Given a choice, you would rather a rival pitch up to play you with a lame duck manager who has clearly lost the dressing room, than sack him and allow players and coaches an opportunity to disavow some of his more glaring errors. Rene Weiler took Anderlecht to the Belgian title in May, his first season at the club. But, when he was sacked yesterday, they sat ninth in the Jupiler table with just two wins and eight goals in seven games.
They have a cup game away to lower league Westerlo tomorrow, the third consecutive away game in a series of four, before Celtic come to town in eight days. The Anderlecht board’s hope is that they can remain in the cup, then pick up a win against Waasland-Beverent (seventh, but on the same points as Anderlecht), in an attempt to stabilise the club before the crucial Champions League game with Celtic.
By any measure, Anderlecht have been rubbish this season, but they will employ the weapon all rubbish teams have, that of an embattled underdog who is capable of raising standards by exception. Their performance at the Allianz Arena last week, where 10-men gave Bayern Munich some nervous moments, is an indication of what we are likely to face next week.
The game in Brussels is not only our most important game of the next week, it’s the most important game between now and December, when Anderlecht visit Celtic Park. Despite their historical-comparative rubbish status, Anderlecht are better than any team we will face in Scotland. Notwithstanding that, our objective has to be a win in Brussels.
I was there at Hampden when Paul Wilson scored twice as we won the Scottish Cup against Old Airdrie in 1975. Paul was an exciting player during an era when our star was fading. We enjoyed the thrill of seeing a breakthrough, flamboyant, talent emerge. I still recall that header against Spain which seemed to affirm Paul as the genuine article.
The four years after nine-in-a-row finished was an era of decline. Kenny Dalglish carried the team to an extent we have never really acknowledged as a club, or a support. But Jock Stein’s period of pre-eminence was long gone before Paul Wilson and his contemporaries made their mark. Paul moved on in 1978 to little fanfare, as Celtic finished fifth and Stein was asked to leave the dugout.
On his death yesterday, he was noted as a trailblazing player of Asian descent in British football at a time when inclusivity was not a term society was familiar with. He was that, but for me, he was a young and powerful Celtic striker who put the ball in the net with ease.
Win tickets for Ibrox
Our raffle to win two tickets to the Celtic end at Ibrox for Saturday’s game ends at midnight TONIGHT!! If like me, you’re stuck without a ticket, this is your chance. Celtic sponsor and all-round good guys, Intelligent Car Leasing, provided the tickets to support our work with Mary’s Meals.
As you will know by now, over 3,000 children in Malawi and Liberia eat a school meal each day because of money raised by CQN’ers. This improves lives in a profound way.
To enter the raffle, answer this question:
Which Belgian team will Celtic face in this season’s Champions League?
Please donate a minimum of £5 to this MyDonate page. Then forward your confirmation email with your answer in the SUBJECT LINE to celticquicknews@gmail.com . Winner will be informed early tomorrow, so make sure you include adequate contact information.
Many thanks to you and Intelligent Car Leasing.
Good luck!
NEW CQN PODCAST OUT NOW, BEHIND THE SCENES AT HAMILTON v CELTIC WITH BT SPORT AND AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS SUTTON – LISTEN BELOW
Hardback, now only £10.00 plus p&p from cqnbookstore.com
542 Comments- Pages:
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BSR
The keeper PARRied his header well. I reckon Motherwell’s LouiS MOLTe wouldhave scored that though.
The strikers should be more FLY and try to LURE them into giving away a penalty.
Fanatic
When he scores in the second half things will get a shoal lot worser.
BSR & FAN,
The pair of yees better reel it in….;-))
H.H.
Are both teams floundering
The “commentary” teams Random Kack Capacitor……is puttin’ in a fair oul’ shift………………….
Ally 8 octave range:))
Declan is their best playet
I thought Sevco would SKATE this, but the don’t seem to be BREAMing with confidence.
Bankiebhoy,
aye lol….they’re fillitin it in ;-))
H.H.
Thank cod I’m no watching it
Devine intervention………………..
Its football Jim but not as we know it
Morelos hooks it wide. He made a real GAFFe there.
Goalkeeper flounders………………
Schalke v Bayern on BT the now. 2 nil to Bayern.
Schalke fans singing their equivalent of in the heat of Lisbon on te 67th minute .
James Rodriguez playing well for Bayern
Up to the knees in fenian blood……….
Loud and clear.
No problem Dallas. It looks like the punsters are in overdrive, Here we go for ten in a Roe.
With all these fish puns, the ball had to end up in the net.
Sevco take the lead and are up to their knees in fenian blood
BT sound guys asleep at the wheel this evening. Full volume sectarianism from newco fans.
And Morelos now a world beater.
Pena stands still, ball hits his head and goes in.
Craigan and co are creaming themselves.
Zonal marking. Suicidal insanity. Hipster pish.
F that. You’d be as well rolling a dice every time you concede a corner. Only takes one opposing touch and you’re undone. No insurance. No safety net.
Thistle blew it there.
Man-to-man, like glue, and attck the ball while you hold him off. Men on the posts, protect the goals at all costs.
You`re not Rangers any more.
Thanks , Thistle.
Pena lasted a full hour.
That said I could last an hour in a senior game if I didn’t run very much. And I’m 45
LOL.
Van Vossen returns.
the new Sebo…………………..
:)
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Candyass Miss of the season after thistle player gifts them a chance again.
McCoist and Craigan distraught.
Oh Dear :-)
HEE HEE HEE HEE
Bayern now 3 up . Vidal scoring and brilluantly set up by James Rodriguez
Thistle suicidal defending..
Thistle just need a tiny wee bit more belief.
Rangers miss a one on none.
To be honest Macjay….wen they were singing there’s only 1 team in Glasgow…..I thought….nice of thum to sing about us ;-))
Haha as candyass should be working in porn…..whit a fluffer ;-))
H.H.
THELURKINTIM on 19TH SEPTEMBER 2017 9:08 PM
Thoroughly enjoying this.
Huns playing the ” what we have we hold ” tactic.
Dearie me. Some terrible football on show here.
Lurkin
Sorry we didn’t catch up. But hope you feel better. We will catch Next time in Glasgow, or if you are in Toronto…
Bateen .. pleasure was all mine. Bad people?! You’ll have people thinking I represent the SFA! :)