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Celtic Diary Sunday August 18: Super Celtic Power Through

I need to get that spellchecker fixed.

Fingernails were bitten, bottoms were shuffled nervously from cheek to cheek and cigarette sales went through the roof as Celtic stumbled into the quarter finals of the League Cup.

The supporters were equally nervous as the players huffed and puffed against a Dunfermline side who did what they were expected to, and that was to defend in numbers.

Image result for troops in trenches

It very nearly worked as well, as the match stats show an overwhelming assault on the Dunfermline lines

Image

It would be too easy to say that it should have been more convincing, but on another day the game would have been over and done with about an hour before it actually was, and lower league sides coming to Celtic Park early in the cup competitions are always going to set up this way. And the longer it works for them, the more restless the crowd and the team become.

It’s happened before, and it will happen again.

But this time, it’s been blown up into a major crisis. Sack the manager. fire the CEO, sign some players. Sign any players and sell the one’s we’ve got.

Or we could just sit the fuck down and shut up.

And have a wee think about what we are saying. A calm moment amongst the hysteria, a quiet contemplation of where we are at, and importantly, where we are going, and who with.

There are one or two things that are causing concern.

It took until extra time to dispatch Dunfermline, but the point is, after a gruelling match, they were dispatched.

Teams who play in that way can prove obstinate, and patience and effort is required to get the job done.

The job was done.

You could argue that despite intense pressure , the players came through for the manager.

You might not get much support for that argument, but there is some truth in it.

The thing is, you could put together an argument to back up whichever stance you want to take on current events.

Allow me to explain….

Scott Brown, we are led to believe, wasn’t at the game yesterday. I wasn’t either, and that means I cannot say whether or not I saw him.

It appears that captain and manager have fallen out over the reduction in standards at the club since Lennon began to put his stamp on the way things are done. The sports science is being ignored, days off are more commonplace, and the manager stinks of drink. Hence Brown has either been told to stay away because he has voiced his opinions on the matter, as he would, being captain, or he has decided not to bother showing up as it would inflame an already tense situation.

Or..

Scott Brown wasn’t at the game yesterday. Realising that the player has had a tough week, and is blaming himself for the European fiasco in midweek, Lennon has decided he needs a day or two off, just to recharge his batteries after a hectic and pressurized opening to the season. Lennon knows Brown is a key member of the team, and the others look to him for guidance and inspiration, so with the season defining clash with AIK Stockholm just days away, Brown needs a break to get himself back on clock.

Which is correct ? In fact, are any of these statements correct ?

Is Lennon taking the job seriously ?

Another criticism levelled at him is that he is in a comfort zone, and quite happy to nod and beg whenever his master’s voice is heard in the boardroom. Peter’s puppet ?

Has he lost the fire that once burned so brightly, and has the new found maturity led to complacency ?

Some point to his post match comments after the Cluj game as evidence he’s lost it, so let’s consider what he said yesterday, after James Forrest had secured a result against Dunfermline…

I’m really proud of the players. I know a few of them weren’t at their best, but that was understandable.

“I’ve been in that situation myself after Champions League games – you can be a bit leggy.

“But we dominated the game, created loads of chances and didn’t deserve to go to extra-time.

“It was a really good test and you have to give Dunfermline credit. They came with a game plan and defended brilliantly.

“I wouldn’t say we struggled, but we didn’t cut them open as much as I’d have liked. When you’re faced with a bank of 10 players it can be difficult to break down.

“But I pulled the boys together at the end and told them I was proud of them. That was a stiff test of character, a real examination.

“They won’t see it the way I see it. But I played in a great Celtic side who had days like that.

“I remember a penalty shoot-out against Partick Thistle when I was a player here. And I got knocked out by Morton as manager.

“We’ve come through a big examination, psychologically rather than in a football sense.

“I was a bit worried near the end because penalties is a lottery. So, I’m grateful to Jamesie.” 

What should he have said ?

Should he have slated them publicly ? Should he have found and exhibited one or more scapegoats ? should he have blamed the board ?

Or, by praising and protecting his players, has he done exactly what a manager should do ?

Is it alarming that while we have seen one or two mistakes, that he doesn’t seem to think he’s made any ? Of course he has, and one would like to think that he has privately acknowledged that, and is about to rectify it.

The Dunfermline side Celtic faced yesterday are nowhere near the quality of nearly everyone else that will come to Celtic Park this season, and they knew that. Thats why they played the way they did.

They were beaten, though you wouldn’t know it by the reactions afterwards.

 

When considering all of the scenarios above, and concluding which you think are right, wrong or might have something in them, consider also this..

Lennon is an experienced manager. This situation-if it is a situation, and not just some panic stricken narrative that has kind of got out of hand- is not new to him.

Perhaps it is this that allows him to adopt a mature and rational response.

Perhaps the fault is within us, perhaps we want him to come out swinging when things go wrong, if only to justify our own fears.

Sure, he is four games away from the sack. But then again, at Celtic, you always are.

We often sit in the stands and urge the players to keep the heid.

Maybe we should , too.

 

Yesterdays caption competition produced a number of top class replies…

Image

Frodshambhoy August 17, 2019 at 9:35 am · Edit · Reply →

Pilot Lennon says the first half of the landing was outstanding 

with honourable mentions to…

henkesdreadlocks August 17, 2019 at 9:56 am · Edit · Reply →

Caption ………

Russian General takes a leaf out of the Lenny book of tactics by deploying a MIG as a gunboat. 

Whitearra August 17, 2019 at 2:18 pm · Edit · Reply →

Caption: ‘Aw just f##king brilliant Broony. Did I or did I no tell ye after Tuesday no to touch a f##king thing….

Today…

Image

Tomorrow sees the release of Stephen O’Donnells long awaited look at the trials and tribulations of Rangers, which  examines who they were, where they came from and how they ended up the way they did.

For anyone interested in the well being of Scottish football, this is an essential read.

for anyone who likes a laugh, it’s also an essential read.

And it’s worth noting that there are no other histories of that club around, even though their history was once sold, it’s clear the buyer really wouldn’t have known what he was buying.

There’s a wee bonus if you want it..

Stephen O’Donnell
@StephenODauthor
Tangled up in Blue The Rise and Fall of Rangers is out on Monday and to mark publication I’m offering signed copies at £2 off list price & free p&p. Sorry can’t mind everyone who’s asked for them so this is best way. Get in touch

You can do that either via the replies on here, or direct to the author on twitter.
This book is an important reminder that no matter how bad things are for us, there is always someone else worse off than you.
And it also details why there are some out there who want us to end up the way they did….
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hector
4 years ago

The years have not been kind to McCoist and Novo .

Mark67!
4 years ago
Reply to  hector

A simply awful week suffering Lawwell’s careful planning, I sit down with my Walker Brothers cassettes and a wee dram driving the neighbours mad with my private karaoke,
The sun ain’t gonna shine anymore
The moon ain’t gonna rise in the sky
The tears are always clouding your eyes
When you’re without love,
and you have ta go and make me laugh, damn ye!
Superb!

henkesdreadlocks
4 years ago

Caption……….

Do you think they voted for Brexshit?

Josh Hughes
4 years ago

The former

henkesdreadlocks
4 years ago

Caption………

They arra peepul.

Una
4 years ago

Caption

Boris Johnson sports new haircut

4 years ago

The most amazing stat from yesterday although we shouldn’t really be surprised is 23 corners and not 1 goal from them.This is a recurring theme and has been for some time, maybe that’s why we’re not very good at defending them either.

TicToc
4 years ago
Reply to  tommy walker

I wonder if there is, and has been, a coaching issue here at both ends? Rhetorical question! It’s diabolical.
HH

Cole Burns
4 years ago
Reply to  TicToc

Billy McNeill didn`t need to be coached on how to attack or defend corners and Charlie Tully didn`t need to be coached on how to take them.

Common sense can help at times.

The only coach that`s needed is Parks` to take away all the deadwood to the nearest jobcentre with Oh,well! driving and Lennon ringing the bell.

Cole Burns
4 years ago
Reply to  TicToc

Billy McNeill didn`t need to be coached on how to attack or defend corners and Charlie Tully didn`t need to be coached on how to take them.

Common sense can help at times.

The only coach that`s needed is Parks` to take away all the deadwood to the nearest jobcentre with Oh,well! driving and Lennon ringing the bell.

Southside Bhoy
4 years ago

Broony was at the game, sitting a couple of rows behind Billy Connolly. He wasn’t in that seat second half and extra time though

Jbhoy
4 years ago
Reply to  Southside Bhoy

Ahh. Saw him in Edinurgh ( well in his porsche at the bypass) during extra time.

4 years ago
Reply to  Southside Bhoy

Two shit comedians

The Bahia Emerald
4 years ago

CAPTION: We ARE the good looking ones, ya cheeky Bassa.

TheBlackDouglas
4 years ago

Scott Brown WAS at the game yesterday.
He was sitting 6 rows in front of me in the main stand.

Cartvale88
4 years ago

Caption

Wee are the peepul

Whatever u say Ralph the team was out of ideas and as stated previously not to have Sinclair on the bench shows where we are heading. Let’s get a revolving advert sign, build legacy projects so that the name of Liewell can live on in his own purile mind.

So far this season, no cohesion, teams altered every game, garbage justified as great. Yes we have scored more goals this season, but what does that prove.

David
4 years ago

Caption
First time I have seen a face of someone who looks like she’s got a face like a dug that’s just bit shite of a jaggie nettle.

4 years ago
Reply to  David

She looks like her face has gone on fire and someone put it out wi a shovel!

Monti
4 years ago

Una?

Una
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Caption

Wereed begins to take his tongue out of monti’s butt

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Una,
It’s important to prepare the work area…

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

🙂

Monti
4 years ago

Yesterday Celtic accepted liability in a case of child abuse, does this mean only in that particular case or are we accepting liability of all the alleged cases of abuse at the boys club?

bgbhoy
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

allegedly he was actually a celtic youth player and not boys club

also, it was done through criminal compensation not celtic just paying up

Mike
4 years ago
Reply to  bgbhoy

He, McCafferty was employed by Celtic as a coach-kitman. He was also employed by Hibernian and by Falkirk.

The Cha
4 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Yes, he was a direct employee of Celtic, so therefore we have responsibility for his victim.

I assume any victims at Hibs and Falkirk will be pursuing similar cases.

Obviously the CBC cases are different, as no direct connection although responsibility will probably take a court case to decide.

Cole Burns
4 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Celtic`s insurance would pay under employers liabilty since he was employed by Celtic The others may be covered under public liability if it happened within Celtic`s property.

Monti
4 years ago

Caption: Asian lady in the background thinking, Wok the actual fuck.

TicToc
4 years ago

Caption: “What a pair ae tits!”

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  TicToc

You have met Mike & bgbhoy then? 🙂

Bgbhoy
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

🙂

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Bgbhoy

🙂

TicToc
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Just tryin’ not to succumb to the ‘black depths’, Monti. 🙂
FC not PLC
HH

Rob O'Keeffe
4 years ago

On the plus side,another win in a cup game.Still invincible in the cups(domestic).
On a negative side.Why buy a book about crooks and their crooked club/company,still in Worldclass length liquidation,when we already know the full story?
Meanwhile,Celtic fans complain about not getting into the ballot to get tickets to go to the game against a club that a.Massively cut our allocation(should have led to a total refusal to take any)b.Said club states it is the same club with the same history?c.Our Club happily fleeces their own fans who happily pay to go to Parkhead when we play this risen from the dead club,although when asked,they bang on about Res 12,corruption,delusional gullibillies,no way is it the same club etc etc….d.Our Plc had the chance to make Celtic the only game in town and turned it down! Shameful doesn’t cover our Club’s involvement in this whole debacle.
On the plus side,you can buy overpriced tickets for a game that has been described as a Season Defining Match? Roll up,roll up….you know it all makes sense….or as I sometimes hope,I’ve been in a coma for a while and I’ll wake up and none of it was real……next up,Brexit,I’ll explain it all to you….once I get my meds…..Oh Ghod….

Rob O'Keeffe
4 years ago

That lengthy post,if it makes it in,was hacked by Mr.S Brown(still in the kebab shop)and Raallpphhs’s pal,Kalumn MkGreigorr….

Rob O'Keeffe
4 years ago

We’re on the one road,singing a song,we’re on the road to Ghod knows where…….

Mike
4 years ago

Ralphy, Please put me down for a signed copy of Stephen O’Donnell’s book “Tangled up in Blue”, please. Thank yooo.

Supporters are disgusted at the lack of any form of Strategic planning. Year after year, we hear the same old mince “we can only invest in new players IF we get into the C.L. qualifiers. That is utter tripe, its a failed, failed policy, it doesn’t work and the proof of it is in our qualifying for the qualifiers two out of six times in the past few years. Surely if you have a clear strategy you purchase the players to make team improvements BEFORE the C.L. qualifiers. We the Celtic supporters are treated like a dead parrot, they/he is taking liberties and possibly much more. Of course you wouldn’t wish to tell supporters to stop going to games, but what else can we do, to get their attention. KTF er naw!

Sack the board
4 years ago

Lot,s of questions re team selection,why has Sheved not been given a chance,while we see Morgan ,getting many,a guy who was not a regular starter for a poor Sunderland team,what’s happened to Euan. Henderson,will he end up like his brother fiddling his fingers while inferior players get game time.,why is a premier player outrun by a championship player for their goal,can Julien header a ball further than 2 yards,who exactly is identifying crap players and signing them,why have we tens of millions lying in a bank.,

The Cha
4 years ago

“Perhaps it is this that allows him to adopt a mature and rational response.”

To be in complete denial of his culpability in the shambles of Tuesday and the poor response yesterday is “mature and rational”.

Aye, okay then. 🙁

Mike
4 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

But to be fair, His ^ supporters bus is called (drum roll) the…
Lennon CSC. So there can be no rational from he.. 😉

sfa unfit for purpose
4 years ago

?

sfa unfit for purpose
4 years ago

4 comments gone ,,, WTF

sfa unfit for purpose
4 years ago

Caption…………….. fuck off there are no Asians in this march ya prick

sfa unfit for purpose
4 years ago

5 now… forget it

Monti
4 years ago

Oh shut the fk up ya moaning fanny!

Puggy67
4 years ago

Caption: The face that launched a thousand ships – smashing her off the side was cheaper than champagne.

Bgbhoy
4 years ago

I think if you swear now it goes to trash

sfa unfit for purpose
4 years ago
Reply to  Bgbhoy

Cheers , that’s what it was , a wee sweary word.

Mike
4 years ago

Meling, Beeling, More made up pish, but were no daft, we know it was always gonny be, Greg Taylor and Stephen O’Donnell, if we are lucky. Feed the peasants scraps, seagulls eat better than us, except Montgomery he could eat an Albatross and still wolf down a double fish supper and sausages. Hope that Stephen O’Donnell writes as good as he plays. Can you take it on a three week trial? asking for a friend..

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Mike

🙂

Eddie
4 years ago

Caption – Govt admit Brexit does not look good

sfa unfit for purpose
4 years ago
Reply to  Eddie

quality

4 years ago

Two faces you couldny mark wi a broken boatle!!! HH

Brencelt
4 years ago

Caption: the friendly face of loyalism

Steve Naive
4 years ago

Caption
Mrs John Brown asks where the deeds are.

Tyrone9
4 years ago

Does anyone know why Shved is not getting any game time….

Jinkylarrson
4 years ago

Caption..1691 contestants for O.O bigot queen.

Owen Mullions
4 years ago

Caption:AAAAAAAARGH!!!

Sfa unfit fot purpose
4 years ago

Feck off. There’s no immigrants in this march…

Got to agree Ralph. Anybody saying brown or lennon have to go are crazy. Not one of you could stand a day in their shoes. Any blame has to be directed towards the board. They are responsible for our terrible signing strategy and nobody else. Hail hail

Uralius
4 years ago

That’s what I’ve been saying.

4 years ago

Stop shouting,I am smoking aay fag

highseastim
4 years ago

Great post Ralph, but the “panty wetters” will be on accusing you of being Peter Lawwell!! As I said yesterday if any of the defender’s have a poor game, they’re slaughtered, the forward players miss chance after chance, nothing said!!

henkesdreadlocks
4 years ago
Reply to  highseastim

Bellend.

Monti
4 years ago

🙂

Uralius
4 years ago
Reply to  highseastim

Pretty sure I slagged off or forwards and or defenders. In fact on Calmac, Bitton, Hatem and to a small degree Ntcham deserved praise.

henkesdreadlocks
4 years ago

How many of those games did we lose 4 goals at home again?

Rob O'Keeffe
4 years ago

Another away tie for the Sooside Sectarians…..heads must roll,this isn’t fair to the best trainee manager in his head and his over paid rag tag mercenaries…..

The Cha
4 years ago

The only perspective that’s required is on a complete manangerial tactical disasterclass on Tuesday and a sklaffed ET victory over a lower league side.

For the former, the manager said he did nothing wrong and for the latter he said he was proud of the players.

Employing a failed Bolton and Hibs manager is getting its just desserts.

Magdalena’s Chestnut Gelding
4 years ago

Caption

“Do you suffer from the discomfort of a permanent erection? Well, do we have the solution for you………….”

Magdalena’s Chestnut Gelding
4 years ago

Caption

“Don’t ya wish your girlfriend was hot like me? Don’t ya?”

Magdalena’s Chestnut Gelding
4 years ago

Look at that photo! I knew Michael Jackson wasn’t dead! I knew it! He’s scouting for a replacement for Bubbles the chimp!

Bognorbhoy
4 years ago

Caption..

Kathy Burke and Jennifer Saunders star in a remake of the “ugly truth “

henkesdreadlocks
4 years ago

Caption………….

John Beaton’s sister and thingfriend react to ‘outrageous’ (completely 100% accurate) Tom Boyd accusations.

Yoker Bhoy
4 years ago

The draw for the League Cup quarter-finals couldn’t have been any better. Home to the Jags while the huns face the potential banana skin of an away trip to Livi.

henkesdreadlocks
4 years ago

Caption………

One has to assume Our Lord and Creator simply said ‘fuck it’ and abandoned mankind for eternity.

Danny
4 years ago

Maybe the SNP should use that photo for the next independence referendum!

We’ve played a lot worse and won easily against teams like that. What I liked was that we didn’t start pumping the long ball when it went into the second half of ET. Which is what we did on Tuesday towards the end of the game.

Uralius
4 years ago

CS while I appreciate your point, I have to say the ire is because it’s so flocking predictable. Most of us realize that if we had ensured we had the right personnel for pre-season we wouldn’t be fighting for European football on Tuesday it would be guaranteed.

The Cha
4 years ago
Reply to  Uralius

Saiz the guy who had permanently soiled and sodden undergarments during Rodgers reign( or should that be rain?).

Weren’t you the one creaming yourself after 2 league games but, there again, consistency has never been your strong point.

The Sinclair issue is well known; its Lawwell playing silly buggers trying to freeze him out.

Even by your standards, its pretty low to invent a personal issue that doesn’t exist.

The Cha
4 years ago
Reply to  Uralius

Saiz the guy who had permanently soiled and sodden undergarments during Rodgers reign (or should that be rain?).

Weren’t you the one creaming yourself after 2 league games but, there again, consistency has never been your strong point.

The Sinclair issue is well known, its Lawwell playing silly buggers trying to freeze him out.

Even by your standards, its pretty low to invent a personal issue that doesn’t exist.

The Cha
4 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

We had played nobody of note this season.

In fact Cluj, 227th in the rankings, shoudn’t have been any trouble for us.

Our first tests of the season should’ve been against Slavia and then at Ibrox.

Luckily we’ve avoided the games against Slavia. ;(

Mike
4 years ago

Deep, deep suspicions remain after the 2011-12 C.L. qualifiers, when the Huns continued to cheat us and how that was dealt with by the Celtic board, one day we shall find out the full extent of the truth. Guessing does not do it for me, I would like to see incontrovertible proof. We do know that the Res.12 File has been dismissed, but I am certain that, that isn’t the end of it. I still remember back in 2008 when Lawwell refused to increase our offer for Steven Fletcher and we lost out because of that. The Huns went on to win the league, using their EBT bloated team. There is no guarantee that we, Celtic would have won the league back then, but it could have, would have made the difference. Being frugal can and does keep the club safe, but at what real cost? God forbid that the club went under because its safety was put at risk. But, there needs to be a balance between frugality and overspending and sometimes frugality can be applied too rigidly and honours are lost because of it. That’s where a professional strategy comes in, a properly run F.C. with the right people in charge, football people with a set budget, a budget worthy of the support who finance such budgets. Only then will they really receive the team that they deserve…

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