Celtic: A Club With A Very Big Mouth
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.