I remember singing “It’s going to be 10 in a row”, but back then 10 had no significance. Neither did 9, it was like 8 in a row, another stop along the way. But when Jock Stein’s team finished their spectacular domination of the Scottish game in 1974 with nine successive titles and four European Cup semi-finals, “Nine in a row” became a phrase with extraordinary substance.
Of course, in years to come, for others, nine in a row became a target to surpass. In the late eighties Rangers changed the financial parameters of Scottish football for some time, and set their own course towards liquidation, but on the park, they swept all before them in the domestic game. By summer 1997 they had won their won nine in a row. McEwan’s lager billboard adverts featured the club with the line, “9 out of 10, could do better”. And didn’t we know it.
Celtic were in disarray having sacked Tommy Burns and with our three most cherished players, Di Canio, Cadete and van Hooijdonk on their way out the door. The new managerial appointment “the second worst thing to happen to Hiroshima”, as our mainstream media portrayed him to Celtic fans, arrived only two weeks before the start of the season.
After losing the first league game of the season at Easter Road Celtic lost 1-2 at home to Dunfermline; they were leading at half time. 10 in a row seemed inevitable but this season was the greatest example of why the prevailing currents of football are now always evident on the surface.
Have a read at this from the Independent after that defeat to Dunfermline:
“[The home supporters] cannot be fooled – even as the teams were announced it was clear they are unconvinced by the new signings. The mention of Pierre van Hooijdonk, Paolo Di Canio and Jorge Cadete before a game was enough a year ago to raise the roof in anticipation. On Saturday, Henrik Larsson and Regi Blinker hardly registered in the approval stakes.
“Larsson’s poor touch too often saw him lose possession. The blunt truth is he is not a proven goalscorer and Jock Brown, the general manager, will have to add fire power to the team.”
Don’t be too harsh on the journo who penned this, few dissented, and Jock Brown’s reputation was pretty much set by these incredibly inaccurate reviews. Although, “blunt truth” has never been used with such laxity.
The towns of the west of Scotland can be dangerous places after big football games but not 15 years ago today, when Celtic beat St Johnstone to win the league for the first time in a decade. Celtic fans of all ages poured onto the streets as the spirit of carnival took hold.
I remember hooped fans sitting on top of a set of traffic lights in Lanarkshire; green, amber, red, then rows of green and white. I walked around Hamilton town centre that night. For an evening, every pub was a Celtic pub, with rules about wearing colours suspended, and singing was celebrated.
And sing we did.
At the end of the night I could be found singing “Cheerio to 10 in a row” at a taxi rank outside a nightclub. The ‘brave’ soul standing in front of me waited until his taxi was moving away before mumbling his offenses out of the window.
Last summer I did an interview with Tony Hamilton for Celtic TV . When we drilled into what really made an impact on me as a Celtic fan I had no hesitation on placing that game against St Johnstone above Champions League victories, qualifying for a European final or beating Barcelona. We aspire to move beyond the confines of Scottish football but for 125 years this has been our home. In all that time, in domestic or European football, there have been, at most, only two more important games.
Enjoy the memories, but don’t play that George O’Boyle leap over in your mind; just in case you imagine him a few inches higher.
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Bada Bing _
Eh? Where is the contradiction in those 2 comments?
Take your time :-)
Same first name as me….
Not Bada :}
“I don’t see how the media linking Neil Lennon with a possible move to Everton can be construed as anti-Celtic reporting”
” Can’t believe there is a discussion on who Lenny’s replacement should be. ”
How about that? Take your time.
ASonOfDan
19:44 on
9 May, 2013
phyllis dietrichson
He made it plain he considered the SPL beneath him when he was riding high at Bolton.
A manager turning his nose up at the Celtic job because he is riding high at Bolton. A ludicrous sentence when you stop and think about it
Don’t you just hate it when someone comes on and tells us they know something big but can’t tell because they’re sworn to secrecy?
“So why mention it? Asshole!” John Travolta – Pulp Fiction.
Teuchter ar la
Just back from Mass and noticed your post.The Postie has been sent to pastures new,in deepest West Lothian,the rumour is that a certain person,no names,spread the word that he was a sevconian HH.
!!Bada Bing!! 19:51:
My post at 19:45?
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Bada –
It is the media’s job to speculate.
We are Celtic fans and we are discussing our manager’s replacement when he hasn’t said he is leaving.
Good evening Timland
If Neil is offered the Everton job he
should take it………for his and his
family’s sake………he will never get
peace in this God forsaken country.
Love it brnobhoy
I will tell you what I think will happen with the Everton vacancy. Everton will talk to Martinez and Neil, possibly O’Neill. I also think Neil wants to talk to Everton.
Now nobody knows who the next Everton Manager will be.Time will tell.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Someone could perhaps ask Neil Lennon if his agent has been looking at potential moves to England for him for the last 5 months.
That should result in a simple yes or no answer.
Teuchter/fanadpatriot
Come on ghuys, give this Tim a break.Crucified for an innocent mistake , instantly rectified upon reading back.
Please don’t turn it into the ‘ great Sevconian postie rumble ‘ again.
PMSL
Hail Hail to u both.
Hail Hail to Kev
My understanding is that Alex Ferguson turned down the Ran666ers job whilst at Aberdeen because he wasn’t given assurances that he could sign any player no matter what religion they were. I also believe that Jim MacLean turned it down on the same principle. They thought they were getting old fashioned Rangers men but they were wrong. They ended up going back for “Jungle fighter” Jock Wallace.
The Comfortable Collective –
He could reply NO to that question and it still doesn’t rule out Everton making him an offer.
Fergie for Celtic the Football Merry-Go- Round
Glendalystonsils-Coyle knocked us back when he was at the mighty Burnley.
Lot of speculation about NL tonight.
If Neil wants to leave he won’t say anything before the cup final. If he goes that’s fine, the club will survive, unlike others we always have.
If NL wants to stay that’s fine.
I don’t see the point in putting more pressure on him and the players before the cup final.
Lennybhoy-the clue is here- The Comfortable Collective
20:01 on
9 May, 2013
Someone could perhaps ask Neil Lennon if his agent has been looking at potential moves to England for him for the last 5 months.
Can someone spell out what makes NFL a ‘wanted’ manager
If NFL ‘s team loses the cup-final is he sackable?
I have never believed the story that Ferguson turned down the Huns because he was married to a Catholic.
It’s a myth.
Tom McLaughlin
19:54 on
9 May, 2013
Don’t you just hate it when someone comes on and tells us they know something big but can’t tell because they’re sworn to secrecy?
“So why mention it? Asshole!” John Travolta – Pulp Fiction.
easy to see why guys on here fall out with you my friend.
Lenny stays …Lenny goes ….such is life
IMO Lenny has done a decent job at CFC ….no more no less …
Burghbhoy
You are forgiven,but poor Postie sent amongst the hillbillies never to be seen wearing a Celtic scarf again,on his daily run.
People falling out with me? Never.
:-)
tom mclaughlin
19:57 on 9 May, 2013
…………
Tom it’s a fitba blog using new media, we’re Celts and want to discuss potential changes at Celtic, scroll on bye if ye dinnae like it amigo.
Ps hope yir well.
V
SOAL @ 20:07,
That’s not as daft as it sounds, elegant solution also.
Hail! Hail!
Tom :>)
I hope the Easedales take over at ibrox …..they gave Sally a ringing endorsement
It will be hilarious ….crap manager, skint and run by gangsters …
Fanadpatriot
Give the postie my sincerest condolences and thank him for his services.
Maybe he can’t wear his Celtic scarf openly in bandit country but he could always wear the hoops under his uniform!!
Hail Hail
!!Bada Bing!! 20:10:
Cheers mate, backs up what I hear, see my post at 19:58. And on Coyle, in my opinion he had his chance, made his Bed in my opinion.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Vmhan –
Point taken.
Here are my thoughts, Managers, players come and go, some will always have a link to us , they may have been fans before they laced their boots and taking to the field. Celtic if you want is something bigger, to each fan it may mean something different, but wherever you find yourself in the world, when you meet another Tim something happens, I dont know what it is but you just know you and that person share something that you can’t explain, and I know because this has happened to me in many many countries
Neil may go , he may stay, regardless I know that if I meet another Tim 20 years from now, anywhere in this world Celtic will still mean we are part of something bigger than us
Brnobhoy
How about Paul Lambert as Lenny’s replacement, with Henke as his assistant?
My two cents worth……
NFL is a fan in our manager’s job and is IMHO doing an honest and progressive job
I love the bhoy to bits because I know that he will always do the very best he can for our club
So until someone can show me different from the above he has my full support especially living with his family andworking inthe environment of Scoddish fitba !
GBNFL
Just my opinion
My tuppence worth.
This is an opportune time for Lenny as I believe he’s negotiating his contract and possibly player budget for next seasons attempt at CL and SPL.
Why shouldn’t he go looking at what’s available? Another thing, I’ll bet he’s on a helluva lot less than MON was being paid.
Standing up for NFL CSC
HH