When exceptional becomes the norm

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As this clean sheet run has continued, every time Fraser Forster has made a good save, I’ve found myself suggesting that the defence is not playing as tightly as it used to.  We quickly regard exceptional performance as the norm.

Fraser has, of course, been exceptional, again, this season.  Efe Ambrose and Virgil van Dijk are fast and commanding.  Virgil has a presence about him, like Wanyama, but bigger.  On the flanks, despite the lack of competition, Emilio Izaguirre is performing at his best, while Adam Matthews, Mikael Lustig and Darnell Fisher have shuffled through the right back position as availability dictates.

I have a notion that Scott Brown is also worth credit for the defensive performance.  He seems to have grown this season, perhaps as a consequence of fitness.  This is his best season yet.

Ultimately the game is all about tactics.  Any team can keep a clean sheet but 10-in-a-row (get used to reading that) is a consequence of team plan, which is where Neil Lennon comes in.

Tomorrow is the final day to confirm tickets for our CQteN St Patrick’s Day Dinner on 14 March at the Kerrydale Suite.  The dinner will raise funds to build a kitchen at Kholoni Primary School in Mchinji, Malawi, where 1200 kids currently attend without food facilities.  If you have lost your invoice email me, celticquicknews@gmail.com

See you there.
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  1. Delaneys Dunky

     

    23:28 on

     

    30 January, 2014

     

     

    The more realistic debate is what is the minimum bid that is ‘too good to turn down’ – in the board’s opinion.

     

     

    It’s a double edged sword I think potentially you can make the team a lot stronger by selling your best assets and spreading the wealth across the team but it’s a tricky job to get right.

  2. I love Amido’s chant, although Miss Doc is not allowed to sing it!

     

    The big ghuys enthusiasm is infectious.

     

    He knows the way to goal too.

     

     

    Amido, Amido, Amido f…..g BaldeCSC

     

     

    Night All.

  3. Bada

     

     

    Where did you hear that? Think it would be a good signing for the price.

     

     

    Kikinthenakas

  4. The sooner the window shuts the better imo.

     

     

    Then we can get down to slagging the board for selling us short once again, which they are imo >}

     

     

    HH

     

     

    NA2

     

     

    I am with you re the biscuit tin mentality.

     

     

    See if we don’t qualify for the group stages next season, I doubt the happy clappers will make as much noise as they are presently.

     

     

    We were seconds away from going out against Karragandy, that one of the bar, we were blessed, had that gone in we were gone.

     

     

    And no real reason to think we will do better next season, we had a dream draw this season, and to expect another is dreaming.

     

     

    HH

  5. !!bada bing!!

     

     

    23:38 on 30 January, 2014

     

    That’s Grffiths all but confirmed apparently.

     

     

    Nails colours to mast: good news.

  6. neganon2

     

     

    23:33 on 30 January, 2014

     

     

    If the GB want to come back they can, they choose not to and sit in the Celtic club when the games are on so no ones deserting anybody.

     

    Celtic are going along just fine so what’s the problem ? What’s there to moan about ?

  7. Ok Jude. Leaving aside the non signing of a striker do you believe that celtic were right to lie to the support and join in on the police efforts to criminalise the support?

  8. delaneys dunky

     

     

    23:35 on 30 January, 2014

     

     

    Haha only £20m that’s cheap hope lawwell never heard you…… Banning orders all round HH

  9. Weeminger

     

     

    Accept your point, but I love us to keep our best players. Like we did with Billy McNeill, Danny McGrain and Paul McStay.

  10. Delaneys Dunky

     

    23:45 on

     

    30 January, 2014

     

     

    So would I but it’s different times. Apart from the financial aspect of it, they were all pre-Bosman. I suspect that even if the income was based around gates, which would keep us on a par with the ‘big guns’ the Bosman rule alone would make it that much harder to keep players that perhaps fancied a different more glamorous league.

  11. Hun skelper. The GB can’t come back as a group. They are effectively banned. The ban was brought about after the Motherwell game and not one member of the GB have been found guilty. NOT one. Celtic used that game as an excuse to ban them. They had been trying for some time. They lied about safety certificates. They passed ALL our details to the police illegally. They misrepresented the protest about the OB act. They supported the criminalisation of celtic supporters.

     

     

    On a minor level they move Saturday games at the drop of a hat. They offer no value to those who buy season books.

     

     

    The summit of their ambition is mediocrity. For us to be cannon fodder if we are lucky enough to get to the champions league.

     

     

    We are disparate for a striker and laughably folk on this site think balde is the answer. Delusion is en vogue it seems. But we buy more midfielders. We used to laugh at the Huns for this. But celtic are the Haarlem globetrotters of football. Not a rwl team.

     

     

    If we weren’t breaking records now we would be failing and yet we are being held in an esteem that is undeserved.

     

     

    So a club that criminalises and lied to its support – something to be proud of? I don’t think so?

  12. HS

     

     

    For any lurking scouts. I think they are both average, and we would be lucky to get a return on our money for them. :)

  13. Exiled tim the behaviour of those who run outer club is appalling and getting worse.

     

     

    67 heaven. I went to a game. I love celtic but I am ashamed of us at the moment. The perception that everything is great terrifies me. It’s far from great. We are recreating the Huns in the 90s. And all these posters who can’t hold an argument ar just like those folk of FF.

  14. McDowellcelt god bless wee oscar on

    Griffiths deal done and to be confirmed 2maro!

     

    Have my doubts about him but il be happy to be proved wrong.

  15. Bada Bing….totally agree!!

     

     

    ….PFayr supports WeeOscar

     

     

    I knew this would be contentious…..I may well be wrong (especially if I say on current form) but here’s my reasoning.

     

     

    Kris Commons at 30 has been absolutely phenomenal for us in the SPFL and CL qualifiers this season. However, in both CL campaigns he has struggled to make an impact at that higher level. No disgrace in this he just has his level.

     

     

    James Forrest has had a good season but has been impacted by injuries and personnel issues. I just feel that at 22 Forrest is turning into a hell of a player. At times in the CL he looks really dangerous (second half of both Ajax games this season). I might be wrong but I think Forrest will continue to improve and be a massive player for us over the next 2 or 3 seasons and eventually will probably be sold for circa 10m.

  16. Weeminger

     

     

    Aye Bosman has given the players and agents all the power, and made them all millionaires.

  17. paolosboots FC before PLC on

    NegAnon, many feel the same its plc as opposed to fc & there is a gap between the board & the fans that imo is getting wider. I am prepared to wait & see regarding signings the proof will be in the pudding when cl qualification takes place if we fail due to lack of firepower then there has to be accountability.

  18. neganon2

     

     

    23:50 on 30 January, 2014

     

     

    Look mate nobody’s banned they can all come in they choose to get there money back and not go which is there choice and there missed the parks dead,

     

    They can’t do anything about game moves tv runs the show.

     

    We’re not desperate for a striker, we all want one but we’re not desperate.

     

    Am a supporter and a think we’re doing great at the moment we’re winning games playing good football and scoring plenty of goals that’s what it’s all about, playing and winning. HH

  19. McDowellcelt god bless wee oscar on

    Palace bid for ledley has been accepted.. It’s up to the player now. Same way as hooper last year once bid accepted other clubs will now come in for him.

  20. I got a text earlier today telling me the Griffiths deal was off or certainly our interest had cooled – I was quite happy with that news.

     

     

    If we have signed him, I’ll not be delighted, but he’ll get my support when on the pitch wearing the hoops.

     

     

     

    doc

     

     

    23:38 on 30 January, 2014

     

     

    The Amido Balde song is undoubtedly one of the most ridiculous, unimaginative, embarrassing chant from the Celtic support I have ever heard…in my humble opinion, of course. It is up there with Charlie Adams ridiculous song.

     

     

    hh

     

     

    bj

  21. Evening Gents

     

     

    Hope Joe stays, consistent & able footballer. Sammi has had his time IMO.

     

     

    Tomorrow I’d be happy with a player or 2, getting the right players in early in the summer is far more important.

     

     

    Finally I think it’s poor that a few of our posters seem to take very little joy in Celtic and gripe relentlessly. Get a grip.

     

     

    HH

  22. BIG-CUP-WINNERS on

    Neganon2

     

     

    With your superior intellect could you dissect and explain this wee snippety-do-dah

     

    “If we weren’t setting records now we should be ashamed”.

     

     

    am confused so a um.

  23. mcdowellcelt god bless wee oscar

     

     

    00:02 on 31 January, 2014

     

     

    Where you getting that from mate ?

  24. long haired yins man on

    Neg Anon, I particularly agree on two of your points. Listen to any Celtic staff member i.e. Lawwell or Lenny they never make a commitment to sign a player who can walk right in the first team, always a “squad” player. If Celtic don’t make the investments, commerce says that the buyer won’t then buy the season ticket.

     

    Second point being that I am personally sick that the game times are played to suit people sitting in the house rather than the punter sitting in the stadium. Already lost a couple of Saturday games due to changes since I have work/ family commitments.

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