It is not surprising that Celtic were so poor in the Scottish Cup Final, since February, performances have varied markedly. What made the game exceptional is that an Aberdeen team who were worst in the Premiership since October managed to arrest a run of four consecutive defeats and defend with purpose against a side with vastly better resources.
Had Arne Engels shot of the post or Jeffrey Schlupp’s off the bar gone in, the win would have flattered a Celtic side who were remarkably passive. Injury denied the services of two of our most creative players, Reo Hatate and Jota, while our talisman left for France in January. Too soon, perhaps.
Winning penalty kick deciders is an absolute rush, but it is not a strategy to rely on. This was our third successive cup competition which went to a Hampden penalty decider. December’s League Cup final went our way, as did last season’s Scottish Cup semi against Aberdeen. Regression to the norm was bound to have its say sooner or later.
Kasper Schmeichel was imperious before his injury in March. His late season three game cameo brought mistakes which are unlike him. His error late in Saturday’s game was material in the outcome, but with so many low-key performances in front of him, it would be churlish to lay too much of the blame at the keeper.
Credit to Jimmy Thelin, who out-thought Brendan Rodgers. Aberdeen lost 17 goals against Celtic in four outings since October. His team could have suffered PTSD at the sight of green and white hoops. Instead, they were the team with a deliverable plan to take the Cup home. Brendan has lots to consider about his preparations for this one.
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We will.prevail
I don’t think giving the Aberdeen manager credit for some sort of plan is correct, he would get football banned
There’s a few players in that Celtic squad who , in all honesty, don’t deserve a Treble on their CV’s………………
We were poor but Out-thought ?
Ten men behind the ball, go down at the slightest touch – kick with impunity and rely on a howler by kasper – brilliant tactics.
Last Saturdays Cup Final SHOULD have been declared ” NULL and VOID” BEFORE a Ball was kicked.
QUEENS PARK FC SHOULD have been awarded the Scottish Cup for ensuring that there would be NO HUNS at HAMPDEN.
LOL.
HH.
Paul67
What larks Paul – what larks.
Largely agree
Aberdeen were ‘effective’, if not particularly entertaining.
They used their subs better
As Meatloaf said – 2 out of 3 and all that
Lots to improve on over the summer
We may see some additional challenges next season. A few clubs getting there act together?
And when Jamsie came on then crock him
Good afternoon all from the Victoria Bar. I’ve forgotten about Saturday already. Bring on the new season, onwards and upwards my fellow Tims. 👍
No credit to Thelin, his approach, the indulged[by the referee] physicality and time wasting by his team deserves no praise and will get none from me, the scum in their support is up there with Sevco, many players let us down on Saturday and our options from the bench did not improve us. League won, lets improve the full squad and look forward to a CL qualifier.
Not a bad summary, Paul.
It’s totally acceptable to lose if you have given your best shot and the opposition have been too good. That certainly wasn’t the case. Aberdeen executed their game plan very effectively but they are an extremely limited side.
Pretty insipid stuff. No tempo, creativity, penetration or variation.
Too slow, too safe, too predictable.
The 4-3-3 should give you strength in the wide areas to isolate opponents and disrupt their shape. Where were the combination plays? Where were the overloads? Everything was coming INSIDE! Into the congestion! Nothing in behind. We should be accustomed enough to this style of defending to know how to overcome it, but we made it so easy for them.
Was it really wise to make THREE substitutions on 65m – especially given the dearth of quality on the bench? Then later you are scrambling around looking for someone to produce a bit of magic and the guys who might provide it are the ones you have taken off!
Lot of work – in several areas – to be done over the summer if we hope to improve.
My thoughts on this articles see Gene on 26th May 2025 12:12 pm ☝️
We had he haw up front and sinsialo should never have been dropped
I think that the rigours of the season finally caught up with the squad. A squad missing the input of Kyogo, Jota and Hatate.
The writing was finally on the wall the previous week, Trophy Day.
What, I believe gets overlooked, is the lack of any breaks during the season. There were, at least three, or maybe four, International breaks. Breaks that every other club benefitted from, but which Celtic had virtually the full first team squad involed in. This involved travelling,,playing, wth the result being at least six weeks absence from L’town and the benefits of the coaching and rest time.
Now we have the time to regroup and plan our immediate future and reset our strategy.
Apples will grow again.
BR teams only play one way and to instruction and no player will deviate from it
I was concerned to notice James Forrest using Kinesio tape on his thigh muscles.
In retrospect, that he lasted just 30 minutes oughtn’t have come as a surprise.
That Engels was hooked while Bernardo remained on the pitch was a surprise. Perhaps Brendan didn’t notice him either.
Bernardo being replaced by our (assumed to be departing) left back is indicative of a development problem to be solved.
My shopping list for the summer includes:
Top quality centre half (still)
Top quality striker (still)
Attacking midfield genius with a wizard dead ball delivery (pipe dream)
On balance, being shown up in a Cup Final ought to serve as a useful reckoner for manager and players alike, and concentrate minds on improvement.
HeresHopingCSC
I’m sure not many were arguing with the line-up before kickoff. The only surprise for me was we didn’t start with Jamesie
RC
We beat them comfortably with the same tactics. It was the speed of play that was lacking.
A funny auld day at The CURRAGH Races yesterday in relation to my Bets.
I had the first FIVE Winners, with Four of those winners on the same bookies line.
So I did manage to have a reasonable profit, but Two of the winners were slight ODDS ON.
However I did have TWO PLACEPOT Bets on the go until the 6th and final Race.
I was quite confident of getting at LEAST ONE Placepot up, as I had FIVE Winners going onto the Favourite in the 6th Race, with a £3.00 Stake.
I also had one Horse Placed, and FOUR Winners going onto the EARLY 2ND Favourite in the 6th Race for a £2.00 stake.
The Gods were against me however, as BOTH my horses FAILED to get a Place in the 6th and Final Race.
My optimism going into the last Race was a bit pre mature !
LOL.
Luckily, the Placepot Dividend was only £15.00 for a £1.00 Stake, and it would have paid out a lesser amount IF the Favourite HAD been placed in the first Three.
Ive had worse days.
LOL.
Next week we have the EPSOM Derby and the OAKS, and the following week we have Royal Feckin ASCOT.
I have several ANTE POST bets already ON, but Royal Ascot has NOT been too kind to me over the years, but we shall see IF my luck there changes for the better ?
HH.
HH.
We didn’t play well on Saturday but we did deserve to win the game on the balance of play,Aberdeen just kicked our players with impunity, don’t think their mangers deserves any credit for that.I did think their fans were very good.
Gene on 26th May 2025 12:12 pm
We were poor but Out-thought ?
Ten men behind the ball, go down at the slightest touch – kick with impunity and rely on a howler by kasper – brilliant tactics.
……………
I AGREE GENE Bhoy.
I can NOT give Aberdeen and/or their manager ” Jimmy TEALADY” any credit, as Celtic had several players BELOW PAR.
HH Mate.
“Credit to Jimmy Thelin, who out-thought Brendan Rodgers.”
Didn’t take you long to revert to anti-Brendan type and hype, Paul.
Credit for a brand of football that would make even a Huns’ eyes bleed with boredom ? Nope.
Cynical time-wasting with supposed ‘cramps’ every 10 minutes. Helped by ref.
Inability to string more than 4 pass movements together. Thelin’s master-stroke.
Still, if that’s what it takes to win credit in your eyes.
Lordy, Lord!
Kasper’s muff (oo err missus_ was a howler and CalMac and AJ’s pens were powder puff stuff.
I agree with Dessy:
‘No credit to Thelin, his approach, the indulged[by the referee] physicality and time wasting by his team deserves no praise and will get none from me…’
Paul67
Hindsight heroism? – “ out thought BR ” is that just like you’ve been doing for two seasons, shame on Jimmy Thelin for taking so long.
Brendan Rodgers and Celtic just won a double, smashing the league with 112 goals and an 86-goal difference. The recency focus, a draw with St. Mirren, and one cup final where we dominated (82% possession), lacked a second killer goal with missing key players, hit the woodwork twice, and suffered a brain fart Goalkeeping error, hardly a “systemic failure’ or “ tactical upgrade required “ or any other of this seasons strap lines.
BR’s “tactical shortcomings”? Two trophies, progress in Europe and a 17-point title gap suggest he’s doing a lot better than one or two Bloggers suggest, he resigns himself to 11 trophies from a possible 13 during his stewardship,
Fortunately we have a majority shareholder who was cautious not to repeat previous mistakes, if there’s to be ‘ refresh ‘ maybe they should be in the corridors of power and well away from the grassy bit, there’s plenty of criticism that can be levelled in that direction, it’s empty suits that let the supporters down.
Brendan Rodgers knows more about breaking down a low-block than anybody on a Blog, it isn’t unique to Celtic—every winning dominant team faces it. We ‘winged it ‘ not replacing Kyogo mid season, then the loss of Jota then Hatate would affect any team, one bad game which was reduced to the convenience lottery, ( not normally referred to as a deliverable plan ) doesn’t undo a brilliant season.
Yes, much thinking to be done for next season whilst the revolving door in Parkhead swings, we move on as seeds in the CL and turn another page.
Hail Hail
I don’t see how depth of squad or a poor bench could be the problem – six of our subs started when we beat them 5-1 at theirs a week and a half before.
A pretty basic change in shape to a back 5 seems to have blunted us easily, but you still didn’t see that result up until they scored.
Credit to Jimmy Thelin, who out-thought Brendan Rodgers.
———————
nonsense,
they got every piece of luck going, with a complicit referree.
both goals were just good fortune.
celtic had 3 great attempts to score, hitting post and bar, and why daizen didnt just slip the ball to james as the easier option, well god knows.
aberdeen are celbrating taking celtic to a draw.
will thelin play the same from now on, play not to lose ? will he succeed in europe ?
aberdeen legend my arse.
i am putting a bet on he is first manager to be sacked next season.
“Had Arne Engels shot of the post or Jeffrey Schlupp’s off the bar gone in, the win would have flattered a Celtic side who were remarkably passive.”
I don’t think a win would have flattered us but I do agree we were remarkably , even head-scratchingly passive
The score could well have finished something like 4-3 had all decent chances been taken and had luck favoured those the chances fell to .
I don’t like to see anti-football tactics like Aberdeens being rewarded , although with my objective hat on, I was happy enough with how we achieved our draw v Atalanta .
Not a great game by anyone’s standards.
We tend to rely on the magic from flair players….This was the missing element that proved crucial.
Hopefully the highheidyins have taken note and help support Brendan in the summmer………..
HHH
Brendan did say that a reset is required in the Summer so could be a few leaving as well as arriving , I hope he gets the players HE wants.
Another dig at Brendan,our best manager since Big Jock .
Maybe we should bring back another puppet of our esteem Chairman.
Over the years Brendan has often spoken about ” THE TEMPO” that he wants to see Celtic play at.
THAT ” TEMPO” was clearly missing on Saturday as we looked slow and ponderous on too many occasions during the game.
I can only assume that our GREAT CAPTAIN CALMAC was urging his team mates for a faster tempo, but too many FAILED to deliver.
HH.
Big Jimmy
I posted the other day that Callum’s play is part of the problem. He’s always available and gives the other players an easy option. This slows the transition, giving defenders time to adjust and compress the play.
Not a criticism of Callum who is a great player, just how he’s used
Gene
Yes we did but not with the same starting 11
RC
You said his tactics were always the same – so nothing with them – down to the players
nothing wrong with
Gene
Correct his system never changes, cup final starting 11 was wrong , imo sinsialo starts as goes JF and Yang with DM at centre
RC
I agree about Jamesie starting
quadrophenian on 26th May 2025 12:38 pm
Spot on pal ,
paul I can’t understand what’s going on with you , celtic through and through and that’s your view of Saturdays game , we certainly weren’t good but to take that view while watching our opposition pack there defence feign injury to waste time ably supported by a weak useless referee and hoping for there only chance a penalty kick showdown , we’ll they got it . The whole of Scotland will celebrate thelins masterstroke of getting one over brendan . Your definitely not the paul I used to know .
watch the whole match again.
we had enough of the ball in the final third to create chances, we just didnt execute that final ball well enough.