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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WC
Count me in.
HH
SJ
I liked Izzy as a player and also thought that playing him in front of KT might be an option.
From the way he got forward but tended to leave gaps at the back, I always wondered he was a player who had started out as winger and converted to a left back.
TTR/Macjay
For much of Izzy’s time at Celtic he tread a lone furrow on Celtic’s left side with the exception of Stokes last season. The wee man excelled often when almost playing two positions on his own. We lamented his poor crossing skills but admired his pace and strength in defending whilst acknowledging his frailties at times. It’s no wonder he made occasional mistakes, it’s to be expected given his incredible work rate.
Think back to Karagandy (I think!) away from home. It was clear his instructions that night were to defend. He was outstanding.
Kieran’s ability to accurately pick out team mates in the opposition box is truly remarkable.
Let Izzy defend and let Kieran attack. With Izzy’s fitness it could be the ideal partnership for 2-3 years.
I think that Ronny had one approach which never varied , no matter how the game was progressing.
He never had a settled team . A basic concept in football .
Players not knowing if they were possibles , probables or on the outer.
Creates a mood of uncertainty and insecurity .
The antithesis of ” TEAM sport.”
As for his substitutions . Baffling decisions frequently followed by disastrous results.
His signings ? Yes , HIS signings . Largely failures or never tried.
In short , Ronny has been a disastrous and hugely expensive mistake.
Our goals conceded in Europe last season was better when Van Dijk and Denayer played together.
GARYGILLESPIESHAMSTRING on 12TH MAY 2016 10:24 PM
Like no other
Glad it helps. I know how hard it is to make the youngsters
——-//////——-//:::::////////——————
You’re right. They only remember the ones they got wrong. A wee bit of perspective needed. So glad it’s not me going through all that again. And to think we were told they were the best days of our life!!!!
HH
TBB
“Opposition managers at home and in Europe have had considerably better results against Celtic this season versus last. That’s pretty hard evidence to challenge your assertion.
Over to you to dig out the data that better evidences your position. ”
Nope I am still seeing the ball in your court as you have not addressed the alternative explanations – lobbed into your court last time- a) absence of VVD and JD plus b) Euro teams found us out both seasons (Scots managers only made a slight improvement against weaker players in defence)
As for Euro results being poorer this year
In season One-
Legia beat us 6:1 on the pitch
We lost 1:2 on agg to Maribor
We won 2 home ties in the Europa group stages (which we reached only by administrative default)
Then a good performance vs Inter
In Season two
We actually beat Qarabag on the pitch before losing to Malmo- so for the qualifying period- we were better in Season Two at tat stage of the season.
Group stages were poorer though with 3 draws as opposed to 2 wins and 2 draws previously. Group stages goals for and against were:-
Season One- 10 vs 11
Season Two- 8 vs 12
Small margins- and the only improvement (in Group Stage results) was brought about by administrative fortune
Well done Almore and Clogher and contributors to kano foundation. £530 smackerooneez
Celtic
Hail hail
HT
Do you mean Qarabag? He was class that night.
STAT ATTACK:
With the EPL and SPL teams all having just one game apiece to play this season, I amalgamated all the English and Scottish divisional league tables to come up with an overall Anglo-Scottish League table, which can be seen (in sections) via this link (I dunno how to make web pages):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/26022506@N08/albums/72157668316654535
As for Ronny’s “inept” management, this is how Celtic have fared in this league of 134 teams…
A win at home to Motherwell on Sunday will see Celtic finish TOP OF THE LEAGUE, pipping “Rangers” at the post to clinch the title! (Based on points per game, to equalise for the fact that some divisions play as many as 10 games more than others.)
Score 3 goals on Sunday and Celtic finish as the HIGHEST SCORERS in absolute terms, although they would need to score 7 goals to be the highest scorers per game, with “Rangers” currently sitting top on this basis.
And if they keep a clean sheet they will be just 1 goal off the best absolute defensive record in the table, and in the top 6 on a per game basis… or better if Spurs concede any to Newcastle.
All in all Ronny’s team has a very impressive record compared to every other club in the English and Scottish leagues, and still the perma-moaners weren’t happy.
Thanks for all your efforts Ronny, and all the best wherever your management career takes you next… if only you could have replicated this success even partially in the Champions League, and you could have become a Celtic Legend!
HAMILTONTIM on 12TH MAY 2016 10:54 PM
Yes.
Fair summing up.
Never the same after the leg ( ankle ? ) break at Inverness. I remember Lenny`s face when he realised the seriousness of the injury.
Perhaps similar scenario to Beram Kayal who , I believe is , doing very well down South.
Izzy has a wee bit of the mongrel now . Perhaps he learned that in Scotland :-)
All in all , I am convinced we have a fine group of players . The best in Scotland .
And with ANY reasonable coach , we should be contenders in Europe , the absolute minimum requirement for the Celtic C.V.
TTR
Aye, them!
GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL on 12TH MAY 2016 10:55 PM
Our goals conceded in Europe last season was better when Van Dijk and Denayer played together.
========================================================
I think the word is gutted.
That`s how I felt on their departure . As did my boy.
In fairness , that must have been a huge blow to Ronny although perhaps unavoidable.
BY
congratulations on the good news.
Hope you both have a great day when it comes. A wife who insists on a close season marriage is surely one to treasure.
SFTB
I saw a Celtic team over the last two years which was all too easily opened up both at home and domestically. Of course this often didn’t actually result in goals but it did provide openings, half chances and blatantly obvious chances. Last year we had the luxury of Denayer and VVD in the centre half positions as well as an inspired Craig Gordon behind them.
In my opinion their absence this season has shown up our ‘easy to play against’ system even more.
HT
Bloody predictive text.
At least it wasn’t BT getting your messages for a change.
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 12TH MAY 2016 10:42 PM…you say, “…imagine the culture shock for him and his family living in Scotland.”….apart from the weather, he and his family probably love it here. Honduras is one of the most dangerous countries in the world in which to live…remember what happened to Arnaldo Peralta of sevco…
I wish the wee man well, he was good for us…
BIGCHIPSUK – 10 IN A ROW (2001-2010) on 12TH MAY 2016 11:01 PM
So , why did he resign / get the boot ?
The penny finally dropped for him or his employers or both .
As it did for some of the rest of us quite some time ago .
Seriously . Are you sorry he is leaving ?
“We won 2 home ties in the Europa group stages (which we reached only by administrative default)”
Sftb,
Not strictly true neebs. If legia had their t’s crossed and I’s dotted we’d have went into the Europa league play off round.
HH
Winning Captains.
Count me in.
Would it be possible to deliver a copy of the Guardian to all of our wilfully blind scribes and pundits ?
I know they can afford to buy their own but I think it may be a small and inexpensive gesture to highlight their professional negligence.
I love Izzy (or Milo as he’s known in his homeland).Thinking back over the last 3 decades or so I struggle to think of a better left-back who’s played for us.He is a no-trouble professional as well as a very tidy player.He hasn’t,to my knowledge,given our club any issues off the park and according to young KT has been nothing but helpful in assisting him since taking over his place in the team.
I’d like him to stay but if he moves on then he goes with my gratitude and genuine best wishes.Football needs more like him.
And,of course,that Bugsy Malone hairdo is a winner.
All my love Izzy/Milo.
Macjay
With tight budget constraints (let’s no go there!) our next manager will need to be better than average to have us competing in Europe!
I do agree though we still have some good players at Celtic just now.
GGH
Ha ha if only BT would pick up her bar tab!
Night all. UTLR
WEEBOBBYCOLLINS on 12TH MAY 2016 11:10 PM
Good point.
You`re dead right.
I remember exams, I remember being issued past papers and having to decide which of the 5from8 I was going to invest my time studying and answering. Well that was then.
What annoys me is the bleating that ‘my wean is no stupid’ pish, so your weans no stupid, big deal, the weans that did get high pass marks are now being dragged down because either stupid teachers , parents or weans but it’s no the weans fault ever, it’s no the parents fault, ever so it must be stupid teachers is what your really saying.
Aye let’s have a vote on how to reduce the standards and pretend education standards have improved, last years dum brats d is this years bumb brats a, well done we’ve improved education standards.
If my parents were allowed to vote, I’d have got a PhD before I’d left nappys. ( ok look at me mum I’m a big bhoy now:)
Next controversial point, WG you supported a brilliant idea a while ago, ‘judicial review’, the SFA dismissed Res12 because they say they don’t answer to anyone but the affiliateed clubs, an organisation in receipt of fiscal sponsorship is responsible and accountable to the financiers, for the sake of Scottish football this needs challenged, if such a challenge was won, supporters would never again need to take out privately paid adverts. Stop dancing round the issue, if money is being raised make sure it makes a real difference to the future without fear or favour.
Finally, you’ll be glad to know, yer kids are no stupid but you are, if you think reducing standards helps anyone, especially if you think voting is a viable alternative to hard work.
Hail hail
HAMILTONTIM on 12TH MAY 2016 11:11 PM
We`ll see , mate .
I can`t stop feeling that we must view ourselves as a cut above the likes of Malmo and Maribor.
Can`t abide the acceptance of the management of decline ( Let`s no go there either.)
I can`t imagine a ” Lenny ” or a ” Hartley ” performing as badly as Ronny .
Europe. That`s the only game in town.
Well , apart from crushing the huns for fun.
And I think we will . :-)
Macjay…in that part of the world one is always ‘eyes peeled’ and looking over the shoulder, day and night…it never goes away…
I knew I missed a point, glad to see Ronny has decided to joing the ingrates that like to get a head start on the traffic, why the fcuk should he hang around, if I got payed off I went home at the earliest opportunity, and fcuk everyone yes everyone that expects more loyalty than was shown. To the rest, you know the score hail hail says Ronny, if he cones back in charge of another team his target is to pump us by as humiliating a score as he can possibly influence, me I hope he never gets the chance but I can safely say that is now his current emotional preference and who would/could expect anything else from a competition because after all that is exactly what he is come Monday morning.
Hail Hail Ronny, sorry it didn’t work out, good luck in the future except if you meet Celtic, I hope we pump your team rotten.
“I can`t imagine a ” Lenny ” or a ” Hartley ” performing as badly as Ronny .
Europe. That`s the only game in town.”
Macjay,
You can’t imagine or remember?
HH
WEEBOBBYCOLLINS on 12TH MAY 2016 11:21 PM
Macjay…in that part of the world one is always ‘eyes peeled’ and looking over the shoulder, day and night…it never goes away…
==========================================================
Well aware of that , mate.
I have a lot of Latino connections in that part of the world.
We`re fearful of a visit .
Tragedy . It really is.
!bada Bing!
No problem at all.
Hopefully everything falls into place as I believe it wil. Maybe that little bit of insight that isn’t out there yet makes for more positive posts. I can see why it causes frustration.
Barcabhoy got to the heart of the matter in his early morning post the other day. He suggested that Craig Whyte – and his staff – may have lied to Uefa.
Same club? ….kills them!
GEORDIE MUNRO on 12TH MAY 2016 11:33 PM
“I can`t imagine a ” Lenny ” or a ” Hartley ” performing as badly as Ronny .
Europe. That`s the only game in town.”
Macjay,
You can’t imagine or remember?
HH
==============================================================
In the case of Lenny , both.
Lenny had some triumphs.
Ronny had serial debacles.
I was referring to Hartley as a coach.
Have I been drinking ? 2000 word dissertation on Shakespeare’s Macbeth and the notion of self fulfilling prophecy.
If Kenny Dalgliesh accepted a knighthood for his Hillsborough work I’d be scunnered as why would he join the very establishment he has fought to expose…?
Mac Jay,
Sorry, I thought you were referring to Europe.
Lennys first couple of escapades weren’t too far away from a debacle as you put it.
As for Hartley you’ll probably never be proved right OR wrong
HH
I thought for a slight change I would post the lyrics of my favourite song by father John misty (who played in Glasgow tonight). It kinda sums up a lot of things. But not entirely. It’s well worth a listen if you fancy thinking.
“Holy Shit”
Ancient holy wars
Dead religions, holocausts
New regimes, old ideas
That’s now myth, that’s now real
Original sin, genetic fate
Revolutions, spinning plates
It’s important to stay informed
The commentary to comment on
Oh, and no one ever really knows you, and life is brief
So I’ve heard, but what’s that gotta do with this black hole in me?
Age-old gender roles
Infotainment, capital
Golden bows and mercury
Bohemian nightmare, dust bowl chic
This documentary’s lost on me
Satirical news, free energy
Mobile lifestyle, loveless sex
Independence, happiness
Oh, and no one ever knows the real you, and life is brief
So I’ve heard, but what’s that gotta do with this atom bomb in me?
Coliseum families
The golden era of TV
Eunuch sluts, consumer slaves
A rose by any other name
Carbon footprint, incest streams
Fuck the mother in the green
Planet cancer, sweet revenge
Isolation, online friends
Oh, and love is just an institution based on human frailty
What’s your paradise gotta do with Adam and Eve?
Maybe love is just an economy based on resource scarcity
But what I fail to see is what that’s gotta do with you and me
Goodnight.
GEORDIE MUNRO on 12TH MAY 2016 11:41 PM
I was referring to Europe.
Barcelona was a triumph. And he very nearly got a draw in the away game.
Anyway.My point is simple.I am extremely confident that ANY new coach can take our team to a significantly higher place in Europe than Ronny.
Not a big ask , I grant you.
NEGANON2 on 12TH MAY 2016 11:43 PM
Just a reflection of the decline in Christian values which it parodies .