tlg1903

Looking forward to this one. There are big question marks at how Celtic are going to line up which you really don't need when travelling to your closest rivals. The Celtic back line is now in a transition period having finally lost both its CB's from last season and it's possible that they could line up with 4 players that have never played with the man next to him. E.g Ambrose Simunovic Boyata Blacket. They probably won't but it many ways it's as good as any other option they have. You have to think Simunovic will start as they haven't spent this kinda coin on a player in a while now. We obviously know little about him but I'm sure I heard it mentioned he was available at half the price at the start of the window. Zagreb knew Celtic were desperate at the 11'th hour and also knew what they were getting in from Southampton so bumped up the price. Can't say for certain how true his initial value was but all the rest fits. 5.5 mill for a 21 year old with 50 odd appearances for Zagreb and not yet even a full International? I'm not saying the boy isn't a player, I know virtually nothing about him, but the whole deal reeks of Celtic hitting the big red gamble button if you ask me. Blacket could also be considered a serious option to play at Lb because surely even RD can see that McGinn and Hayes would enjoy playing against EI far more. You do wonder if he might drop Boyata for Mulgrew otherwise its a really inexperienced pair of CB's (in general game time and with each other) against a front line that is highly adept at counter attacking. If you add into the mix that Brown and Johansen's form has dipped to add to their defensive difficulty's I think there's plenty of reasons to be confident we can dominate large spells of the game. A month ago I would have been pretty certain that DM would use his euro tactics but now I'm not so sure. Taylor and Considine have looked pretty settled and as useful as Shinnie is at cm he's better and more effective at fb. Another decision for DM is whether to drop the recently underperforming Logan now there is what seems to be a capable and hungry replacement. I'm not saying he will as DM is hard to predict but he has been known to be ruthless about such things before. I hope he keeps Maclean and Jack in the centre as they would match up quite nicely against Brown and Bitton.... it would also keep Flood out of the side. It will also be interesting to see whether he keeps both DG and AR in the team and if he doesn't which one he drops and who for. Regardless though I think we have more than enough to take the three points. In Bus through then golf club Main Bus home A reasonably comfortable 2-0 with with Shinnie and Goodwillie (he's so due a goal) scoring.

I think you boys have been watching a different player from me. All players have dips in form from time to time but I have never once found myself questioning Mcginniesta's application and effort. Fantastic player who would walk into any team in the league.

this

The cynic in me reckons there will be a payment in jackie s account that makes it all make sense

"I've been saying consistently that 22/1 doesn't tempt my money. 33/1 would. What I'm also consistently saying is that our squad isn't deep enough to win in May." If any of the players were to say thing's like this after the start to the campaign the team has had then I would absolutely call it a defeatist attitude.

It's possible but unlikely. Sometimes these things happen in football though, look at atletico a few years ago and Montpellier a few before that. Both these teams had smaller and significantly less expensive squads then at least two other rivals for the title yet managed to win the league anyway. I bet montpellier were a lot longer than 22-1 at start of the season also. There's nothing wrong with aiming big and, thankfully, I doubt a defeatist mentality is alive and well in our dressing room these days. I suggest us fans should follow suit.

Never a red

Scrappy game I thought but delighted with results today. Sounds like we might have got away with one for the first goal but that's how it goes sometimes.

In Munns bar Away Car back north 3-0 goodie, maclean and Jack

RVP against boyata will be lol worthy

https://twitter.com/Sean_MC_09/status/636426547860242432/video/1 Maybe he's angling for a move back...... Sadly probably not but I would have him back in a heartbeat.

I don't disagree with any particular point Tom but, that said, I understand the frustration with the lack of information about the longer term plans from the club. All we have really been toldis they are wanting to build a new stadium and top end training facility but every attempt to do so has gone down in flames.

I want a pop at the Huns

It's obviously hard to tell at the moment because of his lack of game time. The fact that he's been on DM's radar for a while and he came across well in his red tv interview certainly encourages me greatly. I thought he did quite well when he came on against dundee, he looked strong with a decent touch and he showed good awareness to play in Mcginn when you wouldn't have blamed him for trying to go for it himself. My hunch is we will be trying to extend his loan till the end of the season before too long. Lets face it, anyone that's quick and can control a football easily you will likely do well in this league. Will we be doing any more business with Shankland off to Paisley to earn his hun-hunting badges? Probably not, this loan has been mooted for quite a while now but who knows with McInnes. If we do go for someone else I really hope it's a CM

Bravo Tom, very well said mate.

The whine about their disallowed goal is going to go on for a while. How much do they miss Denayer btw?

Paaaaahahahaha.

We were the better team for a large part of the game at the San giro but the heads went when the second goal went in. There's a steeliness about the team that we lacked before, the win at tannadice showed that for me, and I would be surprised to see us capitulate like that to anyone this season. I've said for quite a while now I would like an extra cm in the bisco/heikkinen/arni mould brought in as this is now the only position I feel we lack options.

Aye you could argue Shinnie for Whittaker but little else.

He looked pretty decent from the few touches he had I thought manc

I fucking love Adam Rooney

You seem to be forgetting our shocking alba record manc.....

Interesting article on culjak http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/scouting-report--lucas-uljak/

The wide positions are reasonably covered, Pawlett can play either side (a position he is better suited to then behind the striker IMO) and Wright has impressed when he has appeared but is unproven. Going to be interesting to see how parker will be deployed, if at all. Monakana didn't really get much game time and no starts if memory serves. Thing is the past year or so have been pretty kind to us injury wise in the forward areas. With Rooney Hayes and Mcginn playing virtually every game loans and youths like smith and shankland have not had a look in. Still it would appear Deek has been watching him a while so maybe he will have an impact but it's hard to get overly excited about this deal when it's so short and when you know so little about him.

Great result :-)