The Celtic soap opera season continued through the weekend. We were taken to the school of St Mirren on Saturday, then watched incredulously as a central defender we knew little about but who Sky incorrectly reported had signed a pre-contract, was instead heading for Liverpool.
Vasilis Barkas was dropped after the 2-2 draw with Livingston, he would be forgiven for being grateful as Scott Bain was given the unenviable burden of coping with a level of defending unseen at Celtic in decades. For the good of the player as well as the team, Neil Lennon has to accept Shane Duffy does not have what it takes at this level. A midweek pantomime against Hamilton went unpunished, while St Mirren fully exploited his meanderings.
In early December, I was assured Neil Lennon had the full support of the dressing room. Speaking in the heat after Saturday’s defeat, he questioned the players’ attitude and behaviour. There was no containment of the problem, no deflection of pressure off the squad and onto his more capable shoulders. Whatever goodwill exists must be under strain.
It must be difficult to find the words for so many post-match failures but throwing players under the bus is not the received wisdom. You and I are left to ponder what direction our season will plunge towards next.
Deadline Day in the ‘January’ transfer window leaves us with little to get excited about. We can hope for a central defender to fill the gap left by Christopher Jullien and a right back to allow Kristofer Ajer to move back into the middle. We cannot, though, buy confidence.
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This is an interesting if not distressing podcast on where Celtic find themselves and how we ended up here. Suggests all the mistakes by suits of a typical company who holds a long time monopoly and then finds itself with competition in the market that it is complacent on.
https://twitter.com/gigpod/status/1355820064247853057?s=21
Note – guest appearance from Juco James who isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. For me, he called it correctly last July-Aug even though he was ridiculed by many. Just sayin….
I stopped following him myself on Twitter last Sept for few months as I couldn’t accept what he was saying could come true with his projections. And I have a MSc in data science! My emotional self was in denial like many at the time I guess….
Soccer-Ahead of Libertadores final, Palmeiras’ Patrick owes debt to Celtic
Thu, 28 January 2021, 4:05 pm·3-min read
FILE PHOTO: Brasileiro Championship – Palmeiras v Athletico Paranaense
FILE PHOTO: Brasileiro Championship – Palmeiras v Athletico Paranaense
Patrick de Paula wearing a shirt of the Mario Lombardi Celtic poses for a photo in Campo Grande
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Soccer-Ahead of Libertadores final, Palmeiras’ Patrick owes debt to Celtic
FILE PHOTO: Brasileiro Championship – Palmeiras v Athletico Paranaense
RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – When Palmeiras midfielder Patrick de Paula walks out for the Copa Libertadores final against Santos at the Maracana Stadium on Saturday, Scottish club Celtic can claim some of the credit.
The 21-year-old De Paula, known as Patrick in Brazil, learned his football wearing the famous green-and-white hooped jersey donated by the Glasgow club to a community project in the Mario Lombardi neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro.
Today that project is known as Mario Lombardi Celtic, thanks to a long-standing partnership that began in 2006 when members of the Celtic supporters club in Rio made a charitable donation.
Celtic were founded in 1888 seven years after being inspired by Hibernian, a club formed by Irish immigrants in Edinburgh, and they proudly expanded on Hibs’ charitable aims.
One of the members of the Rio Celtic supporters club organised a visit to the community soccer school and soon after Celtic agreed to send kits.
“What we would get was discontinued stock from the Celtic shop,” said then supporters club president Jimmy Dunnet.
“There might have been an order of a full set of strips for a wee team and then cancelled, we would get that. Or stock that hadn’t sold when they moved on from brand A to brand B.”
Bags of kit are usually brought over by Celtic fans who live in Rio. In addition to the hoops, the club gets second and third strips. One year a printing error meant the whole team played with number six with (player Bobo) Balde on the back.
Patrick grew up nearby and was a regular on the community’s astroturf pitch by the age of seven. His talent, said coach and organiser Gerson Oliveira, was obvious.
“We had to polish him of course but he knew how to shield the ball, he had a great left foot, he was a class above. It was like he was born with a ball at his feet.”
LITTLE PELE
Patrick, who earned the nickname Pelezinho, or little Pele, moved through the ranks, usually playing in the age category above his own, and caught the eye of Rio club Botafogo. He later ended up at Palmeiras, where he made his debut in January 2020.
He is now part of a potent young guard at the Sao Paulo club. Danilo, 19, and Gabriel Menino, 20, play alongside him in midfield, while Gabriel Veron, 18, is a pacy winger.
All four are expected to feature in Saturday’s all-Brazilian Libertadores final against Santos at Rio’s famous Maracana.
“This is a unique moment, the moment I’ve always waited for,” Patrick told Reuters.
“This is a dream for me and for the school where I trained and a dream for all the community. I hope all the community are all tuned in on Saturday at 5pm for the final of the Libertadores.”
Community soccer school coach Gerson has turned down an invitation to watch the match at Patrick’s family home, believing the player turned his back on his roots and mentors.
But the kids at Mario Lombardi are aware of their predecessor’s rise and will be cheering for Palmeiras, as will Gerson, although his real love is now in Glasgow.
“This shirt is our second skin,” Gerson said of his hooped Celtic jersey. “We’re not Vasco or Flamengo, we’re all Celtic here, we live and breathe Celtic now. I am a Flamengo fan but I have become more of a Celtic fan.”
WESTCRAIGS on 1ST FEBRUARY 2021 6:15 PM
If anyone considering signing for our club read this site they would be appalled at the abuse our manager and players receive.
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The Livi captain in the Shortie interview yesterday said that very thing.
If his agent came and said Celtic want you he would tell him to find him a different club, as coming to celtic right now would be too volatile.
Conversely, Shelley Kerr said most mangaers would jump at the appointment
Lennon just said he’s wanted away for ages…….get him tae -k then,he’s as bad for playing him
Bada
That last sentence has just destroyed a lot of hope
JAMES FORREST on 1ST FEBRUARY 2021 2:36 PM
This ISN’T breaking the Enigma code.
God, I hate trying to type on this damned site. Half of what I write ends up a mess like that above.
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ah jaysuz james i would say its in the 98%+ :-)) jj
was meaning to ask you,in your “coffee” essay last week.Do you have any knowledge of Stan Cullis and his ‘pep’ pills which made wolverhampton wander up the table.late 50s or so.
HH
£4.5m?
That’s what we paid for him. Sporting Lisbon were meant to have bid £13m.
The blogger – all things considered we’re lucky to break even. He’s had the odd great game but most of the time he’s not been showing enough.
There’s a wee Tim ( Padraig’s Podcast) on RTE news….he has a sixty second Monday positivity episode – a regular thing.
He’s head to toe in the Hoops…………..
HH wee barra.
The major reason guys like Ntcham consider Celtic is to raise their profile and get a big money move to a better league. The other reason equally important is money. As wee Fergus said,, they aint here for the weather!
With one notable exception its been like this for 20 years and more..
Ntcham is a great football player but has not seemed interested ( I know that’s his style ) and as such was another taking a wage and giving nothing back
Desperate times (and they are) calls for desperate measures. The last few months loan periods for Henry and Shved seems to have brought them on. If possible, I’d call them back into the fold
ON — Away for buttons.
Do we mark this down as another PL shambles?
However if your team looks like a pub team then that is what you will get for the players.
i wish him well — huge talent that nearly flourished with us.
At least we have the memory of “Champion the wonder pass” — two touches later the ball is in the back the net.
KT and LG did their bit but ON set it all up.
Perhaps he’s kept Eddy Bhoy here…..that bit longer.
It really saddens me, tho’ that talented cool dudes like ON don’t become a fixture at Celtic Park.
If we do not get rid of Lenny NOW, and leave it until the end of the season, I shudder to think of the decline in season ticket money. Leicester got it spot on with Brendan, give him a month or two to assess the players , then off to the new season with a good idea of who to play and not.
Like most people, I have huge love and respect for Neil Lennon after all he has given and taken for Celtic, but the longer he stays in place that respect is shrinking by the day.
Said before but I would get Henke in as Director of Football and appoint Steve Clark or Shawn Maloney as manager.
I’d love to here what you think of that choice please.
SCHUMMI
At the moment I think that our current trajectory is that of Carthage.
Haw Hannibal — you might be at the gates of Rome but calm your jets.
Away and sun yourself in the Italian countryside for a few months / years.
Can’t have a pleb like you beating the Romans that is our job — men in sharp togas / unofficial Directors of Warfare.
Naw just lest them fester for a while.
We need the challenge — if we beat them our budgets will be cut.
They are no threat to us — who needs elephants anyway.
They cost too much and all we need is a few fat cows.
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We have only had 2000 plus years to learn that lesson.
Same tripe — different milleniums.
SCHUMMI
Not sure the exact role of a DOF, so can’t comment whether Henke fits the bill or not. I think Steve Clark has his limitations, yes he’d probably get us winning rather than losing but, with no previous history of trophy winning I think he’d be a gamble. Done great with killie in as much he made them difficult to beat but I’d be looking for a more forward thinking coach. Wee Shaun…..a shot in the dark
Hendry’s loan can’t be cut short
SCHUMMI on 1ST FEBRUARY 2021 7:08 PM
Would love Henrik back but not as manager, not sure he would fit the DOF role but who knows.
Maloney learning his trade with Martinez, not a bad teacher.
Chummy – Henke’s a playing legend………..not a manager – wrong temperament imo.
Clarkey goat his card marked by the Hun meeja who needed to see him off at the pass, lest thur hun handicap hurdle one horse event with slippy be jeopardised.
Wee Shawn??? A great assistant, part of the bench, who knows…but not a leader yet.
So we allegedly ?????
Got offered £10m for Boyata, said no, and he left for £0
Got offered €17m for Ntcham in 2019, sold potentially for €4.5
Fantastic decisions
Oh and spent £400k on our Dubai adventure 😡😡😡
Great value
Sadly, I really don’t think S. Clarke could be bothered with the aggro – pity as I really rate him. BTW I seem to remember Celtic could have signed him as a player and some sort of mess up allowed him to go to Chelsea(?) I would go for Mick McCarthy as temporary with Duffers learning the ropes. Don’t think Duffers wants to leave Ireland though.
nice story for a change ST STIVS
SCHUMMI on 1ST FEBRUARY 2021 7:08 PM
And Clark? Don’t think he would be interested if his “Old Firm” comments were anything to go by…
Ireland as in living in Ireland.
31003 on 1ST FEBRUARY 2021 7:17 PM
I think Moravcik would be a better bet considering the administrative roles he’s held with the Slovakian FA. A good article put forward John Collins too. Never a manager but not the sort of person who would let standards slip.
GEEBEE1978
John Collins could maybe fit the bill, but, thinking about what I read between his stints at both Hibs and Celtic, I think he doesn’t seem to command a lot of respect from his players
GEEBEE1978
Oops….thought you meant as manager
31003 on 1ST FEBRUARY 2021 7:26 PM
Exactly my point. As DOF he wouldn’t need to but would probably have the knowledge to appoint someone who would.
Or we could try those that aren’t ex Tims, and approach those that have a record of achievements & experience in management and DOF.
I can’t comment re DoF
I don’t know enough about it. I know there’s more to it than rubber stamping the seasons spend
Mick McCarthy is Cardiff manager now
If it is just down to p&l I could do it. Throw my hat in the ring please
SCULLYBHOY on 1ST FEBRUARY 2021 7:22 PM
As far as I recall, Chairman McGinn told Davie Hay that if he wanted to buy S Clarke from St Mirren and J McLaughlin from Morton – who would both have been significant upgrades – he could do so with his own money.
I think that S Clarke is the extent of the N Lennon replacement plan.
It wouldn’t surprise me if he stayed with Scotland after his media experience after being abused by that mob.
Then what?
SCULLYBHOY on 1ST FEBRUARY 2021 7:22 PM
Sadly, I really don’t think S. Clarke could be bothered with the aggro – pity as I really rate him. BTW I seem to remember Celtic could have signed him as a player and some sort of mess up allowed him to go to Chelsea(?) I would go for Mick McCarthy as temporary with Duffers learning the ropes. Don’t think Duffers wants to leave Ireland though.
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Any reason, other than being Irish, that would give us confidence these two could take us forward?
I am giving you the benefit of the doubt and assuming by Duffers, you mean Damien not Shane!!!!
We can speculate all we like about a DoF.
If Mr McKay’s remit is similar to Mr Lawwell’s then New Boss is Same as the Old Boss.
WontGetFooledAgain CSC.
Glenn Hoddle had Spurs, Chelsea, Swindon and Engurland playing nice football at one time
I presume the board/club are working hell for leather on a medium term plan – manager, players, club structure.