We’ve talked about the big changes needed at the end of the season for a while now, specifically in terms of the manager’s position. I was never in favour of firing Ronny midseason. By that stage the die was cast for European football, and we were nip and tuck with Aberdeen in a fight for the league.
My guess was that Ronny could deliver the league, and I expected a cup or two as well. The cups have gone – and may have been won had we changed manager months ago, but we could also have appointed the wrong caretaker (a high probability) and reduced our title prospects. The decision then was what was the greater risk to the league title. All other things being equal, sitting tight was most probably going to deliver the league.
We’re now three wins from becoming champions. Ronny is one of only two Celtic managers never to have lost a league title, and whatever disappointments there have been, he’s applied himself honestly and openly. He’s also a title winning part of our history and we need to handle our history well, even as a project concludes. Lessons from ’78 still rankle with some.
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Corkcelt
I too believe Irish unification will happen and also believe the fragmentation of the UK is inevitable also. Just my humble opinion before I’m asked by some to produce evidence to back this view.
Y Not67
Ball retaining clown. I do love your insults and your opinion of me. It’s what makes you the real man of the blog.
Alas, that is just your opinion, which others may it may not concur with.
What is unquestionable however, in fact it is fact, and everyone on this blog knows it including those who support your rediculous notions is that you sir are a barefaced LIAR.
Nothing you can do or say can ever take that crown away from. You now. It’s youse to keep now forever and every post you take the time and effort to create here on in is now open to question based on the fact that you are a LIAR.
Suck it up!
MWD
Twists,
I’m curious as to why you are so against Caldwell as a potential manager?
Personally, he wouldn’t be my first candidate, but you’re darned sure he’d be on my list before some of the other names which have been touted over the past few days.
Obviously, in an ideal world we would be looking for a highly regarded manager with a proven track record for winning matches, winning trophies, ability to make top signings. But let’s be realistic for a moment, are the board going to put their hands in their pockets and deliver this to us? Most probably not.
So let’s at least try and put GC into some positive light, there are other factors which work for me:
Played for Celtic – Check
Knows how important success is at Celtic – Check
Knows the Scottish game – Check
Knows how to defend – (partial) Check
I admit his sole managerial position to date hasn’t seen him rack up great stats, or a barrow load of silverware, but he has attributes that would make him appeal to me more than many others.
Chris1888
Chris
Aye well you might have a point. In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king. :-)
Y Not67
You did not require the effort of your one finger typing skills to solidify your defence. Allied to my original post to you yesterday I also restated the simple fact again last night while you were away looking at yourself in your mirror.
MWD
Joe Filippis Haircut on 20th April 2016 8:20 am
Morning Bhoys does anyone have any information that we are after Gary Caldwell as our next manager talks with Wigan are ongoing.? H.H.
——————————————————————————-
I mentioned the Heid’s name the other day in jest.
Who knew I was a closet BeeGees fan?
I started a joke, that started the whole world…
Chris1888
GC could teach our defenders to play heidy keepyupy (otherwise known as a GC headed clearance).
Seriously Chris. GC.
Mone the Celts.
MWD
MWD
At least you are a ball retaining clown, I am a creep in a clique that I am not even in :-)
HH
TWISTS N TURNS
I know people on here are bored with me harping on about FC Basel’s set up but since they knocked us out of the CL I have to ask myself what are they doing that we’re not at a coaching and scouting level. They like us sell their best players every season and have changed manager like us around four or five times and they seem to integrate that much much better than us; the reason I think is that they have a foundation in there coaching and scouting system which we don’t seem to have, they bring a lot of players through their own system and they seem to unearth gems for all over Europe.
They have had a few decent runs in Europe recently and beaten some very good teams along the way, this is also linked to the Swiss FA investing in grassroots football in the country about 20 years ago, what have the SFA done for our game recently, nothing except pave the way for Sevco.
Lessons to be learned for Basel and similar sized clubs in Europe, not least of all basic football skills, you know the old school stuff like passing and shooting etc:))
Celtic problems in these areas go way back beyond Ronny’s time at the club.
The Celtic Gravy Train needs to be stopped and those making the most money out of it need to be called to book for the pitiful state of our scouting and coaching.
HH
Dontbrattbakkinanger
…the overcautious, complacent and unimaginative policy of the Cletic board has exploded spectacularly in their faces…
——————————————————————————————————-
Like an egg fresh out of Kirk Broadfoot’s microwave.
BRTH 10pm
I was discussing the Lawwell legacy a few months back,along with his micro-management methods.
As it seems he has very much the final say on decision-making processes in all departments,and on the decisions themselves,we concluded that in his absence,there is no alternative leadership in place.
Across the board,department after department. No succession policy.
He has operated a scorched earth policy to make himself all-powerful,and indispensable.
His replacement has a helluva rebuilding job on his hands. On-field problems are only a tiny part of that.
MWD
As long as we are playing heidy keepyupy, it counts as ball retention.
Something we have lacked in abundance recently. I say bring it on.
Oh Gary Gary :-))
Chris1888
When sir furious left man utd I suggested on here that WGS should replace him even just for a year. They were on a downward spiral he knew the club and had managed a huge club , us , he could steady the ship until they got their blue chip manager.
Gordon could do the same for us and if not him we need someone with those credentials . This is not the time for another project or guru type appointment.
Moonbeams (the ball retainer)
Just in case you forgot, the insults started from YOU yesterday afternoon, if you care to scroll back that is, me? I can’t be arsed, naaa, your the man, I just retaliated and gave you yer dinner, sup it up.
Starry
“not least of all basic football skills, you know the old school stuff like passing and shooting etc”
You’re a dreamer Starry, a dreamer man.
Our club doesn’t do passing and shooting, our club provides the platform, the space, for the other team to do the passing and shooting.
Micky flannigan csc
Just a quickie.
Despite our many differences I’m certain that the vast majority of posters want to see this Celtic team win the title.
After Sunday it might be difficult but if you can, be there against Ross County this weekend. By God does this team/manager need us at the remaining games to drag them over the line.
All the other stuff, of which there is a multitude, can wait until we’ve achieved 5 in a row.
Hail Hail
This place gets more like listening to kids arguing in the back seat of a car every day.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lOzZR4K4Sw4
A wee song for the lying debaters.
MOONBEAMSWD on 20TH APRIL 2016 9:18 AM
Y Not67
You did not require the effort of your one finger typing skills to solidify your defence. Allied to my original post to you yesterday I also restated the simple fact again last night while you were away looking at yourself in your mirror.
MWD
Hahaha, my defence on what ya chancer? Where’s your proof? You don’t have any, your the biggest kite flyer in here, PS : loved the way you and TET answered in sequence, do you share a room together?
Y Not67
It was not an insult. It is a fact. You are a Liar! Unquestionably a liar!
You say it was my dinner? You see my problem now is believing whether it was my dinner, lunch ir breakfast.
Thanked for my tea anyway. I do love a pile of mince.
MWD :)
SP-Yakin was in demand a couple of years ago at Basel,what happened to him mate? HH
Shortlist
season tickets : Henrik
football : Roberto Martinez
wildcard : Murat Yakin
Starryplough, I was on this thread yesterday advocating going for Lucien Favre and I agree he would be an excellent appointment. An experienced manager, acclaimed tactician & great organiser known for playing fast, exciting attacking football. However online reports last night were suggesting that he is in negotiations with Galatasaray also rumours that Schalke 04 want him in the summer as well.
BB – He didn’t last a year at Spartak Moscow. Unattached at present.
The game on Sunday is going to be a difficult afternoon.
The size of the crowd will be interesting but probably low.
Those in attendance are in no mood for another below par performance.
It could get messy very quickly.
I think keeping the management team on is a mistake but on the other hand it can be seen as doing the decent thing.
I hope the team can react to that match from Sunday, step up to the plate and show the fans that they are genuinely sorry for how most of them performed, get this over the line and then move things towards their inevitable future changes that are coming.
Celtic are in a VERY bad place right now and as I said for years – all of this was avoidable.
I do not buy into this notion that we have completely squandered the last 4 years. Some tremendous highs have taken place in that time and some players have emerged who have and will go on to write the next chapter in Celtic’s history and with the right guidance bring further success down the line but I have to admit that a number of opportunities have been squandered. Things are not irredeemable as they stand and we can still make things right.
The nucleus of a good team is there and a number of fine players are there to supplement it but they need a leader off the park, more leaders on the park and a vision of where to go in the future. The first steps come from the boardroom and obviously Dermot Desmond and what he wants to do from here. If they get this wrong, they will never be forgiven. It really is crossroads time.
The league is not won yet. If we limp over the line, this season and last have to serve as a warning that our position in Scotland can be threatened quickly and effectively whether we want to admit it or not. I am not talking about Sunday directly. Aberdeen and Hearts have given Celtic major problems and if we are honest had Aberdeen been that bit more consistent and not had an injury to Rooney they might well be top or they might actually have won the league. As things stand they still can technically and it would take an almighty collapse from here (which given the way the season has gone, is still not outside the realms of possibility if not probability). This must be remedied if we are to make it 6 in a row (assuming we make it 5) and restore some pride in Europe if nothing else.
Regardless, winning the league does not make everything in the world right.
No, this season has been a disastrous one from start to finish and if we do make it 5 in a row (because I take nothing for granted) it must be remembered how difficult it was to get there and how bad the team were for the majority of the matches over that season. We have been terrible for months and the vast majority of the wins have been achieved while playing boring, turgid and uninspiring football which has in part driven away the crowds and made all of us fight with each other.
I no longer wish to get into a fight with those people who defended Deila anymore and we all need to admit that in the heat of the moment, things were said and like any family in conflict, apologize, and move on. It irks me that it took defeat from Sunday’s opponents to get some people to admit what we have been watching for the last two years has been this slow car crash (with major bumps on the way) but we need to unite because when we are together, we are a force to be reckoned with.
In the cold light of day, Sunday’s performance has reflected all the worst hallmarks of the Deila era from Legia onwards. We can name at least 10 matches like them whereas finding 10 matches where this team blew away the opposition playing beautiful inventive or even exciting football you can probably count on one hand – most of those games against teams from Dundee and that time they beat Hamilton Accies 8-1. Such performances prove that these players are better than they have shown but they also prove that they have not been lead, properly coached and they are not together as they should be.
They also did not look fit – another of the claims Deila made when he took over. How those claims have come back to bite him. Some of the players looked dead on their feet on Sunday. Some looked like they wanted to come off and not be there and in short they let the supporters down badly. I do not believe that this latest incarnation in Govan are in any way a good team, they are competent and they can pass the ball well – but if the tactics from the manager in the Celtic dugout were to let them have the ball, sit off and hit on the break as they appeared to be then for that alone he has to go. Even in our worst moments in the 90s Celtic teams would not play that way unless old Rangers put them under heavy pressure.
They had a lot of the ball but three things are being overlooked in the post-match analysis –
1. Most of their possession was non-threatening – across the back 4 and midfield with no penetration
2. They had 3 shots on target in 120 minutes. 2 in 90.
3. They don’t cross the ball
In other words they have limitations which their fans and the media (same thing) have ignored in their euphoria at finally being relevant in Scottish football at long last.
When Celtic finally did pressurize them they folded and goals were scored and chances made. After the equalizer Celtic went back into their shell and let them continue to have the ball with no pressure on them. Well if you allow a passing team to pass the ball without any pressure any of them will look good or better than they really are.
And that for me is the most frustrating part of this whole debacle.
Watching the match at no time did I feel Celtic were under great pressure defensively. I was more angry with how the Celtic players were not getting in about them enough and not passing the ball to hooped jerseys. Looking back I think the final score (because it was a draw) had more to do with how Celtic played than anything else. No consistency and not enough effort from a number of players.
Remember that Hibs have beaten this team and Falkirk have TWICE. Ross County put 7 past them and beat us 3-1 over 90 minutes. Despite so many comments about how THEY deserved to win the match, they had 3 shots on target in 120 minutes against a Celtic team who barely turned up with notable exceptions and they won a penalty shootout lottery. That was their biggest performance possible and they took a shambles of a Celtic side to penalties.
All I would say to them is – your first time is for free and the next time it won’t be the same side, manager or personnel you are facing.
Enjoy your moment – because it is only a moment and if Hibs don’t Hibs it in the final your club will be the one that lives in ignominy as the one they finally broke the hoodoo against (although being fair I am not holding my breath but it will be funny if a team with Stokes and Henderson help them do it).
Now after that fighting talk it’s time to get down to business and concern ourselves with OUR team and OUR club.
The way forward depends on Dermot Desmond and what he wants to do.
It depends on who the next manager is.
It depends on the role that the Chief executive has.
It depends on the scouting department.
Dermot Desmond needs to select a winner (because if we think anyone else matters in this we are kidding ourselves). Dermot picked MON and WGS. They were winners. He also needs to sanction an overhaul of the playing staff and by that I do not mean spending fortunes but I do mean allowing the new manager to make the changes he needs to as far as is possible.
The role of the chief exec should be to be not seen and not heard beyond what is necessary and any rumours of his involvement with team affairs need to be just that. No more signing players who many allege the manager never watched nor wanted – I don’t want to even be in the position where such a suggestion can be made. The manager needs to be in sole control of the footballing department with his people.
I will leave speculation about Peter Lawwell’s future to others but if it were up to me, I’d rather have someone else.
Scouting-
John Park has found very few gems in his time as far as I can see – for me he has given us Van Dijk and Wanyama – if indeed it was him who scouted them. He has failed badly to get us a striker who can score goals from the continent or elsewhere and that annoys me I must admit.
Neil Lennon’s team found – Hooper, Ledley, Forster, Charlie Mulgrew, Griffiths
Dudu Dahan gave us – Kayal, Biton and Ambrose
From that list it was a successful manager’s contacts and own eyes that produced the goods.
The endless list of terrible strikers brought in to replace Hooper could have paid more to keep him had he wanted to stay or brought in someone who would have scored the goals and been sold on for big money should the need have arisen.
We also need to stop going to Manchester and Dundee for players or relying on Dudu Dahan having a few good players in his folio.
From the current squad I would keep –
Gordon, Bailly, Tierney, Simunovic, Sviatchenko, Lustig (if his legs are not gone), Janko, Rogic, Allen, Christie, McGregor, Commons, Henderson, Armstrong, GMS, Roberts (because he is here anyway) , Ajer, Griffiths, Stokes
I would keep Scott Brown but if it looks like his legs are gone next season then I would be looking at not renewing any further contracts and letting him bow out and using him sparingly. I am unsure if Scott is finished or if it has just been one of those seasons. Time will tell.
I would be offering Charlie Mulgrew a new contract because of his experience and versatility. I think we need someone who knows what it is all about into the bargain.
Next season is make or break time for Fisher. Some other development squad players will see their time come or go.
Ciftci I think has been treated badly and I think with the right manager he might yet have something to offer – certainly more of a goal threat that Colin Kazim-Richards. Scepovic also – never given a chance but if either want to go to other clubs getting any money back on them is a bonus. I also think Stokes might yet have one more year in him with the right manager instead.
Kazim-Richards and Cole? I wouldn’t keep either and if we can get them out the door, I certainly would.
Any offer for Johansen and Biton should be accepted and both moved on as soon as possible. Neither bring much of anything to the team and both hid on Sunday. Not what we need from here.
The same goes for Boyata and Ambrose. Boyata will never do and Efe is Efe and should be allowed to move on.
I think Izzaguirre will leave for a nominal fee to Spain.
Forrest will go regardless.
Thank these guys for their efforts and it’s on to the next first team
Of those I said should stay a number of them have it all to prove again but I think that with the right man in charge playing them in their correct positions in some cases we will see a hell of a lot more from them. Armstrong has never been played in his correct position since he signed for example.
A future team consisting of
Gordon, Sviatchenko, Simunovic, Tierney, Allen, Rogic, Christie, Roberts, Armstrong and Griffiths
Supplemented by existing players seems to me to be the nucleus of a good side.
They will need a new Right back (unless Janko or Fisher comes in and fills that role), another centre back a holding midfielder (unless that is Ajer’s job) and a striker.
We have the players to play wide and we can mix it up. No more wingers.
I would prefer one more experienced player either at the back or in the midfield to organize and lead but I’m not the manager and won’t be either.
We do not need a giant overhaul – such a thing is a dangerous move but a spring cleaning certainly needs to take place.
As for the fans –
We’ve all had our say, our arguments and our fallings out over the last few years but provided we get over the line in the league, we all need to focus and get behind whoever the new man is. If he is a dud we have to be able to say so but we also have to give him some time. I cannot foresee the same issues we have had in the last two years unless a poor appointment is made. That’s why it is a big call. There is a limit to what we as fans can do but I would say make it perfectly clear that we will not throw our money at Celtic simply because of our emotional connection. We must be more discerning and the custodians of the club have to go out and get the best possible person to take over and give him the best possible chance to win the title next season, win at least one cup and make something approximating progress in Europe which compared to this season would be a start because we never got started at all on that front.
Next season will see the continuation of the mythologizing of Warburton as the new Guardiola whether you or I like it or not. There are only two things that can stop that –
1. Celtic’s custodians do their job properly and effectively – no more cheap options, cutting corners and no more excuses. Get the right man and back him as well you can.
2. The supporters uniting. Forget the past. It is a place we cannot change. We can shape the future. The future is now.
I personally want to apologize to any posters on here if I have been confrontational in the last few years, if you have found me to be cantankerous, zealous or just bad company then I cannot do any more than say sorry and hope to move on.
Perhaps I also am guilty of not looking at the bigger picture and perhaps the game the other day focused me on some things.
The challenges that are coming along will not be met if we fight among ourselves much longer.
The first challenge is getting over the line for 5 in a row.
After that, we can debate what happens next.
I would make it clear as crystal if it is not already so to the people who run the club that the way things have been going cannot continue. How you do that on Sunday matters so I think any dissent should manifest itself in such a way as to let the people in the main stand know how you feel but the manager and the team should be backed as far as possible. Some things are more important and there is a time and a place.
The onus is on the players to some degree too. They have underperformed vastly this season and they are playing for their futures as well. They need to step up to the plate and help the fans help them.
Ronny Deila will go.
He is a nice man.
But he’s not good enough for Celtic in the long term.
Win the title.
Give him a send-off which thanks him for trying.
Move on to the new dawn, the new manager, the new season.
The Future is now.
SofTunis – I must check out ole Sturgiss.
I think Mick McCarthy and Celtic are a marriage made in heaven. Passion, desire, a love for the club and it’s history, and would take absolutely no s@@t from anyone especially prima donna players. Also he’s a manager who knows how to work under financial constraints.
Bobby
I’m retiring in 2 years ( and a bit)
I’m going to attempt to get into a football club somewhere, in Scotland, as a way to keep busy. Now I realise I’d need to set the bar low initially, make my mark, then progress up the pecking order of clubs.
Maybe start as low as Albion Rovers, ( I ain’t going as low as Sevco, I’ve gotta retain some fekkin standards) .
Celtic? Ah, sadly a pipe dream. Then I thought, wait, I’ve got European experience, but nah, that probably won’t hold sway.
However, in a kinda Baldrick cunning plan sort of way, what if I offered my services for free? Hmmmm……maybe pipe dreams can come true:-))
GREENPINATA 706
I know a lot of people who support Celtic and have their own business,or are in senior positions in their chosen profession.
Doing very nicely,and I grudge them not a bit of it.
Not really sure they judge themselves as middle-class Tory voters. Certainly not many of them anyway.
My point was about the demographic of our traditional support. Even those successful friends and acquaintances generally draw their roots from there. Roots are still important to people.
(But I do understand your point that our “social status” is improving,even while our roots remain)
Y Not67
No need to for me to prove it. It’s your tag to live with. Yours to look back if you in your mirror. You are A BIG FAT LIAR!
I Just let TET know he can reply in sequence now. You see we are cuddled up on the couch here. :)
MWD
Snake Plissken. Awesome post. Thank you.
SLOLEYBHOY-ta,great minds and all that……
Snake P- Cracking post,agree with nearly all except the Ciftci bit………HH
I’m going to make a bold statement but should it happen, anybody that applauds the appointment of Henrik as manager, and buys a ST based on that alone, knows nothing about football. Nothing.
It’s looking increasingly likely that there will be 3 seats available in 143. Boys aren’t up for it, and frankly I’d rather hang out with them than. I’ve no doubt that if there’s a change of heart that a new ST won’t be hard to come by.
Corkcelt
I thought your post around 11:30 last night was excellent. The subject itself is of no interest to me but your expression of your views on it was top class. Three posters in particular this morning could learn from your style.
Incidentally, I have quite often met MWD and he is a top bloke. I have also met Y Not 67 and he , too, is a brilliant character. I have only spoken on the `phone and conversed via email with TET and he is another smashing man. I don`t know what happens to them when they come on here!
JJ
PS I agree with HT`s earlier post about just how much the team needs our backing this Sunday. I will be there and I promise I will not boo regardless of what happens. FWIW, I expect a decent victory to put us even further ahead as Aberdeen drop points agains ST J on the Friday .
!!BADA BING!!
He didn’t take to the “Russian Style” of doing things I hear, Big Murat is quite a high maintenance guy as well from what I hear, volcanic would be another way to describe him:))
BLANTYRETIM
Sorry,mate-looks like I repeated your reply to GREENPINATA virtually word for word!
Moonbeams (the ball retainer)
Awe! You don’t need proof? You just come in here and accuse everyone of anything? I see, lol, you work for OBA? By the way, what you and TET get up to in your own personal time, not my business, but not surprised either.