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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Right lhads and lhassies I’m off to do some chores,
have a great day no matter what yer bowl of cherries is.
@B.T. It can happen.
When the Commander won we ploughed in at 13/2 and it took 4 of us
to Alcudia for a week it was by far the biggest lay we have gambled,
but at the time Twists seemed sooooooooo confident.
So good luck you never know.Oor we synd tend to favour single bets.
H.H.
Morning Bhoys I see we have sent a second string to Helsinki to play Spurs I am concerned that the big money English club will run up a big score against our bhoys.If that happens it will further tarnish the name of our great club and for what ?I cannot see the point in this game we in my opinion have enough on our plate in trying to prepare for the second leg match with Legia once again we are chasing the quick buck with this friendly.H.H.
Drambowie Celt
a few quid pays a couple of grand , livibhoy gave us a couple on Tuesday so still ahead…
Elidor69
09:27 on
2 August, 2014
A fair number of your opinions are expressed as fact.
Would you be kind enough to tell me in what way U.S. needs Israel.
Precisely what does Israel provide for U.S.?
As far as I am concerned the global hatred of the U.S.comes mainly for the people of the Muslim Faith.
Why do you think that is?
The vast majority of the terrorist attacks on the U. S. and it`s allies come from Muslims.
Why do you think that is?
Bhoys,
That horse all talk n no do @ Newmarket is a non runner.
Good luck with the ponies guys
I’m up to a yankee
And I don’t punt usually
HH
—–
tom mclaughlin
09:22 on 2 August, 2014
To Hell with the Zionist dogs.
~~~~~~~~~~
Dear…Oh,Dear….!
GCT….A ‘Martyr Tae His Hormones’..?
;-)
God-Bless Oor Wee Scottie Dogs..
————————————
Jews Condemned Whilst Christians Are Decimated And Dispersed
By David Singer August 1, 2014 |
As the war between Israel and Hamas enters its fourth week – the frenzied condemnation of Israel for exercising its inherent right of self-defence continues to dominate the media coverage of the conflict.
Ishaan Tharoor writing in the Washington Post wonders why ?
“The world is transfixed by the conflict in Gaza, as the death tolls of both Palestinians and Israelis killed in the fighting continue to rise. It has animated global public opinion and sparked protests in myriad far-flung cities.
But as the rockets and bombs fall, a deadlier war next door rolls on. The Syrian civil war has claimed 170,000 lives in three years; this past weekend’s death toll in Syria was greater than what took place in Gaza. By some accounts, the past week may have been the deadliest in the conflict’s grim history. Meanwhile, the extremist insurgents of the Islamic State (also known as ISIS), have continued their ravages over a swath of territory stretching from eastern Syria to the environs of Baghdad, Iraq’s capital; the spike in violence in Iraq has led to more than 5,500 civilian deaths in the first six months of this year.”
Iraq and Syria: Millions of Christians, whose ancestral presence there predates current Muslim majorities by centuries.
M D Harmon writing in the Portland Herald criticises this media blackout:
“Why should it matter if a nearly 2,000-year-old way of life practiced by millions is being exterminated and no one will do anything to halt it?
Perhaps because it teaches a wider lesson about what the civilized world faces when it confronts rampant Islamic extremism.
In much of Iraq and Syria today, millions of Christians, whose ancestral presence there predates current Muslim majorities by centuries, are being scrubbed out of their homes.
But, while some in the wider church and the media are paying attention, getting war-weary Western nations to take effective action seems impossible. Even humanitarian aid isn’t being widely discussed.”
The newly-declared Islamic State (IS) – which includes Mosul – Iraq’s second largest city – already exceeds the area of Great Britain.
Sharia law has been imposed in Mosul – where Christians have lived since shortly after the death of Christ.
Christians were given 24 hours to leave Mosul or convert to Islam and pay a tax – or die.
The letter “N” (for “Nazarene”) has been daubed on Christian homes to denote they are available.
Christian and Shiite gravesites, deemed idolatrous by ISIS, are being deliberately blown up and destroyed, including on July 24, the tomb of the 8th-century B.C. Old Testament Prophet Jonah, and the Muslim shrine that enclosed it.”
Patrick Coburn does not mince his words in The Independent:
“It is the greatest mass flight of Christians in the Middle East since the Armenian massacres and the expulsion of Christians from Turkey during and after the First World War.”.
Yet the media shows little interest in exposing the decimation and dispersal of the Christian communities in Syria and Iraq.
Google reports on the Israel-Gaza war outnumber reports on the ISIS-Christian conflict by about 20:1.
The West is equally as disinterested at this appalling ethnic and religious cleansing and forced transfer of Christians.
An impotent United Nations shows its unwillingness to intervene.
Israel meanwhile ensures that Jews will never find themselves in the same boat as the abandoned and hapless Christians.
David Singer is an Australian Lawyer, a Foundation Member of the International Analyst Network and Convenor of Jordan is Palestine International—an organization calling for sovereignty of the West Bank and Gaza to be allocated between Israel and Jordan as the two successor States to the Mandate for Palestine. Previous articles written by him can be found at: jordanispalestine.blogspot.com
*ttp://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/64987
—
Elidor69
09:27 on
2 August, 2014
The Jewish lobby backs both sides ….Democrat and Republican.
In the same way that powerful businesses back both sides.
The Jewish lobby can`t lose.
Perhaps it has learned from the Gun lobby which makes sure candidates
Everything sorrounding the start of this season has gone sour. Losing our own Stadium for a few weeks, the pre-season schedule and the Warsaw disaster. I just want to get today’s unnecessary game and the Legia return game out of the way and hopefully some normality might return.
Which makes sure candidates are signed up for support before they are elected.
B.T.Good man stay in front…….. like Mr Bolt.
H.H.
Drambowie Celt
with the return of the cqn coupon I won’t be in front much longer…8)
Lokeren want Amido with suggested 2 mill euro fee?? Please please please be true. Get him in the taxi now.
Frank ryan
no need for a taxi, PF has promised to drive him …
mcdowellcelt god bless wee oscar
10:01 on 2 August, 2014
Must be a late call off, price was up on Betfair earlier.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
blantyretim is praying for the Knox family
10:09 on
2 August, 2014
:-)
corkcelt
10:03 on 2 August, 2014
A shadow squad in Finland, only Pukki there who is likely to play on Wednesday but agree best to get out the way.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Morning,all.
Off out shortly to show AYRSHIRTIM a jolly good time.
In Swindon for a change!
No doubt we’ll cry into our £2 pintsa Guinness to start with as we contemplate Wednesday night,then put it behind us and get blootered.
Well,that’s the plan….
Off to have a look at the cuddies to find a way to pay for it all.
Or not,more probably!
Would today not have been the perfect opportunity to play Wednesday’s starting 11 and get the disaster of midweek out of our system. Play the formation and tactics for the Legia game against a top quality side, knowing that if they can hold their own against a far better team then there is hope of producing the Miracle of Murrayfield?
Don’t even know why I’m bothering to comment on The Sick Dick’s post. The issue of the day is the genocide thats happening in Gaza. A so called civilised Country is pounding a small poverty stricken enclave to bits on a daily basis. They have already slaughtered .01 per cent of the population. Pro rata to the population of the USA that would see in excess of 300,000 Americans killed. This is a huge issue for all of humanity and it is rightly being discussed on this site. There are of course many other dreadful things happening in the world today, some of which TSD has highlighted. However the question is why raise the subject now when people are talking about Gaza. Its whataboutery in its worst possible form.
Bobbyscurledupwans.Enjoy you lucky bassas……………:)
H.H.
‘A war…. Is when TWO armies are fighting…..
So you see right there…… Not exactly, a war……’
BillHicksCSC
~~~
Come friendly bombs and fall on Cork!
It isn’t fit for humans now,
There isn’t grass to graze a mouse.
Swarm over, Death!
Come, bombs and blow to smithereens
Those air -conditioned, bright canteens,
Tinned fruit, tinned meat, tinned milk, black puddin’?
Tinned minds, tinned breath.
Mess up the mess they call a town-
A house for ninety-seven down
And once a week a half a crown
For twenty years.
And get Corkieman with double chin
Who’ll always cheat and always win,
Who washes his baldy pate..
In women’s tears:
And smash his desk of polished oak
And smash his hands so used to stroke
And stop his boring dirty joke
And make him yell.
But spare those dear young clerks who add
The profits of the stinking cad;
It’s not their fault that they are mad,
They’ve tasted Hell.
It’s not their fault they do not know
The birdsong from the radio,
It’s not their fault they often go
To Bun’doran..
And talk of sport and makes of cars
In various bogus-Tudor bars
And daren’t look up and see the stars
But belch instead.
In labour-saving homes, with care
Their wives frizz out peroxide hair
And dry it in synthetic air
And paint their nails.
Come, friendly bombs and fall on Cork
To get it ready for the plough.
The cabbages are coming now;
The earth exhales.
Kilbowie howls…!
(ThumbsUp?)
Apologies To The Other Fine Citizens Of Cork..!
——
Jungle Jim
There is no grass!
The playing surface is being relaid.
I understand the previous grass was Dutch and I mean grass not the waccy baccy.
I heard the new grass is from Germany, possibly in the hope that some Teutonic football effectiveness rubs off.
Oops..!
Apologies To John Betjeman…
Why has the league season not begun in Scotland? Surely starting 3rd or 4th weekend in July, like Poland and Belgium for example, would mean our teams are better prepared for CL/EL qualifiers. Instead of meaningless friendlies, where our first team don’t even play, against St Pauli and Spurs on successive Saturdays, we could have had a couple of league games. The early start would also allow a winter break.
I would prefer summer football season (March to November) but understand many wouldn’t, so surely an earlier start would be a compromise.
gary67- it would have been mate ,but not a hike to Finland to play for a few poxy grand no doubt. HH
Top of the morning to you all from a dreich Fife.
Pleasantly surprised by the reaction from my MSP to my complaint about BBC pro-Israeli propaganda:
Tony Hall, D.G. BBC
Dear Tony,
BBC Coverage of Gaza Situation
I have been contacted by a number of my constituents concerning the BBC’s coverage of the current situation in Gaza and I personally share the concerns that have been raised with me.
In the past few weeks, Gaza has been under massive aerial bombardment from Israeli warplanes and drones but the BBC’s reporting of these assaults has been almost entirely devoid of context or background.
This situation in Gaza hasn’t just arisen in the past few weeks, Gaza has been under Israeli occupation and siege for many decade.
I would like to remind you that Israel is bombing a refugee population – Palestinians who were made refugees when they were forced from their land in 1948 in order to create Israel.
Gaza has no army, air force, or navy, while Israel possess one of the strongest militaries in the world.
When you portray Israel’s shelling of a civilian population as a ‘response’ or ‘retaliation’ to rocket strikes from Gaza, I would like to remind you that these events flow from the displacement of the overwhelming majority of the Palestinian people from their homes and communities, with millions now corralled as refugees in the Gaza Strip. That initial injustice was compounded and continues with the ongoing occupation and siege.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is so bad that an estimated 95% of the population do not even have access to clean water, a basic essential of life, a situation exacerbated in recent months by the Israeli Governments bombing of essential infrastructure.
While the BBC portrays the occupier as the victim, and the occupied as the aggressor, I would like to remind you that resistance to occupation is a right under international law. And we would like you to remember that Israel’s occupation, siege and collective punishment of Gaza is not. Countless United Nations resolutions have been passed condemning Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian land and continued bulldozing of Palestinian homes to make way for settlers, yet Israel continues to ignore international law.
I hope that you will reflect on the coverage of this long running situation and take action to restore faith in the BBC’s coverage of such a sensitive conflict and I look forward to receiving a response that I can share with the many constituents who have contacted my concerned about the BBC’s coverage of the Gaza situation.
Yours sincerely,
Cara Hilton, MSP for Dunfermline
Big Nan
10:29 on
2 August, 2014
That`s about the size of it.
BMCUWP
Does that count as a mini hootenanny ;-))
Auldheid
read your post re summer footie.can’t understand why a CALTON BHOY prefers soft rolls to well fired.
Som mes…..
Check out Johnston/ Norton combo at Thirsk and Hamilton
At Hamilton races last year we noticed something similar …horse romped in
Could be nothing ….some decent prices
Being lazy here but does anyone know if you can buy tickets for Wednesday in Edinburgh today? And where?
Ta!
I was at marches the last 2 times Israel attack Gaza but unfortunatly I cant make it today. The demonstrations probably wont cause Israel-US to change its genocidal policies but at least you find there are thousands of others who feel the same sense of outrage and thats in spite of the biased media and the silent politicians. One heartening thing for me was the number of Scottish jewish groups who were there and who were 100% against what Israel was doing.
glasgowbhoy- Murrayfield box office maybe?
Glasgow bhoy,
You were able to buy tickets for first game at The Hub at top of Royal Mile – so worth checking if you can do similar for this one
Reading the nightshift.
That’s it this time.
Mad as as box of frogs.
petec
05:32 on
2 August, 2014
macjay1,
I’m torn a lot more than I could ever be by what is happening now.
Israel is the apple of God’s eye.
I believe that the Jews are God’s chosen people. I Totally Believe that.