I like Scott Brown and Leigh Griffiths’ reactions to our recent adversity. It says a lot about them. They both personalise responsibility for what happens next, this is an important part of recovery – and success.
A week ago I wrote that the League Cup semi against Ross County was the biggest game in the rest of our season, and that it wasn’t a game I’d bet on. It provided the toxicity cup football can generate, creating a crisis mentality which rolled into Aberdeen on Wednesday.
This psychological phenomenon has to end now. Feel free to put a date in June in the diary to get back to it. We are in a genuine league title contest, something you and I talked about as a great thing for Scottish football not so long ago. We have no God given right to be miles ahead of anyone. We are here because we’ve made mistakes and an opponent stepped up. Welcome to Celtic.
If you want to open an inquest when the patient catches a cold, knock yourself out, but I’m not up for it. If we want this title, we circle the wagons and give the manager and players the encouragement they need to get the job done (and, erm, that includes you, ‘Phyllis’). You can be sure Aberdeen fans will do nothing less.
Tomorrow the focus switches to Perth, where Aberdeen take on St Johnstone. They won their first 8 league games this season, but the wheels came off the tractor immediately after their most important victory away from home – at Tynecastle. Next up was a League Cup game against Hibs, the loss of which plunged them into a five-week chasm.
They are a team who get notoriously nervous just when they begin to think they are in with a chance. We’ll see what Tommy Wright does with them tomorrow.
Enjoy your football. Enjoy this league race, the challenge and the disappointments. Enjoy that thrill when a goal goes against Aberdeen, or the downer when they score. It will make the finale all the more rewarding, I promise you.
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Joe Filippis Haircut on 5th February 2016 1:38 pm – utter bollocks. Tell me how many trebles we’ve won in our history? But what you’re really alluding to is that RFC is no longer here so we should be winning everything, right? Wrong and it shows your lack of knowledge about the game in Scotland if you think that. How many times in the last 100 yrs have the 3 major trophies been won by Celtic and deidco in the same season and how many times in last 100yrs have Celtic and deidco competed in the finale of a cup competition against each other?
I await your response :)
Aberdeen have an advantage that they are working with a squad of about 18 players, supplemented with a few youngsters. Allows a more settled team and easier to build a team spirit.
Our dressing room is like Del Bhoys lock up, full of useless crap we’re trying to sell. 35 players on first team squad (incl a few on loan). Utterly ridiculous. Who’s responsible?
Weeminger,
Enrique has the small matter of Real Madrid to contend with not to mention Athletico. I am sure someone will do the relative turnover ratios between Celtic and Dundee United and Barca and Levante but it’s hardly a fair comparison without even looking at the arithmetic.
If Barca had failed to get into the champions league last 16 and were behind in the league you can bet Enrique would be on el dol.
Paul67
I’m afraid that’s YET ANOTHER a
Lead article that reads EXACTLY AS LAWWELL SOUNDS.
I understand the benefits of a quid pro quo relationship between yourself and Celtic Hierachy you give some positive spin they give some inside information..however of late ( last year IMO) this reciprocal relationship is bending CQN out of shape. It barely resembles the vibrant objective discussion forum it once was.
Forsaking principles is a short route to chaos…
Out of curiosity in the event that Celtic further capitulate under Ronnie- will your June inquest extend to Peter Lawwell’s role in events? Indeed where it not for the reciprocal arrangements referred to above , that is an article that is long overdue.
Key points might be:
PL ability to manipulate remuneration committee to ensure he exceeds the bonus entitlement as set out in his contract. What does that say about PL? What does it say about those in place to govern our club?
Conflict of interest issues relating to recruitment and arrangements with Man City involving his son?
The demise of our support?
Living wage
Relationship between board and fans
Complicity in relation to Rangers and SFA…
Just a thought on how the blog might address issues commonly raised as concerns among the fans..
‘
traditionalist88,
I want Mikael and Efe in the Celtic first team.
Both are quality, IMO.
Both are having really bad seasons, granted.
Yazz.csc
glendalystonsils on 5th February 2016 2:43 pm
I don’t believe Aberdeen are all that much better than last season. One advantage they do have is in fielding a settled team from last season to this.
They are not in the moneyball trap of recruiting to sell on for a profit regardless of the effect on continuity.
Where our version of moneyball really falls down though, is when we sell Wanyamas and Van Dijks only to replace them with Boerrigters and Ciftci’s
====
Agreed – theres plenty misconceptions about moneyball.
Its not just about finding young players and selling them for a number of times the fee you paid.
Its also about finding value in players that others have missed/discarded even if they are 31 – we’ve tried and failed badly in this regard. We have made the mistake too many times of looking for value when there is none for the level we are trying to operate at – beating the champions of Sweden etc to reach the CL group stage.
Hearing young Roberts was ‘unbelievable ‘ ,in early stages of Development game …..
traditionalist88 on 5th February 2016 2:52 pm
Sensible reinvestment in the first team squad is what we should be looking for from money made on our Van Dijks and Wanyamas.
Otherwise, what is the point?
!!Bada Bing!!
“in early stages” – is he now injured?
:-)
So Tony Donnelly admits to getting into a few scrapes in his youth attending games.
Hmmmmmmmmmm the word football hooligan comes to mind.
Just think of our hard won reputation being ruined by him and his mates having a few scrapes attending away games.
Shameful behaviour, will he be sine die from Celtic Park while this is investigated?
TIMothy 1-7
petec
A ruthless manager has Efe on list 1 and Lustig on list 2 largely due to his susceptibility to injury.
Ronny didnt even know how to handle players inherited from Lennon and it shows.
HH
mullet and co 2 on 5th February 2016 2:50 pm
Yes but the defeats have been to ‘smaller’ teams that using the arguments presented here they should beat easily.
I remember singing a horrible ditty about Richard Guff.
de de, de de, de de de de de, Richard Guff.
But I’m alright now.
PL’s biggest achievement to date is as the instigator of the disconnect between the supporters and the club.
The amount of “Troll” bollocks thats allowed to gestate within the media without fear of reprisals is galling, free speech is one thing but a concerted agenda should be tackled head on and vociferously. Not a whimper, much like the defence of our much maligned support. Gutless
Ronny knew fine what he was doing when he brought a 5 man medical team with him from Norway.
He might look stupid…………………………….
Mr 67 looks like it’s yellow card time again. Have read numerous posts that are disobeying you and not supporting Celtic. Questioning descions of the board,manager all things CELTIC. Get them banned.
Just reminding Celtic fans that Mastermind is on BBC2 tonight at 8pm tonight
John Savage answering questions on THE LIFE OF JOCK STEIN
John was brought up in Bo’ness and attended St Mary’s primary before going to Bathgate St Mary’s
Best of luck Jock
Hi Paul,
I have not posted on here for a long time, but wanted to contribute to the management debate. You see this isn’t a “reaction” for me, its the culmination of a list of failures by the management team that is now enveloping everything we do. Now I am not a football expert, played and watched since I was 8 and had a season ticket 32 years, so know a wee bit. However, I recently asked 2 who are, one who is very experienced in all things Celtic at a very high level and one who is a manager of a Championship side. The former I got to meet in CP boardroom , the latter iIknow. The former, as is his style, didn’t mess about he said outright, “the managers a dud”. The latter told me that Celtic are the easiest team in Scotland to set up against. No need to cover multiple formations in training, you know what formation they will play and probably who, and he added they are a soft touch, he went onto say Celtic and Hibs suffer that same weakness.
The management team has, for almost 2 years now, been unable to organise a defence. They play players who constantly let us down (Johansen, Efe, dare I say Gordon). We were promised this quick passing game from an ultra fit team, we get a pedestrian slow game were our defenders and holding mids want to pass it along the line. His substitutions are in the “Why is he doing that” camp with us, maybe he knows something we don’t, e.g. 3-1 down and you bring on a holding mid who hasn’t played for 7 weeks?
Our abysmal European performance over 2 years, this years should have been the cut off point for him, not 1 game won in a mediocre Europa league campaign. His inability to win the big games (not all granted, but most). Every fan can see the degradation in the team. The abysmal CL qualifying campaign in 2014.
In my game we have a saying, if you are going to fail, fail early and make the change, otherwise it becomes very expensive. We failed early but we haven’t made the change. I would gauge that single %age numbers believe he can be successful in CL qualification, so the board need to act (if we had a board and not a bunch of yes men), his times up, it was up months ago and we should make the change now, not 3 weeks before the 1st CL qualifier.
glendalystonsils on 5th February 2016 2:57 pm
traditionalist88 on 5th February 2016 2:52 pm
Sensible reinvestment in the first team squad is what we should be looking for from money made on our Van Dijks and Wanyamas.
Otherwise, what is the point?
=====
Agreed – just saying thats not all that moneyball is.
Its how we got Lubo back in the day – even if we didn’t know it at the time;)
The problem is we are giving this approach too much weight and signing guys who aren’t even fit(Cole) mid season
HH
1 Timothy 6: 20.
Ally Hunter
you mention why we dont play a hard pressing game, ask the players why and especially some of the senior ones, pay particular attention to one who shouldve been bounced all the way down Kerrydale Street.
Utter crap!
2-0 development team, Roberts set up both
I know a man……………………
Name your sources.
traditionalist88,
Hold on, Hold on,Hold on.
The only way is up NOW.
Let us See.
Everyone knows, don’t they that Ronny Dee *****+I am old – I was there+*****
You can dance if you really want to , howevaah, the tracks were far too fast.
I like the fact that Ronny D is holding back Scott A.
It is not about the transition seasons To Be Fecking Honest.
BELFASTBHOY0 on 5TH FEBRUARY 2016 12:37 PM
Ray, we seem to be able to organise defensive circles just fine – at least one that has a nice big round hole in the middle.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just on…very witty :))
Eddiecarmichael
TD was probably standing outside Glasgow uni banjoing anyone who looked remotely like a student – you notice how much he hates University types? Weird obsessional inferiority thing going on there I think..
As I said last night .. If our Board replaced Peter Lawwell with Peter Sutcliffe.. TD67 would still support them. His favourite Peter however remains Peter Sellers. TD67 is the Cato Fong to Lawwell’s Clouseau, based on Sellers character. There’s a kind of homoerotic undertone to their relationship. TD67 lies in wait on Lawwell’s heated driveway each night awaiting the return of his master.. Only to surprise attack him and have a manly wrestle on the lawn.
Lawwell then subdues TD67 ( which he greatly enjoys) and utters the immortal words ‘ always expect the unexpected- by the way keep up your strong defence of me on CQN and we can do this again tomorrow’
TD67 removes his black mask and skips home with joy empowered to defend Lawwell and co..
There are none so blind as those who WILL not see.. ( learned that at Uni)
!Bada Bing!! on 5th February 2016 2:53 pm
Hearing young Roberts was ‘unbelievable ‘ ,in early stages of Development game …..
========================================
He should have been unbelievable on the pitch at Pittodrie on Wednesday.
If the kid’s as good as his rep, then play him instead of one of the current imposters FFS.
CultsBhoy can not relate to Celtic Board ambitions on or off the park on 5th February 2016 3:17 pm
Eddiecarmichael
TD was probably standing outside Glasgow uni banjoing anyone who looked remotely like a student – you notice how much he hates University types? Weird obsessional inferiority thing going on there I think..
As I said last night .. If our Board replaced Peter Lawwell with Peter Sutcliffe.. TD67 would still support them. His favourite Peter however remains Peter Sellers. TD67 is the Cato Fong to Lawwell’s Clouseau, based on Sellers character. There’s a kind of homoerotic undertone to their relationship. TD67 lies in wait on Lawwell’s heated driveway each night awaiting the return of his master.. Only to surprise attack him and have a manly wrestle on the lawn.
Lawwell then subdues TD67 ( which he greatly enjoys) and utters the immortal words ‘ always expect the unexpected- by the way keep up your strong defence of me on CQN and we can do this again tomorrow’
TD67 removes his black mask and skips home with joy empowered to defend Lawwell and co..
There are none so blind as those who WILL not see.. ( learned that at Uni)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In adversity…….
Today’s leader seems to promote a cheer-up theme…it is not as bad as you think. I agree that Aberdeen will drop points in the run-in, but so will we. I also agree that our squad strength will be a big advantage over the coming months. And, most importantly, I agree that it is imperative that we win this league. However, I think raising these issues misses the key issue….that something is seriously amiss at Celtic.
Suppose we win the league with the current management team(which is likely); suppose we progress to the last qualifying round in the CL and, suppose that we are lucky enough to draw a team like Malmo, Maribor, Legia or even, Molde; suppose we beat them to join the group stages of the CL. While you are “supposing” all of that, remember how the management team have performed in the past, and how much they have learned from their mistakes.
So, we are in the CL proper at last. Suppose we get a group like the one Malmo got lasy year. How do you think we will do? How confident are you that we shall have improved significantly to avoid a shelling in every game? Perhaps, it will not matter to you because we shall have the riches of the CL to support us for another year…..to develop home grown players for the team. Incidently, how many Scots are in the current team pool?
What will the excuses be after the above scenario unfolds? Will Celtic be a better team?
Trick me once, shame on you. Trick me twice, shame on me.
As LeonardCohen said, “I have seen the future, and it is murder!”
Rebus67
3rd Act going well till unseated rider 4 out….:(
petec
I have no idea what most of that meant;)
Any new manager worth his salt will have a surplus to requirements list from the off.
Its nothing personal for those on it. Though it may have gotten personal with Boerrigter by this stage…
HH
Sandman-don’t shoot the messenger
traditionalist88,
I don’t even know if the White Usain Bolt needs to appear because he is that Great.
The legacy of The Deified Peter Lawwell is assured.
The underground shuttle connecting Celtic Park, Glasgow City Council, the Vatican and the (rough) Diamond Mine at Lennoxtown will ensure he is never forgotten. Particularly by moronic, gullible hun monkeys and their press apologists who are still looking for an excuse for their own pathetic ineptitude.
ALLYHUNTERSGLOVES
First,welcome back!
It is difficult to argue with any of your points. But it is worth pointing out some of your omissions,which I think are just as relevant.
Yes,RD has shown a shocking inability to react to circumstance as games unfold,and yes,he struggles to know his best XI. I think those points are related,as his options are limited by the limitations in his squad.
It might well be the biggest squad in the country,but it is severely unbalanced. And not helped by injuries and loss of form-or interest!-either.
Take the RB position. Lustig,outstanding so far for us,then injured. This year,well below par and clearly not fully fit. Options are Fisher-loaned,Janko-injured,Matthews-sold for a pittance.
CH positions. Simunovic and Boyata inconsistent and injury-prone,Efe keeps running over black cats.
LB,we have a rare success in Kieran and an more than able back up in Emilio.
Up front,if Griff chokes on a teacake,we’re in bother,because the options are Cole and Ciftci then Richards. Blinkin’ flip…
In midfield,we have a plethora of pish,tbh. This is one seriously unbalanced department. Heavy in numbers,light in quality,too many who are clones of another,and not one holding mid. It’s a disaster,yet we could field a whole team of them.
It’s no wonder RD doesn’t know his best XI. No-one does. Alex Ferguson couldn’t make that squad world-beaters,but he wouldn’t have let someone else decide who he could pick from.
I agree with your points,and RD isn’t helping himself,but the reasons for our malaise do not begin at his door.
Desperation.
That’s what I sense.
It takes a real brass neck to ignore all your previous postings where you complacent say we will win the league, there is no doubt blah de blah.
And then, when it all goes sour, laud the challenge as what we wanted in the first place (having disastrously mismanaged the entire situation.
Desperation.
A growing realisation that you’ve screwed up badly. That the support you abused and took for granted is about to bite back.
Desperation and that horrible feeling that arrogance and laziness has finally caught up with you and that your master strategy was a crock in the first place.
As for circling wagons. Well. We might man those wagons but our board is in the middle have a big slap up dinner and shooting at us.
Know you enemy.
Man what an absolute mess.