The treble was won on Saturday with a bit more anxiety than many of us anticipated. Just as we discussed and hoped for last week, Kyogo was the man of the moment again. Celtic have played in three cup finals when Ange Postecoglou has been in charge, the opener on Saturday was the fifth goal scored by the club in that time and the fifth by Kyogo. The player is an inextricably linked to his manager’s success as Henrik Larsson was to Martin O’Neill’s.
I can scarcely remember a more effective winger than Liel Abada, certainly not for someone still only 21. He ghosted into the box, then timed his forward run perfectly to latch onto Callum McGregor’s cross, giving Celtic an unassailable lead. His added-time cross for Jota to complete the scoring was a piece of craft that largely went missing for Celtic during the final.
Inverness were miles out of their depth but defended well and on 84 minutes scored the best goal of the game. A diving header is always easy on the eye, even when it hits the back of your own net. It was never going to be, for the Highlanders.
We will look back on that final, on this last month, as a time when a great Celtic team emptied its tank. Whether or not this is linked to off-field events is moot, a refresh is needed if these incredibly high standards are to endure.
It was painful listening to Ange duck questions on his future after the game. In doing so, he answered, nonetheless. We’ll talk more at the appropriate moment, in the meantime, as Bill wrote, ‘If it were done…., then ‘t were well it were done quickly.’
Let’s get on with it.
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FFS, someone’s on the wind-up! About 30 minutes ago, I got the Eddie Howe story popping up when I logged in, closely followed by the Ange ‘I had Dalglsh posters on my wall’ nonsense….
Hey MelbourneMick – thanks for the welcome and hope all balmy down the peninsula!
While I was first on here to recommend AP for us, I think it’s a bit shit of him to leave us with so many Asian players who not all managers will know how to relate to, far less get the best out of. Also, if he’s taking JK and Gavin S, the 5mill compo will go quickly when we have to replace like for like.
Seriously, we should forget Marsch or Rodgers.
A good solution would be to go for the existing duo of Graham Arnold and Rene Meulensteen (Sir Alex right hand man for 6 yrs) currently doing the biz with the Socceroos.
Hate to suggest it, too, but Kev Muscat knows the Ange playing formula well, has managed the Marinos and the currants would be spewing if Musky ever wrapped himself in green and white!
Good morning all from another fine dry morning in the Garngad.
I hope if Ange goes we make a confident, quick decision as we should have been doing our homework already.
D :)
Morning Celts
Day 1(won) in the Celtic manager app household
HH
Good morning from a slightly overcast North Staffs.
We got lucky with Ange but equally Ange got lucky with us.
The EPL is an unforgiving league but I wish him well.
If Ange’s departure was expected for a while then I’m sure we’d be looking already – at least I hope so.
Good to see so many posters back over the last couple of days.
It will emerge in the coming days that Ange had Steve Perryman and Jimmy Greaves posters on his wall.
☝️🤣🤣
Thought there was still a chance before he met the odious Mr Levy but hey ho.
AP has underwhelmed the Spurs fans so unless he hits it off real quick he will be gone sharpish – that is the Spurs/EPL way.
Should be old enough now to know the “special club” chest thumping, project/legacy stuff is just BS but I believed this one and think many of us did – fool
Me once and all that……..I try not to fall for next time but probably will as you want them to love Celtic as much as we do……
What/who next? Not got any strong feelings on that but Potter has great things behind him until Chelsea shambles and Germany seems to produce some good young forward thinking coaches and the background of the game there is very professional. Is there prospects at teams outside the big 3 or 4 ready for next step?
A few observations if I may :-
I have said that the celebrations on Saturday were a bit flat. That was my opinion and I put it down to two things ; a massive celebration the week before and the distinct fact that we may be about to lose our manager.
Despite what many incorrectly assume, fans aren’t stupid. We can read body language and we can interpret what is said and perhaps more importantly, what is not being said.
How many times did we hear, you’re looking too much into it. Ange will never leave.
I have no idea how long the Spurs situation was interfering with our everyday tasks, but I do genuinely think Ange was surprised at the level of criticism he received since we clinched the title.
If a historic treble cannot passify some supporters then just what will. ?
In football and beyond we must trust our own judgement and refuse to be swayed by the pack.
As for our next manager, I really hope it is BR, despite his public statement distancing himself.
But what is increasingly obvious, it is only European success that will meet our increasing aspirations.
Look at Bobo Glimt FC, playing in a just over 8k capacity stadium and their recent European adventures. Then tell me we cannot compete with the big boys.
This is the team in yellow we should use for comparison, not the tourist attraction that the team from the Bundesliga has become.
The truth is , we have had too many ” unlucky” defeats in Europe.
We should, we can and we will do better.
Put simply; European football refreshes the parts that domestic football cannot reach.
We have potentially far more in our locker than just being hunskepers.
HH to all, a new dawn and journey awaits.
The ‘we never stop’ mantra came to an abrupt end the minute Spurs showed interest.
Fair enough, Ange has the right to be ambitious and make it to the promised land of the Greed is Good EPL, but once again the worshipping support have been used to promote a profile. He sent the message loud and clear that he was on a mission to continue his team’s development and regularly told us the project was only just taking off. Ange worked some kind of magic, connecting with the fans in the same way MON did. We loved it. Yet all the while his main aim was to grab the first opportunity from at top 10 English outfit.
If it wasn’t Spurs it would have been an Everton, Villa or maybe even a Fulham.
Thanks for the good times Ange but having watched Celtic for sixty years, this is the first time I’ve felt conned.
At least with BR, the dogs in the street knew he was using us as route back to the EPL.
WEEFRATHETIM Brilliant news mate. Your guardian angel is looking out for you. Life is for living, Celtic will be fine post Ange.
RON BACARDI
Great to see you post!
Hope you are good!
BJMAC
Great to see you on as well!
Don’t be a stranger!
BLAKEY – great post
Will never embrace another jumper
Red Rum , Desert Orchid , et al , they’re the only jumpers I remember 😜
Oh and jumpers for goalposts …
BOURNESOUPRECIPE @ 12:56 AM,
Quite,
Mr Nicholson undoubtedly did a great job but seems to have taken a back seat in 2023.
From the pictures of the Celtic executive in the stands at Hampden on Saturday, I only saw the chuckle brothers.
Enjoy your gardening and your family and friends, the fitbaw will be back soon enough.
Hail Hail
When repeatedly pressed on his future after Celtic’s 3-1 Hampden win over Inverness on Saturday, Postecoglou said: “I anticipate enjoying this moment for the next 24-48 hours, as long as I can, before someone drags me away and takes my attention away from enjoying something that’s been hard-earned.
“The reality is, there’s probably players in that dressing room who won’t be here next year. That’s the nature of football.”
Add to this that he would like 2/3 of the backroom staff………
We’re Gonnae get plundered by the man from down under 🤣
Yes, it’s only speculation at this point.
BJMAC
Good to see you on here. Hope you’re well. Keep on keeping on:)) por cierto
I concur with Blakey, I too feel conned by Ange.
However I’m not going to let it bother me,
My Interest is Celtic & Celtic alone, there is a big job to be done, First step is to put a new Managerial Team in place and until that happens we are all in a sort of Limbo.
BJMAC
Great to see you posting
I’m out today but the next article is scheduled to go live at 12:00. If major news breaks between now and then I’ll not be happy….
Putting 2 and 2 together, Paul suggested we would be looking at City Group for our next manager. The one being touted is, of course, Maresca from Man City. Doesn’t seem that long since we were looking at him along with another Man City appt as football director.
A very preliminary search on Google as to what happened to him after we went for Ange throws up this. He was appointed manager of Parma in 2022 who were expected to win promotion. By November the following was announced:
“After hours of speculation around Maresca’s fate, it was announced this evening via a statement that Maresca has been relieved of his duties as coach of the first team.
Former midfielder Maresca had been brought in over the summer following relegation from Serie A.
He had been working in the Manchester City Under-23 team for the 2020-21 season, while before that worked as an assistant manager at Ascoli, Sevilla and West Ham United.
The 41-year-old lasted only 14 competitive games on the Parma bench, winning four, drawing five and losing five.
His team scored 18 goals and conceded 21, so the 1-1 home draw with Cosenza proved the final straw after a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Lecce on November 7.
Sky Sport Italia report Iachini has already agreed a contract to June 2023 in order to take over from Maresca at the Stadio Tardini.”
Doesn’t sound like they had much faith in him as a manager. He then returned to City as part of the first team staff, not as Guardiola’s no.2 as often suggested. Rodolfo Borrell got that gig in 2022.
Good morning all from Govanhill.
Come on Celtic ,Please forget about John Kennedy and David Moyes for the head coach position,,there are some really good coaches in Europe ,who would do a good job for us,Graham Potter a good coach as he is ,his salary and backroom staff would cost to much ,my message to the Celtic Board is to appoint a good coach as soon asap,
We will soon find out if we have learned lessons and we have a forward planning strategy.
The last thing we want is another saga.
Interesting how much the stock of Kennedy and Strachan has gone up under Ange
No idea who we will get but we have a good squad and likely to have cash to spend; so get them in early
PS
I saw a copy of a text on Sunday (supposedly after a conversation with Mark Lawell) which claimed that a very good budget and infrastructure build promises had been thrashed out but Ange left it on the table until the Sours offer.
Sounded a bit far fetched in its content but as I was watching the game in Walkabout in Newquay, I could see the faces like fuzz on Lawwell and Desmond and expected the worst. Didn’t hear Ange interview as they turned the music back on at that point
Onwards and sideways
Hail Hail to the record title holders
Congratulations Weefra, just read back
CONEYBHOY – Saw that on Twitter, probably made up. Suggested that DD had agreed with Ange around May 17th a 30 million transfer budget, a new 5000 seater stadium for B team/ladies team and a requested analytical room at Lennoxtown.
Deniabhoy
Yeah, that was the one; seemed a ticklist of everything we have discussed on here in the last couple of years!!
David Low posting LSE notification of Ange leaving.
Let’s get the new team in place ASAP
Have a horrible feeling that this board has all the potential of effin up the next appointment at a time when we are on the cusp of building from a great platform.
Anyone else?
HH
Sky reporting he’s signed a four year deal with Spurs
Following the announcement today that Ange Postecoglou is to join Tottenham Hotspur FC, Celtic Football Club wishes him well for the future.
The process of appointing Celtic’s next football manager is already underway. While we will aim to announce this appointment to supporters as soon as possible, our priority will be to appoint the best candidate to take the Club forward.
Celtic Chief Executive, Michael Nicholson said: “It has been a pleasure working with Ange, a great football manager and a good man. He has served the Club with such energy and determination and delivered a phenomenal level of success.
“I would like to thank him for all he has given us and I wish Ange and his family the very best for the future in everything they do.
“Of course, we wanted Ange to stay with us at Celtic and while there is real disappointment that we are losing him, he has decided he wants to look at a new challenge, which we respect.
“As Treble-winning champions, the Club looks ahead with confidence to the future, with many exciting opportunities ahead. The Club appreciates the tremendous support from Celtic fans this season and we will continue to build from this position of unity and strength.”
Ange Postecoglou said: “I would like to sincerely thank everyone at the Club for everything they have given me. In particular, Dermot, Peter and Michael and the Celtic Board have shown me tremendous support in every aspect of my time at Celtic and I will forever be grateful for this.
“They brought me to the Club and I have worked so closely and so well with them for the past two years, I will always have a special relationship with them.
“They wanted me to extend my time at Celtic and while I am so respectful and understanding of their position, a new opportunity has been presented to me and it is one which I wanted to explore.
“It was an honour to be asked to be Celtic manager and during my two years I have given everything I have to deliver success to our supporters. Culminating in the Treble at the weekend, my players and backroom team have been brilliant for me on this journey.
“They have given us all some fantastic moments through their energy and effort, creating real quality, winning football.
“Our supporters have been magnificent to me and I thank them for the way they have embraced me during the past two years. My ambition was always to give our fans a team they could be proud of, a team people talked about and I think we have achieved that.
“Celtic is a phenomenal football club, and so much more – and I will forever be a supporter of this great institution. I wish everyone connected with Celtic nothing but continued success.”
Peter Lawwell, Celtic Chairman added: “Against any measure, Ange has delivered a fantastic level of success to Celtic and we thank him for his brilliant contribution to the Club during the past two years.
“We were delighted to bring Ange to Celtic. He is a special manager who has had success wherever he has been and someone who brought to the club attacking, stylish and winning football in the best traditions of Celtic.
“Of course, we are disappointed that Ange has decided to leave the Club, and we did all we could to keep him with us well into the future, but he wanted to take this new opportunity and we wish Ange well in this and everything else he does.
“Now our focus is very much on ensuring we move forward positively and do all we can to ensure that we maintain our dominant position in Scottish football and also prepare for the exciting European challenges which lie ahead.”
Celtic Captain Callum McGregor added: “It has been great to work with the gaffer over the past two seasons and to achieve the success that we have, especially achieving yet another Treble at the weekend.
“In fact, to win five out of six domestic trophies is a tremendous achievement and that is testament to the real focus and relentlessness of the manager, the players and our whole backroom team who have all worked so hard.
“I thank all our supporters again for what they have given us this year. The scenes at Hampden and Celtic Park, when we celebrated our success together will stay with me forever.
“We have delivered something very special to our fans and done it, under the manager’s direction by playing an exciting and attractive brand of football. As all the players do, I wish Ange great success in his next challenge.
“We move on ourselves to our own challenges too. Our performances this season mean we will take our place deservedly in the Champions League and we can’t wait for it.
“It will be brilliant to have these great nights back at Celtic Park and I am sure our fans are looking forward to experiencing this again, as well as watching us striving to defend all our domestic titles.
“The players will enjoy a well-earned break and when we return we will get right behind the new manager, we will be united and, as ever, will do all we can to bring our fans continued success.”
Scott Brown was my favourite player and I often expressed my admiration for him.
Scott felt it was time to leave and Callum McGregor became my favourite player.
Scott was brilliant while he was with us but felt the time was right to leave.
Ange was brilliant with us but felt the time was right to leave.
I appreciate there are many differences of scale in the above analogy but, for me, it is , more or less, the essence of the situation.
BIG WAVY on 6TH JUNE 2023 10:37 AM
The record of this Board over quite a few years now has been pretty good.
“Disappointed” doing lots of heavy lifting there…
This time I really do hope you’re sacked by Christmas, lardarse.
Onwards & Upwards and always Celtic…
HH
Spurs have just confirmed Ange.
Nope.