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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Canamalar
I’m more worried about the future than the past. We have opportunity to make £millions every year in Europe getting squandered right now as a result of Peternomics
Lily’s…,
It matters not a jot to me who backs us, we need to be showing our supporters the club are not satisfied with the performance of theSPFL CEO.
lilys grandpa,
By opening their mouths, the crap that it would have made matters worse did not wash with me, I’ve faced it most of my time through work and other experiances.
We had the chance to put them to sleep once and for all, we sat on the fence….I can assure you they would have buried us in the same circumstances, they tried before…I’ll try and find the link to sourness and murray on hun tv for you. HH
Cults..,
Two birds with one stone
Sandman
I agree with you until you chat of moving out of league.not going to happen! A euro/uefa tournament recon is the only possibility of that
happening.not us moving to the epl.
HH
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire
Sorry for the two types, just caught your last paragraph. I am a Celtic supporter of many years standing, I have never questioned a Celtic supporter in my life. I will say though, Ill question peoples motivation for criticism for criticism sake,
lilys
Lily’s…,
So are you saying there is no reason to criticise ?
My kids favourite….
My Old Mans A Provo – YouTube
Video for my father was a provo► 3:12► 3:12
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3of2nQK4jE
30 Sep 2009 – Uploaded by MrFenianBastardly
Irish rebel song my old mans a provo.. One of my favourites.
sipsini,
Thats fine, I know been there, but what Im saying is what would be different?
You honestly think I want them?, well see to be honest, I do. because I cannot get tierd of f^^kin them, but my son,hes 30, would rather they weren’t there.
lilys
Hamilton Tim/FourGreenFields
God bless ye both.
HH
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire
NO No not at all, , but do you not think some of the statements on here are over the top?
lilys
lilys grandpa
I know mate, I’ll probably get barred after posting the Rebs, have a good New year. HH
sipsini,
Hey, If you get barred or that there will be a riot!! KTF
Happy New year to you and yours!
lilys
Lily’s…,
No really, there are very disappointed Celtic supporters out there
Anyroadup,
Bawbaws time,
Night night n hail hail
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire
That is true,and I think, mo, Its internet lead, as I say Its my opinion.The reason I say that,is All the guys I know still go to the games.
lilys
lilys grandpa,
Your thoughts on teenage Celtic supporters being intimidated, arrested, and their careers ruined by a rozzer force being given information on these supporters illegally by the Celtic Board?
January first is being celebrated in media land as it marks open season on Ronny.
The article in the Evening Times is the beginning of the drip drop attempt to undermine the manager and rile up our support.
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/celtic/heat-is-on-for-celtic-and-ronny-deila-in-premiership-title-race-193131n.115414565
Meanwhile Worzel Gummidge sidles into the shadows without a question on his coaching abilities, zero, his tactical awareness, zero, or his astuteness in the transfer market, zero.
The elephant in the room is being ignored.
The financial ruin is being glossed over.
They will not question or criticize the tribute act.
The rags are playing to their dwindling constituents, those who can’t think for themselves, those who don’t question what’s in black and white, those who want Celtic to fail.
It’s up to us to gain perspective and support Celtic, the club and it’s ethos.
Faithful through and through, but watchful also.
FFM – I’m the only conspiracy theorist in the village)
I was 16, the first time I was lifted at a football game, Dens Park if you want to know, Im 58 now. So whats your question?
lilys
Burghbhoy – have they won every argument? The same club myth has led them to the state the nee entity is now in. So if they have won the same club argument then it is the hollowest of victory.
What they needed to do was tell their fan base that they were starting afresh, mothball ibrox for five years, new players, new coaches etc. in SPL in three years, financially stable, ready to challenge in a few more years.
That’s what I feared the new club would do.
But they went with the cowards way – kept a dud manager, dud players, spent millions, got tied in knots trying to act the same club. And it has ruined them. I cannot believe it. But it’s happened.
What have they won?
It’s like winning a raffle and getting a big bag of dog turds as your prize.
‘gg – spot on.
How much.more finished can a fitba club be than liquidated? How much.more liquidated could statement from CFC make them?
Whether you like it or not a friend of this blog lost his wife recently.
He ain’t everyone ones cup of tea nevertheless he’s my pal.
Rest in peace Ann Fleming
P
God bless you all.
Gnight
Pod i
Condolences from me, and all the family,
lilys
Pod I – sorry to hear that. Don’t know who you are referring to and I’m not asking. Hope the guy has plenty of support.
RobertTressell
Your a good yin mucker ,sleep tight!
lilys
Auldheid
Do you think NDs statement is any reflection of how the spfl/sfa view FFP?
This statement appears to augment the same debt financing that started this in the first place.just nervy as ffp is not yet implemented here.
Happy new year to you
GlovesRaffcsc
Pod I
I didn’t see what it was you are concerned about. BUT….
I can’t imagine anyone on this blog, being deliberately rude to someone who has just suffered such a deep personal loss.
Highlighting someone’s loss only brings prayers, condolences and sympathy.
I hope the poster has the strength to cope with his wife’s death.
lilys grandpa @ 03:01
I don’t understand why you’re telling me when you were first lifted at a Celtic game, Lilys. What don’t you understand from the question? :
“Your thoughts on teenage Celtic supporters being intimidated, arrested, and their careers ruined by a rozzer force being given information on these supporters illegally by the Celtic Board?”
Gg, he ain’t everyone’s favourite referee. But he’s lost his wife.
Can’t. Sometimes we should just stand back and appreciate what we have.
P
Pod i,
My condolences to John Fleming and his family. A horrible time for them.
But you made your point, and your reaction to Jamesgang who was the first to offer support, was very poor, given his own loss recently.
Lilys Grandpa
Hi mhate my question is-Which brake club took you to Dundee at 16?
;-)
Happy ny
HH
Ffm ( im the only conspiracy theorist in the village)
Happy new year mhate to you and yors
:-)
HH
—————–
Celtic
Just that, defined,
My team.
Celtic
HH and good night all
Peace :-)
FFM – I’m the only conspiracy theorist in the village)
The point I was making was you know tho rules, now the rules have changed, so you adapt
lilys
Ffm
To you and yours I meant
HH
Jamesgang, apologies.
An Tearmann
Happy new year to you ! All my best to you, your family and friends for 2015, and the same to everyone else.
An Tearmann
Ya Cheeky bassa! that night was a football special!!,
lilys