I’m not going to say I saw this coming, I didn’t see defeat, but when I wrote a couple of days ago that you and I have seen a lot more games like Celtic’s away to Lincoln Red Imps than Brendan Rodgers, and about European football in July, I knew this one was never going to play out in a triumphant manner.
On the first day he was appointed I asked one of you to compile Brendan an Efe highlights video – I assume we were all busy. God love Efe, he’s a fine man by all accounts, but he’s three years into a slump which is not going to end at Celtic. Brendan must now be aware. It’s no longer Efe’s fault if he costs us again.
I also made the point previewing this game that we can’t expect a squad comprising only one addition to last season’s group to perform remarkably different in qualification than a year ago. In this sense, Celtic performed as expected, this one had all the hallmarks of our recent Icelandic ventures.
The manager may not be embarrassed at the result (I suspect he might sound different privately) but many supporters are. Gibraltar has a population similar to Bellshill, but without the football heritage and support mechanism. Would defeat to Bellshill Athletic be embarrassing? You bet. Yesterday’s result was too.
We are woefully slow in build-up and have only one player in the squad who can create the 7 or 8 chances per game needed to get a result, and he’s 33 next month and currently injured.
We remain strong favourites to qualify for the next round but there is an enormous amount of work to be done in the next month. This is not a Champions League squad.
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Bournesouprecipe
Exaggeration for effect? Losing to Pat the Post Man & The local Vet! Methinks not.
The worst thing about following Celtic right now is the lack of joy.
Performances that no one enJOYS lead to a blog no one enJOYS.
I just don’t enjoy the safety first approach to the game but would I enJOY a more risky approach? Would the blog be any more enJOYable if we took more risks but lost? I doubt it.
I like to enJOY my football and Celtic and the support are failing to do that.
I enJOYed watching Malaga v Real. Not just the football but the occasion. Got some serious thinking to do about my emotional investment.
Pog, BMCUWP’s is a Hun???????
His sisters will kill him:-)
AULDHEID on 13TH JULY 2016 1:53 PM
I think we saw some of the risky approaches last season AWAY in Europe when we went attacking and look what happened
Auldheid
Cheer up….dig your boots out.
There will probably be public trials to get into the Celtic squad.
I fancy my chances:)
We could be the new midfield this season:)
How much joy would you get out of seeing me violently slide tackling Craig Thompson….by mistake:)
Would that be fun or what?
You can imagine my dressing room speech?
HH
BARNEY67 on 13TH JULY 2016 1:49 PM
we scored plenty of goals last season against packed defences
Beamish
50,000 fans bought a season ticket, most of them fully aware of the deficiencies of a squad that regularly lose to inferior sides.
BR has had 20 days with them, and his only signing looks good.
Last night will be meaningless after the home leg.
It’s good that BR was let down quickly by the previous managers players.
He has to make his Celtic side.
Auldheid
I enJOYed more than any period watching Tommy Burns Celtic.
I enJOYed that more than MON’s period.
The fotball was a delight to watch and it was accepted by the majority because it was a JOY to watch in the main.
If we won as little under Tommy without that enJOYment then I doubtwe as a club would have grown into what brought MON’s era. The fans would have dwindled away by then.
Stopping 10 in a row was also enJOYable but on a footballing entertainment level it didn’t touch that of Tommy Burns Celtic for entertainment.
You can get beat as a Celtic team and still have the fans behind you. But you can’t get beat showing a lack of effort and willingness to win and expect the fans to accept it.
We have systematically downsized to were we are and it is unacceptable!
Unless of course you accept mediocracy or below.
I hope the majority are not willing to accept that crap anymore and start holding those failing in office to account.
Time to back the manager now. Now next week the week after or the week after. Today! Give him a fighting chance to succeed.
MWD
The day after the worst result in our history everyone associated with that performance, players, manager and coaching staff, must share the responsibility.
It may be very enlightening watching how each of them response.
It would be wrong to blame one individual. This defeat has is origins much deeper than that.
However, while I want shot of many of that shower I know that in reality it’s not that easy.
Yet I the whole debacle has brought me back to one of the many bug-bears I have.
I’ve asked before but no-one could answer.
Apart from throwing the ball up for the four defenders to header back to him, 15 minutes before the game, what does John Kennedy do?
If he is, as some claim, the defensive coach, then he should be replaced by someone who can actually coach our lot out of being feckin useless.
Seriously, what does he bring to the training ground?
Is our moral obligation to him a lifetime job?
Serious questions.
Auldheid, I fear you are only one or two steps behind me as I finally lost my Celtic mojo last season when the fitba’ on the park was making my eyes bleed. I no longer allow the rhythm of my life to be dictated by when the next Celtic match is. I would now struggle to classify myself as a Celtic supporter as I no longer go to the games or watch them on the TV. I really thought I would miss it but I am pleasantly surprised to say I don’t and am mightily relieved I wasn’t compelled to watch yesterday’s humiliation. That reminds me I really need to change my username.
High 30s hot -way down south .
Hertz home and away pal relates a wee bit of argy bargy in his local between those having a laff at that and those who pointed out that Hertz had finished 21 points behind that lot last season.
VALE BHOY
I asked that earlier mate and I don’t believe for one minute that RD or BR would give him the responsibility for coaching our defence on his own. His Wiki says First Team Coach and I think he’s a junior member of that.
Brendan brought his own people in and I’m sure Brendan will take responsibility for all aspects of the team.
A guy who played less than 50 game sin his career is not going to be handed the defence imo..
Nobody fancies this Celtic team. There are a handful of players who could be salvaged. I hope everyone is 100% behind BR – he’ll need every bit of support he can get as he makes some tough decisions on in and out players..
How many support PL?
MOONBEAMSWD on 13TH JULY 2016 2:05 PM
Totally agree re-the enJOYment under Tommy’s watch.
I posted that I thought Brendan’s appointment is arguably the best since Tommy’s. I still believe that but he has to be backed and quickly. I am some what dismayed about the lack of incomings to allow Brendan show that he can get a Team playing in the mould of Tommy’s Team. I don’t buy the line that he needs time to assess the Players currently at his disposal, he knew what he had before and immediately after his appointment. We need a CH, possibly two, a RB and a creative Midfielder. Oh and we need to ship some more out.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
For what its worth,
Colin Murray leaves talksport due to it being taken over by NewsCorp and its new relationship with The Sun.
play
Honestly….those players all need a good kick in the b***.
Maybe that would shake them up a bit.
Spoiled and overpaid to the max.
No doubt by the end of the week, they will all be in the scoddish meeja apologising(yet again).
The majority of them are not good enough for the Celtic jersey.
Get rid of the mental weakness of…Gordon, Efe, Scott Brown, James Forrest, Armstrong, GMS, Ciftci, Bitton…..Then we might progress.
Brendan wont do nothing with them….they are weak.
A revolution in thinking is required…..The number one principle being….we fight for the jersey, always, no matter what.
HH
KEEP CALM
ITS ONLY
THE FIRST LEG
STARRY PLOUGH
I watch that wee routine of the four defenders trying to jump and head the ball back to him, 15 minutes before every game.
I don’t see any improved at their heading ability. It’s just a limbering up I presume but it makes me wonder about his actual role?
If he is a junior member of the coaching staff then who is responsible for the outrageous defending we have had to endure?
The manager, I suppose?
Sorting it out is our top priority.
BTW, what about the goalkeeper’s performance, especially at the goal?
Aw feck…it’s all starting in my head again.
Chucking it before I relive each individual performance for the umpteenth time.
m6bhoy on 13th July 2016 2:13 pm
When we sign up to support our club, we expect there will be good days and bad.
But you are right, some of the football over the last 2 years was poor and the lack of willingness to change system/personnel even more annoying.
There are days when travelling to the match and the socialising before and after are more enjoyable than the 90 mins, but thats what we signed up for.
You know what its like with us – the highs are higher than at most other clubs, likewise the lows are equally low, especially when we don’t see them coming.
You will have your Celtic mojo back before long, hopefully! At the very least, it stops the mrs dictating your plans so it is in your best interests:) A few signings, player turnover and few wins under our belt we will be raring to go again.
HH
Oldtim….have a braw day….
Braw.
Good analysis of our squad and game in the Jeff Colby website – tend to agree Sevco will beat us in midfield again unless we change personnel.
Bzzzzzzzzzzzz
Recently I read the Clumpany ridicule a hun for reading about Growth Mindset. Yet, today many of us are questioning the mental fitness of our team, questioning their mental strength(or lack of it).
Perhaps instead of deriding that hun we should be forcing our bottlers and quitters into adopting a much more positive growth mindset rather than their present fixed mindset. Fixed in their lack of belief and willingness to accept failure.
Give them the simplified version of Carol Dwerk’s book. It will need to be simplified as many of the have probably not got their brains in the heids: you know what I mean.
Modern humiliation because Celtic get beaten is rubbish.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE
All Brendan’s should be asked to do community service in Rutherglen after last night’s humiliation:))
Vale Bhoy
I think if you are a pro at Celtic, and you cannot produce a result against a part-time team from Gibraltar
You need your b*** kicked severely.
Excuse my French:)
Its not acceptable by any stretch of the imagination.
I note that last week it was reported that Brendan reminded the players who they played for.
Seems like they werent listening.
HH
CABERFEIGH on 13TH JULY 2016 11:07 AM
We have no leaders. Quick fix for next weeks game play Charlie Mulgrew at centre half.
CM definitely no way, another bombscare. has had more comebacks than i care to remember, its amazing how certain players become a better player when they sidelined with injury or go walkabout.
I am starting a new blog called Celtic Good News
Only true and faithful through and through types need apply.
No old firm glory hunting msm dupes will be tolerated.
Any posts that are perceived to be in any way critical of celtic, Catholicism, irish republicanism, Che Guevara, the colour green, harps shamrocks or emeralds will be deleted and the posters banned for life.
That will show them.
North Korean CSC
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD
I agree with your sentiment and your methods.
Hope that you are right about what BR said.
Off now before I suffer more flashbacks from last night.
I blame the pitch and that monstrous Black strip…..and also players who are scared to play for Celtic.
Leigh Griff as a winger….Even atheists were saying….God Help us.
That was not clever.
You dont play a 40 goal striker as a winger.
HH
I said last night that , though embarrassment, disgrace, and laughing stock, are much bandied about on CQN after every setback- last night’s result was one where it was, for once, quite apt.
Although everyone is rushing to say that this supports their pet theories (ignoring all contrary information, facts and even definitions of words), we might have to acknowledge that we have been generally poor starters in Europe for a long time.
I present our opening Euro competitive result from every year since 2000 and, I give the date of the event:-
Ajax (a) 3-1 win 8th August
Basel (h) 3-1 win -knocked out in 2nd leg 14th Aug
Kaunas (a) 4-0 win 30th July
Barcelona (h) 1-3 loss Straight into group stage on 14th Sept.
Artmedia (a) – 5-0 loss 27th July
Man U (a) 3:2 loss CL group 13th Sept
Spartak Moscow (a) 1:1 15th Aug
Aalborg (h) 0:0 CL group 17th Sept
Dynamo Moscow (h) 1:0 loss 29th July
Braga (a) 3:0 loss 28th July
Sion (h) 0:0 18th August- counts as a 3-0 win now
HJK Helsinki (h) 2:1 win 1st Aug
Cliftonville (a) 3:0 win 17th July
KR Reykjavik(a) 1:0 win- 15th July
Stjarnan (h) 2:0 win- 15th July
Red Imps (a) 1:0 loss- 12th July
In those 16 seasons from 2000 onwards, we have managed 7 wins, 6 losses and 3 draws (though the SION draw appears as a 3:0 win in the record books now) in our opening tie.
In July matches we have 4 wins and 4 losses though we are generally playing poorer teams then (Dynamo Moscow and Braga are the only 2 top flight teams we faced then and we lost both).
In August matches our record is 3 wins and a draw- 2 of those wins earned by MONs team
In September we have 2 losses and a draw but these were all CL group ties and Barca and Man U gave us the defeats.
At home, we have a record of 3 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats- we have only ever beaten Stjarnan, Helsinki and Basel at home in an opener (and Basel triumphed overall in that tie).
Away from home we have a record of 4 wins, 1 draw and 4 defeats now. We have beaten Ajax, Kaunas, Cliftonville and KR Reykjavik away and got a creditable draw vs Spartak Moscow.
Of the 4 losses away, Red Imps are palpably weaker than Man U, Braga and Artmedia, so it is a judgement call whether losing 5:0 to an unfancied Slovak side is more embarrassing than losing 1:0 to a novice Gibralter side. I would give my verdict to the more recent result as being the worst.
Our home defeats were to Barca and Dynamo Moscow- I don’t think losing to Dynamo at home is any way poorer than losing to Red Imps in Gibralter so it remains the biggest stain on our reputation.
Fortunately, we can make sure this embarrassing result is overturned next week. That is just the start of restoring reputations.
Guys…I think we still know our players better than Brendan…so give the guy a real chance to catch up…
I’m sure he already sees deficiencies…
Does anyone truly think that the mighty Imps will eliminate us next week?
Has anybody checked out The Rockies registration documents? We might still make the next round…
ExPat Celt
I made same point in an earlier post.
The idea of embarrassment is disrespectful to the opposition who on the night mastered the conditions better than we did. Not surprising given they are more used to them.
We were poor but are poorer still if we do not recognise that part time or not The Imps had players who were more comfortable on the night than we were. Their day jobs had nothing to do with that.
Why is it that managers dont let Leigh Griff do what he is brilliant at….playing Centre-Forward.
Ronny and now Brendan want to transform Leigh into a winger….WTF is that all about.
What are they trying to prove ffs.
Play Griff CF…play Moussa beside him.
Its enough to make you scream and scream:)
HH
HE GLORIOUS BALANCE SHEET on 13TH JULY 2016 3:02 AM
It’s a repeated failure to bring in players ahead of European qualifiers to fill know problem positions in the team. Make do and mend that comes unstuck against modest opposition.
2010 – having sold boruc we go with Zaluska in goals for the qualifiers when the guy had played about 6 games in the previous 2 years. Only once we are papped out of 2 European competitions at the qualifying stage do we deign to sign a keeper – Fraser Forster on loan from Newcastle.
2011 – with Fraser forster’s loan ended, we again prepare for European qualifiers without a reliable keeper. Pletikosa is used in the prep friendlies as a trialist. Finally the day before we play Sion, we sign Fraser Forster on loan again. We lose 3-1 to Sion, failing in qualifiers for the 4th consecutive time.
2013 – no striker replacement signed for gary hooper until after the qualifiers. We scrape through by a bawhair against Karagandy and then on deadline day pukki arrives ostensibly as hooper’s replacement.
2014 – the summer of the loan brigade. Ronny doesn’t spend a penny on a player until the qualifiers are done and the CL is gone when scepovic arrives again on deadline day. Another year of 2 failed attempts at qualification thanks to the Legia issue.
2015 – failed again at qualifiers.
The record since 2009 is
Played 9 deciding CL/el qualifying ties
Won 2 (Helsingborg and Karagandy)
Lost 7 (arsenal, Braga, Utrecht, Sion, Legia, Maribor, Malmo)
How many of those 7 sides we lost to enjoyed any great wealth or squad depth advantage over Celtic? Only arsenal I’d say.
It’s a deplorable record that straddles numerous managers. I think it’s indicative of poor planning and shutting the stable door on deadline day every year once the horse called CL qualification has bolted.
The buck stops with Peter Lawwell for this serial failure.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————
I congratulate the Glorious Balance Sheet on the above superb post. It succinctly summarizes the Celtic strategy (or lack thereof). We should read it at the beginning of every season. Peter Lawwell plans for failure, and any manager starts with both hands tied. In effect, we are being conned at the beginning of every season, and we are complete mugs for buying into it. MON stated, “Welcome to the slow lane.” We are now out of the slow lane, out of gas, trudging along the hard shoulder, and watching all others pass us by.
We learn nothing from our mistakes. Following the serial failures summarized by TGBS above, can anyone state that the acquisition of ONE teenager before the CL qualifying rounds is anything but deliberate?
The Imps beat the Estonians 2-0 at home in the previous round, scoring with a late penalty, not that different from yesterday’s result. They lost 2-1 away. The same result at Celtic Park would be catastrophic.
The most sickening thing for me last night was how gutless we were. How many more times must we hear Brown say, “We never turned up”, before binning a slew of yesterday’s losers? The time to do transfer business was at the close of last season. We have just hamstrung any new transfer dealings with that pitiful, abject horror show.
WEEBOBBYCOLLINS on 13TH JULY 2016 2:59 PM
Guys…I think we still know our players better than Brendan…so give the guy a real chance to catch up…
Surely our previous defensive coach JK has given BR a detailed report on the defence he was in charge of last season.
Ron67…he’s got to see things for himself…JK can only give BR his personal opinion on players’ ability and mentality…