Remarkable transformation due to brave tactical variations

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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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  1. 001 my youngest out in Perth Aus, returned from the mines on Thursday to see he’s been granted another 12 months…… we all gave a collective sigh of relief because he’s already said he wasn’t coming home…….

     

    Let me know the dates as I need to pass you the details of the bhoys you have to meet for 111, Ton Che Dan will meet you in the club and stand beside you in the ground.

     

    V

  2. setting free the bears 02:41

     

     

    Thanks for your thoughts, Mariga could be a signing we could pull off and it would be an excellent signing.

     

     

    HH

  3. petec on 9 April, 2012 at 02:43 said:

     

    aye, would love to see FF stay, but Bell has been top drawer against us. No?as a previous poster said no-one inspl hs really caught my eye and as i mostly watch fitba from realms outwith oor budget am happy with squad. Thought Ki was much better than of late in game yesterday. How many qualifiers before cl next year? 1 or 2?

     

    hh

     

    gs

  4. Vmhan Supporting Lenny! on 9 April, 2012 at 02:41 said:

     

    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

     

    ==========================

     

    Nowt wrong with the Port birds Vinny.

     

     

    HH

  5. Estadio Nacional on

    Vmhan 02:50

     

     

    Ha, thats too clever for me, Im no having it…

     

     

     

    EN

  6. petec on 9 April, 2012 at 02:54 said:

     

    hmm.. tough to qualify but on the back of this wonderful season i can’t wait!!

     

    HH

     

    GS

     

    p.s who would you buy?

  7. So that would mean our Aussietime are varyingly 7hrs to 10rs ahead….. of the median …… the bliddy Aussietims are on average 8 n half hours away from the western meridian line…… or not……. not gonnae argue with any of our wild colonial bhoys TAL

     

    V

  8. Aye EN. Come to oz. I am at the zoo about to watch he bird show

     

    Awesome view of bridge and zoo

     

     

    Pps. Does not matter how much we are happy

     

    But can never forget wilo window or start of last season lying

  9. Hope Neil Gets big FF on the books, if not I would go for Kello. I would also bring in Johnny Russel and Mackay Steven from Dun utd and the cherry on top would be the bhoy Rhodes.

     

    Would make me happy foe the coming season.

     

    Coronas well down, el vine awaits

     

    HH

  10. Estadio Nacional on

    SydneyTim 02:59

     

     

    Ha, saw pics of Cheers on that Facebook, looked good. Were ye there?

     

     

    Aye that freekin Wilo window, today is the day Lawwell should walk, he has partiailly re-paid some of his mistakes but enough is enough, he should still go.

     

     

     

    EN

  11. ST i’m coming to Aussietimland one day and i have to meet ye for a session….. I know youre a good Celt alright but just want to meet you and shake a happy clapper fist at ye……. TAL

  12. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    Vmhan et al

     

    Oz dollar dropped 7% or so in the last few weeks re. pound,U.S %

     

    Make sure your boys are aware of that,should they want to repatriate funds.

     

    Garden awaits and a wee barbie.

     

    Cold beer,warm sun and a comforting inner glow……

     

    Life`s good.

     

    Hail Hail to all.

  13. Palacio67 aye but the remote control takeover was a step too far …. just as well I’m in a good mood…… plus her faithers pretends to be a hun although not recently……… its amazing this really, theres two rankers fans in the bld where I work….. one’s moved out and the other actually came in with a Lisbon Lions top on a few weeks ago……. strange in the extreme……. the huns don’t do walking away, but where I live they sure do supporting other teams…. in fact any team but the shame…… you really just can’t get enough of Neil Francis Lennons Lions (MWD TAL)

     

    V

  14. Gerrys son 02:57

     

     

    Vasco da Gama player Dedé seems to be a determined player that would enhance this Celtic team, he will move this Summer and is probably going to move to a big Euro club, he will know that Celtic are a big Euro club.

     

     

    Clarence Seedorf would be an incredible signing for the midfield if we could pull that off.

     

     

    Up front I would try and get Kevin Mirallas, he will cost upwards of 4 million I think but would be a sensational signing.

  15. Vmhan Supporting Lenny! on 9 April, 2012 at 03:08 said:

     

    Palacio67 I can hear them rebs from here…. turn it down, there are some huns in the Port ye know.

     

     

    =======================

     

     

    Not in my end of the street, they cannot hear me, but they can always see my Green and White soffit lights.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  16. En. Aye I am drinking out a can of tennants lager in the picture

     

     

    Vmhan. Looking at bridge at opera house from the zoo. What a view :)

  17. Ps 24 and sunny here :)

     

    Love autum here

     

    Vhman going to see the monkeys next. So yes must be at ibrox

  18. ST as sods law would have it…. for me….. I’m off to Lanzarotte and missing the run in, 001 bhoy is coming over so he’s in the GB……. i’m gutted to miss it but chuffed its getting used by a good Tim.

     

    V

  19. Dire Straits “Brothers In Arms”

     

     

    Never give up.

     

     

    What Neil done when he was appointed full time was to set about Unifying Celtic as much as he could, and it was an incredibly difficult job to do in normal circumstances, never mind the evil he had to face down.

     

     

    Smart Cookie is our Neil.

     

     

    You are indeed walking alongside the Great Managers of Celtic now Neil and there is nothing stopping you from eclipsing all of those Amazing Men.

     

     

    It is indeed OUR Future

     

     

    Celtic, IMO, will be invited to a Big table soon.

  20. .

     

     

    VHman..

     

     

    Sorry was Busy there.. Just getting Rid of Two Girls from my House.. Ha Ha..

     

     

    I’ll be Home 28th April at the Latest.. Got a Problem with New laws in Thailand was Going to Lie on a Beach in Koi Samui for a Week before l come Home.. So Might have to Do Bali or Somewhere else..

     

     

    Can’t wait to see The Hoops as Champions..

     

     

    001Bhoy

  21. ok you know the craic for the ticket…… I’ll furnish details later when I’m erm not as full of the jelly n ice cream.

     

    I hear bali is great…… Jinkysbhoy was out there recently…..

     

    V

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