Celtic frittered away another two points at Kilmarnock this afternoon after a performance which ultimately showed depths of determination but was marked by shockingly bad organisation.
Kilmarnock’s opener in 25 minutes could not have been simpler. An 80 yard high ball was collected on the edge of the Celtic penalty area by Heffernan, who turned and picked out the onrushing Dean Sheils, who was initially being marked by Beram Kayal but the Israeli failed to match Sheils run, allowing the Killie player time to pick his spot and score.
The home team were encouraged by the opening goal and continued to press forward. Fraser Forster did well to turn over a blistering shot from Kelly which was destined for the top corner. Kilmarnock’s pressure was rewarded on 40 minutes when Kayal and James Forrest stood off a ball conceding possession. Sheils crossed for the offside Heffernan to score but the assistant referee didn’t flag so the goal stood.
Seconds before half time Charlie Mulgrew was short with a back pass and James Fowler chipped Forster to give Killie and three goal half time lead.
The first 28 minutes of the second half were miserable for Celtic as the team appeared resigned to a fate similar to the Celtic team which visited St Mirren Park in March 2010 but Anthony Stokes had other ideas. Stokes missed what was surely the worst chance of his career early in the first half when the scores were still level, and saw a good penalty claim denied on 71 minutes, but instead of hiding he stepped forward.
James Forrest, who also stood up to be counted throughout, ran at the Killie midfield and was fouled 25 yards out. Stokes struck the resultant free kick perfectly into the top left corner.
Two minutes later Stokes collected the ball from Ki 28 yards from goal in what seemed like a safe position but his swift turn and inch-perfect shot beat Jaakkola in the Kilmarnock goal.
Kilmarnock were now rattled and Celtic were level on 79 minutes. Daniel Majstorovic got on the end of a long free kick at the back post and squared for Charlie Mulgrew who headed home.
Having scored three times within seven minutes and with over 10 minutes of the game remaining the Celtic support had reason to feel confident their team could collect all the points but it was Kilmarnock would should have tied up the win in the final minutes when Heffernan found himself unmarked inside the Celtic six yard box but headed over, however, the home team will be happy to have collected their first point in four games.
Read issue 3 of CQN Magazine free online here or buy a print version at Magcloud.
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ST
So just for clarification you’re agreeing to bet £20 for Thai Tims, I will pay Kano Foundation, I win if Celtic sign a CH or Striker in the next by the end of August 2012, you win if we don’t. Adding words like proven or quality are subjective and can’t be included. I’m happy to add recognised ie they played in that position at their previous club.
These are the terms, in-line with our earlier posts.
hh bjmac
finbar42 is Neil Lennon says:
16 October, 2011 at 02:01
No.
One of The Pogues’ finest. BelfastcityCelt it’s all your fault.
The Pogues
Árd Macha
bjmac
I would be honoured and delighted to have coffee with you!
Nothing to do with Celtic, but I know you are more of a man than most, if not all on here!
Love you pal!
Jf.
We have already played better teams. Athletico Madrid, udinese and we’ll face our toughest test of the season on Thursday night in Rennes. Neil Lennon has some brave decisions to make. I can’t believe that we don’t have better players for certain positions in the youth team. Brave decisions to be made and large sections of the support are turning.
feedthebhear says:
16 October, 2011 at 01:57
it was a wee joke question ;-)
Slan_Abhaile says:
16 October, 2011 at 02:03
And yet you agree it’s the only thing that will work?
ST
Aye!…I’ts hard rememberin’ a’ the bars when you are on holiday……Especially when they serve drink:)
TAL
finbar42 is Neil Lennon says:
16 October, 2011 at 02:05
I believe it is the only way, yet the majority of the support won’t.
James Forrest – Deep breaths mate.We sailed into choppy waters three years ago. Nobody’s desperate pleas for help will be heard in the depths of cyberspace.
Most of us despair, but sadly not all have grasped reality.
One day they will come up for air, but no doubt it will be to late.
No worth giving yourself an aneurysm over nothing you can’t control.
SydneyTim
seem like a nice bunch there!!!
so different to the rest of Australians, so laid back and helpfull.
the only bad thing about Australia
bars in bookies – never a good idea
although 1 afternoon we thought it would be. who would have thought that wouldnt have finished well?
The Flying Column Eamon and Kathleen Largey RIP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXmcrakYnOY
Spiked says:
16 October, 2011 at 02:08
You CAN control the agenda.
Empty seats, boycotts, demonstrations.
Houl yer wheest
now that is a tune
Philvis, are you taking note?
Philbhoy – It’s just the beginning! says:
16 October, 2011 at 02:05
Awright big man, you allowed in the big shmoke?
Anytime, mate!!!
James Forrest could do with benefitting some of my face to face “wisdom” lol ;-)
hh
bjmac
Westerns
Any list that lacks High Noon is bogus. All the rest are just movies set in the west.
Maybe add the Magnificent Seven, Gunfight at the OK Corral, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, The Man Who Shot Liberty Vallance.
God bless the Dook.
‘GG
Árd Macha says:
16 October, 2011 at 02:04
Seriously mate,that Bhoy MacGowan is a living legend.
The constitution of an ox he has.
Hand on heart i can safely say – of all the concerts,gatherings,raves i have ever been to in my life – there is nothing or nobody that has the stage presence of the bold Shane.
Slan_Abhaile:
They are painful to write mate. Believe me. I hate it. Before this season began I was filled with more optimism than at any time since Martin O’Neill took over. We were made promises that something special was underway, but over the summer and the course of the transfer window the scale of our staggering lack of ambition and direction was laid out for all to see, most clearly evident in the disgraceful spectacle of our manager publicly pledging our interest in players who were then never properly pursued. As the final day approached, with the prototype “target man” our priority, and with a such a player scouted, his club declaring to the media the deal was done, we signed another player entirely, despite the manager having personally gone to see the first. Our new signing has started one game and scored no goals, and does not tick any of the boxes that we had identified.
I think Neil Lennon has been hung out to dry. I think his commitment to our club has been betrayed by those above him. I believe he is utterly disillusioned, but stays out of a mixture of love for Celtic and fear that it is the one chance he is ever going to get.
Last season made him a stronger man than he probably thought he would be himself. Have you ever seen someone rise to adversity in such a way? It’s way I now have his name after mine on this forum, and might just keep it there forever more. I love Neil Lennon.
Yet this season, he looks like he is labouring under an even greater weight, and I ask myself, what has he suffered that has affected him more than bullets, more than bombs? What disappointment, what crushing, shattering blow has he taken which eclipses that?
To be left, twisting in the wind. To have his sacrifices unrewarded.
For that, for that alone, I want the people responsible gone from our club, never to return.
And if people want to label me reactionary for it, so be it. I wear the badge with pride.
Slan_Abhaile says:
16 October, 2011 at 02:07
Forget all the rhetoric on here. It’s the ONLY thing that will make any difference. Full stop. If the likes of James Forrest want to effect change they will have to persuade you to stop turning up at Celtic Park. It’s as simple as that.
Slan abhaile.
Most of Celtic supporters won’t have a home boycott because most of the Celtic support have a brain that can string the following logic together: no home support= no money= no Celtic.
bjmac
We were out at friends tonight in Livingston.
It was a hoot!
I was driving so no drink!
Hope you are well!
What’s the current bun count on the blog?
Last season we were within a penalty kick of winning the league.
The passion of the support on the final game, knowing the league was lost showed me that almost all of us appreciated the teams efforts.
Had we won the title, what would we be making of this seasons start.
would Lennon deserve the sack ? I believe not.
Houl yer wheest says:
16 October, 2011 at 02:08
Remarkable.
Mise Eire.
An cupla focal.
Even i understand those few words. :)
Are all the Huns in bed?
Plenty of them around this afternoon, pre-5pm, hooking a fair catch of our own over-emotional bait-takers.
That was a good result. A telling result for us.
Neil Lennon faced his Mowbray moment and got dragged back from the edge by men unmasked as proper scrappers with enough class to deserve their Hoops. Others were unmasked for what they truly are – mercenaries, with no space in their heart for this club; plenty in their wallets for its cash.
Lenny now has his choice – face the truth that, sadly, Kayal, probably Ki – and regretably it would appear, Hooper and Commons (?) – need replacing. Their ability is no compensation for lack of interest. Their exploits in Celtic jerseys so far should never guarantee them a jersey next week, or the week after.
Lenny must face his Tommy Burns moment also – that loyalty to certain individuals will cost him his job; not Samaras, the smokescreen so many have hid behind, but the guys who choose when and where they want to do it; guys that could not do it at Inverness in may when a draw was enough to be champions. Tommy was always loyal to guys like Brian O’Neill who cost him championships; it is a difficult thing to do, to tell someone with whom you work day to day that they are no longer suited to the team.
But Neil had it laid out before him today in startling (and horrible 80s record-sleeve design) clarity.
When the chips were down, yet again the ‘big’ names went awol. Step forward players who have been maligned, who had no reason to take up the slack, but who saved the day. Much like Samaras in January.
This time, though, there should be no redemption for the first-half absent charlatans.
Ditch them, Lenny. You want loyalty look to the guys – yes haters, like Samaras, like McCourt – who don’t hide, who come back for more again and again, who chap your door looking for starts; build around them, NOT the prima-donnas.
And do what Roy Keane – a man who shared your playing passion and commitment – failed to do in his own managerial stints: find another YOU to lead on the park. Replace yourself first and foremost; get the slugger up to the plate who’ll drag the team back from the brink and let the class players play without fear.
You haven’t done it yet – I think you believed Kayal to be the man. He isn’t. His head’s in England. Hooper’s too. Maybe Ki’s. And Commons.
We will win the league – the gap right now is nothing in the grander scheme of the season; this time last year we hadn’t started playing, and it’s true again. But now there’s no hiding place. Character will be shown.
Thank you to Anthony Stokes for surprising me; critical of him plenty but the lad shook it up in timely fashion.
As for sacking the board – get real, people; it’s not the 90s. The ‘board’ aren’t going anywhere; no-one can ‘make’ them go anywhere; it’s a company now, run on company lines; shareholdings and market performance dictate Celtic PLC’s future whether the myopic like it or not.
It might be stress-relieving to have a damn good rant about it but in the real world the company is on sound footing for a football enterprise and no-one above Lenny’s level of operation wants to see anything change. We have a budget, Lenny knows his budget/transfer restrictions and must comply with the company strategy; a strategy ratified by the ‘board’ and accepted as percipient by the investors and major shareholders.
In financial realms, it works; in footballing realms, it’s stuttering due to our on-field performance. But things need to get critical one way otr the other before any major changes will take place. I’m sure ‘blueprints’ for change like Harry Brady’s plans are well meaning but really are just a pile of copied and pasted management-speak tacked together to gain nodding approval; make as much sense as a high-school kid presenting it as part of an economics course – if you’ve read Harry Brady’s plan and don’t understand what I am teling you, I’m not going to condescend by reiterrating; it’s ultimately incoherent, financially and logistically unworkable. But well-meaning. He cares, so fair play.
So, truth – we’re stuck in the financial situation we currently inhabit for the time being; much less than some, much more than others. We have a squad, once united, now fraying at the edges through ego and greed. We have a manager who I think is clever and streetwise enough to recognise the passengers and the first-class loafers; he may not have wished to fall back on that instinct he had as a player but hopefully he will now recognise it as an asset when it comes to getting the heart and committment from the right guys in Hoops.
Give me the maligned Samaras, McCourt, Mulgrew, Stokes, young Forrest any day – and anyone else who will snarl, scrap, fight and come back for more – than the indifferent attitudes of the self-obsessed egotists we saw today, and on previous fail days.
Sort it, Lenny, and don’t feel guilty about it; they’d see you sacked before they bleed for the cause.
Slan_Abhaile says:
16 October, 2011 at 02:09
Spiked says:
16 October, 2011 at 02:08
You CAN control the agenda.
Empty seats, boycotts, demonstrations.
——–
Plenty of empty seats mate.As for the other two .. wont be too long hopefully ..
How long can someone’s faith be tested, before they realise the’re deluded ?
Tal. Yes that’s the flag, and our beloved president, we wish him a speedy recovery
Bjmac. I scrolled backed and checked , I did say goalscorer
Lets put it this way if we sign another murphy or bangera then they are not goalscorer
He has to be a proven goalscorer, we have to pay the money
Same with center half , as I said wilson was not a proven center half
Now you and me both know what I am talking about here
We as fans have been waiting for a quality goal scorer and quality center half for years
And I believe we will still be waiting
Hence my bet
Would love to lose and equal the score:)
Sandaman
I’m in your corner of the bar.
Philbhoy – It’s just the beginning! says:
16 October, 2011 at 02:13
I’m well, was down at Killie earlier, then my brother’s house this afternoon. Movie night wi’ wee Luke. Hope the wife and wee Olivia are keeping an eye on ye ;-)
hh
bjmac
Just off the phone to a pal there, 50 mins phone call as he was v angry and upset. At the Argyle St Shop this afternoon, two lads hustled by the polis outside. One of the polis was armed, some of them had traffic copper bunnets,.
Where are the board when this is going on? Casualties of the grand plan??? Not the way we work. Start defending our support who are being harassed by the polis and being completely let down by the Scottish legal system…
Malceye, i’m angry and disgusted, yet again. If you can offer anything to defend this feckin country and it’s piss poor legal system AND “Law Enforcement Officers”, i’m all ears.
I’m dying to hear someone tell my i’m wrong about this disgusting treatment of citizens and tax payers of this shitehole called the UK.
peter lawell is being very well rewarded as are some others on our board for having very good results regarding the balance sheet,
going on 4 years now the team has failed in what is the main objective the league title, now in these four years he and others are still
being well rewarded, now if some one can tell honestly what incentive do these people have for changing their strategy?it is patently
obvious when you look at bonus rewards were the priority lies and its most certainly not on the field of play, in other words if we go in
to a certain amount of debt i bet it triggers no bonus, i would be astounded if this was not the case, it the logical conclusion of why we
rarely net spend now and if we do its well with in the accepted level to trigger bonus payments.
Tough day yesterday for Celtic folk!
Been there before, will be there again.
Been great before, will be great again.
Fred C Dobbs, thanks for that post.
You know the one I mean.
I know we will all be friends again, in the morning, no matter what was said tonight.
Because we all love Celtic.
Good night and God bless!
Sorry, ‘Sandman’ of course.
I have no idea what has happened to the Celtic support. A bigger bunch of fair-weather wannabes whiners and lack of respect for others opinions it would be hard to find. Faithful through and through is a weak parody – jeez it’s even used as an insult now. Just because you don’t want to see the team put through huge changes at a time when we’re vulnerable, seems to make you some sort of fifth columnist.
Has anyone come up with an alternative to Desmond being the major shareholder or Lawwell being chief exec? Much is made of the Bunnet and the changes made during his time, but he HAD A PLAN. What’s the plan now “sack the board” – then what?
I want us to win as much as the next tim, I’d never put myself above another Celtic fan btw, but gambling on the future of our club is not something I agree with.
Took giggsybhoy’s suggestion and went tonthenmichaelncolins pub in barcelone
Jf:
“Yet this season, he looks like he is labouring under an even greater weight, and I ask myself, what has he suffered that has affected him more than bullets, more than bombs? What disappointment, what crushing, shattering blow has he taken which eclipses that?
To be left, twisting in the wind. To have his sacrifices unrewarded.”
I’m uncomfortable with that. My opinion on the biggest factors on lennys touchline manner is the threat of police action, media demonization and rival fan attacks. Let’s see what the next few days bring with Phil macg’s claims and celtics reply.
I know ma man
Today was a big turning point for us. IMO (not read back at all) and had plenty scoops, Kayal Hooper Commons dont want to play for Lenny and in turn, for us. We deserve at the very least, men who will work and wear the jersey with pride. Regardless of fall outs with diff personel if a player cant lift himself to play for us then………go play elsewhere for cash and good luck to you. When you’re 3 0 down you’ll never get backing like you did today. Remember that.
bjmac
Glad you are all well!
Olivia is in bed sound asleep, my good lady is watching the X Factor.
Bed now for me, speak soon.
Phil
Slan_Abhaile
Reading James Forrest’s post do you believe the lack of support he’s had from our board justifies his sacking?
Just interested and glad to see you’ve changed your blog name.
hh
bjmac