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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Palacio67 craic on pal……. the clash…..a clasic!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO2bC7rJl5s
I think classic has two ss’s but you’d never know with all that bliddy champers n jelly n ice cream…….
V
ST no worries, just a thought…… Sydney harbour is a sight and a half….. chill and enjoy amigo!
V
Sos I have 3 crackers upstairs…… the youngest a certain CFC player is trying to nip, shes a beauty…… disnae take it aff my side TAL
V
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-qcy0-7ngw
Vinny My fav Clash track
HH
naebody talking to me so I’m flouncing off…… wee Derryghirl just text me to turn the music down ……. ach well,
Love n kisses my friends in Celtic, my Legia friends, my FC St Pauli friends, et al
ONwards to Victory!
V
Is the nightshift signing off???
HH
oh Before I go……… F you rankers we’ve gone and won the league!
We’re doing the huddle when the huns expire.
Only ourriversrunfreCSC
e
.
Nighty Nighty Vinny..
Was Up at the Shops.. Yea Bali.. The Benidorm of Asia..:0)
Summa
.
Courtesy The Herald
I’m not going to go away in a hurray, says Lennon
Neil Lennon does not intend to leave Celtic this summer despite admitting that off-the-field incidents have taken their toll on his personal life in Glasgow.
Neil Lennon has survived a difficult few months
The Celtic manager created speculation that he might consider leaving on a high, having won the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title and with a possible Scottish Cup to follow, when he referred to non-football matters and said he would talk with the Parkhead club’s board in the close season. Lennon, who has a rolling 12-month contract, also pointed out that he was in no hurry to leave after reaching what he called the pinnacle of his career.
“We’re building something we think is pretty special,” he said when asked what would happen next. “But there are other things outside of football that have affected my life and that’s not always an easy thing to deal with.”
He was alluding to the personal and sectarian abuse and attacks he has suffered since taking the Celtic job two years ago. He continues to be shadowed by a bodyguard on match days. Two men will soon be sentenced after being convicted of targeting him in a parcel bomb plot, and he also recently mourned the death of his close friend, Paul McBride QC. “It takes a bit of strength to get through it but it takes a bit of support as well,” he said. “And I’ve got great support from my family, the players, the club, the board: Mr [Dermot] Desmond and Peter [Lawwell] in particular. They’ve thrown everything at me but I’m now, after 12 years, at the pinnacle of my professional career, so I’m not going to go away in a hurry.
“We have the Champions League qualifiers in July. They’re vital to our season so we need to sit down and really look at our close season and then our pre-season and try to get it right. It’s important to Scottish football that we try and get into the group stage and make a fist of it.”
Celtic will show faith in the players who brought the league championship back to Parkhead for the first time since 2008 by making no more than a couple of significant summer signings.
Lawwell, the chief executive, echoed the sentiment carried on the players’ t-shirts after they became champions at Kilmarnock when he said “this is just the beginning”. Lawwell praised Lennon and his squad and said the group had so much potential that there was no need for major surgery.
The 24-year-old Polish centre-half Jaroslaw Fojut has already signed a pre-contract agreement to join from Slask Wroclaw but Lawwell said the club had already started planning for Lennon’s third full season in charge. “This is just the beginning and we have got to get the club back into Europe and the Champions League again,” he said. “That is everyone’s objective and we have started planning for next season. Hopefully, we’ll get out of the window stronger than we go into it.
“It’s a young team, so there is a good base to go forward. We won’t see the turnover we have seen in the past two years. But, clearly and inevitably, there will be one or two going and one or two coming in. This year we’ll be starting on July 29 for the qualifiers, so all preparation will lead to that. Hopefully, we can strengthen over the summer to cope with that.”
Summa
.
Courtesy The Scotsman
Mentor O’Neill hails ‘fantastic’ achievement
MARTIN O’Neill has hailed Neil Lennon’s achievement in winning the SPL title. The former Celtic manager, who bought Lennon for £6 million from Leicester City in 2001, said: “Given the backdrop that Neil has faced, it is a fantastic achievement to have guided the club to this victory.
“Winning the championship was Neil’s objective this season and he has overcome all the problems.
“Now he has a championship as a manager to go with five titles he won as a player with Celtic. Having won the Scottish Cup last year and followed it with the title, is a great start in management for him.”
The Sunderland manager added: “Neil and the club fully deserved this success. In all the mayhem that has surrounded Rangers’ financial problems, it seems that something is being taken away from Celtic. But they overturned Rangers’ 15-point lead and produced a great run of form that deservedly gave them the crown.”
Celtic have been made overwhelming favourites to win the SPL next season, too. Scottish firm, McBookie.com, yesterday made them an almost unbackable 1/5, so you would have to invest £5 just to make £1 profit. Rangers can be backed at 10/3 outsiders. Spokesman Paul Petrie said: “We can see Celtic dominating for years to come with Rangers facing an uncertain financial future.”
Summa
Ledley “I’ll stay for life”
That’s the commitment i like to see. Well said Joe a great season.
SERGE 0635
I would take him at his word,and sign him NOW!
IMO,he has been outstanding for us since he first pulled on a jersey.
Anyway,here is an unusual thing-a fine article by Tam Cowan.
~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~
Swindler’s list
By Tam Cowan on Apr 7, 12 07:40 AM in
SPARE a thought for Edinburgh Zoo’s pandas Sunshine and Sweetie.
Thirty-six hours was plenty of time to mate (my wife reckons I can do it in 36 seconds) but it seems their minds just weren’t on the job. Nope, they were too busy thinking about the money they’re owed by Rangers.
Seriously, I think they must be about the only ones in Scotland not on the list.
Rangers appear to have run up roughly the same debt as the entire Third World and I’d hazard a guess that Govan is now in a worse financial state than Greece.
Never mind, though, the estimated total might be £140million but it’s probably only a matter of time until Kyle Lafferty insists Rangers are actually the richest club in Scotland.
And here’s more good news – Sone Aluko is apparently willing to sign a long-term deal at Ibrox. Don’t know how much dosh he’s got left after the initial deal but every little helps.
I had to laugh yesterday when I read about Craig Whyte’s disastrous trail of debt. Woah! Surely the “big tax case” and the “wee tax case” synonymous with Sir David Murray (which could total £93m) is a wee bit more scary than a 70 quid bill for Blooms the florist?
A total of 276 “victims” have been revealed. You’ve heard of Schindler’s List? This was Swindler’s List.
But hang on a minute. One of the unsecured creditors revealed in the report was David Murray’s company. Surely to goodness we’re not calling Sir Dave a “victim” in all of this?
And, incidentally, do we know how many of the 276 victims were actually owed money by Rangers before we’d even HEARD of Craig Whyte?
Unless I’ve missed something, we’ve only heard three words from Murray on this saga – “I was duped” – and, ironically, it appears the Scottish media fell for it.
Personally speaking, I’m beginning to think Craig Whyte WAS “fit and proper” so far as Sir Dave was concerned because the Motherwell man allowed him to wash his hands of the ailing club and all its debts.
When you look at the financial carnage he left behind, I can’t help thinking that selling the Ibrox club for £1 was actually the best bit of business Murray has ever done.
I feel sorry for Walter Smith, though. Only last week he was telling us the old board left Rangers in good shape and debt free.
So, who duped Walter?
Questions must surely now be asked of Sir David Murray. His cheerleaders should put down their pom-poms for a second, stop the grovelling sycophancy and demand to know why he steered Rangers so perilously close to oblivion. Alternatively – and this is much more realistic – perhaps his time-served puppets will simply find a way of blaming the whole thing on Vladimir Romanov and give “Mad Vlad” both barrels.
It’s utterly laughable how many sooks and crawlers insist the mess at Ibrox is ALL Craig Whyte’s fault.
Before he bought the club – if you listen to Murray’s lapdogs – it would appear everything in the Rangers garden was rosy (well, apart from the actual roses because that bill remains outstanding). Nobody dared to ask any questions at the outset as he clearly had Murray’s blessing.
And now? Well, forget any Lillian Gish about Duff and Phelps having a plan that could leave Whyte out in the cold. No chance. Didn’t you watch Mark Daly’s BBC documentary?
Whyte’s a wee shrewdy and I guarantee he’ll walk away with millions for his £1 investment.
The administrators haven’t fared too badly either. They’ve trousered £1.1m to March 31, while Rangers earned just over £1m in the same period.
Don’t know how much dosh is in the buckets right now but I reckon the Rangers Fans’ Fighting Fund will barely cover Duff and Phelps tea and biscuits for the last few weeks. Nice work if you can get it and I’ve already given up on my wee lassie being a doctor or a dentist. I now want her to become an administrator.
The details that emerged on Thursday were absolutely staggering. Rangers still owe Rapid Vienna £1m for Jelavic.
How can they play Lee Wallace (arguably Man of the Match against Celtic the other week) when they haven’t finished paying Hearts for him? Any chance the Motherwell board could somehow broker a similar deal involving Lionel Messi?
What about the £275 owed to a William Henderson? Is that a standby fee in case wee Willie is asked to pull on the boots next season?
One thing’s for sure. They should pay the £40 owed to the face-painting woman. Without her services, Whyte has no chance of sneaking back into Ibrox
~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Looks like Uncle Jack doesn’t have any content on the bold Tam……..
BMCW
Definitely mate, I love to read players coming out and saying these things and it was good to read Hooper say before xmas that he wanted to stay for aslong as possible. Why would they want to leave? This is definitely just the beginning for this team & Lenny. HH
Vmhan Supporting Lenny! on 9 April, 2012 at 03:23 said:
Sorry,pal.I`ve been at the digging and planting.Well,directing my 18yo lad.
We`re in Sydney.Lane Cove.
Make sure and let me know when you`re hereabouts.
Have met Kit,Summa,Holahoops,Syd Tim,Michael Collins from this site.
There`s fun to be had.
SERGE 0658
A good chance of filling the medals display as well!
There are some potential stars in our team at the momentand a lot of them have a long way to go in their careers.
I’d like most of them to stick around-after all,with the exception of Kenny Dalglish,and to a lesser extent,Henrik,I think the only player to have left us and done well for himself was Brian McClair!
At least in my lifetime.
Any other suggestions?
BMCW
I would like to think Stan has done more than held his own against top opposition down in England, Not in a way that he has won trophies or had the success he did with us but i think he went down there to test himself and has done a fine job. Your right though there hasn’t been many. I have watched alot of EPL games recently and out of the last say 10 games 8 have been garbage. Our players can get what they want and more by staying at Paradise. HH
BMCUWP
a great read,
LENNY EXPRESSES HIS GRATITUDE TO THE BOARD FOR THEIR SUPPORT:
“It takes a bit of strength to get through it but it takes a bit of support as well,” he said. “And I’ve got great support from my family, the players, the club, the board: Mr [Dermot] Desmond and Peter [Lawwell] in particular. They’ve thrown everything at me but I’m now, after 12 years, at the pinnacle of my professional career, so I’m not going to go away in a hurry.
Thank you,Dermot and Peter.
Hope you`re not going away in a hurry either.
Sorry,Summa.
Reposted part of your stuff.
Summa of Sammi…. on 9 April, 2012 at 06:29 said:
SERGE 0739
I’ll give you Stan as a pass-good call-but only because I loved him when he was with us,haha!
To be fair,he has adapted well to playing a different role and a different style of play from the team around him.
I wish him well in his biggest battle to date.
JACKIE MAC 0745
It was surprisingly good,he didn’t miss very many targets.
I have to say I went right off him after his excruciating interview with Rudi Vata,but that goes some way towards redemption.
BMCW
At the time he was my favourite player, even more so than the king of kings. I was gutted when he left, I remember him leaving the field during the title celebrations under Strachan and i knew there and then something was up. Would love the support to chant his name on 19 minutes of every game. He will always be one of us. HH
Top of the morning to you all from Fife where the weather is miserable but champion just the same if you follow?
BMCUWP
Thanks for posting the Cowan piece which is indeed a great read.
You may be right that Jack Irvine can’t have anything on the bold Thomas or could it be that Irvine has stopped protecting SDM as Media House is on the Swindlers List?
Interesting times ahead if the latter is the case.
H.H. The Champions and get well soon Paul George. Who was the ref at Murray Park?
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 9 April, 2012 at 07:33 said
Tommy Docherty,Bobby Collins.
The exceptions which prove the rule.
:-)
.
MacJay..
You will have Woke SydneyTim from his Nana Nap with THAT Headline.. Caps Lock as Well Jeezo..He will be Twitching at the Very thought of The Board Being Praised..
He Disney even Like Surf Boards or Boogie Boards..:0(
Summa of SydneyBoardShortsCSC
MACJAY
What faffin’ age do you think I am?
Those two would definitely count,as would Paddy Crerand for example.
There will have been loads more in the pre-Stein days,but few since.
Though when I come to think of it,Middlesborough fans revere Bobby Murdoch almost as much as we do.
You would have thought I would have remembered that,ffs!
Morning all from a dreich North Ayrshire.
Has DBBIA returned to the fold, with his unique wit and wisdom?
BIG NAN 0808
SWINDLER’S LIST.
Brilliant.
I can see that one being recycled a few times.
Bobby Murdoch,
Didn’t Jack Charlton, who signed Bobby for Middlesborough, that Bobby was the finest passer of the ball he had ever seen (and he had played with his brother, for whom many English claimed that honour)?
We’re having a seminar when Rangers die.
Parkhead . . . . . at 08:24 –
I hope so. This blog has been so miserable of late that we need something to cheer us up. DBBIA memoires of Dick Byrne in his prime (Was DB ever in his prime?) will do wonders for me, and may finally put a smile on my gub.
Seriously, this morning has been great sport – walking around the office, standing outside ratners fc (IA) supporters’ offices, and congratulating the sheepies around on their win over the Arabs! Les hun are afraid to make eye contact with me, apart from the guy in the office next to mine who came in to congratulate us on our “well deserved” league victory – he always complained about Wattie’s tactics, and how the FPLG “never was, isnae, and never will be a manager”, so maybe he isnae a currant after all, just a fan?
Curly
(Feeling just champion today!)
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 9 April, 2012 at 08:24 said:
MACJAY
What faffin’ age do you think I am?
Old enough to know your history ,pal.
Faffin,izzit? ;-)
mate of mines singned for boro. bobby murdoch says to him training – fire thet ball at me as hard as you like – he was only few yards away – my mate does so (and he could hammer the ball) – bobby murdoch kills the ball dead at his feet
Lou Macari did well for himself
Summi just back
From the zoo
Yes I saw those headlines
Neil was referring to the backing he recieved after the attacks on him
Neil said Just after the huns went into admin ” that he was frustated When Peter lawell did not go the extra mile to secure his targets”
1st he said it, it disappeared under Hun headlines, but never less it’s there
He signed no one till our 1st european game and said his hands were tied because he was unveiled officially , our chairman said later Neil was the only person they looked at!!!
So porkies again
We have a good side
We need squad trimmed
Cha, Wilson x2 mcginn, Murphy , loovens, Dan etc. taxi
One or 2 players only in
One striker a definite
Don’t waste money on projects
ST
Bobby Murdoch….
really not like TC
perhaps he realises there is no point in cosying up to them anymore
the end is nigh
Summa of Sammi…. on 9 April, 2012 at 08:14 said
Mate,it wasn`t directed to S.T.
Exclusively
.:-)
Re. Oz culcha,
Remember whingeing poms?