Celtic crashed out of the League Cup last night as Greenock Morton, inspired by a formidable goalkeeper, held out for a 1-0 win in extra time. The goal came from a debatable penalty, as defender Efe Ambrose slipped, and when the ball hit his outstretched arm, purely accidentally, referee Bobby Madden gave a whoop of delight, and raced toward the penalty spot. When Zaluska could do nothing to stop the kick, there then ensued a siege of the Morton goal.
Frankly, they could have added another couple of hours on, and Celtic still wouldn’t have scored.
Celtic 0, and they must be getting used to it by now, said a BBC newscaster once during the dark days of the nineties. Its not quite that bad, but there is now an alarming lack of quality in front of goal.
Especially from set pieces. All those corners against Milan, St. Johnstone and now Morton , yet the team has failed to make any of them count, which might be a handy hint for the coaching staff when the players ask them what they are going to be working on this morning.
Neil Lennon did seem a little bewildered after the game;
‘I have got to be philosophical about it. It wasn’t for the attitude or want of trying in the game.
‘It just wasn’t our night for whatever reason.
‘The only disappointment for me is we had 26 corners and we didn’t convert one of them with the height we had in the team.
‘We have to take our chances.
‘We ended up putting Virgil van Dijk up to give us something different and certainly we created a lot more.’
Theres an idea, a target man up front.
If only we had a bit of money in the bank, and we could maybe have bought one back in the summer.
Lennon continued;
“Analysing it now, we had 26 corners, and umpteen chances. We didn’t get the rub of the green.
“We hit the post, and had one cleared off the line. But you always have to take your chances.
“I didn’t think we created nearly enough in the first half. We were a little bit pedestrian.
“The new lads coming in maybe are not up to the tempo of the game yet.
“But I had to change it. I need to freshen the side up now and again because I can’t keep relying on the same players.
“However, looking at that last night, I am going to have to go strong for a while until the rest get up to speed.”
“Some of them probably don’t realise yet, the new lads coming in, what it means.
“Certainly the senior boys will be sore.
“But it is no problem picking them up again. We will go to Kilmarnock strong-minded and determined to win the game.
“We have a big, big week coming up again.
“It’s gone for me. I have dealt with it in the dressing room and I’m looking forward to the game on Saturday now.
“There is no conflict in the dressing room. I don’t need to say too much. They already know. It’s unacceptable, that result.”
“It’s a sore one because I wanted to get to the final.
“It’s the only trophy I’ve not won as a manager, but I will get over it pretty quickly. There is so much to play for this season.
“Will it be a blessing in disguise? I don’t know because, if we go out of Europe by mid-December, there will only be two competitions to play for.
“It’s very disappointing to lose at home, in particular.
“And, with the amount of chances, possession and dominance we had, not to score a goal was very frustrating.
“I can’t say I saw it coming, but, you know if there is no tempo to the game it can happen.
“The number of times we put the ball across the face of the goal and we didn’t get enough people in the box. We were crying out to get more players attacking the ball.
“To be fair to Morton, they defended heroically, and credit for that.
“But I have got to look at my own team’s performance, And, apart from not putting the ball in the net, which is the most important thing in the game, it wasn’t that bad.
“Were we unlucky not to score? Yes. Did we deserve to lose? No. That’s football.”
Not too many of us would have disagreed with the starting line up last night. He was right to bring in Rogic and McGeouch, as well as letting Nir Bitton get a full run out.
He does have a case, though, it may have been just “one of those nights ” when the ball just wouldn’t go in.
The concern , though, is that not only have we had a couple of those “nights ” , we’ve had a couple of those ” days ” as well.
He knows what he has to do, so the support will just have to trust him to do it.
Radio Scotland was the only outlet for coverage of the game last night, and as ever , the radio made the game sound probably a little better than it actually was. If you could actually tell what was going on, that is.
The normal ninety minutes was covered by the bizarre and often chaotic “open mike ” style, more commonly associated with talentless singers in a pub showing people why they are not singers.
On the radio it is a case of talentless commentators shouting above whoever is talking if anything interesting happens in the game they are watching. This, of course leads to confusion as the listener hasn’t the faintest idea whats going on, until its clarified, and even then he is unsure.
When extra time came around at Celtic Park, enthusiastic amateurs would have been a better bet than Chick Young, incredibly still employed by the broadcast media despite being completely unable to describe the events in front of him. If you were up in court, this is one guy you would not want to have to rely on as a witness.
When Morton got their penalty last night, Young declared it was a penalty to Celtic, and on several occasions he shouted “goal “, when in fact, it wasn’t.
Thats a couple of basics that even Stevie Wonder would have called right, and Young should be given a position within the BBC more suited to his abilities, unless , of course, they already have someone to help with the parking.
Celtic now travel down to Kilmarnock on Saturday, looking for a bit of encouragement before Barcelona ( who hammered Real Sociedad 4-1 last night. They must be terrified of coming to Glasgow ) roll into town next Tuesday , and already theres a bit of a rammy amongst the home support.
It seems they are both upset that Killie chief Michael Johnston, who , as you remember , wanted the new Second Rangers team in the SPL when they were formed to replace their defunct predecessors, has offered tickets for the game to Celtic fans for just £20, £6 less than home fans have to pay. In fairness, that is outrageous, and they have a point.
One of them said;
“This defies belief. The fans are raging.
Still, he has protection, as long as the lass here doesn’t have to run after anyone;
I had a girlfriend like that years ago. saved a fortune on taxis, I just rolled her home afterwards.
The Killie fan continued ;
“I’ve never known a situation where a chairman has shown so much contempt for his own fans.
“If this isn’t the actions of a desperate man then I don’t know what is. I’ve no idea what he’s thinking. Every action he seems to take damages the club and this is the biggest own goal yet.”
Own goals ? We’d take one of them on Saturday, seeing as how we can’t seem to do it ourselves.
“If you’re a Kilmarnock fan swithering about whether to go then why would you when you know the away fans are treated better?
“I’ve never heard anything like this in my life before – it’s absolute madness.”
Nor me. Swithering isn’t even a word.
“The only thing I can think of is he’s under pressure to get money in.
“For me, it’s the last act of a desperate man. I heard the ticket sales from Celtic fans was poor so it’s another case of trying to make a quick buck short term.
“It looks like he’s just trying to get money in from anywhere. But if that was his thinking would he not have been better making it £20 for everyone?
“What he doesn’t realise is he’ll get little take-up from the Celtic fans because it’s a live TV game on a Saturday lunchtime so taking a few quid off isn’t going to make the difference between fans going and not going.
“In the long run he’ll lose far more from Kilmarnock fans walking away because of his actions. I think very few people will turn up on Saturday on the day. ”
Well, that’ll make a change for them. An empty stadium.
“Season ticket holders will be there but even some of them say they won’t go on the back of this.
“There will be a meeting with fans in the next few weeks and some are looking for boycotts to be organised but the message is clear – we need rid of Johnston now.”
And Ann McElhinney, secretary of the Affiliation of registered Celtic Supporters’ Clubs, was also fuming.
She said: “The Affiliation have already taken over 800 tickets at £26.
“It’s ridiculous and unfair on the fans who have already bought their tickets.
“My phone hasn’t stopped with people saying they want the £6 refunded and if it isn’t going to be refunded then they’re asking if they can give the ticket back.
“Historically, there isn’t a big uptake of tickets for Rugby Park and Killie have just made the situation worse with this.
“The next time Celtic are there I’d be surprised if we even half-fill one stand due to this. They’ve shot themselves in the foot.”
Killie, who are £9million in debt, were unavailable to make any comment on the move but Armour added: “I hope the bank can see what’s happening and take action before Johnston does any more damage to the club.”
Johnston seems like he really doesn’t have a clue. Bet Kilmarnock wish they had a CEO like ours, who can triumphantly flourish excellent financial returns , which are far better to have than a flag that says “Celtic, Treble winners 2013-14 ”
Kolbeinn Sighortsson. Theres a name to remember. He’s at Ajax just now…
Bulgaria’s CSKA Sofia will work together with Scottish giants Celtic, according to Laurence Davis, the English chairman of the club’s Supervisory Board.
The British businessman was on a three-day visit to Bulgaria, his first since he was named as the head of the club in July this year.
Davis said he has held talks with his counterparts from Celtic and soon expected both clubs to start cooperating.
Which is all very good, but maybe we should concentrate on developing the ones we already have at Celtic. Its no good deciding they aren’t up too much, and allowing them to move on, before bringing in dross from overseas.
Theres an old saying in the sales industry, ” Love the one you are with “, and its time for the coaches and development staff at Celtic Park to start earning their money.
Its disgraceful that the second string side last night -well, sort of second string-only had Dylan McGeouch in the line up from the academy set up..
If Celtic are going to treat the League Cup lightly, then perhaps it might be an idea to let the U-21s compete all the way through. Can’t do them any harm. And given Lennons lack of success in the tournament, its not like we’d do any worse.
EIGHT intrepid members of the Ballingry Celtic Supporters Club, braved the elements, completed the “Paradise to Cardenden” Charity Cycle on Sunday 15th September from Celtic Park to the graveside of John Thomson, in Bowhill.
There were 39 cyclists involved with former ex-Celts and Scotland internationalists, Tom Boyd and Tosh McKinlay, present along with John Paul Taylor, the Celtic Supporter’s liaison officer, completing the cycle.
The event raised thousands of pounds for numerous charities including “The Celtic Foundation,” “Rachel House Kinross”, “The Lourdes Fund” and the biggest beneficiary, “The Schiehallion ward” at the Yorkhill sick kids hospital.
See, its not all bad news.
James McGrory would have been your answer had you spotted that we had the James Bond logo, a MIG fighter jet, the roar of the MGM lion and an E-type Jaguar in yesterday pictures . Today, this, from the world of fashion, entertainment and music…
By the way, surely this cannot be right ? Look at the design of this top, from the old First Rangers club…
Gordon marshall
karl mugeminem
dior don rapper
ralph brando shady
yves st. laurie god father part ii menemen.
napolean
Celtic management,staff,players & some fans shut the F**K up stop mouthing off what your going to do how many times in last 5 seasons has it bitten them in the arse after mouthing off what we were going to do to whatever team we play, just go out and do the business.
Hope foster was watching last night & saw how to come of your line and take everything + ball to clear your line & thought we had bought a flying winger who is a speed merchant if he is then give him a chance & take the lead out of his boots.
700k for a player who can score goals for you in domestic football or 2 and a half million for a player to sit on the bench what one did we buy? Can anyone guess what Portuguese team he will go on loan to in January.
As you will gather rather sick this morning can’t fathom what our tactics are in some games last night one up front against Morton got a 6 foot odds centre forward on bench what do we do a la the Huns stick our centre half up front.
Not good enough last night- I am sick of other supporters saying that the 2 cups don’t matter – YES THEY FECKIN DO !!
How many times have we won a treble in our history ? Can’t be any more than 10 times surely ?
Losing to Morton is just the same as losing to Milan in my book – the day that you think that losing a League Cup game to a lower league team is acceptable is the day you should chuck it.
Im away back under my rock until Saturday.
As for teh RAngers Strip – that’s got to be a whoosh surely ?
Well done Buyhi – I got Vidal Marlon Mathers- left back 1908 season .
I watched the game on Celtic TV 3am this morning.
Being an insomniac I was on my way to a miraculous recovery after the first half.
Why is it that when our squad players get a chance to perform
they blow it?
I agree with what you say though, we should copy our neighbors (engerland) and play our U21s in this competition next season
At least we know that 27 is the magic number for corners if we want to score
Shame on you Ralph “Radio Scotland was the only outlet for coverage of the game last night” you forgetting Celtic TV? or did you just mean the free to air channels?
The ‘Pollyanna’ Scottish football enthusiasts will be happy after that result
‘Glad’ that Morton are still in the cup
‘Glad’ that Scottish football is no longer dominated by one club
‘Glad’ that the only treble left includes the CL
Never noticed the Killie fans protesting when they were over charging visiting fans.
as i paid the full whack for my kilmsrnock ticket im pissed off as well reckon I should get a refund from killie
as for the corner problem we seem to overload the penalty area
and leave no body lingering on the edge of the box to pick up the scraps not only does this cut down on our scoring options,it leaves a big gap between the players in the box and the usually solitary defender left around the halfway line,and allows teams to counter attack easily,even the players in the box all seem to be in the same area and there is nobody in other areas to pick up the pieces ,the only performance poorer than the team was that turd Madden
Spot on about the corners either Mulgrew or better still Commons should be on the edge of the box ie someone who can hit the goals from 20 yards.
Tactics and cost cutting in the window have hampered our side on several occasions already this season.
Tactics:
4 at the back against a Morton Team playing 1 up front….WHY?
1 Up front against a Morton side at Home for 45 minutes…..WHY?
Leaving a 6’3″ Striker (all be it a “work in progress”)on the bench when you have already created 20 corners beforehand and subsequently having to send you CB up (leaving 3 at the back btw)because you have brought on the wrong subs….WHY WHY WHY?
Policy:
Letting go 5 Strikers (2 on loan) LASSAD MIKU HOOPER BANGURA and WATT and replacing with again I quote”a work in progress” and Shalkes 4 th choice Striker….WE KNOW WHY (Kerching).
The warning signs are there bhoys Elfsborg,StJohnstone,Shakter,Milan and now MORTON.
“we haven’t had a Champions League Goalscorer since Larsson”The man said….
http://youtu.be/74BrJXa-n3U
You did have you sent him to a Diddy Club in Belgium so he could be publicly ridiculed by a no mark Manager.
Nice one.
Gore Don Marshal Mathers
Is it Allan Sneddon?
Anyone else let out a sigh when Sky Sports News chimed up with “Hooper scores” then “Hooper scores again!” last night.
Love the one your with while thinking fondly of the one who dumped you!
Maybe the rangers have turned Hindu?
I know Lenny has performed some minor miracles Europeanly (copyright Charles Nicholas Esq.) with what he has at Parkhead, but he has also presided over some of the biggest embarrassments in our history as well. The Ross County debacle he can be pardoned for but last nights shocker coupled with last season’s Arbroath shambles (IMO the worst result in Celtic’s history EVER) are utterly unacceptable and cannot be repeated. Were no lessons learned the 1st time around? I’m afraid Lenny is starting to sound a bit like a certain Craig Brown with his talk of corner counts, etc.
What’s the point of having such a big squad if we aren’t able to utilise it in games like this? Why was Balde kept on the bench and we throw a CH up front? That’s the tactics of a school team manager. If Barca scouts were watching they will still be laughing like that scary clown in the glass cage at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Incidentally, well done Greenock Morton. Shows what a bit of hunger and appetite can do.
Gutted but less gutted than if THEM were still a force and in the cup, aye, a no, clutch any straw at times of despair.
Kenny Shiels last night commentating on Stranraer and Hibs “Oh, and it’s and own goal, it wasn’t even a good own goal.”
Stunning!!
O.G.s are always good for the team that didn’t score it, surely.
Last night woz shocking!!!””lennnon should take a long hard look at himself…..u21 team would hav pished that last night
I touched on the terrible quality of Celtics set pieces after the Milan game, it has been an issue for most of lennys time as manager, we dont seem to hav either the quality on the delivery or quality at the end of the delivery, more tactical awareness by our more skilful players would help, but what the hell Celtic practice on the training ground is beyond me, we hav probably one of the tallest Celtic teams in years, but unfortunately its football we r playing and naw basketball, once again lenny can blatantly see the problem, but solving it is proving a big big ask. Hail hail, KTF
As i posted last night, Thank for nothing Neil!!
4-4-1-1 Disgrace.
Ouch. Didn’t see that coming. What does Lenny do – he often gets castigated for sticking with the same team all the time, then gives some fringe players a chance and they blow it.
I didnt see the game but it sounds like it might well have been one of those nights, 26 corners means you must have been doing some attacking.
Comments about how we re always rubbsih at set pices / corners, not sure thats fair; last season big sammy in nou Camp, Vic agaisnt Barca, remember Charlie season before in last 1st Rangers, so we do score our share. More of a concern was how rubbish our crossing from good postions is, especailly against Milan
How about this for a wildly unpopular idea; we need a target man, with European experience, window’s closed …come in Mo Bangura, your loan in Scandanavia is up! *ducks to avoid rotting fruit*
Bangura looked a different player when we played Elfsborg he should be brought back…but I doubt you will ever see him in a Celtic top again.
Watt should be recalled,kicked in the haw maws and told to get his “arse oot there and score goals and stop acting like a wee fanny”.
He’s just turned 19 ,scored the winner against Barca and has more natural talent in front of goals than any of them ..it’s no wonder he has a n attitude and big heid?
All he needs is kick up the shiter and a bit of understanding as the bhoy was playing fitba for fun at 15 with no thoughts of a career in the game.
He’s a throw back and will take time to get the professional side sorted,meanwhile play the lad and watch him go.
if only we had Paul Telfer
And what happened Lassad? I thought we signed him for two years? was 2nd year an optional? I m not saying I miss him, he barely played, but just curious as to how it ended?
You reading my posts on CT elcormaco?
Charlie Saiz:
No I m not, what are they? Link?
The problem as I see it is the same thing we encounter time and again, ie we do not know how to break down packed defences.
Even the weakest of teams manage to frustrate us, with Morton being the latest example. We really need to get this problem sorted but I just can’t see it happening any time soon because it has been ongoing for so long it would seem the coaching staff just don’t have the answer.
Agree also with the comment re corners, to have 26 corners in a game and not take advantage of at least one is ridiculous in the extreme.
Oz we have had this issue since Lenny took over pal.
How many corners did Majstorovic Hooiveld and Rogne blaze wide?answer Plenty.
Ten boab bit heids the lot of them.
Mulgrew is strong in the air why is he sending them across when we have Boerrigter and Izzy who can both swing a decent cross in during normal play?
Ambrose is useless in the box so you keep him back,send Virgil and Lustig up.
I seem to remember Virgil taking a corner last night too?
WTF is that all about?
Cut the ball back to the 18 yard line and mix them up a bit ffs even take the odd short one and drive someone like Stokes or Sammy into the box and draw a foul.
No rocket science is it.
We could do a lot worse than signing their keeper and their centre half (no 4) from last night. The big fella wont practically everything in the air, cleared his lines and defended – what a defender should do.
Their keeper (whilst clearly not the finished article) came off his line when he had to, made saves when he had to – What a keeper should do.
Given the club’s recent trend is to take on “works in progress” why do we have to search the far reaches of Portugal to spend fortunes on players when we could drive 45 minutes down the M8 (In decent traffic)to see these two guys.
Maybe I’m just p’d off that Celtic did me in my 9 game accumulator last night, or maybe we need to start looking a bit closer to home to see if we can unearth these guys.
Basically the whole 5 man midfield who started were rotten last night – and Include Brown in that.
I’m still raging about that performance, I fear the worst for next Tuesday.
Its not the end of the world, but it might show other teams how to play against us. I think we get a bit predictable at times and only wish the Club spent as much effort in bringing in decent replacements than they do with selling our top players.
It seems once again they have spent just enough to get us into the group stages, but left us weak when we actually get there.
Agree, we are sooo predictable.
Slow and easy build up to allow opposition to get into banks of 4 and the lack of movement off the ball was………..lazy in the extreme. As for the replacements I think we did quite well and over the season Pukki, Boerrigter and Biton will hopefully prove that. Van Dijk already has.
I can’t understand this ‘bad day at the office’ crap, these are suppose to be professional players / managers..it’s such a poor excuse for not taking the game seriously, come on…Morton!!! and a home game!! Lack of respect shown to the fans.
Moan over with!!
At times like this I like to listen to Zombie Nation by Kernkraft 400 and imagine the whole of Parkhead singing the tune and doing the zombie dance.
Always makes me feel better.
God Ralph
Hard to get a word in edgewise today. I concentrated on other things this morning not wanting to let my anger spoil the expected joy of the diary. After all the happy comments it seems only right to say nothing as I would only offend the delicate euphoria pervading the comments section. However, (I know. You were waiting for it) I have to highlight a couple of your hilarious remarks.
“Radio Scotland was the only outlet for coverage of the game last night, and as ever , the radio made the game sound probably a little better than it actually was.”
As was quite rightly pointed out above, BBC was not THE ONLY media coverage. CTV did its darnedest to confuse the listener too. My biggest issue was Tommy Boyd constantly reminding me we had reverted to form and were playing crosswise again. Whose jaeckets do they use for the goals, by the way or, given our inability to hit a net, do they simply give them the full touchline. One could become sarcastic about this.
The only other point I will make and I have banged on that much about it my wife thinks its my excuse for not having sex, is the poor development of our youth in spite of the investment harped on so much about by Mr. PL in his report. Why, why and oh why do the vast, actually almost all of out young players end up outside of Celtic? There is something very seriously wrong with the system. And, as someone more enlightened than I pointed out, if there is a problem why are we seeking to solve it by bringing in youngsters from abroad at more expense who are more likely than not to go the same way. Ach, I’m shutting up. Football coaching is obviously not meant for the logical mind.
Quiz: Can I still claim a treble if I win the quiz, a cup and the league? I think it was the half back line from the 30s, Luke Down, Luke Here and Luke Sidyways. Or it could be Vi Dal Bransing or Rodney Marsh.
PS Had some blistering encounters in the 40s with the mob that wore those shirts. Was black in those days, though! Huns, I think.
H H