Social media is a strange place.
Even this particular offering has been accused of being so dark some times that an American cop would shoot it.
Theres no need to list the achievements of Celtic over the last few years, no need to repeat the statistics that show Neil Lennon has something like a 76% win rate since his return as manager, but perhaps there is a need for us, as fans, to concentrate on wanting the team to win as opposed to that little bit of panic that seems to set in every time there isn;t a free flowing exhibition of total football.
The win in Riga, which ordinarily would have been celebrated as a disciplined away win that proves that away from home in europe Celtic have become a far better side, has been heavily criticised….by our own.
It’s difficult to see why. And depressing to read.
Players read these sort of comments and might well be asking themselves what fans can see that they can’t.
They might also begin to absirb some of our own doubts about their capabilities.
The reason for this could lie in the fact that all we are seeing is the game through the eyes of the television cameraman, which we all know does not give a true reflection of events on the field.
This might explain the vitriol aimed at the manager when he says he thinks the players have done well, and provokes a response along the lines of
“Was he watching the same game as us ? ”
Actually, he wasn’t watching the same game as us. He gets to see everything, we get to see it through a lens.
Whilst being unable to vent our frustrations at the game…James Forrest has an ankle injury caused not on the field, but by becoming convinced he had gone deaf, he then lost his balance whilst getting off the team bus and went over his ankle…….fans have taken to overdoing it on twitter, facebook and anywhere else that will provide a platform for their fears.
Point is, we’re doing fine, considering the perhaps surreal circumstances, and whilst we cannot be at the ground to ” give the boys a cheer “, the very least we can do is count to ten before we pull out the keyboard.
Of course, the author retains the right to change his mind if we make an arse of it against Hibernian tomorrow.
Especially as we hear that Leanne Dempster has offered all sorts of incentives to her players if they can make Lennon’s life a misery.
And bearing in mind that Hibs have one or two nippy wingers, this game is by no means a certain three points.
I mean, they even got a point against all conquering “rangers ” last week, which bizarrely prompted a Radio Clyde reporter to ask one of their players that having won that point, did they now feel confident of beating Celtic ?
There are enough detractors in the mainstream media to pour vitriol on our club without adding to it ourselves.
There is an easy solution, acutally.
Listen to the game on the radio instead.
You’ll be that pissed off with the shite they talk there that you won’t care whether or not Lennon even bothers putting a team out, let alone who is in it.
Get all defensive instead of offensive.
It’s working for me.
It’s quite amusing to watch once you pull yourself away from it.
For example, Steven Gerrard and his otley crew drew at Easter road, and their poor sportsmanship afterwards combined with the loss of a couple of points led to all sorts of laughter and derision.
It proved he was a donkey leading donkeys.
All of a sudden, a convincing win over a little known Dutch side has turned them into worldbeaters, and we should all be very, very afraid.
Remind yourself of this…their captain wants away, their top scorer is a misfiring fat flounderer who can’t wait to get away , but no one wants him, and now they are desperately trying to flog Ryan Kent, who according to Gary MacAllistair, the man who provided the coaching licence to enable Gerrard to work at Ibrox, must be on the England radar.
Ryan Kent, playing for England.
At football….
We truly do live in surreal times.
Football clubs are the one constant in our lives. As i’ve pointed out before friends, families, houses and jobs all come and go.
For that lot, even their football club came and went, so it’s understandable that they will try to equate the new entity with the old one.
It’s understandable that they will substitute talk for action.
They’re that used to being detached from reality that they’ve forgotten to trust the evidence of their own eyes.
So have we, but in exactly the opposite way.
Let’s not allow our fear of defeat to overwhelm our desire for success……
Yesterday, we had this, er , visual treat….
Cesar
Morag, a lifelong Sevco fan of 8 years is a wee bit deaf. She was mortified to learn after all these years that the fans weren’t actually singing swallow,swallow.
That game from yesteryear with the Super Celtic power through headline….
And today, amuse yourselves with this….
Caption. Nicola Sturgeon has a new plan to restrict those pesky football fans from drinking on the way to the game
Good blog, Ralph. Well said.
Buongiorno Mr. and Mrs. Hibs are no world beaters and we are Celtic. Any club that has Putrid Petrie as its CEO. is needing surgery, it is fitting is it not that the despicable turd is now the SFA. President, the whole lot need a wire brush taken to the soles of their feet.
Anyway, one of the most influential games that ever took place at Hampden surely has to be the 1960 European Cup Final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Real Madrid which ended 3-7 to Real. Watched by a crowd of 127,000 supporters of football and viewed on TV. by an estimated 7 million viewers. How could you forget the exotic names of the players. Di Stefano- Puskas- Gento- Santamaria- Stinka and Stein. I often wondered was the great man at that cataclysmic game? I learned later that he was and what the effect was that, that game had on him, it would be massive and perhaps even was instrumental in how he coached and how his teams would play football thereafter. Everyone who watched that game throughout the football world could hardly have been more impressed. “The Peoples Game”.
Should be played in the most deprived areas of the world, European Cup Finals – World Cup Finals, should be played in Africa- Asia- Latin America, to offer hope and joy to the worlds poorest people, those in extreme deprivation, not places like Qatar, never Qatar, or any other of the rich Nations.
Did Jock Stein go to Hampden on the 18th. May 1960? of course he did and later in 1960, he would take his Dunfermline team to the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden park, after a 0-0 draw he would triumph over Jimmy McGrory’s Celtic, two legendary Celtic icons.
“Jock Stein – 8th. of October 1922 – 10th. September 1985.” RIP.
Definitely worth waiting for Mike. Excellent.
Just caught up with your reply Yoker, apologies for the delay. Its a problem no doubt getting your posts past moderation. I would never critisise the lads they provide us with the opportunity to converse and share our thoughts. My problem is that my posts are usually too big, so much so that they only appear a couple of days after posting.
Hope you are good and keeping well in these Covid times. Take care…
Another one bites the dust into the Dusty Bin of moderation.
My reply to your post from yesterday Mike has met the same fate. As it seems to solve most of the problems of the new site format, I thought I’d give Firefox a try but no joy. Getting lengthy posts instantly delivered is a problem that goes back years and years. Tomorrow’s game is a big one so here’s hoping for a big improvement. Hibs have a lot of firepower but have weaknesses in defence for us to exploit. Have a good day in the tattie fields!
Its OK. Yoker, i have written to Humza Yousaf the Scottish Justice Secretary to have it added to his “Hate Crime Bill” so that it will be a criminal offense to moderate any of our posts.
I too believe that Celtic should see-off the Hibees tomorrow fingers x. Now back to the tatties, guess whats on the menu for the next few weeks, here’s a clue, it comes in many different sizes and shapes and you peel them, that’s right, oranges.
:-). If you’ve got nothing better to do tonight, check out the tussle between liga leaders R Betis and champions R Madrid. Starts at 8pm ( Celtic Park time).
Mon The Betis, The Real Betis, but most of all ComeOnYouBhoysInGreen.
Looking at the news from Spain – Madrid last night, not good Yoker.
Take care M8, she said to me last night, there’s some good tatties you missed and are still lying in the field, get some plastic bags and pick them up for Chas – Eh, aye ok. knackered, but good. 😉
Lost 2-3 in the end. A real bummer because the boys in green & white were 2-1 up at HT and it could have been more. Fine game of football though. R Madrid made their substitutions and impressed in the second half but a draw would’ve been a fairer result. Two very soft decisions went against the Betis lads – right back Emerson’s red card and later on a penalty after only minimal contact. On the bright side, new Chilean manager Manuel Pellegrini, a man with a great track record, has injected new vigour into the side and much of the football so far has been a joy to watch. Later on we can expect another 5-star performance from wee Jeg Frimpong and, just to throw an interesting fact into the mix, Hatem El Hamed can play the left back position and has done so to good effect for Israel. Make of that what you will. We could be in for an exciting game so enjoy to the full! HH
Read the match report Yoker, it did seem that a draw would have been fair. I was always a big fan of ZiZi and my post earlier (which you might read in 7 days) 😉 reminds me and others of how Real Madrid verses Eintracht Frankfurt European Cup Final in 1960 was one of the most defining game in Scottish footballing history at Hampden and was instrumental perhaps in how Big Jock wanted his Celtic team to play. Betis- Seville- Andalusia shares my birth date, but no the year. VAR decisions still rely on the referees interpretation and in how they interpret the rules, is it an improvement? perhaps. Big fan of Pelligrini as player and as manager, so improvements will happen.
Today I only see one winner, but we need a new L.B. pronto and we need to see our players playing in their correct positions, lets see what evolves. Tata.
My old man was one of the 120,000+ who turned out for that 10 goal thriller at Hampden six decades ago and always said it was the best football match he had ever attended. Not surprising it was inspirational for Big Jock and others. The big final returned to Hampden 15 years later when local Celtic fans took the modest French side St Etienne to their hearts. Bayern Munich were the dominant force in European footall during the mid 70s and although I was very small, I still remember Beckenbauer’s cracking goal that won the big cup that night. The French team had a couple of Brazilians playing I think and put up a great fight. Allez les Vertts!
That’s the way to answer any criticism, score goals and keep a clean sheet, keep on winning, winning and winning. Great to see the past and the future Celtic players, great to watch a young man who went through so much to achieve his dream. His dreams were crushed last year, he fought back and now he has got his just reward. A fine performance and an assist, another fine, young Scottish Celtic player. Well done Lenny and the players, any lurking Huns, GIRUYez.
Spot on Mike. Hopefully this is a real indicator that we’re finding our successful rhythm again.
Funny enough Weered, when I was 50 years younger, being a style icon with short black hair, riding a lambretta scooter and a love of music that’s right, I was a rocker, or was it a Mod? I have no idea, it was after all 50 years ago. 😉
COYBIR. Everyone’s a winner Baby. 😉 < 10
Caption – “After the Betty Ford Clinic refused to accept their idea of a long term payment plan, Sevco opted to put the fat Buffalo Bastard through an abstinence program of their own devising.”
Caption …
See that game pie face it’s for wimps… the big boys play arm amputation by Hasbro …….cheers
Caption: “Morelos hospitalised after getting a case of Corona.”
Caption
Off licence trap
The Daily Radar sets elaborate trap to catch Etims drunk pish stained mole!
Caption
Even the dugs feart of the jakey rat.
Good article Ralphie, but we should be playing with two up front. Eddie gets pelters but he is constantly surrounded by defenders, Christie is not a forward, Lenny is stuck in his ways.
Your opening paragraph is racist and it’s not acceptable. Fuck off to ibrox, you’ll find friends there
Caption : ‘Travelodge to introduce an honesty bar in rooms’.
Health chiefs trial new nudges to healthy living as lockdown drinking levels soar
Caption. Agatha Christie’s first failed attempt at writing the world’s longest running stage production.
Dog in cot! Shock expose! Sets up elaborate beer trap to deflect from owner noticing. Ruff times ahead.
Caption……….
…… meanwhile, back at Brendan Rodgers gaff.
Why is there a dog in a crib?
Think you should have counted to ten before you typed that first paragraph.
Dearie me.
Caption – And for a free ticket ta today’s sevco game, you have 2 minutes to open all the bottles while leaving the crate as is and get pished withoot being caught in the trap! Good luck!
IMO, Lenny after years of sectarian abuse, cheating by the SFA, sheer pish from the SMSM, gets it. Just praise the team, get the points, win the tie, place the pots in the cabinet and GTF our haters! Geoff Boycott, an extremely stubborn Yorkshire cricketer, used to get the slow handclap while SSLLOOWWLLYY getting to a ton while protecting his wicket. When the abuse started, he would go even slower till he retired, if he decided to, at 200 runs! Brilliant! To our self-harmers, take a check. It is the sevconians who are running scared. Some even know through their delusional minds, they are screwed! When Churchill offered Micheal Collins guns during the Irish Civil War, terrible times as you know, Collins replied. ‘Why do I want your guns? Do you want me to do your dirty work for you?’ And basically told Churchill to GTF! Things have calmed down and Ireland is a far richer country and in a far better situation than those bastards left us in. Enjoy the ride Bhoys and Ghirls, it is going to be sweet and as ’67, long remembered! HH!
Then he proceeded to do their dirty work.The pro treaty side took thousands of machine guns, ammunition, grenades and the 18 pound guns that they turned on their former comrades in the four courts. They couldn’t get enough of them. They went on to execute more Irish men than the brits did in the war of independence. They let Irish men die on hunger strike.
The cruelty can be summed up by their actions at ballyseedy.
Any way lennons far from perfect but he usually gets the job done.
Thank you PC. I am not going to fight against my own, divide and conquer is the british way. We had to unite and go forwards and I thank God things have settled to a point, but the discrimation carries on and I constantly recieve sectarian abuse today, here in London. Hatred is a cancer and only the total truth can heal. In desperate times, desperate action is taken and those who take the coin should not be allowed to rewrite history for their own ends. Only a film, but in Gladiator, Crowes character mentions soil is easier to wash out than blood. I try to look for the positives, but truth must win out and the hunger deliberately forced shows where the cold hearts lie. Ireland is surrounded by sea, so plenty of fish, sheep, cattle, cabages, carrots, oats, these did not fail but the british attempt at genocide failed. I do not wish for bitterness, only peace, but Johnson instigated Ireland joined the union. They are not finished and coming first shows them the truth, those with a supieriority complex are deeply insecure, and we are not a race of thick uncultured people, but rather artisitic, intelligent and charismatic which to many hate. But the murderous intentions are still there and the abuse and hate I get when wearing a celtic scarf or top is constant and shows their true intent. I am peaceful, but I have no fear. HH!
Divide and rule has been used by the ruling classes for thousands of years. It didn’t start or end with the brits.
It just makes me sad how easily its done. I don’t mind abuse from huns or bigots I’m a proud unrepentant fenian. It hurts when it’s pure ignorance coming from Irish people though.
I would love to see the day when all the working classes united for a better world for everyone but I think now that practically everyone can be bought for 30 pieces of silver. Billionaires run the world and we’re just pawns in the game, and I just can’t see that changing only worsening. The increased wealth of billionaires during this crisis is staggering. Small businesses not so much.
I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately and its scary the amount of common beliefs about history that is a lie. Gandi was a war monger, Abraham Lincoln was a white supremacist. Bill Gates isn’t a health expert.
Its genuinely heart breaking the number of children who die everyday of starvation. If people really cared that would be the first thing to fix. Then human trafficking and modern slavery
Belief in authority is the most dangerous superstition. The well meaning unquestioning order followers that every tyranny can rely on. We’re now a generation of snitches, the stasi wouldn’t have a look in.
Any way I hope I’m wrong and believe it or not all my life I’ve been an optimist but its gone. I actually dispair for future generations.
I would love it if someone could change my mind in believing that this whole covid thing wasn’t the biggest over reaction in human history and that the response isn’t going to cause much more harm. Why do I see things so differently from most people I thought had the same leanings as me.
I lived in about 15 years ago. Croydon and then west Ealing. There was plenty of celtic friendly pubs and good craic but you’re right you get a bit of abuse from time to time. When I visit family in England they’re amazed at how random people either abuse you or make friends with you when you’re wearing the hoops.
Stay peaceful.
Really good post man. Can identify with so much of it.Arrogance doesn’t sit well with Celtic supporters or those with Irish background. Wearing the Hoops publicly gets about 50/50 response. Remember once a drunk staggering up to me and my lad, who was maybe 10 at the time. My son had on his Celtic colours. The man came too close and I began to think which part of him will I hit first. “The best football club on the feckin planet son” and he staggered off!
We need to support Lenny and the bhoys through this crazy season which probably will end soon.
Tomorrow, vs. the Hibees. We are much better than them but need to respect them as well. I would go:
Barkas
Ajer/Duffy/Bitton
Frimpong/Brown/McGregor/Taylor
Christie
Edouard/Ajeti
4-2 to the Bhoys. Peace and good health to all on this site.
Never give up hope, the World is full of people like you, but tend tio stay quiet! Peace, brother! HH!
Well that’s a first, someone accusing me of talking sense! Have to get my doors widened! Best! HH! 🙂
Ain’t that the truth! Thanks! HH!
Paranoia and football fans have always gone hand in glove. Social media gives everyone a platform but we don’t have to give house room to those who spout paranoid rubbish. We complain about the media setting an anti Celtic narrative and at the same time we have fans, with little or no evidence, junking our club. We need to unite behind a boss who has won every domestic trophy completed during this tenure. A boss with a great win ratio. A squad who have come up with the goods time, time and time again. It won’t always be free flowing champagne football. Look back over both 9 iar campaigns. It never was. Time for some of us to get real. Back the Bhoys.
Well said Ralph. The criticism has been virulent and its from Celtic supporters – well a sub set of Celtic supporters. It does happen every year early as we seem to expect the Lisbon Lions to walk out every week and beat everyone 6-0. These are difficult and unprecedented times for everyone football managers and players too. Give our lads a break. Outside of one shitty result they have been winning. Keep going
Maybe I avoid the worst of social media?, but mostly what I have seen is practical criticism, and even then mostly aimed at the manager. It seems like the lot across the city, that a lot of people are seeing any deserved criticism as dis- loyal.
What is the manager doing, playing players out of position and shoe-horning them into formations that can be hard to discern, on the night, even with the ‘advantage’ of the cameras views.
It can’t be rotation or else surely we would be rotating our oldest and arguably most important player?. Was saying before the season started he would have to utilise the squad and rotate, as it could be essential this season, but he seems to be making it up as he goes along, maybe he just picks players and positions out a hat.
I find it hard to criticise any of the players in these circumstances.
We have the most successful and by far the best squad in the league, it’s not over the top criticism to say they should be looking a little better by this point.
Escaped mouse plots revenge on a research scientist
sevco board set another bear trap
Could be worse, spending over £200m and losing 3-0 to Wet Brom after 28 mins…….hahahaha. Get it up ye Abramovich.
I disagree with this.
Lennon doesn’t help himself.
He didnt just say “he thinks the players have done well” he also described it as “very good”, “we were excellent”, “delighted with the performance” “good performance” “great win” etc.
He cannot expect anything other legitimate criticism when he comes out with offensive nonsense like that after we’ve all watched that turgid pish.
If he had admitted it was a slog but deserved victory and we were never in danger then he’d get credit that he understood the obvious problems but seems totally oblivious to them, which leads to the fear that another Cluj, Copenhagen or Ferencvaros is just around the corner.
We’re not Huns who are simply mindlessly going to agree with the manager despite the evidence of our eyes.
Being critical supporters is us at our best and long may in continue.
You hated (virtually) every minute of the Treble Treble times, so I’d hold off on casting current bun aspersions, sunshine.
You are an imbecile, the Invincibles was a complete season.
Qualified for Champs League. This season we failed 3 rounds before the end of qualifying. That’s what counts not scoring goals in failed attempts.
Seriously you should seek medical help as your Rodgers derangement system is affecting your critical faculties, if you have any, which is a matter of doubt.
Your antipathy to the Invincibles, as to the likes of Dembele, Sinclair, Ntcham, Edouard (mm, methinks I detect a pattern here) is a matter of record.
Just like Rodgers, Lennon is criticised when deserved, which is what’s happening.
The fact that you can’t stand that whilst previously hypocritically slaughtering everything about Rodgers shows you up to be a crybaby.
Man up, snowflake.
Tomorrow will be difficult.
442 would be better balace for me
Barkas
El hamed Ajer Duffy Taylor
Frimpong Christie McGregor and Ellynousi.
Ajeti Edouard.
3_1 the bhoys
All to often and under every manager I can remember, we’ve been noted put off Europe by a late, late goal. It was painful to watch. We’re better than that. We cannot lower to their abilities we must and can rise above anything that comes our way before Christmas in those competition.
Don`t let the opposition in your box. If so, hesitation will cost you a penalty.
Win,lose or draw, I want a game that is as if we are all there.
Looking forward to this.
Celts by 2. (Carluke Bhoy to score a scorcher)
There’s a F**king mean looking dug in a cot at the back of that photo!
Just pointing that out as I have nothing witty to say for the caption
Magdalena
s Chestnut Gelging (that on a strip), its not the dog its Pedros Celtic`s signing policy.Cacky-footed is not a sin.
P.S. If Olivier scores early he will have a hell of a game. His style.
Caption:
Man with steady hand, an opener and straw is King.
Once again, no one is junking the club, just because they critique the tactics of the manager, or lack there of. We should be able to beat most teams, most days, in our league, with our resource advantage. So saying the positive results absolve everyone from blame is nonsense. If we are playing poorly and winning, it comes back to bite you when you continue to play poorly but come up against someone a little better, or lose that little bit of luck, late goal etc. Things could easily be a lot worse, and will be if things continue as they are, I have no wish to take a beating from the huns, or Hibs for that matter. Was glad when Neil got the job, safe pair of hands and someone who knows the ‘vagaries’ of Scottish football. He had nothing to prove, but seems to think he has by pretending he’s some sort of tactical genius. This squad with our manager sticking to what he knows can walk this league, and hopefully some forced changes today will illustrate just that. Wanting to be better is not a slight on the manager, club or players, and cutting out glaring tactical errors would be a big step forward.
Point is,no crowd and a Player can hear a Manager. (Neil plonks his arse)
Wingers switching so they don`t have to listen to those on the bench?
Tulip football.
8-9 games into the season and your couch gets repossessed, why the butterflies?
Myth as fact, Vasilis saves.
Exclusive:
Tom Rogic to start…
Acculturation group of exhorts…
Today, Glasgow is an effervescent flank of Green and White.
Team news in if Eddy isn’t injured
Deary me ?
Barkas
Bitton Duffy Ajer
Frimpong Taylor
Brown McGregor Ellynoussi
Christie
Ajeti.
Our bench is a better team
Run through a wall of a game?
Intentional purposeful embrace,there to be.
Shall Paul the Tim`s cardboard cut-out look on the level slimming today at Celtic Park?
Enjoy.
Football:
A less than the whole that is not part of the coordinating control.
Deprived of a win today, Louie Spence is our new manager.
Everything crossed.
The Celtic keeper and Hibs
strip looks a bit of a clash from where Im sitting.OG Vasilis.
Are we to put Callum behind the two central dumplings as a sweeper?
Never leave a central defender on his own with a one on one situation. Oh but the keeper is a defender these days.
Dumb Football.
scores 5 yards out and get injured. Porridge should me maintained. Eddie is to be crippled here.
london derry men might be the best of men but duffy is a fVcking donkey. than fVck this is a loan deal
This Day has gone bad to worst:
What are we playing at? Have we arsed around and signed Emmett?
Where’s london derry?
yes. That dwarf nisbit had him about the times. big poof
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwweeeeeeeeeeee
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwweeeeeeeeeeee
Your team’s deed – beat it
Never let a ball bounce in-front of you…
Hibs midfields` pass is an up and under bump ball which is their hope to control a misplaced timing.
But beware of that first time shot.
Does a broken corner flag come out of a full-backs wages?
Calmac-Cacky
Ambiguous stylistic usage. Glyph are who?