Originally published at: Ange Postecoglou explains Bolingoli inclusion, Starfelt Celtic absence
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has cleared up a number of issues surrounding today’s squad for the match away to Livingston in the Scottish Premiership. The shock headline news from the team announcement was Boli Bolingoli’s inclusion. The former Rapid Vienna man made his first start for the Bhoys since February 2020. However, Carl Starfelt’s absence…
Today was a golden opportunity to close in on Rangers, who drew 1-1 at Ibrox, and yet we lost to lowly Livingston. The team selection was shocking. Bolingoli and McCarthy are not fully match fit, nor were two of the substitutes, Bitton and Johnson. Fantastic football is useless if you keep losing games, Ange! I’m now really doubting this manager’s thinking after today - what he turned out on that park is extremely worrying. Just glad I didn’t pay a £20 ppv to watch another humiliation for Celtic. Come back Brendan Rodgers, all is forgiven!
Rodgers was always goiing to go when England come calling but our dodgy board went against him HH.
What team would you have played,and why ?
I certainly wouldn’t have played Bolingoli, McCarthy or Bitton, that’s for sure. They just let young Luca Connell go back out on loan to Queens Park and that boy has talent way beyond anything McCarthy or Bitton can offer. I’d also have thrown Giakomakis into the mix and possibly Liam Scales and Montgomery.
Truth is, the B team would probably have done better today than what was turned out. They were so bad that Hart won MOTM for saving their blushes from further goals.
Our last league away win was February which is disgraceful and the people running this club should take a look at themselves as it is shocking we have failed now since 2018 to win at Livingston yes Rodgers and Lenny too were clueless how to win here on plastic.
6 away defeats this season all in the same manner as in previous seasons Ange might know how to attack at pace on a big Celtic park where midfielders can time runs and get in the box or play through defences but its so different on places like matchbox Tyne castle, plastic livi or toxic ibrox.
He obviously get no help with guys like Kennedy Strachan and McManus in his dugout as tactically we have been so poor away from home.
While i accept we had injuries i feel any 11 selected Celtic players should be better than Livingston players and the coaching staff should select a team on that surface who will run with the ball and be brave.
its pointless having 2 wingers looking to cross balls into a packed box where only Anjeti has any chance to win headers Livi are happy to let our wingers have the ball out wide.
so we should have moved Abada into a supporting striker role he scored goals from their in Israel Ralston power and his recent bursts into the box showed have been used today at right back Mongomery should have played left back as he as a youth player has played many times on plastic. id have played Jankovic in the holding midfield role for todays game as he is experienced and strong. with Turnbull and Rogic either side supporting with Jota out wide left .
If that 11 cant beat the bottom of the league then we must question if they are good enough to deliver this season.
I am seriously starting to doubt the teams Ange picks for games and this stuff about certain players not fit enough to play even as a substitute in games is doing my head in, they are professional athletes FFS anyway thay are not going to get up to speed by just training, get them on the fu#$in park!!
Let’s look at the facts, we played hearts first gane with players gone and let’s be honest some downing tools and waiting to jump ship then a new central defender signed the day before. Not a great preparation s. Then it’s off to the crumbledome. And if eddy has his game head on its 3 points celtic then it’s livi we tried to pass the ball in with them parking the bus. Instead shoot. Might get onto a rebound. I believe in ange we have a truly amazing coach here.
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