If you are feeling a bit anxious today but you’re not sure why, suppressed memories of Rugby Park could be filtering through your subconscious. After 13 undefeated visits to Kilmarnock in the 8 years to 2018, Celtic have lost two of our three subsequent visits. The only win came courtesy of a memorable last minute Scott Brown strike.
Much has changed in the 11 months since that win, including both team’s managers, but the plastic surface that Brendan Rodgers’ side found to challenging remains, a consideration for Neil Lennon tonight.
New Kilmarnock manager, Alex Dyer, watched his team beat Queens Park 6-0 in the Scottish Cup on Saturday, but his side’s league form is dreadful. They played six league games in December without scoring a goal and earning only a single point. If you thought Celtic needed the winter break, speak to a Kilmarnock fan.
Results, of course, do not tell the whole story. Killie are not losing goals, in that December run only Livingston scored more than one against them. At Ibrox, they held on until late in the game and gave the home team a fright. They have kept 10 clean sheets in 13 home games since losing to Newco on the opening day of the season. Tonight will be a real challenge.
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macjay1 for Neil Lennon on 22nd January 2020 12:43 pm
I agree PL is a very well paid gopher for DD. However no member of the PLC should A: Be utterly negligent or B: Wilfully mislead shareholders. Both are cases for instant dismissal and potential criminal charges for the latter.
I also take offense at the premise that the current board members know what is best for Celtic! Really, I’d say that Res 12 and the 5WA contradict that, unless of course you subscribe to the theory that Celtic need a strong Rangers (in any guise) in order to flourish.
To paraphrase a previous lead article from this site ‘I would happily give up any part of Celtic that requires Rangers survival’
I’m preparing myself for us to drop points tonight. I’m also preparing myself for us blowing the 9, as I think that’s what will happen.
We are now a nursery team for the EPL. Without the 10 to chase I’m not sure that’s a great selling point.
As for the debate about Lawwell… as Jesus might say, he is a profit that has no honour in his own country…
Slightly inconsistent statistical info about Killie provided Pablo. Bit like the old logic puzzle quiz books?
:)
If I may try to simplify …
Home form November (2-2, 3-0)
Home form December (0-0, 0-1)
Irrespective, we can only control what form they bring to this match by our own performance.
Score 1 goal – possible victory
Score 2 goals – probable victory
Score 3 goals – almost certain victory
Over to you Bhoys.
Hail hail
Keep The Faith
SIEMPRE CELTIC (FORMERLY TRADITIONALIST88) on 22ND JANUARY 2020 12:32 PM
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON
Just caught your reply…
Seriously, if our CEO has serious questions to answer to **Celtic** fans and shareholders, why are we giving a damn what the huns think?!
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Because the underlying issue for many Celtic fans is the apparent collusion and cooperation between P.L. aka the Celtic Board and the hun.
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON
CEO’s take responsibility for board decisions.
That’s the way of the world.
I think if we continue to move the ball from back to front at snails pace we will struggle. The pitch is an issue sure, but I’m more concerned with the speed of our play. Attack with speed and movement and we’ll beat anybody in the league.
JIMBOB71 & LITTLE MISS JIMBOB on 22ND JANUARY 2020 12:53 PM
Thanks for your reply but don’t we train on a similar surface every day?
A lot of players now are brought through the system on these pitches.
We have better players, if we get the ball down and play to our strengths I can see a comfortable victory.
We need a comfortable victory to show we aren’t going anywhere, we’re staying on top and collecting our 9th league title in a row.
____
Experience playing on such a surface only goes so far.
If the ball moves slower across the surface regardless of who is hitting the ball then that will suit their tactics better than our usual game. With the best preparation in the world, it’s still an obstacle for Celtic to get over.
Away to Livingston we have drawn 2 and lost 1 out of 3. Away to Killie its 2 losses and 1 win out of 3.
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 22ND JANUARY 2020 1:00 PM
Regardless, the opinion or possible reaction of the hun hordes is a non issue. We are talking serious questions at a management level.
HH
BHOYWITHSEETHROUGHEYES on 22ND JANUARY 2020 1:03 PM
Totally agree. Thats partly why I was advocating not playing with a traditional right winger tonight and playing Griffiths right sided CF and cutting in with licence to shoot on sight. Frimpong is more than able to get up and down the RHS and when he does the midfield will be mindful to counter any quick breaks from Killie.
Its not a night to try and score the perfect goal or walk the ball in. Get the ball to the feet of the front two and take it from there.
HH
OGLACH on 22ND JANUARY 2020 12:58 PM
macjay1 for Neil Lennon on 22nd January 2020 12:43 pm
I agree PL is a very well paid gopher for DD. However no member of the PLC should A: Be utterly negligent or B: Wilfully mislead shareholders. Both are cases for instant dismissal and potential criminal charges for the latter.
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Why then if guilty , as you suggest , has he not been dismissed ?
Does failure to dismiss , under those circumstances , not represent collusion in committing a criminal offence ?
:-)
Sack ra lorra them.
btw. No part of me could give up any part of Celtic.
SIEMPRE CELTIC (FORMERLY TRADITIONALIST88) on 22ND JANUARY 2020 1:06 PM
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 22ND JANUARY 2020 1:00 PM
Regardless, the opinion or possible reaction of the hun hordes is a non issue. We are talking serious questions at a management level.
HH
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OR
At the AGM , on the day he simply ” misspoke ” .
Anything in writing ?
Ok
The game.
On the day we have such an important game to play,once again the anti PL posters are out.Is there anything to be said that has not been said a 1000 times before.Are you not sick of bumping your gums to the same old tune.Would have thought the 3 points tonight were more important than your ingrained dislike for PL.I could not give a toss for PL or the Board,only Celtic winning on the park is my life.Moaning constantly on here will do nothing to change the Board.Boards come and go,as do CEOs.Many of us have seen much worse.There is another site that will welcome your take on things concerning our hierarchy.They wallow in it most days.We have a league to win.All that matters to me.
I know that all pitches should be grass, not plastic and the entire thing is a joke. However, it seems to be Celtic only that appears to have a problem with it, maybe I’m wrong but it is a mental rather than physical thing to me.What I don’t understand is why all SPL clubs don’t force the SFA to change things.
I predict a big win tonight.
KINGLubO
TURKEYBHOY
Seconded
Moaned their way to eight in a row, and bricking it, coz the Rainjurz are coming.
macjay1 for Neil Lennon on 22nd January 2020 1:11 pm
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Simples – because he is DD’s gopher.
As for any potential Police / criminal action early days yet, as I think this still has a long way to go.
I’d say that all evidence, admittedly in the main circumstantial at present, points to the Celtic board colluding ,or at best turning a blind eye and deaf ear, to the SFA/ SPL and other parties resurrecting the corpse of Rangers 1872.
‘IF’ this were indeed the case would you be happy with this and all it entails.
I really wish we would stop bleating about these plastic pitches. Everybody knows the script: they are horrible and should be banned. However, they are a fact and everybody has to play on them – not just Celtic. Instead of whingeing, we should be encouraging our players to roll up their sleeves, won the physical battle and then kill Kellie off with superior football. Let’s stop giving the players an excuse before the match has started.
Aff oot.
TIMALOY29
The Post above yours in reply to me says it all for me.
Attack with speed and movement and we’ll beat anyone in the league, regardless of the surface.
We give the opposition encouragement if we play passes across the back (not so much now granted under Neil) but it gives them a chance to sit in and organise.
Play quickly, shoot from outside the box, we have plenty players capable and a dodgy bounce in front of the keeper can help if we want to use the surface to our advantage.
@TIMALOY29 on 22ND JANUARY 2020 11:38 AM
Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
I’m not sure that the comparisons you make are necessarily valid. Paddy had been purchased for £12m by Man City before he was loaned to us; Ntcham and Eddy both had experience in the French and Italian leagues respectively before we signed them- they were also part of two of the most prestigious academies in world football; Petrov was signed for £2.8m in 99(!)- we were unwilling to pay that for McGinn 20 years later. Only Frimpong is a true rough diamond.
The other facts that you mention are true, but hardly of comfort. We may be top now, but Sevco have a game in hand at home; it’s very likely that they will win it.
While we may have more points and goals now than recent years, Sevco have the same goal difference as us now and a game in hand. So the reasonable conclusion is that the league is weaker this year than it has been in the past.
You also have to consider that we are on a 9 game run of scoring 2 goals or less. While we started the season with a bang (scoring 7 and 5 goals in our 1st 2 games), there is nothing to suggest that form is around the corner now. We scored a winner at the death against Hamilton as well.
As Celtic By The Numbers showed, our midfield are overperforming, scoring more than is expected. It is highly likely that this trend won’t continue. If so, we are relying heavily on OE, Griff (4 goals to his name this season; PT was his first start since August), Bayo (who NL doesn’t fancy) and the new Polish bhoy who appears to be 3rd in line already.
Losing this year’s league would be far more detrimental to the club than spending £10-15m on transfers, but yet we are seeming to opt for the cheap option once again.
THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY on 22ND JANUARY 2020 1:31 PM
Totally agree.
The plastic pitches are an abomination to the sport.As Rodgers said,”I can’t ever remember seeing a good game on one”.Never a true word spoken.None in the English leagues,even at the lowest levels,and they are not awash with cash.Fans playing 30 quid to watch crap games,as Rodgers says.Also grossly unfair to visiting teams.We are not alone in struggling on these surfaces,for the simple reason,they are atrocious.
Turkeybhoy on 22nd January 2020 1:21 pm
You are right there are many other sites that aren’t populated in the main by board sycophants as CQN is. Sites, actually the overwhelming majority of Celtic minded sites, that actually give a dam about the governance of our club.
The Hands,
No,not letting it pass.We offered the same money for Mc Ginn.We were the only bidders for him up until the last day.2.4 million.Petrie said,GIRFUY,to Celtic,and demanded 4 million.The same Petrie,that let him go to Villa for 2.7 million,which we matched.He chose Villa.Re-write history as much as you like.Does not change what actually happened.Every time,I will dig you up on this.
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 22ND JANUARY 2020 1:00 PM
At the AGM , on the day he simply ” misspoke ” .
Anything in writing ?
==================
Misspoke, really?!
In writing… plenty witnesses there…
And anyway, if he expressed himself wrongly or unintentionally, nothing stopping him answering the question with on that basis.
It wouldn’t wash, but you know that.
HH
TIMALOY29 on 22ND JANUARY 2020 11:38 AM
From the last thread
Where you and I differ – I assume they will get 100 points
Consequently we have to beat that
For all the players you mentioned that were projects but came good how many did not
I could make a bigger list
The point is it’s a gamble
I want to minimise the gamble effect of winning 9
I would look to secure a tried and tested Pro possibly 2 to maximise our chances of winning 9
We have the money
BTW I am a PL fan i think he has done wonders for us – BUT how many chances do you get to win 10
I simply do not believe we are using our resources to max effect
67ECW
@ TURKEYBHOY on 22ND JANUARY 2020 1:42 PM
We matched Villa’s bid when McGinn was in Birmingham for a medical and contract negotiations. A date late and a dollar short. The £4m was all paper talk- did anyone from Hibs come out on record with this figure?
We paid £2.8m for Stan in the 90s but were offering less for McGinn 20 years later. It’s our modus operandi.
I just want to see the day the new CEO comes in and spends that 50 mil. Then we can ……..eh……..hunt someone else.
HH
OGLACH on 22ND JANUARY 2020 1:31 PM
Celtic are a business . The first duty of a business is financial survival . After the events of 20 plus years ago , surely that fact should be obvious.
Our Board is stacked with high achievers in the field of business and finance. Celebrate. Unless of course you would prefer the workers to be running the factory. As some obviously would.
I trust them to do what is in the interests of Celtic FC. at every level .
Colluding with Rangers , if thats what they did , would be extremely distasteful to me. Simply because I feel that they are a focus for bigotry .
BUT, I`m not in the know . Are you ?
SIEMPRE CELTIC (FORMERLY TRADITIONALIST88) on 22ND JANUARY 2020 1:50 PM
You`re right.
THE HANDS CANT HIT WHAT THE EYES CANT SEE on 22ND JANUARY 2020 1:34 PM
Fees for English talent are often inflated. Patrick Roberts had played 17 games off the bench for Fulham in the English Championship. When he arrived at Celtic, his experience as a professional footballer was negligible.
Edouard’s experience in France comprised of an unhappy loan spell at Toulouse. He played 16 games and the vast majority of those were on the bench. He only completed 90 minutes twice.
Ntcham went to Serie A and played 17 games. He picked up more minutes than Edouard & Roberts as he started the season in the starting 11 but lost his place. In the second half of the season he only made 3 appearances.
Roberts, Ntcham & Edouard all arrived at Celtic with minimal first team experience.
An aside on John McGinn, he plays for Aston Villa because of a choice he made. Celtic made offers and matched Villa’s bid. He turned us down to go down south.
It’s reasonable to believe the league is weaker. Certainly Hibernian, Kilmarnock, St Johnstone, Hearts and Aberdeen have regressed to different extents.
I am slightly concerned that Celtic have looked blunt in front of goal lately. The fact that we have scored a goal more than the invincible season would suggest that this has been a temporary lack of form. Edouard is somebody I have the utmost belief in.
The Aberdeen, St Mirren, Hibernian, Hearts and Partick Thistle games were all dominant performances. We created the chances. We just haven’t converted them.
It could be a lack of confidence, it could be fatigue or it could be winter weather and deteriorating surfaces. I don’t believe it’s a lack of quality. As you pointed out, we were flying out the traps at the start of the season.
Last years return from winter break was the start of a run. I don’t expect to see a perfect performance tonight but Christie, Forrest, Elyounoussi, Johnston and Elhamed will be returning shortly.
There is limited value in the winter window. The players available are rarely of the highest quality. Look at who is leaving Celtic. Not Edouard. Not Christie. Not Forrest. It’s unwanted players like Scott Sinclair or youngsters looking for a chance like O’Connor.
Look at the market elsewhere? No big business is being done save a couple deals that included release clauses (Haaland & Minamino).
TURKEYBHOY on 22ND JANUARY 2020 1:21 PM
Here here my friend
But unfortunately our road to winning said League could be helped or hindered by said CEO
Just for clarity I am a fan of our CEO
But between now and end of Jan his actions (or inactions) will have a great effect on you and me come May
67ECW
LAMBERT14 on 22ND JANUARY 2020 12:42 PM
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON
Sevco sites hate Lawwell as they partially blame him for the new club starting in the 4th tier.
Some mentalist posters even blamed him for the death of their old club.
The truth of the matter gradually leaking out, especially with him pushing for the old club and Celtic to get a move to England, portrays Lawwell almost as the guy who tried to save them.
===========================
That is the narrative I would take and in doing so explain why it was necessary in the long term interests of Scottish football to do so, but admit too much of the integrity of the game has been sacrificed by the 5 Way Agreement and LNS sham and work in conjunction with the support is necessary to restore it.
Anyway.
Lennie.
Gonnae gie big Tam Rogich ( not Rodgik ) a run oot the night.
Dropped points tonight will make the Sevco post match reaction look like a mere foreshock.
Celtic must win. No excuses.
THE HANDS CANT HIT WHAT THE EYES CANT SEE on 22ND JANUARY 2020 1:34 PM
You also have to consider that we are on a 9 game run of scoring 2 goals or less. While we started the season with a bang (scoring 7 and 5 goals in our 1st 2 games), there is nothing to suggest that form is around the corner now
There is. Our record in the 9 games against Scottish opposition before the winter break:
2016-2017 – W9
2017-2018 – W5 D2 L1
2018-2019 – W5 D1 L2
In each of the 3 seasons since the reinstatement of the Winter break we’ve won the next 9 games.
In the last 2 seasons our form has improved after the break, the season before we had won all 9 games before so our results couldn’t improve.
I’d think that a decent rest, some time to work on tactics without the slog of 2 games a week, and some new blood would help with form. The last couple of seasons certainly suggest that to be the case.
Oglach ,
The running of our club?This will be the same club who are going for 9 leagues in a row.Have had an “Invincible season”,and an unprecedented Treble Treble,are into the knock out stages of Europa League,in which tournament,they finished top of their group for the first time ever.Thats on the park.
Off the park,have built Lennoxtown.Have transformed Celtic Park,with The Celtic Way,and the buying of surrounding land.Are in the process of building another complex at Barrowfield.Last but not least something that for some reason sticks in many fans craw,40- 50 million in the bank.Badly run nope,can’t see that at all with the evidence.Not that this will deter the obsessed.So carry on.As I said,I have lived through much worse Boards than this without giving them a second thought,and will continue to.
Let the CEO lie to shareholders…..see
David Murray
Craig Whyte
Charles Green
Dave King
If Lawwell has lied,sack him.
The Hands,
Are you deliberately acting stupid.Because we paid 2.8 million for Stan how does that have any bearing on present.Villa paid 2.7 million.Should they have paid more?Nonsensical comments.