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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voguepunter 1- Kano 1000 says:
17 December, 2011 at 18:17
It was a treacherous existence being Roman Royalty but the perks were no bad
Hail Hail
Stephenpollok
Be careful where you go with that argument.
Hamiltontim
Angriest in 20 years – i suggest you get a life. Me im surprised the idiots could afford the fare never mind spell.
Moonbeams WD
Thanks for the response. I thought the man got ban for the banner.
seems that that GB don’t have a voice on this site?
Stephenpollock
Ok I’ll do what you say boss. You may be a Tim but just not as I know it Spock.
sixtaeseven 1747
Sorry,I was a bit cryptic with my referenced post.
I meant it to reads more like,I watched the first two,and couldn’t watch the rest due to working. Flick through this as a catch-up,and watch the next series….
Gordon Strachan said almost the same thing regarding tactic a few years ago. I was as surprised then as I am now.
Might explain why we haven’t had an organised defence for years.
will the h*ns have to sell Jeelypiece. Laugherty, Ripper and Paps in January? hopefully..
Twinbhoy
Anyone can post anytime they want, utlr posts but he’s not been on recently
Gordon64
Underwhelmed by ur comment. We are supporters of a football club. A caring one at that. Im embarresed to see that banner. What exactly did support or club get out of that banner. Zilch. :-/
Short back and sides was it Paul67?
celtic40me
thanks for the response mate, i follow the site and i have noticed the occasional post from some representing the GB but we need more of it to understand the drivers behind the recent ‘incidents’ – i think we are in danger of being a bit hysterical about all of this, yes some damage has been done but we should all calm down a bit and concentrate on the football.. Celtic are a lot bigger than a banner and a few IRA shouts and the world of football knows this..
Hamiltontim – fair enough :-)
I see the Hun have had normal service resumed by the referees again. The Batsignal has been answered.
I know the Huns are not very good and are struggling but they are getting the kind of help that is borderline cheating.
I have concerns that in 11 days time we will be stopped by the referee.
Stephenpollok
Why are you making such a big fuss over this banner ?
I reckon most football fans in europe agree with the sentiment
if not the rather crude way of displaying it.
StephenPillock talks a load of Deli Belly.
Another must scroll past Jack Irvineite.
MWD
Thindimebhoy says:
17 December, 2011 at 18:05
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Even though the name suggests Sparta,I’m sure he was from modern Bulgaria. But probably reading some half-baked theory again…..
I Claudius as a novel is far better, read it a couple of years back – a good one for the Christmas stocking..
stephen pollock
I prefer your work with HUNS media
http://home.rangersmedia.co.uk/index.php/home/41/1107.html?sectionid=5
UC
Goodnight Bhoys from land of no celtic strips or supporters clubs. Terrible in Bangalore maybe we can change it. Their city colour is green :-)
the little cripple becomes the most powerful, and arguably – human of them all
Paul67 hmmmmmn
Looks like somebody hacked yir blog.
V
MWD
Lennybhoy text me last night and I told jhilday that I was thinking of giving my ticket for tomorrow away and never going back. All this as a result of Lenny’s comments.
Maybe Stephenpollock is right and I do need to get a life :)
Jhilday = him!!!
Don’t know how that happened :)
Rio Bravo now on ITV4.
Dean Martin at his best.
STEPHENPOLLOCK 1822
Offensive is subjective.
The law,however,must be OBJECTIVE.
Once you understand that,you might understand our disquiet over this new legislation.
Well at least no-one can accuse Neil of playing 4 2 4 then.
caeser1967 says:
17 December, 2011 at 18:14
I believe he also assaulted a Celtic steward traveling with the support. The simple answer is you are talking apples and oranges, not the same thing at all. Celtic took action because The Club itself was damaged. We have a threat of his actions costing Celtic more than he will ever repay in a life time. The board have a duty to the club. They are fulfilling it. Rangers won’t take action agains those singing racist and bigoted song because that makes them money. In this instance their custodians are fulfilling it. The police should have been doing something as they have a duty to keep the peace and uphold the law but you can’t compare the police’s innaction with Celtic’s action.
This Stephen Pollock fella,most of us have had reason to disagree with him,but….
Usually his arguments are articulate-if misguided-and well-written.
Tonight,with spelling errors everywhere,grammar and structure non-existent,and no change of case for first person,singular,well,I think someone’s at it.
Wee Declan again?
hamiltontim
I have seen Neil or our esteemed Chairs comments.
MWD
Nae luck the tchuechters today, ‘mon the ‘tic tomorrow.
We CAN win this league. Jock Stein said that we need to factor the referees into our attitude, preparation and play. We knew it 50 years ago and we know it now. We’ll need to make up more than the 4 points to overtake them. They have ridden their luck over the last few weeks and that is sometimes the hallmark of champions….but, we must ensure that we win this league. When they slip up we cannot afford not to take the 3 points.
We got into the position to do it last year, we must do this again but this time get over the finishing line first.
We must be bigger, stronger and better than all the forces aligned against us and be top of the table when it really matters.
‘mon the hoops and let us have no excueses come May.
NL should learn from MON not to feed the hun media. His recent comments are over the top and his quip about the spelling will come back to haunt him. he is now just a puppet doing PR work for PL.
Shame on you Neil.
I too wish him all the best in the future but want him to leave at the end of this season.
I wasnt going to comment on this but the press and radio are in overdrive today.
If I could ask PL and NL one thing right at this moment it would be this ……..
“through last season the celtic support, in no uncertain terms sang a song about a football authority which included the f word. why were the people who sung that song not condemned and banned ?”
f the s f a .
f uefa.
em, whats the difference ?
tractorbhoy:
Why’s that then?
Cause he’s no longer “like me and you, he’s a provo too”?
Get a grip of yourself. Idiotic comment. So even when he delivers the treble it’s bye bye?
You want to talk about feeding the hun media? Talk to the banner flyers.
Paul67. I agree 90% with what you are saying
But with respect :) the greatest tactician the world would be wasting his time with players like cha and no central halfs and having a lack of goal scorers
I am of similar age to you and what Martin oneil did for the 1st as a Celtic manager, during my supporting days, was to ensure no weak links
Every position was filled with a bit of quality
That made the difference, he made sure if we had a weak link it was filled quickly
Eg his 1st time at iPox , he saw we never a big centerhalf
Fast forward to the team now and last 3 years Still waiting for the center half and goalscorer
And weak links like cha and Dan would not have made oneils bench
ST
James Forest.
“I’m only surprised that they managed to spell it correctly” – Neil Lennon.
One question, would Tommy Burns have made this statement?
SydneyTim@19:05
‘Every position was filled with a bit of quality’
Apart from goalkeeper, which cost us 2 titles due to Douglas’s gaffes in Glasgow derbies