Negatives out of the way first: we’re not good enough, this is a low achievement by a Celtic team who have reached a group stage. There’s no disputing that, but amid the predictable ‘Throw them all overboard’ reaction, I know I’m not the only one who is not panicking right now.
When I heard we were playing three wingers (Forrest, Mackay-Steven, McGregor) I anticipated a thrashing. Gordon Strachan would often drop all his craft players for the more industrial types in European football, with good reason.
As it turned out, we had the majority of the chances, and all the better ones, as we spent most of the second half pushing for a winner.
No arguments with Leigh Griffiths assessment immediately after the game, that was his worst performance in a Celtic shirt. Nor is there dispute in Ronny Deila’s retort that he’s scored plenty for us before and will continue to do so. Even the greats have days like that, including the Swede.
The midfield formation was fluid throughout the game. Tom Rogic initially played as a defensive mid, before moving in front of Stuart Armstrong (who moved everywhere) and Callum McGregor. The defensive mid role Rogic played isn’t one carried out by either Nir Bitton or Scott Brown. We’ve not had anyone in this role since the departure of Victor Wanyama (still pining) and it remains a large gap in the offering.
Lesson: we need a defensive mid. The deep lying playmaker + box-to-box player isn’t robust enough in Europe.
Callum McGregor carried possibly the lowest expectations of everyone in a Celtic shirt but he put in an excellent shift. His goal was outstanding, losing possession immediately before Ajax equalised took the shine off things a bit, but it was still a strong performance.
Do you know the last time McGregor started a game? October 2014. Under those circumstances that was a remarkable performance.
General consensus is that the defence played well. Kieran Tierney is as good a left back as we’ve had in years. Had he not gone off with an injury the result might have been different.
Jozo Simunovic is clearly out best central defender. I know I’m not setting the bar too high with that statement, but he’s a move in the right direction. He’s also young, still working on his fitness, and will continue to progress.
A week ago Celtic Underground’s Harry Brady suggested Dedryck Boyata plays better alongside Simunovic than without him. Dedryck still has a long way to go but the evidence suggests partnered with a game-reader like Jozo has helped him. Let’s see where he is at the end of the season.
And Craig Gordon? He could have stopped both Ajax goals. That’s not to say he was to blame for either, he wasn’t, but these were the kind of stops he was making in last season’s Europa League.
Ronny is 18 months into the job and has contributed to the situation we find ourselves in (tactical mistakes in both Molde games), but this is not the time to lurch off plan. We’re not good enough largely because we’ve recruited too few players since 2012 who have improved the team.
We need to continue to develop players like Tierney and we need to recruit better. Get this right in January, and again in the summer, and we will be vastly better. The alternative is likely to be to pick up a best from the SPFL pool, or someone from the English circuit who cannot get a better paid gig. And then it would take until November 2017 before we could assess them properly.
Return of the Bampots
Tonight, for one night onlyt, Phil Mac Giolla Bháin, John Fallon and myself are in the Hibs Club, Carfin, for a Q&A in aid of Mary’s Meals, with Phil Agnew hosting. The event starts at 7:30, £5 entry, can pay at the door.
Looking forward to seeing you there.
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Paul67
Powderpuff my friend.
Take the gloves off and lay bare the warts and all of the state we’re in.
Deila is just not up to it.
Petec
Who knows what’s in Francis’ cocktail. One thing we can only know for sure is the missing ingredient: Catholicism.
Dependant on the System to allow you to Live.
When Money is removed, you can be Starved to death. A dissenter, close his account down, disable his ability to buy.
Everyone knows the trajectory and it ain’t good.
That’s our future
GoodNight Sweethearts I really must go…..
Thank the ALMIGHTY Lord for witnessing so many Great Celtic Moments.
Bow tie guy
It is the controllers manipulating things.
The Target has Always been Christianity.
Morning all
Early rise,running the sweetpea and her colleagues take work
http://youtu.be/S_B3SJbqAlc
HH
RONNY DEILA has promised the Celtic fans: “We’ll be ready next year”.
The Norwegian said: “We buy talent, players who can be Champions League players. Nobody comes in and is a Champions League player in the first game.
“You have to develop them through time and we are going to be ready next year, that is the message to all the fans and that is the task that I and everyone in this club has.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’m good with that…….let’s all get behind Ronny and SUPPORT the team.
i.e. Keep The Faith
CQN Saturday Naps Competition
Lads, for those in the CQN Naps Competition, please post your selection here :
http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/celtic-v-ajax-live-updates-2/comment-page-29/#comments
All the best, fleagle1888 (Beirut CSC)
Who writes this crap, to even mention Griffiths in the same paragraph as Henrik! Get a grip. It was a shocking performance all round we are a dreadful team and the stats in Europe do not lie. Does the writer of this article think we are all zipped up the back, utter nonsense.
So….Chris Sutton isny a Celtic fan.
Says who….?
A conceited-smoke-screen-merchant-plant?
Chris Sutton / Paul Lambert / Martin O’Neill….probably played the card were, Neil Lennon became Arsne Wenger.
Ye know the one were, Kayal is assaulted by elbows…minutes later…Healey tries to half young James Forrest.
Neil was asked about the incidents after the game…
1. Kayal incident – Neil “No malice in the tackle, just two committed players going for the ball.”
2. Healey incident – Neil “……………………………………………….”
Ye see, even the unbreakable….have a tipping point.
No doubt, messers, Sutton, Lambert, O’Neill thought about the impact on their families when they all ‘dingyed’ the stripping titles issue….imho.
On the other hand….maybe, Sutton, Lambert, O’Neill have all concluded that…”Why should we fight the stripping titles battle when, there are a bunch of kowtowing-dangerous-keep-the-huns-alive-at-all-costs-duplicious-basturts-shafting-the-Celtic-support-and-taking-£millions-for-doing-so-on-the-board-who-SHOULD-but-dont….?”
Sutton, Lambert. O’Neill were unquestionably Celtic God’s….but….dont ever make the mistake of, taking them for mugs.
Ye just didn’t find yer way into Martin O’Neill’s dressing room if….ye were a mug.
Celtic supporters should stop being diverted….wanting old players to fight the battle….it’s the FUKIN board / PL / DD who are charged with and, are handsomely paid for running Celtic.
If, fans don’t think that the folk at the top of the tree are fighting the battles then….get rid of them….or….shut the fluk-up and go to the back of the bus…just like the board.
Know what….?
I’m flukin sick-sick-sick-sick-sick trying to flick a switch for the help of, snobby-stuck-up-sun-shines-oot-their-ain-erses-types of Celtic supporters who have known nothing but and, will go on to know nothing but….being the victim.
Only you can stop this………
CQN Saturday Naps Competition
Lads, for those in the CQN Naps competition, Week 17 results are updated here :
http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/celtic-v-ajax-live-updates-2/comment-page-29/#comments
Cheers, fleagle1888 (–Beirut CSC–)
The team need to be toughened up. Not for the first time, they have looked off the pace. Armstrong and Mackay-Steven are too easily pushed off the ball or lack bite in the desire to retrieve it. They need Sutton’s desire…and for 90 minutes!
Celtic started seven Scotsmen on Thursday if you include Tierney (possible Manx). We then had eight when Mulgrew came on. When did we last field that many? Early 90s?
Charlie Mulgrew… What would Burns, Aitken or McNeill have done?
Harsh?
Re: The much maligned Cifti…..
How many chances has he had to score…..?…!0?…12?….What?
How many goals has he scored…?
Ronny is a chooky-burdy….but, he’s just a mere symptom of the Celtic problem.
Celtic teams dont play with ‘one’ striker….end of.
A Celtic team with ‘one’ striker is as daft a notion as….a Celtic strip with ‘one’ hoop!
The deluded amongst us will tell us that we play with just ‘two’ defenders….dear, dear.
Time to mix the pot…..mutually consent Ronny, give the keys of the dug-out to Johnny Collins and, if the dummy-tit-spitting-bhoys dont want to play…..show them the door….pay them up and, move them on.
Oh….ah forgot….Johnny Collins isny a puppet so….’that’ could be a problem.
Confidentiallity-clauses r us . com
…….oot……
Hope some celts landed few slaps to them Ajax scumbags
All good being perfect support but when scum like this attack they deserve a backlash .
Hope everyone who was hurt makes speedy recovery .
Give me mick McCarthy ahead of David Moyes any day.
Good manager and takes no shite.
Back to paradise big mhan
Good morning friends from a cold, blustery, sleety East Kilbride.
Considering a trip this afternoon for the ole Scottish Cup 3rd Round Tie, Stenhousemuir v EKFC. No pyro no party and all that!
I backed Ronny up till the last Molde defeat. I’d still love to be proved wrong but sorry, the stats are shocking. I know people like me who still regard Celtic as one of the World’s great football clubs, are getting fewer, but that’s ingrained in you if you were lucky enough to live through the glory years.
The stock built up is rapidly diminishing. It saddens and frustrates me to see Celtic with the equal second worse record of 48 teams in the Europa league groups. After Fenerbahce we could be THE worst. We lag behind many teams from lesser leagues and crowds of 5k.
Ronny spoke about learning curve, valuable experience and young team. At what point will it all come together? PL will already be eyeing up Biton, Forrest or maybe even KT for the next shortfall offset.
Where are we going Peter? Can you explain the embarrassing stats? Are you content with (by my reckoning) at least 50% of the support being dismayed and disillusioned?
I re read ‘ Some perspective’ above and I could honestly hear the sound of a barrel being scraped as P67 tries to justify the retention of Ronnie. Paul must just be a very nice man or a very loyal friend to Peter Lawwell because he is so out of kilter with the many many comments that followed.
2 days reflection and I can not for the life of me see how Ronny ( John and John too) could ever be trusted to take on RIFC let alone be given any kind of money to launch next year’s European assault.
To be honest I believe they will win the SPFL but it’s not beyond the realms of possibility they could mess that one up too.
Goalkeeper has gone downhill. Defence is weaker ( despite having a full year to address this) the midfield is crowded but I feel with an imbalance of the type requires, our forward options are very limited . A poor game by Giffiths and we are sunk.
Is that progress? Is it a trajectory ? I really hope not.
Like most fans I had banked on being in a different stratosphere from RIFC after 4 years. We should have been unwatchable with a solid team and £30m in the bank from European loot.
We are nowhere near far enough ahead. We could be caught easily in the next 2 seasons.
That is not just Ronny’s failing but Lawwell must take some responsibility. Obviously he won’t.
Peter / Gordon64
http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/some-perspective/comment-page-17/#comment-2727372
Just saw these posts.
When did Brian die? A lovely man, who helped me and my brother many times.
hh
Cultsbhoy –
I assume you meant to suggest that we should have been ‘untouchable’ as some would argue that we have indeed become ‘unwatchable’ ;-)
Not me, though. Can’t wait for tomorrow’s goalfest!
bjmac on 28th November 2015 9:24 am
Brian died on Tuesday night mate.
Funeral next Wednesday at10 am Saint Bridget’s Eaglesham.
It makes me cringe where the Celtic management team are begging, yes begging, to be given another chance to qualify for the CL.
Firstly, more disrespect to the other SPL teams with the assumption that we have already won the league. It may true but you don’t just dismiss your opposition. Anyway, look at the injuries and loss of form.
Also, look at the European record. The only ‘high’ was a draw with Inter. FFS!
The two of them are duds and we need to act soon. I wouldn’t trust them or the present scouts with a red dime in the upcoming transfer window.
We need someone with a clue about managing Celtic not a dreamer who talks a good game.
I have a terrible feeling that we about to witness a Mowbray type January transfer window when Lawwell signs a stack of loanees, good players, who do nothing because of the team selection and ‘tactics’.
Voguepunter
Thanks, I’ll let my family know.
A quick story, when I first met Brian I asked him if he knew there was a Comerford who played for Celtic? He didn’t. I enquired where his names was from and it was from Cleland area a couple/few of generations back.
I explained that the Comerford that played for Celtic in the 40s was from close to there (New Stevenson) but his grandparents were from Cleland/Newarthill. I explained the reason I knew so much is the player was my grandfather, Patrick Comerford McAuley, I had only found out his middle name a few weeks earlier when my son was doing homework about his family tree and I’d helped him research. So it turned out we were distantly related ;) Brian enjoyed the story, if a little bemused at the prospect of having any connection to this numpty;)
I didn’t know Brian well, but he was a great help to me and Kevin, my older brother. A true Celtic man, a RGT (Right Good Tim) – a high accolade indeed ;)
RIP
hh
Every word from Chris Sutton the other night was correct.
Hugh Keevins, who’s family put more money into Celtic FC than the entire Celtic board, agreed.
So, why dont we get the peashooter oot and ban Hugh Keevins?
Well, it made most Tims feel better the last time….didn’t it?
What did it solve….?
Or, did it just underline the fact that, Celtic FC are being run by small-minded-cheap-individuals….?
Why don’t Celtic ban Sutton….?
The same folk who sent a ‘letter’ from a ‘source’ to the BBC’s Chris McLaughlin expressing concerns…during the ‘honest-mistake-era’….remember those days?….When the board sat in the directors box and, looked the other way whilst Rangers FC hoovered-up the CL-Money-Pot….to stay alive and, maintain the Old Firm.
The days when, in Neil’s 1st season….live on BBC1….McLean an, Nevin accused the Celtic supporters of singing offensive songs….Celtic replied by….sending a ‘letter’ to the shredding-machine at BBC.Orc.
Celtic’s paying customers – as Fergus called us – trashed on National TV.
Why did – Roy Keane?…Henrik Larsson?….and, on previous occasions….Paul Lambert?….Owen Coyle?….all look inside Celtic and, couldny get oot it quick enough…?
Why…?
Who’s the bogey man…?
Who are the bogey men…?
Celtic need a – trickey-mickey-fox-in-the-box-nobodies-mug-ballsy-cute-maverick-bushy-tailed-individual in the dug out.
The above is in total contrast to the prescribed requirements by Doctor Lawwell.
The patients are wearing thin…..
Morning Bhoy a miserable morning in Central Scotland this morning well tomorrows game is a tricky one for the hoops after Thursdays disappointment . Inverness never an easy place to go and I dont expect it to be any different tomorrow.If we dont win the clamour for Ronnys head will be even greater but we dont need a period of upheaval we need stability we need to let the back four settle down and we need to see whar Cole can do up front.Ronny will continue to build and when all our injuries clear up you will see a different Celtic. Come on you Bhoys in Green. H.H.
I would also like to see Ronny be brave tomorrow and rest Gordon he is a long way from his form of last season I understand the defense has not been settled and goalkeepers dont like that but a wee rest might do him a world of good. It will be good to see Bitton and Joe Hanson back tomorrow.H.H.
My friends in Celtic,
Since the current article is titled ” Some Perspective”. Lets apply some.
Last night I watched a rather dull game between Hull and Derby. Derby County have signed Bradley Johnson for £6m.
Hull signed Robert Snodgress last year for £7m, and I believe that they have spent more this season.
This is the financial reality. Are these teams better than us ? No I don’t think they are. But they play in a more competitive league. They do not play domestically week after week against 10 men parking the bus.
Our league is not competitive, not entertaining and John Collins is absolutely correct.
Therefore to be sucessfull in Europe we must dramatically up our game on each occasion. Our senior players must lead by example. Have they ?
How many of our fans, maybe lapsed fans for want of a better word, watch all our games on live TV when applicable, or on Kodi, Mobdro etc , etc rather than make the effort to go.
Years ago the only method of watching Celtic was to actually go, or watch the occasional game on TV, or rely on highlights. Not so now, so in my opinion our ticket sales are remarkable. How many teams in the UK have > 40k season Ticket sales. ?
Yes there must be improvement, but IMO, Ronny must stay and then we can justly state that the words “Faithfull thgrough and through” are not just empty rhetoric.
HH to all Celtic Supporters.
PS : More perspective : Reading about the Ajax supporters. This was extreme offensive behaviour. This was thuggary on a massive scale on our streets How many arrests ?
It seems that our finect and their political masters have turned the old saying ” Sticks and stones” upside down. It is blatently obvious that more emphasis is applied to the signing of songs.
Perspective and comparason.
Jobo Balde
Yes untouchable …
I usually scroll by Kev’s rants but his defense of the nasally whining coward that is Keevin’s, is boak inducing. You know fine well why he was asked not to come back to Celtic Park, he used his position to take cheap insulting shots at a lovely quiet Celtic legend.
As far as his family putting money into Celtic? Made up story?
How many clubs will have 40,000 S-B’s sold next season…?…The huns?
The huns seem to think that their going to walk away from all their wrong doing’s.
I think that this Lord Docherty guy is another, Gollum, Clancy, O’Reilly etc…a Tim bending over backwards to try to look level.
CG losing his case the other week reminded me of, when Neil lost to the Edinburgh jury….did, Paul McBride QC not wrongly word the charge sheet in that case as well?…..Aye….ma erchie.
Delia position now untenable.
If he wins tomorrow it highlights his ineptitude in Europe.
A draw or a defeat highlights his general ineptitude.
Something’s are inevitable and Id say Ronnies imminent departure is now one of those things
Like most tims I talk to I am fond of Ronny and want the nice guy to succeed, but deep down don’t think he has it. However, I have sympathy for Paul’s argument that all of our problems will be solved by changing the manager is too simplistic. There are much more fundamental issues around the club’s recruitment strategy and its execution of it. Whatever Ronny’s failings (and they are real), the bigger issue is the strategy. It’s not working and it’s left us with a very weak team. The optimist in me would say this goes in cycles and we have bottomed out and will now climb back up again. However, looking at the fundamentals of our club and team the pessimist sees us flatlining at this level of mediocrity, becoming increasingly infuriated by Ronny’s promises of jam tomorrow, straight from the Peter Lawwell playbook.
Taking a wider perspective on the game, I actually find myself turned off by the ECL, which has become a mismatched corporate borefest. Elite sport relies on true competition and uncertainty of outcome. Look at how the ECL has evolved as a competition and the real interest only begins at the Q/Fs and increasingly the S/Fs. I know we aspire to be there, but whilst for me in years past it was about winning, now it’s because it brings money in and insulates us against the competition at home. Look at Malmo and it tells you how we’d fare. Quite sad and completely out with our control.
Amidst all this I cheer myself up daily by reading the blogs about goings on at Ibrox and contrasting that with the reportage in the WoS gutter press. And to think we used to call the Celtic View Pravda. Reasons to be cheerful.
Sutton gave up the right to criticise anyone in a Celtic shirt for bottling it the day he let us all down by getting himself deliberately sent off when 0-1 down against the huns.
i was gutted when he did that, absolutely gutted.
PROUDBHOY on 28TH NOVEMBER 2015 8:32 AM
Give me mick McCarthy ahead of David Moyes any day.
Good manager and takes no shite.
Back to paradise big mhan
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/some-perspective/comment-page-18/#comments
Ff S, Angel of death take me NOW.
Bawsman
____________
He comes from a household full of Celtic SB-holders.
How much do the board put in again…?Hugh Keevins was banned coz he was writing the match report for the friendly with Inter Milan at Celtic Park a few years ago and, his report had a picture of the Celtic crowd….a ghost attendance.
Further into his report….Hugh Keevins said that the attendance in the picture might be the future crowds at CP because….Lawwell had voted Rangers out of the league instead of….keeping the huns in the league with a points deduction until, ‘all’ of the unpaid money – £140 million – was paid back in full.
Now, as it has turned out….the huns have gone under cover for four years and paid back hee-haw and, Celtic Park is half-empty.
HK went on and pointed out that, the amount of money that this decision by Lawwell could ‘ultimately’ cost the club might just find the CEO getting into hot water with his superiors?
Well, four years down the road….how much richer are Celtic FC without Rangers….?
Or, on the other hand….how much money have Celtic lost in that four year period…?
And, who is accountable…?
HH
KEVJUNGLE
Your happy I see, posting like a trooper, strange we hardly see you when we’re winning, oh! And your not alone, Gintys storm troopers have taken over this site,.
The CT in full tilt at organising and manipulating, oh! And they’r not political, oh no, phhhffftttt.
Good Morning Bhoys, Don’t post much anymore as its depressing how much in fighting there is now and the only joy we seem to get is at the monsters demise. My 2 pence worth will be short (i’ll try) and sweet. We are a mess from top to bottom, The board are business men and don’t care. (as many who have already mentioned) The downward slide since WGS is scary and we were no great shakes then, NL was handed the job with no experience at all (should have sent alarm bells ringing) we got lucky a couple of times but in one off games was shown to be a novice.Now not mentioning BTM as he at all failed on all levels.
Onto Ronnie a man who was supposed to be our new assistant was given the job to manage (still no alarm bells yet?) we are run as a business by men who use the football team to support the business, Its’s all upside down and that’s what is wrong with us , there is no malaise no bad European results, WE have a good fans being fleeced no different than what is happened across the water. Since Fergus users have stepped in and took what they can out the club and continue to do so, There is no progress and people who promote this nonsense are either blinded by faithful through and through or are in on it. We should be light years ahead of anything in the country and aren’t so what went wrong ? where did the money go? I think we all know where it went.
You do not need to spend a fortune to make a successful football team but you need the club to be ran right and pulling in the right direction and we aren’t that what’s wrong, I feel for RD ( I have a Ronnie’s roar T shirt) its not his fault. If we were ran right he would only be at CP as a spectator until he gained enough experience to coach for us. But he’s not he a patsy way out his depth who has great speeches and nothing else. There are lot of examples of smaller clubs that do well domestically and hold their own in Europe without spending millions. But all are ran right from top to bottom. I know about the Lions and Yadda yadda yadda that you guys talk about every day on here and there is no disrespect against you guys in anything I type I like to read the stories being too young myself but I would like a great story to tell my kids and pst about not just nearly this and nearly that which is what we have become. Nearly men. Shame every passing year of down sizing and penny pinching without comment from the customer and we will be a sleeping giant before we know it and yeah we can still talk about 1967. ;)
From the the heart gents and have a good day.
KLV
tonydonnelly67
_____________
Have a cyber Celtic beer fella.
Kev, I come from a household full of Celtic SB holders, so what?
You do know why he was banned don’t you? He deserved it.
You’re spinning rubbish here matey, pick another cause, you’ll not win this one, Keevins behaved like a coward.