[Matchday] Celtic vs Dundee Utd - Wed 30th Dec - 15:00

Barkas whilst he has looked like an awful shot stopper had one thing going for him & that was claiming crosses, I don't recall him fumbling a cross once, he would always make the right decision in catching or punching the ball when it was delivered within his vicinity. Bain likewise didn't fumble crosses (from what I recall anyway) in the same way Hazard did at the 2nd & 3rd goals Hearts scored, they look to be far better at the basics under pressure than Hazard which I suppose comes with experience.

Bain should be getting the nod for the next two games before a new first choice keeper is signed.

 

We will get the perfect opportunity to have a look at the United keeper we are supposed to be interested in as, like a few others, I don't think Hazzard is ready for the first team yet and both Bain and Barkas just aren't good enough. Absolutely ridiculous situation to find ourselves in with just a week to go before what could be our most important game in our season

 

Anyone else looking forward to this or is just me.

 

In all honesty I don't think I can recall Barkas having to claim any cross. Your recollection is obviously better but still pretty damning. Bain I do remember coming for crosses and he hasn't always done that well, ever.

The reason Bain was a good fit was because he complimented the style of play of the manager. Rodgers left a long time back. Since then Bain has been singularly unimpressive. Although still much better than Barkas.

Hazard is our best option based on his last game. When that result changes then thinking about another of the * choices might make sense.

 

Definitely. Think a good game here sets us up for winning the next easily.

 

I can't wait, it's the only game I care or am thinking about right now too.

 

Surefire bet for this will be for any Celtic player to be booked within the first 10mins.

 

One game at a time for me and this is the challenge ahead.

 

I just have a thread of belief in the current line-up that’s been more or less consistent over the last few games.

Perhaps the weight of the occasion will be too much for such a young inexperienced first team keeper but I could easily say the same for the whole team given they apparently are recovering from a fragile collective mindset.

They will all know what the game means for the season, so bringing in Barkas or Bain will still have its caveats.

This lad stood tall in a cup final and that should be quietly be worked on with the coaches pre-game. He should be in a stronger mental position than the other two keepers.

If it’s his ability we’re questioning then we’re also questioning Barkas (hardly made a save) and Bain (* knows what he was dropped for again) but since the change, we’ve been doing much better.

 

I sint think there is a bad goalie in Barkas I watched playing for AEK a couple of times my brother had it on and I thought he looked a class keeper. I think he needs time to get used to a new country a new team a new language and a new style of playing I think we will see a different Barkas once he has truly settled. But that Diddy Duffy has got to go ASAP. The man is dreadful.

 

'When that result changes', so you mean in the scenario he has a shocker against the huns which would in all probability cost us 10IAR & therefore leaving it too late? Why wait until then when we could resort back to a keeper in Bain who has the experience of beating Sevco twice as a Celtic keeper that our other two keepers don't even have the experience of doing once?

If we lost that shootout he's back out the team let's be honest, but that shootout shouldn't have been reason alone to keep him in the team, the 120 mins he had before it were extremely poor to put it mildly, that should have highlighted to everyone watching that the lad is nowhere near ready for high pressure games as a Celtic No.1, which is fine given his age & inexperience. He needs a proper loan where he'll play every week to gain more experience, but he shouldn't be continuing to gain that experience for us at this moment given the magnitude of each league game throughout the rest of the season. Bain would have kept clean sheets too in the league games that Hazard has, the introduction of Soro has severely limited opposition teams testing our keeper anywhere near as regularly as before Soro was in it, but he'll be tested against the huns regardless of Soro that's for certain given the opposition will be stronger than Kilmarnock, Ross County & Hamilton, in fact even Dundee Utd with McNulty, Shankland & Clark up front will be a test as one of them are bound to get at least a shot away during the 90 mins.

I just think that Bain is the best of a poor current bunch, if any of our keeper's were facing a 1v1 I'd have most confidence in Bain saving it, I don't rate him highly but I'd have him above Barkas & Hazard, plus given he has experience of beating the huns as Celtic keeper it makes most sense.

Hazard definitely stood tall at the penalties but his previous 120 mins that day can't & shouldn't be ignored, Soro has been the biggest difference to the team defensively, breaking up multiple attacks taking the pressure off the keeper, that's why we've been doing much better imo, not down to what Hazard has over Barkas & Bain. I'm sure Bain would love to be in goal with Soro protecting his defence as opposed to the shoddy job Brown was doing at it all season.

 

Thought this was today until I realised today is Tuesday.

 

I get what you are saying but in all honesty regardless of if and how he plays against in any game it won't be Hazards fault if 10IAR is lost.

Theres been a lot of damage done by others on that front already who should shoulder that responsibility.

I'm just for playing a winning team and not constantly deferring letting youth players get their chance. Bains had his chances plenty of times and never taken them.

I get not everyone will agree with that and if Forster was available it would be a different question.

 

I would take hazard aside and tell him he will be taken out of the side for the time being to protect him ,this cant fall on young shoulders and for me bain should play the nxt 2 games since we have steadied the ship .

 

And if he does the job ,keep him in this season .

 

Agreed, it's doing what's best for him & the team.

Still need a new No.1 in January mate.

 

Surely he's part of the ship being steadied? Unsettling the backline by changing keeper for the 4th time already this season would be a bold, and frankly, risky call. Riskier than just starting the lad and seeing how he does.

Every chance he could rise to the occasion and play a blinder.

 

I would agree , and I would hope its big fraz ,think that will give the whole team and lenny a real shot in the arm and the confidence at the back with improve dramatically.

 

Good test pre sevco game, hazard can only gain confidence by playing, Lennon should be taking him to one side and instead of saying I'll be dropping you because of reasons, he should be offering his support and trying to instill further confidence in him.

There is zero reason he should be dropped, Bain and Barkas have done nothing to show they can be trusted in crunch games.

It's harsh because this season hasn't been great for most of the squad but right now, Hazard is the best of bad bunch in that sense and he should be playing until he * it like Barkas has.

By all means go out and look to get in another keeper if we have to, but right now, I don't see what difference any of it will make if our defence is constantly chopping and changing and the lack of any serious coaching continues to take its toll.

 

Your right there is every chance , but let's be honest he hasn't been tested much and the defence has steadied ,its more of a gamble having an inexperienced keeper ,although the flipside is the defence will be fully focused to protect him ,but for me I would use bain the players are more comfortable with him ,and yeh its not been good changing the keeper constantly,but its kinda been forced on the manager cauz barkaz just isn't doing it , bain was brought in and the defence was at its worst in Europe chasing games to get back into it totally exposing defence and keeper ,it was like groundhog day watching us get caught out trying to pull it back .