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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NatKnow,
The fallout was always going to get nastier when the Intellectual huns realised they were dead as a doorknob.
They are mortal enemies of Celtic Football Club.
3-0 to the Dev team, Roberts three assists
Tontine Tim on 5th February 2016 2:37 pm
KEVJUNGLE on 5th February 2016 11:40 am
Well….if the board had signed Broto when MON wanted him, instead of dragging their erses so that he would miss the euro-deadline….then, Broto would have played Seville…imho
*If you know yer history right enough.
He came tae Parkheid on a short term contract as cover for the injured Rab Douglas and Magnus Hedman.
He impressed during his 10 games and MON offered him a 2 year contract which HE delayed signing, the contract offer was then withdrawn.
After leaving us he went on trial and tour with Ipswich before being rejected. He then joined WGS at Southampton on a 6 week trial before moving on a 1 year deal to Real Murcia.
He was dropped as first choice GK by them and moved at to Getafe, who after failing to impress told him tae Getafe. He eventually went out of the game.
Flash in the pan comes tae mind when looking back at his time at Parkheid.
BTW Rab the Brickie may have been at fault in Seville but Bobo cost us the game
– ———
And apart from all that Broto couldn’t play for us in Europe that season because he was cup-tied having already played for Livingston!
ie NOTHING to do with any delays!
Gary67
Who is in the dev team today please?
And it is going to get a lot worse than the Tony Mowbray season, hence I am very happy that Aberdeen are challenging.
Soounds good Gary67
Balfastbhoy 150pm
Wouldn’t disagree with any of that.
HH
TLWIO
Ps ” the NEW SITH ” Genuinely laughed out loud. I’m nicking that..!
PETEC on 5TH FEBRUARY 2016 3:34 PM
NatKnow,
The fallout was always going to get nastier when the Intellectual huns realised they were dead as a doorknob.
They are mortal enemies of Celtic Football Club.
————————————————
Good point dude. I understand that rugby crowds have soared recently as the hun “intelligentsia” (parenthesis intended) emigrate to something (slightly) less tawdry. No doubt that over time the new sport will become further infected by their sickness…
1 Timothy 5:23
Looked at Ronnie’s replacement suggested by some fans. David Hay …never won a Treble =DUD. Davie Hay melted and threw away unassailable lead in League, er, then lost it. DUD. Yogi Hughes…. Would win the League no problem, apparently anyone on here can win it, Sevco back next year, no problem, if the finish 4th that’d be their level. They have no money. Problem for nrew manager; Europe, qualify for CL, bonus if qualified for last 16. Can’t see the Board dumping Ronnie, unless league form dips till end of season. Then change will be made. NB. Allyhunters phantom source was not involved in writing this pish.
Bobby Murdoch, thank you for the welcome, I always read, just rarely post.
I agree with your additional synopsis of the team, and I agree that the player recruitment policy is flawed. I don’t agree Ronnie has no say in it though. I also get the strategy that a very young talented team ( I think its you youngest team I have watched in my 40 years attending Celtic Park) if you keep them together, can grow and mature into something very potent (and I think its that youth that makes us a soft touch).
However, this management team have shown a real naivety in organisation. Now it’s easy to sit in the south stand a eulogise around what I would do, that’s why I’m in IT and not a football manager …………. However the proof is there on the field. This reign, particularly this season, reminds me of the John Barnes era, we would win handsomely one week, suffer a set back and take weeks to recover, it was a saw tooth season and this is the same. Its the chronic issues that worry me, defensive organisation, huge squad, player position and tactical change.
There is a confidence issue at the club and a leadership issue. I agree its not only the manager that needs to change. Someone pointed out to me recently that we are a Chelsea / Man City / Cardiff, (but with the worse of both worlds) billionaire owner who runs the club and is the autocrat, difference is, ours doesn’t pump money in or even turn up.
Neganon 2
You are the Dementor of CQN sucking all the life out of the blog. Does a big, black cloud follow you around wherever you go? If supporting Celtic gave me as little pleasure as it does you, I would go find something else to do. As someone wise said the other night you are a Celtic result barometer. You only show up when things are going badly.
I get depressed when you come on to the blog so I’m going off. Don’t tell me to scroll by your posts in future as soon as I see your name appear I begin to sigh. Why don’t you spend more time watching St. Mirren and giving Celtic a break?
PETEC on 5TH FEBRUARY 2016 3:38 PM
And it is going to get a lot worse than the Tony Mowbray season, hence I am very happy that Aberdeen are challenging.
—————————–
I use Facebook. The number of Central Belters Like-ing the Aberdeen result has not gone un-noticed. Sleekits…
GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL.
I didn’t think qualifying stage games counted,but I expect you’re right. He musta been rubbish,btw. Lost eight goals in the final tie!
I recall him as more assured than Douglas,but the main problem we had was that Hedman signed for us as a terrific keeper,but became Hedman of Celtic. Which was not Hedman of Coventry.
Maybe the long spells of doing nothing as a Celtic keeper wrecked his concentration,he didn’t have much time between saves at Coventry.
Shame. I thought we had signed a good keeper at last.
Dontbrattbakkinanger….
I drink gallons of water a week, a lot drink coffee when they go for a wee break in work, I guess I’m just different.
HH
Desperation, Pacification, Expectation, Acclamation, Realization
-DBBIA/ Fry’s 5 Bhoys Chocolate CSC
DONTBRATTBAKKINANGER
You’re a bad man…
PS- I ‘JFGI’ !!!!
1 Timothy 4: 1
Auld Bertie, Thanks for your final comment, like many on here, I am not going to divulge who I spoke to, if you do they never speak to you again. However for your information I was in the Celtic Board room on the day of the 0-0 with Hearts. You either take it as truth or not, its up to you.
I also note your dismissal of the management suggestions made by others and I assume you are in support of Ronnie remaining. Lets be positive then, if we are to change manager, rather than telling everyone who we shouldn’t go for, who should we go for if he is dismissed / resigns.?
NATKNOW
I said on here yesterday that the supporters of the other teams would get excited by Aberdeen’s challenge and want them to win. While it is annoying to us Tims we should understand that it is only natural for people to support the underdog. It is also bad for the media and their message that SPFL is doomed without the challenge of Rangers. Aberdeen are breaking from the script by providing this challenge in a supposedly moribund league. While it looks unlikely that Sevco will fail to gain promotion, in the off chance that they find themselves in the Championship for a third successive season will make it difficult for the smsm to rehash their ‘lack of a Sevco challenge is killing Scottish football” if Aberdeen can run us even closer this season.
Natknow
I believe there might be an underground link between Glasgow City Council Chambers and Celtic Park but that is for the convenience of City masters to get to games and after match drinks with his lordship. The Celtic Way was built to disguise the route.
Peter now uses a jet pack that he bought from Leigh Griffiths who received it from Jocky Scott as a leaving present while at Dundee (see dundeebarryleighgriffiths.blogspot.com for context)
I understand a substantial proportion of his £20k/week is spent on rocket fuel to allow he and his son to visit Lennoxtown to cast their eyes over potential investments.
Full Time Celtic 4-0 Motherwell. Dominant performance from Hoops maintains unbeaten League run.
Soda Bread.
Belfast.
The Lord.
Celtic.
Glasgow.
Tattie scones.
All Awesome and IMO, really good for you.
Dev team win 4-0. Roberts scores and sets up three
Team: Hazard, Wardrop, McCart, Kelleher, McIlduff, Roberts, Thomson, O’Connell, Hendry, Cole, McMullan
Shooting at a Dublin hotel during a weigh in for a boxing match…
ALLYHUNTERSGLOVES
Chronic problems,very good description.
There’s a certain irony in the way we attack v the way we defend the counter. With the ball,we are far too slow,take the pace out of the game,look for safety first.
Without it,we run about like headless chickens and don’t know the basics about safety first.
Perhaps big Erik does,and will bang a few heads together. After all,he needs to impress if he’s to get a dream move,he’s no spring chicken at 24(!)
3 assists and a goal for Roberts. Not a bad days work.
Harley Rebel wins …9/4 fav
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 5th February 2016 3:50 pm
DONTBRATTBAKKINANGER
You’re a bad man…
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I certainly don’t think so.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
The biggest disaster to affect us in Seville was the fact that Javier Sanchez Broto was cuptied having played in the EUFA Cup earlier in the season for Livingston in the only tie they ever played in European football in their history.
who knows – I may go there
!BADA BING!
Who takes a gun to a fist fight?
GARY67 @ 3:57 PM,
Thanks for the updates, Roberts looks like the real deal then!
Is O’Connell playing holding midfield then? If he is that could’ve interesting…
Hail Hail
Cole?
In the dev team?
Carlton???????????????????
Dennis Setterington’s Scuffed Espadrilles – to the ole bone.
Re the Seville comments, (and what a 4 days that trip became ………) I agree Bobo cost us the game, but eyes wide shut Rab was complicit ………… I know its a crazy remark but I am convinced we would have won well if we had had the Holy Goalie at the time, best Celtic keeper in my time watching the team.
eddieinkirkmichael on 5th February 2016 3:59 pm
3 assists and a goal for Roberts. Not a bad days work.
……………………………………………………………………………………..
Guid stuff. I hope the Bhoy rocks Celtic Park whilst he is here.
BMCUW @ 3.47PM
Unfortunately, with a few exceptions, it’s a position we’ve had a severe problem with throughout the years. Two of those exceptions are happily plying their trade elsewhere just now.
HH