The Talismanic Trip and the Holy Grail

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Celtic’s world has changed greatly since that moment during the first half at Ibrox on 2 January, with the team well on top, the commentator mentioned they were off to Dubai after the game.  Celtic’s dominance did not produce a goal and the game was lost.  In the days that followed, a second lockdown was announced, Dubai’s status in the Green Corridor was rescinded, Christopher Jullien became infected and 13 players were forced to isolate.  The dominoes continued to fall with Hibs added-time equalise, while we await the outcome against Livingston.

We knew Celtic were off to Dubai for weeks before the post-match flight.  Personally, I did not bat an eyelid at the prospect.  Very few of us did, remarkably so, considering the angst expressed post-defeat, post First Minister’s “I don’t know, but…” innuendo.  After event-ism is often fertile.

I have always thought it is the manager’s job to ask for what is in the interests of the football department irrespective of wider consequence.  Of course Neil wanted to go to Dubai, last season’s trip is seen as crucial to winning the title.  Similarly, it is Peter Lawwell’s job to ensure that what the football department gets is only what is in the best interests of the club, and on occasion, wider society.

A public apology from Peter is a rare thing, so we can be sure where responsibility lies on this matter.  He should have said “No”, but like so much of what has gone wrong recently, wider considerations were set aside in pursuit of the Holy Grail.

With Celtic playing well and the title still in their own hands, Peter was never going to stop the Talismanic Trip, not this season, anyway.  Would I have said “No”?  Would you?  It is an easy question to answer on 14 January.  Reality is, I am as confilcted by pursuit of the Holy Grail as much as anyone.  I know I would cross lines that would normally be observed, so would we all.  Maybe this would have been one, who knows?

Leadership involves making difficult calls and apologising when you miss them.  This is not Peter’s first mistake and despite the political grandstanding it permitted, it is not remotely his most onerous.  History may regard blind pursuit of the Holy Grail as more consequential.

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287 Comments

  1. Lambert14

     

     

    “Is that the best you can do?

     

     

    After reports of the new strain I said on another site that it was a crazy thing to consider.

     

     

    So f@@@ you, board apologist.”

     

    ————————————————-

     

     

    What site? Under what posting name? On what date? And why not express the view on here then?

  2. Adi

     

    If one can’t wear a face covering for a 20 minute shop then get someone else to shop for them. There are numerous options out there from on- line to support organisations.

     

    Better being uncomfortable for 20 mins than spreading on the virus which may result in a death.

     

    Call me a barstewad if you want but I’ve seen at close hand what this pandemic can do.

  3. Jackiemac

     

    You could well be right – pressure in England to stop the piling on goal celebrations etc

  4. SID

     

     

    Unless you have played at that level, I would suggest you shouldn’t be so definitive, e otherwise you come across as a bit of a dick.

  5. This was 1 year ago – we know how that turns out.

     

     

     

    Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) identified in #Wuhan, #China🇨🇳. pic.twitter.com/Fnl5P877VG

     

     

    — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) January 14, 2020

  6. When you have already won 9 in a row, winning 10 should not be seen as the ‘Holy Grail’ but rather something that is achievable. Within our grasp, at least at the start of the season. Not a gimme, no divine right. But doable with a professional focus from day one from all on board. But that is not what has happened, but rather a loss of focus from key players, the football management in particular, which has left us clutching at straws. and not just in Dubai.

  7. Article as risible as risible as Lawwells performance yesterday.

     

     

    Can’t face up to reality which is half the battle in transforming.

  8. Notthebus

     

     

    You come across as absolutely clueless , I haven’t played at that level but have a dad who’s coached at professional level and a son who has had a 10 year career at professional level. However if fans could win games why doesn’t the team with the biggest support win all the time?

     

     

    If we lost to Sevco without a single shot on goal without fans why didn’t we beat Sevco with a full house last year?

     

     

    Its because by far the biggest factor in football is what the players do on the day. We are absolutely miles behind, yet you blame it on no fans, laughable.

     

     

    You’re embarrassing yourself, keep going though, it’s fun.🙂

  9. An Telemann, my dad always talked about McGrory used to say that it was if he had a football boot inside his head he could get so much power

  10. stpatricksbhoy on

    AN TEARMANN & SAINT STIVS I also grew with tales of Jimmy McGrory’s goals, my Dad never stopped talking about him. Just look at the neck muscles in the photograph no wonder he head the ball with such amazing power.

     

    Hail Hail.

  11. I’ll go with AT as auto correct changed it, apologies there is no excuse I remember seeing your name on a road sign just out of Letterkenny

  12. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    CAMUSBHOY

     

    Just copy and paste that’s what most of us do 👍

  13. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Hhmm.

     

     

    Promoting Sky Sports on CQN now?

     

     

    “I hate Kris Boyd so much …….

     

     

    ….. I pay his wages”

     

     

    Hail hail

     

     

    Keep The Faith

  14. AT @ 8.16

     

     

    Any news on your politics?

     

    What you believe in and what you are doing to make it happen?

     

    Or failing that who have you voted for / what your plans are going forward?

  15. Blantyre Tim 8.55

     

    Makin anurr tea now,lol wish i was on his dough!

     

     

    St.Patricks boy9:05

     

     

    McGrory of Arsenal just didnt sound right.his tales are legend.Celtic graves did a great booklet on him from a few years back.His stories of him are legend.Yesterday was the anniversary of him scoring 8 in a game!!

     

     

    Camusbhoy

     

    No worries man.😊 Do you go to Donegal a lot? ’bouts? Hope your boy gettin bigger,

     

    HH

  16. AT 😀 I go to Galway and Connemara more often but love the beaches of Donegal so plan on taking the wee fella back there once we are allowed to go.

     

     

    When I say wee, he is now 5 and over 4 foot already might overtake my 6 foot 5 as he grows

     

     

    Hope all is good with you and yours

  17. No Bobby Does It Petta on

    “The Three Kings”

     

     

    (Stein, Shankly, Busby)

     

     

    Now showing free on Amazon Prime.

  18. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    SEAN THORNTON

     

     

    As I replied on Monday no chance and I’m sure Paul in one of his leaders a few years ago mentioned streams

  19. MAESTRO- had a few texts same ,though I think a fake Stephen McGowan tweet doing the rounds too….

  20. CAMUSBHOY on 14TH JANUARY 2021 9:38 PM

     

     

    AT 😀 I go to Galway and Connemara more often but love the beaches of Donegal so plan on taking the wee fella back there once we are allowed to go.

     

     

    *my granny came fae Alliebrack, she visited every year, when possible, and had her first born there in that historical year of 1916.

     

     

    She used tae say when she passed away she wanted her body taken back there. God must have been looking down on her as she died while on holiday and was buried out of the chapel in Ballyconneely. I was fortunate tae see the entry in the parish log book while on holiday.

     

     

    Never heard my da sing until he came back from her funeral and after that it was “the old bog road” as that’s the road down tae the cemetery on the Atlantic shores.