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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Nye
I’m heading into the city centre today too … Might sample some of the atmosphere but my main event is the Palestine demo in George sq at 1pm
Anyone going to Hamilton tonight?
Oh yes it’s Ladies’ Night!
I’ll look out for CQN badges @ 1 o’clock
Horsey bhoys
Interesting placing by Mark Johnston and Fran Norton today
Norton is the stable jockey but is at Thirsk today …he is missing the last couple of races to head to Hamilton…..where Johnston has only two runners
They could be worth following today
Caveat Emptor ….as always
TBJ………Hope the forecast rain does not put folk off for
turning up for the demo,will see if the ladies are up for it,
both like myself are horrified at the events in Gaza.
What are the odds on Celtic winning 3-0 at Murrayfield?
timomouse
07:55 on 2 August, 2014
Excellent article – highly recommend a read
Thanks for sharing
What the lower league Scottish football today ?…. Petrofac ??
Why are Hamilton playing …..they’re in the SPL
Confused!!
sipsini
00:54 on 2 August, 2014
It’s been said that we are building a war chest….my a..e, the board is sitting on their laurels…rant over.
_______________
And they’ll continue to do so for as long as, fans keep ‘sheepishly’ handing over their money and then being told, when the transfer window is open that – things are tight / need to sell before we buy etc….etc, BS extraordinaires who ‘direct'(LOL) ‘your’ club.
It’s enought to make yer heart go – SACK THE ‘BORED’.
Feckin fed-up saying the same old stuff – day in, day out – but. ah effff it.
I would feel better about stuff if Johnny Collins was the manager – only saying.
Lifes too short, bye.
cultsbhoy
08:26 on 2 August, 2014
Nae bother if he doesn’t leave out 6 or 7 regulars
Timomouse
Very interesting article
I wonder his much we waste in wages per season on players who contribute hee haw….all as we chase this Moneyball plan
Playing promising youth players and spending money on a decent player or two ….might be a better balance
This article has stated what I’ve suspected for some time ……
67Heaven
Griffiths to score 3…
Richie
Going to Ayr next week, which also happens to be Ladies Night.
HH
CRC
timomouse
07:55 on 2 August, 2014
————————————–
Good article which struck a few chords.
On a non-football note, when I was in Warsaw Mr Z took me to the Tortilla Factory and introduced me to the owner, a good lad called Niall. Niall in turn introduced me to Thistly Cross Scottish cider. Over the 2 days I developed a bit of a taste for this cider. Anyone on here know of or tried this cider?
http://www.thistlycrosscider.co.uk/
Nye
The worst that will rain on us today is water … The Palestinians have missiles and bullets to contend with
Cults
I’m sure LG has scored more than three times before in Edinburgh
Kevj…so your up for throwing our new manager under the
bus after 3 games,deary me, yer a hard yin right enough.
Came across this site after someone here posted it yesterday,
This tells you all you need to know about football.
Interesting wee article in their about celtic and DD as well.
http://footballisfixed.blogspot.co.uk/
Get it read people
CRC
In Aberdeen next week but will get to Murrayfield. Ayr’s a bit of a stretch!
KevJ –
So YOU’RE fed up spouting the same pish day after day?
Spare a thought for the rest of us who have to read the same shite day after day.
Morning all. Wet, cold and miserable down here.
That was the weather. Is it the mood on here too?
To Hell with the Zionist dogs.
nye bevans’ rebel soldier
What is 10/1? Rainbow Rock currently 11/2 with Corals online.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Macjay – I hear the “Jewish lobby” cited frequently as the reason for America’s apparent support of Israel, regardless of what Israel does. That’s simply not true. Why would the Jewish lobby be particularly powerful in the US? The usual answer is “money”, but the fact is that in the US, the government always gets in. It doesn’t matter whether a Republican or Democrat President “control” the Whitehouse; the rhetoric may change slightly in tone, but the outcomes for Palestinians never does.
So how is Jewish lobby influence actually playing out so that US policy is always onside with Israel – is it threatening to withhold donations from one party to the benefit of the other? It’s a myth, and one that ignores the obvious facts relating to Israel and its geographical location. The Middle East is still a huge military, political and economic issue for America and American interests.
As things stand, from the US perspective, Israel is the only show in town, and until the US finds a viable and stable Arab alternative that behaves predictably, America is bound to support Israel. Kerry’s utter humiliation and ludicrous subsequent support for Netanyahu can’t be explained by fear that Obama will lose Jewish money – he’s gone at the next election anyway. While in Britain, concern for the party’s prospects might be an issue for someone like e.g. Cameron, if he were leaving office, US political party machinery just doesn’t operate like that. For a start, there’s never a guarantee that an outgoing president will continue to support his party successor, or indeed the party.
For US presidents, the parties serve as vehicles to further agendas (admittedly not always the president’s) and party ideology is even less evident there than here. However, the evidence suggests that US support for Israel isn’t predicated on lobby support and possible electoral failure, but wider US strategic aims and concerns.
Basically, the issue here is that America really needs Israel simply because of Israel’s location, and the US will continue to provide all the arms and financing it thinks is required to keep Israel intact. The outcome is that Israel does pretty much what it wants, and knows that the worst that will happen is that the UN will wring its hands – a bit. Meanwhile Israeli spokespeople respond with commentary on the tragedy of asymetric warfare, defending democracy against terrorist governments (lol), Hamas use human shields etc etc and hundreds of Palestinian kids die, while a fair percentage of tthe rest grow up hating America and Israel.
Is there a tip somewhere for the horses?
Lennybhoy…..am a thicko, please explain pal.
Som mes que un club-
If it’s dead you should find a meat market to come and pick it up. Never heard of tip specifically for horses.
Som mes que un club
Don’t back Ronny and Johnny – they are a pair of donkeys…
lennybhoy…supporting the dam 5 and cfc until i die
Eh
HH
nye bevans’ rebel soldier
09:31 on 2 August, 2014
Sorry mate but picked up on a post you put up to PFayr, you referred to a horse at 10/1, was it not you that put up tip about Rocky Rainbow?
weet weet weet(gbwo)
09:33 on 2 August, 2014
See above mate.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
ACGR
Been mostly lurking since Wednesday…on a downer,though SOAL’s tales of woe
from his holiday fair cheered me up :O).
For your info I have not ripped off CG punters…apart from the English and Billy from Norn
Ireland. hh
Lennybhoy….All Talk N No Do in the 4:05 Newmarket,
and remember, don’t shoot the messenger if it gets beat.
Tom
Cheers. Otherwise known as The Cowp across here in The East.
stillnofurtherforwardcsc
Lennybhoy
See Nye at half seven ish
nye bevans’ rebel soldier
09:31 on 2 August, 2014
Apologies cross purposes the post I thought you were referring to when you quoted 10/1 to PFayr is below.
phyllis dietrichson
00:27 on 2 August, 2014
Twists n Turns – Rainbow Rock 2.40 Goodwood.
I’m still half asleep…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
nye bevans’ rebel soldier
09:42 on 2 August, 2014
….pfayr supports weeoscar
09:43 on 2 August, 2014
Cheers Lhads
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
….pfayr
Thank you.
I scrolled back 3/4 pages and gave up due to number of posts about Gaza etc.
If those 4 win my next holiday will be paid for..
nye bevans’ rebel soldier
Now 8/1…thanks and I won’t shoot the messenger…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!