Amid the enormous events of the season it is easy to overlook the remarkable transformation in Celtic from a team which was bumping along in third place in October. The 3-3 draw at Rugby Park, when Celtic recovered from a 3 goal deficit in the final 20 minutes to grab a point, is often referred to as a turning point but I don’t subscribe to this, Celtic drew 0-0 at home to Hibs two weeks later as the deficit from the top of the league headed towards 15 points, albeit with two games in hand.
It’s not often I’m told “get a grip of yourself” but that’s exactly what was said when I suggested to our chief executive that if we lost the next game away to Motherwell we were in danger of finishing third.
He then went on to quote me the points gained/lost ratio Neil Lennon enjoyed between becoming Celtic caretaker manager until his team lost at home to St Johnstone in August – a remarkably successful period. He knew the same ratio between that St Johnstone game and the 0-0 against Hibs, which he said was a problem that would be fixed. For good measure adding that we would beat Rangers on 28 December and go on to win the league.
Refreshing, though it was, to hear such utter conviction in The Plan, I wasn’t convinced. Rangers were on a roll and we just couldn’t put a series of wins together. The change came against Rennes on 3 November. Celtic came from behind to win the game 3-1, playing a tactically different game than we had all season.
Since then Neil Lennon has bravely changed tactics with more regularity than any Celtic manager I have known, even during games we have often seen three different strategies deployed. Not all have worked but he has shown a willingness to take chances and has learned plenty about his squad in doing so.
This willingness to take chances and to learn has delivered the league title.
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Auldheid, James Forrest et all…..
re Joe O’Rourke. I don’t think I have ever met him, and otherwise would have no opinion.
I would point out, that the iceberg thing is part of Billy Connolly’s script from his recent tour.
that being said, a supporters’ rep needs to remember that he is, and will be seen to be, representing us, a broad church.
Estadio Nacional
They were awarded 3 penalties as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y9SYNWkuow
Estadio Nacional on 9 April, 2012 at 01:37 said:
Ha, spookily, I just done the same thing, noticed their result and laughed.
Forgot that they existed, which will be a true situation soon enough.
As the ESPN commentator said: “green and white everywhere”.
So shall it be.
pigalle
PSV Eindhoven game on the tv there, quite a concern they are where they are just now.
A once relitivley great European team realising a level where the Champions League is not their play ground any more and they are stuck in a ‘wee’ league. And thats with them and their favourable work permits that allows them introduce South Americans to Europe.
Star of league winning pasts… Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink on the bench, not scored yet this season.
GlassCeilingCSC
petec:
I agree that a great deal of care has to be taken with the new media. I myself have said things I am not proud of and would probably take back.
There’s a guy on my Facebook page called Stuart Maclellan. I’ve met this guy once, and I found him to be a good bloke, although a bit strange. He was a Labour party parliamentary candidate during the 2010 election, in Moray. He gained a brief celebrity in the press for twittering a lot of highly inappropriate – some of it quite offensive – stuff whilst out on the campaign trail.
The Labour Party initially thought it could brush the matter aside, that he would be able to survive. He couldn’t, and didn’t and it was right when they terminated his candidacy and told him he would never again be allowed to stand.
Last night, I spent in the company of a fantastic Celtic supporter and Very Good Guy, and I mean a genuine top bloke, called Matthew Marr, a guy who was once a Labour Party press officer, who lost his own job when he got drunk one night at a politics awards dinner and said the kind of things about Alex Salmond with which very few people on this blog would disagree.
He knew the following morning – when he was sober – that he couldn’t survive and offered his resignation immediately. Unlike Stuart, Matthew, who I’ve known for years, resigned knowing the gig was up, that he neither could, nor should, get away with those kind of comments whilst holding an official role.
More recently, Tom Harris had to resign from a media post with the Labour Party after making a video which portrayed Alex Salmond as Hitler.
The Celtic Supporters Association cannot afford to have itself associated with the kind of remarks which would have us hollering for blood in another context. It does not matter how good a guy he is, that tweet cannot be defended. It might be a personal tragedy, and it surely is, if he leaves his post, but it will also be the right thing, a positive thing and will send a clear message.
Joe has served the association with great distinction and dedication for many years, as I have been led to believe. This is why I trust that he will take this opportunity to distance that organisation from any fallout which accrues from this deeply embarrassing and regretable incident.
EN get tae yir bed :¬)
When are you back over?
alex thomson should be given all the funding he needs to carry on his great work.
but liquidation seems too good to be true, there will be a dodgy deal to make sure it doesnt happen, remember the country we are in, and the organisations involved, dont trust any of them
PeteC 01:46
Aye three penalties? Haha, great to hear thats what they are still upto.
Cubic – Great tune, I bought every mix of that available from Fopp at top of Renfeild Street and 23rd Precinct. Considered it a bit mad at the time, now seems like a quiet wee number.
EN
hoopy-do:
I believe Thomson has twittered today that he has had an official response from UEFA over political interference in football, and State Aid.
I am very interested in what that response was. I think it could be highly significant.
Vmhan 01:53
Ha, I know, 4:55 here…. week off for first time in seven months of six day weeks, so doing my own thing…
No idea when I’ll be back, things a bit up in the air just now. Hope your well mate.
EN
No matter how brilliantly the likes of Declan parodies the hun mindset, we have no-one in the same class as their own top-notch mentalists.
I reproduce below, verbatim, an article, “written” by Bluenose Aldo on the site “Do The Bouncy”. I guarantee you will be laughing by the end. The author even manages to break BFDJ’s world record for the number of contradictory statements made within a simple declarative sentence. Enjoy!
“I will start off by saying congratulations to Celtic for finally getting over the line and winning the championship. But it has to be remembered as a hollow victory. Afterall they were helped greatly by Rangers receiving a 10 point deduction. It can be argued that their title is tainted. But is it tainted There are two ways of looking at it?
It’s tainted in the sense that had we not gone into administration and been deducted 10 points then there is no way anybody can say categorically what would have happened as Celtic are bottle merchants as the last month has proven ever since the cup final. It’s not tainted in the sense that we went into administration through nobodies fault but our own and we were deducted 10 points because thems the rules.
But as far as who the best team in the league is and hence who is the deserving champions, no one will ever convince me that it was Celtic because there is no way we will ever know what would have happened. Yes, we were on our knees. Yes we threw away a 9 point lead (not the 15 point lead that has been inaccurately reported). Yes they were already top when we went into administration. But we were on our knees last season. We were all over the place then. Celtic were flying high and we were dropping points. They won the Old Firm game 3-0. It was comprehensive. But then we won the cup final and they bottled it. Whose to say that wouldn’t have happened again. So in that respect I cant ever admit that they were the better team.
But we did go into administration and it was our fault and we were rightfully deducted 10 points. Just depends which way you look at it. I will look at it the way that most winds up Timothy.
All Celtic fans really care about is what we think. It helps them sleep better when we are miserable. They hate it when we are not wanted to jump off the nearest brig. And they actually believe that we feel the same way. Last season when we won the league a Timmy actually said that we cant stand how well they were taking it. Uhm no. I couldn’t care less about how well you took it, Timmy. I, unlike Celtic fans, was more happy about my team winning a league title against the odds. And this year if I can remain philosophical about it and understand that we never lost the league because they were better than us and that we will be back next year with new owners and debt free stronger than ever, then Timothy will be so frustrated at that he may not be able to get much sleep at night and my job is done.
So sleep tight Timmy. Hope you enjoy your tainted title.
hoopy-do on 9 April, 2012 at 01:54 said:
alex thomson should be given all the funding he needs to carry on his great work.
but liquidation seems too good to be true, there will be a dodgy deal to make sure it doesnt happen, remember the country we are in, and the organisations involved, dont trust any of them
***********************
no, we just need her majesty’s tax collectors to do their job…… result is the tax payer wins and the cheating thieves die …. that’ll do…… and I still can’t seem to get enough of you…..
V
setting free the bears:
A magnificent piece of balderdash from someone hurting badly.
Either that or it was a piece of honest writing from someone absolutely demented, out of his nut, off his face, removed from reality and deeply delusional.
And I love it. All of it. The Peepil. So superior a guy called Whyte bought them for a quid and drove them to the point of death.
They better get used to living in our shadow.
James Forrest is Neil Lennon! We are ALL Neil Lennon!
Thank You for such a detailed response, I appreciate it.
I don’t even know what the twitter comments are but gauging comments from measured people like Auldheid, I just sense he has been seduced into making comments that will be emblazoned in the Scottish Press when all the plaudits should be going to how amazing Celtic have been this season.
Keep up the Excellent work with the CQN magazine.
HH
Aaaaaaaaaand so this is Eggmas…
Aaaaaand what have you done?
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Eggmas
I hope you had fun
With a near and a dear one
With the old and the young
© Neil Lennon April 2012.
Hopy do
sadly am in agreement, in another walk of life/ field of business/ small country etc. liquidation would be inevitable but i belive a wee slap on the wrists and a seat in the naughty corner will be all that rfc(ia) will get for their abhorrent ways. ce la vie
p.s Glasgows green and white
hail hail !1
petec:
That aspect of it undoubtedly appeals to the hacks. The way I hear it, this story originally ran in The Sun last week. From there, Leggat took up the standard and started hawking it around the hacks. It was inevitable some would write it, and as I say, this time I can’t shoot the messenger.
Andy Muirhead at Scotzine has also written it today. Some people accuse Andy of being a publicity shark, but that’s not true. He has been staunch in terms of taking on Rangers fans over sectarianism, and he has long argued our supporters need to be whiter than white. His decision to highlight this issue is pretty consistent with his previous articles when he thinks the fans have let the club down. He himself is a Celtic supporter, and I genuinely believe he has tried hard to fight for our good name, in the face of a lot of stick. I don’t always agree with him, but I do know where he’s coming from when he writes.
Thanks for the comments on the magazine mate. A lot of people are working very hard to make it all it can be. The next issue should be a beauty, and I have a fair idea what’s going on the cover ….
EN do you have smoke detectors in you’re digs :¬)
Vinny HH
jist asking like ……. fill you’re boots TAL
Vmhan 02:13
Haha, why? Smoke detectors and sprinklers.
EN
hoopy-do on 9 April, 2012 at 01:03 said:
>>>><<<<
The cabal you talk about? It's called The Freemasons.
sftb,
My mum says “never mock the afflicted”.I think she’s talking specifically about the riddler who wrote that.I have to admit the peepil make me laugh a lot.
Sobering to think they’re free to live amongst us,these delusional,degenerate,spiteful idiots.
Don’t know whether to laugh or cry really.Suppose as long as i refrain from mocking i’ll be alright.
Mad huns! ;-)))))))
Estadio Nacional on 9 April, 2012 at 01:57 said:
Vmhan 01:53
Ha, I know, 4:55 here…. week off for first time in seven months of six day weeks, so doing my own thing…
No idea when I’ll be back, things a bit up in the air just now. Hope your well mate.
EN
*******************
Stay there and work/ earn…. that would be my advice mate, if you come home too soon you’ll be looking for work…… better earning IMO
I’ve given the same advice to my sons….. they really dont want to come home from Aus, they’re living the dream…. missing their mammy but not the weather.
V
Young Twardzik’s deft touch for Joe’s goal yesterday…….ooooohhh yessssss.
PIGINSH*Tcsc
Vmhan 02:21
Cheers, thats my plan, possibly have to head to Qatar next, build a World Cup for them then possibly head to Oz. Going by what my Sister says and folk on here Im not surprised to hear what your Sons are saying.
EN
JF & Babasonicos
I thought it was a particularly magnificent example of twisted and delusional thinking. When they’re in that sort of form, it is hard to imitate them and impossible to satirise them.
Anyway, time for my bed.
Sleep tight all you tainted timmies :-)
setting free the bears,
Before you go to bed, who would you try to bring to Celtic in the Summer?
.
Do You lot Never Sleep..?
Insomniacs Anonymous
Summa
petec on 9 April, 2012 at 02:28 said:
if foster goes back to newcastle then a certain Killie keeper looks good.
If Izzy, Kayal andbangura get fit and we sign one experienced centre half then we’re good. With exception of fringe playes e.g paddy mccourt rassmussen dont want to sell at all.
Your thoughts?
SFTB at 2am, youre rightI think he’s confused slightly…. erm nope largely ha! the wee thing is hurting and disnae get irony…..
V
Huns Tainted Titles
1997
1999
2000
2003
2005
2009
2010
2011
Huns Tainted Scottish Cups
1999
2000
2002
2003
2008
2009
Huns Tainted Scottish League Cups
1997
1999
2002
2003
2005
2008
2010
2011
That’s 22 Tainted trophies in the EBT era plus all the tainted European money they squandered that could have went to other Scottish clubs especially the untainted Celtic. I wonder how many European teams will be after compensation when the facts are laid “bear” ?
Have to confess I was hugely underwhelmed when Lennon signed Mulgrew. At best I thought he would be a stop gap. How wrong was I?
As for Lennon…I had no feelings either way. I understood why he was appointed but had no idea how he would work out. However, after witnessing his work last season he won me over and I was still confident he’d turn it around ever after we went 12-15 points behind them.
As for Samaras, I’ve always loved the big fella. Even when he’s having a stinker he’s never tried to hide and will always show for the ball and that takes guts in my opinion….and when he’s ‘flying’ he is one of the most dynamic players in the UK.
oh aye that Rhodes boy we be welcome addition..
SoS / 001 ive said the same to you innaw loads of times…… us western Celts are enjoying the weekend off so give a little respect (that was a song TAL)
V
001 Ive had 3 lassies in the house this weekend……. sitting downstairs having a wee drink to myself……. bliddy scottish lassies fae the Port taking over youre house……. TAL
V
petec
Sorry have to go.
I’d like Fraser to sign, and Kayal, Ki, Hooper, Commons and Izzy to stay.
If all that happens, one good CB and one good forward is all we need.
I have no strong targets. Victor’s brother, Mariga McDonald, would be nice. Within Scotland only Templeton or Makay-Stevens seem promising but I don’t think they’re worth a lot of money because they are not clearly superior to McGeoch, Twardzik and George,
I’ll let John Park and his team uncover a few gems
Gerrys son 02:35
FoRster is a cert to be signed up unless his head has been turned, I don’t think it has been despite the crap spouted in the press.
Killie keeper – No thanks, he done nothing special in the final IMO.
Bangura will be the most likely to be shifted this Summer but I think he is the most suited to a 4-3-3 where Sammi and JF are LW/RW forwards.
Celtic must evolve as much as possible now we have secured this difficult domestic trophy, beating Constant cheaters is difficult.
Talking of Oz…
An Ozzer tells me Oz folk consider themselves Westerners.
Love it.
Where do you draw the line?