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Worst in 58 years but we must reframe the pain

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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.
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  3. the_huddle on

    It’s not a trick question, how many trophies had Lenny won when he took the job at Celtic in 2010?

  9. the_huddle on

    The Huns have yet to win a trophy but Neil isn’t as good as Steven G…. imagine Lennon has won f all ……..

  18. the_huddle on

    You don’t know how little I rate Garrard , and that includes his playing career

     

     

    I also don’t rate Lenny as a manager, I think we had the same chat when he got the job in the showers.

     

     

    So I’m stuck with 2 managers I don’t rate and yet it’s pretty obvious which one is going to win the league.

  20. Wishaw tim on

    GFTB!! Sitting in family room! And to be honest! My heart is breaking!! Please stop for one night! You continually go on about family!! Please give a bit of respect !!

  21. GFTB on

    No reply … typical Huns

     

    Call then out that you get … f all … frauds like sins Celtic frauds …. you know who they are

  22. GFTB on

    WT 2.09sm

     

     

    Apologies … but at this sad time please put me at the furthest most from your mind and think about those closet to you

  23. GFTB on

    Is it ok .. to still stand up for managers ???

     

     

    It sends that Neil Lennon is an easy target …

     

     

    Nir in my llofetine … Neil = Celtic

  24. GFTB on

    WT 2.09a

     

     

    Take care .. maybe use this tome as a bot of reflection …. sometimes we all need a bit of self awareness

  25. GFTB on

    WT

     

     

    Nope … not having that .. you are the one that goes on about me with the family stuff . dint turn it into me … nah …you can’t have it both ways … pretty sure I gave never mentioned your family … but you have mentioned mh wee yin ….

  30. Melbourne Mick on

    Hello again all you young rebels.

     

     

    Right bhoys/ghirls lets be havin you, it’s Celtic time and the

     

    Mithers are waiting with baited breath, they sense a fragile club

     

    and they know our fans aren’t there to give them that boost

     

    we are famous for.

     

    Defeat today is not an option, can Lenny lift them from the

     

    stupor they seem to be going through, he’s got big decisions to

     

    make, does he stick with the ones who have got the undoubted

     

    quality but are going through the motions, or give the shirt to

     

    a hungrier player desperate to make his mark?

     

    I’ll need to ponder over that one myself, where’s the chilled Rid

     

    Biddy.

     

    MAJESTIC HARTSON

     

    Chilled red wine?.. I know..I know, never ever done that with the

     

    Lanny when gulping it doon in the jungle cludgey lol, but I made

     

    a serious error of judgement here when the princess said to me

     

    ” Mick that wine Disny even touch yir mooth when you drink it, it

     

    goes straight doon”

     

    ” but darling it gets roasting hot if I leave it in the sun too long ”

     

    ” right ! well I’ll chill it fur ye ”

     

    So even at my age, basic mistake 8-))

     

    H.H. Mick

  31. Melbourne Mick on

    Wishy Tim

     

     

    just seen your post, gutted for your loss

     

    May your wee ma Rest In Peace.

     

    H.H. Mick

  34. Greenpinata on

    My friends in Celtic,

     

     

    I hope the Celtic players have been hurt indeed embarrassed by their inept midweek performance and subsequent criticism.

     

     

    I hope they feel they need to perform and give all these Celtic fans tuning in from far flung places, and Celtic fans on nightshift getting 3 hours sleep some cheer.

     

     

    So COYBIG.

  35. Uncle Jimmy on

    I have a good feeling about today. Reckon we’ll win 4-2. Can’t see us keeping a clean sheet sadly.

     

     

    There are wider issues to continue discussing respectfully. Not pre match, however.

     

     

    Politics and football rarely mix well

  36. Big Jimmy on

    DAVID66..

     

    Ive also had some problems Logging In in recent weeks..even on my new super duper “Windows 10 PC”.

     

     

    Right Celtic…just get yer act together Today and destroy that ‘Well Mob…Simples !

     

    Take the Ref ( what ever Hun he is…OOT of the Equation )…by Rattlin in a few Goals.

     

     

    HH.

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