Lack of consistency haunts Celtic again

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Celtic have been completely dominant in Scottish football on many occasions but only once did this result in a domestic treble (the treble was won another two occasions when Celtic were only marginally ahead of the competition but were ruthlessly focussed).

At all other times we have had a morning like this, tossed out of one of the cup competitions by a vastly over-performing team.  Little more than a handful of games against weaker opponents stood between us and a treble in each of the last two years, but as we have noted for many years now, Celtic are not consistent enough to win the treble.  The evidence is substantial.

There are parallel ways we should react to this.  In the middle of a Champions League campaign we should be focused on little else, players should be rested for the challenge ahead, even if there are resultant risks, but there will be disappointment that we didn’t see a recognisable performance from those drafted into the team.  It wasn’t until Matthews, Commons and Stokes arrived last night that we looked anything like the Celtic we know.  On no occasions should we lose at home to a Championship team looking for their first away win since April.

That domestic treble from a dominant position was achieved by Martin O’Neill in season 2000-01, a time when Martin scarcely made a substitution before 85 minutes, never mind rested players.  This drew criticism, of course, as his ‘feeder’ players were denied opportunities to grow.  Despite last night’s reversal I would still rather use these games to develop the wider squad.

I also don’t subscribe to the belief that ‘every game is a cup final’.  Motivational strategies lose effectiveness if you roll them out too often.

Credit to Allan Moore and his “boys with desire and work-rate”.
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  1. the long wait is over

     

    20:21 on

     

    25 September, 2013

     

    gordybhoy64

     

     

    20:15 on 25 September, 2013

     

    Having an argument with a hun,can anybody give me Neils champions league record in comparison to sir Walter

     

    ———–

     

     

    Here you go :-

     

     

    Neil Lennon. – Brilliant

     

     

    Walter Smith – Rubbish.

     

     

    Hope that clarifies matters.

     

     

     

    Same kinda answer but yours was much better put !

  2. tommytwiststommyturns supporting Wee Oscar on

    St Stivs from earlier – kwalitee! lol

     

     

    traditionalist – hard to ignore sometimes, especially after sitting through 120 minutes of that pesh last night. Cheers!

     

     

    SFTB – our old mate Noel posts on Celticminded now, I believe. He says that it’s more light-hearted and a better laugh. Although, I doubt that it’s been targeted by some of the vermin (blue & green) that have had their fun on here over the last few years.

     

    Hope you stay on board!

     

     

    T4

     

     

    T4

  3. Maestro

     

    Ive already got 3 for me and my bhoys.

     

    Is this one at season ticket price or full price?

     

    Its foe a mate who’s a bit skint so may make a difference.

     

    H.H.

  4. Hun skelper,

     

     

    Have we not lost a penalty like that before??

     

     

    I can’t just place it right now.

     

     

    It was either us or I team I had on my coupon.

  5. !!bada bing!!

     

     

    20:29 on 25 September, 2013

     

    Googybhoy-how much was it a ticket,lots of empty seats in top tiers?

     

     

     

    Not sure but Utd is not that expensive maybe £25 for seats up there???

  6. midfield maestro on

    maleys

     

     

    £115, got my own at sb price, got extras for brother & family, one person not wanting it now. Same price i paid for it.

  7. gordybhoy64

     

    20:27 on

     

    25 September, 2013

     

    tlwio,

     

    I would accept that,unfortunately hun wants facts,i am at work and phone near dead so can’t check for myself

     

     

    Legned – % qualified for last 16 – 0

     

    Lenny – % qualified for last 16 – 100

     

     

    FactsdontlieCSC

  8. .pfayr supports weeoscar

     

     

    20:20 on 25 September, 2013

     

     

    Would say Pukki has done ok so far. 2 goals in 4 games, 2 starts.

     

     

    Players take time to settle though, which we are seeing with ambrose and saw with Wilson for example.

     

     

    Would suggest however, after saying that, big Virgil is why folk want us to spend a but more and get class in.

     

     

    Real quality doesn’t take that long to settle. The big guy looks like he’s been here for years.

     

     

    Hopefully the other new boys will grow into the jersey.

  9. Don’t know about being a hun,but anyone who admits to ripping Celtic fans off canny be far from being one

  10. Pfayr

     

     

    “Why is the League Cup only irrelevant when we get defeated”

     

     

    It’s nice to win any bit of silverware but let’s be real about the league cup.

     

     

    It’s become a pain in the arse.

     

     

    I’d rather we played an under 21 side but made it clear from the outset.

     

     

    If it were removed from the calendar completely I would lose not a wink of sleep.

  11. 2-0 Dundee United.

     

     

    Well hopefully we can get a final with one of the following – Hibs, Dundee United or Aberdeen.

     

     

    These clubs for too long have not been at the sharp end of our game and I would be delighted if one of these teams could win this cup.

     

     

    I hate the league cup but I’m still raging at that non performance last night.

     

     

    HOWEVER

     

     

    If it gets it up the Armageddon mob then all the better. The biggest saving grace is that Sevco are not in the cup so we don’t have to listen to media cheerleaders go on about them winning this cup.

     

     

    I don’t want St Johnstone or ICT anywhere near the final because they have no fans and are not likely to build on a cup win wherreas United, the Dons and the Hibees could start to build up their support again and I’d rather Mulletwell were put out as well.

     

     

    There you go.

  12. Bada Bing,

     

     

    You would have to give him full marks for emulating the HD approach of giving us SFA!! Wonder if wee boaby might have also given him some local coaching!

     

     

    HH GMB

  13. tommytwiststommyturns supporting Wee Oscar on

    GM – think it was Heid in a european game? He went in for a tackle and in putting his hand down to the ground, the ball bounced off his arm….pen! :-(

     

     

    T4

  14. setting free the bears supports celtic’s best fighter- wee oscar knox

     

     

    18:40 on 25 September, 2013

     

     

     

    And mibbes you can e-mail Mr Lawell

     

    and see if he can arrange different sections within the stadium for those who hold opposing views to your own

     

    Or maybe even request that he refuses to sell us season tickets

  15. Johnny Clash –

     

     

    Hope you’re still lurking. My sincere thanks for your very kind sponsorship donation for my planned 10K run for 1254125. Don’t think I have your email so apologies for this open forum acknowledgement.

     

     

    Jobo

  16. ....PFayr supports WeeOscar on

    Win bonus for the League Cup against Morton

     

     

    Bassas should be fined for getting put out …

  17. …PFayr –

     

     

    last night was very disappointing but I, for one, didn’t feel anywhere near as bad as I did on that ole ICT night.

  18. 16 roads - Wee Oscar the Celtic warrior. on

    Snake – St.Johnstone had plenty of fans in for their European home games.

     

     

    It’s crap for us that we have been eliminated from the competition,but it is a boost for the other clubs that are still involved.

     

     

    Probably more interesting and all for the neutral.The goals are flying in as well.

     

     

    We can’t win everything I suppose,but as long as we win the league,anything else is a bonus.

     

     

    And winning the league title isn’t going to be easy either.

  19. Bournesouprecipe

     

     

    Was in the City Centre last week, a couple of hours before the Milan match. Couldn’t believe the amount of fair haired, fair skinned, Scottish looking ‘Italian’ fans with Milan tops on there were. One guy with KB tatoo had a classic 1990s one that was so bombered it looked like a Rab C vest.

  20. One thing that is a constant with them is that they hate our football club because in Rangers they see this country in all its quintessential uniqueness.

     

    How they must burn inside having to work under our flag and beneath the glare of our monarch.”

     

     

    Taken from Monaghan1900 post,

     

    They really love the sound of the word”Quintessential”dont they.Then to go and double it up with”Uniqueness”.A first for everything.Laughing stock.

  21. I’m thinking about the last time we lost to Morton.

     

    The game I’m sure was a Cappilow (is that the correct spelling?)

     

    All I remember, and I’m pretty good at remembering games I was at, is that it poured that day, and we were awful.

     

    Mo whatshisname scored his second goal for celtic that day- I heard it mentioned it was 1985, and I’m sure that was it.

     

    There you go. That’s my story. Bet your overwhelmed. Not.

  22. I am wondering whether the conceptual difficulty of distinguishing the current custodians of Celtic from the club Celtic is as prevalent amongst the Celtic support in general as it is on CQN?

  23. gordybhoy64

     

    20:27 on

     

    25 September, 2013

     

    tlwio,

     

    I would accept that,unfortunately hun wants facts,i am at work and phone near dead so can’t check for myself

     

     

    Apparently the cardihun registered 6 victories in 35 CL ties up to 2010

     

    Lenny & Celtic registered 7 CL victories last year alone.

     

     

    BelterCSC

  24. Agree with jobo on this one Pfayr

     

    We are enjoying good times just now. Not the case when we lost to ict…

     

    Would rather have slipped up last night rather than against karagandy or in Scottish cup.

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