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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I took a break from posting, so hadn’t posted since before the sad news about little Oscar. But when I saw his name still in my log in name, it didn’t feel quite right …. so I went to change it there ….
Felt myself choking up a bit there when II was doing it …. hard to believe that we could be effected so much by a little boy most of us never met ….
does put the CL stuff squarely in perspective.
Brilliant run by Lynsey Sharp, watched Eilidh Child perform great while incredibly nervous in the 400 hurdles yesterday. Lynsey by contrast ran very near her best. Superb from Team Scotland!
Superb run by lyndsay sharp to get a medal tonight
thomthethim for oscar ok
Celtic own Celtic Park, they could, had they chosen to, said no.
Is the ‘civic responsibility’ more important than the responsibility they should have to the players, manager and supporters of Celtic Football Club?
Sky 115
Bob O’ Baldy
20:54 on
1 August, 2014
Brilliant run by Lynsey Sharp, watched Eilidh Child perform great while incredibly nervous in the 400 hurdles yesterday. Lynsey by contrast ran very near her best. Superb from Team Scotland!
——————————————
I failed to cheer for Eilidh “I don’t like Celtic” Child.
Can’t quite put my finger on why…
weefrathetim
Best holiday ever for me mate and the girls all had a ball!!!
Hope you and D are well :-)
It’s not being negative it’s expressing concerns and there’s nothing wrong with that so long as it’s done with the best interests of Celtic at the heart of it.
Boxing on Sky 115 as after option than Sky 985
KevinBridgesDa CSC
A safer option…….
Mike in Toronto
can’t see me changing my sign in name for a long time…
congratulations on your upcoming nuptials.
On another inspiring story I saw a picture of kanos room…..fabulous, another cqn legend…
Any Supporters Buses or Cars travelling up to Murryfield on Wednesday going past Gretna , if so I am looking for a lift up and back, will pay towards any costs
Malorbhoy
.
Cheers bada, yours always on the ball.
NatKnow
She ran through her nerves, that’s tough enough, done it myself, doesn’t make things easier that’s for sure. She did great under pressure.
Stringer
We’ll agree to differ but I do intend to have a wee tour round Glasgow tomorrow.
I’ll get back to you on whether it’s been worth it :-)
Not know, how petty,are people not allowed to support other teams and dislike us
Sorry was for Natknow
Malorbhoy
what about8ut Blackpool shamrock?
Captain Beefheart
20:34 on
1 August, 2014
I agree with Hamilton tim about the CW games. Just our luck to draw a Polish side who will enjoy two home games.
By the way, I wasn’t impressed with their goalscorer who scored twice. Don’t want him.
…
Not sure what you mean here?
Why does playing at Murrayfield give Legia a home game?
Hamiltontim
20:21 on
1 August, 2014
Let’s just hope that Wednesday was a one-off shambles of a performance. If it isn’t we are in for a bumpy season. We really should canter the league again, no doubt about that. I should have said Aberdeen will have improved since last year, rather than saying they will give us a run for our money ;)
HH
The game is in Polish TV and I guess it will be shown in in Scotland too. I saw the question earlier.
Civic responsibility …..hmmm
What have the bassas ever done for us
HT
So glad the hols went so well, you all deserved the break. We are absolutely fine, and, yes, I am starting to become concerned about the, visible, under investment in the first team. Like the rest of us, we want a talented, entertaining and winning team on the park. I have serious doubts about this season, but I will still be there cheering on what we have, as I have done for countless tears. Hey ho. KTF
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Pfayr
haven’t you read about all the state aid we have received ;-)))
Donnelly beat on split decsion
hamiltontim
21:03 on 1 August, 2014
—–
Enjoy mate, would suggest starting at merchant city, the head to Glasgow Green. It should be a good experience.
WeefratheTim. I hope you dont mind me butting in but you cant make an omelette without breaking any eggs Rony will be fine and we will bring in a couple of new signings before the window closes. H.H.
H T
Our manager “does not fear a C L catastrophe” A shocking statement!!!
BT
You got a contact Number?
Looks like a lot of the faithful through and through have thrown the towel in.
could Celtic have known several years ago when planning for the games began, that they would be in this exact situation?
Lending the stadium out with all that came with it was a no brainer.
We messed up in warsaw, not edinburgh.
BT
Cheers. Off tonight for dinner with my brother and his wife for a celebratory dinner.
I went back and forth on changing my login name… and I agree it is nice to have something as a reminder sometimes ….
As you may recall, my dad passed away about 2 years ago …. his voice was on my parents voicemail at home …. my mum cant bring herself to change it ….some days, it is nice to hear his voice, but occassionally, I’ll forget and when his voice comes on and says hello, it just about breaks my heart …. Still miss him, but nice that we have these things to remind us sometimes.
Malorbhoy
u want me to contact the vmhan?
Malorbhoy – towel chucking…. That is so 2008. There was a roaring trade in towel retrieval as i recall…….
Heres hoping.
b t
Heard anything abt big Andy lately? Was speaking Jim Houlahan an old pal of his today.
Bt
I was in the web at 5pm today
btw there’s a massive sky poster with zombies as I came off the ek bypass at blantur
If the towels are being chucked hopefully we will get wg back on cqn.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/commonwealth-games/28590158
Good piece from BBC regarding Irish amateur boxing structure
I am deliberately saying nothing more about Wednesday night but have – enjoyed is the wrong word – been impressed at the constructive spirit in which most have discussed the subject.
I would not be able to be as constructive.
Jude
fraid not buddy..
tbj
I was at home you should have called, I would have came round,
Bt
Yes Please.
Robert Tressel
I was being polite with that remark