My friends in Celtic, 10 trophies in a row has been achieved, a level of dominance over Scottish football not known, even under Jock Stein. With the League Cup secured, we have won 17 out of 20 league games, topped our Europa League group for the first time, but all of this will count for little if the league title is not won come May.
By any objective measure, Celtic have improved this season. Had we started this season as we started last, the league title would already be beyond our reach. However, marked improvement is not enough. Newco have made even more significant gains. They have won 16 of their 19 league games, came second in their Europa League group and reached their second major final. A win in their game in hand would put them to of the table by one point.
December started with a comfortable 1-4 win at Ross County, but in the eight games since then we failed to score more than two goals. A late rescue against Hamilton Accies painted over some cracks but the edifice came crashing down as Newco deservedly won 1-2 on Sunday.
We played terribly, lost the tactical battle, missed a penalty and invited crisis into our world. It is likely to be several months before we get a chance to feel better about our league title chances.
Those objective measures of improvement are of no comfort, it is vastly more important how we are measure against domestic rivals than how we performed in previous seasons. The objective State of the Club is impressive. The trophy cabinet is full, most games are a sell-out, and finances are sustainable, despite no Champions League income. We recruited well in the summer and continue to transform young players with potential into valued talent.
We are seeded and favourites to win our Europa League last 32 game, and based on our group stage, there is every reason to hope for a run deep into that competition. Our perspective would look altogether different if only Newco were their usual shambolic selves. But they are not. They are a good team with a good manager who have many of us worried.
Celtic have been getting things strategically right for a long time. The level of dominance we have, together with our financial strength, does not happen by accident. We are a well-run club that has absolutely no intentions of letting this league title slip.
Newco are at their best. They recruited well and have not endured the injury record we have this campaign. They are financially below the water line and will find it difficult to recruit in order to improve their team next month.
Celtic, despite their high points total, have not been at their best. They can and will spend. Several areas of the team will improve. The team that visits Ibrox on 15 March will be ready for the challenge.
Had we won on Sunday, the league title would be considered a given. Much of our chat in the weeks ahead would be about the Scottish Cup and a fourth consecutive treble. Instead, we need to quickly up our game. Situations like this are why we run our business on a sustainable model, with flexibility available when required.
You could make the point that winning everything all of the time is not good for the long-term development of a football team. Without a viable challenge, aspirations are not set as high as they otherwise would be.
It was different when we faced Oldco for the title. Like now, they were forever spending more than they could afford or raise, but their budgets were similar to ours, which meant we had to walk a line between financial viability and being competitive. If having little or no competition is not healthy, the scenario we faced with Oldco was a lot worse.
Celtic are now planning to form a team capable of winning pretty much every domestic game between now and the end of the season. That is the bar required. It will be difficult and there are no guarantees we will win the league, no matter how much money is spent.
The one thing you know about Celtic is that they know how to win trophies; in fact, they have forgotten how to lose them. Enjoy the remainder of this season, it will hopefully deliver a cherished and historic title.
406 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- »
Test
Aye
Forget all the hun crimes , misdemeanors , bigotry and insults.
It`s the Sellick Board tae blame.
The hun`s best friends reside on CQN.
Jnp 4.05
Correct jnp,they should call it out.
Alas I don’t think they will
Listening to our club being deemed racist by a professional shiteswiper and defender of the famine song.think o that,a concerted slur from thos on defending his sectarian and racist club*UEFA.
The phasers of the cheating hun are full on
Knuckles are been pressed.
Hope your good mate
I’m sure we can rely on the fairness and independence of those looking at the various incidents to come to the right decision.
No laughing at the back
Not a fan of Hogmanay which is just as well as we’re babysitting the grandson tonight.
All the best when it comes.
Back to Basic
I dont know him or want to know him, I know what he has said in justifying a neck being slashed, does that sound like a nice chap?
Think we can still win this title as we are.
But we are all aware it is too close to call.
Time to add some genuine pace and quality into the side.
A celtic board that fails to win the title this year is going to get pelters and it will be far more costly to rebuild from the manager backwards in may.
Personally i would stick with lennon no matter what.But if we lose the title i feel i will be in the minority on that.
Get it done in january celtic
Sign 2 or 3 pieces of quality that we are normally told we cannot afford.
Im thinking the calibre of a robbie keane or craig bellamy.
Does anyone know when Jozo will be fit, good player.
KINGLuBO
“We are aware of a number of incidents from Sunday’s match including Celtic supporters being targeted with missiles from the away support, something which has unfortunately happened on numerous occasions previously.
“We are also aware of a number of other unsavoury incidents involving the away support, including sickening chants directed at our players and supporters.
“However, as we always do, Celtic will deal with these and all other incidents responsibly and in a dignified and professional manner and in a way which protects the greater good of the game.”
The last paragraph shows how impotent our board are….
The first paragraph shows how inept police scotland and the stewards are at their jobs ….it can’t be hard to train cameras on 700 fans and pick out the culprits….forgot, its not he GB.
PÓGMATHONYAHUN AKA LAIRD OF THE SMILES on 31ST DECEMBER 2019 6:26 PM
Never a truer saying than the old adage ‘ you reap what you sow.’
If the Celtic board has been in anyway complicit in resurrecting the huns then, unfortunately, it is getting what it deserves – the Frankenstein Monster on coke.
Ha ha…….well said ‘Frankenstein Monster on coke’ and nodoby to tackle it!
tester
THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM on 31ST DECEMBER 2019 5:39 PM
Glass Half Full, I’d like to add demographics to your list.
… 20% of folks have a leaning towards Celtic.
_____________________________________________
That’s why Celtic success must come as an affront to so many in Scotland.
Celtic should say something!! Celtic should say something!!!
Celtic say something……
Still not happy.
Morons everywhere with no clue how the world works.
Fritzsong – bravo.
Just listening to some old episodes of the News Quiz, featuring the late Linda Smith. She was describing Beer companies efforts to entice women to drink more of their product and mentioned that they were marketing a third of a pint in special lady-like glasses. Linda’s response was- “That\s not drinking! That’s homeopathy!”
THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM on 31ST DECEMBER 2019 7:40 PM
==============================================================
Lots of Twitter traffic suggesting Celtic have been asked by Police to stem comments subject to investigation.
Appears serious injury to RC happened after game.
I must admit when I saw the slow mo replay of Ryan’s supposed ‘bawgrab’ on Morelas there looked to be nothing in it . Presumably the club have studied it and come to the same conclusion before issuing their statement . The compliance officer clearly disagrees , has an agenda , or is being manipulated.
Going along with the notion we are being played, Peter Lawwell’s job for the next month is making sure the squad is as strong as it possibly can be for the second half of the season, not fire fighting every piece of slander or liable coming our way. Deal with that in turn.
:))) :))) :))) :)))
Happy 2020 everyone when it comes
The last ten years on here been a blast
Just heading out with the Frau to a wee hoolie in Forres. Happy New Year to everyone when it comes. Hopefully see you all on the other side.
My initial reaction to the rumours around Christie was that they were bullshit but the silence from the club regarding a player going under the knife is strange.
If Christie sustained a legit injury I think the club would have said so and explained the surgery as such.
As somebody a bit remote to the action in the borders i have posted 2 pieces of true infofmation on here over the last decade before it was” out there ” one on the tax case (freind at tax office ) and one that BR was leaving 3/4 hrs before it was confirmed ( brother in law an employee of club for over 20 years) both times i took a lof of flack .
I hear lots of snippets a good bits of info seems to be true most of it is in general a few hrz before it breaks out
I had a great chat with bro in law some things in the last hr that may raise a few eyebrows and would explain
A few things firstly RC was told to play despite his claims of not being 100 % and he a go in the dressing room at the medical staff not NL.
The next thing being celtic have not dismissed an approach from lyon about OE its driven by his agent not this window but in the summer but the board maybe tested if lyon sell dembelle.
Not great news sadly and nothing on incomings
Griff is finished the club have told him they would prefer he found a new perm club .
He was fined 2 weeks wages within the last month .
Its possible his contract could be terminated
Take it for what you want it will be intresting to see how this news breaks over next few days
Edoaurd declared himself not fit for the cup final and that was accepted.
Had Ryan done likewise on Sunday I believe there’s no way the club would ignore that – see Edoaurd precedent.
Something does seem strange about Christie though.
Dessybhoy – I’m with you !!!
Never met the guy. We just have a mutual social acquaintance.
The fact that he works for Sevco says it all.
His conduct gradually deteriorating.
Starts off with small unspecific fibs.
Then they get bigger and more frequent.
BTW, worth stating – the guy is not a big hitter.
He was previously Company Secretary of Motherwell during a period of unspectacular performance.
Hail hail
I don’t comment much but I have to say that the new club and its supporters are much worse than the old, a good friend of mine who supports the dark side buys into everything now and doesn’t even accept arguments made by supporters of the former club. It saddens me almost as much as seeing a kid on my drive home from work with a Sevco goalkeeper top with the number 1 and King Billy as the name. My son is 4 and I think his best hope is to get out of Glasgow as much as I love the place. I’m not sure I should get him interested in the game as the cheating around it and the way the media report stuff just gets my blood boiling. As for the football, a conversation were my aunt has balls, Ryan scores the Pen, Celtic win no matter how bad we were
The source for the following story is as good as it gets….
Morelos kicked Ryan Christie in the balls in the tunnel after the game.
John Kennedy punched Morelos to get him TF
Ryan Christie needed emergency surgery and might lose a testicle.
Charlie Christie was at his son’s bedside for 30 hours and then went to London Road police station.
Traynor pressured the press saying Ryan Christie called Morelos a bb.
Traynor also successfully pressured the SFA to charge RC.
Ffs…. Stop blaming Peter Lawwell for everything ghuys
Thanks for everything to all the CQN staff & commentators who make this site such an enjoyable staple of my routine.
Hope you all have a wonderful new year when it comes & wish you all nothing but the best across the next decade and beyond, in both our sporting wishes & your lives! HH
all this violence .too much for me so i’m off to bed .new year celebrations thought up to replace CHRISTMAS when hun scotland did away GOD.
I’m believe Ryan Christie is currently in New York City enjoying himself. The tunnel story is made up nonsense.
Thanks and happy new year when it comes to all who set up and contribute to this site, I’m mostly a lurker but appreciate what I get here from fellow Celts and that is with a soft C as the other does not exist in the English language 😀
Bob 8.51pm
So in the last 10yrs your inside information consists of …
“The Huns were liquidated by their major creditor HMRC”
“Brendan left”
“Christie not happy on Sunday”
“Lyon want Edouard”
“Griffiths is finished “
Ffs no wonder you don’t post much, by the way “remote” shouldn’t really effect you online :-)
I dont expect celtic to win every game, that would be arrogant and defeat the whole ethos of sport. so my comments have nothing to do with the rangers game when i thought rangers were slightly the better team so no recriminations there, the ref didnt give them the 3 points we did.
The whole circus that is sevco has gotten so out of control that i fear sometimes for my two season ticket holding sons who attend ALL celtic games.
it is with this in mind alongside the deafening silence coming from the people appointed to uphold the CELTIC TRADITION that i will do all in my power to talk my sons out of renewing, as i will not, can not stand by the spineless board who are consistently found wanting when needing to put our point of view. hopefully once this absolutely hopeless board is removed i will be back. over and out.
Happy New Year everyone.
HH
Bob 8.51pm
Keep posting … as a glass half full person even though as every other Celtic fan I was gutted about Sunday, but I have fair enjoyed the blog the last few days of 2019… plenty of great posts and differing opinions, as for Jobo’s motm stuff I have been asking friends & family who would their top 3 be… I can honestly say any game I see the full 90mins I find myself concentrating more and also MissGFTB questions my picks, terrific enjoyment even on difficult days like Sunday
Anyhow all the very best for 2020 to every Cqner past, present or future (& lurkers as well)
And just as important I hope Neil Lennon has a terrific 2020, even though he will be going some to better his 2019
Hail Hail 🍀
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50962390
Burst blood vessel.
Why there’s so little detail on this from the club is confusing.
Bhoys & Ghirls
Can I wish all of you,
A hugely successful, peaceful and prosperous 2020
With the best of health to all those currently struggling
Hail Hail
I reject the premise that the Huns “deserved” to win Sunday.
Check the stats on possession, shots, corners.
How many crucial saves did FF make?
How many did McGregor make? Including the penalty.
How many shots did we have to clear off our line?
Their winning goal came directly from a corner which was wrongly awarded.
OK I may be seen as a sore loser.but as Vince Lombardi famously said
“Show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser.”