On five different occasions I told one of the two men who decide the fate of the Celtic manager that I thought it was time for a change. Memorably, on one occasion, I was told, “Get a grip of yourself”. I did not always get a response as, despite how I feel about Celtic, a manager’s fate is a private matter.
On none of those occasions did I write on CQN that the manager should be sacked. If I was an impartial observer, that would be different, but my objective is always to see Celtic flourish and I considered the effect a campaign to sack the manager would have on results, our league challenge and, in on one occasion, the man himself.
The impact of these campaigns falls disproportionately on that individual, often when they are at their most emotionally vulnerable. It hurts when those once close to you want you out, you look harder for motivation and as for focussing a dressing room!
Those who make the decisions are less emotionally vulnerable. They usually have years of experience shielding themselves from being buffered by adverse sentiment, if they didn’t, they would not be able to do the job. They alone know their options and they are never blind to the consequences of failure. They do not always get it right.
We cannot show our support for the players or the manager at games and they will not be meeting fans in the street; all sentiment is delivered by media, new and old. This is the only communication we have and I know the players consume what is written online this season. This sentiment is not to blame for bad results, but it will not help resolve the situation.
Celtic are low percentage bets to win the league and I want the players, manager and board to take whatever steps necessary to change this, it is not too late. Nothing would give me more pleasure than Neil Lennon bringing us 10-in-a-row, it would be the ultimate way to achieve an historic record. If he gets there, the rest of us will have a role in making it happen.
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We need you now than ever No.9, Play for our coin and you can keep it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3217H8JppI&ab_channel=AnAmericanComposer
Ave Ave
The US Nazi President Trump pardons Michael Flynn, who lied to FBI about Russian KGB contacts for the last five years.
——————————————————————————————
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ObjtVdsV3I&ab_channel=DavidBowie-Topic
Ave Ave
Capitalism.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/trump-pardons-michael-flynn-who-lied-to-fbi-about-russia-contacts/ar-BB1bmD5h?ocid=msedgntp
Ave Ave
A Promised Land, and how US President Obama cast a spotlight on the racial fault lines in America.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000q1g1/barack-obama-talks-to-david-olusoga
Ave Ave
I wonder how much austerity will have to be endured, to foot the bill for possible SNP ‘dilution’ of their of their previously held, antinuclear weapon’s position?
https://twitter.com/citizentommy/status/1331670098000695303?s=20
Hello again all you young rebels.
From a very hot and getting even hotter Melbourne.
Took the princess away for a few days, car down the peninsula to Sorrento
and ferry across the bay to the City of Geelong, to celebrate our freedom
and no masks now, except when indoors, pubs, restaurants, shopping etc.
As usual I had a ulterior motive, there’s a great wee Celtic pub there I’ve
always wanted to go back too.. lol.
As I’m prone to do, I got talking to big Joe, mine host, about all things Celtic.
And of course the GB and that banner.
” Wee fanny’s ” he exclaimed.
Who am I to argue. 8-))))))))))
H.H. Mick
Good morning CQN from a freezing Garngad 🧣🐧❄☃️
Looking out the windy its back to scraping the auld motor. 😞😞😞
MM – Thank goodness for that Celtic pub I was wondering where you were going with your “ulterior motive ” line.
TT – what a post again sir. Hat doffed.
HH
D :)
Good morning friends from a dry and fresh East Kilbride. Tonight we get to see The Champions play. It’s been a pretty horrible 5 days in the Celtic part of our world. But come 5.55pm I’ll be shouting at the box in the corner willing the team on to a victory, as only a win will do if we have any chance of escaping this group. And if we DO win (and better still if ACV MIlan win in Lille) then I’m telling you this, boy, all is not lost in trying to secure 2nd place in the group. When the team lines come out, a back 4 involving (in no particular order) Ajer, Jullien, Elhamed and Bitton/Duffy would be nice.
Time to walk to work…
!!BADA BING!! on 25TH NOVEMBER 2020 11:44 PM
HJ- I think Barkas has been treated harshly, with the shambles in front of him,coming to a new country etc,I thought Bain was poor with Hibs 2nd goal on Saturday btw.HH
——
I agree that Barkas has walked into a sh1tshow.
And……but…..he’s one of the smallest 6’5’’ keepers I’ve seen in terms of filling the goal and scooping corner-bound shots around the post. Both he and Bain lack the presence and ‘blockage’ of FF.
HH JG
Tontine Tim @11.43
Wonderful read. Thank you.
HH jg
Melbourne Mick
Hope you are enjoying your virus free areas , my cousin lives in Wonga park & my aunt lives in mount Martha.
I visited them a few years ago & took the ferry over to queenscliffe travelled down the great ocean rd to Warrnambool , the 12 apostles are something else.
Some might be interested in this as a Christmas Present for any Tim/Gin lovers:
https://www.edenmill.com/9-gins-of-celtic-collaboration-with-celtic-football-club-c-33-p-45835?utm_source=CELTIC-MASTER&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=a03ce7b9c4-EMAIL_CELTIC_9GINS_-25-11-20
PS I am not involved in Eden Mill but the owner(?) is a Tim and , I think, posts on here.
PPS Mind you, I can imagine LENNY`S LIQUER causing consternation for some at the moment :-))
Tontine tim 11.43..
Best piece I’ve read on here in a long time..
Seen Maradona in the 3-1 game at hampden.
I can remember it was hot and the pitch was brick hard and players where struggling to control the ball, not the wee man!, like a ballet dancer he was..
It was a gift to see him in the flesh..
RIP. ..
Maybe these three articles are worth a read:
‘WE NEED TO KEEP PROVING THE DOUBTERS WRONG,’ INSISTS BROONY 1
BY CQN MAGAZINE ON 26TH NOVEMBER 2020LATEST NEWS
SCOTT BROWN has dismissed wild accusations Celtic players are not giving 100 per cent for boss Neil Lennon.
The 35-year-old Hoops skipper, who is due to lead the team against Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic tonight, thinks the innuendo is way over the top – and the team will emerge victorious once again.
Brown, speaking to the Daily Record, insisted: “Everyone’s playing for the manager. He has been fantastic.
“I want to win every game, every trophy that I’m involved in. It’s part of who I am, it’s part of who the manager is.
“He tries to instil a winning mentality in everyone. It’s a long season and people have to remember that. We have to start digging deep, performing well, scoring goals and defending as a team.
“We need to do it for the manager. He’s had a great playing career here, he’s had great success as manager here.
“It’s Celtic. As soon as you drop one point, there is always someone out there who knows exactly what formation you need to play.
“We need to keep proving the doubters wrong.
“We’ve done it before, had nine fantastic seasons and we’re in a Scottish Cup Final, as well. We just need to make sure that now we start focusing on the Europa League and we start winning.”
Brown continued: “We’re all together. We’re 100 per cent behind the manager. Everyone’s got an opinion they can put on Twitter or put on banners. Social media now is extremely harmful to teams if you lose a couple of points.
“You don’t read too much, don’t go on Instagram and Twitter too much. You just worry about what’s happening in the building and make sure everything stays in the building.
“We’ve got to be bigger, better and focus on ourselves. We don’t worry about what’s happening outside.
“Everyone is welcome to their own opinion. Speaking to a lot of the fans out and about, they’re all behind us.
“Those are the fans we need to keep impressing and keep performing for, keep going out there and working hard for.
“Our fans have been fantastic over the 14 years I’ve been here. I’m sure once we get them back [into stadiums]they’ll be supporting us.
“We’re all strong enough to deal with the criticism. It’s not always going to be nice and plain sailing. There are going to be ups and downs.
“Everyone wants to put us down just now. The lads are sticking together through it
“We’re working to get those great times back extremely quickly.”
The club’s onfield leader added: “There’s pressure on our shoulders at Celtic to be successful, but that’s a pressure everyone should thrive on.
“There are a lot of people writing us off. That’s when you want to come back.
“Everyone keeps writing me off and I keep wanting to come back, show everyone. Most of the lads have got that mentality. Our aim is to show that we can perform better.
“The performances have been up and down. We can’t keep using the same excuses. We have to make sure we get a good performance in Prague going into Ross County on Sunday and try to get that momentum going now.
“I get this motivation every year. Celtic’s a big club. We expect success. We need to make sure we do it on the park.”
That fightback for form will kick off at 5.55pm in the Europa League Group H clash against a Sparta Prague team who eased to a 4-1 victory over a Hoops team that blundered through a shambolic display at Parkhead only three weeks ago.
The European adventure is almost certainly over for another season after only one point from a possible nine after a 3-1 loss to AC Milan in Glasgow and a 2-2 draw with Lille in France in the other outings.
Brown and Co are playing to restore pride on this occasion – and to emphasise their support of their under-fire manager.
* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Sparta Prague v Celtic this evening – only in your champion CQN.
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26TH NOVEMBER 2020 0
GRIFF SETBACK
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‘HYSTERIA AND PANIC’: LENNY’S VERDICT
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‘WE NEED TO KEEP PROVING THE DOUBTERS WRONG,’ INSISTS BROONY
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‘DISAPPOINTING’: LENNY’S ANSWER
Hmmm….that did not work as intended.The three articles are on the right hand side of this page near the top.
Good luck later Celtic – a great opportunity to take the first step on a legendary journey.
scotlands weather
https://twitter.com/i/status/1331863075868323840
BRIZZO1888
Just back in and seen your post mhate, heading down the Great Ocean Road
tomorrow.
Beautiful part of the Victorian coastline, maybe have a wee word with the
12 Apostiles to give Neil a wee blessing.
Hope to see the Southern whales who have just calved and the Maremma
dogs made famous in the film ODDBALL for protecting a tiny penguin colony
Wonderful looking animals.
Talking about animals I might come across the lesser spotted ugly hun this
side of the water, funnily enough it is the south side, but to be honest it would
need to be after dark, that’s when they coagulate and spew their bile.
H.H. Mick
Looking for information on the squad which has flown out, I came across this on abetting site:
“Recently, Sparta Praha is in very poor home form while Celtic is performing average when playing away. So far this season in the Europe UEFA Europa League, Sparta Praha have averaged 1 Points Per Game at home fixtures and Celtic average 1.4 Points Per Game at away fixtures.
Sparta Praha Form
Coming into this game, Sparta Praha has picked up 3 points from the last 5 games”
Hmm…
`abetting`? the space does make a difference !` a betting site`.
If either Bitton or Frimpong are playing in defence tonight, then Neil Lennon is is taking the p##s
HOT SMOKED
Is that still their reserve team that they are playing
If lenny picks a strong side:
Stupid Lennon. We have no chance and should be giving some new guys a chance.
If Lenny gives some new guys a chance:
Pathetic Lennon. We are Celtic and should playing our strongest side in every game.
PS Just to be clear, it is not the viewpoints indicated above of which I am indicating criticism,it is the manner in which the opinions are often expressed.
PPS I think Neil`s selection will be the one he thinks is most likely to get a good result.
Me? I would select a strong eleven and think we will either win or draw.
St Tams
I don`t know but five games seems rather a lengthy spell for Covid omissions.
Tontine Tim from last night.
Another superb recollective piece.
Thank you.
Respectfully – you’re wasted on a blog.
Clearly there’s a “Celtic and Me – A Memoir” book in you.
🙂🤔
Hail hail
Keep The Faith
HOT SMOKED
The problem at the moment for Lenny is who is in his strongest
side and are they fit enough to play and do they even want to be
playing ?
When you look at when big Julien was in the side the consensus
was not tough enough, now that we’ve seen big Shane the consensus
is get Julien back in again, but is he fit enough?
I think we all know Ajer, Christie, Eddie, Ollie, maybe more don’t want
to be there, but I can’t blame Ajer or Christie of not giving 100% but
I could in the case of Eddie, Ollie.
So where do you start with our strongest team?
I’ll give it a go.
Barkas
El Hamed. Julien Ajer/Duffy Taylor
Christie McGregor Broony/Soro (60 mins) Laxalt
Eddie. Griff/Ajetti
Give them A run of games, win or be damned.
H.H. Mick
TURKEYBHOY on 25TH NOVEMBER 2020 11:39 PM
If Lenny plays Frimpong at RB tomorrow ni ght,the baws up oan the Jannies roof
—————-
Agreed, I think I will combust at 5:55pm if Frimpong/Laxalt are both in the wing back positions. All bets are off if Brown starts. Something concerning about yesterdays pressers with NL/SB. Hashing out same old lines with some eyebrow moments.
I agree with Bad Bing too on Barkas. Tell this guy you are our number #1 and play him. Watch this guy really come into his own then over couple months. He needs to be playing in these EL games where he gets tested more. That’s how you cement him into the team, not against Hamiltion at home where he has nothing to do or touch for 80 mins, then Hamilton score :-)
We need to see better shape and tactical adaption consistently over next 6-7 games. We do that with consistent player selection, then watch as our player quality advantage kicks in and we start to stream roll teams again. But without the shape and clear tactical instructions of players knowing where to be on & off the ball, our player quality advantage is removed and our weaknesses of giving away huge space, particularly at full back areas is exploited by other teams. This is why centre back get then pulled in every direction and in Duffy’s case, literally falls on his face.
Morning.
The criticism levelled at the players for not knowing where they should be on the pitch.
Why does this suddenly become an issue?
When we kicked on in January and won all of those games were the players “winging” it?
Did they just get lucky?
Confuses me no end this one…..
ONENIGHTINLISBON on 26TH NOVEMBER 2020 10:52 AM
Morning.
The criticism levelled at the players for not knowing where they should be on the pitch.
Why does this suddenly become an issue?
When we kicked on in January and won all of those games were the players “winging” it?
Did they just get lucky?
Confuses me no end this one…..
==========================
It’s the flaw in the system
When things are going well it’s easy to keep them going.
When we hit a rut we have little coaching, formation and systems to fall back on
It’s why we get the pres conferences we have been getting, with players not trying hard enough etc
We need to nail the basics on the training ground and double down on this when the blips happen
I don’t think we have been doing this
Gary Holt leaves Livingston
ONENIGHTINLISBON
I tried to highlight this on yesterdays blog. IMO it is to do with NL’s football philosopy. NL puts doesn’t put as much emphasis on shape & tactics to reduce space (unless its a superior team – see Barca 2013, Lille, Lazio etc). Instead NL relies on player quality, for players to show their individual qualities to win games. Its termed as organised chaos by football data analysts. Except this isn’t 2002 or indeed 2010. The world of football has moved very quickly past 10 years where shape and tactics is the centre focus. Its what all the best managers obsess on and in case of 2nd class managers (BR, etc) try to replicate.
But modern day footballers for most part are also being brought up more on shape. A lot of this Celtic team are not getting instructions on the shape of team to take – on or off the ball. So they are all doing what is instinctive to them (see Frimpong).
End of the day – we have a Celtic team playing as bunch of individuals with no clear team identify. This is really highlighted against supposed weaker opposition (Sparta, Sevco, Ferencvaros, Cluj etc) who do a clear identity in terms of shape and tactics.
Someone else on another Celtic platform said NL has a chance against Sevco and to win this league. But only if NL treats them as a superior European team and follows the shape & tactics he uses against likes of Lille, Lazio etc in denying the shape and hitting on the break. I agree with this, but NL still has to find his shape against the rest lower quality teams. He bets too much on player quality and it really is biting him on the a*se right now
CLUNKS on 26TH NOVEMBER 2020 11:07 AM
BHOY FROM THE BOYNE on 26TH NOVEMBER 2020 11:08 AM
Thanks for the responses guys, appreciated.
It does seem that in games, many of our players do look lost and that there is also a square peg/round hole approach to certain positions as well.
I think, despite some posters saying otherwise, yesterday’s press conference from the manager and captain was a car crash and give little hope that things will change.
Barkas
Ajer…Jullien…Duffy….Elhamed
Frimpong…McGregor…Christie…Laxalt
Edouard…Ajeti
There ye go… ;-)
sixhoursandfortyminutesCSC
ONENIGHTINLISBON,
The criticism levelled at the players for not knowing where they should be on the pitch.
Why does this suddenly become an issue?
When we kicked on in January and won all of those games were the players “winging” it?
Did they just get lucky?
Confuses me no end this one…..
——————-
In my opinion and to answer this specifically, we won those games in early new year due to player quality. The team was still relying on the shape & patterns introduced by BR to a large extend in Jan/Feb. That is greatly eroded this season, probably as we introduced 6-7 new players and NL is taking more hands on approach at Lennoxtown seemingly.
F.A.O – PL/DD
ITS THE MANAGER – STUPID!
My friends in Celtic,
Tonight we remove the negativity and play to win.
Our manager may be in the spotlight, but my eyes will be on the players.
Anyone lackadaisical,taking it easy or not giving 100% will not easily be forgiven.
Time the players stood up to be counted.
HH and COYBIG.
And just to add, when NL came up against his 1st real test in new year (Copenhagen) he got a draw away by restricting space as per the norm now for Euro away ties, but team got a doing at home as NL reverted to type and lack of shape was found.
Tiring myself now talking about shape :-0