Winning the league is hard, or at least it should be. Aberdeen are finding that out as they unnecessarily dropped points on Saturday. Celtic have had it easy for so long we’ve forgotten a few truths of competition.
Sitting 6 points clear, and (again) confident of winning the league, we can constructively appreciate the job Derek McInnes has done at Pittodrie. They are very likely to come up short this season, but the gap between them and Celtic is not the chasm it used to be.
For years we discussed that what Scottish football really needs is teams like Aberdeen and Dundee United comfortably outperforming Motherwell and Inverness. No disrespect intended for the latter two, but Aberdeen have hugely better resources, if we are to receive a genuine challenge, it will come from there.
I was also delighted to see the 15k attendance at Pittodrie on Saturday, reflecting the bounce that has occurred at Tynestle this season. Figures like that will help Aberdeen (and Hearts) solidify. Both can make a profit at that level.
Progress isn’t linear, so don’t be surprised if Aberdeen or Hearts don’t leap forward next season, but the chances of them being overhauled by a smaller club is slight. The future looks healthier than the past.
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And…You guessed it.
Its always the supporters to blame…isnt it.
Yeah…we are responsible, thats it….got it now.
Its my fault entirely…and yours of course.
We are to blame for not believing everything uttered by the board.
Shame on the supporters eh.
We dont deserve DD and PL….ungrateful wretches that we are.
Hangs head in shame:)
HH
Gary67
Not sure I agree with the approach of “public view and private view”.
Ronny has tried to be transparent and honest from the outset. No hypocrisy, no grandstanding, set out standards that he feels players ought to achieve. This is part of the revolution, don’t attack him for it. You want the PR spin!
Think about it.
The Green Man says SACK THE Board on 29th February 2016 3:05 pm
I agree that we do look as if we lack fight on occasions but again look at the comparison. Pts total is looking likely to be in the same ballpark as NLs but we’re scoring more. We’re also conceding a lot more, although projection shows out goal difference will be better. That sounds like we’re being more entertaining. That’s not what we’re told though. However if we’re struggling to beat teams now, we must have been struggling then too. Yet look what happened.
As far as I’m concerned at the very least RD has to be given a shot at CL qualification.
thetimreaper on 29th February 2016 2:40 pm
GARY67 on 29TH FEBRUARY 2016 2:37 PM
Or was he told of the reaction from supporters to his post match comments and been advised to back track??
–
Suspect yes.
————————————————————————————————————————————————
You honestly couldn’t make it up.
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@newsroom
GM-the amount of penalties we’ve missed in the last few seasons is ridiculous.
WEEMINGER
Im genuinely astounded, that after our repeated failures in Europe under RD, that you could even consider any European progress.
My eyes dont deceive me, i know what ive been watching recently, and our performances are way below what is required to qualify for the CL.
Would you care to explain to me….how this wondrous turnaround will be achieved?
Is it Magic?
HH
What we are lacking in our team is a “joey Barton”
BSR,
Like BMCUW. I recognised McIllvanney’s style early on.
It reminded me of what he wrote about Bobby Murdoch at the time when Bobby won the
POTY in 1969.
Amongst other tributes to his ability,he went on to say that even if he got the award for one thing, it would be for how he reacted to Ferguson’s attempted head butt in the ’69 final.
Hugh officially retired yesterday and I fear that he is the last of the great sports writers.
My one regret is, that he never penned an article on the corruption that has destroyed Scottish football.
Perhaps there s a general understanding to treat the whole affair as being sub judice, until court proceedings conclude.
That, however, is the one hope we also have for the club and the external football authorities.
“Leigh missing the penalty isn’t a concern for me because I know he’ll continue to score goals,” said Deila as he looked ahead to his side’s Premiership meeting with Dundee at Celtic Park on Wednesday night.
“We had three big chances in the second half against Hamilton at 1-0. If we got to 2-0 then it becomes very hard to catch us again. It was disappointing. There’s competition to take the penalties, but Leigh is a good penalty taker. Normally he scores and he scored one on Friday.
Ronny
The Green Man says SACK THE Board on 29th February 2016 3:19 pm
I didn’t actually say we’d progressed. I said RD had done better than NL at the same stage in his Celtic career. Given that he’s doing at least as will domestically I think it’s only fair to give him the opportunity to see if he can emulate NLs 3rd season.
And again my original point was about the relative level of criticism he’s receiving. He’s being held to standards that NL didn’t appear to be. Why is that?
Geordie Munro on 29th February 2016 2:56 pm
“Ironically, I thought the one that was saved was a better struck penalty than the one that we scored from. ”
Geordie, I don’t agree. The first one was certainly poorly hit and if the keeper hadn’t gone down to his left he would probably have got to a ball hit far too near the centre of the goal. What was wrong with the second one IMO was that it was hit at waist height, a keepers dream if he has guessed correctly. To be sure of scoring the kicker has to drill the ball very low and very hard towards one of the corners of the goal (technically a more difficult skill) or hit the ball high as just about every keeper goes down to one side or other – this is not as technically difficult as the ole daisy-cutter as you have a much larger area of the goal to aim at.
I wasn’t at the game on Friday, but from the TV pictures, not one of our players “took issue” with the Hamilton thug or the referee after the potential leg breaking “tackle”. (you could actually see the intent on the players face)
Imagine the reaction from a Lenny or MON team.
The Green Man says SACK THE Board on 29th February 2016 3:19 pm
Its incredible mate.
I think there is a % of our support who wouldn’t know a football if a Stuart Armstrong pass hit them square in the face.
The gross tactical naivete and strict adherence to a deeply flawed system is scary enough but if that doesn;t concern us enough apparently there is a 5 year plan in which no signs of progress require to appear within 2 years and Gary-Mackay Steven and Dedryck Boyata are technically and mentally capable of helping us progress.
Now that is scary.
HH
GlassTwoThirdsFull
Hard to argue against your stats mate , must just be me :-))
Imagine it was Ronny in charge that season.
SPL Ross County 1 – 1 Celtic Global Energy Stadium 18 August 2012
SPL Celtic 2 – 2 Hibernian Celtic Park 1 September 2012
SPL St Johnstone 2 – 1 Celtic McDiarmid Park 15 September 2012
SPL Celtic 0 – 2 Kilmarnock Celtic Park 27 October 2012
SPL Dundee United 2 – 2 Celtic Tannadice Park 4 November 2012
SPL Celtic 1 – 1 St Johnstone Celtic Park 11 November 2012
PL Celtic 0 – 1 Inverness CT Celtic Park 24 November 2012
SPL Hibernian 1 – 0 Celtic Easter Road 29 December 2012
SPL St Johnstone 1 – 1 Celtic McDiarmid Park 19 February 2013
SPL Motherwell 2 – 1 Celtic Fir Park 27 February 2013
SPL Ross County 3 – 2 Celtic Global Energy Stadium 9 March 2013
SPL St Mirren 1 – 1 Celtic St Mirren Park 31 March 2013
SPL Motherwell 3 – 1 Celtic Fir Park 28 April 2013
SPL Ross County 1 – 1 Celtic Global Energy Stadium 5 May 2013
The Green Man says SACK THE Board on 29th February 2016 3:19 pm
At what point in NLs first two full seasons did we see progress from GS’s exploits in Europe? Or was that barometer negated by TM? Who some might say was unlucky to get Arsenal in the Play-off round.
Its hilarious when the ‘good’ Celtic supporters blame the ‘malcontents’ for our decline, by looking the other way and totally missing the CEO Peter Lawell.
Nooooooo, couldnt be Peter thats responsible.
No…lets blame our fellow supporters and ignore the mismanagement of PL and the board.
That about sums up how ridiculous it is.
Man up ffs.
Any more plaudits and i will vomit.
Its like the Oscar Ceremony.
HH
No matter what anyone thinks of Ronny’s revised view on the red card, one thing is is right about is staying on your feet.
Every game we watch, when someone “goes to ground”” and misses the ball, the ref blows the whistle.
That’s what happened on Friday, though Thompson called it wrong, as DB connected with the ball.
In Europe, the rule is universally applied, but in Scotland, it only applies to us…and therein lies the problem.
In hindsight, Derdryk could have perhaps ushered his man wide of goal, or evenhis presence could have unbalanced him, forcing him to shoot wide, or, heavens forfend, the keeper may have saved the shot.
By going to ground, he gave the ref a decision to make….and he made one.
TTT
Ah yes, – very true. I doubt we’ll ever hear the great writers inner most thoughts on the scandal and corruption.
He choses the time to retire, we have to make do with his prose, and you don’t get to where he went by rocking the establishment boat.
In the meantime we’ll just make do with Phil MacGiollabhain.
Gary67 on 29th February 2016 2:37 pm Or was he told of the reaction from supporters to his post match comments and been advised to back track??
———–
In which case we’ll soon see two up front, Ambrose in a holding midfield role and Armstrong in the middle…..
Weeminger
I referred to ‘Spirit and Fight’.
NL might not have been the best manager in the world….but at least his teams would usually show a bit.
And that is what we lack.
Spirit and Fight comes before progress.
We make the team solid first….then we progress.
Id rather have NL than RD….thats for sure.
HH
Cragleabhoy on 29th February 2016 3:14 pm
He was naïve. He was also wrong, it wasn’t a sending off. You don’t call out your player in public when you are not fully aware of the facts. He should have been 100% sure Boyata didn’t get the ball and deserved to be sent off before opening his mouth and defending a serial incompetent. And even if he was 100% sure I don’t see what the benefit of questioning a player’s ability/decision making does for the moral of the player as an individual or his teammates who will think it could be me next.
The Green Man says SACK THE Board on 29th February 2016 3:35 pm
I agreed that we do appear to lack the fight on occasion. The fact that we do see compelling performances sometimes perhaps makes that worse.
Green Man
Id rather have NL than RD….thats for sure.
Everyone would
Even the ostrich brigade who come on here and proclaim what wonderful fans they are ” cos they would never say a bad word about Ronny”
When they are alone at night in a dark room with just their conscience to guide them they can be heard howling in anguish ” get this idiot outta here”
Of course they then log on with the usual.”I am a real fan I love Ronny so I do,he is pure brilliant so he is”
Its quite amusing actually
Wont be long now,Thank God
CQN shows Ronny how!
Heaven help us is we listen to the FANS about replacing RD as manager….I well remember the jubilation at us getting Mowbray. This will be the same experts who raved about getting Stuart Armstrong but now want him punted or slagging the signing of Leigh Griffiths !!!
Leave it to the people in charge Professionals….what sort of a state would we be in if fans ran the club.
RD gives an honest opinion of Boyata sending off then provides an accurate assessment having had time to study the incident…I expect the appeals committee to do likewise.
thomthethim for Oscar OK on 29th February 2016 3:31 pm
By going to ground, he gave the ref a decision to make….and he made one
———-
Exactly. We know that refs will take any opportunity to send one of our players off or give a penalty against us (Boyata had also given away a penalty v Aberdeen for example).
The manager is trying to coach the players to avoid these situations and he’s the bad guy!
It would be interesting to find out what clip of the incident BT Sport showed Ronny.
It’s a certainty that it wasn’t the clip that showed beyond a shadow of a doubt that Boyata got to the ball
So why would they show him a clip that looked like it was a sending off when it had been already established that it was a refereeing mistake?
WEEMINGER
Its the basics.
Anybody that has ever played football, knows that you fight for your team.
I dont see that at the moment.
To me, that signifies weakness.
If as a player, you cannot fight for the jersey….step aside now.
Its about hunger and desire to win…who has it?
Imo…We are nowhere near the CL, because we dont have the managerial nous or the required quality of player.
HH
Ronny Out!!!!!!!!!
STOMP! STOMP! GNASH GNASH! RAGE RAGE!
STOMP! STOMP! GNASH GNASH! RAGE RAGE!
timbhoy2 on 28th February 2013 12:30 am
No Excuses, bad management,makes to many changes,cant motivate the players,no im afraid neil lennons decisions just aint working .and thats all im going to say.
WITS
Hail, Hail Bud.
Sometimes its hard to see the wood for the trees.
It will slowly dawn on the uber ‘good’ fans when CL qualification comes round.
Be too late then…but hey ho, they know best:)
HH
I would be much more happier if Ronnie was to lose the rag now and again, say like when Neil when was angry on the touch line and would boot the water bottle, something, anything just be a bit more angry when things don’t go to plan. Yeah Leigh can carry on taking penalties, no problem. Not what I wanted to hear Ronnie, chances are he’ll miss the next one. His laid back style of management can be seen as somebody who doesn’t really care, I’m sure thats not the case but sometimes how it looks is all that matters to the majority. Being calm all the time isn’t working – and for sure we’ve got players on board taking full advantage of his placid nature.
The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan which already owns 4 airports, the UK’s High Speed One railway and the National Lottery is planning to buy London City Airport.
That’s right, the same airport that our “owner” bought for £23.5m in 1995. At the time it was scoffed at as the investment was considered a large risk as London’s Docklands was in recession and the neighbouring Canary Wharf development was in receivership.
It has since become one of the more profitable in the UK and DD sold it 11 years later for a reported £750 million.
As we are all aware he is not a fool but a hardnosed businessman and is worth an estimated €1.35 billion
He never looked upon his involvement with us purely as a normal investment because, as he has said many times before, “Celtic is an emotional investment, although at the same time you don’t want to be throwing money at emotional investments as you could go broke pretty quickly doing that.”
Since then, he has kept a low public profile as far as we are concerned but remains hugely interested in everything that happens at Parkhead. And no major decisions are taken without his say-so.
He bankrolled MON, underwritten shares and although steptoe did the same their loyal support was anything but that and he ended up swallowing 50 million that eventually sunk his ship. Although in saying that he’s not exactly short of a bob or two while his old club flounders.
We are constantly reminded that he is an absentee landlord. Personally I prefer that to an egotist, who never follow followed the side and would rather watch chelski on his frequent first class trips hame paid for by the mugs, that sits in his wine cellar in SA plotting how much more money he can extract from the fools.
BSR , Thomthetim, BMCW
Re: Hugh McIlvanney
Back in the 80’s Hugh McIlvanneys work in the Observer was a must read…. broke my heart when he moved to Murdoch’s evil empire and I could not follow.
He could make you read a two page article on a sport that you didn’t even like, by the time you finished he had made you understand the appeal , and realised who the masters of that sport where and why we should watch them.
He wrote an article about Celtic (can’t remember the occasion)
He started the article with the following line (which I hope I am remembering correctly)
” It’s dark, its hot , it’s noisy, it’s Green…….. they call it ‘The Jungle’.
Captured our world in 13 words.
A wordsmith of the highest order.
The Onlooker
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on 27th February 2013 9:37 pm Shower of cluggers, but we just didn’t look up for it at all …… Don’t understand Commons at times….ah well, that’s the holidays cut short by a week…. –
See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/motherwell-v-celtic-live-updates-7/comment-page-20/#comments
The Green Man says SACK THE Board on 29th February 2016 3:49 pm
Why did NL get a 3rd pop at CL qualification then? He’d done no better than RD has. If it was his ability to instill fight and spirit into the team that would suggest that given his poorer European performance and relatively similar league performances he was even more tactically inept than RD is.