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Celtic Diary Monday October 19: Knives, Knee Jerks And Neil

Things didn’t go quite to plan on Saturday, which of course, assumes there was a plan.

 

A timid Celtic side failed to even get a shot on target against “rangers “, who, in turn didn’t even force a save out of Vasilis Barkas, but all of a sudden the knives are out for the manager.

 

Yeah, we should have done better, and there are a few problems that need fixing, but all in all a piss poor game was won by one piss poor team against another.

 

 

This means that the hoops are now four points behind that lot with a game in hand. Hardly a crisis when looked at in that context, but questions do have to be asked about how it happened.

 

The performance should really have come as no surprise, the team has been limping along, grinding out results or riding their luck depending on how charitable you feel, and it’s time for one of those let it all out meetings in the dressing room.

 

We were aware some players wanted to leave, and Lennon himself has admitted he has had to talk some into staying, a task made easier when there weren’t any offers for them.

 

The intrusion of a life threatening virus into the squad has certainly had an effect, not just on those infected, but on those around them who must be wondering when they will receive a positive result.

 

None of it is good, but it cannot be allowed to continue.

 

But where do we start ?

 

Right now, we need fighters at the club. Forget the silky stuff, we need those who will haul themselves off the floor and drag others up with them.

 

In Neil Lennon we’ve got one, but lately he seems like he’s taken one punch too many, for whatever reason.

 

Well, whatever his excuse is, he’ll need to put that to one side and start to get a grip on things again.

 

There’s no point in throwing the baby out with the bathwater, that’ll just alert social services.

 

His style of late is to be the manager,ย  not the coach, and for a while that seemed to suit him.

 

A quick hey ho lets get into them before kick off did the trick, and those who coached got on with coaching, but there seems to be an issue with that at the moment.

 

Too many players are grumbling about too many things and too many people are deciding they know what the problem is.

 

Truth , as ever, will be somewhere in between.

 

After Ferencvaros, Lennon stated that those who wanted away could go. Then he backtracked, presumably because no one wanted them, or more importantly, possibly because someone told him he had to keep them in the shop window, even after the transfer window closed…

 

Especially given the higher profile of this game, and worryingly, if true, the higher profile of the Europa League and upcoming Scottish Cup semi final.

 

It’s not just about Saturday’s defeat, it;s about the trend beneath.

 

Yet again, the manager was forced to field a makeshift defence, and to introduce another front pairing, even though technically it wasn’t two up front, but then again, I’m beginning to wonder if anyone in that side knows what they are supposed to be doing.

 

Dropping Greg Taylor seemed to suggest either he was bowing to fan pressure, which is unlikely, or he was , er, advised to field an expensive loan signing to justify signing im in the first place, and given that young Steven Welsh, who let no one down, was also drafted in, the uncertainty that led to the first goal was entirely predictable.

 

It’s time for the manager to stand up for himself, time to take a glance in the mirror where he will see both the cause of the problem and the solution.

 

Time for him to show that it;s not how hard you can hit, but how quickly you can get back up after you’ve been hit.

 

And if that means going into the office and telling someone that he is the manager, and he will do exactly what he feels is needed to win that tenth title, exactly what is needed to sort out the team, then he will do it.

 

If he does that, then we can turn this around very quickly indeed.

 

That should be followed byย  a coaching staff meeting.

 

He should want to know what the fuck they are telling players to do, and here we may have the core of the problem, Have a look at the Gerrard bench during the game on Saturday, and note how involved they are.

 

Compare and contrast that with ours….and that shows that the coaches are not all pulling in the same direction, and perhaps the arrival of Gavin Strachan, signed to replace Damien Duff , is the issue here.

 

Things certainly changed under his influence, and perhaps Lennon should be asking why. That means those such as John Kennedy and Stevie Woods need to speak up.

 

The players aren’t happy, and whatever it is thats making them unhappy and as a consequence affecting their confidence on the field needs to be identified and dealt with.

 

The coaches are responsible for basics such as shape and formation, with a remit to impose their own tactical nous on the style of play.

 

The kindness thing to be said about those ideas of late is that they are not working, and the cruellest ?

 

Well, you can fill in that bit.

 

And then the players themselves.

 

I have a simple message to those who are, er, unsettled.

 

Fuck off. Just pack your bags and fuck off.

 

Celtic were here before you were, and we’ll be here long after you have gone.

 

Sometimes in life you have to back the boss, whether you agree with him or not.

 

But then again, the boss needs to roll up his sleeves and put the hours in as well.

 

 

There isn’t a single one among us who doesn’t appreciate what Neil Lennon has done for this club, and what he has been through over the years.

 

He’s not a Brendan Rodgers, he’s not using the club as a stepping stone. He’s a part of the club and will be hurting as much as any of us right now.

 

That alone means we should give him the opportunity to fix what is broken.

 

 

And while he does that, we should be circling the wagons around him.

 

 

 

 

 

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Mike
3 years ago

Well said, if he’s mince, he is our mince. The bombs and the bullets, the provocation, the assaults, the slanderous press. We are all Neil Francis Lennon.
On the day that the Hun keeper McGregor appeared dressed up as ‘Tango’ man, Celtic were the ones being Tangoed. So, lest we forget. Season 1966-67. The Most Special Year For Celtic F.C.
The League Cup – 29th. October 1966.
The Glasgow Cup – 7th. November 1966.
The Scottish Cup – 29th. April 1967.
The Scottish League – 15th. May 1967.
The European Cup – 25th. May 1967.
With hope in our hearts… we try to KTF.

football image 3.jpg
Monti
3 years ago

Thought we badly missed Kouassi Eboui on Saturday, you know the long term replacement for Scott Brown….cough.

3 years ago

Pathetic article. File this under the Neil Lennon Succulent Lamb csc.

Blaming the coaching staff ffs

Lennon has never been a coach in his life he isn’t magically going to start being a coach and an expert in tactics and formation.

This was coming the day Lawwell gave him the job in the shower. Cluj, Copenhagen, ferencvaros and Huns X2. Always excuses when the reason is staring us right in the face.

The club again showing a lack of ambition and contempt for the fans. Our best hope now is that we continue to grind out results against the cannon fodder and the Huns crumble as they usually do. Then we can get back to the qualifiers and get pumped out off some other no mark.

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  Boab

F%ck off ya Orange cvnt

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

He’s right though.

Tiar
3 years ago
Reply to  Boab

Well said Boab ,spot on.

Gerryh7
3 years ago

Your right with one thing , he will never be a Brendan Rodgers. Because he would never get a job anywhere else.
How fans never saw this coming I don’t know. We have been dire all season. He needs to go now not in a few weeks when it’s too late.

Mike
3 years ago

Stuart Gibson a Japan based businessman has become Sevco Scotland’s 4th. biggest shareholder after investing ยฃ5.00 million pounds, as part of an ยฃ8.00 million share issue. With a ยฃ1.00 mill. loan in March, followed by a ยฃ4.00 million share investment, with the possibility of more to follow, follow.
Dave King has 22%.
Park has 13%.
Taylor 10%.
And now Gibson with 8%.
Think about this possibility, if they were to do the unthinkable and win this years league title. It gives them the chance to enter the C.L. Qualifiers, with its ยฃ30.00 million jackpot, giving them a serious income stream, one that could seriously strengthen their playing squad.
Desmond, Lawwell, Bankier, the SFA. and the SPFL. have got their wish. The rhetoric is louder, going for 56′ and in 2022 celebrating (according to them) their 150 year history.
That is why stopping them and Res.12 is crucial. Like to control a snake, keep your foot on its neck.
Founded in 1872 – Incorporated in 1899 – Died in 2012.

Peter devine
3 years ago

See previous blog .

Fred Rodgers
3 years ago
Reply to  Peter devine

I’d like the manager to take ownership of his tactical ineptitude rather than churn out lame excuses.

Peter devine
3 years ago

Although i will say that ” word” is that indeed its Mr Strachan who has ruffled some feathers or bruised some mangoes or some fuckin thing. Y’all have a nice day now

Gerard Mckendry
3 years ago

That is the fourth match in a row that rangers have been the better team by far. I don’t think that Gerrard has a magic formula for beating Celtic. Rather i think they want it more.

The Cha
3 years ago

Not 4-in-a-row.

the 4th last one was our rope-a-dope 2-0 victory at Ibrox. A fine result but hardly tactics we’d want to repeat eg kicking ball into touch from ko, although given the wretched performances subsequently perhaps we should!

The one before that was a wretched 2-0 at Ibrox, so its only been 4 bad performances out of 5.

Iancelt67
3 years ago

Blogs more of a pep talk than a rendition of whatโ€™s going down. With a bigger budget than Gerrard, Lennon has managed to downsize the quality of the team in comparison of what Gerrard has done. They fought for each other. Our lot looked like a bunch of strangers in a fast arranged kickaround I think Duffy brought the ball. This is malaise mixed with deluded bravado from Lennon supporters

Dziekanowski's nightclub child
3 years ago

NL looks weary, he has been tactically schooled against AEK, Cluj, Ferenvarcos, rangers x 3 (league cup final too), it isn’t good enough. You’ve said back the manager yet just about every point you make in the diary would suggest that the manager was ultimately the one at fault, be it picking his coaching staff, team, tactics or not standing up to the board or whoever. you have spoken about levels of coaching and proffessionalism dropping since NL came back so for me we need someone with a pedigree to get us to 10. I don’t like to say it as NL is a Celtic man but for the good of 10 I think it’s time for a change.

Dziekanowski's nightclub child
3 years ago

Another point, both goals effectively came from Ajer, he blasts a 10 yard pass at ME which Pele would have had difficulty controlling and that led to the free kick, second goal he makes an arse of it and gives away the corner making up for his mistake. He is never a CD against better opposition than Ross County, Hibs etc… The boy would be a great centre mid but never given the chance.

sfa unfit for purpose
3 years ago

Totally agree Ralph. Well said.

Let the pantie wetters pish themselves as usual.

The Cha
3 years ago

Oh my.

I’m sure Nicola Sturgeon will be along shortly to loosing your bowels. ๐Ÿ˜‰

sfa unfit for purpose
3 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

This is a football site.
Why are you bringing politics into it
boohoo

The Cha
3 years ago

Touchรฉ.

R.St.Parsley
3 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

I think he’s just touchy

3 years ago

Persist with Lennon and the 10 is gone, playing 3 at the back with only 1 up top will never work, especially when the 1 up top is your fourth choice striker , Lennon hasn’t learned anything in his time at Celtic, still so one dimensional its untrue, Gerard new exactly what Lennons game plan was the week before the game because hes so predictable, so if people think giving Lennon time will turn things around, then say by by tae 10IAR,

Oztim
3 years ago
Reply to  KEIGHLEY BHOY

Totally agree.

Iljas Baker
3 years ago

As much as I admire your loyalty Ralph I think you are being too easy on the manager. Even if he’s not doing the actual coaching he must know what’s going on in terms of tactics and such and he should have some serious input. Gerrard predicted the formation (not hard) and like last time completely nullified the Celtic players on the flanks, particularly Frimpong who was as bad this time round as he was last time.What was the response tactically? None as far as I could see with substitutions just replacing like for like. Who did we miss that might have made a difference? Those who played last time but didn’t this time such as Forrest and Julien didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory last time so I doubt they be missing was a factor in our defeat. We got what we saw: players either physically unfit or not match fit, players who didn’t really know each other, players played out of position, substitutions came on too late to make a difference. I think it was a mistake to drop Taylor and Turnbull I suspect would have out in more of a shift than Ncham. Lennon seemed bereft of ideas and motivational nouse.

Cartvale88
3 years ago

We are all Lenny, but his touch has gone. Living in the past you only regress, Celtic are doing that daily. You can prattle on but Lowell has failed in not achieving the UCL due to penny pinching, loss at least ยฃ100 M.
Lenny was the stop gap measure, he has proven to be that, he cannot change the team formation and sits ruminating during a game, look at the Wankers constantly advising Slippy.
The fact that Ajer, Duffy, Brown, Welsh had the mist touches says it all, be it Riga, Sarajevo, Ferencvaros, St Johnstone or Dundee United etc; the football is pedantic, Barkas rolling the ball out and so on and so on.
There has to be a major change moving Ajer into an attacking role would help, he is big and disrupts play. Change to a 4 4 2 and look at running for the beeline. As for Elyanoussi, Ncham, and Frimpong they are not good enough. Turnbull should be tried in midfield.
Enough of my koans what a depressing Sunday listening to their crap

Andy
3 years ago

Been on here since start of the season saying we look like a pub team, and we do. I wasnโ€™t surprised at the result on Saturday as we were an accident waiting to happen but we have on most occasions been just getting away with it ( the gutless performance did surprise me though)

Every time we have played this season we look like a group of guys that have been thrown together 24 hours before each game. No cohesion, penetration, guile, nothing. I could be here for an hour highlighting problems but we are clearly in trouble. The next few weeks are critical

Something wrong inside club and needs sorted quickly

3 years ago
Reply to  Andy

Its the perfect time to take stock and get our act together – in a serious way.
Sevco now think they are world beaters.
If we fail to change and become the force we know we can be the support will never
forgive any of them.
CHANGE IS VITAL – NOW!

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  Andy

What people have to understand is that the buck stops at the managers door, in every country, in every league.
Players can get you the sack or take you to the silverware.
If anyone thinks that Neil Lennon is solely responsible for Saturday or any other problems at Celtic, haven’t been paying attention over the years.
Peter Lawwell is the string puller at Celtic in every way, he has done a good job in many ways, i also feel he has got a lot of things wrong too, failing to sign John McGinn from Hibernian being one of his biggest fails, up there with appointing Ronny Deila & arguing against paying the living wage.
Another error may be in offering Neil the job at the end of last season, i can see why they offered him it, he is a decent manager but was he the right choice, should Dermot & Peter not have taken a moments pause before heading to the shower room to offer it to Lennon?
My belief in Neil is starting to drift, the performances against spfl diddy teams is NOT good enough, losing to Ferencvaros was abysmal.
Lawwell though should shoulder a lot of our current issues, interestingly though most Celtic fans were happy with the transfer window describing it as ” the best window in years ” so is that not a reflection that the board had backed the manager?
Between them they are fucking this up & i believe we are one league defeat away from Neil Lennon going, if there is not a clear transformation in the side on Sunday at Aberdeen, the pressure will crank up, it’s a must win game & the manager & players must show they are going for it.
Do i want Neil to go? Not yet, get the players together, focused & playing with a style befitting a Celtic side.
If we lose to Aberdeen? Goodbye Neil & Lawwell should go with him!

Wakey Wakey Celtic!

The Cha
3 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Agree about Lawwell but there’s practically nothing we can do about him, so long as he has the backing of the major shareholders.

I thought the appointment of the manager was just another example of his control freakery. Given his recent managerial record he had no cards to play against Lawwell, who had got rid of a troublesome manager and replaced him with one who wouldn’t.

My big problem is that if we get rid of Lennon, then the same guy that appointed Mowbray and Deila, would choose his successor and he’d rely on his cronies who’d put forward their clients and not the best candidate for the job.

Alan Ryan
3 years ago

The problem with this analysis is it kind of hints that Lennon is in some Ivory Tower miles away who pops down intermittently to see how things are going. Certainly from his demeanour on Saturday it looked like the Ivory Tower was warm and wine-filled and Celtic Park was quite the opposite. Get stuck in Mr. Lennon or please hand it over to somebody who will.

Iljas Baker
3 years ago

Let’s assume what you wrote was true, certainly some of it was, when things aren’t going well why were no real changes made in terms of formation or substitutions. A shift to a back 4 perhaps? Bring on Turnbull much earlier and perhaps Taylor and Griffith? Lennon just looked out of his depth I’m sorry to say. There is a reason for having a big squad – to give you choices, to allow different formations. Sticking to same formation and like for like subs was obviously never going to be enough in the circumstances.

Iancelt67
3 years ago

Right now they may steal a march on the supposed best squad in the league that will be too insurmountable to catch. Theyโ€™ve improved we have gone backwards. Klimala v dykes who would you have. McGinn for an extra million the club was too tight to part with ( not Lennonโ€™s fault). The signing model sucks Ajeti is average. We shouldnโ€™t be flummoxed with a few injuries our budget swamps others.

3 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

As an armchair supporter that has supported Lennon since MON brought him to Celtic Park I believe that , reluctantly we have to accept that something is seriously wrong in this most vital of seasons. Next Sunday’s game away to Aberdeen is vital to win to get the team back on an even keel, it’s after what could be a really hard game against A C Milan on Thursday. What maybe a comforting thought is that the Huns have to travel to what could be a tough, hard draining game for them on Thursday in Belgium and then return to a potentially tough game against Livingston on Saturday as well, though we shouldn’t really be having to clutch at straws like this so early in the season. As I have said before a supporter of Lennon since his early days but even for me lately his selections have been frustrating, there is one fault he has had since he first became a manager and that is that he will not make substitutions until, imho, it is far too late, never giving the sub chance to adjust. Really hope that Lennon can sort this situation out before we’ve lost 10IAR. Hail, Hail.

The Cha
3 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

McGinn was not signed under Rodgers and was one of the straws that broke the camel’s back and let us to where we are today.

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Cha,
Spot on

Admin
3 years ago

The first half was NOT even.
They scored.
That then meant they could relax and play in comfort.

The key factors I cited were a lack of gameplan and a lack of grit. The personnel picked should have been up for that game.
We failed to compete and McGregor didnt have a save to make. Totally impotent.
Also saying “we didnt have 2 fit strikers”..why play 2 strikers then when fit personnel demanded a new system be used instead?
Those are the key factors, anything else is excuse.

Admin
3 years ago

Some good points made there but the biggest issue for many of us Celtic fans watching that game was a total lack of fight, hunger, desire and a will to not lose let alone win.

Ive always said Celtic do not know how to play a game not to lose. Lenny could have aimed for a nullifying draw on Saturday, kept the game in hand to take League lead…instead he threw in new faces and square pegs in round holes.

james
3 years ago

88080373912

Auldheid
3 years ago

A well expressed balanced view Duncan.

We simply cannot remove the consequences of unavailability just because it doesnt suit confirmation bias.

In the games where Rangers bossed us how many did Edouard play for 90 minutes?

My point is that the only time this season domestically Rangers back 4 lost 2 goals was v Hibs who had reasonable quality front men.

That is how to disrupt their set up, with reasonable quality front men all of whom were unavailable. When LG comes in he creates a chance. A lighter touch and it’s a goal.

Perhaps the problem is as much with the support in terms of confirmation bias post result as it lies with the team? Divided we fall.

Having said that we were poor and when you see Calum McGregor hit an easy pass wide straight out of play you know it’s not your day.

I think the jury is no longer out on Ntcham and Elyanousi is at best not proven which leaves space for others to step in.

I reckon 3 5 2 was almost a requirement to bring balance as early doors Taylor and Elyanoussi or McGregor wasnt working.

I think that is why we brought in Laxit who wasnt too bad in the circumstances and might see a shift to a back 4 with whatever permutation best fits the personnel to play the positions.

For me that means 2 up front for the reasons I gave and if we get Edouard, Ajeti and Griffiths fully 90 minutes match fit then it suggests 4 4 2.

If we can get a settled side over next few weeks, a problem which you recognise, then it’s a long way to May.

Admin
3 years ago
Reply to  Auldheid

“if we get Edouard, Ajeti and Griffiths fully 90 minutes match fit ”

And therein lies the rub.
As well as how exactly are we expecting to get the ball to these players?…through Christie who appears to be our only forward thinking player these days?

Delbhoy
3 years ago
Reply to  Desi Mond

Desi Turnbull is exactly the forward thinking type of player we need but is twiddling his thumbs while ntcham walks about doing fuck all . He also for a youngster has a bit of dig about him , put him in the middle with Christie and one other and you have a midfield with energy and desire

Binkabhoy
3 years ago
Reply to  Auldheid

it was clear after 15 mins the 352 (3511?) either was not working or was not being executed properly.
I’d love to have seen a switch at half time to a 433 with Elyounoussi left, Klimali right,.. both high and wide but coming in off the flanks dragging defenders to allow the full backs Frimpong and Laxalt to overlap.

Auldheid
3 years ago

I’ve a supporting reply in moderation not because its supportive but for some technical reason. This might end up in moderation too.

james
3 years ago

Neil Lennon should be sacked today,if the board have been doing their jobs properly ( which they’ve not for appointing him in the first place) they should have a willing and able replacement who can motivate and coach the best squad of players in Scotland. Make no mistake,we will lose the league under Neil Lennon, Celtic must act immediately, Neil was at his best with Thompson and Mjallby beside him in his first stint against an aged Walter Smith and Rangers on a downward spiral,that time was long ago,this is now,after 3 criminal displays against a rookie manager and a bunch of one trick pony journeymen,Neil still gets us humiliated,I’ve had enough of him,its not my job to pick a new manager,the board should at least be capable of getting off their arses and golf courses and finding us somebody who will take over this bloody shambles.

Steve M
3 years ago

“In Neil Lennon weโ€™ve got one, but lately he seems like heโ€™s taken one punch too many…”

Maybe one rum punch too many???

The Cha
3 years ago

Yes, we can get rid of several players and all the coaches or we can make the one key change.

At the end of the Deila debacle, most fans opined that Brown was finished (seems familiar ๐Ÿ˜‰ ), Forrest needed to go, as did several other players whose time was up.

However, we essentially made 1 key change, kept the same players more or less and romped to an Invincible Treble etc.

Brown, Forrest and others who had been given up on, were star players in the team.

There’s no need to make wholesale changes, just get the key appointment(s) correct and the rest will largely follow.

BroxburnBhoy
3 years ago

It seems like the sky is falling and everything is wrong – again. One piss poor display seems to be taken as a 6 month trend. The players on the park performed poorly, the tactical set up failed. This time. There is a season to go for the league, the most important competition for us this year for obvious reasons. We did have a depleted team, a team sheet that was circulated in advance by a leaker inside the dressing room, a number of players coming back from International duty and were denied a player who was fit and well due to a protocol only enforced in Scotland. We could say all excuses and at the same time real things that affected our performance. Playing unfit players and failing to adjust the system must be for Lenny to admit and address. Hopefully lessons will be learned insights gained. All that said we have a tendency to go over the top on this site and go very negative very fast. Its one game out of 40 or so. There will be others Im sure and that said our squad is better and over the long run we will see that.

The Cha
3 years ago
Reply to  BroxburnBhoy

Its actually a 10 month trend.

BroxburnBhoy
3 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Hi Cha

When we start to lose trophy’s in Scotland it will be a trend. I see no trend as yet.

The Cha
3 years ago
Reply to  BroxburnBhoy

I was being slightly facetious, meaning going to last December’s poor performances against them to Saturday is 10 months.

Agree about the trophies but we’ve underperformed for large parts of this season, which have been excused and glossed over, as we’ve managed to win late on.

My big concern is that this is because the other teams are so poor not because we are good and consequently they won’t provide decent opposition to them.

This makes the games against them potentially crucial and we’re failing badly there.

BroxburnBhoy
3 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Fair enough Cha I do agree we have lost some swagger and are playing less well than last year

The Cha
3 years ago
Reply to  BroxburnBhoy

I’m sure you didn’t mean it complacently but we shouldn’t be waiting until we lose trophies to confirm a trend, we should be able to spot it earlier and, hopefully, do something about it.

Whether we’re there yet, like I and others believe, or not is another matter.

Rob O'Keeffe
3 years ago

Well said Duncan.Celtic simply made them look better than they think they are.They continually pulled every man behind the ball,Morelos kicked out and thre w himself into our players throughout.They took free kicks from wherever they fancied,they took ages to take throw ins.Imagine a fully fit Celtic squad taking on that shite?Don’t think Gerrard is Worldclass,some of their performances have been utter crap.Morelos?crap,Barker?crap,Kent?crap.What about wonder boy Hagi?Thought he was to be the guy who would win them the league?Lenny won’t panic,get the guys fit and get the winning mentality buffed up.We miss Our Fans,they do better without theirs,that tells you everything……This is the time to stay on The One Road….

Monti
3 years ago

” The first half was even”?
Obviously don’t get a signal in the nose bag.

Mike
3 years ago

John Beaton, there i’ve said it. It must be the only game that he has refereed involving Celtic, that he was the least controversial. Wonder if he got to shag the goat on Saturday night at his pub?
Marks out of ten for John? F-all, in fact minus 10, just because of all the times he turned his back to shuffle back the Hun players while forgetting the Hun standing over the ball, stopping play, or..
Letting the Fud Morealos slap Broony while his back was turned. Some might say I’m paranoid, that’s ok, I can take it. But so does he, take it, right up his root canal, just south of the Panama canal. Men in tiny black shorts with long black socks and squinty eyes are a dead cert for pro-motions at the SFA.

The Cha
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

The problem is you, me, hell, even the managers and players can do sod all about it.

The ones that can seem perfectly happy to say nothing and pick up their large cheques.

Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

The three monkey approach still prevails, unless they are found out lying. I used to think that after Regan, the game stood a chance, silly me. Even Joe O’Rourke cannot make them red with embarrassment, even he cannot get an answer to his E-Mails and if he cannot, then yes you are correct and the silents continue to pick up their fat cheques.

Oztim
3 years ago

Not sure of the timescale a team has to be submitted before kickoff, but if it was leaked well before, why didn’t Lennon change it at the last minute?

BroxburnBhoy
3 years ago
Reply to  Oztim

That is a good point. Turn a disadvantage to an advantage. Also avoiding playing inured players – put in fit reserves or youth players we do have a lot of them

Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  BroxburnBhoy

From what I read the team was swirling about social media on Friday evening, Goldson saw it and didn’t believe it and that is the point it could have been planted as fake news.
Personally I don’t think it would have made any difference, they probably trained their system throughout the week and to alter that might have added more confusion. No, IMO it was the players not turning up, not having confidence in his instructions, missing players such as Forrest- Bitton- Elhamed and especially Odsonne and jaded International players. Also the lack of altering his system that patently was’nt working. Two goals from set pieces is ridiculous to give away, two gifts and Moi’s miss. Ntcham IMO is always posted missing. How do you go from Lazio to that? Something is clearly wrong.

3 years ago

Marshall was available we choose Barkas.
That is our scouting network in a nutshell. Fuckin hopeless.
If lenny was given the choice between both, then along with Bolingoli he has fucked up big time.
Has this keeper actually saved a decent effort on goal yet?
Hes fuckin terrible.
Taylor gets it in the neck but tries his best. This keeper needs fuckin dropped and quickly.
Hes no better than Bain.
Our once well established and renown scouting network reduced to Peter sitting with a laptop with whoever the fuck it is. A disgrace.
We have been shite this season, St Mirren, Kilmarnock, Dundee Utd were the same performances that we put in on Saturday. Something is wrong seriously wrong within our camp,and I think its the manager.
It has what happened at Hibs under him written all over it.
He has had his day he needs to go or we will lose not only this title but our first cup defeat is on the horizon.

3 years ago

St Mirren Kilmarnock Dundee Ud all went the same way as Saturday we were terrible in those games Ross County slightly better.
Lennon has to go guys. There is no other option available.
If he stays 10 will be gone and so will the first trophy of the season be lost you have been warned.
This has his last moments at hibs written all over it. He has lost the dressing room.
Barkas is a flop. Have we seen him make one outstanding save in a game. Marshall was available who decided he was a better option. The sane guy that decided Bolingoli was good or that Shved was a player. We have went from being the top of our profession to becoming second best.
This is where we are at.
Shame on them all who have allowed this to happen.

3 years ago

We have only played two teams with strength of depth compared to us. We have lost both the writing is on the wall. Lennon out

3 years ago
Reply to  Jimmybee

Nearly forgot 2 goals in the 90th minute to beat St Johnstone ffs

DJ Smyth
3 years ago

Duncan , by far the wisest & best post today

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  DJ Smyth

DJ Smith,
Hohohohoho

The Cha
3 years ago
Reply to  DJ Smyth

You could post less to help the situation.

BornCelt!
3 years ago

IMO, I feel the issue here is Lawwell. Narcissm comes to mind here, if you are a threat to his reign, you are out. As all bullies, nothing is ever there fault, therefore they will never learn, their sheer arrogance repeating the same mistakes over and over. He always panders to the overall head, The Bonnet, Desmonds, when he is caught short, then goes and does it again. Signing weak managers and staff who do not question him until the real boss sounds him out. ยฃ 30 million going missing. The goalie, at 5 million, looks like a school teacher, same as Lawwell’s Ronnie, who just have no balls to question him. As with all bullies, he will confront you with a ridiculous rage some see as manhood, but will back down and whimper when facing too much heat. I hope we achieve the 10, not really bothered about AC, but we must play for pride, then get the show back on the road. Getting rid of Lenny just covers the acne with more face-cream, the problem will still be there, Lawwell. Hope he goes before I do and the heart beats again within the club. HH!

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

Desperate stuff, even by your (ahem) standards.

Iancelt67
3 years ago

If this cohort is a sample of how Tims feel then itโ€™s Lennon out!! However, switching managers at this time may make things worse. Lennon does deserve a chance to turn it around on what grounds Iโ€™m still scratching my head, though he does. He has taken Rodgers impetus and gradually turned into Delia via Lennon. Think itโ€™s the benefit of the doubt Iโ€™m trying to get at here. Heard a pundit say that Rodgers looked after all the small details and Lennon overlooks them, thus the regression into the mid 90s. I tend to agree , sadly, itโ€™s too late to replace NL and hope and pray things turn around starting with AC Milan then more importantly Aberdeen

BroxburnBhoy
3 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

I think this cohort is ultra critical and less representative than the support in general.

The Cha
3 years ago
Reply to  BroxburnBhoy

Where is the support in general represented?

As far as I can see, this site has captured the prevailing zeitgeist pretty accurately.

BroxburnBhoy
3 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Respectfully disagree. This is a very small subset of the fanbase and a particularly critical one

The Cha
3 years ago
Reply to  BroxburnBhoy

No problem.

I’m not a big Twitter user but from what I saw, most people were of the same critical view as on here.

I don’t read many other sites, so they may tell a different story.

C’est la vie.

Bgbhoy
3 years ago

You are the only HUN on this site, a fully fledged British HUN

Scumbag Brit who doesnt go to games and spends all day every day on a football site.

Bgbhoy
3 years ago
Reply to  Bgbhoy

Simply pointing out a fact. You are a british hun who was part of a Hunnish invasion of a foreign land. Factual comment. Where as your comment about accusing people who dare slate the current shambles that is our performances is opinion.

Iโ€™d pay good coin to see you have a pint in a bar over here whilst advising the natives of your ex employer

The Cha
3 years ago
Reply to  Bgbhoy

The Huns hate Neil Lennon as a person.

They absolutely love him as the manager of Celtic.

The Cha
3 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Oh dear.

You’re really vacating your bowels tonight.

sfa unfit for purpose
3 years ago
Reply to  Bgbhoy

These guys are never wrong Charlie.
They don’t accept any criticism.
And as soon as a ‘discussion’ gets tough they go the personal route.
They may think they are ‘Real Celtic Men’ but their actions suggest otherwise.
It seems Celtic might have as many Arsehole supporters as Sevco.

Puggy67
3 years ago

Good point about the new names that pop up here after a defeat ‘Duncan.’

The Cha
3 years ago
Reply to  Puggy67

๐Ÿ™‚

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago
Reply to  Puggy67

Lol!!!

Mike
3 years ago

There’s such great debate erm. going on and I was thinking about Wim a lot recently. Some of my thoughts. Cos,’ it started with a miss’ for Henke- Halleluja. at Easter Road, he was in the company of another greeeaaat Celt, Chick Charnley, although Chic never got his great wish to don the Hoops.
Wim was appointed Head Coach and with the King’s first game it finished 2-1 to the Hibees and if I remember right Henke had a misplaced pass that allowed Chic to score the winner. But we all knew that Henke was going to be a special player for Celtic. As always the Scottish press did there customary hatchet job on Wim, but my memories of him began in the European Cup final in 1970 Ouch. Shut up, that’s the last of that game. Dicanio and Cadete were still in dispute with the club and Henke had such great players (cough) around him as D.J. Ouch, still canny think of him wearing the Hoops. The King of Kings such a talented player, one of the very few players on my bedroom wall to accompany my hero’s The Lisbon Lions.

henke.jpg
Iancelt67
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Historical interlude Mike? I suppose we would all go nuts without the memories to draw on

Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

The reason that I was thinking about Wim, was because of the manager debate. I was thinking that really good managers can turn around a team fairly quickly. But IMO. some teams reach the end of their cycle and at that time the Huns seemed to run out of steam. Wim brought in some good players like Burley, Lambert and of course he brought in Henke. Then of course Jock Brown arrived and internal warfare started and he brought in D.J. someone that was frankly mince. But its good to look back sometimes because you can always learn from the past.

Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Of course hardly anyone had even heard of Henke, but we had been bereft of talented players and at that time foreign players seemed more attractive somehow. But you still got the sense that he would be a great addition to the team. And of course no-one knew what a special player and goal scorer he would become. The point is that he was THAT good that he will always be a Celtic legend. That is why he is one of the very few who adorn my bedroom wall.

Monti
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Did you get a live stream to that game or did you go? ๐Ÿ™‚

At ease

The Cha
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Surely you did?

Bgbhoy
3 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

Did you not know he recommended Larsson to Celtic?

Sure never mind the whole world knew how good a player he was from USA 94 and helping the swedes to a 3rd place finish. Not to mention with a haircut that nobody could forget

No, Duncan saiz remembers him from a game involving Paul ince, now he doesnโ€™t state what game. Just a game

The Cha
3 years ago
Reply to  Bgbhoy

Wash your mouth out, can’t you remember last year when he was lambasting everyone for failing to recognise the talents of Bolingoli?

How foolish we all feel today.

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Yep, aff his heid.

3 years ago

Seriously?, you can’t see that Gerrard over the past 3 games against us regardless of our squad availability has been the dominant force. That he had a plan and stuck to it and the players carried it out,whilst ours went through the motions with no guidance how to change a game that they weren’t winning and had no inner belief to do so.
We have been rank rotten this season got away with it against weaker opposition,we will lose the title if he doesn’t walk.
If this was Delia he would be gone today. No room for sentimentality he has had his day,and even Lenny as the great Celt he is, should realise that by doing this he could actually be securing 10 in a row rather than losing it.
The current Celtic players need a new approach a freshness to the stagnant displays that we are witnessing on a game by game ratio. The squad is the strongest in the league but he isnt getting the best out of them.
Time for change is now.
Before it really is too late.

Bgbhoy
3 years ago

Sorry I wasnโ€™t asking for this history lesson which has no relevance? Are you saying the British were justified on that basis?

Donegal now is it? Wee while ago you were claiming to be related to the mcstays of lurgan? Who for the record have absolutely no recollection of any relative who enlisted in the British army btw?? Donegal to lurgan to Glasgow to Blackburn or wherever it is your lofting these days.

You lot do get about.

Bgbhoy
3 years ago
Reply to  Bgbhoy

Last time I checked there was no Ice cream wars in ayr. But then again you never have been one for facts. Just stats about throw ins?

Anyway, whatโ€™s with the pasta and ice cream shouts? Because I have an Italian surname? If you want facts here goes. My papa was born in London to Italian parents. He was a desert rat in a real and legitimate war fighting Rommelโ€™s brainwashed. A real war for real men. Not a war that people enlisted in because they lost their job at Tescoโ€™s and didnโ€™t have any other career choices. They didnโ€™t rape the local women and they didnโ€™t shoot to kill civilians

Makes you proud knowing your grandfather fought in the real war and made a real difference. I weep for your grandchildren knowing theyโ€™re grandfather invaded a foreign land and Was part of yet another huge black mark in the history of the British army.

Please, Come over here and announce what you were doing in the 80s. Letโ€™s see how long you last when you donโ€™t have your keyboard to hide behind

You are more baldrick than desert rat.

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago
Reply to  Bgbhoy

Youโ€™re aff yer heid Duncan.

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

Youโ€™re also a racist cvnt.

The Cha
3 years ago

You had permanently soiled undergarments for weeks after our wretched defeat at the end of 2018.

You gorged yourself with diatribe after diatribe, claiming the Huns were top of the league. They weren’t, we were and even had a game in hand.

We then went on an excellent run, winning something like 10 games in a row, scoring about 30 goals and conceding 1. Did you let up in your criticism of the December game, now weeks ago, err no, your personal saturation continued.

Compare and contrast, when every wretched defeat since has met with excuse after excuse.

Rodgers to blame for Lennon for playing Calmac at LB (no, me neither) – Check

Kennedy blamed for tactics (perish the thought the manager would have some blame for this) – Check

and God knows what other excuses to avoid managerial scrutiny.

This is Hypocrisy 101.

The Cha
3 years ago
Reply to  The Cha

A stomach bug was raging in the squad but to their credit neither the manager or the players never made anything of it.

Compare and contrast the perma-whinge of an alleged leaked team-sheet, which just makes us look weak and poor losers.

March (?) 2018, 2-2 at Ibrox in a tight game and Jozo gets sent-off. Obviously the “sensible” thing is to batten down the hatches and take the draw. None of that heresy, Celtic throw on a forward and rewarded for their bravery with a winner.

Compare and contrast, the endless poor, pitiful us over the past year or so.

When the going gets tough, the tough getting going. They don’t whinge.

The Cha
3 years ago

“we”?

Iancelt67
3 years ago

Think the Huns are happy with Lennon Duncan

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago

I remember the hurt when it slipped away from us 45 years ago. This title should be the catalyst for a team full of vigour and panache, but what do we get? A manager who sits/stands dispassionately, looking more bewildered by every passing game.

3 years ago

Let’s have a little more detailed look at the so called reserve team on Saturday
Barkas
Welsh Duffy Ajer
Frimpong Laxalt
Ntcham Brown McGregor
Kimala and Ellynoussi.
Out of the back 5 Jullien would have been in for Welsh.
Welsh who was actually the best out the 3. Maybe Jullien would have stopped Goldson who knows? Bitton would have been on the bench
Frimpong would have started regardless if El Hamed was fit Unless jamesy started as a winger in a 442.
El Hamed would have been benched.
Christie would have started instead of Ntcham in the midfield.
Up top Edouard and Ajeti probably.
So forget all the big lists being thrown around we were close to full strength in defense and midfield.
Only up top did we struggle.
Yet Ellynoussi is a proven international player.
The midfield is done. It has no creativity hasnt had for a long time.
Yet we get the same 3 from 4 every game.
Brown and McGregor and one other. It has to be fixed.
We need midfielders to take players on, you can see the panic set in when Ajer starts galloping up the park, why do we persist in playing a midfielder hoping as if he’s VVD.
The goalkeeper is nowhere near good enough.
So should we be more worried than first thought.?

3 years ago

Heres something to ponder
Saturday starting 11
Barkas
Frimpong Ajer Duffy Welsh Laxalt
Out of that only Jullien for Welsh.
Some have been commenting on el Hamed and Bitton they both wouldnt have started.
Ntcham Brown McGregor
Possibly only Christie for Ntcham or jamesy.
But Ntcham should be able to handle it
So really out of a back 5 and midfield 3 there is only one prominent change.
Up top Edouard and Ajeti or Griff.
So 2 up top would be changed.
But Ellynoussi is an international player should have coped.
So really outside of the team picked really only 3 changes.
Geez its getting worse.

Mark McDonagh
3 years ago
Reply to  Jimmybee

With you. The only concern, is the team just did not compete. While sevco competed, Celtic were playing tiddlywinks, no getting in where it hurts. HH

henkesdreadlocks
3 years ago
Reply to  Jimmybee

Stop tormenting yourself Jimmy, Duncan gonuts knows best.

Iancelt67
3 years ago
Reply to  Jimmybee

Plus they had Aribo and jack on the bench

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