Celtic V Legia Warsaw

[therock67]

bandage said:

Haven’t been on the huddleboard yet today but I said to the lads last night that there’s probably idiots out there who want Strachan sacked because of the friendly last night. Some wanted him out after Alan Shearer’s testimonial in May after Celtic agreed to give away an injury time penalty so the injured Toon legend could hobble on and score! One fool ran on last night and fired his scarf at Virgo when him and Quinn when about to kick off after the 3rd goal. Calm down ffs.

Have you considered that the Venegoor story might be one of the bhoys having a laugh? The other day a lad had a story up posted that Baraja of Valencia had joined. He had written the story himself with all the usual quotes from the player, manager and Lawwell and it wasn’t a bad effort. He also fiddled around with a photo that made it look like they were pictures from a press conference. Loads of bhoys fell for it. Not me though as the writing in his report just didn’t cut it.

I saw that Baraja "report" alright - he had an apostrophe error early on in the piece that stuck out like a sore thumb. Cracking effort witht hte photo though.

I have considered that the Venegoor story is entirely a work of HB fiction but just checked wikipedia (I have zero sports access in work) and they mention Celtic on his page en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Vennegoor_of_Hesselink

Was on the HB last night when I came home because I missed the game and it was warfare on there. Everyone was screaming for Strachan's head and calling it a "new low."

[bandage]

The stories for both players are up on BBC and Sky. Those quotes by Hesselink’s agent sound as though he prefers Celtic to Porto. The Ukranian guy would be a major coup indeed.

[pagey]

Saw the game last night. First time I'd seen Celtic play this season. Very poor match. Judging on that match and I know it was a friendly but Thompson, Camera were woeful. Was very disappointed in Caldwell and Virgo up front just isn't an option. Quinn and Sno both looked very lively and I think Sno will get stronger over the season. McGeady was class, great dinky little runs and I reckon he will do great with Maloney next season. Riordan looked lively aswell and will be a good back-up next season. Miller was pretty good but to be honest the production of balls into the strikers was shocking last night. That said with Maloney and Naka back on the wings it will be a different story. Overall I was disappointed with the whole performance even missing key players.

With regards to the Huddleboard moaners and the guy who ran on the pitch yesterday they aren't true supporters, fans should support the team through thick and thin and it really pisses me off people saying to sack the manager after the friendlies. Look what happened last season. Lost to Artmedia and drew with Motherwell in the first few games but then went on and walked the league by a country mile. CAn't wait for the weekend and the start of the competitive season.

Would be class if we got Tymoschuck, he was class during the WC2006. As regards to Venegoor I wouldn't mind if one way or the other. Descent as a target man but don't see why we couldn't have kept Hartson for that job. Also I think Bandage wrote the report that said it was 10million for the two . Where did this money come from?

[bandage]

pagey said:

Saw the game last night. First time I'd seen Celtic play this season. Very poor match. Judging on that match and I know it was a friendly but Thompson, Camera were woeful. Was very disappointed in Caldwell and Virgo up front just isn't an option. Quinn and Sno both looked very lively and I think Sno will get stronger over the season. McGeady was class, great dinky little runs and I reckon he will do great with Maloney next season. Riordan looked lively aswell and will be a good back-up next season. Miller was pretty good but to be honest the production of balls into the strikers was shocking last night. That said with Maloney and Naka back on the wings it will be a different story. Overall I was disappointed with the whole performance even missing key players.

With regards to the Huddleboard moaners and the guy who ran on the pitch yesterday they aren't true supporters, fans should support the team through thick and thin and it really pisses me off people saying to sack the manager after the friendlies. Look what happened last season. Lost to Artmedia and drew with Motherwell in the first few games but then went on and walked the league by a country mile. CAn't wait for the weekend and the start of the competitive season.

Would be class if we got Tymoschuck, he was class during the WC2006. As regards to Venegoor I wouldn't mind if one way or the other. Descent as a target man but don't see why we couldn't have kept Hartson for that job. Also I think Bandage wrote the report that said it was 10million for the two . Where did this money come from?

Agree with most of that except thought Caldwell was alright. Would be more concerned with McManus than him. I didn't post the report, think rock got it from the Daily Record. Not sure where the 10m is coming from - perhaps an invented figure to appease supporters annoyed at the lack of signings.

[lyonsee]

pagey said:

Would be class if we got Tymoschuck, he was class during the WC2006.

Was more impressed with Kalinichenko (sic?) tbh. Did the simple things well, had an eye for a killer ball and strikes a cracking dead ball. They's pick him up cheapish too.

[therock67]

I don't really see Tymoschuck arriving if Petrov isn't going so I'd imagine that at least 5 of the 10m is accounted for. The rest is Champions League income - surely we can afford to spend 5m on a quality striker with the wages of Petrov, Hartson and Keane freed up.

[bandage]

Just found out the game is delayed on regular Setanta tomorrow as they're showing Grand Prix qualifying. Seriously, they are. The start of Celtic's defence isn't being shown until 4.20pm. Off to Frazer's it is then. This is Charlie Nicholas.

[bandage]

A smashing display by Celtic yesterday, thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. I love football when it's played like that. The midfield 4 were a joy to watch at times with their one touch, slick passing and combinations at speed. The movement of Magic and Miller was superb aswell and they gave so many options to the man in possession. I was delighted with Kenny Miller's workrate and attitude - fook the begrudgers, if he plays like that every week then he'll be some signing. McGeady gave an absolute masterclass in the second half, very impressive. Petrov was well up for it which was good to see whether he leaves in the end or not. Naka is sublime in everything he does and a very competent debut by Jarosik. The Bandage jury was out on him when he signed but again, a very good start. Still need to strengthen at the back but Mark Wilson continues to look very at home in a Celtic jersey, a cracking signing.

As Strachan said they must have been the only team in history to have won the league by 21 points and yet start their defence under pressure. I hope all those idiots who wanted him out after losing a testimonial and after the second string lost to ManU's reserves the other night have taken note. Shut the fook up you negative cnuts! Get behind the team and stop waiting and almost hoping for failure so you can say, 'I told you so'. Another 2 or 3 signings and that'll be a very good team. Remember Bobo, Maloney and others were out yesterday too. A great start.

[bandage]

I have reflected on Celtic’s performance over the weekend and all day today whilst reading the huddleboard at length (not doing anything in work). I have read with interest the posts of those who castigated the team at every opportunity and wanted Gordon Strachan sacked based on pre season friendly results. Some have had the decency to say they overreacted, were wrong and thoroughly enjoyed the display on Saturday. Others have been typically ignorant and refused to give any credit to the team or manager. They have warned everybody that they are foolish to be content with what was a cracking performance as sterner tests lie ahead against the huns, the mini huns and in the champions league. Fair point, we all know that Celtic will face better teams but I hate the prevailing attitude that this means you can’t celebrate a stylish win like Saturday’s. But it’s blatantly hypocritical to want him out based on insignificant friendly results yet not give any credit whatsoever for a comprehensive victory in a competitive game. That said it’s accepted that stronger teams lie in wait.

Getting back to the style of play – it was fantastic to watch from about 15 minutes in when they got into their groove and the front 6 were exceptional. I had worried about the physical aspect of the game given that Celtic have so many light players now but they competed very well. Jarosik’s a big lad and will be able to dig in and McManus and Balde etc won’t be found wanting either. What struck me though was up front where Miller and Magic’s movement was exceptional and given that the midfield was functioning so well the passes were finding most of their runs. However, away from home especially there will be games where Celtic will be given no time and space and teams will set their stalls out to disrupt, hassle and harry. In these type of games it’s always beneficial to have a target man playing up front, someone who can hold up the ball, bide time for the side and lay it off to a team mate in order to retain possession and keep the pressure off the defence. I think Hearts will try to be very physical next week. They’ll have Brellier, Hartley and these boys all sticking the boot in so it will be interesting to see if Celtic can adapt when faced with this game especially without having the option of a get out ball to Sutton or Hartson. A left back remains a priority but a striker in the mould of Sutton would be superb too.

[therock67]

It was indeed a smashing performance by Celtic. Particular plaudits to Wilson and the front six. It's laughable when you cast your mind back to January last year and everyone was moaning about the acquisition of Wilson because they wanted a big name signing. The same people will be delighted if Petkov signs - though I doubt any of them have seen him play. He's not even a big name, he's on a free from a mediocre Turkish side, but he's got a foreign name so everyone assumes he's class. I hope if he signs that he works out well but the fans are too quick to dismiss domestic signings.

The front two were excellent together. Miller could use a goal after missing a couple of chances but his running was top class and the pass for the first goal was superb too. We badly lacked pace up front at times last year and it will be particularly useful in Europe.

[bandage]

The Strachan haters are back with a vengeance today taking a story from the Daily Record (a paper most Celtic supporters bhoycott for their bias against Celtic and the inaccuracies and untruths they print) as gospel when it suits them, as in this case, while lambasting it the rest of the time. They’re accusing Strachan of bullying Mulgrew. The story states that after fining him in front of the players for being late Strachan realised Mulgrew had no cash on his person and so demanded payment of the fine on the spot leaving the kid embarrassed until Alan Thompson fired his wallet at Strachan and allegedly said ‘I’ll pay the fooking fine but don’t even try teating me like that’. See below.

EXCLUSIVE: CHAZ OUT AFTER ROW WITH GORD
By Gordon Parks
CELTIC kid Charlie Mulgrew's Parkhead career is over after a blazing row with boss Gordon Strachan.

The Scotland Under-21 star has been told to find a new club after being punished with Aiden McGeady before returning from the club's ill-fated pre-season trip to Poland.

Record Sport understands the pair arrived at the meeting point for the journey just 11 minutes late. But Strachan was fuming with his young stars and issued them with a fine of £10 for every minute they were late.

The manager wasn't satisfied with their excuses and immediately told them he was doubling it.

Only after Alan Thompson stepped in to pay for his skint team-mates was the angry confrontation resolved.

A source close to Mulgrew last night said: "The manager told Charlie and Aiden they would be docked £10 for every minute they were late.

"But after refusing to accept their reasons they were told it was up to £200 on the spot or £400 when they got back to Glasgow.

"Charlie didn't have his cashline card and had to give Thommo the money back later. "It was the worst possible ending to the trip.

"He's disappointed because he believes he's good enough to play for the first team.

"He was taken off after a poor 30 minutes in a friendly against Legia Warsaw but he doesn't think he should be judged purely on that performance.

"Charlie feels he hasn't been given a fair crack of the whip, compared to guys such as Mo Camara who he's vying with for the left-back position."

Mulgrew could be handed a lifeline at Dundee United, with boss Craig Brewster keen on him after his successful loan stint last season

[pagey]

A lot of names being thrown around about potential signings. Rock, Bandage have either of ye heard of this Coppola guy? Also some St. Etienne striker being linked. From watching the match on saturday Petrov seemed to be up for it and thought there and hopefully he will cope on and stay. One thing I will say about saturday is that we looked great without Lennon and I hope he takes a background captaincy role like Boyd and Lambert did.

[therock67]

I can't see how Lennon could come back in to that team in favour of anyone so I assume he'll not be an automatic starter.

I'd never heard of Coppola but he seems decent. He is capped by Italy apparently.

I don't know much about Perquis either except he's on the bench on my Master League team. I've given him the odd run but to be honest I'm keeping him in the squad out of sentiment at this stage. We were linked with Soren Larsen of Schalke today who looks a decent player. Excellent international goalscoring record.

[bandage]

Hadn’t heard of the Italian prior to the report. Never heard of the St Etienne guy either. Is Larsen any good? Haven’t seen much of him but at least I’ve heard of him. The Shakhtar manager said yesterday that Tymoschuk wanted to go to Celtic but that they want €10m rather than the €4m that Celtic are offering. Don’t really think they need a midfielder if Petrov stays. There’s Stan, Jarosik, Lennon and Pearson along with the likes of Naka who can play infield and the youngsters too, Ferry and Lawson. A left back and a target man striker are the priorities. I’d include a centre back in the list too but Strachan said he’s not looking for another.

[bandage]

Will be in Wexford for the Celtic-Hearts game on Sunday and don’t have Setanta. Most pubs don’t have it at home but any that do will be showing the GAA. Do you know of any stream sites where I could watch in on the web before the Waterford-Cork game?

[therock67]

Don't know any sorry. There are a couple of pay sites but you've no guarantee that the match will be on or that your connection will be strong enough to watch it. They took away my Channel 67+ so I can't give you my account.

[bandage]

Celtic just got beaten 3-0 in Yokohama.

Team that started: Marshall, Camara, Virgo, Varga, Lawson, Nakamura, Sno, Lennon, Thompson, McGeady, Riordan

Team that finished: McGovern; Lawson, Virgo, O'Dea, Camara; Thompson, Lennon, Sno, Bjarnasson; Riordan, Quinn.

Suggests that maybe Lennon won’t be playing on Sunday? I’d like to see the same team as last week play. Celtic don’t appear to do friendlies.

[pagey]

Maloney out for up to month.

Celtic forward Shaun Maloney will be out for up to a month after being given the green light for surgery on a hernia problem by manager Gordon Strachan.
The 23-year-old Scotland international barely featured in pre-season due to a groin injury.

Strachan said: "I would think it will be three to four weeks before Shaun plays again.

"He had struggled through pre-season. It has been bothering him so he is as well to have the operation now."

Strachan thought it would be a mere blip in Maloney's career.

And he also confirmed that defender Bobo Balde, who also missed pre-season training, would be back in action in a month.

"Bobo Balde should be out for four weeks," he said.

"I would have liked to have had him in pre-season, but it was not to be.

"The physios say it will be four weeks."


Thats a blow for us but hopefully he will be back for Champions League.

[bandage]

Next extraxt from Strachan's autobiography taken from The Sunday Times:

Far from being Celtic’s highest earner, Roy Keane was no higher than eighth
In this exclusive extract from his autobiography, Gordon Strachan tells how he was courted by Celtic, the truth behind the Roy Keane deal and why he admires Rupert Lowe

When Roy Keane joined Celtic on a free transfer in December 2005, most people were left wondering how we could afford him and why he should be interested in playing in Scotland. He had been reckoned to be on something like £80,000 a week at Manchester United and it was clear that although the Premiership clubs which were interested in him could not match that, they would nevertheless be able to take him closer to this figure than we could. When Keane signed for us, a number of reports indicated that he would be on £40,000 a week at Parkhead and that the deal would be funded partly by Dermot Desmond. Neither was correct.

The salary we agreed with him was considerably less than £40,000 a week, and even then it was dependent on the number of first-team appearances he made. Far from being Celtic’s highest earner when he joined, he was no higher than eighth on the list. Dermot was brilliant in this matter. As one of Roy’s Irish admirers, Dermot wanted him on board as much as anybody — but not at the expense of leaving us short of money for the group of younger players I wanted to sign.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of Keane’s decision to come to Celtic was that I could not even promise him a regular place in the team. At our meeting at Dermot’s house in London to discuss the move, I told him: “I still see you as a central midfielder. But the problem is that Neil Lennon and Stilian Petrov are doing too well in that area to be left out or moved elsewhere. If I had to select a team for the next match, and the three of you were all fit, I would have to plump for Neil and Stilian.”

He was perfectly happy with that, for the simple reason that because of his affection for Celtic during his upbringing in the Irish Republic, he had genuinely set his heart on playing for the club.

AFTER 21 years in England, I never expected to find myself working back in Scotland; and not in my wildest dreams did I think that my next club after Southampton would be Celtic. The chance arose because of Martin O’Neill’s decision to step out of football to give more support to his wife, Geraldine, who had become seriously ill.

As for the background to Desmond electing to plump for me as Martin’s replacement, all I know is that it was partly due to the recommendation of Eddie Jordan, the former Formula One motor-racing supremo. Eddie, whom I’d originally met through Bryan Richardson — and who had become involved in Bryan’s Manchester City takeover bid — is a close friend of Dermot’s as well as a Celtic shareholder.

I first became aware of Dermot’s interest when we met by chance for the first time at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2005. A friend from my Coventry City days, an associate of the club’s directors, Eric Groves, invited my wife, Lesley, and me to be his guests in his hospitality box there. The suite next to it was occupied by Dermot, Eddie and various Irish football personalities such as Kevin Moran and Liam Brady. When Lesley and I bumped into Eddie and Liam as we were going for a walk, Eddie asked us to join him for a drink in their box.

I had been in the room for only a few minutes when I became conscious of a vaguely familiar distinguished-looking guy with a moustache looking at me. It was Desmond. He came over to introduce himself and asked what I was doing football-wise.

I told him: “I would like to return to football, but a lot of the jobs aren’t that much different from the ones I had at Coventry and Southampton. Maybe that’s my true level as a manager, but I would like to try something more exciting.” There was no way I was angling for Martin’s job, it was just a general comment about my situation. However, Dermot said: “Well, we don’t know how long Martin is going to be here. He will never get the sack from Celtic, but maybe he will want to go somewhere else.”

Referring to the Manchester City situation, I then said: “There is something in the pipeline for me, so I could be going somewhere myself in a few weeks.” But Dermot said: “If you do, make sure you have a get-out clause in your contract.”

Two days later I received a telephone call from Kevin Moran. He had been listening to my conversation with Desmond and he said: “I bet you couldn’t believe what he was saying to you. But take it from me — he meant every word. He does not tell porky pies.” Then came the call from Desmond to tell me that Martin would be leaving at the end of the season, and to invite me to have further talks about the job.

At our meeting my only stipulation about joining Celtic was that the approval of it had to be unanimous. I said: “I know you are the major shareholder, but I am not coming along if it’s just you who wants me here.”

I considered it particularly important that Celtic’s chief executive, Peter Lawwell, the boardroom figure with whom I needed to have the closest working relationship, was in agreement on my appointment. I actually pulled him aside and said: “Look, if you don’t fancy me, just let me know and I won’t come here. You have my promise that if this is the case, I won’t drop you in it, I will just make an excuse.’

Peter seemed aghast at the suggestion. He stressed that he was just as enthusiastic about me being at Celtic as Dermot and Martin were. But I did have a major credibility hurdle to overcome with the Celtic fans. It could be that I still do.

I DON’T think I have ever had a club chairman — either as a player or a manager — as different from me in his social background and mentality as Rupert Lowe, with whom I worked at Southampton. As he is constantly reminded, he is not what most people in the game would call a real football man. He had only ever seen one or two matches before becoming involved with Southampton — his favourite sports were and possibly still are hockey and rugby union — and one of his chief forms of relaxation is duck shooting. Someone once remarked: “If he was not a football club chairman, he would probably be an estate manager.”

His image was perhaps best summed up by a comment attributed to Graeme Souness, the first of his Southampton managers. Graeme, by way of an explanation for his apparent difficulty in establishing a rapport with him, was quoted as saying: “How many people do you know in professional football with the name Rupert?” All this is part of the reason I am fond of him. I like people who are unconventional and in the world of professional football, he is certainly that. Although he got on my nerves sometimes, just as I must have got on his, we could make each other laugh. I got a lot of fun out of working with him.

For the early part of matches I would sometimes sit with Rupert and Andrew Cowen, the Southampton managing director — who had been at prep school with the chairman — in the directors’ box. That experience could also be somewhat amusing. Rupert was fond of comparing football situations with those he experienced as a hockey player. For example, it bothered him that Southampton did not score more goals from corners. He was particularly irritated once when a corner landed at the feet of one of our players, only for him to blast it over from eight yards out.

“Should he have done that, Gordon?” he asked.

“No, Mr Chairman, of course he shouldn’t have done that.”

“Did he practise his shooting?” “Yes, Mr Chairman, he did.”

Andrew, who, like Rupert, had not previously been a football follower, tended to make the same sort of comments. In one ear I would be hearing: “Oh, what a terrible pass” and in the other, it would be: “Doesn’t he work on this?” When I left them to join Garry Pendrey in the technical area, Garry would joke: “I know why you are here — bet those two are getting on your tits again.”

Rupert once said to me: “You know, Gordon, I think I have cracked this game of football now. It is very much like hockey.” While I would question whether his experience in hockey is as relevant as he might have thought, his argument cannot be totally dismissed. He is no mug on the psychological and physical sides of sport. He is very much into various aspects of sports science, and, as reflected by his radical decision to bring England’s former World Cup rugby union coach Sir Clive Woodward on to the Southampton staff, his ideas on how teams can maximise their performances can be refreshingly broad-minded and progressive.

There were a few players about whom he was spot on, too. Take Peter Crouch, the player he went on about the most. Rupert suggested the centre-forward as a Southampton signing so often that it was like listening to a cracked record. We did not try to sign him from Aston Villa when I was manager because in addition to myself, none of the other members of our staff who were consulted on the idea by Rupert voted in favour of him being brought to Southampton either.

Of course Southampton did eventually sign Crouch after I left, in July 2004 for £2m. Twelve months later he had become an England player and been sold to Liverpool for £7m.

How I upset Adams

I FOUND it particularly difficult to be Mr Super Cool when I had the added pressure of playing as well as managing.

I still cringe about what I said to Arsenal’s then captain, Tony Adams, during Coventry’s 1-1 draw at home to the Gunners towards the end of the 1996-97 season.

It started with Adams clattering me near the touchline. As I was chasing a ball towards the corner flag (a bit daft, I know, for a 40-year-old) he came across to boot the ball away and then followed through and caught me on the chest.

“The next time I’m going to knock you into the stand,” he warned.

“Don’t start that, Tony,” I said. “You’ve had many years to do that to me and you’ve not been able to do it once. Even though I’m 40 now, you’ve no chance.”

Instead of dropping the matter, he kept chuntering on about it.

About a minute later, when we were close to each other in the middle of the park, he was still telling me about the harm that he was going to inflict on me.

“Look,” I said, “why don’t you just **** off and go for a drink, and let the rest of us get on with the game.”

Not surprisingly, as soon as I mentioned the word “drink” — the most sensitive of subjects for Tony because of his much-publicised battle against alcoholism — I knew that I was in serious trouble.

His eyes were popping out and in no time at all his big Arsenal teammates had gathered menacingly around me, and they did not want my autograph, that’s for sure.

It was just as well that the match was being shown live on television because otherwise I am sure that I would have got thumped.

As it was, all I could see were these angry Arsenal faces, and I was thinking to myself: “Where’s my help? Where are the other Coventry boys?” Although Tony had started it all, I knew that I had been out of order, so I found him after the game and apologised to him.

“No problem,” he said. “It’s all forgotten.” I am not sure if he truly meant it, but fortunately for me the fact that I packed in playing at the end of the season meant I was never in a position to find out.

Curse of agents in football

THE AMOUNT of money washing around in football has generated greed and dishonesty. There is no shortage of people striving for a piece of the cake, and I can get quite sensitive sometimes over the ease with which some allow any sense of integrity they have to fly straight out of the window.

The point has been brought into sharp focus by the conduct of some players’ agents. They are not all bad, but the truth is that even if one of my best friends became an agent tomorrow, I would find it difficult to have the same trust in him.

Having to sit in on some of Bryan Richardson’s negotiations with these men at Coventry, and see at first hand how dishonest and morally bankrupt a few were, was possibly the aspect of the job I found most difficult to come to terms with.

It did have its light moments, however. I remember one agent sending us a video of a Scandinavian goalkeeper he was hoping we would sign. Embarrassingly for him, the previous film on the video — of a porno- graphic nature involving him and a woman we took to be his wife — had not been totally erased. The first five minutes of the tape were infinitely more entertaining than anything we saw of the keeper.

Generally, my experience of the way some agents conduct their business was disconcerting. For example, what can one make of the guy who falsified the figures on a player’s draft contract? Once he and Bryan had reached agreement on the player’s terms, Bryan, who was running late for a meeting elsewhere, wrote down the details and asked him to take the notes to the club secretary, Graham Hover, to incorporate them into a formal typewritten contract. As Bryan was in his car heading to his next appointment, he received a call from Graham telling him that, unusually for the chairman, some of his handwritten figures were not clear. After Bryan had left, the agent changed the fives to sixes and the sevens into eights. I could never get my head around the instances of agents screwing us to the wall on their clients’ personal terms — which I could just about accept as being a valid part of their jobs — then demanding we give them personal payments of up to £250,000 before the deals could be completed.

On at least two occasions we had two or three agents claiming to represent the same player and ending up having a fierce row, in front of Bryan and me and their client, over how their cuts should be divided.

[pagey]

What happened today bhoys? Was back home so didn't see the match. Heard it was stupid mistakes for the two goals. How did we play?

[bandage]

bandage said:

However, away from home especially there will be games where Celtic will be given no time and space and teams will set their stalls out to disrupt, hassle and harry. In these type of games it’s always beneficial to have a target man playing up front, someone who can hold up the ball, bide time for the side and lay it off to a team mate in order to retain possession and keep the pressure off the defence. I think Hearts will try to be very physical next week. They’ll have Brellier, Hartley and these boys all sticking the boot in so it will be interesting to see if Celtic can adapt when faced with this game especially without having the option of a get out ball to Sutton or Hartson. A left back remains a priority but a striker in the mould of Sutton would be superb too.

First I should say that I didn't see the game today but I watched a 15 minute highlights package on the web there. I think part of the problem today was the lack of a target man to give Celtic an out ball like I mentioned last week. Hearts were in their faces all day and gave them no time on the ball with Celtic resorting to pumping balls forward to small strikers like Miller and Zurawski. I agreed with the sale of Hartson but it was a mistake not to have a like for like replacement lined up.

It seems Hearts thoroughly deserved the win. When they were 1-0 up Bednar had a goal disallowed when 2 separate Celtic players were playing him at least 2 yards onside - one of the wirst offside decisions you're likely to see. Boruc also made a couple of decent saves and Celtic created nothing of note other than the goal.

The first goal came from Telfer giving the ball away around half way. Some guy slide it through to Bednar in the vacated inside right position with Caldwell and McManus caught flat footed and he scuffed a left footed side in off the post. Celtic's passing was abysmal by all accounts and the midfield didn't get a grip on the game at all.

That said the equaliser was a belter of a goal. It came from a breakaway after a Hearts corner involving Naka, a Miller flick to Aiden, a through ball to the on rushing Petrov and a thumping left foot finish. 7 seconds from one end of the park to the other.

The equaliser came against the run of play when realistically Celtic should have been 2 or 3 down and then Lennon was brought on to shore up the midfield with Miller going off and Celtic reverting to 4-5-1. Possibly should have kept the foot on the gas after getting the equaliser. Guys on the huddleboard were screaming out for Riordan's pace but given how poorly they were playing it seemed they attempted to settle for a point.

The winner was ridiculous. A ball was played forward by them and Caldwell nodded it down to Lennon out on Celtic's right by half way. He had time and space to control it and take the ball forward but his first instinct was to try and hook the ball left footed all the way back to Boruc. Bednar read it, nipped in and around Artur and rolled the ball into an empty net.

The only players getting pass marks on the huddleboard are Boruc, Wilson and McGeady. Bednar appeared to roast the 2 centre backs, Telfer was again appalling, Jarosik was anonymous (as he tended to be away from home any time I saw him play for Birmingham), Petrov had a good spell around the goal but barely contributed in the first half and Miller and Magic received no service of note.

Interesting to see a Hearts side that is worse than last year (Skacel and Webster gone) and missing Fyssas, Jankauskas and Hartley through injury today tear Celtic a new arsehole. You'd have to be worried if the performance was as bad as it appears. Rock, any view?

Yet again it blatantly highlights the need for 3 or 4 new players in the same positions we've been highlighting for weeks; left back, centre back, centre mid and up front.

Bhoys on the huddleboard are reporting that amazingly Paul Le Guen and his minder, who were at the game, walked into the path of the Celtic away support after the game on the way to their car and he was abused, spat upon and kicked. Disgraceful if true.

[therock67]

pagey said:

What happened today bhoys? Was back home so didn't see the match. Heard it was stupid mistakes for the two goals. How did we play?

Apologies for the delay in replying. Bandage was requesting my comments yesterday also but I was laid low with a back injury all day and was in bed at seven, unable to sit upright any longer.

Anyway enough about me. I was on the HB yesterday straight after the game and there was widespread disgust and disillusionment with the Celtic team. I logged off immediately because I wanted to form my own opinions of the game independently. I have had plenty of opportunity to do so in the cold light of day.

First things first Hearts deserved the win. We started brightly enough and it was a fairly even, though dull, first half. Not much happened to trouble either team defensively and the only incident of note was the dismissal of Strachan and McGlynn or whatever the Hearts coach is called. Irrelevant anyway with modern communication methods. It was interesting to see Tommy Burns assuming the touchline duties for Celtic though, he seemed to be more involved that Pendry from what we could see on tv.

Not much else to say about the first half. Naka was tidy on the ball, Aiden was quiet enough but had a couple of nice runs. Forwards weren't involved. Midfield two were very quiet.

Second half and the whole thing livened up. I'm sure we've all seen the first goal by now. Telfer gave the ball away stupidly but even at that stage I think we could have done more to prevent the goal. Caldwell jogs back towards the centre of the goal instead of trying to cut off the angle for Bednar. That leaves him one on one with Boruc with only one place he can score and to be fair to him it was an excellent finish. On first viewing I expected more from Boruc but the angle from behind showed the quality of the finish. Very disappointed with Caldwell on the goal really. I didn't expect much from Telfer but Caldwell showed none fo the instinct or determination of a top class defender by jogging back aimlessly.

Hearts of course should have scored a second a while after when our defence again messed up the line and allowed him a free run on goal. Caldwell and McManus are simply too slow to play together as centre halves. At the moment McManus is the better of the two because he knows his limitations and just gets rid of the ball. Caldwell fancies himself a bit so he doesn't do the tough stuff and he hangs onto the ball too long.

The equaliser was a tremendous goal and an example of the football we are capable of playing with our skillful players under Strachan. Plenty of pace in the move, excellent touches and a superb finish. Cracking goal.

Then the last goal. As Bandage has suggested the most disappointing part was not Lennon's execution of the pass, it was the fact that without thinking he thought his best option was to knock the ball back 50 yards. He had plenty of time to do otherwise or even just to launch it skywards and forwards but he chickened out. Terrible pass but again full marks for Bednar for his anticipation and his finish. Boruc had no chance whatsoever.

In general it was an awful performance. The back 4 were appalling with the exception of Wilson who had a strange sort of day on the ball but at least he's capable. He's our best defender by a country mile and we're playing him out of position. I cannot support Strachan much longer if he doesn't change that fact.

The central midfield two were poor. Petrov took his goal well but he was as bad as I've seen him play otherwise. He's taken plenty of stick in the last few months with much revisionism about his performance levels as guys convince themselves that we don't need him but yesterday was the first time I've seen him look uninterested for a long time. Jarosik was marginally better. Bandage referred to him as "anonymous" and I wouldn't agree. He had a poor game because his touch was poor and not much happened for him but he was involved and gave away a few free kicks tracking back, seemed to be covering for two players in there. I'd be reluctant to criticise him too much because I don't think he hid at all - just a poor day at the office.

The wide men were peripheral enough for most of the game which wasn't really their fault. Both Aiden and Naka (and Pearson when he came on) were decent on the ball with Aiden being more dangerous because of his dribbling. Can't fault any of these players really.

Front two were very quiet but it never seemed likely that they'd be involved because we weren't passing the ball well and they're not target men.

The biggest problem for us was the lack of a target man. Am I right in saying that Tynecastle is a smaller pitch than FIFA/UEFA standards? It certainly seemed like it yesterday. I've rarely seen Celtic pass the ball well there and under MON this wasn't a problem as we could bully them physically. That doesn't happen under Strachan and we weren't equipped for the type of game that developed. As much as we need a left back we desparately require an out ball up front.

Finally Bandage one of the points you make was the HB outrage at the failure to introduce Riordan. I think the principal reason for this is that we were about to make the change just before we scored the equaliser. It had already been announced that Lennon was coming on for Miller. We were one down - supposed to be chasing the game - and Lennon was Strachan's first pick to change that. Bizarre.

[bandage]

Have heard that said about Tynecastle before too but don't know for definite myself if it's true. Agreed on the physicality of the team - that's what prompted me to post last week saying a target man is required for the likes of an away game at Hearts. The team is very lightweight now compared to MON's team - they'll get away with it at home when teams come and sit back and give Celtic licence to pass the ball around at speed - but like yesterday you really need some players with a bit of dig.

Of the team to start yesterday you'd probably say only the two centre backs (probably a push to include Caldwell here) and Jarosik are physical players. When both of these centre backs spend most of the game falling around like clowns then you're going to be in trouble. Agreed that I'm finding it totally disillusioning seeing Wilson playing left back just to accomodate Telfer. Camara was the weakest link against Kilmarnock but he was still better than any Telfer performance I've seen yet he wasn't even in the 18 yesterday - there was some rumour he's being shipped to Leeds on a free.

The Bulgarian left back Petkov has arrived today for a trial but looking at the clubs he's played for and been released by he doesn't inspire too much confidence. If the board want to see Celtic in the champions league for the next few seasons then they simply have to go out and buy the 4 players required and stop shopping in the bargain basement. It will be better value in the long run. Kadlec, Tymoschuk, Hesselink and whoever else they're after - just go out and spend the combined £10m and get it sorted.

[therock67]

Petkov rejected by Celtic. Seems we've let Camara and Virgo leave on season-long loan deals as well.

[bandage]

That Petkov one is a bit strange. He only trained today and yesterday. I assume the fact they let him go means they have someone else lined up, Kadlec again? But with the problems Celtic have signing players, who knows?