Transcription
Oh, welcome back to a Celtic State of Mind. I'm Paul John Dykes. I'm joined today by Kevin Graham and we are almost nine years on a Celtic state of mind. And I remember back in the day, almost nine years ago talking about Celtic in Europe and obviously that is going to be one of the main topics of discussion this morning. Last night we won away and we won away in a European competition in Germany for the first time ever. Give me a rundown, a breakdown of how you felt we actually played. Let's talk about the performance first and foremost.
Kev, this team's quite bizarre. It was really, really bizarre that they can look so poorly coached in certain games, but last night was very, very typical apart from Mitchell and of a Martin O'Neill performance away, away from home in Europe. He's he's managed to get some massive, massive performances away from home in Europe since he's came back. Um, I think last night compared to like the Fire Nord and the Bologna game where the Bologna game we started off well, we created a couple of chances, then Rio got sent off and the tide of the game sort of changed. Fireord, we played really well start to finish and created quite a lot of chances that night. I think last night was a fantastic performance full of heart and soul. It was a great performance full of heart and soul, but it just lacked that wee bit of quality up front where where but where where we where we could have made a tie. Um, so yes, but you you have to actually say, and this is no taking anything away for that team that played last night and the result that we got last night was that tie was a product of the first leg. So it was a product of the first leg. The the changes both teams actually made, but you kind of take nothing away from the guys that actually stood up there last night. We just, as I say, we just lacked that wee bit of quality to maybe make Stuttgart's pants flap a wee bit up top. But by the time you got to about 78, 80 minutes, you were going like that. By the way, I really want to hang on here. I really want to hang on here for this win because it would be good. And especially, especially the guys that that were there, like I think that's been Den Murray's best game for Celtic. I really do. I thought Donovan handled their winger okay. He ended up getting booked, but I thought Don, I've been impressed with Donovan this season in in Europe, especially away from home. If you look at all the away games that he's actually played, I last night was maybe no his best one, but when you look at the four game, the four away games that he's played together, you've had a, you can go away and be quite proud of yourself, mate. You you really can. I thought Trusty was great as well. Sar proper European player, isn't it, Trusty? I mean, it's almost like he reserves all his best performances for Europe, Kev.
It does. Maybe it just suits him. Maybe maybe it just suits them that we're no asking them to come out with the ball and maybe it suits Dane Murray that we're not asking them to come out with the ball, just going and just defend here, mate. Um, I thought Sarra was just Sarra. One of the main differences was in the midfield and Luke McCau is one of the major differences that cuz he added a set of legs alongside McGregor. He he did, and that's what we've been that's what we've been looking for. One of my major gripes is we didn't have a midfield shape, but we had one last night. We really did. We really did have a midfield shape last night. And what I found really interesting for all the hipsters and all the tactics ones and Quinny Mike coming and saying on, did you actually notice it was a tatty was dropping deep to get the boss in a salo instead of G McGregor?
I found that quite interesting. I noticed it as well. And I'm not a hipster. Um, I'm definitely not a hipster. If nothing else, I'm probably the the uh, you know, absolute opposite of that. But I did notice it, Kev, there's loads of great points to chew on. And obviously, you you chew on them with one eye on the the weekend's game at Ibro, of course, because, you know, last night I I remember on the 12:30 yesterday, my prediction didn't completely come true. My defense did, my back five did. Um, I had my my Kevin starting, you know, so I think I got about 80 of the 11 right. But in terms looking ahead to to Sunday, we need to look at the those that came in, how they performed and whether or not that's going to be enough to give them the start and birth at Ibro. I'm going to start off with the goalie sin. Lots of uh criticism around Casper Schmeichel's performances of late, probably for the last half a season really. Kev, is it has the time come though? Has the time come for Sinalo to hold on to that jersey? Because he comes in, makes some decent saves, right? Part of a really good performance overall, and we win the game and we've got a clean sheet. It would seem almost harsh to drop them now. What's your take on it?
It is harsh to drop them. Um, see the changes and we're going to discuss the changes that we might make for Sunday. You've got to actually say this team was picked with Sunday in mind and so the pe the guys that were left out will probably come back in on Sunday because let's face it, we've got a game every three days and these game these team selections are planned. Now it would have been if we weren't out the tie before going there last night, it would have been a completely different team that played and the team would probably have reflected more of the team. It will probably start at Ibro on Sunday, right? But if you're looking at it over the last season, then you should go, well, Sinalo should actually have had his chance long before now.
But I I'm kind of thinking that there's a a dressing room aspect to this and characters in the dressing room. And I'm I don't think Martin O'Neill was this type of guy. But then again, I think back to 2005 where I thought he was too loyal to certain players and it probably ended up costing us a title in the last day.
Yeah.
I'm wondering if there's a because Casper is one of the most experienced players in the dressing room, probably one of the biggest characters in the dressing room, that dropping them might upset that dressing room. And there's a reason that he came. I'm getting it here. Did it feel Did it feel like it was dropped last night, Kev?
No, but it would on Sunday.
Yes.
Yeah, I see your point.
So So there's a different framing of what's actually happened here.
Let's use Let's use the most used word on Celtic Twitter this week. It's optics, isn't it? It's all about the optics. Kev, does it look like he's being dropped? Because last night he just looked as though he was being rested for Sunday. If he doesn't make it on Sunday, it looks like he's been dropped. I there's a is Wolford NY's favorite word in his press conference is what was it context? Have a look at the context. So I there there is a frame. How how do you frame this? Um, obviously keepers are a different breed. They all support each other because oh no, you can't play different positions if you're a goalkeeper. So last night Sal admitted, oh, Casper's been great with me. I'm been great with seen them on the sidelines. Yeah.
I I don't I've probably over. Somebody says in the comments that I've probably over overthought it, but a goalkeeper who is clearly struggling and has been struggling for a little while and not been dropped or rested or whatever you want to take it, however you want to. There's something else there. There really, there really is. There really is something else there and I think it's just a dressing room factor, maybe. But I'll maybe I'll maybe leave it to my daughter, who's 17, and when she was watching the game last night, she went and she says, black and white, that goalkeeper can dive. He should play. And it's just as simple as that.
Step out the bubble and and look at with a fresh perspective. Kev, you're right.
And I was thinking that last night with some of the decisions. It's like Martin Neil, there's an emotional element. There's an attachment to certain players, etc., etc. And then you're thinking about leadership. You're thinking about the dynamic in the dressing room. Absolutely. But if you were just looking at performance, Sisalo starts. So your daughter's right. If you're just looking at form, Sinosal is number one. But would I be surprised if Casper's chosen? No. Would I choose Sinalo? Yes, I would. Yes, I would. And we'll work our way through this team. Lots of great comments coming on. Moises, we decided that we needed to find a new word. It used to be caveat and now it's optics. So any suggestions for the next word we will change it to. H let us know in the comments. Ian Max says there's an empty buckass bottle in optics. The big question is though.
And numbers.
What number is on the bottle and is it brown or green? That's the big question, Kev, because uh, they come in all shapes and sizes these days and we've got the culture coming in. Hipsters are a growing sect amongst the Celtic support. Not as big as Celic Daz, but on the way up. And I think you're right. And I don't think you or I are hipsters. We are definitely falling into the latter category.
I'll wear socks. I'm definitely not a hipster. I'll wear socks.
Back in the early.
And my and my trers fit me.
Yeah, I I think the trers have always got to fit. They've always got to fit. Absolutely. But hey, each to their own. We're church here at Axon, of course. And you move into the defense. You've already mentioned Kobe Donovan. I would have picked him and I and I did pick him yesterday and I picked Murray as well. Um, and I think that last night one of the big things that they did is the um, you know, the exercise the demons of Time Castle. Remember that game that they two got in the neck that the two of them started Donovan at right back, Murray on the right side of the central defense, trusty on the bench, and we had a we were beaten and it was a poor performance. Um, I'm glad he played last night and I'm glad it was a good defensive performance last night with those two in it, Kev. Uh, but the big question is about the defense going into Sunday. We don't we know we don't have Austin Trusty available. Kieran Tierney and Scaly um were rested last night. Arco didn't travel to Germany. Who's your back four? Is it a back four?
It is a back four. Um, I can't name the goalkeeper. I can't even make a if it was me, it would be sin, but but I fully expect Michael to be in goals. Then it would be a rock, depending if they're just trying to cover up an injury, which I do not know. They maybe just thought, no, you have a wee pile, then you are going to have. I think it's Murray.
Yeah, over Benjamin Arthur.
I think it will I think it will be Murray after last tonight. I think I think it will be Murray. Then it'll be Scales for whatever we want to say about Scales about his limitations as a player. He's never let Martin D and Martin that's or Sean or or or Foy Dun. So he'll probably come back in and the left back will be Tierney. I thought Tierney was okay last week against HubS, but he burnt himself out after a 65, 70 minutes. Mark Maragene. So, but I say on was it Monday? I say was it Monday? I would play Sarra in front of Tier as the winger.
That I was about to say I'm a great believer, you know, in making sure that you play to your strengths and often for me, Kev, it's about form and trying to find a way of playing the most quality and the most informed players all in the starting 11. So, if you've got two left backs, can one of them play somewhere else? I mean, even last night I was thinking, um, I don't think, well, actually, no, no, no, I take that back. Tierney can play right sided center back. He does it for Scotland. I mean, he was playing there when he scored against Michael in the game against Denmark when Scotland qualified. So, he can, you watch more Scotland than I do. So, there's a way doing it that way as well. And that would fit the gap. Um, Kev, we're going for experience and you're looking at AO at right back, Sarra at left back, KT and Scales in the middle. Not ideal, but doable. The sun has just popped into my head there. Right. Was Katy on the bench last night?
Let me check the team. I've got the team here. Give me a second. I'm going to say he was, but uh I'm going to bring the.
Scales on the bench.
There's the team there, mate. So, Scales, I can see them. Uh Tierney. Yeah, both on the bench.
Right. I thought maybe all of them were left at Lennox Town and that back four was training together. So you could have had a Roco Arer, Scales, and Tierney, but if they're in Gemma, that come that completely blows that out the wall.
Nice theory though.
It was a nice theory. Maybe I should go into this coaching game. Maybe that's a better.
Maybe you are a hipster. Maybe thinking there. I think Araco's the I'm I'm going to keep on calling him because that's what my he tells me to call him. So I'm just going to keep on calling him that. Uh I think he's our best the best left back best fit left back at the club.
Right back.
Right back, sorry, right back at the club. Um, again, I think the only choice to be made is which center half comes in. Does Martin O'Neill throw the big fella for Brenford into it and just go right, going, go, and like there's no pressure on you on you. Go. Then you've got Dane Murray, who actually knows the importance of like this tie.
Who has grown, who has grown up and the environment and the pressure might get to him. It might get to me whereas are for hus to go that baggage well, you can go right, this is a game for me.
I know what you mean. Yeah.
So I it's a it's a difficult it's a difficult decision for me, but I'm sure it's not a a difficult decision for the coaching staff cuz they've probably already made it. They they they've probably known on Monday what the team's going to be on Thursday and Sunday. So they they've already made it. And it's great for us to actually go, I would change this, I would change that. But the coaching staff have probably all put rest recovery plans in place, training plans in place for these two games, knowing full well what the team what the team's going to be.
Yeah. Well, that that would make sense as well, Kev. I just maybe this is old fashion. I always think, you know, someone's given a chance to take it. Um, there's a momentum there. There's another word for most lack that we use all the time. There's a momentum there, morale, there's a bounce, the confidence, all that kind of stuff that I think you can take into the next game rather than good performance, hit a brick wall. I don't think that benefited players in the past and in the not too distant past actually. Bernardo, for example, spelling a team, pull him out, spelling a team, pull him out. Look at him now. He's like a broken player. Um, so I look at the likes will get to the midfield. I look at Sin Salo and I look at the the two defenders and I think right, you don't want your decision to be harmful to them and their own progress either. I'm going to bring up some of these comments here. There's lots to discuss. We're obviously talking about last night's performance with one eye on the game against Rangers at the weekend. But during the game, there was also a huge announcement and that announcement was made by Willie Hockey on Go Radio in relation to the season ticket alliance. We are going to be touching on that. I can see some of the comments coming through. I can confirm and and um deny a few of the things that are flying about. Um, all I would say is that, you know, social media is a very interesting place at the best of times. But in the last seven days and in fact this season, it's been a place that can uh, you know, it can lose control of itself in many, many ways where facts um go out the window and perspective goes out the window. And then before you know it, it just becomes a mudslinging match. And uh, I think what's best to do and what I'll certainly be doing in the coming months, even though we've got 150,000 followers on social media, is in terms of the discussion points, we'll certainly be having them on here in a far more calm environment, even though the the lamps just get smashed and you're going to you're going to know all about that when the misses comes in. Um, in a far more calm environment that we can monitor and and to a degree control. It's uncontrollable at the moment on social media. And basically a parliament sent a message this morning, Kevin. I said, "Yeah, here's somebody coming along who's pledging 10 million quid of his own money so that the Celtic fans can have shares in terms of a proxy shareholding. He doesn't want to be the head of the movement. He doesn't want to have the shares himself. He has basically given Celtic fans 10 million pounds to spend on shares." And Twitter's like, "Hold my beer." and then every single reason why that's a bad thing starts to flood in. We're going to be talking about it uh because it is it has divided opinion to a degree. I'll give you my take and then obviously everybody else can uh jump in and join in that debate. What I would say, Kev, um, you and I, I've had disagreements in the past. Sometimes your view becomes my view because um, having heard what you've said and the way that you've put it across, I then analyze and observe the situation and often think to myself, actually, you know what, on reflection, he's right. Not just you. I hear that on the comments section. I hear when I'm speaking to Celtic fans week to week.
That's what you've got today. You just kind of stain your opinion. You can allow to have an opinion and opinion can change as as time goes on.
And and and your opinion can change as more evidence arrives. So if you've got an opinion on a player, because Sine Salo for me up to this week, I'm saying he's shown me nothing. This is the argument I have with Lawrence on a regular basis. He's shown me nothing that he is Celtics number one. Yes, Casper Schmeichel um probably would benefit and the team would benefit from him taking a spell at the sides, but my concern was that Sydney Salo under three different managers hadn't shown anything. Last night is new evidence. Last night, I'm looking at a performance and thinking, well, in actual fact, he looked commanding. He looked agile, gave, which is something we can't say about Casper for a while now. He made some really decent saves. So, you look at that and you think on Sunday, I think there's a big decision there to be made. You're probably right. You know, the coaching staff and Mark O'Neill probably already know the team on Sunday, but Sin Salo's given them something to think about. Um, I'm going to bring in some of these comments and then we'll move on from the defense. Just to clarify, um, I suggested that we could play Sarra and Tierney. I don't think we will. I think the back four will be Aelco at right back, Tierney at left back, Murray and Scales in the middle, but it wouldn't surprise me if it's Arthur and Scales in the middle. That wouldn't surprise me.
And.
No, it wouldn't surprise me. No, it wouldn't surprise me. I think three of them are nailed on, but whoever's replacing trust there still hangs up in the air. But as I say, I think the coaching staff will know.
Yeah, I think I think they'll know. So.
I think you're right. And again, looking at last night in terms of an away result in Europe, Kev, have you ever? You've been in Germany, haven't you? A few times for.
No, I haven't. It's one of the countries when when I do start going on European trips again, Germany will be on my.
Bucket list. No, no, wait a minute. No, no, Munich. I was in Munich.
Were you in Cologne? I always thought you were one of the Cologne.
No, no, no. I was my first Celtic European tie at home was Cologne.
Right.
But I was in Munich when Magnus Hedwin decided to chuck two balls into the back of the net.
Yeah, he was the he was the highest paid player in the squad as well. Magnus Hed Dexter um played with Willie. You're talking Willy Hockey here for the CSA London Road. You'll not find a bigger Celtic man. He's pulling your chain, mate.
Right. I we'll get into that. We'll get into that in terms of what has happened. And I also get um a sense of fatigue in many ways amongst the Celtic supporters, Kev. So we enter um this situation with a number of groups, associations and affiliations already in existence, right? And you've got like the Celtic Trust, you've got the supporters association, you've got the affiliation, you've also got the uh um Irish CSA and you've got two. You've now got two in Ireland. You've got one also North America and you've now got a European one. So I can understand when people look at all these groups and think, "Wow, there's a lot of groups going on here." Some Monte Byron sketch at times.
I think it's because of the scale of the fan base, really. And then on top of that,
You then have the Celtic fans collective uh obviously being formed in the last 12 months and you have the Celtic supporters limited. And I think a lot of people are looking at it from the perspective of we've got all these groups, it's just another group. I think if if groups can all work um in conjunction in parallel, if you like, and doing what they're doing um, if it comes to the point where uh, you can make a positive change, if some of the groups collaborate, I'm pretty sure they will because it's all about what's best for Celtic. So let's say we now have three groups who are who are focusing on the shareholding at Celtic in different ways. Ke you've got the Celtic trust, Celtic supporters limited, and the season ticket alliance. Um, if they're all pulling in a direction of shareholding, at some point, if you look at some of the pivotal um, you know, entry points, if you like, in terms of influence of a PLC, 5% shareholding, there's various things you can do, including uh call for an EGM. There's there's various other things. If you then move to 10% and 25%, these are big pivotal moments in shareholding, right? And I think that if you were just about there to get the to meet the threshold of 5, 10, or 25, let's say, and you needed the others to collaborate and come in as a proxy because it's for the best of Celtic, I'm sure they would. I'm sure they would because we're all trying to pull in the same direction, just some in other ways. So we will talk about that. Ian boy comes in, 1888, Willie is just a working-class boy from Tory Glenn who's done well for himself. Some folk need to get real. He's willing to put his money where his mouth is. Um, we've also got Derek Hayden coming in to say, "Sinalo's confidence will be sky-high now. If he starts, it will give us an idea to see if he can step up and be our number one goalie going forward." That's an interesting one as well. Um, an Irish man in Portal comes in to say, "Just to pour salt on the wound, Stoutgart drew Porto in the next round. Oh well. We'll have our day. We'll have our day." And we've also got Michael Barry. "I think Sin Salo has changed people's minds on his ability after last night." Michael, I'm one of them. I'm one of them. Up to that point, I was not convinced and now I'm looking at him slightly differently.
What games has he played this season? Living.
Hawken Lake and thistle played against Patrick Thistle.
He played played against Fistell. He was a we bit ropey against Hawken Lake, even though he didn't have very, very much to do. And at Livingston, I think the Livingston two goals, he could have done better at Bam. G was right behind the goals that that day and I think Bford went through them really. So.
I think had Casper been in goals, he would have been criticized for him. Sallow didn't seem to get much criticism for that.
Did did he play against Dundee in the cup?
I'd need to check back. Um, I'm going to say he did, but I'll have a look at that two-1 game. I'll call.
He did. He did play against Dundee in the cup. Yeah.
I think there's enough there to say that he's a decent enough goalkeeper going forward. Um.
It's a strange thing with with goalkeepers. It is a really, really strange thing with goalkeep. I think. I mean, he's going to be a run longer than Casper Schmeichel.
He did start. He did start. He's he's going to be a run longer than Casper Schmeichel. So, going forward, this this is probably his chance to lay someone down.
He's only 24. I.
Tal.
That's very, very that's in goalkeeper years, that's like been 14, 15.
I mean, what is it 16 years younger than Casper?
That's wild. That is wild, isn't it?
It was quite obvious that he was brought in to take over for Joel.
I agree with that. I said that yesterday. M I do agree with that.
Then Brendan's done what Brendan done and bring in Michael and it's maybe has it stunted his growth? Has it stunted his progression? You didn't you don't know cuz he's worked under Joe Hart and he's now worked under Schmeichel.
Two two of the best goalkeepers to ever do it.
That is that is that is the facts of the matter, no matter what we're actually seeing for Spike now. So has work working under them learned him more than going out to Air United? Because see Air United seems to be the buzz word for the for the Celtic boys and he has been Air United on loan. That's very.
United. So going back to United on loan, has he learned more under Joe Hart and Michael? Who knows? That that will only clear up in the future.
I would say he has. I think there's a point where you need games, but he's he's gone out and he's played for exit and he's played for United and he's got game time under his belt when he was at Villa. I I don't think that's what he needed. I don't think he needed a loan out. There was a there was a discussion last January actually. I think Brenon Rogers mentioned it that they were going to loan him out. I don't think that's what he needs um at the moment. I think he's going to learn more from working under Woodsy, Joe, like you say, Casper Schmeichel, and now he's getting a we bit more game time. Played eight games last season, half a dozen this season. Um, does he have the goalkeeper gloves to keep? Let us know in the comments section. We're going to dip in and out of last night's performance. Looking ahead to Ibro and of course the Celtic season ticket alive.
He was signed after her. He was sorry. He was signed after Joe Hart. So.
But he was signed before Schmeichel. Your point was that he was.
But we we knew for months. We knew for months that Joe Hart was retiring. He told us six months in advance, Kev. So your theory, you know, it does stand up. Um, Alan Parker, I'm going to bring this up because the internet is an interesting place, Kev. um, as many of you will will see and hopefully not on the end of a pylon. But what happens is there are people and I'm I'm not going to labor this, but at some point in the future, when the dust settles and we're all happy, there's a real learning point to be made from online behavior and how it affects certain people or how it might affect certain people. And there's a lot of learning and reflection I think um that has to go into that. So rather than uh always go to the point of trying to destroy and disrupt, let's look at the facts. And there's a lot of uh there's a lot of this going on about the Willie Hockey development last night. And there's one in particular, and it's your typical online um amateur sleuth who thinks that they're in the know, Kev, and they're looking at a situation and they're bringing it up. They're trying to join the dots, but they're anonymous, of course, and they put it out there as if they're in the know. And this is knowledge rather than theory and conspiracy. And what I would say, and it's on this point Allan raises, and I'm glad you raised it because I can expand on it. So, Alan Parker says, "Didn't hockey get binned by the bunnet for leaking?" No. No. So, we're going to clear that one up. But, this was something that the online sleuth had suggested last night, Kev, as if it was fact last night. And what I would always say about skeletons in the closet is unless yours are a wee bit noisier and rattlier, I would maybe keep your mouth shut on that one. And I'm talking about the person online. So what actually happened was um Fergus McCann said this at the time about Willie Hawk to the press, right? And he put it out there. And the as so often happens, Kev, the headline is bigger than the retraction. There was a retraction in the Celtic view. Fergus Macan retracted the statement that he made in the press about Willie hockey and it was in the club's official vehicle, the Celtic view, with an apology. So, it didn't happen. They found out who the leak was and it wasn't Willie. So, I think it's important to stick to the facts on that one. If people online are basing this and their views on this new alliance on something that was proven to be wrong back in the day, Kev, there's a lot there's a lot of myths that are now facts and that's just the way of the world. And it doesn't matter if Wally Hawk or anybody comes out and says that that doesn't the truth doesn't get in the way. You can have evidence that something happened and as long as that person's powerful enough and rich enough comes out, goes, it didn't happen. Folk believe it didn't happen because and they blame AI.
Are you talking about Hillary Clinton here?
Ah, like just anything like that. I mean, I mean, you're in Donald Trump can actually say anything. No, that didn't hurt him and he'll have millions and millions of folk. He's right. It didn't, even though there's evidence that that they actually did. So h you'll still you'll still get folk bringing up stuff that they actually believe because as you say, the headline, it was retracted in the Celtic view. So it was in a mainstream newspaper at that time, which was probably selling 150,000 copies a day, and it ends up in the Celtic view, which was probably selling 20, 30, 40,000 copies a week. So I it's everybody's got everybody's got this. We we we've had it here. The myths that car going about Axel like and you go, really? H and I just end up I no longer argue with them because I go, you you're going to believe that even though there's no evidence for you to believe it. I'm I'm not actually I'm I'm not actually going to argue anywhere because.
You can put the record straight on here. You can put the record straight on here.
I is Ian M come even if you put the record straight on here. Folk will just go, a You're just saying that. They didn't believe you anyway.
Don't believe the truth.
I don't don't believe the truth. I It's the same with that boy that I met in the bus park last week. There was no point arguing me up, even though what, even though what he was saying was blatantly no true. I'm going I I can't be bothered wasting the energy arguing, man. I just nodded my head going, ah, you could be right there. And just because there's nothing, it's it's like opinions on players. There's nothing that I'm going to like. There's nothing that somebody that somebody says can change their mind on that player. So it's if that's your view, that's your your view. There's no point arguing with a lot of stuff. And as you say, there is it doesn't matter what these that hang will stick. You'll hear that about volley hockey time and time and time again. You will you will hear that, oh, he done this, Fergus chased him, this, that, and you go, well, I that was 30 years ago. This is now.
And also.
Also in terms in terms of the board that he was on, he was on Fergus's board. He left it of his own volition. He never he was now removed from the board. So the these are the things again that I think you can set the record straight. Um, it's difficult, if not impossible, at this moment in time in the world of Celtic to have that debate online, but we'll certainly have it on. It's a waste of time. It's a waste of time having it online. Really?
Oh, it's wild. It's wild. I mean, we we are on all the platforms, Kev. We're streaming right now on quite a lot of them. And we will always share our content and what we're up to on there. But in times of crisis, the the emotional element that's involved in times of crisis is insane. I do want to talk about the comments after the game. I see everything that like the David Law and Duncan Smiley vehicle as well to get the the what I would call know the the sleeping shares to try and get them all all back all back in.
And the Wally hockey hang and anything like the collective, you name it.
You go online and you read under it and everybody's negative right away. Everybody's in going, this boy's that, that's this. I didn't trust this one. I didn't trust that one. Right. And as I says last night, you could have the Pope come to Celtic with 100 million pound and go, I'm going to buy you I'm going to buy you Dmond with 100 million pound and I'll guarantee you you would have folk online gone like that. I didn't like the car he drives. I didn't like his hat. They would find something to moan about. And that's where we are.
No, you're right.
That's it. You're right. And and you've got to manage it obviously, but at the same time, utilize it. And I've met a lot of decent people on the socials as well, so it's not all bad. But obviously, we are going to be talking about the rest of the performance last night. We take a lead 29 seconds and it's Luke McKuan. Now, Luke McKen's a player, Kev, again, that this season has been very much a stop-start season for him. You'll remember he scores the first competitive goal of the campaign for us, saves saves us on the first day of the season against St. minute, you know, last kick of the ball almost, Luke McKen. Um, and he obviously, I I think performed really well last night as well, but when I'm looking at the midfield and I'm guessing we're going to stay as a 4-3-3, I'm not sure if he if he gets the starting spot in the midfield because I'm looking at Callum McGregor, who I'm glad didn't get injured last night. Looked a bit ropey at one point. I think Oxley Chamberlain starts, Kev, because, you know, he he is quite physical. I don't think it's his only attribute, but he is quite physical and I think we need a bit of that. And I do think that we start with Negron because of his goals. There's no way we can afford not to play Negron. I know we've had words about Nan in the past. So my three is McGregor, Oxley, Chamberlain, and Niger. So even though Luke Mckowan's played really well last night, I don't think he starts.
Macauan gave that midfield legs and shape last night. He really did. But as you say, you've got Oxley Chamberlain and McGregor are two nailed on starters. So there's a third one, and that third one is has to be neg mainly because the number of goals and and assists that he's actually had this season. I think the problem that we've got with this team is we ask Nean to do a job that he's not suited to and he becomes a passenger in that midfield. and McGregor can get overrun quite easily. So for me, you need to go a 4-2-3-1 if anything, or a 4-4-1-1 as I say on Monday to actually give McGregor that that that sort of protection. We can't afford to carry Nean in the shape in the way.
Or is he carrying us?
The way this team is. We carry a 40 to carry carry a guy in the midfield who doesn't really look to put in a shift and his defensive works know the best. And I think I think the last couple of times when we went to 10 men, especially last week, and I saw him on the on the right hand side trying to get back and sound and cover guys and I'm go, that's just not his game. You probably should have br on M at that point and say, just go and give us a shift on that right hand side. Just go and give us a shift. If you get the ball, cuz for games like last night, it's probably me suited to Macau, who says, right, I'll go and give you a shift. And and he was good on the ball when he actually got it as well. It was a peach of a goal, an absolutely fantastic goalie. And you've got Atati last night as well, who may be suited for that slightly deeper role, like dropping then turning around and facing the game, rather than getting the ball played into midfield and there's somebody right up right up his back away, and he doesn't like that sort of stuff anyway. So I think last night was a mayor of a 4-2-3-1 and you could probably sit you could probably carry Nean if it's a 4-2-3-1 where McGregor and Oxley Chambers sitting as a two and just sitting there as a two.
The Negron discussion is an interesting one. Um, he's he's like the only person you can rely on at the moment for a goal. And for that, I'm I'm picking him. I am picking him. Some some might think he is a luxury player, Kev, and I understand it.
I think he's a luxury player. I think he is a luxury player. But I I really do think he is a luxury player. I understand that he's a top goal scorer and he needs we need to find a way to get play him in the team. I just don't think we've got the personnel to carry him in the team at this precise moment in time. And we've got to have a look at a way of carrying him to actually make sure that he's on that pitch.
Like.
Or use him as an impact sub.
Use him as an impact at the weekend, maybe. Um, I've picked my 11, but I I get your point cuz you do want everybody uh to be contributing for the 90 minutes.
Any any guy. I'm getting a bit abuse in the comments about Negan. I've heard it for ages. It's like the cult of Negron. It's like it's quite. And I understand it. I really do understand it. Right. But we've we've got a guy there. We've signed for 1.7 million pound. Has got 18 goals, number of assists. And the vast majority of the match gone support are gone, I didn't care if he should play. It's utterly. It's it's it sums up your bizarre season that we've got a guy there that should be a hero all the way. Should be actually wearing his cat. It should have like he should be cemented in Celtic god. This is a boy that we're going to carry us forward. And we're Wait a minute. I'm not 100% sure about him. Maybe it just sums up her whole season.
I've called him an enigma in the past. Um, and I think he is quite enigmatic. Um, I'm playing him. I'm playing it. Let us know in the comments section if you agree that he should start or is he an impact sub? Now, we're talking about Luke McKan's goal there, Kev. Brilliant lay on. Absolutely brilliantly. Not everything came off for Adamu last night, but again, small sample size. Best game he's played for me in a Celtic jersey. Chantara comes in and is fairly anonymous. I like the idea of having him and Ianacho in the same team. Um, but if I'm I'm looking at the those three as our center forwards, Iano, Tanchara, Adamu, and I'm looking at Ibro, I'm probably going for Adamu as a start as my spearhead. Do you agree with it or are you playing MA? I'm playing. Listen, I'm going to give you my my front line. I'm playing Ma left wing and and I'm and I'm playing Tunet right wing. Now, I know that Brendan Rogers says he doesn't like playing there, but I think he's all right on the right to be honest with you. It would be great if we had another right winger like Vuka who could step in, but he's not ready. He's not ready for Ibro. Yang, I don't think has done enough, Kev, in the last few days. Sorry, Y and Martin in the chat. I'm not using it as an excuse to to dive in on Yang. I just don't think he's been effective in the last few weeks, Kev. So, I'm playing M on the left and I'm playing Tekki on the right where Adamu through the middle. Um, how are you lining up?
I'm swatting Maya. This is not my team, but.
This is the one you think he'll play.
This is the one that I think that he will play cuz I would play Donovan on the right. I would play Donovan at right back and move Arujo into into the left hand side of midfield and I would play Sarra on the left. That's just what I would do. with K Mack and the Hawks in the middle where Negron is a sort of false nine.
Like.
And any one of the two of them up front. I don't think there's much difference between the two of them truthfully up front. I was a bit hang me on Monday when I said we should play a traffic cone up front because that's if you've got. I I'd play any of the two, any of the two of them up front. They're getting you're getting 60 minutes. One of them, the other one's coming on for 30 minutes anyway. So I think he I think he'll start with Big Tam. I he will start with Big Tam. I think. Um, but I would start Mida and Tenei, but I would swap them.
Okay.
Mida will start on the right and TKI on the left.
There is there is an option in there that's for sure. Some comments before we move on to the next subject and that is the officials before we finish off at the end of the show with a a right good look at the Celtic season ticket alliance. Some good comments coming through here uh which I will save till the very end okay and then I'll bring those ones up um but Muka says will McMillan will never be ready. It's so frustrating. I know he's only on loan right, but I mean, if you want to use Balacquishia as an example, the last time we played at Ibro, he started the game, you'll remember on the left wing. Um, and there was a moment, wasn't there? There was actually a moment.
Where Balacquisha H could have, uh, got through on goal, had it not been for him being impeded. But Tavanir, I don't think was penalized for it. But anyway, Vuka will never be ready. You start to have your doubts. Well, he's certainly not started off well. You've then got the Kuna effect. No one to write people off because they come good. But with the sample size, we've got 45 minutes in a cup game. He's not looked great yet. James Forest, don't forget it says Tony K, um, as an option. And Tony reckons that he'll start on the right. Um, and I've got John who disagrees with my comments on Yang. John thinks that Yang played well last night. Ma better, sorry, than Ma. See, if you, if for your team playing Dais on the left, then I would play Yang on the right. If, if you're looking at the options there, he says Tani, I'm going, I'll play Yang on the right. I really would because I think he's got a wee bit a me dig and G about him and what TKI's showed. >> Physically. Absolutely agree with you. Defensively, yes. And by the way, Yang's improved defensively. Tuni is not there yet defensively. >> Yang likes a we tackle with his hands. He likes a we grab and all wingers and look and look at even Negron have a watch to them. They tackle with their hands. They actually just grab and it does annoy me at times, but if you're playing, if you're playing Ma on the left, I'm playing Yang on the right. >> Okay. >> That's >> Is that a trade-off? But >> the thing is, whoever you're playing, you want them to be able to switch. And I wish we would do that more often in a game to switch. >> I'm only, I'm only playing Dais for the hope that he's his press comes back and he absolutely terrorizes their back line. >> It would be >> That is, and that is more than in hope than expectation. >> I just hope he shaves his head. Shaves his head and gets back to Pete Dyson. Um, there's a study in what, what that FOCH does for them. I don't know what's happening now with the silver locks, but just shave it in the dressing room, terrorize their right back, get back to dying of old. That's what I say.
Um, final comment before we talk about other matters. Uh, officiating Green Machine, it's a toss-up to see who is slower than Negron and Macauan. That's why the two of them don't work hard off the ball. So, you can't play them two in the same team. Yeah, I get that. I, I do think >> I don't think any, I don't think any of us would was shouting for >> No, but see, it's like >> the thing with Luc is I think he knows his limitations when it comes to pace, but I think he's one of the players, Kev, who's quite intelligent. His game intelligence means that he never looks as though he's not keeping up with the pace. I mean, if there's a ball down the wing, he's no winning it, right, but he seems to find himself in good positions like he did for the goal. So that's all about his game intelligence.
Now, we know who the officials are at the weekend, and I'm going to have to give a big shout out to uh Sean Connley, Axom Shan Connley, who came up with some stats with regards to John Beaton in derby games. You want to hear this, Kev? You might be, you might be surprised. This is all thank you to Sean Connelly, who says the last time Celtic lost a derby refereed by John Beaton was in October 2020 in the co season. Goldson double, uh, an empty Celtic Park. That was the last time, according to Sean's data, and I've not double-checked this. I hope it's true, Sean, uh, that a derby was refereed by John Beaton that we lost. So five and a half years ago, right? Celtic's overall record in derbies with Beaton is two wins, four draws, two losses. At Ibrox, it's one win, two draws, one loss. Other stats from eight derby games left refereed by Beaton. Celtic have scored 14 goals, Rangers have scored 13. Penalties, Celtic two, Rangers two. Yellow cards, Celtic 18, Rangers 18, red cards zero. So, where do the actions of bias come from? So, listen, I'm not a fan. I am not a fan of John Beaton. I've seen his name. I've done like every other Celtic fan. You, you know, you look up to the scan and you think, "Right, we're up against it." But these are the facts. And Sean is no fan of John Beaton either. So, what he says is the bias accusations mostly come from a single derby game on the 29th of December 2018. You'll remember Rangers won the game 1-0, going on 10. Craig Gordon saved Celtic's blushes that day. However, we were ranked rotten that day. Absolutely ranked rotten. >> Yeah. One nil going on 10. Alfredo Morelos had four potential red card incidents in that game, which you'll remember, and he's listed them. Sean, a kick in the genitals of Scott Brown. Nice and neat. A punch grab of the genitals of Ryan Christie. There's a wee thread developing here. A forearm smash to the face of Ryan Christie. And a stamp on the back of Anthony Ralston. Coincidences were unpunished by Beaton and his colleagues that day. Now, SFA protocol at the time was that retrospective discipline could only take place on incidents the ref had not seen. Beaton confirmed they had seen all the incidents and opted to take no action at the time. Therefore, no retrospective punishment could be taken. At the same time, pictures emerged online of John Beaton attending the Crown Bar, a famous Rangers bar, to celebrate in the evening following the derby game. Yes, this wasn't Beaton's first derby game. His previous one was his debut derby. Um, and it was a 5-1 defeat for the Ibrox club, where Mikael Lustig scored a late solo goal to rub salt in the wound and ran away like the Turing shroud with a top over his face. It could be suggested that Beaton got his revenge with Morelos as his accomplice 20 months later, and the mud has stuck ever since. Kev, what do you think of that? I mean, in terms of outcomes, penalties, red cards, etcetera, ixie pixie, it seems to be. However, we do remember the game that Sean points out. We do remember in a Rangers pub in Bell that evening, and that mud has stuck, hasn't it? >> As, as his school year book. Yes. >> Is that, Is that genuine? I've never actually wanted to believe if that's genuine or not. >> What did your ebook tell you? If, if yours was unearthed, what would it say? >> I did it again. >> You're worried. You're worried in case I've got a copy here. >> What would it say? Well, going to achieve nothing. Very forgettable. Well, possibly that. Um, light had a had a published author, right? Inspiral car and carried the NE. >> That could have been me actually. That could have been me. >> Yeah. Listen, mate. You've been a published author. Um, a book of poems about Henry Lasson, which Henrik Lasson and his wife were reading when I left them a few weeks ago. You've released an EP with your band. You've appeared live just as early as last week on stage, uh, reciting your poetry. I wouldn't say you've not achieved anything, mate. >> I'm not going to try to blow smoke up your backside, but >> I've been minging it for like John Beaton. I've been minging it for years. >> Aren't we all? Aren't we all? >> Definitely. I think that as you say, that there's a confirmation there. There is a bias we Beaton because of that early game. Right. Then you've also got the fact that he refereed a game a couple of weeks ago. And then you've also got the fact that I think it's Steven Mullan on V who allowed Beaton to referee a game a couple of weeks ago as well. >> So you, you, you've got a, you've got all of that. I, I'll always say that it's probably harder for a referee in a Celtic Rangers game to show that he's completely biased. Whereas the wee games like he done against Hearts and like stuff like that, it's easier for them because it's knowing that it's knowing that big game and it's no the spotlight isn't firmly, firmly on him. I, but as you say, that that is surprising what Sean's put out there. Just shows you that up until recently, our record against Rangers was really, really good. >> And, and recently the record against Rangers hasn't been really, really good when >> over 90 minutes, Kev, that's what I was going to say. Over 90 minutes, I think the last time that we beat Rangers was would have been the three-nil game, Rogers' second season. So that would have been August 2024. >> It would have been the last >> win. The last time >> I think Rangers have knew better at Celtic Park many times and what we've actually won at Ibrox over the last five years as well. E, so there's our record against Rangers is not very good. No, going, going into this game, and so much so that they are quite buoyant. They're not, they're not like any team in Scotland. They're not afraid to play us anywhere. >> Did you hear Danny Ro this morning biting, biting like a shark's apprentice? You hear him? >> Yeah, I do. I don't know what happens to what seems like sensible guys when they go up that marble staircase. And, uh, I think one of the things that their new owners and the fact that they've appointed Ro, is they're trying to get away from that staunchness. And eventually, I think will probably get eroded because these owners didn't really, didn't really care about brown bogs or anything like that. They don't, they don't, they don't care if it's not a right Rangers man that dug it. >> Is it marketable? Is it manageable? That, that's all they will concern themselves with, Kev, because it's all about business, right? >> And if they think they can market it, and often they do. I mean, even in the small ways like orange t-shirts or away jerseys or whatever, if they think it can be marketed, they will market it. If they think it will affect sponsorship going forward, they won't. >> I think, I think that is what will happen because it's business, right? So they'll make business decisions, not driven by emotion. You know, you and I would make emotional decisions if we were involved in our football club. But if you bring somebody from the outside to make decisions, they're not. And that was one of the reasons, completely different scenario, but it was one of the reasons that after Tommy Burns, Fergus McCann did not want to employ a British manager. His words, he didn't want to bring anybody in who had ties to Celtic. We could have had Bobby Robson as our manager. Imagine that. One of the best managers, I think, in the last 40 years, Bobby Robson. We could have had him at Celtic. He didn't want it. He wanted someone with no links to Celtic whatsoever. And the managers that we had thereafter were, uh, Wim Jansen and Joe >> Wanglos. >> And then of course, after Jo, Joe Wanglos, Fergus McCann leaves the building, and they give some advice to Alan McDonald, who took on the CEO role at that time. Do not employ Kenny Dalglish. First thing McDonald did is phone Kenny and offer him the manager's job. Didn't take it. He brought in John Barnes, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Now, big changes happening, um, it would seem almost every day in and around what's happening with Celtic. And let's have a look at the latest one. Minion Fenoon says, "Is it just for season ticket holders?" That's the way I look. Uh, sorry, that's the way I took his Go Radio interview. Um, well, this is the thing that, yeah, it's called a season ticket alliance, but, uh, Celtic, as we know, have got a worldwide fan base, and many of those global fans appear on Axom. So, we've got fans who are based in New Zealand, Hungary, Japan, Australia, you know, uh, so it is, and the club are aware of the global fan base. I don't know how much it's tapped into, but in relation to a registration process, it's one of these things that I think it should be for every fan, but maybe the initial, uh, the initial outlay will be looking at season ticket holders, but I think it should be expanding on it. What I would say is we're going to ask a question at some point, and we'll get that clarified. Uh, we are the people, says Hockey, doesn't want a penny out of this. I think that's important to note is that from the information that was released last night, uh, Willie Hockey is looking to get Celtic season tickets, of which there are 54,000, to sign up to a system whereby the, uh, the alliance then have their information. They might be able to then obviously engage. There may already be shareholdings within the 54,000, and I'm pretty sure there will be. But for every 10,000 who sign up, Willie Hockey will buy two million pounds worth of shares, put them into the trust, not the Celtic Trust, the Celtic Season Ticket Alliance Trust, so that they are owned by the fans. They're not owned by Willie. Um, so that's given the fans more of a say in the running of the football club. As I say, have a look at PLC shareholding and what you can do and what you can influence at the point of 5%, 10%, and 25%. Now, that this shows you that, um, at this moment in time, the control at Celtic is something that's going to be very difficult to affect. Um, however, with a plan and with a vision, it can be done. Um, in the heat, 67 comes in to say, "Do the 52, 52 to 54, I guess, thousand season ticket holders have 10 million pounds worth of shares?" No. I don't think they do. They might. They might. And here's an, but that's not the way that Willie's approaching this. Every 10,000, he's going to buy 10 million pounds worth of shares and give them to the fans who have signed up as part of this alliance. I was looking at this earlier on. What is 10 million pounds worth of Celtic shares in terms of a percentage of the shareholding, Kev? That's a pertinent question. And apparently, it's 5.26%. So, at that point, you have more, uh, of an influence than the fans do right now. At that point, and that is just, just over 5%. You then say to yourself, right, well, how many shares does Wally himself have? How many shares do the 54,000 Celtic season tickets have? How many other people who are, are maybe big shareholders at Celtic think, "Oh, this is the way to go. I'm going to proxy my shares in here." And then you may have double the 5.26%, and then you're moving up, um, a ratchet to the influence that you can have with 10% of a shareholding of the football club. And it moves on from there and it grows from there, Kev. So, these are, these are the questions that I'm looking at and thinking, absolutely pertinent. But in terms of what we're talking about earlier about, right, what's the downside? You see a lot of this online. Can you see a downside, Kev? I mean, take the emotion out there, right? Take the fact that you may or may not like, for whatever reason, the individual who is pledging 10 million pounds to Celtic. Take that away from it for a second. What is the downside? Is there one? >> When, when I first heard that last night, I was like, I, I've said my view on here quite, quite often, and I've loved the protests, apart from chucking tennis balls on the pitch. I didn't agree with the boycott, but I, I like the way that the fans all mobilized in the early days, and it's kind of fell apart a wee bit as it's moved on, which again, you can go back and actually see me on a Monday. I said months ago that it's likely to fracture quite quickly because of the number of organizations involved. I'm talking about the collective there, right? But I've always been quite clear that for change to happen, it has to come from within that boardroom just now. Someday, I would have to go in there and a better way. Their words have to carry a bit of weight to to speak to the board, and rich men who who see them as see him or her as a peer. Me, you, anybody for the collective, anybody for the affiliation, the supporters association, the Northern Irish Association, the North American Association could walk into that boardroom, and we have not got any clout whatsoever because they do not see us as a peer. >> This is a pertinent point, Kev, if you're making. >> They do not see us as a peer. Mhm. >> So we've now got a guy, no matter you're like, I, I wish that wasn't the case, but it is the case. It's the reality. It's life. It's >> been technical this season. Kev, you're right. In terms of fan movements, >> you know, they don't see you as on a level. They >> No, they don't. They don't. So they'll only listen to somebody that they, they reckon whose words carry weight, who's on the same level as them. So the first thing I thought last night when I was sent the clip, obviously I went, there's a guy who's one of the richest men who's already got a voice in that boardroom nailing his colors to the fans' mast, right away going, "I want the Green Brigade back in." >> Yeah. So he's obviously saying that in that boardroom, right? So right away I'm going like, this is, this is what we actually needed was somebody on that level going in there and going like that. By the way, we really need to actually change it, because the change was always going to come from a fan. It was, it wasn't going to matter what we did overall. It was either going to be somebody coming in and buying it from Desmond or somebody that they respect going, "By the way, we need to actually change." So Hockey will disagree with a lot of what the collective and all that stood for. He'll probably maybe go, "By the way, you are barking up the wrong tree here." But I do agree that we did change, and he will be on, you know yourself, that a lot of these guys do think the way that Neil Lennon thinks about competing in Europe. You know, that they'll agree with the board on certain, on certain things, right? But right away, I'm going, that that's a big hitter. No matter my opinion of them, that's a big hitter coming out and going, "I want S to help these fans get a voice in this boardroom, and I'm going to facilitate it very, very quickly. If you all sign up, the season ticket holders." And I know I think phase two, Anky, I think there was a wee bit was clipped to it where he says, "I want shareholders, then I want non-season ticket holders to get involved." Real, I think that wee bit was clipped to the way it jumps. >> Makes sense. Yeah. >> But the season ticket holders, unfortunately, are seen as most important to the people in the boardroom. The 54,000 are more important to some guy that's got a season ticket, especially in two months. Yeah. So Wally, Wally, Wally has actually seen that and went, right, if >> Yeah. He's pushing the right buttons then. >> He's pushed the right buttons that he knows the board will go, "That's season ticket holders. That's guy, that's your cash cow here," and they're now on side with him. Right. So right away, I'm going, there's a boy, there's a big hitter there backing us to a certain, certain degree. Said, "I want a, I want a voice in there." And it would happen quicker than than David Lo, for example. David Lo's proposal's got nothing to do with what he's actually proposing. David Lo's proposal is trying to, is a longer-term thing to try to get all these dormant shares back into life. So, that was always a long-term hang. What Hockey is proposing could be a very quick bump, bump, bump. There you go. There is a 5% voice in there. The problem is, who's going to sell them the shares, and where are these shares going to come from? >> That's a good question. >> There's a lot, there's a lot of unanswered questions. But on the face of it last night, on the face of it last night, when I heard it, I went, that that's somebody that's already in the boardroom saying, "I want to give you a bigger voice." And I went, I'm for that. I'm really for that because unfortunately, they're not going to listen to us. No. And, and just a few wee bits that I seen last night that I, I can say with clarity aren't true. He's not, uh, Desmond's lapdog, Willie Hockey. Absolutely not. He's not being sent out there by the board, um, who are scared that the people will not be renewing their season tickets. Kev, that is not generating this interest. It's not generating these decisions. That's, that's 100%. Um, if we, if we get the opportunity to ask some of the other questions that you've raised, Kev, which are good questions, we will do, and we'll do it as soon as we possibly can. Um, but yes, we will move forward to tomorrow. We have a big Glasgow Derby preview at 12:30 on the show. I'll be joined by Tino Caligan from the Celtic Exchange. And then on Sunday, of course, we will be covering the game. Thank you everybody for getting involved. It's been a good one. It's always a pleasure with Kevin Graham, uh, by my side here on a Celtic State of Mind. Give us a thumbs up on this video. Let us know in the comments section what you think about the Celtic Season Ticket Alliance and everything else we've spoken about in terms of Sinoso starting Luke McKen, uh, Benjamin Negron, who, who starts up top for Celtic, and who plays instead of Austin Trusty. Let us know in the comments section.