Celtic in line for Giro
French striker may fit the bill for the Hoops.
Rangers fans will no doubt be creasing themselves with laughter at the fact that Celtic are being linked with a player whose surname starts with Giro but the Teddy Bears can’t find solace in any financial transaction these days.
Olivier Giroud is the striker who has caught the eye of Hoops boss Tony Mowbray, with the club weighing up their options for the January transfer window.
A shaky backline has been the biggest problem for Mogga to contend with since arriving at Celtic Park but the amount of chances created by his team has not resulted in an avalanche of goals. The build up play is much improved on Gordon Strachan’s dull style but it hasn’t been rewarded by goals.
Scott McDonald and Giorgios Samaras were on the score sheet yesterday but a penalty miss by the Aussie striker and a wild swipe from sub Marc Antoine Fortune will be imprinted on the Celtic boss’s mind.
At £2m, and that is before any bidding war commences, the player is probably at the upper end of what Celtic would be looking to spend but positive moves have to be made by the club.
The fan base is starting to turn, not only against the manager and players but seriously against the PLC board and another window of inactivity may be the final straw for long suffering hoops fans.
No Celtic fan wants to see the club descend into debt like Rangers have but a bit more expenditure could have created a substantial gap between Scotland’s big two club.
Mowbray faces opposition from Middlesborough and some European sides if he wants to add Giroud to his Celtic Park line-up.
Where do you think Celtic need to strengthen?
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As you have already alluded to, the Celtic defence is a complete shambles, worst in many a year.
If the defence were stronger and more cohesive as a unit the midfield could concentrate more on supporting the front men. As a team Celtic should be defending, but the glaring mistakes from the back 4 (maybe exclude Hinkel?) need attended to.
The only way I can see that happening is strengthening that department in the next transfer window.
I wouldn’t hold my breath though – present caretakers of Celtic FC are a disgrace.
Thanks for that Cathal.
Andy Hinkel is the defender on form but you feel that he is of more benefit going forward than defending, which leaves a lot of question marks over the players at the back.
A lot of fans arent convinced that Mowbray has the balance in midfield right. Using two central holding midfielders relies on the wide men for all the creativity but also surrenders a lot of midfield space to the opposition.
Although Dundee United’s two goals came from corners last week, they were able to run through the midfield at ease on occasions, only poor finishing didn’t punish Celtic more.
Celtic fans have been crying out for proper strengthening for the past few years, if the PLC doesn’t react now to the drop in season book and ticket sales, it doesn’t bare thinking about.
I don’t think you will find too many Celtic fans disagreeing with Cathal’s post.
Anyone got any realistic defender targets for Celtic in January?
Our front men aren’t scoring and I’d bet that has a lot to do with added pressure from incompetent men at the back. Guys up front know they HAVE to score because they know the goons behind them won’t be likely to keep clean sheets. St. Mirren even opened the back line up on a few ocassions yesterday. Mogga needs to change the thinking a little and take a leaf from Rangers’ book. Their old duffers at the back clear their lines better than any in Scotland. Our goons try to play football but lack the skills. The most defensive team in Scotland show the way to winning ugly. Take heed.
Most Celtic fans would love someone to take Heid…in January preferably
Cheers Joe, the Celtic strikers must be thinking they have to get a few to guarantee the game. The recent debacle at Falkirk being a case in question.
It is easy to criticise the defensive tactics of Smith but a strong defence is the basis for any great team.
If Mowbray has any cash to splash in January, it would be better spent on two reliable centre backs.
Why would huns fans laugh at the “Giro”? This is a term I am unaware of.
Hi Joe, it may well be a term that is common to Glasgow.
Anyway, a “Giro” …well,we’ll quote from Wikiepdia (not always the best idea): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girobank
A look at the Glasgow Survival site and their page on GiroCulture may explain a bit more:
http://www.glasgowsurvival.co.uk/culture/glaGiro.html
Given that Rangers fans tend to have a view that Celtic fans are their poorer relations, some would no doubt find a chuckle at the term Giro being found in one of their players name.
Such is the world of Glasgow’s big two!
Thanks. Lame at best though considering their club is skint!
Lame indeed Joe but when did logic, fact or reason come into discussions between Celtic and Rangers fans?
There is no doubt the financial wheel has turned with regards to the Glasgow duo.
Most fans of the late 80s and early 90s will recall Rangers fans waving bank notes to indicate how well off their club was in comparison to other clubs.
Its different days now.