Blog Hits

Wednesday 24 August 2011

A Time For Calm

On Saturday I was one of the many at parkhead screaming and shouting at the abject performance by the team against St Johnstone. On the way home on my Supporter's bus the usual cliches were being reeled off. " We'll no win anything with this team" , " If I was Lenny I would walk away the noo!!!!", "I would've put Sammy on". The more I heard this bullshit the more I realised that some people in our support seem to like it when we go on a bad run. As it gives them plenty to complain about, guys that know where the manager is going wrong. Everyone can be guilty of this to a point, but some folk( in my experience) are never happy no matter how well or bad the team is doing. I can remember in Martin O'Neill's 2nd season we won the league by a record no. of points, scored a record no. of goals and conceded the fewest amount of goals for a long time. And a guy on my bus was filled with rage when we drew at home with the Huns, the only points we dropped at home that season, after we had won the league. My fear is that good work the support did last year could be undermined by a few dodgy results.

Let's look at the facts, the first leg against Sion we played well at the back and we controlled the midfield barring a 10 minute period in the second half. The big problem that night was in the final third, a front line of Stokes and Samaras that hasn't played together much and the constant switching of position during the match. Delivery from wide positions was particularly poor. And when chances did come our way we were very wasteful. Against St Johnston, well what can I say it was one of those games you don't want to watch back. Sorely lacking any passion or guile, players played within themselves and wilted under the pressure. It was more Tony Mowbray's Celtic than the team we saw last season. The only positive I can take from this game is it was early in the season and is hopefully a kick up the arse to some who have maybe got complacent over the summer.

So FC Sion it is tomorrow night, let's hope that Lennon can get the Bhoys up for this. I think we're overdue an away performance in Europe, with Kayal, Hooper and Kelvin Wilson possibly starting we should be in better shape than the last two games. And remember it has only been two games, I don't know about you but I've not given up anything yet.

Keep The Faith and Hail Hail.

Tuesday 2 August 2011

Celtic Media: Doin' It For Ourselves.

About a year ago I was like the majority of Celtic fans frustrated with our clubs treatment by the mainstream media. Now however, mainly through twitter, a whole landscape of poignant, well balanced and humorous coverage of our great club. The Celtic online community is growing leaps and bounds, blogs, podcasts and radioshows are proving we don't have to sit and listen to Clyde and Sportsound's Ibrox propaganda machine. Worse than Keevins, Traynor and co I feel are the ex players who make their life cause to constantly attack the club where they made their name. Namely Nicholas, Provan, Walker and the worst Burley. That is the last I will mention these plebs, because of the multitude of outlets we now have I've not listened to or read anything they have to say or write.

However this new Celtic media isn't just a group of people moaning in chatrooms, this thing is going worldwide. With experienced journalsits like Brian McNally and Phil MacGiollaBhain giving alot of these sites etc. credibility many supporters concerns are not being dismissed out of hand as paranoia. As normally happens in Scottish Media. A couple of big shout outs have to go to Housey on Over and Over, the guys from The Lost Bhoys, for the podcast and Homebhoys phone-in. Rhebel Rhebel for a great blog and even better t-shirts, I-Celtic the best app on the I-Phone, which thankfully is coming back after the unfortunate accident involving the Cummings family. More recently new additions such as the Beyond The Waves phone in show, The Celtic Network and Sixty Seven Live, we are thriving.

The point I'm trying to make is, our voice is finally being heard. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels proud to be a Celtic fan. Some of the banter is top class from a group of very fine people. Long may it continue. If anyone feels this article has been gushy and self-congratulatory. Then it was meant to be. God Bless the Celtic.

Hail Hail.