SPL Discussion Thread [Archive] - Page 26

drinkfeckarse

08/10/2007, 12:18 PM

Had the misfortune to watch the Gretna v Celtic game yesterday. Jeez it was grim. The only thing that helped me through it was the few beers that I indulged in.

Nobody can knock Strachans record but this team quite regularly produce absolute dross. That's the main reason why fans are still split 50/50 when it comes to him.

eirebhoy

08/10/2007, 9:25 PM

tetsujin1979

08/10/2007, 10:41 PM

You're allowed all the time in the world in Italy if you're at least 40 yards away from the goal. :)
Jaysus, Andy Reid would be a legend out there!

drinkfeckarse

09/10/2007, 8:02 AM

I think any fan that wants to see Celtic play good football will be fully behind Strachan. There'll always be a few dodgy performances away from home. I don't know how Gretna did it yesterday. It was like they had 2 or 3 players on whichever Celtic player had the ball. They didn't give them a second. Donati certainly wouldn't be used to that. You're allowed all the time in the world in Italy if you're at least 40 yards away from the goal. :)

Any team playing a big side will always be "up for it". That's not the issue and it certainly wasn't a case of Gretna running around like blue arse flies. They worked hard but it was to be expected. The problem was that Celtic were sluggish and went through the motions.

I watched in the local supporters bar and the vast majority there were commenting about how regular this sort of performance was becoming. You'll know more than me eirebhoy when it comes to performances as I hardly see any games anymore but that was the general consensus anyway.

Hibs4Ever

09/10/2007, 9:37 AM

Maybe the fact the ball wasn't round didn't help the players :rolleyes:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/7032540.stm

eirebhoy

09/10/2007, 1:15 PM

I watched in the local supporters bar and the vast majority there were commenting about how regular this sort of performance was becoming.
In the last year they've more often than not played poorly away from home. Most of the time at home though they're a joy to watch. The likes of Naka, Donati, Brown and McGeady get so much more space at home. I don't know the reason. Many Irish fans only get to see the odd home game so I can understand them thinking the football under Strachan isn't great. His first season we played well 70% of the time. Last season it was more like 30-40% of the time. This season is back up there. The last few away performances have been poor but other than that it's been great to watch this season.

Hibs4Ever

09/10/2007, 1:16 PM

In the last year they've more often than not played poorly away from home. Most of the time at home though they're a joy to watch. The likes of Naka, Donati, Brown and McGeady get so much more space at home. I don't know the reason.

Bigger pitch maybe

Bottle of Tonic

10/10/2007, 3:40 PM

I watched in the local supporters bar and the vast majority there were commenting about how regular this sort of performance was becoming. You'll know more than me eirebhoy when it comes to performances as I hardly see any games anymore but that was the general consensus anyway.

Hardly the IB??? Never liked watching games in there if so. Fellas opinions in pubs! If they knew so much why weren't they at the game, bus leaves from outside, heaps of tickets, only down the road.....
I'm getting wound up.

I'm with eirebhoy on this one, the football is coming back this season under strachan, and most fans (bar the totally anti brigade no matter what he does) are wising up to it.

drinkfeckarse

11/10/2007, 8:12 AM

Hardly the IB??? Never liked watching games in there if so. Fellas opinions in pubs! If they knew so much why weren't they at the game, bus leaves from outside, heaps of tickets, only down the road.....I'm getting wound up.

I'm with eirebhoy on this one, the football is coming back this season under strachan, and most fans (bar the totally anti brigade no matter what he does) are wising up to it.

On the contrary, most of them were season ticket holders. Not everyone goes to the away games and this is a supporters club that is based 2 hours away from Glasgow.

I wouldn't have them down as a moan and groan brigade either, in fact a lot of them I would class as knowledgable and reasonable. Just saying that they aren't exactly thrilled with the way the team has been playing.

Bottle of Tonic

11/10/2007, 4:10 PM

Ah right, I had you down as an Edinburger for some reason. Agreed the two hour journey would put lads off for a gretna game alright, especially coming so soon after midweek.

Personally I'll back the manager as long as I think we are making progress. Last season it didn't look like we were, in the league at least. I think we're better in the SPL this time around and our European efforts will end up making up a lot of peoples minds.

Junior

20/10/2007, 4:49 PM

Shocking performance from Celtic today. A midfield full of pussy cats. How we had 9 players booked is beyond me - the thing we lacked most was players prepared to stick the boot in. Rangers fully deserved their win.

Hibs slipped up with a defeat to Motherwell, they could have gone 2 points clear at the top.

eirebhoy

20/10/2007, 5:41 PM

How we had 9 players booked is beyond me
Most of the team are poor tacklers.

The Celtic team isn't suited to games like today. Interesting though that I don't think Boruc made one save.

Junior

20/10/2007, 6:23 PM

Most of the team are poor tacklers.

The Celtic team isn't suited to games like today. Interesting though that I don't think Boruc made one save.

Nope,he didnt, they took their chances we didn't but the difference was much more than that.

Not sure whay you mean by games like today, it wasnt like Rangers were putting it about that much, they just dominated the midfield. If you can't be up for a game against your nearest rivals then we'll have problems as more so than recent years these games will be the difference.

The 9 bookings cannot be attributed to 'poor tacklers' in my opinion

eirebhoy

20/10/2007, 7:01 PM

Not sure whay you mean by games like today
Gretna showed exactly how to beat us (I know they didn't win but they showed exactly how it's done). Don't give any player time on the ball. When Donati was playing in Serie A he had all the time in the world on the ball, as long as he kept a fair distance from the opposition goal. In the SPL, when he's in his own half he's being pressurised. It's a big change. It must be the only league in the world where a holding midfielder gets marked.

Someone like Andrea Pirlo would have been poor playing against that Rangers team today. We had 3 of those (of lesser quality) in the team in Sno, Naka and Donati. That doesn't mean they're poor players. Spain are a team of playmakers, look how they did in Windsor Park.

Rangers stood off a bit in the 2nd half and Celtic failed to take advantage but for most of the match they gave no space to any player to our players.

drinkfeckarse

22/10/2007, 10:09 AM

Strachan out manouvred yet again. Had my own game but heard the first half on the radio and saw the highlights later. Nakamura doesn't "do" Old Firm games, proved beyond any doubt now. Brown wasn't fit and Donati didn't fancy it one bit. Add that to playing a left sided central defender at right back and bringing Sno in from the cold.

There was only one winner after 15 minutes because that's when they started to lose the midfield battle.

eirebhoy

23/10/2007, 7:49 AM

Nakamura doesn't "do" Old Firm games, proved beyond any doubt now.
Away games. :) He usually plays well at home against them. Put 2 players on Naka and you can restrict him to short passes backwards for the most part.

geysir

23/10/2007, 12:47 PM

Anybody care to break a habit of a lifetime and have a punt on Rangers at 9/2 to win. Or what about Shakhtar at 7/1?

eirebhoy

23/10/2007, 3:17 PM

Yeah I'm definitely backing Shakhtar.

jebus

23/10/2007, 8:41 PM

Fecking knew I should have had Rangers down for one of my 4 Game Draws instead of CSKA v Inter!! :mad:

drinkfeckarse

24/10/2007, 8:02 AM

I fear another 3-0 result tonight for the Celts. Had Rangers down for a draw last night funnily enough.

geysir

24/10/2007, 2:27 PM

Isn't conceeding 3 goals away the norm for Celtic in the CL?

drinkfeckarse

24/10/2007, 2:55 PM

Normally yes. Benfica have injury problems so this is actually Celtics best chance in a while of getting their first away CL win. Stranger things have happened but if they give away an early goal then I can definately see them crumbling again.

geysir

25/10/2007, 12:17 PM

It could have been 3 - 0, probably should have been.
I thought Rui Costa was too old even for Milan, he still has some juice in his tank, some player when he is �rsed.
Pity Celtic don't have a big frontman like Cardoza, I suppose €9m fee answers that one.
Can't say even tough luck for the late winner, Celtic looked deadbeat in the last 10 minutes.

Junior

25/10/2007, 3:05 PM

We have big front men, Killen (too early to tell if he'll cut the mustard), Venegoor of Hesselink, 'sicknote' hasn't done anything of note since the game at Old Trafford in last years CL.

The defeat was very hard to take, not because Benfica didnt deserve the win, hitting the woodwork twice + all the chances and posession they had. But we defended very well and the 87th bleeding minute....aggggggghhhhh.

We needed our midfielders to hold on to the ball better just do some basic passing and keep posession to give the lads at the back a breather. we didnt do that and so the inevitable happened.

From an Irish perspective, McGeady did do well.

Stevo Da Gull

26/10/2007, 1:47 PM

and bringing Sno in from the cold.

Yeah he really could'nt stand the heat, totally melted :D :o :o ...sorry

geysir

06/11/2007, 9:49 AM

Assuming Celtic win tonight then a top 2 place might be theirs if Milan beat Shakhtar.
I have to say McGeady's standing has risen. He had 2 awful games for Ireland, Stan had gambled big on him to deliver but for Celtic against the same Czech player he did allright. This is probably his most important season. Looks like whatever Strachan is doing with him is working.
Apart from Benfica fluffing chances in the last game I thought Celtic's real undoing was just running out of gas in the last 10 minutes. I'd expect that won't be a problem at home.

geysir

29/11/2007, 10:35 AM

After that heartbreaking winner for Stuttgart against Rangers :rolleyes: it was some justice that Celtic gained a late victory.
It looks that Rangers may be in a better position to get through to the next round.
My MOM last night was Boruc, though he didn�t have much to do he looked to be on top of his game. That almost save at full stretch from point blank range was a magnificent example of his ability.
Patient build up play by the Celts in the 2nd half against a better quality team like Shahktar paid off after a moment of brilliance from McGeady.
They almost deserved it.

Junior

29/11/2007, 4:27 PM

Great way to win a game, brilliant piece of skill from Mcgeeady to create the opening (one of many good balls he put over on the night). Bit fortunate with the finish but we'll take it, great atmosphere!!

Still need a point in Milan and well we all no what happens with Celtic on our travels....

eirebhoy

29/11/2007, 4:45 PM

Poor performance by the Celts last night but thankfully Shakhtar were below par. Hopefully that goal gives Donati a boost, he hasn't been looking too good recently. Jarosik has looked excellent recently, I don't know where he has got the heart from. Even against Aberdeen he was all over the pitch. Brown I thought was involved more than anyone last night and did very well. That footwork to beat 2 or 3 players was incredible.

stojkovic

29/11/2007, 5:37 PM

Poor performance by the Celts last night but thankfully Shakhtar were below par.

Shaktar's last league match was three weeks ago.
Their next league match is in March 2008.

Go Celts !

eirebhoy

29/11/2007, 5:50 PM

First of all, you didn't actually tell us the point you're trying to make?

Secondly, they played in the league last Saturday.

geysir

29/11/2007, 6:10 PM

Just before he got booked for the tackle, Jarosik's swivel along the touchline put me in a state of shock.

I thought Jarosik had looked good in earlier CL games as well, good workrate anyway.

stojkovic

29/11/2007, 6:20 PM

First of all, you didn't actually tell us the point you're trying to make?

Secondly, they played in the league last Saturday.

Someone should update their website. The last result on there was their 2-1 defeat to Kiev on the 11th. Further investigation revealed that they did indeed play last weekend and drew 1-1.

As I said, Go Celts :o

geysir

29/11/2007, 6:27 PM

I hear that Kennedy will require surgery on his knee, at least 3 months out.
I didn't get a real good look at his fall on the turf but the impact didn't look more than a heavy jar on the leg. He didn't twist his ankle.
It doesn�t look good for his long term prospects. You�d have thought that if he had survived all those games up until now he would be allright.

drinkfeckarse

30/11/2007, 7:50 AM

It's exploratory surgery today but the club think he's looking at 3 months out. It's a shame for him as he's done so well to come back. There's only so much damage that knee can take.....

drinkfeckarse

30/11/2007, 7:56 AM

Jarosik has looked excellent recently, I don't know where he has got the heart from.

I don't know what's got into him lately but long may it continue. It's like Strachan has had a serious word with him or he's realised that he was in the last chance saloon at Celtic Park.

He always had lot's of talent but it's like he didn't like the physical side of things or the workrate required to go with the ability. I just hope he doesn't get complacent again as he has a lot to offer when he is on form.

sligobhoy67

01/12/2007, 11:16 AM

Supposedly Jim White (Rangers fan btw) and Charlie Nic made a couple of Ron Atkinson like unguarded gaffs during HT at Celtic game against Shaktar on Sky Sports - little did they know that some of the live feeds to Australia we still running.

I think its a disgrace and if English commentors made comments like this during an Ireland rugby game they would be hung out to dry.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/newsfeed/2007/11/30/pundits-famine-jibe-row-86908-20182901/

SKY TV presenter Jim White was caught on air mocking Celtic fans over the potato famine.

And he was joined in his jibes by former Parkhead hero Charlie Nicholas.

Sky Sports anchor White appeared to think his microphone was off as he chatted with pundit Nicholas at halftime during Wednesday's Champions League clash.

Hearing the crowd sing The Fields Of Athenry, White was heard to say: "Oh here we go again, the tottie famine."

Nicholas replied: "Aye, and they're all eating chips singing this."

Fans watching online via a foreign internet sports channel were stunned to hear the exchange.

Last night, Sky said they were investigating.

Not Brazil

02/12/2007, 11:57 AM

geysir

31/12/2007, 4:53 PM

I read that Celtic are about to sign (an agreeable) Andreas Hinkel, a RB from Seville.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/7145995.stm

Looks promising, an overdue badly needed signing.

Stuttgart88

02/01/2008, 11:05 AM

Supposedly Jim White (Rangers fan btw) and Charlie Nic made a couple of Ron Atkinson like unguarded gaffs during HT at Celtic game against Shaktar on Sky Sports - little did they know that some of the live feeds to Australia we still running. [/I]
Did you see the footage of the studio just after Celtic's last minute winner against Donetsk? Charlie dancing up and down, White motionless with a sour scowl on his face.

Whatever about his club allegiances, I think Jim White is even creepier than Richard Keys and Gary Lineker, and that's saying something.

drinkfeckarse

02/01/2008, 12:31 PM

He is cheese personified. The Darius Danesh of TV presenting.

OwlsFan

07/01/2008, 12:14 PM

I think Jim White is even creepier than Richard Keys and Gary Lineker, and that's saying something.

What have you got against Gary apart from that Polish goal. I think he adds a bit of humour and sardonic comments to the panel discussions. Creepy = Gareth Crookes. He reminds me of Baron Greenback

http://www.thegoogly.com/images/2007/04/25/baron_greenback.jpg

Stuttgart88

07/01/2008, 2:59 PM

Isn't the Poland goal enough?

I think he's a smug, self-satisfied creep with a xenophobic streak Nick Griffin would be proud of. He's also a serial philanderer which is kept under wraps because the English public doesn't want it's no. 1 pin-up boy / goody 2 shoes to have any blot on his image.

And there was the Poland goal. Cagliari too, lest we forget.

OwlsFan

07/01/2008, 4:10 PM

Isn't the Poland goal enough?.

Probably.

I think he's a smug, self-satisfied creep with a xenophobic streak Nick Griffin would be proud of.

As an ex-English international, is he not entitled to be somewhat biased towards his own?

He's also a serial philanderer which is kept under wraps because the English public doesn't want it's no. 1 pin-up boy / goody 2 shoes to have any blot on his image.

If you know about it, how come the British public doesn't ? He didn't pull your bird did he :D?

Stuttgart88

07/01/2008, 4:16 PM

There's a difference between being somewhat biased and a xenophobe. I'll lend you my xenophobe detector one day, it goes mad when Lineker, Wright, Motson, Andy Gray and Nick Griffin are on telly.

It's well known that Lineker is a philanderer - it's why his wife divorced him - but somehow it never seems to be in the tabloids.

My wife doesn't like him either. Maybe he stopped returning her calls.

eirebhoy

09/01/2008, 7:28 PM

So Strachan is using this window as more than a bosman window. Right back Andreas Hinkel has been signed. 17 caps for Germany and kept out of the Sevilla team by Daniel Alves. He was rated really highly at Stuttgart. He's an attacking full back so should definitely improve the team.

22 year old Japanese winger Koki Mizuno is in Glasgow atm to sort out personal terms and a medical. His work permit has already been granted.

Stuart Baxter:

"I would say Mizuno is the hottest young player in Japan right now and it's a coup for Celtic to sign him. They regard him very highly over there. As you would expect, he is technically very good, he's quick, skilful and has two good feet."

He got 9 goals and 8 assists in 27 games in the J League last season. He seems a very similar type of player to McGeady. Can Mizuno, McGeady and Naka fit in the same team? I don't buy into the Nakamura leaving talk. Strachan rates him as the best ever player he's worked with and would want close to �10m for him.

Anyway, Brazilian right back Coelho is still at Celtic on trial. I have a feeling he was back up in case the Hinkel deal fell through and he was over in Glasgow before Hinkel signed. Who knows though, maybe he'll still sign.

Celtic and Bolton are trying to agree a fee for Balde.

They're offering Zurawski to whoever wants him and LA Galaxy seems the likely destination.

Burnley and a few other clubs are after Riordan but Celtic want close to �1m.

Boruc signed his new contract to 2011.

A busy transfer window. :)

gustavo

09/01/2008, 7:42 PM

Will Hinkel be eligble for Europe ?

eirebhoy

09/01/2008, 8:03 PM

Will Hinkel be eligble for Europe ?
No he played a couple of times for Seville. I don't think there's much hope of getting past Barca anyway. :)

GreenStar

09/01/2008, 11:49 PM

Has been provisionally re-fixed for Wednesday 23rd January, dependant on both Clubs not being involved in Scottish Cup replays on that night.

Now that it's re-fixed for a midweek date, many people who were travelling to the orginal fixture may not now be able to travel to re-fix. Can anybody help out with 2 tickets for this game? A group of us travelleing for the orginal fixture are going to the re-fix plus 2 new people who couldn't do the weekend game.

Can anyone help? PM me. Thanks.

Note to Mods: This is posted independent of the SPL thread due to the nature of the message, i.e. looking for tickets (urgently). I assume this is ok?