Celtic are well behind the position they should be at this stage of the football cycle which started in the summer of 2014. This week’s two defeats are a symptom of that. A year ago, then-new signings Armstrong and Mackay-Stevens contributed to two highly credible performances against Inter Milan, which indicated we were on a positive trajectory, but pretty much every available indication since has pointed south.
Aberdeen were poor in the first half last night, but shortly before their opening goal om 31 minutes I noted that they were defending comfortably, despite our dominance. We had not made a chance which tested them. We often need a lot of possession before the goals flow.
There is a flip side to that ratio. We often lose a lot of goals compared to the possession we allow opponents. All teams take a direct approach to attacking Celtic – get it forward and shoot. Better still, win a corner. Football games are about two things: scoring goals and not conceding goals. Some work is being done on the former but I’m concerned our shape does not accommodate the achievement of the latter.
We’ve kept 4 clean sheets (Kilmarnock, St Johnstone, Partick, Stranraer ) in the 18 games since beating Dundee United 5-0 in October. Only Thistle (1-0), Dundee (6-0) and Dundee United (5-0) have lost at Celtic Park without scoring since…………… Ross County on 1 August.
Records will show that yet again we lost a crucial goal at a corner kick. What will be lost in time is the sheer panic caused by the Aberdeen corners which didn’t result in a goal. I’ve never seen a team defend set pieces so poorly over such an extended period.
There could be many reasons why we’re not in the Champions League knock out stages right now, but I’m sure the reasons we’re not comfortably ahead in the league is that defensively, our shape and organisation is not good enough. We concede too much space in dangerous areas. This is why we’re not miles ahead of a team with vastly weaker resources.
On the way forward:
It’s of the upmost importance we win the league. As it stands, we will achieve this. Colin Kazim-Richards, despite being of journeyman-pro stock, gave us a dimension we’ve not had in 18 months. He, Kris Commons, Ryan Christie, Patrick Roberts and Erik Sviatchenko will all have a positive impact on the remainder of the season.
Ronny has got a lot wrong, but he was right about one thing after the game last night, “The players need the fans’ support”. Those who suggest that anytime is a good time for recriminations probably don’t have a good grasp on the complexities of any given situation. There will be plenty of time for recrimination in June, right now, we need to keep our eye on the prize.
Win the league, then we’ll talk.
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Back to work…
Macjay every single item that happens at Celtic park is not done with the CEO approval
Take the stage manager AGM. I was informed by an executive member before the AGM that the team and its European disaster would hardly be discussed and that PL spin team had set up a discussion that while trival would take all heat of team. I asked what he said he didn’t know but it was certain
Step forward out useless chairman with his racist comments All scripted by PL to take heat away from team and his cash cow
He has to go
Our beloved Glasgow Celtic have been hijacked by a bunch of Hun loving parasites installed by an Irish wanker under the auspices of running a football club when in fact they are just a bunch of self serving technocrats who have found a place to hide while bleeding a gravy train till their tenure becomes untenable
Seems I get too frustrated….every post I spend time on seems to be causing my phone to freeze….and as much as I like making a pithy comment….it doesn’t really add to the realities…..
or just maybe the reality is the CQN server can’t handle the traffic…..whatever it is…..phone contract cancelled….checking out, out for reconnect options ;-))
H.H.
THELURKINTIM on 5TH FEBRUARY 2016 3:34 AM
I had a spell earlier when logging on to C.Q.N. was impossible.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 5TH FEBRUARY 2016 2:16 AM
SYDNEYTIM SAYS SACK LAWELL NOW on 5TH FEBRUARY 2016 2:28 AM
I know you guys are absolutely sincere.
However,you believe that these guys are yes men who rubber stamp Peter Lawwell`s every whim.
I`ll need a bit more than the assertion.
Board of directors
Position[186] Name
Chairman Ian Bankier
Chief Executive Peter Lawwell
Financial Director Eric J. Riley
Senior independent director Tom Allison
Independent non-executive director Dermot Desmond
Independent non-executive director Ian Livingston
Independent non-executive director Brian Wilson
Company secretary Michael Nicholson
The Celtic Trust and the newly formed Peter Pan Brigade (Bhoys who never grew up) are lobbying for Peter Lawwell to be replaced by Camilla Batmanghelidjh. As she is known for your bright-coloured clothes, she has promised to wear only variations of green, white and gold and is commissioning a designer range of “UP THE RA’ brooches.
Membership in both organisations will be reduced to one penny and a new joint organisation called The Green Eyed Trust Brigade will take over.
If successful, all monies in Celtic bank accounts and all other club and PLC income, will be distributed among members, in brown envelopes, every Saturday on the The Celtic Way, until the money runs out.
Of course the football club will then have to fold, but at least all the greedy B******* employed by the club will have gotten their comeuppance, however a new foodbank for ex-employees will be set up to ease the pain of losing their jobs.
A crowd-funding advertisement designed by Angela Haggerty, will be inserted in The Herald,The Sunday Herald and The National, blaming the club’s demise on Dermot Desmond, Peter Lawwell, John Reid, Brian Quinn, Lord Livingston, Brian Wilson, Brian Dempsey, Willie Haughey and Fergus McCann.
A private prosecution will then be sought charging them with being in positions of power at the club, with some of them facing the most serious charge of drawing a salary.
MR PASTRY on 5TH FEBRUARY 2016 3:56 AM
Do I detect a muted note of sarcasm ?
The Celtic board aren’t – gutless or, naive…
….no, they’re not….
…..but, they are….
Sleekit, Complicit, Dodgy, Collusive, Under-Hand, Fly-As-Jilers…
…oh yes, they are….
Eddieinkirkmichael on 4th February 2016 10:05 pm
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Keeping it simple….
You either, don’t mind being took for a mug…
…or, you do.
HH
“The Quest stands on the edge of a knife.”
I tell you what. God made a heck of a story, it’s a nailbiter right until the very end.
Oh Ronny Ronny.
Come on Ronny D, keeping the Faith.
Celtic are bringing up the level of Scottish fitba already with the best players, patience is required, ooh just a little bit.
I hope this Board stay strong. I also hope the Support react the right way if the Board up the ST prices and take away the 2 games for the kids. Stop buying Season Tickets.
You are fodder, if that is the reality.
You can still go to EVERY game, ffs, noone now expects RONNY DEE to get to the CL league. Be Bold Fenian Men like yer Forefathers. This is it.
Best management set-up in the country…
…Robbie Neilson & Craig Levine….
…don’t write them off…ghosting in at the back….
…Best young manager in the country…
…Jim McIntyre ar-la….Big Alan Stubbs imho
…I expect cheap digs about mentioning…Craig Levine…
….guid, bring it on….
…Big Levine has a guid eye for a player and….imho…
…he should have been given the Celtic job instead of BTM…
…Big Levine was given the Scotland job to shut him up highlighting the ‘honest-mistakes’ benefiting the huns to keep them alive whilst, the collusive Celtic directors….looked the other way.
…Big Levine’s performance in front of the SMSM in the immediate aftermath of, Dundee United’s mibbery-robbery at the orcdome would have,…if I had anything to do with it…got him the Celtic job the next day as, WGS was starting to empty the stands at CP….even though, weeks later…WGS’s team won 3 in a row…this was a double-sided-sword…imho…it meant that, WGS stayed at CP…one year longer than he should have and, let his wee-man-syndrome-condition get the better of him as he, blew 4 in a row for the Celtic fans.
…Won’t be long until, the puppet-WGS is wheeled oot again to tell us all how, Scottish football will be elevated to new levels with the return of, Hibs and…the un-punished Rangers….
…Anyway, Big Levine created what was, necessary anarchy in the Scottish game what with, his ‘constant’ highlighting the mibbery to help the huns and…previously…the SFA fined him for being outspoken about p#sh poor refereeing at Hearts games….Big Levine made it clear to the SFA that, they could fine him all they wanted….he’d be paying no fines. Now, had I been in control of Celtic FC at that time…WGS would have been mutually consented and, Big Rebellious Levine would have been made Celtic manager. Being spoiled for choice at that time….Big Mark McGhee had Motherwell playing well in those days and…imho…could have done as good as if not, a better job than his pal…WGS.
…Who knows, one day we might see a set-up similar to the Hearts one….
….Big Levine & Robbie Neilsen….
…Big McGhee & Jim McIntyre ar-la…
…hmmmmmmmm……
….oot…
Noone now expects.
withold the SB’s.
Be Great for Celts to meet other Celts. +
That ST thing was never good for the Working man.
Debt is BAD.
Brilliant comment KJ.
Ar~la max respected Celtic after beating us.
He’s a hero to Dumbarton.
He was cute as anything using the MIBs, I wouldn’t dae it myself, Everyone in Scotland knows Celtic can be manhandled.
He has a Professionial Job and he has to get the Very Best out of his players. Tremendous player.
Interesting page,
First up
St Stives, Celtic was never a vanity project to DD it has always been about making money, his plan was to get Crltic into the EPL and sell up, that’s no happening so it’s now to try and get into some sort of hybrid euro league and sell up, Meanwhile keep the company ticking over healthy enough for milking.
Sidneytim, I think if lawwells KPIs were changed he’d make a decent job of improving the club, he is also in line to be our full time place man on the SFA and in UEFA, so he won’t be going anywhere until those positions become available.
Fitba boss on the beeb
http://bbc.in/1X6IK8s
HH
Good morning fellow Celts
A few poor performances on the back of a few good ones – too inconsistent but we have seen worse performances
My solution for anyone getting too fretful about the impending return of the sons of deidco
change them more often and use loads of Sudocrem
It worked wonders for my weans…
Canamalar,
I Hope Ronny D has Celtic Park Full soon.
Feck that ST nonsense.
It’s the norm, paid now we COnTROL all that you FeEl.
Leadership?
More Standing areas please.
A lot more.
EVERYONE, apart from… has decided we ain’t making the Holy Grail.
What is the Holy Grail?
Money is not it and I may be unique, I don’t want to be involved in an Elite competition.
Wonder will we ever see an article on here about the performance of our CEO ?
No debt so probably be seen as a successful one, our club has become a laughing stock..awful signings every window and then duds we can’t get anyone to take off us.
Goooooooooooood morning CQN
Bring back biiiiiiiiiig Joooooeeeeee
Hail Hail
And thinking of joe(bo) it’s a fresh morning here in ML1… Spring awaits and golfing weather soon… The type of weather that champions like to play in, with surfaces that we deserve.
I love the Celtic and I’m happy to wake up a Tim.
Win, lose or draw…
Darn the hair do we care
pyfird
larssonse7en on 5th February 2016 6:48 am
And thinking of joe(bo) it’s a fresh morning here in ML1… Spring awaits and golfing weather soon… The type of weather that champions like to play in, with surfaces that we deserve.
I love the Celtic and I’m happy to wake up a Tim.
Win, lose or draw…
Darn the hair do we care
***************************************************
One of the Greatest and Naturally Humble, is Jobo.
……………………………………………………………………………………………
Runner
I Want to Give you Devotion…….
Don’t be a Snob, hey I got a Great Seat. ;))
ST – Feck them
MR PASTRY 356
Ah,The Boys Who Wouldn’t Grow Up. Love it,very witty indeed.
The rest of your post is in much the same vein. You’re just Tony Donnelly wi a spellchecker.
Yeshua….. I’m talking about the mega comfy seats.
Switzerland is?????
Always give the….
;))
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omfiVkkJ1OU
Good morning friends and a Big Happy Friday from a damp underfoot but currently rain free and mild East Kilbride.
Take care of the mighty East Kilbride this weekend and then start to dream of a Hampden in the sun double clinching afternoon in May ;-)
Christ Risen.
Jobo The Great Christian.
KevJ
I think there is a a younger and more qualified manager who has won more trophies than Jim ar la under our noses, Ronny Dee……..as for Neilson & Levein next you’ll be telling us Annie Budgie would be better than Peter ?
Off oot to work and by the way I listened to SSB last night (glutton for punishment) all through McCoists dismal leadership they refused to talk about a manager while in a job, last McCullough justified their “attacks” on our manager by saying that they had no other calls about anything, on that note play into their hands it takes the heat off the rest…..
HT ….. Get out of your kip the bell is about to go in 90mins
When you really think about things.
Wow, How Incredible is God?
And I mean the God of the Bible – The Word, God.
Remarkable.
God is the Word.
HeresJohnny………
Can’t see anything changing at paradise unless there is some form of protest outside the ground or something to make the board realise a majority of fans are not happy.
I don’t support a boycott of games but boycott of Celtic shop is something I did silently for couple yrs.
Unless something is done we will continue to get cheap options on the bench and on the field with a successful money ball signing every few years to sort a certain bonus out
Rumours on SM that Ronnie is away.
Those that subtly undermine the Divinity of Christ, Islam does it blatantly, not got a problem about that on a Celtic Forum, nae problem whatsoever.
Anyone from a Christian background denying Christ….. Wow…. Wow.
hold on a wee minute.
Anyways, Carry on my wayward Son. There’ll be peace when you are gone… Biblically reversed.
Gerryfaethebrig on 5th February 2016 7:33 am
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Hail Hail tae ye Gerry ar-la….
…Aye, you just keep happily-clapping…young Ronny Dee and, my prediction of the 10,000 attendance figure will be reached….brilliant eh.
BTW, I don’t think that you’ll find that Anne Budge has stuck-in any Hertz fans to the polis…..pity the same canny be said about yer hero Pete the p#sh ripper….eh.
SSB ?….What is it with these supposedly clued-up Happy-Clapping Celtic supporters that….they canny see that….the Tims on SSB who know that Ronny is a dud…pile the pressure on but….they didny shine the light on Sleekit coz….the longer he was at ibrokes….the better.
More cuteness required…..me thinks.
Take care Gerry and, stay safe…
HH
Jerry Cornelius on 5th February 2016 7:51 am
Rumours on SM that Ronnie is away.
………………………………………………………..
Lies and gossip, that you should Never listen to.
I’m Embarressed for you, Like many, say Ronnie, other than Ronny.
Ronny is his Name.
Give him that respect at least.