 Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Celtic must arrest slide to failure
I have quickly skimmed through the blog since last night and cannot say I am surprised that Gordon Strachan finds himself the subject of discontent.
Since arriving at Celtic Park, every defeat, practically every draw and even the occasional win (Falkirk) has brought calls for his head. The genuine triumphs have been incorrectly disparaged as lucky and each setback is cited as the final straw.
I have been watching Celtic long enough to know that success is seldom fortunate; it requires good planning and execution, at least one of which has been missing since elimination from the Champions League in Milan a year ago.
As a result and notwithstanding the lack of perspective which is often in evidence, today, discontent is appropriate.
At home, two dreadful cup defeats and draws against St Mirren and Hibernian point to what is a real failure this season. If we go on to win the league from this position, which I know remains a possibility, my end of season analysis will address this failure.
Despite my normal positive outlook on Celtic matters, I was concerned that we would fail this season and said so in an article in May last year, Why 3 in a row will be a tall order for Celtic. Teams who win two in a row are often seduced by their success and succumb to age (Celtic: 2005), hungrier opponents (Rangers: 2001) or are rumbled tactically (Celtic: 2003).
I concluded that “Celtic will be able to match [Rangers] in the transfer market without compromising the financial objectives of the club, but while our long term financial advantage will hold (as will our period of domination), next season’s league will be a close call.”
While our current troubles were predictable, they were not inevitable, and as last summer progressed I became encouraged by the way Rangers spent their inflated budget, but for much of the season they have appeared hungrier and better prepared.
For all of our frustrations, the league remains in our own hands, so until further notice and especially over the next ten days, I will encourage our manager and the champions to think and play like champions, the slide to failure must be arrested. But whether we win or lose the league, we must react in the close season like a team scolded by defeat.
251 Comments:
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Arrest as in heart attack
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FROM PREVIOUS ARTICLE
Big Liam....
I agree with your sentiments but your comments on Hughes and Moyes are extremely unfair. Both managers took over their clubs while they were in the lower reaches of the table and had to play "survival football" much like Strachan had to in his time in England. However, Everton in particular have played some great football at times this season with Arteta and Piennar a treat to watch and Yakubu and Johnson a handful upfront. Their performances in Europe were of a decent standard with a highly impressive win in Alkmaar and a superb performance against Fiorentina.
"Both would be unable to work on limited budgets" - Also have to disagree with that. Finances are all relative but there are clubs below both Blackburn and Everton who have spent far more than them. Cahill and Lescott were superb buys from the lower leagues.
They ARE in comfort zones but it all depends on their ambition. Walter Smith was in a comfort zone. So too was Martin O'Neill. If they are ambitious men, they'll be up for the challenge, particularly Hughes who probably has dreams of returning to Old Trafford - then he'll have to leave his comfort zone.
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Aberdeen
1 attack in the first half.
1 attack in the second half
1 place in the semi final
Celtic
1 helluva a mess
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Last night after 30 mins I thought this is Dundee Utd game all over again.
JVoH. Is he wanting to put his head in where it hurts and create something? Not on last night's evidence.
Will he be another...HE CAME, HE WAS PAID, HE LEFT?
Yes I am hurting!!
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1 main point to add to a rather predictable debate:
Our recent (last 10 games) SPL form is, err, pretty good (won 9, drawn 1) - it is the staying power of 'them' that is magnifying our discomfort. They know their best side and tactics (both ugly but effective) but most significantly, they tend to covert their chances.
We made enough chances last night and last week against United to win 10 games. Both JVOH and more recently Skippy are simply not producing the goods.
If Strachan is to blame, then I don't think it's tactics, it's maybe being too proud to put these guys on the bench for a few games and try something else.
Time to face up to the hard fact that this year we are second best. We can not win the league this year simply because we are not capable of taking the 7 points we'll need against Rangers. For the first 2 of these games, they will deploy the home game against Barcelona 'anti-football' plan and grind out a draw. The third will be irrelavant as they'll already be out of reach.
I'm already thinking of next year - lets use the remaining games to learn how to do 3 (or more) in a row properly next time
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Smashin Milk Bottle
The initial raise in performance from the non-flying Dutchman after the signing of Samaras has now gone and for me the Greek has to start - although to be fair, the jury is still out on him too.
He still gets selected for Holland. Although he scores a few, maybe we're better flogging him while we can still recoup some of the money....as we would if we were scolded by defeat.
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Time for a change.
I like the manager , proud of what he's achieved but its time for the crunch. In my opinion he must deliver the title or walk.
I haven't jumped into the mineshaft , far from it , I defend our team to the hills but for the greater good we have to cut loose. I haven't jumped into the mineshaft because minions of that infamous mineshaft are culpable for the teams and the managers continual demise. Player abuse , boo boys , criticism , even when we've done brilliantly has led to the division among the fans. The consumer demand from the fans , they're not supporters anymore , just angry shoppers , whose flames are fanned by the hun media. Celtic isn't just a product its my team.
Then we get to the board , culpable due to the lack of spend in crucial areas of the team in the summer. They gambled and look to have set themselves up for a failure. Fullbacks were crucial in the summer , none arrived , a striker was crucial and most important of all was a decent center half. I don't think any fan was asking for the bank to be broken , after all much was made of fantastic financial profits etc , etc from Quinn and Co. they forgot about the team. They made a promise to spend all profits on the team and when the need did arise they bottled it. There were factors in signing players , and transfers under our terms are difficult but they had months of forward planning and decided against acquisitions for the playing side. We've a squad full of just that , squad fillers.
The management team are currently in their deepest crisis yet. They cannot get the team to perform , neither can the crowd at CP. Confidence is shattered and even the captain has lost things at the moment. We've no luck either in front of goal. Sometimes for the greater good even the best man for the job needs to stand aside and let someone who can unite the fans and players it seems.
We need to be careful what we wish for , managers like Moyes and hughes , inferior as they are to our current manager will not leave the EPL comfort zone , because they'd have to work for their money. We've cried about poor football in the past and these two only know survival football with one up front. Both would be unable to work on limited budgets.
I feel sorry for Gordon , he's damned when he does and equally damned when he doesn't. He's a league to win and so do we but unfortunately many have , like the team at the minute , given up.
As someone eloquently put it last week on here , we've surrendered.
No mercy against Gretna and beat the hun at ibrox , the only way we'll win this league. I still believe we can.
Big Liam.
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W
e are all going round and round in circles here trying to puzzle out who what why where when etc. We all know what the answer is although some of us clearly dont like it. Roll on the close season when we can wipe the slate clean and bring in some real quality leadership.
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Paul,
Regardless of whether it was predictable, our standards have fallen this year. To throw away the advantage we had is terrible.
WGS needs to show some leadership, make the right changes and win the league. Otherwise I do not think he will survive.
It's not just the mineshafters who are dissatisfied.
Lubo. [MP for the newly established Unhappy Clapper Party]
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Nakasleftpeg from last thread - I think it is commendable that you give your son some perspective and remind him of how bad things have been at times in the past.
But I would also say that the reason so many of us are feeling the pain right now is that this situation is so unnecessary and was so avoidable!
Infrastructurally and financially, Celtic have NEVER been in better shape than they are now. This has happened at a time when our main rivals (again infrastructurally and financially) are in probably the worst shape they have ever been.
We have given our manager a fantastic platform from which to perform and deliver. His team has failed just too many times.
If Rangers win the league this year it will be their 3rd title in six years. This is akin to the Kelly/White regime winning the league 3 or 4 times during Rangers 9IAR period - the notion is just laughable.
And yet, like the hare smugly having a kip, we have let this bigoted tortoise stroll past us. It almost defies belief.
Hail Hail
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JVoH is only struggling due to Strachans inability to manage a team set out to win a football match. When Samaras came on they linked up really well, the majority were from Jan's flick ons. McDonald once again failed to remember football is a team game, he is a greedy striker, which is fine in the 6yard box, but from 30yards the guy thinks he has the ability to create magic rather than look for a pass.
Changes need to be made throughout the team if we want to challange for the league, then during the summer we can look at a larger overhaul of the team along with the manager.
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With Robson now avaiblable for all games and suspensions out the way I think the time has come to pick a team AND STICK TO IT.
Mines would be
Boruc
Hinkel Odea Mick Naylor
McGeady Hartley Brown Robson
JVOH SKippy(Sammy impact player)
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Deeping_Celtic
Are you seriously telling us you have given up on the league?
While we are not getting the results we want at the moment Rangers showed the first signs of tiredness at the weekend, a long season catching up with them at just the right time for us I reckon.
Despite not playing well for spells this season, despite Wattenacio, despite disappointing performances from expensive signings, we sit, at worst, just that one solitary Old Firm defeat behind our rivals. Our record against all the other teams in the league is identical.
They are not champions yet by a long way, and this league title is not over yet.
I believe we can turn this around and that the players and manager deserve our support for the next 10 games.
Let’s not make the mistake of carrying out an autopsy until the patient is dead.
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True Tim,
I think you need some more practice on Football Manager. It does look like a team Strachan would pick though, drop our most steady Centre half in recent weeks.Continue with a centre midfielder who has no first touch and a striker who brings no link up to the rest of the team, despite being our top scorer.
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Geebee1978 ,
In my honest opinion these two managers you mention are inferior to our manager. The players you mention are bought for large amounts of cash. Is Yakubu an 11 million pound player? Peinaar whom WGS tried to sign went to everton on the promise of higher wages. Cahill and lescott were bought for 4 million pound plus. In total the players you've mentioned have totalled 30 million pounds plus and thats only transfer fees.We can't compete with these fees but our current side would pump them on the pitch. Johnson hasn't delivered for the wages and transfer fee. Everton are a UEFA cup side and got dumped out when they meet a semi decent european side as did Spurs , and though and behold the Hun are carrying their british flag in the UEFA cup.
Gordon has delivered progress in the CL in successive seasons on relative buttons in comparison to the opposition in the competition.
My point is Moyes has had 4-5 years to build a side at Everton. At Celtic he would have practically 5 minutes to deliver. In reality we cannot compete with the EPL off the field but we can on it.
Look at it this way , McFadden left Everton , he passed up the Celtic option for Birmingham for more cash. For a few dollars more as they say. Moyes would do the same.
Hypothetically speaking if the manager left the new criteria for Celtic manager would be:
Celtic minded
Good with media
Managerial ability
Yes , ability to do the job is last on the list. Such is fans/consumers objectives in this day and age.
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Last nights result was sad, as is the response of the ‘supporters’.
I will always believe. What is the alternative?
How about you all get of your knees now and get back to supporting your club. Last time I looked we had a couple of massive games coming up.
You want inspiration:
Look no further than Jock Stein and the Lisbon Lions; they dared to believe. When everyone wrote us off … they believed.
If you want to look to James Wilson and the Fremantle Six, Fremantle WA, 1876, and John Devoy - the good ship Catalpa… now that should do for the Irish among us. That could never be done. But it was.
For the Scottish… James Connelly and William Wallace do it for me every time. Jimmy Johnstone and Danny McGrain too.
Dare to believe; and if you don’t… why do you dare to belittle those that do?
How sad are you who would deride another simple optimism as you preach capitulation.
How very, very sad and repugnant.
I’m standing until the day I can’t.
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Big Liam....
I agree but as I say, wealth is relative. He spent 11m on Yakubu while Spurs were spending 18m on Darren Bent. Of course they have more cash than us but my point is, the budget he's worked on has been small by EPL standards. Cahill was 2.5m - half the price of Scott Brown.
To say we'd "pump them" is a bold statement. We can't even pump Aberdeen and Dundee United.
As for your criteria, O'Neill's ship has sailed.....
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Hiya Domino,
It's a 6 point difference when they win the game in hand.
Yes, they are old and tired, but all my insticts tell me that they want it more.
Yes, we have a bigger, better squad, with generally more gifted players, but sometimes a small squad, playing as an effective unit can over-achieve (e.g. Scotland recently, Greece 4 years ago)
We make more chances, but they covert.
I think luck has also played a part, but only a part. Our defensive injuries Oct-Dec are what I feel have really cost us and that hardly seems fair given that we had the bigger squad. How many seasons do you lose 3 right-backs to injury?
No, the patient is not dead, and I certaily haven't completely given up. It's just that now it's an outside bet. The bookies make them clear favourites and bookies are not daft.
I pray to a God I'm wrong.
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big liam
You said
I haven't jumped into the mineshaft because minions of that infamous mineshaft are culpable for the teams and the managers continual demise. Player abuse , boo boys , criticism , even when we've done brilliantly has led to the division among the fans.
So correct me if i'm wrong the fact that we didn’t buy a defence and purchased cowards for the midfield is now the fault of those who kept pointing out we should strengthen.
Many good fans are what the happy clappers call mineshafters. Many of these people go every week, which is not what can be said of many of the CQN praetorian guard.
Bit rich to label those who wished to stand up to the blind faith merchants, as the cause of our teams demise.
One person is to blame for this, that is Strachan, and he deserves to be sacked before he causes any more damage.
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There has been much opinion and frustration within the posts since 21:20h last night.
Without going over old ground there has to be an improvement in the product we are currently seeing on the park.
One thing that has puzzled me for the last 18 months is why neither WGS, Gary Pendry or TB takes a seat in the stand and watch the game from this vantage point, relaying back to those in the dugout any opinions/comments.
It is imperative that we gain 3 points on Sunday against Gretna. With this in mind I believe wholesale changes are required, therefore I would go with the following team:
Boruc
Wilson Balde O'Dea Naylor
Hartley
Hinkel McGeady
Robson
Samaras Riordan/Hutchinson
For the game on the 29/03, I would substitute Riordan/Hutchinson with Sno or Brown in midfield.
As stated over the last 16 hours, we have become too prediactable and teams set there stall out with a 4-5-1 formation. How will they react when we do likewise???
On the bench I would place Naka,JVOH and Skippy, to be brought on for the last 60 mins if so required.
This will bring a reaction from the players who are either in need of a rest or require a touch of reality.
One things is for sure, they can not be of a lesser significance than the team that has taken the park in March.
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geebee1978 ,
We did pump Moyes team in a pre-season friendly , about the only friendly we did win mind you
;-)
We need a spark to kick us off at the moment and the only way is to beat the hun at Ibrox.
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I posted this in the wee small hours of the previous thread.
Let’s face facts here. We are on the verge of a disastrous season unless we turn things around & we win the league. Losing in the last 16 of the Champions League I can take, especially against a team far superior to us in everything. Losing against Hearts in the CIS Cup was a sore one but not as bad as losing against Aberdeen last night in the Scottish Cup, a tournament with more prestige than it’s League Cup counterpart, though it would have been nice to win as much silverware as possible this campaign. After all, there is nothing better than basking in the glory of seeing our Bhoys parading a trophy.
A lot of our fans thought at the beginning of the season that we would romp home in the title race, or lack of one as was thought. Rangers have surprised a lot of people this term but with the squad we have at our disposal in comparison to theirs, we should be ahead of them. The fact that we are not can, & will be, put down to many factors , be it the manager’s team selection, his purchases, refereeing decisions, etc, etc.
Some supporters on here have stated that Rangers have players of a lesser quality than ours but who are willing to run through brick walls for their manager. That appears all too true. They also have a captain who seems to have his on field allies working their asses of for him & they fight for one another. I don’t believe Stephen McManus is a leader on the park, or even a decent centre half for that matter, but our manager does, therefore he seems immune from being dropped. What we need in this title run in is for every player who steps on to the field of play to lead from the front, to be a captain without the armband, to help his team mates when they are in trouble. What we need is for every man to stand up & be counted upon. This is now an ugly battle, a place where only fighters are required.
Scott Brown seems to be coming in for some stick but the Bhoy doesn’t have a chance as long as the manager keeps chopping & changing the midfield. I can’t believe those that doubt his ability & slag him off, stating he doesn’t possess the basics requirements for a quality player. Leave him in the middle with someone like Paul Hartley, a man capable of leading from the front & watch him go. We’ve all seem him cover every blade of grass on the pitch & know that he has the engine to run all day. With Paul covering for him, this will let him get on with his natural game & to support the strikers during the match. As stated by many on here, not having a settled line up at this stage of the season seems ludicrous. This can not help us in any way.
Whoever is chosen to represent us from now on must realise that only 100 % will do. No shirking of their responsibilities, no giving up on lost causes, no tossing in the towel. They have to be made to realise what Celtic means to the fans, the family that we all are, the lifeblood of this beautiful club, to understand that they are not just playing for any football team but are playing for Celtic.
Now is the time to unite as one & take on this challenge that Rangers have thrown down to us. Now is the time to show that we truly are “ the finest team in Scotland ”.
Hail Hail
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Cqn
Sponsored by Prozac
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The meter,
You're a brave man... making wholesale changes is easy when you're a fan or pundit, but if they back-fire and you're the manager, you're outa there.
The other fan / pundit approach is to sit tight, things will come good (eventually). That's not managing.
One of my main worries with WGS is that the cupboard is bare THERE IS NO PLAN 'B'.
My 11 for Gretna:
THG
AH GC SM LN
PH
SN BR SB AM
GS (no not WGS ;-)
We need to win in Midfield.
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Gweedorebhoy
Well said!The abuse realistic and true Celtic fans take on this site for voicing concerns about our club is scandalous.Criticism is fine but the constant references to them being huns or to go elsewhere are petty.
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Gweedorebhoy ,
Pot Kettle , broken clock and all that , you've been bleating on about this for 3 years now. You wanted this scenario for 3 years and now it looks possible you're looking a bit of I told you so.
Your lack of faith and many others is just as culpable and equal to the managers lack of motivation of the team at the minute. Its not us against them , its our team and we all take the blame. When the team cannot perform in front of the home fans you know its more than just the managers fault.
By the way I'm entitled to my opinion and views as are you which you clearly stated on the last article. At little debate which differs from your own and your rational debate plea gets thrown out?
For what its worth you'll probably get your wish as season book renewals will rise with a new incumbent in the hotseat. Makes business sense to the consumers to replace WGS and the fans will just have to make do. Its a business after all.
Go read this , the last paragraph and last line , which sums you up to a tee.
CLICK HERE
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For me the problems are exactly as they have been for the last 2years. A team with:
no flexibility in tactics
a static back 4
a lack of ability to support the midfield from the centre halfs
full backs who are unable or unwilling to get beyond the wide midfielder and overlap
a lack of pace down the right flank with Naka looking unable to beat any men.
Scott Brown's loss of form from early season, coincides with teams routinely playing a 5 man midfiled and him being left to mark 2 or more men whilst Donati saunters through games and puts in Regi Blinker style fake tackles
A centre forward who must have most defences delighted. There can be no centre halves in the SPL who are anxious about coping with JVOH.
All in all, it's the tactical ineptitude that has done for us.
SACK STRACHAN. We would be better with the fillip that a caretaker might give us, than watching the season long deterioration come to its natural conclusion.
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I can't believe I suggested playing 1 up front against Gretna, but if you don't win in midfield you won't win games. I think we need an extra man in there and you're not allowed to play 12 (unless you're TFOD)
Given that we have 17 senior centre backs why can;t we play 3-5-2? But please please please don't experiment with that at this stage!
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for anyone wanting to catch up with the blog over the last 24hrs
save yourself - here it is >
squeak... squeak... squeak...
C'Mon the HOOPS
squeak... C'Mon the HOOPS... squeak... squeak... squeak...
C'Mon the HOOPS... squeak...
2CHOICESCSC
tbdt
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Paul67
Have to say this is a very balanced article, whici think sums up our position.
The key point is, our main priority -the league- is still in our own hands.
A post-mortem is not yet appriopriate. We are on the ropes but we are still fighting.
I will say 'we created chances' is not mitigation for Gordon. Knocked out in 2 trophies on our own patch is utterly unacceptable.
The task is clear, pick the players up and win the league.
I am not comfortable with this wishful thinking that Rangers will be a victim of their own success and succumb because they have so many games.
Gordon learn from Mr Ranieri. Being 'tinkerman' only works when your winning othwerwise it becomes ammunition.
I would like to see Barry Robson given a start on Sunday.
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thebhoydaveTOKYO:
made me smile.
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ThebhoyDAVE
Thanks for that. You've just saved me a whole lot of time there
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Antsman,
Agree that 'we created chances' is no mitigation. I'm certain that his analysis runs deeper than that, but I'd like to hear him indicate that he doesn't think that's acceptable.
My prediction Rangers will win every game they play this season, except for their games against us and the UEFA. They will not gave us a break, they'd rather die. Would we?
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Fan-a-tic, we all think of ourselves as realistic, and I assume we are all true, not just those who agree with your (or my) personal view.
While we have many disagreements, there is not, and never has been, “constant references to [others] being huns” on Celtic Quick News.
In fact it happens very rarely, especially when you consider the number of huns posting in disguise.
That was my wee joke b.t.w.
We can go months without a single reference of this nature. Compared to may places on the Internet, the contributors of Celtic Quick News show a remarkable respect to the sincerity of other posters.
It is also worth pointing out that if we were indeed completely free of interlopers, we would be the only football site on the like this.
Antsman, thanks. ‘Eye on the prize’ is all important now. Gordon is in a corner, but a win in 10 days will give him an historic platform.
I have quickly skimmed through the blog since last night and cannot say I am surprised that Gordon Strachan finds himself the subject of discontent.
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SOAL-Better than Prozac
It also solves the problem of what to do with the Ginger Helmsmans colouring book..
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I do not believe Celtic have shown the spirit to win the league.
When was the last match Celtic won?
When was the last match that wasnt a must win?
Last night Celtic were the antithesis of the great Celtic sides.
There was many parts of Celtic under O'Neil that were frustrating, but there was one thing that I really really liked. Once the league was wrapped up, they were awful in league matches. Almost couldnt win. Regardless of the gulf in ability between the teams. It was like the players were such professionals that they couldnt lift themselves for games that meant nothing, but regardless of whether it was St Mirren at Home, or Juventus away, if the points were important, Celtic would turn up and do their best. There was this mixture of professionalism and spirit that was just so Celtic. It suited the players, and it suited the club. This seems to have been lost.
The balance is wrong everywhere on the pitch.
Caldwell and McManus dont work well together. Mo and Scott havent worked well together. Jan and wee Scotty arent working well together.
Artur is our captain. He is more commanding, authoritative, inspirational, and better at communicating than not only McManus but anyone else in our team. His distrubution is better than our centre half, and as of last night we discovered he causes more trouble in the opposition penalty area.
Lee Naylor was the only player I gave pass marks too .
Donati albeit poor of late had a decent game yesterday but if the sitting midifelder picks up the ball and there is no movement (or movement of any real thought or intelligence) then there is not much he can do.
Celtic have good footballers yet do not play good football. Do not possess natural width yet play with wide midfielders. Have a poor defence yet Darren O'Dea struggles to get on the bench. The goals have dried up yet Samaras gets only 20 minutes of a game. Gordon should know better, if he doesnt Celtic may need to move on.
Samaras doesnt link up much with his other striker and Gordon likes the fact that Skippy and Jan work with and off each other. You know what, they do that at times because they wont take the responsibility to do it themselves. Giorgios takes responsibility and is willing to have a go. Stephen McManus takes as little responsibility in a footballing sence than almost all other centre halves you will see. What other team has to have their full backs tucking in at every oppostion attack or cross ball. McManus got caught between two players last night, Caldwell wasnt fully on one. Yet still McManus took the easy way out and stopped to complain for offside.
Why do they insist on going for the same ball all the time?
The answer to this is for two reasons.
1 - They dont trust the other to deal with it. That is the only correct part of their decision making process
2- Their positioning is not great and end up in the wrong areas dealing with the wrong things
Caldwell tries to overcomponsate for this by being casual, McManus tries to overcompsenate by being all encompassing. Neither works.
And if the players put on the pitch cannot deal well enough with scenarios that are not logically defined, as in things they havent explicitly gone over in training, then there has to be a point where they are replaced.
Celtic are a team that admit it or not, Gordon will not like. There is so little off the cuff football played. No invention. They look overcoached, frightened, weak, and at times, very basic.
I think Gordon has assembled a squad that take his coaching and training onboard. However the likes of McManus, Caldwell, Naylor, Naka, Broony, McDonald, Hesselink all seem to have fallen into predescribed decisions and predescribed moves. The players look overcoached - do what we have been told but unable to cope if a situation that is foreign arises .
I hate seeing failings that I have heard flagged up months/years in advance still haunting Celtic.
Its worrying.
In the last 3 Celtic games McManus seems to have picked up a knock and played on. I dont know if its the same problem. Coincidently (or not) these past games have seen McManus be as poor as he has been for a while. Its been said before but he was made captain as there was a shortage of alternatives, the problem is that although he is/can be a decent defender, he is by no means an automatic first pick that a captaincy needs/levitates him to. For his own sake, his forms sake, and the team sake we should take him out for a couple of games altogether. O'Dea is crying out for a run in the team, infact the only hope he hasnt been waiting too long (being on the bench hasnt given him much reserve football over the past 6 months or so). McDonald and Hesselinks have many stregnths both individually and as a partnership, but it and they have not been firing recently. If Samaras' link up makes his partnership potential harder to asses, it doesnt neccessarily follow that he shouldnt break into the team. His form, momentom, and the pressure he causes other teams make him a definite starter at the moment. I reckon naka behind him threading balls through to him to get behind defences would be a good option currently. Naka and Aiden could switch from the flank and the hole so that they were harder to pick up and causing different problems.
Hartley has to start. He is Celtic's only central midfielder who can be relied on for week in week out consistent performances.
Robson beside him might be a start to work from....
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Two home cup defeats cannot be defended. But I think there was a big difference between the two. Against Hearts in the CIS we were very poor and deservedly beaten. I don't think that was the case last night.
After the Hearts defeat we won our next few games. We need to show the same bouncebackability now.
We can still win the league. A win on Sunday and a draw next Saturday leaves us with a much better run in than our rivals. We can still do it. Won't be easy - but let's get behind the bhoys.
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big liam
Where do you get off accusing me of wanting my club to under perform.
You sound like a very angry man who is hurting and if it helps to lash out at me other than your beloved strachan then perhaps it might help you.
How dare you accuse me of being a consumer when it comes to celtic.
I have been following this club home and away for over 30 years and have seen the best and the worst.
Strachan and his misfits whilst not being the worst by any stretch of the imagination leave a lot to be desired.
I have bleated on about a defence and a strong spine for three years but arrogant people like you accuse anyone who isn't blindly following celtic of being a hun or not as good a supporter as yourself.
Well big man i don't have to defend my love of celtic to anyone. All i will say is your arrogance is really ignorance of my love or circumstances when it comes to celtic.
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Paul 67, fair play you did call rankers chances fairly accurately but did you expect celtic to spend so heavily in January?
Bringing riordan (remember him?) on to the park with just minutes left was unexplainable.
The poor distribution from our 'poundshop' defense means opposition teams can sit back and soak up the drop-kicks that come their way.
Sno and Donati are just not up for the 'scottish game' and like it or not that is where we play.
Brown has not progressed at all.
I said months ago the league was lost.
The team has no fight in it and strach should have signed more experience in the summer.
My theory on strach is that as a manager he doesnt seem to like 'big' personalities in his dressing rooms. He didnt want keane signed (i know this will annoy some folk but... I know that for a fact) and he treated keane bizzarely once he arrived (remember the toilet incident, in the dug out), he didnt like sutton or thompson,
(and we wont have bobo or graveson in the matches against the others)
....and there are now probs with boruc 'answering him back'.
He chooses one of the youngest and most inexperienced players for captain that Celtic have had in their history.
He favours young 'compliant' players.
He doesnt want ''old dogs'' he wants young quiet and obedient players.
As a coach thats understandable but the problem is when the going gets tough..... there are no 'tough' to get going.
There is a distinct lack of leadership on the park
This leads to big probs in the matches against wattie and is imho why they will win the league.
Absolutely gutted that we are capitulating all these trophies to a poor rankers team.
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Donati is one of those players who get managers the sack.If he continues to play WGS will not survive.Donati's latest abject performance must be his last appearance in the hoops.
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Alright then lhads.
Was going to come on and say i'd missed you all but it is still Easter Week and I don't like lying.
Heart broken last night. Live in Aberdeen so have taken a fair amount of flack.
Surprisingly, the flack doesn't hurt as much today but reading thesse pages (From last night also) has made me despair for my fellow hoops fans.
Oh I laughed over the last few years when they, mid season, called for their managers head. Fek some here have been doing it from day 1 to WGS!!!!
Stand up for the champs. Get the roar going again.
I'm away for a wee holiday and will return for the trip to the midden when 3IAR will be resurected and this blog will be readable again.
I Love winning the cup, but have seen us not win it often enough too. I think Barnes was the only one sacked as a result of going out though???
The fight for the League is alive and well and the fire is re-igniting today.
Stand up for the Champions (Sorry Martin!)
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Paul67,
Like British politics the extreme's on here aint that extreme. Great site, and great banter from all. It's the differences that create interest. I'm also hugely impressed with the number of articles you manage to write while maintaining high standards.
I liked your last convoluted sentence. My question to you: does he deserve to be the Subject of Discontent?
Stuart (Who thinks the SoD is getting in the road of the GoD)
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Love that last line stuart.
Mucker
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Paul,
By disparaging the motives of those of us aghast at the mediocrity served up to us by Strachan's teams these last two years, you do yourself a dis-service.
You slip dangerously close to suggesting that there are ulterior motives behind criticism of the manager, as Etims also alleged in a scandalously myopic article recently.
Could it be that many- who cheered his victories and applauded his successes- are now worn down by miserable, dull, football, and humiliating, predictable, spineless, defeats?
Personally, I have no problem with WGS as a man. I think he reacted brilliantly to Artmedia, and his successes in 2 league titles and in Europe are worthy of praise.
However, it must be clear to all in power (including please Lord, the "SS" man), that things are rapidly falling apart. Against the well-documented background of our financial superioity over The Others, our disintegrating season looks even more abject.
Rallying calls for us all to stand together, for the players to react like Champions, paeans to the old days when to be a Celtic supporter meant a Cup every fifteen years and a drunken dance on a wet terrace if you were lucky- all this is so much irrelevant background.
Let's cut to chase. Are we employing the (realistic) best man for the job as manager of Celtic FC?
Is Gordon the best we can get?
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Robson was a contender for player of the year playing on the left side of midfield but is yet to start a game for Celtic in that position.He angered WGS by allegedly failing to follow specific instructions against Barcelona and, as Riordan has learned,WGS is not quick to forgive.
Robson and Hartley must be given a chance to start in their preferred positions.
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Or as Wee Willie Shakespeare would put it-
' Now is the Easter of our Discontent
Made inglorious summer by this our Wee Gee Ess'
Now it's the discontents, not so long ago it was the malcontents.
Well, the Mals were right then and the Disses are right now.
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Michael_67,
Overcoached - you've hit the nail on the head.
I think there's too many instructions, too much prescription on patterns of play. Maybe the early season games were a joy to watch (not killie) because the players hadn't had the instructions over-drummed into them.
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Paul,
You're probably right to try and put the current situation in perspective. After all, the league is still there to be won. It’s altogether possible that we won’t be overturned by a limited r@ngers side with ordinary but streetwise leaders, on and off the field.
I think the warning signs of the current malaise were evident during January - May 2007. Good planning and execution were essential for a successful domestic campaign against reorganised and reenergised opponents. However, phrases like team 1, team 2, team 3; stronger, faster fitter; good planning and execution, are fast becoming hollow, management-speak mantras.
We apparently have an extraordinary financial advantage over our main domestic rivals. R@ngers may have taken a financial gamble this season but they did not spend significantly more money on players than Celtic. Celtic have spilled out of two domestic cups when playing at home to mid-table opposition. R@ngers are favourites for a domestic treble and still competing for an unlikely UEFA Cup.
Competing in and progressing through Champions League group stages has helped to paint a rosy picture in the company accounts but it looks like something has gone seriously wrong in the football department.
You concluded that Celtic are flawed. Players and management? You know that I’ve always found it uncomfortably triumphalist but the notion of a G.O.D. may also be flawed.
Chris
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Sorry for the lengthy post - just read it back there. Didnt realise it was so long when I was writing it.
Apologies...
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michael_67
I enjoyed your magnum opus! As mark twain would say: “I didn't have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.”
Good analysis, and impassioned.
Brings me to another Twain quote:
"It's not the size of the Dog in the Fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog."
Stuart (Who is hoping that there's big fight in this old dog and it learns some new tricks!)
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Aaagh...!! The glorious glasgow rumour mill suggesting that there was a board meeting last night.
Was wondering how long it would take for this rumour to start.
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Stuart
Cheers
Avoid cliches like the plague though....
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gweedorebhoy ,
Your analysis of my mindset is quite the opposite. Are you looking in the mirror typing? I'm actually quite rational considering things are not going to plan.
I dare to call anyone a consumer that I like because its my own opinion. Your not in an exclusive club by following Celtic home and away for years through the good and the bad. That probably is most , if not all of CQN.
Far from lashing out as you put it , I'm expressing my opinion. You cry every other week for freedom of speech yet you'd deny me it because I have my own thoughts?
My points are obviously valid as you're own words betray your mindset.
"Strachan and his misfits" and "Your beloved Strachan" are your phrases you used towards our team. They're your words not mine so it does suggest the dislike and anger comes from yourself. You dislike the team and the manager not me. I have accused nobody of being a hun or a better supporter(!) , thats just childish.
Your obviously itching for a good arguement , not a debate as its own a debate when everyones on your same vein of thought.
I think what we can agree on is we want us to win the league by any means necessary and then its time for a change. You most probably will get your wish.
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The criticism of our manager is incredible here - not for the volume of it but for the specifics.
We are told that he overcoaches but also that he has no coaching ability.
That players don't know where to play but aslo that he gives too specific instructions.
That he has his favourites but also doesn't know what team to play.
That he has a specific style of play but also has no tactics at all.
Is it simply a case that some posters don't like our manager so look for reasons to back up their entrenched position?
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Gordon J - The reasons are out there, on the pitch, week in and week out. I am loathe to criticise the players, since they don't pick the team. We have 9 internationalists in our current line-up; they shouldn't need much coaching!
GS has a stubborn streak, he had it as a player and as a manager he's thrawn- he mistakes this for strength. He micro-manages, without being able to see the big picture. He stares in disbelief at his colouring book when things go wrong; he also seems reluctant to take any responsibility for the events which are unfolding before his eyes; as if he has less influence on events than the sect114 diehards.
Last night it was 'the Gods of Football' who done him wrong. I think he needs to spend more time looking into the mirror than at the Heavens for the answer.
It wouldn't be the worst calamity if the Gretna unGalacticos can't raise a team for Sunday.
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big liam
I think what we can agree on is we want us to win the league by any means necessary and then its time for a change. You most probably will get your wish.
At least we agree on something.
Have a nice easter
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Mcgrory for… I hoped Celtic would spend as they did in January, but expectations were not built up.
Agree on the Riordan decision. While I like Derek, his place at the club is clear, so it was surprising to see him thrown on with 5 minutes to go.
Stuart, thanks for your kind words. Yes, of course discontent is valid. I praised Gordon when he won the league and in the Champions League, so I have to be fair when we fail.
Italiabhoy, could you point out where I disparaged the motives of those aghast.., as I don’t believe I went anywhere near the subject of motives.
Chris, I disagree that GoD is triumphalist, a scientist (like yourself) might record that domination in Glasgow tends to pass in generations.
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Chris/Subt- where did you get that pic of Curly?
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the financial fundamentals are changing, and we need to be aware of that for next year....a serious drop in season ticket sales added to having to play 2 qualifiers for the CL next season is a horror scenario for us next year....as a business we cannot allow both of these factors to come to fruition....in those circumstances we would be facing a Rangers team with probably more season ticket sales, a significant revenue from transfer fee's received and guaranteed CL money....under those circumstances we should all be praying for continued turmoil in commercial property markets and banks refusal to reschedule debt at anything other than the most penal terms...MIH trading badly would be or best hope of outspending Rangers next year
if we lose the league and have to play 2 qualifiers then we need to have momentum going into them....we need to have the entire support energised behind the manager and the players...
the question the board has to ask itself is will we sell 50,000 season tickets going into next year on the back of a trophyless season...with the same management team....
it is painful to think of next season before we have concluded this one...but in business 3 months advance planning is only a nano second in real terms....
if there has not been discussions at board level over the "gordon factor" then there should be....if he is to stay then there would need to be very serious investment in undoubted uality players ....if he is to go then we should be putting the final touches in place on his replacement...should we lose the league, then we will be playing a CL qualifier in 4 months time....we can't even contemplate another Artmedia and the status quo of doing nothing other than tinkering around the edges of the squad as we did last summer is beyond unacceptable
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GordonJ
I understand your point, however I think you need to take each post seperately. It stands to reason there is completely contrasting crtisicm on here. Everybody has there own likes and dislikes, and everybody is making different points.
Personally, I dont hold Gordon Strachan completely to blame, I do hold that our team look overcoached, but players should be reacting far better to the situations when on the pitch. Players should accept and follow coaching but they should still retain their oen reactions and abilities.
Aslong as Gordon can see whats going wrong then there is light at the end of the tunnel that things can get better. Much better...
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Big Liam @13.31
you said "Your lack of faith and many others is just as culpable and equal to the managers lack of motivation of the team at the minute. Its not us against them , its our team and we all take the blame. When the team cannot perform in front of the home fans you know its more than just the managers fault."
Why not just reveal your true name, wee Gordon ?
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barcabhoy
"the question the board has to ask itself is will we sell 50,000 season tickets going into next year on the back of a trophyless season...with the same management team...."
The answer can be summed up in two words "No chance!"
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Gordon_J,
Although the comparisons you have made show a hypocritical (almost schizophrenic) attitude to posts. It should be noted that the conflicting posts don't come from the same poster.
The fact that people are taking the time to specify their misgivings suggests that it is more than just a dislike for Gordon that is urging them to go to these lengths.
The reason people are analysing his performances is because they believe something is wrong.
I have been a huge fan of Gordon since he came to the club. I hope he gets it right again and we are celebrating three in a row in May (maybe October when the fixtures are completed) although I am not as confident as I was a week ago.
Therags…
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I have, until now, always been quick to praise and defend Gordon Strachan.
However, I now firmly believe that the wee man is struggling to recognise that the team are not up to it right now. Having now watched his post match SKY interview, I'm getting worried that the last ten games will see no change of attitude or application.
Frankly, I disagree with his view of the match last night. I never really felt that we were threatening the Aberdeen goal. I did not feel confident about us scoring and I thought there was an inevitability about their goal. The football gods had hee-haw to do with the result. We lacked any cohesion in the middle to front areas and the introduction of Samaras, whilst welcome, should have happened earlier and at the expense of a defender,preferably McManus, rather than Scotty.
This is the first sustained challenge that Strachan has faced. I have my doubts as to whether he is up to it. His body language does not suggest that he has the appetite for this particular fight.
He has ten games to prove me wrong.
I hope he does.
Hail hail.
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malceye....that is my biggest worry just now....we may win the league, but it's odds against realistically.....that won't be the end of the world...we've been there before...but the last time we won nothing , we had seville, the previous time we won nothing we had anarchy and revolution....
i can handle winning nothing....i hate it, but i can deal with it....i hate to think how we will handle a season ticket base of 30,000 rather than where it is at just now....we can't even contemplate that as a possibility...it's fundamental to our business plan that we get 50,000 plus season ticket holders every year
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