\u201cThey had strength, power and technique. There\u2019s a new manager in the other dugout and they were desperate to impress him before the new season.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Presumably no-one at our club is doing the same…<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t much fun for the boys losing to such a heavy defeat but I think it should drive them on, make them work on the training pitch, where they will work to improve every aspect of their game to get to that standard.<\/em><\/p>\n “It\u2019s massive jump from playing Scottish youth football to playing an English Premier League team.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThere were patches of play in the first half where we passed it and controlled it, but as the game went on we tired, while they brought out a whole new team at half time, full of experience.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBut what I like is that the kids never gave up. They kept giving it everything and chasing it but it\u2019s not easy when you are so many goals behind.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBut it\u2019s a valuable lesson and that\u2019s the standard they want to get to, so you come away thinking about what you can learn \u2013 it\u2019s about their first touch, their speed of play and movement.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0In the last week or so, our players must be learning an awful lot. As for the kids, I hope it doesn’t destroy their confidence.<\/p>\n \u00a0Efe Ambrose got himself sent off again, which is worrying. Tired minds, to quote Gordon Strachan, make tired decisions, and its obvious he needs a break after his World Cup exploits. Efe has no doubt told everyone that he’s fine, but he’s shown us this film before, and its quite worrying that none of the senior players have mentioned it either to him, or to the boss.<\/p>\n \u00a0That little bit of communication may have made a difference to the Warsaw game last week.<\/p>\n \u00a0We could argue all day about whether or not it was a good idea to book a friendly in Finland between the two Champions League game. The players needed the practice, but not the trip across Europe.<\/p>\n \u00a0And we thought it was just the management who might be a little naive.<\/p>\n \u00a0The sponsors aren’t happy, and whilst as supporters we couldn’t really give a toss how they think, one needs to consider the reputation of the club in these circles. sure, they always pick us because of the travelling support, but to send an under 18 side is being a little disrespectful. Thats what they think, anyway;<\/p>\n Leino Lonsu of Estonian promoters FC Santos Invest claimed they felt ‘cheated’ after providing flights, accommodation and a match fee on the proviso Celtic travelled with a strong squad. Quoted from the Daily Mail, he said;<\/p>\n ‘We are very disappointed about the team Celtic brought over. It was disrespectful to the opponent, to Finnish football fans and to the organisers to field such a squad.<\/em><\/p>\n ‘You could tell when you saw the Celtic team that the match would end like this. So we are extremely disappointed.<\/em><\/p>\n ‘The head coach did not come either – and that was disrespectful towards us as well.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n ‘We will be communicating our feelings to Celtic. Because their actions were so disrespectful we want a written apology from the club president and part of the fee refunded.<\/em><\/p>\n ‘We also took care in advance of Celtic’s accommodation and travel. We did absolutely everything professionally and what we didn’t get back was a team. We feel we have been cheated.’ \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n ‘The Tottenham head coach was disappointed and the fans were all disappointed as well. The match was organised to be a top level spectacle and Tottenham came with almost a full squad. They played their top team thinking Celtic would do the same.<\/em><\/p>\n ‘We know the reason Celtic did this \u2013 they have important Champions League games. We understand that.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n ‘But they signed a contract and according to the terms they were bringing a strong line-up. There was no stipulation for how many top players, it was a general clause. But when the head coach does not travel that is a clear sign of how they are treating the game.’<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0They want their money back. Someone has booked Celtic for a showpiece game, and they want their money back. Thats embarrassing, whatever way you look at it, whatever reasons, \u00a0are offered, thats just plain, straighforward embarrassment.<\/p>\n \u00a0Celtic offered up their reasons…<\/p>\n \u00a0‘Clearly the match was agreed in February by the club’s previous management team and obviously circumstances can change.<\/em><\/p>\n ‘We have spoken to the organisers and they understood the club’s position given the Champions League qualifiers.<\/em><\/p>\n ‘Despite us having to send a younger squad they got a fantastic reception from all the fans in Finland and we are very grateful for all the support we received.’\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0A big boy did it and ran away….. \u00a0even though its common knowledge he didn’t. The board arranged the game for the money. Word on the street is that Deila has already called the pre season “not one of a professional club “.<\/p>\n Suddenly, he goes up in my estimation.<\/p>\n \u00a0Meanwhile, Swansea are looking to sign Adam Matthews, with around \u00a33m quoted as the starting bid. Ronny Deila, however, rates Matthews, and is reluctant to sell. Thats evident from the decision to play him out of position ahead of Emilio Izaguerre last week. But Matthews grew up supporting Swansea, and is unlikely to be first choice right back at Celtic any time soon…<\/p>\n \u00a0Anyway, attention now turns to Wednesday nights clash with Legia Warsaw. Even Lawwell wouldn’t be stupid enough to sell anyone before that game..<\/p>\n No. Really , he wouldn’t.<\/p>\n We don’t need reminding of the first leg. Simply, whatever could go wrong went wrong. That won’t happen again. But Deila still needs to trust the players, who have been in this situation before, to get us out of it.<\/p>\n \u00a0And we have a part to play as well, as the official website puts it;<\/p>\n There\u2019s nothing more inspiring than a Celtic support in full voice and with the fans behind the team. Wednesday\u2019s match against Legia Warsaw could be another of those \u2018I was there\u2019 nights so make sure you don\u2019t miss your chance to roar the Bhoys on to another famous comeback.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0The club, however, don’t seem to have faith in the support turning up in numbers, and are reportedly giving 10,000 tickets to Legia fans based in Scotland. Sometimes, you wonder what is actually going on in their heads. They claim it means that all their fans will be in one area, which is fair enough, and will mean they won’t sneak in amongst our support, but surely it can’t be that difficult to spot the Polish accent when they turn up to buy tickets ?<\/p>\n \u00a0When this campaign is over, and that might be as early as Thursday, theres some serious questions that need asking, but for now its a matter of getting behind the team, and urging them on to the play off round. The team will get stronger as the season progresses, and it would be a shame to bow out this early.<\/p>\n \u00a0You see, it will be down to us. As ever, as shown by this headline, we’ll get no support from anyone else;<\/p>\n Perhaps someone should remind him its the people who frequent Celtic Park that make it the intimidating place it is.<\/p>\n And if you are wondering whether or not to go to the game, the sportswriter of the year gives you a reason in his column today, after he spent the opening paragraphs whinging about the Commonwealth Games, which most people seemed to enjoy;<\/p>\n All of which brings us back to the original point and Celtic\u2019s decision to abandon their\u00a0<\/em> This time last week it looked like a gamble. But now, following the 4-1 first-leg thrashing in Poland on Wednesday night, it\u2019s shaping up as an unfathomable disaster.<\/em><\/p>\n Celtic Park was built for salvage jobs such as this. It has gobbled up the likes of Manchester United, AC Milan, Juventus and Barcelona so there is no reason to believe a limited Legia Warsaw could not have had a three-goal lead devoured.<\/em><\/p>\n A miracle may still happen on Wednesday night at Murrayfield but there can be no doubt that Celtic\u2019s chances of recovering have been needlessly undermined by relocating across the central belt.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0Well, we’ll see. Theres no point in decrying a decision that was made years ago. We have to get on with it, its that simple.<\/p>\n \u00a0He’s not alone, Davie Provan also asks the question;<\/p>\nKeith Jackson:<\/h1>\n
Ronny Deila’s Champions League bid<\/h1>\n
looks dead in water without Celtic Park<\/h1>\n
\nhome to let it house an opening ceremony for this international version of school sports day.<\/em><\/p>\n
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