posted Apr 1, 2008

Does any one else agree that if MON hadnt quit he should have been sacked for the way we chucked away the league in 04/05? To win at Ibrox with 3 games left (going 5 points clear) then throw it away by getting beaten by Hibs and Motherwell is unacceptable. I know MON was a huge success and i worshipped him but i think he ran out of ideas in the end. Albeit im sure his mind was elsewhere with his wife and obv it was our first season without Henke.

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posted Apr 1, 2008

In O'Neill's last season, Celtic got 92 points--not bad for a supposedly poor side. Had his wife been ok, I'm sure O'Neill would have re-built the Celtic team and saw off the 'challenge' of McLeish without any difficulty.

I would welcome O'Neill back, but think it unlikely that he actually wants to return

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posted Apr 1, 2008

Mine is the 15th!....

I've not quite explained myself very well, and while I fully accept and agree that of course any manager has an effect of football games, I mean that those victories in the group stages have not really featured a great deal of the effect that Strachan's supposed philosophies or abilities as a manager should have.

We saw an awful lot of Ancelotti and Ferguson's effects, and if you like personalities, on those games. The Manchester games were played at a frenetic pace, with them largely dominating with incisive passing football. We played resillient, back's to the wall, direct football and almost got a draw away, while managing to snatch a victory at home.
They were results borne of sweat, luck and in particular Artur Boruc's "clutch" athleticism as a goalkeeper. They didn't see us play the patient, passing, attractive football that Strachan wanted to introduce; in fact they were achieved by circumstances dictating that we play in contrast to his entire footballing philosphy.
And the goals scored were a long ball punt, a CB switching off close into goal and the forward getting a beauty of a first touch on a kick out and finding himself on the six yard line when he turned around.
Two "fouls" against Jarosik and Nakamura hitting two beauties from a dead ball.

The first Milan games saw us match the oldest team in footballing history for fitness over 90 mins as they played with a lone forward, finally succumbing to the season's best player worldwide. We must have had about 25% possesion against their 80 for the total 180 mins. Was that the influence of the man who wants us to play like Barca and Brazil!
The group games followed much the same pattern away, but we did play better than them at Parkhead, although again no sign of the patient, passing football.

To my mind, moments of undeniable genius from a manager result in comprehensive victories or games of total domination.
The games that are won by late free kicks and deflections are "great" moments, but hardly genius - they're the signings of Larsson and Moravcik, "that" goal in the 6-2 game, Sutton's late curler against them as well, the 36 pass goal against Lyon etc.

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posted Apr 1, 2008

I dont think strachan will be sacked but will leave under the pressure.

Winning 2 league titles in a row (maybe 3 if not close 2nd)

I dont think Celtic would be allowed to sack a manager who has matched the great Jock Steins 3 in a row.

That would make Celtic sacking a manager who took them to 2 in a row league titles along with 2 league cups (at least)

So if he was to go it would be hiself , he know amount of people after his head since day 1 losing 5-0 then 4-4

And we all know he is under great pressure without beating the Walter smith and with Rangers looking alot better better than in other seasons.

So he might jump ship and leave with as good reputation as he can

unless he can turn it around

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posted Apr 1, 2008

Agree that WGS does himself no favours with the way he treats the media. Just comes across as someone who shouldn't be in a senior position at a major club.

His record as Celtic manager is mostly pretty good - 2 leagues and 2 last 16s in Europe. However, am incrediably disappointed by the second half performance at Ibrox. In such an important game we just didn't seem to get over their late goal in the first half. Don't think that should neccesarily cost him his job, but equally not too confident for the Rangers games at Parkhead.

Little to suggest we can do much against a well organised and together (typical Walter Smith) Rangers team.

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posted Apr 1, 2008

Apparently the difference in O'Neill's team and Strachan's is all too obvious in the dressing room before a game according to a very reliable source. O'Neill had them fired up and the place was full big personalities raring to go out and grab the game by the scruff of the neck. These days you would hear a church mouse in the dressing room before a game, so it really is no surprise that the team capitulates when faced with any serious challenge.
The team is in terminal decline under Strachan, particularly the defence which looks extremely shaky and Strachan has IMO made too many questionable signings, the most obvious being Donati.
Strachan does however have something O'Neill did not and that is a great relationship with the board. Despite poor performances this season he will certainly not be sacked. The best we can hope for is that he moves onto pastures new of his accord.

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posted Apr 1, 2008

excellent comment doc, agree 100%. here's to the right choice!

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posted Apr 1, 2008

Right, I think all this crap about WGS getting the sack has to stop.

From day one we've had so called fans on his back because he's not Celtic minded! If we limit ourselves to this it's going to limit our search for a successor dramatically.

Bratislava a disaster! True. But two last 16 places in the Champion's League has surely shown Strachan and his team's capability. Also 3 years ago, get over it!

Two league titles in two years. No complaints. Even if we lose this one there's nothing to worry about Rangers were always going to be a different under Smith. We've a very young team, a team that is developing and a team that will gel! I don't believe we've gelled this season& we could still win the title.

The gaffer has made a few dodgy signings, I can't disagree with that. What manager hasn't?

As for St. Martin...
Look how much he had to spend and all he did was complain that he wasn't getting enough. Seville was amazing, the treble fantastic. But he still managed to gift (aside from Le Guen's lot) the worst Rangers side in history) the title, twice! A team that was made up of bosman's and 'bargain buys'. He couldn't wait to jump ship to the Premiership. Let's not forget Martin couldn't get us into the last 16 of the Champ's league or an away win. And the most important point if all he left us (with all due respect to them and what they had achieved previously at Celtic) a team of old men who had no fight left. Strachan had very little to work with when he came in. And for those who still won't have a word against O'Neill he did help pick Strachan as his successor.

Now can I just remind us all we're meant to be Celtic supporters. How many of us are supporting our team this season? Whether they're a minority or majority I don't know, but all I've heard all season is complaints. Mouthing off at the manager, getting on players backs, young lads like big Sno or Caldwell especially who need our 'fans' to lay off. The atmosphere at Celtic Park is a joke. Stop eating the prawn sandwiches, get off your hands, lay off the manager and support the team that we've got on the park!

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posted Apr 3, 2008

thats quite a strong comment there seanycelt,

but as many have commented before
Strachan getting to the last 16 was luck as he had the same points as MON and he didnt get through once.
When MON won the treble in his first season he didnt have a push over team like the gers under PLG

I think Celtic have alot of talent in their team but its not working I dont think its "gel" but the manager. I dont think GS is giving his own players belief , confidence , and get them hyped up for a game

I think Celtic have went downhill over the last few seasons , first season under strachan was brill , and we were miles away in the league at the beginning . closer to the end of the season we did struggle a bit and couldnt get a result. but had a good enough lead to get the job done. But this season has been pretty poor apart from a period at the start of the season

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posted Apr 4, 2008

Long live St. Martin!!

Chesney must go!!!!

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