The Offical Glasgow Celtic thread

[6th sam]

A total clear out and a rebuild using whatever money can be got from Eddie, Ntcham, Ajer etc is needed.

Would have no issue with any of them leaving at the end of season.

To be honest the only players I would be keen to keep are MJ and Turnbull.

Possibly Calmac, if he is coached properly again and used in the correct postion, maybe Soro.

New manager, new head of scouting, new chairman a must.

In theory that is fine and I agree with it.

But the only way this is sorted is if Lawwell goes and the only way this happens is if the fans unite and keep the money away from the club.

I believe we have a talented playing squad that is greatly underachieving at present, I don't think the playing side of things needs that much surgery. As the banner outside Celtic Park said yesterday "mismanaged at every level".

'Talented playing squad' is a bit of an overstatement.

Eddie
Forrest
RC
MJ
Ajer
Calmac
Ntcham
Elynaoussi (at a stretch)

one is on loan with a ridiculous (comapared to his talent) price tag, one has been very poor all year, albeit played out of positon for most of it, 2 have been injured and the rest have all made noises about wanting away.

So that leaves 3 'talented' player who are actually good enough, want to stay or who we can afford.

Beyond that....an astonishingly average collection of players.

I'd disagree with that.

Jullien is a good defender for me having an awful season. He was excellent last year.
Rogic brilliant player who has hardly kicked a ball since Rodgers left.
Griffiths, natural goalscorer who hasn't really done much the last few years but you can see his quality.
Soro has looked a real tidy player
Did Duffy turn into a donkey overnight, people were calling him a terrific signing four or five months back.
Barkas was a very highly regarded international keeper.

We have a good playing squad but we have an amateur management setup and it's destroying a lot of these players. How many times have you seen a new manager come in and transform a much maligned group of players. Look at what a manager like Rodgers did for guys like Armstrong, Forrest, McGregor, Christie, Rogic etc.

I think the talent is there but it's never going to be realised when we cheap out on a yes man inept manager.

When individual players aren't achieving they must take responsibility. However when the whole squad is underperforming , management must take responsibility. Whether it's alleged lack of professional approach, poor tactical knowledge or loss of changing room, or likely a combination of all 3, there's no way this can be turned round. There has been a monumental financial loss for Celtic as well: minimal European money, underperforming players can now only attract a fraction of their previous sale value . Season tickets and merchandise will be harder to sell, and incoming player deals are only going to be achievable by bumping up transfer expenditure and wage bills. NL still deserves respect and sensitivity on the basis of his past, but he has to Move on. If the rumour is true regarding Celtic wanting NL to resign as opposed to a costly sacking, it now looks that buying out his contract would have cost a fraction of the massive losses above . Literally unbelievable

[Angelo]

A total clear out and a rebuild using whatever money can be got from Eddie, Ntcham, Ajer etc is needed.

Would have no issue with any of them leaving at the end of season.

To be honest the only players I would be keen to keep are MJ and Turnbull.

Possibly Calmac, if he is coached properly again and used in the correct postion, maybe Soro.

New manager, new head of scouting, new chairman a must.

In theory that is fine and I agree with it.

But the only way this is sorted is if Lawwell goes and the only way this happens is if the fans unite and keep the money away from the club.

I believe we have a talented playing squad that is greatly underachieving at present, I don't think the playing side of things needs that much surgery. As the banner outside Celtic Park said yesterday "mismanaged at every level".

'Talented playing squad' is a bit of an overstatement.

Eddie
Forrest
RC
MJ
Ajer
Calmac
Ntcham
Elynaoussi (at a stretch)

one is on loan with a ridiculous (comapared to his talent) price tag, one has been very poor all year, albeit played out of positon for most of it, 2 have been injured and the rest have all made noises about wanting away.

So that leaves 3 'talented' player who are actually good enough, want to stay or who we can afford.

Beyond that....an astonishingly average collection of players.

I'd disagree with that.

Jullien is a good defender for me having an awful season. He was excellent last year.
Rogic brilliant player who has hardly kicked a ball since Rodgers left.
Griffiths, natural goalscorer who hasn't really done much the last few years but you can see his quality.
Soro has looked a real tidy player
Did Duffy turn into a donkey overnight, people were calling him a terrific signing four or five months back.
Barkas was a very highly regarded international keeper.

We have a good playing squad but we have an amateur management setup and it's destroying a lot of these players. How many times have you seen a new manager come in and transform a much maligned group of players. Look at what a manager like Rodgers did for guys like Armstrong, Forrest, McGregor, Christie, Rogic etc.

I think the talent is there but it's never going to be realised when we cheap out on a yes man inept manager.

When individual players aren't achieving they must take responsibility. However when the whole squad is underperforming , management must take responsibility. Whether it's alleged lack of professional approach, poor tactical knowledge or loss of changing room, or likely a combination of all 3, there's no way this can be turned round. There has been a monumental financial loss for Celtic as well: minimal European money, underperforming players can now only attract a fraction of their previous sale value . Season tickets and merchandise will be harder to sell, and incoming player deals are only going to be achievable by bumping up transfer expenditure and wage bills. NL still deserves respect and sensitivity on the basis of his past, but he has to Move on. If the rumour is true regarding Celtic wanting NL to resign as opposed to a costly sacking, it now looks that buying out his contract would have cost a fraction of the massive losses above . Literally unbelievable

The manager takes responsibility.

Clubs don't sack players when teams underperform. They sack managers. All whole team have underperformed this year, it's a management problem, plain and simple. I agree, Lennon is likely not on that much, he was a cheap option. The reason he was not sacked was nothing to do with cost, it was because he's a yes man who Lawwell controls.

[JimStynes]

I think once Eddie and few others leave we will be left with a collection of very average players who have been on the decline for a while now. Eddie's form last year saved Celtic massively, there wasn't a whole lot of players playing well last year either.  I'm actually still not convinced we would have won the league last year only the pin was pulled early. Lennon has to go but there must be a reason why they haven't done it yet. I'm hoping they're making a clear out and going to get replacements sorted first.

[tyroneStatto]

I think once Eddie and few others leave we will be left with a collection of very average players who have been on the decline for a while now. Eddie's form last year saved Celtic massively, there wasn't a whole lot of players playing well last year either.  I'm actually still not convinced we would have won the league last year only the pin was pulled early. Lennon has to go but there must be a reason why they haven't done it yet. I'm hoping they're making a clear out and going to get replacements sorted first.

We would have dropped points but still would have won the league due to Rangers continued run of bad form.

[tonto1888]

Ben Davies, 25 yr old centre half looks set to sign from Preston on a pre contract. Probably Ajer's replacement for next season.

Is he any good?

[bennydorano]

The Fat Buffalo gets away with another shocker

[straightred]

I think once Eddie and few others leave we will be left with a collection of very average players who have been on the decline for a while now. Eddie's form last year saved Celtic massively, there wasn't a whole lot of players playing well last year either.  I'm actually still not convinced we would have won the league last year only the pin was pulled early. Lennon has to go but there must be a reason why they haven't done it yet. I'm hoping they're making a clear out and going to get replacements sorted first.

Covid saved Gerrard's job. They were in freefall.

[Angelo]

Ben Davies, 25 yr old centre half looks set to sign from Preston on a pre contract. Probably Ajer's replacement for next season.

Is he any good?

Not sure, Bournemouth are said to be in for him too. Talk Celtic could get him in before the end of the window if we agree a fee.


Elsewhere, after taking credit for the development of Frimpong yesterday, Lennon has now thrown Barkas under the bus tonight.

[straightred]

The Fat Buffalo gets away with another shocker

Yet again the the rules stink. He'll get a ban but they got to play with 11 men not for the 1st time this season. No penalties conceded and no red cards this season. Celtic have bigger issues this season but this kind of cr*p should not be still happening. Tonight's red was blatant. He didn't even get a yellow. Also a stone wall peno not given to hibs

[straightred]

I see the Association of Irish Celtic Supporters Clubs have issued a veiled threat regarding season ticket renewals to the Celtic Board.
https://www.aicsc.com/aicsc-statement-3/

[Angelo]

The Fat Buffalo gets away with another shocker

Yet again the the rules stink. He'll get a ban but they got to play with 11 men not for the 1st time this season. No penalties conceded and no red cards this season. Celtic have bigger issues this season but this kind of cr*p should not be still happening. Tonight's red was blatant. He didn't even get a yellow. Also a stone wall peno not given to hibs

We were always going to have to be 10 points better off this season anyway. It will always happen.

If we had any confidence in the management of the club, they would be absolutely frothing at the mouth for the introduction of VAR in Scottish football.

I've never known a big club in a domestic league like Celtic to get so many crazy decisions against them. It's been happening for decades.

[6th sam]

The Fat Buffalo gets away with another shocker

Yet again the the rules stink. He'll get a ban but they got to play with 11 men not for the 1st time this season. No penalties conceded and no red cards this season. Celtic have bigger issues this season but this kind of cr*p should not be still happening. Tonight's red was blatant. He didn't even get a yellow. Also a stone wall peno not given to hibs

We were always going to have to be 10 points better off this season anyway. It will always happen.

If we had any confidence in the management of the club, they would be absolutely frothing at the mouth for the introduction of VAR in Scottish football.

I've never known a big club in a domestic league like Celtic to get so many crazy decisions against them. It's been happening for decades.

The rangers penalty and card stats are unbelievable, their discipline must be absolutely amazing. Oh wAit, Morelos is easily the most ill disciplined player I have ever seen. His discipline has not improved at all, it's just that he acts with total impunity. Tbf Rangers have benefitted from various advantages over the years but never went 23 points up in January. Regardless of Rangers making the most of their advantages , Celtic have been abysmal in league, league cup , Scottish cup, champions league and Europa league.  I've been following Celtic for nearly 50 years , I never remember as bad a run. NL deserves sympathy and respect for the dreadful sectarian abuse he suffered as a result of his association with Celtic , but he doesn't help himself. Throwing barkas under the bus today. Throwing Conor Hazard and young players under the bus yesterday , crafty enough to praise the way the club's been run over the years, and even claiming credit for Frimpong's development despite the fact that the lad has gone backwards and couldn't wait to get away. What other manager of a high profile club , in second place in the league would be describing offloading one of your best players as a great bit of business. I wish NL the best in whatever his future holds but sadly that can't be at Celtic , as he has lost all credibility at this stage

[StPatsAbu]

The Fat Buffalo gets away with another shocker

Yet again the the rules stink. He'll get a ban but they got to play with 11 men not for the 1st time this season. No penalties conceded and no red cards this season. Celtic have bigger issues this season but this kind of cr*p should not be still happening. Tonight's red was blatant. He didn't even get a yellow. Also a stone wall peno not given to hibs

Lennon and Celtic's poor performances is one thing. But the agenda to ensure the Rangers won this year on max available points, was obviously hatched by the refs club. No sendings off, no penos against and soft penos when in tight games. Again, ignoring Celtic's poor perf, this is essentially the same Rangers team who couldn't win a match after Christmas last year, now winning every game thanks to their buddy refs.

[6th sam]

The Fat Buffalo gets away with another shocker

Yet again the the rules stink. He'll get a ban but they got to play with 11 men not for the 1st time this season. No penalties conceded and no red cards this season. Celtic have bigger issues this season but this kind of cr*p should not be still happening. Tonight's red was blatant. He didn't even get a yellow. Also a stone wall peno not given to hibs

Lennon and Celtic's poor performances is one thing. But the agenda to ensure the Rangers won this year on max available points, was obviously hatched by the refs club. No sendings off, no penos against and soft penos when in tight games. Again, ignoring Celtic's poor perf, this is essentially the same Rangers team who couldn't win a match after Christmas last year, now winning every game thanks to their buddy refs.

It's been a perfect storm for rangers. Celtic have completely imploded for whatever reason. Lennon, sadly has underperformed and the board have allowed that to happen unchecked. Celtic's years of dominance have come back to bite them, as other clubs are always happy to see big and "arrogant" clubs knocked off their perch . Subconsciously refs won't do Celtic any favours, after 9 years of dominance. However Ranger's disciplinary stats this season are off the scale and should be open to scrutiny. The fact that Morelos repetitive dangerous play and conduct has been allowed to continue is bizarre. Even Kris Boyd called it out last night. If Morelos committed last night's horrendous stamp in the street , he'd be arrested. Morelos is going to seriously injure someone, and Scottish officials must shoulder most of the blame,
. His behaviour is not even "reckless" , it's wilful cowardly assault usually when opponents are vulnerable .
This is a sideshow , and not sour grapes, as it's only one of several reasons for Rangers success . But I've never seen anything like his repetitive dangerous behaviour in any sport. Absolutely incredible.

[tonto1888]

Let's get one thing straight. The reason Celtic won't win the league this year isn't down to refs or some big conspiracy. It's because of how poor we have been top to bottom.
That said, the leniency shown to rangers this year has been shocking