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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FFM, no worries about the ranting, we’ve met and I probably ranted a bit, although it’s all a bit fuzzy, except FGF’s funky dancing and 16 roads perversion for bouncy castles (WTF):-).
Anyway, without getting into a big political debate all night, I’ll chuck in that the SNP have saved me £36’000 on princess ACGR’s university fee’s. I’m hoping they save me an equal amount within the next five on young ACGR. If he goes to uni in Scotland I’m quids in, if not, I’m skint.
I’d be a hypocryte if I didnt say I was chuffed to bits about that.
selfishbastard.com
My local deacon asked today when leaving mass how I was voting in the referendum.
He is of Irish ancestry and his wife is from north of Inverness somewhere, Dornoch I think.
I quickly explained the thinking behind Salmond’s bill and the subsequent police oppression of Celtic fans.
He thinks we have grounds for a political asylum case.
Quiet nightshift tonight.
Ill away take my meds and chill out.
clear blue skies over G72…
won’t last will it?
Sweltering here in South East Asia at mid-day……relentless!
TBM
tic1 –
We didn’t lose to Dunfermline that day at East End Park. It was 1-1.
We needed 3 points to win the league.
Lovely Morning in G72 … hopefully continues for tonight’s Q&A then the trophy presentation tomorrow
It’s winter like in Manchester
V
Vmhan
Have a great holiday there in lanzarote .
Vmhan
Belated birthday greetings from Mexico.
Y Oz.
Pity aboot Efrain Juarez.:-(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvmF_rWsBZA
.
Samaras: We’ll be back for more glory next season
GEORGIOS SAMARAS expects his title-winning team-mates to be in demand.
Georgios Samaras expects Neil Lennon to be targetted by other clubs
And he knows that with Sir Alex Ferguson and Davie Moyes sparking a managerial merry-go-round in England, boss Neil Lennon is likely to be hunted too.
But the Greek striker – now six years at Parkhead – reckons if everyone currently at Celtic shows the same staying power as he has done, the Hoops can develop from this season and reach new heights next term.
Samaras has revelled in Celtic’s championship success, and especially the progress made in the Champions League.
Getting to the group stages, beating Barcelona and Spartak Moscow and enjoying a last-16 clash with Juventus was the highlight of the campaign for every player and fan.
Yet while Everton could be tempted to take the plunge with Lennon, and with Gary Hooper, Victor Wanyama and Fraser Forster just three of the players who have caused a stir down south, Samaras is desperate for the status quo to remain.
“We have a lot of young players and they can be really good players,” said Samaras.
“They can play at a high level and if we stay the same team with the same manager, next season can be even better.”
And Samaras insists Lennon is central to the club going forward.
He added: “He is key to our success, as are the players. We’ve had a really good season, but what changed were the Champions League nights.
“In his first year, we had the same team and played really good football but lost the SPL trophy by one point.
“Last year with the same team and same manager, we won the SPL and had a good run in the Europa League.
“This year we’ve won the league again but the Champions League made people see us from a different angle maybe.
“Other clubs will come and see players, for sure. And teams will come to the see the manager.
“The manager hasn’t changed this season. He has the same mentality.
“He knows the club really well and his football really well.
“He played at a high level with Celtic and won trophies here. He played Champions League and he knows how to approach the games.
We have a lot of young players and they can be really good players,
“For a young team like us which had players who had no Champions League experience, he is the perfect man to lead us.”
The normal path for players and coaches in recent years is to beat a path to England.
Samaras bucked that trend when he came to Celtic first on loan from Manchester City, and then joined on a permanent basis in 2007.
And he places great stock in being valued and respected regardless of which club he’s at.
After a rough time at City, Samaras found happiness at Parkhead and he knows the grass isn’t always greener down south.
He said: “Normally it is hard to make a career away from everyone you love.
“You need to find where you feel important and you feel like people take care of you and love you, a place like that feels like home.
“It was a strange period for me at Manchester City. I changed three managers and three boards, including the guy from Thailand and the people from the Emirates.
“It was not a stable situation there. But I think here [Celtic] everything is stable and really quiet and the only thing you can do is focus on your football.
“You know you have people around you who take care of you.”
Samaras is now back in full training after taking advantage of the break offered to him and several other players by boss Lennon.
The 28-year-old took a week to rest his mind and body and is now planning for the Scottish Cup Final against Hibs on May 26, and an early start to preparations for next season.
“A couple of guys have had the chance to rest their bodies, clear their minds, and come back really focused for the cup final, which is really important for us,” said Samaras.
“It’s our last game of the season and we want to finish with the double.”
Summa
Good morning friends and a Big Happy Sunshine Filled Friday from a clear skied EK.
Looking forward to meeting some of you this evening.
Vhman:
Have a great holiday.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Summa –
I had a beer with Big Chris a few weeks back.
He was telling me all about you ya big rascal ye :-)
.
Retweet..Toffee Quick News..@SydneyToffeeTim.. Good riddance to Moyes..I have said it since the Wayne Rooney Window..You can all believe Kenrights Spin..I Don’t..We need a Center Half a Creative Midfielder.,a Striker..Oohh and Errrrmm a Manager..Where is the Rooney Money..? Retweeted by @KevDrinkwallJungle
..;-)
Summa of ScouseSydneyJungleCSC
Cracking wee morning in G77, still cold though. Looking forward to trophy presentation tomorrow afternoon.
Good morning all you bhoys/ghirls in green on the eve of another title party ,the sun is shining and the air is clean (for another few years at least ).
To all you bhoys going to the Q&A session tonight beware the interloper and may I suggest someone records the proceedings as a certain tribute act has STs to flog and I have a feeling there will be more than a few rallying call reports getting aired tomorrow .
Hope you all have a great night tonight and an even better tomorrow.
C’mon the Hooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooops
Vmhan – enjoy Lanzarote
Summa @ 7:06 – very good, Mate ;-) Off oot tae work…
.
Tom McLaughlin
07:03 on
10 May, 2013
Summa –
I had a beer with Big Chris a few weeks back.
He was telling me all about you ya big rascal ye :-)
..
Ha Ha..Divide what he told You by 10 then Multiple by 3.142..T
.
Oops..Then you will Get how much l Drink..;-))))))
Summa of CiderCSC
Whither the cash strapped scrofulous hillbillies the day?
Morning bhoys,Vmhan have a great holiday.
Morning all from a manky Manchester it feels like October thank The Lord for heated seats in the cab!!
Gonesaftinmyauldage CSC
Can’t stop laughing @corsica1968 7 May
@rfc_dickson PS: Having a legitimate interest in a corporation scamming charity is not causing trouble. It’s called public concern.
from corsica on twitter
Lenny should’ve got knighthood for this season.. he didn’t even get PFA award
By DAVID FRIEL
Published: 7 hrs ago
ARISE Sir Neil Lennon?
Celtic coach Danny McGrain has been in football long enough to know nothing should really shock him.
But the Hoops great still can’t believe his Parkhead boss was overlooked for PFA Manager of the Year.
McGrain has nothing against winner Allan Johnston and the superb job he’s done at Queen of the South.
But he believes Lenny should have been given a KNIGHTHOOD for his European achievements this season.
McGrain, 63, expects Lennon to be among the favourites for the Everton job after David Moyes joined Manchester United. And he is convinced the Celtic boss should get far more recognition.
He said: “I was disappointed for Lenny and I’m sure that he must have been disappointed not to get Manager of the Year from the PFA. It’s not right.
“The guy at Queen of the South has done a great job. But if it had been any team in England who beat Barcelona in the Champions League, the manager would have got a knighthood for it.
“I’ve got to think to myself, ‘Did this man get us to the last 16 of the Champions League?’. I’ve got to keep asking myself, ‘Did I dream all of that?’.
“Lenny has something special — a burning desire.
“He’s intelligent on cutting up teams and changing the team and so quick at making decisions. It might take two minutes or it might take five minutes but he’ll change it.”
The hunt for a successor to Moyes is now on, with Lennon joining the likes of Wigan boss Roberto Martinez in the thoughts of the Toffees board.
McGrain doesn’t know if Lenny would be tempted by Merseyside — and says he has plenty still to achieve at Celtic.
He said: “Would Everton be a step up? There’s no Champions League and I think Lenny wants to go further or as far as last year.
“Celtic are a big club, I know we’re a big club in a small goldfish bowl. I just hope he doesn’t go.
“Would he find it difficult to walk away? I think he would as he does enjoy it. Everton are not as big as Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham.
“Would he want to pursue these clubs or would he rather be at the top, winning the championship with Celtic?”
Whoever fills Moyes’ shoes has a task — but McGrain backed his one-time understudy’s Old Trafford appointment.
He said: “As a player at Celtic, Davie was alright! As a centre-half, he was good, but obviously not good enough for us to keep him long-term.
“He played right-back against Rangers one time when I was injured and we drew. He was up against Davie Cooper, who always gave me a hard time, but he did well. The fact Davie hasn’t won anything with Everton won’t matter.
“If it did, he wouldn’t have got the job. It’s the way Davie works that has got him the job. I think they are very similar in how they act.
“Sir Alex Ferguson has watched David and he’s ticked a lot of boxes in terms of how he goes about his business.”
McGrain was speaking as he launched the search for this year’s Scottish football Hall of Fame inductees.
And he insists Lennon must be in the running after 13 years as player, coach and boss at Celts.
He said: “Neil was a very good player. He made what he did look as if it was easy to do. Lenny did a great job for Celtic under Martin O’Neill and I wouldn’t be against him being in the Hall of Fame.
“He deserves to have his name up there — when you look at names like Maurice Johnston!
“But, yes, he’s got to be in there. As has Eddie Gray. I think Steve Chalmers is another candidate, as are both Jimmy Millar and Ralph Brand.”
Meanwhile, McGrain confirmed Celtic are looking at French trialist Steven Mouyokolo.
The former Hull and Wolves stopper, 26, is a free agent.
McGrain said: “Steven is here until the end of the week. He is tall, mobile and has a good physique, but he’s not a Bobo Balde.”
It’s fairly clear from this weeks lack of Sevco fallout that one thing has improved for them – leaks appear to have been limited. The MSM are getting some from whichever camp they are loyal to within the Sevco Board but our own Blogging Bampots seem to have a lot less info this time around.
However, the facts are still as plain as the nose on your face. Sevco are fecked.
Have a splendid day. The weekend is upon us.
On Saturday 2nd May 1998 I flew from New York to Glasgow and landed about 4pm. By the time I got through customs and collected my luggage it was 4:30. My brother was there to collect me, and he quickly ushered me towards the bar while telling me that Rangers were drawing 1-1 at home to Kilmarnock. We soon reached the bar where the usual results programme was on the TV, with the sound on mute.
Celtic started the day 1 point ahead of Rangers in the title race, and a single point at Ibrox would bring Rangers level with us, although we had a game in hand, which was against Dunfermline at East End Park the following day.
Rangers had a far superior goal difference, so a win at Dunfermline would leave us still needing a point from our final game to secure the championship and stop 10-in-a-row. I had a ticket for East End Park, but was happy in the knowledge that it was in our own hands, and if we had to wait until the last day of the season, then so be it.
That is until a big roar went up in the busy airport bar, interspersed by a few curses. Kilmarnock had taken the lead at Ibrox, deep into stoppage time. My brother and I danced and hugged, as did groups of Celtic men and woman in the bar. At full time, we set off for home and looking forward to Dunfermline and the League Championship.
Alas, Dunfermline scored late on and the game ended in a 1-1 draw, so going into the final game at home to St Johnstone, Celtic were 2 points clear. Another draw would leave the door open for Rangers to clinch 10-in-a-row with a victory at Tannadice.
I gave my ticket for the St Johnstone game to my father. I wanted him to witness this day.
My other brother and I were in a packed and nervous Bairds Bar listening to Radio Clyde updates. When Henrik scored early in the game, a street party erupted outside on the Gallowgate as supporters left the various bars and began to celebrate in style, if a bit prematurely. Towards the end we walked round to the stadium and stood with thousands of fellow supporters outside the main entrance. The atmosphere was very tense. People were quiet, everyone just staring up at the red brick façade as the precarious lead was maintained.
When Harald scored the second, the sense of relief was palpable. My brother and I hugged and shed tears along with many others as the emotion spilled out from one and all. The gates were opened and we moved into the front stand to be with my two sons and we were able to savour the on-field celebrations.
Due to work commitments, I flew back to the Big Apple the following afternoon, with one almighty hangover.
A momentous weekend, never to be forgotten.
It truly was a victory for the good guys . . . in every sense of the words.
Hail Hail
KevJungle –
If you’re about . . . When you go to the Q&A session tonight, I’d love for you to stand up and ask the panel a question and finish your question with the immortal words, “Off oot!”
Morning,all.
What a marvellous set of recollections of one of the best days to be a Celtic supporter. It won’t take much editing to be a chapter all of its own in this year’s CQN ANNUAL.
Fantastic,folks-grateful thanks.
Also managed to miss a pretty darn good Moonhowling shift,with the debate centred mainly on being chased by cows from Ayrshire.
As an Ayrshire lad myself,there’s a fair few would still like to chase me,problem is they will be armed this time!
Personally,I always found the herd of purple rhinoceroses which hung around Ardrossan Plantation at shutting-time to be fairly un-nerving.
I blame Reggie Perrin myself…….
From The Telegraph,a good piece about a legendary quartet of Scottish managers.
Spoiled a tad by a totally needless line,but still worth a wee look.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scotland/10046558/Why-working-class-Scots-boys-like-Alex-Ferguson-become-footballing-titans.html
FSTB
The hunterlopers/plants will be in for a lovely surprise on entry this evening.
Never fear 8-))
Some great stories on here about that day in 1998.. Hate the time difference with home and oz when there is good discussions on here and i miss out.
That day i was a 12yr old lad listening to game on radio with cousins in derry.
Hopefully next stories r about seville and where everyone one was one that day.
Keep the faith
P.s
Lenny will lead bhoys out tommorrow .. Sing loud and proud for them all. Wish i could be there to do it.
Croppies who will not lay down ✊
BT
What time is the kick – off tonight?
TT
BMCUW-Totally unnecessary line right enough.
.
Tom..
KevJungle Cannae stand Up he’s got a Bad Leg..:-)))))))
..
Summa of OffOotKevJungleSupportersClubCSC
BADA BING
Aye,the eejit…..
Y’alright,fella?
How did the meal with the better half at QUA go?
Well worth a lunchtime visit to INGRAM WYND next time yer in the vicinity.
.
blantyretim
08:01 on
10 May, 2013
FSTB
The hunterlopers/plants will be in for a lovely surprise on entry this evening.
Never fear 8-))
..
Is Declan a Bouncer.. ?
Checking for Celtic Tattoos..Ha
Summa