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.
Click here to read CQN Magazine.
Thanks to everyone who has bought a hard copy of issue 7. Order your copy for delivery by clicking on the link below for news and views from Celtic supporters.
Pay by card or Paypal.
1,064 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- »
Celtic Quick News.
The Dear Green Place for Club craic-addicts.
Win, Lose or Draw.
Thanks Paul.
Philbhoy – It’s just the beginning! on 9 April, 2012 at 11:31 said:
quonno
At last!
We finally agree on something!
Big Billy is my all time Great Celt too!
A great Captain on and off the park and a real legend!
Hope you are well!
———————————————————————————————–
Danny McGrain for me, big Billy was just before my time of regularly going to the games. Danny’s led by example both on and off the park. Think one of his finest moments was the 4 v 2 game in 1979 to win the league. Two great captains and Celtic men.
Dan
Centre-back required: aggressive, tall, aggressive with pace and aggression.
No point in beanpole centre-backs in this league.
Paired with Mulgrew that’ll be ideal.
Think it’s highly unlikely that we’ll “know” the players coming in.
Oh, one other thing, whoever it is needs the Celtic support to formulate their own opinion not what they read in their poisoned well.
Sydney Tim,
Jock SteinCSC, Sydney CFC, Melbourne No1 CSC: we are all Celtic supporters. So, I apologise for me geographical error. Sydney harbour is not only beautiful but also very large. So, consdidering that most times I visit your beautiful city it is to see my beloved hoops or have a good Celtic weekend, usually at Cheers and the Mercantile. They all seem to be quite close together and near the harbour: perhaps too much drink, then maybe not enough.
My name is Patrick. We may or may not have met. I am an irregular CQN poster and on the few occasions I have posted, I have perhaps misunderstood your posts as being a bit too negative towards the present team and board.
So, maybe, we can meet as fellow CQN bloggers and lovers of Celtic, over the Queen’s Birthday weekend and discuss each other’s reflections on this season and the way ahead.
Hail Hail, Werribee Pat.
Philbhoy – It’s just the beginning! on 9 April, 2012 at 11:31 said:
quonno
At last!
As my late mother was fond of saying ‘live long enough and you will see it all’.
Summi. Sydney this year ??
Think not , it was our turn only 2 years ago
Must be an “Empty ” in your place this year
Seriously not heard anything about a Sydney get together
Surely Brisbane or Melbourne in front of us
Ps I tend not to call it the @@@@ns bday. I just say bank holiday :)))
Glasgowbhoy welcome ………
V
In the real tradition of the Celtic support, we must have a whipping boy.
In the absence of Charlie Mulgrew and Georgios Samaras who have cast this unwanted role off, and Big Dan M’s injury, Glenn Loovens fits the bill.
The big man was outstanding value on Saturday, sometimes he thinks he is Franz Beckenbauer, but overall he was immense, 2nd only to the aforementioned CM on the day.
Daniel Fergus for me………….
Skillful, dependable, consistent and a decent, good guy in the Celtic tradition.
Share a beer sometime Pat:))
Are we still interested in Jordan Rhodes and/or Johnny Russell?
Does anyone know much about Rhodes?
must agree with the earlier post about his lung busting run. if he had tucked that away we would have been raving about it for months. i watched that sprint and took me a few seconds to realise it was loovens, my instant thought was twardzic who had just came on. where big glenda got that energy from i doubt we will ever know
Glen Loovens has not let the team down this season, Infact he was playing well before he got injured & played well on Saturday. I don’t think he or Dan will be given a new contract though. Next season when Izzy is fully fit Charlie will be 1st choice CB & it will be between Rogne & Fojut for the other place. Would like to see an experienced CB signed, Someone like Ivan Ramis.
Did anyone else hear Big Stubbsy after match saying WE are the Champions?
All bids for Matthews must be rejected. The best right back we have had in a long long time.
Tim Malone Will Tell on 9 April, 2012 at 11:48 said:
“Does anyone know much about Rhodes?”
It is a Gree …………………… no, it is too obvious to be anything approaching funny.
Just had a read of the night shift and mornings posts.
It’s occurred to me that as a relative newbie to CQN that this is the first time I’ve been on the blog in the wake of a Celtic title victory.
Wee bit disappointed to see folk arguing about past transfer windows etc. I know that’s the nature of sites such as this and that all opinions are valid and the entitlement of the poster. But for goodness sake Bhoys we’re Champions for the first time in 4 years, let’s enjoy it!!
There are three priorities for the summer: keeping the players we want to keep, selling the players we want to sell and bringing in a couple of quality additions.
We have a very big first team squad and that needs trimmed a little, especially as we have some great youngsters trying to break through. Squad rotation will be important in the early part of the season and we need to make sure we can cope with the inevitable injuries too.
Good Morning Champs, Hope everyone recovered from a good festive and Holy weekend. I Too hope we get to see some of the Fringe players getting a run out in the last few games apart from when the monsters come to town they are due a thumping like killie got. Brozek getting a run? I dont think so because hooper and stokes have that competition for top goal scorer and Neil will play both for their tallies. Brozek is funny one for me when we signed him, we chased him and was really wanted by Neil and they he hasn’t played him at all. Even in games where we have needed a goal with both 1st picks off form and he has switched the Midfield instead of strikers. I have no idea if he’ll be kept or even want to stay but I think Dan and Glen will be off and cha also i am surprised at Zuluska getting a new deal.
With Re: to Lawell i think he’s done fine the last couple of seasons and has hopefully learned from past mistakes and he has played his part in building this young successful team we have built. Hail Hail Pete.
Anyway I have enjoyed the weekend talking about Celtic instead of their woes across the water.
Hail Hail Bhoys!!!
KLV
ramis turned us down once, he shouldnt get another chance.
onwards and upwards
Loovens was ok on Sat. He seems a decent lad but we need to move forward, one or two signings along with a couple of young uns and we’ll be moving on up….. Ceasar did have some howlers, but he was majestic….. Charlie the prodigal son is a better footballer, he was majestic on Sat.
V
iki – I asked for that didn’t I???
Well, let’s try again – does anyone know much about Jordan?
I look forward to the variety of answers to that one…:)))
Just dropped in to say…..
The main reason I’m not putting the boot into the board/PL/DD etc, just now is, because I’m too busy enjoying seeing, some of the pressure lifted from, Neil’s shoulders.
But, the powder will remain dry until we see just how serious the hierarchy are in, backing Neil for an attempt at getting into the CLGS again. My guess is that, the wool Neil will get to knit with, will be tailored by events across the city.
Hail Hail
Tim Malone
ask Serge, he is working there at the mo….
Scotlands Shame
I thought it was Celtic that pulled out of the deal because of his agent?
Kev Jungle, Yeah i think we will be above them and no more so we could keep the same team for years to come, But its football and everything will change. Pete’s remit will change to suit them across the water ie. we don’t need to spend too much to beat them for the present future.
KLV
that winning streak they went on was unbelievable, it was only then we recovered from wgs last season and btm getting rid of good players, amazing, some job by lennie and it was without kayal izzie and commons arguably our best players last year
Watching a re-run of the Masters,golfers look weird when they take there hats off.
HT
Agree with your sentiments.
Some of the posts will be genuine………….
Obviously there will be the odd one….or two, who sleekitly seek to spoill the party with snyde references to manufactured ‘problems’.
We can only guess at their motivation.
HH
I only have this opinion because of the past, when we have had a chance to hammer home our advantage we have let it pass with a whimper. So i will be surprised if we spent at all in the summer no matter what the monsters do.
KLV
Serge on 9 April, 2012 at 11:49 said:
////////////////
I share your concern/need for an experienced CH. Now, I want to make this clear…..I’m not trying to wind you up or, looking for a ruck etc.
I will offer a, ‘shrewd’ suggestion, someone whom I think is the best CH in the SPL……Andy Webster!!!
Strange how, he dizny have any injurie’s now that he’s out of ibrokes ?
Hail Hail
I would also sign either Daly or Russell or both from utd. But we know how thompson plays these things and we would no doubt enter a bidding war. daly scored 21 goals in spl this season is that true?
KLV
Glen Loovens has a good habit of producing a game when required, and Neil Lennon will have a big decision to make in June.
In his very first interview after we won the league he said he would be trimming the squad.
Tim Malone
What do you want to know mate?
….PFayr on 9 April, 2012 at 11:24 said:
the celebrations that have surrounded the Titanic anniversary have been puzzling at best
_______________
I thought I was alone in my disbelief at the celebrations in Belfast.
What is to celebrate about the building of an ‘unsinkable’ ship, which sank on its maiden voyage, …built by an openly sectarian workforce who delighted in recounting tales of throwing into the Lagan any Catholic who got through the net of apartheid discrimination ?
Any normal society would want to FORGET this inglorious disaster.
Have we not got a new centre half coming in on a pre contract.
KevJungle
I’ll get back to you on the Webster thing, At the moment i have no idea how to reply to it ;-)
kevinlasvegas on 9 April, 2012 at 11:59 said:
//////////////
You have to remember it’s the huns we’re talking about. The same huns who, in all of my knowledge …..have walked away from ‘every’ charge as it was always somone else who, done it and, ran away!
Look for more of the same here! IMO!
Hail Hail