Celtic got what they deserved yesterday. Alarm bells were ringing from the opening minutes when Newco Rangers created several chances. Their goal on 16 minutes was reward for their ability to get inside the Celtic box with remarkable ease.
So much about football is down to game intelligence, something which bypassed Dedryck Boyata in the move which led to the opening goal, as he clumsily barged into the back of an opponent who was running away from goal. After Dedryck went off injured for Erik Sviatchenko midway through the first half, Craig Gordon had little to do.
This fact illuminates the only positive aspect of Celtic’s performance – the defence. Sviatchenko and Charlie Mulgrew both played well, while Kieran Tierney would have collected the Man of the Match award, had his team-mates delivered near to his level.
Sviatchenko wasn’t in the starting line-up because he’d been out injured, but with extra time, he played (well) for 95 minutes. Leaving him out, presumably over concerns he would be unable to play 90 minutes, was a miscalculation.
From midfield forward we were individually and tactically second best. Scott Brown provided more evidence that he’s not regained top form after his injury lay-off. His touch and decision-making were both off. He had an opportunity to clear at the first goal but his contact wasn’t strong enough.
This is a real concern. Scott’s 31 in the summer, young enough to have several good years at this level, but my expectation is that we need to manage the remainder of his career carefully, in light of the cumulative effect of injuries. If this concern is valid, it will have a big impact on Celtic next season.
I did a fair amount of shouting at Nir Bitton during the first half. We were regularly overloaded 3-against-2 on the wing, while Nir remained in a central position, 5 yards away from being able to effectively press. If this was down to team orders they were complicit in a dreadful first half performance. If it was a personal reluctance to press, it was inexplicable. I could believe either scenario.
It was all too much for Gary Mackay-Steven and Patrick Roberts. Gary’s form has been underwhelming this season, but when I questioned his inclusion ahead of the game the point was made that he’s chipped in with a number of goals recently. Ronny Deila turned and walked to the dug-out to instruct Gary’s substitution after one inaccurate pass too many.
In the starting line-up, only Gary, Patrick Roberts and Leigh Griffiths had scored in our previous 7 league games. I suspect we were caught asking the wrong question here – who’s going to score the goals? Instead of asking how best to win the middle of the park. With Roberts, Mackay-Steven, Griffiths and Johansen occupying the advanced four positions we were lacking in kilograms – literally lightweight.
Contrast to when Gordon Strachan plucked Charlie Mulgrew from defensive cover to play left side of midfield at Ibrox; winning a game well against the odds.
Stefan Johansen was another unable to judge the weight or accuracy to apply to a pass, he was hooked injured after 84 minutes but could have gone earlier due to performance. His replacement, Tom Rogic, brought a considerable improvement to our use of the ball. Had we started with Rogic and Sviatchenko it would have been a different result.
The plan didn’t work for Leigh Griffiths. He was unable to hold play up, get in behind or craft a proper opening. He’s been our charm this season, but he’s no miracle worker.
More on the big picture stuff later in the week.
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It’s time for PL to go, there’s far too much distrust of the man by too many for him to ride this out.
The same could be said of the senior players, they know who they are
An Dun
The season we won it with 70-odd points was 2012/13. Mitigating circumstances for that were that we were in the CL that season – a new experience for that squad and that had knock on effects for our league campaign.
For example, the Saturday after pushing barca all the way in the camp nou we lost 0-2 at home to Kilmarnock.
The Sunday after beating barca at Celtic park we drew at home to st Johnstone.
It was clear that our CL exploits hindered our accumulation of points in the league.
Ronny has no such mitigation .
I’ll gladly accept a league winning tally of 70-odd points if it is accompanied with qualification for and a decent showing in the CL.
Ronny Deila never came close to this.
Mr Pastry,
Celtic have tip toed around the cheating. I don’t know what corporate culture you are used to but the Celtic approach will achieve zilch. Far too timid.
First step RD being replaced. Next the CEO who systematically destroyed the club. Celtic will not be cleansed until Lawwell is sacked for his numerous failures. At least he can say he cleaned up his own mess with RD.
Close out the league ( RD cannot be involved now ) and prep for the CL qualifiers.
Lawwell can be the next SFA president and continue his services to damaging Celtic.
Shame for nice guy Ronny that he’s going. A genuinely good guy. A genuinely abysmal manager of Celtic.
Still, he’s a better Celtic manager than Lawwell is a CEO, as evidenced by the GBS just now.
Lawwell plays the old distraction trick of who’ll be the next manager. I’m not playing that game Pedro. I’d prefer a game of who’s the next incompetent, avaricious, overpaid CEO.
CULTSBHOY
SB canny sort a team out on the pitch never mind from the touchline
love
Would like an appointment that appeases the fans, someone big to show we mean business and that we are gunning to go on and the win 10 in a row we, well I, have sang about.
Winds of change
10 in a row
I’d settle for 5 in a row right now
Spartim
Agree that senior players have been spared proper scrutiny for their no show yesterday. Hiding behind the prime targets of nice guy Ronny and smart arse Lawwell. Big clear out required as soon as the league is won. Beginning with Skoosh Broon who has run his race.
Surely if PL pulled a rabbit out of the hat this time with a new manager that would only support the view that he’s been taking us for a ride all this time
I’m confident that we’ll win our last 5; in fact, I’ll maybe bet on it!
Remembering a quote about gambling separating a fool from their money…!
Peterlatchfords belly
I think we’ll sell anyone we can
Winds of Change
You would be mad to bet on Celtic winning the league
The current odds according to oddschecker are
Celtic 1/100
Aberdeen 33/1
No value there,is 8 points enough,
I take no joy in rumours that Ronny is leaving at end of season. was opposed to his appointment but grew to like him over his period at Celtic. The original plan was to recruit him as an Assistant to Lenny, I think that plan might have worked, when Lenny quit the Board took a huge gamble & gave Ronny top post.
We have all over our lifetimes seen nice guys promoted too early or beyond their capabilities, the results are not nice.
Of course Ronny must go but I genuinely wish him well.
Of the various names being mentioned as possible Managers, Moyes would be my choice.
Still scunnered but will be OK for next Sunday (hopefully).
WITS. He was talking of betting we would win our last 5 games not just winning the League.
Winds of change @ 11:36
I, as I expect the majority of others, agree with what you have said.
However as has been mentioned many a times, in particular over the past 33 hours, think that we need to start with the evac of PL.
Any self respecting and self priding manager, who wants to come to our club with a whole hearted intention of making us a force to be reckoned with again in Scotland AND Europe will ask 3 questions once approached.
1) What will by my goals? Win the league? Win a league and cup double? Win the treble? Win a couple of domestic cups as well as challenging in Europe?
2) How much money will be invested for me to achieve said goals?
3) How much of an influence will I have in singing the players I want? Will
I have the final say?
At this current time, under the regime of PL, I could answer those questions.
1) Win the league if you can.
2) Not very much (but if we sell our best assets (questionable plural!), you’ll be given 25% of that income.
3) Not very much / Unlikely
Those answers will quickly go some way to scaring off any manager with the calibre which we would like, or indeed expect, to see.
Chris1888
the special one to celtic!
Corkie
Yes I realise that now
We wont win our last 5 games
Be suprised if we win any of them
Three questions:
1. Who said that RD was originally meant to be a coach, not the manager?
2. Who is so close to RD that they can say that he is a ‘nice guy’?
3. Would Lawwell and our board sack him now (pay him till the end of his contract) and then pay someone else to finish the league?
What a crappy day.
Nothing to do with Celtic.
But they didn’t help make it any easier.
What next?
I think we need to get perspective about Sevco amd their ability to mount a challenge. But we need to get real about our shortcomings. If we had any recognisable system of play we’d have won at a canter yesterday – as lacking as some of our players may be.
Bye bye Ronnie and Pete. The latter has lost whatever he may once have had. The former maybe never had it.
On a positive note I honestly think there was a false dawn for Sevco yesterday. Their season will be considerably more challenging next year.
I’ll concede to the negatonians that our strategy on and off the park has not worked. And it is now time to act as one if change is not forthcoming.
May turn out that yesterday is a blessing on disguise. Painful lesson as it was…..
I texted my brother earlier about RD leaving at the end of season, and it being all over Twitter.
He said Celtic have released a statement saying the same.
Has anyone else seen or heard this?
Chris, I agree with most of what you say, that is why I want a guy like Moyes. People are mentioning a host of names, most of them would do anything to get the job including being a patsy to the Board.
WE need a guy who has been there, done that, A guy who will demand autonomy, Moyes fits that description in my book.
Anyway it’s been a long day, so I’m off to my leaba. Goodnight & God Bless all Unrepentant Fenian Bastards.
I read tiny Tim saying that supporters should renew season tickets to err compete with the Huns.
We aren’t even going to try and.compete with the Huns so unless you are some kind of Sado masochist who loves Humilation you better get used to it.
The board are now knifing you in the front as well as back.
Their silence is beyond parody.
Pauls unwillingness to tackle the real issues and his own complicit ness in this debacle shouts at us.
We have been utterly betrayed.
He should leave tomorrow before he does any more damage
The guy is a complete fantasist
He could still lose this league
Now that would be an extraordinary achievement
Is it just me or is anyone else concerned that we are relying on Hibs stopping Rangers from qualifying for Europe next year?
Vale Bhoy, Lenny said it.
OK – since we’re having a go at all things Celtic. One observation.
Brownie appears washed up. Mentally and physically. Why?
If there is some underlying reason he has my sympathies but the decision to play should be removed from him.
Have you noticed that every time we played in Europe as the teams were lining up in the tunnel, he had his focussed, staring ahead look? The ref would try and have a word with both captains but he got feck all back from Broonie. I believe this has affected some of the decision making of the ref during the actual game. Human nature an that.
He doesn’t make it easy for himself and us.
Tinfoil on.
Go tell the Spartim.
Lawwell would only have a puppet he could control so he can remain Director of Football.
He manoeuvred Keane out of the role as he did not want a Dermot -MON Irish connection again.
Lawwells criteria for a Celtic FC manager is a cheap yes man who is low maintenance and will not rock the boat. He will even appoint the deputy puppets just in case the main puppets string breaks.
Lawwell is still on the gold plated CL package while the club has downsized to just north of a pub team and fights the good fight on the living wage with the lowest paid in society.
It’s amazing the brass neck he has or maybe it’s solid gold.
I thought Roy Keane was a bad idea. I’ve changed my mind…
If anybody wants to know what is happening at Celtic park. Then look no further than Peter lawells bonus over last ten years
Saw the breakdown yesterday
His bonus started low about 40k then two years in a row there was no bonus
Then about 80k then 150k
The important thing to look at is the last 4 years
Every one over 400k. Yes 400k
He has the club where he wants it
40k season tickets and sponsership and player sales brings max bonus
Why oh why would he sack Ronny
There you have it bhoys
Boycott for change now or it will go on till he retires
Need a leader
Paul67. You are respected
Time to stand up for your side of the city
CORKCELT
Thank you.
I take it that was the answer to the first question.
Cultsbhoy
Imo PL is not gioin anywhere,reason-to many committees on floor6 at Hampden that DD is politically interested in, maybe to ensure the cheats dontt attempt again sir dave of cheats old tricks.
Cowiebhoy
Dont think frail would take the drop in salary from man city21s:-)
TBJ/bada et al
Good chat on who available players, there is a lot of good material to work with, and the development hopefully will add to it.
HH
Ghuys stop stressing about things you can’t control….
Get yourself an executive toy, chillax….like me
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xNP04UhToAM
As bad as yesterday was, I’m more interested in where we are with Resolution 12. I signed up when the call came out from Canamalar and have waited, and waited, and waited. Some noises in recent weeks allude to some form of immanent action but I’ve no idea what that means. It seams that some who were not even signatories to the original resolution are being fed better information than the requisitioners.
Why is that? Why does tony donnely know more about this than me and the others who signed up and tried to force the hand of our board. Something stinks here and it’s not the four guys who took this forward.
Our board leaking information to lickspittal nutters is a poor way to treat the requisitioners.
Take a moh-ment…
Let’s get right to it
Corky, are you over for the Aberdeen game?
I reported on here yesterday that Celtic had informed Ronny that he would be leaving at the end of the season. Family reasons (missing his daughters) would be the reason given. John Collins is leaving as well. The Celtic employee who was the source of the news apparently said that his choice for manager would be Kennedy (I kid you not) whom he said is brilliant and rated very highly by the players. I know the name of the source and I believe it is a very credible story. Kennedy would be his choice but not necessarily that of PL.
Time will tell.
Nothing is going to happen to resolution 12 as long as PL is there
Robert Keane is our best way forward at present as it’s the only way Lawell will leave his golden nest
SydneyTim, I’m not sure if that was a response to my post above but with all due respect, I’d rather have information from the requisitioners, the board or one of their lick spittals.
In reverse order, they seem better informed than the guys who pledged their shares to the resolution.
Some dirty propaganda going on here with board implantations.