Miserable run continues for Celtic against Motherwell

rt rev david hay (preaching pure football)

we must be st mirren

Now my typing is shocking must be the beer

it was meant to be we must beat st mirren

but playing the way we are

We could of course be mistaken for them

Hail Hail

Willie Mcstay is the man to lead the hoops next. He has won the youth league's reserve league's and just like a player would progress through this system to tbe first team so to should in my opinion Mcstay has earned his apprenticeship with us he is the MAN.

geebee1978 @ 7:02 PM
"Can we put this myth about the board not spending to bed - we spent enough in the summer to fine-tune a side who were, in most peoples eyes, already better than Rangers. The fact is, they're either not playing well enough or not playing at all.

The board have backed Gordon - are we getting value"?

Yes mate a total myth.

More money to spend than any other SPL club.

No value for money at least on the face of things. Perhaps another manager could have got better perforemances out of past WGS signings and the current lot the now.

jvoh67 - think you've called this one wrong - SixTeen90 is way too obvious for an under cover hun - he has to be one of us.
Welcome to Celtic Quick News ST90, of late there has been quite a few rangers fans on here pretending to be Celtic fans, so everyone is a little suspicious of new posters, however you seem genuine enough to me.

On the game itself, best we've played for a while but I think when we play the huns at Ibrox that will be the title decider, the fact that they might only need a draw could work in our favour.

If we blow the title this season though I really hope we can lure Davie Moyes away from Everton - that would make up for the torture of having to talk football with gloating huns - really dreading that.

paul67

I agree, the inevitability of it all is really sad.

time for fresh thinking.

Ulster-Celt

Ellbhoy....

Would Martinez come while they're still in with a shout of promotion? If they do actually make it, we can forget it.

Somehow, I have a horrid feeling potential managerial targets would be similar to our playing targets. Apparently, Keane is the bookies favourite - god help us!

I felt confident that we had "bottomed out" and would begin to gel again.
At least, I suppose, we had some shots on target today.
The most mystifying thing for me, though is the form of Samaras.
What has happened to the wonderful. confident, composed, deadly finisher we saw at the start of the season?
But it's not just him. Even Nakamura was guilty of sloppy passing, although the awful pitch surely had a part to play.
Maybe a home game is what we need to kick-start our title charge.

paul67
thats me got 2and a half posts to catch up with

ST90

I did not realise you were new to the board.

Welcome to the board mate.

You HUN! LOL.

ST90, mature response for a whipper snapper under unnecessary provocation.

I have seen quite enough of this Celtic team under Gordon Strachan.

In football you are only as good as your last game, well the last 10 make WGS rank rotten and my patience has run out.

The guy has to go and if he doesn't go he should be sacked immediately. Gordon Pendry and Neil Lennon need to go with him.

He possibly did not spend any money in January as he probably knew we would need the money to pay him off after we sack him.

Please PL, do it now before we lose 4-in-a-row and save us from having to watch this dross week after week after week.
If you don't I will be calling for you to be sacked in the summer aswell. Do your job, sack him, or you may find someone else doing it for you next season.

Cantrememberthelastcelticmatchiactuallyenjoyedwatching CSC

Willie McStay? Roberto Martinez??

And people say that Gordon Strachan isn't good enough to be Celtic manager. We are level on points at the top of the league, aiming for a donestic treble and some want to ditch the manager who has won us three in a row. Then replace him with rookie managers who have never won a thing?

Fickle through and through.

geebee1978 @ 7:10 PM
Ellbhoy....

"Would Martinez come while they're still in with a shout of promotion? If they do actually make it, we can forget it.

Somehow, I have a horrid feeling potential managerial targets would be similar to our playing targets. Apparently, Keane is the bookies favourite - god help us"!

Well I think he would jump at the chance, but to make sure we should go for him now.

Remember he already has an affiliation with Scottish football. I think your right though if he does get them up we will find it much harder to get him, that's why now makes sense.

Ellbhoy

Thank you
Ive been called some bad things in my life but that one takes the biscuit! :(

Agree with skipppie67 Willie McStay for me.
We wont be able to lure the likes of Moyes or even Martinez and look at how good Barca have been this year!

ST

My main questions for GS are how can Flood and Hartley be good enough to start last week against them lot and not play one minute this week? And why let a good young striker who had been scoring goals go on loan when our strikers are injured and misfiring?

I actually thought we played really well today until we scored, better than the turgid crap we have played in recent months. I was pleased with the change in formation but putting square pegs in round holes never works. I blame GS to a certain degree but the world and his wife knew we needed players in January. This has season 2004/05 written all over it. No real outlay in the summer, out of Europe before Christmas, blowing a significant lead twice, no leadership on the park, stale team, gifting the title to a poor rangers team. At least we brought in Bellamy that year to give us a chance. Time to earn your money Gordon or time to walk. I am beginning to think bring ing in Keane until the end of the season wouldn't be a bad idea. It would give us some boost. Then again an old Sweedish bloke who could be signed for nothing for 3 months and still is the Messiah would also do the same trick. But hey don't let DD hear we're complaining about anything!

Oh and yes god help us if it's Keane.

The only silver lining with him would be transfer money, surely he wouldn't fancy it if only given a small budget.

Ulster-Celt, indeed. More on this from me tomorrow.

Blantyretim, they’re coming thick and fast today.

Bad results are good for business in the media, new and old.

shadrack&duxbury's from the last thread;

Fair enough re the name - it just set my hunfiltrator radar off. FWIW, as Edward Ursus will tell you, I have no problem at all with Rangers fans posting here as long as they're up front about it.

Not giving you the "novice" thing though - he's been a Manager for 12 years. Even if you think he's the worst Manager of all time, he still ain't no novice.

Gordon J - couldn't agree with you more - that would be sheer madness - WGS for winning 3IAR should be backed until the end of the season - the title race is so close now that a massive fan revolt calling for the managers head could swing it there way.

Paul67

While we still hold our destiny in our own hands, one has to wonder about the confidence lift this gives Rangers.

With Robson going under the knife and the current POTY and PPOTY unable to get in the team the midfield is changing on a weekly basis. Maloney i fear will make no sutained impact this season and it is clear that if we lose the league it will be down to poor business in the summer and January in terms of impact of the signings made. Thusfar other than a purple patch not one of our signings have made a significant impact for anymore than a game or 2.

Gordon_J @ 7:16 PM

Are you happy with what you've been watching?

Paul67,
"so analysis of what went wrong "yesterday" will be slightly different than usual"

you write this latest article as if you were intending to post it tomorrow.

Do you have some inside news that will mean todays result will not be the BIG news tomorrow?

Or is that just wishful thinking on my part!

Paul67 - accurate report of the game.
I especially agree that we created quite a lot of decent chances today. However, it is fair to note that one of the major problems today, and for some weeks now, is the poor conversion rate of created chances. I remain unconvinced with any of our first team strikers. Aa such i was dissappointed that we did not buy a new striker last summer or even last month. This is tempered with my agreement of otrher view's expressed here and i do not have a high regard for our Manager's capabilities in the transfer market. The instigator of a most 'needless free kick' - opposition player receiving the ball with back to goal, 20 yards out and moving away from the box) is a case in point.

The Messiah (from previous thread),

You make my point perfectly. There are Celtic supporters who now accept this type of performance and this type of result.

You seem comforted that the list of teams to take points from us contain mostly top six (apart from Inverness, Motherwell (before today's point) and Hibs. List again for reference...

Motherwell DRAW
Rearrangers DRAW
Inverness DRAW
Aberdeen DEFEAT
Dundee Utd DRAW
Hearts DRAW
Hibernian DEFEAT

I could accept losing points to one or maybe two of these teams, BUT ALL OF THEM IN A SEQUENCE OF ONLY 10 GAMES!!!

And Queens Park and Dundee running us close at Celtic Park?

You make my point.

Totally and utterly unacceptable. Most other seasons the flag would already be flying at Govan. Thankfully they are also stunning pigs with their own brand of football.

They won't sack GS folks. Paying out compensation! DD and Lawell would have heart attacks! I think Mark Hughes will be available in the summer and i'd love to see him in the hot seat.

Gordon_J.....

Fickle suggests a knee-jerk reaction to a one off bad game/performance.

I wouldn't call myself a "happy-clapper" but I've certainly found myself defending our manager in the face of some harsh criticism and think he's been magnificent for us. It's been acknowledged we're still top but anyone in their right mind can see we are in decline - a rut we show no sign of getting out of.

Rangers capitulated last year and although the form of Robson, our good run and Rangers poor away form were factors, so too was their fixture congestion.

This time around, Robson is out, they have an easier run-in, are in better form and have no European distractions. If I were a Rangers fan, I'd be praying Celtic stick with things the way they are right now.

Gordon J

I have no wish for WGS to leave now. I do believe he will leave in the summer once he has won FIAR. But in the summer which is not too far off i was just saying who I would like as our new man!

The Curious Case Of Gordon Strachan
TO Gordon Strachan

You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time. (Famous Quote by Abraham Lincoln)

Taxi for Gordon Strachan

Once upon a tim

1690 is a hun.

end of discussion

Please someone tell me this will end soon. Strachan surely has to go and soon?

Thought we completely dominated the game
just not taking our chances,
if converted we could have scored at least 5 or 6

pleased with the performance much better than recent weeks

what cost us 3 points today was unlucky finnishing

and Glen loovens

oisin71,

Just what i was thinking, well Paul??

ONCE Upon a Tim

Its the manager thats instigating the revolt

Y I C

Paul 67

Your statement in the above article "I feel could write the bulk of my match report before kick-off these days".

Is pretty much spot on I think we have all seen the same movie over and over again with Celtic, this season and last, we all know pretty much what's coming.

That kind of predictability builds apathy and ultimately that cant be good fou buisness.

I reckon Crosas and Mc Geday have been sacrified at the altar of WGS respect approach to the opponents and conditions. Aiden and Crosas need good pitches as far as WGS is concerned. Mizuno no .. it´s ok for him to go ice skating at Ibrox nnd he´s never been seen since which seems unfair to me. So with Crosas, McGeady, Maloney, Robson and Mizuno all out of contention you´d have thought this pitch is perfect for Hartley or Flood...yet none of them. Yet both started last week against Rangers. So Caldwell is chosen and with MOM award justified his selection there. I reckon the only reason Caldwell was in midfield as WGS expected an arieal scrap from beginning to end and nothing else. We went more route one also. Which after last weeks refereeing performance you have to ask is anybody not taking nore of this.... especially with Jan being so off form .. this is a match .. we can practice this stuff a training

I also thought the pitch looked better down the wings. More grass on it. More grass is always a good thing.

I didn´t think that our defence had much to do and was very disappointed at how much they contributed in an attacking sense, Artur excepted. Hinkel set up Jan nicely and truly the big man should have tucked it away. Aiden when he came on done nothing and Floods appearance was a little bit too late. When you consider that he´s one of the players that we have that can actually miss the first man and pick out a cross. He also has the guts drive and determintation to hit the bye line ... wait a minute he wasn´t picked either.

I´m sure its all a big calculated illusion into foolling the world and we are about to spring from the traps and on our way to four in a row and a possible treble and that we are just two signings away from becoming a decent CL team again.....

Hail Hail

Fickle ???

3 wins in ten, or three wins over a quareter of a season. Time for a change, this team look dead on their feet and look like MON's final team looked like.

No passion, how many 50/50 tackles did we win in the last ten minutes ?

Goodbye Gordon and please take your clipboard with you. Big Jock said that football was a simple game and I believed Big Jock. He also reminded the players that it was important to entertain the fans and I remember being entertained. Unfortunately, whilst Gordon's teams got the results and the titles, they failed miserably to entertain and that is all too important to me. It's not enough to be entertained in the last game of the season. For over fifty years I have watched my beloved Celtic, through good times and bad. It has been the one constant in my life. I have given up my religion, changed my wife, changed my career and even changed my socks but I can't change my team. It's in my blood. However, I feel very little connection with this group of highly paid players, in fact I feel very little connection with anyone at Celtic except for my fellow fans and I do feel we are being taken for granted. After last week's game I came home and gave my season ticket to my stunned son. He can't believe his old man is giving up on his Bhoys. But I won't go back until next season and then only if someone else is managing the team...and I would prefer if he doesn't have a clipboa

Three strikers on the pitch, all three have been poor of late, Why not give Ben Hutchinson a game? Does WGS think hes too young? I'm sure he was getting a game in the EPL with Boro.

have given up reading the previous articles....

we are not playing well but we are only behind the huns on goals...

I will be watching next year and the year after.....

the manager, the board will go.. i will still be there...

we shall not be moved....

geebee1978

If you were a rangers fan you would be hoping that we stick with a man that has handed them 3 consecutive second prizes? Cant see it mate - if I were a rangers fan I would just love it if we were to sack the manager now - the resultant upheaval would more or less guarantee them winning the title.

Antsman....

If we lose the title, people will mention the January window. However, January was quiet all over the world and bringing new players in or not, shouldn't have been what swings the title. We spent a few quid in the summer and the players we already have at the club should be capable of doing the title.

Simply placing a player or two into a squad that is going through the motions wouldn't guarantee anything. The simple fact is, the players we have now, for whatever reason aren't doing enough.

Paul, who is signing the players? Has GS any say?

We have Crosas, Flood, McCourt, Mizuno, Hartley; All midfielders signed under GS' reign, yet he play a defender in midfield?

Very pleased with that performance
we had 13 attempts on goal
were Well had 2
looking like we are coming back to form just in time
Soon we will see the goals start to come
what are you all worried about we played the Well off the park today
towel chuckers ridiculous we play like that like we did today and the league is ours

Ellbhoy,

I was happier with what I saw today than last week, for example. We defended far better, created more in midfield and were far more of a goal threat. The manager who has been criticised for refusing to change formation did so. And any other manager who moved a player to a different position and saw him being the best player on the pitch would be applauded.

behaving a bit like a hun yourself jvoh67, even if he is an hundercover he is not being offensive, he might even just be one of kojo's 40+ login names / personalities.

bri @ 7:27 PM

"You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time. (Famous Quote by Abraham Lincoln)

Taxi for Gordon Strachan".

Fine quote, well done mate.

Dont think it's to far off myself "you can not fool all of the people all of the time"

Gordon J

Fickle ???

Many have been saying this for the last 1 or 2 seasons, how is that fickle?

enjoyed the game.

Paddy Power stopped accepting bets on the new manager I have been
told.

awe naw

I agree re team being picked for the pitch, and that it affected the team selection.

However where does Samaras and naka on the wings sit with that?

I feel Gordon has a tendency to over analyse good players can adapt, it is what makes them good players.

Gordon often does the same at Inverness where Loovens seems to play.

The final judgement comes in May tho, but i note the PR drive from Peter Lawell about the January window is well underway

McGrainInSpain

You're entitled to your opinion and we're entitled to ours. Your very pompous to say that we are an embarrasment. We have been watching Celtic week in and week out. It's turgid, boring and a toatal drag on most occasions. We have deteriorated to such an extent that instead of winning we are now drawing most of our games. If the deterioration is allowed to continue we will go on to the next logical stage and start to lose our games. No one fears us. If he stays, Gordon Strachan may well turn it round and win the League and I'll be delighted because I am a Celtic Supporter and I never want to see us lose. However, I will still want to see a new manager next season because I live in the hope that Glasgow Celtic for the first time in 5 years might play the Glasgow Celtic way on a regular basis. If I find that a new manager continues to torture us with boring football then I will not renew my season ticket for the following season. If Gordon Strachan is still in charge next season whether he wins the league or not, I will not renew my season ticket.

I can't make it any plainer than that. I don't have to prove my credentials to anyone. I have watched Celtic through two nine-in-a-rows. I do not phone up Radio Clyde or write to newspapers. I keep it in-house by posting my views to my fellow Celtic supporters on this site - CQN - the best there is. If you want everyone to be lovey-dovey and adopt the hear, see and speak no evil attitude, may I direct you to the Celtic View (Pravda).

I will reiterate, I think the manager should go now. There is a lot of money at stake during a world wide recession. We can ill afford to miss out. I would bring in Levein now. I feel that Avram Grant is a good shout but we need someone who will hit the ground running. AG does not know about Scottish football. David Moyes would also be a good candidate but I don't think he would leave Everton to come to Celtic at this stage. I think Craig Levein will lead us to the title. I no longer think Gordon Strachan can do it.

MurdochauldandHay,

Are you Strachan in disguise?

Once Upon a Tim....

I appreciate that it's a very delicate situation - however, the team lacks fight and passion right now and seem to be just going through the motions. How many times have we seen a manager come in and make a sudden impact? Even if it was just to guide us over the finishing line on adrenaline only - because the way it's going, Rangers are favourites for the title.

Gordon has won three titles and for that, he'll always have my respect. But frankly, what's won is in the past - the present right now is not a nice place to be.

Leabrannagh

I am behaving like a hun. Why ? Because I find it offensive that people who HATE my club, what I believe, my children, for being a different religion from them, come on to this site and LIE about what they are.

I have no problem with people who are up front, I think that Edward Ursus is fantastic. However , grow up, this clown comes on here, basically call himself 1690. and you call me a hun.

Disgrace

whitedoghunch - you cant leave it that mate - who have they stopped taking bets on???

geebee1978

I also said the summer window, and i would contest it was 'quiet' all over the world. The people who are saying it was quiet or difficult are those who did not spend.

But i will say again i said business in the summer as well, which looks like it was poor business looking at the impact the players signed have had

think taking of jvoh was a mistake
Aiden didnt show anything when he came on
plenty plus points today for the team and manager
we will score plenty at St mirren next week
Time is now set to give a team a humping and its a coming
Skynews constanly saying how unlucky and gave a great performance on a crap pitch,why all the doom and gloom
We played well today,no doubt about it

We have talented players:

Crosas, Brown, Naka, McGeady, Maloney.

We have decent defenders:

Hinkel, Caldwell, Balde(!)

We have fighters and workers:

Robson, Caldwell, McManus, Hartley, Flood

We have goalscorers:

McDonald, JVOH, Robson, Maloney, Samaras

WHY DON'T WE HAVE A TEAM??!!

think Im gonna have to grab a few beers tonight

Im gutted, truely gutted

I've no doubt we're going backwards and havent had any for a while now (years)

this summer has to see change and BIG change

I'm beginning to think Gordon Strachan is just like the rest of when he sends the team out. He shuts his eyes, crosses his fingers and hopes that this time it will all work out. There is no evidence that this is going to happen and there has been none for most of this season. I happen to think we were better than we have been today, but I don't think there's much better to come.
It says something about Rangers that, after this very poor run we've been on, they've only just caught up with us. There's still a few twists and turns to come, and it's still in our hands, which at one point late last season it wasn't.

Hail! Hail!

We wus robbed

paul
unless there are big changes in the offing you can start writing you match reports for next year now

Leabrannagh

I am not kojo.
Im my own man and im Celtic though and through.
Just making my opinion heard like everyone else on CQN.

ST

MurdochauldandHay are you serious??

Coming back to form? i had to read your post twice.

Must be watching an entirely different Celtic to yours.

We've all got opinions and I'll respect everyones but I honestly can't see how that recent game could be descibed as us coming back to form?

We didn't lose. Is that us in good form? Seems these days it's a good result if we don't lose.

It's NOT good enough for me I'm afraid and to hear our manager repeat the same tripe week after week just rubs salt into a festering wound. I've had enough of WGS...time to hand Wille McStay the reigns for the title run in.....what do we have to lose? He can't be any more rudderless than WGS.

Not being argumentative but your post really has me scratching my head in bewilderment.

I'm a very sad and disillusioned Celtic fan \ supporter.

Paul67 -

"I feel could write the bulk of my match report before kick-off these days".

Any chance of a report on the St Mirren game before the fixed odds coupons are printed ?

Gordon_J @ 7:35 PM

Changed his formation.

Some would say long over due.

Caldwell in midfield, played decent no doubt.

However 19 midfielders bought, 3 midfielders on the bench and the best we can do, is play a CB in midfield (how do you think Crosas, Hartley and Flood felt about that, not too mention others not in the squad?) If it was me I think it I would feel pretty sick.

Tell me IYO at 1-0 why did WGS revert to 4-4-2?

Thought we played ok today.
In front of goal we were not at our best but it could easily have been a handsome win.
Loovens however is a worry at the back.
Caldwell back there and Crosas in his place, Aiden free role behind Sammy and Skippy but still 4-3-3 with Flood for Brown and Naka central.
Attack the same next week and we will win easy.
Just let's go at them and win 5-4 if we have to.

oisin71

just a ordinary Celtic fan who was pleased with his teams performance today,and still confident we have better players and the best football team in scotland

Sadly, for me it has come to the stage where I dread the thought of watching Celtic. When we are playing, there is a constant knot in my stomache at the thought of the upcoming game about 2 hours before the game starts that only receeds when replaced by the depression of yet another desperately disappointing display. Today, wasn't that bad -but that's only compared to our other performances this year.

Supporting Celtic shouldn't be like this. We should be able to look forward to being entertained, to bragging to TFD about how well our team played. Instead, the thought of an upcoming game fills me with fear and dread.

I often take my young nephews to the game and it looks as if even their enjoyment has been sucked out of them by watching Celtic these days. Like me, their enjoyment has been replaced by dread and a fear of being beaten again. I watched him stare at the ground last week for the first 10 mins because he was "too scared to watch". Some might say "well don't go if your not enjoying it", but as Celtic supporters we know that's not an option - we go anyway because that's what being a Celtic fan is all about. Celtic matter to much to us to just stop going - even if i did i'd be pacing up and down wondering how they were playing anyway.

How did it get to this? I went home and away during the bad days of TFD 9 in a row and can't remember feeling this disappointed. Why do I feel it's them against us when i think about the board? Why do I feel our support is taken for granted?

Haven't been on since last weekend. I imagine the witch hunt is in full flow now considering our perilous league position...

I enjoyed a lot of the game today and thought GS got his starting 11 close to spot on. Not sure about Samaras wide left when Flood was sitting on the bench but other than that I didn't have too many complaints with how we lined up on a pitch that would be doing farmers an insult by comparing it to a ploughed field.

Paul67

The sad thing is we could all write the bulk of the match report before the games these days.

We, however, are not getting paid the fix the obvious. sadly the man who is seems incapable of doing it.

Many thanks Gordon, there have been some good moments - Last 16 CL and 3 league titles. Time for a change - but not 'til the end of the season. We need to take the time to find the right replacement.

We should write this season off and look to next.

If the answer turns out to be Willie McStay, Peter Grant, Tony Mowbray or anyone at that level as the answer for next season, then Celtic can wave bye-bye to my season book money for 09/10, unless the board want to half the price. Full ticket season price is an investment from me for champions league not SPL.
The bhoys mentioned above have never proved themselves managerially anywhere, which means another huge learning curve = much pain and suffering!
It's really getting to be unenjoyable knowing that we have failed to build properly on solid football foundations.
I'm not the type of fan who wants to win everything. I can live with the odd barren spell, but it is time for a change.

All the best

TLV

Perhaps we have ignored that leaking pipe for too long.

Drip, drip, drip, drip - but there's still water coming out the tap and the bucket is catching the drips.

We have been mince for two years, but those wonderful Naka free kicks and those late, late shows (remember Gretna at Fir Park?) have yielded a fix-it-later-it's-not-broken mindset.

Well, guess what? It's broken, the pipe burst, the place is flooded and there's nae water coming out the tap.

Who knows a good plumber???

geebee1978

I can see where you are coming from, however if we were to bundle Gordon out the door now we wouldn't get a decent replacement - no manager worth his salt would touch the job when they see how we treat the guy who has won us 3 consecutive titles.

jvoh

I love Celtic just as much as everyone else on this board!
Why cant you accept that?
Have you nothing better to do than have a stab in the dark at posters who might or might not be huns?

ST

The clappers are lukewarm in their applause
Paul67 has an air of defeat
The mineshafters are revolting

In such times, all we need is:

Change we can believe in?

obamaCSC

Once Upon a Tim

it was Cardiff or jimmy saville
I lost the thread.
ten bob on both anyway

PF912912

You just stated how I feel at the moment perfectly.

1690

liar liar

Strachan tactically is clueless. He plays a central defender in central midfield and leaves 4 established midfield players on the bench. His tactics are ripping the soul out of Celtic Football Club. He clearly does not know what to do with the talent that is available to him. One win in 6 games in the SPL is very very poor for a club like Celtic. I would ask the board to replace him with Steve Clarke. He is a proven assistant manager who has worked under some of the best coaches in the world. You could argue that the loss of Steve Clarke has cost chelsea dear this season. Bring him on board before he goes back to Chelsea in the summer.

I ask everyone to scroll back to when skippy scored
the elation and exitment was felt by everyone on the blog
we were playing well and we knew it

but a s soon as Well score doom and gloom sack Strachan we are mince buy in january sack the board etc etc

We should have won the game by at least 5 goals our domination was total motherwell couldnt even get into our half until the 80min when they scored

compared to our performances of late I was more than happy with todays performance

If the team had beaten Dundee Utd and kept the momentum going following our good victory at Ibrox, I'm sure our manager would have turned the corner with the fans' opinion of him being a positive one following his handling of the Aiden outburst & beating the blue brotherhood. However, he has managed to turn some fans even more against him now.

I have always held an open mind about him but it is getting less open by each passing game (sorry for the bad joke).

His stubborn streak has to stop, tell players in private what is what & they are dropped. Its up to them to get themselves sorted.

Could we please have shots on target from outside & inside the box, more movement off the ball, entertaining football & some gallusness from the player & finally, win games convincingly.

GET THE FEAR FACTOR BACK FROM OTHER TEAMS WHO PLAY US.

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS

ALL STAFF & FANS, DONT GIVE UP OUR TITLE WITHOUT A FIGHT.

jvoh67, behave yourself. ST90 has not posted one word that would indicate he was a hun. I think his posts are far too sensible.

whitedoghunch - never was any good at crytic clues so I'm none the wiser - but thanks for replying anyway.

JTT

Thanks mate

a voice in the wilderness crying out ...your right ..anyway most of the bhoys there today will be back ...they like to moan and bhoy are they entitled

i`m really pee`d off right now with these overpaid ,workshy under-performers ............i`m afraid that that is what football is about these days

a good dose of reality is needed for the self proclaimed superstars
Y I C

jvoh67

Cheers - it's only because Celtic mean that much to us. A good Celtic team and good results just makes life a lot sweeter!

Please, let's stop blaming "parsimony" from the board.

Gordon Strachan has a football budget which absolutely dwarfs the rest of the SPL. He is not working with his hands tied. The financial advantage we hold means that we should be winning (with a swagger) 90 per cent of our games against "the rest" (games against the Huns will always be closer, as they are the only comparable financial power).

If there's a problem with results and the style of football on display, it's down to poor management of a very expensive squad.

Time for change.

Antsman,

I noticed the PR drive was also cloaked in a we are going to develope our own CL players too.

I can recall when we played a 4-5-1 cum 4-5-3 against Porto with Sammi on the wing.As far as I am concerned Samaras has been at his most effective running with the ball from the halfway line. If we were going to play long we needed Jan deeper so that Skippy could have fed off the knock downs. Motherwell held their line well hence why the lack of overlapping full back or any wing play lead to congestion. One corner for us today on the 89th??? minute. Motherwell defended well but only because we were crossing too deep.

We played better today and agree with MurdochauldandHay in that we created chances and played better but we still aren´t converting those chances and we´re still poor at cross balls into the box and giving away needless free kicks.

We are on the same points as Rangers we STILL need to improve MASSIVELY to win it and we need somebody to take points off Rangers and that could be us at Ibrox. I see no reason why that scenario is not possible. We need to go on another streak of playing winning uninspiring football like we did after the 2.4 game only a few weeks ago.

I think it will get better. I think we will start to play at a better level. The players will show more hunger when the pitches are better and there games to be played in where medals are there to be won and glamour tournaments to play in.

Hail Hail

Once Upon a Tim....

I still think we'd have a fair few people desperate to manage us. I know, it's a tough one with no clear-cut answer. I just feel that if things stay as they are, we are in danger of slipping out of contention - and today is the first time since Gordon took over that I've felt like this. We need a sudden impact - something that will put the spark back in to the team.

I have that horrible sense of deja vu from MON's last season. Nobody dared suggest then that he'd stayed a year too long - however, with hindsight, that was clearly the case. If you don't learn from history....

Ellbhoy,

In my opinion, and that's all it is, the change made sense at the time.

JVoH offered little and missed the one decent chance he had, so take him off. Playing Sami centrally gave support to Scott who was a goal threat all day. Moving to 4 in midfield tightened the game and in theory Aiden was then running into the one piece of grass on the pitch.

We played some decent football at 1-0 and should have made the game safe. Motherwell made us pay for our missed chances by taking just about the only one they had all day.

Margins are slim in football. Would we ge having this debate if the Motherwell player had shot wide and we had gone on to win the game.

Paul 67

I need to stop posting for a while. There has been a lot of new guys , some of whom, I believe, may not have Celtic's best interest at heart. For example ST90, not the hardest code to crack.

I hope that the good ghuys reclaim this site, ( probably after we win the league the huns will go away). However. I will not disgust myself anymore by acknowledging them. I am addressing only the old school from her on in.

Once Upon a Tim

you oslo

yes, it's me that needs to grow up JVOH. If pointing out you may be wrong is a disgrace, so be it. What is your proof, ST90 sounds like or could mean 1690? A wee bit flimsy, but hey you could be right, until he offends anyone there is no case to answer.

Paul67

I know that must have been hard to write - it was hard enough to read. Kudos to you. You can find the right way to impart the tough stuff.

It's the predictability that kills me - and the ominous intention to fail which pervades when you play all your forwards at once.

I think there are great players in the team.

I think it might be time for someone else to direct them.

Just my thoughts.

Lots I could say but won't say.

My Team!

Our Team!

U

PF912912

I think your post mirrors what many of us feel.

Great post mate it's a shame that circumstances have made you write such a postand we all had to read it.

I feel your pain mate, would like something done to help raise the spirits.

God knows we need it.

You could see it coming again today. We continue to create but like last week's Skippy miss, we just don't take 'em.

The team selection was once again garbage. The two best players in the SPL didn't play - again! Why does Sammy continue to get a game? Who wants to give JVoH another year? Glenn Loovens??? How many CL games or OF games has Crosas started? Answers on the back of a Season Book to GS please!!!

The 3-in-a-row was fab Gordon, as was the last 16 of the CL twice - Magic! However, squandering an 8-point lead to a team who are the worst I've seen in my liftime is frankly not good enough. We're going backwards fast and the man who said we're the same as MON's last team was spot on - no ideas and dead on its feet! Failure to recognise that cost us dear.

Failure is fine IF you learn from it. Repeating it is not an option.

Time to go Gordon.

P.s. why would Moyes leave Everton to come to us?

jvoh

There is no code.
I'm just a regular bhoy.
End of.

ST

U2 - I need a plumber as well, my shower has gone on the blink!
Good point from earler about the different types of player we have...certainly enough to put out a championship winning team with varied options on the bench. Apart from Bobo!

Watched the game in the Davie Cooper stand with Gordon, SFTB & Pablo. We were all perplexed by the starting line-up. I'd also like to know how it came out yesterday evening.

GL had a good game at the back until that daft challenge for their free-kick, but the game should have been over at half-time. The only thing that I can agree with our manager is that we have to start taking our chances or we can kiss the title goodbye.

Somebody posted earlier that we need to put out our best football team and let the opposition wory about us. Couldn't agree more.
We're the champions and we need to remind ourselves of that fact. Change the mindset, Gordon.

There was some seriously heavy-handed stewarding/policing in our stand today, due to a certain senior steward objecting to fans standing during the game. Completely needless.

Special mention should go to the "comedian" in charge of the tannoy for playing "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" at half-time.
I really look forward to the day when we get the chance to relegate these 2-scarf scum.

TTTT

Do you think he is as annoyed as we are?

From keep the faith

GORDON STRACHAN – CELTIC MUST START SCORING GOALS

Gordon Strachan described his Celtic team’s performance as “terrific” in the post-match aftermath of Celtic’s 1-1 draw against Motherwell at Fir Park, despite the irrefutable fact that Celtic had failed abysmally to restore our two point advantage at the SPL summit.

The Celtic Manager insisted his Bhoys had performed well against Mark McGhee’s side on a pitch more conducive to quadbiking than football and also insisted there were numerous Celtic players who were contenders for Man Of The Match.

However, Gordon Strachan rued Celtic once again failing to convert into goals a satisfactory percentage of goal-scoring chances created.

After the Huns’ 3-1 win over Kilmarnock at Ipox yesterday, Celtic were challenged with winning against Motherwell at Fir Park, but Scott McDonald and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink squandered five goal-scoring opportunities in a goal-less first-half.

In the second period, Celtic finally seized a deserved lead when Scott McDonald’s shot on the turn found the back of the net in the 60th minute, but yet again goal-scoring chances were squandered, most notably by Georgios Samaras.

Celtic, seemingly in control of what was an atrocious match, looked to be returning to the SPL summit, but in the 81st minute Glenn Loovens needlessly conceded a free-kick, which was taken quickly by Motherwell.

With the Celtic defence sleeping, Glenn Loovens failed to clear the cross and Paul Quinn scored Motherwell’s equaliser with their only chance of the game.

There were late chances for Georgios Samaras and Scott Brown, but Celtic dropped yet more precious SPL points, the 1-1 result meaning Celtic are level with the Huns, who have a superior goal difference.

Post-match, Gordon Strachan said: “I couldn’t see Motherwell scoring today. They tried hard, but didn’t have a shot on target apart from the goal. We were playing well at the time they scored.”

Gordon Strachan continued: “At this moment we’re not scoring enough goals. If we’d have taken half our chances today it could’ve been 5-0. We had about four or five opportunities in the first half.”

Gordon Strachan added: “We need to start scoring goals and that will make it easier for us to retain the League. If we don’t score goals then it’s going to be a problem as we saw today.”

Since Celtic’s sequence of 12 SPL wins in a row, Celtic have played 10 League matches, won only 3, drawn 5 and lost 2, scored only 13 goals and conceded 11, recorded only 14 points and chucked away 16 points out of a possible 30.

This is a lamentable recent record and something radical needs to happen to boost the confidence and morale of a struggling Celtic team and an increasingly disgruntled, discontented and frustrated Celtic support

Hail Hail

Everyone will have their favourite as to who might replace WGS my own is an ex Celt so he knows what it should be all about, at present in the SPL, although not with one of the more fashionable clubs.John Hughes, I think he could really do us a turn I would promote Wullie McStay as his assistant and keep Lenny.He would be hungry and have fire in his belly and would'nt suffer fools gladly and not frightened to speak out about refs and their assistants as well as those entrenched in hampden. Yes he may lack european experience but is more than competant in the SPL and would hold more than his own.

A gamble of course it would be, but I think better than bringing in someone foreign just looking for a stepping stone for a couple of years until something in the EPL came up.Could do a lot worse than throw his name into the hat.

Y I C.

geebee1978

I definitely agree with you that if things stay as they are we will slip out of contention - its the timing of the thing to my mind thats the key issue - do we bide our time and stick with GS until the end of the season and then take our time to get in the right replacement - or gamble on bundling him out the door now hoping we can get someone in who can come up with a quick fix? Tough call, glad I'm not the one that has to make it.

Paul has got it right in the subtext of his story....the manager does not know his best midfield....or to put it bluntly he hasn't got a clue about one of the most important parts of his job

he appears to have the attitude that everyone wants crosas, but nobody tells me what to do...so he's not playing

everyone wants aiden...but nobody tells me what to do...so he's not playing

everying wants mcmanus dropped (and he was to blame for the goal lost today).....but nobody tells me what to do..so he's definitely playing

another day another bit of celtic life squeezed out of me by a manager who has the look and feel of someone who is clueless about how to solve the problems we are facing...i know as i write that , its a little harsh , but we have endured a terrible 6 weeks as celtic supporters and the manager has the responsibility for that and cannot escape criticism

on a seperate note...stuart lovell on setanta was a breath of fresh as a summariser....his neutral and intelligent summations showed how poor and biased scott booth is...

on a further seperate note Auldheid asked me this yesterday

"Its as if the Board are on one side and the support on the other. Is that what you are saying that you do not trust them or are you saying they are incompetent?
If so on what grounds taking all success indicators into account?"

I actually thought i had responded but it seemingley is still swimming around in cyberspace, not as yet landed on planet CQN

My response is that saying the board is incompetent would be far too strong....saying i don't trust them wouldn't be the correct expression either...i think they are well intentioned and have some core competencies

the issues that are a concern are not the responsibility of the entire board.....the FD produces the accounts and is a competent money manager....no reason to suggest he isn't doing his job....the chairman is new to the job, so he should be cut some slack and he has a class act to follow....overall i like the way he has gone about things, although i could do without the lectures on finances...the CEO to me is the enigma, never as good as he was cracked up to be, but up until recently a good executive and fair value for what he is paid....

he has not coped with the changing circumstances of increased EPL wealth, he appears at least a year late with a strategy and a change of direction to deal with the impact of a wealthy and irresponsible neighbour....he has no excuse for this...the EPL's increased spending power has been well flagged in advance....when i read of not being able now to afford Craig Bellamy, i just cringe....why tell us that...we know that...we have known that for 18 months....it's irrelevant to our current position....

he should be looking for players we can afford...he shouldn't just be looking, he should be getting them in...no excuses, no whingeing, no bleating about it being expensive.....Celtic are still in the top 25 wealthiest clubs in Europe...we have spending power which far outweighs every club in Scotland,Poland, Holland, Bulgaria, Rumania, Sweden, Denmark,Norway, Austria, Switzerland, and Belgium....and yet we can't find a single player this window other than 2 kids, a young guy untried winger from Eire and a Cardiff reserve....we also have greater spending power than half the teams in La Liga, Italy and France....but there's allegedly nobody there in those teams who we can attract who would do a job for us !!!

so for me the jury is out on the CEO...he has performed well enough in the past to merit more time to get things right....but he has to improve his transfer dealings or get the people who report to him to improve their role in the process....the revenue side is contributed mainly by the support and media contracts over which he no role or contribution...he can't be given much credit for the top line....his job is to make sure we spend our wealth as a perennial top 20 richest club wisely.....to ensure we get value for money.....

can anyone say he is carrying out that most important task well currently...i don't think you can make that claim with any certainty.....

so to summarise to Auldheid...i trust them...i don't think they are incompetent...i know however they are underperforming...and i am still concerned by the lack of communication about direction and strategy

Evening All,
for all the fans out there, who are mistified as to why they're more disillusioned now than when the REARS ruled the land, I may have an answer...
You dared to dream, and now that dream has gone from you!
Four years, of annual improvements, building a fantastic stadium and big signings, reaching the Champions league, beating all the big teams at home then finally the monkeys back is broken, We're in the last 16...
At this point it hits you, like it hit me, we can get to the last 16... but we're out of our depth and there's no way to progress,
the dream is over!! We're now reduced to fighting the REARS for the title and that's it!! Our ever expanding world has began to shrink.

Hail Hail

ilovethehoopsnomatterwhat.com

Ellbhoy

Cheers mate. Hopefully, I'll be on here at the end of the season wondering what all the worry and depression was about!

Thoroughly enjoyed that game today
Highlight for me was broonys quick feet at the edge of the box
but for a mothers defenders knee would have been goal of the season

If Well hadnt scored due to Glen loovens pointless free kick every one on her (hunfiltrators apart)would all have been posting "bring it on top, of the league,were we belong,well but if im not mistaken we are top of the league only goal difference seperates us from the hun

4inarow no problem

JTT

Would that be the same John Hughes who is one point above the relegation place with his team dropping down the league like a stone? Things are not that desparate.
Promoting Willie McStay would be a shrewd move though. Very successful at youth & reserve level, knows all the players who've come through the ranks, make him assistant to an experienced manager for a couple of years then, if the success continues, promote to the big job.

Enough is enough, Celtic dont need to gamble by sticking by their struggling manager. He's obviously devoid of ideas and inspiration for the players. The club needs lifted by a new manager. What is under consideration by the board, do they realise that possibly a minimum 20% of season book renewals are now under threat. Celtic fans are not mugs, they will not be talked down to, or have their intelligence insulted by chemical ali type post match explanations and excuses.
This would not be dishonourable to sack Gordon Strachan, this is football, points on the board count, expectations and stakes are high at a club like Celtic. However we need an adequate replacement, but the club does need some fresh air, it's causing great disharmony amongst the fans, and with the money side successful the footballing side is coming up short.
If you pay peanuts you get monkeys. Players and staff.

MurdochauldandHay

Agreed

jvoh67

jvoh67

Have to agree mate.
I'm a long time reader, part-time poster but my enjoyment in being here is fading. Abuse of others is becoming the norm where it was not an issue before.

I stumbled on this site and don't really remember how I got here but within days I was telling people of its existence and urging others to seek it out. In hindsight we should have logged in and kept the secret to ourselves, it has lost something along the way.

I'm old enough to know that winning the league is all important but only until you lose it, then you forget about it, put it out of your mind and look forward again. I've seen it all, but firstly I am a Celtic fan, win or lose. If we don't do 4 in a row, I'll still be there next season and the season after in fact, every season until I pop it I will follow.

For some here though, the short termism is spoiling their joy of being a hoops fan. Others in here have never known that joy and i'd gladly banish them to their own.

Paul67 - I reckon you have a major task if you would like to restore your creation to its former glory but it would be worth it if you could manage to.

Gordon_J @ 7:57 PM

I think we just see it differently the change IMV opened the game up you thought it tightend up. It's all swings and round abouts I know but at 1-0 would have withdrawn Sammie for Flood and put Naka in Sammies position.

As to your last point it's all if's and buts. However no I am sure we wouldn't be having this conversation id Motherwell hadn't of equalised. However I think we would be having it at some stage as the situation we find ouselves in just now has been all to predictable. So if not this or next week then pretty sure it wouldn't have been to far off.

You are right thoug it's all about individual opinion, each is valid if consrtuctive I just feel your optimism is slightly misguided.

Hail Hail!

uly

takes you back doesn`t it

just hope it`s the same ending

getting to old for this .....cannae take it any more

second best when they hold the aces is fine ..but to that manky mob ...hells teeth

Awe Naw

Yes the CL players bit i noticed as well, but technically if they play in the CL they are by default CL players!

WDH

AHHH..GET IT NOW

Once upon a Tim

It is a tricky one

Option 1 Sack Strachan tonight and appoint say Levine or go for Owen Coyle or some other young hungry manager. I say young hungry as the board have set out our stall and no big name will accept the lack of investment which we sadly will have to live with.

This option discards the previous achievements and seems unfair to a man who has delivered 3 in a row.

It could dismay the Strachan bhoys in the squad and have the opposite effect rather than the intended goal of galvanising the team towards overhauling the Huns.

Option 2 stick with Strachan but tell him his job is on the line. Knowing his past he could quite rightly tell the board to stuff it and walk.

Option 3 Stick with Strachan but behind the scenes go for our new manager. This gets out and we have discord rumour and we fall apart.

No the only option for me is number 4 stick with Strachan give him our 100% support.

Then as soon as the final whistle goes after we win the treble go for the new man.

Hail Hail

My worry is that board or fans alike think/thought Craig Bellamy was good enough to register as a Messiah - a car crash of a player and a private nightmare.

The board has missed a step these past two seasons.

I'm lost to think where we go from here because I trust nothing in what I'm seeing and less in what I'm hearing.

And if the rumours are true and GS is already away then shame on the board for allowing him to take charge this season.

And if someone comes on with the 'would you not rather have 4 out of 5 than 4 in a row...?' they can jist git......

Och I'm really sore the night.

U

I'm not posting here, after this, for a good while, Chaplin, thanks.

Ellbhoy @ 8:12pm

Very fair post.

Ive a good feeling about the Hamilton v Rangers game next week. 12.30 kick off and Hamilton win. McGowan Hat-trick.

3.00 Celtic kick off against St Mirren, if we win we go 3 points clear.

Simple.

Just Verging on hun 67

See how it easy it is

Lighten up it's only a blog and keep posting

Hail Hail

Everyone is entitled to their opinion but those who are posting tonight calling for the manager to be sacked seems completely OTT. The time for change is when the season is over. Panic measures rarely turn out to be of benefit.

Today's result doesn't change a great deal vis a vis the title. Celtic win every game between now and the end of the season they win the league. Unlikely on current form but sometimes we as a club are at our best when the odds are stacked against us.

I might not be happy with recent performances and results - although the performance, if not the result, was better today than in recent weeks - but I won't be giving up. As long as the league is there to be won I'll be backing the team and the manager.

I'll save my constructive criticisms till the end of the season.

Putting my tin hat on here, but I dont't think Aiden has done anything in the half hour today or last week to suggest that he is due a start.

Last week I thought Rankers came more into the game when Flood went off and Aiden came on.

I felt that today he gave the ball away too often, trying to dribble when he should have passed. Just before the goal, Aiden gave the ball away and the next thing Loovens was giving away a cheap and unnecessary free kick. Once that had happened, if you were quick enough on the on line betting, you could have made money on what was going to happen from the free kick.

ggh

Can someone tell me how long the heid has left on his contract as he is POTY for me so far.

Hail Hail

PF912912

Iam looking forward to reading it already.

Hail Hail!

I thought we actually battled well today.

The game itself said everything about the state of Scottish football. A pitch impossible to play on and the usual incompetent (at best) refereeing. We lost a goal from their one attack. When it rains, it pours. If today's result was just down to these things, you'd write it off as just a bad day at the office. But, it wasn't.

We've a dozen or so games to go. I don't know what goes on behind the scenes in terms of who could have been bought, who's wanting to go, who's playing for the team, whatever. But its clear that there is no way at the moment this team is going to win the league.

I'm not happy saying this as I'm normally a very glass half full kind of guy, call me a happy clapper even.

Last year I held out hope, simply because of Rangers' away games to come and their awful away record against decent teams. This year, its us who have the achilles heel and not just away from home. The players look as if they can't be bothered playing at CP. There is no urgency, no fight. Whether that's Gordon fault, I do not know.

All the guys coming on here tonight having a pop at the guy should give him some respect for his record. Its a bloody good one and one he should be proud of forever. Can we drop the blame game? Its usually Lee Naylor, or big Mick. We've all got guys who we want to blame. Gordon's getting it now. Funny how he never got the credit when we won. He did in my book.

Having said all this, we can either decide to keep the things the way they are and win bugger all or change and maybe win the league.

Paul the other day floated the idea of Henrik coming back. If someone came on here and gave me a convincing reason why he shouldn't come back i.e he has been approached and won't, that's fair enough. I think if he as available he would transform our misfiring front line and galvanise us all. This is a "magic bullet" as they say.

I don't think Gordon has become a bad manager. But, all managers, like players, have their shelf life at a club. Whatever Gordon is doing right now ain't working. Whether that's his fault is debateable. I'll defend Gordon Strachan, not out of sentiment, but because of his record. But right now his record is that of a mid-table club at best and I see no way we're going to get any better under the current personnel, short of getting in the likes of Henrik, a genuinely world class striker, to lead the revival.

I'd like to think those in charge of the club realise the predicament we are in. We don't have Rangers' worse run in this year to get us out of jail and any 07/08 revival on the field is going to require some bold action. Inaction means no so silverware.

barcabhoy
our captain wasnt to blame for there goal Glen looovens was he needlessly gave away a freekick then failed miserably to clear the resulting cross with a poor head which our captain gthen made a last gasp block to try and prevent the shot

Once Upon a Tim - Did Hiddink care that Chelsea bundled his good friend Scolari out of the door? Did Scolari bat an eyelid when Grant was kicked out after taking his team to the CL final? The next Celtic manager will not accept or reject the job because GS got the sack. Managers who go to Celtic or Rangers know that they will always be judged by what is happening in the here and now.

In a two horse race we are running 6th since the new year. In a period when the mighty Motherwell have amassed 13 points we have secured 7.

Taking action now is about being decisive, it is about attempting to salvage the 12 million pound CL jackpot before it ends up in Govan. Last year's finish was a fairytale - Mr Strachan does not have any tactical or motivational tricks up his sleeve to make such a finish likely to happen again.

On the other hand, most new managers provide a bounce effect which normally lasts for a few weeks. This is well documented. Such a bounce effect could be the difference between us being in the CL next season or trying to cut 12 million from our operating expenses.

i have no doubt that peter lawell was trying to buy players in january just like iam sure big jan is trying to score goals or naylor is trying his best to be a good left back but the simple fact is peter lawell you didnt improve our team to busy laughing at what was happening across the city hoping that us fans would think we had enough to get by a weakened rangers team well that didnt happen and has backfired big time on your head be it the players can be dropped what about you peter you havent done your job i dont want a tryer i want a doer

Alba Bhoy,
Mary Mapes Dodge once wrote about a small Dutch boy and a leaking dyke. I suggest you read it.

alba bhoy
time for change is now..........
it could be all over in a couple of weeks.

Barcabhoy, agree with you on Stuart Lovell always saw him as a fair neutral with no axe to grind. I did cringe when Gordon used to give him the same abrasive approach as all the other meeja, I think even Gordon now has time for him.

Agree with a lot of what you say about the board , but i would have disagreed 8 months ago with some of it. They have underperformed in many ways for the past two windows and in their PR with the fans.

If they are looking on us as a business, then our business model appears more like a stuffy life insurance company, we need a bit of Hollywood razzamatazz.

Paul,
Some really angry people on the blog tonight, some are disillusioned some are hopeful.
As a shareholder and supporter for many many years, the most important thing is we win the league for both financial and footballing reasons. The board of directors responsibility is primarily to the shareholders, direct entry to the champions league is simply the only option. The board must deliver this regardless of the casualties, if G.S. can deliver the title, fine, if in the opinion of the board there is justifiable doubt then they must act in the interest of the shareholders. For Celtic not to win this league is unacceptable, G.S. must change or go.
Celtic is not the team we have loved, something is wrong, things must change.

garygillespieshamstring @ 8:18 PM

Aiden to me is a half season wonder.

Maloney before his holiday to Villa and now he's been back has shown to be a far better player.

Can't wait for the wee man to come back, could give us the lift we desperatley need.

Wee Ned

Chemical Ali, players and staff monkeys, sounds more like Currant News or views

gsu

Heres a thought
Most of us on here think the board is tight, most of us think that Marc Crosas is a quality player who should be played.
Dosent his fee to Barca rise depending on appearances?
Or am I reading into this too much?

ST

Ellbhoy :

I have to admit that I was not in favour of Maloney coming back because I did not like the way he left.

However he did play well since his return and I think the quality of passing and link up play was better when he was in the team.

I did hear some story about him being out for the season. I hope it is not true.

ggh

Top 3 in each category if GS decides to go in the summer:

Statement of Intent

1. Louis Van Gaal
2. Ottmar Hitzfeld
3. Manuel Pellegrini

EPL Experience

1. Roy Hodginson
2. Mark Hughes
3. Davie Moyes

Up and Coming

1. Steve Clarke
2, Michael Laudrup
3. Roberto Martinez

Barcabhoy

Lovell V Booth it's night and day. Lovell dosen't feel the need to talk insesent shoite for 90 minutes.

Also thought the Lass interviewing WGS on Shetanta did a good a job, for a change she got him to answer her direct questions.

Have to say I feel a bit weird tonight, quite a lot of anger on the boards and very understandable.

However although I agree with the time to change the manager sentiment. I have been thinking along those lines for ages now so this current situation has been expected.

You guy's are only feeling the pain/anger just now. I and many like me have been feeling it week in week out for almost 2 seasons.

Maybe now you guy's can realise how we've been feeling and all the Tim tit for tat bashing can cease.

wee red
Why dont you go to the zoo then
get your monkeys and peanuts there in abundance
great zoo in govan im told

STD90
Great rumour but were dont operate like the govanites

I cannot agree with those that we have better players than the Darnel.

The simple fact the reason we are struggling week in and week out is that Mr Strachan has filled our squad with ordinary players who are paid way too much for their limited ability.

I do not believe that Mr Strachan is tactically naive.
I think he is a very knowledgeable coach,and a reasonable,but limited manager of people.

I think that he is a poor judge of a player.

His side is too easily,too often, matched and beaten physically.

We lack real height in defence , creativity in midfield, and pace with goals,upfront.

Our squad is filled with ordinary players on high wages who will be extremely difficult to move on.

I always enjoy Kojo's posts( I know you are not posting and this is not a dig at you )previously he has stated the manager is not to blame,that it is the players.

I couldn't disagree more .It Is the manager who chooses the players.
The buck stops with him.

It is not the time to change manager.
He has to see out the season.

We should not sack him at the end of the season,if we cannot obtain a better manager.
If we can't then he must stay.I think he will walk anyway if we don't win the league.

There will be many different views on who would do better than him.

I have a lot of time for the likes of Willie McStay and Owen Coyle.

Celtic are too big a club for them to cut their teeth on.

McStay would make an excellent assistant to foreign manager.

I am not advocating a foreign manager.PLG shows that they are a risk.

For me i would want someone who understands the British game first and foremeost.

Davey Moyes would be my first choice.
I don't think that he would come to Celtic with our spending restrictions.

Craig Levein probably fits the profile.
He would see it as a massive step up.
He would be withtin our budget.
He knows the Scottish game.

My problem is that i am not convinced that he will do a better job than Mr Strachan.

The other option for me is a foreign manager .Who has a proven track record ,but whose star has lost some of it's shine.Someone who still has the DESIRE to succeed ,and not see us a big final payday.

Having analysed Roy Keane.No way.

Mowbray & McCarthy will be mentioned,i fancy neither.
John Hughes,John Collins.No way.

Whatever happens the board have to get the appointment right.

Season ticket sales will plummet if they don't.

wgs are you for real mark hughes is only at the richest club in the world

WGS

Martinez - Swansea played some fantastic football the other weekend

Hodginson - never a Celtic manager in my eyes

Mark Hughes - I do not know now

David Moyes - happy in either camp so not my choice I'm afraid

Martinez for me.

U

MurdochauldandHay on February 22, 2009 8:20 PM
barcabhoy
our captain wasnt to blame for there goal Glen looovens was he needlessly gave away a freekick then failed miserably to clear the resulting cross with a poor head which our captain gthen made a last gasp block to try and prevent the shot

Thats not how i saw it...i didnt think it was a foul...and the last gasp block was made with his back to the ball, i also feel his positional sense was poor ....overall he was ok today, dreadful distrubtion apart, but on that pitch he can't get stick for it

i plead guilty to looking at stephen in a less than neutral way...i like him as an individual, he has a refreshing honesty and basic decentness

i just dont think we will ever play an expansive passing game against good opposition with him in the team....he just can't pass the ball....even a simple 5 yard pass forward seems a trial.....i would happily have him at the club as a squad player and for backs to the awall blood and guts games....but not as the fulcrum of a defense which aspires to passing the ball attractively and in a forward direction

Panther,

He done a cracking job at Blacburn sorting out Souness mess. Man City owners will get rid of him in the summer.

I missed Steve Bruce, he might bbe worht a shout. At least he can identify a cracking left back in Figureoa. That alone woul get my approval. :)

garygillespieshamstring @ 8:34 PM

Arghhhhh!

I heard he broke down thought maybe a few weeks more but the season, that's bad news.

anymore pearlers for today.LOL.

Ellbhoy
WHAT youve been experiencing WHAT these past 2 seasons
3 league titles,2 last 16 place in the champions league
what do you WANT to experience you cant experience anything better than that

Just sat down to watch game but my dvd player did not record it ahh. so went online to see score. i have recently converted to "we need a new manager in the close season' before i let Gordons record speak for itself. Now i have changed my opinion again. we have better players than rangers, but if our manager picks gary caldwell in Midfield then enough is enough. I believe we can still win this league, but sorry not with present manager and his strange teams, Pay him off now, this is urgent, 1 win in how many games??? not good enough and many of these games we are saying" why did he pick that team??" Even Paul 67 knows within himself that the Manager must go now!!
People say" are you daft 2nd only by goal difference, look what happened last year" the team is worse this year, barry robson made the difference last year playing center midfield, we know that, tho gordon refuses to play him there when he was not injured.

we can win this league, the team picks itself, let Neil pick the team and tell them out you go(no clipboards which we know are useless) we can still win this act now celtic!! or or this stuff about rangers being finished that we talked about this season will turn out to rubbish due to our clipboard manager, cmon Gary caldwell in midfield. sackable offence

good evening Paul67 and fellow CQN'ers..... not read the blog yet and to be truthful don't know if I want to, so forgive me if one of the more learned posters have posed this question already.

After Fridays debate about the KOK's possibly returning, a lot of posters mentioned the much needed lift this would give the team and the fans.

Can I ask if the the Manager were to leave/be dismissed tomorrow, would that give the team/fans the lift required?

Honestly? would be you be delighted if the Manager was not there tomorrow morning

if rangers win the league and they now must be favourites they should do the decent thing and invite john reid to unfurl the flag next season. after all they would not have won the league without the cooperation of the celtic board!

Ellbhoy,

Hopefully it's the laptop loyal up to no good again.
Saw a headline this morning above photo from Ipox yesterday that said "catch us if you can". You couldn't make it up.

ggh

Gordon_J: 7:57

You are spot on the button comrade. Margins are tight indeed. I celebrated with the rest when we sneaked through at the pox but was not convinced. We have hardly flattered to deceive since. When was the last time a Celtic team won convincingly? I can't remember.

This is not last year. Lightening rarely strikes twice and I don't count us as favourites for the league right now. Do we wait out of respect for a bloke who won 3IAR or do we strike while the iron is hot before 4IAR has disappeared?

Not sure of the answer but these seem to be the only relevant questions.

If I thought there was an iota of a chance that WGS would recognise the current situation requires changes then I would not even contemplate his future. I think many former clappers now realise that change is not on his radar and that is the most depressing feature in all this mess...

deathcanbeswiftorlingeringCSC

Captured

I for one would be delighted if this was the case.

When GS goes in the summer, realistic targets

Statement of Intent
there won't be one, we won't go for a foreign manager or a 'big name'

EPL Experience
1. Mark Hughes (my choice if sacked by Man City but too ambitious for board)
2. Roy Keane (DD's choice)
3. David O'Leary (DD's 2nd choice)
4. Tony Mowbray (was lined up last summer had GS left)

Up & Coming
1. Roberto Martinez
2. Owen Coyle (maybe too soon)
3. Willie McStay (appoint from within & promote youth)

Captured Yes i would be as by doing that we will win the league

More and more I think about it Martinez sounds ideal.

However if we don't go get him now the summer may be to late.

Spanish, great contacts.

Runs Swansea from the finance to the first team coach.

Plays exciting free flowing football with a limited budget.

Knows the SPL from his time with Motherwell.

Would not break the bank, if we went for him now.

I thought we were better today than we have been for a while.

I also agree with Kojo et al, that the result is the fault of the players. Had the players WGS picked today had taken their chances we would have won this game easily. They didn't, so THEY failed to win the game.

Today's game was one of those games that you end up drawing when you deserve to win. It happens every season but it just looks an awful lot worse in the context of our recent poor run.

Football is a sport and sometimes things go against you. That's life, we don't need a witchunt to make us all feel better.

Last year we were miles behind, towels were being disposed of rapidly and WGS was as popular as a fart in a spacesuit. Not much has changed this year - apart from us being closer to them. Very few of us believed last year but we did it. We can still do it this year.

Keep the Faith & Support the team, we have a league to win. Again.

Lubo.

If Rangers win the league this season perhaps they could ask the Celtic balance sheet to unfurl the flag for them.

Captured on February 22, 2009 8:43 PM
Can I ask if the the Manager were to leave/be dismissed tomorrow, would that give the team/fans the lift required?

Honestly? would be you be delighted if the Manager was not there tomorrow morning

No that would be a disaster....a terrible time to contemplate changing the manager...he has shown he can win in adversity before, so we have to back him...no matter how poor the fare is just now

At the end of the season...now thats a completely different story

Lubo

My worry is we don't look like a team that can take its chances.

And we still leak at the back.

Zonal marking my dougal maguire

U

Captured

Only if the right manager was available.

I would have been delighted to see WGS replaced last summer even the one before.

Get Scolari in as manager

we then could play like

a)chelsea
b)porto
c)brazil

Then we could win the league in perpetuity

Lubo, we got out of jail last year. we thought Gordon had learnt his lessons. he has not, go now to give this bunch a players and us the chnace of winning the league

How about Davie Hay running the ship till the end of the season, perhaps with Willie McStay assisting. I think its a step too far for Willie the now.

Is Strachan still here!!!

I am not sure if WGS has what it takes to build up a little momentum off his own back and knowledge. I only remember 1 game this season when he got his tactics spot on when we played away to Killie during what was an injury crisis. I still do not know who WGS's best team is and what is more scary I now believe that WGS does not either.

Getting close to breaking point for me after today with regards WGS. I would prefer not to change managers at this stage but another result or two like today and I fear there will be no other choice. I can only hope that if we are to stick with WGS (I know he board will) that we do not end up going behind further. My gut feeling is that WGS will trip us over the line just in front of a rank rotten orc who it seems are not as rank rotten as we are at this moment in time.

One thing though. I will support my team for the remainder of the season no matter who is in charge and hopefully onto 4 in a row. Let's face it though I imagine the orc will be embarrased if they lose the league this year the way we are losing the plot.

Should he go at the end of the season? Sadly my honest answer has to be Yes. Even if we do manage to trip up over the line in first place.

to the lenten visitor @ 7 45

are you for real in suggesting we should write off this season ..
we are joint top of the league in the latter stages of scottish cup and in the final of the cis cup .
so to suggest we should just write of this season is absolute nonsense man .
faithful thru and thru .we are still in a great position .
we all know what we see week in week out is not good . but its now that the support is needed more than ever .

keep the faith

celtic and huns are now the same price with the bookies 5/6

Captured

I would have been happier if WGS had gone at the end of last season as what we are seeing at the moment is not exactly a new problem. But yes I would be happy to see him go now. I can't see us winning the league under him this season, unless, like last season, Rangers collapse again!

Another crap day in a crap season.

The only good news is we are only behind on goal difference.

We were better than normal today - in that we probably deserved to win.

Something needs to change or we will be going for 1 in a row next year.

We live in bizarre times. Stats tell us this is one of the greatest Celtic teams of all time!

Hail Hail.

Martinez

Fawlty Towers csc

...............

Levien,Keane Mowbray Coyne Collins et al

on the road to God knows were

MurdochauldandHay

That old chestnut.

Come on, not to be rude but we've been honking to watch for over a season now. Of course their have been some decent perforemances but they have been few and far between.

Results are everything but poor football breeds apathy and discontent, not winning while displaying these poor perforemances breeds anger.

That's what we are seeing just now, if we where playing out of our skins and oposing Gk's were denying strikers and ref's were giving dodgy pens against us then we would be angry at the Ref's not the players or manager.

As we are now, were honking we've been honking it's time to wake up and change direction or we will continue to be honking.

Is that what you want?

If the lonely night surrounds you
Yeah you're weighed down by gloom
No you don't like what it feels in
Your dark and dirty room

It'll be easier in the morning
It'll be easier in the day
Sun will shine on through your window
We got light to lead the way

Looks like the bottle has run empty
Yeah your heart is torn and dry
Lord you don't like what it feels like
Your sad and lonely eyes

Looks like the highways never ending
Yeah your legs they feel like lead
Lord you're twisting yeah and turning
In your wide and lonely bed

It'll be easier in the morning
It'll be easier in the day
Sun will shine on through your window
We got light to lead the way

Looks like you got no one you can talk to

No one left to talk to

And your heart is torn'n'blue
Yeah you look in no direction

No direction...

I guess these words might pull you through

It'll be easier in the morning
It'll be easier in the day
Sun will shine on through your window
We got light to lead the way

It'll be easier in the morning
It'll be easier in the day
Sun will shine on through your window
We got light to lead the way

Just as Paul reckons he could write the match report before the game (and I well believe he could), I could just as easily write the views of some posters after a defeat....

1. Bring back Bobo. Seriously? Are we still here?? THERE IS NO CHANCE that the big man will see 1st team football in a Celtic jersey again. Quite honestly, I fail to see the attraction that he should either. Some have their romantic heads on where he's concerned me thinks.

2. McManus. The captain comes in for harsh criticism but what did he do wrong today? Going back to last hun game, if it were Bobo who had dived across the ground to head the ball away from an oncoming boot he would be revered until end of season. I do find it strange however that if WGS wants to forge a partnership between Mick and Heid that he chose to split them.

The team WILL galvanise and we WILL win 4IAR. WGS will leave in the summer regardless of what happens but what is abundantly clear is that WE, the SUPPORT, must get behind the TEAM !

That means, the management, players and everyone else.

4IAR and the treble are still on

Hail Hail

As stated earlier I'll save my thoughts on the manager until the end of the season.
For those such as Oisin71, Footstepsinthefog and others who seem to want a new manager tomorrow, here's a question. OK, Celtic do as you wish and a new manager is appointed tomorrow, performances don't improve and Celtic still don't win the league this season, does the new manager then get sacked for finishing 2nd?
I'm not happy with current performances but WGS has led Celtic to 3 in a row and twice into the last 16 of the Champions League. That is fact not speculation.
Let's see what happens between now and the end of the season then make judgements once the season is over.
Act in haste, repent at leisure.

Uly,

I know what you mean, but these guys have delivered for us before and they can do it again. They just need the confidence of a goal or two.

As you well know, confidence is everything. We just need something to get us back into the winning habit.

It will come my friend. KTF.

SydneyTim. I'll take a 'get-out-of-jail' three in a row anytime!

Lubo.

Sydney - after today I am no longer floating, I'm in your group...

Gary67

You have just stricken me with terror with your 1-4 list. If Roy Keane or David O'leary are appointed I think it will be a disaster. We'll be taken back to the days of expensive pay offs to get rid of them. We need someone who has proven themselves to be good managers with limited finances. Levein meets that criterion. Mowbray - good football, entertainment guaranteed but hasn't got antwhere near silverware and I believe the overall picture at Hibs was more losses than wins, so perhaps not.

Mark Hughes is a decent call for the long term but I want immediate change because the Champs League kitty is too important to let slip. This is the sole reason that I want change now. In better times I would say wait to the end of the season but I feel that will be too late. This league title is a must win situation. Defeat is not an option. We have £0.97 m debt. The Champs League gives us £10m. That's a lot of money to invest in players/resources. If it goes to the other side of the city, think of how much it will improve their current dire financial situation. It means that they will have already won the League, they will sell out all their season tickets. We will have lost the title, we won't sell ours and we will have to invest heavily to get it back and that will put us back to square 1 financially.

To do nothing is not an option. Drastic, immediate surgery is required. A new man must be appointed as soon as possible but before next week.

sorry folkks
samuras.

he shamed the hoops!

It was Warren Buffet that said its only when the tide goes out that you can see who is swimming naked.
Well, the spring tide is out and Peter lawell is flashing at us.

What has he done for us in the last 18months?

We are signing journeyman SPL players, why? We have the same quality, already in the reserves.
How can a manager sign a 4 ft tall Cardiff reserve for £50k and play him in his first game at home to Rangers and drop McGeady (who had just been Man of match in a big international)

Look at the big signings Strachan has made;
£2.5M Jarosik.........dropped after half a dozen games
£3M Graveson..........dropped after half a dozen games
£3.5M Hesselink.......injury prone and continually dissapointing
£2.5M Donati..........dropped after half a dozen matches
£1.5M Naka............success
£3.5M Loovens...........not played!?
£2.5M Hinkel..........success
£3.5M Brown............?? not sure. we win when he is out
£1.5M Samaras.........woeful.

We will lose this league and give our mortal enemies an incredible lifeline due to the incompetence from the manager up to the chief exec.

Interesting that I was a post-Well doubter last year and they have had the same effect this year. It was a mistake last year, not convinced it will be this year...

stillhappytobeprovedwrongCSC

As they say in the song,

"night is darkest just before the dawn"

A bit of luck, stuff Chick Young's second team by a right few golas and a point or three for Accies and, all of a sudden, the picture changes dramatically.

ggh

West Wales Celt,

Long time since I was last called comrade!

The manager did recognise the need for change. He changed both formation and players today - and had been pilloried for it.

We are still favourites to win the league. 8/11 with Paddy Power for example. There are a lot of games to go so let's keep our nerve and support the manager. He has earned our support over the last three years.

Ellbhoy

WHAT more due you want ,

Champions league football 3yrs on the trot

Doesnt get any better than that

So WHAT do you WANT

Lubo, would be nice to take a " chance" 4iar, but facts are we had the players to win today, but the manager plays gary caldwell in Midfield again!! it does not work!! we know, Paul67 knows, but why does our manager think he is some sort of tactical genius, he is not!! ig if paul67 picked the team for today or even me, we would have 3 points, we have the players to limp over the line, but alas not the manager

Alba Bhoy on February 22, 2009 8:59 PM

"OK, Celtic do as you wish and a new manager is appointed tomorrow, performances don't improve and Celtic still don't win the league this season, does the new manager then get sacked for finishing 2nd"?

No a new manager would have these 12 or so games to get to know his new players and decide where he needs to strengthen. This would help greatly for next season especialy
europe It would help us to hit the ground running.

Also a change of manager more often than not creates a positive reaction.

Why not for us?

It could just be the lift we need to help us over the line.

Disrespectful to sack Strachan now after his good record.However
time now for new ideas,as it appears blatantly obvious that his troops are not listening to him.Title or no title he needs to leave and take Mcmanus,Hinkel,naylor,Loovens,M.Brown,Naka,Samaras,
JVOH,Donati,and wilson with you.He is an average manager with a poor team and he clearly is not getting any response in the dressing room.
PL needs to get his finger out his complacent backside and bring some quality in.The excuses about the market is difficult etc etc,
is nonesense.Bringing in players into the club is a major part of his job,and failure to do so is inexcusable!
Appointing Keane next summer is not a bad idea,as it might invigourate the supporters and bring back some passion into the team and the supporters .
We are all just waiting for the inevitable end to the season,losing to the HUNS this year is pathetic,and there are 2
people to blame WGS and PL.

A lot said about the state of the pitch, there was a lovely green bit down the side where Hinkel could/should have been whacking in crosses or cutbacks to JVOH et al (bread and butter stuff for a guy like Jan) The sort of stuff Caddis did every time he got a chance. Perhaps that "zone" wasn't pointed out to Hinkel on Pendry's clipboard?
Cut backs from the byline, shots from outside the box? Probably not on the clipboard.

MurdochauldandHay

Simple mate I want steady Improvement.

Not steady regression as we have been seeing.

Is that to much to ask?

Thanks west wales, welcome to the converted as i became a few weeks ago after the h@ns game, Before i was pro manager,now all we need is the board to join the group also. but after last nights game i have moved groups again. i am now in the 'manager must go now group as we have the players to win the league but leave the clipbaord at home group"

Where was Willo Flood, deemed good enough to start in a do or die game last week ?

Where was Paul Hartley, one of our only pass-markers from last week ?

Why was a centre-half played in midfield ?

Why do we play 3 strikers :

No. 1 , cannot stay onside
No. 2 , cannot move, run, jump or pass a ball
No .3 , makes a swift run away from the goal we are attacking every time .

Only SPL disciplinary measures got an underachieving Broon out of the side which went on to deliver the title.

He would never had changed it in a million years.

Even a Championship win , with the highest paid squad in Celtic's history against the bankrupt opposition in the SPL will not satisfy the majority of the fans .

Keep the towel, lose the manager

I've been writing off and on for a number of years on Celtic related matters. Many of those who know my views will always quite rightly pull my leg for the interest I take in Celtic's financial position and also the role of the Celtic Board.

The Board, too often in my view, have been portrayed as the baddies in the perennial blame game when things aren't going so well at Celtic either on or off the park. I tend to stick by them when others are venting their spleens at times perhaps understandably but not always with an objective assessment of the role thay have to play and the balancing act of finance and football.

The latest issue which has caused frustration and consternation among some of the support was the inactivity in the January transfer window. I wrote about this a few days ago with a viewpoint possibly akin to fence sitting or with a slight erring on the side of the Board.

I did so in part because I think this is a critical year for Celtic in terms of the future of the manager and also the changes relating to Champions league qualification.

With that in mind it is important in times of limited spending power to use what cash we have wisely and at the right time.

With a squad of over 30 players, a wage bill reaching £38m and having sat on a 7 point lead following the Old Firm game in December I have been of the view that Celtic have a squad big enough and strong enough to win the SPL title this season. In that sense I see the Board as having continued to allow the manager to have the resources he needs to do well domestically.

But while the January window remained open this Celtic team under Gordon Strachan has contrived to regress at an alarming rate. Results have been poor, performances arguably worse. Today's game at Motherwell halted the slide in the team's lack of chances created but only one goal in the game was always going to leave the result in doubt and of course up pop Motherwell to leave Celtic dropping two points. Slipping into second place in the SPL is the real end product of a very poor run of games stretching back for quite some time now.

Of course some will go back to the January window issue and say we should have strengthened. Perhaps so, but the real issue now is that the manager seems incapable of putting a Celtic team on the park that can win games.

I still believe that Celtic have the strongest and most capable squad. I still believe that if they are properly motivated and organised they have far too much about them to be dropping points in games which realistically should be over by the hour mark.

The barrier to achieving the reasonable objective of winning games and ultimately the SPL title appears to reside with the manager.

Only 3 wins out of the last 10 SPL games is the stark picture of continuing under achievement. It is this incremental failure that must be looked at in the context of the bigger picture of Celtic Football Club.

There appears to be no visible signs that Strachan can turn this form around. It is now irrelevant to surmise whether Strachan believes his own post match analyses which have become tiresome by his continual false assessment of games.

Linking this back to the Board the bottom line is that Celtic have a manager who cannot reverse the previous weeks abject displays and results.

The Board must surely know that the winner of this season's SPL catapults them into a position of footballing and financial strength at the expense of their nearest Scottish rivals. This is because the hurdles which the SPL runners up have to face in order to get into the group stages of the Champions League are considerably higher than they have been in previous years. And let's face it we've not always jumped those hurdles successfully in previous seasons.

I had always thought that Gordon Strachan was not only worthy of a shot at 4iar but I maintained right at the start of the season that he would go on to achieve this. With 12 games to go in this season's title race I cannot muster any confidence in the manager to achieve that objective.

The frustration of the support with Strachan's team grows larger by the week as yet another wearying performance signals a strengthening view that this league is going to be handed over to Rangers.

This is why I firmly believe that the Board must now act for the future protection and strengthening of Celtic.

The consequences for Celtic could be huge. The Board need to consider the faltering failing state of the first team and consider whether a change, which I realise some might claim to be knee jerk, would at least provide the opportunity resolve the issue. This is because I don't believe Strachan can reverse this slide.

If that is the case the Celtic Board must intervene now to protect Celtic's interests in what is a critical season for financial reasons.

Even a short term managerial appointment may be enough to get things back on track and see us over the line.

The consequences of not doing so would considerably weaken the Board's own ambition to be at the heart of European football and the much needed financial rewards that come with it.

For strategic, operational and football reasons the Celtic Board must act now and look to replace the manager with immediate effect.

http://celticunderground.net/index.p...=795&Itemid=35

Ellbhoy, steady improvement, you are correct sir. If our manager was a CEO of a company and its nearest rival( who were in a financial mess) were above them in profits then the CEO would be sacked

alba bhoy
a new manager has a chance of winning the league this year.........
strachan is throwning it away,and to the worst rangers side in a long while.

AlbaBhoy@8.59pm

Interesting reading the different opinion on here tonight and i think the logic of your arguement would normally win the day for me. However i believe the club are currently at a crossroads and the board need to decide whether they stick with GS and hope we stumble over the line again or lose £10m and hand it to our rivals. In addition failure to win the league will see a significant reduction in season tickets bought for next season (they'll drop anyway even if we win). A new manager (even a temporary one till the summer) would give a bounce affect and hopefully get the team playing again. We've been rank for 3 months and the manager has lost the plot with his selections and not bringing in re-inforcements in January. I've no doubt GS will be manager till the end of the season as the club is run by conservatives who do not take risks, they would rather cut costs next season, and reduce the quality on the park, than take a chance by changing manager now and guaranteeing the money available next season by winning the league.

Roythebhoy
"bread and butter stuff for a guy like Jan"

Did you see his bread and butter miss from 7 yards???

faithful through and through......don't make me laugh...some nonsense on here tonight...

Full of hunposters and towel chuckers galore.....

An undeserved draw on a bog of a pitch I thought...damn frustrating but still think we have the best team in Scotland and the league has just got more interesting....

Sydney tim - Gary Caldwell was deservedly man of the match....

Spice of life csc

Big Wavy

In our last 10 League matches, Celtic have won only 3, drawn 5 and lost 2, scored only 13 goals and conceded 11, recorded only 14 points and chucked away 16 points out of a possible 30.

This is not good enough, Celtic.

Barcabhoy

would it seriously be a disaster?

When you consider the amount of ill-feeling(and its growing and growing) towards Mr Strachan, surely the lift a new mhan would/will bring, will carry us to 4inarow.(yes I know GS might still do that also) but be truthful, I think a Jock Brown feeling among the support is now upon us.

celt4life,sydney,ellbhoy,faithful ta.

big wavy

What you drinking mate? I could do with something myself.

Captured, yes i think the manager has now lost the 12th man, i would give the whole place a lift,( including players) to have a temp manager in place for next game

Gary67, am I right in saying that you think that a change in manager at this point in the season would 'guarantee' the title? Or was it the (lack of) investment that you feel would have guaranteed the title?

Hail Hail

With respect to everyone's opinion, I truly wish I could have the faith that the team will be galvanised. I remember 2 seasons ago when we were winning the league at a canter, our manager/team could not lift themselves enough to go out and finish the job in just one game. Even the game we did eventually win the league in it took a late free kick from Nakamura to actually secure it. As much as I celebrated then it did worry me slightly that we could not appear to lift ourselves enough just to cross the finishing line.

It has also seemed on many occasions in the past 2 seasons that we completely lack someone to lift us. How many times have we gone in at half time needing a good kick up the rear and come back out looking the same or worse? We have never really found the ability or heart to deal with Rangers and give them a real fight.

Last season we had lost the league, ok we did the necessary at the end to claim it, but with a whole lot of help from Rangers (and, I believe Tommy Burns, God Bless him). I have always felt that our team has changed under Strachan. We have come to accept mediocre players such as Kenny Miller, Steven Pressley, Gary Caldwell, Paul Hartley. I may be wrong and I know not everyone shall agree, I respect that, but I feel our team is not being led by someone who knows or realises the Celtic way. There has to be a passion for our club, a passion that lifts you up against the odds. This is seriously lacking in our manager and many of our players, in the other players it is being diluted.

I cannot accept that this is good enough. I want the passion back. I want to believe that we can be galvanised because we have the management, the players and the will to do it!

SydneyTim,

You've tempted me to bite.

I did not use the word 'Chance', BTW. We won the league last year because we deserved to.

Gary Caldwell in Midfield was not our problem today. Sure, it would have been better if he was in at centre half, but that's not why we did not win. It was the strikers missing chances (confidence) and the fact that Samaras was played on the left. (He was very innefective out there IMO).

Can you point me to the quote where WGS referes to himself as a "tactical genius".

You also said that if you picked the team today, we would have 3 points. Are you....

a) A tactical Genius ?
b) Scott Booth ?
c) At it ?

Lubo :-)

Some brilliant comment on here tonight.

Not nice to read all the same but very interesting reading your thought's lads.

Nice one.

The managers position will be reviewed at the end of season, its not pretty at the moment but the management team and the players just need to dig in, and see it through to the end of the season.

For the wage bill at Parkhead, we should be comfortably walking over every team in the league 3-0 , or 4-0, REangers excepted. What is going wrong?

Today was another example of us being incapable of getting stuck in and with a lack of pace upfront, a deep laying defence the game is again too stretched. WGS has instilled a better team discipline but at the expense of some agression which you need to see off the likes of Motherwell and Inverness in their own middens. I gringe when I see the opposition launching themselves at the tic players, other then Brown, they know their will be no come back.

The die is cast in terms of personnel....(also lets pray for a heat wave so our tippy tappy style has a chance on better pitches).....unless WGS can get the best out of Aiden in the remaining games.....then it will be down to a last day drama.

4IAR

4 - 4 - What?

ClarBhoy
Nothing will guarantee the title, i just think that the current squad with the current manager will reduce our chances of winning the league. The affect of a new manager would give a lift that should get us out of the current malaise and that could take us on a run to the title, but as i said no guarantees. Its not a short term loss of form, we have been struggling for 3 months now since Hibs beat us at the beginning of December. IMO the manager doesn't know his best team, continually chops & changes and plays players who are either not good enough or struggling for form.
We should have invested in at least a left back and a striker in January and its a combination of that and a team lacking direction that will ultimately cost us. Everything in football is a gamble and Celtic's conservatism has been successful for them in recent years but sometimes you have to take a gamble and i think this may be the time.
Hope i'm wrong but that's what i think.

Celtic did not lose today because of the pitch, or the referee, or a masonic conspiracy or because Motherwell were better etc etc.

I was sitting in Munich Airport with my plane up to its oxters in snow when I saw the team announced. Dearie me, I said !!

Caldwell in midfield -- no Crosas.
Loovens at centre-back -- no 'hun-skelper' O'Dea.
No McGeady - one player all teams hate to play against.
Naylor at left back
McManus at centre-back

Playing three mis-performing strikers together will not cure the lack of goals. Getting McDonald into the box rather than have him running all over the paddock will probably bring more goals.

No McGowan (who played well yesterday by all accounts); and no Caddis (who played well yesterday by all accounts). Unlike some of the eleven on the park today these two have always shown enthusiasm and pace when playing in a Celtic jersey.

Of the ll players in the Celtic team today only McManus has come though the ranks and only McGeady from those on the bench (Mark Brown is touch-and-go since he playerd with Celtic Boys Club many moons ago). Gordon, why do players such as Mark Millar, Milan Misun, Kevin Cawley, Ryan Conroy, Michael McGlinchey not get a chance in the first team?

When, Gordon, was the last time we saw a Celtic youngster on the bench or have a brief cameo appearance. Why no Paddy McCourt today: Paddy has been an absolute star wih the Reserves of late.

Today was always going to be a battle, against Motherwell and that pitch, so why no Flood and Hartley, two players who get tore in when the going gets rough.

Why all this? Because the manager decided it was to be thus. Not because Peter Lawwell could not entice players to come to Celtic in January. Not because the Board are penny-pinchers. Not because of one hundered other reasons. Simply because that was the team the manager picked.

Will anything be learned? No siree. Next week we will have the same squad of players for the match lining up in the same old same old same old tactical formation.

Gordon Strachan: a man greater than yourself said that "the buck stops here". Time to go Gordon.

I saw one damn good tactical move today. Unfortunately it was not by Celtic but by Setanta. What a diff Lovell makes as co-commnetator. Says it as it is and not as he would like it to be. good riddence to Scott Booth although I will not be listening to half time analysis anymore.

So not all bad.

MWDstillfocusedon4inarowiwthWGSintowasthatishowitisgonabelikeitorno.CSC

footstepsinthe fog - WGS has as much chance of winning the league this season as any new appointment. A new manager might worsen the situation rather than improve it.
Recent perfomances don't fill me with hope but we won the league from a worse position last season.
Gary67 - tend to agree with you that the board won't change the manager at this time. Didn't Dr Reid wax lyrical about WGS just last week and complement him, among other things, on working within budgets. When WGS does go the board, as it is currently structured, will want to replace him with someone similar.
We should have strengthened in January, we didn't so now we must make the most of what we have and try to win the league (and the 2 domestic cups) with the resources available.
The proper time for inquests - or, hopefully, celebrations - will come at the end of the season.
If we were 12 games into the season and bottom of the league I could understand the logic of caling for the manager's head but being behind on goal difference with 12 games to go suggests to me that it is all still to play for.
It's never over till the Fat Lady stops singing.

Clare's Bhoy

I know your question was not addressed to me but if you don't mind me giving my tuppenceworth since I hold the exact same view as Gary 67, I do think that the appointment of the right new manager - in my opinion Levein best fits the bill for what we need - would guarantee the League. Some have mentioned the boiunce effect. Levein also knows Scottish football well and knows how to motivate a team and is tactically astute. He also has experienced SPL 'Justice' and will surely be determined to repay Rangers for the travesty of a League game at Ibrox last season (McCurry) and also the denied stonewall penalty in the League Cup Final which would have put United 2-0 up and surely out of sight. As someone already pointed out it would also give him 12 games plus cup games to assess his strengths and weaknesses. Who knows, he might be able to play players in their proper positions and turn failing careers around. There might not be such a big need to brandish the cheque book next season except of course for a left back, center half and striker with pace and control.

ellbhoy

Sober as a judge sir. Our manager is a winner. Our team has hit a malaise and we need to back the club in a tough part of the season (everyone forgotten the 12 game run that took us well clear or was that not convenient recollections for the strachan haters).

I find the nonsense about a new manager distasteful and lazy. I'm pleased that our team and manager have shown to be tougher fighters when faced with adversity than the whingebags we have in our support...

Life isn't always that simple. Sacking a successful boss is simply simplistic nonsense.

Big Wavy

weebobbycollins @ 7:29 dog bollix of a post, v well said

TinyTim @ 8:36

Celtic this season have bought the exact same way as Rangers did when they went for 10:

Colin Hendry
Sergio Porrini
Jonaton Johansson
Stale Stensaas
Tony Vidmar
Jonas Thern (class act but miles past his best)

Not a first team player amongst them despite costing about £7m. Where have I heard that value b4? (=

The curse of the £7million

As it happens, any psychological advantage that Celtic gained over Rangers from Helicopter Thursday and the rammy in Manchester has been lost through a sea of mediocrity.

I absolutely implored Celtic not to spend £25k/week on Maloney and we did, nothing personal against him but it so much sends out the wrong message. For instance, there are plenty of ppl on this site (there shouldn't be but there are) who didn't think Henke was worth 40K/wk, well if Henke isn't worth that...

To me the scenario reads like the Ridsdale scandal over Seth Johnson and then Celtic deciding to buy and keep him on the same salary despite being vastly over-rated at that value just so he's a happy camper.

Such a waste!

The bargain clearout must begin in earnest on 01/06/2009. The SPL chairmen will be cock-a-hoop at our profligacy.

Celt for Life
Yeah you are right perhaps not a Van Vossen but a real sitter but my point is this, JVOH is not a bad player. The fact he is a Dutch internationalist tells us he can play well and we have seen goals from him at critical times. I'm referring to the fact that the tactics employed by the coaching staff seems to end up with good players coming to CP and eventually performing badly. It's written on their faces, they are not happy the way they are being asked to play.
Let me say this, if Jan or any of our strikers were given half a dozen such crosses, would you bet against them scoring from three of them? The game is then won and we used to good at doing this. Fact is they don't get them that often and that is due to tactics. Its also a fact that the less time you get to practice something the less effective you will be when it comes along and that seems to be the case with our forwards as the service they are given is quite simply abysmal.
I don't claim to be an expert, but I've watched Celtic since the seventies and I cannot remember us ever being so inept at getting close to our opponents box. What did Murdo McLeod, Paul McStay or Lubo do when they got around the box? They skelped it every time on the basis of "if not this time, the next one will go in."
It's a simple game really and we need to get rid of the clipboards and trust the players to do what they do best.

Lubo obviously over your head "chance' refers to monopoly the same as your" get out of jail"

the fact he plays caldwell is a huge problem, it did not work the last few draws/defeats he played him so why play him now.
he plays wilo flood last week in crucuial game but does not start him this week( when motherswell pitch would maybe have suited him)
he rarely plays the same team every week, yes we deserved to win the laegue last year, Gordon was forced to drop Brown and play Robson in center midfield and that stettled side with the power of robson in the center won us the league. this season he gave the center midfield back to scott brown and player robson at
a. Full back
b. left
c. on the bench

Cmon!!! he loves tinkering
if i am at it!!! why does about does 70% of celtic fans think the same as me,
i maybe no tactical genius, but i can add up

In our last 10 League matches, Celtic have won only 3, drawn 5 and lost 2, scored only 13 goals and conceded 11, recorded only 14 points and chucked away 16 points out of a possible 30.

This is garbage, Celtic.

Above from Keep the faith

Big Wavy

Have you no desire to see decent football?

Do you think a team with a wage bill of £36 Million should be continually struggling against teams like Iverness Thistle?

Is crawling over the finish line against poor opposition your idea of success? Is that your ambition for Celtic?

You are slagging off guys because they recognise that Celtic should be better and are not afraid to say it.

Time for a what if moment.

Here we are with 12 games to go. Still in both cups. Level on pts with the ORCS needing no favours.

Say we go the rest of the season and win every game brining us the SPL. We win next month at hampden taking home the third rate egg cup which only means anything if you win the trebble or beat the orcs in the final. Then we go on and win the league.

3 questions.

1. Will we all be happy?
2. Will we be calling for the managers head?
3. Will WGS walk?

make it 4 questions.

4. How silly will we all look even though we know how bad our team has performed over a full season?

MWDtryingtobepositive.CSC (and I mean trying)

"By BigYinMilan on February 22, 2009 9:31 PM

"Celtic did not lose today because of the pitch, or the referee, or a masonic conspiracy or because Motherwell were better etc etc."

You're right. Celtic did not lose today.

Big Wavy ,

we are on a rapid downward decline.

No pace, no fight, no plan, unless you are a rapidly cooling substitute.

Vindictive treatment of Aiden McGeady by the manager at the expense of the club.

When do the clappers wake up ??

big wavvy

Well I hope he stays successfull this season.

I have severe doubts that he will though and if the correct replacement was available now, then I would do it.

As if rumours are correct and WGS is away in the summer win or lose. Then I would rather get the correct long term replacement in now rather than mis-out altogether.

Which to me would be thinking long term and not taking the lazy and easy option.

they won't win the league this year...

only we can loose it...simple basic facts....

the game should have been won out of the park, it wasn't..

for all of us who give scott mcdonald abuse(myself included) who other than he has scored a goal in the league this year...

we can all argue with each other but the facts are that we are behind them, its up to us to overtake them...

KEEP THE FAITH

i think i was saying this last year after a defeat to the mothers....

Gary67, I take your point on board there and it was well made. The previous one had me thinking when you stated the word 'guarantee' but you cleared up my confusion.
I dont agree, however, with the proposed plan of action. I do agree that we are in troubled times but I feel that a boost of confidence from somewhere would turn our fortunes around. I think that his successes as our manager has earned him the right to see out the rest of the season.

Its all about opinions, I hope that we are both celebrating 4IAR come the end of the season whatever direction the club takes.

Hail Hail

Gordon at 9:30

You are correct and I apologise for the error.

It does, however, feel like a real defeat to me right now.

Lubo,

Gary Caldwell in midfield may not have been the reason we did not win today, but it is symptomatic of why we are not winning.

Gary Caldwell has become our best defender. He remains some distance away from being our 6th best midfielder.

As a consequence, our 5th best central defender partners our 4th best central defender.

As another consequence, the most talented midfield player we have sits and watches from the bench again. No starts for Marc Crosas since he delivered an IMPECCABLE performance on the Hampden Farm against Dundee Utd. No place against der Hun and no place at Fir Park.

Rewind to last season, Barry Robson bench warming until Brown got suspended. Hey presto, team clicks through enforced change.

Go back even further - couldn't keep a cleansheet against a primary team - Bobo plays through necessity (Q TTTT - I know yer watching!) - MOM and a clean sheet.

Darren O'Dea against Milan - dropped.

Riordan? Firing blanks and he dosn't get near the team. Unless we need a goal with 10 mins left.

I could go on.

Our manager doesn't pick the best players or the best team. Fequently.

Gary Caldwell done OK. Marc Crosas didn't.

Got the point yet?

Big wavy those distasteful and lazy whingebags you mention, they are a plenty good sir!!

Sydney Tim...

Be fair.

By your own admission you did not see the game.

Gary Caldwell played very well today and was arguably Celtic's best player.

I do agree with you that we can indeed still win the league.

I would normally find it incredible that people are calling for the Celtic manager to be sacked in a race for the title with 12 league games to go and 2 cups to be contested.

However, such is the widespread dislike for our manager that it actually does not surprise me.

In recent weeks I have had many discussions with fellow supporters and we all agree that we are playing poorly (we did not today).

Inevitably in each conversation the phrase "well I don't like Strachan anyway" (or words to that effect)are always uttered.

Let's all face it, both the optimists and the pessimists, since day one Gordon Strachan has never been accepted by a sizeable majority of the Celtic support.

He has been "lucky", he has been "disrespectful", he has been "stubborn" he has been "tactically naive".

You name it, he has been "it".

One thing he certainly has been is successful though you would not think it to read some of the criticism on here tonight.

Last season, I met Setting Free The Bears after the 0-1 Motherwell defeat at Celtic Park.

You know the one, the game where the Celtic supporters chanted "Strachan, Strachan Get To F***, Strachan Get T* F***".

SFTB and me reached the same conclusion.

Gordon should see out the season as we still had a chance to win the title and thereafter leave for his own good as much as the club's.

No manager deserved that.

I heard on the radio this morning that the Bolton supporters continue to abuse their own manager, Gary Megson, who has lifted them to mid-table and away from the relegation zone.

I do not understand.

I was brought up listening to my Dad recount stories of how Celtic teams of yesteryear were never beaten until the final whistle.

In my time and in all of ours, Celtic teams have demonstrated that quality many times.

Only last season, Gordon Strachan's Celtic side displayed those very same qualities and won one of the most dramatic championships in the history of the club.

Fortunately, last season, it was only the supporters who chucked it.

Nothing has been lost, and those players, and manager, who delivered last year are entitled to be given the chance to retain their title.

Alba Bhoy @9:31
"Recent performances dont fill me with hope"
lets hope for change..........

get him and his notebook waving assistants out now !!
all this kak about last years winning run, this was done in spite of his management not because of it.
there is no leadership, fight or bottle in this team and we have handed the advantage to the great satan from a position of strength.
we pay too much respect to other teams selections and suffer due to this
ditch him now before it is too late

Gordon_J at 9.39

If you are going to be like that next Saturday I fear for your safety....;0)

my ipod is on the table...0))

Moonbeams Wet Dream

What if we go the rest of the season and we win 3 draw 5 and lose 2 of our next 10 games. Lose next month at Hampden and don't bring home the egg cup and then go on and lose the League?

3 questions

1. Will we all be happy?

2.Will we be calling for the manager's head?

3.Will WGS walk?

Make it 4 questions.

4. How silly will we all look even though we know how bad our team has performed over a full season?

Time for change now.

We have become an average SPL side - our results since the New Year prove that

The late great Mr Stein's success lay in never asking players to do things that they were incapable of doing GS seems to take pride in constantly asking players to play out of position

Today we had Cauldwell in midfield and Samaras wide on the left

4 seasons in and GS still does not have a settled central midfield pairing

Our fitness seems to leave a lot to be desired as in our last two games 2 decrepit centre backs have strolled through games against us !

Last year the huns blew it and Wattie's innate conservatism still might save our bacon however I do not see any great desire amongst our players to defend our title

In the last 10 minutes today we hardly threatened the Motherwell goal - even last season we seemed to have more fighting spirit

Our lack of physique up front makes our inactivity in the transfer market even more shocking- as does the decision to let both Sheridan and Killen go out on loan even more debatable

We are truly powder puff up front

Time for the champions to stand up or leave the building !

Poor performances + poor results = slump in season ticket sales.

I'm worried about the uptake next season, I know I won't be renewing mines unless there are drastic changes in the performances. If there is a slump it will not be because the recession - the credit crunch is bound to have an effect but is only one contributing factor in an array of problems.

The quality on the park is not good enough - there are players at the club who should have been able to turn Motherwell over today - they didn't and they haven't for a long time. That suggests to me there are problems with the coaching or management, or there is extreme disharmony in the squad. I'm not saying 'Strachan must go' but he has to do something. If he can't get the team to perform then he should walk away, it's not to late for this to be a successful season.

My biggest gripe is that we have gone beyond losing the fear factor - we now fear other teams. Our game plan is based on how to play against the other team - in the past we played our own game. And it was better.

Sadies Bhoy,

I knew someone would bite.

That is exactly my point. What if?

Who knows what if as it has not been played out as yet. Except Jtitor but it seems he is on holiday. Anyway

What if we replace our manager with another and we go the rest of the season and we win 3 draw 5 and lose 2 of our next 10 games. Lose next month at Hampden and don't bring home the egg cup and then go on and lose the League?

3 questions

1. Will we all be happy?

2.Will we be calling for the manager's head?

3.Will WGS walk?

Make it 4 questions.

4. How silly will we all look even though we know how bad our team has performed over a full season?

Will it be time for change now.

Hail Hail

stevie

I see all that..and I'm not blind to some insipid performances that leave me gobsmacked. I thought today we did alright on a joke of a pitch. The direction of all our solutions from guys who want better for Celtic is sack the boss. No guarantee of success at all that a man who bombed at Leicester will take us to cl last 16 and successive titles.

Simplistic nonsense from too many disrespectul petulent so-called fans who should frankly apply for the job themselves given their own post match insight !

Big wavy

I am the Hunsmeller Persweevent and I will find you huns,

at the moment, definite hun

ST90, spotted,

pending

Ellbhoy, not sure, monitoring

I hate to start a hun hunt, however, please post your suspicions to me.

Our recent form is woeful. The board continually praise the manager yet we see with our own eyes the drop in standards even versus from his arrival. We did it by the skin of our teeth last year, mostly inspired to mark TB's passing. The board have basically done a good job with the finances but have been just too stingy. Murray sold us a dummy regarding their forced sale of between 1-3 stars and our lot bought it. Cue our inactivity in January until the board twigged right near the end of the window, but then it was too late. I'd guess our January transfer inactivity was a result of our win at Ibrox, it was decided then, everything put on the back burner. We have given brerhun a lifeline. To add insult to injury the manager, gives us a fantasy account of nearly every game at time up. It's an insult to your intelligence. On top of this he has at best mismanaged personality clashes in the dressing room. Players like O'Dea, McGeady, Hutchinson, and McCourt seem to get a raw deal, which suggests cliques in the dressing room. This is the manager put in place by the board, who struggled to succeed last year, who is struggling further this year, and has entertained the fans about 20% of games if your lucky. Time for a change of manager, yer darn tootin it is. If we want to win the league, if we want to guarantee CL football and funds. Going to see Celtic should'nt be a chore, never was before even in the darkest times. The natural footballing instincts have been knocked out of all the players, as has the inspiration. Thanks for your efforts Gordon, but you have'nt got the mojo to take Celtic forward. We need goals, confidence, and heroes. The coach has run out of ideas, change him out, not good enough.One corner and a couple of shots on goal per game. Yer having a laugh. Then its "a great performance from the lads" at the press conference. even a wee "we need to improve, we are not cutting the mustard" type of thing would be more palatable than the chemical ali denials. The board know they have messed up also hence all the spin this week, but the fans in general have been patient and tolerant for a long time, but patience is snapping now. we dont want the Celtic family fighting and arguing amongst each other, so the message needs to get to the board that they should be kicking backsides, this is not good enough for Celtic, and they know that we know it.

wasn't at the game today, watched it on setanta..

but....

if anyone says we played well then i will have to disagree,

wgs thought we plated well...

that is not Celtic standard....
never will be...

i still believe we have the best players in the spl,we need a new manager to get them going.i never fancied roy keane much as a manager but thers never been a better time to bring him in.

BTW, just thought I'd say - having watched the past few reserve games it would appear that the young Czech left back, Milan Misun, whom we signed in the summer is being played at Centre Half. He looks like a player.

My proposed Celtic team:

Boruc
Hinkle Caldwell McManus Naylor
Crosas Brown
Nakamura
Maloney McDonald McGeady

a 4-3-3 that drops to a 4-5-1 without the ball but has plenty of pace through width and would also shorten the gap between mid and front. I always did like the 3-5-2 but not sure if we have the personnel to pull that off.

A few goals and we will have the confidence back to mount our final charge towards glory.

KTF

Watched the game. At full time got the family together and headed off to watch BOLT 3-D - wise move as it turned out to be more realistic and believable than WGS post match comments..and as I say it had the extra dimension...

WGS claimed quite rightly that "no player played below par" - the problem is that 'par' is far to low level to be acceptable.

P45 asap - please!

Still raging about today , and the last few weeks' performances.........

Lets put it this way , strikers win games.

We are badly lacking in them.

BT

in comparison to the last 2 months we did play well.

i agree not Celtic standard though.

U2-1888 great point about caldwell, the fact that caldwell is our best centerhalf and we move him into a postion where we are overloaded is crazy,

gordon, yes waiting till 10am for spl live coming on to watch it, but u2-1888 has it spot on, why move our best centerhalf to midfield, it sums gordon up, i have never been a strachan hater, i have reecently converted to wanting him out at end of the season, but now i think we have to act qucker, its not just this league it 12m of CL money we might miss out on

Moonbeams/vinny_bhoy,Jinkysboy,pablo etc etc

with all of these bhoys giving up there tickets next season we can all move and be together next season, oldtim,me, my nephew, you lot...

then again....

forget it.....

U2-1888 great point about caldwell, the fact that caldwell is our best centerhalf and we move him into a postion where we are overloaded is crazy,

gordon, yes waiting till 10am for spl live coming on to watch it, but u2-1888 has it spot on, why move our best centerhalf to midfield, it sums gordon up, i have never been a strachan hater, i have reecently converted to wanting him out at end of the season, but now i think we have to act qucker, its not just this league it 12m of CL money we might miss out on

If we had signed two players who would walk into the first team, I'm not sure things would be so different. There seems to be a malaise at the club - what it is I don't know.
We have 20 full internationals - I remember up to about 15 years ago it was unusual to be able to name a full team of them at Celtic.
I don't like a witch hunt at WGS but there is no doubt that a new boss would get these 20 guys and the others playing like they should.
Today's match wasn't so bad. The luck wasn't with us. Motherwell had one shot and scored.
The damning match was the Inverness one. When Celtic come a cropper against teams like that, at least it was due to missed penalties, the woodwork, goalkeeping blinders and the like. Nothing happened on that note that day.
After the euphoria of Tommy Burns Thursday, my first thought was that we couldn't let that situation happen again. We have.
Finally, if we're going to criticise, let's keep it decent. There's no need to call players or staff the equivalent of a POS.

TheSunWillStillComeUpTomorrowCSC

Our team was picked on HEIGHT today. Three centre half's started as well side 2 tall strikers. normally we we would play 2 of these defenders and one of these strikers.

I have said for a few games Crosas should be picked ahead of all of our other midfielders. Not everyone will agree with me but he has to start in my opinion.

That said we should have won today with the players that played. We created a lot of chances and we were not as bad as usual.

Still when you play a team to win ugly you need to win.

Blantyretim

Well said, our performances are so dire now, that folk are actually duped into thinking we played well today. How many saves did Smith have to make today,put frankly, not enough!!

STRACHAN MUST GO and GO NOW

SydneyTim,

Aye, over my head. Just like your answers to my questions.

U2, I agree that GC should be played in Central defence. No arguament. We seem to have have more midfielders than ballboys and we play a defender there. I get the point.

However, even though we do not always agree with him, I would argue that he has picked the best team for three years - the medals prove it. Celtic are playing poorly now but do we have to talk about sacking the manager before he loses the league - for the first time in FOUR years!.

Keep the faith.

Lubo.

BT,

why not just go all out and have a CQN section.

Center of the Northstand taking up 3 sections.

To the left the happy clappers
In the middle the fence sitter
To the right the mineshafter.

We would have too much to argue over to worry about what is going on on the park.

The consensus seems to be to replace strachan, the differences are when, when is it ever a good time to replace your manager.

WGS has stats for practically everything, 2 stats id like to know are, how many goals per chances created do "lesser" teams score against us and secondly how often do we get caught out with a quick free kick, like everything they do, like set up for a free kick, bring on a sub, they take forever and that includes buying a decent left back and improving the first team, both instances theyve stalled on for at least a year.

Why cant we defend properly at free kicks, answers on the back of a stamp as thats all you would need....the personnel.

am i the only one that thinks jvoh only plays to help us defend set pieces?

The Hunsmeller persweevent

OK mate hands up you got me.

Do me a favour can I not be a true Celtic supporter that want's change? (When the time is right)

Are you happy mate?

Do you enjoy what your watching?

Are we improving steadily out on the park?

Does our manager have you scratching your head at times, with team selection, post match coments (recnt weeks more so)?

To imply a clearly passionate Celtic supporter as myself could be, just might be a HUN. Go and have a word with yourself, get off your high horse, open your eyes and stop the childish nonsense.

Does it make you fell happy ever so slightly superior to believe your some kind of super fan fishing for detractors.

As I said away and have a word with yourself.

PeteTheBeat
the problem is there is not any players who would walk into our team,they would get coached to death before they got the chance.it takes wgs 20mins to put on a sub

Captured

sacking the manager now would be a disaster for 2 reasons....

1...He is joint top of the league,in one domestic cup final and another qtr final....what message would that give out...we would become knee jerk reactionaries of Chelsea proportions

2.....The more obvious solution is , as Paul stated in an article last week....SOS Henrik....if you want to give the support a lift , he's your man until the end of the season

3...who makes the decision to fire the manager ?.....the CEO?...thats hardly fair, the CEO has been at least as culpable as the manager this year

I think it's time to pull together and get behind the team....regardless of how this season turns out, my feeling is it should definitely be Gordon's last one...and the CEO better start to perform a lot better or i would be changing him as well next year

blantyretim,

I've told you - no iPods, iPhones, BlackBerries or PDAs allowed at the quiz. And no phone a friend either.

moonbeams

you forgot about the rich clappers who would wave to us from the no longer heated seats...

evening campers, just a weee thought to the followers of doom and gloom tonight, think back to last season when the hoops were in a worst position with less games to go. Back the manager and keep the faith, three out of three championships, this team and management has done it before and will do it again. Ps im no happy clapper Hail Hail!

barcabhoy
if ict got behind the manager and the team do think they would have picked up 8 out of 12 points

Lubo The black sunday team had a better points total than any Gordons seasons, proof postive that the team has been up against nothing, you agree that the team choice was wrong, like too many times this season the team has been wrong, the team has been getting worse every year, so have rangers tho hence the 3 titles we have

TimeforachangeCSC

Gordon_J
the fishing season hasn't started yet.;))

whats this phone a friend thing?

Gordon_J

that's like taking the calculators off the kids. we canny think without our gadgets.

Moonbeams

If we appointed a new (tried and trusted) manager in my view we would have a better chance of retaining the title and winning the treble than we have just now with Mr. Strachan at the helm. In tonight's posts I have not thanked him for his previous good record although I have done so previously and I now do once more. I was delighted with the previous treble of League wins and our last 16 qualifications, although we should bear in mind that we were actually out of the last 16 until Benfica did us a good turn by beating Shaktar in Donetsk - a result that not many would have predicted.

I think we will lose everything if the manager remains. I think Levein will win us the League - the treble would be icing on the cake but the League is paramount. If he were to lose, question 2,3 and 4 would surely not come into play. Most people think that he is a sensible, talented young manager who should be given a chance.

Nafos,

WGS´s tenure has seen the debt go from +30m to 1m in under 4 years. He has taken us twice to 2nd phase CL football. He has never EVER EVER EVER lost the league. Technically he is on for the treble this season. He´s prepared to accept how Celtic "still" do business.

The football is gunk.

You think the board will be prepared to sack him ?

I dont.

Even if we get pipped at the post.

I still dont.

There is not a manager as maleable and as affable to the Board than Gordon Strachan. He eclipses MON as far as they are concerned. He takes an obsessive interest in the club. He toes the party line every time. He wheels and deals within margins that leave them with nothing to worry about. He´s not a fan icon and has known from the beginning due to his remit that exalted ground will never be offered to him.He smartly avoided it. That man knows his place in the Celtic scheme of things. Do you honestly think that there is a better manager out there who is prepared to take on the job under those circumstances? Those circumstances meaning not having even 50% control of how the club is run ? and following up in WGS record ?

Unless your DD´s dealer it´s not going to happen. In the summer, yes maybe then - they´ll look to freshen up the menu depending on how this season has panned out, but until we are there, then we are all well and truly supporters of Gordon Strachans Celtic.

C´mon the Hoops

Sydney Tim...

The fact that Gary Caldwell was arguably our best player today surely vindicates the managers's decision to play him there.

In my opinion both (the much abused) Stephen McManus and Glenn Loovens played well today.

Loovens did make a mistake at their goal however it is hardly a hanging offence.

A one goal lead in any game against any opposition is never enough.

I am sorry, the call for the manager's head is completely out of order in my view.

I accept you may not be a "Strachan hater" (and I used that word advisedly) however there are many who are.

weebobbycollins 7.29

PGGTIPS was correct what a post.

I really do hope that the Celtic board read and digest ,then act on what you have posted ,but i doubt it.

We even have fans on here who tell people like you and me "if you don't like it,don't come back."

You and fans like you are the heart and soul of Celtic.

Just how bad does it need to get for the Celtic board to make a positive change?

SadiesBhoy

I know you aimed that post at moonbeams but can I say something..

we slag off our board and management for going for spl fodder then you want us to take an spl manager who failed in the championship....
good on him for slagging the refs and the rearangers but will he improve Celtic?

perspective is - wenger is still in a job, so why would Strachan be out of a job?

And see all this Kojo 'fax' pish - F off. Enough. Desist.

Mabel

Euphemia

Bodice

Nigella

... this just in - we don't care how it comes, we're left with how it seems...

jobby jobby jobby

Acht...

TinyTim,

Just how bad does it need to get for the Celtic board to make a positive change?

Are we talking debt here ?

G Caldwell our best player?
Did i miss something?Was my back turned when he made all those incisive passes and brilliant tackles in the middle of the park to drive us to victory?
He was decent no errors but also had no impact on game.

Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo

Craig Levin?

Gordon @ 10:09 PM

"I accept you may not be a "Strachan hater" (and I used that word advisedly) however there are many who are".

Gordon do you honestly feel their are "many" Strachan hater's?

From my view point I think that is a media creation, yes there are many vocal critics. However I have not come across many who "hate" him as a person.

fan-a-tic

GC made a few very good through balls which we should have scored from.

Gordon, its not just the result last night it a trend, yes i do hear the caldwell got Man of the match, but why play him there?? we are in Feb09 4 yaer on in Gordons reign, he has signed more midfield player than he knows what to do with, but!!! But!! in a game we have to win he plays our best center half in Midfield!! tinkering again!!!

Lets deal in facts.

Fact -

Gary Caldwell is an average centre half, and a below average central midfielder. (Should never play in that position ahead of any of our Internationally capped central midfielders ....EVER.)

Paul Hartlety was the best goal scoring midfielder in scotland when we signed him. (Why has he been deployed as a deep lying water carrier who cant tackle and range of passing is pretty poor.)

Aiden McGeady is the most talented footballer in scotland. (In my opinion is being treated terribly by WGS. Do you think Fergie likes Cristiano Ronaldo? No, he thinks he is an arrogant, diving , overpaid prima donna. But he is first name on the team sheet EVERY WEEK!)

Willo Flood starts against THEM and crosses a great ball in from the right, his only contribution. And is hailed as doing something that McGeady and NAka dont do. They dont get to the byeline and whip it across. The reason.....WGS plays them on thier weaker side. Aiden on the left, Naka on the right, has always done it for years. Yet willo arrives and he drops Aiden and switches flanks for the wide men.
Try playing Aiden on the right and Naka on the left, then the crosses will get whipped in regularly.

DONT BUY PLAYERS THAT DONT IMPROVE YOUR TEAM. If you think that buying someone who is less talented than the players you already have, is going to put pressure on them, you are wrong!! It works the other way, buy players who are better than what you have, then the guy who is out the team tries harder.

Willo Flood.
Mark Brown.
Mark Wilson.
Giorgios Samaras.
Glen Loovens.
Paddy McCourt.
Niall McGinn.

Have any of the above players bettered our team? And that is only a small selection.

There are over half of the current Celtic squad who cannot believe their luck, that they have managed to get signed for such a prestigious club. (And in that case, arent going to rock the boat. They are effectivly "yes men" to WGS. If the McGeady incident happened when Sutton, Henke, John Hartson etc where at the club, we would have got cuffed round the ear and told to shut up. We dont have those strong players, the "yes men" just plod aloong, not rocking the boat/cruise liner they have found themselves on.)

WGS has answers to give, i have heard it every week, the guys tried hard, they played well with good variety and created chances & i cant fault them for effort.
Well Gordon, effort is a prerequisite for a profesional footballer, and they should be expected to run until they drop, every game, every week.
As for creating chances, it doesnt win you games, scoring them does. WGS said after the Aberdeen defeat that he would be worried if we werent creating chances, well before today we werent, and we didnt win, today we did, and didnt win.....time to worry wee man.

Motherwell had one shot on goal, and scored. Was it a "zonal marking" problem?? No. It was a man who scored the goal , not a zone.

There are more problems than i have time to list, but they arent new, they havent just popped up, i have noticed them for months/years and im not getting paid to coach football, im paying to watch it!!!!

fan-a-tic,

I though that was an accurate assessment. I still think GW deserved MOM.

Malone19,

LOL

What i found interesting from PL's interview today was that contract extensions for JVOH, HartleY and Naka would be decided at the end of the season.

Sadiesbhoy,

the post from Awe Naw... below yours.

I agree with every word of it. I am resigned to the fact the WGS is our manager for the forseeable future no matter the path our team takes for the remainder. I do not see the point in "what if's" as it ain't going to happen.

Being Celtic supporters we do not have a choice other than not turning up. I would rather be there supporting the team onto 4 in a row rather than not supporting them.

That is my choice and you will have to make yours.

I have my fingers crossed really tight and my towel is well and truly still my towel and will be until the arithmetic says otherwise.

Hail Hail & be a Celtic supporter faithfull through and through. Not to the manager but the team. To Celtic.

tiny tim

i was talking abou earlier when i meantioned the no longer heated seats..

we are thinking about having a cgn area just below you so that you can bring out the pies for us poor bhoys...;0)

Ellbhoy, your comments

Alba Bhoy on February 22, 2009 8:59 PM

"OK, Celtic do as you wish and a new manager is appointed tomorrow, performances don't improve and Celtic still don't win the league this season, does the new manager then get sacked for finishing 2nd"?

No a new manager would have these 12 or so games to get to know his new players and decide where he needs to strengthen. This would help greatly for next season especialy
europe It would help us to hit the ground running.

SO YOU GENUINELY THINK IT IS A GOOD THING FOR CELTIC TO GET A NEW MANAGER AT THIS POINT

Also a change of manager more often than not creates a positive reaction.

Why not for us?

It could just be the lift we need to help us over the line.

YOU REALLY BELIEVE THIS ????

Well I hope he stays successfull this season.

I have severe doubts that he will though and if the correct replacement was available now, then I would do it.

As if rumours are correct and WGS is away in the summer win or lose. Then I would rather get the correct long term replacement in now rather than mis-out altogether.

NICE NEGATIVE RUMOUR

Some brilliant comment on here tonight.
not nice to read all the same but very interesting reading your thought's lads.

Nice one.

WHAT

Also a change of manager more often than not creates a positive reaction.

Why not for us?

It could just be the lift we need to help us over the line.

YOU CANNOT SERIOUSLY BELIEVE THIS

If you are indeed a Tim, then please accept my apology, but, if you are, then surely re-reading your own posts will explain why there is some confusion over where you are coming from. Man, we all criticise Celtic, we all do not take joy in it.

Football Armageddon - the final battle between the forces of good and evil draws near.

Brian Clough, "the best manager England never had" has been sensationally appointed as manager of Heaven XI, by God, (Chairman) thereby ending months of speculation.

Since his death in 2003, Brian Clough has been applying his own controversial brand of punditry for SKY Sports, the provider of live football coverage of the EPL (Ethereal Premier League)

Now, Brian Clough OBE (Ol' Big 'Ead) has the chance to prove himself again, having taken two East Midlands teams to unprecedented glory.

Firstly he took a firm grip on Derby County, a traditional, yet underperforming football club and transformed them to the Championship of the Football League, then to the semi-final of the European Cup, where they were sensationally cheated by a bent ref in their match against Juventus of Italy. (Juventus were recently relegated from Serie A, after being found guilty of match-fixing and bribing match officials).

Later, he had further success at nearby Nottingham, better known for Robin Hood, lace-making, cricket and Torvill and Dean.

While in charge of lowly Notts Florist, he managed to fashion a team that won several trophies - whilst never losing his affection for nearby Derby.

Brian Clough will be reunited with the other half of the formidable management team, with Peter Taylor becoming Assistant Manager.

Renowned for his ability to "dig a diamond from the rough" and the acknowledged discoverer of many a fine footballer, Peter will concentrate on the obituary columns, bringing in deceased players of sufficient calibre. Says Taylor, "Their legs may be gone, indeed their body, arms and head too, but up here, you never lose it entirely!"

"With Peter at my side", said a jubilant Clough, we feel that we will soon be able to build a team to compete with the very top echelon in the League, and then win trophies with an almost monotonous regularity. What I didn't achieve with Derby County on earth, I will create here in Heaven.

The current Champions of the Ethereal Premier League, Filthy Dirty Satanic Rovers, managed by ex Dirty-Leeds boss, Don Revie for the past 25 years may have something to say about that.

Fantasymanagers csc

Aw Naw

See when you try really hard - you're really quite sensible:o)

Now NAFOS given the company he keeps - well it's no his fault:o)

I'm looking forward to meeting The Badger LOL.

WGS 10.16
pl interview?

why was he getting interviewed and where can i see it?

SydneyTim,

So we have only won because rangers were rubbish. I guess the Champions league was rubbish when we reached the last 16 twice.
If you really want to read about a poor celtic team read this Celtic in the 90's

It maybe more difficult to 'Support' your team when they are playing poorly .. but it is worth it when we prevail, even if this takes some time.

Unfortunately, your responses leave me in no doubt that your answer to my earlier question at 9:26 should be c) ?

Keep the faith.

Lubo.

noticed paul 67 last few days just posts then heads off to drink 3 bottles of whiskey and lie in a corner saying" please no more no more

rdk7 @ 10:15 PM

Spot on post not a word I can disagree with.

BrianBoru,

are you new?

Response to ellbhoy 10.14.

I would go as far as to say i hate him.

I never liked him when we signed him, and now im bordering on hate.

He is an arrogant, flipant, disrespectful, ego driven , disrespectful man who doesnt show any respect for the supporters of this club.

When he does an interview with the media, he stands to get his one upmanship on them, when really he should be telling us, the fans, his true feelings about the performance. Not cracking some sarcastic quip.

He is my direct link to the news from my football club, i dont care what his thoughts are about the media, but its the only way i can find out whats happening at Celtic, from the horses mouth.

When he treats the media with contempt, he is disrespectful to us.

Win the league? Mibbees ayes mibbees no's but it will be tight either way and it really did not have to be like this. If we do win it, all will be rosy in the boardroom as it was after Tannadice last year but the fans knew then.
What if we face a double qualifyer for the CL and subsequent elimination? Now that is scary.
Take a lesson from the banking industry and sort it now.
This is the consencus of at LEAST 70% of the support. From the group of friends I travel to the games with and I have not spoken to anyone over the last season who wants Strachan to stay, this is because we love and know our club. Call us whingers if you want, but I don't care what anyone outside of Celtic would think about us whacking a guy who has taken us to 3IAR. He won't be penniless with no job prospects. It is for the right reasons. I listened to the Huns the day they won 9 as I left the stadium and wondered could we ever put it right back up them? Well from the position we are in we could do ten or eleven, yet here we are stumbling from one debacle to another. Best squad by miles, best finances and we seem hell bent on handing the baton to the Huns. I don't think it would happen in reverse.
Maybe I'm old school and we need to be more PC and share things with the huns these days but I know the nature of the beast we are fighting.

rdk7

Aiden could be the answer to our prayers ....right wing berth is a must.....it is obvious isn't it.

4iar

Blantyretim

I ate all the pies.

BlantyreTim

I haven't slagged off the board and management for going for SPL fodder. I think there are better managers than Craig Levein who would come. My big point is none of them know the Scottish game and would take time to bed in. We need to win the League this season as I have already posted to ensure we get the Chamions League kitty and to make sure that Rangers don't. That's why I think Craig Levein is the correct man at this time. I feel confident that he could deliver the League for us. I also feel confident that he could go on to have a successful managerial career with Celtic.

I am beginning to think though, albeit with a few notable exceptions (Ferguson being one) that managers have a certain shelf life with one club or country and that after a while they need to move on to a new challenge.

Even with all the money the best players
they still couldnt win b@@ger all

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who has been at the helm at Old Trafford since 1986, said he felt a large degree of sympathy for Scolari.

"It is a sign of the times," Ferguson told MUTV.

"There is absolutely no patience in the world now. There was great expectation at Chelsea that they were going to do well this year - and it is only this last month they have had a bad spell.

"The judgment really is only on the last month."

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has now overseen the departure of four managers since his arrival in 2003.

Timing of sacking makes no sense -
Claudio Ranieri was sacked in 2004, Jose Mourinho in September 2007 and Grant in May 2008. Scolari 2009

A banner unfurled during Chelsea's 0-0 draw with Hull at Stamford Bridge on Saturday called for the return of former Blues favourites Gianfranco Zola, currently in charge at West Ham, and Roberto Di Matteo, the MK Dons boss.

Chelsea were booed off the field at the final whistle and sections of the crowd could be heard chanting "you don't know what you're doing" at Scolari.

Several names have already joined Zola and Di Matteo in being linked with the vacancy, including Russia boss Guus Hiddink and former Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard.

Those advocating new manager of Celtic fc take heed

TT

keep some for us next season....

its obvious to some EKbhoy.....

Evenin all.
Haven't seen the game, was driving home from down south today. Picked up radio commentary just prior to kick off. So,not having seen it, I will not comment on the game specifically. However...... team selection. Soon as I heard Caldwell in midfield, I put the CD on.
We have more midfielders than we know what to do with at Celtic. Why is Gordon Strachan moving the more consistent central defender into midfield, to the exclusion of Crosas, McGeady, Flood, Hartley, Donati, McCourt, Millar.....the list could go on.
The Gary Caldwell experiment reminds me a bit of the Kevin Costner film "Tin Cup". For those of you who have seen the movie, Gary Caldwell in midfield is Gordon Strachan's "Tin Cup" moment..... just keep trying, against the best advice and eventually it might come good but blow the title in the process.
Gordon at his obstinate best = Gary Caldwell in midfield.

Sorry to say it, but that Celtic team today should never again appear on a team sheet, never mind a pitch. I know I haven't seen the game, but there were better options available to the manager. He is just too afraid to deviate from his rigid way of thinking and use them.
There is not a manager, at any other club in the world, who would rather pick his best centre back to play in midfield, when he has so many other options available.
I also note that he has yet again fallen back on that old post-match "I couldn't see that equaliser coming" quote. The number of times he has told us that he couldn't see things is rather worrying.

Win or lose this season, his time at Celtic should be over, sooner rather than later. He has peaked and has no new ideas. We are predictable, passionless and rudderless.

rdk7

can I just say. that is bollocks. you hated him before he ever came to Celtic and nout aint ever going to change that.

Just be honest. There is plenty like you.

Oh yeah and that media you talk off are soooooooo on our side that they would print every word in context. get a grip.

That is all i have to say about that.

MWDForrestGump.CSC

EDB,

U2 ;-)

Blantyre,

In the papers today

For all the talk of clear cut chances being missed by Scott and JVoH, I thought the decision Naka made to pass the ball from the centre of the goal, where he was, to MacDonald on the right at a much poorer angle was a most peculiar one.
I know we're all feeling a bit down tonight, but I find the goal difference getting a bit worrying. We know from experience that 1 goal can be damaging, but 10 behind with the form our strikers are in does not leave you feeling joint top of the league.
There's still a long way to go!

Hail! Hail!

lubo, i watched celtic home and away from about 1979 till 2002 so i know what it is like, i stood at celtic park midweeks with crowds of 5000 so i know what a poor team is all about, the managers then had an excuse tho, they were called the kellys/whites, Our manager now does not have that excuse and has wasted our money on rubbish over the last few years eg donati etc etc.
did you stand at celtic park Midweeks with small crowds and witness that, no didnt think so!!

so moonbeams .....

When WGS is giving an interview with Celtic TV and he is disrespectul and flippant to the girl interviewing him, is that the same thing.

For your info, i dont buy and havent bought a daily newspaper since the "thugs and thieves" headlines.

But i do own and watch TV regualry.

I hope this clears up your point

One thing that's noticeable these days is the salaries managers get. I would imagine WGS gets £1m+ a year, correct me if I'm wrong.
When you're on that type of money, you shouldn't object if you're given the bullet.
In 1985, Norman Whiteside scored a memorable goal for Man U in the Cup final. He was on £500 a week then.
Mind you, the RBS and HBOS bankers should also be charged with negligence.

Sadiesbhoy

i didn't mean you.
i said we, as a support,
i know what you mean but we need to think long term...WGS should/can/will win this championship for us..

BT

moonbeams

Well said. Rk you fooled nobody with that nonsense.

Big wavy

rdk7 @ 10:15 PM excellent post to send me to be bed. Hopefully tomorrow I wake and all will be better:)

I still don't get why anyone really cares what the manager says to the media. They write what they want anyway, and it's very rarely flattering or in our favour.

WGS 10.26
in the papers today?

TT ate all the pies?

Malone 19
He made one pass in1st half to give JVOH half chance.
Don't remember any others.
The constant over the top praise of him for being merely average shows how far fans expectations have been lowered

rdk7

so why the talk about the media then. I do not class celtic TV as the media. They are the propaganda.

my point isnt about the papers.

It is TV, i watch him on various TV channels and post match interviews, and i feel that he should be giving us(the season ticket holders and fans) honest answers, not hiding the facts behind sarcasm.

Moonbeams wet dream
aye n naw
don`t normally post.i hope i`m not about to get the st90 treatment

Celtic to win the SPL by 4 points - win the CIS cup and lose in the semis of the SC

keep the faith

I have noticed since i changed from being pro-manager to manager must go group in the last few weeks( came about because of results/discussion etc) that the pro manaager people tend to personally abuse the Manager must go group, strange that they must bring personal items into the discussion

brianboru,

not from me just a moniker I had never noticed before.

Hail Hail

aye n naw, is that a cryptic clue?

Moonbeams.

If Celtic TV arent media, then that makes my case even stronger.

Celtic TV,Setenta, BBC Sky....whoever it is broadcasting. Its his attitude that is the same.

Hello folks - long time lurker who can't hold his tongue any longer.

Cards on the table, I have never been a Strachan fan, I always felt he was an arrogant and stubborn man who did not deserve to be Celtic manager, simply because he was not fit to follow in MON footsteps. MON was a true ambassador of the club and brought credibility back to the Celtic name. However, I always felt it was fair to give GS the benefit of the doubt.

But now I think you have to seriously examine why he should be allowed to continue. His team selection and lack of tactics have become incredible. A few examples:

Marc Crosas - The only midfielder we have who has shown the range of passes and ability to read the game that we are sorely missing. Strachan praises him for his performance at Hampden and his ability to last the 120 minutes having played so few games. NOT SEEN SINCE. Too "inexperienced" for the Rangers game, yet plays Willo Flood who had not pulled on the hoops before. Totally bizarre and a perfect example of why the supporters are fed up.

Gary Caldwell - Most consistent defender yet disrupts whole team to play him in midfield. Was decent today but contributed almost nothing going forward (1 good pass to McDonald). Not the answer in the midfield and should never be played there again.

Scoring goals - States in the papers that they have spent this week trying out a new formation/tactics to solve the scoring drought - turns out the answer is to play Gary Caldwell in midfield and play all 3 out of form strikers at the same time. GENIUS.

Defense - Said after getting humped in Copenhagen that he knew the answers to our defensive woes; same issues persist today. Unable to defend corners/set pieces due to continual failure of stubborn zonal marking system. Sticks by McManus despite his total inability to read the game, mark his opponent, pass to a team mate or inspire the side.

Today - We finally get in front are in total control of the game. He then proceeds to bring on McGeady and take of JVOH (who was mince but did set up the goal). I still cannot for the life of me understand why you would bring on a winger for a big striker. Afterall, isn't the winger's job to get balls in to the box for the big striker? HELP.

I think the biggest indictment to the Strachan era is simply the longer he has been manager and the more players he buys, the worse it gets.

If we don't win the league this year, and who can honestly say we are favourites now, then we may never see Champions League football at Celtic Park again under it's current format. Considering our financial advantage of no debt, CL money and 55000 season ticket holders, that is unacceptable.

Ach well, at least we will wake up tomorrow and still be Celtic fans.

Moonbeams wet dream

Personally I havent met a single fan who 'hated Strachan' before he came. I met a few who didnt approve of his appointment. A few who were happy to say they were wrong after he won his first season. But now due to the standard of football have decided its time for him to go (quite a few wish he had left at the end of last season).

We all like to be mind readers on CQN so can you tell me when you say to rdk7
quote:
'you hated him before he ever came to Celtic and nout aint ever going to change that. Just be honest. There is plenty like you.'

Are speaking from first hand knowledge, that you personally know rdk7 and can dispute this point with him , and that you also personally know plenty like him who hate the manager.

theres a lot of mind reading goes on in blogs, and the worst of it is, we make stuff up ourselves, then we believe its true, then we get angry and indignant. It's daft but i'm sure we wouldnt do it if we werent all so daft about Celtic.

Sydney

Maybe it's because of such ability to change so easily when the going gets tough proves you're a big girls blouse with no backbone :)

Big you set yourself up there Wavy

SydneyTim,

if you don't like it come back to the other side for the remainder of the season because no matter your's, anyone else's or my opinion nout is going to change. WGS will be manager on the last day of this season whether that be SPL champiions or not.

i have noticed recently that the personal views are getting a tad strong when disagreements occurr. not a good thing.

Hail Hail

Moonbeams wet dream
i normally just read the posts,but i don`t think this is an average topic,its do or die.I dont think today was a bad result from a good team,it was an average result from a bad team

the barber of samaras
Cards on the table, I have never been a Strachan fan, I always felt he was an arrogant and stubborn man who did not deserve to be Celtic manager, simply because he was not fit to follow in MON footsteps. MON was a true ambassador of the club and brought credibility back to the Celtic name. However, I always felt it was fair to give GS the benefit of the doubt.

Seconded.

im sure the barber knows ill 3rd that ....

Can we play hoopy the huddle hound up front?

The consensus is that something stinks at Celtic. We don't know exactly what, we can all try to be positive, but in our heart of hearts, win the league or not, we all know things just don't feel like they used to and SOMETHING STINKS.

stevienobread 10.40

you haven't been back to blantyre for a while then?

Ellbhoy...

I posted that I used the word "hate" word advisedly and I stand by it.

As an example, I was in Aalborg and at full time the abuse he took from some "supporters" at full time was sick.

Believe me these guys hate him!

This is my experience.

Sydney Tim...

Barry Robson is injured, perhaps the reason for the decision to deploy Gary Caldwell in midfield

Clearly the manager believed that the team he chose was the best equipped to get the 3 points.

The reason we did not win was down to us not taking some decent chances which I grant you we have not been making in recent weeks.

Stevienobread,

Yes I do know plenty who sit round about me who hate WGS. I drink with a couple in the pub before the games who do too. Reading between the lines with rdk7, not that that takes much, to draw my opnion on his post but it was rather easy to come to this conclusion and no I do not know him.

Hail Hail

Like everyone else, I'm dejected at todays result.

The performance, whilst not up to the standard I'd like - or expect, was at least better in terms of creativity than the past few weeks and months.

I wouldn't say I'm a 'happy clapper', or indeed a 'mineshafter' - I think I fall somewhere in the middle, and I've been going to Celtic games since the mid 80's, so I've watched some rubbish.

We are all hurting, but the negativity on here at times astonishes me. I'm not trying to fall out with anyone here, but one thing is certain - our Manager is NOT going to leave. (At least not before the end of this season anyway).

Someone made the point the other day about the support last season for the last 7 games of the run in, when we were all united and backed the team to the hilt, there was almost a tangible sense of will pushing us on in games.

How we could do with that now.

On a postitive note at least we tried a change today, I think on a better surface and with Crosas in and Heid back to defence we could take a few goals from teams.

Whatever it takes, we must win this league. If we have a part to play, we should play it. It bums me out to see in-fighting and people demanding jotters.*

*Not disputing anyone's right to their opinion though.

True true Moonbeams eg i say " mcmanus is not a centerhalf" and some blogger comes in and says " have you ever seen celtic park caus your from sydney etc etc

totaly agree on 2nd point, nothings going to change, but its good to talk :) thats what discussion is all about

Gordon_J: 9:05pm

You've not moved in the right circles then; its still my favourite form of address!

Appreciate that WGS made changes today but he didn't start with the right team and his changes only made things worse. I've been 'holding on' for longer than the Redskins would deem reasonable...

Sydney, 9:10pm

May be on that swift group exchange with you bud; not least as those who ask us to hold on, stand up, have patience are at their least convincing for a while...

On the bright side I have finally won a protracted battle with Inland Revenue, New Zealand and from owing them nearly $3k they now owe me nearly $2k. Sod it, how much would a Crosas start cost me??????

feelinggenerousCSC

The natives are indeed restless now and not without justification. We are misfiring but the manager is also loading the wrong guns...

Midfielders schooled in the art are being left out to accomodate CH,s but for what reason?? The manager appears not to know which of the square pegs goes into what round hole.

Gary Caldwell had a decent go today for a CH, as did Scott McD, but a lack of cohesive play was evident last week and continued today.

Does the answer lie with Crosas and Brown centre mid, perm Willo Naka or Aiden(big time off the boil)wide and wee Shaun behind Scott McD?

We have tried brawn, give the bairns a shout?

A new manager please in the summer and a clearout of deadwood coupled with a hunger to sign better than we have.No excuses like..we tried but naebody wid sign,Honest ghuys. Identify targets early and sign them early.

Others with less budgets can sign LB,s that can play.
I still believe we can win this league.

brianboru

I thought it was a bad result from a bad Celtic team but I don't see the sense in changing manager with 12 games to go.

WGS and Celtic should focus on the SPL. Focus on the LC final also as we are there and we obviously don't like to be beaten by an orc but forget the SC.

WGS will be our manager and there ain't anything that is going to change that.

Hail Hail

rdk7

when you spoke about football, i feel you were spot on, and i can see yuor a fitba brain.

welcome aboard.........

the hating bit was a bit strong but opinions are all well and good imo.

i dont know if its been discussed tonight, but at wells free kick, we were sleeping, but my 1st instinct was he was offside ,(the quick free kick to the runner who crossed !!!)

can anyone clarify that he wasnt ??

incidentally, its the final straw for me.

we are needing robson and maloney back asap. or the manager will have to go..........

injuries are tough, but his constant chopping and changing is getting him, us, the team knowhere.

ill bet ye he went for a long walk tonight........

Gordon i know Barry is injured, but why did he not play him in central midfield when he was fit this season, he played him there last year for last 10 games but only because he was forced to do it and most people agree that is one of the main reasons that won us the league

I thought I saw ben hutch on the park at HT today and looking strong

Obviously we cant play him though eh!

OurChairmanIsStillScum

I SMELL HUN

News from a good source - donati watched the game from the team bus ! strachan has lost the plot can you imagine stein or mon allowing that crap ! strachan must go tomorrow before its too late

Seriously fellows, when your strikers are out of form who in their right mind would decide that the answer is to play them all at the same time!

And how can you justify playing Willo Flood against Rangers at home, then not against Motherwell away, exactly the type of combative fixture he would be perfect for.

HELP indeed.

BlantyreTim

I would love it if you were proved to be correct. I've lost my faith in his ability to deliver. I believe the Board will not sack him but on their own head be it. I will not pay an increased season book price to pay for their poor decision making and to help offset the loss of the Champions Leauge money. Basically I intend to sit tight until 31 August and see what, if any, changes have been mde in playing and managerial staff. I also think that there will be a lot more like me and that Mr. Lawwell and DD will have to make considerable change to win back thousands of disaffected supporters.

west wales, you can do a peter lawell then when things are going bad for you, just tell everyone that your 3k debt is now 2k profit :)

todays comments arent a knee jerk reaction to todays draw.

7 point lead gone, and with THEM dropping points along the way, makes it much harder to take.

What is it.....6 points from 18???????

Does anyone think, really honestly think we can go undefeated to the end of the year.????

I pray in hope more than expectation!!

The Hunsmeller persweevent. Seriously, what hun has the moralality to come up with a name like mine, I ask you

RDK its 14 points from our last 30!!!! me thinks

I notice that Paul67 hasn't been affording his customary welcome to new posters tonight.

Does he know more than us? Hmmmmmmmm. They are so stupid.

javeabhoy

I SMELL HUN

is he going to resign? because I just can't see the Board having the guts to fire him ? and was Roy Keane just an interested spectator at our game last week or was there more to it?

Sorry , meant to say moralalality

javebhoy

Is your source......a bus driver ?

Sometimes drives the Celtic bus and is a dab hand with tv aerials ?

Big Wavy

SYDNEY TIM...
You just made me feel worse....

Our Chairman

Your spelling of morality gives you away for a start.

OurChairmanIsStillScum

GOOD POINT, MONITORED

SydneyTim,

If your post at 10:36 is referring to my discussions with you, - i.e. your personal abuse claim - then point me towards the offensive quote. If one other poster agrees that what I have posted was offensive, then I will never post again on this site.

Regarding your earlier point from 10:28, I can answer your questions. I confirm that I have stood at celtic park throughout the bad times, in midweeks even, with small crowds (less than 5 ft 7 sometimes!). I also had a green and white scarf, you may or may not have noticed me - I was the one shouting for Celtic to win....

Good Night.

Lubo.

Our Chairman

You've now gone and made me laugh!

Sydney - true, but would he take $1500 for Crosas as a starter next game. Now that would interest me...

Night all, don't rage too long or too hard.

Paul - bravely honest article. We need your head above the parapet once in a while to let us know your feet remain firmly on the ground - passed with flying colours and retained your considered rep...

Lubo you said c) at it, offensive me thinks having a go at me personally, nothing to do with tactics etc

No chance of WGS getting sacked or him quitting before the end of the season - he's here until May at least.
So, that out of the way we've to hope for a (surprising) upturn of form (doubtfull) or a Hun reversal in form (unlikely) they've got the bit betwen their teeth now).

We stick with WGS till the end of the season then hope for a change at the top. We may stil do it but it's not looking good bhoys. Frankly, even if we go to Ipox and win we are just as likely to lose at Tannadice or Tynecastle or drop more daft points at home.

Interesting to see what develops in May however.................

That's a Mungo ejucashin for ye

Today's reaction is not of the knee jerk variety.
Our form since December has prompted this reaction.
Our coaches baffling selections and tactics has added to reaction.
Our boards parsimonious ways have also contributed.
Same boards treatment of Celtic fans(jungle bhoys/rude bhoys) has also contributed.
Trailing a bankrupt and poor football team definitely contributed.

SadiesBhoy

if this board ask us to pay an extra few pounds for next year I think that you won't be the only one who will refuse to renew..

i will because i am a fan(not saying you are not)

what i want is for me and a few of the bhoys on here to get together and get a season ticket next to each other, we just want to sit/stand next to each other and make some kind of noise...

CGN singing area.com....

sitting area for oldtim and martin42(he stands up enough on here)

mackybhoy from the village,

Motherwell's goal was well onside. (And the free kick was a clear offence by Loovens.)

blantyretim

You'll no be sitting with me and TinyTim.

piessausagerollsandsandwichesruscsc

noforgettinbovrilcsconcolddays

sorry gordon j.

what i meant was, when the quick free kick was taken, i thought offside possibly, then the boy turned back and crossed.....

OurChairmanIsStill...

Could you consider changing your penname. I don't think the application of the word 'scum' to a Celtic supporter on this blog is appropriate. This term was used by Huns and Scottish Loyalists in the 80s and 90s to describe all Celtic supporters and Catholics in Scotland. Apparently we all equated to be IRA sympathisers.

EDB
TT has eaten all the pies and you have drank all the carling...

BT

Have just read back over the last few hours' postings and i'd suggest a few folk need to get themselves a dose of reality this eve. Can't remember who said what, but all this talk about getting guys like Moyes and Hughes in if WGS leaves....i mean, seriously??? I doesnt give me any pleasure to talk down the club but the idea they would leave there current posts for us is laughable. Even if they (most likely Hughes) were out of a job, neither (unfortunately) would be short of offers, and all would most likely be more attractive than anything we could make.

Best of all was the person who described Roy Hodgson as not good enough. That would be ex-Inter and Switzerland coach Roy Hodgson. Just what kind of track record does our next manager need???

Well , I will change it if he apologizes for dragging our club into the dirt

The Hunsmeller persweevent

I am sorry mate but I don’t see anything different in my posts that many other posters tonight have also said some have even taken their comments further.

Many have called WGS to be handed his P45 now.

I have said only if the right man was available.

When I said people have posted well, although the content is not nice to read.

Please tell me what's suspicious about that?

I do think a change of manager now (bare in mind I said if it was the right man) would galvanise the whole place. I think as fans we are desperate for a spark, which the past transfer window unlike last season’s failed to deliver. I think there have been many examples of changing a manager that have galvanised clubs instantly, Chelsea being a recent example. I just said why not us as well?

Now if you go back through my posts you will see I have been balanced towards others views at no point have I called for the manager’s head just for the sake of it. At this stage that would not make any sense.

You have selected a few posts and not read others in essence taken my comments out of context. I accept your apology however I am not happy to be singled out as a HUN I find your accusation highly insulting.

I also find the whole concept of pointing the finger at other posters, quite distasteful. If someone on here is a Hun I am sure they will expose themselves in time. We don't need folk tarnishing clearly passionate Celtic fans. I think healthy critical discussion is only natural however I fully understand how some would be wary as any criticism, as in some minds any criticism is frowned upon.

I honestly can't believe we've had this discussion as to be accused of being a Hun is quite offensive to me. I am sure you would feel the same if someone put you in the position you just put me in.

LastOfTheFamousInternationalPlayboys

just ask him does he use a clipboard???, if he does then next please

I don't post here very often, but, reading through the blog tonight taking in the in-fighting and personal insults, I felt I would interject with something.
We are after all Celtic Supporters, no one's opinion here is more valid than anyone else, no one is an idiot for stating their opinion, leave out all the back-biting and lunacy, respect other opinions!
My own opinion... Time for change! Thanks Gordon for 3 league titles, thanks for taking us beyond the group stages of the Champions League, but this is as far as you can go, we are moving backwards not forwards and that simply is not good enough.
You may disagree with my opinion, but, ask yourself this...
Do you honestly believe that this team has it in them to produce a run of form that can take us to the league title this season? I can't see this team turning things around, they no longer have the desire, the hunger or the will to win. They are a side lacking any cohesion or drive, they seriously lack imagination and other sides can sense this.
We need change to save the season and hopefully stop the other lot winning the treble, god forbid!

blantyretim

Allegedly, on my part:o)

TT needs to speak up for himself. I'm only keeping this going to lighten the mood for a wee while tbh.

Anyways wisnae happen when the plug was pulled on the heated seats. Didnae need a reminder thank you very much. LOL.

good night bhoys/ghirls

hail hail and keep the faith...

god bless and protect kano and family...

BT

Mackybhoy
They originally had 3 guys in offside position as guy was running up but our defense (i will use word with tongue firmly in cheek)backed up and they pulled back and onside as it was struck.What was really perplexing was the 3 Celtic players marking each other in box.
Is this a previously unseen but radically new form of zonal marking?

As a self confessed mineshafter/standard bearer - I'm wondering where all the Happy clapper /statiticians have gone?

Either round at WGS for a cup of tea or reviewing the stats perhaps?

I'm not sure what to think - I KNOW I'd be delighted if today's result proved to be the straw that breaks the camel's back and gets WGS the sack..however, I realise that this could end our title challenge - although that's debatably preferrable to another SPL title that gives WGS yet another season to inflict his brand of 'free-flowing football' on us...

It's amazing that we can get to a position where we are looking up the league table at a club who spend £10m less on wages than we do...Can we blame the Board for that?

Mediocre players and mediocre tactics need to go with our relegation-dog-fight-manager at the end of the season - new blood on and off the park is required if we are to capitalise on the 'advantages' at our disposal.

Agree - Paul must be scared of the Monster he has created in CQN at times like this...the whisky would explain his recent withdrawl from debate - which is a shame as we naturally look to his lead and opinion - Come on P67 - let's hear what you really think?

Sliding doors,

When WGS won 12 games in a row with the worst injury crisis in the history of Celtic, 10 first team players at one point, most on here even his ardent foes must have said fair play WGS, cant wait to see the team play when all the bhoys are back, YES.

Now that WGS has only won 3 out of our last 10 games people, and probably most who praised him for that achievement want him Sacked, Yes.

He is still the same Celtic manager with the same Celtic coaches, Rangers are still skint.

So why?

Messi

mackybhoy from the village,

No, definitely on side. I wondered at the time but the replay was clear.

The hunsmeller...

it's ppl like u that'll kill this blog, to me that is the definition of a hun. Generally I can't be arsed with personal insults as it's boring, unproductive and generally gets ppl nowhere but this McCarthy-ism is just sick, it was wrong then and it's wrong now.

If you don't like someone's post, just ignore, heck most ppl ignore mine and it hasn't stopped me from posting (=

gordon j

thanks......

mackybhoy from the village

Just had a look at incident when the free kick was taken and it could have gone either way as O'Brien was borderline.
Done with now and we shouldn't have to rely on dodgy decisions, poor header by Loovens cost us, though we should have had more than a 1 goal lead.

blantyretimAuthor @ 10:44 PM
:)

Had a quick stop at Blantyre on Wednesday night dropping my mammy back hame after her visit to the town.

That CQN Singing Section you're on about, Surely you mean CQN (happy) Clapping Section ;)

Bhoyfromcults yup would be nice to hear from paul67 on his views, a reason a lot of people join his blogg is to read his views as they are always interesting, does he have a new burd?? or is he on his forth bottle of whisky??

i put on my usual pre season acca.

of
raith
reading
dundee
celtic

dundee have turned the corner.

unfortunately so have we.........

i am at my lowest regarding our chances of 4

OK OK Completely off topic - and Mrs53 is lurking as I post - matter of fact its her idea that I ask this here ....

Any of you guys / wives / partners sleep on a Tempur memory foam mattress? ( No references to todays match PLEASE!!)

ZZZZZZZZZ.... Lurgan

Bhoyfromcults

Possibly the worst post I've read on CQN.

"Paul must be scared of the MONSTER he has created".

"The whisky would explain his recent withdrawal from debate".

You are an obnoxious and poisonous individual.

Pgtips2

RE: If you don't like someone's post, just ignore, heck most ppl ignore mine and it hasn't stopped me from posting (=

Gr8 line ! :-), we feel the same, I write so much crap I'm sure i'm the only one that reads it, in fact I sometimes stop reading it half way through writing it.

Gordon J

I thought it was the CQn quiz not the nasa qualification exam - I will have my BB, Laptop and a bundle of encyclopedias with me and will be hiding behind them all

You will need the CFC stewards to sort us lot out

There is no way that the board will get rid of WGS before the end of the season, but watch the media campaign to do just that. We'll have Ned flanders and the rest saying that the majority of Hoops fans want him out now, but I hope that most of us have the common sense to get behind the team during the run-in and ignore these Murray puppets.

WGS should go in the summer, 4iar or not. The main reason being that there's no obvious progress within the team over the four years of his tenure. Bigger, faster, fitter my arse!
For the last three years he's met the terms of his remit....on-field success while bringing down an inflated wage bill.
We're going backwards now, an increasing wage bill, a disastrous CL campaign and repeatedly encouraged TFOD in the SPL. Most of us are sick of the standard of football we're watching. We have a team who fail to carry out the basic requirements of tackling, pass and move, retain possession beyond 3 or 4 passes, etc.
Pablo said to me today "What do they do all week at Lennoxtown?" What indeed?!

The only positive thought I can hold on to at the moment is that surely we can't keep dropping as many points as we have during the last 2 months. The stats boys will be able to point to our performance over the last 8 years during the title run-ins and maybe support that theory....or not.

Hopefully, we'll have a great night next Saturday at the Quiz knowing that we're 2 or 3 points ahead of them.

TTTTlongwaytogoCSC

bhoyfromcults

We haven't gone away you know.........:)

Clapping happily and with it all to play for

Mon the hoops

Big wavy

pggtips2@11;14pm
I had always ignored your posts until your latest.:)

If you're happy and you know it blog blog blog!

All that was missing today was the rub of the mire.

We Shall not, we shall not be moved. We shall not, we shall not be moved! Not by the Hearts, the Hibs, or the Rae-hain-gers, we shall not be moved.

moanthehoops! (ya bas)

rdk7 @ 10:21 PM

Hate is a powerfull term.

I don't like his way's I find many things that he does to be anoying, sometimes to the point of anger.

However he is doing the job to the best of his ability, I don't think he's short changing us. Not sure how anyone can really justify hating him. I guess it's a bit like Caldwell, almost everyone to a man could see he wasn't good enough and should have been dropped. But as poor as he was his comitment could not be questioned.

Would you say most people hated Caldwell during that time?

Pissed off annoyed at his mistakes, wanting him dropped or even sold but never really hated.

I think the same could be said about WGS, I just think Hate is an over the top term. Perhaps some do truly Hate him but I would imagine they would be in the minority.

Gordon said he saw at Aalborg. hatred from some of the fans towards WGS.

Was it a majority?

StevieNoBread @11;20pm
You have given away my secret.
I normally close my eyes and hit random keys.
Got this tip from G Pendry's coaching manual.

Regular reader of this excellent site and occasional poster. The Huns sold us a dummy in January and we bought it. Why do so many posters think that 3 out of 10 wins is now going to translate into 12 victories? That is impossibly optimistic, and would need a miracle. What am I missing that would make me think we will win at Tannadice, Tynecastle and Ibrox?
Strachan's mien yesterday reminded me of Ally Mcleod near the end of the Iran game, but at least he didn't insult my intelligence after the game. When Motherwell scored, why didn't Strachan immediately field Crosas and Flood? He capitulated. Why, after losing so many goals as a result of free kicks didn't someone stand over the ball until we were ready? Watch the game again - all our players walked away with their backs to the ball! Unforgiveable. The spectre of a Huns treble is approaching reality - won't that make for a pleasant close season! And for those that fondly think we will be in the UEFA Cup, that won't happen if we finish behind the Huns and get drummed out the CL in the first round.
Strachan has to go. He has lost the plot, lost the dressing room, provides no motivation, plays down to the oppostion level, can't pick a settled midfield after 4 years, and has our beloved team playing the worst football I have watched in 43 years.

TTTT

Who's in your team?

More importantly who is in Gordon's team or is he confident enough to go it alone?

To any of the bhoys at the game today,

it was plain for all to see the state of the pitch and how it affected the game, no one has mentioned the wind,

but to me it looked bad and must has played a part in crosses etc, curious.

Messi

If we had got 14 points from the first 10 games into the season Strachan would be off i see no reason why he shouldn't be shown the door now. TIME TO GO

Lurgan 53
Have one in my house.It's my sons but he is away at college.
RECOMMEND.
Seem to get deeper zzzzz's when i use it

El Diego Bhoy

Your selective and false capitalisation, within quotations no less, is pathetic and self righteous, as is your vindictive judgement on a post that seems perfectly within reason. Withdraw please, you cad!

Selfappointedblogpolicemendaemaheidin CSC

In the midst of all the Gordophobia being posted on this site, I would like to thank our manager for giving himself unstintingly to our club for the past 4 years.
I am grateful for the success he has given us & I am delighted with the contempt he has openly displayed towards a poisonous media which has consistently & systematically abused our club throughout its existence. He treats these pariahs with the disdain that they treat others. God bless you , Gordon.
He came to us as an outsider, not Celtic minded enough for the sanctimonious purists among us, but he showed especially at the tragic passing of Tommy Burns that he has become a CELTIC man.
No, he is not a Jock Stein. We are not likely to ever see another of those. However, he HAS given us 3 successive titles & is very likely to give us another this season, despite the worst fears of the doubting Thomases.
If he now chooses to move on, as I have no doubt he will, I will remember him with great affection as one of the most successful managers in our history.

IniquitousIV

No point picking a fancy dancy poster name for the rest of us mere mortals without a significant end product.

The very thought of them lifting the league title this season leaves me cold. This season of all seasons. They should be dropping from their knees onto their backs this season.

Instead we seem to be giving them a hand back to their feet.

iniquitous

We can go on a winning streak because we have done so before. We are capable of doing that and have the best squad in the league. On a day when reason and balanced comment has been too often replaced with hysteria it probably doesn't sound compelling though.

Have faith. This team will prove the shatters wrong....

Big Wavy

...as they pull us down on one knee.

We have a struggle on our hands which we have to win.

Messiah
Both teams played on same pitch.
Pitch is no excuse.
Our vastly superior players should easily overcome this.
Pitch used as an excuse for Aiden's exclusion?Correct me if i'm wrong but Aiden learned to play in Scotland he has had a lifetime of experience on these type of pitches.

I've made this point previously....

Last year on the run in there was a whirlwind of emotion swirling around Celtic Park which galvanised the entire club and support!!!

The late great Tommy Burns tragic news broke and with this there grew a steely determination to win the title for him!!
God bless Mr Celtic!!

You could see just how much it meant to Gordon and his players to win that title.....FOR Tommy Burns.

Neil Lennon also came in with 8 or 9 games to go to supposedly help the young squad pull themselves together for the title push...another winner.

In the build up to that fateful 7 game winning streak....a certain suspension for Scott Brown forced Gordon to break up his stagnating midfield partnership and step forward Barry Robson the all conquering driving force. I wonder if Scott hadn't been suspended if things might have been different. I doubt WGS would have changed much of anything...

So onto this season??

What do you happy clappers see as that sudden motivation that will get JVoH or Sammy or any of our off form players to suddenly turn it on.
We've hardly been rattling in 3 and 4 goal victories during games this year and any SPL team looks like they can take goals off us.....so what is it exactly you see as being our salvation?? WGS seemingly doesn't have the answers.

12 games to go? Can't see us winning 10 let aone 13.

I want a change in management now. Willie McStay to step forward till the end of the season and bring with it a fresh approach to the matches coming up......he can hardly make us any worse.

EDB - G2L (der Fuhrer) and Mr & Mrs P&B.
If we skip the El Dorado before the quiz starts then :-

a) we will not make fools of ourselves;
b) there will not be a fight!

TTTTelectricsoupCSC

Well at least things with Gordon Strachan are not as bad when the Man Utd fans called for Alex Ferguson to be sacked.

"Let’s hope Sir Alex Ferguson enjoys his 20th anniversary a good deal more than his third. Back in 1989 the knives were out after an horrific start to the season, which included a notorious derby defeat and an early exit to Spurs in the League Cup.

United were playing dreadful football before ever-dwindling attendances and during a 2‑1 home defeat to Crystal Palace in December, Stretford End diehards unfurled the infamous banner, “Three years of excuses and we’re still crap – Ta-ra Fergie” – the die appeared to have been cast. In the intervening years Ferguson has had to deal with many crises, but none have rendered him as powerless as the day the hardcore support openly called for his head."

Big Wavy

that will be shafters - yes

BlantyreKev

Ha! You rumboisterous interlocutor. (Is that real kindae nearly Scottish)?

Hope you're well. Look forward to a beer with you sooner than later.

I can't get too down about matters Celtica just now. An age thing obviously. I'm not a happy chappy but there are other matters in our lives that are much more important.

Anyways KTF.

ooops.....sorry those from the half empty side....I did mean shafters !!!!!!!

argh highlights on setanta, why oh why do we not have a centerhalf that wins simple balls in box, we loose about 90% of our goals from crosses, why? its because we dont have a dominant center half. Most of southhamptons goals with Gordon when in he was in charge came from crosses( talk to southhamton fan before and Gordon would not sign a big center half there also)

he has had 4 years to buy one, why oh why has he not???

Sydney Tim @ 10:49...

I agree that Barry Robson was instrumental in us winning the title last year however his versatility on the left hand side has meant that he has also filled in at left back.

He has only started about half the games this season and he has in fact played on a few occasions in central midfield, as recently as the Inverness game.

However, I believe he has been struggling with a groin injury and perhaps that is the reason why we have seen so little of him.

Good night all.

Messi

You maybe have a point on the wind, but the pitch was truly awful. At times the ball seemed to stop short, particularly on one foul given against Loovens. Ref was pretty poor too, around twenty minutes until we were awarded a foul. None of this distracts from the poor result and I am not making excuses.

Disgusted by the home support closest to the away fans. 'Glasgow Celtic, paedophiles' to the tune of 'Glasgow Celtic, champions' was just bile and reminded me of recent trips to Ibrox. The fact that a section of them, around fifty, stayed behind at the final whistle to chant it for a while as we trundled out was the tin lid on a pretty horrible afternoon all round. Shame they look clear of relegation. On a final point, if their keeper was Artur, he would have been all over the papers for his reaction to the Celtic support to their goal, ignored by police and stewards.

Big Wavy

Good on you..confessing to the happy-clapping - good for your soul to confess! Are you also a statistician by any chance? If so could you share your analysis on this season - particularly the last 10 or so games...

On the HATE issue - I don't hate WGS - I do HATE what he is doing to our club...tearing the heart out and diluting our values and quality of football.

I reckon most fans objections to WGS probably started with a 'gut feeling' following his poor start, some would have residual antipathy from WGS Celtic hating playing days...but what interests me is that although he has delivered results - those opposing WGS have not been enlightened by his supporters - rather the reverse has happened with arguable the main body of the fans now seeking his replacement. For my part, my dislike is based entirely on the erosion of all that I hold dear about Celtic - the values the footballing philosophy - all undermined by someoen who doesn't understand the club and it's cultural heritage.

Interesting also - that no other big club has come in to steal his approach for themselves - why is that? Could it be because they have made an objective analysis of his abilities?

Ach if I cannae stir up a rammy ahm off tae ma bed.

Kilbowie Kelt @ 11:31pm

Well said,

I asked the question earlier re; our form when all injuries happened, and form now when most players are back.

WGS is still the same Manager and should be judged in May, Win Lose or Draw.

Messi

TTTT

Haven't heard Electric Soup mentioned in years.

Happy memories.

Sorry Paul, we're discussing fine wines for now. You're too young to know.

pjdali

Who knows what will galvanize us. Before these things happened last year we d no idea if they'd prove positive influences.

Maybe this year it will be reports from the media feeding off any negatvity from the ssupporters to stir the brown stuff that brings the team together ? There's been enough on here today to give them (the old meeks) a right old field day......

Big Wavy

EDB

Fine wines? I thought you were on about the old fanzine wi Rocky McBlaw

Gordon, you may be in your bed now, regarding robson

question why move our best central midfield player to eg full back
what sort of manger dooes that

Stevie.

Yer right but Paul is too young to know of this!

looks like the SPL got what they wanted

Our focus on the mayhem on the park was briefly interrupted midway through the second half by some police activity off it. The Lanarkshire constabulary went wading into a group of Celtic fans, who were belting out their Irish songs, and appeared to haul away two or three choristers. All this only served to increase the volume of Irish ballads which that section of fans sang. A phalanx of policemen eventually slipped away, to much shaking of nearby fists (and other hand gestures).

Big Wavy

I admire your optimism and hope you'll be reminding me of my post come the end of May....

Just don't see WGS as a man with answers to our current problems cos he's part of the problem.

Looking at the evidence...no significant signings in January, McGeadygate, the Glasgow ban, the punchup, the poor performances etc.

It suggests to me that Gordon had already planned to go in the summer. Meanwhile, the board was hoping that we might just scrape the title or maybe even win one of the cups.
Then, its over to the new man in the summer with the club debt free and a few mil in the player kitty.
Maybe the board is way ahead of us and the new coach has already been lined up (or is being lined up).

Personally, I hope we have an amazing turnaround and Gordon stays.

Just my thoughts.

MAH
thats it eaksy peaksy now. Huns of the hook, how terribly predicatable.

EDB - we might sneak half bottles in underneath our fish suppers, just like the old Celtic Park days.
Nae grub at the quiz, even though L2G was looking forward to chicken in a basket!

Night all. Work tomorrow and some midly smug Huns/bluenoses to smack down.

TTTT

El DiegoBhoy @ 11:32 Eh!??
Big Wavy @ 11:34 I admire your optimism. I really do. But many of the optimists who post here have been saying we will go on a winning run since we won at Ibrox. Yet every week, we are disappointed, and now the Huns have overtaken us. We now have to match them point for point AND beat them at Ibrox or lose the league on goal difference. Remember how heartbreaking that was at Rugby Park a few years ago? As it is, we are now so dire that the Ibrox game might not matter one iota. This season is very different from last year, when the Huns were staggering from their UEFA marathon.
So, in a nutshell, what is going to kickstart this miraculous turnaround, and why couldn't it have started today? Today would have been good.

bhoyfromcults

Statistically capable of winning our fourth league title and delivering three cups. How do you like them stats bucko ?

Why focus on last ten when I could include the run of 12 good ones.....

I think Gordon stole your bird :)

Mon the hoops

Big Wavy

fan-a-tic, Bloke_109,

Thanks for the response, l was more leaning to the fact that it did make for a horrible game and in the end result.

I think it was Hartson who said it could easily have been 1-4, if skippys chance from a flick from Samaras in the 3rd minute goes in (which btw bobbled just before he hit it) it could have been so different.

But agree with most posters no excuse for not defending our lead, all games should be treated as cup games, not chasing a goal tally.

Messi

again i'll cast up eto'os comments on larsson...

he stated that he learned so much from the magnificent7 in the time they spent together at Barca,in particular the importance of diagonal runs...

so jan,skippy and sammi........STOP RUNNING IN STRAIGHT LINES!!!!!!

NewsNow

the Mirror 'News'paper

on the Rascist Song:
Stop the vile chants by ignoring them. By Ray Hepburn

Ray also has a solution to the problems of housebreaking, Stop the Burglars before they begin by giving them all your possesions.

Does the Ass not realise the SPL HAVE been ignoring the vile chants for the best part of 2 years.

Stop the Idiotic Journalists getting paid by Stopping Buying their Newspapers.

big wavy

three cups?