With the arrival of Marvin Compper all four of Celtic’s central defenders will feel an increase in pressure to make the starting line-up. Jozo Simunovic and Erik Sviatchenko may already have other places on his mind but neither Dedryck Boyata and Kristoffer Ajer will know where they fit in the manager’s plans.
Ajer (19) fits our style of play better than any of the existing options. So much of our play depends on the central defenders being able to control a quick pass, move it on, or run with the ball. Boyata and Simunovic accomplished this well away to Anderlecht, but their movement, first touch and composure on the ball has dipped well below that level.
I have some concerns about Ajer defending. He has not been tested rigorously and I have noticed a tendency to allow strikers to drift into space, so we should be cautious about putting too much responsibility onto his shoulders.
What is clear is that we play better football and are a better team with him in the side. That alone is enough to merit keeping his place.
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Barney67
Don’t worry pall, you gave it a rite good go.
setting free the bears for Res. 12 & Oscar Knox on 3rd January 2018 2:26 pm
I think there was a riot because they lost the plot.
——————————————————————————–
Are you suggesting they lost their composure? They were decomposed?
Thanks to all who offered their condolences on our recent family bereavement.
I often feel that I post from an invisible keyboard, but, I presume, when something of merit or value is posted, it gains the apropriate CQN response.
Thanks again.
thomthethim for Oscar OK
Apologies for the poor taste puns.
Sorry again for your loss.
If anyone has the league code for Celtic quicknews goo league please email me on dinobaggiofpl@gmail.com thanks. Pp
That should have read code for Celtic quicknews fpl league
TTT
Condolences on your loss.
THOMTHETIM
Sincere condolences for your loss!
DAVIDOPOULOS on 3RD JANUARY 2018 2:34 PM
thomthethim for Oscar OK
Apologies for the poor taste puns.
Sorry again for your loss.
*****
Don’t be silly.
Poor puns, perhaps, but not poor taste.
You should hear some of my groan-producing puns.
Death is part of Life and in many cases is a Blessed Relief.
Good to see you back posting Thom
Hope things are settling down after your bereavement.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 3RD JANUARY 2018 12:47 PM
NIALLO83
Conquering demons? I would have loved to see Paul McGrath in our colours. And I’d have loved him to have been diagnosed as other than a bevvy merchant when he was at Manchester Utd.
*had a conversation, along with other older and a wee bit wiser than me Tims with an ex-Celt one Sunday morning, IMHO was a legend who was badly mistreated by the club.
Among the stories he told was of Paul McGrath, greatest centre half he ever saw, a young Paul couldae get in the Manure side so this former player contacted Parkheid, told them about him and suggested they look at him, which they did and liked.
When we mentioned buying him his club were ok with that and so were we until the fee was mentioned, 100 grand. This was the early 80s incidentally, whit 100 grand for a reserve and our board balked at that.
Although he did eventually make the first team at Old Trafford through Ron Atkinson starring in defence when Kevin Moran became the first player ordered off in a FA Cup Final. Ron left and he didnae hit it off with sir furious and so he was sold to Villa, we were allegedly interested in him again but instead opted for Paul Elliot.
He had his best spell in the game under Graham Taylor, however, it was under new manager Dr Jo, aye the same one, that he finally achieved his potential and a year later his old boss Ron Atkinson arrived and with him came recognition from his peers and also win his first trophy with the “Villans”, defeating would you believe it manure in the LC Final, he also won a 2nd LC with them and was affectionately referred to as ‘God’ by many Villa fans.
He eventually departed Villa in 1996, leaving a legacy as one of the greatest players in the club’s history, he is still immortalized most match days, when supporters sing the ‘Paul McGrath, my Lord” to the tune of “Kumbaya”.
An amazing player who was capped 83 times for the Republic and had his face on a postage stamp, but is it a case of what could have been at Parkheid or would he have been hounded out of there by the smsm who somehow managed tae protect a Gateshead born thug who almost decapitated Gary Charles in another FA Cup Final and was somehow spared the ignominy of a red card only tae leave the park on a stretcher, Brian Clough never missed him and hit the wall on many occasions.
When I mentioned his bevy problem I was met with “so what, he could still play fitba”.
WITS,
Thanks.
https://twitter.com/RangersFC/status/948570120397508608?s=08
The huns now have a Sean to keep wee Declan company
T3- all the best HH
Bada – Just seen that on the BEEB website. That must be the quickest update to a Scottish football page in the history of their website
John Barnes is to enter the Big Brother House. As if he hasn’t given us enough nightmares
Ajer is not a slow player and he covers a lot of ground owing to his long stride. Think he got turned once because he was so close to the player so more down to positing and decisions making than pace. From where i have been sitting he is more switched on to what’s going on around him than other defenders in our team if a little less experienced.
He is not perfectly but unlike eric and derek he has age on his side and will improve with game time. i think that should be with us and if comppar is able to assist him along the way then grand. Jozo is a very good prospect but it looks like we are cashing in on him.
Dont know about the young boy hendry from dundee but if BR thinks he is better and fit into our team and style of play i would be happy to see him signed up.
The honest to god truth is from our defence i would not miss gamboa, eric, derek or jozo if they left tomorrow so maybe that tells its own story about their contribution or the beleif i have in any of them.
Same could be said about amstrong, allen, henderson, ddv’s, ciftci, bitton, hayes, Edouro. roberts, rogic and dembele (this season).
Still grateful for their contribution in the hoops, they lived the dream.
HH
STEPHBHOY on 3RD JANUARY 2018 3:41 PM
Rogic??? surely not????
Rogic has been poor any time i have watched his this season
He does not press well enough and does not last 90 minutes
On his game he is a very good footballer but that is not nearly often enough
HH
Lots of talk about CB’s coming and going …. must admit that I did not expect that ….
Strangely, it has been a trouble spot since VVD and DB left (who were great for us, although DB seems to have had his ups and downs since he left)
I say strangely, as I I wasn’t sure about DB when he signed (not much first team experience, and at his age… questions), but I thought Jozo and Sviatchenko were great purchases … I still think that all three are way more than good enough for the SPL, and good enough the the EL… I will say that, having seen DB, he has enough talent, but something seems a bit off …a confidence issue? I dont know…
I, and others, have suggested that ES be given a run as a holding mid …. we despearately need a proper midfielder … I think Ajer could do that job, but it doesnt seem to be on the cards …. Kouassi came with all sorts of promise, but has disappeared, and is rumored to be going out on loan, … so, there is a big hole in the middle of the park
Armstrong has his moments, but not many this season. Same for Calum McGregor, who can be great on the day, and is one of the few who moves the ball on quickly …. but neither of them are the middle of the park, dominating type of mid
If, as rumored, all three CB’s are gone before next season kicks off, I would have serious concerns about the defensive coaching …
of course, if they are not gone, ignore this post
Prior the game where he first got the injury Rogic was his usual outstanding productive self. struggled for a couple of weeks then finally succumbed to the knock and the “doesn’t last 90 minutes is a total myth” 12 months ago that statement may have been true but since last January break he finished most games he started.
Whats this about Kouassi going out on loan? I cant see him liking that one bit? He’s hardly been given a chance and there have been plenty of opportunities for BR to bed him in in less important games.
Maybe the unbeaten run curbed Brendans options but its gone now, there are plenty games, Scottish cup for instance, where he could be accommodated, maybe even giving Broonie a rest.
Kouassi going on loan does make a bit of sense to me, from the limited time i have seen him there looks like there is flashes of a player in there but he has NEVER looked anywhere near sharp enough. You can’t risk him in the team at the moment often enough to get him sharp so surely the best solution for all is to go out get games and come back in the summer raring to go?
Whatever happened with Sviatchenko and Rodgers will, I am sure, come out at some point down the line. It’s a strange one as he was our best defender for a spell. He started to underperform but you’d think he’d be able to recover from that. It seems like there must have been a complete falling out for him to be so far out the picture.
Phil mac is worth a read, tried c&p it but for some reason I can’t.
S1916- cue 4 page pull out in the rags tomorrow, telling us Man U , Arsenal are missing out on the next Hoddle, Robson, Waddle….delete as appropriate…or he’s a mix of all 3…
Sipsini
– same old
Gene…
I know what you mean but I think the s**t will hit the fan soon.
Sipsini
Hope so but won’t hold my breadth
If Kris Ajer is slow , then the many professional footballers he leaves in his wake as he surges upfield are snail paced lethargic.
JJ
GENE
Saw your post last night about beers Ansells , M&B etc are Davenports still on the go ? They were Villa sponsors in 80’s
Park Rd 67
I remember the ‘beer at home means Davenports’ ads
they are still going – but haven’t seen them for ages
http://www.davenports.co.uk/pubs-and-bars/
Looks like we’ve signed Leo Mazis – Australian winger. Anyone any idea if he’s decent? These trials very rarely come to anything, and those that do very rarely make it into the first team, but fingers crossed.
Tontine Tim on 3rd January 2018 3:10 pm
I’m not sure if the ex-Celt you mention was Pat Crerand but I do know that he was keen on Paul McGrath appearing in the hoops.
The Celtic manager, at the time, was Big Billy and Pat would not have needed to convince him of McGrath’s credentials.
You say that the £100,000 fee was the deal-breaker and I can believe that. Celtic were not big spenders. The Board had just shelled out less than £100K for Davie Provan and Murdo McLeod combined and they weren’t going to empty the biscuit tin for a reserve.
They were making a huge mistake. But, to be fair, only a few had the vision to see that big Paul would emerge as Britain’s outstanding defender.
TontimeTim / Fritzsong
Paul McGrath was a legend at Villa but should have been a Hoops legend ! His book Back from the Brink is a great read , the guy had a tough upbringing in Dublin , as you say he’s held in high regard at Villa
Terrible treatment of Dean Sheils – article on BBC from his father saying he’s abused every week.
Must have missed the BBC articles on Neil and Aiden
SIPSINI:
Here’s a link:
https://philmacgiollabhain.ie/2018/01/03/a-hypothetical-administration-at-sevco/
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
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