This time last year the league was in the bag, as it is today, but we had Champions League football to look forward to in the coming days, and would ultimately go on to win the Scottish Cup. The Champions League is always going to be a hard place to measure progress for a club seeded in pot 4, last season it was hard enough to Benfica, a pot 2 team who were eliminated by Celtic but still progressed to the Europa League final.
Domestic cup performances for Celtic is a more accessible measuring tool. After home defeats to Morton (good grief) and now Aberdeen we may well ask, what went wrong?
It was evident from early in the second half that whatever match plan we had was not effective, and despite the introduction of fresh faces, the performance didn’t improve. Aberdeen defended outside their box very effectively, making it difficult for Celtic to play the kind of passes which Samaras released Stokes with to score early in the game. Forrest found red shirts blocking his path whenever he got going. Commons had a day when nothing sparked. Possession was cheaply conceded throughout as Celtic continued to ask the same question of the Aberdeen defence.
While we are playing in in impoverished Scottish football Aberdeen represent the strongest possible opponents. They are second in the league and were the last team to score against us on merit. Yesterday wasn’t a fluke result, it was deserved and marked the progress of Derek McInnes’ team.
So where does this leave us? Celtic remain imperious in the Premiership, the fact that they’ve not tasted defeat against a weaker team there, or conceded in 11 games, is historically impressive, but against the best of the rest, there are question marks, as there will be for Champions League qualifiers.
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I can’t speak for 1000s of fans who have turned their backs on Celtic Park. ( not Celtic FC) but I can give you my own honest take on why I hardly ever go.. And what prompts me when I do occasionally attend.
As I have declared before I’m quite committed to my own coaching and as my son plays a lot I usually opt to stay in Aberdeen on match days. However, I do have free days and I either go to Pittodrie, take in a Highland League game or take a train to Newcastle to watch an EPL match.
I guess the alternatives I choose usually have unpredictable outcomes. The games are competitive. For the most part Celtic games are predictable.
I see the cost of alternative as better value. I went to Newcastle Arsenal 6 weeks ago for the same price as a Celtic home game. The standard of football and players was incomparable.
Highland league games – usually Cove Rangers or Nairn County costs me £8 to get in. The highland League has 8 genuine title contenders at the start of each season.
In a way I’m the worst kind of Celtic fan I will go when we are in Europe or when we play the Huns. These are usually unpredictable games and competitive and offer value for money as I get to watch good players competing against each other.
Lastly, a full Celtic Park is the best football atmosphere you can experience- a view shared by many top level players who get to play there. That is now restricted to a handful of games per year.
My conclusion therefore is we are in the wrong league…. And we are stuck in the wrong place for the foreseeable future.
I personally don’t believe the new version of RFC will change that dynamic even when the finally arrive. They will be a mid table team who we will beat 9 times out of 10.
Joe Fillippi
And your choice if Lenny goes ?
Talk of changing Lenny is bonkers…
The new manager would have the same challenge in attracting players for champion’s league who are too good for Scottish football. It’s not a new manager but a new league we need…
If it wasn’t for the champions league, I have no doubt we would be in a darker place.
What’s the point in a league were one team wins it guaranteed by 1 million points? No one is interested in it abroad anymore.
How anyone can say it’s better without Rangers as competition is ridiculous. No other club in decades will challenge celtic. What a lot of crap we’ve been fed here about it being great without the FOD. It’s been terrible – don’t miss their scummy support but miss any meaning in league football.
I don’t want rangers back, but i do want competition.
I’d follow an american sort of model, where all under 21 players are pooled into a draft and the worst teams given first pick for a years loan.
Worst teams get biggest share of SPFL pooled money.
Still might not help. The disparity is enormous between celtic and say partick.
If the SPFL can’t produce a non old firm winner then whats the point? At least in Holland, they generally have 3-5 clubs that could win the league. I’d bite your arm off for 3. Even 2.
I see the blog is still in silly season mode. Roy Keane now the man to lead Celtic – cos he did brilliantly throwing all those millions at Sunderland around him ! Hopefully sanity will be restored soon.
Auldheid
Congratulations on your TSFM exploits.
respect :)))
Till later all
Nae nursery for 3 days for the wee mhan
exhausted thinking about it csc :))
SFTB,
Is it only a ‘tory value’ to want to be paid more? Really? Isn’t it a human value? Afterall, some of the most astute moneygrabbers are those from the Left wing. I am thinking of the Communists and Socialists throughout history who stole from the ordinary worker. They weren’t/aren’t any different.
AHM PEED AFF!
ernie lynch @ 11:16,
“Was the Thames Barrier not manufactured on Merseyside?”
Yes I believe it was. I’m not saying it didn’t bring work and wealth to others.
I have worked on many projects in the Docklands and lived there for a while as well.
So for me regeneration is not only fine it is necessary.
It is where the regeneration happens and where the money is spent that needs to be scrutinized.
I was using the floods as an example, you will hear many an excuse about “nothing could be done”, “it’s the worst weather for 300 years”, “no one could have seen this coming”.
Well the fact is London is protected – a flood in London was predicted and mitigated against – the prcoess starting over 50 years ago and costing a fortune. Only London was protected from the floods, in fact the flood risk further up the Thames was raised.
Personally I love the town but for me we are far too London centric.
BTW – Do you think it would have gone to Merseyside if Margret Thatchers government had placed the order? Or would those industrious Koreans been rubbing their hands:-)
Hail Hail
John O Neil
“Is it only a ‘tory value’ to want to be paid more? Really? ”
No, and that was not my point.
The full quote from Murdo was “If you pay me more, I will be a better manager and work harder”, that was the Tory value. He was fully entitled to believe he was worth more than Celtic were paying but, as it turned out, in his managerial career, he was not.
My point was, that we cheered them even though we knew they were Tories and superstars, not because they were connected to us and just earning a bit more. We cheered because, despite earning a lot more than us and having different political outlooks, they did the business on the pitch, even though they too lost leagues, got knocked out of cups, and were total non-achievers with Celtic in Europe.
The fans want competition, they want someone to challenge Celtic…. Right up to the minute we get beat
Recommendation for the Lefties on CQN:
Vonnegut’s ‘God bless you Mr Rosewater’. Hilarious and savage rebuttal of Capitalism US style. Elliot Rosewater is a fine character.
The Green Brigade pre the Motherwell fiasco had between 80 and 100 active signed members to my knowledge, and those members with the exception of one or two accepted a season ticket refund.
They are lost to Celtic temporarily, in terms of vocal well organised, all singing all dancing Celtic support. The mention of a safe standing area was imprecise in the Celtic statement, but if it’s given the go ahead, I’ll be surprised if it’s in time for next season.
The GB collected 5 .5 tons of food for the Food Banks initiative and though they are ‘disconnected’ © TNT they haven’t disbanded, I’d prefer all of them back for the vibrancy you mention, the loss of fans isn’t helped with the GB issues, but it’s a much bigger problem than that which has caused it.
With ole tuneful Dontbrattbackinanger in the Lisbon Lions End and CQN lurkers in the Celtic end the songs will be back, when we’re on an upward turn
Apologies then SFTB. Enjoyed the post.
Back in again….
_____________
Joe Filippis Haircut
11:35 on 10 February, 2014
We are going to have a standing area next season the Board should ensure there are places in the new area for the GB. H.H.
________________________________
Is this tue fella ?
HH
Bring back the Jungle – CSC
tue = true
typo
sorry
VP
ME TAE
Kikinthenakas
Sorry above post should have been address to Joe Fillipi’s Haircut
kikinthenakas & VP :))
yer no a sevconion so life is not to bad when you think about it:))))))))))))))
justtryandimaginethatcsc
away this time my ears are getting sore from being shouted at to hurry up :))
voguepunter
So im ah.
Why do Celtic supporters fall for the tabloid nonsense. Efe was asked about playing in England and said he would like to play there at some point but was happy at Celtic.
The headline is then “Ambrose sets his sights on playing in England”. Another non-story.
CHAIRBHOY
I read your post this morning,and agree wholly with it.
The money spent on London is eye watering. Always has been.
I remember being “dug up” about the cost of The Scottish Parliament,for instance. And yes,it was way way too high.
My response?
Four words-“British Library,opinion please.”
Unsurprisingly,few English people were aware hat it cost over £500m. Seems it went largely unmentioned in the press down here.
Strange that they could list he cost of every widget at Holyrood,huh?
The only way to get the crowds back is to boycott the games. FACT.
SFTB
_____
I’ve just put in for week aff work tae read
yer post.
Off oot – laters.
Feel no to bad noo as it’s no just me:0)
Marrakesh Express. I dont think we should be thinking of replaceing Lennie in my opinion he has the makings of a top manager.He has to address why our cup runs have been so poor.I am sure he is learning a lot about football management as he is a clever fella.I think he has a big job ahead of him preparing the side for the CL Qualifyers we will lose players for sure and have to bring in others and use our younger players so let Lennie get on with the job.H.H.
SETTING FREE THE BEARS. 1119
Smashing post,bud. Lots of stuff to nod my head to,some otherwise.
Mainly that you offered a get-out to those who want the huns back.
Anyone who wants the huns back is,IMO,not paying attention.
Sadly of course,I reckon CELTIC PLC are to the fore in that group…
Was out for lunch in Valencia yesterday with some Valencia ST holders. They were saying that for last 2-3 years many Spanish football fans talk about their league becoming like the SPL (spfl) with only two teams with any chance of winning it. They were all amazed when I told them what had happened in Scotland. Amongst the four of them, not one of them knew that Rangers had gone bust and that we now had a one-horse league.
Kev Jungle. We have been given the go ahead for a standing room only section for next season I am sure that I read the board are going ahead and it will be ready for the new season. H.H.
This place need btightening up!
Where’s Tonyd?
brightening
http://www.celticfc.net/newsstory?item=5393
VOGUEPUNTER
Chill,pal.
Yer too big a fella to be p’d off.
Have a wee poof-juice and don’t rip off yer shirt as ye turn green.
My advice is free as always….
new article posted.
Ooft…nae mair lurking for me today.
So far today we’ve had – Lenny to go, the board are apron wearers and not interested in “us”…….and KevJ now being viewed as a Celtic Seer?
Jeez……there must have been some hard drugs taken over the past 24 – 48 hrs.
Oh and finally….I had a season book for over 7 yrs which I took over from my brother when he emigrated. In my time as a season book holder I have become a father 3 times, moved house, new jobs etc etc, lots more responsibilities and also less “free” time…I never fell out of love with Celtic or took a knee jerk reaction to stop supporting them (in relation to my season book) simply put “life” got in the way.
Might be sacrilege to say it but Celtic aren’t my “life”, they don’t put food on my table or money in my pocket. They play a part in it and I get great enjoyment (usually) from watching them and also what they did and do represent…….but I won’t be on suicide watch every time we get beat or fail to be the moral compass for a corrupt society.
Away for a lie doon.
New article,fellas!
Joe Fillippi
We’re only speculating thats all. Its allowed on a fan blog. Anyway you must admit that there’s a good chance Lenny will walk. I got the same reaction in the pub on Saturday. ‘No way Keane’ I got. ‘Well who’ I asked, ‘any suggesttions’? so I got Coyle and Steve Clark. To say ‘let him get on with it’ is not my argument. There’s a split in the support re Lenny and thats been the case with every manager at CP in my time except Stein. I haven’t started on NL’s record because its been done to death already, except to say that his cup results really are poor.
67heaven … i am neil lennon, supporting wee oscar..!!.. ibrox belongs to the creditors
11:23 on 10 February, 2014
quonno
11:00 on 10 February, 2014
Try recession, and demise of arch enemy…….I take it you have noticed half-empty stadiums across Europe…..
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Germany, standing areas, allowing the youth to be vociferous.
Within reason that is.