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Celtic Diary Monday September 24: Crisis ? This Crisis.

I was at Kilmarnock yesterday, hoping to see Celtic.

Are they there yet ?

You know what I did see ?

Supporters not supporting, players not playing, and a manager not managing.

As a result, Kilmarnock secured all three points and all of the above looked around for something or someone to blame when in fact all anyone has to do is look in the rear view mirror when they get back into the car to see the solution.

Brendan Rodgers, who according to some whispers, handed in his notice during the summer, saying he’d serve only one more year, looked as though he’d rather be somewhere else, anywhere else in fact, which is probably enough evidence to support the story that he told his agents to find another club.

Want to know what Dembele called him out on ? This, and not what we previously thought.

Well, our French forward figured that if Brendan wasn;t going to hang around, then he wasn’t either.

Olivier Ntcham then decided he’d follow his compatriate out the door, but he wasn’t allowed to. I thought at the time it was odd that Ntcham, who actually turned down a better offer from Manchester city to go to Girona wanted out, but it does make sense now.

Poor Oddsone Edouard, he thought he’d be part of a Triple Entente at Celtic, now he’s signed up for four years and his pals are fighting to get to the door. Well, one’s already away through it.

 

If Rodgers has indeed chucked it in spirit, then immediate blame will be placed at the door of the board.

I’m no fan of the board, but a list of recent Rodgers signings might just hint at why they weren’t prepared to back him with more money. Especially if he had handed in his notice.

Having said that, this month around five million pounds will find its way into the players bank accounts, so it cannot be said that the money hasn’t been spent.

Sure, there’s still plenty in the bank, but it will empty fairly quickly at that rate.

If Rodgers does want out, then let him go.

His tantrums appear to indicate that he thinks he’s bigger than the club, and that cannot be allowed.

If, however, he wants to stay, then he needs support. From the supporters, and i did my bit by not singing along with songs about the Irish Republican Army, because as far as I was aware, none of them were playing yesterday.

In fact, its probably fair to say that none of them have ever donned the hoops and so therefore its a bit of a mystery as to why they are acclaimed from the stands.

We all love a tune from time to time, especially after a few beers, but its hard to see any of the players upping their game when the chorus of Broad Black Brimmer cascades from the heavens.

 

Ah, the players. They’re doing what they are told.

I was in the Weatherpoons eating breakfast when the team news came out.

Immediately, I said we’d win 7-0. A figurative demonstration of enthusiasm which disappeared about thirty seconds into the game when the Kilmarnock defence lined up in tow banks of four and the Celtic forwards implemented their encircling movement.

Different faces, same look.

And it didn’t look good. Then again, it hasnt looked good for a while. Its not the players that are the problem, its the system, and we could all see that yesterday whether we were in the stand or watching on the telly.

In fact, we could probably see that if we were listening on the radio.

 

Despite the fact that if the board had backed Rodgers and Lionel Messi and Christain Ronaldo had jojned in the summer, it was obvious that even those two would have been told to pass the ball square until one of the Kilmarnock defenders fell asleep.

Tedious, predicatable, and ultimately self defeating.

Thats not to absolve the players, by the way.

Why can none of them take a free kick or a corner with any degree of accuracy ?

Thats a technique, and techniques can be learned…technique should be practiced, and then when you think they’ve got the hang of it, keep them behind for extra practice.

Only Yousseff Mulumba provided a moment of hope yesterday.

Finally Celtic have a player who won’t take any shit from opponents.

We’re going to need him and his attitude in the coming weeks.

 

So far I’ve missed out the board in this particular rant, but don’t worry.

Its their turn now.

Whilst Rodgers is paid a hell of a lot of money to manage, and can be rightfully accused of failing in that instruction, tracing this malaise back along the last few months seems to lead to one particular point.

Remember the guy from Sporting Lisbon, the right back ?

The one where Rodgers agreed the deal and Lawwell vetoed it ?

It seems to have led to a breakdown in the working relationship between the two. A meeting in Dublin recently with Dermot Desmond and Stan and Ollie present appears to have ended rather acrimoniously, which means that one of them has reached the end of the line.

It won’t be Lawwell.

He’ll get his arse kicked again, and lock himself in his office like he usually does, but he’ll survive.

But the fact is that if he has given Rodgers control of the team then the manager must be allowed to stand or fall on his own decisions.

To overrule him on a signing means that the manager is not in control, and at any football club, that is the beginning of the end.

Apart from anything else though, the overriding concern now is that the team is performing poorly, and talk of a treble treble may well come to a shuddering halt this week when Celtic face St johnstone in the League Cup.

Tommy Wright will tell his players that its a good time to be playing Celtic.

It is.

In the league Celtic have scored once away from home, and picked up only one point in three games.

Celtic travel to Perth this week…

 

 

 

 

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Hands Can't Hit
5 years ago

Ralph,

Rodgers does deserve some blame, but this is fundamentally an issue of underinvestment. We had a net spend of ยฃ0 in the last year (before selling Dembele).

Our wages as a percentage of revenue have decreased in the last year.

We have over ยฃ40m in the bank (gross).

We have back to back trebles. Who has brought this success to the club? Brendan is the main man at the club; we are only going one way if he leaves.

I also find it interesting that no one ever labels Lawwell as thinking that he is “bigger than the club”, even when he seems to becoming involved in transfers and messing up the running of the club.

To put things in perspective, Lawwell earned ยฃ2m last year. That is more than the cumulative transfer fee of the following players who appeared yesterday: Hendry, Mulumbu, Morgan, Christie, Gordon, Lustig, Tierney, Johnstone and McGregor (granted we have Celtic youth players in that list). If that does not indicate that we are being run poorly, then I do not know what does.

Monti
5 years ago

Thought the Rebel songs were the most entertaining moments of the day!

Hope your prawns were nice at breakfast, Ralph.

TC
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti, thats nonsense, WTF have the IRA got to do with supporting Celtic? the international players we have have no idea of this nonsense and do not gain any strength from it.
how can we criticize Der Hun for being up to their knees, yet sing songs about terrorists.

nothing to do with football, the Fields of Athenry, YNWA etc are great, we dont need nonsense

iancelt67
5 years ago
Reply to  TC

IRA has alway been synonomus with Celtic since !916, Its like Croats supporting croatia when they had to live in yugoslaviqa under Tito
My childhood memories at celtic games was to joyfully join in on the IRA songs

Bgbhoy
5 years ago
Reply to  TC

โ€˜Singing songs about terrorists…โ€™

Oh where to begin with that statement…

Damian Smyth
5 years ago
Reply to  Bgbhoy

Big bhoy , get your facts right, singing songs about freedom fighters . A proud & Honorable tradition

Bgbhoy
5 years ago
Reply to  TC

Did the queen not lay a wreath for these we called โ€˜terroristsโ€™. Why would she do that? At least these lads make noise. The majority of the clowns that go to games these days only go to play the Xbox in the stand and get a nice big hotdog.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  TC

TC,
Fuck off!

Rob O'Keeffe
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Hear hear! Unfinished Revolution……

Damian Smyth
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

The IRA & the Provisional IRA fought proudly for their people who were.mown down by the Brits & the Black & Tans round about the 19-20’s
At the end of the 1960’s and for nearly 40 years we were invaded by the undisciplined British Army , who backed up the disgraced RUC , B’Specials & UDR & murdered. Our men women & children . Battalions from England Scotland & Wales had one thing in common hid behind school children & schools & shot us down with immunity . If it hadn’t been for the Provisional IRA , the Natonalist people of the North of Ireland would have been wiped out

henkesdreadlocks
5 years ago
Reply to  TC

TC= Total Cunt.

TC
5 years ago

nice! i do enjoy intelligent banter and discourse

Rob O'Keeffe
5 years ago
Reply to  TC

Who are the bigger terrorists? The British(very sorry) Armed “forces” or the local Volunteers fighting for their land and a Proper Cause? SMH

Uralius
5 years ago

For me the cut off is 1958.

Devoy45
5 years ago

Bleak reading Ralph, but thanks for the truth. I hope you’re wrong but it does explain a lot. Deep down, I feel that a refreshed Sevco will top us in the league, even if they don’t win it. They are scoring goals and putting teams to the sword. I have no hopes for us at Ibrox in December. In fact, I have no hopes for Wednesday night. Already I can see us toiling against a team that predictably laid down for Sevco yesterday. We’ll lose 1-0 in the last minute and that’s the end of our treble. No 10 in a row either. What happened?!!!
Your article explains the whole malaise. Who would be inspired by a manager who is leaving?
I am 68 and have seen some dark times at Celtic. Am I over-reacting? Am I fickle? It’s just our team has been playing poorly for into two seasons now and the rest of the league has improved and won’t let us get away with this time. What the feck is going on? I looked in the mirror this morning and saw a reflection of I.M. Jolly!

Honest hoops
5 years ago

Yep, I agree the start has been frustrating, however we are only 6 points behind the jam farts, 1 point behind the people, in my opinion we are not in a position to panic,not yet anyway…we need a fix in which to change the current attitude and formation,…faithful through and through…

iancelt67
5 years ago

reading the scotsman today, you’d swear this is all scripted for doom and natural order will once again be restored to the “famous”

The comments section compounds this feeling of malaise from the east end and glory days returning to the south side

Brendan in line for a new job? Where? West Ham? Man U ?

Billybear
5 years ago

Have to totally agree re the IRA fest which was once the norm at all away grounds but is now being โ€˜acceptedโ€™ at Celtic Park too. WTF has it to do with football? Heard a fan on Thursday night saying, โ€œtheyโ€™re singing IRA songs, thatโ€™ll make the Norwegians shite themselvesโ€! Wouldnโ€™t so much as call them terrorists, but thatโ€™s for another debate, not for the terraces.

alan
5 years ago
Reply to  Billybear

are you lost??

5TB
5 years ago
Reply to  Billybear

Smart fucking comment that, from a tit who must have the same in common as you, seeing as you find it worthy of note here and haven’t tried to be relocated away from him, presumably.

Thanks for sharing however. Tit repeater.

Rob O'Keeffe
5 years ago
Reply to  Billybear

Fuck me,not another one…..Go On Home you Brit Hun!

MaestroMcStay
5 years ago

These performances reek of January โ€˜09 to May โ€™09 when Strachan had already informed the players he was offski and they more or less downed tools. This current lot are stealing a wage and need to get the finger out of their arses pronto. As for the IRA songs, the chant to the tune of Beautiful Sunday is an embarrassment. I cringe whenever I hear it.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  MaestroMcStay

O’HARA HUGHES MCREESH SANDS DOCHERTY LYNCH MCDONNELL HURSON MCELWEE DEVINE

IN MEMORY OF THE 10

David
5 years ago

We have to many good Celtic songs to sing about happy stuff, get rid of this IRA nonsense it has no place at football.
Yes Ralph you are correct Rodgers has told his people to find him another job and PL knows this so the sooner he is replaced the better, I cannot see any other solution given the current situation between these two. It is all very sad that we are the cause of our own downfall.

Rob O'Keeffe
5 years ago
Reply to  David

We are all Neil Lennon…plus he loves a Ghood Rhebel Mhedley….

Rob O'Keeffe
5 years ago
Reply to  David

Spot on Weered…..We sing Rebel Songs because it gies “them” the boak……

5 years ago
Reply to  Rob O'Keeffe

You sing rebel songs to gee people the boak!! You are a clown, Celtic may have Irish ties but Celtic is a Scottish club, this IRA shite is heavy embarrassing, plastic paddies, I’m a Scottish Celtic fan and you don’t hear me singing about the English doing what they did to Scotland which was a lot worse may I add, some roasters on here a tell ye

Rob O'Keeffe
5 years ago
Reply to  TrebleTreble88

Yes,the peepul I’m talking about are the Sooside Scum.I’m 100% Irish so cut out your plastic paddy crap.Do you sing Flower of Scotland you snowflake prick? Leave the fight to the big Bhoys! Heavy embarrassing?Are you 15 years old son?

Desdamoaner
5 years ago

Itโ€™s taken us since not long after the start of last season to reach this point. Lawwell dicking about with the right back deal might have accelerated it but on the field at least this has been coming for a long time.
Not sure Iโ€™d trust a guy who chased jack hendry for 4 months as his biggest January signing and hires congerton with too much money either tbh.

The dembele story isnโ€™t any less plausible than any others but odd how it didnโ€™t have an impact straight away against the stench. Talking of whom gerrard might be an arsehole but at least heโ€™s positive about his team.

Mike
5 years ago

No one person is bigger than Celtic, doesn’t matter if he has billions in the bank, doesn’t matter if he wears his slippers to work and has been in situ for years, doesn’t matter if he has managed Barca. Doesn’t matter if he has played for Barca. If the manager is unhappy he should resign now and tell the support his reasons for leaving, he has been a supporter all his life, he knows how much they the support love the club, no-one wants a manager managing the club who is unhappy the club comes first, the support is the club, they/we deserve to be treated better than this. The players who are paid handsomely should step up and give their all for the club, no “standing watching fuds berating our player lying on the ground” that is not acceptable, they need to show fight and grit. Wednesday will be an indication if they are willing to take up the challenge. As for the C.E. and the board….. There needs to be a sense of unity, if not then….

Celtic mikey
5 years ago

Why does the motivation always disappear two years or less into a Celtic managers reign.
The blessed JS the exception.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Celtic mikey

Because the manager becomes aware he can’t do any more, needs a few quality players from the board & then the board force you out.
The problem a Celtic park is in the boardroom!

Celtic mikey
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

But they know the score Monti. We all do.
Two year fixed term contract and see you later thanks for the help. Nice little earner for them and some trophies. At least everyone is on their toes and keen that way.

Uralius
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I’m going tae war wi’ the board.

Monti
5 years ago

God bless those who hunger for Justice!
Your names will be remembered in heart & song!

MaestroMcStay
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

There are some wonderful songs Monti that remind us of the struggle but Iโ€™m sure Daniel Boone wasnโ€™t thinking of those who hungered for justice when he wrote Beautiful Sunday. Thatโ€™ chant is nothing more than wee neds giving it laldy about something they donโ€™t or never will understand

Uralius
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Now you see I can handle singing songs about hunger strikes as long as they weren’t in jail for terrorism. Also can handle singing songs about those peaceful unarmed civilians who were wrongly killed, but would prefer ALL politics to be left at the gate.

BroxburnBhoy
5 years ago

More wild speculation on topics we actually know nothing about. What goes on behind closed doors we wonโ€™t know till one of the principals tells us. Our collective response here has been one of largest displays of fickelty I have seen. We are desperate to turn on the Board, the manager and the team after a few games in the league. Faithful through and through – defeatists through and through more like. It is early, we have the best manager and team in Scotland and clasmalwya tells. Letโ€™s see where we are by end of December. In the meantime faithful through and through

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  BroxburnBhoy

BB,
What next? Some fanciful pish about Tierney ‘ being away ‘
Lol lol

BroxburnBhoy
5 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Exactly or Sinclair getting a part on coronation street

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  BroxburnBhoy

He’d probably be half hearted in that as well….

D'Fhinnein Mick
5 years ago
Reply to  BroxburnBhoy

There’s blind faith and madness. Two decent bands,actually,but I’m not a fan of either.

5 years ago
Reply to  BroxburnBhoy

“clasmalwya” that’s easy for you to say. ๐Ÿ˜‰

I agree we’ve the best manager, 1st 11, squad etc but things aren’t right at the moment and it’s not just the last few weeks, it’s going back about a year. Then we were told that it was the “millstone” of the Invincible tag and when that was gone then we’d kick on again. Well it did and we didn’t.

Although it was always unlikely to replicate the Invincible season, the fact that we had something like 30 less points, 30 less goals and couldn’t string 4 league wins together, is indicative of a sharp decline.

Of course we won another treble (an incredible achievement) but the best of the best always strengthen from a position of strength and that is something we haven’t done.

I still expect us to win the league although the Cups are more of a lottery. Having said that we probably won the Cups easier last year than the Invincible season so we can raise our game when we need to.

I’m just disappointed that 2 years ago when we looked like we needed to get rid of half the team from the Ronnie era, the only real change we’d made was to improve on a 40 goal a season striker and there was a definite buzz, not just about our place but around Europe.

The momentum from then seems lost and whether we can truly recover it, who knows.

BroxburnBhoy
5 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Lol on the class always tells

5 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

50 but prefer greenbacks.

Mike
5 years ago

DeVries, Commper, Kouassi, Hendry. Sift through the mountain to find one or two gems and then send them to Engerland for peanuts and for others to get the rich reward. There are a half dozen other players on the payroll I could add to those above. They join Boerrighter in smoking their pipe and wearing out their slippers while they take a sauna in the pool of players who took a wage and did SFA.

Dom67
5 years ago

Totally agree about the IRA stuff. The Bastardisation of Beautiful Sunday is awful. Celtic is a broad Church and it should not be assumed that every Celtic fan is either Catholic, of Irish Descent or a supporter of an organisation that flirted with some with pitch black morality from 1970 onwards. The singing of Republican songs really does make it far more difficult to claim the Moral high ground from the other shower across the city. As for matters on the park i get a strong sense that the dressing room is split badly and often when that occurs it’s difficult for a manager to resolve things. Hope i’m wrong as Rodgers has been great for Celtic. If it came to it i would take Steve Clarke in a heartbeat.

Rob O'Keeffe
5 years ago
Reply to  Dom67

Another DOB…..

5 years ago
Reply to  Dom67

The troubles are over, don’t bring your Irish politics to Scottish football, if you don’t like it stay at home and support a team in Ireland,

Rob O'Keeffe
5 years ago
Reply to  TrebleTreble88

The Troubles? You mean the war…..who are you to tell someone to stay away from Parkhead?…..Weered is a Belfast Tim…not sure about you….

5 years ago
Reply to  Dom67

Beautiful Sunday was a shit song anyway

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Not now though…..i love it!

Rob O'Keeffe
5 years ago
Reply to  Dom67

Weered,exactly……

charlie
5 years ago

ffs ralph looks like yoov got sum new fans this place is fuckin hoachin wae zombies

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

like a said fuckin hoachin changin yer name fae charlie tae donnchadh disnae change that yer still a wee guylocked n a loft wae a pile a commando comics kiddin on yer a sodger ha ha ha ha

5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

Donnchadh , you know thereโ€™s someone using your name on the soldier of fortune magazine saying……

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

ha ha ha ha

henkesdreadlocks
5 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Time you took a fucking break again Duncy. Self righteous tosser.

Rob O'Keeffe
5 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Classic Ian…..

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Iancelt,
๐Ÿ™‚

BroxburnBhoy
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

Agree Charlie some odd types

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

goodness did a upset you sweetheart

Henrik
5 years ago

Maybe we should of signed james McLean a guy who was desperate to play for us ,a guy who understands who terrorised the Irish people, the rebel tunes would have pumped him up to the max and Led us to victory

Rob O'Keeffe
5 years ago
Reply to  Henrik

Henrik,bullseye……

Doc
5 years ago

Is another quality manager being chased out the door?

Lawwell came in and didn’t support MON, his lackeys in the press said MON was spending too much. MON walked

Strachan was seven points clear, wanted the strengthen the team, Lawwell said no, we lost the league. Strachan walked.

Lennon had a successful 3 years and wanted more. He wanted to build, Lawwell told him the budget was cut. Lennon walked

Rodgers won a historic double treble and led us to record revenues, he wanted to sign some players, Lawwell didn’t. Rodgers …

Anyone spotting a pattern hear?

Lawwell is the common denominator in good managers leaving us, is he there to support the manager or increase his bonus? Once is a mistake, twice is a pattern, three times is a habit and a fourth time would be fucking insanity, to me, Lawwell’s time is up.

I’m not one of the ‘St Brendan’ guys, I’ve moaned about most of his signings, I’ve had a go at the system from day one and I’ve been raging about our European results but Rodgers has brought us an unprecedented success in the double treble and he should be fully supported by the board. If our board are incapable of backing a successful manager then we need changes in the boardroom, not the dugout.

Doc
5 years ago
Reply to  Doc

Sorry, I might have posted this twice. Feckin resource limit.

BroxburnBhoy
5 years ago
Reply to  Doc

Doc Iโ€™m absolutely sure that managers are told what the budgets and operating model is before they accept the job. During that process of recruiting and manager the roles of the CEO and manager is explained in detail – who is responsible for what. As Mr Saiz points out the spending that MON did put the Club in potential financial trouble and was unsustainable. It has taken several years to pay off the debt incurred during that period. Iโ€™m pretty sure that Brendan came in with a clear idea of what he was responsible for and his latitude to make decisions and what his relationship to Lawwell is. Mon, Lenny and Strachan performed well for a while at Celtic then walked for pastures new. Brendan has much more potential as a manager if he can get over his own sense of importance and a big stubborn streak that limits his ability to change.

Doc
5 years ago
Reply to  BroxburnBhoy

MON saved us, if we had a Macari or a Mowbray instead of MON it would have been the early nineties all over again. The losses level out by being used to reduce Corporation Tax payments on future profits.

Your saying “walked for pastures new”, in my experience, people who are paid well, successful and working somewhere they love don’t just walk away, yet its happened three times at Celtic. Going to pastures new is one thing, going to fight relegation in England is something else altogether

BroxburnBhoy
5 years ago
Reply to  Doc

The money celtic spent for MoN spent saved us and he managed it well. He has a history of walking away Doc and only of intermittent success. He was able to buy much better players and pay them so you get a much better team. He did well and letโ€™s not pretend that he didnโ€™t walk away. He did. He decided to leave and then he popped up again in England. stravhan and Lenny ended up there too – so will Brendan in good time Iโ€™m pretty sure

Doc
5 years ago
Reply to  Doc

Using fess on Celtic wiki, MON spent less, average per season, than Deila.

SteveNaive
5 years ago

BgBhoy,
You usually have some insight into things behind the scenes.
Any of today’s assertions in the diary true ?

Bgbhoy
5 years ago
Reply to  SteveNaive

Nothing. They just know it was shite.

Devoy45
5 years ago

We have a big match Wednesday night, on TV. I dread watching it and I fear the result. Why should that be? Because St. Johnstone are one of the teams we have trouble with. I would like to see something good and positive happen. I would like Brendan and his team prove that they can still play attacking football and score. Forget 4-2-3-1 for now. Let’s have something fresh and different and effective. Let’s pretend Brendan reads this forum.
Here goes:
Gordon
Lustig/Boyata/Ajer/Tierney
Brown/Ntcham
Forrest/Edouard/Griffiths/Sinclair
Have Ajer and Boyata bring the ball out and then pass to either wing, quickly.
Let’s get intae them.
By the way, I would choose Steve Clarke over Lennon. Stevie is a real manager with nous. Lenny’s had his chance and walked away.
Clarke deserves to work with really good players and wouldn’t take the club and fans for granted.

Scunger
5 years ago

Strachan was also guilty of the same thing. Same tactics every week, regardless of whether it was the league or Europe. You could virtually predict the team sheet every week before the team was even announced. If the fans could predict how the team was going to be set out then sure as hell the opposition could as well. This is exactly what is now happening with the team under Brendan, it’s brutal to watch. There’s something far wrong when you are setting out the same formation against Hamilton, St. Mirren, as you are against the likes of Athens. Is the defence that bad that you need two defensive midfielders in the SPL. As much as I hate Levein, he recognised how we played and set his team up to combat it. Dare I say it? We were lucky to get away with a win against the tribute act.

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  Scunger

Scunger,
Strachan got us to the last 16 of the CL ya fucking knob

Mike
5 years ago

Caller can you repeat that, this is 188 8, please repeat your request.

Being saying it for hours the fault lies with the holding company, it has nothing to do with Celtic. Some cunt made a doppleganger of Brendan, it must have been Charles Green. He stole our team, our stadium, our history, if only the players hadn’t tuped, we would have been fine. All we need is support from our friends in Hampden, a few honest mistakes and the MSSM shouting out that we are the greatest and we’el be fine.

Devoy45
5 years ago

Remember, in 1997-98, we lost our first two league games…but went on to stop the Huns ten in a row! Sevco can’t play all their games at Ibrox with no visiting fans. They’ve dropped points in 3 of their away games in the League. I don’t care about a double or treble, but I would like 8 in a row.

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  Devoy45

saiz a replied tae summy yer bullshit but ralph didnae let it through you can look it up on you tube under the ultimate insult ………enjoy ya warmer

Admin
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

Videos might not work under current wordpress settings.

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  Desi Mond

cheers desi it was jeest wan rippin the piss ooty donnchadh no matter he he

Rob O'Keeffe
5 years ago
Reply to  Desi Mond

Speaking of WordPress,why can’t I get straight through? Is it an anti Irish,RC,Rebel Song singer thing?…..

Dominic McCormick
5 years ago

Does being offended by IRA songs at the game merit being compared to a zombie? So by your analysis if you don’t support the Republican movement you’re not really a Celtic fan? I wonder how Jock Stein and the rest of the non Catholic legends who have enriched our club would have felt or feel about your narrow view of what constitutes a good Celtic fan?

Dominic McCormick
5 years ago

Spot on!

charlie
5 years ago

ffs agreeing wae yursel …… is that you donchadh ha ha ha ha

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

lets get this straight anybody can be offended by whatever yae like but ile no be lectured tae by a sodgers groupie

Dominic McCormick
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

I’m a novice to this carry on!

Rob O'Keeffe
5 years ago

Beat it Hun…..Celtic players have never complained about Rebel Songs….especially the support that is given away from Parkhead Library….

Cartvale88
5 years ago

Totally agree, remember Stein entering the terraces in the seventies to stop some of the hatred.
No one seems to understand that many have died, the so called peace process has calmed the hatred down, except with the knuckledraggers that prance past chapels and their so called hangers on on both sides.
Anyways the problems is the football, the continuous purchase of crap, Hendry, Comper, Boerigter amongst others. Delilah got pelters but he was brought in to do the boards bidding. Lawell is the one that has lost the plot, a season of disaster leads to no European Foorball, no financing and an increase in debt, also scunnered supporters, even if they do not eat prawn sarnies.
DD must realise that Chesney, Lenny and now BR must have a problem, as the majority are supporters, not there for the money.
Yesterday we had no midfield and were outnumbered on the flanks, Clarke had done his homework well. We will get a result on Wednesday, but there has to be a rethink by the management team.
HH

BroxburnBhoy
5 years ago
Reply to  Cartvale88

Stein embarrassed himself that day in my opinion. There was no need for it.

5 years ago
Reply to  BroxburnBhoy

The true story was that the Huns had just made a major signing and this was his way of getting them off the back page and it worked.

He managed us for about a 1000 games and can’t recall another incident like this.

The Huns have it that Stein hated Ireland and all things Irish but the truth was he loved Ireland and was loved back.

I understand Huns trying to denigrate his memory, some of our fans not so much so (NB that’s not directed at Brox but at the Empire enthusiasts who seek to lecture on what’s acceptable).

BroxburnBhoy
5 years ago

There were many non catholic members of the IRA which was a political organization rather than a religious one. I think Irish Republicanism is part of the Clubs history and affiliation to be celebrated rather than get the political correct air brush. Hearings few songs about the movement, the men and women, to decolonislze Ireland from the British is hardly sectarian in nature. After all many of us are descendants of family here as a result of the famine and the result of persecution under British rule. Let the people sing!

Rob O'Keeffe
5 years ago
Reply to  BroxburnBhoy

Hear hear…..

BroxburnBhoy
5 years ago

So letโ€™s just all forget colonialism and occupation and what led to this club being formed – move along Timmy youโ€™re just another Scottish football team – sorry dude I disagree with you entirely. Celtics Irish connection/
History is what makes this club special.

jimboh
5 years ago
Reply to  BroxburnBhoy

BroxburnBhoyโ€ฆ.I agree with you regarding our Irish heritage. I will gladly celebrate it and the amazing things our club has achieved. Especially the Foundation’s work at home and abroad. I just don’t see the need to celebrate the IRA in song during football.
Not every Celtic supporter is the product of an Irish / Catholic background. We are a broad church.

Rob O'Keeffe
5 years ago
Reply to  BroxburnBhoy

Funny why Tommy Burns and many others took inspiration from The Jungle who were generally belting out the party tunes.Didn’t seem to bother them…..however the “modern” Celtic supporter thinks they know better…..

Cartvale88
5 years ago

Stein was a far better man than many that surround the club, a gentleman and a leader, not an embarrassment.
Thoughts for Jin Brogan an underrated but solid defender, something we need

charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  Cartvale88

nobody is perfect no even the creator a mean look at the cunt he made ae it the day he inflicted donnchadh on humanity he he

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  charlie

๐Ÿ™‚

5 years ago

Brendan has done wonderful things no doubt about it. But since the tail end of last season apart from sevco the team were poor in the final 3rd.
It has continued this season. Edouard and Dembele pre season looked the way to go. We started brightly pre season we looked strong apart from the centre back positions. But Dembele departure was a blow.
The team suffered with the Boyata situation and the spat with Brendan and Peter was a huge blow.
But once again Brendan failed to beat a poor AEK team tactics were wrong and I’m of the opinion Lennon would have got us through.
He seems blinded by this 4231. It doesnt work with the squad we have.
Lustig got the brunt of the boos in midweek a guy who would normally be brave was forced to play keep ball. He was keeping to orders.
The team that beat sevco have they actually took to the field again? 5 or 6 changes is no good to anyone its ludicrous.
Brendan needs to start with his strongest 11 players and jeep them in the side even if things aren’t happening. They will eventually.
Chop and change is not the way forward.
Gordon
Lustig Boyata Benkovic Ajer Tierney Izzy
Forrest Brown Rogic McGregor Ntcham Sinclair
Griff Edouard Johnstone.
16 players pick 11 the others subs.
Hendry isn’t yet a Celtic player should be left alone for the time being.
Keep with the plan till injury for me
Gordon
Lustig Boyata Benkovic Tierney
Forrest Brown Rogic McGregor
Griff and Edouard would start every game.
If injury happens change like for like.
Now I’m not saying we should go 442 but play your strongest 11 in whatever formation.
But we need to start getting a settled team.
HH

Monti
5 years ago

Let me do something about that…..

Mike
5 years ago

Really sad to read of the passing of Jim Brogan, he joined his brother Frank to wear our cherished hoops. Another footballer who succumbed like Frank Kopel to dementia, those heavy soddon leather balls have a lot to answer for. Jim played well in the other European final in 1970, played for Celtic as a sweeper but moved back to left back when the hugely talented George Connolly made the sweeper role his own. And how do you fill the void left by the mercurial fearsome talent that was my hero Tommy Gemmell. How I wish you three wonderfully talented players were ready to don our famous hoops.
Jim, George and Tam, no one messed with you, no-one bullied you three and it was one for all and all for one when any of your team-mates were challenged. So RIP Jim, thank you for what you brought and what you did for our club.

Macca
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Oooft!!! Jim, George and Tam. What would you pay to have them in our team today. All 3 would walk in. Even wee Kieran would have to move over.

D'Fhinnein Mick
5 years ago
Reply to  Macca

Greatest of respect to Jim Brogan,but Jock did him a disservice by playing him at LB. Not remotely his ideal position.

Mike
5 years ago
Reply to  Macca

Macca, They should make a song about them three… fantastic players,
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart and you’le never walk aloneee, you’le never walk alone….

Puggy67
5 years ago

RIP Jim Brogan.

Mike
5 years ago

Sometimes, sometimes we are caught up in the here and now and forget about how our great club had so many wonderfully talented players and managers. From Jinky to Bobby Lennox, McGrory too Stein, the list is endless. Tommy Gemmell’s thunderous drive at goal, Jinky’s death defying gravity, Big Billy’s leadership. Henke’s magical appreciation of space, where to go to look for the ball, wonderful talents.
I don’t ever much remember hearing the positives about any board members, just the mumbling’s of discontent. It was always but always about the team, the players and 1-2 managers. Who can forget big game excitements, the soggy fish supper’s, standing in the pishing rain. I wasn’t at Lisbon, I wasn’t in Milan until much later, the excitement in the heat of Seville. We all want to repeat those wonderful exciting times. Sadly now, the odds are mightely stacked against that ever happening again. But never say never, who can gaze into the crystal ball and predict the future, but look to the past and remember those glorious times, glorious games, wonderful players who did what we always wanted to do, to play blow football while wearing those famous hoops.

BJF
5 years ago

I tried to post very early taken out by resource limit reached. So I have read the huge number of posts one or two
of the usual suspects immature and not very bright but a lot of good stuff about what is Celticโ€™s culture, values, who is really calling the shots, how capable a manager is Brendan, is the dressing room divided or has BR lost it? The Provisional IRA replaced the old guys who were ineffectual, they in turn were challenged by the more left wing Officals ( Stickies v Pinheads).
Then there was the INLA, typical Irish nationalist turn about, the first item on the agenda is the split. I donโ€™t think Celtic supporters have to be pro IRA but not can you walk away from such a significant tradition, they have to conexist. Brendan and Lawwell need to recognise the club is bring torn apart by concerns of internal rows and suffering priorities, they need to lead. Until Wednesday we are in 4 competitions so everything is retrieviable.

BJF
5 years ago

โ€œDifferingโ€ priorities though maybe suffering is relevant too!

Monti
5 years ago
Reply to  BJF

PISH

D'Fhinnein Mick
5 years ago

Who the f is this Donnchaidh prick?

Mike
5 years ago

Its O.K. Mick, He’s a failed interviewee in Ralphy’s favourite radio programme, radio Talkshite.

Rob O'Keeffe
5 years ago

He got a free transfer from the Scotsman….

Mike
5 years ago

“Its not what you do its the way that you do it.. Hey Hey Margarita”

MAKE MINE A TREBLE, TREBLE, REBEL….

Mike
5 years ago

Who the fuck is.. Donna Summers, AAARRRIIIBBBAAA.

Monti
5 years ago

Lawwell out!

Monti
5 years ago

What a load of pish!

Mike
5 years ago

Have they paid the face painter yet, or the newsagent, or the office supplier and all the rest their bills, what about that. Dave Squinty King, remember you said that you would bring your auld club out of Liquidation, remember your promises Dave, gawn yersell son and pay yer debts, its only being honest…

Mike
5 years ago

Who are they, who are they, they are the same club according to the liars at the SFA/SPFL questions, questions, questions about the truth, about how a club can go through the liquidiser and come out the same flavour, who are they, who are they, the liars, the cheats, the fraudulent corpse of a bunch of liars. Who are they, we need to know, we need the titles that they cheated us out of, the other clubs need the cups they should have won because they were honest and the fraudsters cheated them out of them. Who are they, to tell the other clubs that they are the same club. Who are they the governing bodies telling us lies, Who are they, Who are….

BJF
5 years ago

Monti the half wit out and about again never to be confused with a Celtic supporter.

iancelt67
5 years ago

I mean it would be a downright lie to deny the connection between Irish republicanism and celtic football club. The pc brigade would have everyone think that its wrong to talk about history. They are trying to ban books like Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry because of the treatment of black people in the chapters.This is how they were treated!! It wasn’t made up. Catholics were treated as second class citizens up to not long ago in Ireland. Celtic fc origins are Irish, Irish people displaced as second class citizen into a foreign land.
That cannot be forgotten or denied…It’s not mindless to recognize Irish republicanism and be a Celtic fan and believe me it wasn’t long ago it was to be expected

Rob O'Keeffe
5 years ago
Reply to  iancelt67

Ian,you are correct…..keep up the good work….

iancelt67
5 years ago

*Finn

Rob O'Keeffe
5 years ago

Fairs,fair CS.Well thought out post,very interesting perspective…..

Rob O'Keeffe
5 years ago

Politics and sport are always intertwined.The GFA is 20 years old not 30….

Rob O'Keeffe
5 years ago

Weered,lieing is a sin…..

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