Celtic’s statement yesterday had interesting parts to it. First was timing, it was released early evening, after a full working days’ deliberations on what to do next. I suspect the appropriate reaction to the home draw with St Johnstone was under review for much of that time.
The second element that stuck me was the voice, this was “The Board”, not more commonly used “The Club” voice. The Board is more personal, it was a choice to identify with the decision.
Several points stood out:
“understands the importance of winning the league championship this season..
“deliver the tenth championship in a row that is so important to us all.
“operate according to our Club’s values.
“our collective objective is best served by continuing to support Neil
“Neil has the support of the players…
“The Board recognises the range of views expressed by our supporters and the strength of those opinions.
Talk of winning the league this season and delivering the tenth championship in a row is ballsy. I cannot say I’m optimistic.
Some have wondered if the dressing room was behind the manager. It was not necessary to address this, but the statement confirmed it to be the case.
“The strength of those opinions” translates as “we hear you.”
“Our collective objective is best served by continuing to support Neil” alludes to the options that you and I have pondered. Sacking the manager is the easy part, replacing him with someone who will turn things around is the greater challenge.
Operating according to the Club’s values is an opaque statement, you can interpret it as you wish. Neil looks lost in his challenges, but I don’t like the way he has been hounded. He has been through traumas due to his association with Celtic that no one has ever had to tolerate and achieved greatly as player and manager. We do not owe him a living, but he deserves dignity and respect, especially when vulnerable. That’s how I interpreted that part of the statement, anyway.
I suspect if the board were confident any alternative course of action would increase our chances of winning the league, a different statement would have been issued. Pragmatism is greater than sentiment. Instead, they have placed their chips on the man from Lurgan. If he delivers, it will be one of the most remarkable titles in our history.
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The body language of Neil and his coaching staff during the games does not support the idea of unity.
SuperSutton on 8th December 2020 12:41 pm
I read something very different into the statement.
I saw it as, Neil is here until January and that is all. Does it mean there is someone else lined up to splash the cash in the next transfer window?
—————————–
I am inclined to agree.
Delaneys
Big Wavy
Hot Chocolate
“I believe in miracles
Where’re you from, you sexy thing, you sexy thang you
I believe in miracles since you came along, you sexy thing”
I was musing with my old friend last night and put it to him that the downward spiral may have coincided with James Forrest’s injury. Well which team wouldn’t miss their primary contributor of goals and assists?
However, I put it to him that the decline started with the loss of Damien Duff. Then I noted that when Duff left, he extolled the virtues of John Kennedy but, as far as I can remember, said nothing about Neil Lennon’s capabilities.
Looking back I wonder if Duff got out because he didn’t get on with Lennon, or didn’t like his modus operandi.
Was Duff the back room coach who was actually responsible for us remaining in the ascendancy?
It looks that way to me.
Gene- agree
GENE on 8TH DECEMBER 2020 12:42 PM
‘The body language of Neil and his coaching staff during the games does not support the idea of unity.’
###
Once again: They’re not his coaching staff.
Paul67,
Please stop.
10 gone. Change too late to recover.
Only game in town is removal of those responsible Desmond, Lawwell and Lennon.
Of course you can toe the party line but you are in a minority of one across Celtic cyberspace.
The focus needs to be Aylesbury Road or St Stephen’s Green.
Why don’t you ditch them and play a role in leading the case for change.
Regards,
LC
ps. The leader reflects what you think of the readership of CQN ; they are more likely to take the Sputnik vaccine and than align with that “thinking”
WITS,
That’s what popped into my head but don’t think the big lad’s a Hot Chocolate fan :(
Everyday, you’d give love satisfaction
Now your lying next to me, giving it to me…
Woooooo
HH
DD
Glad to hear you’ve got the work sorted.
I’ve fulfilled a long held ambition to attain work training disadvantaged kids in construction skills.
Very challenging at times but we’ve had some great outcomes for the kids with regards to the successful completion of the courses we’ve run. A lot get work trials and a fair few get apprenticeships.
These are kids that haven’t finished school, some have been in jail, nearly all of them have a dysfunctional (understatement) home life. It’s a big achievement for them when they successfully complete the course.
It’s very rewarding work, grateful to be doing it.
Told quite a few of the kids that are interested in sport about the origin and history of our great club. Showed them some YouTube clips of YNWA in our classroom to. They’re always blown away when I tell them about brother Walfrid and how it all started.
HH
Supersutton
Damien Duff was good 1-2-1 with the players and on set pieces with the team apparently.
Well, according to Kieren Devlin at the Athletic who kind of underplayed Duff’s role last season…
So the board haven’t a plan b and we stick with a failing manager.
Sack the board.
One element to throw into the mix — our frien GS when he turned up at Liverpool in the early 90’s.
Things did not go well — his limitations and a settled squad were not a marriage made in heaven.
However in his desperation to generate a spark he went through the squad like a dose of salts — right through it and into the reserve team / U21’s / youths looking for any talent to try and turn things around.
Never worked but he was giving it his all.
Consequently the Mexican stand off between NL and the squad would appear to be the polar opposite of GS’s efforts at Liverpool.
NL seems to be trying to shame the squad into a performance.
Picking the same refuseniks week after week to goad them into action.
Nothing at all like GS — trawling the reserves / youths for a spark to turn things around.
You have to ask why not — is it a battle of wills that is bigger than the laeague?
Is it a fear of youth and the unknown?
Is it laziness?
Not sure myself — just that the contrast is stark.
As an aside — GS caused huge damage by putting under cooked talent into the spotlight too early.
However at least he tried.
NL does not seem capable just now of that level of effort.
WITS
Hot Chocolate is before my time, and a really shite song anyway. Hope you are well mate. Up da Dubs!
Kieran Devlin also mentioned weeks ago that one particular player has become disillusioned with certain methods and wants out. But said player has probably been our best performer this season and his unhappiness hasn’t been evident in his performances.
I assume that player to be Kris Ajer.
That video of Bayo at Lennoxtown from last season comes to mind where Bayo was messing around in the gym and Ajer scalded him by look.
But apparently all the players are behind NL & the coaching staff so who knows.
We just need to see it on the pitch and it will come….any year now.
Not changing the manager only increases the pressure on Neil Lennon .
I’m convinced that anyone , deemed to be suitable, doesn’t want the managers gig .
Do they not want associated with failure to get 10 .
Or .
Is there an issue at Celtic having proper control of the football department ?
Who signed Sheved ?
I have serious doubts as to whether the players are fully behind Lennon as is claimed. Not one of them gave the club statement last night a ‘like’ on Twitter apart from Rogic and even he subsequently removed it!
Hardly anyone I know wanted NL appointed on a permanent basis and the chickens are well and truly coming home to roost. Desmond and Lawwell are the real culprits in all of this.
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DBhoy
Good on you mate. Sounds like you are doing a grand job. Educating kids in life skills and Celtic history, is excellent missionary work. 👍🍀💚
Paul67
Statements are like buses,
With the ‘better squad’ theory now in tatters by early December, we have a first choice inflexible goalkeeper, the return of the sieve(s) full backs that are anything but, a wholly invisible midfield, and from millions of wingers to none.
Throw in the only fit striker who cannae really be bothered and we’re good to go.
Where did it all go wrong CSC
DAVID66,
Glad you overcame the log in problem.
HH
…………
DELANYS DUNKY…
I didnt see your post about your Dog. IF you have lost your Dog, I can only say that I am so sorry that such a horrible thing may have happened ?
I know that I would be devastated if I lost my best mate ” Rocky the Cat”, as he is a great companion and make me laugh often.
HH.
Change comes about regularly in football management, but on most occasions when are team are struggling at the bottom end of a league, after a bad run. Its not about personalities, its about swapping out management to arrest a slide. Remarkably effective on some occasions, and whilst not always working, remains the favoured approach over time as it is proven to the best option.
Already nearly past the point of no return on this for us after the announcement yesterday; still think it will happen soon, but maybe too late.
No matter what the club put out as PR — the squad are not playing for the manager.
Statements are just words on paper — performances and results are the real deal.
And we are playing like a pub teram.
Looking like a pub team.
No wonder PR is so important — too many read a statement and believe it.
Big Jimmy
I am not that fond of dogs. More a cat lover. Think you are mistaking me for someone else. Last dog I had was Hans the German Shepherd who died 35 years ago.
With each Celtic ” Statement”…I feel sickened even more than I did when I read a previous Celtic ” Statement” !
The Huns are currently LAPPING this UP….Big Time !
I have NO quarrel with anyone who wants Neil Lennon sacked or for Neil to walk away…Either way it would be a very sad day in the History of Celtic.
IF Neil is sacked or walks away, then let it be with the utmost respect from all of us, he deserves that at the very least.
As someone Posted earlier, I also would not be surprised IF Neil had advised the Board that he wanted out weeks ago, and that the Board talked him into staying on as they have NO OTHER Options…NO Plan B etc.
It may well be that Neil is still there because of his love for Celtic ?
NONE of us on here has any idea of what has maybe went on behind the scenes this season ?
GUTTED….and SICKENED.
HH.
DELANEYS DUNKY on 8TH DECEMBER 2020 1:21 PM
………….
My sincere apologises mate. May I STILL offer my condolences to anyone who has recently lost a Pet.
I can always blame the lack of Beer since Oct 9th as my excuse for messing up ?
HH Mate.
Stay safe.
Big Jimmy, it was Turkeybhoy who lost his dog.
The assumption that we cannae get rid of Lenny, even if only for compassionate reasons, as there’s nobody that wants the job disnae really hold much water.
We could just say tae big JK that he’s it until the end of the season, bring in an assistant either from within the club or outside, and if he is any good, not necessarily winning the TIAR, he can continue,
Lenny came in tae rescue the side after Mogga, the fact that he capitulated at hunden against the Staggies didnae seem tae be an obstacle as the sharp suited mhan took him on a summer road show around the various CSCs.
Mibbees just mibbbes the big President disnae want job on a full time basis. After all it was not that long ago he was being touted as the DoF. For some reason the didnae seem tae materialise.
Big Jimmy
No probs sir. I haven’t been in a pub in 2020, and don’t think that will change. All I hear in Clydebank is publicans giving up their lease. When Covid19 is over, if ever, there will be very few pubs remaining. Sadly
Would have to concur that this is probably the boards current viewpoint …….. “I suspect if the board were confident any alternative course of action would increase our chances of winning the league, a different statement would have been issued. Pragmatism is greater than sentiment.” ………. only other possibility is that they are trying to avert media / fan gaze whilst searching for that alternative path to the 10 ………
The board are at it!!
Not a penny more!
It’s over.
If only he had Tommy Johnson as his assistant, all would be well. Haha
Philbhoy
Song for our board by one of my favourite ever singers.
https://g.co/kgs/9LPEBi
WEEBOBBYCOLLINS on 8TH DECEMBER 2020 1:31 PM
Big Jimmy, it was Turkeybhoy who lost his dog.
………
Cheers weeBobby.
….
TURKEYBHOY…
I am so sorry to hear of your sad news about losing your Dog.
its a horrible feeling that I know only too well from my past.
HH Mate.
P67 – “pragmatism is greater than sentiment”
Dictionary definition: Pragmatism – an approach that evaluates theories or beliefs in terms of the success of their practical application.
We can see it’s not working. So what the Board are really saying is that supporters should suck up the sentiment because it doesn’t currently have anything that will work better.
Big Jimmy.
Call of the dogs, wins.!!!!
I’ve done 2 singles and an ew dble.
So, in profit now, no matter, what.
Thank you.
There’s talk that we’re still pursuing FF. This is pathetic. The league is lost. The Huns look as if they could go unbeaten this season. Play Barkas to see if he’s any good, if he’s not we get someone in next season. Get a box to box midfielder in Jan, we need someone like Armstrong/McGinn, the present team has no pace apart from Forrest and Frimpong. And let Klimala and Turnbull have some game time, plus a few of the youngsters like Harper (aged 19 – Barca and Dortmund play 16 and 17 year-olds). We need to build a younger and hungrier team, even if it’s for the season after next.
CRC.
Happy Birthday.
Have as good a day, as possible.
When you get as old as Smashingmilkbottles, that’s when you have to worry. :-)
I Posted about TWO horses that were running Today which were called NEIL THE LEGEND and CALL OFF THE DOGS..
CALL OFF THE DOGS, has just Won @ 9/2…I backed it this morning ‘ odds of 15/2…Ya Dancer !
I watched the race and My God…that Horse is a real Battler !
NEIL THE LEGEND runs at 2.47, and its now DOUBLED in Price as it now sits at 11/1…so that doesnt look too great…However, we shall see ?
HH.