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“Hilariously Dated!” An Ironic Look At The CelticBlog’s Belated August Club Report Card.

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Hahahaha.

Oh man, for this one you can blame me.

This was an editorial screw up of epic proportions, and I’m accountable for it.

Because Ross submitted this piece to me at the end of last month at it really should have run before Ibrox, because Ibrox changed a lot of perceptions and has pretty much made me look a bit silly to say the least. For what’s right here, praise him. For what’s wrong, blame me.

Yes, we’ve played one game since the turn of the month … but Hell, it was kind of a big one.

Ross did a fantastic job on this, and it’ll be the first of many … but we both agree that it now looks “hilariously dated.”

Except … maybe not.

You can decide.

This is our State of the Club on 31 August.

James Forrest

Everything beyond this was put together – brilliantly – by Ross McAtasney.

August Report Card 

 I thought it could be interesting at the end of each month to make a report card for the current players and management for each month to see how we are progressing month by month, just a basic break down of what the players are doing well and what they can improve on, and a final mark on their performance through the month 

 

Scott Bain 

Played 4 games in August, and conceding 6 goals, which resulted in us crashing out of the champions league to Clujand only keeping 1 clean sheet out of the 4 games. With the clean sheet coming against St Johnstone in the 7 nil game where we had very little in the way of the opposing team attacking our goal. 

Grade – F  

Craig Gordon 

Played 3 games , earning 1 clean sheet against AIK Stockholm at home, with having an away tie with AIK the clean sheet would always be required to ensure a good result away from home. Looked assured but as always not the greatest distribution 

Grade – B-  

Fraser Forster 

Brought in during the home game against AIK, and was given his start against Hearts the following Sunday. Lost one goal due to a rebounded penalty. Looked like he had never left and took charge of his box, but still early days and tougher tests ahead to see if he can claim the first gk spot. 

Grade – B+  

Anthony Ralston 

So far only Ralston has managed 2 substitute appearances in august, coming on against St Johnstone and on for Ajer during the Away tie against AIK. Both games being where we did not have to defend much, looked ok going forward, but with his lack of game time it does look like his days wearing hoops are numbered. 

Grade – C  

Hatem Abd Elhamed

Made his official debut against St Johnstone , but only lasted 51 minutes. By that point we were already 3 goals up and cruising, with what must have been one of the easiest 51 mins he has played as a defender. Played 4 games so far, looks very decent going forward , and seems good at tracking back, there does however seem to be some question marks over injuries in such early days. Ideally looking for him to get a good run of games and feel more settled at the right of the defence. 

Grade – B 

Kristoffer Ajer 

Played 8 games in August, and has been one of the stand out performers in his role. A solid rock at the heart of our defence, the youngest of our centre backs, but still showing his class , fighting for every tackle, and celebrating when he wins those big tackles, even being put out to right back did not phase him at all, took it in his stride. Certainly becoming one of the first names on the team sheet and has an attacking streak in him when he goes on his long runs. 

Grade – A+ 

Jozo Simunovic 

Has played 3 games in August, all in european ties, I had hoped he would carry the form on from the end of last season, but has not been seen around the squad much with injury or suspension. Can be prone to a few errors and does leave you worried he could end up with a dodgy tackle. Does not fill me with confidence. 

Grade – D 

 Christopher Julien 

Played in 6 matches across August, and has looked quite settled, a tall imposing defender, but has had some shaky moments, with Julien being the most expensive defender at the club it was hoped he may bring more, in time hopefully we see that value for money. 

Grade – C 

 Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo 

Brought in to try and give us an option at the left back position , where we ended up losing Tierney, which has left us very light in that position. It has to be said in August Boli has not settled the fans nerves yet, he looks semi decent going forward, but very shaky in defence, but one may suspect being seen as tierneys replacement may have skewed some fans mind of him already, hopefully more game time and time to settle into the country will allow him to push onThere is an over riding fear that he may not have the potential to kick on, but I would be very pleased to be proved wrong on this. 

Grade – C- 

 Scott Brown 

Our Captain and leader on the pitch, the man who runs though brick walls for the team and raises the team up.. That is what we have come to expect from Broony, but in august it may go down as a month to forget for him, Played 7 games and given away 2 penalties , and not soft ones. It is giving the impression that this may be Browns winding down season where he may have to start seeing less game time and being used more as a player to tighten up the game as a sub. Cant remember any games where he set down a marker. 

Grade – C- 

Nir Bitton

  

Played 5 full matches in August, being mostly used in the center of defenceI have to be honest, Bitton has impressed me in August, Not made any blunders, has made some stellar passes and looked assured. Always a tidy player and maybe a little under valued by some fans, but I have to say it was a good month for Bitton 

Grade – B+  

Callum McGregor 

Along with Ajer has played all 8 games in August, not put a foot wrong.

As always has become Mr Reliable in our midfield, although was put at left back against Cluj in the game that seen us exit the champions league, but he looked decent enough at right back, but it is literally like using an expensive engine part as a paper weight, it can do the job but its not where the strenghts lie. 

Grade – B+ 

James Forrest 

Banging the goals in through August, and saving our blushes against DunfermlineScored 6 goals in August so far and looks on very good formAs a winger can be prone to drop out of games at times, but has certainly stepped up when we needed him, hoping for more of the same from Forrest through the season 

Grade – A+  

Olivier Ntcham 

Has scored 1 goal so far in August against St Johnstone, has looked tidy enough and been playing very well. Altho has not played a full 90 minutes this month. Not been any stand out performances from Ntcham yet, but looks to be getting the head down and getting on with the job. 

Grade – B- 

Ryan Christie 

Blowing any worries that he may struggle to pick up his form from before being out injured out the water. Has looked on top form, always looking to find space to shoot around  the box and take his chances. Battles in midfield, plays box to box with a lot of confidence and skill. Starting off August with a Hat Trick from outside the box, not a bad way to start the month off. Can tell he is making a strong claim to be a top top player. 

Grade – A+ 

Lewis Morgan 

worryingc case of Scott Allen possibly? I am hoping its too early to tell, but Morgan has not set the heather alight when he has got game time, Has only played 1 full match in August against Motherwell, but the rest have been bit part appearances at the end of the game. Only one game of note that he made a contribution was against AIK where he managed to get on the end of Forrest cross to get his first Celtic goal. 

Grade – D 

Michael “Mikey” Johnston

 

Looking very likely that Johnston has made his claim for the Left attacking option, and is making the most f his chance, with his light feet skipping past defenders, and having a decent shot on him has led him to have 3 goals in 6 games in August, for his age I have been very impressed with what he offers, there is times where maybe he should pass instead of trying to get round too many players, but that comes with experience. Genuinely think Johnston could end up out shining Forrest this season, Looking  top Player in August 

Grade – A 

Vakoun Issouf Bayo 

1 full match under his belt, and 2 goals.. not a bad way to give the fans a glimpse of what’s in store from Bayo. Looks a tall strong player in the box, a sort of sutton type who will attack the ball, Still early days but the early signs are looking good if he can keep fit. 

Grade – C 

Leigh Griffiths 

Great to have the Teacake back in the fold to offer us another attacking option, and proving that his left boot is as deadly as ever. Still looking to get fully match fit after his time out of the game, but for me Griffiths gets brownie points for requesting to play in the reserves to get his match fitness up. Hoping for a top season for Griffiths to prove the doubters wrong. Has not had a lot of game time in August, But looks like he is rediscovering his form. 

Grade -C+ 

Odsonne Edouard 

An absoulte cracking month for French Eddie having the fans bouncing along to I Wanna Be Edouard. Played in 6 games and scored , but his work on the ball and skill is truly on show, looking every bit worth the 9 million pound we paid for him, although could be looking for more goals but is more than making up with it with his work rate, and also adding free kicks to his bag of tricks. Could be a stand out season for Edouard if he continues on his form 

Grade – A  

Neil Lennon 

An odd month with some odd choices, most notably playing McGregor at left back against Cluj when we had a fit and able left back available, but in a month where we have scored 27 goals and conceded 10 goals has seen some fans feel a bit worried, which does seem a little knee jerk in relation to the attacking style we are playing, but decisions to not play our 7 million pound defender over a defensive midfielder or playing a central midfielder at left back has left some fans a little perplexed, and including the omission of players like Sinclair, Shved and Arzanni has left some fans wondering why these players did not manage to get game time in August over the likes of Morgan. Taking away the Cluj game at home August would have went down as an unqualified success, but that one game seemed to set a tone and lennons comments regarding mcgregor at left back left many fans feeling angry. For me it does feel Lennon has to find a settled team to make the fans feel more at ease 

Grade – B  

Transfer Extra: The Board 

I felt this should be included as there has been much mentioned of the players coming and going in the transfer window, with the likes of Lustig, Tierney, Benkovic and Boyatta all left the club, we were looking to rebuild our defense, at the time of writing we have brought in 25 million for Tierney, and spent around 10 million on our defense with Julien, El Hamed, Bauer and Boli,

Which has not been the top signings the fans hoped for it seems, the main issue is around timing, where the board seem to be waiting until its too late to make signings, as in after we were put out the champions league, and still not given ourselves cover for the lb or rb positions, which has led to us moving players out of position.

These positions should have been covered from the past season but the board seem to want to leave the fans frustrated after the champions league exit and not having any top signings come in that would settle the fans nerves  

Grade – F 

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