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
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542 Comments- Pages:
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Soz,
Check out an incognito browser…..
3-1 and Herrera scores a back heel
Thistle been poor in e-t
TLT
No big debate from me mate, there’s only one place to be on Saturday :-)
Sandman
Thanks we’ll probably just head back to the Wick then.
OMG! They are coming:-)
THELURKINTIM thanks bu no difference on my mac..
You’d think Patrick were told to chuck it!
Either that or the Sevco kitman found the oldco UEFA cup run special energy pills. Allegedly
HT,
as long as yer no left huddled around a tranny ;-))
H.H.
Have had a look see and canny find any rule change that allows four subs, embdy enlighten me and Jobo ?
Watching this Thistle team.Deary me.They go from good,to Keystone Cops.Thats why they are bottom of the league.In saying that,this Hun team are dire.
Huns cheating every pass.
The new. Real Mahdud.
Next goal’s the winner. You heard it here first ;-)
Cheering
Seems liek they can use four subs, as long as the game goes into extra time
Fan a Tic
You were right the first time
Jobo,
That’s a defeatist attitude….shame on you ;-))
H.H.
MIT/D: Can meet you in Bad Ass for tomorrow’s match if you like. Leave a message or text me.
I agree with Gene from earlier. Some Bhoys here getting ahead of themselves.
The day our team take any opposition for granted is the day our unbeaten run comes to an end.
Am I confident we will beat Dundee tomorrow night, yes I am but there have been greater upsets.
A few dodgy decisions a red card, a penalty shoot out, nothing is certain in football, so let’s not be talking about humping Sevco in the Cup until we beat Dundee at least.
Brither McLean……………..
You really can’t see them give us any problems on Saturday:-))
Even Fat Salary and Craigan can’t justify free kick to Sevco, and Thistle player booked to add the cherry to that little passage of play.
Looks like Chicken peri-peri suppers all round……………
Dallas
We played Eibar 2 years ago in a friendly. Many of the Tims at that match made their way down to Benicassim to see Blur and The High Flying Birds on the same bill. Both Noel Gallagher and Damon Albarn made reference to the amount of guys in their audience from the Celtic end of Glasgow. :)
I’ve watched Triggers Broom FC’s last 2 games in their entirety. I intend to watch their next one too. Night all – wan mair sleep ;-)
Or Corkie,
We blow Dundee away with our possession and slick passing….If I was a betting man…..I know that tomorrows 56 leads us on for a double treble…..;-)) 57 (against der hun)….keeps us dominant….;-))
H.H.
The continued debate on Saturdays Referee,Thomson,is like every Hun game.Nearly a week of it.Boring would be a polite word for it.Just what is the point/.Is it so hard to see how the game pans out,and do the moaning after it?.No matter what Referee had been picked,the posts would be the same.
Commentator,”Rangers have showed their class”NAW,
Thistle have shown their lack of it.Thats why they are bottom of the league.
Turkeybhoy
Over on Bears Den Rangers Media they dont like Thompson….he is a taigy rangers hater and apparently the only ref we like !!!!
ET to beat Plastic Whistle over 2 legs, if you like…
Well done Neil Lennon. Semi finalists. Hope you draw the huns and pump them again at Hampden.
That is what I expect to happen LurkingTim but I’ll be nervous before kick off tomorrow night.
If it was a League game than a defeat wouldn’t be a disaster as over the season the better team prevails and we know we are the better team.
However in a one off Cup game it is possible that we could slip up.
That’s yoos telt:-))
Thompson is the last ref. I want on Saturday.
That`s all.
Corkcelt at 10.01 . I agree , focus on tomorrow night’s game first .
Once tomorrow night’s game is done , concentrate on Saturday.
We are a far better team than sevco . In the early to mid nineties , we were not the greatest of teams but still managed to beat or draw with them occasionally . I always bear this in mind when we play the tribute act.
MacJay, why? And who would be your alternative? Or best option?
WITS
Do yourself a favour. Avoid hunmedia.
John Knox media.
Hope we hand Neil McCann his turncoat arse on a plate tomorrow.
HH
Delaney’s, your favourite musical event of the year.
Messi scored Barca ‘s fifth and his third of the game while being pulled back by 2 Eibar defenders.
Absolutely Dallas. It’s a cliche but you’ve got to take one game at a time.
I trust Brendan to keep the Bhoy’s on their toes.
;
Delaneys
Hunmedia ???
It can be very entertaining