Celtic FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2014/15 Mod Warning post #6011

PauloMN · 19-02-2013 10:02PM

I don't think Lenny has a grudge against Stokes at all. I think Stokes is doing his best to keep in contention and I hope he keeps it up because he's a great player. His ability was never in question, aside from struggling in big games a bit.

How is Sammy doing I wonder?

BhoscaCapall · 19-02-2013 10:04PM

PauloMN wrote: »

I don't think Lenny has a grudge against Stokes at all. I think Stokes is doing his best to keep in contention and I hope he keeps it up because he's a great player. His ability was never in question, aside from struggling in big games a bit.

Didn't he score all our goals in the Europa last year?

Apart from that Lenny doesn't play him in big games so it's hard to say.

PauloMN · 19-02-2013 10:20PM

BhoscaCapall wrote: »

Didn't he score all our goals in the Europa last year?

I said big games....

BhoscaCapall wrote: »

Apart from that Lenny doesn't play him in big games so it's hard to say.

Well I suppose I don't remember his record against the old Rangers being very good is what I mean.

Full match now being shown on BBC Alba in case anyone want to see it.

Broxi_Bear_Eire · 19-02-2013 10:30PM

If you are talking about Stokes he tweeted about a friend of his dying

BhoscaCapall · 19-02-2013 10:40PM

PauloMN wrote: »

Well I suppose I don't remember his record against the old Rangers being very good is what I mean.

From memory and a quick Google the only one I remember him starting with that ridiculous 3-0 game when we could have won the title (aye right

) but got 2 sent off and he had to be subbed early doors. He was a late sub in a few others, I remember him getting booked for diving when fouled in the box late on in Ibrox.

Broxi_Bear_Eire wrote: »

If you are talking about Stokes he tweeted about a friend of his dying

You're right but I don't think that's why he didn't start though. As I said in those circumstances a player would usually either play or not be in the squad at all.

Ladjacket · 19-02-2013 10:55PM

Lennon has said that Stokes' friend died yesterday and he was not right to play but that he wanted to be with the team so he had him on the bench. I think that's a fair enough explanation.

BhoscaCapall · 19-02-2013 10:57PM

I think that speaks volumes about his hunger.

Hooper might be the better player but there are plenty of times when Stokes offers us more.

Ladjacket · 19-02-2013 11:04PM

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/celtic-star-anthony-stokes-mourns-1716671

Apologies for the link source but it confirms the story. Saw on Twitter were Lennon had said that he wanted to be with the squad. I think that the people saying they have a poor relationship are wide of the mark. I think it's almost like a father/son relationship in the sense that the manager can empathise with a lot of the things Stokes has to put up with off the pitch as he experienced the same in his playing career. However, Stokes may not have shown he can handle the responsibility of the big games.

Still, there is always THAT game v Kilmarnock.

BhoscaCapall · 19-02-2013 11:24PM

Which big games has Stokes shown he can't handle the responsibility in? I can't think of any, especially if we're not counting the ones where he has shown it.

Anyone else think Forster has been poor since coming back? He disappointed me for Juve's first goal and United's too. Offside or not, we conceded two headers today and he should be punching those balls into the box clear.

Ladjacket · 19-02-2013 11:55PM

No you mistake what I mean - Stokes' absence from big games, for example, the majority of the Rangers games, a lot of European games, suggest that maybe Lennon does not trust him to shoulder the responsibility.

I actually like Stokes. Him and Hooper are unstoppable in the SPL when together. However, the nature of football now means that in Europe, you can rarely play 2 up top and this is where Stokes pays the price as the gaffer obviously thinks that Hooper is a more rounded option.

Lennonist · 20-02-2013 12:26AM

Ladjacket wrote: »

No you mistake what I mean - Stokes' absence from big games, for example, the majority of the Rangers games, a lot of European games, suggest that maybe Lennon does not trust him to shoulder the responsibility.

I actually like Stokes. Him and Hooper are unstoppable in the SPL when together. However, the nature of football now means that in Europe, you can rarely play 2 up top and this is where Stokes pays the price as the gaffer obviously thinks that Hooper is a more rounded option.

Hooper will be gone in the summer. Stokes has the ability, and since coming back from injury has shown the desire to be Celtic's main striker next season. He played up front on his own away v Rennes - I think it was - in the Europa League last season and did a great job leading the line.

Ladjacket · 20-02-2013 12:29AM

Lennonist wrote: »

Hooper will be gone in the summer. Stokes has the ability, and since coming back from injury has shown the desire to be Celtic's main striker next season. He played up front on his own away v Rennes - I think it was - in the Europa League last season and did a great job leading the line.

I hope so - as I said in a previous post I do like him. But there will be a big step up in class from Rennes to the likes of Juventus, Barcelona and Benfica for example.

We can only speculate but it's Lennon who sees him day in and out in training.

BhoscaCapall · 20-02-2013 01:09AM

My point was that if he's never given the chance how can we know? It was like when everyone said McCourt couldn't last 90 mins but he was only ever given 10. And then when he was given full games his stamina seemed fine.

I agree that 1 up top obviously means someone has to sit out but Hooper isn't much good up front on his own either.

Ladjacket · 20-02-2013 01:21AM

BhoscaCapall wrote: »

My point was that if he's never given the chance how can we know? It was like when everyone said McCourt couldn't last 90 mins but he was only ever given 10. And then when he was given full games his stamina seemed fine.

I agree that 1 up top obviously means someone has to sit out but Hooper isn't much good up front on his own either.

I agree with you actually. The game that someone mentioned earlier, the 3-2 at Ibrox last year - he got subbed off after Cha got a red card if I recall, if my memory serves correctly Stokes actually started that game really well.

BhoscaCapall · 20-02-2013 02:11PM

I suppose after Robbie Keane spent 90 mins getting assaulted by Bougherra & Co Lennon didn't want to see another compatriot with a target on his back :pac:

Broxi_Bear_Eire · 20-02-2013 03:43PM

BhoscaCapall wrote: »

I suppose after Robbie Keane spent 90 mins getting assaulted by Bougherra & Co Lennon didn't want to see another compatriot with a target on his back :pac:

LOL

eire4 · 20-02-2013 06:04PM

PauloMN wrote: »

Didn't see a lot of the first half, bad stream. I hope it was better than the 2nd half.

That obviously explains your earlier post because we were very good in the first half. Could easily have been 4 0r 5-0 by half time. But we didn't take our chances and St Johnstone punished us with their strong last 30 minutes. One we really let slip away with all those first half misses but hey we tacked another point onto our lead at the top so that was a bonus.

Ladjacket · 22-02-2013 03:17PM

Am I right in thinking that Celtic brought in or there was at least talk of bringing in a coach to work alongside Lennon as a kind of 'guidance figure' for him? And who was it? This was in his first season I think - could be wrong but trying to remember this,

PauloMN · 22-02-2013 03:21PM

Ladjacket wrote: »

Am I right in thinking that Celtic brought in or there was at least talk of bringing in a coach to work alongside Lennon as a kind of 'guidance figure' for him? And who was it? This was in his first season I think - could be wrong but trying to remember this,

You're not thinking of Jim McGuinness are you?
http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2012/1109/344911-mcguinness-takes-up-celtic-coaching-role/

BhoscaCapall · 22-02-2013 04:03PM

You're thinking of Stuart Baxter. It would have undermined Lennon IMO.

The board have gone all-in with him anyway. There's no way he can be demoted like that, he also isn't going to leave unless forced out by the scum element of Scottish society and I don't think they can do any more on that front. I think we're looking at one of the longest serving Celtic managers in our club's history. He was the cheap and easy option but thankfully it's turned out rather well. I'm not sure how much of the signings are his doing, in fact I doubt he has that much control at the club but he's done exceptionally well in literally criminal circumstances.

I would like some better backroom staff in though. Thommo wasn't and Mjallby isn't up to the task IMO.

padd b1975 · 22-02-2013 06:52PM

Theres an interesting programme coming up on RTE1 about Seán Fallon from Sligo who died recently.

He was assistant to Jock Stein.

BhoscaCapall · 23-02-2013 06:06PM

A rare televised game for us tomorrow, at home as well. Course it still has to be at 12.45

Everyone's favourite screaming bigot Jock Brown is their caretaker manager for this, hope we send him packing.

................Forster
Matthews Ambrose Wilson Gershon
Forrest Kayal Ledley Samaras
...........Hooper Stokes

Hopefully see Rogic at some point too.

Coillte_Bhoy · 23-02-2013 06:19PM

padd b1975 wrote: »

Theres an interesting programme coming up on RTE1 about Seán Fallon from Sligo who died recently.

He was assistant to Jock Stein.

what was it called? must look it up on player

A Dub in Glasgo · 23-02-2013 06:30PM

http://www.rte.ie/player/gb/show/10115074/

A Dub in Glasgo · 23-02-2013 07:34PM

Just watched it, a true gent he was

blahfckingblah · 24-02-2013 12:40PM

is the game just on fox soccer, not sure i can watch it with the sound up if it is

Lennonist · 24-02-2013 12:55PM

BhoscaCapall wrote: »

A rare televised game for us tomorrow, at home as well. Course it still has to be at 12.45

Everyone's favourite screaming bigot Jock Brown is their caretaker manager for this, hope we send him packing.

John Brown is the manager. I don't know how a character like him gets an opportunity to manage a football club at senior professional level in Scotland. It says a lot about some of the problems that may remain unresolved.

Jock Brown the former commentator who worked with Celtic at one time as general manager is the chairman at Dundee now.

A Dub in Glasgo · 24-02-2013 06:37PM

Finished 5-0, 2 goals for Ledley, one each for Forrest (pen), McGeouch & Hooper. Some nice goals as well

RoryMac · 27-02-2013 09:48PM

Only caught the 1st half tonight but thought we played quite well aside from the goal. Not too disappointed by the result as it was good to see Samaras, Kayal, Stokes & Rogic get some game time.

A little worried by Forster's form since the injury, he doesn't seem as in control of the defence but only a slight concern in what has been a great season for him.

A Dub in Glasgo · 27-02-2013 09:51PM

I thought we were very pedestrian. Izaguirre looked suspect for both goals

Celtic FC Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2014/15 Mod Warning post #6011

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