craig

The management team, particularly Gerrard, has been at pains to highlight the need to not mirror what happened last year. One of his major explanations was the lack of game time before the Killie game due to the Cowdenbeath SC game being postponed. This time around they had the friendly in Dubai, they had the Stranraer game but it hasn't helped. So what is it ? Clearly this team have the capabilities. Is it mental ? Is it because they haven't switched back on ? Either way it needs to be corrected and very, very quickly.

Helander has had his poor moments too - think it was against Accies where he struggled all game long. Don't get me wrong, I like Helander - I just think Katic is better - all about opinions I guess.

The other day wasn't down to Katic or Goldson. Even if his distribution had been better the midfield 3 spewed it up all day.

If they don't care why is there still anti-British sentiment in Ireland ? Its an oxymoron

I would say anti-protestant, anti unionist is far more prevalent in the Celtic support than anti-Irish and anti-Catholic is within ours. It is, after all, their sole reason for being.

You would think not. But social media, particularly Twitter, is a weird and not-so-wonderful place.

Yes, yes there are.

Fair point, particularly when considering the game was 0-0 when Flanagan was removed

Said that on the Match thread Billy. Polster showed more urgency, looked stronger to me, was happy to get up and down that right touchline, had good touches and his crosses were actually, on the whole, very good - the one to Kent where he played it in from halfway inside the Hearts half (which only just overran Kent) was sublime. He also was more than happy to make vertical passes which Flanagan rarely did in the first 45 mins. I thought Polster looked very assured - indeed, IMHO, with that performance he leapt over Flanagan as the back-up to Tav - think he also jumped over Patterson too because Hearts offered much more resistance than Stranraer and the defensive side was called into question more often. For just a 45 minute cameo, I have to say I was very impressed with him and feel that, rather than letting him leave, we should just let Flanagan's contract run out and retain Polster.

I would actually go as far as saying I would prefer Katic to Helander anyway. Katic is more physical than either Helander or Goldson and is an actual threat at attacking set plays as well. But I definitely agree, that replacement makes little difference because Katic has done well since coming back in. Morelos is clearly the big miss. But perhaps now the Tav "haters" will also see just how unbalanced we are as an attacking threat when he isn't available. Hearts closed down Barisic and barely made the effort to do the same to Flanagan because he offers so little going forward.

Something I will never, ever understand. I took my kid to Liverpool game v Brighton in late November at Anfield. Had to be up at 4am for a flight but never got home till gone midnight. I understand blueflag's pain because the next day is absolutely brutal. But was I missing the end of the game ? Nope. It is a little different for me though as I don't get to as many games as I would like to in a season so I sit till the bitter end - even when watching us under Pedro, which was usually brutal viewing after the 1st 10 minutes But when people would rather be in the pub with a pint in hand than actually supporting their team I just can't understand it, no matter how poor the performance is. It's the reason for being there in the first place.

Thank you for the one you nabbed for stewarty my friend

He's not making the starting XI because he isn't match fit. Not sure he would be great for us, but a cheap option to improve attacking options off the bench ?

Would be great if people accepted that others will challenge your opinion based on footballing reasons rather than your political bias.

Oh please. It’s all to do with football as to why they jumped in. They don’t see the benefit to lambasting one of our players. It’s nothing to do with what you think it is.

Polster is a far better player than Flanagan

How is that not a free kick ?

We are, effectively, top of the table (notwithstanding the game in hand being won)….. we haven't lost ANY of our first team (yet), every player that has gone out has actually offered almost nothing in terms of even minutes this season.... so why would we regret it if we continue on the same trajectory we have in the first half of the season. None of the players that have left have contributed. And they didn't look like they had a chance of contributing. So why keep them ? Realistically, how could we improve the starting XI, or even the squad, in January ?

Don't Disagree. My disappointment about Campbell is because he is an England U20 international, only 20 years old, highly thought of and would have cost us only 400k due to cross-border transfer rules. Would have been "one for the future" rather than with an eye on him contributing massively the second half of this season. Integrating players in January isn't always easy and obviously we all hope you are right.... but you also can, potentially, get a Gordon Durie, who comes in late in the season and gives you the shot in the arm you need to get over the line. Hopefully Celtic get a Rafael Scheidt and not a Durie with their signings

Apparently, as someone said on this thread yesterday, Campbell is about to sign a new contract at Stoke City And Gerrard has reiterated that Morelos isn't for sale and that there will be "good news in a day or two" about Defoe.

The amusing thing is that Boyd is actually more impartial than Sutton. By far too.

Unfortunately Raul played it just behind him or it was a certainty for a goal. Wolves were worth at least a draw. Nuno is a very, very good coach and has Wolves playing the game the way it should be played.

And the Express suggesting that Tyrese Campbell wants to come to Rangers.

Sevilla being credited with an interest in Morelos.

I wanna know oh oh oh oh oh oh.... Jermain Defoe !