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.
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JamesForrest
You chose to wait and see what the strategy was? I cannot get my head around that.
notthebus
I take it you think this is all lies as well.
As for Bada, he can answer for himself.
………………………………………………..
If there’s one ordinary Celtic supporter that we should give our time too then it’s Matt McGlone, done more for Celtic as a supporter than most.
Quote:
Why I think Neil will come to a mutual agreement with Celtic!
Today’s defeat at Tynecastle wasn’t just another defeat because of poor form or because we had 10 men. Our problems are much deeper. Is it the manager? Is it Peter Lawwell? Or is it the board’s fault? Let’s go back a little to have a closer look. The main reason Martin O’Neill left Celtic was due to his wife’s serious illness. He was also told about the massive cut in spending and believe me or choose not to, if you have more info as to what went on, but Martin O’Neill will never return to Celtic while Peter Lawwell is in charge. Peter Lawwell survived!
Gordon Strachan came in and took the job on a much reduced budget and did remarkably well winning three titles in a row, the last sixteen in Europe twice. Didn’t get backed in his last transfer window, lost the league and left by ‘mutual consent’ in his last year. Took his pay-off and a ‘no talk about what when on’ clause and never said a bad word about the Club since! Peter Lawwell survived!
Tony Mowbray came in after relegating West Brom, and also after Owen Coyle knocked the job back specifically when he was told the budget he was on. We also paid a £2.4m buy-out clause to get him and half of that amount to get rid of him! Who appointed him? Peter Lawwell survived!
In came Neil after a trial period, and after much Lawwell/Desmond deliberation Lenny got the job. The rest of the board do what they’re told after PL & DD make up their mind. Fact! I know Lawwell sat Graham Speirs down for his opinion on the possible appointment & he also phoned John Hartson on the same and did so with other football professionals. Word leaked on what Speirs had said to Lawwell & an angry exchange followed between Speirs and Lennon. Giving Neil the job was a huge risk, BUT, if this sticking plaster approach to the problem did come off then Neil had saved much ineptness caused previously by his masters from above! Neil signed some players last season & John Park, the overseas chief scout, recommended some others! This season the only player for sure that Neil definitely wanted was Kelvin Wilson (yes I know, but let’s not lose track for the minute) He wanted a better goalkeeper and didn’t get him! He wanted a better right back and didn’t get him! He wanted another centre forward and didn’t get him. He wanted another centre half and didn’t get him. He got and signed what he could with the money made available to him. Some are not Celtic class and Lennon knows this. Lennon has made some crucial mistakes and he knows it. He will never get the team he wants under Peter Lawwell and I believe Neil will come to an arrangement to leave Celtic shortly under mutual consent. He looks haunted, he looks unwell and I believe he thinks this financially fiscal situation will be never ending. Importantly, he doesn’t deserve to be slaughtered by fans and he will NOT take being booed. He is a Club Legend and must remain so! Question is, whether it’s Neil doing the job or anyone else under such conditions – who will take the job and do the job WE require with the budget on offer? And before anyone says it, the Celtic teams who took the pitch against St Johnstone, Rangers & Hearts should have been good enough to have beaten them. The sticking plaster is not working. Neil do the best for your health as this job is making you ill. Peter Lawwell survives a fourth manager and what will he come up with now as a remedy. The mess is the same but the balance sheet looks pretty! Hail Hail!
My dear,dear,dear,dear,friend..Gebhoy @ 16.44
Pal.. Ah must disagree .. when ye say that James
said it much bettah than yer guid Self.
Howevahhhhhhhh…….
Ah dae Agree wi ye,pal.. in this wan..
“This wan”. being..
That ye believe that Bangura may hiv something worthwhile
tae offer oor Beloved, Celtic.
AH Hiv Bin Convinced by ITHERS.. that… Bangura has the Makings of becoming a very Useful Addition tae oor Club.
He should be given more Time to acclimatize.
Oan a Much Brighter Note..
Vegas ,is as Always…
A Paradise oan Earth..
Every Day is A Holiday!
Pinnochio, wid hiv luvved it.. but..
Ah am afraid that …like whit happened tae poor Pinnochio
Paradise, kin quickly. turn intae… “Donkey Island”!
Oan the Turn o’ a CAIRD!
But, Hey.. That’s O.Kay… It’s Only Money.
Jumpin’ Jehosophat!!
Whit Am Ah SAYING!!!??????
Kojo
yer pal..who likes ye mair and mairer
James Forrest is Lennon
Do you go to any away games?
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS:
If people want to call me a hun or whatever they want, that’s up to them. If they believe it then that makes me sad. But that decision represents an enormous personal sacrifice for me, because I have this club in my blood and in my heart and soul.
To criticise the people in charge, and to believe, as I do, that we are mistreated and seen as nothing more than customers, and to then play the game … it would make me a hypocrite and a fraud.
I miss out on many things, on wonderful moments, on glorious occasions, and it pains me to do it. I don’t feel a part of victories as much as I used to, but I feel every defeat as acutely.
I torture myself with the decision and what it means. Other people questioning me doesn’t hurt as much.
gebhoy is the taxmans tick tocking clock, tick…tock says:
16 October, 2011 at 16:34
notthebus,
It is easy to draw a line under the rumours and such, all it requires is Neil to come out and say, “Yes i bought all these players and sanctioned their signings”.
I dont think you will ever here a statement like that being said any time soon.
hail Hail
gebhoy
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
So you’re looking Neil Lennon to respond to the conjecture of several blokes with too much time on their hands?
You’re right.
That won’t happen anytime soon. :)
53
THE EXILED TIM says:
16 October, 2011 at 17:19
You made a statement that Bada Bings source for his information was Peter Grant.
Did you just make that up?
Auld Neil Lennon heid says:
16 October, 2011 at 16:17
Well put. It is the only way to provide continuity of players and coaching staff.
Money saved on expensive staff lay off Coulson be better used to attract top class coaches loyal to the club and not their manager mate.
There is far too much cronyism in football.
James Forrest
There was a post last night where you misrepresented my position to another poster. What the misrespresentationd revealed the difference of our approaches to football as a business, how competition is good for it and how interdependent all clubs in it are on each other. for me these are givens but you seem to think otherwise. Fair enough.
I had also responded on another issue saying I had made my point poorly and explained what I meant. Since you did not refer to that clarification I am assuming you never saw it when you provided your judgement.
Finally I was puzzled by the reference to meeting for a drink. I thought you were referring back to emails of May that we exchanged about meeting up to talk about the early Open Meetings, but on trawling back through that blog I see there was an invite in it which I missed. I’m off to foreign parts on Wednesday for a while so that is not going to happen.
As I trawled through the Live Update blog it was like watching the We’ll see story unfolding and on yoiur last point about my thinking being wrong that talking will achieve anything – we’ll see.
If anybody, and I mean anybody, seriously believes that supporting CELTIC FC is just about winning trophies and achieving success then they are living in a dreamworld! This is a family club with a HISTORY second to none in the entire world. We promote a multitude of things which are part of heritage. I for one would abandon my support if we followed the road for success only. Remember where we came from, what we faced, and what we continue to fight against!!
Hail Hail
Bloke109 is Neil Lennon:
I had hoped the new feeling of solidarity which engulfed us at the end of last season would have made a tremendous difference to how the board approached equiping our manager for this one.
My hopes were in vain.
notthebus:
I still have a number of financial difficulties mate. Buying a season ticket would have represented a one-off payment, which depending on my month to month circumstances I could have afforded on some months but not on others. I would have found a way, let’s just say, although my job is very much a freelance style one, and subject to certain fluctuations.
You’re asking if I go to away games. You mean, do I fund the teams which actively despise us? Do I make a financial contribution to SPL sides which have treated our fans like crap, which refused to back our manager even when his life was being threatened?
What do you reckon my answer to that is?
BMCUW
Bobby, I have friends who don’t go to watch Celtic anymore. My best mate went home and away for years but financially he is no longer to support the club in the most significant way he can and that’s by cheering on the Bhoys from the stands. I genuinely feel for him because he desperately wants to be there.
I have a second job that I do 2 nights a week that result in me getting to bed at approximately 2am after working all day and then having to be up for work the following morning. I do this to fund watching Celtic every week.
Bobby I’ll never understand anyone choosing to not support Celtic.
Go through the team and think about this:
Forster – probably influenced by Alan Thompson – seems reasonable
Zaluszka – Bosman from Strachan who never got to work with him
Cha- Another Korean – marketing?
M.Wilson – Former team mate
Mathews – probably a Lenny signing but Lawwell does a lot of business with Cardiff
Majstorovic – Mjallby influenced seems a reasonable shout
Mulgrew – Lennon signing
Izzaguirre – spotted by the scouts first
El Khadouri – Lawwell did all the interviews and press regarding this player but we needed a left back
Loovens – Another get it up Rangers signing – Strachan wanted Tamas, Lawwell pulled the plug
K.Wilson – Lennon signing 100%
Rogne – Scouted and signed by??????????????
J. Thompson – Mowbray signing
Scott Brown – Strachan signing
Ledley – Definitely a Lenny signing – they met before he signed and lenny sold him on Celtic
Ki – Who knows? Marketing or Mowbray?
McCourt – Strachan signing
Kayal – Lennon signing – spoke about how he watched him
Forrest – youth team and known to Lennon
Commons – Lennon or another get it up ye Rangers Lawwell signing?
Wanyama – who knows? Marketing or Lennon signing?
Samaras – WHO REALLY KNOWS WHO WANTED HIM?
Stokes – probably a Lennon signing when other targets were not possible
Hooper – Gary Parker influenced probably
Bangura – appears to have been a Lawwell signing
Juarez – Lennon or Mexican marketing strategy?
Hooiveld – Mowbray signing and Mjallby said he was good at the time.
McGinn – A Strachan one for the future
Murphy – Not a Lenny signing by some accounts
Odea – youth team product
Rasmussen – Mowbray signing
From our squad Neil has clearly signed 8 players, brought on one from the youth team, inherited 13 and then some others who you can ask the question of who actually signed them.
One is one too many.
Auld Neil Lennon heid:
No mate, I think we should meet for a drink. I think it would be a good idea.
If you’re game let me know. And I apologise for some of the tone last night.
As I said in one of my later posts, you are a guy who has done as much to push the agenda of the fans as anyone has or could. You’re a good guy, and I think our disagreements on the direction may be more superficial than you might at first believe.
James Forrest is Lennon says:
16 October, 2011 at 17:21
I know for a fact that you are not an orc and would never call you one.
You are certainly a man of principle and I admire that, you stand up for what you believe.
I am in a priviledged position to support the team both financially and in oerson. Whilst I admire your stance I could not do it.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
James Forrest is Lennon
Sorry to hear about your financial difficulties, i sincerely hope things take an up turn for you.
My question was in response to your earlier post . i am genuinely surprised you choose not to attend any Celtic games.
Lurgan,
You may think its conjecture, i dont, Lenny is being forced to do the job with his arms tied behind his back, i just hope when all the dust settles he thinks it has all been worth while for him personally and all the sacrifices he has had to make.
As sure as the sun sets this board will sacrifice him without the blinking of an eye when the time comes.
He is being sold short on so many levels it makes me sick, in a lot of ways we dont deserve a man such as Lenny.
gebhoy
Bada has said in the past where he heard it from, he also said today it came from a coach who was at the club last year.
I am sorry that I didn’t heed my own advice and leave it.
You my friend have a serious problem.
Bleat away to your hearts content, just don’t come on here and bleat about it when you are proved wrong.
JAMES FORREST
I live too far away to get to the games,but my Dad took me to see Celtic when I was three years old.
About fifteen years later,I started taking my kid sis to the game-she was about ten,and had to do the time-honoured lemonade and crisps routine at the door of the pub while the lads and I were putting the world to rights.
I seriously miss my fix of the Bhoys,but there is little I can do about it. It doesn’t help when my Dad and my sis phone me before,during and after the games!
But as I say,there is little I can do about it.
You,on the other hand,have no excuse for not going-apart from your principles. As a result,you are likely to loathe the people who put you in that position even more than I do.
Fair play to you.
googybhoy says:
16 October, 2011 at 17:24
I had the pleasure of an extended blether after the AGM with BRTH and BJmac where I passed on my observation that what Celtic need is a good old fashioned Organisation and Methods review (the terminology has morphed since then) into reviewing their goals and how they go about achieving them. There are also capacity issues that could be addressed by such an exercise.
What is abundantly clear to any observer is what honest people are honestly doing in the honest belief they are doing the right thing is not working.
I’m only interested in what works and I hope that as a result of where we now find ourselves, especially the vice in which the manager finds himself, the same honest people, one of whom the manager spoke very well of at the AGM, will themselves sit down and say things are not working – why?
James Forrest is Neil Lennon says:
16th October, 2011 at 17:11
Far be it from me to defend Peter Lawwell, but the Board have always let us down. He has all the power, I agree. The Manager should manage, decide tactics, select the players etc, I agree.
But we supported the Bhoys through the Kelly years when there was constant interference until Big Jock changed things.
I was only a small boy but I can just about remember the period before Jock took over. We had possibly the worst team in our history with a forward line consisting of three puddings and a dumpling.
We still supported Celtic and turned up when it counted. When we won the cup in 65 that’s why, for those who remember it, it was one of the mostjoyously celebrated victory in our history.
Glory hunters should go and follow Man Utd or Barca. Supporting Celtic has always been about more than football.
THE EXILED TIM
Can you show me where he said this today?
I think you are mistaken.In which case your posts are well wide of the mark.No doubt you will have the grace to apologise.
I think you should take your own advice, don’t engage with me unless you are on sure footing
notthebus:
Things are looking much better this season than they have for a good while on the financial side. It’s not there yet, but it’s getting there. I have a job I love, working with people I admire and respect greatly, and we’re getting something special up and running.
I’ve had a hellish two years, absolutely murderously hard. When I was working (and that wasn’t all the time) I was on a nightshift schedule that meant if I was working either on a Friday night into Saturday morning or a Saturday night into Sunday morning.
I was walking about like a zombie on my days off and most weekends I was in my bed with the radio on. I feel asleep a Rangers game last year and missed 10 minutes of it …
I hate missing games. There are times when I really DON’T feel part of it all anymore when something good is happening. You’d think the trade-off would be that I wouldn’t feel so bad either …
… but I think you can tell that’s not the case.
More than anything, I want the club to mean as much to the people in the boardroom as it does to the people in the stands. If this season had started with Lenny being given what he needed no-one would have been happier than me, and I would have found the money to go every week.
I am soul-sick of it all.
The way forward ……….problems, problems, problems everywhere we turn; defence a shambles, midfield just watch as opponents jog by, forwards who cannot close down, forwards who go month, after month without scoring, clamour to sign more forwards who in turn can also go month after month without scoring ……….. ……. magnificant victories one week , followed by capitulation the next week …..
In any other walk of life you would question where we have a solid strategy being poorly executed or do we have a poor strategy being poorly executed.
Sadly, I am getting drawn to the conclusion that the strategy is knackered, playing a multi-national , young team , all lined-up with the promise if they cut it then it will be a big money move down to England……… if we apply this strategy to the random nature of transfer dealings (we just pick the tanner ba players) ….then it is hardly surprising that as time passes players become disillusioned and start to play for themselves ……. I believe that this is what we are seeing now……….
We are also poorly executing…..
Our predicament is made worse by the naviety of the management team who have not got us set up as a solid professional outfit , difficult to beat ….. take yesterday’s tackle on Hoops, we just hopped about for a bit …… no one from our team did anything about claiming for a foul, take the Killie chancer out , nothing , nada ….. too busying playing for themselves ………..indeed the Killie player knew none of our lot would do anything, we are too nice …….
It is not just the defence that are hopeless , there is no cover , pattern or shape to the team when we lose the ball, why is Dan still playing for Sweden, even Hoovied looked the part for Southampton …………. no one in our team gives a monkey’s when we lose the ball.
Deep down I suspect that it is not going to work out for Neil and it is only a matter of time …. but the overall strategy is knackered and if Neil goes then I suspect heads on the board will also roll…….
We should act quickly or we will be staring down the barrel of 5IAR for a workmanlike Dignity outfit, populated mainly by scots, Northern Irish, Americans, and East Europeans.
fedupcsc
HAMILTON TIM 1729
I doff my cap,in all sincerity. As I said,were i still back home,the ST would be a priority.
The efforts you make to afford one are echoed all round the stands,it is a mind-boggling amount of money-particularly if you have a wife,kids and a mortgage,etc-to splash out on an indulgence.
An indulgence which cost us peanuts when we started out!
But that is the point for me. The efforts you and others go to to purchase the ticket,because you cannot do without it,absolutely commendable.
Think how hard it is to refuse that on a point of principle.
Vmhan who Supports Neil Lennon says:
16 October, 2011 at 16:36
If you are lurking, drop me an email.
You still going tommorow?
Do you know if Swanseabhoy and Celtic First are going.
Will mail you tommorow.
I only go to hospitality
On the 15th September I wrote
My view on Bangura thus far is not a positive one. His first touch is poor it seems and I’m waiting still for him to do something to impress. I was disappointed when we didn’t sign Baba Diawarra. Hope Mo makes me regret my words.
On the 18th September I wrote
I thought Neil had an eye for a player but the purchase of Bangura has me doubting it. We are powderpuff up front and badly needed a strong player who is good in the air. Bangura has shown nothing so far to suggest he can be that man. Despite our being a goal down he strolled around as if he were on the beach.
Seen him now against Udinese Hearts and yesterday at Kilmarnock. Still waiting to see why he was signed.
Now I hear suggestions that Neil didn’t choose him.
The guy cost money at a club where every penny is a prisoner.
Someone needs to ask and answer some serious questions – but who?
The list of wasted money purchases gets longer and longer.
Clearly that’s not acceptable but I’ve seen no signs of any calling to account or is it all Tony Mowbray’s fault?
Wish I felt that it was only him to blame but having sounded off at the end of the transfer window about the results of our dealings I see no evidence that I was wrong about what I felt then.
We all knew what we needed.
We all knew what we got was not what was needed.
We all see the results.
When are we going to see someone called to account for poor timing and poor decision making?
Why are we not all clearly aware of the process of employing players?
Why are some signings apparently done on a whim or fancy eg Robbie and Roy Keane both of whom cost a great deal in salary and delivered nothing of note?
Why are rumours of who makes the signing decisions allowed to proliferate?
Gordon Strachan lost a league
Tony Mowbray lost a league
Neil Lennon lost a league
Was it their fault alone and there is no responsibility owned elsewhere?
I certainly haven’t heard anyone else take any responsibility.
Why was Tony Mowbray ever considered experienced and capable enough to manage Celtic?
It didn’t take a genius having watched his teams play to know that he might know how to entertain but that would come at a cost because he would not compromise his way to ensure a winning team.
Why were we not prepared then to pay the price to attract a winner?
That decision has led us to where we are now.
Who made that decision and why has no-one accepted responsibility for it?
No-one else paid any price for that failure other than Tony Mowbray who was well paid for it and the supporters who continue to pay emotionally and financially for recurring failures.
Why has no-one else accepted any responsibility?
I for one am sick and tired of the Celtic jersey having to shrink to pay for the mistakes of the people charged with running the Club.
A little bit of honesty and humility from the Dermot Desmond’s, the Peter Lawell’s and the John Reid’s of this world is long overdue but I won’t be holding my breath.
LivornoBhoy-stands by Neil Lennon says:
Take aim … fire …
My old man used to take me every week when I was a kid. I was there through the dark years. I grew up watching Tory governments win re-elections and Rangers win leagues, and I never missed a match. From the moment Fergus McCann swung into town I was right behind him, and I bought a season ticket and I would never have relinquished it had circumstances not forced me to.
Those dark years was brought up about by men who had no idea how to take Celtic forward, how to modernise us, how to equip us for taking on Rangers. Fourth place finishes were not out of place in my early years going to games.
I miss going. To be in the Celtic End at Kilmarnock yesterday would have been inspiring. I watched it on TV and I felt, acutely, the pain of not being there to share that.
Nothing you can write will make me regret it more than I do. Take your best shot.
LivornoBhoy
My dad told me that Chairman Kelly’s regular re-arrangement of the forward line during the W-M (or 2-3-5) era led to the forward line being referred to as ‘The Five Sorrowful Mysteries’…always makes me chuckle:)
Hail, hail
Auld Neil Lennon heid says:
16 October, 2011 at 17:34
Not been on for a while. Did you get a response from BBC Trust on Friday?
If people paid attention they would have known James Forrest has had highs and lows on the job front.
Not that he was broadcasting it every post.
That he had to list them as a salve to some on here is embarrassing.
If people paid attention to the man hours he spends typing on here they would know he’s a Celtic man. The hours he spends extolling other posters, other writers, other creators – they would know he is a Celtic man (Celtic in every sense).
And he’s a fine artist and creator in his own right.
Glad to read him. Glad to know him. Least of all because he’s a Celtic man.
U
Yes, Hooiveld (player of the year in Finland and Sweden) is now playing regularly for Southampton, who are top of the Championship.
So I suppose it was Peter Lawwell’s fault he didn’t cut it, or wasn’t given a chance, at Celtic?
Celtic supporters need to stop scapegoating the board. I would criticise them for a lot of things (Old Firm strategy, unjustified bonuses), but it’s not the board’s fault we cannot beat St Johnstone and Kilmarnock. That is down to Lenny, I’m afraid.
OK, the board appointed him in the first place, but most people were in agreement.
As I see it, the board made 2 major mistakes: 1. they allowed Tony M. to take on the manager’s even though he did not commit to the club by moving to Scotland. 2. they allowed Lenny to appoint 3 rookies as assistants.
We are stuck with this manager and this board till the end of the season. Changing now will only disrupt.
We owe Lenny our support after all he has been through. The board can be challenged at the end of the season if we don’t win the league. But moaning continually won”t achieve anything – you”ll need to go the car park with placards and make a lot of noise. Until then all the anti-board talk is hot air.
BMCUW
Bobby, thank you for the kind words. The thing is for me its worth it and although I can grasp the difficulty for anyone choosing not to go, I can’t empathise because I couldn’t do it myself.
ulysses mcghee says:
In other words, they’d realise I was a guy not just with some time on his hands, but with waaaay too much time on his hands haha.
Thanks for that mate.
i have taken a decision not to support the present custodians with finance, i happen to feel by
giving them money it shows that you back their strategy of which has led us to be inferior to a crippled
club that is winning while we are in a complete mess, in some ways by backing these people you are
keeping the strategy that makes sure they are a better team than celtic, now is that right?
if by backing them you agree to absurd bonuses to people who have completely no incentive to make sure
we have a winning team as long as they balance the books, this mess is self inflicted of which i happen to
believe by financially supporting you are partly responsible. as i say it just my opinion, like i said earlier if i thought there was another way
i would do it, but again in my opinion these people will not change unless they are forced to and no matter what names i am called
it does not matter, as i believe its the only way to force change and i can live with that.
One of the best posts ever on CQN
Sandman Is Neil Lennon says:
16 October, 2011 at 02:15
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.
79caps says:
16 October, 2011 at 17:49
Yes, I spotted Hoovied on the telly last night….heart wants Neil to do well and be a success at the club….. head and eyes tell me otherwise , consistency will elude us as we are not set up correctly as a tough professional football outfit, sadly. I suspect we will change things around christmas if the current dismal showing continues……
Losing is not the problem, it is the hope that gets you …….close to runnig out of hope with the current strategy and operational ineffectiveness on the pitch!!