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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hamiltontim
20:57 on 1 August, 2014
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?
********
In this case, yes.
To do otherwise, would be petty and I don’t like petty.
There was nothing wrong with Murrayfield for the last round, apart from the travel logistics.
The damage was done in Poland, but, hey, carry on stoking up anti club resentment.
Tbj
how was yer curry, mrs bt and I just back from mushtaqs in ml3
Malorbhoy
vinny will send u contact details..
Bt
Thank,s for your help
Malorbhoy
malorbhoy
21:13 on 1 August, 2014
BT
You got a contact Number?
Looks like a lot of the faithful through and through have thrown the towel in.
——–
Not at all my friend.
Last week’s game will probably be the last Celtic game on Scottish soil, home or away, that I’ll miss this season.
That doesn’t mean I don’t have concerns.
Hope yer well auld yin!!
Haw you….
your HT, I’m BT…
gordybhoy64
21:03 on
1 August, 2014
Not know, how petty,are people not allowed to support other teams and dislike us
————————————————-
Of course they are.
Just to be clear – you’re saying it’s OK for her to declare a specific dislike for Celtic but it’s petulant if I feel disinclined to support her? I never had any strong opinion of her before but she doesn’t make me warm to her with that kind of declaration. That betrays a certain kind of mentality. Hunnish.
Thomthethim
“The damage was done in Poland, but, hey, carry on stoking up anti club resentment.”
———-
Seriously?
I’m anti Celtic?
Deary me.
Coyle & Donnelly beat
5 Irish in their finals guaranteed at least silver
4 Irish bronze medals
The boolers and shooters put to shame.
BT
BampoT :-)
Mushtaqs is brilliant probably my favourite Indian mate.
So the £30 a game posters have went quite.
DEILA OUT
Guernica and Gaza.
‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil
is that good men and women do nothing’.
Natknow
When did she say this
squire danaher
I’m lucky enough to have a ticket for the boxing
finals tomorrow night,just watched the Indian lad,
the best I’ve seen so far.
HT
just a wee welcome home tae ye….8)
Still prefer the pir tbh…
malorbhoy
21:20 on 1 August, 2014
………..
Just back from a 6hr drive to Scotland and back, not been on CQN but I got a message from the oracle/ BT :>)
Contact details for the bus sent to yir mobi, g’luck amigo and Hx2
weefrathetim
If I can I’ll try to get up with the girls next week but their social life plays havoc with my arrangements for them these days.
Cannae wait til they’re accepted at the convent :-)
BT
I’ll try to get to the club for the first CL away tie :-)
Nye
Yes the 2 Indian boys worthy winners over the Irish lads
Enjoy the night
Over to bbc 1 now – men’s 4 x 100 relay, Bolt on next
BT
Don’t go to the Pir Mahal anymore, personal reasons, but still get deliveries from them :-)
Tony Kroos looks likely to get the £90,000 a week he is after from Real Madrid after Man.Utd.and Chelsea refused to pay it.So how are we ever going to have a level playing field ? H.H.
Here comes Bolt……
HT
a good few bhoys and ghirl in attendance, pity about the result..
we can overcome..
pfayr
https://mobile.twitter.com/EilidhChild/status/338680827934306305
BT
Hopefully catch a pint soon.
Right off to see mate’s band, adieu.
Ht
Not aimed at your good self or anyone else on the blog ,It’s just my supporters bus was not running, but some were going to take cars, but after Wednesday’s result they are not going now ,that’s what’s annoying me.
Hope you and my favourite lady had a great Holiday
….PFayr supports WeeOscar
21:34 on
1 August, 2014
Natknow
When did she say this
————————————————
26 May 2013 on Twitter :
https://twitter.com/EilidhChild/status/338680827934306305
.
Good Article..
Don;t know if this has been mentioned since the Game but..
When Ronny and JC went to Warsaw to have a ‘Look’ at Legia against St Pats they Left with 40 Mins to go..
So the Missed 4 goals as it was 1-0 when they Left..
l thought at the time that was Cockey for a New management team and Probably a bit Disrespectful to the Legia team..
To tell you the truth it seemed Bizarre to go all that was and leave with 40 mins to go.. and l don’t think it has been mentioned before or after..?
Just hope JC never had a ‘Men against Bhoys’ Souness moment..
Hmmm..
Just a Thought..
Summa
Vmhan
thank you for your info, was on the ole M74 South myself this afternoon might have passed you (sticking to the speed limit ), you could have dropped in for a brew
Tetley Tea Bags CSC (also not going to Murryfield):-)
Malorbhoy
Let me know if that doesn’t work out for you as I have good mates on the Barrow in Furness bus, think they’re back from Warsaw :>)
V
quonno
Sorry for not coming back sooner.
I am not saying the board is right or wrong, what I am saying is that as supporters we have without question lost something and are just the same as other clubs fans, nothing great about our support now.
If we get our act together as supporters then maybe just maybe the board et al will do the same.
I suspect that if the crowds at CP had been 50k plus in the last 2 years then confidence within the board about future attendances could have lead to increased investment in the squad.
I never thought I would see a less than a full stadium on the day we pick up the league trophy, not since the early 80’s has that happened, it has for 2 years in succession, shame.
Summa
Maybe they had to leave early to catch a plane.
Summa of Sammi, How did they miss 4 goals it was a 1-1 draw ? H.H.
.
Vinny..
Thought BT had been replaced as Oracle..;(
Just saying..
Summa
Sos
I have been usurped by ole bmcuw and the fact that I lost my contacts when I lost my phone…o)
Really dissapointed with the performance on Wed.
However trying to look on the bright side
We get into the CL,make a shed load of cash and get walloped 4 games out od 6 finish bottom and we all moan (except for the accountants) or
We dont make the CL fall into the EL have a decent run, the fans get excited, we dont make a shed load of money and most fans are reasonably happy (except for the accountants)
Im afraid we are, on the playing side, a EL team, no getting away from it.
What would make that acceptable to us? £!1m for winning it? increased exposure? Massive tv deal to follow our run to the final?
What doy ou want to see as a fan? If you care not a jot for finances you would prefer to be in a comp we have a chance of doing something in (EL). If you prefer us to make money, raise our profile. you might prefer the CL.
However let us all be clear, we can make the group stages of the CL for the next 10 years, but we will never generate enough cash to win it.
Anyone think a concerted effort in the EL over ten years could bring us a cup??
VMHAN
Barrow bus not going up either contacted BD yesterday.
Celtic dawn
Thursday night matches result in Sunday matches, thats just one of the drawbacks.