Craig Levein has taken lulling opponents into a false sense of security to a new level in recent months. The only win they have had since March was against Championship Inverness in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
A draw against Hibs their only point from the last 21 available in the league. By any conceivable measure, they are in the worst form of any club in Scotland. After winning their opening five games, Levein was feted for his wisdom and general ability to restore “natural order”.
That must seem a lifetime ago to their supporters, who fancy themselves as the third force in the land, but have to contend with second in the capital and sixth overall. They remained top of the league until November, when the wheels came off, initially in the league, and then at Murrayfield, when a transformational performance from Ryan Christie set the scene for Saturday’s treble.
Over a 45 minute period, Celtic found their golden touch and Hearts realised their place in the food chain.
Despite this, the champions have work to do to win on Saturday. They have already lost to Hearts this season and lost heavily last term. The first half at Murrayfield, played without Christie, who will also miss Saturday’s final, was sobering, as we struggled to create a chance worthy of the name. Just as Aberdeen did in the Scottish Cup semi-final Hearts will turn the final into a physical battle. This is all they have in the locker. We need to be prepared.
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TRADITIONALIST88
It’s kind of growing on me.
TRADITIONALIST88 on 23RD MAY 2019 2:39 PM
Its easy to set objectives, you agree to the ones you think are realistic or you don’t sign up to the project because of the damage it will do to your reputation when you’re inevitably fired.
___
It’s true, Moyes could have sat on his hands and waited for the right job. It would have helped his reputation.
Look at how every single aspect of life at Celtic is analysed on this site. The CEO, major shareholder, scouts and everything else is taken into consideration. The same should be the case with Sunderland and Real Sociedad. Teams on a downward trajectory.
“Rooney, Giggs, Hernandez, Nani, Van Persie, Ferdinand, Evra, De Gea, Smalling and Vidic were all there. And he signed Fellaini and Mata.”
You can list a bunch of names but apart from De Gea, the guys on the list were in decline but still under contract.
Manchester United needed a major squad overhaul and they have a CEO who couldn’t get the job done. Fabregas was identified as a signing and they ended up with Feillaini a guy with a release clause. Mata was surplus at Celtic.
Ed Woodward’s ability to manage the football side of that business is quite frankly a joke and the club is still paying for it.
They still need a complete overhaul of the squad.
Trying to think who the new manager will be,as it’s being reported that Celtic have requested a large police presence,to me it’s either Mourino or Benitiz,or David Becham.
TIMALOY29 on 23RD MAY 2019 2:51 PM
‘You can list a bunch of names but apart from De Gea, the guys on the list were in decline but still under contract.’
Rooney played with Man Utd till 2017 and is still playing professional football. Vidic went onto Inter for 2 years. De Gea was a top young keeper. Nani, Smalling and Hernandez are still playing and Van Persie has just retired.
Wouldn’t agree Real Sociedad were on a downward trajectory either of any seriousness. After Moyes finished 12th in 2014/15, they finished 9th then 6th in subsequent seasons. For illustration in 2012/13 they finished 4th. And they havent been out the top flight since 2009.
HH
This is all 6 years later. They were all still top players.
HH
TIMALOY29 on 23RD MAY 2019 2:51 PM
‘You can list a bunch of names but apart from De Gea, the guys on the list were in decline but still under contract.’
Rooney played with Man Utd till 2017 and is still playing professional football. Vidic went onto Inter for 2 years. De Gea was a top young keeper. Nani, Smalling and Hernandez are still playing and Van Persie has just retired.
This is all 6 years later. They were all still top players when Moyes was at Man Utd.
Wouldn’t agree Real Sociedad were on a downward trajectory either of any seriousness. After Moyes finished 12th in 2014/15, they finished 9th then 6th in subsequent seasons. For illustration in 2012/13 they finished 4th. And they havent been out the top flight since 2009.
HH
ignore initial post above – formatting error
Trad- the traffic warning is fake…
Could all the delusional fantatists,malcontents,attention seeking fruitcakes AKA Lawwell haters at least wait until Celtic actually fail at something before unleashing their tripe on us.
Of course to a large amount of these loonies we fail everyday
fail to bury Rangers,fail to end world poverty ,fail in europe,fail commercially blah feckin blah
Boring lads and actually quite sad that grown men who claim to support one the most successful sporting organisations on the planet pour their heart and soul into hating the CEO of said sporting organisation.
There was a post the other day which claimed Lawwell was responsible for Celtic losing over £100 million
Nuts …
When thinking of David Moyes as Manchester United manager, remember the words spoken by Martin O’Neill when asked about becoming ManU manager. He said he would be only interested in replacing the man who followed Ferguson..
!!BADA BING!! on 23RD MAY 2019 3:11 PM
Trad- the traffic warning is fake…
====
Aye, thats what the Football Scotland website link said,
HH
WITS
How do you lose £100 million worth of nuts?
oh wait, i misread that :-)
TRADITIONALIST88 on 23RD MAY 2019 3:10 PM
I think you misunderstand what decline means. Rooney is still playing but he’s never going to find the form he had in the early years under Ferguson. None of those players have really gone on to prove Moyes wrong have they? They have either retired or moved further and further away from the elite level expected.
I already pointed out De Gea is the exception.
Big names and reputations but they were past it on the park. Torres is still playing professional football but he’s miles away from being a “top player”
___
Wouldn’t agree Real Sociedad were on a downward trajectory either of any seriousness. After Moyes finished 12th in 2014/15, they finished 9th then 6th in subsequent seasons. For illustration in 2012/13 they finished 4th. And they havent been out the top flight since 2009.
_____
Moyes inherited a team one point above the relegation zone. Is it more relevant that they finished 4th two years before?
He got them to a respectable 12th place finish but it went all wrong the next season.
The club has been up and down since then and hasn’t had a coach last for more than a single season. Do you believe that’s the sign of a well-run club?
No matter who becomes the next Celtic manager, there will be people who will disagree with the appointment, and, as always, it will be PL’s fault, por cierto.
TIMALOY29 on 23RD MAY 2019 3:25 PM
Of course they have now moved further away from the elite level, it was 6 years ago Moyes took over there.
Its quite simple. Moyes underachieved given the resources he had available, therefore he was binned.
Likewise at Sociedad.
And probably at Everton too, though we may not have known it at the time.
HH
TRADITIONALIST88 on 23RD MAY 2019 3:39 PM
TIMALOY29 on 23RD MAY 2019 3:25 PM
Of course they have now moved further away from the elite level, it was 6 years ago Moyes took over there.
___
1 year, 2 years, 6 years or whatever. Most of those players were past their best and their career progression shows that.
If you honestly think that the likes of Vidic, Rooney and Ferdinand were still top players then you couldn’t have been watching very closely.
I really hope Lenny doesn’t do social media.
I want us to beat Hearts at the weekend in the cup final. With the manager we’ve got.
Who, in my eyes, has gold-plated his hero status by wading in and saving us when the sitting tenant cleaned us out and did a moonlight flit.
If we win and I see Lenny beaming and holding the cup out on the turf, it will be right up there in my treasury of legendary Celtic moments.
Monday’s fine to talk about the new boss. But first, we have a cup to win – and a treble treble.
TIMBHOY2 on 23RD MAY 2019 2:55 PM
Trying to think who the new manager will be,as it’s being reported that Celtic have requested a large police presence,to me it’s either Mourino or Benitiz,or David Becham.
…………………..
As long as its not Victoria Beckham.
HH
Trad- oops….;)
TIMALOY29 on 23RD MAY 2019 3:25 PM
Of course they have now moved further away from the elite level, it was 6 years ago Moyes took over there
___
1 year, 2 years, 6 years or whatever. Most of those players were past their best and their career progression shows that.
If you honestly think that the likes of Vidic, Rooney and Ferdinand were still top players then you couldn’t have been watching very closely.
=====
In football terms the difference between 1 year and 6 years can be the difference between night and day.
If Karamoko continues on his current trajectory wait till you see him in 6 years.
Wayne Rooney is still only 33, so 6 years ago he was pretty much at his peak.
When Moyes took over,Vidic was only 30, Rooney 27, Nani 26. Hernandez 24. Smalling 23. Van Persie 29. Evra 32 and naturally fit, went on to Juve for 3 years!
So hardly all over the hill and in decline.
Giggs at 37 yes. But the above highlight that Moyes had a good side and he underachieved.
Therefore he was binned.
Great what a few hard facts can tell us.
HH
Hearts reveal plans for Scottish Cup celebrations if they beat Celtic on Saturday
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/hearts-reveal-plans-for-scottish-cup-celebrations-if-they-beat-celtic-on-saturday-1-4933304
How utterly presumptuous of them. I’d be pinning this up on the dressing room wall for extra motivation.
;)
HH
WITS@3:12-absolutely spot on ,can you no give it a rest please.You are all just speculating on iffs or mibbes
Catman or Lennybhoy, please put us out of our misery and give us a hint on the new manager?
HH,
CaliBhoy
Jo Cundy @ 2.50
Thanks for asking me about Zagreb. I have only been there once so don’t know it very well but i suggest that you follow up one of these links:
Croatia Celtic supporters Club
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Nonprofit-Organization/Celtic-Supporters-Club-Croatia-KN-Celtic-Hrvatska-419590708128752/
Sheridans Irish Bar (they don’t actually list football on their site I saw people talk about watching the Euros there.
https://www.sheridanszagreb.com
Or possibly?
https://m.facebook.com/One.Happy.Hooligan.Republic.hr/
I have found it difficult to see matches when I am out there. let me know if you succeed for future reference.
Hravtski Jim, thanks for that, I’ll let you know how I get on. Link on tablet last refuge of the scoundrel as usual though!
CALIBHOY on 23RD MAY 2019 4:43 PM:
All the focus right now is on the treble treble.
Until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Moyes ??????
I ask myself – if Moyes was offered the Huns before Slippery would he have taken the job ??
I think he would have
Meaning he just wants a job any job be it Celtic or anybody else
I doubt his motivation to be our manager
Having said all that I wanted Moyes after Lennon first time around – we ended up with Rony
Back then I thought he was the sort of manager we should be getting
Time changes a man and its changed my view
Moyes – not for me
67ECW
Trad@4:06
Everyone does that including us, BTW?
Lennybhoy, how did I know you were going to say that. Thanks for the response.
HH,
CaliBhoy
Lennybhoy,
Quien es? ?
Davie Moyes? Please God no.
Dull defensive style of football.
Won basically nothing in a Long and not so illustrious career.
A horrendous fit for a club wanting to win rather than not lose.
Would be interested in Sevco job.
Ex Rangers supporter.
Thought Rangers death was a tragedy (i beg to differ)
If that’s the best we can do I much rather have NFL at least i know he cares.
LENNYBHOY on 23RD MAY 2019 5:17 PM
All the focus right now is on the treble treble.
——–
Cryptic? Let’s see:
Focus? Part of a camera..
Camera takes photo of cows..
Cows are near, those are afar
Afar backwards is…….
RAFA !!!!!!!!!!!!
LENNYBHOY on 23RD MAY 2019 5:17 PM
CALIBHOY on 23RD MAY 2019 4:43 PM:
All the focus right now is on the treble treble.
and that’s the way it should be , there’s a trophy to be won , concentrate on the matter in hand and leave all the speculation from the blog until next week.
Absolutely brilliant to see some sensible posts on here amongst the myriad of general tripe, conjecture, opinion dressed as fact and speculation.
WITS – exactly & RON67 – I seldom agree with your usual succinct posts but you summed up my thinking exactly! (Jobo seconded that, expected as I seldom disagree with my fellow Scotland supporting but FTsfa ???)
The decision on future manager will be what it will be. Please no Moyes.
In the meantime, I absolutely cannot wait for this season to finish. I need a break and a pre season never mind the players, management and staff.
To achieve what we have over the past 3 seasons is actually quite remarkable. This season, with the ongoing shenanigans has been absolutely draining. Thankfully, as KT says, the Mhan who stepped in to save us has, along with the players, got us to this final position for the final push, in the final….. 3 finals in one sentence, surely that’s an omen ??
Anyway, one last hurdle to overcome Bhoys. Forget everything else until after 5:30pm on Saturday 25th of May and focus on Scott Brown lifting that trophy to add another chapter to our illustrious history. No fake news, speculation, deflection and especially downplaying of our achievements.
This is monumental. Beyond my wildest dreams, growing up during the 90’s. Unprecedented in footballing history the world over – it’s that big.
A treble treble!!!!!!!!! 9 trophies on the trot ??? ??? ?????
I honestly can’t think of anything, anything else. I’ve even tried to stay off social media.
And this is how I’m feeling as a mere fan. Players and management are human too – what must they be feeling?
We need FOCUS… and the players and management need SUPPORT Regardless of who plays. Back everyone of them 100%, believe and Keep the Faith??
90+minutes from adding to our record of record making and record breaking achievements.
Please Celtic, please… just do this.
Hail Hail ??
67 European Cup Winners on 23rd May 2019 5:17 pm
Moyes ??????
I doubt his motivation to be our manager. Well I remember an interview he did from years ago when he said it was an ambition of his to come back to Glasgow to manage Celtic , who knows how things would turn out sometimes its the sure things that let us down and the unpopular ones that make the difference for us …. cue Doris Day Que sera sera …..
Mikey Johnston – answering the silly questions
LARSSONSE7EN on 23RD MAY 2019 5:52 PM
well said, good post.
Larsson7,
Spot on good post.
Anyone got a spare ticket?
Eurochamps67
BSR @ not long ago (©️BSR??)
Thanks again for the links to the ‘fishul’ pressers.
What strikes me most about the young players coming through is not only their ability on the field but equally, and as importantly, is their sense of grounding, their maturity in dealing with the press, their professionalism and the articulation of dealing with ‘loaded’ questions from experienced churnalists with agenda.
Come on the Hoops??
COYBIG ??
Hail Hail ??