Clearly Brendan Rodgers bought Marvin Compper to the club in January because he felt he needed cover and experience in central defence, most probably for these Champions League qualification games. He has now picked up another injury. Despite plans clearly remaining unfulfilled, we are in a good position to travel to Trondheim this week, but despite confidence ahead of the Rosenborg game, the ghost of Compper spooks me.
Jozo Simunovic is fit, for now, although paying the price for an uncontrolled action. Dedryck Boyata will return to the starting line-up soon, but with less than a year on his contract, I expect the big man’s agent will be busy marking cards elsewhere. Kris Ajer and Jack Hendry have been holding fort, but the job Compper was recruited to do is not being done.
Two years ago we brought in Kolo Toure. The big Ivorian was well past his prime and soon found the rigours of regular football too much, but he brought a calm to the team in the qualifiers, especially in a fraught night in Be’er Sheva.
I know coaches are reluctant to be pushed into making short term signings but this is one time it is advisable.
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Paul67 et al
I’d certainly be ‘spooked’ by the thought of Marvin (Morton) Compper if I was you Paul, because it was you who heralded the arrival of said player as the answer, not only to CL qualification but to our prayers. Sadly only a miracle would deliver Marvin from the perpetual state of injury in which he finds himself. Not so much limbo as a never ending purgatory. Still, that said things could have been worse, Brendan might have signed Rivaldo Coetzee into the bargain, congenital bone disorder and all. Moral of the story, keep faith with Jack and Kris, and if we lose either Dedryck or Jozo add a.n. other experienced defender.
Marvin Compper
WILLIEFERNIE
Rubbish. No room for Charlie Tully?
It’s an interesting question,but I’m hitting my cot shortly for nightshift. Will hopefully garner a reply in the next day or two.
Oh,and Garner won’t be in my 16
I was surprised to see no comments of Phil Mac’s behind the scenes info on our transfers this summer, is he not valued anymore like E Tims or other blogs??? I’m sure he has decent sources at Celtic naw???
https://philmacgiollabhain.ie/2018/07/26/why-comparing-celtic-and-sevco-is-a-cruel-pastime/#more-12079
HH
POGMATHONYAHUN
I first heard of Kaiser about a year ago,an overnight R4 programme. Incredible stuff-he had a longer career than most genuine superstars!
Book is a must,I reckon.
The Hands,
I made no generalisation, I specifically reference the same, multi posters who post the same negative posts.
I have often argued that people should be allowed to express themselves.
I have no pre conceived way for anyone to support Celtic.
I agree with you about myopia/embattled outlook, which is what I am railing against.
I did not mention signings but will contend that opinion based on no knowledge of facts is simply unsubstantiated opinion, therefore worth little.
I can go to the store and buy a nice bottle of malt for about £40. If there is no malt available I could buy a cheap bottle of Grouse or something but I would find it inferior and not suitable for purpose.
Maybe Brendan wants a Highland Park at centre half and not an Asda store blend!
Anti Celtic is regurgitating SMSM pap.
Anti Celtic is refusing to accept the good that Celtic do.
Anti Celtic is being a hun.
Eurochamps67
” ‘Gers’ will not be held to ransome over Lafferty”
“Celtic should pay Hibs the going price for McGinn”
anti celtic pap csc
Paul67
Why a short term Centre Half signing?
Most things at the moment I am delighted with.
What I am not so happy with is going into the season with a no back up for KT, a RB in Lustig whose best days are behind him. Ralston ain’t being quoted and Gamboa appears only to be used as a last resort , so therefore the manager doesn’t trust.
Our inactivity to recruit frustrates me.
I appreciate we want quality but why does it seem to be so hard?
We have spent nothing as Eddie’s fee is covered by Armstrong salevandcVVD money.
What about splashing out £10-15m on a Centre Half , a Right back and a solid cover for Left Back.
I would get Izzy back for a start
I fear Brendan will get ever increasingly frustrated
HH
I’m trying to think of when was the last time a central defender came through the youth set-up. Quite a while ago, no? Why is it we’re not strong in filling that position from our own ranks?
BURGHBHOY
Obviously I agree with you on most of that,but Izzy won’t return,and for the same reasons he left-problems with an agent.
It’s been mentioned a few times,but without any explanation.
Re cover for left-back. It is probably the most difficult position to fill. Mind you,DELANEYSDUNKY knows one. Understudied Andy Robertson at Dundee Utd.
Fabio Cardoso thrown oot the big hoose
as ever CSC
FASSREIFEN
Good point. Even the very few who broke into the first team in,say,the last forty years,didn’t last long.
All the more reason to be pissed off at a Romanian thug.
I remember posting previously that it sometimes seems to be a badge of honour about who could throw their book/card the furthest as to who was the biggest fan. We opTIMists aren’t blind to potential problems, but we prefer not to focus on them. Equally (I assume) the mineshafters do take fleeting pleasure in us winning games and trophies and plaudits, before looking for the next potential banana skin… and there’s always one of those coming!
We are thin at CB right now, right enough; two players tired from making it to the latter stages of the World Cup (well done them) and another suspended, with the back-up seemingly a “sicknote” (we’ve had a few too many of those of late I feel). If we can get through this next game, these players are back in contention (well 3/4 of them at least).
And that’s also the point isn’t it? The way we play, aggressively with attacking fullbacks, does often leave the centre two exposed, especially to long diagonal balls when the big lads often have have to turn and run…
I do think we need another player or two, but didn’t Brendan come in saying he wanted a smaller playing squad? As such, I don’t think he’ll recruit a player as a stopgap for this next game as I don’t think he likes to be bounced into doing something like that. I also think he’ll be thinking longer term that if Boyata does run down his contract, we’ll be looking for a replacement in good time.
Yours in happyclappyness
Jocky
I might be wrong,but BRsaid that Boyatta would be back at Celtic today.Any confirmation of this?
BMCUW,
Is this ofishul that Boyattas agent has not been taking calls?If so,who informed us of this?.I have seen nothing official from Celtic on this,then again,I dont see everything.What I have seen,is Boyatta saying he is happy at Celtic.What I have not seen,is Boyatta saying he wants to leave.He may well do,if a great offer comes in,but at the moment I am filing it along with,KT,Olivier,Dembele,as should everyone else until we know different,or transfers are done.
Why no rush to sign another striker.I mean,Dembele could be off.
Griff is injured more than he plays.
Edouarde,is only a boy,albeit,like Ajer,showing great promise.
Reading the striker bit back,is exactly the reasoning you use about the CH position.
Celtic only won 1 title between 1938 and 1966.
Nearlythreedecades CSC
DAVID17 on 30TH JULY 2018 1:42 PM
John Terry currently sun lounging in the Algarve. Fishul.
If i see him i will drive him to Faro airport masel….
TURKEYBHOY
I take your point. Griffiths,for instance,needs to play regularly to stay fit. But I’ve stated on here often my confidence that Moussa won’t be leaving this summer as planned.
His recurring injury problems have seen to that. He needs to prove to suitors not only his ability-tick!-but his durability and fitness-erm,naw.
However,my main focus is on our weakness at the back. That you suggest we might be weaker up front indicates we might be in a worse position than I thought!!!
Welcome to The Mineshafters Society,old bean…
Not only have we to ‘brace ourselves’ for £25M – £30M bids for Keiran Tierney we’ve to sign a ‘quality’ player as back up, when the very reason Izzy left was because he wasn’t getting, or likely to. get a game – How would that work?
We’ve also to thwart bids for our ‘bomb scares’ and ‘liabilities’ not to mention our ‘drive them to the airports masells’
Players agents play special hide and seek but only with Celtic players going into the last years of their contracts it seems – SMSM mince?
We gave Jozo Simunovic a new contract after he defaulted through recurring injury, in a European game, we’re hardly likely to spend big before he’s gone, if he goes.
As ever csc
Here’s another anti-Celtic rant.
https://thecelticblog.com/2018/07/blogs/our-central-defensive-situation-is-farcical-sort-it-out-brendan-and-quickly/
Eurochamps67
Although agreeing with most of what you said, I don`t think being negative makes those to whom you refer anti-Celtic.
There are reasons why so many human beings are negative and Celtic fans are not exempt.
My main beef with them is in the way they offer unsubstantiated opinion as fact.
Also, when Brendan said` that` , he might have meant` this` and it suddenly becomes a fact that Brendan DID mean `this` !
JJ
@ TURKEYBHOY on 30TH JULY 2018 2:29 PM
From your statement you must be the only Celtic fan that believes that our defence and strike force are of equal strength. The quality of Griff, Dembele and Edouard far outways the equivalent quality of our CHs (notwithstanding that Ajer is a great prospect).
Burghbhoy,
You say that you appreciate that BR wants to bring in quality,then go on to say that we should spend,£ 15 million on a RB,a CH,and a LB.Really ?You actually believe that is possible?
I agree,if Boyatta goes,we need a CH.I am sure everyone at CP,knows this,but the EPL window shuts in 9 days.Thats when any available CHs will come on the market.It was Brendan who said”How many CHs do you think we should have at any given time”.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 30TH JULY 2018 2:39 PM
Not only have we to ‘brace ourselves’ for £25M – £30M bids for Keiran Tierney we’ve to sign a ‘quality’ player as back up, when the very reason Izzy left was because he wasn’t getting, or likely to. get a game – How would that work?
*
I don’t recall anyone demanding “quality” back-up. Quality would never settle for that role. Solid and experienced has been the shout,from what I’ve seen and heard. As for Izzy leaving because he wasn’t prepared to play second fiddle,not so.
He was more than happy with his place in the squad,it allowed BR a bit of leeway with KT gametime.
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/emilio-izaguirre-why-i-had-to-leave-celtic-1-4705185
@ TURKEYBHOY on 30TH JULY 2018 2:29 PM
Also, did Stuart Armstrong make comments or insinuate that he was unhappy at Celtic and wanted a transfer? I don’t think he did but yet it was evident that he was stalling on signing and, as has subsequent happened, seeking a move to the PL.
Surely Boyata’s reluctance to sign a contract indicates that he too is considering his options and is probably looking for a big pay cheque as it may be his last chance. If it were not for our weak defence, I’m sure we would be happy to punt him for a similar fee to Armstrong.
TURKEYBHOY 245
How many CHs do we have at this moment?
The Hands Cant Hit,
What I was getting at has gone over your head like a squadron of Red Arrows.I will try again.
Griff is seldom available.When he is,a couple of games,then out again..
Dembele could go at anytime.
Edouarde is a young kid with great promise.
Just how are we well off in thestriker department if Dembele does go,and griff is out.?
BMCUW
I am sure there are many on here who will be in total agreement with that article. Although I believe your anti-Celtic rant comment was not to be taken seriously, I do believe it best describes the article. This part in particular does, I believe, support my view :
” We’re in this situation because we have a manager who doesn’t seem to realise that the defence is not up to the job of playing Champions League football and because we have a board that has not gotten out the cheque book since we signed Edouard.”
JJ
PS I hope you have made a substantial recovery but don`t let my genuine best wishes stop you from having a go at my opinion :-))
THEHANDSCANTHITWHATTHEEYESCANTSEE
£7m for a player in the last year of his contract,and who was a bit-part player last season.
Aye,not bad.
But some of the prices being paid down there for ordinary are eye-watering. Southampton will definitely be thinking they won a watch.
Oh Dearie Me, big Mike no that easy to get rid of …..
https://planetradio.co.uk/clyde/local/news/rangers-bosses-and-mike-ashley-should-make-peace-says-judge/
Just re-read my 2:53 post. Greatly lacking in clarity.
In a nutshell: I thought the Celticblog article was very poor.
JJ
HOTSMOKED
Still canny put that lost weight on,mate-thanks for asking. Like I could afford to lose it in the first place!
Also still struggling to walk,climb stairs,carry weights,etc. Just not quite there yet.
Comes in handy in the pub,mind-too far,too heavy,someone else will need to get them in!
Aye,I can just imagine me getting away with that!!!
Mobbed see ya in November?
Mobbed,mibbe
@ TURKEYBHOY on 30TH JULY 2018 2:51 PM
The difference between our strikers and defence is that we need better quality in defence; the same does not apply for our strikers.
While it may be frustrating that Dembele and Griff have been hampered by injury, we are still content that when fit we have an excellent front line which hasn’t been seen at Celtic since MoN.
However, that does not apply to defence. Even if we had all defenders fit, we still require a better quality CH and RB. We also require cover for KT. That is the difference.
Also, Celtic could receive a substantial offer for any player at any moment, so Dembele is not the only player in danger of leaving.
WE have a few that can step in to fill the striker role, we have none to do the same at CB, Bitton injured, Ajer a wean who is learning the role, Compper the ghost, Jozo plays less than 50% of the time, Boyata unavailable just now, that leaves no CB’s as far as I can make out going into our most important games of the season, great planning, not.
The problem with our CHS is quality not quantity. Brendan may state we have plenty of cover but, let’s be honest, none of our CHS are CL quality. All of them are more than good enough for domestic games where they are rarely under sustained pressure but when we go into a game against superior teams, the mistakes become more frequent and more costly. We have lost a barrow load of CL goals thanks to unforced errors, mostly from defenders. Stray passes, careless pass backs, being caught out of position, attempting to play it out instead of clearing the lines . . .
A centre half that ticks all the boxes and is at the peak of his game is out of our price range. So an experienced leader with a cool head and a good football brain who is able to help Ajer grow into his role would be a wise investment. John Terry would be a brilliant signing for a season. He would stroll through our games.
Wednesday will not be easy for us.
Last seasons away adventures in Europe shows how mentally fragile and vulnerable we can be.
Rosenberg and Anderlecht away were exceptions where our tactical gameplan worked.
When we give up a goal uncertainty permeates the whole team.
Only Brown seems to possess the mentality required but hope fully experience will see Nt’cham stay strong also.
I would prefer we played an additional central mid (Kouassi) as i thought we gave them to much room in this area at home.
Bendtner will rumble up our centre backs and they will look for knockdowns so additional protection for centre half’s needed.
Our spacing at times is poor and for European success better cohesion is needed.
Rangers hit with £500k legal bill and to sign NEW Sports Direct deal to sell kits
From The Hun- they have to pay majority of Ashleys legal bill too
But thw Lying King said Ashley had been paid off?
BMCUW
Sorry I don’t recall referencing you, prompting your opinion, or what you may or may not, have posted?
Apart from your SMSM unreadable for me subscription link to an Izzy story, ultimately I’m sure he left because he wanted to play football, which he couldn’t do at Celtic.
I reckon a development player is the best option for cover for Keiran Tierney so does BR , for now it seems, so I’m good with that.
That decision will be based on number of games likely to be played, given that aside from injury Keiran Tierney will always play so long as he’s fit and carries a growing European reputation and a value of £30M ( SMSM) .