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Alarming words from Neil Lennon

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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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  2. Ten Men Won The League on

    After 1 or 2 excellent saves earlier, a howler from Cerny allows Carrick to put Man U 2-0 up

  3. hen1rik on

    67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon..!! Tick Tock !! says:

     

    18 December, 2011 at 13:11

     

    Been reading back and pleased to note that we are all starting to agree that nothing has changed thid season…….they are all ensuring rankers ‘get the required result’……(too late now though….Tick Tock) ……….. it’s sometimes minor ‘incidents’ that finally convince you ‘they are at it’………for me, it was where a foull ws given for Artur “carrying the ball outside the area” (when he obviously didn’t)….. I could not believe it…….you see goalie’s actually carrying the ball over the 18 yard line all the time, and referrees just ignore it (they are actually running back up the park, with their back to the goalie, but not that MIB)……..we are still up against it….!!!

     

     

    share

     

     

     

    Spot on m8, I have emailed a few people regarding this and let’s see what comes of this.

  4. jinkyredstar cuts it back for Neil Lennon on

    Bhoys

     

    Anyone know if there is a ‘Portsmouth Landlady’ type pub in the West of Oor dear Green Place where a chap could enjoy an illicit 90 mins

     

    Hail hail

  10. gourockbhoy on

    67 Heaven

     

     

    I believe that free kick was flagged by Francis Andrews who was tha Asst Referee that day. Can’t recall that offence being flagged in SPL before or since. Of course you are correct Artur was a good yard inside the box when releasing the ball. Funny how we almost always lose the league when it gets close ? We have to build up a decent lead to make them think it is pointless trying to cheat us.

  11. Sandman Is Neil Lennon on

    It’s that time of year agian.

     

     

    And for any children reading, a timely warning:

     

     

    Santa is watching.

     

     

    Don’t lie.

     

     

    Don’t be greedy.

     

     

    Don’t betray your friends, or thos ewho once loved you.

     

     

    Because if you do, Santa will sort you out.

     

     

    Santa will turn you into a washed-up, skanky, bloated Hun b*stard, kids.

     

     

    And if you don’t believe me, just look what he did to tihs horrible little traitorous nyaff:

     

     

    http://willievass.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/171211-Rangers-v-Inverness/G0000Y49Wepv7KHw/I0000vIqnN6tq3tY

  13. fergus slayed the blues on

    Mick says:

     

    18 December, 2011 at 13:00

     

    No offence meant ,I just think we should be wary of new posters in the run up to the 28th .

     

    What do you think of the public showing of Judas and mallas ,Idon’t think the timing of it should be lost on any of us bhoys ,

     

    I wonder if a man removed in shame from his post would be there as a guest of the hosts or in a personal capacity .

     

    If invited ,why them? and why now ?

  18. fergus slayed the blues on

    gourockbhoy says:

     

    18 December, 2011 at 13:25

     

    67 Heaven

     

     

    And I believe that inexplicable decision that day did not have an adverse effect on his career ,he has ,I believe risen through the ranks of the sfa to European games .

     

    Was he not officiating at our game against the mini’s last week

     

    hail hail

  19. CaolisCFC on

    Bhoys

     

    Anyone know if there is a ‘Portsmouth Landlady’ type pub in the West of Oor dear Green Place where a chap could enjoy an illicit 90 mins

     

    Hail hail

     

     

    There will be plenty of places – problem is that not many will advertise the fact!

     

    If your pub ever shows the AlJazeerah version of Sky or the Polish (Czech?)channel that shows Italian fitba, then a very good chance they’ll be able to get todays match live.

  21. pauloantony on

    I think lenny should pull a previous statement out prior to the 28th

     

     

    All that we want on the day is a game free from honest mistakes… To be able to look back at the officials being talked about for having a good game without incident

  22. TopCorner on

    Jimmy Traynor last night said that he was over in Holland this past week

     

     

    checking out a club called Feyenoord !

     

     

    apparently, they’re not allowed to buy folk !

     

     

    have to bring thro their youthies only

     

     

    says that the stadium’s full-up with supporters rallying round

     

     

    i got a very strong sense of Jim tryin to say to his “fellow fellow” rfc fans – look lads, its all gonna be fine – when the brown stuff hits the fan, even other big clubs like F can handle it, see ? …

     

     

    some history of the case (never read it myself but its there for you if you like) …

     

     

    http://www.allarts.nl/filelib/file/2785et-theecjxcasefootballclubfeyenoord.pdf

  26. Kilbowie Kelt on

    Jinkysredstar.

     

     

    Station Bar or Lovat, Yoker.

     

    Chandler’s, Clydebank .

     

     

    Any of those should meet your needs.

  27. fergus slayed the blues on

    hen1rik says:

     

    18 December, 2011 at 13:16

     

    Spot on regards THAT DESISION ,that was the clincher for me also .

     

    In all my years of watching football ,I have never seen it given .before or since .It gave Falkirk a shot at goal 18yrds out in the centre of our goal with 10 mins left in a close game .

     

    hail hail

  30. jc2 on

    Jobo

     

     

    I think you can take kids into legends cant you ?

     

     

    Might be a pint and a bowl of chips for the weans…

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