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Showing content with the highest reputation on 24/02/20 in Posts
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We seem to have two problems. One is easy to fix, but the other can only be sorted in the summer. Our first problem is that the management team believes in playing players out of their poor form. This is a sensible approach if one or two are not performing but at the moment we have 3 or 4 who need to be dropped. That's too many under performers to carry. Katic, Davis, Kamara, Kent and Morelos are way below their best so they should be dropped. It's harsh but it's so important that the rest of the team sees that they will get their chance if they perform well. At the moment Stewart, Kamberi and Edmundson must be wondering how they will ever get a starting role, despite their counterparts playing so poorly for a while now. Equally, players must know that they have to perform or they will lose their place. That must be demoralising all round. The second problem is something I said concerned me last year. When things are not going well on the pitch, or when players are not performing, who on the pitch is dealing with that? After we lose a goal I don't see or hear a single one of our players challenge those responsible. All successful teams have someone who kicks backsides or puts an arm around their team mates to get the best reaction. We don't have it and it's particularly obvious when we face tough decisions or incidents on the pitch. Against Braga we relied on Hagi to inspire those around him but that only works sometimes. We don't have a leader on the pitch and we badly need it. Theres no doubt our team will click again and we will be back to playing great football. However, teams don't win leagues based on their best form. The win it based on their worst form. At our best we are the top team in Scotland (and in my opinion by some margin), but at our worst we are mid table level and that's not good enough. Gerrard needs to play the form players and drop those who don't perform. He then needs to get someone in to that team who takes charge for him on the field. Until then we will continue to suffer.7 points
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If we go back 25-30 years, there was a regular correspondent with most broadsheet newspapers. He also participated in radio phone-ins. His name is Gerry McSherry, his published address would vary, but his opinions were constant. He was supported by the vast majority of Sellik supporters. Then, he got on the wrong side of the Kelly/Whyte - McCann debate. Mostly, he was ridiculed, and access to the debate was increasingly denied to him. When the abuse at Celtic Boys' Club first broke, Gerry McSherry claimed there were 14 separate abusers on the CBC staff. All were long term, and dozen of others were invited to participate on reciprocal arrangements. We appear to be up to six prosecutions and custodial sentences? It would appear Gerry McSherry's claims are proving to be increasingly correct. Simply, political expediency is allowing men who should be prosecuted to continue to walk free. The murder of Lawrence Haggart became a maelstrom of misinformation and disinformation. A teenage boy playing at CBC was murdered because the predators lost control. The then Daily Record Chief Reporter, Anna Smith splashed front page exclusive after front page exclusive claiming a sectarian motive to the murder. Often, she quoted a then senior Police Officer, Kevin Smith(no relation), adding weight to her claims. A most senior journalist and the man who became Chief Constable for Central Region deliberately ran interference. The voice of Gerry McSherry was deliberately drowned out.6 points
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So you want the SFA to get involved although "it’s a matter for the police & prosecutors"?. The Scottish Government are happy enough to get involved when it's a touch line argument between ally and Lennon but shouldn't when it's a paedophile ring? There's no excuse for Sturgeon and Humza ignoring mothers who have had their sons sexually abused and then committed suicide. they should be launching independent public enquiries that don't exclude football clubs. It's a national scandal and it's shameful that the Scottish Government are avoiding it just because of the organisations involved.5 points
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SG probably brought on Davis to help control the midfield and retain possession and that seems quite a reasonable decision. We didn't lose the second goal because of Davis but as a result of poor defending.4 points
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Gerard had made some great substitutions this week, turning around the Braga game as well as this one but then decides to bring on Steve Davis to 'secure the game'. I had a bad feeling as soon as he did that and frankly we deserve fuck all for such negativity. The best way to defend a lead is to increase it; we were far superior than the opposition and should have been looking to bury them.4 points
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Irrelevant any human being can only take so much from outside sources before it affects them.3 points
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He's a young 23 year old, whose partner is pregnant for the first time, who has been subject to continuous racist and xenophobic abuse, had lies printed about him in the press, is refereed to a different standard from any other player in the Scottish game, and has been consistently vilified and attacked by all forms of the press, and all on which there has been little or no public support from the club. No wonder his performances have started to suffer.3 points
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If ever it was decided we needed an effective leader on the park, there would be no need to look beyond Ryan Jack.3 points
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You've ignored the racism, which he definitely is aware of. As for the pregnant wife, many of the younger fans in Glasgow housing schemes will have support networks in terms of family and friends and are fluent in the language and don't have it as a headline in a newspaper that their pregnant wife has employed a PI to put a tracker on his car. He may not have the financial worries that other families have but it doesn't mean that all other issues disappear just because he's well paid.2 points
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How do you know it’s affecting him? SG has already said it isn’t. Playing football and going to work might help him (excluding refereeing issues).2 points
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I'm afraid we're not going to press to the extent required with a 60+ match season. We definitely need to start moving the ball quicker. One touch passing started to resurface against Braga when we realised how much pressure we were under in midfield. Why don't we see it in the SPFL? It's quite depressing to watch. If you count the touches each time you tend to reach 3 and conclude that nothing is going to happen. While our players dwell on the ball the opposing team assemble into a line of 4 and a line of 5.2 points
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It's pretty damning that it's Alex Thomson that's being allowed to set the narrative for this news. No-one else has seen fit to pick it up and drive it forward. Even with the victims pleading for exposure. No politician or politically motivated lawyer or editor has seen (or been able to see) any mileage in this. Culturally we are so toothless and down-beat, to the point that celtic are able to stage-manage a global scandal at the time and manner of their choosing.2 points
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On Morelos, I have been eating humble pie for the first half of the season because his goalscoring has far exceeded my expectations. I have often pointed out that he looks very raw at times and technically poor. But he was outstanding in Europe and for most of the first half of the season. But now that he has gone 7 league games without a goal, a closer look at his record is required. He has scored 29 goals this season, but really I think the 4 against part timers St Josephs in a round we should never be in are a bit of a gift for him. In Europe, he has been great until Braga. Domestically, he has scored 15 in 28. Now you have to say that is no more than a decent record given the number of chances he gets as our only striker. Scrutinising it more, you discover that 10 of those 15 were in games we won by at least 3 goals, in other words games which were pretty straight forward. And only 1 of the 15 were in games won by a single goal. In the 7 games we have drawn or lost domestically he has only scored in 1, and as we know he has been guilty of spurning big opportunities in some of those. Not least against Celtic. I don't know what to make of it all. He has proved me wrong time and time again with heroics in Europe. Yet he proves me right at other times, giving the ball away so cheaply, failing to link up properly with our midfielders and missing countless easy chances over the course of the season. For now, I think his suspension is a blessing in disguise. We get to go with the on-form Kamberi without needing to "drop" Morelos. If Kamberi gets the chance to score and takes it, this potentially gives us the pretext to keep him in the team and send Morelos the message that there are consequences to his recent profiligacy in front of goal.2 points
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First and foremost we should be playing the players who are on form and dropping those who aren't. For me, there's no excuse for not starting Kamberi when it's clear he is hungry to impress and, more importantly, has the abliity to match the hunger. As I've said for a long time, Kent and Katic are the most overrated players at Ibrox and more fans are waking up to that now although they still have staunch fanclubs. Lots of others are underperforming but have more credit in the bank. But we need to use our squad more. Edmundson shouldn't have been dropped on the basis of one dodgy game, he deserved a proper opportunity. Others like Stewart deserve a chance too. Dropping Kent alone would make a big difference to our play in the final 3rd with the existing formation with Aribo and Hagi behind Kamberi. Aribo showed us how good he was in that position in December and bizarrely he's been sacrificed and dropped back to midfield or dropped altogether for Kent's benefit.2 points
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Correct. Got to be said, though, that certain politicians going back to the days of McConnell, continuing through Salmond, Sturgeon and the current Justice Minister have not been slow to pontificate when it suits them.2 points
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What do you want the Scottish Government to do ? It’s a matter for the police & prosecutors. Governments shouldn’t get involved. I’m more interested in the football side.It’s the SFA who need to be seen to be involved which they don’t seem to be so far. For many years Celtic ran a very successful Boys Club which produced many players for them who went on to win honours in the first team. Would they have done so if the going’s-on in the Boys Club had been reported to the police as they should have been ? Given the number of convictions so far do the SFA intend to take any action against Celtic? Have they brought the game into disrepute? so many questions still unanswered2 points
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Katic had a poor game on Sunday. We have to hope he can get back to where he was at the end of last year. I’m not sure Edmundson is the answer & genuinely wonder if we’ll see Helander again this season.1 point
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Edmundson made a mistake in both of the games he played. Miss the highlights?1 point
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And you seem to think it isn't. Salary and form may not be speculation but tell me how salary helps you on a Saturday ? We have no idea what he is going through. Off field issues MIGHT be affecting him but might not. Is he off form ? Yes. Is he still trying ? Yes. Is he playing as well as he was 2 months ago ? No. Is he our best striker ? Undoubtedly. I have seen plenty of people talking about Kamberi replacing him but that is all rather easy to say with hindsight and a couple of impressive cameos from Kamberi…. but perhaps we shouldn't forget that, yesterday at least, Kamberi didn't play through the middle to replace Morelos, but came off the left hand side and looked more than decent doing so. Outside of Kamberi we have very few options to replace Morelos - Defoe is injured and Stewart isn't an out and out striker. Our issue all season long has been that our goals have been split between, for the most part, two players..... one of whom is off form and the other is injured right now. Celtic have goals throughout their team unfortunately whilst we do not.1 point
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But you seem to think it is bluedell. Speculation mate. His salary and form is not speculation.1 point
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I’d hazard a guess he isn’t reading scottish newspapers or worrying what Spiers, English , Stewart, leckie and the rest say about him. That’s probably in our heads more than his. His pregnant partner can’t be a major issue and the fact he has a great job is better situation than many of his young fans living in Glasgow housing schemes on rubbish pay, or lower middle class struggling with a mortgage and who have families on the way. The only thing I buy that is affecting him is refereeing and he’s paid a fortune so needs to deal with it. My take on it is he is simply off form which happens to every player and it needs fixed pronto. He can start by not getting suspended from matches. It’s no coincidence we are failing at the exact time he goes off the ball and following his extended leave in Colombia. I love he guy and he has inspired me and I’ve given a fair few quid to his charity on that basis but he owes every fan a performance every week and he needs to understand that and get back to his best. No excuses.1 point
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He has scored a couple but they were incorrectly disallowed, and not for the first time this season.1 point
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They're making grave mistake. Everyone who colludes to obstruct the truth in this matter is risking their future because this will never go away and there are a lot of people who will ensure it doesn't.1 point
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Hi mate, it wasn't meant to be a direct response to your post. I didn't mean for it to look like I was calling you out or anything.1 point
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I’ve only seen the highlights and the most concerning thing was there weren’t many. Our best player at the moment seems to be Flo Kamberi who was robbed of a good assist by Morelos who should have buried the game. I think Gerrard bears some responsibility here for starting favourites like Kent ahead of players who are producing much more.1 point
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That’s not the answer, and yes, it would undermine Stevie, Gary Mac, and the rest of the management team. It’s a player ‘expectation’ problem in my view. The thing is they need to do 3 things all of the time: 1. Press high - and give them no time on the ball 2. Win our physically battles - and win every 50/50 ball - don’t get bullied 3. Move the ball forward quicker with one touch moves. I believe when we are doing that we succeed or even when we are playing a team that try doing that to us we struggle. However, it’s not easy to be technically good, physical and slick for 90 mins, but they are capable and get paid well to do it. I don’t blame SG or his team, the tactics are not the problem, I just don’t know if the players can empty the tank every week - be prepared to die in the shirt every week. Take your pick - any player - we’ve put every single one on a pedastal at some point or another only to be disappointed when they cannot live up to our heightened expectations. But, you may argue that we should be able to beat bottom of the league teams without getting into 2nd gear, but it’s simply not true. They will have their days and can pick us off when we’re not at it, it’s the same in any league. These players are still young and learning - and as we cannot buy the finished articles it should be no surprise that we’re where we are. With celtic on such form - we literally need players that can perform at an optimal level almost every week - and that collectively, no more than 2 or 3 are of their game. We’re praising young Hagi right now and chastising young Kent - but it could easily be the opposite in 2 weeks time. I don’t know what the answer is - apart from buying a new spine for the team - proven, experienced players. To do that we would have to sell our highest value assets when presented with the opportunity..... and be patient.1 point
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1 point
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What do Nicola Sturgeon and Celtic Football Club have in common? ?1 point
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Hate feckin boxing. I put it on a par with horse racing, wiff waff, snooker, brass rubbing and darts. ?1 point
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