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Celtic Diary Monday December 30: Trouble at T’Mill

Celtic lost 2-1 to “rangers ” yesterday, largely because it appears the manager doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing, whereas the rookie Scouser, often the butt of jokes on here, has got the hang of playing Celtic.

All season we have been warning that complacency could cost us, and despite being fortunate to overcome an enthusiastic and well organised “rangers ” in the League Cup, Neil Lennon didn’t change a thing, and sent out a team who looked nervous, uncomfortable and dare I say it, intimidated by the opposition.

The sight of James forrest cutting inside whenever Frimpong was in possession was clearly a management tactic, but down the right, where “rangers ” are vulnerable, Frimpong was left in possesssion with little or no options available.

At Hampden, Gerards men hunted in packs and crowded out the midfield.

Lennon had shoehorned Olivier Ntcham into the side in the run up to this game, presumably to get him. Brown and MacGregor used to each other so that they could counter the “rangers ” tactic of flooding the midfield.

Then, bizarrely, he left him on the bench yesterday, and “rangers ” promptly flooded the midfield and Celtic never looked like they would gain any sort of hold in there.

Lennon hadn;t learned from the Hampden game, where Celtic were outfought and out thought.

It’s as simple as that.

Complacency has set in amongst the management, and the stories that Lennon no longer runs the team , leaving it to his back room staff raise two questions ..

Firstly, has Lennon lost interest due to Lawwell holding the purse strings tightly again, bearing in mind that Peter gets paid more the more money is in the bank, or has he lost the trust of the players, and they are only paying him lip service ?

More worryingly, is there conflict between coaches and management ?

That possibility gains credence if you consider Ntcham being played in the run up to this game, for the reasons outlined above, and then dropped, presumably because the manager has had the final say, and overruled the coaches, who clearly knew the game would be won or lost in midfield.

 

If the management have become complacent, the players will follow their lead.

I told a little fibber in the diary last week when i said that the players were moaning about the other pitches they play on, when in fact it’s Celtic Park they don;t like playing on, as they consider it to be the worst pitch in the league, which is saying something.

Last week, I felt it could have been counter productive to mention that, but this week, it seems that the management don’t even care about the state of the pitch, which is another sign of complacency.

Complacency which was evident yesterday as the players all seemed to think something would happen, but none of them really looked like they would grab the initiative and make it happen.

Maybe it was just that they all had an off day, but to me it seemed like they’d regressed to the sidieways football in the hope that an opposing player would leave a bit of room for them to break through, and that wan;t going to happen.

Even more worryingly, the vast majority of supporters, going by twitter , are calling it one defeat, and reminding us that we are top of the league, one cup is in the bag, and in the knockout stages of the Europa League.

It is one defeat, but it has handed the initiative to “rangers “, who having made an arse of this position last year , seem to have learned from it and although their team is full of journeymen, they are certainly greater than the sum of their parts.

They are learning, we are not.

This is as precarious a position as any Celtic have been in for many a year, and thats largely because the board, the management the players and the supporters don’t seem to have grasped the severity of the situation.

Even the groundstaff are guilty of negligence.

 

If “rangers ” have sussed out how to play against us, then everyone else will be doing it in January.

 

We have taken them too lightly for too long, and they have imprived over the last twelve months beyond recognition, whereas Celtic have been doing the same thing , week after week, and steadily it has become much harder to win games, as teams get closer and closer to if not matching us on the pitch, certainly nullifying the way we play.

 

So, whats the solution ?

Where do we go from here ?

 

Thankfully, the winter break is now upon us, and tired minds and legs can take a break.

But, we need one hundred per cent focus when we come back. We need to add a few more arrows to our bow, by utilising fringe players, and altering formations and shape.

Martin O’Neill was noted for sticking with his favourites, and was reluctant to try anything else with anyone else, and Lennon is the same.

New faces are needed, as we don’t seem to have the right blend on the pitch.

Kris Ajer is a great player, but he lacks the discipline to be a centre half. We need some baby eating beats alongside Chris Julien.

Boli Bolingoli isn’t what we need at left back, we need a left back.

Ajer should be in midfield, learning how to be Scott Brown.

As for the forwards, Oddsone Edoaurd would be twice the player he is if he had someone alongside him.

That someone is not Leigh Griffiths, as was shown yesterday when he elected to shoot rather than put the ball in the box from a wide left free kick.

He was never going to score from there, and it shows he is interested only in Leigh Griffiths and not in the team.

 

Perhaps a change to 3-5-2 for domestic matches, although to do that we need to bring in a striker, and if I was Lennon i’d be looking at the French under 21s, and see which one Eddy fancies playing with.

Failing that, we’d better hope that Lawwell and Desmond have realised the gravity of the situation, although I’ve got something that may -or may not-surprise you when it’s published later today.

In short, I think the Old firm are back, and I think it’s what our board wants.

 

Elsewhere, and Rod Stewart, the adenoidal racket maker may well be the epitomy of the attitude in the prawn sandwich section, judging by this tweet…

Sir Rod Stewart
@rodstewart
Congratulations

. Could have gone either way . Would someone please tell Morelos to just stand up and play football? If he must dive please go to the nearest swimming pool. – Sir Rod

 

The competition from over the river is stronger now than at any point since their formation, and as they grow in strength, they are more and more referred to as Rangers, and the events of the early years of this decade are airbrushed out of history, a shameful acceptance of cheating and fraud.

They got away with it, and the media are encouraging it

 

Money talks, not only at Sky Tv, or at the Scottish football authorities.

 

But at Celtic, and Celtic PLC appear to be welcoming them back.

 

If Celtic fail to win the league this year, it will be because of neglect off the field , and complacency on it.

 

Lennon needs to get his act together, before it’s too late.

 

That is, if its not already too late.

 

Yesterday, we had this..

Image

 

Whitearra
Today…
Image result for Lennon Lawwell
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SteveNaive
4 years ago

Erm, been saying this for the last six weeks.

Mike
4 years ago

Carl Vaudrin was right, the 29th. of December was “The Day the Music Died”. Great Diary Ralph and well said.
If only Ryan had passed to the unmarked Odsonne.
If only Odsonne had taken the penalty, because we all know where a left footer aims at, don’t we?
If only our leaders could have recognised quicker that their system and tactics weren’t working and to change them.
If only they had utilised their substitutes quicker.
If only the Directors weren’t cocooned in their £40.00 million pound suits.
If only Huns weren’t ignorant sh!tes.
If only the press weren’t filled with bigots.
If only T.V. presenters weren’t buffoons.
Beaten in our own backyard by a novice manager, now that really is the pits.
I have to be honest because that is the team that I would have picked.
But there is still hope, because nothing is lost. We need to strengthen the spine of the team, beef up the midfield and the defence, give Awesome Odsonne some help. There is still everything still to play for, so get it done.

MabozzaRitchie
4 years ago
Reply to  Mike

repeat after me, our midfield is not weak

MabozzaRitchie
4 years ago
Reply to  Mike

brown is an OAP still getting a game.
Boli is w@nk
ntcham is a fairy
Griff is mental
Mikey Jonhnston ffs that is there for all to see.
Forrest ffs.

Lennon starts wi three wingers.

Mike
4 years ago
Reply to  MabozzaRitchie

And Fred C. Dobbs is a divvy and So is his Aunty, MabozzaRitchie!

Cole Burns
4 years ago
Reply to  MabozzaRitchie

You should think carefully before you refer to someone as “mental”. In fact, your post should be moderated.

You are extremely lucky if no one close to you has/had similar problems and I sincerely hope you never will.

I wouldn`t wish it on my enemy
(if I had one).

MabozzaRitchie
4 years ago
Reply to  Cole Burns

your right.

Griff is totally fkucing mental He should be nowhere near a celtic first 11 unless you want to be bum fckued by the hunz. Is that better for you

Oztim
4 years ago

The next trophy to be claimed will be the League Title and if we don’t get our game plan sorted then the Huns will win it, which raises the question.

What will the board do if they allow the Huns to claim it as their 55th title and if the board accept this what will we the support do?

For me this is just as important as Res 12 but it doesn’t seem to get the same attention.

Whitearra
4 years ago

Caption : ‘OK Peter. Jist remind me what one of us signed Bolingoli…’

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Whitearra

Caption: PL-” Wasn’t impressed with the midfield yesterday, Neil”
NL- ” yeah a John McGinn type was needed yesterday”

Legend07
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Cunti how did your invincible James Forrest play yesterday? Invisible again no effort again! Started the game again with 10 men just like the final and every other BIG game. On his game a fantastic player but how often do we see that fantastic player?? As you say munti “ as they say in fife shut yer puss!”

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Legend07

Oh dear.
Let me be clear & concise when i’m talking about any Celtic player, be that James Forrest or any other player.
You listening now?
James has not been anywhere near his top form for a few weeks, he is one of our best players & i’ll be critical, supportive & question him or any other Celtic player if they drop standards.
I expect more from all of our players, all of them need to up their performance.

Now Legend, is that easy for you to get your fkwit brain cell around?

MabozzaRitchie
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Forrest has been sh1te for weeks, so why the fcuk is he getting game time

Legend07
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

I’m listening cunti are you watching? Forrest hasn’t shown his top form for a lot longer than a few weeks if the team as a whole is playing well he’s sometimes up for it but if we’re struggling he hides behind players and doesn’t show or want a pass watch him more closely I see it every week.
Ask yourself this when was the last time Forrest had a great game 90mins or even close to that tell me the last time Forrest had the full back in his pocket? If my memory serves me correctly you need to go back to the game at Perth last season when I think he got a hat trick then in a spell of 6or 7 games we seen the real James Forrest rip teams apart. For a long time he’s now a one trick pony cutting in side and heads for the opposite touch line. Far too often in big games we’re a man down! IMO.

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

This result has been coming for a while now, the warning sign was there in the 2-1 home win against them last season.
That was the first time i felt they played a style that was effective against ours,they play a high tempo quick passing game that works for them, we also struggle with their system.

If it was a one off you could put it down to that we were just pish on the day, however this runs deeper than a one off because the Hun is finding these performances regularly against us, we could easily have lost the cup final & we lost yesterday, do we need any more fucking warnings?
I have said many times that Kris Ajer is not a central defender, he was a cheap option moulded into a defender, he does ok there generally but will be found out against better teams & he was nowhere near Katic for their goal.
Left back? We are taking the piss, Boli doesn’t convince & i don’t know about Greg Taylor either, our other option is to play Hayes ( a fkn left winger at lb) it’s mismanagement.
Compare any of those left backs against Barasic, Barasic is better than any of our left backs.
My advice, sell Hayes & Boli & buy a proper fkn left back.
We also need a proper horrible cnt of a centre half to play beside Jullien.
Why have we given Bitton a new deal? More nonsense.
James Forrest has lost form, for what reason i don’t know, maybe switching him over to the left has been counter productive, he is one of our best players but is not influencing anything at the minute, he should stay on the right and build a relationship with Frimpong or Elhamed, like he had with Lustig.
Elyounoussi has been a big miss, Mikey Johnston isn’t the answer out there, he’s ok to bring on if you are three or four up, maybe needs to go out on loan to get games in him, maybe someone could also tell him to stop fiddling his hair & gazing up into the sky.
Brown, McGregor, Christie & Ntcham are all good players, it’s up to Lennon to find the formation that they are comfortable with.
Sinclair & Rogic should be sold to generate funds, i’d also add Griffiths & Bayo to that out list, along with the likes of Benyu, Kouassi & Simunovic, get them off the wage bill & bring in first team ready, hungry players.

It needs to be a very busy January transfer window, in & out!

Fkn finger out Lawwell/Hammond/Lennon.

War has been declared, RESPOND!

ILJAS BAKER
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Agree one hundred percent Monti. Really like to see all the players you mentioned sold as they’re not contributing anything. We sorely missed ElHamed and an on form Elyanoussi.

4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Mostly agree but we ain’t generating much funds with those sales.

On the plus side we don’t need to as we’ve up to £50m sitting idly in the biscuit tin.

Legend07
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

FFS!! Does the tea lady and the strip washer get tae stay?

Simon
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Bang on a game made for him

DjSmyth
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

John McGinn wouldn’t have been much use yesterday as he is out injured . There are very few people who think McGinn is good enough to have a John McGinn type named after him

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  DjSmyth

What?

4 years ago

I stopped going because we have an Old Firm board. I was rounded on and slaughtered for saying this and suggesting that we have something to hide in their ‘survival’. Lawwell saved them. I believe he wants them to win the league this year as it keeps us even at 9 in a row each. Lawwell believes we are nothing without them. He believes in the Old Firm not Celtic. The supporters have also bought into the Old Firm by scrambling for tickets to watch them. In truth we have been complacent for years. They have not bothered us for years therefore we have enjoyed mocking them as they erase the cheating from memory. But now they have caught up we are rattled. If the shoe was on the other foot, in the past, Murray would have quickly erased all memory and effect of the defeat by signing a couple of players to strengthen for the second half of the season and it would be done by the end of the week with the players joining in Dubai. This would immediately seize the initiative back from them. Do you see this happening? I don’t. We have ignored weaknesses in the team. Bolingoli is a poor player so why does Taylor not play? given time in the team he would be much better. Bringing Nir Bitton on at 2-1 down. Why? Was Rogic not on the bench? Bitton is not going to help win the game. Why does Ajer shrink at corners? He could have prevented both goals yesterday. He could have moved a couple of inches to the right to get in the way of Kent’s shot but shrank. If he did not duck at the corner allowing the Hun to get to it then he would have got there. Poor. Forrest has never played well against them and Christie and Griffiths are both guilty of bad decisions in front of goal. Ryan’s penalty he telegraphed where he was putting it. I am not panicking but unless radical action is taken we will not win the league that is not panic it is a reality.
Part of the answer is in the transfer market the rebuild for next season should be started now.

Ma names peter thanks for asking
4 years ago

Show us your hard drive a ya pervert

Puggy67
4 years ago

Caption: I know we have to make efficiency savings but I want my fucking sleeves back!

desdamoaner
4 years ago

Caption – pass the soap would ye?
yesterday has been coming, complacency isnt just not altering tactics to play the opposition, its scoring 2 goals from 28 shots because you’re overplaying or doing the opposite and shooting when better options are on.
i’m all for playing with a swagger but the right decisions need to made on and off the ball.
whoever the opposition are.

Iain in Alberta
4 years ago
Reply to  desdamoaner

Totally agree. Bad decisions for quite a few games now.

4 years ago

I remember a year ago when the Huns were “level” with us and were going to win the league.

Well they weren’t (we were effectively 3 points ahead) and they didn’t due to our efforts in the 2nd half of the season.

We recruited well and went on a great run, winning 9 straight games, scoring a barrowload and breaking them.

This year’s different as their effectively a point ahead, they have more staying power and our manager doesn’t appear capable of handling them.

Yesterday was the day our luck ran out.

We need a good rest, recruitment and best players back fit and raring to go.

Hopefully the manager adopts new thinking against them.

Still hoping but it’s game on.

Cole Burns
4 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Last year there were teams in Scotland capable of getting a (fluke even) result against them, including Celtic. This year there isnt one team capable of getting a result against them, including Celtic.

No Kilmarnocks, Motherwells or Aberdeens left. Only their carcasses.

For the first time in a long, long while
Celtic are depending on the above mentioned teams to help them out and every one of them are hoping r4ngers will prevail.

So its now a clutching at straws situation until the very end and I, for one,
fear the worst.

A disgrace, is the kindest words I can think of just now.

Caption: “Ive told you often enough before, Peter, that I havent a clue, so I dont understand the surprised look on your dial”

4 years ago
Reply to  Cole Burns

Not true.

We’ve still got to play them twice so provided we get at least 4 points from them, it’s still in our hands.

Agree that the rest are a long way behind, they’ve only dropped 4 points to the others to our 5, which is the difference.

We can’t afford to drop points before they do and, as we’ve got 5 of the next 7 away, including a tricky one at Killie then we need a good January and come back in top form.

Macca
4 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

No sign right now that we would take 4 points off them in the next two games

4 years ago
Reply to  Macca

Correct but we don’t play them right now but in 3 and 5 months time.

If we’ve not done anything to correct things in that time then held mend the powers that be.

Cole Burns
4 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

The Cha

Celtic would need to change drastically, i.e, get someone like the now unemployed Pellegrini in, to have a hope of turning their tactics around
in a matter of a few short months, and we know there is no chance of that happening. Rodgers saw the writing on the
wall when he too was “rodgered”
by his former pupil, that is why he took flight. He was sussed out by the same rookie in quick time.

4 years ago
Reply to  Cole Burns

Yeah, Rodgers went for the easy option of mixing it with Klopp, Pep etc rather than face the mighty Slippy.

Gie’s peace.

Doc
4 years ago

“they have improved…beyond recognition”, I think the only player to start for them that was not there last year is Joe Aribo. To me, that is hardly a huge improvement.

Caption: NL – Yesterdays poor performance shows we need to sign players to strengthen the squad.
PL – What poor performance? The disco lights were superb.

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Doc

Doc,
They have improved, to suggest otherwise is nonsense.
They are a real threat.

Doc
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

They have improved, but nowhere near “beyond recognition”. The difference, this season, is that we have gotten worse.

Oataat
4 years ago
Reply to  Doc

We have 10 points more this season from the same games played , they have 8 points more having played 2 games less..

Cole Burns
4 years ago
Reply to  Doc

You can still improve even if you don`t sign anyone. And, like Celtic, you can go backwards by signing the wrong maanger.

Cole Burns
4 years ago
Reply to  Cole Burns

manager. A maanger is someone who eats managers.

Ireland to Scotland
4 years ago

Brilliant article. Boli is not a LB end of, cant tackle and cant pass. How does Lennon not see this?
Ajer is a good prospect but he is not benkovic. We should go out and get him back in January.
It seems to me that Lennon hasnt got the fight anymore and that is worrying.
I’ve never heard of any dispute with the other coaches, let’s hope that’s not the case.

Lawell has been complacent in the past especially in January. Let’s hope he has learned from past winter transfer windows.
We need Taylor or Hayes left back, Benkovic back and bring in Wanyama.

Monti
4 years ago

So you want to play a left winger at left back to improve the defence?

Hmmmmm

Ireland to Scotland
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Hi Monti. Boli is basically a ML. Taylor would be better. But I think his downside is his height and strength. That’s why boli and hayes are playing in front of him.
It’s clear boli is not comfortable in that position

DjSmyth
4 years ago

It’s obvious we have too many little players ,Boli is no giant but he is a lot taller than Taylor . If we had Ethamad at right back , possibly role for Taylor . With Ethamad we could have 4 tall players defending corners . Some Celt didn’t do job blocking Katic as he got a free run to get a jump on Ajer ,.
We haven’t become hopeless just because we lost yesterday . Losing yesterday wasn’t nice but was only one game , we can get sorted out & win league . The doom & gloom merchants are making a laughing stock of Rangers2012 fans & making their win sweeter

Monti
4 years ago

Correct!

Steve M
4 years ago

As far as I could see we learned nothing at all from the Betfred final where, let’s face it, we had a lucky escape. We learned nothing at all. If we fail to win the league neither this team nor this manager will be remembered for anything else – they’d better cotton on to that sharpish and get themselves sorted. Such a poor performance cannot be repeated.

Iancelt67
4 years ago

Without rogic or not ham in the team there’s no creativity. Mickey Johnston can’t be blamed though hid is a legend and will be a star. Better than Forrest. Cal Mac and Christie are workers Christie not a number ten.

Monti
4 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Ryan Christie is the last player who should be singled out, the guy bursts his gut for Celtic every game.
Lennon got the team wrong yesterday, having said that i was happy to see Johnston start because i thought he could get on the ball & worry them….he didn’t
If we don’t have a good left back we should bring in a central defender, like Benkovic & play him beside Ajer & Jullien in a three.

DjSmyth
4 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Lennon got the team wrong , yet he picked the team that 90% of our idiotic fans wanted & now these fans say he picked the wrong team . Frickle idiotic fans

DorsetCelt
4 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Johnston”s record against them is not particularly impressive. Appeared 5, won 2 and lost 3. He has not completed 90 minutes against them – going off 3 times with what looked like cramp. He played a good pass to Eddy for first goal at Ibrox and then fell on his backside before mis-hitting the ball when one-on-one against MacGregor in League Cup Final. Legend???? He has not yet shown he has the physical or mental strength to be decent player. He could also do with a large dose of courage.

Frankie p
4 years ago
Reply to  DorsetCelt

Johnston is to much lightweight for bigger defenders he just gets muscled out.dont no why he was played one player down before kick off. Same old story repeated this will not happen again but it does does the board or manager care about what the fans who pay their wages say not on your nelly

Henrik
4 years ago

Caption :whatever you say peter

Uralius
4 years ago

Caption:
Lennon: “We’ve decided to give them this one by not changing anything. That way they won’t have the winter break to figure us out.”

Sure I’m an optimist.

Cartvale88
4 years ago

Agree Ralph, teams have learned to bully The CELTIC, it was so obvious that the Rankers would adopt the same rush and charge football tactic, in a similar way to Livingston. CELTIC and the management team are unable to cope with this.

As for Liewell he now had four weeks to pull a rabbit out of the bag.

Lenny has to realise he has no divine right to win, he seriously has to look at the opposing teams tactics and alter to suit.

As for Broonie and the crap about we are top of the league, that is stupidity, in the present format Celtic are beatable, or do we get look at the matches won, some at a struggle.

The ten trophies in a row could be stopped by a team of journeymen, how many of the Rankers would u have in the Celtic team, it is down to bad tactics and lack of leadership on the park, Broonie has clearly had his day.

Caption

Lenny shut up, do as you are told.

Rob O'Keeffe
4 years ago

Do you know one of the most appalling things is that that shower of Sooside Sectarian Scumbags aren’t even close to being a decent team……the standard of the game was atrocious…..coaching lesson from Gerrraarrd? His team have been scraping wins and if it wasn’t for the cardboard throat slitter and his goals against the diddy teams,they would be no where.Two or three players in the Jan window and Celtic will move through the gears to 9.
We don’t care if we win,lose or draw…..

liftedinmoscow
4 years ago

100% Ralph, I posted this yesterday on the Green Brigade fb page.

For the second time in two derbies Lennon was out thought by a rookie manager who put out a team who out fought us. Possibly the only person on the planet who didn’t think they’d play the same way that they did in the cup final, i.e. dominate the midfield, and get the ball to the animal at centre forward to hold it up whilst their central midfield then pressed forward. This isn’t being wise after the event, its exactly what I said to the guy who sits next to me when the teams were announced. I feel for Broony, he was a one-man midfield against three and despite his shouting and cajoling none of the others could be arsed. Lennon got everything wrong. Forrest was a waste of a jersey. How many times in the first half particularly did Frimpong have to go inside because he was too lazy/stupid to go wide to get a pass and stretch their defence. Johnston is still not ready for the intensity of these type of games. McGregor and Christie are looking knackered and have done so for a few games. We’re two-one down at home with half an hour to go when Lennon suddenly gets the point that a 3-5-2 formation will stretch their full backs, except that he didn’t put a natural goal scorer on, albeit one who is unlikely to be the player he once was. Nothing to lose by bringing on an out of form player for another one playing in what is not his natural position (Christie) Sadly and terrifyingly this season is beginning to look like the reverse of 97-98 when we stopped ten in a row, we assume the league title is going to happen whilst they want it more.

R.St.Parsley
4 years ago

Caption:
If ye won’t gie me any transfer money, can ye teach me that haunshake so we might win some games

Devoy45
4 years ago
Reply to  R.St.Parsley

Just remembered when Broonie was injured a few years ago and we went with Christie and McGregor together as a midfield of 2 and we ran riot. What happened then? I still think big Tom Rogic might be the best in the middle of an attacking 3. I think we have the better team with a deeper squad than the Orcs. Injuries and poor discipline (Orcs) might still play a part down the home stretch. For example, injuries to Morelos and/or Dafoe would hit them hard. Moelos is also back to his red card displays. We’ll see.Yesterday was so disappointing…not in the cards at all.

Iain in Alberta
4 years ago
Reply to  Devoy45

It was a year ago when Brown was out. Christie came on at half time.(semi final) We had Calmac, Ryan with Rogic in front of them. The team played really well with those 3 running the midfield. It only happened (those 3 together) because of all the injuries and BR stumbled onto it. We really do not need a defensive midfield player slowing the play down against domestic opposition.

Cole Burns
4 years ago

Caption: “What a piece of good luck, Peter, that the AGM was last month. Otherwise, you and Bankier would have been the first to shoot your hands in the air in support of Res.12.” “By the way, your jacket`s getting a wee bit tight. You should put your wallet in your hip pocket
and stay away from the food banks.”

henkesdreadlocks
4 years ago

I hope the charlatans on the board are delighted with themselves. They have facilitated this abomination from Govan and will not bat an eye at how low they can stoop. To suggest there was racial and sectarian abuse hurled at that cunt is beyond the pale and we all know what they are up to. However, the useless leeches on our board are as bad as those vermin across at the scrapyard and the response to their statement is weak and pathetic. It is time to go to war with both factions.

Andy
4 years ago

Celtic have many issues at the moment but for me their biggest mistake was to give Lennon the manager’s job. He only just scraped us over the line last season and so far, tactically, he’s learned nothing. After Hampden, and a very lucky result, he changed nothing. The cup final should have been a massive wake up call the Rangers are building and he chose to ignore it. We lost on Sunday because we had the wrong gaffer. I watched the game and saw how bad we were.
I’m sorry to say this but Lennon has to go!!!

DjSmyth
4 years ago

After probably one of our best August to end of year periods over the last 20 yrs .League Cup win. One draw & two loses in League and won our Europa Cup League section .
We really haven’t been that bad . We need to improve but we always need to improve

4 years ago

Caption “And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere!
and gie’s a hand o’ thine!”

“Fuck off Neil, you ain’t getting money for big signings”

Rob O'Keeffe
4 years ago

Classic Hunnishness,play the race card to cover up for that guy who would probably miss even if he tried to cut his own throat.Maybe it’s because we don’t have any black,foreign players at Parkhead…..

Mike
4 years ago

Get your retaliation in first, if you are the Klan, playing the “Race Card” to deflect attention from the “Gun to Head” and “Throat Slitting” gestures to the Celtic support, is the real mark of Scum.
Were you watching Peter, were you listening? for that is what happens if you ignore, or encourage the Klan.
You have already turned your back on “Sporting Integrity” turning your blind eye to the Resolutioners pleas for justice for your own club, treating them with contempt. It doesn’t need to be like that, let your New Years Resolution be an attempt to put your club first till last and f!ck the rest of Scottish football, no more hiding, no more deflection, Celtic First should be your 2020 one and only thought and that would incorporate 12. Resolution 12.

highseastim
4 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Of course now the Sevconians say they want VAR introduced in Scotland, if it was here they would have had a 0-0 draw at home to Kilmarnock as Morelos was a mile offside!!

JIMBO
4 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Couldn’t agree more Mike. Why are Kent and Morelos not being prosecuted for what are both clear at worst breach of the peace offences? The Morelos incident is particularly poor. We all remember the young 16 who had his throat slashed after a Celtic game. His behaviour could incite further tragic incidents like this. I am appalled the club have not spoken publicly about this.

Mike
4 years ago
Reply to  JIMBO

Hope you are good Jimbo, all the best to you and yours for 2020 mate.

Funkyy
4 years ago

Caption:-
Buddy, can you spare a dime?
Naw!!!

Una
4 years ago

As i predicted yesterday the daily ragcord would compare Robbie Keanes celebration with what kent done, the difference is kent said fukin taigs with total hatred written all over his goat like face

jimmybee
4 years ago

There is no doubt that Celtic has the better squad. Ntcham Rogic Hayes Bitton Griff would probably be in any team in the spl. They are on our bench.
That leads us to the managers if a manager gets more out of a squad of players which most agree are inferior to the opposition and beats us into the ground then one manager isn’t upto the task it really is that simple. Lenny answered the call when we needed him it should have finished at that. But Lawwell as usual fucked us over.
A get it up ye salute gets you sent off but a cutting throat or bullet to the head gesture is ok. Something seriously wrong there.

jimmybee
4 years ago

Caption: ok Peter give me the team sheet from your case I will let the players know.

BJF
4 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

I think we have been here before, against AEK, Cluj in the Champions League, a record has gone but the thing that might be different is that we did not progress from the League Cup Final, they did. It could be we were just tired after all they had more to lose by er losing. Jimmybee is right, guys on our bench would get into any other squad including second Rangers. Need a striker, is Frimpong a full back does he crowd Forrest’s territory, Mikey and Boli are not in the form after injury they were before. We need a target man, Bayo won’t do.

BJF
4 years ago

In his post match interview Neil Lennon said: “ There’s no panic here.” He should read the diary or actually he shouldn’t. Mikey didn’t do it for me neither did Eddy, Jamsie, Boli, Ajer, or Christie ( both the latter have had brilliant season so far but not yesterday). I thought all we needed was Eddy for 90 minutes, I wasn’t sure that having played Ntcham every week leaving him out against an improved second Rangers was right. However I saw the point that it meant Forrest would be on the right and Christie thru the middle and that made sense. Lenny used two good attacking but limited defensively full backs. Does he want a three at the back, is that why Taylor doesn’t get an extended run, if that is the plan expect a target man in January but what does that say about signing Bayo?

ILJAS BAKER
4 years ago
Reply to  BJF

I think Lenny has his blind spot perhaps due to arrogance. He’s a smart man so why weren’t we set up to deal with the tactics that almost gave Rangers a victory at Hampden and everyone knew would be repeated?

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