Dundee United are the only Scottish side we have faced and not yet beaten this season. When the teams met at Tannadice just over two weeks ago, Celtic dominated possession but were unable create a genuine chance until the final moments of the game. The match was indicative of the malaise Celtic slipped into a month earlier, and sparked a short-lived belief (among some) that a title challenge was possible.
United have picked up nine points from the four games since then, beating St Johnstone, Aberdeen and Dundee, before losing to Hearts on Sunday. They are now third in the table and look likely to pick up a European spot at the end of the season.
Breaking down packed defences is the task facing anyone who wants to become Scottish champions. St Mirren ‘s block was very effective on Sunday. They were breached only by two Celtic counter-attacks and at a corner kick. Expect United manager Jim Goodwin to learn the lesson that visitors to Celtic Park should venture up-field less often.
Brendan Rodgers will surely rotate the squad again tonight. We cannot expect any individual to be at their peak for all nine games in January. This includes the un-drop-ables: Cameron Carter-Vickers and Callum McGregor.
Every decision we make for the next 14 days must be considered with an eye on Young Boys visit in the Champions League. There are few enough benefits of being stuck in a poor league, player rotation and development are two of them.
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Match day Wednesday!
Act accordingly.
Gerrintaethum Celtic!!!!
“Expect United manager Jim Goodwin to learn the lesson that visitors to Celtic Park should venture up-field less often”
Learn it?
He wrote it.
My kerry oot for the game tonight- half bottle of anti freeze and a gas stove. Elderly CSC.
So much wrong with BR’s, disrespectful statement.
From the double standards of him abandoning us , to embarrassing Trusty , by removing him at half time during the LCF at Hampden .
A decision that proved wrong when you see the performances put in by Scales .
Scales whom I had praised as being our most improved player under BR .
Is BR working his ticket again ?
He created this whole episode .
It was uneccessary.
TT
TINYTIM @ 12:10 PM,
Your a smart ghuy
So, please…
BR&CO were forced out of the Club in 2018/19
The same vested interests are doing it 2025
The only thing that pisses me off currently
Sounds like they might be succeeding
Hail Hail
I will take this malaise of a season, over many I have experienced, the last 3 home games,we ‘flattered’ teams
3-0
4-0
4-0
11 scored none conceded…
Oh and a League Cup win..
Oh and 1 win away from going through to the next round of the Champions League
Hope the ‘malaise’ continues with the usual full points 🤷♂️
Malaise – from Old French
A state of which there is something wrong for which there does not appear to be a quick or easy solution.
nb Not as bad as a “deep malaise”
TinyTim on 8th January 2025 12:10 pm
So much wrong with BR’s, disrespectful statement.
From the double standards of him abandoning us , to embarrassing Trusty , by removing him at half time during the LCF at Hampden .
A decision that proved wrong when you see the performances put in by Scales
With respect, that’s nonsense
We were better after that substitution, a strong decision from a manager who is paid exactly for that.
Brendan’s statement
” We need to strengthen in general in the January window. We know what we’re looking to do and we’re 100% confident the club will do everything to support that. We have deals we want to do between now and the end of January “
Brendan Rodgers 5th January
That game at Tannadice was played in a 50mph wind swirling around the pitch, we created a couple chances kyogo missed a snip and yang fired a ball across the 6yrd box missing everyone, they done nothing I expect the same game spoiling tactics from Goodwin tonight , the bigger pitch should help us stretch them.
Just pondering the value equation of left backs…
Is a – if fit – rampaging KT yet almost inevitably semi-available for the range of fixtures we face, our best option?
Or an ever-present and physically robust and positionally adaptable GT a more reliable presence in the team?
Kieran may be a so-called ‘better player’ than Greg on the days he’s not on the treatment table.
Yet surely Greg lays right to being a better asset to the manager and squad given his perennial availability.
It’s a big statement to say a crock-prone superstar serves the team better than a guy always available and getting more experience and wisdom every outing he plays.
Players play in systems rather than shine only on their individual prowess after all.
Chairbhoy 12.14
I do think that BR was at war with PL during his last stint .
The timing of his choice of departure is what irk’s me .
This time is different .
He is the one spoiling for a fight .
Picking on the fans for a none issue .
The fans are excited about KT potentially returning .
Most of these GB fans are in their teenage years .It is normal for them to be exuberant .
I personally wouldn’t be bringing KT back .
I would be looking for the next KT .
BR knows what he is doing .
This is contrived by him .
The question is why ?
TT
Prawn Sandwich Brigade
Just pondering like…
systemic malaise.
Quadrophenian
An injured player is off zero use to the team , when he is injured .
A very expensive injured player is a waste of resources .
TT
Systemic Malaise
Quad- I would keep GT,and I think we will get KT on a pre contract for next season, not sure Arsenal will do us an acceptable loan deal just now, I think there could be games to play both in the same team.
Speaking before Wednesday’s Scottish Premiership game at home to Dundee United, Rodgers said he felt he needed make a point in the pursuit of unity.
“I am not going to beat about the bush when I am talking about the bush,” he explained.
“I am experienced enough to say what I think and what I feel, but not in a derogatory way to anyone.
“I am so happy that I came back here and love my life and love my job here.
“But it is also important to be able to say what I think. Sometimes you are paid not to say what you think, but there are moments when you have to and I am at the stage now in my career and my life where I do not need to bite my tongue.”
Rodgers has spoken to Taylor, whose contract expires at the end of the season, about the situation and his future, praising him as a “dedicated Celt”.
And while the Celtic boss did not retreat from his previous remarks and joked he looked forward to his eventual successor producing “60 games of high intensity football for 95 minutes every week”, he did call for fans to back the team in a busy period.
“I can never say to anyone what to say, what to think, what to sing,” Rodgers added.
“I know what my own personal value is and a lot of it is based around respect.
“But for me, the Celtic support is an amazing support base, what they give the team and how they support the team and how they travel with the team.
“For me, it is just that bigger picture around this period of games in particular, where pitches are a wee bit lumpier than what they normally would be and the game may be a little bit slower than what it can normally be.
“So that is not always the fault of the players, that is just sometimes how it is. But for us, it is that support that can really help the team in what is a really gruelling period for us.”
The sports science, medical and coaching staff have one thing to do this month – ensure we peak for the visit of young boys.
We’ve a big lead and can afford to drop points domestically if necessary.
I’m not in the least surprised by the media making hay ,and mischief ,with Brendan’s comments .
What surprises and disappoints me more is the number of posters jumping on the conspiracy theory bandwagon .
Yes , performances have flattened a bit ,but serious concerns only apply to one league game .
I’d like to see Brendan or Kennedy in ear of the fourth official tonight re time wasting.
We need to make a far bigger issue of it to force the referees to take action.
Last Sunday was ridiculous and shouldn’t be repeated.
tt,
he told us, the groans do not encourage the team.
patience and trust he asks for.
the permanent groners/moaners torn faces is enugh to put you off going to games.
turn up and lend support.
singing for another teams player and then saying but thats what we do is just not on, it was a lousy thing to do,
i doubt also any business will be done before the euro ties for all concerned are certain.
An Dún on 8th January 2025 12:35 pm
thats logical, but any dropped points will be used as a “told you so, the team is underperforming”
We will have played Dundee United in three league games between the 22nd of December and the 15th of February.
Is tonight’s game a rescheduled fixture due to a cup tie?
!!Bada Bing!! on 8th January 2025 12:32 pm
Quad- I would keep GT,and I think we will get KT on a pre contract for next season, not sure Arsenal will do us an acceptable loan deal just now, I think there could be games to play both in the same team.
——
Ideal scenario to have both and one – I guess – that Brendan would like to see. A Celtic Exchange pundit said Greg’s not relishing being told he won’t be our No 1 LB pick either. Interested in how you see them co-playing?
Also to your points TT… Yes, a very expensive injured player is a waste of resources .
But ‘An injured player is off zero use to the team , when he is injured.’ I think some players bring attitude, inspiration and leadership even when they’re on the sick list: Greg Taylor’s recognised as a great example of doing all of the above as Brendan has said more than wanst.
The media were always going to go to town on Brendan’s post match comments.
BR has been over the course enough to know that.
My reading of it is that Brendan was pissed off with the Sevco result reaction or indeed, over reaction.
Talk of systemic failure and being found out when you have his record is bound to piss any person off.
Brendan vented. As is his right.
He move on now.
TT 12.23
Think you’re looking for something that’s not there .
Personally I think BR was right to criticise those grumbling about passing the ball backwards.
We’re living in great times to be a Celtic supporter, but many still find something to moan about. HH
SAINT STIVS on 8TH JANUARY 2025 12:47 PM
Yes. You’re spot on.
Perhaps Brendan’s comments may help some of our more reactionary fans to calm down.
That’s probably unlikely but the adults in the room need to focus and drive us on this month.
AN DÚN on 8TH JANUARY 2025 12:49 PM
Spot on .
they will be wanting hot water ijn the toilets next.
Tiny Tim
I don’t know if he is working his ticket but I do believe his ego has been writing cheques he can’t afford.
Perhaps that’s at the heart of this pathetic deflection. It would be really funny to watch (and is for our rivals) were it not potentially damaging the clubs prospects just as we come close to leaving our biggest rival in our slipstream.
As for Chairbhoys revisionism. Best left alone. Not sure he ever even attends a game.
ego, from a multi millionaire succesful football manager who coaches improvement, go figure.
watch the sir alex documentary,
“Qu’ils mangent de la brioche”,
God knows what some of our fans want in a manager. God knows what some want of the team/squad.Both are performing magnificently this season – well ahead of pre-season expectation.
Brendan’s made a point about “playing against manequins” – does it really take that kind of over-simplistic talk to get through to some people – seems it does.!
When we meet most domestic teams they set up in a way to break-down and fragment the game and will usually chase and harry for the full ninety-minutes. The five sub rule which on the face of it is thought to exclusively benefit the better teams, also allows others to bring on fresher chasers and blockers to continue the spoiling tactics – time-wasting is another well-used and coached tool thatachieves the stop-start aims. It is always much easier to destroy than to build and requires less able individuals.
We play eleven human beings against eleven human beings – not eleven super- humans against lesser humans – that’s why games can’t be wrapped-up in “the first twenty minutes”. every other week. Against the odds individuals and groups thereof can often defy form and gain surprising results – it happens every week of the year all over the sporting world.
I support Brendan – he stands up for himself, for the squad, for the club and for the overwhelming number in the Celtic support that enjoy and appreciate our continuing success without nit-picking and with trust and respect..
Brendan’s agenda was clear and targetted. no “beating about the bush”, when he made his feelings known on the two marked and unwarranted events that occurred during the St Mirren game – there was no need for either in a match that we won comfortably and where our substantial lead at the top of the table was increased.
I have no doubt, after watching the two press conferences, that what has happened with eventually make Brendan’s time shorter at Celtic – how much shorter remains to be seen. Those who unfairly criticise will then turn their guns on the executive and board when we look to replace our exceptional manager – there always needs to be a scapegoat – why?, I don’t know. With our level of consistent success, on and off the field, is seems anomalous. HH
commentator – “and you can hear whem sometimes an atmosphere goes against you.
3 mins 20.
maeda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbsRB9noyIM