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).
847 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- »
Fairhillbhoy! Hi m8 ! Unfortunately I am joining you with grief bud ! Just been told Ellen my mum is do not resuscitate!! Absolutely gutted! Horrible time for us 😢
Gftb-I have 3wee sisters.The oldest is my dads daughter.The younger 2 are to my stepdad.🤷♀️
It’s complicated 😉
My wife has 8 brother n sisters.Thats exhausting 😉
WISHAW TIM-sad news mate.Wee prayer said 🍀
Neil ..
Will deliver the 10 :-)
Or .. abiding by the rules … .hunners in a row …
Every Celtic fan that chases the “”10l” just legitimated they’re cheating ….
Fact
10 going on 30 …. sport = fair
Dont legitimatise their cheating …
Fairhill Bhoy
hope you are hanging in there pal,
you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers,
10 is beating our 2 x 9, nowt to do with either of them
WG
WT 11.27pm
Horrible to read …
This virus is touching every family … football is a wee extra … keep your family close and take care …
Wishaw Tim,
sorry to read your news
prayer said for you and your family.
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 7TH NOVEMBER 2020 11:14 PM
They don’t speak for me or I suspect a large number of Celtic supporters, going by the state of that banner they’d struggle to speak for themselves.
Eejits!
HH
State of that Leeds defence,with one of the best managers in the world coaching them.Wonder if the Leeds fans are screaming for Bielsa sacked.Nope.
SFTB
Unvictory To The Blanket Men
WG
Wishaw Tim
Very sad news, I will add your Mum to my prayer.
HH
GORDYBHOY64-thanks mate.I’ll be fine.Hope you’re doing good.
What about this team of ours 🍀
TURKEYBHOY-to be fair it’s a bit early for that at Leeds.The expectations are probably a bit lower 🤷♀️
Fairhill Bhoy
terrible run at the minute,but i still think we have good players
just not able to put a good team together
whose fault this is i dont know.
WINNINGEMMELL
We should have asked to stop the counting at our 2 x 9?
Start the counting again when we start winning the 10.
I wasnt in Berlin in 1989, I was in Delaware, but I was in East Berlin not long after what in effect was a Revolution. Was in Berlin in recent weeks to witness what, a full generation on, was a Revolution denied. A Treuhand Deliverance. Tonight I would, if I could, be in Wilmington Delaware, the First State, to celebrate Joe Biden being President Elect and Kamala Harris, first woman Vice President elect, and I believe the first woman of colour to preside over the US Senate, a Senate after which two Senate run-offs both In Georgia In January, might give Joe Biden some leeway to govern. The reason I mention Wilmington DE in particular is because, from 1968 to 1969, after the riots following the Assassinations of both Bobby Kennedy and moreso Martin Luther King Wilmington was under Martial Law for over a year. Something I was not aware of until twenty years after the fact. A shocking period, and not a whole lot different, from the GDR at that time for the black population in that City in the late 1960s. (Ireland too) Except for the hard line racism in De. Check it out. Joe Biden deep down knows about all this and hopefully will apply that knowledge across the USA, starting in the First State. Fifty years on.
Wishaw Tim
A hard time for you and your family.
YNWA
Turkeybhoy 11.:38pm
Some want Neil …. gone
I don’t … the media in Scotland want to go for Neil … 5 trophies on the bounce … but Stevie Gee .. win Fick all … is untouchable
GORDYBHOY64-the buck stops at the managers door and unfortunately he doesn’t look like he has the answers anymore
I want to beat our two 9s, simples, nowt to do with others
I hope Lenny and the players use the criticism and vitriol as fuel to motivate them more in a GIRUY kinda way.
Make them eat their words bhoys!
Looking forward to the game, expecting a reaction. It will be interesting to see how many changes from the Sparta game.
HH
Fairhill Bhoy
i think we have played 3 good halfs of football this year
i agree the manager looks like he has run out of ideas
sad way for him to bow out if this is how it goes
DBHOY-we got a reaction last week against Aberdeen and it counted for nothing on Thursday
Difference is Turkeyboy, that Leeds do not enjoy the financial advantage over other teams in the Englsh league that we have accrued over the last decade in Scottish football. They are just delighted to be back in the ‘big time’, which for many years seemed beyond their grasp. I do agree that cool heads and an an appreciation of some of the recent unfortunate events that we have had to endure is merited. However, part of the trade-off should be a quid pro quo that if the recent trend continues, then it is not only understandable but incumbant on the powers that be to make a change.
GORDYBHOY64-time to cut the cord unfortunately.I don’t think for a minute it’s just his fault but it’s him that will take the hit
Podium 🕺🕺🎉
I am a Neil Lennon fan ..
Paul McStay
Tommy Burns
Neil Lennon ..
That’s my Celtic heroes … one day we might not win every trophy on the go … until that day … I will stick by Neil Lennon … if there is a “Neil Lennon” clique on the go get me on there … remember Brendan left Celtic for Leicester for more money … Neil left Leicester (& the Premiership) for less money to join his childhood team 💚💚
FAIRHILL BHOY on 7TH NOVEMBER 2020 11:52 PM
True. We’re lacking consistency of performance, we’re also lacking consistency of selections due to covid and injuries. James Forrest is huge loss to our team aswell. His goals and assists are massive for us.
All we can do is go out and make sure we win the next game, hopefully with a good team performance. I remain optimistic.
HH
Sorry SFTB, it will definitely be me. I’m glad I’ve had a few beers before trying to straighten it out :)
You say you “think Edmundson and Jones are being offered the McCann Defence, by Celtic supporters with a Yes/SNP bent.”
Do you think it is possible that many supporters of all political bents made a decision whether the incident was alike the Bolingoli incident before the Scottish Government commented? And maybe some of these people maybe found the 2 situations to be different?
It may just be that some people, sometimes even people who are of the same political leanings, see things differently.
WISHAW TIM
Sorry to hear your sad news 💚
I think the blanket banner looks like it has zombie hoof prints all over it.
I think the appearance of this attack on two of there betes noir from the six counties on the eve of Remembrance Sunday is more than coincidence.
their
DBHOY-canny disagree with that. I honestly think it goes a lot deeper than just missing ‘the invisible man’
Sidney don’t start 😉
Must be my imagination then that my town is plastered with UB , Union Flags (though they don’t call them that!), Union Flag face masks, pre Covid Orange marches every second Saturday, pubs with memorabilia about 1690, The Battle of the Somme – They were the only ones there – etc etc.
We will agree to differ and I will say no more on the subject.
The bit about hoping for a Motherwell win was a joke btw.
Gftb-to be honest that old one about Lenny coming here for less money and BR going for more is pretty lame.
One for you Neil… Stiff Little Fingers – Alternative Ulster …
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nTO7nXw4StY
HH
FB 12.13am
Lame … I give you
But I am a Lennon fanatic :-)
So hopefully I can use it to my wee hearts content …