Kolo Toure

It's a strange one as I honestly thought he had Aguero in his pocket in that 3-3 thriller at CP but then shortly after was given the run around by - I think it was Moult of Motherwell?

I think he's always had a mistake in him, even at Arsenal and Liverpool but it was rare, 95% of the time he was very solid, end of the day he was brought in to get us that 30m windfall which he helped us get. We were desperately short of cover and he was an ideal player to bring in with his experience. Little disappointed at that horrific display v BMG at CP but overall, good signing. Even the best defenders (Terry, Nesta, Vidic etc) have had mares. It just happened to be just when we didn't need it...

Like others have said, he clearly has a lot offer the younger lads off the pitch and seems to me like he is a likeable, professional role model to look up to.

If he's happy to do this, I'd even keep him another year as a bit-part player to bring on when we need to see the game out or the odd rare start in crucial matches. I know he's getting on, but dare I say look at that * David Weir, he was playing in the SPL till he was what 38? 39?

If he goes, he's done what was asked of him.

 

Kolo Toure has insisted that he is still fighting for his place at Celtic – despite also looking to learn the coaching side of things from one of the “best managers in the world.”

The 35-year-old Ivorian was a mainstay in the opening months of the season as Celtic navigated their way through the UEFA Champions League qualifiers, but he has since slipped out of the fray with Jozo Simunovic and Erik Sviatchenko holding court for the last few months while Dedryck Boyata has also re-emerged to prominence.

Toure is moving into the coaching side of things with Brendan Rodgers looking to utilise the vast experience of the former Arsenal defender in a player-coaching role but the defender has maintained that he is still on the hunt for game time.

“I am still fight for a place,” Toure told the Celtic View. “I still feel very good and for me to keep playing is very important.

“In my mind I am still a player, mentally, but, of course, I have the opportunity to learn from who is, for me, one of the best managers in the world.

“Brendan Rodgers is a great manager and a great guy to learn from. “

Transferring from playing to coaching isn’t a new ambition for Toure.

the player has revealed that the long-term plan was always to venture into the dug-out with his natural leadership qualities standing out even in his younger years.

“Since I started my career, at any club I’ve been at, the managers have all said ‘Kolo, you are going to be a manager one day!’.

“When I go home I only watch football channels. I have about 200 channels but I only watch games every day. When I wake up, first thing I want to know is what game is going to be on.

“I have my ‘B’ licence and I’m looking forward to doing my ‘A’ license. I started the ‘B’ licence when I was at Liverpool. My thinking right now is to keep learning as a coach, but, of course, I still want to play.”

Toure’s name repeatedly comes the fore in interviews with the younger Celtic players who cite his influential as particularly helpful on the ground.

And the mentoring role is one which Toure takes great pride in.

“When I was younger I had Martin Keown at Arsenal and I took his place, but he was the one who was always supporting me,” said Toure. “He was the one who pushed me and guided me.

“So I am just doing what I learned from these guys and that’s normal for me to help young players coming through. I want to help them try to adapt and make things easy for them.

“They are the future so we have to help them. It is not about my personality, it’s about the club and the club have to have people that can make things better for players coming in.”

 

Can see both him and brown becoming big parts of the club coaching staff over the next few years. Toure will look to move on in time, but think brown will look to do a Lennon, manage the dev team and then look to take on the first team.

 

Anyone think that Kolo should start getting some game time again? At the moment when Sviatchenko has been shaky, Boyata has been in better form but still not sure with him in bigger games. Toure and rotating Simunovic and Lustig at CB?

 

Definitely agree he should be given a chance

 

Just seems to be accepted these days that he's more of a coach. Big wages to not even be considered for a start.
Wouldn't * himself the way Erik does in big games.

 

Missing the big man , if that geriatric looking * Clint Hill can go 90 minutes, Kolo is more than capable for games like today.

Think Erik would benefit from a few games out to clear his head, seems to have lost a bit of confidence.

 

Kolo is a very fit guy for his age. He can easily play for many more years if he wants to. He is only 35. I feel a lot more confident with his experience at the back in the big games. Helped us a lot in the qualifiers for the champions league.

 

Forgot all about him. Aye I think he should be given a chance in the first team Erik has been very poor recently, Jozo will probably get injured again and Boyata could to with playing beside a player as experienced as Kolo.

 

Had a bad half against Gladbach then a shaky game against Motherwell, hasn't had a chance since. Really should tbf.

 

Where the * is he, we could be doing with him coming in to steady us at the back.

 

I'd like to see him given a few games.

 

No harm in giving him a few games with Jozo

 

36 today

 

TLR..

 

He doesn't look a day over 21 the beautiful specimen.

 

Dark destroyer.

 

Hope we give him a birthday start tomorrow.