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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MR PASTRY on 5TH FEBRUARY 2016 10:10 AM
As I understand it his total remuneration is about £1m.
So in comparison to the data I’ve provided he seems to be getting over the market rate for the size of the business he runs.
I thought you were looking for information to allow you to make an informed judgment of the matter and I was only trying to be helpful.
If you wish to maintain that his pay is the appropriate market rate for the post don’t let me, or any evidence to the contrary, stop you.
If there’s one thing we can learn from JM Barrie it’s that fantasy and imagination are way more fun than prosaic, hard nosed reality.
Árd Macha
True, but when you see the likes of Real Madrid and what they do.
There will be many who won’t because of the meddling from above, but there will be a sackload of applications when Ronny leaves, a DoF should be the first appointment imo.
HH
Ernie
———
If he has paid for it and provided work for builders (who also pay tax) – I say fine – I don’t tell people how to spend their own money.
….and if the Scottish Government fo the decent thing and apply the 1p tax rise – Peter will pay an extra £7/8k per year in tax – his contribution plus that of tens of thousands of others could prevent thousands of low paid council workers thrown out of work – there are many sides to complicated stories.
Exiled Tim
I’ll be jealous of you and PL when you dudes have a heated toilet seat.
That’s luxury my friend…
Dream the impossible dream.
Wow, it seems I am in the small clique on here of never having owned or a ran a business clique.
My business is bigger that your business clique.
Money ball clique, not for me. Football clique, hurrah.
HH.
Since July 1st 2015 Celtic have played 44 games.
Since July 2nd 2015 Aberdeen have played 31 games.
Greenpinata
La clique, c’est chic
Davidopoulos
I have one of them, it called the wife :-)
HH
The board didny like MO’N with all his – “I’ll decide when the time is right if I stay here at Celtic, or the decision might be made for me by the directors so, nothing can be ruled out at this stage.”
…..the board didny like the fact that, MO’N wisny a puppet, shackled by a confidentiality clause…..so, MO’N could hold a gun to the boards heid ie: in terms of having backing for players and was capable of cutely rolling in the odd grenade or, two to keep the board on their feet.
Things have improved greatly with the PL managerial puppet show….which has cut the quality of the product in the dug out and, as a consequence….has cut the quality on the field….brilliant eh.
I said the other day that, I had heard of Celtic’s directors having a fancy for, Wigan manager Gary Caldwell if, Ronny is to be replaced.
Well….the stadium is half empty just now….would bringing in GC bring more fans into the ground….if the story of Celtic’s interest develops into anything ?
THE EXILED TIM
I laughed out loud.
Laters, things to do.
Exiled Tim
—————-
Should Peter Lawwell who is resonsible for the well-being, probity and solvency of the club, meaning that everyone need have no fear over receiving their wages – be paid less than most of the established first-team players who get paid whether they play well or not – and generally 25% of the time don’t play at all?
MR PASTRY @ 8:59 AM,
Hope all’s good, you are obviously a smart fhella, some while back you called RD right (when I was a believer) you even called Wednesday’s Aberdeen game right and much in between.
But that 15% to the CEO of all negotiated deals is an absolute nonsense I’m afraid. In many industries Companies would be glad to make 15% Gross Profit – Your talking 15% in the sky rocket?!?!?
There was a trader I knew back in the day, he was one of the top in the City. He was known as Mr13%, because that was the average return on the funds he managed. Way above the 4% you could get in the bank.
How much did he get, 10% of the return I.e. 10% of 13% or 1.3% of the Fund.
That’s a top Hedge fund Manager who made a very tidy living.
15% on all deals… Joking – By the way all money that comes in goes into the team, but I guess you already knew that..:)
Hail Hail
Once again,as you all bicker,and argue among yourselves,the SMSM stick it to our team and fans once again.Sensational headlines about the IRA all over the press.Absolute nonsense,once again,but is it any wonder they are having a ball at our expense,when the check out the content of the blogs.Our manager getting slaughtered daily,for being top of the league.Not a murmur of protest from our fans.They are too busy,like some on here,pushing out the old,tired,and pathetic,PLs driveway crap.
At this moment I really am ashamed of a lot of my fellow fans.
TGFITW,my arse.
Turkeybhoy
Good post!
But…………………..I’d like to see the club do something about the lies the smsm continually print to undermine the manager, fans, club.
Martin O’Neill, when he was manager at Celtic successfully sued the arse of loads on newspapers.
You just need a half decent brief and a director with balls!
Just back from CP, got my tickets for Sunday. Still plenty left, no queues.
Same old shoite being spouted on here regarding Ronny, doing the farcical media’s job for them by promoting their agenda against our club. You probably cannae wait to get to the newsstand in the morning, pathetic! You deserve each other
gsu
Can someone point out to me in layman’s terms what the arguments in court have been lately regarding the Sevco entity etc.
Why have Green and Ashley been arguing one thing and Sevco and now the SFA arguing the other.
Genuine question folks!!!
Árd Macha
So the action to be taken is to go out for a beer with a mate and have a good moan
Greensideup-GBWO on 5th February 2016 11:01 am
Leave the media out of it and Deila is still utter gash.
TurkeyBhoy
Enjoyed your post yesterday(?) about the support and how your opinion of our support has nosedived.
The ‘greatest fans in the world’ thing is a claim made by many different clubs but we just don’t do the ‘support’ bit very well at home games.
Look at Argentinian games – South American clubs are struggling at the moment but the passion is incredible whether their teams wins or not. Same in the German lower leagues – many of those clubs only aim is survival but they turn up to support their teams vocally. We turn up and the majority sit in silence and you can only imagine how depressing it’d be if not for the GB. Anyone can jump about and sing when you’re 2-0 up on Fenerbache or just scored vs Ajax but where are we the rest of the time?!
It was the passionate support that helped get me hooked on Celtic but you have to go to the bars or on away trips to find that comradeship.
Hopefully the standing section will be a catalyst for reigniting the home ‘support’.
HH
Despite all the money he had to spend Martin O’Neill inability to sign a decent goalkeeper cost us dearly. It cost us as least one League Championship – remember that 3-3 draw against the dead club – and possibly cost us a European Trophy.
And when he arrived he had some brilliant players already in place, perhaps the best one we’ve ever had.
Black Sunday too was a league thrown away by a manager who the players knew was leaving. Remains worst day ever watching my team.
Gordon Strachan won every league available to him, except the last one when the players knew he was leaving.
We need to get behind the manager and the players and look at our options in the summer. We are approaching the half way point to the ten. We could have been there already. Let’s not blow it again.
Here we go. Ten in a Row.
Eyes on the target Bhoys…
traditionalist88
Reasonable point to make.
It’s easier to get enthused and passionate about your club when you feel like part of it and part of the community – where there is a common goal everyone is striving for.
Maybe some supporters feel they are viewed merely as customers? Whether that is the intent could be debated but in my view a supporter’s perception is their reality.
BRTH
Interesting post yesterday re how the European Superleague is being planned and organised along with potential competitions with MLS clubs.
Though having read your posts in the past about new media and the internet changing the face of football for the better I was a bit alarmed at your conclusion that the likes of Celtic, Ajax, Porto etc were in danger of being left behind and that in 10 years we wouldn’t recognise ourselves unless we got our finger out.
I just wondered what brought about the change in attitude, something concrete or frustration at the status quo being slow to change?
I thought Lawwells comments in November about being more confident than ever of structural change in European football were encouraging. Or have we been locked out of the real talks?
HH
MR PASTRY
‘So what would you pay the CEO of a £60/70 million turnover company – a CEO who negotiates and brings in around £30 million per year in commercial revenue?’
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Firstly,the days of turnover of £60/70m are long gone,down by over a third from that.
Secondly,our commercial income,in total,is nowhere near that sum.
Thirdly,most of our ‘commercial income’, as you describe it,comes from simple merchandising. From the retail operation,set up long before PL,and the result of all those boys who never grew up buying Celtic kit,etc.
You might be able to use a spellcheck,but you’re not much good as a defence advocate.
winning captains,
Good post. I enjoyed reading that.
Árd Macha
Well….if the board had signed Broto when MON wanted him, instead of dragging their erses so that he would miss the euro-deadline….then, Broto would have played Seville…imho
House of cards / rudderless ship FC
WINNING CAPTAINS
True, but the players liked Martin O’Neill and Gordon Strachan!
:-)
Clique Quick News
….oot zzzzzz……..
Ok, may not be able to follow the blog today.
If anyone is kind enough to post a response to my post @ 11.07, I’d be grateful if someone could let me know.
Árd Macha
Davidopoulos
True. I suppose like anything its a result of a number of factors. Treated like customers, treated like criminals, the size of the ground, the weather, early kick offs, tiny away support most weeks.
That said I thought there was a good buzz around the ground when we faced Aberdeen at home in October. Huge crowd, chants originating at both ends of the ground which has been a rarity.
The support is there, the passion is there but a lot of fans with concerns about the future on so many fronts at the moment,
HH
TRADITIONALIST88 @ 11:35 AM,
That’s interesting, could you point me in the direction of BRTH’s post please.
BTW: I have tried to google it:)
Hail Hail
ARD MACHA
Not a Scooby!
Favourite / best CFC managers since I first went to a game:
1- MON
2- Wim Jansen
3- Gordon Strachan
4- David Hay
5- Neil Lennon
6- Billy McNeil
7- Tommy Burns
8- Dr Jo
9- Kenny Dalglish
10- Frank Connor
11- Lou Macari
12- John Barnes
13- Ronny Deila
14- Tony Mowbray
WINNING CAPTAINS on 5TH FEBRUARY 2016 11:33 AM
Despite all the money he had to spend Martin O’Neill inability to sign a decent goalkeeper cost us dearly. It cost us as least one League Championship – remember that 3-3 draw against the dead club – and possibly cost us a European Trophy.
And when he arrived he had some brilliant players already in place, perhaps the best one we’ve ever had.
###
So he inherited a lot of good players and had a blind spot when it came to goalkeepers.
Not unlike Jock Stein then.
Mr Pastry
We are obviously not going to agree on Pedros salary, so we will have to agree to disagree.
But IMO, the most important person at a football club should IMO be the manager~coach and they should be the highest paid at any football club.
Sadly we are not a football club first and foremost, the PLC comes first at Celtic.
HH
Chairbhoy
will repost below
HH
Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan supports Oscar Knox, MacKenzie Furniss and anyone else who fights Neuroblastoma on 4th February 2016 5:26 pm
dim sam on 4th February 2016 2:55 pm
You are spot on with your observation that in a potentially two horse race for the title (if it could be called that) we started out 6 points in front and were essentially winning by two games with an extra point thrown in by way of goal difference.
With all due respect to Ronny, we have seen it before ( especially in Europe ) where we have a lead – even a slender one – and we undo ourselves by charging up the pitch like the like brigade on an away ground when there was no need to.
We never seem to adopt the tactic “Make yourself difficult to beat and see if you can sneak a goal”.
We never seem to be good at “playing without the ball” and blocking of space and players.
Sure Johnny Hayes hit a rasper last night – but in all truth had I been quicker, jumped in my car and driven two hundred miles, and hobbled into Pittodrie with my torn ligaments, there is an even chance that I might have still reached the ball before a Celtic player.
There was no defensive midfielder to stand in front of Hayes and just make a nuisance of himself let alone challenge for the ball!
To find that time and time again is not bad luck, happenstance or the rub of the green it is plain bad coaching!
Re TBB’s idea of a European league – I much prefer that to the idea of joining the EPL which is just not going to happen now or ever.
The European Superleague is already being discussed, planned, organised and prepared.
The cross Atlantic challenge between the superleague clubs and the MLS is already being discussed and the TV rights negotiations are under way.
This will be a league organised outwith UEFA and the FA and it will be all about money and status – cue Guardiola jumping to City and attracting big players for huge money – just to get a foothold in that league.
We are with the also rans and unless the likes of us, Ajax, Benfica, Porto, Feyenoord, PSV, Anderlecht and others get their act together then to be honest we will not recognise ourselves in ten years time at all and there will be no need for a TV gantry at Celtic park or any other ground in Scotland.
Sorry to be so negative but the commercial writing is on the wall.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/where-we-are-and-the-way-forward/comment-page-7/#comments
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