History will record that season 2012-13 was more successful for Celtic than season 2013-14 but the champions’ league performances this season have been comparable only to those of season 2003-04, when the club completed a 25 game winning streak.
With seven games to go we have already collected five points more than the team which reached the knock out stages of the Champions League last season, and this season we have had a worthy competitor for second place, who are favourites to complete the domestic treble of League Cup, Scottish Cup and Best of the Rest titles.
Kris Commons, Virgil van Dijk and Fraser Forster have correctly gained enormous plaudits throughout the season but the story of Celtic’s success is more nuanced. We don’t just have a great keeper and a great central defender, we have a central defensive partnership which is better than either of the two partnerships I watched in the Manchester derby on Tuesday night.
In other times the story of our season would be the injuries at right back, but the standard of cover there, with Lustig, Matthews and Fisher, is such that no one really noticed.
The strikers didn’t really get going until Leigh Griffiths arrived in January, and much of our player investment over the summer missed the target. This had consequences on the autumn, when we came up short of last season’s (over) achievements in the Champions League, but we have a plentiful squad of players, including Forster, Lustig, Matthews, Izaguirre, Ambrose, van Dijk, Brown, Johansen and Commons who are more than capable at Champions League level, with others knocking at the door.
Congratulations to Neil, his technical team, the many who work to keep the ship pointing in the right direction, some behind the scenes and some front of house, and to each of the players who left their mark in the history books.
On the equivalent day six years ago, we recorded that Gordon Strachan had joined Willie Maley and Jock Stein as the only Celtic managers to have won three consecutive titles. Neil Lennon’s name is now added to that list.
With all this championship coverage, did the phrase ‘Good day to bury bad news’ slip into anyone’s mind? “There is a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence”.
You know when your chairman tells you he has a reasonable expectation the company will continue in existence that there’s nothing to worry about. All the doubters have been put in their place.
Seville – The Celtic Movement, is out now:
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Celtic issue an apology for winning the league.
There will be people on the pitch at the Edinburgh derby on Sunday if either team wins. I would put all the money I have on that.
It comes with the excitement of the game.
LB
Cabinet Office Briefing Room A meeting to be convened tomorrow to discuss frightened and uncomfortable Partick Thistle fans.
Remember this, if Celtic had won the treble this season, we would be getting told it only happened because there is no team called Rangers in our league.
I’ll settle for the same again next season (winning the league and qualifying for the Champions League) because it will ensure we move even further ahead of any team called Rangers.
Sir Paul
Of Course, Indubitably, we are a Far Superior Team than we were Last Year..n.. the Year Before…n .. the Year Before that … Before!
Neil, has assembled a Team ,that Is Improving by Leaps …n which.. Diznae Know no Bounds.
Our League Results,this Season.. Speak fur Themselves..
n .. if yer listen ,carefully..
Ye wull Here Them say…
“Yes, we have Improved.. Immensely.”
n..in Ma book.. League Results, are whit it is awe aboot..
Sure,we slipped..n Slid..n.. Flopped… In Embarrassment..in Two Cup Compos..
Well.. that is because..
Of……
well.. Ah wullnae go intae that.. as ..At this Time..
‘
Ah Hiv Come tae Praise, Oor Manager..no .. tae.. Denigrate Him..~
Yesterday’s, Game.. showed Extended Flashes o’.. “My Word, Chaps.. we are Getting there!” moments.
Yes.. We are oan the Road.. the Wan Road..
tae.. Emulating a Reprise of the Team of Nineteen Sixty Seven..
N… Ah mean that.
Neil, Ye ur daeing a fine Joab..n .. Ah wish Ye well!
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
Good afternoon all.
Bayern win their league with seven games to go = super elite football team.
Celtic win the league with seven games to go = piss poor league with no competition.
This is what we have to live with. Shabby.
Weefra HH supporting and praying for Wee Oscar.
Boaby
You and yer brothers starting a new bus?!
JudithChalmersCSC
Never in the country :-)
Any truth in the suggestion that Celtic fans fashioned their old school 70s silk Celtic scarves into cravats in order to sneak their way into the Jackie Husband stand last night?
#FenianConservatoireCSC
Alex Salmond planning another summit (or other) after the disgraceful scenes at Firhill last night when thousands of Celtic fans invaded the pitch and stewards were assaulted by some visiting players hell-bent on celebrating winning the league.
Weefra……..
It’s huns that are telling us that p*sh! Don’t let them get to you!
No words necessary, just laugh in their faces!
I know who is going to sleep well tonight!
C’MON THE CELTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Glass Two Thirds Full @ 14.45
Yes, Biton looks very promising. He’s only been out of the team for a couple of weeks and I forgot him!
I’d still prefer a specialist left back as cover for Izzy, but Adam M. was great in the win against Barca. I think Charlie’s too slow in that position against top opposition.
God save us from the idiocy of butterfly minds and tabloid thinking.
I swear, there are people who cannot analyse their own thoughts and can believe that today black is white, even though I told you the opposite yesterday.
We get the blog we make. No more lazy thought.
Livibhoy 14:39
Thanks buddy we are staying right beside Ryries at the premier inn Haymarket, so both those mentioned would be an option but I will chase up Nick as I have already spoken to him but I only got in touch the facebook page so don’t have a number, suppose I might just have to call into dropkick murphys tomorrow aswell,
Thanks anyway
Navanbhoy
philbhoy
As you say, and I could not give a hoot. I’ll take it every season. Incidentally, I took that from twitter. :-)))
Weefra HH supporting and praying for Wee Oscar.
Four young Celts in the Scotland Under-17 team that beat Belgium 3-1 yesterday. Let’s hope Liam Henderson is only the first of many.
Steinreigned
“I’ll settle for the same again next season (winning the league and qualifying for the Champions League) because it will ensure we move even further ahead of any team called Rangers.”
Any celtic fan who was alive during the laudrup/ Tannadice game that HT mentioned earlier would agree.
If not for the reason you give, for the way they felt that day.
navanbhoy
Didn;t even realise they had a Facebook page. Will need to have a look. Was thinking of joining that bus myself.
LB
weefrathetim 15:09
It’s amazing what Bayern have done – even without having a team in their league that need dodgy injury-time penalties to beat joiners and plasterers :-)
Any news on wee Oscar today please?
Thought Liam Henderson looked ridiculously mature last night for one who isn’t even old enough to drink the celebration champagne.
Great to see him and the rest of the team genuinely thrilled at scoring his first goal.
Real potential in him . No question.
LiviBhoy
Yes it’s the Herriot Watt Edinburgh university CSC (or something like that) a long name for me!!!!
Bom dia (again).
Tonight’s Libertadores Rnd 5 games (last six of this round are next week)
18:30 Lanus (Arg) v C.Porteño (Par)
Two teams finding their form, just when it looked like it may be too late. Lanus desperate for a win to keep in contention. Porteño (last game at home to Cali) knowing that while a win would seal it for them, a draw’s not the end of the world.
Beaten 2-0 by River at the weekend, with regular keeper Marchesin serving his second game of a two match suspension, Lanus once more having to rely on stand-in keeper Andrada in this one.
Porteño had a credible 2-2 draw in a their weekend derby duel with Olimpía. Key man for them will be Spanish forward, Dani Guiza who manager Arce see’s as giving them team more options than Guillermo Beltran.
Prediction : DRAW (but don’t bet on it)
20:45 Inde del Valle (Ecu) v San Lorenzo (Arg)
A match with two surprising teams – IDV have been surprisingly good, whilst San Lorenzo have been surprisingly bad.
IDV with home pitch and altitude advantage(IDV play at Sanloqui an outlying suburb of Quito, altitude 2,800m) will be desperate to get three points here (and hoping that Botafogo beat Espanola next week).
San Lorenzo now haven’t won a match in their last five outings and coach Bauza is running out of “tinkering time” to find that elusive winning formation.
Prediction : HOME WIN (65%)
23:00 Universitario (Per) v Strongest (Bol)
Will Universitario go thru six group games without scoring a goal is about the most interesting thing that can be said about them. However, new manager “Chemo” del Solar has promised that he will halt their current run of thirteen games without a win. Will he?
The Strongest desperate for three points to keep up the challenge here are likely to play a line-up unchanged from the side which lost 2-0 away to Velez last week. After last night’s result in Paranã, Strongest now need no motivation to do well tonight.
Prediction : AWAY WIN (70%)
glasstwothirdsfull
I happen to think what we have done is amazing also. :-))
philbhoy
Haven’t seen anything from their twitter account today, will keep all updated as and when any info comes out.
Weefra HH supporting and praying for Wee Oscar.
Weefrathe Tim
Thanks!
Wee Fra Tim
Hiya, Pally?
Pleased tae greet ,ye.. Ah’m sure.
Yes.. Celtic, ur oan the road back..
Ah hiv noticed a few signs..that Portend tae that..
n.. the Wan that is sticking oot like. BARNEY GOOGLE’S. Googly Eyes!
is.
Celtic’s Mid-Fielders.. in oor Newly Re-Furbished .. Biler Room…
are . Actually.. Feedin’ the Biler.. Shovellin’, the Coal.. in stead o’ .. Staunin aboot.. thinkin aboot “How Green wuz Ma Valley”.. like wan o oor former Mid-fielders wiz wont tae dae.
Ah Hiv said this afore..
“Celtic’s Trouble..in the Main..is Not oor Lack o’ a Free Scoring Striker..
Oor Trouble is the result of oor.. POOR MID-FIELD.”
Noo.. that Observation ..in no longer.. Cogent..
‘Cos… Neil, has Re-Furbished that.. n. He Has Done a Real Fine Joab of It..
Ah am very Pleased at whit Ah see in the Gallus Bustin’ Potential.. o’ oor Present Cadre of Promising Mid Fielders..
Yes, Virginia..
Neil, Has cut the Gordian Knoat..
Celtic , are not oon oan the Right Road. the Wan Road.. tae C.L. Greatness..
N.. ye kin quote Me..oan that..
Nice Chattin’, Pally..
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
not = NOO..
Damn, that Spell -Checker…
Kojo
Still,Lauhin’, though.
Kojo
Great points, oh great one. I think NFL will strengthen for the CL campaign although this side could improve immensely just by staying together. IMHO!
Weefra HH supporting and praying for Wee Oscar.
If you peruse the extended Celtic Squad, there are 35 players listed on Official site and neither Eoghan O’Connell or Callum McGregor are included on that list. If Lenny brings in another 4 or 5 that would give us a pool of 41/42 players assuming no one else from the Development squad gets promoted. One would imagine that there will be quite a few released or sold. I hate to see young talent going when they haven’t been given a chance to establish themselves in the first team but I suppose you just have to trust Lenny & his Management team in that respect.
Kojo
“Damn, that Spell -Checker…”
I had a genuine laugh out loud there kodge:)
setting free the bears supports Res. 12 & Oscar Knox
14:35 on
27 March, 2014
!967 Open Top was restricted to track at CP. And it was a coal lorry.
quonno
Coal lorry, luxury!
Went on a Scout Camp in 1970 on the back of an earth moving truck to get the train to Kent. 30 boys, three Scoutmasters and luggage including tents!
Health and Safety would have a fit these days.
Geordie Munro 15:26 on 27 March, 2014
They are hurting and they are hurting real bad.
The laptop loyal are virtually crying in public.
I do not know of any other club that receives so much negative publicity after becoming champions of their country.
Representatives of our club are not asked about building on our success. Instead they are constantly given questions about a team which no longer exist, about the future of our manager, and the future of our players.
I do not get angry about it though. I actually enjoy it because it means Celtic are going in the right direction and they are terrified over the prospect of our continued dominance.
They had better get used to it.
“On the equivalent day six years ago, we recorded that Gordon Strachan had joined Willie Maley and Jock Stein as the only Celtic managers to have won three consecutive titles. Neil Lennon’s name is now added to that list”.
Not bad in the face of concerted Establishment cheating and Brotherhood interference at every level.
Congratulations to Neil Francis Lennon
‘Celtic FC are to be investigated by the SFA, the SPFL and Police Scotland after 17 year old Liam Henderson was seen to take a sip of champagne in the away dressing room after the club had clinched their third successive league title at Firhill last night. The legal drinking age in Scotland is 18.’
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/from-the-archive-scotlands-award-winning-sports-personalities.2012123437
Celtic lift the European Cup on the back of a Coal truck.
SRS
“I do not get angry about it though. I actually enjoy it because it means Celtic are going in the right direction and they are terrified over the prospect of our continued dominance.”
My sentiments exactly.
HH
Tlwio
If we can hold onto what we have (including Sammi) two or Three additins and we will have a team that will do very very well at all levels.
Tallybhoy
Wot ? No Uefa investigation.
Someone has slipped up there. Badly.
I demand to know who they are.