Ntcham will be wondering, what more for a regular start?

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After an ominous start, Celtic coped well with PSG’s superstars before they retired at halftime.  The midfield, in particular, looked effective.  Mohamed Elyounoussi, Callum McGregor and Olivier Ntcham were always comfortable.  The latter must be wondering, what more for a regular starting place?  I would not know how to answer that question.

The first half goals were irritating as inattentiveness contributed to them, taking the shine off what I thought was a really good demonstration of why we should play three at the back.  I know the club are busy with recruitment targets, but the shape of the team Neil Lennon wants to play will feed into details, like how many central defenders we need.  At least two, I suggest.  Nir Bitton does well, especially in possession, but his instincts are not those of a central defender.

It was great to see Tom Rogic back and looking the part.  We missed his presence in midfield for much of 2019, to the extent that my expectations of him have lowered.  It will be interesting to see how his fitness builds from this point onwards.

Hamilton Accies a week on Sunday will be a different challenge, alas.

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331 Comments

  1. PARKHEADCUMSALFORD

     

     

    When Kris went on loan to Killie they played him at centre back.

     

     

    Also he is 6’6″ in height!

  2. BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 22ND JULY 2020 2:05 PM

     

     

    Timaloy29 @ 12:27 – v.good point on size of shopping list.

     

     

    Definitely need a GK.

     

     

    Am torn on the LB position – We spent £4.5m on two guys last year but it still feels a bit “unfulfilled”?

     

     

    Johnny Hayes was nothing more than a 6½ / 10 cover (IMHO) but his departure has weakened the position.

     

     

    Torn also on striker. A fully fit Leigh is £8m bracket comfortably. Can’t see us going there so think we need to recuperate LG (again).

     

    ____

     

     

    I’d argue we could end up signing 2 GKers. Would be good to bring in an experienced 3rd choice so we could send young Hazard out on loan.

     

     

    As for LB, I think most of the fans have written off Boli and I think Neil has too. I’d be keen to bring in young Hickey from Hearts but I think I’m in the minority.

     

     

    Either way, Taylor is rated but is apparently seen more as the backup option. A first-choice LB would be great.

     

     

    As for striker… Leigh is unfit and Bayo is constantly injured. I think it’s best to have another option.

     

     

    That’s before we sell anybody. Obviously Ajer & Edouard would need to be replaced if sold.

  3. DCSC we all know Nier Bitton is not a natural centre half however he is a versatile type player & after all

     

    he managed in defence to help us qualify for one of the CL Group Stages under BR so he is not that bad

     

    a player hence his recent new contract & yes we all know we need another Goalie & need to strenghen

     

    our Defence especially against European Opposition however this up & coming Season is not really

     

    going to be how well we do in Europe it will be based on how well we do Domestically last night was

     

    a learning curve against a World Class Team with the financial clout to back them & Friendlies are not

     

    really about results they are more about getting ones fitness level up to speed asap last night was not

     

    all that bad considering the last time we played PSG @ the same venue under BR in the CL Group

     

    Stages a couple of Season ago we got gubbed 7 – 0 & if my memory serves me well we even lost to

     

    PSG @ CP @ Home in the CL Group Stage Match 0 – 5 under BR so their is a gulf in Class between us

     

    & Teams like PSG that’s for sure & also positives can be taken out of & from suffering from Defeat

     

    winning is not everything & losing is nothing also as Callum McGregor acknowledge after the match

     

    last night on a brief interview on CTV they now know what to expect if they manage to get into the

     

    CL Group Stages in other words the type of opposition they would come up against a learning curve

     

    Go-On-The-Bhoys

  4. I never if I can help it, criticise players, we all have off days. But I’ve been watching big Kris closely and sum up by saying, he’s the sizzle, not the steak!!

     

    If we can get silly money for him, I’d take it.

     

    He is a lovely guy, but hey!!!

     

     

    KINGLuBO

  5. Rock Tree Bhoy on

    “Celtic are close to agreeing personal terms with AEK Athens goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas, according to a report from Greek outlet. Whilst Celtic reportedly had their opening bid for the 26-year old rejected by AEK, the report claims that the Hoops have been in dialogue with the Greek international about the terms he’d like if a fee can be agreed and that the club and the player’s agent are close to agreeing a deal”…

     

     

    …but we haven’t agreed to pay their asking price yet,

     

     

    we need to sort this goalkeeping position out asap

  6. Timaloy 29 Nah Boli is not going to make it in Defence even Tony Ralston what happend to TR? is a better player & defender than G.Boli what a waste nae wonder those Belguim chaps where laughing when a poster on here pointed out when he was on Holiday wearing his new Hoops Top & the said Belguim

     

    chaps said to the Hoops supporter here we have heard that your Club has signed Bolingoli yeah with

     

    them laughing well good luck with that nah we will have to put Boli down as a nightmare signing & be

     

    more diligent in doing our research properly like crossing the ‘T’ & dotting the ‘I’s’ when signing new

     

    additions in other words not being careless & waisting our hard earned cash in duds & fuds & other

     

    Clubs surplus to requirements when making new signings if our Club does not have the proper tools

     

    & thorough research in place then this matter needs to be seriously addressed instead of coming out

     

    with excuses like signing good new players is easly said than done

  7. AKBW1888 on 22ND JULY 2020 3:28 PM

     

     

    I think it’s fair to say Boli has been a grave error and we should be trying to move on. It’s ok. It happens to the best managers.

     

     

    Ralston has been left back in Glasgow presumably to find himself a new club. He’s a decent player and I’m sure will remain in the SPFL.

  8. I thought Boli was ok when he came on,keeping it simple my views on full backs is simple stay at the back don’t go charging forward and that’s how I seen him play the other night,If you want a player to play on the wing then sign one simple as that .

  9. RON67 on 22ND JULY 2020 1:41 PM

     

    Ajer is very poor on his left side

     

    add his right to that as well

     

     

    Ron Ajer is a poor defender full stop end of not a natural defender a bit like what we

     

    did when playing JH out of his normal position when he was playing for us

     

    In fact Ajer would be better utilised in Midfield after all if my memory serves me well

     

    when Ronny Deila signed the young chap that was the position he was playing in

     

    when he was playing in Norway that is a fact our Club has to learn that we can’t

     

    always get away with putting square blocks in round holes

  10. !!Bada Bing!! on

    SS- I think back left might be my pals old man John Curran? He was a centre half.

  11. 62 reserves

     

    Back row ?, Willie O’Neil,Frank connot,Billy Price Ian Young ? John Coltian

     

    Front Charlie Gallagher, Mike Jackson, ? McBride John Diver and Frank Brogan

  12. Timbhoy2

     

    In my opinion Bolingoli has been found wanting on too many occassions he can’t even pass the

     

    ball properly & his passing choice is poor I bet he can’t even read the game/passes & make

     

    good use of the ball & his positional play as well is poor I’m afraid it’s back to the basic footy

     

    school for the young chap Bolingoli who has become a not a footballer mind set @ present

  13. Cannot for the life of me see where the writing off, regards Taylor comes from.One of the big successes for me.He links up very well with Moi,and has been one of the best players in France.Bombs up and down that line the whole game.Too many still got the KT blues.Get over it.

  14. Frank Connot, John Coirain?

     

     

    Next picture

     

     

    Ian Young, Willie O’Neil, BTs old man John Clark,John Cushley and John Kurilla? or McNamee

     

    Front, Jinky, Bobby Carroll, Benny Rooney, Mike Jackson, Frank Brogan

  15. PARK ROAD 67 on 22ND JULY 2020 12:17 PM

     

    Good afternoon everybody !

     

    Good afternoon Park Road 67

     

     

    TIMALOY29 on 22ND JULY 2020 3:37 PM

     

    AKBW1888 on 22ND JULY 2020 3:28 PM

     

    I think it’s fair to say Boli has been a grave error and we should be trying to move on. It’s ok. It happens to the best managers.

     

    Ralston has been left back in Glasgow presumably to find himself a new club. He’s a decent player and I’m sure will remain in the SPFL.

     

    Timaloy29 Our Club should not let Tony Ralston away cheaply or @ present until we can @ least find

     

    some decent defenders who can fit the bill after all Martin O’Neill proved it any decent Team is built

     

    from Defence & not having a weak defence where other teams can exploit

  16. AKBW

     

    That, seemingly, is a lesson we have not learnt. Defend properly, and…

     

    HH

  17. Ajer plays CH for his country and has earned rave reviews in his homeland for his performances there.Loads of scouts at Internationals.Surely no one thought the teams after him,were watching him against Hamilton.

     

    25 million.I would take it.

     

    I mentioned last night about Christie’s,seeming change of attitude.Lo and behold,his old man in the Record today telling us he would fit in great in the EPL.A space to be watched,I think.

  18. TURKEYBHOY on 22ND JULY 2020 3:54 PM

     

    Cannot for the life of me see where the writing off, regards Taylor comes from.One of the big successes for me.He links up very well with Moi,and has been one of the best players in France.Bombs up and down that line the whole game.Too many still got the KT blues.Get over it.

     

     

    Turkeybhoy I agree with your comment in my opinion Greg Taylor will become a useful player if

     

    given time & he can also link up play well & can put in decent crossess as well where our forward

     

    players should be looking @ getting on the end of said crossess & trying to hit the target

  19. prestonpans bhoys on

    Turkeybhoy

     

     

    Completely agree, Taylor is a fine player, for no good reason slammed by others on very little, if any , evidence😵

  20. Turkeybhoy

     

    Ryan Christie is not a bad player & he can come up with useful goals here & there if we where

     

    offered 25 Mil for his services should we accept it? I would have to agree with you in saying

     

    Yes. So his Father has been on the Daily Retard plugging his Son’s playing services to the

     

    EPL nae wonder the amount of money the players are on in the EPL that’s a no brainer

     

    What would concern me though is that if we where offered said 25 Mil & accept said

     

    offer then Bank the money with no intention of spending said new found funds in

     

    strenghning our Team then that would be a serious concern that would show our Club

     

    to be moving back the way instead of moving forward

  21. FRIESDORFER on 22ND JULY 2020 4:03 PM

     

    AKBW

     

    That, seemingly, is a lesson we have not learnt. Defend properly, and…

     

    HH

     

     

    You Are Damn Tooting Friesdorfer & Hail Hail to you my friend.

  22. Lullabies and Battle Cries on

    My best mate’s son is the kit man a Killie ( Kevin, mad Celtic supporter) when Ajer arrived the loan arrangement with Killie was he was only to be played as a centre half.

  23. if PSG wanted to they could have scored double figures last night , yes we are that poor as a defensive unit

  24. Going to be a very difficult transfer window with games still going on down South and in Europe. Teams still trying to finish their season and find out if their in Europe, EPL or Championship. When dust settles then we see some movement, in out or stay. Not much we can do but get our house in order and hope the players we want to keep will stay and maybe bring someone in. Is Charlie Christie pushing for Ryan to move or was he asked a leading question? Hopefully pushing Celtic got a better contract.

  25. There is “No Asteriks” beside our Club winning nine consecutive SPL titles those idiots who

     

    go on radio phone in’s & come out with stupid remarks like that are being ridiculous end of

     

    & also they should get their fact’s right

     

    1) was it our fault that we all know who we are referring to here went bust in 2012? No.

     

    2) was it our fault that the CCP poisioned planet Earth & put everyones life in pause mode? No.

     

    3) Do we think that our Club would have lost five matches on the bounce out of eight left &

     

    hand over the title too we all know well who would have won all their remaing matches

     

    too clinch the League title last season? get real & don’t be ridiculous fools ‘No’

     

    4) was it our fault that some numpty who came out with the saying aye for every fiver you

     

    spend we will spend a tenner using EBT’s (Employment Benifit Trust’s) otherwise known

     

    as a Tax Fiddle (Tax Evasion) ‘No’

     

    5) did said now we all know who we are referring too here win probably all their so called nine

     

    tainted years SPL Titles from Seasons 1) 1988/89 # 2) 1989/90 # 3) 1990/91# 4) 1991/92#

     

    5) 1992/93# 6) 1993/94# 7) 1994/95# 8) 1995/96# 9) 1996/97# in a row by cheating via tax

     

    avoidance & having an unfair advantage over the rest of the Club’s in the SPL? ‘Yes’

     

    talk about Astriks (#) Years get real & take a reality check your favourites where caught

     

    out bang to rights end of & games a bogey you are the cheats not us & we all know who

     

    went into administration to get out of the Debt they where in & re-emerged as Sevco/

     

    The Rangurs International aye we are still the same Club ! Really? No you are not.

  26. ROCK TREE BHOY on 22ND JULY 2020 3:14 PM

     

    On the AEK GK, I heard this morning negotiations were continuing and that it was only the payment instalments that had to be agreed.

     

    Keep the Faith!

     

    Hail Hail!

  27. WBC

     

     

    Thanks for big John McNamee. We had 3 big John’s around that time. Cushley,Kurilla and McNamee

     

    The guy McBride in the Shamrocks photo came from Elder Street in Govan but don’t think he was any relation to Joe. Can’t remember his first name although Edward is coming to mind

     

     

    HH