Trending
Celtic News Now
Celtic Quick News on News Now
Celtic Quick News
You are at:»»Worst in 58 years but we must reframe the pain

Worst in 58 years but we must reframe the pain

847
By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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.
Scott Brown goal celebrationRelive 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).

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

847 Comments
  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. ...
  5. 12
  6. 13
  7. 14
  8. 15
  9. 16
  10. 17
  11. 18
  12. ...
  13. 23

  2. ernie lynch on

    IMWANDAN on 7TH NOVEMBER 2020 2:47 PM

     

    ‘Ernie, we all have subconscious biases… but the whole point of them being subconscious to the individual is that they are essentially invisible to the outside world.’

     

     

    ###

     

     

    Eh, no.

  4. setting free the bears for Res. 12 & Oscar Knox on

    If I could weigh in on the Bolingoli vs Edmundson/Jones Equality of Treatment Act, I would like to use a football analogy that I read in the comments section of a newspaper recently.

     

     

    Many years back I was outraged by the SFA or SPL decision to rescind a card issued to Austin McCann of Hearts for a reckless tackle on Shaun Maloney. If you remember the tackle Shaun was running up the left and heading for the opposition penalty box when McCann slid in at speed, missed the ball but slid between Shaun and the ball forcing Maloney to hurdle him and fail to stay on his feet when he landed. A good goal scoring opportunity was lost but Hearts were, correctly, reduced to 10 men.

     

     

    It was a cast iron red card, I thought, and still do. However, Hearts appealed and argued that there was no damage as the player was not touched or hurt, therefore a red was inappropriate. And surprisingly, the SFA or SPL agree with this view and re-scinded the card.

     

     

    I think Edmundson and Jones are being offered the McCann Defence, by Celtic supporters with a Yes/SNP bent. They did not get a chance to infect anyone within the football bubble (unless Arfield really was at the same party) whereas Bolingoli did.

     

     

    This is analagous to arguing- “If Shaun Maloney had not hurdled the reckless tackle and suffered a broken leg, a red would have been justified”.

     

     

    Most laws and regulations do not take outcome into account in sentencing, for good reasons. A drunk driver who is 8 times over the limit, when stopped and breathalysed, is, at least, as guilty as the driver who is slightly over the limit but knocks someone down or kills them, before they are stopped and breathalysed. We judge the recklessness of the behaviour and not the outcome, whether that is who was killed or injured, or who was placed at risk of infection?

     

     

    The minute you break the Covid regulations you place yourself and, more importantly, others at risk. Every traveller who went with Bolingoli to Spain and back, without quarantining, placed themselves and others at risk. Every partygoer who attended with Jones and Edmundson did the same. The fact that neither Bolingoli or Jones or Edmundson contracted Covid due to their recklessness, is neither here nor there. They all took a calculated risk, they were all prepared to lie about it, and they were all caught at some stage in their intended risk-taking and deception.

     

     

    So how on earth can the employers of Jones and Edmundson receive a letter of commendation?

     

     

    The only party that deserves commendation here are the Police and the party whistleblower; it was they who alerted the police who broke up the party, named and fined the participants and ensured that thir employers knew and could take precautuons to ensure they would be quarantined until cleared of any sign of the virus taking hold. The police managed to reduce the risk of contamination to just the party goers and, perhaps all the taxi drivers who took them back to their respective homes.

     

     

    I am astounded that Celtic fans would defend the discrimination between the two events.

     

     

    Maybe Shaun Maloney and the ref should send Austin McCann an apology? Maybe we should commend Hearts FC for the successful appeal?

  5. Big Jimmy on

    SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 7TH NOVEMBER 2020 3:56 PM

     

    ………….

     

    Spot on.

     

    I Posted a few days ago that the Hun players were ONLY prevented from mixing with their teammates in the days that followed, simply because they had been ” CAUGHT”.

     

    Neither of them would have Grassed themselves or each other up to their Club etc, so they were fully prepared to put others at risk, just like Bolingoli.

     

    HH.

  7. jackiemac on

    with forlorn hope, I’ll post this in the hope lennie and broonie might come across it –

     

    channel every ounce of nouse you have about celtic the spfl, every winker we’ve had to deal with, every bullshit coaching fad and armchair twat you’ve had to put up with and rip the living shit out of the mothers – apologies mods, wee bgfc and sparkleghirl

     

     

    destroy them!

  10. setting free the bears for Res. 12 & Oscar Knox on

    Motherwell away is often a tricky fixture But if we cannot soundly put away this team with a reaction from Thursday, then we truly are lost. I know it won’t make any difference to the “Sack Him Now” message and it will not be a corner turned..

     

     

    But it is still a necessity.

     

     

    I really fancy we could see a 3 or 4 goal win by celtic tomorrow.

  11. big packy 1 on

    SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 7TH NOVEMBER 2020 4:26 PM

     

    Motherwell away is often a tricky fixture But if we cannot soundly put away this team with a reaction from Thursday, then we truly are lost. I know it won’t make any difference to the “Sack Him Now” message and it will not be a corner turned..

     

     

     

     

     

     

    But it is still a necessity.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I really fancy we could see a 3 or 4 goal win by celtic tomorrow.

  12. lets all do the huddle on

    channel every ounce of nouse you have about celtic the spfl, every winker we’ve had to deal with, every bullshit coaching fad and armchair twat you’ve had to put up with and rip the living shit out of the mothers 

     

    —-

     

     

    have they not suffered enough, what with Ravenscraig closing and all that?

  15. lets all do the huddle on

    Biden will need a war to fully cement his position

     

     

    He will be spinning his globe at the moment to see where he can send some cruise missiles into

  16. Go tell the Spartim on

    Now that Trumps out of a job, could he not take over out PR tbh he couldn’t do any worse than every PR team we’ve ever heard

  20. An Tearmann on

    SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 7TH NOVEMBER 2020 3:56 PM

     

    If I could weigh in on the Bolingoli vs Edmundson/Jones Equality of Treatment Act, I would like to use a football analogy that I read in the comments section of a newspaper recently.

     

    =========

     

    is the question that posed by Ernie?

     

    that has already been exposed as a non comparison.

     

    Boli done X

     

    huns done Y

     

    X never at any time equals y.

     

    repeating the error only augments it imo.

     

    it is not a pro or anti labour/snp/tory/emdielse.it is a distinction in law breaking.they differqq

     

     

    is it the SNP govt? contrasting reaction to Celtic with Boli and Arfields party?

     

     

    strong ground here,tinkle the old emotions

     

    alas baseless.They were different in law at the time boli holidayed(uk law broke) and covid law broke at Arfields.

     

    Is our anger really not at our olfrim board who are meek in reaction sending out our football manager to opine on an issue of governance.that to me is a squirrel.

     

     

    is it the media knowledge here?

     

     

    meeja knew all bout Boli going out,boli mbomba bolingoli tends to stick out on a flight list! day after new quarantine laws come into place.

     

    Ball rolling across goal line with the tap in made once he appeared on team sheet..

     

     

    contrast in meejah behaviour there most definetly is.easily farting out the commendation without reporting/investigati on the circumstances surrounding the events.

     

    The plc see this as good olfrim bisniss

     

    sad..

     

     

    hh

  21. big packy 1 on

    SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 7TH NOVEMBER 2020 5:01 PM

     

    i love your posts here and on sentinel celts, dont take this the wrong way but i get the impression your a neil lennon man, he should be out the door right now,,obviously IMHO; still luv ya to bits.LOL.

  22. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Madmitch – it went to extra time and penalties …..

     

     

    … and Joe Biden (Celtic) won !

     

     

    :)

     

     

    Hail hail

     

     

    Keep The Faith

  23. Gene on

    Well done and good luck Joe

     

     

    While you’ve got nothing much to do should we play 3 or 4 at the back tomorrow

  26. ernie lynch on

    Gazza on his way to Washington with a fishing rod and six cans of lager.

     

     

    I hope he realises it’s Washington DC.

  27. Gene on

    Meanwhile just to really add to my football woes – Vale lose at home to Kings bloody Lynn

     

    Another FA cup failure 😫

  30. Gene on

    We think our MSM have power – apparently in the USA until they call the election there’s no result. 🤔

  32. onenightinlisbon on

    MELBOURNE MICK on 7TH NOVEMBER 2020 1:57 PM

     

    ONENIGHTINLISBON

     

     

    I’ve grown up with the first British team to win the European cup

     

     

    Treble treble winners, possible quadruple treble winners with a wee

     

     

    unrepentant fenian at the helm.

     

     

    That must hurt.

     

     

    H.H. Mick

     

     

     

    Me too Mick but your last comment says it all…..

     

     

    Must have hated Jock, certainly not an unrepentant Fenian…….

  33. Philbhoy on

    GENE

     

     

    I was at the Feyenoord final in Milan.

     

     

    We drove.

     

     

    5 of us in a Ford Corsair with one driver.

     

     

    Apart from the result, we had a great week!

  34. Gene on

    Philbhoy

     

    So was I – had to sleep in the airport because of the fiasco of flight delays. Never been back to Milan since.

  36. 67 European Cup Winners on

    So Joe Biden is the 46th president of the United States of America

     

     

     

    This is a good thing for Planet Earth

     

     

    But did you know………

     

    Joe is now entitled to security from the Secret Service

     

    As such Joe had to supply a code name

     

     

    What did Joe choose……… Celtic

     

     

    Yep the PotUSA code name is Celtic

     

     

    there is hope

     

     

    67EWC

  37. Philbhoy on

    GENE

     

     

    My BIL was a continental lorry driver.

     

     

    He lived in Cambridge.

     

     

    I used to take a trip with him around this time of the year.

     

     

    Visited some lovely places, including Milan.

     

     

    Those were the days.

  41. An Tearmann on

    HRVATSKI JIM on 7TH NOVEMBER 2020 5:47 PM

     

    Donald you’re a loser

     

     

    was waiting to see a “your fired” line :-).

     

     

     

    hh

  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. ...
  5. 12
  6. 13
  7. 14
  8. 15
  9. 16
  10. 17
  11. 18
  12. ...
  13. 23