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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pedrocaravanachio67
He wasn’t big or handsome………….afraid that might’ve been me.
TD67
I most certainly hope so, just not as confident as you appear, me going on what I am watching :-)
Emusanorphan, is it not the case once someone holds 30% ( I think that’s the magic number) of a shareholding, they Must make an offer for entire shareholding ?
This being the case buying under a future Admin or Liquidation, as required to remove the Onerous contracts , would be much much cheaper :-)
Hail Hail
emusanorphan
11:38 on 2 January, 2015
If the bus crashes, remember Michael is the secured creditor …. and …..who owns ipox?
Oh Aye, Liquidation
Dungcaster has just told us, you can buy the same club/team
Apologies to all roasters, but he is a Real Roaster :-)
In fact Voguepunter term is even better
Dungcaster = Walloper
Hail Hail
67heaven … i am neil lennon ….the angels are with wee oscar in heaven.. ibrox belongs to the creditors
To be honest PL view on Thems is that it’s better he stays out of it as he does not want blood on his hands, IE Thems getting all riled up and and strange things coming in the post to Celtic Park, let’s be honest I get where he is coming from, we all know what thems get up to when some one makes true statements at them.
pedrocaravanachio67
11:48 on 2 January, 2015
And did this poster only join the board in the run up to the referendum (like so many others, who, curiously no longer seem to post), or was he posting on here for years before the date of the referendum was announced?
What is the penalty for liquidation of a company owning a club then Mr Doncaster?
How are Uefa treating this same club then?
Would Celtic be interested in one time Liquidation in pursuit of a European dream?
tonydonnelly67
12:02 on 2 January, 2015
I’m thinking of nominating you for a Private Eye OBN.
In the meantime, as a matter of interest, do you think Bob Kelly should have adopted the same attitude over the Tricolour?
Is there any chance of a Sports Direct sponsored league next season?
ernie lynch
12:07 on 2 January, 2015
tonydonnelly67
12:02 on 2 January, 2015
I’m thinking of nominating you for a Private Eye OBN.
In the meantime, as a matter of interest, do you think Bob Kelly should have adopted the same attitude over the Tricolour?
You mean like ignoring the SFA/SPL
Ernie was posting here for quite some considerable time before Indy ref.
His labourness outfought his Celticness around March though.
Much talk in Italy re how dire the Referees are.
I went to Spurs v Chelsea yesterday – Referee ( Dowd ) looked to be as fit as an aubergine with 2 legs. Fat, behind the play and seemingly of that – ” its a man’s game ” mindset – ie big thug defenders are allowed to kick lumps out of anyone who is naive enough to think that fitba is about technique and not who has the most brute force .Sad !
Tony,
brazen?
tonydonnelly67 12:02 on 2 January, 2015
67heaven … i am neil lennon ….the angels are with wee oscar in heaven.. ibrox belongs to the creditors
To be honest PL view on Thems is that it’s better he stays out of it as he does not want blood on his hands, IE Thems getting all riled up and and strange things coming in the post to Celtic Park, let’s be honest I get where he is coming from, we all know what thems get up to when some one makes true statements at them.
—————————————————————-
And to think it used to take more than a hailstorm to put the willies up people fae ra ‘mulk. So we keep scthum just in case some numpty sends us something nasty through the post. Just as well wee fergus didn’t take that attitude when dealing with farry’s cheating.
Masty
I might, you goin down?
ernie
That’s a great and very valid point re Sir Robert’s stance on the tricolour, can’t believe i’ve just posted that! :) por cierto
Yip,
enjoyed yesterday, craic was mighty.
Just watched wee Gollums performance yesterday……usual guff. Sort the refs? No chance.
If and its a big if the 3 bears take control and crash the bus, the law of the land will determine what happens with creditors, assets etc not a buffoon like Doncaster.
Only Liquidation will break the contracts Ashley has tied up. That means Division 3 again as a minimum.
So Doncaster is being worked from the back to prepare the ground. The SFA/ Ogilvie closing the door on Ashley at a key moment shows they are active in the switcheroo. Celtic are informed and agree ( Lawwell is on SFA Board so he knows officially and unofficially ).
The only hope is that Aberdeen , Dundee United see the benefits without a loaded dice in favour of the Govan Team and others like Hearts and Hibs don’t allow the bus to remain parked in the championship.
Another 4 years in the wilderness would be nice….they can even bring back the rookie manager as he has shown how successful he is at that gig.
PEDROCARAVANACHIO67 1117
Hmmmm,may have been ERNIE,may have been the singing knob-end
Either way,surprised that anyone in GOOD TIM COMPANY doesn’t feel able to introduce themselves and join in the fun.
I mean,it’s not like many of us remember much afterwards anyway!
Or is that just me….
m6bhoy
PL is a business man you honestly want to ask him what his stance is on it when he has already told you where he stands, and if you don’t get it then you never will, .
Why you all want to run after PL every time some Muppett says thems are the same team, Ffs, smartin up.
Appeasement does it ever work?
Discuss:
Masty
Time you goin down at?
Your call
Doncaster’s statement and timing are interesting but it’s potentially a good thing in that it puts the OC/NC debate back on the table.
Time for our club to make a statement on its own identity. Along the lines of:
Celtic Football Club, a football club licensed by the SFA , publicly traded under then name Celtic PLC.
Founded in1888
Incorporated 1899.
Renamed 1994 from The Celtic Football and Athletic Club Ltd.
Company Number SC003487
One legal entity
An unambiguous statement of identity is what is needed from the club. The press would jump on it, no doubt with their usual negative spin, but it would put Doncaster in a difficult position. We need to drive the ‘debate’ to a conclusion by stating facts and citing bone fide data
Otherwise we let the establishment bureaucrats determine our future by allowing them to continue to rewrite history through inventions and untruths
About 2 sounds bout right
ernie lynch
12:07 on 2 January, 2015
tonydonnelly67
12:02 on 2 January, 2015
Agree….not the Celtic (resistence)way ….
south of tunis
You are talking about biddulph’s own phil dowd – and i can tell you he is heavy boned
masty
12:21 on 2 January, 2015
About 2 sounds bout right
Am in ;)
tonydonnelly67
12:10 on 2 January, 2015
No.
I mean saying and doing nothing in order to avoid any hint of controversy.
I have to agree with others who point out, if, Mr Doncaster, as you say, The Rangers are the same club as has always played at Ibrox, how do you explain their last 2 and a bit years of existence?
There was no announcement from the SFA or any other body of a punishment being applied to Rangers.
If they are indeed the same club as has always been, then they must still be in the top flight then. They haven’t been demoted. They haven’t been punished for failing some SFA rules etc…
Simple fact is, Rangers are a new club. They were given a step up, not demotion, to start in Division 3.
Neil Doncaster, you have shown yourself (again) to be wholly unfit for office. I think Mr McCoist could do with some assistance in his garden.
Big p is out also, and billy bhoy
tonydonnelly67 12:17 on 2 January, 2015
He made a sideways joke which is a hundred miles away from being an official statement on behalf of the club. Doncaster has made the SPFL position crystal clear. All it is now being asked is whether our club agrees with Doncaster’s statement. A simple Yes or No would be a start.
Do the laws of Scotland have nothing to protect against this rouse? Surely a football entity is not exempt by some cluster of excuses?
The money making business entity ceases to exist but the club continues to live as a piece of paper owned by the SPFL or SFA?
So as long as you have a ground and facilities ready to take on that piece of paper or membership anyone can restart the same club?
What likelihood is there that any entity could do what Rangers have done? Celtic would certainly not be afforded the same latitude but would have the resources and people to do it. St Mirren, Morherwell…? None of those would ‘survive’ liquidation.
No other club will be afforded the same luxury as Rangers have and will continue to have.
The sad thing is that the redemption could be the permanent demise of Celtic unless there are enough stupid people willing to watch the panto.
Mea culpa
It’s the SFA, they are more likely to give Super the gig.
End of year review 2014
Craig Gordon
One of our few success stories so far this season. Safe, and capable of brilliance.Smart piece of business to resurrect the class keeper’s career, for Celtic’s No;1 Jersey.
Overall Rating 9
Adam Matthews
Not yet the player he was since being declared fit again after injury, doesn’t often deliver in the final third for his attacking duties. Loss of confidence shows in most games, rarely gets as far forward as Izzy, now more reluctant, to go in where it hurts?
Overall Rating 5
Mikael Lustig
Good strong, tall defender when he plays, but sadly all too infrequently now half way into season four, of an injury plagued career.
Overall Rating 3
Efe Ambrose
Every Celtic team has a whipping bhoy, and Efe fits the bill. Super fit athlete not the best soccer player, but gets by in most games. Better than any other SPL centre back, and a valuable asset, to the Celtic squad.
Overall Rating 5
Jason Denayer
Brilliant loan signing and was a big loss when injured. Made the CB position his own linking with VVD. Interesting to see if RD can wangle a loan extension, as hinted for a player that it’s hard to believe never even made his the EPL debut.
Overall Rating 7
Virgil Van Dijk
Groningen may have been duped by Celtic, gives an air of being in the wrong league. Tendency to switch off, and may or may not go on to become successful, at a smaller club in a bigger league, depending a lot on which club decides to spend the asking fee, next summer.
Overall Rating 8
Emilio Izzaguire
Very good season so far, where the players capabilities are stretched to the maximum in the RD system. Affected by having no target men to hit, when he’s asked to continually overlap, which also leaves a gap in his defensive roll. Easily the best LB since the Tom Boyd period at Celtic.
Overall Rating 8
Scott Brown
Top man in midfield, and deserved his new contract. Was sorely missed at the start of the season but remains the man that makes the engine Tic, and Celtic thrive on his ‘attitude.’
Overall Rating 8
Stefan Johansen
Featured frequently in Celtic’s up and down start to the season. Dovetails well with Brown, an automatic pick, bit of a ‘road runner’ who still needs to improve on ball skills, especially passing.
Overall Rating 7
Beram Kayal
Didn’t fulfil his potential despite being given belated chances by RD, can’t hold down a place in the starting line up. Contract will be run down, if he doesn’t get a move in January.
Overall Rating 2
Nir Biton
Finally established himself in the starting line up, classy player likes to knock the ball sideways should feature heavily in the second half of the season, if he continues to take more authority in the holding role.
Overall Rating 6
Charlie Mulgrew
Season blighted by injury and form loss. Still suffers from being a jack of all trades? – needs to find his best position, which may be a return to CB in the future. Either way, we’ve not seen the last of Chico.
Overall Rating 4
James Forrest
Another of the walking wounded in and out of the team. Seems to get the nod as soon as he’s fit because of his undoubted ability to play. Likely to be fit, again at a moments notice, the oldest of our ‘young’ talents.
Overall Rating 4
Calum McGregor
Great start to the season but quickly faded probably when his game got sussed by opponents especially in the SPL. A handy player to have, curiously untried on his natural side, and now predictable cutting inside, off the right, lost a bit of early cheeky confidence, will be back.
Overall Rating 5
Anthony Stokes
Adapted well in the left channel and the one main striker system favoured by RD. Has added to his game with some tricky new moves linking with Izzaguire, and still scores fairly regularly.
Overall Rating 7
Kris Commons
Couldn’t have predicted such a poor season after last years midfield phenomena. Many contributing factors, not least contractual which may have affected his entire position at the club.
Overall Rating 4
Leigh Griffiths
Not much game time in a strikers role due to Guidetti or Scepovic. Has to play second fiddle like AS, meaning a loss of direct route to goals. May have to score his share coming off the bench, unless RD switches to paired strikers.
Overall Rating 4
John Guidetti
Good young player that may be the only loan player who has done enough to merit a permanent Parkhead move. Much fitter, with hopefully more goals to come, not convinced he fits the RD lone striker role, either.
Overall Rating 7
Stefan Scepovic
Omitted too often in favour of Guidetti, but hasn’t exactly grabbed his chances, and misses with left right, or head indiscriminately. Takes up good positions , but one of three in the squad that might benefit from playing off a team mate, playing much closer to him.
Overall Rating 5
Mubarak Wakaso
Started with a goal, then went steadily downhill., hasn’t featured enough through injury, or form seems unlikely he’ll be with us after summer, unless he ups his game considerably. Slight tendency to leave a foot in, after he’s dispossessed.
Overall Rating 4
Alexsandar Tonev
Flashes from the start of the season, good short passing, strong player, needs a bit of luck or he’ll be back to Villa, not expected to contribute too much in the coming months, unless he starts to hit the ball a lot better .
Overall Rating 4
Ronny Deila – Manager
Thrown in the deep end of CL qualification.
The only way was up after Legia Warsaw, some bizarre games, team shapes, and selections including substitutions, and last minute inclusions.
Gradually has made our midfield more secure against lesser opposition, but still leaves the side too open, with two exhausted full backs and our wide men often left in their slip streams.
Consistently been his own man, that has dismantled the side that NL left behind, in the way we play.
Shouldn’t be judged until he’s made the team his own, and he still has too many of NL’s men, and loanees
Overall Rating – Could do better.
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPY Birthday
Rachel
Have a great day