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Nir Bitton

Discussion in 'Ex Players' started by ILoveTheCeltic, Aug 28, 2013.

Discuss Nir Bitton in the Ex Players area at TalkCeltic.net.

  1. DonnyCelt

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    Criminal from the club that he still has to play as a CB. Whats this the fourth or fifth year. * negligent as * from Celtic
     
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  2. Maestro 08

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    If that was an Israeli badge on his chest yesterday I bet he wouldn't be playing like he couldn't give a fuxk.
     
    Mince.Charming and Sydneysider like this.
  3. MacEwan Himmy Butler Gold Member

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    I don’t think he’s filling in at CB anymore...
     
  4. DonnyCelt

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    Exactly and thats disgraceful from the club.
     
  5. MacEwan Himmy Butler Gold Member

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    No.

    I mean he’s not just filling in. He’s considered a CB now. Despite him naturally being a defensive mid he’s probably fully made the transition now. His national team play him there too. Much like Ajer. It’s not because we can’t sign a CB.

    Blame whoever you want though.
     
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  6. Scotia Gold Member Gold Member

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    very handy player for the opposition at times , so many times we are on the front foot going forward and he commits needless fouls that breaks the play up .
     
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  7. Double Dutch

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    I like big Bitton. He's not a world class centre half of course but he is solid enough to be in and about the team, even if he has the odd off day. Has shown more than big Duffy this season.
     
  8. DonnyCelt

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    Its nothing like Ajers situation at all. Ajer was converted to play in a position Rodgers and he believed he was better suited to. Bitton was put in defence in the hope of filling a gap as a short term fix that has gone on so long he's learn how to play the position.

    Yeh he may well be able to play the position now but as you said his natural position is defensive midfield. But he's "considered" a CB. He's still listed as a midfielder by the club.

    We are extremely short on natural CBs at the club and have been for years. As it stands only Ajer, Jullien and Duffy are the only ones we have. Two of which so far this season have been injured more than half the time.
     
  9. green-yin

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    Should he be used in browns role (his actual position) with 2 of calmac/christie/rogic in front of him?
     
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  10. Peej Gold Member Gold Member

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    Absolutely.
    Big man's been great at the back and happy with him playing that role, but really as it all stands with just the players the manager is winning to use (soro, turnbull, connell should all be getting a look but won't)
    I agree with this.

    Julien and ajer at the back (elhamed and laxalt FB) with bitton playing the brown/Busquets(for a better formatuonal example) with McGregor and Christie doing the leg work on either side of him.
    Two up top and have rogic or Ely play a floating role in the number ten.

    Bitton can then drop back when both FBS have bombed forward to make it 3 CBS, knowing he has the legs of McGregor and Christie in front.
    FBS provide the width, two up top provide the fire power, McGregor and Christie provide the running and passing in the middle, Ely/rogic provides the link and the spark.

    Sent from my MAR-LX1A using Tapatalk
     
  11. Leone Naka Fan

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    It'd be a comeback of something Lennon has successfully used in his first stint: 4-4-2 diamond. Which is why I'm mystified that Neil hasn't tried this formation recently.
     
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  12. Brian Dunphy

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    Criticism of Bitton is harsh. Hes done well for us in a position that isnt natural to him. Hes a defensive midfielder playing centre half because we dont bring in players to fill the correct positions and to say he tries harder for Isreal is utter pish. Some of the support have an agenda because of Palestine and isreal etc but its * all to do with Bitton.
     
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  13. Leone Naka Fan

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    Not trying hard enough has little to do with Israel. Bitton is just not a combative player by mindset. He was brought in as a creative, intelligent DMF. Not a bruiser. So, I see "mistakes" he makes as a feature of his game- he just isn't used to risking himself in aerial challenges, and when having to physically confront players, he will fail at times. His brain is his real asset.
     
    Random Review likes this.
  14. Ciaran_67

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    3 evident mistakes in the build up to all the goals.

    Come on, we know the Duffy thread would be panic stations if it was him.

    Seems to be one who is exempt from criticism again..
     
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  15. MacEwan Himmy Butler Gold Member

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    Bitton is as much of a CB as Ajer is. Neither are “natural” but that’s the position they both play for club and country. I don’t know the exact time scale but he’s probably been training there longer, I’d assume Ajer has played more there since he’s a starter.

    Do you really think Bitton has been playing CB saying to himself, “don’t learn this position Nir, you’re a midfielder on the website”.
     
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  16. Henrik 07 Gold Member Gold Member

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    Nir Bitton is usually so laid back on and off the pitch it looks like he’s kicking around in a recliner.

    But Celtic’s Mr Chilled showed a different side to his character deep in the gunnels of the San Siro after the Hoops succumbed to AC Milan


    Bitton was angry. Raging even.

    The big Israel star had the bit between the teeth as he hit out at the snipers who say Neil Lennon doesn’t have the backing of his full dressing room.

    He shot back at the punters who have protested at the first time of trouble after season after season of trophy success.


    But he’s also worked up about the horror run Celtic are on right now – and determined to get out of it.


    It’s Lennon who remains in the firing line but Bitton is right behind him.


    He said: “We always play for the manager. It’s been that way for the seven years I’ve been here.

    “It’s nonsense what is being said on the outside. I have never heard anyone say they are not playing for the manager.

    “We all have a good connection with him. At the end of the day we play for ourselves as well. We play for our pride, our families and for the fans.

    “We don’t like to get slaughtered. I don’t think we deserve it, after what we have done, especially in the last four years.

    “But this is football. We need to look forward and create more happy moments for the fans and for the team.

    “I have no doubt we will do it.”


    Lennon was given the backing of his board this week despite the intense heat. It’s business as usual for Bitton but he insisted there’s nothing sinister happening behind the scenes at Celtic Park .

    He said: “This is none of our business – we don’t think about it.

    We are on a bad run of games right now but we all support and play for each other, like it’s always been.

    “Things will change. From the outside it looks like something weird has happened but that’s far from the case.

    “We are strong and we have enough quality in the squad to make it happen – we will make it happen.

    “We don’t think about it. We go in to every game with the purpose of winning. But we win together and we lose together.


    The manager is the one who gets the stick but we deserve it because we are not performing at the level we want to at the moment.

    “That’s nothing to do with the manager.

    “We need to play for each other and with the quality we have in the squad I am sure we will make it.”

    It was a strange night in Milan. Celtic had spells when they looked back to their best but, at other times, it was the same old problems at the back.

    A two goal lead evaporated and ended up a familiar result in this season’s damaging Europa League campaign.

    Bitton said: “Obviously we are disappointed with the result but I felt we played good as a team against a top side.


    Again, we conceded four goals and it’s not good enough at this level. It’s not good enough at any level.

    “But I think in general we showed some moments of how good we can be.

    “We are still a strong team. We don’t listen to anyone outside the team.

    “We believe in our quality, we have a strong squad, we have belief in ourselves and we need to show it now.”

    It’s clear something has to change. Celtic have shipped an eye-watering 27 goals in their last 11 games and have the worst defensive record in the Europa League this term.

    Bitton said: “Every team in history has this moment where they go on a bad run.

    “We are just a bit unlucky, everything is going against us.

    “But this is not an excuse.

    “We need to defend better, not as individuals but as a team.

    “We conceded four goals tonight but for a long period of the game we defended well.

    “We were compact and we played against a top side top of Serie A.

    “I think we just need to keep going and believe in ourselves.

    “After that the results will come.”

    Celtic need one against St Johnstone this weekend, that’s for sure and Bitton added: “It’s as big as any other game. We go in to every game to win and to give everything on the pitch.

    “It doesn’t always work but the purpose is always there.

    “We need to win and hopefully we will produce a good performance.”
     
  17. TIART Gold Member Gold Member

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    Solid game last night and I’m a huge fan. Unassuming with the correct amount of quiet aggression. Unsung hero at times.

    I’ll be honest, I think we lost a character in Lustig and even more so in Tierney.
     
  18. Luis1967 Gold Member Gold Member

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    Seen a bit of his interview last night, they are just to hard to watch now, constantly hanging onto the fact we won trophies the last few years. Refuse to take any criticism on current times.
     
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  19. Henrik 07 Gold Member Gold Member

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  20. Mickmac Gold Member Gold Member

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    My feelings exactly. I think he's ideal for that position and now he's got good experience, which I think helps in that position, to go with ability.