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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Should Neil Lennon be offered that job and leave (which I think highly unlikely) there is one positive – whoever comes in would be guaranteed to win the Championship and have the chance to build his own team and he would have John Park there to help him find the good players.
My biggest concern is the CL qualifiers starting 16th of July.
Continuity is very important there depending on the draw of course.
.
Mort..
Maybe we should spend the Crazy Season..(From when we Win the SC to First CL Game)..
Discussing this and Telling CELTIC FC Exactly how we Feel..RE; SKY Vs Celtic TV
Summa
SUMMA OF SAMMI
Sounds like a cracking weekend,bud.
My beer fridge takes 48 cans,but not for long!
Apologies for the girls comment-I must have picked you up wrongly.
TwoMacaroons
11:15 on
10 May, 2013
Wgs.
Maybe, but the trouble is Lenny will know exactly how much it will take for PL to punt him, no matter what big Vic wants.
That will be £25 million then as that is the quote NFL put out there a couple of months back :)
Hh
googybhoy ♥ Celtic
10:38 on 10 May, 2013
Much like Neil was for us.
On sky sports ,everton supporter anybody bar neil lennon,
If Lennon goes to Everton I hope he takes Efe Ambrose with him.
I’ll drive.
.
Bobby..
;-)
I Have 4 Fridges One bigger than Me..One for the Front Porch and 2 For TheVan..
No Worries Re;Ghirl Czech..
Summa
SUMMA OF SAMMI
Blinkin’ flip-good to know you have settled in well!
Everton skint because even in a team sans ‘superstars’ 78% of turnover goes in wages.
Offski for me,late on parade down the boozer.
I hope PHILVISRETURNS beats you all to the podium,haha!
HH&KTF……….
ole gp just given me more painkillers…. o))
That was a grand post…..
I think (hope) NFL stays to finish the job he started. Although I know the majority of fans want this there is the small minority who would like him to leave. There were a few on twitter basically telling him this, which I found incredible given the service NFL has given CFC.
If we get another couple of good runs in the CL then his stock will rise further and he could then leave with the fans blessings to a bigger and better club than Everton. He could also then be out of this ” great wee country” before sevco are back to bring there own special brand of sectarianism to confront him again ( if they survive ).
On the rolling contract issue I think this makes a lot of sense to a club like Celtic given the financial position we are in. Moyes has just signed a 6 year deal at united reportedly for £33million ( I know crazy) and Pardew an 8 year deal at newcastle on some other crazy figure. If these moves do not work out then there is a massive pay off to the managers. I know there will be clauses in the contracts but it will still be a considerable sum. The money that Celtic bring in even with CL money would be better used to buy players rather than paying off a manager and so reducing the funds any new manager would have to spend on players either on fees or salary. IMHO
Anyway NFL will stay for another couple of seasons.
HH
mighty tim
Pardew is believe is not on a massive wage. He won’t be going hungry but I think he is on a modest wage for the EPL. Part of the appeal of Pardew for the owner was the wages he could pay him. Rumours of gambling debts were mooted around that deal.
LB
Oh the absolute irony of the Sevconians bad mouthing Easdale for a tax fraud whilst welcoming Dave King.
Via twitter.
B/Tim- they do the most wonderful work, in the most trying of circumstances, and for so little reward.
LiviBhoy
11:41 on
10 May, 2013
mighty tim
Pardew is believe is not on a massive wage. He won’t be going hungry but I think he is on a modest wage for the EPL. Part of the appeal of Pardew for the owner was the wages he could pay him. Rumours of gambling debts were mooted around that deal.
LB
Think it would still be a considerable sum mate to get shot of him. Just think it is something that we should try and avoid given the finances in Scotland compared to the much hyped best league in the world.
Although I would like pardew and his team relegated as I cannot stand him or them. That would be a win win for me.
HH
DBBIA
of course they do……
take care sir….
mighty tim
Hope Newcastle go down. Pardew is a clown!
LB
Bob Rooney was the physio, and Jimmy Steele was the masseur back in the day.
Jimmy was also a bit of a character and a very funny mhan, who used to keep the players amused on long boring flights to and from Europe.
HH!!
Summa
I think Celtic are well aware of the feeling from supporters about this but as long as SPL hold the rights, there is little the club can do to make a change.
However, now is the best time as the structure of the leagues is changing we could try something but if it comes down to a vote, I don’t think other SPL (or SFL) teams would want to join Celtic in selling their own games. They would prefer to take what little Sky is offering as guaranteed money rather than have to do something radical.
Mort
Tallybhoy
who likes fish and chips…?
who likes ice cream?
that’s what wee Jimmy used to shout to us as children…
blantyretim
Looking forward to a visit to Equi’s next week…
BT
What was your reply
BMCUW/Bada Bing,
re that Allan Massie article, what was the need for that particular sentence???
Ridiculous!
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
BT,
bet you were first in the Q….
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
mighty tim
11:37 on
10 May, 2013
It never ceases to amaze me how casually some are prepared to dispense with successful managers. The chances of coming across some one as talented as NL next time round are slim. Man U will be diminished by the loss of Ferguson and Everton by the loss of Moyes unless they are both very lucky. I remember well that there were not just a few who thought Jock Stein was past it and were “glad” when he stepped down. Why? They wanted a change, a different style or face. Fair enough, but it was nearly 25 years before we came across someone of similar stature – if not quite his ability. Good or great managers are in short supply.
soal
ttt knows obviously….o))
think Steelie stayed in Larkhall and we took him home often…
SP
Mrs BT brought me a special supper last week….but no ice cream….
bt
Had the pleasure of speaking to Jimmy – and getting his autograph – as a spotty teen in Troon a hundred years ago, where Celtic used to come and prepare for big games in the 60s-early 70s.
HH!!
Hi TTT,
How you doing? Not spoken for a while.
I’ve got little Miss jimbob going to the game tomorrow, family day out!
picinisco
Fair points. I think people are looking at the bookies odds and discussing what MAY happen. No harm in that.
I think what the debate or discussion has raised for me is that we don’t have a structure in place as yet to generate a successor from within. John Kennedy has a few years before he will get near it but I do think he has potnetial from what he has achieved with the youths.. I hope Neil stays as I agree with your assessment. The more managers win the more they want to win. It’s a habit. It’s the norm for them. They can’t tolerate anything less. We have a winner right now. He doesn’t tolerate anything else and fights for everything for his team. He questions every refereeing decision and will back his players and staff to the hilt when they are being attacked from all angles. Sounds very much like a retiring Scotsman down Salford way. The press won’t make the character comparison though but SAF sees it and likes what he sees in Neil Lennon.
LB
blantyretim
I was in there last time with two Motherwell supporters, funny listening to them talk about the deid team and their fans, they had no time for them and said on the whole Celtic fans were scarfers who were alright!!
I love my ice cream, canny wait…
Nurse Equi Nurse Equi…
Does anyone think, given Wenger’s situation, Arsenal might look to Neil as a replacement.
Afternoon..
SSN outside Goodison this morning asking Everton fans who they want as the next manager.
They show one rather angry, thick looking guy who scowls at the camera ‘ anyone but Neil Lennon’.
I don’t know who will be the next Everton manager but if any Bookies are giving odds on that idiot having family in Glasgow then I’m having a large punt on that!!
It seems even Everton have their share of retarded bigots amongst their support.
Neil Lennon is too good for them, and he knows it!!
jimbob71,
Things ok here in downtown Carfin, hows things up in Outer Newarthill? :-)
Hope you and little Miss enjoy, unfortunately we have a 1st Communion tomorrow so me and mini TTT will be missing out.
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
I seriously doubt Lenny will get the Everton gig – far too early for him in his novice career. He landed the Celtic Manager post more by chance than design. Fortunately for us, he was a fierce competitor and had a 10 year working knowledge of what Celtic are and what we face here in Scotland and so far he has done a damn fine job – but he is still learning.
Moyes has spent 10 years keeping Everton out of the relegation pack of 12 with; a limited budget, working for a club that’s been up for sale, a stadium and team that needs major investment and probably most importantly – having to rely on his historical tactical experience of survival in the multi-million pound EPL.
Bill Kenwright has been looking to punt them for years and can’t find a suitable buyer – it will take a multi-million investor to buy him out. They are reliant on the EPL TV money to balance the books – they are traders not market leaders – an occasional top 6 finish an obscure run in Europe is the best they can hope for. Does anyone honestly believe that Bill K would risk his nest-egg (their survival in the EPL) on a novice manager that’s had one competitive season and one excellent CL campaign – I very much doubt it?
As for Lenny – IMO it would be crazy for him to leave Celtic. He got a very early career break getting the Celtic job – he is in a win-win position due to circumstances (deidco). He is still learning – he has the luxury of experimenting tactically on the job (with no consequences) – he has guaranteed entry to European competition for the foreseeable future and most importantly – he has the backing of a Club who are financially sound and a fan-base that give him wonderful support.
For the life of me – I can’t see why he would be offered the Everton job and equally – I can’t see why he would leave Celtic at this early stage in his managerial career.
wild horses wont drag NFL away from the holy ground
the only way he’d go is if he’s sacked