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.
2,512 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- ...
- 67
- »
message to Celtic fans + supporters + esp Horrid H
any relentless negative posters, skip their posts . Probably got ulterior motives me thinks . We are Celtic supporters faithful through and through (ring any bells)?
Awe_Naw, I agree, been on here for a coupl of hours reading, good stuff today.
Differing opinions about how to take the Club forward are always good to hear.
Doc.
congratulations on the new job as tour guide at Celtic Park. :-)
HH
The Bees will pay 50% of the £850,000 upfront, with the remainder being paid in three installments over an 18 month period. A sell on clause has also been negotiated between the two clubs.
I am sure Ashley can wait,but £150,000 short.Oh dear.
Fholks …..thank you for your kind words, but I’m from Castlemilk, where we get shingles before breakfast every morning ……he he …….. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL….!!!!
ExSlaemuirBhoy
18:40 on
31 December, 2014
message to Celtic fans + supporters + esp Horrid H
any relentless negative posters, skip their posts . Probably got ulterior motives me thinks . We are Celtic supporters faithful through and through (ring any bells)?
Certainly rings mine.
Just heading out to the Hogmany bash in merchant square, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all CQNr,s and their families all the best for the new year.
Paul and all you bampots,
Just popped in to wish you all a very happy new year.
Peace and Love.
Lubo.
sid
18:38 on 31 December, 2014
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.
————-
So he’s not another overhyped Scots player snapped up by an average EPL team struggles to make any impact in the English 2nd division, is released and ends up back in Scotland (playing in the 2nd division) and now should be snapped up by Celtic.
Is it maybe possible that Scottish players aren’t that good? Apart from McGeady and McCarthy (and Darren Fletcher) none of who will ever reach close to the top of world football, are any of them really that good??
Sorry but of a negative post, but I don’t lose any sleep over any Scottish player we shouldve signed
sid
18:38 on 31 December, 2014
Work in Edinburgh few times I’ve been told he’s a good player but bottle goes when hard tackles are dished out.
Sid
Every now and again I see a player and think “he has something”.
Years ago it was Gordon Strachan at Dundee. Then Willie Hamilton at Hearts. Then Lubo. It’s that je ne sais crois that tells us that in Kojo terms this guy could be a brammer.
At school and in guild football I played against Tony Green and Jimmy Smith and longed for Celtic to sign both. Both played for Scotland.
So whilst I don’t know what that je me sais crois is I think I’ve got it when it comes to identifying flair.
Paul67
Thanks for making the blog available to us. Hope it continues and more Celts put down their thoughts in the new year.
2014 has been a low one for me and I’ll be happy to discard it later tonight. Did not a grand wee man tell us once “dogs may bark, the caravan moves on.”?
My wish tonight is for a Happy New Year to everyone who reads these pages.
My prayer for 2015 is – Let Celtic Flourish.
The huddle
I don’t think we should discount players because of their experience.
I think we should be asking what has that experience taught them.
Concern at celtic according to ssb.
Aye, am concerned with how many points we’ll win the league by and if we can add both cups. I’m concerned if we can bring in some gems in January with money we have available.
Dark days indeed…..
Yawn
A.T.G
Gazza
True Blue
6,504 posts
Gender:Male
Location:United Kingdom
Posted Today, 05:28 PM
850K
#96 pcbear
Ally McCoist
True Blue
10,600 posts
Gender:Male
Location:Kent
Posted Today, 05:38 PM
Davie Weirs getting off light here, thanks a f—— bunch
Another Legned quickly following Ally into the hall of shame.
At the weekend match my nephew and his four year old bhoy took me in the car to the game.
Wee man falls asleep on the way up. We park at tesco. He wakes him up. Get ready Saint he says. He is crabby after a sleep.
I ain’t going screams the wee yin. I don’t want to go to fitba. I ain’t going. After getting tricked out the car we start the long March. He gets louder and louder.
I ain going to fitba. It’s ru bish I ain’t going. What started aff funny now has concerned tims looking at us. Past the double traffic lights wee man has a plan.
He spies the busses. I am gonna get the hibs bus. Am going hame. I ain’t staying.
He saw santaa on the port hibs the week before so that’s okay.
Up to the gate.
Full pelt now
AM NO GO IN.
YOU CANNY MAKE ME.
YOUR NO THE BOSS.
now we are in. And it’s big sulk mode.
No talk in.
I’ve got a red dragon toy I meant to give him for Xmas. I bring it out ma pocket. Tr y to coax him Roon.
Nearly thirty minutes in so playing with the dragon was more fun for me than watching the game.
He is starting to take a interest. I said this is my red dragon. Johnny hartson. He is a celiac Welsh dragon. You can keep him.
Naw says the wee man. You named him you keep him.
Anyway he is ugly with big teeth and horns and claws and scary. I don’t want him he says.
But you can name him and keep him.
Okay he says. Deal.
I hand him over. What’s his name then.
ZOMBIE.
bournesouprecipe
17:41 on
31 December, 2014
Do you see – The Ronny Deila Game?
Give the opposition 90 minutes of hell with relentless pressure, thanks to the sage advice of Barcelona boss, Luis Enrique. Remember players, you must believe!
How to play the pressing game
UNDERSTAND THE WHY, BEFORE THE HOW
“It’s the coach’s job to decide his team’s style of play, how they attack and how they defend. They have to be effective at both ends of the pitch. If the team attacks well but defends badly, they’re not doing their job. The best way to defend is to have the ball in the opposition half – pressing the ball high up the pitch will achieve this.”
GET THE TEAM TO BUY INTO THE PLAN
“Make sure the team understands the mentality of the pressing game. It has to be done by all 11 players, otherwise it doesn’t work. The players have to move in formation together. A great trainer must convince his players to believe in his vision and make sure they do. If a player only does it because the trainer says so, that’s not good enough! The players must believe.”
SPEED KILLS
“With a good, fit team, pressing should start as soon as you lose the ball in the other team’s half. You want to win the ball back as quickly as possible. I’d like my team to have 100 per cent of the ball if possible. If your team is well positioned, if you’ve got the ball, the other team gets tired. Once you regain possession you need quality on the ball, otherwise it will go back and forth.”
LEARN TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX
“I like my teams to press: it’s a way to force the opponents into making mistakes. But if one player does not execute the pressing – including your goalkeeper – you’ve got a big problem. The opposing team may escape your trap with their quality or by playing the long ball, so your goalkeeper must be out of his box and ready to sweep up.”
PRESS FROM THE FIRST MINUTE TO THE LAST
“Teams that play out from the back usually go from goalkeeper to centre-back to full-back. Chase that down, starting with the player closest to the opponent in possession. To do this for 90 minutes is tiring, but you can’t sit back. It’s a mistake when teams are winning 1-0 and change the way they play. If you’re winning 1-0, you want to make it 2-0. Why play safe?”
Luis Enrique – Barcelona
EXECTLY
As I said the other night it works at Away tight grounds.
but not at PARKHEAD its to feckin big.
The players are not fit/good enough to close down the space between midfield and attack.
Do a Souness and narrow the park.
Anyway Have a great NewYear Timland and all the best for 2015.
HailHail
lennon’s passion
18:49 on
31 December, 2014
sid
18:38 on 31 December, 2014
Work in Edinburgh few times I’ve been told he’s a good player but bottle goes when hard tackles are dished out.
The boy was assaulted on at least 5 occasions last week,never saw him bottle it.Went on to destroy the huns.He was fantastic in this game.No one is saying buy him,butgoing bye the praise AS has been heaping on him,what would a small gamble cost us.
Horrid Henry
Own up, you just want to have the last flounce of 2014!
Hail Hail!
Happy New Year Bhoys when it comes. Hope you and your Families have a healthy and laughter filled 2015.
KLV
Auldheid
18:53 on 31 December, 2014
The huddle
I don’t think we should discount players because of their experience.
I think we should be asking what has that experience taught them.
—————
It’s not experience of one player its the experience of all Scottish players (football), unfortunately I don’t think Scotland produces good players, well certainly not good enough players that I think wow imagine if we’d signed that guy.
We produce players that perform at a certain level and that really isnt that high.
I’m all for giving our youth a chance over signing a foreign based player, I’d love that, that makes sense (football and business wise), but I don’t think we have missed out on any decent Scottish players in what 20 odd years (McCarthy the one exception, though we agreed a fee for him).
I thought Scott Allan went to Liverpool or some such. We wanted him before he went there.
Scottish talent or underwhelming foreign unknown stuff in large qtys?
There seems to be an assumption that all scottish talent is genetically sub standard.
The huddle – Time will tell, which Celtic player do you reckon is capable of 3 assists against Sevco in cup semi.
Lennons Passion – was scythed down by Black who got booked and had to be taken off and still produced MOM performance.
At Sivs @ 6.54
Anyway he is ugly with big teeth and horns and claws and scary. I don’t want him
——–
At this point I was sitting there thinking…..I’m not sure you should be saying about your grand nephew!!!
But I got there in the end!!
HH jamesgang
The huddle, Steven Fletcher?
The huddle
Naysmith. Can’t fault the guy in his performance on merseyside. On and off the park.
HH jamesgang
So, the three bears have possibly bought Laxative’s shares … Doesn’t put a penny into the ipox coffers …. !!
More recently, Gauld and Robertson.
There is talent there that would enhance our squad but Peter wouldn’t pay the going rate. It was the same in the case of McCarthy and McFadden.
Hi CQN.
Just a short note to wish all posters, ones met and ones still to meet,all of you I learn from and Celtic supporters to a man and woman.all the best to you and close to you.
2015 and the future
With hope in our heart
Good luck
Hail hail
The huddle
You illustrate my point perfectly.
“As it was, so shall it always be.”
Start with that thought and you miss the opportunity of finding out the past can stop you seeing the present.
mullet and co 2
19:03 on 31 December, 2014
The huddle, Steven Fletcher?
——–
Nope, neither Naismith, though yes I would have then in our current team if we got them for free or a low fee. At the time Fletcher would’ve cost big bucks (and ended up injured and is still injured to much) and Naismith was a dirty hun (seems a decent guy now).
I have no problem with Celtic playing an all 11 Scottish team if brought from our youths or picked up for a fair price elsewhere.
But neither Gauld or Robertson have made me think they are worth £3mill each plus wages
When I was watching Scott Allen destroy the huns he put me in mind of Prosineki the night he destroyed us.Full of ability,linked to a massive degree of gallusness.All over the field,hitting passes everywhere.Flashes of great skill.
I think this boy could be a real talent.On this game,I have not seen a better prospect.
Just saying,like.
Awe_Naw, I’ve worked in sales and marketing so long, it’s hard to break the habit:-)
Auldheid
19:09 on 31 December, 2014
The huddle
You illustrate my point perfectly.
“As it was, so shall it always be.”
Start with that thought and you miss the opportunity of finding out the past can stop you seeing the present.
=========
If recent history has taught us anything Scottish players aren’t very good
Part 2.
As we left the match. The wee man. Four years old remember said
Don’t think I am going back.
My last post of 2014…Paul I wish you and your family all the best for the coming year, hopefully we will meet up again at some point…and to all the guys, I hope you have a league and a few cups to celebrate this year…Happy New Year to all.
mullet and co 2
19:05 on 31 December, 2014
More recently, Gauld and Robertson.
There is talent there that would enhance our squad but Peter wouldn’t pay the going rate. It was the same in the case of McCarthy and McFadden.
—————-
We agreed a fee for McCarthy the same as Wigan but wages were more at Wigan, and McFadden knocked us back to join Everton, both players choose to not sign for us.
awe_naw_no_annoni_oan_anaw_noo
18:38 on 31 December, 2014
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
——-
Yep I’d agree with that.