If you can withhold pressure from the baying mob after poor football results, you are built from strong stuff. Looking in from the outside, it is easy to understand why sacking a manager should never be done on the back of one poor run of form, least of all a manager’s first poor run of form. This holds true, even if you expect to go through a painful period of results before the outcome becomes inevitable.
When you replace a manager you need to worry about what comes next. When some Celtic fans demonstrated to remove Neil Lennon from his job, at that stage, he had won five out of five domestic trophies available to him and topped a Europa League group. The world and his dog suspected Neil was no longer right for the job, but trigger-happy clubs do not attract quality managers who have options.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst led a team to the Europa League final and won a Scottish Cup. He compounded this felony by qualifying for the Champions League group stage. The demands of which took its toll on a squad which he had squeezed the last breath of quality from.
Within six months of that wafer-thin loss in Seville, his board capitulated to the demands of the mob and sacked him. I was delighted.
While Gio was under pressure, Michael Beale was top of the English Championship with QPR and a prospective ‘Premier League manager’ in the making. With his stock never higher, he strode into Ibrox like the Pope, well, maybe that’s not a great analogy, but basically, when he was flavour of the month and van Bronckhorst was suffering, he made his affinities known to club and fans alike.
Beale loaded the gun which fired van Bronckhorst. His QPR were soon in freefall, with the London club happy to let him leave and Newco desperate to quell the baying mob, the deed took place under cover of an international break.
High earners were emptied from the squad without transfer fees, a bevvy of new recruits were bought for around £13m (according to Beale) and none of them are up to the task of dislodging Celtic. An aside, John Park is chief scout there, the man who went to Holland and brought Virgil van Dijk to Celtic Park and Sam Lammers to Ibrox. Bizarre, really.
The league is not over. Newco have two months of benign domestic fixtures ahead; all winnable, with a decent chance of being top of the table in November. The best thing they can do is take their medicine from Sunday and let the manager get on with it. They will fail hilariously.
Football clubs suffer most damage, not at the hand of opponents, but from fans who have achieved nothing in the game and who rely on a win to bolster their fragile self-esteem. If you figure out how to overcome this, Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGKp9aqUbMc
Neil Lennon 1000/1 to be next boss of Sevco. Big Jimmy, give us your view of that.
HH
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD on 5TH SEPTEMBER 2023 1:43 PM
Hasn’t taken the begrudgers long to start their moaning again. Shame
*naw same hunterlopers just different non de plume, sticks out a mile so please ghuys don’t bite ok
CHAIRBHOY on 5TH SEPTEMBER 2023 2:37 PM
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD @ 1:43 PM,
Hasn’t taken the begrudgers long to start their moaning again. Shame.
CB-What do you mean start their moaning
AT- i agree fully with PCS CB,and to a certain yourself,in that you never stop(moanin bout somethin we cant change),for eg the john mcGinn story died the second he signed for another club,regardless of his uncles and aunties who drink in Heraghtys.
He did not sign.
Please lodge that into the core of your cranium.
it has no impact today in 2023 on Celtic my friend
CB I’d suggest you go and read the comments after the game on match day.
AT- i would suggest what PCS is inferring/implying is maybe the (season) week prior to the derby just piling on nervous guff upon nervous guff in the run up to a big game.transfer window/lawell/whit the huns daen? All used to clobber Celtic instead of supporting at a time when many are out injured.
CB-A multitude of barbed comments against Celtic supporters
AT- Hypersensitive CB,posters asking where japanese poty is?Bench stronger than team! Needing a left back,centre/defensive mid,big 7ft centre forward,then the behavioural/body language flatulence specialists,Brendan not answering correctly,some even suggesting the Celtic team named was a resignation note from BR.all wrong and a fantasists speciality,every letter typed showed a distinct lack of professionalism and no faith in our managers ability.
Stand up for Celtic,na it exuded nervousness when calm was needed,thankfully Brendan was on it,after a good week training ground
CB-Noticed that those that were quite happy to take a pop at our manager after the St Johnstone game were quite happy to get on their high horse Sunday
AT- some are still under there stones,they will come out,those who critique for Celtics betterment like AD and Denia are unquestionable tims,and thankfully always here,why would they not rejoice a Celtic victory,they are Celts,celebrating what is in Celtic dna since 1888 –
Winning.(am sure you never even thought of JMcG on sunday:-))
CB-If you disagree with a comment, why don’t you do what the Celtic team did on Sunday and man up
AT- i disagree a lot with what i read last week while lurking(thanks mod:-))a lot of it,including some headers which i dont normally read were divisive them/us kack whereas to me there is One Celtic.It seemed to go into overdrive as the tferwindow was open(and Halaand wouldnt come up!:-))
Ps -Badas post today is exempt re CL tickets,there should be an email addi to contact and get assistance if that person is in difficulty,and many are in these times
Hail Hail
Hail Hail my friend take care
MATT STEWART @ 4:17 PM,
Great stuff as per….
On a wider note that VAR on Sunday seemed truly bizarre
Few Celtic supporters would have seen that as anything other than us two goals down if normal service had been occurring
Here’s my theory, the Celtic manager, staff and hierarchy said enough is far more than enough after the Killie game
An offside goal to them, a stonewall penalty to us denied and smiles and fraternisation between the Killie manager and the referee
VAR happy to go along with the cheating
Their complaints resonated possibly all the way to FIFA – Sunday’s officials and VAR must have been on a warning, only logical explanation I can think of
Hail Hail
I never believed the KT stories or the megabucks signings stories.
Not the way we work. The six million plus signings we have made such as Eddy, CCV and Jota were all after a try before you buy year.
Nor do I buy into the idea of club briefing that these things were likely .
Just MSM a add up pish to generate headlines, sell papers and make mischief imo.
Turkeybhoy- step away from the raki
Reporter Juan Ignacio took to Twitter to say: “Celtic has set visiting tickets for Atleti fans at 72 EUROS…Feyenoord at €64 and Lazio at €50. Football for the rich…”
The price for CL tickets does seem high for some.
I am not sure what the mechanism would be for fair pricing etc.
Clearly compared to the many concerts at venues like the Hydro the price per game is cheap.
I honestly don’t know what the solution is because as a club with hardly any domestic TV revenue then maximising match day and merchandise revenue matters more than most and they would be challenged if they didn’t maximise this opportunity.
The problem as I see it is that we are going to the same pot of people for the money over and over again. £80+for the next kit etc etc.
The percentage of income folk spend on Celtic must be huge. The CL is the pinnacle. Not many won’t take up their ticket options. Those that don’t will find they get snapped up easily.
Maybe even a spread of payment until December might be fairer for some ? I struggle to think of any obvious answer to it though.
Chairbhoy
And the Infamous Mr Muir was the VAR on Sunday – even more amazing.
Kyogo and Tommy
Bada Bing
The Spanish are on a different level.
The percentage of domestic revenue from TV for Athletico is 35 x that of Celtic ….. assuming we win the league.
Sadly maximising match day revenues from all supporters is a route the club feels it has to pursue.
I attended Bayern v Inter in a dead rubber CL group game in a seat similar to my own in our North Stand lower. It cost me 130 euros. The stadium was packed.
Not sure of the answer really.
AN TEARMANN @ 4:35 PM,
Obviously I agree with the majority of that, being positive and supporting the team has got to be the way
Let things lie has got to be the best approach
However as always if there happens to be unfounded revisionism to bolster the reputations of underachieving executives and Board members then I reserve the right to engage.
Calling the riot squad on disenchanted Celtic supporters is not the way,
Board spin does need to be challenged, measured and fairly, but challenged none the less.
Your OpTIMistic presence was missed:))
Hail Hail
Made up pish
79CAPS @ 4:49 PM,
Well, I never knew that
He’d obviously been telt!!
Cheers
Hail Hail
Burnley
If you are on the home cup ticket scheme, the money is deducted from your account one game at a time
MATT STEWART 4.17
retreat into the Sharkeys do you not mean(shadows:-)))
Always good to see you on these pages
HH
Enjoyable read Pablo.
Don’t know how many demographics the last paragraph was aimed at.
Assume the overwhelming majority of Sevco supporters and a minority of Celts.
But I don’t know ……. hence the words “Don’t know” above.
I guess those likely to be content will be.
And those less likely to be won’t.
That’s about as far as my brain can take it.
I like our model.
For no other reason that the evidence – recent performance – indicates it works.
If it didn’t I wouldn’t like it.
I don’t like the SMSM because the evidence – recent performance – indicates they mostly spout a load of old cobblers.
They neither entertain nor inform.
FRANKTERRY
“ Hitler ? now there was a painter he could paint a whole apartment in one afternoon…….two coats “
Mel Brooks
CHAIRBHOY on 5TH SEPTEMBER 2023 4:39 PM
On a wider note that VAR on Sunday seemed truly bizarre, few Celtic supporters would have seen that as anything other than us two goals down if normal service had been occurring
Here’s my theory, the Celtic manager, staff and hierarchy said enough is far more than enough after the Killie game, an offside goal to them, a stonewall penalty to us denied and smiles and fraternisation between the Killie manager and the referee, VAR happy to go along with the cheating, their complaints resonated possibly all the way to FIFA – Sunday’s officials and VAR must have been on a warning, only logical explanation I can think of
*or how about the hun hierarchy want rid of the wee spiv, so in an effort to do so have the fan base turn on him, so a few losses, even to us, will be worth it in the long run and possibly save them a pay off, its in their dna the cheatin lying scum.
Greenpinata….The €16m for Jota will be correct but that is the total that Benfica received from Celtic including the sell-on from Saudi which we paid them after the Saudi team paid us.
In the same way we got £20m for VVD.
HH
Burnley 78,
At least you are thinking about ways we mitigate the cost during a cost of living crisis.
I too don’t know the answer either. It’s a catch 22. Could we provide some sort of discount for multiple ticketed households?
I think the fans are paying enough for Scottish football and I feel that the club could have given something back.
How much of an unexpected cash windfall due to rising 8nyerest rates have we received?
It’s difficult, but we must never lose track that match going supporters are the most stable, vital and biggest contribution of our overall income.
The match day experience must be protected and valued over the TV audience.
Some may question how much Sunday cost for an all day sesh and celebration in the Merchant City and compare that cost to the £ 138 package.
I suppose its all relevant . I just hate to see faithful fans potentially priced out.
I know you feel the same.
Cheers and HH.
B78- a couple of good points there,we keep going back to the hardcore of the support,again and again, in times like these,a bit of common sense was required, not to be.
Celtic Trust urgin folk express their view on the legislation on the links given on transport to and from a Match
https://twitter.com/TheCelticTrust/status/1699090794437546118?s=19
HH
TONTINE TIM @ 5:13 PM,
Well, there is a certain logic in that too…
If they come second in the SPL this season they are in the same boat as this…
The chance of UCL qualifiers but guaranteed European football
They won’t be happy with his 13 mn confession
They spend a lot of effort on their superiority and bluster.
Hail Hail
Thems is only letting the shock of liquidation out now. Ghod help them they’ve a long way to go.
B78
Maybes the Spanish clubs have wheans more cash from TV revenue than we get, but trust me, the supporters are way, way, way poorer than yer average Scottish football supporter.
On swallow doesn’t make a summer.
I personally don’t expect us to be miles clear in January.
More likely (IMHO) it’ll be nip and tuck with us being just slightly better.
If I was offered a four point lead over the most likely challengers at the split?
Probably I’d grudgingly take it but would prefer six points.
I’d expect us to pull away second half of the season as reality bites.
Reflecting on Sunday’s great victory, I wasn’t in the negativity camp leading up to the match. Brendan could still play an experienced midfield despite the missing Reo and an attack who i said on Saturday could cause a lot of problems and knew how to beat Rangers providing our back five could hold strong in the Ibrox cauldron. Joe hart, Alastair Johnston and Liam Scales were simply terrific. Liam also knew how to beat Rangers scoring the winning goal for Aberdeen only a few months previously.
Agree with Paul, I always thought Giovanni Van Bronchurst got raw deal at Ibrox after guiding the club to admirable success in Europe and bringing in millions to the club. Nevertheless, it was good for us to see him go.
Brendan showed courage in sticking with his young center back pairing and not being influenced by outside forces. Liam scales was being criticised after just one game with the Hoops and has shown that young players have to be given game time to make their mark and two clean sheets has done his CV no harm atall.
As for Beale, again IMHO, his biggest problem is he doesn’t – at 43 years old – have a clear identity as a manager.
Jock and Cloughie were each just a year older when they won the European Cup.
He’s still seen as a cog in the Gerrard machine.
If the manager ain’t got no identity?
(See wot I done there?)
He can’t overlay that identity clearly and confidently onto a team.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 5TH SEPTEMBER 2023 5:11 PM
:-)
The postmatch interviews at that tired old stadium were illuminating.
One guy was a consummate professional and it showed.
Calm, controlled, articulate.
Didn’t mention the “R” word once while absolutely not coming across as a guy intent on avoiding the “R” word.
The other looked and sounded amateurish.
Celtic name checked because we’re in all their heads.
Came across like a Billingsgate fish monger trying to tell angry punters the van had a flat tyre so there ain’t no fish today.
AT,
As an aside to my response on the potential travel plan as you mention @ 17.23 hrs.
Did you know the motoring pollution actually rose 12% in the Glasgow target zone since LEZ was introduced. The car poll tax is designed to hit the poorest.
The science is flawed and there must be a question of legality for a system that was never democratically agreed.with the people.
When fans answer I hope they see its all about control. Nothing else.
HH.
It’s
Greenpinata………….Why is aviation never mentioned in the great global warming debate?
Sunday November 12
Celtic v Aberdeen
Live on Sky Sports, kick-off 2.30pm
CHAIRBHOY on 5TH SEPTEMBER 2023 4:53 PM
AN TEARMANN @ 4:35 PM,
Obviously, I agree with the majority of that, being positive and supporting the team has got to be the way, let things lie has got to be the best approach
*first of all, I have just finished “The Bould Bhoys! Glory To Their Name” book by Matthew Marr which is the excellent story of our first league title and is an amazin reflection of our early years as a club when the SFA, as a result of us jointly with the World Champion Renton FC founded the Scottish League, hated us with a passion as did the smsm most notably the “Scottish Referee.” which engaged in sectarian baiting with regards to its correspondence and cartoons, and was particularly critical of us, often referring tae us as the “Irish” so what we are facin now is nothing new, so we either just grin and bear it or else or else stand up tae them which we have done for most of our 136 years.
On Sunday when I saw the line up I was delighted as this was not a game for the faint hearted, especially in that den of hatred with zero good ghuys other than our staff and board members plus the wee mhan that saved us from extinction, well we now know how it ended and I am also glad we didnae do the usual BR and absolutely thump them either as that might have provoked that mental mob tae try and emulate their “brithers” on December 26 1948 at Celtic Park Belfast.
So yesterday afternoon while Mrs. TT was out while reading as much as I could on several Celtic sites I had some oldies stations on listenin tae the songs of my youth when the Latter Day Christ was in charge, was I happy by God I was as that’s what its all about so on this particular day, the 59th anniversary of my first ever win over them, when a patched up Celtic side thumped, aye absolutely thumped, a full strength iron curtain hun side 3-1 going on at least 7 complete with a missed penalty and a goal chalked off for a foul tae us wtf, with PCS’s hero Charlie G, who had hit the post with the penalty, having the overrated 2nd best player tae come out of Hill O’ Beath in his pocket.
Also, on the 92nd anniversary of the great mhan who inspired this song “so play up Glasgow Celtic stand up and play the game” well that’s all we ask for.