DMAA

1 hour ago, Biblio said:

I think that this is a game that can be enjoyed with less tension than league matches. I know that I won't be as nervous as on the last couple of Sundays or the coming one. What I really want is to win the league asap and anything else is a bonus, so I view tonight as an opportunity to get in some good practise against better than usual opposition with hopefully a win at the end of it.

I know what you’re saying, but for the club there is probably more riding on this fixture than it seems there is. Progression in the EL this season could make the difference in being seeded in the UCL playoff next season. I think it unlikely but I’m sure there was a possibility that it could come down to whether we can get some more points on the board this season. Being seeded would up our chances of group stage qualification massively. 

2 hours ago, Gribz said:

Looking forward to this tonight. Id take a 1-1 to get an away goal but think we can win there.

 

Starting line up will be interesting if SG keeps Hagi in the side or brings Roofe in - or even both. But being a European game away from home I think it will be a strong 3 man midfield and only one from Hagi and Roofe will start.

 

Interestingly the bookies have us odds on at 17/20.

 

Id probably start this:

 

McGregor

 

Tavernier Goldson Helander Barisic

 

Davis Jack Kamara

 

Hagi Kent

 

Morelos

My preference would be Roofe over Morelos, but I suspect it may be Roofe in for Hagi (may depend on Roofe’s fitness because away in Europe that position is really demanding compared to up front). 
 

I think Hagi has generally been one of the better performers in Europe so I would hope he would play. 

8 minutes ago, Rousseau said:

I'm not sure Itten's showing enough - whether that's him or the team not quite clicking with him, I don't know. 

 

He's shown some good ability over the last few games, coming off the bench. 

 

When he starts, it doesn't happen for him. 

 

 

I’ve only dipped in and out of the game but he was unlucky not to get what would have been a very good assist. 

Impossible to tell from the replays as they weren’t close enough but it looked 10 times more of a penalty than the one Celtic got the other night. 

56 minutes ago, the gunslinger said:

while roofe is guilty if he was at celtc he would have got away with this. That has to stop. 

He was guilty of a careless challenge that could easily have been a red, but it was obvious there was no intent. There are just so many challenges throughout the season in that category that don’t get cited.  The ones that do get cited are normally not seen by the ref or the kind of challenges that are obviously a bit dirty. Curtis Main on Barisic comes to mind. The double standards are shocking.

7 hours ago, craig said:

According to Heart & Hand there is no truth to the story and Ross Wilson has never had any dealings with his agent

 

 

But Ross Wilson’s link was “laid bare” by the rhebel though?

32 minutes ago, craig said:

What can the club do ?

I don’t know how they go about it but one would hope the double standards would be challenged in some way. It is pretty blatant in this instance, it was clearly an accident, he wasn’t even looking at it. I’m actually pretty confident he’ll be cleared. 
 

Curtis Main went right through Barisic at full pace with his studs up a few weeks ago, fully aware of what he was doing and nothing happened. Worse challenges happen every week but they aren’t newsworthy because it isn’t Rangers. 

6 minutes ago, ian1964 said:

 

Honestly if that’s not a dive then what is. A free pass to cheaters. 

Looks really good from the videos. Israeli league seems good value. 

13 minutes ago, Gribz said:

Weir, Naismith and Jelavic .

 

Naismith would be absolutely perfect in our team right now, he is an upgrade to Arfield. Despite my dislike for him in the past he was still a good player. Jelavic all round game and attitide pips Morelos and Weir was an outstanding professional and you need him. Bar those 3 Im not taking anyone else.

 

Kent v Weiss is interesting - both world beaters on their day. Kent has done is more for me though, Weiss was great when he wanted to be.

My front three would be Roofe and Naismith behind Jelavic. All goalscorers. 

Surprised at some comments. I think we are a better team today. Walter’s abilities played a large part in our success at that time. Naismith and Jelavic go straight into our starting lineup today imo, I wouldn’t swap anyone else. 

That game was a lot like St Mirren, we just couldn’t control it. They pressed us relentlessly at times so we can’t complain that they didn’t come out. The surface is terrible but we didn’t have that excuse at St Mirren. Jack and Davis looked a big miss, though it is probably oversimplifying things to say starting them would have resulted in a different outcome. 
 

Going forward I thought Itten did well and was probably our best outfield performer bar Jack but he was feeding off scraps. Hagi struggled to make an impact but he shouldn’t have been hooked, his style of play is less impacted by the surface than Kent. Kent tried but his end product wasn’t there, another good chance missed. Roofe wasn’t on for long but still looked like he needs to recover some fitness. 
 

For the goal we conceded I actually thought my main man Helander was primarily responsible. Tavernier didn’t need to close a man down so far up the pitch, Davis should have spotted the danger sooner and got goal-side and Aribo should have been goalside of his man too (who scored) but I think Helander (and Barisic too) panicked a bit as he was caught ball watching and lost his man altogether for the cross. When the ball left the boy’s foot I think Goldson, Helander and Barisic were more or less within touching distance of each other and Hamilton’s player was in acres of space in the box. That wouldn’t have happened if it was earlier in the game, I think they panicked a bit and lost focus. 
 

There is obviously no reason to panic. Wright will be a good addition, Jack and Roofe are getting back up to speed and Arfield will be back soon too. But it is true that we haven’t recovered our form of Aug-Nov for whatever reason. 

Between Aribo and Hagi for me. I thought Aribo was probably the most creative player and was very important in what we did well. I thought Jack was good throughout too. Ultimately it goes to Hagi though for an outstanding goal in a game that might have otherwise ended goalless. 

19 hours ago, craig said:

Using highlights to think that someone has a point, particularly someone who clearly has a dislike of Kent being used as often as he is, isn't the objective basis on which to support that person.

Even when I have seen the full game I often watch the extended highlights as they show you where our actual chances in the game came from. 

36 minutes ago, Frankie said:

As said last night, I don't get this bizarre need to find exaggerated fault in one player's performance

I agree. But I don’t think @der Berliner‘s comment was overly critical, just a comment that he wasn’t involved much and someone else should have been brought on earlier. I didn’t see the game, but from extended highlights on Sportscene it I just commented that it did seem he might have had a point in that regard. Kent’s best performances are in games where the game is a little bit more stretched. I made a point of praising his performances at Aberdeen and Hibs recently due to the fact I can be seen as being constantly critical of him which I amn’t. I would prefer more of a horses for courses approach at times, but we are cruising to the title so there really isn’t room for much criticism at the moment. 

I’ve only got the highlights to go on but it seems that Aribo had a big impact and Hagi and Jack were very good too. That goal from Hagi has been coming, he is the only players who really provides a goal threat from distance. It seemed from the highlights that Roofe was a bit off the pace, he is still regaining fitness of course. I think Kent featured in the highlights once and it was a bad miss at the beginning so although I’ve no doubt he worked hard as always it seems @der Berlinerwasn’t far wrong regarding him not having done much. Deep lying defences at Ibrox do not suit his style of play imo. 
 

Another game ticked off and crucial game time for Jack and Roofe so a very good night. 

29 minutes ago, ian1964 said:

 

Truly staggering stat

Hagi! ?

Aribo preferred to Kamara for this one. I would expect Kamara would step in for Hamilton away in a few days’ time. Good to see Hagi get a start though. Itten unlucky but hopefully he comes on early. 

1 hour ago, Bill said:

I wonder what the difference is between them. I'd have thought they would both just transfer seamlessly from one covid regime to another 

They need tested before joining the team and Simpson was later getting his test done. 

38 minutes ago, der Berliner said:

Quick round-up (also in OP)

 

SIGNED in Winter 2020/21:
IN - Scott Wright (23) - Scotland, LW - Aberdeen, contr. till summer 2021 - LINK - TM - SIGNED - SIGNED permanently (4,5 years)
IN - Jack Simpson (24) - England, CH - Bournemouth, contr. till 6/2021 - LINK - TM - SIGNED - SIGNED permanently (4,5 years)
IN - Nnamdi Ofoborh (21) - Nigeria, CM - Bournemouth, contr. till 6/2021 - LINK - TM - SIGNED pre contract (4 years)


GONE in Winter 2020/21
OUT - Josh McPake - on loan to Harrowgate Town till end of season after loan to Morton cut short due to injury - LINK - Done: LINK
OUT - Kai Kennedy (18) - on loan till end of season to Raith Rovers - LINK
OUT – Glen Middleton – loan to St. Johnstone for the remainder of the season - LINK
OUT - Jordan Jones - on loan - Link - to Sunderland till end of season - LINK
OUT - George Edmundson - on loan - Derby County till end of season - LINK
OUT - Brandon Barker - on loan to Oxford United till end of season - LINK
OUT - Jamie Barjonas - Orange County SC - LINK to come
OUT - Cammy Palmer - Linfield FC - LINK
OUT - Umaro Balde - left by mutual consent - LINK
OUT - Ross McCrorie (22) – CMF / right-back - joined Aberdeen (loan and sign option) - LINK - deal made permanent as part of the Scott Wright transfer above

 

CONTRACT EXTENSIONS
Kai Kennedy (18) - new contract till 2023, on loan till end of season to Raith Rovers - LINK
Ciaran Dickson - LINK

Even the little things we have done there are impressive. 
 

Two very promising players signed on contracts despite interest from other clubs (both players proving wrong some fans who never seem to stop talking about their Celtic supporting backgrounds). 
 

Kai Kennedy taken away from a struggling ICT side where he wasn’t appreciated enough and sent to Raith Rovers who are challenging for promotion and where he has made a flying start and for the first time this season getting a full 90 minutes every game. 
 

Exactly the same with Josh McPake, taken away from a Morton side who aren’t doing well and didn’t fully appreciate him and sent to the Harrogate in the English League 2 where he is also getting a full 90 minutes for the first time this season and by all accounts getting rave reviews. Hopefully he shows there that he deserves to play at a much higher level than that. 
 

We are actively engaged in and managing the situation of our young players. 

14 minutes ago, Devil's advocaat said:

I definitely see Helander as more of a long term option than Balogun, unless we get offered daft money for him, obviously. Looking at the transfer market, it looks like daft money isn't common though in the current circumstances, who knows how long for too.

I honestly think we won a watch getting Helander for £3.5m. Even if we sold him for double that we would really struggle to find a player of his quality for that money. He’s a player I hope just stays here for a very long time. 

26 minutes ago, Frankie said:

I think Katic will remain in our plans for next season as he's the only other right-footed centre half we have now Edmundson has gone on loan.

 

The Simpson signing tells me either Balogun or Helander won't be here next season.

Balogun is right footed? I expect the plan to be Goldson and Balogun for the right side and Helander and Simpson for the left side. 
 

It would be a huge ask to expect Katic to come in after a season out with an ACL injury and to expect him to perform at an elite level. I hope he will be loaned out somewhere where he will play every game and we can then assess how he is doing when Balogun’s deal is up at the end of next season.  
 

I do agree with @Rousseau  though, I don’t think he will make it with us but if he did well on loan he could make us some money. 

That window couldn’t have gone much better. Well done to Wilson and his team. 

7 minutes ago, Rousseau said:

Agreed. 

 

That gets rid of a lot of deadwood, and brings in a couple of, I think, decent squad players? Maybe even potential first-team players.  

Both squad players but Barker and Jones are known entities whereas Wright possibly has more potential. I liked Edmundson to be honest and I hope he can prove himself at Derby.