Celtic remained a point clear at the top of the league despite a 1-0 reverse at the hands of Inverness yesterday. again, the team seemed to blunder its way through the ninety minutes, and even the introduction of Paddy mcCourt couldn’t do anything to shift the black cloud that clung to supporters throughout.
The league, nice and competitive this season, has Celtic on 25 points, Aberdeen and Hibs on 24, St. johnstone 23, Inverness 22, Motherwell 21, Dundee Utd 20, Kilmarnock 19, Hearts 18, Ross county,16, St. mirren 15 and dundee on 11.
Not much in it, and green tinted specs aside, its healthy. The amount of teams who have something to play for means that they will play for it, and there is no easy ride to the title this year. In fact, if anything, its harder, as usually theres only one team to look out for. Now the challenge is coming from everywhere. Except Glasgow, obviously.
Everyone continues to take points off everyone else, and its giving the games a little bit of an edge, and although one could reasonably argue that on paper Celtic should be running away with this league, games are not played on paper.
The somewhat sensationalist headline this morning is that Celtic manager Neil Lennon has threatened to quit, in the aftermath of a spat with a supporter who criticised his team at the game yesterday.
Heres what he actually said about the incident:
“They are frustrated. I disagreed withthem, I didn’t like what they said about the team. Look , if they are nt happy with what I am doing, and they want me to go, then I will. If the fans make it clear they are not happy and they want me out then thats okay. I will do the honourable thing. I can’t repeat it (what the fan said) because it is a public arena but there were a lot of expletives and heavy criticism, which i didn’t think wasjustified, and a lack of patience with the team as well.”
“If there was a lack of application and commitment I would be the first to criticise the team,. I didn’t see that but I did see a lack of composure and quality in the final third and thats what cost us. If i think its justified then i don’t have a problem with it but I don’t think it was justified today. But they pay their money , they are allowed to say what they like. I’ve got my opinions on it and sometimes I give them as well.”
“I am not happy with the league form, it is my team at the end of the day, so I takre responsibility for it. Its not for the lack of trying to find the answers.”
Compare and contrast that with Tony Mowbrays “We have to take it on the chin”
Lennon has proved beyond doubt with that rant that he cares. Not only about results, but about his players. That wasn;t a serious threat to quit, more a statement of the obvious, but more importantly, he was protesting his players from what he felt was unneccessary and over the top abuse. There is a huge difference between criticism and abuse.
When you are sat in a freezing cold stadium, and perhaps have a refreshment or two inside you-purely to help keep warm, of course-then the line becomes blurred, and its easier to vent ones frustrations when all is not going well.
The important thing here is that Lennon cares about his players and he cares about the results. He isn;t going to take it on the chin.
The whole thing puts me in mind of the Boavista game at Celtic Park back in 2003, when Lennon turned the ball about six miles back to the keeper, when it was 1-1 , I think, (might be wrong about the score) .
Afterwards, because of the crescendo of boos, Martin O’Neill, said that the support didn’t know anything about football. In the final against Porto, of course, Celtics supporters “knew a thing or two about football” when he criticised the Porto players for diving, as the Celtic support booed them.
Point is, its all said in the heat of the moment, and shows passion, which is essential for all Celtic managers.
19 year old USA striker Juan Agedulo wants to play for Celtic, and has upset two of his US international team mates, who according to the Daily Mail, wanted him to follow in their footsteps at Rangers. According to the youngster, while together for an international friendly against Russia acouple of weeks ago, Edu, now at Stoke, asked Agudelo why he wasn’t at Rangers. Agudelo said he was just going with the flow.
We hear what he actually said was “For the same reason you are not with Rangers, you muppet.” Though our source was less than reliable.
The hoover, the runaways and a judicial nod is as good as a wink on the Rangers Tax Case
Now, yet again i have no idea if this link will work, but its an article which is far and away the best summation of the big tax case. Get yourself a cup of tea, a cigarette and one of those caps with just the visor and a band around it,(like the telegraph guy in the spaghetti westerns) and read it. Its very interesting, and explains it better than say, Mark Hately r any of the Andy Gorams.
Stewart Regan, at the Hearts shareholders meeting on Thursday apparently, we hear, had a go at the Record and the Sun for working to agenda, as he reckons a couple of his speeches were “spliced2 to suit the rags needs. Thats clearly nonsense. Who could possibly read through and analyse his drivel without falling asleep, or deciding to watch I’m a celebrity get me out of here instead?
RTC, the blogger who brought most of the Rangers tax scandal to the public eye, is now facing the full wrath of the mainstream Scottish media. The hacks, disgusted that RTC beat them to the story, and made them all look exactly what they are-ie useless, will now have his name dragged through the mud as the peepil triumphantly crow their innocence.
Except they aren’t innocent, and they know that. Now , if you have read this far and haven’t read the Brogan Rogan link, go back and do it.
Whoever RTC is, we have a message for him.
Keep the faith fella, your day will come.
Alex Ferguson was the manager Kenny Dalglish was referring to when he told a reporter to talk to his daughter instead. This was just part of the rivalry between the two way back when.
Ferguson, of course used to play for Rangers. What did he make an arse of in a Cup Final against Celtic?
Marking bid billy at a corner, who scored the first of a 4-0 rout.
Spot on about Lennon but there are serious questions to be asked:
Why play Samaras, Mulgrew, Brown perhaps Hooper?
If we have a big squad why not use them? Lassad and Miku on the bench? Doesn’t make sense unless they are not fully fit. And if that’s the case why so many injuries?
And why do we not have a playmaker or wingers?
With Forrest and Izaguirre out there nothing going on it seems down the sides. We really missed them against Benfica and yesterday.
Hooper’s lack of goals this season is worrying just look at the top scorers table.
Footballers are almost as bad as politicians when it comes to talking themselves up.
Really good article, and not good that Neil is in the media spotlight as the Scottish media will go into overdrive. He is always honest when assessing his teams performance, but should not get involved with Celtic supporters criticising his team. We have a lot of talented players at the club and no doubt the Spartak game must be the immediate priority for all concerned at Celtic. However, with January transfer window approaching i would like us to add a fast winger to our squad as we need cover when James Forrest is not fit. Not challenging the Lurgan Lion, but we need this type of player.
Remain positive and keep the faith.
Regards
Macclesfield Bhoy
yeah feedthebear is spot on – surprisingly the msm back then (1969) had gers as hot favourites to win the cup despite the fact we had wrapped up the league and league cup that month and they got absolutely pumped good times.
getting a diary on a sunday is a lovely pleasant surprise ralph thanks for that!!
would agree that brogan rogan trevino & hogans piece is a brilliant (and very very long) read, even for him!! It will require more than a cup of tea though and if you’re hiting the hard stuff you’ll never last all the way through it!!
Ralphs totally right about Lennys whole modus operandi being all about circling the wagons and building team spirit etc, seems were gonnie need it cos with a congested period coming up it we have 13 players he trusts (at a push) But i m more than happy wi Lennon and what we re doing at Cp.
But like this young and gifted team having the odd day when they..well have an odd day and for some reason what came naturally a game ago becomes beyond them for 90 mins, so does our young manager occasionally revert to his daft hot heed “player trying to be a manager”role, getting involved in silly verbals wi fans during a game should really be beneath any Celtic manager.
And as much as the said fans were probably talking ill informed pash like we all do, the day a fan cant express an opposing opinion to that of the coaching staff is when we become an audience not a support.
As Ralph said all in the heat of the games and cool minds might now think better, but choose your battles carefully lenny
Ferguson made an arse of his wedding vows………..
“But like this young and gifted team having the odd day when they..well have an odd day and for some reason what came naturally a game ago becomes beyond them for 90 mins…”
Agree that Lennon should keep a cool head with the fans but I don’t buy into all this young and gifted team nonsense and it’s proving to be more than the odd day that the performance is woeful. They’ve still to prove it all. Even players like Hooper are showing EPL managers right in not taking a chance on him. Izagurre, Kayal, Forrest whom we talked up a while ago haven’t dome themselves any good in recent times. And Wanayama while looking impressive at times in SPL still has to prove he’s the real deal.
Don’t get me wrong, Celtic are the top rated SPL team but in a bigger pond they’re small fish. Did Strachan’s teams do as badly at home after CL exertions?
had a great day at celtic park on saturday,well apart from 90+
minutes when the teams were on the park.stadium tour was well worth it,up the tunnel sit in nl seat and up for a wee greet in rods.then in to the superstore to spend more hard earned.
issed the GB but good sized crowd bit quiet though.
still back to work to earn more for next visit
MISSED !!!