Celtic FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread [warning post #417, 418]

premierstone

Any word on McGeady's injury?

Anyone know how Barry Robson played on wednesday night?

A Dub in Glasgo

Brewster wrote: »

Well If you are referring to me, I did click the link, but I can't see where it shows a link to dive? Not so sure its relevant to the point though either way??

Apologies for that, it would appear those that don't pay the BBC tax do not get to see the videos embedded in these reports

Pighead

Badabing wrote: »

Apparantly McCourt scored a great goal and played a blinder.

And he's just after repeating the trick! Picked the ball up just past halfway line, casually dribbles past about five players and then a little surge of pace and bang- 1-0 Celtic. Poor defending from St Mirren alright but a lovely goal all the same.

Broxi_Bear_Eire

Pighead wrote: »

And he's just after repeating the trick! Picked the ball up just past halfway line, casually dribbles past about five players and then a little surge of pace and bang- 1-0 Celtic. Poor defending from St Mirren alright but a lovely goal all the same.

Have to agree here lovely goal but as you say woeful defending if I was McPherson heads would roll in the dressing room

applehunter

Goal against St. mirren.

Great to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1y7xK8LK-o

Blackjack

applehunter wrote: »

Goal against St. mirren.

Great to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1y7xK8LK-o

Great goal.

poindexter

Broxi_Bear_Eire wrote: »

He has already been yellow carded for it it been dealt with

fair's fair so. see ya next week for a pint, Tall Cranes ok with you???

Broxi_Bear_Eire

poindexter wrote: »

fair's fair so. see ya next week for a pint, Tall Cranes ok with you???

lol nah won't make it over for this one going into hospital on the Monday after for an operation on my back but the Louden would be better
Love to meet up for a beer sometime we were over at the same time think a neutral pub would be better though :P

poindexter

who wants Paddy McCourt to start v rangers on Sunday???

celticbest

Celtic on 3e again on Thursday, I'm beginning to like this station!!

http://www.tv3.ie/3e/shows.php?request=europaleague

Brewster

poindexter wrote: »

who wants Paddy McCourt to start v rangers on Sunday???

I do, I think his final product is much more inspiring than McGeady's. Id go as far to say that McGeady will never have the end product that Paddy is capable of producing. If Paddy had McGeady's work rate and pace he'd be unplayable. I think Paddy is good enough to give him free licence, yes It can be like playing with 10 and half players at times because of his work rate but with talent like his Id take my chances everytime. Can create something out of nothing, a skill set that is not exactly prominent in the current Celtic first team. So a definite yes for me.

1967

I think he will start as he is the type of player Mowbray likes to have in his team, when he was manager at Hibs he had the likes of Sproule and Zemmama playing regularly.

poindexter

longshot csc #1, am on the lookout for a ticket for sunday, anyone know of any then give me a shout please

Eirebear

1967 wrote: »

I think he will start as he is the type of player Mowbray likes to have in his team, when he was manager at Hibs he had the likes of Sproule and Zemmama playing regularly.

Every time i see your name before posts i forget that your a Hibs fan! :P

applehunter

Brewster wrote: »

I do, I think his final product is much more inspiring than McGeady's. Id go as far to say that McGeady will never have the end product that Paddy is capable of producing. If Paddy had McGeady's work rate and pace he'd be unplayable. I think Paddy is good enough to give him free licence, yes It can be like playing with 10 and half players at times because of his work rate but with talent like his Id take my chances everytime. Can create something out of nothing, a skill set that is not exactly prominent in the current Celtic first team. So a definite yes for me.

Felix healy "Derry Legend" is quoted as saying that McCourt is as fast as there is over 10 metres so I think lack of pace is not a problem.

i don't think he will ever be a workhorse but that's for the donkeys anyway.

Iago

I've deleted a raft of off-topic posts from this thread. Please stick to the topic at hand which is Celtic FC, not Rangers.

If anyone would like to discuss this further please take it to PM rather than on thread

therecklessone

Further to Iago's post above, yet again I'll remind posters that there is a thread specifically set up so that SPL sides other than Celtic can be discussed.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055637851

We will not be reminding posters of this again, we will be deleting off-topic discussions from this point on.

poindexter

heading off for a few beers now and up to the game. c'mon Celtic, get right in aboot these feckers.


hail hail

premierstone

Just posted something similar on the match thread but in hindsight its probably more suited to here;

I really believe that the biggest dilema Tony Mowbray has right now is which of the two centre halves that started last night to get rid of first, Mick has lost all form and confidence and looks like an accident waiting to happen (tbh its already happened a few times) and as for Gary 'I think im fcukin Xavi' Caldwell seriously dont get me started about that lad suffice to say the day he leaves Celtic Park I will get suitably pis*ed in celebration, I argued on here at the start of the season that hte first choice centre half pairing should be Loovens and O'Dea and I have seen nothing that would change my view on that.

While the result last night was dissapointing, althiough not the disaster many are declaring it to be, remember this is the team that knocked Aston Villa out and thumped Hamburg 3-0, there were elements of the performance that was pleasing and as I have said all along there is definitely the spine of a good side there and a little tweaking in January could do the trick.

Oh yeah and for the long term future of the club and for the guy himself please drop Brown for a few weeks and let him regain he's fitness the guy is nowhere near fully fit and is basically running around like a headless chicken and I'm sure most would agree he's much better than that. And its not as if we dont have options across the middle, while none of them would be off the quality of a fully fit Brown the way he's playing at the moment I'd challenge him myself :rolleyes:

premierstone

Its just been confirmed by Celtic that Scott Brown is infact to see an ankle specialist in London after the Old Firm game, bout bloody time anyone that know's anything bout the guy could plainly see he wasnt fit

Eirebear

premierstone wrote: »

Its just been confirmed by Celtic that Scott Brown is infact to see an ankle specialist in London after the Old Firm game, bout bloody time anyone that know's anything bout the guy could plainly see he wasnt fit

Thats good, im glad theyre leaving him till after Sunday because if his injury causes him to play last night were onto a winner!

premierstone

Eirebear wrote: »

Thats good, im glad theyre leaving him till after Sunday because if his injury causes him to play last night were onto a winner!

Scott Brown been off-form is hardly likely to help a strike force ( oh such a contradiction) that hasnt scored in how many hours in the SPL now??? Look just to even things up we'll even play McManus, Caldwell and Wilson in the back 4 sound fair??

Eirebear

premierstone wrote: »

Scott Brown been off-form is hardly likely to help a strike force ( oh such a contradiction) that hasnt scored in how many hours in the SPL now??? Look just to even things up we'll even play McManus, Caldwell and Wilson in the back 4 sound fair??

lol...this game is gonna be a real great advert for the SPL eh? possibly the worst Rangers and Celtic teams in a long time.

Brewster

I thought Celtic's defending was very poor for Kenny Miller's two goals in Old Firm game. While, Miller finished well, he should not have been able to get into such positions. He bullied Loovens off the ball shoulder to shoulder for 2nd goal, he shouldn't have the strength to do that. Loovens is a big lad, but if he can't hold off Kenny Miller in a 50 50 shoulder!

However, I can't say im surprised with how Celtic's defenders are performing. In my opinion, Mowbray shouldn't be publicly criticising his players as he has been doing. Its awful in my opinion, could you a Sir Alex, Arsene or even Walter Smith for that matter doing this? The defenders' confidence must be shot to pieces with the constant chopping and changing. Mowbray needs to take responsibility here, decide who he wants to play in defence and then stick with the pair for a run of games. I think its the only way forward. This constant chopping and changing will not fix things, it is not suddenly going to click into place by changing all the time. This only happens when defenders get to know each other's games and are comfortable in fact that if they made a mistake they arent going to get a public hanging over it!!

Id be interested in your thoughts....

premierstone

Brewster wrote: »

Id be interested in your thoughts....

Our best centre half is on loan to Reading :mad:

Dempsey

Brewster wrote: »

I thought Celtic's defending was very poor for Kenny Miller's two goals in Old Firm game. While, Miller finished well, he should not have been able to get into such positions. He bullied Loovens off the ball shoulder to shoulder for 2nd goal, he shouldn't have the strength to do that. Loovens is a big lad, but if he can't hold off Kenny Miller in a 50 50 shoulder!

However, I can't say im surprised with how Celtic's defenders are performing. In my opinion, Mowbray shouldn't be publicly criticising his players as he has been doing. Its awful in my opinion, could you a Sir Alex, Arsene or even Walter Smith for that matter doing this? The defenders' confidence must be shot to pieces with the constant chopping and changing. Mowbray needs to take responsibility here, decide who he wants to play in defence and then stick with the pair for a run of games. I think its the only way forward. This constant chopping and changing will not fix things, it is not suddenly going to click into place by changing all the time. This only happens when defenders get to know each other's games and are comfortable in fact that if they made a mistake they arent going to get a public hanging over it!!

Id be interested in your thoughts....

Hinkel, Wilson, Loovens, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor etc have been playing together a long time, they should be comfortable in any reasonable combination. The defensive display was indefensible. Loovens made a mistake you should only see at junior level, you never let the ball bounce when a striker is about, never, and I hope they are getting punished in training today

Dempsey

premierstone wrote: »

Our best centre half is on loan to Reading :mad:

Are you having a laff?

Brewster

Dempsey wrote: »

Hinkel, Wilson, Loovens, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor etc have been playing together a long time, they should be comfortable in any reasonable combination. The defensive display was indefensible. Loovens made a mistake you should only see at junior level, you never let the ball bounce when a striker is about, never, and I hope they are getting punished in training today

Premierstone, fullback positions are by and large tied down. This is a 3 into 2 doesnt go situation, simple as. Mowbray needs to decide on his two best defenders and stick with them, rather then publicly humiliate them everytime they make a mistake. Do you honestly believe this is going to improve their performances??

Dempsey

Brewster wrote: »

Premierstone, fullback positions are by and large tied down. This is a 3 into 2 doesnt go situation, simple as. Mowbray needs to decide on his two best defenders and stick with them, rather then publicly humiliate them everytime they make a mistake. Do you honestly believe this is going to improve their performances??

It must be drilled into them that their current level of performance is nowhere near an acceptable standard

Brewster

Dempsey wrote: »

It must be drilled into them that their current level of performance is nowhere near an acceptable standard

Yes, and this can be done privately in the managers office, not in papers! Its very amateurish by Mowbray to be fair, I think he has let himself down bigstyle here and I don't understand what he is trying to achieve..

In addition, I don't think its just the defenders performances need to improve. That Samaras lad, he must infuriate Celtic fans around the world, if there was ever a heartless footballer award then Samaras would be right up there for the reckoning! Yet he was claiming in papers Friday what a big performance hed put in if he was selected, and pleading with Mowbray to pick him etc. Would ya stop Samaras, stop making a laughing stock of yourself....

Dempsey

Brewster wrote: »

Yes, and this can be done privately in the managers office, not in papers! Its very amateurish by Mowbray to be fair, I think he has let himself down bigstyle here and down understand what he is trying to achieve..

He didnt single anyone out, just said what everyone else knew and he would be criticised himself if he tried to defend their junior level mistakes

premierstone

Dempsey wrote: »

Are you having a laff?

Rank the four centre halfs so in order.

Personally I think O'Dea has as much if not more to offer than any of the other three and certainly deserved a chance.

Despite he's howler on Sunday I have good time for Loovens and would persist with him, McManus is a shadow of he's former self and is showing no signs whatsoever of regaining form anytime soon and Caldwell is Caldwell and I wont say anymore at the risk of being banned.

Dempsey

premierstone wrote: »

Rank the four centre halfs so in order.

Personally I think O'Dea has as much if not more to offer than any of the other three and certainly deserved a chance.

Despite he's howler on Sunday I have good time for Loovens and would persist with him, McManus is a shadow of he's former self and is showing no signs whatsoever of regaining form anytime soon and Caldwell is Caldwell and I wont say anymore at the risk of being banned.

1. Caldwell
2. Loovens
3. McManus
4. O'Dea

TBH, they are 4 poor defenders, Caldwell has glimpses of quality but when he fúcks up, he does it spectacularly, saves no expense :pac:

Loovens made junior level mistakes yesterday that let a poor striker look clinical.

McManus relys on last ditch tackling to get him out situations that he should have never got himself into in the first place. He hits the ball and hopes it finds a teammate.

O'Dea is a carbon copy of McManus except slightly slower

Two managers dont rate him as 1st choice and dont want to risk their jobs by playing him, what does that tell you?

Have you seen O'Dea play for Reading?

premierstone

Dempsey wrote: »

Have you seen O'Dea play for Reading?

Havent actually and havent really seen any reports either, how has he played??

Dempsey

premierstone wrote: »

Havent actually and havent really seen any reports either, how has he played??

Havent seen him myself but Reading fans are blaming for 3 goals conceded in 2 games.

Brewster

Dempsey wrote: »

He didnt single anyone out, just said what everyone else knew and he would be criticised himself if he tried to defend their junior level mistakes

Im afraid you will find he did, he criticised McManus after game on Thursday for the sloppy pass he played into Rapid midfield...

Do you honestly think Sir Alex would do this publicly if Rio made a mistake that led to goal? No chance...

Dempsey

Brewster wrote: »

Im afraid you will find he did, he criticised McManus after game on Thursday for the sloppy pass he played into Rapid midfield...

Do you honestly think Sir Alex would do this publicly if Rio made a mistake that led to goal? No chance...

I was talking about yesterday but

Don't play silly little balls into their midfield

The individuals who have made the mistakes have got to concentrate better.

Within five minutes, we've lost a goal at home and had to go chasing the football match.

That's something we need to address very, very quickly, stop giving teams a goal start, particularly counter-attacking teams like Rapid Vienna, who come and flood everybody behind the ball and try to hit you on the break.

I dont see anything there thats slating McManus and not everyone has to do what Alex Ferguson does. Just because he has a policy of not slating a player in public doesnt mean that its wrong to do so.

Dempsey

Example of Ferguson doing exactly what Mowbray did

http://www.espnstar.com/home/news/detail/item275705/

Brewster

Dempsey wrote: »

I was talking about yesterday but



I dont see anything there thats slating McManus and not everyone has to do what Alex Ferguson does. Just because he has a policy of not slating a player in public doesnt mean that its wrong to do so.

When you talk about "playing balls into their midfield" everyone knows it was McManus he was talking about...... All he had to say was something on lines" Of individual errors cost us 2night without elaborating on the exact incident" etc etc...

By elaborating further and actually speaking about the incident, he is kicking McManus when the guy is probably already down. Its bad man management, I fail to see how you could see it differently??

Mowbray could easily have handled situation better, McManus will know better than anyone he made a mistake, the last thing you need is your manager harping on about it in public. Its confidence sapping stuff?? Then you expect guy to perform heroics yesterday? Its simple, it aint going to happen.

I happen to think publicly slating a player is the wrong thing to do, all the best managers would never highlight the individual error that cost the team a goal. They would play it down, and highlight the positives a player has etc...! Mowbray couldn't highlight quick enough who was to blame for goal!

Just my honest opinion....

Brewster

Dempsey wrote: »

Example of Ferguson doing exactly what Mowbray did

http://www.espnstar.com/home/news/detail/item275705/

Ferguson did no such thing, he talked of poor defending generically which is accepted, but he didnt elaborate on individual error or what player should or should not have done in the build up to the Barce goal. Completely different issue.

Dempsey

Don't play silly little balls into their midfield

The individuals who have made the mistakes have got to concentrate better.

Within five minutes, we've lost a goal at home and had to go chasing the football match.

That's something we need to address very, very quickly, stop giving teams a goal start, particularly counter-attacking teams like Rapid Vienna, who come and flood everybody behind the ball and try to hit you on the break.

In our best performances this season we have defended very well, but the defending tonight was shoddy.

"The first goal didn't help. It gave them the opportunity to keep possession. We didn't plan to lose a goal early and we didn't deal with it well enough. That was the story. To lose a goal like that was a bad goal. It was a disappointing performance and some individuals will feel it themselves.

Whats the difference in what both managers said, nothing but ones the great Alex Ferguson who never slates a player in public.

The disappointment was the use of the ball when we got possession. You have to wait minutes to get it back off them. Could be it was an off night. Could be it was a mountain too big to climb.

He's so vague, he couldnt possibly be slating any of his players

Brewster

Dempsey wrote: »

Whats the difference in what both managers said, nothing but ones the great Alex Ferguson who never slates a player in public.



He's so vague, he couldnt possibly be slating any of his players

????? Not sure what you are saying here Dempsey, it certainly doesnt disprove the point im making that a great manager wouldn't publicly hang an individual player.

By using the phrase "playing silly little balls into their midfield" he is clearly identifying McManus and as such he is publicly criticising him. Do you disagree with me??

Do you think that criticising players in public is going to improve their form?

Dempsey

Brewster wrote: »

????? Not sure what you are saying here Dempsey, it certainly doesnt disprove the point im making that a great manager wouldn't publicly hang an individual player.

By using the phrase "playing silly little balls into their midfield" he is clearly identifying McManus and as such he is publicly criticising him. Do you disagree with me??

Do you think that criticising players in public is going to improve their form?

Ferguson did the same as Mowbray after a match but he wasnt singling out any player? Yet Vidic was clearly at fault for allowing a player to turn inside him

The first goal didn't help. It gave them the opportunity to keep possession. We didn't plan to lose a goal early and we didn't deal with it well enough.

If that isnt criticising Vidic then

Don't play silly little balls into their midfield

Then that isnt criticising McManus

Ferguson does have pops at his own players in the media as I've clearly proven

Brewster

Dempsey wrote: »

Ferguson did the same as Mowbray after a match but he wasnt singling out any player? Yet Vidic was clearly at fault for allowing a player to turn inside him



If that isnt criticising Vidic then



Then that isnt criticising McManus

Ferguson does have pops at his own players in the media as I've clearly proven

No its not! Listen to what Mowbray said after defeat to Rangers on Sunday, to paraphrase him, he said he was criticising the players over past few weeks in the hope of getting a reaction!! There is clearly a difference here with Mowbray lambasting his defenders in public on a continual basis, and Sir Alex criticising his teams defending for a goal now and again! You cannot compare the two situations. I ask the question again, do you think Mowbray criticising his defenders in public, is going to improve their form? I don't, he should take the players aside and work with them on an individual basis, by encouraging them, by telling them their great players etc... All Mowbray is doing is driving a wedge between himself and his players. Its crazy management.

Dempsey

Brewster wrote: »

No its not! Listen to what Mowbray said after defeat to Rangers on Sunday, to paraphrase him, he said he was criticising the players over past few weeks in the hope of getting a reaction!! There is clearly a difference here with Mowbray lambasting his defenders in public on a continual basis, and Sir Alex criticising his teams defending for a goal now and again! You cannot compare the two situations. I ask the question again, do you think Mowbray criticising his defenders in public, is going to improve their form? I don't, he should take the players aside and work with them on an individual basis, by encouraging them, by telling them their great players etc... All Mowbray is doing is driving a wedge between himself and his players. Its crazy management.

Wrapping some players in cotton wool works, being hard on others works too. Its a case of doing what works

Brewster

Dempsey wrote: »

Wrapping some players in cotton wool works, being hard on others works too. Its a case of doing what works

I don't disagree with you, I think Mowbray should try the former because the critical approach obviously isnt working!!!

He needs to decide on his partnership and give them half a dozen games together, I honesty think this will solve Celtic's problems. McManus, Caldwell are decent players, Caldwell won a player of the year award last season and I didn't hear too many Celtic fans complaining about him!! Their confidence is shot to pieces and I am not surprised there are making errors...

Do any Celtic fans honestly disagree with me??

Dempsey

Brewster wrote: »

I don't disagree with you, I think Mowbray should try the former because the critical approach obviously isnt working!!!

He needs to decide on his partnership and give them half a dozen games together, I honesty think this will solve Celtic's problems. McManus, Caldwell are decent players, Caldwell won a player of the year award last season and I didn't hear too many Celtic fans complaining about him!! Their confidence is shot to pieces and I am not surprised there are making errors...

Do any Celtic fans honestly disagree with me??

Its not my preferred choice either but I think Caldwell is being hardballed to reduce his terms and there is other internal politics influencing what is going on and I'm not liking what I'm seeing as a result

Brewster

Disappointing result for Celtic yesterday. Was reading in paper that Celtic have just won two home games in seven including European Competition. This includes a 94 minute winner against Hearts too. This is the worst home record of any new Celtic manager since 1946 apparently.

Its obviously not good enough for club to have a such home record. What do fans think? Do you feel Mowbray is under serious pressure now with a must win game against Hamburg coming up on Thursday??

My own view is ultimately manager takes responsibility. He has to motivate players to peform at this best. Is this happening??

Brewster

Brewster wrote: »

Disappointing result for Celtic yesterday. Was reading in paper that Celtic have just won two home games in seven including European Competition. This includes a 94 minute winner against Hearts too. This is the worst home record of any new Celtic manager since 1946 apparently.

Its obviously not good enough for club to have a such home record. What do fans think? Do you feel Mowbray is under serious pressure now with a must win game against Hamburg coming up on Thursday??

My own view is ultimately manager takes responsibility. He has to motivate players to peform at this best. Is this happening??

Under pressure after 2 months in charge?

Only at Celtic.

Dempsey

rarnes1 wrote: »

Under pressure after 2 months in charge?

Only at Celtic.

Indeed but Mowbray is not doing the business at the moment.

I think he should be playing a system that suits the players he has rather then trying to force them into his preferred system as I think that several players wont adapt to it.

There is a serious question mark over his man management and his ability to get players playing to their best or even a decent performance.