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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Larsson & McStay
Classy people, right enough!
According to their report, Paul George broke his own leg and it had nothing to do with them. He brought it on himself.
som mes ques
Most of the teams we could play we should beat…..
We will be seeded for both round 3 and 4 so should avoid any teams with pedigree or countries of note…..
An unlucky draw might see us vs Serbian or Croatian upcoming team or maybe Polish, Czech or Helsinborgs …..
Dream draw might be Shamrock Rovers or Linfield….
Balotelli goes over the ball in horrendous tackle. Ref missed it.
A knee breaker.
RT
:0D)))
Ratings:
Average – Wilson
Ok, he didn’t have a lot to do, but I’m yet to be convinced he’s anything more than a basic, safety first, defender.
Good: Forster, Matthews, Ki, Samaras
Forster could have done his yogic meditation in the 1st half, such was Celtic’s dominance, and did the necessary in the 2nd. Matthews, as I mentioned pre-match, prefers to work with a RM, but played well enough, with a nice bit of skill and ball fired in to Sammi in the 2nd half. Ki was superb in the first half, but Brown’s departure gave him more defensive duties which he wans’t comfortable with. Sammi had one of his quieter games – the bruising made him tentative, and really, there was no need to bust a gut with the rest of the team playing so well.
Very good: Brown
His bustling presence led to Celtic controlling the midfield 1st half. Subbed to stay fit for Hearts.
Excellent: Loovens
Glenda may make some supporters nervous, but he is a defender who scores goals and can play the ball out of defence. This may be news to the tremblin’ mince brigade, but he has one of the best win % of the whole squad. Textbook header for the goal, and some good passing play, although he needs to be careful he doen’t get caught with the ball, as he was a couple of times yesterday.
Superb: Commons
That’s twice I’ve seen Celtic play three in the middle with Commons in the hole, and I’m further convinced that this is indeed our strongest midfield. Commons’ intelligence, combined with an assured touch and a keen eye for the through ball, makes him Celtic’s number 10.
Astonishingly brilliant: Ledley, Hooper
Ledley‘s first half, where he and Ki passed the ball around the Kilmarnock midfield, was cool and composed. Unlike Ki, he adapted to a change of position (central) in the 2nd half, and also took up a more attacking role (unlike Brown, who played defensive mid). This was where he shone, and his goal was an absolute peach. Hooper played great all game – he held the ball up well, and his two goals were terrific. The first was all about the touch, while the 2nd was less characteristic – a swerving shot high into the top corner. With Gary back among the goals, and Commons returning to form, Celtic have a team to strike fear into the hearts of every SPL side.
MOTM: Mulgrew
What a day to give your performance of the season! When a midfield three dominate the way Celtic’s did, it’s vital you have at least one fullback capable of bombing down the wing and sending in crosses. Mulgrew accomplished this, but such was his play that he seemed to exert complete control of the match from a Left Back position. His goal was all about a player who had decided victory was a certainty.
Subs:
Twardzik: It has to be recognized that coming on when your team is 4-0 up means you can enjoy yourself. That being said, this was a terrific debut for the Czech, who showed a cleverness on the ball, and confidence in passing and decision-making. His deft touch to set up Ledley was class.
Stokes: Had a great chance when one on one, but perhaps wasn’t fully in the game at that point. Played well.
Blackman: Solid, defensive performance.
Robert.
Been trying to advise friends in pub, that I am convinced we have an easier route than in previous years, but, as always, refer to CQN for clarification.
I will speak for myself, and opt for your ‘fool’ analogy.
Only because my brain isn’t functioning as well as it should normally….
For everyone here and elsewhere, here is my Neil Lennon tribute video.
Please watch and hope you enjoy.
http://youtu.be/lzpbYrSEywY
Neil Lennon – a real hero
Auldheid
Horrendous challenge from Balotelli
I don’t see what all the hype is about this lad. Vastly overrated
Mancini will flog him as soon as the season ends
fan-a-tic on 8 April, 2012 at 16:20 said:
Agree regarding Twardzik. Someone – apologies for forgetting who, had a good bead on at the time – posted last night that he looks like a choirboy but plays with steel.
He took a good few big hits yesterday, got up and got on with it, and handed out a few himself. And that flick for the goal was sublime.
He is a good ‘un. I can’t wait to see Ibrahim getting some game time.
Life is good!
Just checked my on line account and I’d like to thank Lenny’s Lions for the 4 figure sum won via Betfair …… double helping of jelly n ice cream coming my way soon :¬)
V
Here’s hoping hoping Paul Lawrie can top off my weekend by winning at Augusta
C,mon Paul lets do it for Bonnie Scotland
Been reading a bit about the growth of women’s football in England today and then I see this:
WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE LATEST
Late drama of the worst kind at Liverpool, whose Katie Brissell is stretched off with her neck in a brace after what appeared to be a stamping offence by Grace McCatty. The Bristol Academy player is sent off and a mass confrontation breaks out, Bristol captain Corinne Yorston also seeing red before play is resumed.
“The female of the species is more deadly than the male”
I had a strange feeling at Mass this morning when Willie Collum read the 1st and 2nd readings…….I had a smile to myself as I thought of the champagne I had yesterday and didn’t feel compelled to shout abuse at him!!
Plus it wasn’t the place really, was it?!
hendrix67 on 8 April, 2012 at 16:15 said:
Don’t knowing anyone has mentioned this but I’ve seen on rangersmedia that the ranger fans have spent a , quote, whopping £595 on a signed shirt raffle. Tickets were priced £5. Their generosity to their own cause knows no bounds.
Old Harold had the measure of them
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1XbfR-yaqA
Croppybhoy – we’re all entitled to our opinions on here and you make some very good points, but there’s no need to brand other people’s opinions as nonsense.
The managers and players you mention, do you really think they would accept those titles/trophies now? I don’t think so, I think they would tell the SFA/SPL to stick them where the sun don’t shine, but hey that’s just my opinion!
Che – I went easy on you yesterday as Mrs Che was there….hostilities resumed forthwith!
BTW did you really say that BT was talking sense? Quick somebody get me a Tena Lady?!
TTTT
ht –
MattE at 1556, where can I find this montage?
I was in Blackpool yesterday watching the game and there was a stag party in, poor bhoy was handcuffed to a dwarf for the day, they went to the loo together, the bar ….. everywhere, apparently he was to be handcuffed for the whole day……. it was brillianly funny
brilliantly …..
V
Some cracking stuff on Celtic Underground’s Mince’s Twitter page, if anyone wants to put up some links. The Easter bunny one is great and there’s a cracking picture of the huddle outside The Black Cat in Greenock.
T4
Vmhan – Mrs TTTT just asked me “can you actually rent dwarves”?! :-))))
It’s not big and it’s not clever….
T4
Some great pics from yesterday
http://kennyramsay.photoshelter.com/gallery/07-04-2012-Kilmarnock-v-Celtic/G0000XWhzBM6G5yc/C0000LXqXJjsdmkE
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbbc.in%2FIhz7R4&h=0AQEN7VUIAQHm0K1fthZ0FK0_S7dnHyCEKsVisxZdrCY_Tw
Interesting!
stairheedrammy
hope this is what your looking for mate . jeezo im slow at sending these things . grandson had to do it for me . (grandson)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnKqFz0dSX0
T4 hmmm nae comment
T4 That picture is on my FB page.
V
long haired yins man on 8 April, 2012 at 17:03 said:
MattE at 1556, where can I find this montage?
It was played right at the end of espn coverage yesterday, hopefully yev got it recorded!
Had a quick look on YouTube but no sign of it……yet
TTTT
I could not disagree with you more.
It is only right that those cheated of titles are awarded them.
Tommy Burns deserves this.We all do.
They cheated us.
Carl Lewis deserved his gold medal when Johnson cheated him.
They will no longer be able to boast we welcome the chase.
I expect Celtic to chase this issue more than any other.
We have no chance of being reimbursed for the financial loss.
I will be disgusted if we are not awarded these titles.
We are due them.In other words we are entitled to them.
TT
Paul67
I disagree that it was the home game v Rennes that turned around the season, for me it was the away game.
The Celtic of the past three seasons, their heads would have gone down after Cha Du Ri’s og, and not just his og, but his reaction afterwards of almost a resignation, the “that could only happen to me” attitude thankfully didn’t permeate through the team in that game. In games past it most definitely would have done.
We fought back in that game only 5 days after the 3-3 game v Killie.
Thanks Jimtim- I emailed Paul but I take it that he’s having a busy day
T4
HOW GOES IT TODAY?
im somewhat fragile …
great night
ht – good picture of Kingoh at Image 109….actually it’s 104, but 109’s better!
And somebody should tell our esteemed CEO to stick to single-breasted jackets….meeoow!
T4
HAIL LENNON
It´s been a long time since Tannadice. Longer since Nakamura
won us the title with a last minute free kick. Even longer since Celtic came back from Seville, ran Kilmarnock ragged in the chase for the league title, ran out 4-0 winners, but were pipped at the winning post. On that afternnon I remember how gutsy a performance the team gave; Larsson, Thompson, Sutton and Petrov all giving it their all. Apart from Kilmarnock, another man on the park was giving it his all. Doing all he could do to frustrate and stymie that great Celtic effort. A scottish referee oblivious to what Celtic had achieved in Seville, showing how a football support behaves itself in harmony with the country it is visiting. But down in sunny Kilmarnock that day our man in black was hell bent on keeping the big hoose open even then. I didn´t know it was Kenny Clark then and I remember a debate on here once about whether we felt Kenny had been good to us or bad to us down the years. On that day I myself have no doubt. No doubt because it changed my vision of Scotland considerably. The meanness and the stingieness which manifested itself along with the shortbread media showed me how something was rotten at the heart of our game.
However that IS all in the past, Yesterday´s events surpass those and eclipse them. Fantastic result and great for the oh so important away travelling support. These three fallow years have coincided with the devastating effects of the credit crunch on many families and on society at large and maybe that´s how it has been so difficult to bear. Also the fact that the offishal best team in Scotland for those three seasons was being run by a bunch of renegade businessmen and fielded teams more like the spivs of Clockwork Orange of Stanley Kubrick than the Clockwork Orange of Johann Cruyff-Rinus Michels.
I´m happy for Hooper, Stokes and Commons. Delighted for Scott Brown and Georgios. Astonished at what Charlie Mulgrew has achieved and really hope that I can SEE more Celtic as this team is worth watching.
On days like these too, you think of Paul McBride and Reamonn Gormley.
pggtips2 @ 17.32
I agree absolutely with you about that. The team showed real character in the away game against Rennes. They proved to themselves they could overcome adversity.
TTTT
bjmac is in a couple but image 68 is the best one.
I’m nearly in a few but the sombreros are hiding my coupon :-))
I seem to have stumbled onto a tv station showing 2 pub teams playing.
It’s called Skysports.
SPF
RANGERS could not even afford to pay for departing captain David Weir’s farewell gift, it emerged yesterday.
The Ibrox side commissioned Glencairn Crystal to create a personalised decanter set for the former Scotland international following his decision to leave Glasgow earlier this year.
But, three months after the 41-year-old quit the club, the East Kilbride firm is still owed £354.
Weir received the souvenir to mark his five years at the club from chairman Craig Whyte and Rangers Supporters’ Assembly president, Andy Kerr, on the Ibrox turf at half-time in a match against Aberdeen on January 21.
The premium decanter set and blue glass trophy were engraved with the club crest and included the signatures of his team mates.
Such a cheap present and they still have not paid. Dignity and class.
Cheerio Cheerio.
Snake – great video.
Rimtimtim
It’s seldom you’ll read on a football blog a mention of Stanley Kubrik and his droogs from A Clockwork Orange, an amazing film that has stood the test of time.