On the road this week so today’s blog is by author Stephen O’Donnell:
Pick the bones out of that! I didn’t see Legia against St. Patrick’s Athletic in the previous qualifying round, but by all accounts they were fairly unimpressive, even in winning 5 – 0 in Dublin. I was even tempted to have a wee bet on Celtic to win by more than one goal on Wednesday night, and by the time my hastily arranged subscription to Premier Sports had come through things were looking good after Callum McGregor’s early strike.
Sadly, it didn’t last. It’s a measure of how poorly Celtic played on the night that they were lucky to escape from Warsaw with a 4 – 1 defeat because, let’s face it, but for Fraser Forster and some wayward penalty taking, it could have been worse.
As expected, it didn’t take long for the Celtic Newsnow stream to start filling up with tales of anguish and pontification from the mainstream media. From AEK Athens to Maribor, the list of European failures at certain other clubs (including one that is now defunct) is long and distinguished, but nothing gets the SMSM in full gloating mode like a painful Celtic defeat on the Continent.
On Wednesday we were reminded about Artmedia Bratislava, Utrecht, Karagandy etc., I even heard Neuchatel Xamax being mentioned at one point. The key of course is that there is no context and analysis provided when these previous losses are dragged up, Celtic supporters simply have to suffer such painful reminders.
This lack of constructive analysis is a pity because there are comparisons and parallels that can be usefully drawn with previous chastening experiences in Europe. It seems that new Celtic managers are particularly vulnerable to them; Tony Mowbray initially enjoyed a successful preseason, including winning the Wembley Cup, but his first competitive game was a 1 – 0 home defeat to Dynamo Moscow. Neil Lennon had Utrecht and Braga, and of course Gordon Strachan had Artmedia.
It’s what happened in Bratislava that I think has most relevance to Wednesday night – a new manager in post, replacing a club legend, trying to introduce a more cerebral approach, a squad clearly divided amongst those who are still pining for the previous incumbent and those who want to move on and embrace the new manager’s methods… the parallels in fact are numerous and really quite striking. Hopefully this is a sign that Ronny, like WGS before him, will turn this early setback around and grow into the role of Celtic manager.
One of the most important aspects of managerial success is the chemistry between the boss and his players. This lack of a connection in the dressing-room and on the training field is the reason John Collins failed at Hibs; it’s why Mowbray didn’t last out a season at Celtic. If the chemistry isn’t right then the team will lack focus, motivation and game intelligence at crucial times in the season, and these traits were all conspicuous by their absence in both Warsaw and Bratislava.
But chemistry takes time, it didn’t come immediately to either Lennon or Strachan, and Ronny Deila still has the opportunity to get his progressive ideas across and win the respect and admiration of his squad. If that happens then, like Lenny and WGS before him, he will go on to lead Celtic to domestic and European success.
In the meantime, there is the second leg still to come. If the parallels with Artmedia and Karagandy are to be heard in the media again then Legia could yet be in for a tough night next week. The tie is most certainly not over and it will slowly be dawning on the players who let themselves down on Wednesday that there is only one way to make up for what happened.
Pride and defiance have to come to the fore again, and the situation is still retrievable. All the ingredients are there for a potentially famous night at Murrayfield next Wednesday.
Follow Stephen O’Donnell on twitter @stephenodauthor
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JJ
Did you see my post at 19:07 mate?
Where did you see that we’d sold 40,000 ST?
HT
Sorry. I can`t verify where I read the 40K ST sales so it might not be accurate.
As , as far as I know, Celtic Park was only used for the Opening Ceremony,why can`t it be used again until the 16th of August?
JJ
HT
Nice timing! I responded whilst you were typing!
JJ
quonno
Funnily enough I would exclude Efe from the “lack of heart” mob. He is out now anyway so we have to pee with the c*cks we’ve got. No pun intended.
pfayr,
From what I caught on the news, it was mainly bhoys plus big effe with his face tripping him.
hamiltontim
19:32 on 1 August, 2014
Anyone know how much we got for the CG using Parkhead for the opening ceremony?
————-
Never made public but genuinely don’t think you can put a price on that type of positive exposure.
1bn+ worldwide audience is into money can’t buy territory.
The salt in the gaping wounds of the Huns was a a wee local bonus.
And yes, i know the point your making (or about to, if I read your post correctly!). If I had the choice I would be at CP on Wed also.
The singing detective demands the resignation of campbell ogilvie
too far..
JJ
Perfect timing Jim :-)
I’d be extremely surprised if we’d sold 30k ST to be honest.
It’s not gloating as I want as many Tims watching the team as possible though I’d prefer 20,000 supporting than 60,000 and half of them are sitting moaning.
There are many, many factors which will effect ST sales but guys I know who aren’t renewing are doing so because of lack of investment in the team but more significantly the lack of support from the board for the Celtic support in general.
This has to be addressed.
jmccormic
I am probably a `realist` in life in general but , when it comes to Celtic, things change.
I will be going to every Home game and more than likely I will really enjoy the experience. So I will desperately be willing my team to victory next week but, if we go out of the CL , MY season won`t require saving. I will still really enjoy watching Celtic.
JJ
JJ
Re turfing the pitch ….
Fancy yourself as the next Ronny Deila? Think your better than Stein? then here is the invite code to the CQN Championship Fantasy Football League, we now have 30 teams entered.
296638-123206
You have 15 days left to register your team & join the league.
http://fantasy.premierleague.com/
As an added incentive I’ve decided to offer some prizes for the top 3 come the end of the season. The winners will each receive items of their choosing from the Official Celtic Webstore to the tune of
1st £100
2nd £75
3rd £50
Or alternatively, winners can choose to donate any winnings to a Celtic charity of their choice.
Also if by some miracle I end up in the top 3, the winnings will be passed onto the next placed team.
HH
About eight of our outfielders played as badly as it is possible for professional footballers to play. When the Poles attacked, as they did for eighty minutes, our system ensured that each defender was outnumbered three to one.
Our midfield disappeared from the tenth minute on, ‘re-appearing only to surrender possession or miss tackles. The performance was abject. This was a surprise to me as I had mistakenly thought there was a real improvement in Celtic’s general play forwards the end of last season.
TSD,
Could be worse….could be a hun…how much are they hurting?
To all tims I know, it’s gonna be ten in a row…KTF
Hamiltontim
19:43 on
1 August, 2014
JJ
Perfect timing Jim :-)
I’d be extremely surprised if we’d sold 30k ST to be honest.
It’s not gloating as I want as many Tims watching the team as possible though I’d prefer 20,000 supporting than 60,000 and half of them are sitting moaning.
There are many, many factors which will effect ST sales but guys I know who aren’t renewing are doing so because of lack of investment in the team but more significantly the lack of support from the board for the Celtic support in general.
This has to be addressed.
————————————————-
Is your 30k estimate based on information you have HT or your own perception based on speaking to mates etc?
Where is our CQN ticket office mole when you need him? :-)
I don’t know how many ST have been sold,for me
the worrying thing is that more and more fans
are not turning up after buying a ST.
If I was being honest,think a lot of our support
are missing the challenge of the hun.
jmccormick. With that big bomb scare missing for the second leg wemight just have half a chance. H.H.
jmccormick
19:42 on 1 August, 2014
The singing detective demands the
resignation of campbell ogilvie
too far..
——–
Hope You’re Correct….
But Taking A £15M Hit…
Is Not Mere Bawbees..!
We Will Still Dominate The SPL For A Few Years..
But Need A COMPLETE Rebuild……
To Have A Chance Of Reaching CL Group Stage..
Next Season……
Unless PL………
Declines His ‘Bonuses’?
stringer bell
19:40 on 1 August, 2014
hamiltontim
19:32 on 1 August, 2014
Anyone know how much we got for the CG using Parkhead for the opening ceremony?
————-
Never made public but genuinely don’t think you can put a price on that type of positive exposure.
1bn+ worldwide audience is into money can’t buy territory.
The salt in the gaping wounds of the Huns was a a wee local bonus.
And yes, i know the point your making (or about to, if I read your post correctly!). If I had the choice I would be at CP on Wed also.
——
I’ve been on holiday so missed the opening ceremony and most of the actual competition until today.
Great mate, we got world wide exposure and we rubbed it into the Huns a wee bit.
I’m a Celtic supporter.
My priority isn’t our stadium being used for an event that has nothing to do with Celtic Football Club.
My priority isn’t that there was Hun angst at the coverage our stadium received.
Will this console you if we lose next week away from home, at Murrayfield, in Edinburgh?
Wee Oscar’s pal Paddy Barnes semi final comin up on Sky 985
Got my son’s dog out for a walk ….. What a wonderful evening it is ……. Up in the hills with not a care in the World …… and I’m a Tim too …….. Someone up there likes me ……….!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ll try this again…..
Stephen, if you are looking in, I thought that was a well written article.
I get the point about connection. In the case of Mowbray – and quite possibly Delia – the lack of connection may be down to the same thing.
I hated the idea of Tony managing Celtic. Why? He had openly talked about his ‘philosophy’. A philosophy that got his team relegated from the EPL. After a defeat at Old Trafford, he said he wouldn’t change, that he had a philosophy as to how football should be played, and he was going to stick to it. That was at a point when they weren’t quite in the bottom 3. His problem was, he didn’t have the players with which to make his approach successful.
Now, I don’t know enough about what is going on at Celtic to know whether we are in a similar state. But RD has introduced a high pressing game that does several things.
First, it requires high levels of energy and intelligence. We have attackers and midfielders who are able to produce one of these – but few who can deliver both.
Second, it automatically leaves a 3 man midfield vulnerable. You press high, don’t win the ball back, the opposition passes into the middle 3rd, and if they do that quickly, it becomes 3 against 5.
Third, there is a ripple effect that puts pressure on our defence. There is a reason that NL usually played a holding midfielder. He knew that his centre backs needed support and protection.
Now, I am not saying that RD is wrong to want to install this new philosophy. What I am saying, is that I don’t think he has the players suited for it. Not now, at any rate.
The thing is, players are not stupid. They know that some of these things are happening, and that they put us at risk. This can be the seed of doubt that causes them to distrust the coach. And we all know how that movie ends.
As an aside, RD’s decision to play his new player from the start was a huge slap in the face to some of the players he left out. That won’t have helped in building trust. It would have, if the new guy had excelled.
New coaches can chose between ‘sea change’ or gradual change. Sea change requires one extremely vital ingredient. Support from the board. If the current players can’t or won’t deliver in a new system, get some in who will.
Two examples of this spring to mind. Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. Tony Adams led a delegation to meet with the chairman in an effort to get rid of the newly appointed, fitness freak from France. Adams lost and Arsenal won. But it takes money.
And there was Paul LeGuen……
So, bottom line: A change in philosophy often means a change in (some) key players. We may be implementing a strategy that is bound for failure. It is too late to get players in to save our CL season. Only lady luck and the efforts of the current squad can do that.
fritzsong- not a single player won the battle against their direct opponent, more of a worry was lack of leadership,and desire to get back into the game,we have no captains or voices on the pitch.HH
jungle jim
not that much different to me, as I said in my post, I’ll be dreaming of a victory as well.
however I will not want to watch or be captivated by the SPL, but that does not mean I dont support our team.
natknow
It’s only my guess but I know several guys, home and away supporters for decades, who have decided enough is enough.
So naw it’s not scientific analysis or backed up by figures :-)
Squire. onwards to the final I hope.
H.H.
I have a lot of time for Efe. Yes, he gets it wrong occasionally, but he is a good footballer. And if we dump him, who would we have in his place… Vidic…..Beckenbaur…..Baresi…Moore…? Or perhaps Bobo Balde?
He’s nearer the first group in style than Bobo, which is what we need. He’s a good player, and he tries for the club. He played well last year, and he will play well again this year.
We should give big Virgil the captaincy in Broonie’s absence. He is the only one that looks like a leader on the park.
Tony Mowbray aspired to bring sexy football to Celtic.
Ronny Deila’s comments haven’t been too dissimilar.
He’ll get my support, and calls for him to go are ridiculous, but I’m genuinely worried that he’s going to try to play a brand of football that will be impossible with the players that he’ll have at his disposal.
Hamilton
I’m confidernt we will hump this mob’ and I luved our Stadium / Games getting Worldwide exposure……..
Hamiltontim
19:56 on
1 August, 2014
natknow
It’s only my guess but I know several guys, home and away supporters for decades, who have decided enough is enough.
So naw it’s not scientific analysis or backed up by figures :-)
———————————————————————————–
Yay! My cloak of invisibility is off. I must’ve made 10 posts today and not got a single response from any of them. That probably says more about me than you! :-)
It will be interesting to see the official numbers on ticket sales eventually. It feels like there’s a tangible apathy at present. I’m sure there are lots of reasons why (I noted some to other posters earlier) and I think there will be a lot to do to keep people interested if there’s no Euro footie.
Hamiltontim
It certainly looks that way at the moment. We might have to endure a year of painful performances until he can find the players and system he wants. I think the league will be a lot tighter this year with Aberdeen giving us a run for our money.
Mr Barnes= Job done.
H,H,
Barnes dominated from start to finish – never in doubt :D
Scots lad Flynn up next
Then Irish Lhads Fitzpatrick immediately after, then Donnelly & Coyle in quick succession
This guy was the dogs before a disastrous season in the EPL.
He needs a change and I’d have loved a wee risknon him coming good in the hoops…
sigh…
http://talksport.com/football/van-move-norwich-citys-record-signing-set-leave-loan-140801105161
Some on here seem to think we should never lose a game, some times it happens we win a lot more than we lose, always have always will. We are very capable of scoring 3 or more at murryfield it’s only halftime in the tie so let’s see what happens HH
West Wales Celt
From the same team that demanded £11 million for Snodgrass? They’ll want about £20m for him!
When was it the Celtic way to throw in the towel with 90 minutes still to play ? I will tell you a wee story about a long time ago.Kilmarnock were drawn in the Fair Cities cup to Eintracht Frankfurt who were at the time a top European side the first leg was in Germany and Kilmarnock lost 3-0 in the second leg very early on in the game German player hit a ball from just inside the Kilmarnock half the ball flew like a rocket past Campbell Forsyth who at the time was the Scottish International goalkeeper now it was 4-0 to Eintracht did Kilmarnock give up and quit not a chance they rolled up there sleeves and steamed in and eventualy Kilmarnock won 5-1 on the night and qualified for the next round I was there that night and it was right up there with one of the very best European games I have seen.The point of the story it is only half time Celtic can still win this tie if they believe they can so lets get behind them lets have a wall of noise for 90 minutes and we may yet reach the next round. H.H.
67heaven … i am neil lennon ….the angels are with wee oscar in heaven.. ibrox belongs to the creditors
20:02 on 1 August, 2014
Hamilton
I’m confidernt we will hump this mob’ and I luved our Stadium / Games getting Worldwide exposure……..
——–
Please God you’re correct. If we do go through on Wednesday it will go down as one of Celtic’s greatest European nights in recent times.
However :-)
My priority is Celtic, the football team.
Based on that, giving up home advantage for the CG angers me greatly.
Money, money, money.