SENTINELCELTS

It must be said it’s not easy at all to manage our football team.
Not only do the hopes and dreams of the faithful rest upon your shoulders but results themselves are received with zero apparent logic by a senses heightened fanbase.

Take the weekends one nil. You’ve read the angst from scrapping home after a disjointed performance up at Tannadice.
Yet should the team pull off the same result Wednesday against the Hungarians, would it be mostly celebration or concern?
The former no doubt, just happy to be there.
In that respect, the job Lenny holds is a bit of a poisoned chalice, despite the fame.

Ronnie Deila won two leagues, as did Brendan. One filled the park, one emptied it, which shows that although the objectives are the same, and the same targets were hit by both, it’s a case of how you did it.

Wee Gordons teams sometimes got accused of being boring to watch, but he did stick with two strikers up top, which brings more goals and by definition excitement. His Euro adventures were not classic Celtic by any means, yet a defensive performance was totally forgiven if the team went through.

Neil also has been winning, but yet as we see is coming under pressure for lack of team cohesion allied with over reliance on the more talented players to produce the magic. His previous successes seem to gave gained him no breathing room, and his flaws are intensely scrutinized whilst behind.

All of the above should show you there is no rythme or reason when it comes to getting it right, simply winning and delivering leagues is not enough for our support. A season full of Dundee United performances would bring the axe along with the title for instance.

Well Tims seldom agree and each will have their own standards to gauge others against.
On field progress must be the goal. We can’t put the same players out every week and expect the same result, therefore coaching is required.
Facing the same scenario regularly (teams sitting deep) should help formulate a plan, yet so far at times we look perplexed.

In recent weeks we have seen the starting eleven switched up, much better than sticking with the same if it’s not working well, and there’s every chance of more recruits joining the cause bolstering numbers and morale, giving more options which we will all agree is a positive.

The anxiety after the Tannadice win has clearly been hyped by the unique season, but one wonders just how much importance Neil is placing on the how we get there, and if he just see’s the promised land of the title as the be all and end all, worth 38 dull one nils no problem?
After all when the history books are wrote it won’t say slogged to the tenth, it will say landed the historic tenth.

The pressure is bound to get to some, that was always inevitable, but is this one season were perhaps we could forgive the performance for the result?
Surely if that is going to happen this year would be the prime candidate?
Yet Tannadice shows even if the points are brought home, three points that are really needed, complaints can and will follow, tenth season or not.

This tells me the Celtic fans don’t just want this or any league merely delivered, they want it in style, they want no questions asked who was the better team. Regardless of what is at stake.
Like I say, it’s a tough old gig.
Still, you’re very lucky if you can get it.

RIP Pat Mc Cluskey

The above by Mahe.
sentinelcelts@gmail.com