So, in amongst the puzzles of ‘Deadline Day’- wondering how a metaphorical window can slam shut, why Murdoch Vision haven’t found Jim White out yet, is the guy from Sweet really that skint that he has to do embarrassing van insurance adverts – there was one thing that became clear.
The only marquee we will see is if we go to a wedding in one. From now on in a marquee to a Celtic fan will be a big tent, no more no less. The pros and cons of a marquee signing have been bludgeoned to death like a baby seal.
As Deadline Day progressed those who wanted the ready meal hero were getting themselves into such a state that I thought we would see the first head explode via Twit Pic. In The Knows – well 99.5% of them – were shown up to be black marker sniffing chancers who seem the kind that would be bothered that The Stig has been unveiled.
I hoped this window would have seen the De-Strachanfication of the ‘right good team-mates’ our Gordon so dearly loved. You see, Gordon filled his team with a mixture of winners and losers. Tony Mowbray got rid of those that had that winning mentality. Those left are losers who are as soft as sh*t that no-one wants. The last 2 seasons have proved they don’t have what it takes.
When we played Dundee United in the first game after the window last year the team lined up as: THG, Hinkel, Loovens, Caldwell, Fox, N’Guemo, Brown, Maloney, McGinn, Crosas, Skippy.
When we play Hearts next weekend 8 of those players are either available, not in favour or have been sold.
Lennon promised to bring experience to the club and a winning mentality. Off the 11 players we have signed only Majstorvic and Cha Du Ri tick the box marked experienced. The rest are just starting out and Murphy never really got started.
The manager will be looking at guys like Loovens, Brown, Maloney and Samaras to provide the ‘we have done it all before‘ experience. That is a scary thought. Guys with questionable winning mentality, not to mention ability being relied on.
The back line is scary. I had high hopes for Jos Hooiveld. I thought we would hear stories of him having his wicked way with Fern Cotton then using her as a tooth pick then a bog brush. With experiments on-going to inject Thomas Rognes bones with titanium liquid Loovens is set to play a major role even though we would have sent him back to Cardiff with a claim for a refund.
Majstorvic looks a leader but it’s wrong that I’m dreaming of him together with Caldwell. It’s right I want Hinkel over Cha Du Ri though.
In the midfield Scott Brown’s ‘experience’ will see him continue though he is not allowed near crayons and it’s hard not to see Samaras not getting an attacking berth, again, because of his ‘experience’ compared to others.
As that kid in the Andrex advert would say: “soft, soft, soft”
Maybe new players round about will change things. I wouldn’t be taking that risk
My team to play Hearts is this: Forster, Cha, Loovens, Majstorvic, Inguirre, Kayal, Ledley, Juarez, Maloney, Forrest, Stokes.
De-Strachanfication nearly complete Sir……but closure maybe long way off.
sorry but mccourt over maloney is what ever celtic fan would prefer 🙂
and in my opinion hooiveld over loovens sorry
@celticno1
The worry with Hooiveld was there. We just didn’t notice it. The Clue? Johan never spoke about him.
i would also like to say at least u wouldn’t play samaras
fuck off whiney blogTim. Go out in the sunshine. unscrew your head from the laptop screen. Everything will be fine. Look to the horizon. Leave your dick alone
@wetwang
Wow! Your mother would be so proud at your constructive rounding of the article. I’m looking to the horizon and see thunder. If you look in your pants you’ll see a botched nip and tuck.
I’d go for
Forster
Cha Rogne Majstorovic Izaquirre
Juarez Kayal Brown Ledley
Stokes Hooper
Nice and simple 4-4-2, rock solid midfield four, with Maloney and McCourt options either partnering Stokes/Hooper or out wide with Kayal on the bench.
@andy1411
Lenny seems to favour the extra man in the middle. It’s solid but so is a lump of wood and I would fear that would be as creative as a lump of wood.
Assuming everyone comes back from international duty fit, I’m sure Brown will play. Lenny is sticking by him and I don’t see him dropping him. Question would then be drop Forrest/Maloney or shunt Jaurez/Ledley out wide?
Hearts will be phyiscal (i.e dirty bastards) so I think Lenny might leave both Maloney and Forrest on the bench and stick Murphy out wide.
I’ll say Forster, Cha, Danny, Hooiveld, Izzaguirre, Brown, Kayal, Ledley, Juarez, Murphy, Stokes
@chiefinkorea
The thought of Murphy out wide is as attractive as a telegraph pole in your garden. My money is on Forrest dropping out to accommodate unstoppable Brown.
Oh hasn’t Levein made supporting Scotland tonight like feeling you are eating your own children?
Loovens, Samaras and Murphy should be used as sparingly as possible as they are not good enough. Brown should be the guy to drop out of the midfield and should be stripped of the captaincy. He has had his chance. It is a terrible indictment of the guys we have signed that Danny Shittu is a better defender than the ones we have! Rogne is permanently injured and cannot be relied on, although he did look promising in his brief spells in the team. Hooiveld is slow and, if we are being honest, hopeless. Maloney and Forrest should start McCourt is nothing more than a substitute that can make an impact one in every three games, if we are lucky. Nothing to do with fitness or commitment just the way he is. A horrible thought is that the top three signings in Scotland this summer appear, at this early stage, to be Weiss, Jelavic and Juarez. Although it is very early to say and we hope some of our guys come through, but most of them won’t cut it, that is obvious even as early as this. But it does look like quantity over quality which Neil wanted as he needed to get rid of the deadwood. However, he has only achieved half of this task.
@jpd
Unsure about your take on the the 3 top signings. Weiss I think will fade and Jelavic is an unknown.
It’s worrying that even if we get Shittu our defence will still be below Celtic standard- both in terms of quantity and quality. But Big Dan will at least show the others the kind of steel and guts required. As for midfield im ‘very’ happy with what we have. We have 3 or 4 proper quality midfielders and even more who are capable fill-ins. Up front is gonna be a chameleon of a place for the next few weeks with different partnerships being tested. If Samaras can be consistent and if Stokes can keep up his good record then… why not? Yet to see Hooper but heard good things about him. Not keen on Murphy- bad attitude and can’t see him being around for too long. All in all, im more than content.
@Michael D
Is this Shittu thing happening? Really desperate measures.
It’s been mentioned here before Celtic don’t do defence..always seems an after thought.
Still too pished off with the lot of them after our european exploits to merit a place in the team for any of them.
@Gerard
Wounds take longer to heal. Esp when the same wound keeps happening.
I am not keen on Celtic signing another centre back because he is big and kicks the ball the way he is facing. However it`s Neil Lennon who decides and it`s his job to win games.
It seems as if Crosas is really far off the page that he is no longer a contender. Ki I reckon can play in a five man middle he was left exposed by Mogga and his lack of tactics.