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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Shameful charlatan.
Swayno. Thats the Celtic way im sure it wont be any different this time. H.H.
Another year ends.
I hope we all can leave any sorrows we have in the Old Year and carry our Joys into the New Year.
Looking forward to watching the game tomorrow in Sean Og’s, in the company of legends.
Noel90 and Ard Macha, a former and a rare visitor to CQN.
Whatsanotheryearcsc.
dontbrattbakkinanger
17:35 on 31 December, 2014
I am flummoxed as to why the weather in East Kilbride stops when it gets dark.
That is mighty powerful
————————————————-
That’s an easy one. Anyone who lives here knows you need all 5 senses to report the weather.
#4seasonsinoneday CSC
Auldheid
My 5 year old grandson told me last month all about symbiotic relationships – he’d been watching Wild Kratts children’s show and was talking about sharks and pilot fish.
I don’t know if the club are the shark or the pilot fish, but they both need to work together to change direction.
Children these days are too smart.
ARRRRRRRRMAGGEDON
Jim Spence@bbcjimspence
Sell out for @dundeeunitedfc v @dundeefconline tomorrow and 19000 expected for @AberdeenFC v @St_Johnstone_FC. Where did it all go wrong.
Just win tomorrow Celtic ,take everyone else out of the eqation
Just win tomorrow Celtic + and just keep winning
was what I thought I had typed :))))))))))))))))
Swayno
Just hope we can get new signings in asap, every window its always last minute deals
————–
I might be wrong but I imagine Celtic have lots of targets, they offer them all deals then have to wait until the end of the transfer window before some of them accept (as the players agents can’t get them deals elsewhere).
Jamesgang
Well, I for one hope you really enjoy your Chinese tonight!
HNY.
I had to bump this on – 3 cheers for the 3ws
George Carlin CSC
weet weet weet(GBWO) 17:31 on 31 December, 2014
These are my new year wishes for all CQN ladies/gents
God bless you all.
A WOMAN’S POEM:
Before I lay me down to sleep,
I pray for a man who’s not a creep,
One who’s handsome, smart and strong.
One who loves to listen long,
One who thinks before he speaks,
One who’ll call, not wait for weeks.
I pray he’s rich and self-employed,
And when I spend, won’t be annoyed.
Pull out my chair and hold my hand.
Massage my feet and help me stand.
Oh send a king to make me queen.
A man who loves to cook and clean.
I pray this man will love no other.
And relish visits with my mother.
A MAN’S POEM:
I pray for a deaf-mute gymnast nymphomaniac with
big boobs who owns a bar on a golf course,
and loves to send me fishing and drinking. This
doesn’t rhyme and I don’t give a shit
HH
hun skelper 17:54 on 31 December, 2014
‘ it’s great to sign for a club with electricity and hot running water ‘
Lewis ‘messi’ McLeod
—————-
Aye but he’ll no get a cup tea and digestive at HT
Evening Joe.
WiTS has a point, I disagree with it, but the inconsistency of the team does leave room for doubt.
Ronny’s suitability as our manager will be settled when he has his own team.
That inconsistency, for me, is mostly down to the size of the change in style, tempo and attitude, and I can see it continuing until Ronny gets more of the players he wants, who are better suited to this game.
So around this time next year we should have a better idea where we are going.
The club should be genuinely more family orientated.
Family based tickets
Creches
Grandparent and children sections etc.
Unfortunately that woukd require ingenuity and unless it guarantees income our risk averse neo liberals will never consider it.
See standing Areas snd the re introduction of alcohol.
Yer dreamin’
HH
Leftclicktic
I was in the Dundee Utd club shop across from Tannadice today.My nephew was in spending some of his Christmas money on a Utd scarf and Nadir Cifti gloves for the game tomorrow.
I asked for a ticket,sold out completly.Armageddon my a**e.HH
the huddle
Thanks and true,- it’s now quite a widely used system.
Problems, only arise when the other team are better than you at whatever system they adopt, e.g. Salzburg at Celtic Park ‘high pressed’ us off the pitch.
Ross County played 6 – 4 (or parked the bus.)
I don’t subscribe to the ‘ we need to strikers especially in the SPL ‘ argument either.
The RD system is that every forward is a striker ( like Barca ) the problem is the same as NL, or WGS, or anybody else , it comes unstuck.
Right now it’s largely NL’s squad with a different system, and as TBB stated this morning
RD needs at least two more windows and a large part of next season before you judge ( barring catastrophe )
Goat shingles sounds a bit masonic to me.
Hope recovery is swift.
Just on to say before I go to a house party, with the lightweight Sipsini, (gaun furra kip! wits that aboot?), all the best to all on CQN, and the Celtic family for 2015.
P.S. Sipsini, I believe there will be a special guest appearance tonight from the legendary Dessy Donnelly.
God help us all.
HH
Zico-Maltese Bhoy
He maybe at the Celtic shop with you soon getting
Cifti on the back of your top:))
Good luck, Ronny for 2015. You’re our manager and I’ll back you while you are.
My wishes for 2015
If we play a pressing game, they’ve all got to do it! Not just one or two.
Don’t wait until the last hour of the transfer window to sign new players.
We’ve got decent strikers, get creative, offensive midfileders to supply service to them.
Tempo! We play packed defences virtually every week. Playing like it’s a game of chess gives them time to organise. Moving the ball at pace, one touch is the way to overcome them.
Just my opinion and I hope Paul and all associated with CQN have a happy and peaceful 2015. And, of course to all Celtic Football Club.
I raise my glass of Dalmore Cigar Malt to a treble!!
Hail Hail
NS
Oh, and get big Sammi back! It’ll take the heat of Efe:-)
Alloa’s goat shingles, but he’s also goat LPs an’ CDs anaw.
Get well soon.
Zico@17.25
Many thanks. I know its little consolation but you were one of the ones I was thinking about with the recent loss of your Mother in Law and your nieces problems. Anyway prayers were said and will continue to be said for the intentions of all on here.
However even God might have difficulty in reconciling the conflicting demands of Turkeybhoy and Wits.
Hope 2015 is kinder to you than 2014 was Zico. HH
kelvd1873
Stuart McCall
True Blue
PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
260 posts
Posted Today, 01:30 PM
Absolutely tragic, should be building a fu team around him not selling him ffs!! Congrats to all the rebels you are destroying the club one piece at a time!!! Fannies!!!
Some chap on Hun Media blaming us for his team selling Messi Mc Leod and destroying his team.
Oh I say!!!!!!
beatbhoy
18:15 on 31 December, 2014
Alloa’s goat shingles, but he’s also goat LPs an’ CDs anaw.
Get well soon.
__________________________________________________________________________
………..and Craigy’s goat the tapes!
HH
gearoid1998
Have a fandabbydozy 2015:))
Only had the pleasure of your company once at CQN corner ,hope to meet up much more in the new year
To all on CQN and Celtic fans all over the world ,
hope you all have a happy , healthy and prosperous new year ,
All the best for 2015……………….hail hail
As a new recruit to this site, I am finding the negativity overwhelming – malcontent posters, spurred on by the ‘old womens clque’ that now dominates, is boring in the extreme.
So this will be my last contribution, and also my last visit to the posting area – I will still read Paul’s views, but the increasing drivel being posted by so-called Celtic fans is something I can do without – HH
Lewis Macleod to Brentford. Will he be able to make the massive step up in class?
Shortbread Legned Michael ‘ I used to play for Man U’ Stewart intends to enter Parliament on the ole SNP ticket
That must be worth a few votes to Jim.
Celtic Gossip retweeted
Scotzine @scotzine 26m26 minutes ago
Rangers will not receive a penny of Lewis MacLeod’s transfer fee as per an agreement with Mike Ashley.
Don’t be horrid,henry
And there was me thinking the negatives had taken a bit of doing today
Back in again after a busy day. I have read back a bit, a little bit, and not too sure how many real Celtic supporters are posting. Me, I just support Celtic, as I have done for the past 60 years. Will these negative posters put me off supporting my team??? Not a chance. I was born a Celtic Supporter and will die a Celtic Supporter. If some, supposed supporters don’t like that, tough. Celtic have been such a big part of my life, all of my life, that no one on this planet could possibly change that.
A very Happy New Year when it arrives to all CQNrs.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
notthebus
when he handed back the naming rights to “snake mountain” that was ONE of the deals
Horrid Henry,
If you did stick around you would find, overall this place is a positive one.
The club has some issues that need to be addressed, on and off the pitch.
What we have here is a loose group of Celtic supporters who want the best for the Club.
And are willing to debate, discuss and argue their point of view, if that’s not for you, then fair enough.
Oh, and being critical is not is not the same as being negative.
Some could learn that being negative isn’t the same as giving a critique.
The thought police versus the intransigent is getting a bit boring but the debate today on this thread has been a good read imho.
HH
Auldheid
Regarding Scott Allan i posted Celtic should sign him before the Sevco game.
My da is on the staff at Alloa, so i get reports when Hibs play Alloa and also a scout’s report of the game of Alloa’s next opponents. Every report raves about his performances, with Stubbs saying the 23yr old is head and shoulders above every player in that division.
Remember as a kid he was taken on by an EPL team after 8 DU appearances.
Never ready for England at that age, but from what i have seen more creative than any Celtic midfielder. Not a doubt in my mind he would make the step up as he is quality.
Leftclicktic
Many thanks fhriend.
Ran about for long enough asking assorted ne’er do wells was this CQN corner to be confronted by blank looks. I tend to fly over now which leaves little time for the meet and greet at the corner( although it does leave some time for an after match soiree). I was meeting too many of my little chums on the boat unable to bite their finger nails(and im not talking about G here) so went the air route instead. Next match, given the lack of home matches, is Milan away where I hope to be sharing a pint with Gordy64 and VP.
HH and I hope 2015 is good for you big Mhan. Incidentally the pleasure was all mine.