Before we get into the meat of the matter, I would like to record how impactful Kristoffer Ajer is at full back. He is not a full back, of course, this is not even his second best position, but he can get beyond his man and send a dangerous cross into the heart of the penalty box. This marks him as unique in our full back options. Of the many lessons from the season, let one be that we need better full backs at both sides of the field.
Conceding fouls inside your own half is not considered a capital crime at other clubs, so we should temper our annoyance at Shane Duffy (or the absent, but often guilty, Diego Laxalt), but we all know Celtic cannot defend set-pieces. At Livingston’s first goal, it was the otherwise excellent Kris Ajer who failed to track his man, not Nir Bitton, who stuck like glue to his opponent but was blamed by a scapegoat seeking Sky co-commentator.
When Livingston breached the Celtic defence for a second time, I was not concerned, as we were playing well and I expected a 30-minute onslaught towards the Livingston goal. Instead, Livingston consolidated their position, aided by four substitutions in 17 minutes either side of the goal, which finished Celtic as a threat. Credit to David Martindale.
Scott Brown’s ‘Get stuck into them’ cameo might have worked in a different era. We have seen similar flailing arms go completely unpunished against us, but it was the last thing we needed last night. By full time, the Livingston pitch resembled a very appropriate white flag.
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GLENDALYSTONSILS
Brendan won everything and got Leicester. He was never going to get anything bigger
I may be misjudging the tone of your comment, but Leicester are pretty big. Recent EPL winners with an aim of being a consistent top 5 club is a pretty big deal. Considering where he was before Celtic, I’d say that in terms of brand rehabilitation after the failure at Liverpool (where he was not well liked) it’s a massive uptick in his career. Arguably, Leicester are at least as big as Liverpool were (in terms of ambition and recent achievements) when he joined them.
He didn’t have to . Brendan has grown Leicester into something bigger and has been allowed to by the Burnley board.
It was an inspired appointment by Leicester – they weren’t concerned by the perceived lack of quality of the SPL. They judged him on achievements. In the main, the Celtic job comes with *massive* pressure – and that’s something that other smaller leagues don’t have. For example, Celtic signing Deila was far higher risk then them signing Rogers, because pressure is key. The ability to function under pressure is probably the most important part of the Celtic job and of top 5 EPL – the expectations can destroy people – and we’ve seen in with Mowbray, with Deila and with others. Celtic should learn from the Leicester episode.
I am extremely jealous of what Leicester are doing for their fans .
Yeah – they’re doing well. They’re not glamorous, but they’re extremely focussed and have their eye on long term improvement. They’re one of the less toxic teams in the EPL.
That said, I would trade fan ownership and being rid of Desmond for a lot of our success. I’d rather we were crap and ethical than craven, tory, exploitative and successful. It’s also why I’d be in favour of a wage cap int he SPL and maybe also a draft system. My worst fear is our entry to the EPL. Just another business printing money.
/p
P8DDY on 21ST JANUARY 2021 4:53 PM
Not misjudging the tone of my comments , only the identity of the commentator .
The first sentence you have in bold was made by Burnley 67 . The second and third comments you have in bold were my response to him .
I think we’re pretty much on the same page .
BGFC.
If you are lurking.
An amazing coincidence happened, yesterday.
I was reading back on a couple of days posts and caught up with your link of CCR/ Fortunate Son.
The song on my I.POD playing at that time, yip it was Fortunate Son.
I have, 1,512 songs on it, so very big odds that the song you posted, was actually the one I was listening to, as I read your post.
ERNIE LYNCH on 21ST JANUARY 2021 4:38 PM
BIG GEORGES FAN CLUB – HAIL, HAIL, WEE OSCAR on 21ST JANUARY 2021 4:03 PM
The big question is why the board haven’t asked him to step aside.
=================
Ernie – honestly, I don’t disagree with you.
I was just explaining my reasoning as to why I feel Neil should resign his role as the team manager – results/performances/regression all indicate he is not up to the job.
The Board are behaving absolutely disgracefully here (again).
After Neil’s interview the other day, the CEO had to either:
– come out and back Neil up in what he said in the interview, and provide the evidence, or
– reprimand / discipline Neil (which they may have done) and ALSO come out and refute what he had said (to make the view of the club known)
Doing neither of these leaves Neil hanging in the wind. The worst of all worlds.
I do take your point re: finances – although I believe I am safe in assuming that he has been paid handsomely by the standards of the normal working person – whether that is reflected in his current circumstances I can’t know, and shouldn’t speculate.
HH
BGFC
P8ddy
“Maybe I’m wrong, but it looked like they had no plan B.”
Well it appears keep doing plan A is their thing, hardly surprising unless you’ve been living on a desert island.
GREENWELLS GLORY on 21ST JANUARY 2021 4:17 PM
‘ I think that Dermott is in the process of selling up if he can find a buyer, who knows? ‘
####
Well it’s certainly a novel approach to preparing an asset for sale: reduce it to rubble and then set fire to the rubble.
Agree with some of the comments, can’t remember an enjoyable 90 min this season.
Regarding centre backs, why do most teams with very modest budget seem to have a more solid defence than us!
Thought big Guthrie for Livingston was immense last night .
Biden has removed Churchill’s statue from display in the White House and replaced it with one of Cesar.
OK it’s a different Cesar, but still.
https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2021-01-20/joe-biden-cesar-chavez-bust-oval-office-desk
JIMMYNOTPAUL on 21ST JANUARY 2021 4:59 PM
BGFC.
If you are lurking.
An amazing coincidence happened, yesterday.
I was reading back on a couple of days posts and caught up with your link of CCR/ Fortunate Son.
The song on my I.POD playing at that time, yip it was Fortunate Son.
I have, 1,512 songs on it, so very big odds that the song you posted, was actually the one I was listening to, as I read your post.
==================
Wow – that is eerie!!! Just made the (short) hairs on my head stand up!
Just told WeeBGFC – he said ” That’s cool !!!”
HH
BGFC
Ernie Lynch hits the nail on the head, why are they keeping Lennon in situ? Supporters should be demanding an answer to that question.
It was the 1st December when Lawwell said in a statement he was backing the manager to turn it round. I stated at the time I didn’t believe he actually thought NFL would turn it around so we were essentially being lied too as the reason for Neil to remain.
Fast forward 8 weeks and Lenny has proved he couldn’t turn it around. It’s got much worse.
Now we are being told we need to wait until the right man becomes available. This is another lie imo.
So yet again their shielding the supporters from the truth and treating them like dirt.
Would anyone be surprised if we appointed a manager in the summer who is unemployed and is unemployed now?
They’re essentially kicking the can down the road through lies to the supporters.
The review and we’ll get the right players in on January lie has now been busted.
My guess at the time in December when Neil was backed was financial and nothing to do with thinking he could turn it around.
My guess is Neil will get his payout when renewals are in and the new man will be decided on how many season tickets are sold.
A sort of if you want a decent manager youd betterbuy a season ticket gun to the head.
Let’s hope enough fans can see we need major changes or we have a bit too fall yet.
It is the laziness that gets you in the end.
We cannot be bothered to make changes because it could get complicated.
No matter the damage to the club / the squad / NL himself.
More of the same and hope things improve.
The working definition of madness but it is all PL has got left.
P8ddy
Thanks for your reply, it was more a rhetorical statement based on P67 on Shortbread this morning and Celtic40me and those with the opposite opinion to myself (as is their right)
Looks like a stand off between Lennon and Lawwell over a pay off,meanwhile we can pi$$ 300k against a wall for a trip to Dubai
Not convinced that discussing different Celtic players playing in different positions serves much purpose any more with Neil still in situ, but the first part is Paul67s prerogative and the second is down to the Board, who up until now at least have made their position crystal clear. Lenny then, Lenny now, Lenny forever. Or my own take on that Carry On Lenny I, II and III. Or if you prefer that aul Music Hall refrain;
“There’s more! No there really is! Stop! No seriously folks…Stop laughing at the back….”
“Thank you very much”
Betfair have stopped taking money on Eddie Howe.
Last listed at 1/10
DENIABHOY on 21ST JANUARY 2021 4:22 PM
JAMESGANG – how do your Hammers fans feel this season?
Not saying that Moyes is a great coach, but he would have been a better appt than Lenny if that was the only option on the table. Fergie thought he was his natural successor to the biggest job in England. Didn’t happen for him but he would have been a safe, if uninspiring, appt for us
———
She kinda feels like she’s having a nosebleed, being so high up in the table. And loving being above her friend & colleague who’s an Gunner.
I still don’t think her nails or nerves have fully recovered from last season though!
Moyes did a great job at Everton. Not unlike Ferguson had done at Aberdeen. I thought at the time that he was a natural successor. I think Man U, post Fergie, avec Glaziers was a poisoned chalice.
HH jg
Can’t understand that concern about having a manager in place for the start of the season re Europe. We have not been a major European team since 1974.
We are now cannon fodder and not just for the big guys. Now and again along comes a Real Madrid and Sporting Lisbon but they are few and far between.
As for Seville, don’t forget that MON admitted we were punching above our weight then, almost bankrupted us tae hence the share issue underwritten BT big DD.
1/10? And they say the bookies are never wrong…only when it comes to Celtic…
There’s many reasons for suspending betting they’re just trying to work out odds so they can make money, they suspended odds on Lennon getting sacked in October and look how well that turned out 🥺
Interesting diversion looking at the odds, but I agree re: odds in a market like this. Rarely reflects any inside knowledge – so many clubs are much more secretive now. I think its usually just a response to the market / current betting patterns. Does anyone know of anyone who actually puts money on this sort of thing?
HH
BGFC
This is how Celtic can still win the league
https://twitter.com/AthleticsWeekly/status/1351905380000026624
Sftb
Can she play LB
BGFC
Betfair is not your normal bookies.
It’s basically financial trading.
People will have backed (ie buy) various names at big prices and then attempt to lay (ie sell) at lower prices to guarantee a profit.
It’s not betting for the 3x 50p doubles and treble punters.
Burnley 78
Last night you embarrassed yourself telling us how we could still win the league, your delusion is almost comical.
Tonight you state an entitled fan base is what’s deterring potential managers not a meddling CEO.
You’re quickly becoming a joke figure.
Why do huns post on here every single day pretending to be Celtic fans? i just don’t get it.
Really Curious
Just because you criticise the board/Lennon does not make you a hun. Too often genuine posters are given the “hun” treatment.
Notthebus
Why don’t you call them out and stop being a coward, man up.
What sort of comments are “hun” like?
Maybe we should compile a glossary just to help posters avoid the treatment.
SQUIRE DANAHER on 21ST JANUARY 2021 6:38 PM
BGFC
Betfair is not your normal bookies.
=========================
Cheers SQUIRE DANAHER – I’ve not been a big gambler since I lost a grand on Porto beating the Original Huns at their midden in 2005 (Huns won 2-1 – I had thought I was buying money)
CALL ME GERRY @ 4.22
Sign of the times when the excellent CQN’er Jobo Baldie has abandoned voting for man of the match 😂
There are over 1000 full time professional clubs in Europe. Probably about 80 or so of which are bigger than us from a financial perspective (though we have been slipping down the Deloittes list ).
We have made a bit of a habit to losing to teams who are nowhere near us financially but are better coached and/or play in a better league.
There must be dozens of coaches in Europe who would love a shot at managing Celtic. PL probably has their CVs in his drawer.
But DD’s imagination probably ends at Roy Keane and Jack Ross.
Lenny always says he has an undying love for the club, has invested much of his life to his beloved Celtic,yeah.
If he loves us so much, do the right thing Lenny
Schummi
BSR- a sad sign of the times
Lennon has an undying love for his bank balance let’s not kid ourselves.
No humility, no acceptance of his limitations, no acknowledgement that he’s doing more damage than good.
But DD’s imagination probably ends at Roy Keane and Jack Ross.
Shame the racecourses are all closed, where we could have landed another WGS
Interesting to see history being re-written and revsionism in plain sight.
The board knew that BR was flashing his nickers at any high paying job for a full 8 months before he left — management 101 to get the word out that there we were in the market for a new manager.
As an aside DM was tapped up in March/April 2004 about the upcoming vacancy at CP — he did not give off the correct gagging for it vibe and the caravan moved on.
This is all about planning and guess what a DD inspired / PL led club is absolutely hopeless at it.
PL is currently phoning it in — he is a busted flush and will soon be gone.
DD is sitting on the sidelines and waiting for the moons to align.
Hopefully he has a plan — if he doesn’t then 22 years of waiting will be in vain.
No big EPL payday if we are a national laughing stock.
Running a club of this size is not difficult.
it only becomes difficult when we rather fight ourselves rather than the opposition on the park.
SCHUMMI on 21ST JANUARY 2021 7:21 PM
Lenny always says he has an undying love for the club, has invested much of his life to his beloved Celtic,yeah.
If he loves us so much, do the right thing Lenny
———
Do you work?
If you have a contract guaranteeing you terms and conditions and a wage over its duration, would you walk away without what you were entitled to?
No? Well why should Neil Lennon?
Lennon has said on at least three occasions that he would do the right thing if he thought he could do no more for us.