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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Watched all the shocking decisions made by refs in the EPL yesterday.Absolute shambles.
M6bhoy
Subbing a sub was indeed a strange and curious decision and one that will not do anything to build on young Callum’s confidence.
I was trying to remember the last time we subbed a sub, other than injury. Was it really Joe Miller?
HH
CRC
Turkeybhoy
Which refereeing decisions were the worst in your opinion?
bada bing
If what you quote is true,I would look no further than Commons and Mulgrew two players who do not have the pace or fitness levels to play the style Ronny endeavours to achieve.
Celtic Football ClubVerified account @celticfc
Danny McGrain’s Best XI, http://www.celticfc.net/news/7389 (SC)
Its a simple trade off….if we want champions league football.
Then the PLC need to compete in a rigged league, while attempting to resurrect the old firm.
This in essence is what its all about….if we want to be at the top table, we have to look the other way while the SFA rearrange the leagues to suit Sevco(Again), and accept as a matter of course, the historical and ongoing phenomena of Honest Mistakes by hun referees.
Basically, its the same as it ever was, with the huns blatantly saying….Let us cheat like we always have.
Its totally bent, has been for a long, long time.
And that’s why thousands of Celtic fans are sick of it.
HH
MON re-subbed Craig Beattie at Poundland,it might have happened twice actually?
https://twitter.com/transfercentrel/status/550994231326945280
Possibly why RD wasn’t too keen on playing Kris, justifiably
On the newco oldco thing. Why did chuck have to buy the history if they were the same club all along. The holding company never won a title as far as I recall. Perhaps chuck will also be on to his lawyers asking for his money back?
fanadpatriot-it is possible RD is asking things of guys which they can’t achieve.A Lisbon Lion called him ‘a fantasist’….
‘barely seven minutes from time came the winning goal
Chalmers deflected Murdoch’s shot past Sarti…….
Roar from crowd’
ahhhh, warms the cockles on a freezing day.
If you were there, you are legend.
bada bing
True,that is why they won’t be there much longer ,new players in that can do whats he wants.
BTW your opinion,and mine,are as relevant as any ex-player Lisbon Lion included.Ronny will do me.
Subbing the sub as Ronny did with Calum McGregor v Ross County was unusual.
What was even stranger still was the fact that Calum McGregor was the Celtic squad player (from a possible cast list of 18 or so) who was put up to attend the press conference for the Partick Thistle game on 30 Dec.
This gave the press the opportunity to further pick the bones from McGregor`s substitution on Saturday and must have been hugely embarrassing and uncomfortable for the young lad.
It was really poor management on the club`s part that McGregor was sent into that particular press conference given what had happened v Ross County. It makes me wonder what the management and PR people were thinking.
Ah, the old ‘lost the dressing room’ media cliche.
CelticUnderground tweets are as reliable as rumours which say that Paris Hilton is extending her library in order to accommodate more books.
Calum mcgregor’s subbing is a non story. He came on very early in the game as an injury sub. In my opinion did well on that side of the pitch. But by the time he was subbed had probably played an hour and was as legitimate an option for replacement as any player who had been in the starting line up. The media would love us to lose this league and will use any opportunity to bring discord.
I remember David Fernandez coming on as a sub. He looked half asleep and played as if he was. M’ON promptly took him off again.
Frankie “where’s the burds?” Mc taken up new coaching job in Germany?
MSV Duisburg players were greeted by a pleasant surprise upon arrival at the Hotel Royal Wings hotel in Antalya, Turkey. 400 Russian models had also booked the same hotel for a beauty contest.
The players were however, unable to showcase their skills in front of the models as the club decided it would prove to be too much of a distraction.
Duisburg released the following statement on their official website: ‘We want to calmly prepare for the spring series. MSV team manager Michael Meier has therefore rescheduled.’
The German side will now be staying at the Royal Holiday Palace hotel between January 8 and 16, just a short distance away from the Hotel Royal Wings.
Antalya is a popular winter destination for clubs on their winter break.
Germany has a winter break that lasts up until January 31 and many clubs relocate to warmer climates such as the Antalya region of Turkey.
m6bhoy
14:56 on 2 January, 2015
!!Bada Bing!! 14:30 on 2 January, 2015
Celtic underground site saying Ronny has lost a couple of major players in the dressing room . Seems a bit of unrest kicking in
—————————————————————-
Calum McGregor’s recent comments clearly indicate that he was less than impressed by his substitution in the Ross County match. He also mentioned that some team-mates had given him a bit of a pounding over it. Whilst CM is clearly not a “major player”, the fact that it happened may just have re-inforced the view among some players that RD doesn’t have a scooby on two fronts. Firstly, CM was the wrong man to replace Stokes in he first place and secondly there were others who were performing worse than McGregor at the time he was replaced by Commons.
——-
Thought wee CM was having a poor game, and was the correct player, along with JG to get hooked – and thats what most people around me were saying 10 minutes before it happened.
Agree that CM was the wrong sub for Stokes in the first place – cuts inside every time, and would be better playing as an inside right IMO.
HH
BGFC
I am personally expecting a lot of positive news about Sevco, and a lot of bad news about all things Celtic, from now until we play them,
as always, every dirty gutter press tactic possible,
If we lose Kris Commons, you really need to wonder at the stupidity of the PLC.
They are truly hopeless.
Its a race to the bottom, the team gets worse, while the board get richer.
Seriously….what is it going to take for PL to be held to account?
Check the words of Cappello recently, who surely knows what he is talking about.
We should not be rewarding PL for downsizing…not at all.
If things are as bad as PL says, then maybe we should trim the board and reduce their outrageous salaries in line with the downsizing of the team.
That would seem like the sensible thing to do….would it not?
We should not be rewarding failure at CP.
Sack Peter Lawell…..He is far too expensive considering our current economic plight….is he not?
HH
BURNLEY78
Pathetic,and thick clowns.
Hardly words to open up an honest and open debate.
Indeed,the same terms could be applied to those who blindly follow the board agenda.
This is a board agenda which left Neil Lennon bereft of quality for the CL qualifiers 18 months ago,but got away with it.
This is a board agenda which,far from learning from the past,reckoned it was the future,and f….d up big time.
Not only by getting rid of our best midfielder six months previously,but also the best goalie in a generation.
And a three-in-a-row manager.
Now look where we are,blindly having to follow a man who I like,but in whom I can place little faith,due to the machinations of one man.
One man has brought us to where we are. And you call us thick clowns,pathetic,for questioning someone who fancies himself as the most knowledgeable football person at Celtic.
Well,he must do. He picks the coach,and he tells him who he has signed.
He is one step away from the Bob Kelly days of picking the team.
Fancy a game for Celtic? Stand at a bus-stop on the way to a game,scarf on,and hope that Sir Bob,sorry,PL,notices.
Our club is going backwards at a rapid rate of knots,and all your brown-nosing is doing is clothing the emperor.
It ain’t working,mate. He sent Neil Lennon naked into the CLlast year.
This year,the emperor himself stands naked before us.
SYD
That was a post Xmas/New Year game if I’m not mistaken – He more than half asleep – he looked burst and as if he’d been out til 6am. Was perth away?
fanadpatriot-still to be convinced mate,this month will tell if he is being backed IMO HH
More relentless negative crap on here.
Grinding negativity without balance.
This place is Frownland.
tgbs
“It was really poor management on the club`s part that McGregor was sent into that particular press conference given what had happened v Ross County. It makes me wonder what the management and PR people were thinking.”
Beggars belief doesn’t it por cierto
So Green Man, we should accept whatever they say? Let them lie and cheat? Steal money? Attack us? Run the referees? Let them be the people? F**k them from the lowest knuckle draggers to the lawyers and politicians in their crowd… And you say just let them ‘lord it over us’ if it makes them happy? Doff our caps? Say “Yes sir, no sir”?
TGBS
I feel Callum has what it takes to be a great Celt
The manager may be creating development opportunities – if he has assessed Callum correctly, the recent learning experiences will stand him in good stead
He is getting a chance when many of his development team colleagues were denied.
Up with that kind of thing
ulysses mcghee
I can’t remember which game it was but it was so embarrassing it was funny.
No offence to any Lisbon Lion but it is still just one person’s opinion.
If players can’t achieve what the manager asks of them – if it was any other manager – what would be the answer?
I think we know the answer. It would not involve allowing the player to dictate.
Greenman,
Crapello is now a dud. However, would a dud pick up the phone and chat to Scottish hack about Celtic at Christmas?
Maradomic
Eh…I think you slightly missed the point of my post.
Maybe you should read it more carefully.
HH
the green man
15:19 on 2 January, 2015
Doooohhhh ….. He’s baaaaa.aaaaacckk ….
Big Georges Fan Club – Hail, Hail, Wee Oscar
15:18 on
2 January, 2015
m6bhoy
14:56 on 2 January, 2015
!!Bada Bing!! 14:30 on 2 January, 2015
Celtic underground site saying Ronny has lost a couple of major players in the dressing room .
==========
McGregor does not fit into that category and if anything he should be grateful to his manager for his perseverance in giving him a game when most of us would have dropped him.
If McGregor is one of those who are unhappy then it sounds as if he is just one of those who would rather point at others but never himself.
Captain Beefheart
Answer me straight.
Tell me what advantage PL brings to CFC?
HH
Apologies… but what should we do? I f Celtic don’t challenge it then I won’t be back. Doesn’t matter what stick we get from media. They HATE us anyway
I thought Kayal seemed to play and fit well into RDs team in the very few games he appeared, was never his biggest fan but surprised he is letting him go. Kris, his passing could be rather inconsistent, I can see why Ronny is selling him go but also disappointing, was overjoyed when he originally signed. I also think he has been very diplomatic over Forrest, the lad better buck up or he may well find himself out in the Summer.
I remember the game when Fernandez was subbed. It was Aberdeen at Pittodrie, New Year 2003. 1-1 draw. Fernandez was truly awful, didn’t look right at all.
Can`t remember him playing again for us after that.
Just reading today how Chelsea are about to sign Kramaric, young Croatian striker
The one we were about to sign in the summer than ditched him in Glasgow when Scepovic came crawling back after Getafe didn’t offer him enough
Oh dear