Since Dinamo Kiev inflected Celtic’s first home defeat in European competition, on what was our first European game after winning the European Cup four months earlier, last night’s shocker to Sparta Prague was our 36th and worst home reversal in Europe.
Three years ago PSG scored five, but, unlike Sparta, they did not hit the woodwork on two other occasions, and they are PSG. Last season Cluj also scored four, winning by a single goal, but by any measure, across 58 years of home European ties, that is without shadow of a doubt, the low point. We are now the team fans all over Europe point to and laugh, all the money, yet Cluj, Copenhagen, Ferenvcaros, Sparta.
What has gone wrong?
It is not the formation. Without changing to three at the back, I don’t think we would have won the league last season. This season, we tried four, then three, then four, then both defensive lines at different times of games, but the formation is not the problem. It is possible to defend, control games and create chances with either line-up. And as we have seen, a change in formation does not make a slow or clumsy defender fast and assured. If only it were as simple as Scott Brown’s advancing years, or injuries and absentees; they are red herrings, this malaise is more serious.
Post-match, Callum McGregor and Neil Lennon spoke well. The player admitted to humiliation, the manager walked that fine line of showing contained anger, but he was clear: a lack of application from the players was to blame. What a thought to ponder.
I am fond of many in our squad; they have delivered success beyond my wildest imagination. I am fond of the manager too, for the same reason – results are all, and his filled the well some time ago. If I thought sacking the manager would safely resolve matters, I would tell you so.
It is Neil’s responsibility to put the players on the field in the correct frame of mind to compete at their best every time. He is failing in this, his criticism last night is self-directed, but sacking him right now would be a Gambler’s Play. It might work, it might result in carnage, anyone convinced they know how it would play out, underestimates the complexity of the question.
What I know for sure is that we stand at an historic precipice and no one is coping. We need to reframe the challenge ahead, if we do not, the season will play out as you now fear. Together, we have a great opportunity to record magnificent achievements, a fourth consecutive treble, 10 and all the glory that comes with it, but all you see are demands weighing everyone down.
This responsibility lies on Neil Lennon and the players because they are winners. They have the Scottish Government hammering them while punching for Newco, they have 10,000 critics weighing-in online (which they read and are not helped by). These are the wages of success, lesser mortals have six critics, let this fuel their engine.
After the game, Chris Sutton insisted Europe was still important to Celtic. Chris, you don’t live in the towns of Lanarkshire. Europe has gone this season; we need to reframe this too. Our three remaining Europa weeks are an opportunity to develop the squad and rest weary legs, while Newco will have at least five competitive Europa games. We must now think of this as an advantage; make the most of it.
We know how to win leagues and trophies. We were on our knees at New Year but while others “bottled it” and we got on with the business of winning. There are no white, saltire or union flags here, only green league title flags. To the manager, coaches and players, what a privilege this challenge is.
Relive some of the better days that took us here in Celtic: Treble Treble, by Alex Gordon, a 100 page full colour booklet on how the Invincible, Double and Treble Trebles were won. Our stock is available here for £5 each (retail £9.95).
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I’m sure trump has used the postal vote system.
DBHOY
Many on here have been criticising the manager since before the pandemic, myself included.
If Neil isn’t a “puppet” then why has he refused to respond to Davie Provan’s charge from a few weeks ago, when Provan said “Neil Lennon sucks up to Lawwell” surely, if Provan has got that wrong, then Neil Lennon would’ve shot down Provan’s claims, like he was quickly out of the traps, to rubbish Charlie Nicholas’s claim’s?
Has Provan got Neil Lennon’s number?
Back to the team
Many asking to have Shane Duffy dropped (and I accept he’s been poor)
Right now who replaces Shane?
Ajer or Juliene – both injured
El Hammed, who was extremely poor on Thursday night
Or Stephen Welsh, with less than 5 first team games for us.
And pair Stephen, with the converted midfielder Nir Bitton, who was shown to struggle in the role on Thurs against a mobile forward ?
For me we will need to persevere with Shane, until we get Kris Ajer and Christofer Julliene back
Another thing, get the team structure sorted, that does not expose our 2 centre Halfs, would also help greatly
Could we drop a sweeper in behind the 2 centre Halfs (Broonie) and change our tactics/structure, until we get the squad back
Oops tactics and structure mentioned there 🤔
Ernie @ 11:42pm(ish)
It doesn’t matter if either club managed the incident in the same way – as has been mentioned on here many times by many people, Celtic’s Covid bubble was burst however the huns’ wasn’t. (Sounds rather familiar…!)
Different situation – different handling of the situation. Our games postponed, their’s not.
As to why Rangers were commended. I think P8ddy covered that off superbly so I’ll leave it at that.
If anyone is interested, Scotland v Serbia, free to watch on Sky,Thursday
Thanks for that Bada. A game I’m actually looking forward to watching 😬
Fellow Celts…
Talk of this kinda signing, and that sorta replacement misses the point given today’s predicament, Shirley.
Over in Govan, there’s a buncha cut-price, injury prone, ‘veterans’ who seem to have found form within a formation that works for them. Sevco nurse and rotate their old head invalids in a results-making shape.
On Thurs, we faced a very Young Team who had a the fitness and formation to do us over with real ease.
Hearing Lenny say he NOW has to put a rocket up our prima donner (delib) defies belief; wasn’t this done post Ferenvaros?? If it wasn’t that’s a big defect in the culture and personnel management dept.
Given we all love Lenny – and replacing him seems beyond the Board’s appetite, as P67 relays – how about the club lets Lenny bring in his own coaches like Mjallby (to coach defence) and Henke (to inspire forwards) HH
Donners (apol)
NorrieM,
Good (and rather depressing) point re Duffy.
I’m not sure about playing a sweeper either though. It’s barely a vote of confidence to the players and it’s another system and one we haven’t used for ages.
Assuming we have not been practicing this after the previous couple of games with better performances, is a few days on the pitch practicing this enough to go into a game with? I’m unsure.
HOT SMOKED on 7TH NOVEMBER 2020 9:50 AM
____
The centre halves that SG has, they looked ropey at the start, then SG tightened up the shape of the midfield in front of them, and now they don’t look ropey anymore.
As for this Sevco charge, I think that was rendered, null and void in 2016, when thousand’s of Celtic season ticket holder’s paid the “Old Firm” price for ticket’s, and then stupidly sang “You’re not Rangers anymore” which was a betrayal of all of the trophy stripping effort’s etc, but in reality, the only way that it could be claimed that RFC had died, would’ve been if, Celtic PLC had refused the raising of ticket prices to that of previous “Old Firm” game’s, but they didn’t and they well and truly called Celtic supporter’s bluff, with such ease that it was difficult to decipher, exactly “who” was the new club, all of this done whilst Brendan had just been recruited, and all of a sudden the same club issue’s vanished as Brendan appeared. But when the “Old Firm” priced game’s had been cemented onto the fixture list for two year’s, Brendan was forced out of the club, like as if the whole thing had been planned all along, with Brendan’s £9million severance cheque reaching the balance sheet, with the fully priced “Old Firm” game’s back onto the fixture list, without the PLC having to deal with the same club issue, after their “look over there” recruitment plan, of Brendan Rodgers.
There’s a rat in that tale, but it ain’t Brendan Rodgers.
BIG JIMMY on 7TH NOVEMBER 2020 9:43 AM
Correct!!!!!
Lennon is without any shadow of a doubt Lawwell’s puppet.
Appointment in showers, now other candidates interviewed?
Not the workings of a real CEO….
Lennon owes him big time…
ST TAMS on 7TH NOVEMBER 2020 9:52 AM
DBHOY
Many on here have been criticising the manager since before the pandemic, myself included.
____________________________________
You bold bhoy, you.
The Big Match ITV 4,1974….marvellous stuff,jumpers for goalposts Ron….
BADA BING!! on 7TH NOVEMBER 2020 10:06 AM
If anyone is interested, Scotland v Serbia, free to watch on Sky,Thursday
SKY CHANNEL 159 [PICK]
completely free no subscription at all required.
Will make a change watching a match on the telly instead of the laptop these days lol
.
The Big Match ITV 4,1974….marvellous stuff,jumpers for goalposts Ron….
—-
followed by the 79 cup final between man u and arsenal
quality hair-dos all round
MAJESTIC HARTSON on 7TH NOVEMBER 2020 10:03 AM
Ernie @ 11:42pm(ish)
‘As to why Rangers were commended. I think P8ddy covered that off superbly so I’ll leave it at that.’
###
He hasn’t covered it all, but I understand why you would prefer not to comment.
Whilst you’re here I’ve still not been able to find any coverage of Sturgeon or Leitch publicly lambasting the two hun players. It’s bound to have happened so it’s odd I can’t find a link to it. Do you happen to have it?
ST TAMS on 7TH NOVEMBER 2020 9:52 AM
DBHOY
‘Many on here have been criticising the manager since before the pandemic, myself included.’
###
Indeed.
Some have been criticising him since before he was appointed and haven’t missed a chance to put the boot in.
Are you one of them?
i cant help but feel all this political bollocks is being used as a deflection tactic to smokescreen how utter pish our team is and has been all season
nothing any self serving political hun has done this season has had an affect on how shite we are
we have managed that almost completely of our own doing
Boris Brennan is using it to smokescreen the part his 2 million quid a year chief executive mate has played in the mismanagement of the club (and of course his silence in the handling of the covid issues by the government)
and others are using it to deflect criticism away from the manager
one or 2 others just have a political agenda and arent particularly fussed about the football but if we ignore them then the state of the club is what we should be dealing with
Maybe another focus should be on our team, recruitment strategy ?
How many players in defence have we lost this past 3 seasons
What is our strategy on replacing ?
Let’s deal with Centre half alone
Boyata – replaced by Julliene ?
And focus on converting Kris Ajer and Nir Bitton from midfield to Centre Halfs, as their both 6’5″, so must be good in there
This season
Simonuvic released, Hendry out on loan, let’s await our Champions league qualifier exit, and bring in a loanee in Shane Duffy
Knowing there was serious interest in Kris Ajer
I could go on
Gamboa and Lustig – replaced by El Hammed, luckily we found Frimpong
Tierney and Izzaguire – role now covered by a loanee
An that is only past 18 – 24 months
E have no clear team strategy, with depreciating player values
Ernie,
Since we can’t agree that the 2 situations are different then there’s no point in continuing.
All the best
ERNIE LYNCH
Yes I am. Should never been appointed in the first place and I said so back then.
No other candidates interviewed. An unemployed guy who was sacked from Bolton and Hibs. You’re not telling me that was the best we could after receiving £9m for BR.
We went from a michelin star to McDonalds.
GENE on 7TH NOVEMBER 2020 9:47 AM
Dbhoy
Neil has been subjected to hatred and abuse and threats on and off the field – however he has to look at his own part in the current malaise. They are all part of the problem as well as the solution.
I wish him well in this endeavour – he’ll always be a Celtic legend
——————-////////::::::::::::::
You seem to be asserting that he doesn’t or isn’t questioning his own responsibilities as to our current slump, what makes you think that’s the case?
I trust Neil as being a capable individual in terms of introspection when required, dealing with mental health issues engenders that ability.
As to Neil always being a Legend, no arguments here.
One final question to you and the blog.
Does the level of criticism/insuation on here befit a Celtic Legend like Neil Francis Lennon?
I think not.
Not looking for an argument. Rather just a reasonable level of respect for someone who has sweated blood and tears for our club. It’s the least he deserves.
HH
Has Lennon not gone yet ?
Is anyone seriously going to be reassured by us beating Motherwell.?
That man ( irrespective of his Celtic history ), should have been sacked on Friday morning. Oh, and lets see who clamours for his oustanding abilities when ge does !!!!!!
Also, will people please stop knocking Sevco………they are hungrier, fitter and much better coached than us. The Tortoise and Hare arrogance shown by some Celtic fans has caught up with them.
Get in a proven ‘fixer’ till season end ( Big Allardyce ) to deluver the 10. Someone who can hit the ground running……..organise. and get the best out of talented players.
Dbhoy
No where have I been over the top in criticising Neil – as I said he is part of the problem as well as the solution. Legend status doesn’t make one immune from criticism although I agree some is well over the top.
Remember when Henrik returned with Barcelona – even the king of kings was roundly booed.
DB @ 11.07
Given NL’s history regarding the abuse he took the first time around we should have never offered him the job in the first place.
It was asking too much of him to take on these responsibilities.
We used him knowing that he couldn’t say no.
But it suited PL — he was cheap and he had his wings clipped in 2014.
He had a yes man in place and PL was back in charge of the football side for the medium term.
Who cares about coaches / medical staff / analytics / conditioning / scouting when we have a second rate property bean counter with an ego bigger than Jupiter and pet agents taking his calls at all hours?
No wonder we are second rate at every level.
i have just looked up a thesaurus to confirm the following –
the phrase ‘put the boot in’ does NOT appear under the word ‘criticism’
they are conceptually different then
GENE on 7TH NOVEMBER 2020 11:13 AM
Dbhoy
‘ even the king of kings was roundly booed.’
###
Bollocks.
There was some ‘pantomime badie’ tongue in cheek booing, nothing more.
P8DDY – 12:55am
Yes, I’ve really enjoyed your comments and thanks for keeping it very civil.
Can I add a third wish to your two – “Have a fine evening one and all – hopefully tomorrow will see Trump out and Rangers implode spectacularly.” – perhaps a draw at Fir Park on Sunday will force PL & co to act.
agreeing with Ernie with regards Henrik !
Lennon or Solksjaer. Who goes first? Both on shoogly pegs.
Neither will be in demand when the leave. Yet both were deemed suitable / capable for BIG clubs.
At least Lennon has delivered. And he gets my support until he leaves.
The players… also get my support but right now some of them are also getting my goat. Even if you are having a bad game, effort is the minimum requirement.
I said on here the other day that Lenny would already have gone weeks ago had we performed like we have been in front of a full stadium.
The manager and the players are living in a bubble and it is easy for them to spin the narrative that it is just a minority of keyboard warriors and bloggers that want real change.
They have not seen the wrath of the home support for a long, long time. Most of the current squad have never seen it. Seen the fury of the support as yet another poor performance is turned in.
Of seeing a half-empty stadium when the support decide they have better things to do with their weekends.
The sound of 1000s of seats clicking up as a visiting team score 4 goals with 7 first team players missing and see us again humiliated in Europe.
Lenny, PL, the Board, DD and the players are delusional if they think the vast majority of fans are not wanting change.
Jack Murphy…
Have you seen the Benfica game ? The Huns central defence was pish from day1(Gouldson at Aberdeen), got better but will still have howlers from time to time (according to Stevie G) . They have had a very good run at the start of this season (not disputing that) after how many games/seasons to settle in and after how many combinations ?
Hello again all you young rebels.
I know it’s tough for you bhoys/ghirls up there in Bonny Scotia, with all
the negative press, rabid exultant huns, giving you all grief.
I suppose we’re a bit lucky here in sunny Oz, a hun is a bit like that horrible
virus, it’s there, you know it’s lurking in the shadows waiting to rear it’s
ugly heid again, but we’re ready for it.
Felt more upbeat this morning heading to our football parks, nothing pleases
me more than seeing the wee mhan and his mates with the hoops on.
Suppose us aul yins were the same, when Celtic are bad, the defiance increases.
Met up with some of our youth club committee for a beer in the afternoon.
Derby County supporter telling me David Marshall best bit of business they’ve
ever done? although I think he’s a wee bit biased as his da was a hoops fan when
he moved down there.
So now that the recriminations are waining, everybody’s had their say, and the
multi monikered posters go back in their box.
What now for the club? stick or twist? I see Lenny saying no more mr nice guy
think that should have happened after he exposed and called out the wantaways.
However loyalty whether it be blind faith or an aul ghuys past experience tells
me to stick with the mhan who has carried us through to 5 of our second 9.
Feel free to disagree, in a civil and Celtic mannered way if you don’t mind. 8-))
H.H. Mick
Indulge me for a couple of minutes – my brain (what’s left of it) will not relax
I cannot believe we are Just wandering down this, fast becoming, depressive road without a care in the world
Are DD and PL just going about their business as if nothing is wrong
As a club we relaxed about the potential outcome of the League
I do not believe DD ad PL are sitting on their hands
The International break gives a bit of time to move – so what are they up to ???
So this is what keeps me from sleeping – indulge me:
Celtic have approached Steve Clarke
SC will not engage with Celtic until after Thursday (Serbia)
At that point SC has a decision to make – If Scotland win on Thursday it’s a big call – he could stay with Scotland
SC seems an honourable soul and his moral fibre would have him complete a job he started
Meaning he is likely to stay with Scotland
However should Scotland lose – the door becomes open and he will talk
At this point DD and PL have to wait until Thursday
OR
DD has taken the responsibility to get someone of Brendan”stature
DD has contacted Eddie Howe
Mr Howe is interested but after a long spell at Bournemouth in the EPL probably thinks a top job will become available so at this point wants to wait
But DD cannot wait he wants to make changes now
So has given EH until the end of International week
OR
Sean Dyche – currently 2nd button of the EPL with 2 points
Sean knows he cannot keep working miracles and keeping them in the EPL
The timing is good and he fancies working with a winning team as opposed to just playing every week trying not to get beat
He could be good to go immediately
OR
DD still has a sparkle in his eye for Roy Keane (PL will be nervous)
DD may well think RK has “matured: a bit and is a bit more “steady”
PL will probably disagree
PL will say RK is a huge long term gamble
DD will say RK could be a short term fix
Either way expect fireworks
OR
PL has the bigger say and has convinced DD that Jack Ross is the new kid on the block and we should get him now – PL would be keen to have someone grateful as opposed to a challenger to his thinking
I have no idea if JR is subservient, good enough or interested
OR
DD and PL have admired from afar a coach (who knows who) who has outsmarted Celtic in Europe (yep a bit of a list)
An unknown to us but a reputable coach in his native land
OR
DD has no time for issues in Glasgow
I would assume Covid had eradicated some of his wealth in other areas – he may have bigger fish !!
Leaving PL with the responsibility
And PL may have a strong view that we should not panic and NL is the answer
For clarity all of the above is the mad emotions running round my brain (after a bottle of Red it gets worse)
As I sit and ponder our predicament I must believe that DD and PL are actively doing something
It is IMHO difficult to see a positive outcome if nothing changes
Take your mind to May 2021 the Scottish Cup Final (covid apart) can you see Celtic in the final looking to win a 5th straight treble ?? (personally I am only concerned with the league)
If you can please share your thoughts – because I cannot get there – Oh I wish I could
That’s why i must believe DD and PL are busy
67ECW
I really think we should forget about the huns. We have more than enough problems of our own.