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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David147
Maybe we expect sensible truthful comment …not some cobbled together disingenuous comment to appease the rotten mob
I’ve not followed what the advert will do or say but if Doncaster is saying same club then title stripping is still very much on the agenda.
I wouldn’t get my boxers in a bunch too much about it in the 2 hours after we hear from the guy responsible for the 5 way agreement it was the point of the whole thing after all. Continuity Rangers and all that.
If folk are desperate for someone at Celtic to say their deed then it won’t happen. The wan them back and you will be complicit in the panto when they do.
Resolution 12 will need to be pursued by the lifeblood of the club – the fans.
So what does the advert do and what do we hope to achieve?
Red
GEMMELL……….GOAL 1-1
CHALMERS …GOAL 2-1
ITS ALL OVER ….CHAMPIONS !!!!
I did say before the Ad was written up,the extra money could have gone toward a Company Law lawyer,to get his professional take on it.Facts.Facts that no one can argue with done legally.No one has done this yet.
Ad is in draft form as it stands. Both Auldheid & BRTH have bebe given copies before Christmas and we intended to improve on this at the start of next week. Given Doncaster’s statement today we will certainly be busy! Any comments welcome.
Happy New Year Celtic Fans
Winning Captains
They are all living the myth, and will continue to do so, in the hope that we timmies go away, allowing them to continue to ‘live the myth….it’s all about money to them, but it really should be about integrity and pride ……….. the vast majority of Celtic Supporters will, however, not allow this charade to continue, as PFAyr states…
!!bada bing!!
16:55 on 1 January, 2015
WC- Great work on the advert, i’m sure we could all add a wee bit ,but i would have highlighted their ex Chairman,Manager and Captain have said they are a new club,Findlay,Myth and Gough.HH
________
Well said, doubt it will make any difference though.
The hun wheel is grinding forward, although at slower rate than they expected, don’t let the bassas get you down.
winning captains
______________
Not being funny but – who reads the Herald?
kevjungle – 4/4/2 with wim & murdo’s diamond midfield yeesssss
17:05 on 1 January, 2015
…and a HAPPY New Year to you also…….
Doncaster is useless, no doubt about it, he is merely hiding behind the LNS decision and is saying that’s that, its final. Apart from the obvious regards to how companies are liquidated and that being final.
Isn’t the information given to LNS itself in question? Due to what LNS was handed… So how can that decision be final etc,
67Heaven
_________
Hail Hail fella – I hope yer feeling a bit better.
Sesame Street time,laters……
….PFayr supports WeeOscar
17:03 on
1 January, 2015
David147
Did you read the story about Donald Dewar wanting to amend the act of settlement to allow a Catholic to ascend to head of the monarchy? He knew it was the right thing to do, but decided against it as it would upset the ulster unionists.
Sometimes upsetting these types is more trouble than it’s worth, hence folks will toe the line. It does not mean they are complicit. My point is that we should rise above it and concentrate on setting ourselves apart both on and off the pitch.
The Lurkin TIm.
Nice tae Chat, pally..
Yes, Ma Mammy Did..
but, that’s whit Mammy’s Dae..
Right?
Yes, Ah sure miss her.. aloater.
Meanwhile ,in anither part of the Forest……..
Did Ye know that Celtic, snatched a THIRTEEN YEAR AULD..
GOAL-KEEPER.. frum.. Hamiton.. a few Months Ago?
N.. Celtic, paid them a Fee fur securing his Services ,tae?
Well.. The Kid’s Name is.
Ah .. Think. Ah hiv goat it Right…
fur Ah am notorious fur getting Names wrang..
Anywey…
HIs Name is.
Josh Rae.. He is T HIRTEEN YEARS of Age..
N..
collie, tells Me. He Is a Potential Brammer in Waitin’
n
The Celtic, Youth Coaches,who hiv Vetted this Kid… agree..
Noo.. Hamilton, is the Same Team from Whom we Snatched..
MARK HILL.. .when He wiz Fourteen Years Auld.. n. He hid ,already, Had Played..Three of Four Game fur the Hamilton’s FIRST Team….tae!!!
Some kinda Record.
This Kid is A Cert tae be a Celtic Star..
Three or Four Games.. fur the HAMILTON FIRST TEAM..Tae.( Ah still Canny Believe it.) But ,it’s a Fact.
Hmmmmmmmmm
Ah find Awe this interestin’ ..Don’t You.
Because..
It seems tae Me that Celtc should Cut tae the Chase.. Cut oot the Middle Man..
n..
Bring … the Members of the Hamilton Youth Scouting Team.. En Masse, tae Parkheid oan The Clyde..
Makes sense tae Me.. Huh??
Nice Chatting,pal.
Kojo.
Stll,Laughin’
Rangers boardroom battle: Laxey boss wants Mike Ashley booted out as he… Daily Record 09:52
This from the rag today.Another rag telling us Ahley has now lost his biggest ally,in Laxey.Indeed it was Laxey and Ashley that were calling the shots in the sackings of the past month.
Rags,eh.Shower of excrement.
embramike
17:02
The game is rigged, the LNS debacle proved that beyond any doubt mate.
Evening folks,
At first I was surprised by Doncaster’s statement re the same club. But on reflection, it’s obvious that this is the start of the campaign before the semi-final meeting with the new club to cement the same club lie.
I expect this to ramped up to the limit now by the MSM. I think it’s now time to find out if Celtic FC Board will agree with their fans on the truth of matter. Peter Lawell etc, time to man up and put out a statement. The lines are being drawn. You are now in a very difficult position, but if you have made a statement criticizing the LNS whitewash, rather than a limp quote that you were “surprised by the outcome” we may not have come to this point.
I have supported Celtic for nearly 50 years, current season ticket holder and dearly love Celtic, but my unconditional support for the Club could be severely tested in the coming months depending on the Celtic Board’s response to this disgusting lie.
HH Dan
kevjungle – 4/4/2 with wim & murdo’s diamond midfield yeesssss
The statement is to put our position in print and on the record. We choose Sunday Herald as it is perhaps appreciated by Celtic supporters more than the other Scottish papers. There are loads of Celtic supporters abroad who have asked us to send them copies of this edition of the paper.
embramike
Agree
There is no integrity left.
Let us be the Don Quixote of football.
Bring on the windmills.
HH
Hello this is WEE BGFC. Any word on the reschedule?
Winning Captains
While I am supportive of the Ad idea, I agree with the sentiment that we should stick strictly to facts based on regulation and law, and drop the subjective comments or opinion which can be open to debate or dispute.
I agree with Turkeybhoy about having access to a legal brain who could legitimise our statement so there can be no argument whatsoever about what we put in the public domain.
Dismantling Doncaster’s statement would be a good start and a better introduction to the piece, in my opinion.
Apart from the fallacy of Doncaster’s statement should he not be mindful of further baiting a horrible confrontation?
These clowns are setting up a shame-game where supporters lives could be sacrificed.
Turkeybhoy
I agree completely with the idealism of such a statement, given it’s unlikeliness from an official Celtic source, but not in it’s present form.
Not an expert or professing to be, but I wouldn’t be quoting Charles Green either, as
he doesn’t even had credibility on the dark side, let alone in a Celtic statement.
Just my opinion, but the statement should be a plain english summary of facts, then the legal perspective of insolvency and subsequent liquidation.
I’m sure CQN has the necessary qualification to make the statement have the desired effect, without the need to quote the causes, and the villains.
That brought a tear to my eye watching that on SS1 with the bhoy.
No wonder that other mob were so eaten up with jealousy that they killed themselves!
Watching SS2 just now makes me realise that all this newco/Sevco is just bollocks. Supposing they died, were reborn and had Manchester City’s money, they would never get close to what our club has done.
They are the dogshit on the scuffed shoes of the SFA ran cartel, we have fecked them over royally ( no pun intended) for the last 50 years. Despite the cheating we have survived, they are also rans in a third rate competition.
Enjoy the chase ya half witted Neanderthals.
turkeybhoy
17:04 on 1 January, 2015
I did say before the Ad was written up,the extra money could have gone toward a Company Law lawyer,to get his professional take on it.Facts.Facts that no one can argue with done legally.No one has done this yet.
############################
My cousin’s wife is a solicitor for one of Glasgow’s biggest Corporate law firms, make no mistake, they are a new club.
I had to ask her, I mean what else would you ask her, lovely girl and yep she is…!
Ayrshire is Green and White
Winning Captains
Would Alex Gordon be interested in advising on the content of the advert as he does have some expierence of newspapers?
big georges fan club – hail, hail, wee oscar
No but I’d bet it’ll be either 27/28th January.
winning captains
17:12 on 1 January, 2015
_____________________
Fair do’s mate.
Look I’ve no got the time so…I’ll be brief…
Why don’t yeez all chip-in and sign a statement, get it printed-off and pin it to the front door of CP, adressed to PL and the ‘bored’ underlining the fact that – “Celtic supporters have decided that no more p### will be ripped oot them so, we’ll be keeping our cash in our pockets till your gone and, Celtic supporters finally fulfil Fergus’s promise and take charge of our club to ensure that, Celtic FC will no longer be the Scottish footballing establishments bitches. End of statement.”
Simple as that.
Off oot, bye.
Noo..it’s Time fur Mass..
‘
Seeya, folks..
n
Happy New Year tae Awe..
Kojo
Still,Laughin..like Helensburgh.
Don Casterone lighting the fuse of ‘hate’ for marketing purposes in the run up to the semi final with the tribute act .
Scottish Football is a circus and he is not just a stupid clown, he is a dangerous one.
…. Happy New Year btw…
Winning Captains,
” For the avoidance of doubt” is repetitious, schoolboy error stuff IMHO, but…..like i say…..would stand by it with an addition…..either make Dungcasters remarks ridiculous with evidence, or ask why it can be that the Footballing Club let players do ” walking away” without penalty if the club still existed…..jist a couple of idears as the yanks seem to say ;-))
H.H.
Winnings captain
What about their company numbers being different
thelurkintim
A term picked up in Law School rather than secondary school…@LLB CSC
WC-Quotes from their ex heroes might be apt,good work amigo.HH