Like most of you I don’t want to even think about Celtic today but my frustrations after yesterday’s performance have not wavered in the slightest and I couldn’t stop myself from writing this article to get it all of my chest.
I couldn’t even bring myself to think, yet alone read, about anything Celtic related after yesterday’s gut wrenching performance against Kilmarnock which leaves the door wide open for theRangers to go top of the league today. I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in that mindset so I doubt this article will be read by too many. It’s always a joy to read about Celtic when times are good but after a bad performance it almost feels like a punishment.
What we saw yesterday basically summed up our season. If this was a TV series we would have given up watching ages ago as the same storyline keeps repeating itself. Honestly, how many times have we watched that same type of performance this season? We looked dominant in the first half as usual but struggled to score. Then once we did score, instead of pushing for more we seem to regress and become nervy and fragile. It’s painful to watch.
READ THIS…Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Celtic v Killmenow
The first thing I said after Kilmarnock scored the equaliser is ‘we don’t deserve to win the league this year’, it was said out of pure frustration but I wholeheartedly stand by it. At one stage we held a seven points lead over our city rivals. A win today will see them take the lead in the title race. The most maddening thing about it is that we have already beat them twice this season. We are clearly the better team but we are chucking away points against the so called ‘smaller’ teams like confetti. The more we fluff our lines the more confidence and momentum gathers at Ibrox.
The whole mess is 100% of our own making.
Now I know this article will attract the ire of the happy clappers. The ones who say that articles like this somehow feed the toxicity surrounding the club. It doesn’t. What has fed the negativity amongst the fan base is the utter garbage we are witnessing week-on-week out there on the pitch. I would consider myself a fairly optimistic person but this current Celtic side would frustrate the life out of anyone. That old saying about insanity entailing doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results rings in my head every time I watch this Celtic team.
READ THIS (from 6th February)…Celtic’s ever changing attack under Brendan Rodgers
I’m no tactician or professional football analyst. I’m sure there are plenty of people who will read this who know a great deal more about that side of football than I do but I have been watching football my whole life and it is plain to see the football we are producing under Brendan Rodgers just isn’t working.
It just seems like we constantly do the same thing. Our opponents must know this too. It’s so predictable. Work the ball slowly from the back, put it out the wing. If we get no joy there play it back to the defence who play it out the other wing, and so on and so on. The main problem with this is our wingers are totally ineffective.
The amount of time our wingers are in possession is unreal. Yet they do absolutely nothing with the ball. In the first half against Kilmarnock it seemed like the ball was constantly getting played to Palma on the left wing. The young Honduran seems to have so many qualities. He has a good first touch, he isn’t scared to take his man on, he’s quick, he has good feet. Yet his final ball is abysmal. So is his decision making. He gets in good positions time and time again yet wastes so many opportunities with either a terrible cross or by hesitating and not releasing his teammates at the correct time.
On the other wing we have Maeda who is a total conundrum. I see what he gives this Celtic team. He’s full of energy and chases lost causes all day long. His pressure both offensively and defensively is a huge benefit. He has great pace. His touch however is terrible. His passing and crossing not much better. Probably the reason why Japan prefer him in the striker role.
Palma was replaced at half time by Yang and Maeda later on by new signing Nicolas Kühn. Those two definitely weren’t upgrades. Yang, much like Palma who he replaced, has all the attributes but doesn’t make good decisions at the vital times. I think he definitely has potential but here and now unfortunately isn’t the time for him to go through his development stage.
Kühn is a player who I wrote about when we brought him in last month saying I was far from impressed by his signing. I was fair in my observation, not wanting to dismiss the player and hoping he would prove me wrong but I stated that I had grave misgivings that he would be an upgrade on what we already have. At lot of people weren’t happy with my views at the time but I have saw absolutely nothing from the German so far to change my opinion on him. Once again like many of the rest of our wingers he looks a player who’s decision making and final ball is severely lacking. It says a lot for all our wingers that the only good ball put in today was from Anthony Ralston our right back.
We have all heard over the years how Brendan Rodgers works wonders with wingers. He himself likes to boast about progressing Raheem Sterling’s career. We saw ourselves the impact Scotty Sinclair had when he came to the club during the managers first stint in charge. Well, if he truly is an ‘elite’ coach, he needs to start working his magic on our current crop of wingers, and quickly. Rodgers is, after all, on ‘elite’ coach money.
The way we currently play with everything going through the wings makes them hugely important to the outcome of each match. If they continue to misfire, as they did today, and for much of the season, then we are in serious trouble.
Conall McGinty
Morning Gossip: Titles are not given out in Feb but leagues can be thrown away. We cannot afford to drop another point in the run in. For this to happen tactics must change & players have to fight for our jersey. More hope than expectation but we must back the team on the park HH pic.twitter.com/7oSuAp94LK
— Celtic Gossip (@CelticGossip) February 18, 2024
We need to focus on our backline, Scales and Welsh are absolutely brutal in possession. Too slow, predictable passing back and forward to each other or out to wingers olwho can’t beat a man yo the byline. Kyogo is constantly moving, making runs but the ball never gets played, instead it gets passed back or sideways. Our play is boring, we have a few cowards in our team who shouldn’t be anywhere near a Jersey. Bernebei being one, we are in a mess and it doesn’t look like anyone has any idea to get us our of it. The dross that has been handed to Rodgers is criminal, The boards handling of transfers has been criminal to the point of what we have been left with onfeild, a collection of journey men that have little talent and no passion or fight. The board should be held accountable for every single one of them!
The makers of this disaster are the board and Rodgers, both have been comatose at the wheel
Rodgers’ tactics are so predictable that every coach can see through and act accordingly, elite? Give me a break, like Postecoglu before him, he has no Plan B, the difference between them is Ange’s plan got us playing fast, expansive football that no other team could counter where Rodgers’ tactics are out of an old playback that had worked years ago, not any more.
Our board, and mostly Dermot Desmond, take the lion’s share of the blame, firstly they hired BR without remembering how bad our football was before he pissed off south. I struggled to accept him back, but after I got over that I was then reminded of that awful boring football which he has us play. Lawwell Snr and Jnr should be horse whipped all the way down London Rd after obviously being sacked.
I thought pre Killie game that this COULD be turned round, after that abysmal display yesterday I honestly fear holding onto 2nd place.
If we were in the shoes of this ordinary hun team we’d be more than confident of winning the title and the treble.
Christ, who’d have thought that last Autumn!!!!!!!
Who does deserve to win the league now new co aren’t great but they are playing in front of supporters on a high not flying flags that’s at war with one of best players countries now we are losing a player that we have been missing so much this this section of the support some at start were so niave thought the were down trodden race that are innocent far from so players are upset cause one of there friends and fellow player I’d been put in an impossible position flying that flag has been the start of all our negativity if you don’t stop or stop them the leagues gone this rebel cause it’s not like Ireland nothing like it I’m sorry for the innocent that suffer but it always is but we can’t or won’t change it these wannae bees who use Celtic support there own political agenda it’s Celtic I support thats why I go to football matches if I want to change the world I’d go to a political rally or meeting suppose no one interested in some one waving a flag there it’s one two flag scene by a large tv audience rather than hundreds of flags not televised at a rally that’s there interest not bothered supporting our bhoys
Ive been watching CELTIC FROM 1960 TO THE PRESENT DAY, I see whats going on in every game I watch good and bad, so does most people ,so why cant the staff and the board not see that you cant make two wingers into a LEFT BACK, they cant head a ball clear at the back post, teams use this as a tatic to beat us time and time again, Taylor and Bernabei would be more suited playing as wingers H H
I think Rodgers has too shoulder some of the blame for this shambles,these players won a treble 6 months ago are they all suddenly terrible now? Rodgers tactics are mind numbing pass out from the back ,side to side through the middle out to the winger who gets dispossed or runs into a brick wall,back to the goalie out to defenders side to side and on it goes, terrible way to play football.liewell and desmond and the board are also to blame for the lack of backing that they give Rodgers but he knew what they were like and come back again albeit with a nice £3 million pay packet but he stated” he would work with the players he was given” an elite manager would never have agreed to that.so now we have a shit show where if sevco win the league and get CL riches their board will spend it to strengthen them and leave us in their wake for years to come, because their board even though sevco were skint still dipped into their own pockets,our board just take money out of the club.
Ive been watching CELTIC FROM 1960 TO THE PRESENT DAY, I see whats going on in every game I watch good and bad, so does most people ,so why cant the staff and the board not see that you cant make two wingers into a LEFT BACK, they cant head a ball clear at the back post, teams use this as a tatic to beat us time and time again, Taylor and Bernabei would be more suited playing as wingers H H
The wingers really pissed me off yesterday. Kuhn especially. Even when he was one on one he would turn inside instead of beating his man and getting to the bye line. Last year opposing teams doubled up on Jota and he still had a go. Rodgers’ seems insistent on playing wingers on the wrong side where they don’t ever attack on the outside. It’s far too predictable.
I agree but guys only in the pitches we play in spl are like our roads divids bigs as pot holes yes teams don’t roll there pitch they are not going to accommodate Celtic or Ridgers passing football our own pitch terrible does that not bother us no talk of relaying it why bring in players running ability and have to defenders on the flanks that are under 6ft and a goalie that dosent come of his line Joe had to good saves from set pieces we don’t seem to threaten on our set pieces infact we start opposition attacks our set plays are so bad do we reherse them even defending in the box our goalkeeper dosent help by punching shows nerves for a man that us look at to take pressure off our midget defense our two midfielders a more knackered Rodgers spl players your up against give more of our players on the bench a try midfielders I’m talking about the young Norwegian or dane I looks good but Rodgers isn’t given him a chance cause we look out on our feet after 75 minutes
For a start,how.about actually playing the winger on his strongest side. Palma is clearly right footed yet plays on the left wing. Taylor is constantly playing inverted role so no overlap. Palma needs to check back into his stronger foot. Cuts back in so no width to the side.wouldnt it be better for the strikers to be getting the ball swung in from wingers with their first or second touch? It’s schoolboy stuff. David Beckham had little pace but hid strong point was getting the ball on his stronger foot and firing the ball in early. We seen it with Alan Thompson and tosh mckinlay as well. No pace but could put great crosses in given half a yard.why have your wingers handicapped by not allowing them to play to their strengths? Or offering them no support by allowing your fullbacks too not support in the overlap. It’s stupidity.
We are in a perfect storm of our own making. I was of the opinion as bad as we have been, the ground out victories would have gave the players a bit of confidence to see the league over the line, hard to see it now. We will have to go to rugby park again this season, does anyone think we will win there ? I don’t.
The recruitment has been so bad it makes me suspicious, we have always signed players who don’t work out, but this must be the worst run of transfer failures in our history, it makes you wonder if someone is on the make. If you don’t think people at clubs form relations with agents you are gullible, football is corrupt to it’s core.
The smugness of certain board members will be evaporating as we speak, their much vaunted bank reserves are about to take a serious hit. If they have not put performance related targets in Rodgers contract that is a 6 million pay off. We will also be left with players who we have spent millions on and are taking millions out in wages, no club will buy these duds, if we want rid of them we will have to pay millions for them to leave. Kiss goodbye to the reported 60 million CL money, we are not winning this league unless our rivals capitulate. We paid 3.5 million for Khun, who is worse than MJ, if he is on close to 15/20k a week, on a 5 year contract, he will cost us a fortune, I fully expect him to hide out at Lennoxtown until we pay him off, he is a dud, the rapid fans were glad to see the back of him. Khun is only one of many.
I don’t think I can remember a season when hearing of certain decisions being made, things Rodgers has said, team selection etc, that I have thought wtf is going on here, it seems like every other week. Have heard Abada told the club he would like a move in January, a loan or transfer, it would have been better for all concerned, they denied him his move, you have to ask why ? is it possible Rodgers agreed to let him move, then reneged, and that is the real reason for his unhappiness. Lagerbielk is another one, that lad must hate Rodgers, Rodger told the press he was not featuring because he was not doing it in training, that is a cardinal sin and probably lost Rodgers any goodwill he had with the players, he then said he could leave, then reneged on it.
We just have to deal with what is about to unfold, we will lose this league, and Rodgers will be gone. Upon taking the job the new manager will probably be told he has to lower the wage bill, and move players on, we are in a hole we have dug ourselves, it might take a while to get out of it.
Kuhn on right wing is shameful. 3x Hibs full back crosses against us with Kuhn unable to track back. Kilmarnock saw that and their goal sees Kuhn utterly falling to track back
ELITE MANAGER
My arse you lot swallowed thaat nonsense at the begining of the season a statement put out by his agents and may i add himself claiming to be an elite manager , you lot lined up and dropped your drawers writing coloum after coloum of the great return of the rat all was forgiven ,best man for the job the only man for the job ,,,,yep well done peter and mcgowan you lined up with same old cletim manager hunt with one single name and floated that turd onto every message board
He has ruined a free goal scoring team set players backwards has improved nobody at all yet everyone still willing to stand back and give him a chance , Lawwell didn’t put the team on the park nor put up the tactics
the happy clappers got what they wished for with there blinkered happy clapping view of we’ll beat the huns thats all that mattered
pathetic
I never liked Rodgers boring negative slow play 1st time round.
I dislike it even more now.
Hart gets more passes than Kyogo or the forwards.
I dont blame the players as they are following Rodgers completely garbage system.
We are still to small with a lack of muscle.
Rodgers had to go, it’s time to get him and the board firmly told at each match.
Team was left in decline during his 1st stint, it’s even worse now.
Having Carter Vickers & Hatate back won’t matter, the damage Rodgers is doing can’t be rectified whilst he remains.
The huddle should be disbanded, it achieves nothing.
Players should have their team talks and motivation complete in the dressing room.
Rodgers has to go with the board.