![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.oldglasgowpubs.co.uk\/images\/Pub%20Images\/jim-brogan-celtic.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSo, let me clarify this. We need decent competition in Scotland, preferably not a new incarnation of Old Rangers, but only if they don’t actually have the gall to stop us winning any trophies. Or so you would think, reading through some fans forums yesterday. Or looking at twitter.<\/p>\n
All conquering financial giants Celtic were beaten 2-1 in the Scottish cup yesterday by an Aberdeen side who had done their homework, and who also put in a serious shift on the job.<\/p>\n
From the start of the game they showed a determination and grit that Celtic couldn’t-or wouldn’t- match and even after losing an early goal refused to lie down.<\/p>\n
With Kris Commons taking up the central playmaker role behind Anthony Stokes and between Georgios Samaras and James Forrest, dons manager Derek MacInnes would have been aware that stopping Commons would have stopped Celtic. This he did, but early on, Celts just played it wide, and a long diagonal ball from the relatively free Samaras picked up a relatively free Anthony Stokes who put the hoops into the lead. Simple, really.<\/p>\n
And thats how we should have played it, although the addition of an extra midfielder would have helped a defence who were coming under more pressure than they are used to. Surely Lennon must have realised by now that two in the middle doesn’t work, especially if the two outside them are the disinterested Samaras and the largely ineffective Forrest ?<\/p>\n
Add to that , with the defence breaking all sorts of records, a clearly unfit Adam Matthews had been brought back in place of the impressive Darnell fisher, a move which backfired as he clearly disrupted an efficient machine. Not that he’s a bad player, far from it, but a one off cup match wasn’t the time to bring him back.<\/p>\n
As Aberdeen grew in confidence, the inevitable happened, and Russell Anderson swept in a loose ball after the Celtic defence had failed to clear, and the sides finished \u00a0level on goals at the break, but the Dons were already ahead on points.<\/p>\n
It took just a couple of minutes of the second half for them to take the lead, and from then on Celtic were beaten. Sure , there was the occasional flurry, but Scott Brown and Stefan Johansen were getting the runaround from what was pretty much a five man aberdeen middle, and even when they had the ball, they were pressurised immediately into making a mistake. A midfoeld, incidentally, in which ex Celts Barry Robson and Willo Flood were outstanding.<\/p>\n
Anthony Stokes, having silenced his critics for a moment with his goal, lapsed back into the player he has suddenly become, and not for the first time this season, you realised that we didn’t actually have the nous to break down a side who made a game of it.<\/p>\n
Well, sort of.<\/p>\n
Because, quite frankly, we do have the nous to do that. The players are there, and the formation has been used to devastating effect already. As opposed to this 4-4-2 with two wingers and two overlapping fullbacks which simply does not work.<\/p>\n
Charlie Mulgrew or Nir Bittons introduction yesterday would have kept us in the cup. At the expense of Georgios Samaras, who, apart from the one pass did absolutely nothing. Forrest was our best forward, but with Commons shepherded by the Aberden back line, he was the only one who had a chance to make a difference. And as usual, he didn’t.<\/p>\n
So, its actually starting to look like a poor season in the end, despite winning the league-which we haven’t done yet, but realistically still should. Out of Europe before Christmas, out of both cups before the quarter finals, and it was all so promising back in August.<\/p>\n
Neil Lennon was , predictably, disappointed;<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, because we were so poor. We have to show a bit of character, we all have to take the criticism and finish the campaign really well with a view to going into next season.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were desperate to defend the trophy, we worked very hard this week, and for it to be as poor as that?<\/p>\n
\u201cIt happens in football, it\u2019s a cup tie, but I want more from my players. I should demand more and I should get more.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s in the club\u2019s DNA, we\u2019re built to win trophies and this was another one I wanted to win.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe showed footage of last year\u2019s final and how much it meant to everyone associated with the club but it seems to have gone in one ear and out the other.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe started the game well but for some reason lost our way. Our passing, decision-making, defending, cohesion, partnerships within the team … we played like strangers at times.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd for experienced players at this level, it\u2019s disappointing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere has been a lot of talk about goalscorers in the team but that wasn\u2019t the problem today.<\/p>\n
\u201cDefensively and in midfield we were second best against Aberdeen. That\u2019s not something I can aim at the players for the majority of the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe started the game well then our passing was so poor, we never really had a concerted period of pressure to work the Aberdeen keeper.<\/p>\n
\u201cVirgil van Dijk had a great chance to make it 2-2 and that would have changed the game but it wouldn\u2019t have changed the level of performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s difficult to single out any of my players for any credit. Stokes, possibly, and James Forrest for maybe a spark. The rest were very flat.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe prepared them so well and talked about set-pieces but they were really poor for the first goal.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo centre halves missing the header and Aberdeen getting the break of the ball to score.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we get the opportunity to clear a free-kick, duff it and get punished. It was symptomatic of our performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the second half we never hit the target. It was very disjointed from a team which has been purring along well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Er, Stokes and Forrest.<\/p>\n
See if he doesn’t take those blinkers off, we could be in real trouble real soon.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you\u2019re a manager there\u2019s always that insecurity in the back of your mind that you see a result like this coming. We made positive changes to get a goal back but we didn\u2019t work the keeper enough and were too careless with the ball and kept giving it away cheaply.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a lack of hunger and dynamism about us, the only real spark came from James at times.\u201d<\/p>\n
Oh dear. Looks like he was watching the players again, instead of managing them.<\/p>\n
Still, its done now, and for all those who bemoan the quality of the opposition, maybe they are not as bad as we thought.<\/p>\n
Even if they are, I think its fair to say they are getting better.<\/p>\n
There are signs of \u00a0dissension in the ranks as well, but then you would expect that from the papers anyway, now that theres a crisis in the east end of Glasgow.<\/p>\n
This is the headline-from the Sunday Mail;<\/p>\n
Followed by this introduction;<\/p>\n
EFE AMBROSE admits it is only a matter of time before he swaps Celtic for the English Premier League.<\/p>\n
And then theres what he actually said;<\/p>\n
\u201cThe English Premier League is a well-celebrated and followed league back home in Africa.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has attracted a lot of big players, and I wouldn\u2019t mind playing there at some point.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I am happy at Celtic who are one of the best clubs in the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was no contact from Fulham or any EPL side in this winter transfer window that I know of.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut when a player is being linked strongly to such a league, it shows that I am being watched and appreciated. I give God all the glory.\u201d<\/p>\n
Which was actually, er, nothing.<\/p>\n
Then there was this, same paper, from Adam Matthews;<\/p>\n
Oho-maybe a wee story about him being forced out-or perhaps being offered a disrespectful or insulting new contract ? Maybe he was told he’d have to fight for his place with Stefan Johansen, and would not be first choice ?<\/p>\n
Er, no.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s sad to see him go but I think it was best for Celtic and Joe.<\/p>\n
\u201cCeltic have made a bit of money and Joe has a chance to play in the Premiership. Although I\u2019m sad to see him go and he was a big player for us, I hope he does well.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s personal preference really. He wanted to play in the Premiership and he got the chance. I think he would like to have stayed but circumstances made him have to leave.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe leaves a better player than the one the club signed. Coming up here and playing in the Champions League, you learn in every game. He has got better and I hope he can keep improving and do well in the Premiership.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe will be missed on and off the pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n
So, thats the first of the non stories out of the way, I’m sure there will be more.<\/p>\n
Anyway, theres other things to worry about. We’ve got one of those memory foam mattresses, and she’s been away for a week. Thing is, I don’t know how to delete the memory.<\/p>\n
If the football is making you a bit miserable, then you could try the winter olympics, which is getting wall to wall coverage at the moment.<\/p>\n
With the controversy surrounding the Russian governments hostility to gays, it was refreshing to see so many figure skaters had made it to the competition. And I can’t help myself looking for the Jamaican bobsleigh team.<\/p>\n
After all, I watched the Scottish Rugby team yesterday.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
John Hewitt was the forward in yesterdays photo, this time, its a defender. In a picture presumably taken at night. On the moon.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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