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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Just heard that the trouble last night from the jags fans had been very organised. They have been rehearsing for weeks but unfortunately on Wednesday morning the leader of the pack, Tweed McQueen, got a final call as the passer-by in River City.
Just think how bad it would have been, if Tweed had made it.
AmbroseisapansyCSC
DjYNWA67
Wee bit unfair about the Morton game ? He just slipped after all.
the previous post was in response to BMWC (who has clearly been celebrating well into the noon after the night before)
___________________________________-
justafan
I aint suggesting that Efe was a stand alone loser in those games, i’m just giving my opinion on his ability as a central defender. Im just giving my opinion as a counter to what others are suggesting “that efe is our most improved player this year” which I totally disagree with.
When the going gets tough, Efe doesn’t gets going!
THM
Let’s just share a pint at one of the wee CQN get togethers .
What are the scores on the doors?
TT
tom molach
I thought it was brilliant. And a great idea for this saturday. On another subject, if you all want to know what lambing is all about??? Beeb2 now. :-))))
Weefra HH supporting and praying for Wee Oscar.
When I see these stats for Lisbon I can’t get my head around howi mpressive they are.
https://twitter.com/joebhoy2412/status/449276911483899904/photo/1
clinko
Yer right of course!
I never noticed the lol at the end of your post.
Erse (me that is!).
HH!!
Djynwa67
Efe was only culpable in the morton game for being guilty of falling and having the ball played against his arm. Never seen a penalty given like it since. 6 nil in the camp nou? Never heard of it.
Tet, you didny. But somebody did;)
TT, the five you mention have had bigger humpings than efe and vvd.
Apoligies to Bobby Murdochs Curled Up Winkle Pickers.
I was actually adressing 67th Heaven.
Tt
Stokes must be 10 ahead by now.
I’ll do the maths one day.
Bottle I owe you.
Hail hail
eddieinkirkmichael
James McGrory has fair claim to the title of Celtic’s Greatest Player.
Wonder if we have anyone on CQN who can remember him playing ?
Thm or tinyt
What was the bet again?
I remember you guys making it but canny remember the specifics.
Efe and Virgil compliment each other wouldnt swap them for any other partnership in Britain.
djynwa…
tbh I’m partially in agreement with you in that both Efe and VVD have been afforded over praise.
That’s not to say they are bad players of course but only the hyperbole has been a tad OTT.
Now I happen to think Virgil looks as if he could be a really really good player. Efe seems more of a free spirit, play it off the cuff type which is never a comfort in a central defender BUT is well in keeping with the historical Celtic ethos!
He is I think worthy of the shirt and we’ve had many not as good as him in the many years I’ve watched Celtic.
HH
67heaven,
In the eighties and nineties that could have been me at most games :))
I’m still astounded at posters recollections of games they attended years ago. HH
Tooomuchbevycfc.
BIG-CUP-WINNERS
20:21 on
I’ll miss the quiz tomorrow mate as I’ve got a wedding to attend, will be back for the following weeks one.
Evening everyone. A beard just dropped a yes campaign paper through my door. Nice guy, even when I said I wouldn’t vote. Better together have given hee haw.
eddieinkirkmichael
I’m going to the boozers after work, right now I’m full of good intentions to get home for 9pm.
Can’t guarantee the scoring will be correct……
BCW…
Can’t claim to have seen him play but did shake the Great McGrory’s hand and had a photo taken with him and my pal. Think I was about 13!
I feel blessed!
Sispini
Sorry been out.
Ya cheeky bugger, as everyone knows on CQN, when I make a daftie of myself live on SKY at a Celtic game I’m far more elegant :-)
justafan
20:23 on
27 March, 2014
djynwa…
tbh I’m partially in agreement with you in that both Efe and VVD have been afforded over praise.
That’s not to say they are bad players of course but only the hyperbole has been a tad OTT.
Now I happen to think Virgil looks as if he could be a really really good player. Efe seems more of a free spirit, play it off the cuff type which is never a comfort in a central defender BUT is well in keeping with the historical Celtic ethos!
I haven’t mentioned VVD in any of my comments today.
Someone said that Efe is our most improved player this season, I disagreed with that & I stated why I disagree with that.
If you ask me who I believe our most improved player is this season, I would probably give that accolade to Emilio Izaguirre for the way in which he mans that left flank or Charlie Mulgrew for the way he has settled into his new role in the middle of the park.
Was the Liverpool game last night the highest ever viewing figures in world football
the reaction of learned cqn and longtime celtic fans (didn’t want to use aged there) to vvd and effe is very very promising
Whats the latest on wee Oscar??
big-cup-winners
20:21 on 27 March, 2014
“James McGrory has fair claim to the title of Celtic’s Greatest Player.
Wonder if we have anyone on CQN who can remember him playing ?”
Oh! Come on. A cqner would need to be over 80 years old. No chance.
Or can anyone prove me wrong? Anyone over 80 on here?
Who’s the oldest lurker or contributor?
Geordie Munro.
It was a goal scorer challenge from October to the end of season:
stokes vs balde and sammi.
I blame sammi’s beard.
Hh.
Tom Molach
ElDiegohoy
djynwa…
Comments on VVD entirely on my own volition…no charge lol
Good shout re Izzy!
Celtic’s greatest? My grandfather watched Celtic from the 20’s until the Dalglish era, and he thought Patsy Gallagher was the best by far. Bob Kelly also thought that.
Just sent a tweet to John Beattie to ask if Chic Young had given him those questions to ask PL.
I thought the guy had half a brain and could actually think for himself, but his questions were just standard MSM narrative, completely devoid of any insight.
Only Spence has any credibility in a department that must consume millions of taxpayers money.
the spirit of arthur lee
20:43 on 27 March, 2014
Brilliant. I’ve a question I need to ask him about Ramsay MacDonald and whether he thinks he’d vote YES or NO in the upcoming referendum.
Surely No, No, No, No, No – GM?
Tom Molach
His last game was in October 1937, he scored then too, in a win over QP.
Suppose anyone would have to be 88 plus ?
vogue punter
Re Stuttgart.
Quite correct.
And, to think, I had taken off my socks and shoes to count that up too. :-)
Re James McGrory,
I never saw him play but met him when our boys guild had a visit to Celtic Park in late 50’s/early 60’s. Must have been in winter as we were led down the tunnel and the floodlights were switched on for us.
Efe, hid a Great Game.. Agin the Jags.
Ah hid him Penciled in.. fur the Man o the Match.. In the First Period, in yesterday’s Confronto.
Howevahhhhhhhh..
Due. tae the Mad Goal Rush in the Second Period..
Ah hid tae back doon.. as .. well..
Folk , Luv tae see a Goal Rush.. so.. Although, Efe, continued tae Please Me.. in the Second Half..
Ah reckoned that .. naming him as the Man o the Match. wid hid bin Buckin’ the Tiger.
Nevertheless..
Ah am Jist Mad aboot the Lad,,,
Efe.. is getting bettah n Bettah.. He may soon hiv Even Mair Ardent Suitors than
Virgil. come A Chap, Chap , Chappin’,, at the Front Door…which is Saying a Loat.. but, n Ah hiv just Said it, Anywey!
So there!
We hiv goat a right good Covey o’ Clevah Young Players, Sproutin’ like Turnips .. n showing awe sorts o’ Potentiality.. within oor Ranks..
n.. Because they ur awe Relatively Youngish..
They will only get Bettah n Bettah.
Which is a Loat Bettah than hivin a Crop o oldsters,like Commons.. n.. Well.. Commons.. who is No gonna get any younger .. n so will get..’
Worser n Worser..
In Ma opinion. Commons ,his , Peaked..like Smokey the Bear’s Hat..
so ye know noo whit THAT means.
Yep.. It wull be awe doonhill fur.. Commons, frun noo oan.
Ah hiv bin Hivin’ V ISIONS…. that..
This Young Team o Oors.. is Gonna Mak us Happy..
In This comin’.. C.L. League..
Ah am eethur, hivin’ a Religious Revelation.. or..
Ah am As Nutty as a Fruit Cake!!
You tell Me!
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
Radio Scotland was an exercise in anti CFC comment for the most part this evening
That and an a attempt at rewriting RFC history
Forsyth sounds reasonably intelligent at first blush ….however , in a short time discloses himself as a bitter twisted Hun ….tonight he was ridiculously uncomplimentary re CFC and regurgitated the cracker that RFC were financially sound when Whyte took over and that our hero was entirely to blame for their demise
In contrast Richard Wilson appeared fair and reasonable
The MSM barbs don’t concern me like they used to …..in truth I find them quite amusing ….they really are hurting …great
SOAL
Guilty as charged but get the spelling right:o)