Celtic vs Arbroath, Scottish Cup 4th Round, 01/12/12, 3pm

I'm not sure tbh Marky, I think everyone's struggling to find a definitive reason as to why we're beating Barcelona, winning in Moscow, and performing reasonably well away in the SPL yet struggling against a team full of joiners and fishermen.

It's mind boggling.

 

* results lately. Euro run is smoke and mirrors for the truth.

 

The treble is still on, we're just missing one or two players and we'll get them in January.
Lenny had to change things and the guys will be fresher for the game midweek. If we get through that, it'll be as good a season as we've had for years.

Maybe it's time we looked at Johnny Russell, maybe not as skillful as Miku, but he's programmed to score goals, i'm not entirely sure Miku is. Time will tell.

Scott Brown plays and can't score from the six yard box, if that goes in maybe we score more, and as long as we don't kill teams off earlier, we give them hope.

It just came down to giving away a silly free-kick and a deflection, Scott Brown missing a chance, a bit more luck and we'd have won. If the second goes in, maybe they have to open up and we take more off them. It's still all to play for and it just wasn't worth risking players before a game that is potentially worth 3.8 million euros.

That's the biggie, everyone knows it and it must be playing on people's minds. We'll come good and run up a rugby score against Arbroath in the return leg. They'll get special treatment when we face them next time.

 

I totally disagree with your opinion on the fans role! I don't buy into the sing and dance even when the guys on the pitch aren't bothering their *, it gives rise to the opinion NL has shown at times to blame the lack of atmosphere on unacceptable results from his players! They should be performing at all times regardless of what the fans do!

Lets not blame squad rotation on this result either! We have been pish all season at home in the SPL with a full strength team, so what's the excuse for that? NL's excuses are embarrassing at times! He blames players that aren't part of his inner circle yet never blames his buddies for a poor show and then brings up the atmosphere he has lost it!

I've got a lot of respect for NL for what he has achieved at the club but he is getting very frustrating and sometimes his after match comments are nonsense.

 

The result was embarrassing, but the performance certainly wasn't. We totally dominated the game and were very unlucky not to score a 2nd, I don't know how we never. Their keeper had a blinder and they defended solidly in numbers, got a flukey deflected equaliser in practically their 1st shot at the end. I know our goal was an OG but I'm sure if the score continued to stay at 0-0 we would have found the breakthrough eventually.

I'd like to say well done to the Arbroath fans too. Came in their numbers and the ones I spoke to were complimentary of Celtic and wished us luck on Wednesday. That was their Barcelona, and they have a home game to look forward to.

 

I know there is no excuse for not beating Arbroath but at a time when Scottish football is in financial meltdown then a home game for Arbroath will certainly do wonders for their bank balance ...Remember the Dark Day at Clyde a few years ago very well , i doubt that will happen this time ..We are still in the Cups and a point clear at the top with a game in hand ..Looking good to qualify for the last 16 of the CL ....Now if i was asked to take that in August then i would be happy enough

 

I've said again and again that we need to have greater respect for opponents from lower leagues. As others have said, Arbroath coming and playing us is their equivalent of our Barca game - they were geared up and giving it 110 per cent and to be honest who han't written them off after that unfortunate own goal went in off your man?

Arbroath won a replay which is good business for them, and they "beat" us (it was a draw, but we're treating it as a defeat) fair and square, and to be honest fair play to them and to their travelling fans having come that distance.

 

Embarrassing result and we need to clear out a host of players but why anybody can be down about our position is beyond me.

 

I'm down because I've been watching this pish all season and its so frustrating! The money fans spend to go and watch guys who aren't even that bothered its a disgrace and this level of performance would never have happened under a Tommy Burns or Martin O'Neil. They never liked to short change the fans!

 

Oh really. And what is the truth?

If anything I would say it's our domestic home results that are masking the true ability of this team. We have shown in Europe, and in our away SPL fixtures, what we are really capable of.

 

I see Lenny isn't happy with a couple of players in the wall. Who jumped out the way??

 

Let's face it now. We are pish. On paper, we look like a half decent side, but if they can't be arsed performing half the time, then they are a poor team in my eyes.

And some people saying we might have won if more fans turned up against ARBROATH! Wow, just wow! People are struggling without a penny to their name due to Xmas coming up, those * on the pitch certainly are not.

 

This was the same at Tynecastle,our defensive walls were terrible,because we won it was not a problem.why blame the wall now.

when our strikers cant hit a barn door.

 

It seems on purpose though this setup in the wall, thats it happened under two different keepers, so they must be told to set it up that way.

Yet it invites the opposition to blast it right through the gap.

 

The last two games I've been to at Celtic park we haven't won and we haven't even scored by our own effort either, things need to improve badly.

 

Said it before and I'll say it again; Stokes will be like a new signing when he finally returns. We've missed his link up play with Hooper big time, not to mention his decent goalscoring record too. They both bring out the best in each other on the pitch.

 

When has NL EVER blamed a lack of atmosphere on a poor performance? And why are people not realising the obvious here? It's the lack of atmosphere that's contributing to these poor results. I'm not saying that's right or that the players shouldn't be able to raise their game unless there's an atmosphere, but that's just the way it is unfortunately. Plenty of people have asked how we can beat Barcelona and not Arbroath, well the answer's very simple. Atmosphere. If the fans sit there looking apathetic it rubs off on the players.

 

Hate the forum after results like yesterdays ,I'll be back on Wednesday.

 

The football under Lennon ain't great to watch mate but you can't argue with the way he's built a team for very little money to compete in the CL.

Reminds me a lot of Gordon Strachan.

Now Tommy Burns' team were a great watch but MON's team weren't and he spent a fortune.

 

Mcgeouch got 7 in all the papers mate strikers to blame yesterday