You know what I’m getting really, really sick of?
The mouthy tendency within our club.
Who the Hell is in control of “the message” over there?
John Collins, who this site defended at first, because all he’d done was state a simple fact, was the first to run it off.
There’s no argument that his comments were factually correct … but was there really a need to make them?
He’s been followed, in a relentless wave, by the manager, by players and by other club officials all singing the same song.
“Don’t worry. We’ll turn it around.”
“We’re still favourites. We’re still Champions.”
“We’ll show the doubters …”
It’s all about how we’ll do this and do that.
And all it’s done, thus far, is heap embarrassment onto reversals and inspire our opponents.
It also gives ample ammunition to those in the media who love nothing more than writing an anti-Celtic story, with the emphasis on how stupid we look.
It’s now clear that a big part of what is wrong with our dressing room, and the management team, is arrogance.
It permeates every part of Celtic, and it is unhealthy and it’s time the balloon was pricked before it swells even bigger and then blows up in our face.
Ronny Deila’s comments before the Malmo game had disquieted me. It’s all well and good for bloggers like myself to be confident, but when the manager, in front of a very difficult match, tells the media there’s no concern within the club over the outcome … I wonder whether everyone in Celtic Park is playing with a full deck.
I am already past sick of motormouths in our squad and backroom team going in front of the media making bold predictions only to see mind-boggling, clueless tactical decisions and gutless performances by players who look like they’re simply going through the motions.
End it, Celtic. End it now.
Save the big talking for after we’ve accomplished stuff, and in fact not even then.
Show the dignity and class in victory and defeat that our club is renowned for.
Because right now the public face of Celtic needs a right good slap to knock that cocky look off of it at a time when it’s completely misplaced.
We’re behind in the title race.
We’re already out of the Champions League.
Anyone at Parkhead walking with a swagger is thinking more of their wage packet or their night-time activities than they are about doing the job on the pitch.
That’s the only place I want to see them behaving with that much confidence; when we’re three or four to the good in a game and enjoying it.
There are rumours afoot that there are problems in our dressing room, clashes of personality, big egos at play.
I’ll tell you now, from watching recent performances nobody at the club has a heck of a lot to be proud of. The majority of the fans, even those who, like our players, are claiming not to be concerned, even they aren’t pleased with the level of fitness, skill or application they are getting.
Too many people at Celtic Park look like they’re taking the piss.
I agree with Commons and Brown about the Malmo game. Most of the players didn’t look scared.
But they did look like they couldn’t be bothered and I’ve seen nothing in recent weeks to suggest that’s changed.
Even Leigh Griffiths, who this site has praised to the heavens and who’s one of a very few who’s digging in couldn’t keep his trap shut at the weekend and has talked his way into problems with the SFA which, in the absence of our genius move in not signing a striker, we don’t need.
Some have argued that Leigh was right.
Should Considine have walked? Of course.
Should Hayes? Of course not.
Should Aberdeen’s penalty have been given? Definitely no.
Should they have had one earlier in the game? Hell yes.
These things don’t always “balance out.”
But at the weekend they did.
The bottom line here is that we lost to ten men. Players can look for excuses for that everywhere and anywhere, and the manager can feel free to endorse that if it prevents him asking hard questions about his own approach … but it’s not going to wash, I’m afraid.
It’s time our whole club started acting with a lot more professionalism.
If our players and staff are incapable of controlling themselves, and their mouths, then some order has to be imposed upon them from above.
Does the club need to impose conditions on its own people before they go in front of the media?
If they can’t keep from letting their egos get away from them then probably, yes.
John Kennedy is the latest today to open his mouth wide without engaging brain.
More big predictions. More big talk.
Essentially, “don’t worry … we’ll still win the league.”
Complacent. Stupid. Big headed nonsense.
Because those remarks won’t give Aberdeen any incentive for their game in hand, will they?
For God’s sake. Get a grip on this Celtic.
Do your talking where it matters; out on the pitch.
I have read many of your daily blogs and have held back commenting but I think you have nailed this one right in the head so apart form myself and any of the the many true Celtic supporters that reply to you does your message actually filter through to the larger egos at Parkhead I will continue to read your excellent blogs and hope that someone more than the Minnions take heed of good common sense as we don’t want to be following the route of them on the South side have gone Hail Hail
One things for sure nothing in life is Guaranteed you have to work for it Come on the Bhoys for the first time in his Managerial life Ronnie and his backroom staff are being tested and coming up short so far lets hope they can turn it around.
James
I admire your writing very much and your analysis of the others is forensically accurate and compelling but, essentially, when it comes to your own team, you’re just an eloquent whinger blinded by fandom of the worst kind, the mismatch of expectation vs reality!
Ronny’s…….. latest wise words
“We know what we are doing and know exactly what is wrong” we are losing too many goals
says our manager………….Thanks for that wonderful info Ronny, never would have guessed
that was the problem.
Just wonder where the vast improvement is going to come from?
Why not take a good look at your tactics …..the gaps in our defence are nothing to the gaps you will see on the terraces if there is not a rapid improvement……and when the fans stay away the writing will be on the wall for the management team.
Well put together James. For a long time now, our club has suffered from a lack of leadership. A blanket ban on these non media savvy guys is overdue just as a gutsy, playing for the jersey performance is. I’ll keep the faith with Ronny for as long as he does with us but he needs to savvy up. I believe that the media bloodlust for him last season swung a support which was very sceptical. We’re still with him, but unlike some we will not go blindly on the promise of domination, questions will be asked. Give me effort, two up front and a wide pacy man and we’ll deal with the rest later! Hail hail.
Don’t always agree with you James but I have to this time. The club’s PR Department have to start doing their job by telling the press – and the staff, including the players – what is, and isn’t, up for discussion. After that the management, the players and the scouting staff who couldn’t find a decent striker with a map and compass, need to start doing theirs.
One thing wrong about you finding fault with Deila’s talk of winning before Malmo game . The boasting by Deila was very small time compared to the naked aggression and spiteful boasting by the Malmo manager and his players.
I hate reading about these possible rumours of dressing room discontent . If they are real publish the whole story warts and all , or else stop doing possible damage to the club we love .
The Scottish media always tries to upset us before important matches , why should our bloggers help. The players , the managers and more important us the fans need us all together to lift the gloom .. Spreading unsubstantiated rumours doesn’t help
I blame Johansen for all of this, he is an energetic player in the role he was used in last year, but this season he acts like a spoiled brat on the field. It’s almost like the coach is pandering to him because he has a hot mother. Deila loves the guy and plays him in RW & CM when there are clearly better options. He acts like he has already secured a move to Northern Italy with his silly head band. Armstrong clearly like to mess with him. When Johansen scored in the qualifiers Armstrong went straight up to him and pulled his hair out of his head band. He needs dropped for 5 games to get his feet back on the ground. The only player that had said anything that needs saying so far is Gordon he pointed out that we lost almost our whole defence. All this positiveness is coming across as arrogance and motivation. I agree it must be stopped.
Dj is spot on,if you’ve got Info on the dressing room woes then put it into your blog,even if it turns out to be untrue or slightly off the mark,spreading rumours about our dressing room and slating ex players who are on the coaching staff is for the Daily Hun and the rest of the Scottish media, who’s sending jk out to speak to the press in the first place, I think we all know RD,JC,are the problem with a special shout out to a certain Mr Lawell,get Lambert in before someone snaps him up,and I’d guarantee any players with so called egos, will be put in there place by a true footballer with the medals and managerial nous to help us in the defence of the title, and maybe even European football after Xmas,the current management are clearly out of there depth at a club of our stature and status within the Scottish game…..
Brilliant.
Their arrogance beggars belief.
I do wish they would all stf up and let the football do the talking, cos at the moment their football is saying ” We are overrated Shite “.
And it’s bloody soul destroying to watch.
Fed up listening to Celtic fans saying why do we always sell our best players, well if a player wants to go to a better league, better money, more status to get international caps WE or no one else will stop them, get real now we are a selling club cause you sure as hell don’t make money out off Scottish league.
whats going on at this club, know people are not happy behind the scenes, stephen frail away, club doctor away, only club without a doctor, players and staff not happy with collins, thinks hes the greatest, have to get rid soon, these people left because of him, celts wake up.
That dietician masquerading as a team manager needs to go and shut the fuck up while he’s doing it . Take six-pack Collins and zonal Kennedy with him along with the dud defenders they’ve signed too , ideally . We’re a fuckin’ shambles , I shudder to think what’ll happen in Amsterdam . I suggest putting out a traffic cone in Boyata’s place , that mug is worth a two goal start to any opposition .
Right on the money , in a previous response I mentioned I thought there was a consummate lack of style about the club ,and this is part and parcel of that , players mouthing off , usually in conjunction with them either being just in the door , having a mare of a game, or being out injured. There is no percentage in it , and no up side for the club. Behind the scene’s is no better , and if anyone is in any doubt about the mind set and message from Celtic Park being out of touch , misguided or inappropriate , then look at what it has culminated in this week. A letter being sent out to supporters about personal hygiene , which was always going to end up in the public domain. Lets put aside whether that is appropriate or not , how could anybody be so clueless as to sanction such an absurd decision and open us up to the inevitable world wide ridicule that would inevitably follow . It stems from arrogance , an across the board disregard for the support , and more worryingly a complete lack of sense . If you think what has been put on this blog this season is off the mark , then I would respectfully say this to you, if you take a step back and look at the domestic set up that we compete in , given what has happened over the last few years , don’t you think we should be so far over the horizon from the rest of Scottish football as to be completely out of sight . Im sure we will successfully compete domestically this season , but I fear the continued downsizing and lack of strategy will see us making a hard job of it . If you think this is a breach of faith with supporting the club , I think just sitting and swallowing every bit of sh@t they throw at you without question is a breach of that faith. At an AGM a couple of seasons ago , a newly appointed suit , whose name for the moment escapes me , said to the support at the end of the meeting , having been questioned on the clubs finance,s ” you just behave yourselves ,and let us worry about the money ” there it is right there. I would like to see ” Us ” back , but im not holding my breath.