I listened to Neil Lennon speak after our last two games with some regret. He has been drawn into justifying the form of a team on the verge of 8-in-a-row, not having lost a goal in 8 hours of football, but who are struggling to put the ball in the net at their usual rate.
Neil was given a great opportunity, having fallen out with Hibernian, he could scarcely imagine being Celtic manager a few weeks later. But the old adage, Never follow Sinatra, holds true. Better to become Celtic manager after Tony Mowbry, or John Barnes, than Martin O’Neill or Brendan Rodgers.
Gordon Strachan will attest that it is hard to live up to the standards of a legend, no matter how many times you out-perform him in the Champions League or in the rate you accumulate domestic titles. Neil is going through a bit of the same.
A team which looked listless before transformational halftime changes at Murrayfield in October, is struggling to spark. The case for changes in the squad is evident, the fact that a manager who took over on 26th February had nothing to do with this situation, should be crystal clear.
Making the right decisions in the summer is a multi-layered question. We want the best manager we can get, but we also have to make the squad as ready as possible for the qualifiers. We want to qualify for the Champions League and we must – must – win 9 and then 10-in-a-row.
This is not a normal summer where we appoint a new manager. The history books will prominently record what happens over the next two seasons. I am sure everyone at Celtic is acutely aware they need to avoid what happened across the city in season 1997-98.
All of these questions need to be parked for the time being. We have a manager and squad who are within a point of winning the league, and a Cup Final of delivering the treble treble. Neil is doing very well wearing another man’s overalls and does not need to answer for the fact that they are torn.
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Another one gone,but never ever forgotten.
God bless you Stevie
WITS
I think you are in touch with PARK ROAD 67 he has my number and BMCUWP has my email. Tellme what one suits you best and I’ll ask them to forward my info.
I was her king at christmas when she managed a selfie with KT but my crown has slipped recently and this would straighten it up again.
KEEP THE FAITH
Tonyrome
I will give Park Road a text now
WITS
I’ve asked him to send me your number. I’ll get in touch with you.
Thanks again.
KEEP THE FAITH
Good Evening Ghuys n Ghirls.. Not exactly Hoops related, but just wanted to make sure the Ghirls are aware of it.
Womens 5 a Side Football.
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Strips and Astro Turf Trainers provided.
Eastfield Lifestyle Sports Complex. Fridays, 6pm till 7pm.
Glenside Drive, Rutherglen, G73 3LW. (Next to Trinity High School).
£2.90 for the game.
Contact andyr53@btinternet.com for more info.
Cheers, HH.
WITS
Got your number I’ll get in touch tomorrow after work if that’s ok.
KEEP THE FAITH
https://twitter.com/lilze85/status/1123320286651219968?s=12
Winning goal
CHEERS FOR THAT,,bada,hh.
Tonyrome
Thats fine.
I only have online as a renewal option for my ST, does anyone know how you get off the Home Ticket Scheme. Do you have to visit the ticket office? Phoning Ticketmaster is a waste of time.
Like a good few I know after that ticket farce for the final I’m opting out.
Highlights tonghts game
https://twitter.com/i/status/1123336450160889856
Hh
PB- Pretty sure you need to put it in writing…..
Well done to the young team this evening. i would suggest however that attributing any sort of relevance on a bunch of kids running around Celtic park at the same time as Ajax storm towards the UCL Final is perhaps something for our Club to reflect on.
On reflection maybe that was slightly harsh and to be clear no slight at all meant towards the youngsters. Just a bit annoyed at the ‘haha we won the Glasgow Cup’ stuff on social media.
Bada,
Thanks for that, I’ll write and email them too and point out that after over a decade of paying for every home game semi and final as well they think its fair to ballot new HTS members with equal status as us guys. No sense being on the scheme now
Don’t get it why ghuys keep mentioning Celtic & Ajax as if their success has any particular relevance to us.
Ajax are indeed a revelation and have shown Celtic anything is possible they have also shown every top flight Club in every European League the exact same thing.
The fact that they have left us wallowing in their wake says a lot about them but little about us that couldn’t be said about scores of other European Clubs.
PB-I think the fatcats and sponsors, will be taking more than usual.
Interesting numbers from Ajax — their local TV deal is worth less than EUR 10mill to them — and that was for winning the league.
Consequently we have it tough — no doubt about that — but they make the most of the money on offer to them while our happy clappers / board apologists just dream up excuses for our under performance.
GC win — we have a long way to go to get our youth set up firing on all cylinders.
Second half — we lacked focus and intensity, we were very self indulgent and a big bit greedy at times. There was a lot of talent on show but we looked fragile and the coach seemed to be struggling to get his message across — not sure if that was him or the people on the park are bad listeners.
Consequently a lot of work is needed to get rid of the immaturity and add in some game intelligence.
Bada,
Agree but know of two bhoys , one joined last year and the other, wait for it….. this season. Enough of this nonsense they should have weighted those briefs and I’m not alone in my stance from bhoys I’ve spoken to. Could back fire big style? on the scheme
Commotion in Caracas — the great middle class uprising seems to be running out of steam.
Chapter 57 of the great Venezuelan counter revolution seems to have collapsed on the steps of the Chilean embassy as the power behind the throne has decided to call it a day.
Interesting to see what the CIA comes up with next.
Finally the Grauniad’s reporting has been a disgrace.
PB- that’s ridiculous, fingers crossed for you HH
MADMITCH @ 11:27 PM
Interesting numbers from Ajax — their local TV deal is worth less than EUR 10mill to them — and that was for winning the league.
Consequently we have it tough — no doubt about that — but they make the most of the money on offer to them while our happy clappers / board apologists just dream up excuses for our under performance.
I don’t know how accurate your figure of £10m for Ajax is. The figures I previously quoted from mid-2017 showed that the Dutch top league got £70m a year from TV while the SPFL got £18.75m. They get nearly 4 times as much. There are 18 teams in their league compared to 12 in ours but they will still get almost 3 times as much free money as we get.
Interesting that you should portray every limiting factor as an excuse and not an explanation.
Money is an important factor correlating with success but it is not the only one. In every sport in every time, the biggest difference you could make to improving your ability, potential and fortunes would be to play and compete at a higher standard. That’s why Andy Murray went to Spain, why all top Basketball and Baseball players go to the US leagues and why ambitious football players drift to Spain, England, Italy, Germany and France. Some may spend time in Holland , Russia or Ukraine (maybe even Scotland, if they are very obscure talents) but they will be using it as a stepping stone to get to the challenging leagues. Soon China and the USA will compete with these top 5 leagues, at least for the more mature talent, leaving the Dutch and ourselves further marginalised.
I fear you will still be calling that inexorable trend an excuse.
A one off anomaly, such as Ajax this year, or Leicester a few years back does little to buck the overall trend. A few years ago you cited Qarabag as a club we should emulate- 10 years ago, Donegal Danny, on these pages, suggested that the old Rangers did their business better than we did. How are they doing now?
DAVID66 on 30TH APRIL 2019 6:36 AM
David66, apologies but I just noticed a comment from you about my post in the wee small hours last night.
I appreciate your feedback.
I don’t think I know anyone who has not been touched by dementia in a relative or friend.
HH
Good morning CQN from a wet and grey Garngad
Celtic please say something about Beaton now before the game.
Fool time – no probs and I agree, it’s a horrible thing.
D. :)
Good morning from a damp but clammy ML5 ?. HH
morning bhoys from a wet drizzly Cheshire, under 20s or not, I just love beating thems.hh.
FOOL TIME WHISTLE on 30TH APRIL 2019 8:36 PM
Not surprised that Johnson & Aitchison are of injured.
The opposition have been vlootering the Celts sinc ekickoff.
McPake is a thug & seems to only want to make sure he damagaes anyone in hoops.
………………………
Having watched the youths under 18’s game last week and again the Under 20’s tonight, one thing was very noticeable was the “Performance” of Sevco’s McPake in both games.
He played very well against Celtic’s Under 18’s…but against our Under 20’s he was largely posted missing apart from Cheating and diving to try and win at least Two free Kicks in the 1st half, and leaving his Boot in on a couple of occasions on the Celts. Despite Sevco probably being the better Team for most of the 2nd Half…he was still Crap…and was eventually Subbed.
When Sevco scored to claw it back to 1-2, while it was a good strike by Sevco’s Middleton, our defender ( sorry can’t remember his name), who was closest to Middleton when he received the ball 20 yards out, COULDN’T Tackle Middleton as he was trying to recover from Cramp a few minutes earlier, and in my opinion the Celtic Bhoy SHOULD have been Subbed BEFORE Middleton scored their 1st goal. The Celtic Bhoy could hardly run to challenge Middleton……Our Coaches ( Tommy McIntyre and McManus), SHOULD have realised that the Celtic defender couldn’t continue after getting treatment for Cramp…obviously the Bhoy didnt want to go off in a Cup final, but it did lead to the Sevco player having plenty of time and space to get his shot at goal.
That Goal gave Sevco a massive boost obviously.
i couldnt help but notice some wee Sevco thug/Ned who was wearing a Sevco Shirt with “Kent” on the back, who was near the huns dug out…he seemed to be “Giving it Plenty” to Young Celtic fans yards away….I thought he should have been “Lifted” for his moronic behaviour…..but our Winning Goal in injury did appear to shut him up somewht..in fact I think he turned his back on the Celtic celebrations on the touchline…bitter wee ugly hun Chump !
HahHa.
HH
3 more mid-morning snacks ;-)
A sad few days for CQN and Celtic. Let’s hope the passing of Stevie Chalmers brings it to a close.
RIP Stevie Chalmers.
I had the pleasure of meeting Stevie a couple of times whilst he was playing golf at Largs GC with Bobby Lennox and he was a gentleman .
Ah look at all the lonely people
Ah look at all the lonely people
Eleanor Rigby, picks up the rice
In the church where a wedding has been
Lives in a dream
Waits at the window, wearing the face
That she keeps in a jar by the door
Who is it for
DAVID66 on 1ST MAY 2019 6:49 AM
Good morning CQN from a wet and grey Garngad
Celtic please say something about Beaton now before the game.
…………….
I agree 100%, but Celtic will probably say feck all ?
Since Dec 29th 2018 “Match”, Celtic questioned Beatons “Performance”, Im unsure but did Celtic ALSO Question the fact that Beaton was photoed in that huns Pub after the game ?
Some would claim that ANY Ref etc, is entitled to drink and go where they wish etc ? …BUT
IMHO…Beaton being in that hun Pub is akin to any Ref who openly supports “Ranjuiz”, and ANY ref etc, could quite easily be Seen and Photographed walking up to a Celtc v Sevco match, with his Hun Scarf and Singing etc…Only to walk into a Ground and put on his SFA Ref Kit, and then “Ref” the game ?
IF the roles were reversed, and it was a Tim Ref, being caught in a Celtic Pub etc…there is NO WAY THAT Ref would be allowed anywhere near a Sevco game…Collums absence in Sevco games since last year, is the case in point in many ways…and I certainly dont remember Collum wearing a Celtic Scarf, or being seen in a Celtic Pub ?
HH
Big Jimmy
We’ve had bent refs, and SFA. for ever. Jock Stein said that we have to score enough goals to make them irrelevant. Same old, same old.
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All the @CelticFCAcademy goals from tonight’s dramatic #GlasgowCup win! ? ??
https://twitter.com/CelticTV/status/1123336450160889856/video/1
Big Jimmy
I thought that about mcPake last night too. The Celtic defender was right back – Wallace Duffy who’d been having a good game up until the injury. There was actually some footage, before they scored of him crouching over and he looked goosed then. To be fair, I don’t think that affected the goal, it was well placed with good pace to beat the keeper too.
Re Beaton – I’m hoping that we are doing our talking behind the scenes and away from the media. I trust our board are doing that. It’s negligence if not, especially after the sickening assault on Ryan Christie.
DBBIA
?? so Random.
Hail Hail ??
As I Posted yesterday morning I did try and get a Bet on last nights Under 20’s Game using my Bet365 Account, but the game was NOT “Priced Up” on their Site. I did speak to an Adviser on the Phone to point out this possible error on the part of Bet365, only to be told that ” The Bet365 Traders” would “Consider” it ?
I checked their Site throughout the day right up until Kick Off..but to no avail…The game wasnt Priced Up ?
Despite my Joy at the Young Celts winning the Cup against THEMS, I went back on Bet365 site Today to place some Racing Bets, and Bets for the Barca v liverpool game tonight. I looked at Bet365 football Section and saw that they had Priced Up numerous games due Today from ALL over the World, including FIVE Under 19’s Matches from…..Serbia !
Ive just Phoned bet365 again this morning to ask them to explain WHY I couldnt get any bets on Celtic v Sevco Under 20’s Yesterday…BUT Bet365 are happy to take MY Money for Under 19’s games in feckin Serbia ?
The lovely sounding young Lady from bet365 has now put £10 ” Compenstaion” in my Bet365 account, due to my “Complaint”….as my auld Da would always say…” If You dont ask…You dont get” !
I didnt ask for “Compensation”, I just pointed out how Ironic it is that I can place bets on under 19’s in Serbia…but I cant place a Bet on a Under 20’s Cup Final, in Scotland ?
I hope to turn this £10 into at least £100 ?
HH
LARSSONSE7EN on 1ST MAY 2019 8:59 AM
…………..
Lets agree to disagree on what led to Sevco’s 1st goal…Yes it was a good strike But Young Duffy was CLEARLY unable to close Middleton down due to the effects of cramp, and he SHOULD have been Subbed after getting treatment, and MAYBE his replacement WOULD have stopped Middleton from getting so much time and space ?
That is NOT Sevco’s fault….IMHO…Our Coach should have Subbed young Duffy when he went down with cramp. Many players are their own worst enemy, and i daresay Young Duffy did NOT want to come Off, but sometimes these decisions NEED to be taken OUT of the Players hands ?
HH Mate.
Larsson7- I’m hardly ever on the bhlog these days , but I like to chip in late April/early May.
It’s a Pablo thing…
Funny enough, back in the early 1970’s I was Playing Centre Forward for my Boys Guild team in the ” Celtic Cup Final” at Hamilton Accies old ground ” Douglas Park”. The Pitch was shocking, with Ruts running all over it.
Despite Me going down with cramp on 4 occasions in the 2nd half, I STILL wasnt taken Off…Clearly I should have been, as I could hardly walk… never mind Run.
It was 2-2 after 90 minutes, we eventually ran out of legs and steam and were beaten 4-2 after Extra Time, but Ive always felt that our Manager/coaches etc, made a BIG Mistake NOT taking Me Off after an Hour or so, as My Team Mates were literally playing with only 10 men against a very good opposition Mob.
I was a VERY Fit Young man back then, but I also remember that we played on the previous Saturday as usual, trained on the next Day Sunday, and Monday and Tuesday BEFORE that Cup Final on the Wednesday .
night.
I had NEVER experienced Cramp so much as I did that night before, or since that Cup final that evening, and I have ALWAYS claimed that I had ” Over Trained” just too much in preparation for that Final, and my Legs were “Gone” after about an Hour !
HH