2014 saw Celtic win their third consecutive league title, but we didn’t reach either cup final. A period of significant change got underway during the summer when we said farewell to Neil Lennon.
Neil took over from Tony Mowbray, his first managerial appointment after working with the Youths at Lennoxtown. His first season was the one that got away. Defeat at Inverness with the title within their grasp, Walter Smith’s Rangers took their third successive title against the third difference Celtic manager.
Three months into the next season, Celtic were 10 points behind a Whyte-McCoist inspired Rangers, but that was overcome, with interest, by Christmas. Celtic went on to win the league by 20 points, although 10 of them were as a penalty for Rangers incurring an insolvency event.
Thereafter it was plan sailing for Neil. He never looked back in the league and reached the Champions League group stage twice, progressing to the knock-out stage on the first occasion. He learned the managerial ropes at Celtic and did enough in his four years here to establish himself as a European-class manager. He was our third unqualified success in four appointments.
By this summer it was evidence to all, including Neil, that significant rebuilding was needed. The job was handed to Ronny Deila.
Ronny’s first challenge came in the Champions League qualifiers in the form of Legia Warsaw. Despite the record books showing Celtic progressed after a 3-0 default home win, Legia wiped the floor with Celtic home and away. Celtic looked like a team of strangers, unfamiliar with the system they were asked to play.
That was, of course, true, the system was unfamiliar, but it’s execution was miscalculated, the on-field results were deserved. The Champions League playoff round against Maribor was unusual inasmuch as Celtic dominated the away first leg and deserved more than the 1-1 draw, but the Slovenians arrived in Glasgow with their game face on. Celtic were outplayed and out of the Champions League.
Things slowly got better, although home performances against Motherwell (by my measure the worst) and Hamilton Accies (who were impressive), and latterly Ross County indicated there is still a long way to go.
Ronny’s Celtic found their feet in the Europa League, where they finished second behind a very accomplished Salzburg. The away performances against Salzburg and Astra gave an insight into how things could be for this Celtic team.
It was, to say the least, disappointing not to qualify for the Champions League. It denied the club millions of pounds and shaded our trump card in to be used in attracting players, but in reality we’re not a Champions League team this season. The Europa’ gave us an opportunity to play European football on our level, pick up coefficient points and extended interest after Christmas (if you’re young this won’t mean much, if you’re my age, you’ll recall this being our Holy Grail).
Inter Milan await in the next round. They are also going through a rebuilding exercise and are as vulnerable to lesser-resourced teams as Celtic – so unlike Juventus two years ago – we have a sporting chance.
The tactical direction of the club is visibly distinct from what went before Ronny. Is this a good thing? Probably. Neil Lennon and his players over-achieved in their first Champions League season on a scale it’s difficult to measure. That squad had no right to reach the levels they did; theirs was a herculean effort. Play Matthews at left back, alongside a central pair of Wilson and Ambrose. Put Miku up front, with Mulgrew and Ledley in the middle – then go beat Barcelona. It was beyond impossible.
Barca, Ajax and Milan were prepared for Celtic last season; we finished bottom, out of ideas and direction on that stage. We needed to change, same again wasn’t going to wash.
Ronny’s played a high-pressing game, mostly with players who are unaccustomed to the demands of this game-plan. This has been a mistake on several occasions, most notably against Legia and Maribor. He’s working on player fitness, but in all likelihood it will take the next two transfer windows before he can craft the squad into the shape he wants it to be.
We’re halfway through the season and, with Aberdeen playing before us tomorrow, there’s a chance they could go top of the table, for a couple of hours, anyway. That’s not good enough, by any measure. Notwithstanding the revamp, we should have done better in the Champions League qualifiers and we should be further ahead in the league, but the fundamentals remain intact:
We needed to start post-Neil Lennon with a new tactical strategy.
Trying hard not to be disrespectful to Aberdeen, but we’re going to win the league.
We’re in both cup competitions.
We remain in the Europa League.
I was happy with the direction we took in appointing Ronny Deila and remain so. The problems of the last six months could be classified as First World Problems. We’ll get over them, while others watch on from the Other Worlds.
Have a Happy Celtic New Year, strap in and enjoy the ride, I promise it’ll be a great one.
Sale on at CQNBookstore, fill your stockings.
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Oops, Big-cup-winners
My apologies for the mistake with your nomme de blog. Whit was Cup-winners-cup all about?
City with all their superstars can’t break down a Sunderland 9 man defence
Maybe I was too harsh on our manager after Saturday
Celtic’s Eric Reilly is a member of the board of the SPFL, so is it conceivable that Celtic were not privy to and therefore by definition complicit in Doncaster’s statement about the ‘same club’ issue? Otherwise their CEO should be fired for an unauthorised and unsupported statement.
Also our CEO is on the board of the SFA, our game’s governing body, so it’s unlikely he didn’t know of the content of the statement in advance. Will they make any comment?
I’ve stated already that I fear for people’s safety at the Semi Final and this statement just adds fuel to an already volatile occasion.I hope and pray no-one is seriously injured – or worse.
In line with previous posters, unless the club comes out strongly and vociferously against this statement, it will herald the end of my financial (but not emotional) support for the club. To do otherwise would be to condone the club’s stance – which I vehemently would not.
Question 3 – Which Celtic’s player’s father fled his homeland to escape accusations of war crimes?
Clue – he had a brother who was also an international football player for his adopted country.
Answer – Johannes Edvaldson
Eðvaldsson’s father Evald Mikson was a former Estonian international goalkeeper in the 1930s, who was later Deputy Head of the Tallinn Police during the Nazi occupation. Accused of war crimes, Mikson fled Estonia at the end of World War II, eventually alighting in Iceland where he settled and raised a family, changing his name to the Icelandic Eðvald Hinriksson.[1]
Eðvaldsson’s brother Atli, seven years his junior, is also a former international footballer, who was for a period Iceland’s record cap holder. Atli Eðvaldsson played most of his career in Germany with Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Uerdingen and Fortuna Düsseldorf before moving into coaching. He managed the Icelandic national side between 2000 and 2003.[1]
Well done Saint Stivs.
PFayr supports WeeOscar
I don’t think celtic are dross at all, European or otherwise.
I’m not enamoured just now, but I live in hope.
I think my original post mentioned giving the club time for the “punt” to bear fruit.
So Doncaster has given any and every Club in Scotland permission to liquidate, dumb debt, put businesses into financial trouble.
Disgrace to the game.
Should supporters now be making a demand on the Club(s)overspend, disregard the laws of the land and spend much more than we can afford then do a Sevco.
Shame on him.
His position has to be seen as untenable and calls for his resignation should be made.
What I would like to know most about Doncaster is who suggested the quiff was a good idea?
NERDS Quiz
Question 4 – What was “Pierre” van Hooijdonk’s proper first name?
Outrageous statement by Doncaster. Apart from rewriting Scots Law, he has just given every club in Scotland licence to go into administration and then liquidate to escape their debts in exchange for a token punishment of a ten point deduction.
A punishment that impacts on poorly run shady clubs for one season only.
While many of the honest traders owed money by Scottish football clubs could be forced out of business by clubs welching on these bad debts.
Surely somebody should stand against this chicanery by the SPFL.
fourgreenfields
Happy New Year to you, A and the Bhoys mate.
Yep we have indeed discussed it. I respect the decision of any Celtic supporter who makes the choice not to attend the semi final but for me it’s a simple case of going to support the team.
BCW
I’m afraid home defeats to Legia , Maribor and Salzburg lead me to a different conclusion
peter van hoijdonk.
adopted and name changed sometime i had read.
Awe_Naw @ 15.18
Doncaster needs to embolden this argument before the Old Firm game. It helps our club maintain its present three monkeys strategy. Another reason for the decline in attendances.
I agree, – the decline in Celtic attendances is subconsciously connected to cheating, and pointlessness ( Don’t know if you meant the same thing?)
I’ve maintained this point that there is a confused Celtic support, – yes attendances are down due to a lack of competition ( that may change sooner than expected ). I also maintain Celtic supporting ‘stay aways’ just can’t be a***d because the SPL has been globally exposed as a fraud.
With everything that’s occurred why bother?
Your post immediately before 15.18, I agree with up to the point of the extent of Celtic’s complicity of which I’ve not sure, and not totally convinced. I don’t think Celtic want them back as much you think they do, and neither do I think any return of them in their new existence, will benefit the PLC, after all Peter Lawell’s bonus for example could be argued, is even more safe without a Sevco?
The statement from Neil Doncaster is par for the course and timed to allign with the contiuation of a Sevco. The same club argument is for ‘the three bears’ because they are still floundering looking for somewhere to go on a Saturday. This is business as usual for the SFA/SPL who need a ‘strong Rangers’.
From a fans perspective it’s the same club, same badge, same name, same songs. same bigotry, same denial.
Apart from just saying it’s the same club, and repeating it’s the same club, can’t erase the facts and they know it.
Petrus Fernandus
Qestion 4 – What was “Pierre” van Hooijdonk’s proper first name?
Clue – a Gordon Ramsay restaurant.
i denabd we spend millions this transfer window and then liquidate in june.
why not, thats the business, not the club.
BT,
thanks fur the spoiler alert…..;-))
H.H.
opiatesmmmwhitCSC
What was “Pierre” van Hooijdonk’s proper first name?
Clue – a Gordon Ramsay restaurant.
Answer – Petrus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_van_Hooijdonk
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A9trus_(restaurant)
Nae Game..
Well.. Listen tae this..
Ah am a Ronny Man.. Ah like the Lad..n.. he wull dae well..
… wance he gets his Feet under the Table..
Howevahhhhh,,
He has made a few mistakes oan his way tae the Theatre.. nevertheless, as we all make mistakes..
n keeping that in Mind.
Ma Admiration fur his Fresh
approach tae Improving Celtic,n bringing us..
kicking n screaming into the Twenty First Century,has not bin diluted..by those baby step miscues..of his.
Among his Miscues oan his Wey tae the Theatre..
Ronny, completely, fouled the Nests of the Following Two Celtic Players
Young McGregor..n.. the No Much Aulder.. Griffiths.
In baith cases.. RonnyHis played these Two Players
Way,Way, oota their maist Profitable Comfort Zones..
He removed Master McGregor from his Favoured LEFT Side of the Park,,
tae.. His Unfavoured.. RIGHT SIDE of the Park..(This Kid only Uses Wan Fit tae Control the Ba’..in that is His LEFT FIT. His RIGHT FIT..He never Uses.)
A Monumental Error.. oan Ronny’s Part.
n
He removed.. Griffiths frun his Preferred up Front n Center.. Striker’s Role..
tae.. a New n Ineffectual Role as a Right Winger…who canny Wing.
Thus Putting Mr. Griffith’s Goal Scoring Ability.. oan that Back Burner.
Naturally.. these Two Worthies Hiv Failed tae Impress..
Especially…Young McGregor.. who has Gradually Faded like That Bunch o’ Scottish Bluebells..which Ah wanced Picked..n brought back tae Ma Mammy..
n..when Ah goat tae the Hoose.. Those Beauties wur.. awe Faded n Deid… causing Ma
Crest tae Fa’… owing tae ma Ma Horror n Consternation…in perceiving their
new n bedraggled appearance.
How wiz Ah tae Know that wis Happen???
Ah learned something fae that..
Some things Should Be Left alain.
His Ronny Learned that?
Well.. In the Case of Griffiths.. the Signs ur..he has..
Again.. Mebbe No..
The McGregor experiment.. May Continue. Ah hope Not.. but..
Well. We Need A Replacement Winger fur the Seemingly Ever Indisposed.. Mr. Forrest..which hiz bin the Reason fur Ronny’s Failed Experiments in the case of These
two Players..
Why Ronny diz not.. Give Youth a Chance, tae Fill this Joab.. Ah cannot Fathom.
In this Case.. in the Form of Youhg Paul McMullan.
Mr. Kennedy,in Ma Opiniion .. is Not Doing his Joab.. he ,of all people, is one who knows that Young Paul.. could be the Answer..tae the Missing RIGHT WINGER Problem..
so Kennedy should have apprised him.. of this .. Of course. Mebbe, Kennedy hiz done So.
If he has..Ah apologize If He Hisnae.. Ah tak it Back.
Young Paul McMullan wid dae a Much,Much Bettah Joab..o Filling in fur the Missing Forest..than These Two Unfortunates.
Ah hope Ronny.. gets this Right Winger Problem Fixed as
A.S.A.P. wance n fur awe.. When the Transfer Windae opens..
Noo Ye Know.
Kojo
Still, Laughin’
NERDS Quiz
Final Question 5 – Which ex Celtic defender can speak Serbian, Danish, Dutch, English, Norwegian, German, Greek and Swedish
Only halftime lurking tim
the glorious balance sheet
16:01 on
1 January, 2015
Outrageous statement by Doncaster. Apart from rewriting Scots Law, he has just given every club in Scotland licence to go into administration and then liquidate to escape their debts in exchange for a token punishment of a ten point deduction.
I think you would find a far more draconian set of rules would be applied to any other club doing a Sevco. Including Celtic.
hamiltontim
I know mate but what about the bigger picture .
Why don’t Celtic go out in the January transfer window and spend 20, 30 , 40 million and then if it doesn’t work out just liquidate the company and do the same again ?
This is supposed to be a sport we are involved in NOT a rigged wrestling match where everything is predetermined .
Daniel Majstorovic
Although I do agree that Doncaster’s stance is not only condoning but actively encouraging corruption.
.PFayr supports WeeOscar
What did you expect a new manager at a new club to do ? Not hope or demand, but expect realistically ? Play by your own rules of recent history only…………..
Hrvatski Jim
16:08 on
1 January, 2015
NERDS Quiz
Final Question 5 – Which ex Celtic defender can speak Serbian, Danish, Dutch, English, Norwegian, German, Greek and Swedish
—————-
the hig swiss guy ………….
on the tip of my tongue …………
ahhhhh
In evidence given to the BBC trust, BBC Scotland stated that, once incorporated, a football club becomes INDISTINGUISHABLE from its corporate identity.
In order for a club to be separate it would need to have its own constitution, committee, trustees,members etc.
Rangers Football Club did not have this, as it was incorporated.
How much clearer can it be?
Hope we send a copy of the Supporters’ statement for the press to Dungcaster and Regan.
Hrvatski Jim
Mastorovic?
Question 5 – Which ex Celtic defender can speak Serbian, Danish, Dutch, English, Norwegian, German, Greek and Swedish
Clue – due to rupturing his cruciate ligament after colliding with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Anders Svensson in training his career with Celtic was finished.
ramon vaga
We know they died.
And they know they died.
The SPFL, SKY and the rest
will try and make you believe different.
If we play Sevco on Feb 1st it will be our
first meeting ever.
Fact.
Vega
….pfayr supports weeoscar
15:57 on 1 January, 2015
…… I know that ……. hopefully, their tribute act will continue to career towards annihilation also, and we won’t have a decision to make………. make no mistake, Scottish Football will lose all credibility / respect if the hate-filled orc hoardes are allowed to ressurrect their violent / bigoted ways….
Saint Stivs
Ramon Vega?
beatbhoy
Send that to Dungcaster mate .
Amarylis van Hooijdonk ?
The useless big Dan Majstrovic