Negatives out of the way first: we’re not good enough, this is a low achievement by a Celtic team who have reached a group stage. There’s no disputing that, but amid the predictable ‘Throw them all overboard’ reaction, I know I’m not the only one who is not panicking right now.
When I heard we were playing three wingers (Forrest, Mackay-Steven, McGregor) I anticipated a thrashing. Gordon Strachan would often drop all his craft players for the more industrial types in European football, with good reason.
As it turned out, we had the majority of the chances, and all the better ones, as we spent most of the second half pushing for a winner.
No arguments with Leigh Griffiths assessment immediately after the game, that was his worst performance in a Celtic shirt. Nor is there dispute in Ronny Deila’s retort that he’s scored plenty for us before and will continue to do so. Even the greats have days like that, including the Swede.
The midfield formation was fluid throughout the game. Tom Rogic initially played as a defensive mid, before moving in front of Stuart Armstrong (who moved everywhere) and Callum McGregor. The defensive mid role Rogic played isn’t one carried out by either Nir Bitton or Scott Brown. We’ve not had anyone in this role since the departure of Victor Wanyama (still pining) and it remains a large gap in the offering.
Lesson: we need a defensive mid. The deep lying playmaker + box-to-box player isn’t robust enough in Europe.
Callum McGregor carried possibly the lowest expectations of everyone in a Celtic shirt but he put in an excellent shift. His goal was outstanding, losing possession immediately before Ajax equalised took the shine off things a bit, but it was still a strong performance.
Do you know the last time McGregor started a game? October 2014. Under those circumstances that was a remarkable performance.
General consensus is that the defence played well. Kieran Tierney is as good a left back as we’ve had in years. Had he not gone off with an injury the result might have been different.
Jozo Simunovic is clearly out best central defender. I know I’m not setting the bar too high with that statement, but he’s a move in the right direction. He’s also young, still working on his fitness, and will continue to progress.
A week ago Celtic Underground’s Harry Brady suggested Dedryck Boyata plays better alongside Simunovic than without him. Dedryck still has a long way to go but the evidence suggests partnered with a game-reader like Jozo has helped him. Let’s see where he is at the end of the season.
And Craig Gordon? He could have stopped both Ajax goals. That’s not to say he was to blame for either, he wasn’t, but these were the kind of stops he was making in last season’s Europa League.
Ronny is 18 months into the job and has contributed to the situation we find ourselves in (tactical mistakes in both Molde games), but this is not the time to lurch off plan. We’re not good enough largely because we’ve recruited too few players since 2012 who have improved the team.
We need to continue to develop players like Tierney and we need to recruit better. Get this right in January, and again in the summer, and we will be vastly better. The alternative is likely to be to pick up a best from the SPFL pool, or someone from the English circuit who cannot get a better paid gig. And then it would take until November 2017 before we could assess them properly.
Return of the Bampots
Tonight, for one night onlyt, Phil Mac Giolla Bháin, John Fallon and myself are in the Hibs Club, Carfin, for a Q&A in aid of Mary’s Meals, with Phil Agnew hosting. The event starts at 7:30, £5 entry, can pay at the door.
Looking forward to seeing you there.
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CRAIG GORDON doesn’t believe there’s anything wrong with a manager having football ideals.
He does believe, though, that to go with them you need a streak of cold-hearted cynicism – and that’s something naive Celtic are missing.
The Scotland keeper was left staring in disbelief as the Scottish champions saw their European season expire in miserable fashion against Ajax.
After the 2-1 defeat on Thursday, Celtic have conceded 15 goals in their past seven games – a statistic Gordon knows will never win them any prizes and few matches at that level.
Despite that, assistant manager John Collins insists Celtic will never change their approach – but would the keeper rather see more pragmatism in front of him to lessen his exposure?
He shrugged: “We could go down that route and there are ways to stop teams playing – but we are an attack-minded side. Overall, it was an open game against Ajax and the balance wasn’t too bad. We didn’t give away many chances.
Rob Casey/SNS groupDespair for the Celtic defence as Ajax equalise
“It’s about being clever at the right times, though – about having more experience and making fouls when we are caught a bit short.
“We are probably a little too nice. We let the opposition play and there probably isn’t enough aggression.
“We didn’t give away a lot of fouls to break the play up. We need a bit more cynicism but there isn’t a lot of experience in the team – hopefully we can add that to our game.
“Obviously we missed Scott Brown in that department but we’ve other players to fill that role. We need everybody to take up the slack that’s created due to Scott’s absence.”
The question remains, however, over whether manager Ronny Deila has a cynical enough streak – and whether he’s learning from the painful experiences of the past two seasons in Europe.
Asked whether the Parkhead gaffer was streetwise enough, Gordon insisted: “I think he is well aware of that side of the game.
SNSCraig Gordon has a good relationship with Celtic manager DeilaCraig Gordon has a good relationship with Celtic manager Deila
“But we don’t really have too many players who have that in their game.
“So it is asking players to do things that are maybe not their natural game but at the same time they have to learn to do those kind of things as well.
“The manager is learning lessons though. We changed formation against Ajax – it was more of a 4-3-3 than the usual 4-2-3-1.
“At half-time we altered things slightly in our set-up to get two players sitting when we were defending but to leave only one sitting when we were going forward to try and influence the game.
“We changed things a little bit and although they had the ball at times and were playing it around the box, they didn’t trouble me too much.
“But bottom line, we have not had a great campaign. We have been close but not close enough.
“It is disappointing but we are certainly a good team and have to grind out the results better.
Watch as our boys discuss the Bhoys European failings..
“The manager has been fantastic with me. I have absolutely no complaints about him whatsoever.
“He is a good manager. He is also a young manager and hopefully people will bear that in mind. He has come here and taken a massive step up. Overall he’s done pretty well so far.”
Gordon admits Celtic now have a long six months ahead with nothing but domestic duties to keep them warm through the winter.
But he’s man enough to admit they have no one to blame but themselves.
He sighed: “It wasn’t a bad performance against Ajax but it’s just the same story again. We have not delivered.
“We’re not out just because of this one game, it’s the effect of all the other matches. Drawing from 2-0 up in games. The double-header against Molde.
“It felt like groundhog day to concede late on, especially when we had a corner – the amount of things that went wrong in the lead-up to that goal was crazy.
“We could have stopped it a couple of times and made better decisions right across the pitch. It is hard to take.”
Despite the pain of another exit, however, Gordon does see cause for optimism – particularly in the growing stature of Jozo Simunovic.
The keeper said: “It’s a young back four and at times against Ajax we dealt with the threat quite well.
SNS GroupJozo Simunovic
“We kept high lines, our shape was better and we won most of the first balls up. Defensively, we weren’t too bad.
“Jozo is a good defender. He’s a young boy and still settling in. There is more to come from him.
“He’s a good player. He’s quick, we can play higher with him in the team as he has that recovery speed. He can also become a leader for the team.
“Jozo will come out of his shell more and more given time and I think he can fill that role.
“Ultimately, though, it feels bad not to have Europe to look forward to after Christmas.
“We have been in every game, we’ve had chances to win every game and should have more points.
“All we can do now is respond the best way we can by winning matches in domestic competitions.”
The Harp Club is located in a old church, in Dumbarton High Street.
dumbartonharp.org/
Jobo
From Celtic Bars
DUMBARTON – DUMBARTON HARP CELTIC SOCIAL CLUB 141-143 HIGH ST, G82 1LE, (Tel: 01389 602 842) (Dumbarton Harp CSC) http://dumbartonharp.org/
DUMBARTON – LENNOX BAR 137-139 HIGH ST (Tel: 01389 730120) (Dumbarton Shamrock CSC)
Best phoning ahead and checking
HH
CRC
Canamalar on 29th November 2015 9:30 am
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To put it another way…..of the 22 trophies that the huns stole….how many were Aberdeen close to winning?
I would say that, Aberdeen were denied the treble in 1990.
Yes 1990.
What is conveniently forgotten here is….in, 1989 Mo Johnston signed for the huns in July blah, blah but…here me out….fast-forward to November 1989….weeks after Judas scored the winner v’s us ibrokes…Scotsport’s Jim White, gleefully interviews Judas…
JW – “So Maurice, did you sign for Rangers over, Celtic…purely for the money?….was it as simple as that?
MJ – “No Jim, they both offered me the same deal but, I had a £150,000 tax-bill hanging over me from my time at, Nantes which, Celtic couldn’t look at but, Rangers took care of it for me.”
For me….I’d say that the entire David Murray era should be wiped out.
Aberdeen and all the other clubs are, probably waiting for Celtic FC to make the 1st move…hence no statement.
Then again….maybe the crafty ole celtic board have asked all the other clubs to stay out of it until the time is right?
Me?…..I think that the Celtic board are privvy to some details that would indicate that, if this case against huns ‘isnt’ actioned before a certain time….it will be time-barred!
I know that yer goodself and, Auldheid and others are not dafties but….I think that there is a danger there that, you could all be ‘too’ trusting of the Celtic hierarchy….dont make that mistake…please.
HH
HH
BT – Cheers, I’ll pass that on.
So the Inverness pitch was playable at 7:30am. But how will it be five or six hours later? I’m a bit worried about the fame going ahead in very poor conditions.
Anyone know who carried out the inspection? Was it the match ref?
Vale Bhoy and CRC – thatnks for that. Info passed on.
Aff oot for a bit ;-)
lionroars67 on 29th November 2015 8:48 am
I read that article and find myself in sympathy with it.
I don’t know all the ins and outs of what took place to bring us to the divided pass where we find ourselves.
I had an interesting conversation yesterday with CST stalwart who has put in many years working for supporters. It was on Twitter and unfortunately it came across as if I was playing the blame game.
I try not to do that. Blame just puts folk on the defensive.
What I was suggesting was both sides taking responsibility for their part in what has become similar to the poppy on the jersey issue ( a stick to beat Celtic with) .
In that case the CST and CSA worked with Celtic to get a solution and eventually one was found. It was found because it came in Celtic’s best interest to do so.
I think the LW is entering that territory where the parties, not just the CST but representatives of the wider support try to reach an accommodation in the right spirit.
One of the teachings of Ignatius Loyola is discernment through the Holy Spirit and the one I like is “by their fruits shall you know them” If we replace “them” with “it” then few would disagree that the LW issue has produced bitter fruit for the Celtic family.
Sticking with lessons we can learn from scripture we are told that of all the gifts of the Holy Spirit – Faith Hope and Charity, then charity or love is the greatest and never ever fails.
My conclusion therefore on the LW issue is that charity in the biblical sense had to be missing in the discussion process. I don’t know where but it had to be absent.
Another Jesuit, author of Unconditional Love , says that in order to recognise if real love (charity) is at play a person has to check their motives honestly. My experience validates that point.
Human beings have an amazing capacity for doing wrong (ie not loving) by telling ourselves we are doing right. Wars can result in the worst cases.
So whilst the parties should get around the table to come to an accommodation, if they approach it in anything but the spirit of love/charity the fruit will still be bitter.
Auld Bertie,
39%, then there’s the loan which is’nt being paid back but costing the club interest in perpetuity.
Then there’s the preferential shares, then there’s his proxy for BOA and a few other corporate shareholders.
He has made very very sure that any take over will pay him handsomely, obviously his master plan is to get to the EPL before selling out to anyone who will give him the kind of money he wants, think his pals at manure.
Dont kid yourself that when money like that is being offered he will even give the lip service Murry did about the right people, the club will be dumped like a stone into the lap of the Klu Klux Klan if they had the money, because they have a great history.
THE GLORIOUS BALANCE SHEET on 29TH NOVEMBER 2015 9:42 AM
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I’m guessing here….I think that the Celtic board have had meetings with the other clubs boards and, have asked them to stay silent till the time is right.
But….I wouldn’t trust the Celtic board as far as I could throw them.
I fear that, too many ‘well meaning’ individuals may have been taken-in by Celtic’s board and, that could prove fatal…from a justice against the huns…pov.
HH
The bloody blog is so bizarre & predictable that it has it’s own macabre fascination.
We start the day with Kev J’s daily diet of ye are all fools, Celtic has lost it’s soul, then TD67 basically saying Eff ye all I’m going for a pint in the Brazen then off to the game. Various other players repeat themselves in different ways. NegAnon descends like the Ghost of Winter Past whenever the team has the temerity to disappoint and the various other players enter & leave for their cameo roles.
There is of course pathos, comedy and tear inducing decency at various times, there is plenty of nostalgia and every now and then a flounce as a player leaves the stage permanently. Then there is the joy when a goal is scored or our team win, that is the moment I live for, All differences are put behind and for a brief moment we are all together in a worldwide cyber huddle.
But very soon that moment passes and the macabre dance resumes.
AULDHIED. The greatest one is love.That fella as you and I know is a most difficult concept for us humans to follow but like you I am sure, we must try harder without it we are as a booming gong. H.H.
If Gordon made 3 saves more than he did in our Europa League campaign instead of falling on his arse, we would still be in with shout of qualifying for the later stages.
Time to be rested Big Man.
I just love how the board haters and storm troopers in here think that the rest of the Celtic support know FA about our club, and that they have the answers, pompous arrogant left wing Orginisers who read a couple of books on socialism, as someone said yesterday, a little knowledge is a very dangerous thing, very true.
Gooooood Morning CQN
Plugging 10am mass this morning as had a late and Great Green Night oot, that 67Heaven even had me up dancing :-)
Onto football matters
COYBIG
PHILBHOY
so it’s Gordon’s fault now?
Win as a team loss as a team, naw?
What’s love got to do with it?
Cheating is cheating.
Dont be feart…speak out…call the basturts out!
To sit at the back of the bus is, to shame the hoops.
corkcelt
And you of course? We are not worthy?
Scroll on by dododo
Scroll on byyyy dododo
Ok, forget trying to raise money, to buy him out. Whingeing on CQN it is then. Easier and doesn’t cost a thin dime. P.S. Fergus didn’t want to reward failure, but he held his nose and paid them.
Craig Gordon is a victim of his own success when he first came into the team he had some great games but mind you he had a good solid back four in front of him.This season with an ever changing back four he certainly has not been as good.Maybe a wee break of a few games would do him good as competition for your place can spur you on. H.H.
KevJungle
Why don’t you try and answer your own question?
You might be as surprised as I was with the answer.
auld bertie
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Dont try to raise money….pool the SB-money and,inform the board / DD / PL / etc that, the only way that the celtic fans money will find it’s way into the club will be, in exchange for DD’s
shares….take it or, run the club out of his own pocket.
Celtic’s history books could be doing with another page of rebellion written into them.
HH
Auld Bertie
Now I could be wrong
Several seasons ago, DD got a special motion passed so he could hold more than 29% of our shares, whilst many many had their shares diluted into some other type of shares whereby they are basically worthless.
Anyone now wanting to buy out Dermot, and take a shareholding above this 29% , would need to make an offer for the entire shareholding
Not many people around in Scotland with a spare £70m +
I know one of those Celts for Change stars you quoted posts on here, you may want to ask him about the personal abuse, being spat on etc he took form fellow Celtic fans for taking the course f action they did.
Again my personal opinion, some of our current bard members are in the wrong movie, sort this out and there would not be the discourse we have at present
Hail Hail
My friends in Celtic,
Interesting :-
“auld bertie on 29th November 2015 9:10 am Interesting comment from a poster, that Negnon, Latchford are ‘businessmen’. And no doubt there are others who contribute to this blog, who either have personal wealth or have access to outside finance”
——————————————————————————————-
Question : Can a “real businessman” be socialist. ? Or are we talking champaigne socialist. ?
Celtic have been getting an absolute pounding on here re the Living Wage. It is the morally correct thing, no doubt, but often, in fact nearly always in Business Finance comes before Morals.
With reference to the quote above :- I believe actions speak louder than words so I must assume that all the businessmen , those with personal wealth and those who have access to outside finance on here pay all their employees the LW. I would subsequently assume that the persons categorised above also use their undoubted influence to ensure that their businessess only deal with similiar ethical companies.
Surely this is a logical assumption ?
HH.
Auldheid
_________
You’ve lost me…what question?
HH
Canamalar
Klu Klux Klan?…..you ment the Ku Klux Klan, I knew that, but some in here would call you thick for not knowing that, or even correct you on your spelling, or your English, Me? Doesent bother me, just saying like, and you ment Murray, not Murry, I knew that.
TONYDONNELLY67 on 29TH NOVEMBER 2015 10:03 AM
I just love how the board haters and storm troopers in here think that the rest of the Celtic support know FA about our club, and that they have the answers, pompous arrogant left wing Orginisers who read a couple of books on socialism, as someone said yesterday, a little knowledge is a very dangerous thing, very true.
At least they can read then.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/some-perspective/comment-page-35/#comments
Kev J. What love has to do with it is the question you need to answer ? Well off to mass bye for now. H.H.
and wouldn’t matter how they are spelled, you’d still be telling everyone to be faithful through and through if they were in charge, cause you know your place
TD – are you sure that some uni student didn’t shag your burd way back (whilst you were out grafting) ? all you ever go on about is imaginery left-wing, activist, read a book about it, didn’t attend the university of life types. Its like listening to the yanks and the allies slagging off “the enemy”. The same syle of “propaganda” that’s been used to slag off the blacks, the micks, the refugees. I hear what you are saying about getting behind the team no matter what – but ffs.
Believe me the majority of Aberdeen fans have no appetite for a fight with the Scottish authorities. Undoubtedly the majority of their fans can’t stand “Rangers” / Sevco, but they are not mad keen on us either.
Personally I would never align myself, or put much faith in fans who sing about Jimmy Saville etc, etc.
EVEN IF ITS DEEMED FOR THE COMMON GOOD.
HH to all Bhoys and Ghirls. Safe journey.
Lot of talk about the difficulties of buying DD out.
If unpalatable to some, the simplest way to get rid of DD and his placemen, is not to try and buy him out, it is to simply with hold your money from him.
That’s exactly my point. Celts For Chane are heroes ! When we are all gone, I cam imagine many books been written about these guys, mental anguish abuse etc? These businessmen on here NegAnon et al, know how to arrange finance etc, but they won’t, look at the excuses already, DD has diluted other shareholders holdings. Buy him out reverse the draconian decision. But they won’t, will they? They have never said anything cogent to remove DD etc. Moan, moan, and moan. But, hey, negative is the new positive ain’t it. Aye, the 1990s were such fun, compared to those days, we are in Heaven. Commence the moanings.
Morning Timland from a cold but sunny hun free mountain valley.
Canman
I knew I was right, it was late and I honestly couldn’t be bothered getting into it, and it just seemed at the time easier to agree :-)
HH
To cut a long story short…..
Jeanette Findlay and her ilk should get the keys of Celtic Football Club.
Johnny-Claude-Van-Damme-Collins should get the keys of the dug out.
The dressing room motto should be – Shape-up or, ship oot.
Every Celtic S-B holder should get a Celtic strip for free.
Every seat at CP should be fitted out with a green & white hooped flag.
The ‘Celtic’ section of the North Stand should have the seating removed and replaced by, new modern standing area but…It should be re-named – The James Edward McGrory Stand and…get this…the ribbon-cutting ceremony should see, Gerry McNee, wearing his sacred Jimmy McGrory Medal as he and Billy McNeill shake hands and jointly cut the ribbon.
Numbers should be put on the shorts again like ‘real’ Celtic teams.
That’ll do for now.
HH
Auldheid 09.53
Not sure how love, hope and charity fits in with the disciples of global capitalism currently holding positions in the Celtic boardroom, I saw your exchange on Twitter you have referred to, you lost me with your analysis then as you have done again this morning, sorry but this issue is solved by the board using the power and full control they have to sign up fully to the living wage in keeping with the charitable founding ethos of the club
Quonno on 29th November 2015 10:27 am
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Hear, hear fella…hopefully they’ll listen to you.
HH