Celtic are well behind the position they should be at this stage of the football cycle which started in the summer of 2014. This week’s two defeats are a symptom of that. A year ago, then-new signings Armstrong and Mackay-Stevens contributed to two highly credible performances against Inter Milan, which indicated we were on a positive trajectory, but pretty much every available indication since has pointed south.
Aberdeen were poor in the first half last night, but shortly before their opening goal om 31 minutes I noted that they were defending comfortably, despite our dominance. We had not made a chance which tested them. We often need a lot of possession before the goals flow.
There is a flip side to that ratio. We often lose a lot of goals compared to the possession we allow opponents. All teams take a direct approach to attacking Celtic – get it forward and shoot. Better still, win a corner. Football games are about two things: scoring goals and not conceding goals. Some work is being done on the former but I’m concerned our shape does not accommodate the achievement of the latter.
We’ve kept 4 clean sheets (Kilmarnock, St Johnstone, Partick, Stranraer ) in the 18 games since beating Dundee United 5-0 in October. Only Thistle (1-0), Dundee (6-0) and Dundee United (5-0) have lost at Celtic Park without scoring since…………… Ross County on 1 August.
Records will show that yet again we lost a crucial goal at a corner kick. What will be lost in time is the sheer panic caused by the Aberdeen corners which didn’t result in a goal. I’ve never seen a team defend set pieces so poorly over such an extended period.
There could be many reasons why we’re not in the Champions League knock out stages right now, but I’m sure the reasons we’re not comfortably ahead in the league is that defensively, our shape and organisation is not good enough. We concede too much space in dangerous areas. This is why we’re not miles ahead of a team with vastly weaker resources.
On the way forward:
It’s of the upmost importance we win the league. As it stands, we will achieve this. Colin Kazim-Richards, despite being of journeyman-pro stock, gave us a dimension we’ve not had in 18 months. He, Kris Commons, Ryan Christie, Patrick Roberts and Erik Sviatchenko will all have a positive impact on the remainder of the season.
Ronny has got a lot wrong, but he was right about one thing after the game last night, “The players need the fans’ support”. Those who suggest that anytime is a good time for recriminations probably don’t have a good grasp on the complexities of any given situation. There will be plenty of time for recrimination in June, right now, we need to keep our eye on the prize.
Win the league, then we’ll talk.
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Cultsbhoy.
Bitton to classy for this team???
I beg to differ.
Bitton is an imposter.
He is the main reason for our stuttering performances.
He has some skills but is totally hopeless in the role Ronnie uses him for.
Fan a Tic Like Ki did,Bitton stops the ball and looks for the best pass to a forward-moving team-mate. If Griff is out on the wing,play stops!
HT
The players are contributing to this as well, by the way Victor & Joe, sometimes we so t have the choice who stays and he who doesn’t
You better not let the kids have golden time all say so you can have a lazy Friday !
Hail Hail for the Champions !
It’s an injustice….it is
ABURNTOUTCASE on 4TH FEBRUARY 2016 11:42 PM
Macjay G”day/Morning. Where is that coming from? Was that fragility there 2/3 weeks ago?
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I`m not a coach,but I`ve seen some great ones.
Compare the body language of the two coaches last night.
One animated , involved ,passionate.The other passive.
What works in Scotland ?
Of course that`s only one small aspect,but I think it`s indicative.
I see frustrated players. Leigh being the prime example against the Dons. Johansen lashing out on Sunday.
That of course I felt was a response to the sense of injustice the players obviously felt.
However I just can`t see a resolution without the obvious move.
What do other teams do in this situation?
Sack the Board?
Gerryfaethebrig
All the things in that last post, I’ve already said Gerry.
There is a collective responsibility.
However, as I also said :-) I think we’ll win the title.
Must sleep I’m absolutely gubbed mate.
Sack the board. Indeed.
I dream of custodians with ambitions
Lawell . greedy man.
Desmond. Absintee
fan-a-tic on 4th February 2016 11:47 pm
I lost count of the times Biton dropped back to take the ball from Gordon , carried it to half way line only to be left with no passing options.
He looks slow ( a bit like Samaras – who I also liked) but I think that is a loping stride. He is rarel caught on the ball.
To my eye he looks like a player who could play at a higher level. Not many in our team I feel that way about.
Having said that my son feels he slows the game down….
Anyone wonder if PL would dare call Lenny?
Stivs
Did Lawwell not forgo his bonus recently or contribute it to a charity?
Cosy Corner Bhoy,
I hope that you will both be there with me. There was some talk of the pubs opening on Good Friday but nothing concrete. There are ways round it. I know a couple of lhads that get the train to Belfast and drink in the Buffet. If you buy a train ticket for a certain distance you can go into the bar at Connolly or Heuston Stations. I’m not sure about the airport.
You can also get a beer at Harolds Cross greyhound track, if you pay to get in!
If you are a resident in a hotel, you should be able to but check with the hotel.
The other alternative is ROI v Switzerland. Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane and bars.
I hope you are well and are looking forward to the Hootenanny!
Night All.
ABURNTOUTCASE
Bitton and forward pass i would not put in same sentence.
Ki in his first game for us played a few gorgeous diagonal balls but that seemed to disappear from his repertoire.He seems to play more freely at Swansea.
Modern midfielders in this stat obsessed possession game seem more interested in taking the easy 2 yard sideways or backwards pass to keep their percentages higher.
The defense splitting diagonal pass is rarely seen anymore.
We need a Bobby Murdoch.
Macjay “Sack the Board”? You getting sponsored by St Stivs? No,I get your point,but don`t you think that anyone who plays for us should put a shift in,irrespective of who the manager/coach/Collins is?
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 5TH FEBRUARY 2016 12:00 AM
Did Lawwell not forgo his bonus recently or contribute it to a charity?
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/where-we-are-and-the-way-forward/comment-page-14/#comment-2769980
…………………………..
Was it the Lawwell family foundation?
Fan-A-Tic
“We need a Bobby Murdoch.”
They threw away the mould, unfortunately
CULTSBHOY CAN NOT RELATE TO CELTIC BOARD AMBITIONS ON OR OFF THE PARK on 5TH FEBRUARY 2016 12:02 AM
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It was a serious question prompted by this ;
“Lawell . greedy man. “
And we are back in the room
Virtual sack the board
ABURNTOUTCASE on 5TH FEBRUARY 2016 12:02 AM
Macjay “Sack the Board”? You getting sponsored by St Stivs? No,I get your point,but don`t you think that anyone who plays for us should put a shift in,irrespective of who the manager/coach/Collins is?
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I do. Absolutely.
Inspiration from a coach helps,however, otherwise what is he doing on the sidelines?
And a sense that you have confidence in your coach.
I don`t thick our players do have confidence in our coach.
B.T.W. Where`s Kris ?
Drapped.
Macjay.
Lawell sets his own kpis.
At a football club. How can the ceo earn more than the manager or star players.
And now the caveat;
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/ronny-deila-i-ll-quit-if-celtic-don-t-win-league-title-1-4021173
Macjay. In the past Lawell has deferred his bonus , but what was never written was it was only for a financial quarter. Then he got it
Ps Lennon was asked at a function if he waited go back , only if change at top he said
SAINT STIVS SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 5TH FEBRUARY 2016 12:47 AM
Macjay.
Lawell sets his own kpis.
At a football club. How can the ceo earn more than the manager or star players.
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Do you know this for a fact?
I don`t.
I don`t have the information about the deliberations of our Board.How can I possibly comment on what appears to be speculation ?
How about that bonus donation?
Saw talk about victor and hooper wanting to leave. Well fine. Invest money back in team
Vic and hopper. Approx 18m. Plus CL income that year
We bought pukki, balde, derk
Sums up how we have fallen and priorities were wrong
SYDNEYTIM SAYS SACK LAWELL NOW on 5TH FEBRUARY 2016 12:49 AM
Macjay. In the past Lawell has deferred his bonus , but what was never written was it was only for a financial quarter. Then he got it
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O.K.,Syd.
I thought I read that he had donated it.
Macjay. This is a guy who keeps up sizing his hoose. Indoor swimming pools and heated drive way
Only interested in his pension plan
That is the loyal Celtic fans who he is fleecing
Nothing will change as long as he is in charge
Syd
There`s more than one factor in our current demise.
The departure of P.L. may improve things.
But that alone could not put us on the right track imho.
In fact,the destabilisation may well make matters worse.
Yeah.
Peter’s donation’s.
All the leaves of the driveway.
Peter.
£1m a year to run a company with a £50m turnover.
Quite unbelievable.
SYDNEYTIM SAYS SACK LAWELL NOW on 5TH FEBRUARY 2016 12:59 AM
Macjay. This is a guy who keeps up sizing his hoose. Indoor swimming pools and heated drive way
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So do I .
Don`t you?
I thought everybody did.
Well.Apart from the pool and driveway.
:-)
Joking apart……….Some change must be made. P.L. wouldn`t be my first priority.
macjay. Not quite sure what other factors are that are not controlled by PL
All scouting PL
All players to be signed PL
Salary cap PL
Choice of manager PL
Is there anything else ?
Macjay ang change at Celtic park is a waste of time unless PL goes
He controls all and is responsible for all
It’s Desmond I want gone.
Sell up to a Celtic supporter..
He only ever saw us as a vanity project.
SYDNEYTIM SAYS SACK LAWELL NOW on 5TH FEBRUARY 2016 1:10 AM
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Do you really think that the other Board members simply rubber stamp his decisions?
Come on,pal.
Stivs
Who would buy?
Right now if Desmond sold up. In an open share issue . the support would take it up.
It’s only £12m now.
SAINT STIVS SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 5TH FEBRUARY 2016 1:23 AM
Love your optimism.
The management of decline must not be allowed to continue.
I think we can agree on that.
Macjay It has been leaked that it is an autocratic management style within Celtic park. Similar to my company in that the CEO speaks and everyone follows instructions. The board at Celtic park is mostly for legal reasons and think Lawell is only full time member
The board does not meet to discuss every transfer But Lawell meets with scouts and ask the questions. How old and does he have sell on value to EPL. He is involved in this. Not the board
SYDNEYTIM SAYS SACK LAWELL NOW on 5TH FEBRUARY 2016 1:57 AM
IF that`s the case,then the Board is dysfunctional.
I do find that hard to believe,however.
MACJAY
I don’t find it difficult to believe. I’ve said before that our board is failing to provide the checks and balance required of a board.
PL needs reined in before he does any more damage than he has already. I don’t want to labour the point,but one of the reasons for Rangers implosion was that no opinion was allowed except that of one man when it came to making decisions.
He wrecked his club by overspending,Lawwell is wrecking ours by underspending,which is driving away supporters and sponsors.
The one constant is ego.