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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By day I’m ‘Mike in Toronto’ but on Sunday ‘I’m Neil Lennon’ says:
17 December, 2011 at 16:08
and Paul67
Not only is this the key issue facing Celtic there is actually a process that could be used to address it.
You will not be surprised to hear Paul that I wrote to Celtic suggesting how the issue could be tackled. I could probably use the same material for an articlle.
Kevtic
So the Bhoys who made the effort to travel to Italy a couple of weeks to support Celtic are no better than huns?
Kevtic says:
18 December, 2011 at 00:59
ffs nobody died
A couple of weeks before Christmas….
macanbheatha says:
18 December, 2011 at 01:04
zactly…. tho, after the game the wife made me watch a turn from x-factor, and I wish I had
Kitalba and others who asked about my views on Lennon …
Yep. After the Killie game (and indeed, quite a lot during it) I thought it was over, and I would have been in favour of Lenny walking. I still think failure to stop 4IAR should be met with severe consequences, but with the caveat they should not fall on Neil Lennon alone.
But he did work a miracle. He found the team spirit again, and I suspect I know when it was. It was the day Commons turned up at training in his “I’ve been battered” get up. There was something about the clip they showed on the news … the body language looked different, from the whole team. Lenny, when interviewed by the press after it, seemed like a different guy.
I hope he is backed in January. He needs it. Although I blamed him for that night at Kilmarnock, that and whatever was going on behind the scenes, I blamed more the people I believe had limited his options and denied him the players he wanted. I believed, then and now, that if Lenny pays the price with his job that the people who allowed him to go into this season without key personnel should pay with theirs.
He has learned more this season perhaps than he would have otherwise though. Despite us not winning the title last year, we were magnificent and he achieved much under considerable, and awful, pressure. This is the team we saw flashes of last year, during a great run. This team, which should have won the treble last year, and we came so close, will win it this year.
JimmyQuinnsBits says:
18 December, 2011 at 00:59
wot… in the world… is goin on
admittedly, I’ve only been dippin in tnight, but it looks like a lot of the time was takin up discussin a banner… a banner!… with a wee sweary word, against an institution that – by any definition – is corrupt. Context? Screw the heid? The press have made this, and its a non-story.
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UEFA is the same organisation that ruled that Celtic after being knocked out of Europe should be allowed back into the competition. And we thank them by displaying a stupid banner. In every Celtic website we are told the whole of Scotland is against us so why make enemies with UEFA?
Grass and stupid.
No the press have not made this, it was solely the stupid idiot on the same scale as the idiot that hurled a bottle at the cheating Austrians all those years ago.
When will Celtic elements (not fans) take responsiblity for their OWN actions? They need to grow up and stop picking fights with the world.
JimmyQuinnsBits says:
18 December, 2011 at 00:59,
Correct.
I posted last night that our manager was attacked live on television and I think the home club escaped sanction, that’s without mentioning the Edinburgh jury.
A football manager attacked live on television. It does not get much bigger than that.
Perspective how are ye.
We are letting our enemies dictate the agenda.
We need to treat them with the disdain they deserve.
Árd Macha
just in.
dont know the mood of the blog, but just in case, just to remind anyone, saint stivs is an UFB.
and so onto Moravcik67 best celtic video ever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2ZKQfp7D6U
Kevtic says:
18 December, 2011 at 01:09
Kev, aye… ah know they did. Wot am I supposed to do, state that – because they ruled for my club – they’re absolved of the corruption we all know goes on?
I know the banner wasn’t aimed at that corruption, but I’m not goin to pretend I give a gnat’s fart about any banner against them. Does it harm our club? Insignificantly I would argue. I would guess – and I have no evidence for this – that the majority of club supporters around Europe would see no issue with that banner, there’s worse things going on.
Had Celtic gone through the other night and got drew against ,say Man u or Man city do es any one think that uefa would,ve been concidering anythig else other than the money they would,ve made out of us
CELTIC =Kerching in uefa’s eyes
Some people in here are just as bad as the media, still talking about this fkn banner get a grip.
Cheating our team out of points for weeks now and now today and all you lot can talk about is a fkn banner.
I’m tryin to be really objective here. I have no truck with conspiracy theories here.
I’ve always enjoyed the Herald as a newspaper above all in Scotland, and would’ve expected that paper to pick up on some of the main issues over the past few years.
Hearts are imploding – where is the investigative reporting. Rangers are heading for admin, possibly insolvency – where is the investigative reporting. Ranger Chief Exec has been previously barred from directorship, has several companies under different names and dates of birth – where is the investigative reporting.
I remember the press when the debt was being called in for Celtic. The contrast is sickening.
There are numpties in our support. There are numpties in every support. I don’t understand why this is a major news item
Hi CQN/nightshift.
macanbheatha says:
18 December, 2011 at 00:49
So the banner will damage our reputation ?
Well we see how many clubs stop inviting us for testimonials and the close season tournaments we are denied entry to .
There;s more to the world than a hurting jim traynor and hugh keevins.
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Just to let you know that, Hugh Keevins is a hurting Tim, just like the rest of us!
Jim Traynor ??? The jury hasn’t returned yet!
Btw, If Uefa are going to go down a hard road about, illicit songs & slogans then, one has to ask…….
1. Why don’t Uefa sack Hugh Dallas ?
2. Why don’t Uefa punish the SFA for NOT sacking Dallas ?
3. Is Hercule Piorot looking for an assignment ?
Hail! Hail!
Yes it does you would need to be pretty dim not to see that and not really interested in protecting the good reputation of the overall Celtic support.
Paul67 stated “Celtic are set for an extended period when its reputation will suffer” does this mean there is a campaign against the club by elements trying to set their own agenda?
Árd Macha says:
18 December, 2011 at 01:09
its blatant
Saint Stivs – Kano 1000 – Glasgows Green and White @ 01:15
Never tire of that video.
The one second to that for me was always Fortress Paradise, but it disappeared. Hope whoever created that can get it back on to youtube.
Kevtic says:
So if Paul says it ,it must be so ?
I don’t believe even Paul think s he’s the font of all Knowledge
macanbheatha says:
18 December, 2011 at 01:20
Had Celtic gone through the other night and got drew against ,say Man u or Man city do es any one think that uefa would,ve been concidering anythig else other than the money they would,ve made out of us
CELTIC =Kerching in uefa’s eyes
—
You are deluded if you think Celtic register at all in UEFA’s thinking.
PORTO v MAN CITY – who needs Celtic ?
oh, and by the way… I’ve been one of those numpties… who hasn’t
Kev,
think we all agree it was wrong… but the reaction has been a bit over the top?
HH
JQB
So the world wide Celtic family doesnt really exist?
Must visit the Man city sc the next time I’m in San francisco New York Melbourne , Cape town , Berlin , ……….
JimmyQuinnsBits says:
18 December, 2011 at 01:24
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The situation has become messy because, there is not one person on the Celtic board/hierarchy/PLC who has, the b###s that Craig Whyte has!
By that I mean, CW percieved that, the BBC(lol) had it in for not only himself but, the club as a whole!
CW took the bull by the horns and, banned the BBC!
Now, contrast the BBC’s treatment, lets say, from the SCF onwards of Celtic FC and, compare the reactoins ?
CW is a dyed in the wool hun where as, the Celtic hierarchy are, money-men who couldn’t give a flying feck how the club/fans are treated by the media just as long as, the hierarchy/PLC have the Celtic fans money in the bank!
The only people who will fight the Celtic fans corner is, the fans themselve’s! IMO!
Hail! Hail!
KevJungle – “Lennons Lions Get Ready To ROAR!!!” says:
18 December, 2011 at 01:25
Just to let you know that, Hugh Keevins is a hurting Tim, just like the rest of us!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He certainly disguises that well with each appearance on Snyde he makes.
His imbalance when commenting on the strengths and weaknesses of Celtic and rANGERs is risible.
He may very well be hurting,but i doubt very much “just like the rest of us”.
FOREVERANDEVER!!!
reactoins = reactions
KevJ,
Could just about stomach you defending the misguided McNee,…but Sneevins????
What are you on??? Current times are even more sinister than they were during Gerry’s time 10 yrs ago.
Sneevins is covered in filth.
Have you tried phoning him directly on his wee radio program that attracts a listening audience of c40,000 huns?
Anyway, Kev,
an interlude
Wee Omara…. wot a voice… a wee song for Che
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4r6HV3FfwI
Viva Cuba!
Admittedly, I’m only an armchair revolutionary… as long as ah can shoot em from my chaise longue ;)
Kevtic
What do you do to enhance the reputation of the Celtic support?
James Forrest is Lennon says:
18 December, 2011 at 01:08
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You hint that, or rather speculate that, if(heaven forbid) the huns get 4 iar then, more heads than NL’s will be chopped ?
I think that the time has come for the Celtic support at large to, examine the credentials or otherwise of ourselve’s…..the twelfth man ?
I mean, it’s in our nature to be, faithful through and, through but…..surely the penny has dropped that, we’re not all in this together ?
By that I mean, the bored/hierarchy/CEO/Fans are, imo, NOT all pulling in the same direction ?
KevJungle – “Lennons Lions Get Ready To ROAR!!!” says:
18 December, 2011 at 01:25
I really should’ve used the the term “greetin” hugh keevins etc
Wots important, in my wee humble opinion, is your attitude to your fellow man
I was in a bas in Ballyshannon earlier this year, and had a bawlin argument with a tosser… on his complaints about immigrants to his lovely wee town. He didn’t get the hellish irony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkS-AUL-BuA&context=C39ed05fADOEgsToPDskJ97ztPPVih52JJDtYnWBYU
bas = bar
bloody iBeer
KevJ,
2 mins in.
Sneevins after a Russian was stabbed by the huns in Manchester.
Let alone his disgusting smears on Celtic, and dismissal of anyone that talks sense against the mince he talks on his internet radio shack shower of pish…this should be warning enough to you to be careful who you praise:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5ifiPznYFJk
Fortunes Favour Mibbes says:
18 December, 2011 at 01:46
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Chillax FFS man!
Hugh Keevins, Mark Guidi and Ewing Greame are, imo, OK guy’s!
Btw, I talk to Hugh Keevins on a weekly basis and, I find no fault with him!
But, I will say this….there is a huge chunk of Celtic fans who think that, HK should be fighting all of Celtic’s battles, in print or, over the airwaves but, you know what….even if there is a hurting-Tim inside HK, why should HE be expected to fight battles on Celtic FC’s behalf when, Celtic FC/PLC won’t even fight their own battles ?
I mean, do you think the guys DAFT ?
Hail! Hail!
Oh F@@k ( sorry uefa ) look at the the time but must go and put on my sack cloth and ashes as I’ve a pilgimage to Croke Patrick tomorrow ,Well some one has to attone for all those terrible sins those youngins committed the other night
Hope when they move the young Brigaders out of 112 they make sure to put in the sofas ,foot stools and comfy shawls for their much older ( but far less vociferous) supporters, Sorry ,customers
Mediocrity ,don’t ye just love it?
Oíche mhaith
Fortunes Favour Mibbes says:
18 December, 2011 at 01:55
KevJ,
2 mins in.
Sneevins after a Russian was stabbed by the huns in Manchester.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Whats the beef ?
125,000 huns don’t go to ibrokes on any given saturday, just like the, 100,000 Celt’s from Seville don’t go to CP any other week ?
Further more…..If we don’t want to be linked with the huns, and we/fans don’t then, why do the people WE pay to run ‘our’ club, jump into bed with the huns at the drop of a hat ?
“Smell The Glove/Coffee!” CSC
If its good enough for Whisperin Bob and Jools…. well
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooTyuRd9zSg&feature=relmfu
BABASONICOS71 says:
18 December, 2011 at 01:38
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It’s all about opinions M8 and, as a great man once said “opinions are like, a###holes, everybodie’s got one!”