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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James Forrest is Lennon says:
17 December, 2011 at 17:39
Has much of everything from 2nd century BC.
Ed, 1738
Good to hear from you again. You should pop in more often,the giftie tae gi’e us.
For those who canny be bothered watching Breaking Bad-I watched the first two episodes,recommended it widely,then my shift pattern changed…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Breaking_Bad_characters
Quicker than the DVDs. Not as good though.
Butcher: future manager of NewCo
Ticks all the boxes, knows all the codes.
Just in from the joys of Christmas shopping in the town and sat down to read today’s new article.
Did you not feel it necessary to comment on Lenny’s other words regarding our supporters mate?
paul67
i wouldnt read too much into lenny’s comments, wgs you used to say it, i remember souness saying it. bit of a tactical comment rather than a comment about tactics
JJ
i think you`ll find MrJJ that i instantly corrected myself..:¬))
Two stonewall penalties turned down and a perfectly good goal disallowed – the obvious conclusion is Inverness were never going to be allowed to take anything from that match today.
It’s remembering days like this that make any Celtic success all the sweeter. The only thing more predictable than the questionable refereeing is the BBC match report – which failed to mention a goal disallowed for being a yard onside.
I would love to see ICT go down with Butcher in charge
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS at 17 December, 2011 at 17:42
Br Ba:
Watched since the start and recently finished Season 4
Goes from strength to strength.
Best telly ever !!!
Just read the BBC website report of the huns game today…..no mention of the disallowed goal , which Sky said was onside, so it clearly never happened…….
Apologies Paul67 that should have been addressed to you.
James Forrest – it’s not a patch on World at War, which has a strong sense of gravitas about it, but is the best Roman one I’ve watched.
You might want to consider Battles BC, which is being repeated again on the History Channel – old testament battles, Greeks v Persians etc. Quite good.
sixtaeseven says:
Glad you enjoyed it mate. I saw Tooting Tom I think it was, talking about it earlier and saying much the same.
I always thought The Shield and The Wire were the best two shows which I’d seen … Breaking Bad, especially season 4, tops the lot.
dirtymac:
I will do that mate. I have ordered those ones you mentioned. They sound good. But I have to confess to being a great fan of the Julio-Claudian dynasty and their rise and fall; essentially the story told in the brilliant TV drama’s Rome and I Claudius, which were both sensational.
In particular, I am a huge admirer of Octavius. To have assumed such enormous responsibilities as a teenager and, within only a few years, avenged the murder of his uncle, won a civil war and been well on the way to his “coronation” after defeating Antony … one of the few individuals ever without who’s influence, it can certainly be said, the world would look different.
Hamilton tim……I’ve just watched Lenny’s interview at the airport ….he said “there’s a small element ….a rogue element who want to tarnish the name of the club “…….what’s so wrong with him saying that ?
James Forrest is Lennon says:
17 December, 2011 at 17:19
I know you are not going to like this,I got the whole serious through the daily mail
for feck all .
I was born in 1960 ,when I hear anything against Israel ,this programme scared
the hell out of me ,read the book later ,fantastic series.
compare and contrast last weeks pen award against us
and two turned down for ICT today
stats can be misleading …however the evidence gets produced weekly
Paul67,
You really think those comments are ‘alarming’?
Seems pretty over dramatic to me. Especially as we need to consider the exact context with which they were made.
Tactic – Are they important, I would say yes.
But what are tactics, without the players to implement them?
Its pretty chicken and egg stuff to me. One without the other, not much use. But if I really, really could only have one, I would rather good players go out, without a strict set of organised tactics, than try to use complex tactics with incompetant players…..
Greece punched well above their weight, to win a few years back. But they had decent players, with very organised tactis, and some luck. With great players, and great tactics, it should be great results. But thats football, always expect the unexpected…..!!
I think a will to win, can overcome more, than having a good game plan, that needs to be followed by unmotivated individuals.
voguepunter 1- Kano 1000 says:
I have seen bits and pieces over the years, on the Discovery Channel and stuff. Love anything true life, big fan of great documentaries, but there was always something special about this series. I have never seen it all the way through, in proper order, and episode 1 just finished.
It’s fully remastered and there’s a lot more colour in it than I remember.
The adulation poured on Hitler by the German people is truly frightening to watch. A man of no accomplishment at all outside the political arena, a man who, until being made Chancellor, where he then showed extraordinary cunning and savage opportunism, had absolutely no political savvy to speak of either, who’s entire early career was built on his skills as an orator (and I have to say, even not understand the words he is saying they make the hairs on the back of the neck stand up to listen to him) … that so many fell under his spell is terrifying. Is that all it takes? Is that how wars begin?
PFayr at 17 December, 2011 at 17:56
what you mean is, sadly:
“the evidence gets produced weakly, … in fact not at all”
sixtaeseven
:¬))
James Forrest is Lennon
17 December, 2011 at 17:26
Regarding Romans
I have the boxset of I Claudius although loosely factual and based around the life of Roman Emperors Augustus, Tiberius and the nut job Caligula (John Hurt) I can honestly say a no finer piece of video drama full of Roman dastardly deeds, imperial subterfuge and murderous plots is out there
I do have a soft spot for Sparticus being a Celt
Hail Hail
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm
Paul67
Excellent article.
Dan
Thindimebhoy:
I saw it and loved it. I always thought it simply had to over-exaggerate the influence of Livia … but then I read a bit about her. They low-balled it if anything!
If Lennon did indeed say as he has been quoted Paul – it answers some questions.
Like what do the players do in training on a Monday – Friday when we see no evidence of any tactical teachings and practices out on match day.
If he did say that, then I am sorry Neil – I hope and I pray to God we win the league this season so you can walk out of Glasgow the only way he should – with his head held high and a champion.
We will both move on afterwards.
James Forrest is Lennon says:
17 December, 2011 at 18:00
James you know fine well we have that in this cuntry right now.
I voted SNP in the last election,regret it now ,how can you have
a law in this land against just for football fans ?when you see what the huns
have got away with for years,a Celtic bhoy gets banned for life for
a banner??????????
P67
Great article agree wholeheartedly with sentiments and opinions. But 7 years of Larsson a ‘cameo’! Think you are doing the great one and his memory a dis-service.
Worst article I have ever read on CQN which has become overly political. No place for the bufoons that disgrace Celtic with political past and the buffoons that stupidly immaturely placed the banner.
Hope the haircut was good Paul. Funny how you turn against NL when he speaks out against the idiots. I spoke against him when tactics were bad but he deserves credit for last month.
Concentrate on football please not political opinions and subscriptions.
Larsson and Mcstay
It wasn’t that comment which has upset me I have no problem with that. It was his condescending and disparaging comment about his surprise that they managed to spell it correctly.
I’ve just been on the phone to my best mate. He said its the angriest he’s heard me in 20 odd years of friendship.
Operation ‘Save Rangers’ is in full swing and being cranked up week by week. Watch for more refereeing delights tomorrow.
Also watch for the mystery investors who will pump money into Rangers Newco when they walk into the SPL debt free.
You know it’s coming. Sure as a sure thing.
Thindimebhoy says:
17 December, 2011 at 18:05
I loved I claudius ,I put amongst the wire and the Supronos as the all time
best programmes ever.
Didn’t WGS say something similar in the past? That it was all about having better players than the opposition rather than any fancy tactics. And he won 3/4 league titles.
Remember when we used to have freedom of speach.
It’s what our forefathers fought for.
And what we should fight for now.
James Forrest
Yes Livia and her murderous plots steal the show she was the mother in law from hell no doubt about it
Claudius played the perfect not so foolish fool, his private narration about the goings on made the show so intense
Great show indeed sir and one I recommend all our CQN brothers and sisters should watch just so they know how tame modern politics is today
Hail Hail (Roman Imperial Version)
Gordon64 says:
17 December, 2011 at 18:17
Just cause you had 4 fathers is feck all to with the rest of us.
G64
Apologies .:O)
Gordon64.
Freedom of speech is ok unless it is offensive or aggresive. Was Hitlers free speech acceptable?
So many people on here have no idea of context. I despair what i read.
Goodnight from Bangalore Bhoys. Think before you comment.