There is usually a fair amount of hysteria after a Celtic defeat, sometimes after a draw, but the reaction since Saturday has largely been grounded in measured concern. Even in the darkest days of the 90s, when Oldco Rangers were at their peak, we could always lay a glove on them. It was bad.
The question is, what now? We won eight out of nine domestic games going into the weekend but the manner tightness of several of those wins did not inspire, were it not for late goals against St Johnstone and Dundee United, your worries would be significantly greater today.
Priority when you suffer a bad defeat is to stop things from getting worse. That means going to Aberdeen on Sunday and winning. It is not self-flagellation to say we need this game at Pittodrie. We need to go to one of the best teams in the league and get a win.
We endured many bad results in the 90s, but, if you are old enough, you will remember how there would usually be a backlash to a Celtic defeat. Whoever we played next saw the consequences of all that pain. We need to get in touch with that sentiment on Sunday. Use the pain.
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Barkas was on some Celtic supporter’s worry list as soon as they saw his moustache.
David de Gea makes £10.4M a year and he’s on the Man Utd supporters worry list.
CorkCelt…we have the best squad in Scotland as long as they all want to play for us and there is togetherness in that squad…if some would prefer to be elsewhere or there are petty squabbles amongst the players then we are on to a loser…and that my friend, would be a great shame…
BourneSoupRecipe, LOL your a card, we have only played ten (10) matches out of
38 SPL Season Fixtures, hardly changing horses in midstream would you say? No.
However, the other option is, sometimes it’s better to change direction, rather
than leaving it too late, when the Horse has bolted would you not agree? :-) :-) HH.
79 Caps
But it was not close last season. We won in a canter at the end.
The horrible moment when you realise you don’t have BT sport for Thurs and the pubs are shut
Virgin Media 2 in Ireland have it – phew
Barkas? The time will very soon come when we will no longer be able to say ‘it’s too early to tell’ . For me , that time has just about arrived , and it looks like AEK are laughing all the way to the bank.
Cornelius @5.01 pretty much summed it up . Whether it’s a change of manager or in the coaching staff or in the philosophy and aims of the club , we need to bin the decaying staleness and inject some fresh optimism.
If we do win the 10 , it will certainly be required before next season’s version of Cluj or Copenhagen comes calling .
WEEBOBBYCOLLINS on 19TH OCTOBER 2020 5:57 PM
CorkCelt…we have the best squad in Scotland as long as they all want to play for us and there is togetherness in that squad…if some would prefer to be elsewhere or there are petty squabbles amongst the players then we are on to a loser…and that my friend, would be a great shame…
Your Damn Tooting WeeBobbyCollins, the past player, who knew when to nip in & take the
ball, off of the opposition player, if only we had a player like that, nowadays. HH!!
When does it become “too late” to be “too early, to tell”?
AKBW1888 on 19TH OCTOBER 2020 5:49 PM
He may have been with us for longer but I relied on Wikipedia to confirm the dates – I honestly wasn’t sure.
They say he joined in January 2019 with Rodgers leaving in February.
BTW Wikipedia also tells us that Damien Duff’s first child is called “Woody” I’m hoping that it’ a boy.
No disrespect meant but can you imagine your name being called out in the class register.
Woody Duff CSC
CONEYBHOY on 19TH OCTOBER 2020 6:01 PM
The horrible moment when you realise you don’t have BT sport for Thurs and the pubs are shut
Virgin Media 2 in Ireland have it – phew
Thanks for letting Me know, that peice of useful info, ConeyBhoy. HH.
BSR
In all the time I have been supporting Celtic I have made it my policy not to slag the players or the manager, I still stick by that, tho it doesn’t stop me saying that do not rate Lenny as a coach that is good enough for us, that is not slagging him it’s just stating my opinion.
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 19TH OCTOBER 2020 5:59 PM
79 Caps
But it was not close last season. We won in a canter at the end.
—
I hear their trip to Dubai has been cancelled this year. We’re gonna need a new white hope oin the new year to pin our hopes on..
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 19TH OCTOBER 2020 4:26 PM
Rainjurz have even got an offensive kit man.
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
:))))))))))
Rolling Stone
“Sevco have imploded in the last two seasons. Do you think it will happen again?
If it doesn’t, do you think Neil has what it takes to take more points from Sevco than they take from us in the remaining 3 games?”
My answer to question 1 is- no idea.
I don’t think they imploded in 2018/19. They actually started badly and were in 6th place after 8 games. They hit the top spot briefly in gameweek 15 (Kilmarnock were top after gameweek16) but we hit the top spot in Gameweek 17 and stayed there all the way to gameweek 38. The gap in the end was only 9 points as they finished slightly stronger than us but we were never in any real danger.
Last year there was an implosion of post-Dubai sickness with them, but, my answer to q.2 is the same as it was then, when many posters predicted they would not lose again until we had a chance to beat them. I begged to differ and pointed out that it is very rare in any Scottish season for the head to head counts between us and either version of them to be decisive. The league is usually won by the team that is more consistent against the rest of the SPFL. Up until now- that has been us.
This year might be the year that it is not so. That is always a risk. But whether there are 3 or fewer (Covid?) remaining Sevco league games. the team that does best in the games against the other 10 clubs is the one that will win the league, IMO.
Evening all.
Lots to ponder.
First of all – what do we realistically change here and now?
Longer term, changing the manager (and the CEO for that matter) might very well be the correct strategy?
But those changes are monumental and rarely happen without short term pain.
I want 10IAR.
Am happy to admit the “10” rarely crossed my mind when we won 8 or even 9.
Over the past few weeks (and certainly after Saturday) I want it BAD.
The long term strategy can be put in place the day after.
Right now? IMHO ….
1. Get the culture right.
Difficult but not complex. Brutal honesty and some very strong words required. Define what is acceptable and what is not. Everyone signs up (don’t just say it, scream it) and then go.
2. Establish this team’s identity.
This is vital but I think Neil will struggle with it on his own. Ideally this comes FROM a leader WITH his players. Honesty needed again.
Interesting to look back on the Martin, Gordon and Brendan teams.
At times we might not have liked what they served up but
– Martin’s looked motivated and well led
– Gordon’s were coached to death
– Brendan’s were coached and calmed
But they had an identity. To me, Neil is struggling to break Brendan’s identity and overlay his own.
3. Get fit and drill the details.
A poster (sorry forget who) made an astute observation yesterday about Exeter Chiefs’ Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter.
The levels of fitness, professionalism and attention to detail these guys DEMAND puts football to shame.
Here and now? Keep it simple. Free kicks, corners, throw ins, reactions to being fouled – drill, drill, drill.
If done well, they all build territory, possession and pressure.
Crumbs of comfort?
1. We always play better in the New Year. I suspect this linked to fewer games and more time together on the training field.
2. Neil’s record against Sevco? By my reckoning is
P4, W2, L2, Goals For 4, GA 4
Not brilliant, but not worth chucking the towel in over.
Hail hail
Keep The Faith
lenny is not a coach , there lies the problem he is the manager .
!!BADA BING!! on 19TH OCTOBER 2020 5:30 PM
Por Cierto- the players look as confused with team formation as the fans are,pick a system and stick to it,and coach the team how to play it
…………………………………………………..
I know nowt about fitba’ Bada but this echoes my thoughts …………………………we’ve been off the boil and some important logistical issues have intervened possibly to compound some internal issues that in normal times might have dissipated easily without the gleeful frenzy from enemies of the Club.
Genuine concerns and insight from Tims is of course wholly legitimate.
My hope is the Celtic collective unite now in adversity, Neil settles on a spine for the team and ejects the spineless…
The huns are better as a unit currantly and they’ll only be helped further by the MIBs – we can’t afford too many other slip-ups.
HH
CORNELIUS on 19TH OCTOBER 2020 6:06 PM
AKBW1888 on 19TH OCTOBER 2020 5:49 PM
He may have been with us for longer but I relied on Wikipedia to confirm the dates – I honestly wasn’t sure.
They say he joined in January 2019 with Rodgers leaving in February.
BTW Wikipedia also tells us that Damien Duff’s first child is called “Woody” I’m hoping that it’ a boy.
No disrespect meant but can you imagine your name being called out in the class register.
Woody Duff CSC
Cornelius, anyone & I mean anyone can go onto Wikipedia & Edit the info on there.
I was reading an article on Wikipedia where it stated that our highest score in a
European match was 9 – 0 against Kokakola many moons back @ CP
I went in & edited it, saying yes we did beet Kokakola 9 – 0 in a European Tie,
however the match was played @ Hampden Park, & not CP. I remember that match,
because I was a very young Lhad back then, & I was also there.
So Damian named his new addition to the Family, via an RTE TV Advertisement.
He could have been more original, in naming his new addition, rather than naming
the Child, after a chain of Stores, located all over Ireland yeah. (Woodies)
Damian young Man, use your Imagination? HH
Keep Everything Lit!!!!
:)
;)
‘Barkas is wilting’
David Copperfield
Something inside so Strong.
Win, Lose or Draw?
BB- Not much wiggle room as you say,the huns will have spells with injuries and a lot of games in short space of time, they don’t have much depth in their squad IMO.
BourneSoupRecipe:-
‘Barkas is wilting’
David Copperfield
Barkas needs a boot in the botty, saying he must do better.
Or on his personal develpment card, “Can Do Better”
That’s two howlers he has made, in two key matches.
Come January 2021, perhaps we should offer Dundee Utd
money for their Swiz Golie, after all, he was man of the match,
when we played them a few weeks back, & He is tall, & he looks
competent between the sticks.
Big Wavy
“I hear their trip to Dubai has been cancelled this year. We’re gonna need a new white hope oin the new year to pin our hopes on..”
I bet they will find a training base somewhere. It was no what happened in Dubai that caused the implosion last year. It was their team nad management’s inability to keep a good run going over a complete season that saw them drop points far too regularly.
Both Celtic and Sevco have made a relatively good start to the 2020/21 season, in terms of points accumulation, but we have only played 10 of 38 games so far. In actuarial calculations, we are in less peril than we were on 29th December last year, but, taking form into account, we look more vulnerable than we have proven to be as yet.
The team has already used up a lot of its resilience, and luck, in securing narrow wins and last-minute ones at that. I have never said that results were all that mattered but they are most of what matters. I celebrated all of Gordon Strachan’s ;eague wins and Brendan’s final league win, evne though they were often as turgid as the current performances.
But, though results matter most, we cannot and will not continue to secure them without improving our form. I am in the camp of having little expectation of our next two Thursday night games but we cannot throw them away on a reserve team as we need to build up first team squad performance levels if we are going to be favourites to win at Pittodrie on Sunday, and at Hampden, Fir Park and Easter Road in November.
Sevco will, surprisingly, drop points somewhere along the road, probably when we have no expectations of them doing so. Our job is to keep picking up 3 league points in every fixture AND improve our current form and playing style AND not be the first to blink.
I will accept a poor Europa points total if we genuinely look more of a team but if we get mercilessly gubbed by all 3 Europa opponents, it will definitely affect our ability to meet our goals in the league and, even more certainly, affect the appetite amongst the fans, for seeing Neil Lennon sacked.
I have no problem with any critic who says Neil is not good enough or feels it is time to change but, I am quicly disabused about the idea that we are the greatest supporters, 🎵”win lose or draw”🎵 when I see the infantile vitriol directed against Neil Lennon on social media these days.
There are far too many supporters of our club out their with darned hair.
TET @ 6.06
You’re quite right.
I try and get over, and stay over whether or not the manager is a personal favourite.
Looking at it from an overall Celtic perspective and with no Rafael Benitez rolling up at the Springy Vaults
anytime soon, Neil Lennon was the correct choice IMO. The only downsizing was in the supporters perception
of who was a name they rated, and who they didn’t rate.
My dear departed brother cancelled his direct debit the day after I told him ‘Mogga’ was the new
manager, and he was the best supporter I ever knew.
Bada – aye, I’m hoping for some “positive” news from The Edwardian Toilet Block soon………
;)
All this stuff about team leaks I wonder why the bookies are not up in arms about this as it must have an influence on the odds they offer,and the amount they have to payout.
Lenny said we would see a more settled starting eleven after the international break.
Covid scuppered that plan…
Hopefully it starts this week
AKBW1888 @ 6.33
Not at all convinced with Barkas but we are weeks behind Andy Walker who was almost septic in his co commentary.
Does anyone think that a goalkeeper coming to a new club will struggle if there is a different defence in front of him, yes he has made mistakes but Big Fraser did the same and there were many that didn’t rate him in his early games
SFTB,
Thanks mate. I see a season getting cut short again, an opposition that is less reliant on the Colombian, added goal threats and an improved Kent, a system focus on not conceding many goals and the strength in depth they didn’t have last season.
They are correcting percieved weaknesses. We aren’t.
It may not be enough and I’m not saying they are world beaters but they are reaping 2 years of hard work whilst we have fallen asleep at the wheel.
I don’t actually think Neil knows what to do next beyond plan A – the go-to guys and a Hail Mary hope that enough technicians on the field wins the day.
HH
Thinking tactics – not my strongest suit…..but perhaps the agricultural defenders oooot there might start to lay some gloves on the Scouse Ned’s Eleven and natural attrition bites………………….
We can only hope.
Rangers want to stop us winning the ten more than we want to win it.
Before Lenny was appointed, a few of us said Eddie Howe would be a realistic target. He’s still only 42 and is not working having said he wanted a break after leaving Bournemouth. So no compensation due.
He is well thought of in the coaching world though will probably not now get a gig at one of the top clubs. Maybe a Villa, Newcastle, Palace type gig will be his next role.
I think we could tempt him. He would certainly bring fresh impetus and a focus that is missing at the moment. And get the club back to the level of professionalism that has been missing since BR left.
Celtic are attempting to beat Jock Stein’s Celtic Teams record of 9 in a row, they other mob who won 9 died and entered liquidation on Halloween 2012.
BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 19TH OCTOBER 2020 6:13 PM
I agree with all of this.
But there seems to be so much short, medium & long term that needs sorting out that I worry that we are currently not structurally capable of even getting started.
When Desmond felt offended by the “in your face” celebration of their directors in that semi final – he became a man on a mission with Brendan Rodgers the result. But that was because he had to endure a personal insult and NOT because we lost on the day. Vanity driven business decisions are often fraught with unwelcome consequences & I think Brendan’s sad departure was one of those.
Since 2012 I had rejected the notion that our board defined our success merely in relation to them – but I’ve changed my mind on that. Once you decide that short term popularity via a 10 in a row achievement is more important than really building for the future & genuine success – your business acumen & ambitions for Celtic are busted. I know business is a dirty word sometimes but our business is being a successful football club – without that remaining our guiding principal we are nothing. Other good things follow from that but without it….they cannot even be.
Besting them is fine as an additional benefit from building your successful business but we seem to have squandered 9 years of breathing space despite all the talk by Paul of Generations of Domination.
My son disagrees with me & says we’ll be fine but he’s just a youngster of 45.
Thanks but I did know that Wikipedia could be edited by anyone & in dark moments I thought of trying to have fun with that.
SFTB @ 6:35pm.
Am with you on Europa League results.
If someone offered 5-7 points, 2 minor injuries and zero Covid-19 cases across the 6 fixtures ….
… I’d bite their hand off.
Hail hail
Keep The Faith
Big Wavy……………Shane may not be but are there many great ball playing central defenders in the game.