theme
CEO sets the budget
Coaching staff identify talent
Coach selects players
CEO negotiates fee for transfer
Scenario 1 class player found
Add in class player demands transfer to EPL where lies the bling !!!
CEO gets it in the neck
Scenario 2 player does not reach potential gash
CEO gets it in the neck
I see what you mean ….CEO definitely a loser.
Could be Coach us a looser too if he is stuck with too many potentials.
God help our next CEO and Coach. Wee Strachan eclipsed Martin O in Europe but failed with the gratest support Ronny only won two leagues that even our own somehow allow to be viewed as tainted because sevco or SFA not a factor.
I really hope the next mhan in is a miracle worker. Roy prawn sandwich Keen is not my choice. Moyes kept Everton at a decent level with a limited budget ( get real here ) , so he would be my pick and he has thick skin which any Celtic Manager will need.
I see my primary school getting it in the neck too.
Mon the hoops
Good Morning folks
m6bhoy on 13th May 2016 7:20 am
You are joining the dots and making the wrong conclusion. Peter Lawwell will again have said nothing about Res 12 because we are not yet ready to. It is being worked on. He is sticking to an agreed script – agreed with the shareholders.
Ask yourself this question about that entire interview. Were the questions negatively framed or positively franmed? I believe Stephen McGowan to be a good guy but there are others at the Mail who are not pro Celtic, pro Lawwell and one in particular who is very anti CQN so I am told.
You will have to wait on Res 12 it is being worked on by more people now than ever before and all at the one time.
The press know it is coming and suddenly it becomes a question for a main stream newspaper. Excellent — let there be many more questions and let there be full answers for all to see.
Tony D
You just don’t get it. Focus on what is being said, by whom and about what.
I do not hide the fact that I think a new CEO would be good for Celtic and good for Peter Lawwell.
But that is completely different to being a troll so you talk complete rubbish in that regard.
PL held the line in that interview and he is to be respected and praised for it as I said yesterday and you acknowledged.
I will repeat again that at times I don’t agree with his stance on things, or even on the club’s stance on things. If I and others just took the club’s view and accepted it then Res 12 would have been deemed “not necessary” three and a half years ago.
There is a difference between disagreeing and falling out or whatever.
There is an attempt to destabilise Celtic in certain respects — that is absolutely correct so don’t fall for the crap that supporters who criticise or express an opinion on the way the club is run are automatically trolls — the alternative is blond obedience, no questions to be asked, no contrary voices to be heard and everyone accepts his masters voice .
Just in the same way that everyone at Ibrox never questioned David Murray — no internal examinations, no questioning policy or decisions and all dissenting voices rubbished, silenced and bannished.
That is no way to run a business, no way for a support to really “support” a club and most of all it is a practice that has been proven to lead to disasterous and catastrophic results.
Wee Carlton Cole was given a rousing reception, in a Spandau Ballet type way, as he attended the last-ever match at the Boleyn Ground the other night.
Amazing the faults the fans can forgive a player if he lends himself to a good song from the stands.
“He’s fat, he’s round. . . . .”
Good Morning Bhoys I think after reading Peter Lawwells answers that he has a very good idea who the new manager will be and that Celtic are pretty far down the line with an appointment.Peter has cleared the decks on the transfer comings and goings at Celtic and the next manager will along with our scouts find the players then present them to the board who then pass it to peter to negotiate a deal and that to me is the way it should be done. That being the way it operates means that Ronny has signed a few duds in his two seasons with us but to be fair every manager does they cant be right 100 % of the time. H.H.
Meanwhile, The Board are on tenterhooks awaiting the outcome of negotiations
A guy in my team big Palace fan looking forward to a chance to revenge the 3-2 Man U game Fergies first trophy after five years at old Trafford. The rest is history.
Maybe we can give our next coach three years before ripping them apart supported ably by Scotland’s finest red top rags. Maybes no .
If I could have deliberately made up the line about blond obediance I would have — but I didn’t.
However what is the difference between an I and an o ? Not nuch really.
Bind and Bond
Tim and Tom
Shit and Shot
Tony and Tiny
Big and Bog
the list is endless …………..
As are the lost.
BRTH
Are you the Secretary of State for Culture?
BRTH
Had it been blonde obedience,I might be a married man!
Guinness shares would have tanked,mind…
Redhead compliance
BRTH
Tooche
but im at a bit of a list here ..
are you starting a lost ? :-)
Post and pist.
M6BHOY on 13TH MAY 2016 7:20 AM
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 13TH MAY 2016 1:34 AM
For days it was trailed here that PL was going to say something significant about Res12 in the Sun. It didn’t happen and then it’s suggested he talked for two hours about the subject but it was pulled by the Sun. He is then asked a direct question about Res12 by the Herald and says absolutely nothing. Join the dots.
==============================================================
“For days it was trailed here that PL was going to say something significant about Res12 in the Sun.”
You took that as Gospel.
Dots joined.
Phoned the Beechgrove Garden helpline there.Said I had a trumpet growing out the back garden and what advice could he give me.
He told me to “Root it oot.” ;))
“Scott Allan has trained well, He has talent. He maybe didn’t suit the style I want to play but he can get in the team if it’s another style. – Ronny Delia
An obvious signing on Ronny’s say so.
Fitting right out of style he wanted to play.
Somebody is lying. Peter the Bonus collector or Ronny.
Which is it?
MWD
TAURANGABHOY
Agreed. I only acquiesced on the Mowbray Out campaign after St Mirren. RD,reluctantly,after the huns match.
I’m not sure I’ve ever actually wanted a manager gone-bar those two occasions when it was inevitable. Certainly never shouted for it.
I’m more than happy to discuss their failings at any given time-indeed,I have done,occasionally(!)-but Celtic managers should be supported,and criticised constructively. As manager of Celtic,he has my support.
IMO.
Celtic boards? Different matter entirely. They have to win my support,and few in my lifetime have.
Now is not the time? yes it was 4 years ago… I never accept people who tell me things a re happening. behind the scenes.. that is ALWAYS a way of telling you to go away and forget about it… if true how does that stop celtic asking for LMS to be scrapped and looked at in full,, To confirm new club cannot be given titles .. to get rid of SFA people who bent and broke rules.. from forcing change in referees…
You get a better sound, not necessarily laugh, from that joke if you frame it so that the punchline is in the past tense.
“He rooted it oot!”
ps RD should have gone after the Maribor game.
NegAnon, and any others refusing to support CELTIC
Whatever your views on Peter Lawwell, why the lack of trust in your fellow supporters who have been working with CELTIC on the issues you wish to see come to a positive conclusion?
There are complex issues being worked on and we won’t have to wait forever for an answer. In any event, the clubs co-operation weakens your stance considerably. In the progress of Res 12, there were certain milestones that simply had to be pushed by shareholders, and others by the club, and others in tandem.
Constant calls to boycott the club simply suck the life out of the blog, and with no viable alternative suggested to the way Celtic currently operate.
Regarding the running of the club, the issue is not that we won;t spend money, its that money we have spent has been squandered too often. Lawwell has acknowledged that this is a fair criticism. If he goes, you will get Lawwell 2.0, maybe with a fresh look at things initially but bound by the same constraints nonetheless.
So maybe the fresh ideas alone are worth it. But enough to boycott the club over?
Peter Lawwell is not Celtic, any more than you or I. If you had any trust in Celtic supporters, you would hold off the personal protests and support the team.
If you feel you must continue the crusade, get to the front door on match days and make your views clear. Otherwise, your protests are ultimately futile.
HH
MOONBEAMSWD on 13TH MAY 2016 10:26 AM
Would Ronny be the first manager to sign a player and later realise that they can’t fit them into their plans?
BRTH
‘Blond obedience’
Someone needs to talk to Minx! :-)
Here you go — guess who this article is having a go at?
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/five-in-a-row-but-peter-lawwell-just-cannot-win-at-celtic-1-4126922
BEATBHOY
Killjoy pedant. ;))
BMCUWP Tony Mobray is a genuinely nice guy and one of us but a failure as a Celtic Manager. Wee Gordon was hunted and he really could have pushed the envelope for us. I don’t see Ronny as a fail although the Hun defeat severely dented my faith. Ronny knows Malmo and Sevco were his moments. My point is these moments are created by the red tops who whip us into a frenzy of self doubt which becomes self, hate for some.
If the next coach is half decent lets give him some time. Time to fail and grow a team. They don’t want us to win ten , the only way that I can see us not getting there is the self destruct button. Keep the faith. Ronny would have got the league title easily next year. The next guy is going to need support. From us.
Other than that hope yer havin a laugh ; )
HT you can take your pick.
Blond obedience
Blind obedianece
Bland obediance
Then again you could pick all three ……..
Surely Daily Record mean Newcastle could be “demoted” or “put down to bottom tier”
Not “Kicked OUT”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
SPORTS Direct chief Mike Ashley could be forced to end his contract with Rangers as a result of Newcastle’s relegation from the English Premier League.
The Football League is reportedly set to launch a probe into Ashley’s connections with the Ibrox side, in order to work out if he is breaching rules concerning dual interests.
Should Ashley be found to have infringed any rules, league bosses could kick Newcastle out of the league. (Daily Record)
BRTH
You trolling for a response :-)
WINNING CAPTAINS on 13TH MAY 2016 9:18 AM
“…An own goal of Willie Gardner proportions…”
I don’t think enough credit is given to your sharp, needlessly self-deprecating wit. ;-D
Anyway, it’s refreshing to see a civilised exchange of views on the blog re buying players. I don’t like it when it descends into an immature argument. Even when I’ve been in one.
Now, what’s everyone’s opinion of the new Stone Roses single?
TRADITIONALIST88
” If he goes, you will get Lawwell 2.0, maybe with a fresh look at things initially but bound by the same constraints nonetheless.”
And we will probably end up with RD 2.0 because of similar.
As I said earlier,our strategy was wholly dependent on a virtuous circle. I deliberately used circle rather than cycle.
When a circle is broken,you can only reverse.
I genuinely cannot see a happy ending bar a bliddy miracle. And we had ours 50 years ago.