Today’s defeat from Ross County at Hampden is a watershed moment at Celtic.
For many supporters Ronny Deila cannot be allowed to continue as manager. After eighteen months in charge today’s gutless exit to a workmanlike Ross County side was one setback too many. No one can pretend that the current squad are about to emerge through three rounds of Champions League qualifiers.
After the match Deila mentioned his players being weak, later he corrected that to say that ‘they can be stronger when things go against us’. A comment that many supporters would aim at the manager.
Almost as alarming as the team’s display was the performance of referee Craig Thomson. Leigh Griffiths had a decent shout for a penalty ignored in the opening minutes- when Efe Ambrose brushed against Alex Schalk Thompson’s red card was out in no time at all.
Strangely during Celtic’s 2-1 defeat at Aberdeen in September the same referee decided that a yellow card was sufficient punishment for Andrew Consodine for pulling Leigh Griffiths down six yards from goal. Was that less of a goal-scoring opportunity that Schalk today?
20 seconds in, yellow card
For all the joy of putting eight goals past Hamilton Accies and scoring freely at Dundee United there is a lack of substance about the Celtic side. With the exception of the recent win over Partick Thistle when the going gets tough they wilt.
Celtic were in front against Ajax, Molde and Fenerbahce in the Europa League and failed to win a match.
They led 2-0 after 30 minutes against a Malmo side that included Jo Inge Berget, they then led 3-1. Malmo reached the group phase of the Champions League and lost 8-0 to Real Madrid.
It’s being over nostalgic but I recently watched a You Tube clip of Celtic winning 3-2 against St Mirren in a 1980 Scottish Cup replay. Tom McAdam was sent off with St Mirren taking the lead. Roy Aitken, Danny McGrain, Murdo MacLeod, Davie Provan, Bobby Lennox and Johny Doyle refused to accept defeat, rolled up their sleeves and turned the match around in extra time without the need for today’s modern gadgets and fads.
They understood the game, they understood Celtic, they knew the expectations and demands of the supporters. Sadly there are few currently at the club in touch with those emotions.
Today’s match summed up much of the football that we have witnessed over the last 18 months, exhilarating in patches but largely flat, lifeless and uninspiring.
Not even the most dewy eyed and optimistic supporter would argue that the current squad are seven months away from reaching the Champions League group stage. Reaching that point seems to be the new summit of the club’s ambitions, a few years ago there was an expectation of scrapping for second place or dropping into the Europa League and having an extended run in that competition.
Recent successful Celtic managers have brought in winners to turn around failing teams.
Chris Sutton, Alan Thompson, Joos Valgaeren, Neil Lennon and John Hartson costs a fortune but they had something that Rafael Scheidt and Eyal Berkovic never had- heart.
Their transfer fees cost the club plenty, plus top wages, but O’Neill’s initial signings had the guts to take on Rangers (IL) and everything else that Scottish football throws up. And they succeeded.
Likewise Neil Lennon brought in Gary Hooper, Joe Ledley, Anthony Stokes, Charlie Mulgrew and Kris Commons. They were here to win unlike Marco Fortune, Joos Hooiveld, Landry N’Guemo and Zheng Zhi.
There are a number of players in the current squad that can succeed at Celtic, by succeed make a fist of it in the Champions League while winning the SPFL and giving supporters memorable days at Hampden and reasons to celebrate.
Equally there were players on the park today that won’t cut it, the watching supporters know who those players are and made their feelings known today.
By and large Deila’s signings have failed to make an impact, Carlton Cole and Nadir Ciftci and failed to make the bench today. Saidy Janko hasn’t been sighted in months while Tyler Blackett seems to be as close to a top team place as Derk Boerrigter.
Six years ago Neil Lennon let rip about the players that lost to Ross County in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup. The current situation is no where near as drastic, winning the title is likely, Celtic are virtually assured a place in the last eight of the Scottish Cup.
While the playing needs are addressed Celtic supporters can’t be constantly expected to turn up at show-piece matches and have their afternoon ruined by horrendous refereeing.
Last year, citing pressure from supporters, Celtic wrote to the SFA for clarification over decisions not made by Steven McLean in the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat from Inverness Caley Thistle.
No reply was ever published, McLean continues to referee Celtic matches and took charge of the Hibs v St Johnstone League Cup semi-final on Saturday.
The penalty decisions awarded and not awarded today were marginal, what wasn’t was Alex Schalk’s bear hug on Craig Gordon at the second goal. Either Thomson couldn’t see the goalkeeper in the six yard box or viewed it and thought it was fair game. Neither answer is acceptable from a ‘top referee’.
Writing another letter for clarification won’t satisfy any Celtic supporter.
Until the refereeing circle at Hampden is overhauled these incidents are going to repeat themselves.
Thomson’s performance was similarly poor in last season’s League Cup semi-final, fortunately Celtic’s lower league opponents were unable to manage a shot at goal.
With Celtic already 2-0 up and Leigh Griffiths racing through one on one to goal Thompson decided to call play back and give Celtic a free kick no one had noticed or claimed for.
Lee McCulloch elbowed Griffiths on the back of the head on the half way line, no foul or booking. Later on the same player used John Guidetti for keepy-uppy practise. Free kick Sevco.
Celtic fans have had their fill of this, it’s watershed time.
Excellent piece, Joe.
My first game watching Celtic with 10 men,was against the Huns,in 1979.
Yes,4-2, 10 Men Won The League !!
1-0, down at half-time,we then lost Johnny Doyle after 55 minutes.The rest is stuff of Legends !!
Heart, Guts, Determination was what was shown with pride on that great night !!
We had King Billy as Mr.Motivator.
Contrast to today’s 10 pathetic souls and Mr.Meek.
No ifs,no buts…He Has To Go !!!!!
Cant agree with all the comments above in particular blaming the ref for his incompetence.
We lost simple as that.
This Celtic team is always one game away from a performance like today. If there are any Celtic fans who don’t believe that statement then they need to take there green tinted spec off.
I have said before on this site many of times, this team has no shape, 10 Thomas Gravesen’s running around and a clueless manager at the helm.
So what we beat Hamilton 8,1, so what we beat Dundee Utd….probably two of the worst teams in the league. No fight in the team when we are down.
This team wouldn’t fight back into games and even include the Inverness SC semi final into that bracket too. I thought that was the worst 10 men performance last season, but my god today’s beat that.
Lets look at Deila’s big game blunders. His stats in big games over the past 18 months don’t make good reading. Legia Warsaw, Maribor, Molde, Inverness, Ross County and many more. The really big games we don’t win our fair share of.
A transfer window is nearly shut and we missed an opportunity to change our manager and bed a new manager in.
I am season ticket holder for 20 years and if this manager is in charge going into next season I am seriously considering not renewing my season ticket.
Lawwell bin this clown now or you risk many Celtic fans not returning and the next generation of Celtic fans too.
Why not bin Lawwell?
Delia must go immedistly and take Ambrose and Johanson with him.
Enough is enough.Forget about referees.
Ross County were better than us all round.
Better organised and bigger hearts.
If Lawwell thinks Delia is the man to take us forward he should also get sacked.
First of all the Griffith’s penalty was never one. He didn’t even claim for it. We got a very soft one.
Spot on with the rest. He has to go now. Desperate state of affairs. Anybody that thinks differently please explain where we are progressing.
Jimmy,
I agree, I thought it was never a penalty, I also knew Griffiths was missing it, felt it in my bones.
Celtic has lost it’s fear factor completely, something needs to be done now.
Deila out!
Sick and too pissed off to comment
Ambrose cost Celtic today, nothing or nobody else…Ambrose!
Deila should order a taxi and both of them head out the door!
Celtic are a shambles, to continually play Ambrose is nothing short of a bad joke!
Taxi for Ronnie
After we lose it’s the same guff from Delia about not fearing for his job. As long as this guy is the manager we will continue to have many days like today. Do you honestly trust this guy to get us through next seasons CL qualifiers? The time to get rid of Delia is NOW.
He talks a different game to the rubbish we see on the park. No plan B when things are going against us during a game. His blind spot for Armstrong and Johansen. Tactically inept and out of his depth. Lawwell has a lot to answer for.
where was Simunovic? another vital game missed, he’s as brittle as a cream cracker. Looks like another expensive mistake!
Can we all stop moaning about referees it’s embarrassing and not the issue.
Fair comment Stevie, Jock always said ” expect nothing from ref because that’s what you’ll get,,just be better than oppos.”. It still applies and everybody knows. However, there is a good team in the sqaud but Ronnie doesn’t play it often enough because of his “blind spot”. Reminds me of Fifties under McGrory. Time for a change!
Agree with most of the comments.
Effe had to go it was a pen and red card.
Game changer yes but effe should not have been there in the first place he can’t be trusted although he gives his all it isn’t good enough for Celtic.
I’m sick of Ronnie once again a player down why didn’t he just go to a back 3. He could have brought on the centre back to play 3 at the back.
Move tierney into left wing back Armstrong to right wing back, and keep Bitton Johansson as two centre backs and Mackay Steven supporting Griffiths.
He keeps sticking to a formation that doesn’t work has never worked and is insulting to us who are season ticket holders.
If he is there next season after 45 years of watching home and away I won’t be- enough is enough.
He has to go.
seriously pissed off. Cant take anymore of this crap. Where has our team gone? Where is the heart and fight? Ronnie please go home now! If Ronny is allowed to continue, i am afraid i am gonna switch off as this guy has totally destroyed my enjoyment of all things Celtic. I knew we were gonna lose when GMS scored in the first minute! Bunch of gutless chancers.
It’s the fault of Lawell and Desmond in my opinion. There is a serious lack of investment in the team. Whoever manages us will fail to succeed with minimal funding at their disposal. There is a serious dissonance between Celtic having invested in sixty thousand seat stadium on the one hand, and the approach to player investment on the other. Something is badly wrong.
Sorry Vc but I disagree the blame lies with Ronnie.
Any decent manager would not lose the games we have lost under him. Celtic with the squad we have should be beating teams like Ross County.
It’s shocking to watch and the blame for me lies with him.
Yes agreed the decision to bring him was theirs it hasn’t worked he should be let go now.
We have the players to win most matches trouble is we have a manager who can’t select the right team and has no planB
I have supported Celtic for over 70 years, I have witnessed good players that simply never matched up but kept in the team. At times I thought they jinxed the team. After all these years I am sure we have a decent player in Ambrose who is a JINX. He has to go. I am beginning to think that Gordon may also fall into that category
Bombscare was picked to play by Deila he has to go enough is enough
I agree with your headline .
It is a Watershed Moment
Get out of this ibrox lackey league into any other League ,where we might get fair treatment from a legitimate Organisation.
If not we will continue to be treated the way we were today by “honest mistake”thomson and his cronies.
Hampden faces no consequences for their obvious bias
We are the only people who can change this
We should not support their league or scottish cup competitions and concentrate only on their league.
We are not wanted in this league they only want our money .
How many would have been at middenpark today if Celtic had not been playing.
Get out of this League and boycott them in the meantime
Well said edward.
The watershed moment happened the moment there was enough people calling for Ronny to go. When you watch him on the sidelines you don’t see much animation when things are not going our way. The problem there is that Deila cannot seem to work out how to get the best from the players he has, however when his players turn up they are without question the best in Scotland. I would suggest that most of us could manage Celtic with these players and win at least one trophy.
Jock Stein always said it shouldn’t matter about the referee as long as we were good enough to beat what was in front of us. We are good enough to beat Ross County but a heavy pit, a missing midfield (at times) and the referee made for a bad day at the office.
The Ross County forward went down way too easy but then who can blame him? His touch was awful and Gordon was probably going to get there so by my reckoning it was not denying a CLEAR goal scoring opportunity. Penalty, yellow card
Second goal was essentially assault however what in the wee man’s name was Bitton and Lustig doing in the middle to lose both men?
A mixture of bad luck, bad refereeing, good goalkeeping and bad tactics by Ronny led to yesterday’s result. County should have been dead and buried after 10 minutes but we didn’t punish them.
Ambrose is a liability, we know that but would you honestly throw in a new defender from the off? In hindsight, yes… he looked very comfortable on the ball which was nice to see. Feed The Bear moments to come from this bhoy, I hope; A charge of the light brigade, so to speak. Sadly at the minute we are the light brigade… just not in the good way!!
Hail Hail
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