I got my haircut today. Sitting, waiting in line, usual habits were cast aside and I picked up a newspaper; what an alarming read. Neil Lennon was quoted as saying, “I’m not big on tactics. It’s about the players and they have to go out onto the pitch and apply that.”
I couldn’t disagree more. It’s all about the tactics. Players need to be sufficiently fit, fast and fearless but all the talent in the world can be ripped asunder if it’s not tactically well organised. I had been watching Celtic tactics closely for 20 years before Martin O’Neill arrived. Back in 2000, watching Celtic was like going to school. My eyes were opened to how a defence is organised, how to stage an attack that fits your strikers and how to buy with a playing strategy in mind.
We had seen plenty great players since our last great team: McStay, McClair, McGrain, McAvennie, Burns, Nicholas. We’d seen courage and directness: the Bear, MacLeod and Provan, and cameos from Moravcik and Larsson, but we were forever found out, a plucky team who would flatter to deceive. Celtic would regularly dominate Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen – who understood too well the importance of tactics – and lose 1-0, and we went 30 years without beating a team from a major European league.
Martin O’Neill clearly demonstrated that successful football teams are all about tactics, not the players, nor courage, not even an aggregate ocean of skill.
>90% of football games are won and lost before kick-off.
As for the on-going orgy that is dominating front pages (good grief). Get used to it. As I’ve said many times, positions are absolutely entrenched when it comes to the songs debate. Neil Lennon and Ian Bankier are in for a disappointment if they think they, or any of the rest of us, can “self-police” those who object to being inhibited from singing about the IRA. I’ve encouraged this so often I’m not going to waste my your time with it anymore.
Celtic are set for an extended period when its reputation will suffer, there is no avoiding this. Unfortunately, not everyone listens. My great sympathies go to the £X per hour Celtic stewards who have to put themselves in the front line of this confrontation.
If I can offer any advice on a related subject… Songs and banners affect individuals, who will often be selected randomly for exclusion. Lateral movement in the stands, which happened last weekend, will get an entire section of the stadium closed by Health & Safety. If this creeps back into Celtic Park there is a real risk of council action. I’m pretty sure Michael Davitt didn’t place the sod on Celtic Park before bouncing left to right and back again. It’s not a key part of our heritage, don’t pick fights you’re going to lose.
CQN Magazine, issue 5, will be out soon. After 4 issues online and shipping single copies from Magcloud in the US, we’ve ordered a print run locally. You can order now with credit/debit card or Paypal and buy direct from the UK for only £5 by clicking on the link below.
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Seanbhoy
We are all friends together
All together now
‘We’re going to win the league.’
ibleedgreenandwhite1 says:
17 December, 2011 at 20:29
Can I suggest you put yourself in a dark room for a few hours and watch it on alba later
hail hail
The Honest Mistake says:
So UEFA have ulterior motives for everything. Or only when it suits your viewpoint?
Dear oh dear.
Seanbhoy69
Yes mate North Stand bus leaving at 1pm. You?
Celtic Mac
100% agree.
MWD
I watched the Dons Hibs game today and clearly heard “Your just a hun with a whistle” being sung, who do I report the feckin law breakers to?
Eddie Smith
Getting train up tomorrow, any decent pubs in Perth?
Moonbeams WD. \o/ Supporting Neil Lennon 100%. says:
17 December, 2011 at 20:17
Saint Stivs
You seem to know way too much about knitting for a big rough Bhoy faw Gods country?
Glad you enjoyed it.
MWD
—————————
MWD,
I dont think I will be the only bhoy to admit this, but being a Knitting afficieado is the product of a well spent youth.
My granny and mum were rapid knitters, and me and two brothers sat at their knees for lessons, just to keep us occupied as weans.
My granny was the original multi tasker, smoking, reading, knitting, drinking tea, and watching tv all at the same time, while clicking out the latest Martin Bain modelled arran double stiched cross weaved number.
Going to school looking like junior clancy brothers we were the envy of our peers, well i think the rock throwing was envy.
Such was my skills as a secret knitter i was the only guy in saint stivs high school with my own lemon and white mitten style goalkeeper gloves.
fergus slayed the blues says:
17 December, 2011 at 20:37
ibleedgreenandwhite1 says:
17 December, 2011 at 20:29
Can I suggest you put yourself in a dark room for a few hours and watch it on alba later
hail hail
:D Anything is better than listening to shortbread!!!
Hail hail
Gordon64
Hail Hail mate.
hamiltontim
Im totally peed off at the moment and considering not going tomorrow. :(
mic1888
Nothing near the ground mate.
S69
no way….
you are a Celtic fan….
not a Celtic PLC fan
Celtic Mac says:
17 December, 2011 at 20:27
If you walked into George Square and raised a banner saying F*** The Council, I can assure you the police would come over, tell you to remove the banner, take your name and address, ask why you did it and possibley charge you with a breach of the peace.
If you raised a banner saying The Council Is Wrong, the police would come over, ask you what it’s about and watch you from close quarters.
If they have the wrong guy then Ross should contact Celtic Park as soon as possible and put the record straight.
Rico
Gordon64ar t
good to hear.
Enjoy the win tmrw.
My wee legs got me to the kirkhill bar today via 1 car 9 helpers 6 phone calls and 7 partridges
Seanbhoy
Very unlike you buddy. Can I ask what’s putting you off?
mic1888
Loads of good boozers in the fair city.
James Forrest.
UEFA are no friend to Celtic and never will be.
Scum of the highest order. FECK UEFA. Sorry DOWN WITH UEFA AND THAT SORT OF THING.
DIRTY THEIVING CHEATING MONEY GRABBING SCOUNDRELS.
You are pissing into the wind if you believe they are going to come to our aid at some point.
Oh! And before you mention Sion. If they were truly on the side of the righteous we would have been awarded 2 3-0 victories as soon as Sion put their team sheet in for the first game. For Celtic to have to make a complaint was beyond rediculous.
MWD
James
Thanks for getting back.
Afraid we’ll have to agree to disagree about Neil though, he had no right to question anyones intellegence, whether they be neds or not.
Instead I would be more supportive if he and the clubs board had rigourously questioned why a match commander felt fit to report our club for the first and only time ever, on fans songs or questioned the BBC’s crude attempt to slur our fans at the cup final or the match commander and Mr McAskill who felt the 90 minutes of orange fest was a great spectacle, for Scottish football, etc., etc.
Then maybe I will agree with you on supporting this manager.
Fight the enemy not your own.
hamiltontim says:
Was thinking in town, arriving at 12.45
So mallas get’s an invite to govan on the week we get done by UEFA now if that is not a trap I am a monkeys uncle .
ARE WE GOING TO FALL FOR IT BHOYS
hail hail
blantyretim
Yeah I know mate but just feel angry with everything at the moment.
May feel different in the morning.
Its not like me.
James Forrest.
Their motive certainly isn’t to be Celtic’s friend or do Celtic any favours. But keep on being condescending it’s doing you the world of favours.
MWD
I assumed the GB had ssome input as their banner was displayed in that section and the style of writing resembled that used by the GB in the past
The matter is easily solved
Those responsible some man up and claim that responsibility
The PIRA always to my knowledge admitted responsibility even for operations that went wrong
Don’t get the uber tim reference
It seems that it is the people insisting on singing things that are going to get the club in to trouble who are claiming to be better supporters than the rest
HH
Seanbhoy
We live vicariously through your experiences.
So get to the game or else.
hamiltontim
Everything mate.
Banners, board, management, fans fighting with each other.
This isn`t the Celtic Family I know and love.
It`s just getting me a bit down.
And `honest mistakes` involving them as usual!!!
croppybhoy says:
One of the GB posts on KDS, apparently admiited was GB who made the banner.
Sounds like the huns had lots of help today from the SFA officials. If we can continue with our winning SPL run we will eat them alive on 28 December. The kind of luck they are enjoying can not last surely.
We need focus though. It just won’t happen for us we need to keep working and doing the right things.
Árd Macha
Saint Stivs – Kano 1000 – Glasgows Green and Whitesays:
17 December, 2011 at 20:40
Did you say they were rabbit knitters?
Could they knit any other animals?
There is a way to fix this to everyones benefit.
All those who decides to protest in a manner that results in Celtic being punished with a financial penalty should pick up the bill. Anyone who agrees with their actions should follow their conscience and contribute to a fund that helps the boys pay the bill from Celtic. Simples – everyone happy and Celtic not out of pocket.
Rico
Moonbeams:
And you don’t think there are Objective Conditions which make what you’re talking about … difficult?
UEFA is ultimately run by FIFA. The FIFA General Council affords Scotland an undue influence. You don’t think it’s a complicated issue to over-rule the SFA? It requires an IRON CLAD case … and what many people forget is that what we have is a compelling CIRCUMSTANTIAL case … but not evidence.
If the SFA is guilty of any mendacity – and they are – can we be sure, furthermore, that UEFA have NOT conducted unofficial investigations, only to be met with forgeries or lies? What do they do then? There is such a thing as DUE PROCESS … and let’s not forget politics.
There are procedures and rules, and there is the autonomy of national associations above all. For them to interefere in the direct running of same, the complaints would have to come from a club. Do we have any evidence they’ve recieved such complaints?
UEFA’s hands are TIED … complaints from journos and fans will not spark the investigation you and I want. Like it or not, Celtic would have to act, would have to go to them and we would need to feel secure in our relationship with them if we were to do so.
Otherwise, things will go on as they are.
Croppybhoy
As far as I am aware the GB do not congregate for away games.
There were many flags and banners in and around the same area.
My Über Tim reference into all those who have never did something stupid while supporting Celtic – young or old.
They really need to get a grip and stop doing Jack’s work for him.
MWD
S69
I said to HT
it isnt all celtic fans on here so we are not fighting with each other…
I wish I had the choice because to be homest I would prefer to go to away matches than sit next
to some of the clowns who attend CP…although I do sit in the free seats next to free loaders… o)) like me..
Seanbhoy
You have my sympathies last night I was never going back, chucking out the scarf, taking the rebels aff the mp3 player and enlisting at the closest Benedictine monetary.
A text last night from a CQNer and early Mass this morning fair sorted me out :)
Sean we are Celtic please remember that and get yersel to Perth.
BT
That’s weird – I’ve never seen you there…
U
fergus slayed the blues says:
17 December, 2011 at 20:46
I’d say most likely.
Rico
Paul67,
Any team that travels to Italy to play a top side in Serie A and comes away with a draw which could easily have been a win has been coached well and has their tactics right.
I think you read far too much into what Neil said. I think he may have been trying to say that no matter how good your tactics are they are useless without the players.
He is right and every major coach I have ever heard talking about this issue has said pretty much the same.
Árd Macha
SB
Are you ok pal ?