I’ve watched a large number of insipid end of season efforts over the years. The one that stands out most is home to Falkirk in 1987. It was probably the first time it was clear to me the white flag had been raised on a campaign (had results gone our way, we could still have won the league that day). Only a year earlier the same squad delivered the most unlikely title in the final game.
There was no white flag yesterday, quite the opposite, the league is all-but won. Instead we looked like a team with a lot of players wondering if they had a future at the club. The next two games, away to Hearts and home to Aberdeen, should provide enough focus to allow the level of performance to rise, but I thought that about the semi-final too.
It’s the end of the road for a few players, and for a system clearly few still believe in.
On the way into the ground a few of us wondered how often Kris Commons would be used going forward. He will be 33 in the summer, ahead of the last year of his contract. Whatever the reason he didn’t make the starting line up yesterday (or last week), his 9 minute cameo demonstrated the directness, not to mention game intelligence and skill, that Celtic are badly lacking.
Despite the plethora of No. 10s and creative wide players we’ve recruited over the last two years, Commons remains by far our most effective creative player. Without him we look to be punching with an empty glove; I hope whoever takes over takes note.
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TIMALOY 29
Thanks for response. I took from Phil’s allegations that there were three suspects still.presently at Celtic Park. Now I take all rumours with more than a pinch of salt until they are actually verified.
My own belief is that if a player is wilfully failing to fulfil his moral and contractual obligations to CFC then send him away. I would have given my eye teeth, as I know everyone of us would have, just to have pulled on the Jersey once. Now I know that I was not good enough but cannot condone any perceived lack of effort no matter how justified any player feels. Anyone not giving their all is robbing us and that is unforgivable. Sorry for the rant. HH
Interesting comments for Roy Keane in October 2014 about why he didn’t take the job at that point. I can only presume that RD was the assistant that had already been selected.
Other things about clauses in the contract identified by Paul Gilroy from The League Manager’s Association.
Worth a read.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/other-soccer/roy-keane-celtic-told-me-job-was-mine-but-they-didnt-show-how-much-they-wanted-me-30644611.html
Re the article – it is ridiculous to suggest that it is the end of the road for a system 4-2-3-1. This is a system deployed by many top clubs and managers. I agree it is the end of the road for many players who either couldn’t or wouldn’t adapt to the system.
The manager has reluctantly given up, mainly because many of the players had given up. It is the players who are wanting. The players are a disgrace, regardless of system or even their ability to adapt to it, the one thing that should not have been missing was energy and effort. For players to be picking up thousands of pounds a week and lacking effort is unforgivable.
My friends in Celtic,
Many of us have been saying that we didn’t believe certain players have being giving 100%.
Basically that boils down to cheating. Cheating the club, cheating the manager and cheating the fans.
Yes CHEATING. Same as what the other mob did to us, only this time it’s our own.
That makes it worse in my book.
HH.
Good players are able to adapt ‘ the system ‘ isn’t the only thing that’s not working.
Molly is a (non-singing) singer with the Green Brigade
It’s all rumours and BS, yet some just can’t resist being fish wives and steamie wumin, they have to post names, like, awe a heard this, get a life ffs, and stop freking with other people’s, I’m off for a swally, ffs no wonder a take a drink.
BSR
The players have chucked it, so they’re not working.
The club is diminishing, so it’s not working.
Lots of things aren’t working.
If the system worked though, it would go a long way to fixing 1 and 2 above.
QUONNO on 25TH APRIL 2016 1:55 PM
TIMALOY29 SLEEPS ON THE HEATED DRIVEWAY on 25TH APRIL 2016 1:50 PM
I don’t pretend to know which, if any players have been undermining Ronny.
The most puzzling case is that of Commons. If as he claimed at the weekend, Ronny was responsible for signing players, we must assume that he had some say when the club caved in and gave Commons a two year deal.
Having done so,why was Ronny reluctant to play him?
It is time for truth on a number of Celtic related matters.
_______
I couldn’t say if it’s true or not. However, it is possible that Ronny and the players fell out after Commons signed a new deal.
Just to be more mischievous, the other rumour I have heard from inside Celtic Park is that it was Lawwell and the Board who convinced Desmond to appoint Ronny. Desmond reluctantly did so.
Previously, Lawwell and the board would make suggestions and even conduct interviews but it was Desmond’s final decision. He chose to appoint Lennon, Strachan and Mowbray.
However, Celtic weren’t planning to appoint a new coach and I’m sure you remember that Ronny was to be Neil’s number two.
I find the scenario offered by Phil unlikely. The idea that Ronny and DD are on the same page and at odds with PL isn’t plausible.
Ronny wasn’t DD’s man in the same way as the others.
Craigleabhoy,
Spot on.
System appeared to be fine as we qualified for post Xmas euro footy last season.
It’s a bit like Ronnys other invention. Zonal marking.
15 outta 16 teams used it in the knockout stages of last season champions league.
Just sayin likes
HH
The abuse Kris Commons is getting on here is ridiculous IMO,and with no substance. He’s the best £300,000 Celtic have spent in many a long year. As for his reaction in Molde,was he wrong?
GREENPINTA
It is a terrible thing to believe that one or more players are not giving their all and yet I cannot instantly dismiss the suggestion and that is, for me, what hurts the most at present.
However impotent a manager may be it is not the manager who cannot make a 10 metre pass or get a penalty kick on target or cover an opponent’s shot from the same distance from which they conceded the previous week.
Hopefully the rumours are not true and they are just incompetent at their job. .HH
Call me ole fashioned but I thought the Green Brigade were brilliant yesterday.
it just put the cherry on the cake of what has been a very, very wierd season.
Re CKR
I told you so…
I got panelled on CQN following CKR debut at Pittodrie for saying he lacks any striker instinct.
Yesterday’s miss reinforced my opinion. He’s done zilch and will do zilch. Get rid.
I think the majority would agree we need a clearing of the playing squad going into next season. That got me thinking, who in our present squad could turn this current shambles around with a manager at the helm who can actually manage.
We all have our own favourite players and everyone will differ on opinions, for me though the players I think should be sold, freed, loan cancelled, loaned out etc are Blackett, Boyata, Izzaguirre, Ambrose, Kazim Richards, Cole, Bitton, Scepovic, Cifti, Johannsen, Forrest, Stokes & Fisher.
I would keep Lustig, Brown, Commons & Mulgrew for their experience.
If we really are going to transform this team then we have to start fresh, with younger players, from the start of Pre season.
Our squad is littered with good young players who are hungry for their chance and I would rather our next manager concentrated on this rather than qualifying for the European competitions next season, though qualification would be fantastic, it should not be our priority immediately.
So for me I would like to see a team looking like this from Pre season onwards.
Keeper – Gordon in goal is a given, he has earned it over the last 2 years and is still a top class keeper.
Right Back – Saidy Janko at right back. He has shown in the limited amount of time he has had that he has pace, skill and can tackle, all hallmarks of the modern day Full Back, barring injury he has the potential to be a fantastic right back. Lustig as cover.
Left Back – Kieren Tierney. Possible future captain, nothing needs saying. Cover needed though.
Centre Backs – Sviatchenko & Simunovic. If Simunovic can overcome his injury problems both these guys could go on to form a formidable partnership. I would also hand the captains armband to Sviatchenko. Mulgrew & Lustig as cover and possibly a new signing.
Central Midfield – Brown, Johannsen & Bitton have disappointed this season to such a degree that, for whatever reasons, we need a change badly. It is the most important aspect of any team and all three have fell well short. Rogic, Christie, Allan, Henderson & Armstrong are the main contenders to take over these positions and to be honest I am unable to decide on what, if any of these pairings would work. It is the heartbeat of our team and looking at the names we have it would seem a new defensively minded central midfielder is a priority to dovetail with any of the five. We need to get this position right!
Left Midfield/Winger – Patrick Roberts. I just don’t understand why a player like Roberts, 100% left footed, who can beat players for fun is played on the right by Ronny Deila. Hopefully the new man will see to this and pair Roberts up with Tierney, which, if it works, could be a lethal partnership. GMS & Armstrong as cover.
Right Midfield/Winger – A priority signing is needed here. If Forrest or GMS have not left I would start either but we are weak here.
Forwards/Strikers/AM – Griffiths is a shoe in and has earned it. Commons is a divisive player among the support but still has the most quality among other players in these positions. Aiden Nesbitt could be one for the future and I would like to see him given an opportunity in Pre Season. A signing of quality could may be required.
In essence, going forward, we have the nucleus of a quality team, What we require is a quality manager to turn these players into that quality team and with a 2 or 3 priority position signings we have the opportunity to make our own future.
Over to you board.
‘ he lacks any striker instinct’
– exactly, he’s a true false #9.
One of the many we’ve had recently, and with Skepovic to come back our cup will soon overfloweth.
BADA BLING
What would Big Jock’s or MOM’s reaction have been?
For whatever reason Commons performances this season, including IMO Sunday not been good enough.
But it’s all about opinions. HH
Folk have genuinely lost their heads on here.
“Punt Commons”, “his attitude is murder”. He showed more creativity and desire in ten minutes yesterday than GMS, Rogic, Richards et al (dear Lord) have shown in the last 7 or 8 matches.
And since when has his attitude been the problem (bar the Molde away game)? Wish other players would show the fight and dig like he does.
That’s a bite miss a gooooo.
GLASGOWDAVE
DELANEYSDUNKY had similar wi his 4yo grandkid.
The answer is of course to tell them it was just a bad dream,and the next time we’ll be jooooost magic!
Works for me,and I’m a wee bit older than that…
Bada Bing
I know someone who played with Commons at a previous club.
Every thing good and bad said about KC ties in what my source ( a reasonably close acquaintance) reported.
He is difficult, unreliable but peerless in terms of ability.
Apparently when he was up for it even in training he left his fellow pros gobsmacked with his ability. A major ego though. Not particularly popular and not particularly bothered either.
He sounds like ideal No2 to me. I’d go further and say No2 to Stevie Clark with a view to succession planning.
I’d also register him as a player.
AN TEACH SOLAIS on 25TH APRIL 2016 1:58 PM
Absolutely. Rumours are rumours.
All we can say for sure is that the increased intensity and fitness levels haven’t been evident since Ronny has taken over. Is it lazy players or poor coaching? Who knows.
CULTSBHOY CAN NOT RELATE TO CELTIC BOARD AMBITIONS ON OR OFF THE PARK on 25TH APRIL 2016 2:10 PM
You sound absolutely delighted that a Celtic player is playing poorly
CLYDESIDER on 25TH APRIL 2016 2:10 PM
A clear out may be required. However, it’s possible that a new coach could get more out of these players.
CultsBhoy can not relate to Celtic Board ambitions on or off the park on 25th April 2016 1:54 pm Spidey100
The job’s yours…
Report to Lawwell in the morning who will rip up your excellent proposal and tell you what he needs done.
CultsBhoy,
Thanks, though I suspect you are right – it would be more like, PL: “need a left back, here have two left sided midfielders who may be ok in a few years. If they are rubbish, we’ll reduce your transfer budget to pay them off and if they are good we’ll punt them and maybe add 10% of what we make to your transfer budget. Though remember, you can only spend money on potentially promissing midfielders and a bunch of defenders of whom one might be decent to good. FInally, while we know strikers are often the difference between success and failure, forget about buying any – we only sign free transfres that no one else wants, having decided the midfield strategy we use didn’t work for strikers. So if none of the midfielders you get work out, expect to only be able to sign free transfers there too. Actually, on reflection….”
“I just don’t understand why a player like Roberts, 100% left footed, who can beat players for fun is played on the right by Ronny Deila.”
Clydesider,
I know this is a bit crazy but might explain…
He is a right midfielder and has predominantly played this position throughout his career.
Hope this helps.
HH
THEBATTEREDBUNNET 128
Aye,I know. Depends who is really in charge next year.
I think PL will do well to have remotely as much power by then.
So we have to spend more on management as compensation-RD was on £300k pa,apparently-but if spent wisely,a good investment.
Money that can come from ditching Park-£600k-and a few duds. Pick a card,any card,in fact pick them all.
52 pick up.
If Phil is right about the spoiled children, why did Ronnie select them? And if Ronnie did sign all these players, why didn’t someone ask him, “Why didn’t you play them?” I think only three of them played yesterday.
Someone is telling porkies. It is completely outrageous that NO ONE, even the great Desimondo, appears to know who is responsible for signings.
The alienation between the Board and fans is completely the fault of Lawwell and the supine Board. We need honest dialogue to completely clear the air, starting with Resolution 12, as the atmosphere is becoming poisonous.
IniquitousIV
ATS-Jock and MON had what RD hasn’t,credibility (amongst a load of other things…), and that has been a major issue IMO HH.
TIMALOY29 SLEEPS ON THE HEATED DRIVEWAY on 25TH APRIL 2016 2:16 PM
Not delighted by any stretch.
I was basically told to button it and see what happens by season’s end.
I just thought it was timely to review and provide a reality check for some detractors.
!BADA BING!
Correct. Commons has been a star at that price over the years.
But not this year.
I’m a big admirer of P67’s, but I do hope this “nothing to see here” response to the growing breakdown of key relationships in our club isn’t reflective of the Board’s thinking. Keeping on doing the same thing and hoping the discontent will go away would be a recipe for disaster. I trust there is a plan to remedy this incredibly serious problem and a judgement is simply being made on timing of public engagement with the fans.
If there is no plan we are in serious trouble. The ground will be empty next year, the team will be poorer again for lack of investment and we will have committed collective footballing suicide from a position of uncontested dominance.
Say it ain’t so.
TBB
Yip, that’s becoming more evident with every game.
There’s still time for Ronny to fall on his sword in all this
lark.
GEORDIE MUNRO
Throughout much of his career? He’s 19, Plenty players throughout history have adapted to new positions and gone onto be quite successful.
TIMALOY29
I hope our next manager can get more out of them. I am not against that.
We need a manager who understands what its like in Scotland and can speak their mind and rip the shit out of the anti-Celtic press no matter how it might be presented in the next day papers. We need someone to stand up for us as the board members are not. MON and Strachan managed it. Lenny not. Probably has to be Scottish or Irish. Any suggestions?
Ginger Snaps
PLB
Said on here a few times,Mr Rentaquote has been noticeably silent.
For over a week.
I could insert cheap gags here,as is my won’t,but the point is….
Silence.
He seems to think it will all blow over.
Now,do you want to tell him,or shall I ?
Bliddy iPad
Won’t is not wont. Time these smart machines learned to leave my spelling and punctuation alone.
The problem isn’t the 4-2-3-1 system per se, it’s the actual operation of the system in practice.
Celtic’s 3 generally come inside and play narrow and they don’t support or go past the CF enough offensively nor cover back defensively (if you don’t count Johansen charging around aimlessly). The 2 supposed DM’s don’t provide sufficient defensive cover and are incapable of winning the ball/tackles or dominating a midfield and have little or no positional discipline or awareness, coupled with Brown’s terrible passing and Bitton’s tendency to hold onto the ball too long. The midfield as a whole don’t press as a unit and leave big gaps that teams can easily play through. Too much is asked of our full backs offensively and they are often caught up the park in advance of the rest of the midfield and putting crosses aimlessly into our isolated small CF. With the FB’s up the park and our midfield not providing cover this leaves our 2 CB’s exposed when teams break against us.
All in all it’s a disaster & the manager appears to be unwilling or unable to change it. We have a poor Plan A that is easily anticipated & counteracted by opponents and no Plan B. Even when we make subs it is generally a change of personnel to try more of the same rather than a tactical change.
Just to re-state. in the league this season we’ve averaged more goals per game when Commons didn’t play (2.57) than when he did (2.29). This excludes games where he played for less than 25 minutes.
CentenaryBhoy….
I agree with you…..that is a bite.
Miss a go.