SPL Discussion Thread

[drinkfeckarse]

It is something I believe in and have followed so it's not sanctimonious.

There's nothing wrong at all with your beliefs Owls Fan. It's when you preach about it that it becomes sanctimonious in my eyes.

It's like you're trying to put yourself on a pedestal because you wouldn't dream of leaving a few minutes early when your team is having a bad day. The fact that you wouldn't doesn't make you any better than someone who would in my eyes (assuming the fact that they are regular attendees and not day trippers of course).

[OwlsFan]

I wasn't putting myself on a pedestal. I commented with surprise that many Celtic fans left when their team was being beaten. I never mentioned my own position until I was accused of talking rubbish. I would be hypocritical if on the one hand I was surprised if fans left early when things were going badly and I then did the same myself so I had to outline my position.

[Junior]

As PP says its a common occurence at Celtic Park Win, Lose or Draw.....

However its nothing of note, you only have to watch MOTD to see it happens at every ground, particularly when the home side is getting gubbed!!

Im like you Owls fan - I stay till the full time whistle blows but I sit with friends who have often long gone by that stage - each to their own though.

[Stevo Da Gull]

Why does this rubbish get brought up whenever this happens at a football ground? People pay their money and are entitled to do what they like. What they witnessed yesterday was absolute rubbish. It's no surprise to me that some fans would not want to stick around for the final few minutes to listen to their biggest rivals gloating and singing.

But I suppose next you'll be telling me that Wednesday supporters would be there through thick and thin if they were 4-1 down at home to United?

I think the problem is that people who may sing ``Celtic 'til I die``, but aren't bothered to try lift the team when they are actually in need (like for example when they're 4-1 down). It's an interesting argument and one which I'm still undecided on but, as Junior says, each to their own. I will say though that when a team does claw back a big deficit and half the supporters have gone home I'm delighted for the ones who stayed and can't help but laugh thinking of those who bailed out early.

As an Arsenal supporter it does annoy me when I see the side playing on front of a half empty stadium with 10 minutes to when the team are on the verge of completing a great performance.... I can't help but think ``what do they have to do to earn your applause?!``

[Stevo Da Gull]

I see Hibs signed Bamba and Riordan which is great. I'm a bit surprised that Petrie actually got his checkbook out but delighted. Hopefully Derek can get back into his groove. Plenty of Celtic fans think he was never given a fair go at Parkhead and I certainly believe that he has the ability to be successful at either of the top two but am glad he's back home.

Bamba can be a match winner but does like to dive in, potentially a great signing though.

[drinkfeckarse]

Riordan has the talent to do very well and should have been given more chances at Celtic Park, that is the general consensus. He certainly did well more often than not when he did get a chance IMO.

Have to say I'm surprised he's gone back to Hibs though. I thought the Championship would have been his next destination given the fact that Hibs would probably be struggling to pay half of what he was allegedly on at Celtic (£8k p/w). He had plenty of admirers there too.

[Hibs4Ever]

Delighted Deek is back at Hibs. Hopefully he can get back to his form he was in before leaving

[Junior]

Im sure he will come back to haunt Celtic for Hibs this season

[Bottle of Tonic]

On the game - We were well beaten. Celtic have stood still this summer, after only narrowly claiming last seasons flag, while our main rivals have steadily improved, securing a couple of new first teamers and boosting the quality of the squad.
While we did well to outpace the huns on the final straight last season, its now looking like a qualified success after their fixture pile-up, injuries etc. While I feel a little uncomfortable saying it, Tommy Burns death galvanised the squad and was probably a help in getting us over the line.
Smith has the measure of Strachan in these all important games, and questions are being asked yet again over his stewardship. Quite simply the football being played has been going nowhere fast for a long time now. The manager and the team don't appear to know what they are doing.
Rumours of player indiscipline abound also. Personally I reckon he doesn't have the respect of the dressing room.

On leaving early - I left early for the first time EVER on Sunday. As one previous poster put it, i just couldn't stomach being there listening to them celebrating anymore, and another chorus of "the famine's over, why don't you go home".

Riordan- is guaranteed to cost Celtic points this season. Bad move from Lawell and co! Riordan I'm sure is delighted to be back, the big man about town again, although he won't be getting into any nightclubs!
Think he got a decent shot at Celtic. Never looked up for it when I saw him play. He wasn't played in the kind of roaming-up front role he likes, which didn't help. He sulked, and his discipline was shocking. Players need to hit the ground running at Celtic , he didn't.

[cheifo]

Mendes looks to be the signing of the Summer in the SPL.Surprised a EPL team didn't sign him.
Strachan has never been popular with Celtic fans despite a highly impressive trophy haul and some great results in the Champions league.
I think midfield might be Celtics problem.Scott Brown doesn't seem to having the impact expected as of yet.
Rangers could miss Cousin though, useful player.

[drinkfeckarse]

Mendes looks to be the signing of the Summer in the SPL.

Agreed, he was exactly what Rangers were needing. Someone who doesn't give the ball away easily but also someone who can link defence to attack in one swoop. They have no one else with that ability.

[old git]

Agreed, he was exactly what Rangers were needing. Someone who doesn't give the ball away easily but also someone who can link defence to attack in one swoop. They have no one else with that ability.

and this is one of the biggest problems celtic have they also need this type of player also

[Bottle of Tonic]

cheifo - Strachan has a charge sheet as long as, maybe longer, than his list of achievements at the club. And as I suggested in the post above, most of his trophies/achievements can be explained away, or at least their merits debated at length.
What most supporters are not happy with is the product on show on the park. Truth be told its been poor for the three years he's been at the helm. Uninspiring, unconvincing, downright turgid displays against teams with a mere fraction of Celtics wealth and power.
Shaun Maloney was something like his 36th signing. Yet he's never been sure what his best team is.
Players come and go, with most declining in quality after a couple of months with the squad. Hell, even last seasons best midfield partnership - Robson and Hartely - was stumbled upon with Browns suspension.

Old Git - I actually think Celtic have the players to match Rangers. They have better players probably and more of them, but they are not functioning as a team, and the 11 on the park is less than the sum of its parts most days with most of our talent shackled into a stale, slow, predictable system.
I like the man, but don't think he can get the best out of the players he coaches.

[drinkfeckarse]

Spot on Tonic IMO. I agree with all that.

[eirebhoy]

Scott Brown doesn't seem to having the impact expected as of yet.

And it says an awful lot about Celtic this season that he's probably Celtic's player of the month after Naka. He's doing ok but he really needs to get a bit of the Barry Robson and start going mad out there.

Hartley should be dropped for Crosas. If he's anywhere near as good as he looked for Barca against Dundee Utd and for Celtic vs Falkirk he'll make a huge difference. When McGeady-Donati-Brown-Naka were on form the football was excellent. Hopefully Crosas is a Donati who can hack the SPL. He describes himself as a midfield organiser. If he's an organiser as technically gifted as that he could be some player.

[Bottle of Tonic]

eirebhoy - where do you stand on Strachan these days. you were a big supporter and believer up to last season. I haven't noticed many posts from you on KDS in a while. I know the lads on there get very OTT at the slightest mishap but after giving Strachan loads of time and trying to analyse objectively whats been happening on the park, I myself have lost faith in his ability to take the club forward. I don't think you can sack the man(given the trophy count), but I don't think he knows what he's at.

The midfield and centre defence aren't functioning. Will he have the balls to drop big mick and Caldwell for say, Loovens and O'Dea? Will he fire in Crosas and Robson for the ineffective Brown and Hartley? Will he actually set up the team and/or change shape and tactics during a game depending on the opposition and how they play or will he just continue to play the style he believes in irrespective of the other 11 we are facing, be it Man Utd or ICT?
I can't see him making any of these calls. He hasn't done it so far. For example a typical Strachan call if a game isn't going to plan is to take off say, big Jan and throw on Samaras. A straight swap. Doesn't really change a game.

[eirebhoy]

I was saying that if he didn't win the league last season I'd be happy to see him go because the team hasn't improved since he took over. I certainly wouldn't be getting on his back this season. I really want him to be succesful and as harsh as it is, only a big improvement and another league win will have me wishing he stays next season.

A straight swap of Crosas for Hartley could really transform the team. I know we've seen little of Crosas he has to get a chance some time and Hartley really isn't good enough. As soon as he went off against Macedonia Scotland got to grips with the game. He sits too deep and takes too long to release a pass. Brown can do everything Hartley can but a lot better, bar probably tackling. They shouldn't both be in the team.

[Stevo Da Gull]

Great debut for Bamba He's still learning

[ArdeeBhoy]

Worthy of note.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/...st/7617518.stm

[drinkfeckarse]

A bit of a fuss is being created over that here in Scotland. Rangers Chief Executive Martin Bain released a statement on their website basically asking the fans to stop singing it not because it was wrong but because they might be arrested!!

He then went on to moan about how it's just Rangers getting picked on and how "other" clubs get away with it.

Childish stuff.