21 Mar 2016 21:06:35
Seems the knives are still out for Ronny Deila following what was in the end a successful trip to Rugby Park on Saturday.
It was actually a very good weekend for Celtic, with Aberdeen dropping three points at Fir Park to leave us four points ahead with a game in hand and just eight games to go.
That hasn't stopped the SMSM and their carping though. Just as examples, the Scottish Daily Mail give a platform for Kilmarnock's "former Real Madrid midfielder" Julian Faubert to say how unimpressed he is by Celtic.
We're supposed to respect his opinion you see, because he used to play for Real Madrid.
Yes, that's right, he used to play for Real Madrid. He had a loan spell there in 2009, during which time he played a grand total of TWO matches, both as a substitute. His spell in Madrid included being disciplined for missing training one Sunday because he thought it was a day off, and being photographed asleep on the bench during a match against Villareal. At the end of his loan spell Real wisely decided not to take up their option of making the loan permanent.
But hey, Julian Faubert isn't impressed by Celtic! And he used to play for Real Madrid!
Over at The Herald, Faubert is allowed more space to express his disbelief over how Kilmarnock didn't win as Matthew Lindsay cries over his keyboard while telling us all that Celtic were dead jammy at the weekend and they're nowhere near good enough.
This remember, is a team sitting four points ahead with a game in hand and a vastly superior goal difference which is effectively as good as another point.
But you know what? I don't care about the SMSM. We expect no different from them and I don't buy papers anyway. I can ignore them and if more of us did the same, maybe they'd go away or at least re-examine their business model.
Far worse are the usual suspects on the Timternet, who while Celtic are involved in a serious title race are whinging and whining from the sidelines about how poor we are.
Not for them a circling of the wagons. Not for them a public show of solidarity with the manager and the team. Not for them a keep it inhouse attitude.
You see for them, it's all about them.
They want to be entertained. They want Celtic to be 30 points ahead of Aberdeen so they can relax and enjoy the title procession.
They want to see the mythical open, entertaining, attacking football that it is (apparently) the birthright of every Celtic supporter to see.
Well, so would I. I'd love it if we were sweeping all before us. I'd love it if we were even 15 points ahead and I didn't need to check the Aberdeen score every week to see how far ahead we are. My blood pressure would certainly benefit from that if nothing else.
But if I found one thing out early in life, it is that you can't always get what you want.
We're not sweeping all before us and we are in a title dogfight. So what can I do about it? I can sit on my keyboard whinging about how that's not good enough for Celtic. I can create an air of relentless negativity everywhere I go and achieve nothing other than venting my frustration and enable the SMSM to put pressure on the manager and the club by pointing at how Celtic fans like me are saying just the same things.
Or, I can grow up and realise it's not all about me. Supporting Celtic does not come with a guarantee you're going to be entertained every week, regardless of what the song says. It doesn't come with a guarantee we are going to win every week or watch world class players in the Hoops and for the majority of our history that is not what Celtic supporters were treated to.
And no, I'm not happy with performances this season. I'm not happy to see us struggle to the finishing line against opponents with a fraction of our resources. But so what if I'm not happy? What do I matter here?
This is about Celtic. Generations of Celtic fans lived and died watching Celtic stumble and stutter from one on-field disaster to another with silverware few and far between.
My grandfather was born in 1922. By the time Jock Stein became manager, we'd won the league just SIX times in his 44 years. He wouldn't even have been able to remember the first of those, as he was only a few months old at the time.
By the time Stein's Celtic won the first of Nine in a Row in 1966, to be old enough to remember Celtic's previous ten league title wins, you would have to have been born around 1910.
Now that doesn't mean you have to be happy with the current situation and it doesn't mean I am either but it does mean that supporting Celtic is no rose garden.
When you sign up to supporting Celtic, you don't do it because you like watching your team win things all the time. It means you sign up to going through all the trials and tribulations that are never far away with the manager and the team, whoever they may be. That's the way it has been for huge chunks of Celtic's history.
What we have at the moment are generations of fans who have been utterly spoiled by success.
We've got older guys who don't remember the 40's and 50's, but grew up watching the Lisbon Lions and think it should always be that way.
We've got younger guys who grew up watching O'Neill's Celtic and Seville and thinking it should always be that way.
I was born in the early 70's so I missed Lisbon and I'm too young to remember our Nine in a Row years. I do remember Celtic having to scrap with Aberdeen and Dundee United for the league in the early 80's. I remember when winning the league two years in a row was a great achievement and going without league titles for the same amount of time was to be expected.
I remember nine long seasons when we were lucky to finish as high as third from 1988-97.
We are currently enjoying the third Golden Age in our history. They have been 1888-1926 (17 titles in 34 years, 1965-88 (15 titles in 22 years) and 2000-present (10 titles in 15 years) .
So you're not happy with performances under Ronny Deila? Neither am I, but you know what? POOR US!
A short period of time from 1966-74 apart, we've never had it so good.
If you think supporting Celtic is hard right now, you've no idea what it means to be a Celtic supporter.
You can go to every single game and spend as much money as you like on following Celtic. You still have no idea what it means to be a Celtic supporter if you think whinging about Ronny Deila on social media is more important than getting behind him and his team as they try to win our fifth title in a row.
If they do manage it, it'll be five in a row for just the third time in our 129 year history. And you're crying because you haven't been entertained along the way!
What happened on Saturday should, and I think will, become a moment of Celtic folklore. Game petering out to a 0-0 draw, giving Aberdeen the opportunity to leapfrog us at the top of the league later that day, until Tom Rogic produces a moment of absolute magic to score a last minute winner and send the travelling support into raptures.
Imagine the scene 20 years from now: "What was it like that day, Daddy? "
Will you say, "Oh I went absolutely mental! Brilliant day! "
Or will you be saying, "I took to social media to have a rant about Ronny Deila for playing Colin Kazim-Richards up front instead of Leigh Griffiths? "
If your answer is more like the second, you've no idea what supporting Celtic is all about.
It's not all about you. It's about Celtic. It's about playing your part, no matter how small it may be, in carrying this team over the finishing line.
It's about SUPPORTING the team through thick and thin. Yes, being utterly crushed by every defeat, but picking yourself up again and being there to cheer them on the very next game. It's about loving every minute of their success and celebrating like there's no tomorrow on those frequent occasions when we snatch that all-important goal just when it's needed most.
It's about being the 12th man. Not the greeting faced old sod at the back sucking the life out of the club with your constant negativity and self-indulgent moaning.
United we stand, divided we fall. Which is it to be?
21 Mar 2016 21:44:21
Paradisewon has competition for the longest post in history
21 Mar 2016 22:03:33
Daniel O Connell, this is the best post all season! I completely agree. We fall hook line and sinker for the smsm agenda every time. We are 4 points clear game in hand and we'll on our way to 5 in a row. I grew up in the 80s I was 10 when we were beat by Aberdeen on pens in the cup. I remember the rubbish we had In the 90s and when Raith beat us in the cup. We are on a better footing today than we ever were.
A 75 year old made a point tonight on Snyde. He asked how many of sevco would get on our team? Knowing they were caught out completely, the panel changed his question into some nonesense about 5 aside. The gentleman what's right. They hold up warbs as a genius and Ronny as incompetent. Last week they held up 5 potential new managers. Hold on, we have a manager, yes he is cutting his teeth with us, but he is ours, and he is one of us! The media turn on him like they turn on us, and it's time we said no more.
Yes we have been poor this season, but I for one would rather win the league playing poor than lose it playing well. We have lost the league that way before with Tommy Burns God rest him.
The smsm only serve to do one thing divide and conquer us. It's time we wise up to this. We need a show of strength at our next home game. Let's back Ronny, back the players, back each other and win the league and 5 in a row.
21 Mar 2016 22:03:53
That was a fair old Opus. We all come from, Celtic families we all have stories about good times and bad times. The scottish press has never been friendly to celtic although at present their vitriol is at a new level because of the state their favourite team is in.
No Celtic fan should ever give any credence to what they write or say, it is blue propaganda. That does not mean our players board and management should be beyond criticism. I agree we need to all get behind the team as they close out the season. I will really enjoy a league and cup double if it comes. However I think that come the close season it will be time to change the management team. I don't have an entitlement for us to win, I have seen us in too many bad periods too have such expectations, but I do expect the man in charge to be up to the job. people are fond of using big jocks quote that the Celtic Jersey doesn't shrink to fit inferior players, in my eyes that applies to the manager as well.
21 Mar 2016 22:21:07
Fans have always had opinions, when my dad took me to my first match years ago I was amazed at how critical the fans were towards the players, and you're talking about the Lisbon lions here.
If social media had been around all those years ago, you'd find that the comments would be exactly the same as they are now.
Having an opinion on Celtic doesn't mean you don't support them, in my opinion it just shows that you care about them.
21 Mar 2016 22:28:45
Excellent post.
One addition though: if we were 20/ 30 points ahead, we'd have just as many complaints about our lack of competition - And then we'd lose again and the pitchforks would be out.
21 Mar 2016 22:46:13
Well said Daniel, brilliant post, i'd rather see Celtic winning leagues titles and cups than playing for corrupt organisation that is uefa and fifa! we will never be allowed to sit at the table where we belong with the others cause they play in bigger and better leagues, does not take away the fact off how much a huge club Glasgow Celtic are, I want to see Glasgow Celtic wining games and playing young talent that comes through our ranks. HAIL HAIL
Green and white till I die!
21 Mar 2016 23:41:01
Meaningless post, for as long as I can remember Celtic were known for adventurous, exciting, attacking football, where fans went to games because they knew they were going to be entertained, they could come away knowing they had watched a good game of football, but now aftermatch it has become an argument between the Ronnie worshippers and the realists, on whose fault it was such another god awfull team performance.
{Ed007's Note - Well I'm 42 this year and the only manager I can remember playing adventurous, exciting, attacking football was Tommy Burns and possibly Billy McNeill in patches. MON's team's just physically bullied teams and had Larsson, Strachan and Lennon played football that was awful to watch, and plenty of people said so at the time of both. Wim Jansen's football done what it said on the tin and won the league but I don't recall the football being any where near breathtaking. In fact I remember losing to Hibs and Larsson getting laughed off the park at Hibs in Jansen's first game. Think back, was that season remembered for the adventurous, exciting, attacking football you're on about?
Celtic might have been known for adventurous, exciting, attacking football but that really is only because of the The Lions and even before that when most football was played with 5 forwards - people want RD sacked for playing with 4!
So tell me, what manager in the last 40 years has had CFC playing adventurous, exciting, attacking football?}
21 Mar 2016 23:52:12
The massive difference is from the early 80's until 2012 we always had good quality opposition , from the Dundee utd teams and Aberdeen teams who were reaching European finals and Semi finals through to the Overspending Rangers sides who either had half the England team or half the Holland team in their ranks. Nobody can honestly say over the last 4 seasons we have been up against anything like the standard of opposition previous Celtic teams have faced, and it's our standards that have dropped to make this season competitive. Still domestically you can only beat what's put in front of you and when we win the double this season the history books will not show the standard of opposition we faced to achieve this.
22 Mar 2016 00:01:23
In like a lion there Daniel. Great post.
22 Mar 2016 08:45:32
Daniel the man who said that was the best post all season is only half correct, that is the best post I have read on this page EVER .
22 Mar 2016 09:01:39
Having watched the team as a boy in the early 60's, people of my generation have been probably, the most fortunate of all.
I witnessed the moulding of the greatest Celtic team ever, in a very competitive league [not a mini manufactured economy version].
We had Europe's full attention and respect and the football was full of style, flair and fun, played by men who adored the club.
Billy McNeill took up the mantle impressively, with Tommy Burns having a go - unfortunately against EBT United.
Most of the rest have brought a mixture of success and failure, with a few disasters along the way - not many had us playing the legendary Celtic-Way, because it is harder and harder to have all the ingredients at the same time in the same place;
However, all our managers, teams and results are judged on this.
22 Mar 2016 10:27:34
Aindoh once again you have not failed to let us down with a ridicolous inaccurate statement. Lennon never played this exciting attacking football you speak off. For me, Lennons team was more of a defensive style hence clean sheet record. Before usual doris's have a pop, i'm not slating Lennon.
Point is we won't see this attacking football you crave untill there is changes off the field, in terms of getting John Park to f%ck! His inability to identify attacking players, is perhaps the reason why football may seem flat and perhaps why previous manager adopted a more defensive approach.
This 4-2-3-1 system we play at moment, is missing key element for it to be a success. wingers!
22 Mar 2016 10:33:39
A last minute goal against Kilmarnock going in to Celtic folklore certainly made me laugh. 😂😂😂😂 Hopefully the tens of thousands who have stayed away recently return for the hearts match and the players actually give a performance that will make them think about coming back rather than what we have been getting recently with dire performances. Ps any chance Celtic reducing the prices for home supporters🤔.
22 Mar 2016 12:11:25
Once again DN you have to mention Lennon, maybe my post was a bit ridiculous, but I was in a bad mood and was thinking about the sixties and seventies, am afraid I must be a bit older than you.
22 Mar 2016 13:30:50
Aindoh where did i say anything bad about Lennon?
22 Mar 2016 14:08:38
DN, where did I say you said anything bad about Lennon?
22 Mar 2016 14:42:52
Aindoh i'm asking you, cause its clear I've hit a nerve.
22 Mar 2016 14:43:17
Happy harry so u would rather we didn't win in a corrupt organisation, well go speak to oldbhoy he will tell you we have been winning trophies in a corrupt organisation for 130 years lol. Soz cudnt help masel.
Seriously tho we might win a double this year (hopefully) and there is doubt over wether our manager will be here next season.
That tells us a lot.
22 Mar 2016 16:54:31
Sorry DN, I thought you were the guy that has to mention NL in any post, no matter what the post is about, I apoligise for getting it wrong.
22 Mar 2016 17:10:09
Aindoh your embarrasing yourself and beginning to sound like William Shakespeare.
22 Mar 2016 18:23:45
DN, you trying to get the last word?
22 Mar 2016 18:47:09
Hi DN my old mucker its nice to see u mention the system at the moment. Barring a rare occurremce we have always played this system under RD.
Curiously enough u mention the wingers we do not have and funnily enough I totally agree with you.
As you know ihave said all along that we haven't got the players to play this system and pilloried RD for this and you defended him.
Whats your opinion now mate.
Don't you think that any decent manager would know this. Yet he continually plays it no matter what.
Also its obvious now that teams know how to play us at home and in Europe as we found out against Molde for eg.
And still he plays it.
I am not against this system as such but I am against a system that clearly doesn't work.
22 Mar 2016 22:34:38
Rayman i'm all for this system, provided we have right players to make it work. I thought RD would of got right players to make it work in January, but wasnt to be.
With this in mind, i thought he would of switched to 4-4-2 but hasnt.
Ive backed RD but his team selection against Hamilton pi$$ed me off. It was a massive mistake underestimating Hamilton.
23 Mar 2016 01:22:21
Your right mate, but I'm afraid it means he never learns.
23 Mar 2016 21:21:58
Are you sure Rayman that you have ever learned .
The problem with people who have vacant areas between their ears is that often they think others need to learn .
I feel sorry for them really.