This transfer window has possibly been the most intriguing that I can ever remember. We went into this window mainly in the hope of keeping hold of players more so than looking to bring new ones in. I think most would have been happy just for us to keep hold of Eddie and Foster would never have imagined so much activity with more still to be done i believe. The main reason for this as I can see a new shape developing plus 2 players at least for each position on offer. I also believe we have not shown our full hand yet as with the vultures looming from down south why would we want to put all our jewels in the shop window now. With the signing of Duffy I can see us going 3 at the back with jullian to the right and ajer to the left should he wish to Stay mind you a left footed center back would be very useful. I can see us only playing 1 holding midfield with maybe a line of 4 in front of that with either wingers or wing backs in that role and 2 in the middle with 2 up top. I can see us playing a much higher pressing game in order for oppersition to go long and our centre backs to mop up. Let them try and play through us with the speed of our midfield would be very high risk. As we should have great possession we will hopefully have the players who can go at these tight net defences from all angles. Of course that decision remains with the coaches and ultimately team selection with Neil himself. This process is still ongoing at the moment as a left back in the form of another frimpong is required. But at the moment we are not in bad shape if this should be our future style of play as most of the players are already intact as well as plenty been developed for replacements in the long run. To maybe balance the books we may well be able to sell ntcham as this long term plan would have been funded just on his sale alone. Ajer would mean a huge profit of course a replacement would be needed but I hope that is for next season as a development would be good enough for now. I am really getting excited about the prospect of what we could have in store thís season with the 10iar as well as other trophies. Getting back to becoming that force in Europe again whether that is with Neil remains to be seen. But for now the board needs to be given great credit for what they are looking to assemble not for just this season but for many to come.
New formation on the horizon
- Thread starter John nó
- Start date
Bridie Bhoy
Well-known member
Welcome John.
Yes, it'll be very interesting to see how we setup. I think most of us would prefer the 3-5-2 as there are very few games where we need 4 defenders plus 2 holding midfielders to try to beat a parked bus (we still have that 4-2-3-1 option for some bigger/European matches).
We need to spread the play out wide and make sure we have plenty of support up front. If we are to put balls into the box then they have to be high quality. Plus pass and move, pass and move - no point playing pretty triangles if the players are static, as all that happens is we run out of ideas and end up passing all the way back to our goalie to hoof it up to the halfway line.
As well as buying some quality, tough experienced players we need good in game player management to rotate the squad to keep our players fresh, change tactics as required and integrate our highly talented youngsters into the first team.
It is just another exciting dynamic to keep us on our toes during this amazing season!
Lot of sense in this post and agree with most of it ... cannot agree that ''the board needs to be given credit ....'
The board and those appointed by them have cost us dearly in the CL qualifiers over recent seasons . How can you endorse a regime that has 'lost' the club upwards of £130 millions of CL money never mind the respect that goes with losing to the mighty Cluj , Athens etc...
HH
Couldn't agree more as the new squad been assembled will allow us to be more flexible in player rotation, be able to keep hold and move the ball faster. Even looks like we have a modern day keeper who can retain ball possession as well as been quick off the line. Centre half's who can split defences open with there passing ability and yet still improving on that steel to make us no soft touch either
Bridie Bhoy
Well-known member
In the preseason "friendly" he came on and demanded the ball from the older bhoys. He got stuck in and was very effective. He is ready for the battle so I agree - break him into the team and give him 20-30 minute spells in a number of matches.
Hi millsy
I just think the board had a vision that is only starting to be unveiled now. Like all supporters and I have been no different we want instant success. We all want CL football but reality is we were not in a settled squad position for the last few seasons. We still were not ready this season but we will be next year I am sure of it. If we do qualify we are only classed as a pot 4 team and so we have to punch above our weight just to make it back into europa league knock out. I just think this season we have more important issues with the 10iar and yet the europa league is a competition I really do believe we could win hence straight into group stages of CL instead of these qualifying matches with so much uncertainty around what players we may have for the season ahead. This has had to depend on us been patient as the last thing we can afford is to throw money at this like man City to still gain nothing as the last thing we all don't want to happen is end up like that other shower of shit
I just think the board had a vision that is only starting to be unveiled now. Like all supporters and I have been no different we want instant success. We all want CL football but reality is we were not in a settled squad position for the last few seasons. We still were not ready this season but we will be next year I am sure of it. If we do qualify we are only classed as a pot 4 team and so we have to punch above our weight just to make it back into europa league knock out. I just think this season we have more important issues with the 10iar and yet the europa league is a competition I really do believe we could win hence straight into group stages of CL instead of these qualifying matches with so much uncertainty around what players we may have for the season ahead. This has had to depend on us been patient as the last thing we can afford is to throw money at this like man City to still gain nothing as the last thing we all don't want to happen is end up like that other shower of shit
The Galway shawl
Well-known member
We don't youse that 5 sub rule to good effect IMHO.
Wee Fergus's Bunnet
Well-known member
Sorry , but if this latest CL fiasco is the board's ''vision'' then they seriously should have gone to Specsavers !
I am too pessimistic to see this Board having a vision extending only as far as keeping themselves in the manner to which they have now become accustomed .
HH
The Galway shawl
Well-known member
Aye that's why Adidas were brought on board...mibbee by the board and work that goes on behind scenes...ain't Board lover but the best board in Scotland by a mile! What more are looking for BTW?
michael duffy
Well-known member
This attack the board,the board are pish, ah'm no a fan of the board, but where we go, is down to one man, and ah'm sick of sayin it, it's Dermot Desmond,everybody else is an employee or an appointee, if DD doesn't want res 12 or the five way agreement adressed,then it does'nt get adressed,DD calls the shots,so aim yer ire ire at him! rant over, noo where's ma feckin beer! mutter, mutter! 
The Galway shawl
Well-known member
Exactly want you like him to do? Please tell me cos there's 2 billionaires on Celtic's board as far as aware..and multi - millionaires. What's your demands?
CarlisleReiver
Well-known member
The high tempo / high press - haven't seen any evidence that Lennon wants to play this style.
I loved it under Ronny andThe Snake, but I also see that teams have learnt that if they drop back quick enough (or just don't deploy men up front) they will limit us to very few shots on goal.
To win 10 seasons on the trot, you have to adapt your style when the opposition stiffle your style.
Lennon, changed last season to 2 up front and blew everyone away. He reverted to 1 upfront against Cophenagen, and the Hugarians to his cost. I hope he has learnt his leason. 1 up front only works with a high press, as you have players around that 1, it you don't they become isolated.
Unleash the forwards and bring us the 10 Lennon.
I loved it under Ronny andThe Snake, but I also see that teams have learnt that if they drop back quick enough (or just don't deploy men up front) they will limit us to very few shots on goal.
To win 10 seasons on the trot, you have to adapt your style when the opposition stiffle your style.
Lennon, changed last season to 2 up front and blew everyone away. He reverted to 1 upfront against Cophenagen, and the Hugarians to his cost. I hope he has learnt his leason. 1 up front only works with a high press, as you have players around that 1, it you don't they become isolated.
Unleash the forwards and bring us the 10 Lennon.
michael duffy
Well-known member
The Galway shawl
Well-known member
Is the correct answer! Mucker.
Lennon has to play 2 up top especially against the huns as 1 never worked in the last 2 old firms. Still believe he is keeping what he believes is his first 11 under wraps at the moment but he also wouldn't inspire us with confidence with his team selections at the moment. It may cost him dearly if he is playing a game of cat and mouse but for the moment I will keep the faith that he gets it right
The Galway shawl
Well-known member
Keep the faith!
☘☘☘
CarlisleReiver
Well-known member
We don't seem to play those new players if they're unfit, I don't think there was any other underlaying reason for doing it. We did it last year with big Julian, I guess the medical department has a big say in it. It's probably for the long term best, so that the player doesn't pick up an injury.
Imagine the up roar if we played the hungarians with Ajeti playing and after 20mins has to come off with a torn hammy, then Klimala comes on and in the last few minutes ruptures his ACL over stretching!!!!
I would have risked it..... maybe becuase I'm gutted we lost the game. However, our performance wasn't that bad and to play with no forward it not the Celtic way. As some one quite correctly put it, we did the same to Barca and they didn't turn out to be a shit team. The Hungarian's took their chances we didn't.
Imagine the up roar if we played the hungarians with Ajeti playing and after 20mins has to come off with a torn hammy, then Klimala comes on and in the last few minutes ruptures his ACL over stretching!!!!
I would have risked it..... maybe becuase I'm gutted we lost the game. However, our performance wasn't that bad and to play with no forward it not the Celtic way. As some one quite correctly put it, we did the same to Barca and they didn't turn out to be a shit team. The Hungarian's took their chances we didn't.
