I indulged in a bit of radio call-in listening last night to hear how the other side are dealing with their recent implosion. Blame flows in all directions when aspirational clubs win nothing and perspective is difficult to find.
Steven Gerrard is in his second season as a manager, most of his players have won little or nothing in their careers. As a club, this is only their second season playing two games a week for months on end. Contrast this to Celtic, which has years of corporate learning ingrained into the fabric of Lennoxtown.
Celtic know what work to do at the margins to ensure players can deliver at the weekend as well as on European duty. They learned this through many seasons of fine-tuning. They know what training and rest is required, what nutrition works best and how to motivate players to continue to achieve.
It is usually fans who have not kicked a ball for decades that accuse players of not trying or caring enough when they suffer a bad result against a weaker team. In fact, football is far more nuanced. Players are not machines and never will be. Get the preparation 10% wrong and even the best are liable to lose.
It is the manager’s job to know this and to find the words to explain what went wrong, while keeping an eye on the next challenge. Steven Gerrard is not alone in expressing his despair at players’ inconsistencies, but in doing so, he is building his own gallows. Leave that chat to those who only know how to shout from this sides, but know nothing about dominating an opponent on the field.
It has been a while, but you and I have seen things go wrong at Celtic, as they will do again. When it happens, don’t be like Steven and his ‘The players are not good enough” fans. Newco players are, in fact, performing well above reasonable expectations. That they will forever struggle to win a trophy is not their fault.
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CELTIC
Stevie on the scaffold…
Number 2 will do
My team for Livi based off current team news:
—————-Forster
Frimpong—–Jullien–Bitton–Taylor
—————-Brown–McGregor
Christie———–Rogic————Forrest
———————Edouard
Bench: Bain, Elhamed, Hayes, Griffiths, Welsh, Bayo, Soro
Injury doubts over Simunovic, Forrest & Ajer. I expect only Forrest to be risked.
Elyounoussi & Ntcham definitely out.
Football really is like life, isn’t it ?
Assange served his time, the punishment was not in line with the crime, solitary confinement in a maximum security prison with no access to his legal representation or records and evidence to be used against him. The British justice system broke its own laws.
I wonder how macjay would feel if he got similar treatment for illegally streaming a Celtic game as is his want.
Providing the gallows are built staunchly high enough, that should be acceptable to the Onion Bears.
Timaloy2
2 up front, shoot on sight and keep 11 on the park,
3 big fellas at the back – Tam, Nir and and Chris J.
Bring in Frimpers for Jamesey and maybe Hayes for Taylor……
We’ve made our mistake up there. Not expecting us to get suckered twice – that a sevco thing.
BIG WAVY on 3RD MARCH 2020 12:50 PM
2 up front, shoot on sight and keep 11 on the park,
3 big fellas at the back – Tam, Nir and and Chris J.
Bring in Frimpers for Jamesey and maybe Hayes for Taylor……
We’ve made our mistake up there. Not expecting us to get suckered twice – that a sevco thing.
____
I’d prefer that lineup.
I’m just unsure that Elhamed will be available. I know he was an unused sub in the last game but this would be his first start since November.
Starting Welsh is another option.
He had no idea how they performed so well against Braga, he had no idea how they performed so badly against Hearts,
He’s an U18 coach playing at bring a Manager,
Clueless
Sevco fans taking to the airwaves to ask why they’re so good in Europe and crap domestically do my head in. Your team are bang average and sometimes will play well, other times not so. No greater explanation needed.
Man Utd have beaten Spurs, Chelsea, Man City and Leicester this season. Yet they sit 5th in the league because overall, their just an average side. It’s not rocket science.
If Elhamed is ready and able then I’d play him tomorrow night. We could do with his height and composure at the back…but it’s a game for big Tom Rogic to remind us of the magician he can be. He’s due one of those performances…
Squad going into next season:GK: Bain, Hazard, Doohan
RB: Elhamed, Frimpong, Ralston
CB: Jullien, Ajer, Hendry, Bitton
LB: Taylor, Boli
CM: Brown, McGregor, Soro, Kouassi, Connell, Ntcham, Robertson, Henderson, Benyu
LM: Johnston
RM: Forrest, Shved, DembeleAM: Christie, Rogic
CF: Edouard, Griffiths, Bayo, Klimala, Afolabi
That squad is about 31/32 players deep. Potentially good for numbers but not for personnel.
Decisions to make:
Get rid of: Boli (if possible), Ralston, Hendry & Kouassi
Loan out: Afolabi, Connell, Robertson, Henderson, Doohan & Hazard
Sign:
Fraser Forster
An experienced free agent keeper (like Rob Elliot) to be 3rd choice.
A left back to compete with Taylor
A centre back to compete with Ajer
Elyounoussi or another LM to be a starter
That’s probably a minimum. We need another big summer.
Or as another inspirational leader, Henry V might have said…
Once more into your breeches!
Gerrard was badly advised when he took on the Rangers Manager job. He had often visited Celtic Park when Liverpool games made possible and played there on at least 2 occasions, He has relatives who support the hoops.
Rangers are not the “other side” of Celtic, they are a different case altogether.
Rangers are a new club pretending to be the old club which in fact was Liquidated. They are a Financial basket case with a convicted criminal as chairman and a number of dodgy Directors. They have no credit line from a bank and have withdrawn from the Stock Exchange
What they do have is a compliant media which keeps the “bears” onside with a spin of good news stories. They also have support from various governing bodies SFA, SPFL etc.
There is a baggage at Ibrox which make his job a minefield. His chairman has been “cold shouldered”.
Now Neil Lennon has a major shareholder who can get Celtic in the room anywhere in the world as his wealth and business dealing gives him contacts that Ibrox could only dream of. We have a Chief Executive who also has numerous contacts in football and is comfortable at UEFA and ECA. Lennon has such backing and Financial muscle at his back. He may not have an unlimited Budget but he does have a robust Budget,
What Neil has is a club used to winning and whilst we don’t punch our weight in Europe we are on our way to 9 in a row and a quad Treble and 12 trophies in a row. We are a course and distance winner
Gerrard has taken on a Fools Errand
Paul67 et al
Great to see on the same page a picture of Rugby great Doddie Weir with our very own Neil Lennon at Celtic Park yesterday. The occasion announcing a Charity Football Match on the eve of the Scottish Cup Final, Friday May 8. (Not to say we will be in the final but hopefully we will) The event of course will connect Doddie’s own charity with that of Jimmy Johnstone and the Celtic Foundation. Not many former sportsmen inspire, but Jimmy did and big Doddie does. Check back to Doddie’s speech at the Sports Personality of the Year in Aberdeen a few months back for further proof positive. A great evening awaits.
We NEED to play two up front tomorrow night
imo
THE HANDS CANT HIT WHAT THE EYES CANT SEE on 3RD MARCH 2020 11:28 AM
Overall, WGS had the best bang for buck record
I’d be interested to know your thinking behind that – what’s the financial data to support it?
“Celtic know what work to do at the margins to ensure players can deliver at the weekend as well as on European duty.”
im not so sure about that one
CELTIC MAC on 3RD MARCH 2020 1:32 PM
Paul67 et al
Great to see on the same page a picture of Rugby great Doddie Weir with our very own Neil Lennon at Celtic Park yesterday
————————–
Good luck for the fundraising and research but sad to see one of the patrons of the charity has randomly blocked Celtic fans en masse, most of whom have never had any interaction with nor even heard of him. Think he is related to the rugby player and a Sevco man, but still…how sad to go the effort of blocking hundreds of Celtic fans for the sake of it!
Check this guys feed:
https://twitter.com/_lippylipez_?lang=en
HH
I thought Lennie`s response to the idiot who asked if not winning a fourth treble would be considered failure was excellent.
I liked the Old Lennie but this new one is even better.
PS I can`t find the clip to which I refer. I thought it was on CQN but I cannot see it.
@deaks1ey
·
16h
It’s a real shame @sweirz trustee of the inspirational @DoddieWeir5 foundation has been on a wild blocking spree of what looks like @CelticFC fans, all who have never interacted with him (myself included) I really hope it doesn’t have a negative impact on support for the event
Much hilarity pointed towards thems that is Sevco.
Let’s just get through tomorrow nights game, with 3 pts in the bag, then I will begin to feel a lot better about staving off any potential challenge.
Paul 67
I would keep your powder dry, about how we are experts and they aren’t.
Few more twists n turns. You wouldn’t want egg on your face now would you.
re my 1:56pm post
Would the same interviewer feel it was alright to ask Klopp if winning only the next twenty League games be considered a failure?
siempre celtic
Must admit I’ve never heard of the guy, is it Stewart Weir?
Wouldn’t worry too much if he doesn’t turn up for the event, many will.
HS- this clown.?
https://twitter.com/BBCSportScot/status/1234569414646824962
Bada!
That`s the fellow! Lennie`s look of disdain is perfect.
Very unlike a Shortbread Lapdog…..
RUGGYGMAN on 3RD MARCH 2020 1:59 PM
Much hilarity pointed towards thems that is Sevco.
Let’s just get through tomorrow nights game, with 3 pts in the bag, then I will begin to feel a lot better about staving off any potential challenge.
____
I’d say that over the next couple games.
2 more games against them. A trip to Easter Road. 2 more away games to the top 6 teams.
https://twitter.com/joycey22835033/status/1234813553007349760?s=12
CELTIC MAC on 3RD MARCH 2020 2:18 PM
Thats him,
HH
Quelle Surprise, Slippy G is all on board again.
That was the whole point of his charade, so the the laptop/lapdog loyal all pleaded with him to stay and what a stand up “True Rang’rs man” he is.
Come to think of it, he has all the characteristics of a currant …
Has anyone heard how long Ntcham is out for ?
I didn’t even hear what the injury was, whether it was just a knock or a muscle strain / pull
Sevco lose;
Anticipate small crowd on Wednesday;
Slippy hints at leaving:
Slippy wasn`t leaving at all;
Slippy is all fired up;
Bigger crowd on Wednesday.
Clever buggers, these Sevcoites. Then again, necessity and invention.
Hibs v Herts tonight, Hibs fans will smell blood….minis bottom and can only beat their big brothers it appears!
HH
RUGGYGMAN on 3RD MARCH 2020 3:39 PM
Has anyone heard how long Ntcham is out for ?
I didn’t even hear what the injury was, whether it was just a knock or a muscle strain / pull
___
Neil said he had been playing with a calf injury before the Copenhagen game. Said he was a week away from fitness. Makes it possible for a return at Livi.
It is such a shame,with Doddie Wiers match coming up that focus is on an ex Larkhall academy pupil.The ex Larkhall academy pupil claims to have a ‘vermin’ control app,which enables him to block those with certain words/phrases etc.
It is sad,that on the eve of a cup final(hopefully we will be there-nae assumptions) it could be the ideal time for whole families could go to attend.
Alas a lot of Celtic fans wanted info, but found the ex Larkhall pupil had blocked an masse people he had never interacted with.He done this year’s ago.it is deep and inculcated hatred with this bigot.
Doddie I really do wish you the best,for your family too,you have the same illness that took my greatest hero.i shall donate privately.
The actions of the ex Larkhall academy pupil are poor and stinted.not unusual in that part of the world tbh.
Good luck and God bless you and your family
HH