End of a great Celtic team

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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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410 Comments

  1. weefrathetim

     

     

    When I read of your news a few days back I thought, it cannot get any worse ….

     

    But, it could get a whole lot better….

     

    And it has. Great news for you and yours, and for this blog and beyond.

  2. bigrailroadblues on

    WEEFRA

     

    No problem. I’ll stay sober and drive. I’m a Saint F. Not according to Mrs BRRB though. 😂😂

  3. ROBERTTRESSELL on 5TH JUNE 2023 6:37 PM

     

     

    No point idolising these guys. They are contractors. Freelancers. For the most part. James F, Cal Mac, Scott Brown, maybe Greg Taylor if he hangs around – these are the guys to identify with. And ironically, not a born and reared Celtic supporter among them – and I admire them all the more for that.

     

     

    *aye as I was just saying tae Mrs. TT last night, Big Jock once said: “Unlike many other Celts, I cannot claim that Celtic was my first love… but I can say that it will be my last love.”

  4. WEEFRATHETIM on 5TH JUNE 2023 6:32 PM

     

    What can I say? The response to my great news has been nothing short of phenomenal. I’m flabbergasted.

     

     

    -‐–‐–

     

     

    Funny thing is, your good news has cheered up strangers including me so, thanks for sharing it. Positivity is much under rated and under used.

     

    Hail Hail Wee Fra.

  5. BACK TO BASICS – GLASS HALF FULL on 5TH JUNE 2023 5:56 PM

     

    IMHO, very poor comment earlier affirming Bealin’s “lucky” jibe.

     

     

    It wasn’t meant to be affirming, it was tongue-in-cheek

     

     

    Beale’s comment was ridiculous. Ange’s financial advantage over Beale had nothing to do with luck – any Celtic manager would have it, and Ange was experienced and successful enough to be given a job Beale wouldn’t get near. The next guy will get the same advantage after being appointed by the smart guys who got us the advantage in the first place

     

     

    But there’s no doubt that you need some luck to go from the J-League with no experience of success in Europe to a Spurs in two years, especially at his age. It’s never really happened before and it’s unlikely to anytime soon.

  6. WeefratheTim on

    MARSPAPA

     

     

    HiGhly unlikely I’ll manage back to CP anytime soon with my mobility issues. I’ve text Dena the past couple of months but got no reply. Maybe she has a new phone. Anyway brilliant to talk to you again it was always a pleasure at the corner. You take care my fhriend. HH

  7. Tontine Tim – for some of us loving Celtic is an inevitability from birth, but I really love it when someone comes to Celtic just from getting to know us! Something special about that.

     

    I think the like if John Hartson, Henke and others from that era fall into that category too. They really love the club so far as I can tell.

     

     

    Talking of Henke, when does he get touted for the job?

  8. GuyFawkesaforeverhero on

    Saturday’s victory meant a fantastic achievement for us all to enjoy. I loved the day.

     

     

    I’m disappointed with the fall-out, I think the worst hit are Ange’s two boys. Bouncing around new countries every two years, never mind new schools, can’t be a positive force for them. I wish the family well.

     

     

    When the transfer window opens, I want our first two signings to be strikers/ centre-forwards/ lead the liners.

     

     

    Kyogo is to be cherished. He didn’t play for Ange in Japan, only Daizen did that from my limited memory. Keep him and Oh, buy two more and bring on the new season.

     

     

    I couldn’t care less about shuffling around goalies, defenders and middies. I’m not a deep thinker.

  9. WeefratheTim on

    Sorry ghuys I have to go off now as I’m welling up with the love I’m getting here. It really is astonishingly incredible the happiness you ghuys generate. I actually feel better now than I did when I my phone call earlier. Thank you thank you thank you. HH

  10. Tom McLaughlin

     

     

    I understand where you are coming from re Broony but my source suggests that Chris Davies played a huge role as Brendans assistant back in his time with us. I would hope he brings him along this time.

     

     

    Scott thought the world of Brendan thought and it could be a role in some capacity in the management team might work.

     

     

    Brendan was first in at Lennoxtown and last to leave most days and I don’t believe his workrate has diminished. That Beale thinks he has his number will only fuel him further.

     

     

    I know you discredited my ‘informed’ opinion that Ange was leaving over a week ago but the above insight is well evidenced I can assure you. From within my own family firsthand fyi.

     

     

    That said I have no idea if Brendan is actually in the frame for the role or interested.

  11. !!Bada Bing!! on

    If he was turning down contracts months ago, hopefully we have been as proactive as him,in the last few months

  12. Tom McLaughlin on

    I must confess to having supported Spurs while I was based in London for 5 years from late 1978.

     

     

    I lived within walking distance of “the Lane” and had a few Celtic badges pinned to my jacket as I attended games with pals from my local. They were always my second team and I flew home a few times a season for big Celtic games.

     

     

    I had a house full of Celtic supporters, including 3 brothers, in my flat on the morning of Sammy Nelson’s testimonial at Highbury, after an overnight coach journey from Motherwell.

     

     

    I left London in 1984 and have always had a wee soft spot for Spurs and always look for their results.

     

     

    Best of luck Ange and thanks for the glorious memories.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  13. WEEFRA

     

     

    If your still up in the Strathaven area I can pick you up and drop you off on match day…..

     

     

    Or a wee trip to the shipbank if you fancy meeting up with the good ghuys.

     

     

    Take care and God bless 😘🤗

  14. bournesouprecipe on

    “ Ange, you’re nothing to me now. You’re not a brother, you’re not a friend. I don’t want to know you or what you do. “

     

     

    Godfather CSC

  15. WEEFRATHETIM

     

     

    Great news! Wish you all the best for the future.

     

     

    HH

     

     

    Gerry

  16. stpatricksbhoy on

    WEEFRATHETIM on

     

    Great news God bless.🙏☘

     

     

    I am out in Spain not read back and another badge kissing Liar bites the dust,we move on and there will always be Celtic for us.Hope sometime in the future we can find another real Celtic man like Billy Mac Neil,Jock Stein,Davie Hay,Martin O’Neil. Been supporting the Bhoys since the mid 1950’s we will be ok. Hail Hail stpatricksbhoy ☘ ☘☘🏆🏆🏆

  17. When Juranovic left, Ange said he agreed with him wanting to take that opportunity at his age. I’ve got to be honest, but I never felt Ange was in for the long haul since then.

  18. Tom McLaughlin on

    GUYFAWKESAFOREVERHERO

     

     

    In addition to Maeda, Iwata also played under Ange and is on loan to Celtic. It’s the same kind of loan-to-buy deal that made Daizen’s loan permanent so can’t see a problem there.

  19. Ange was right, I was surprised by how long he stayed.

     

     

    We’ve precious little time available so we should be moving quickly.

     

     

    I’ve no doubt we’ve known he was going for a while now so we should already be well down the road on this.

  20. 79caps on 5th June 2023 5:56 pm

     

     

    I don’t think any Celtic supporters expressed sympathy For the Japanese Club that Ange left to Join us. C’est la vie. Celtic in the CL is an attraktive Proposition For an ambitious Coach.

     

     

     

     

    Yeah, Ange is a man of the highest integrity, Rodgers is a rat. Both men left their clubs mid season. Ange didn’t do it to us though which is a bit like saying the burglar who robbed your neighbour but left your house alone is a stand up guy.

  21. pintaguinness on

    I hope next manager is not a badge kisser. It’s all a ploy

     

     

    Even Teirney left at the first time of asking

     

     

    We have been played

  22. The Class of 67 on

    Managers come and managers go.

     

     

    There is one constant = Celtic Football Club

  23. What in the name of Zeus is the appeal of Knutsen?

     

     

    Mid-50s. Stuck in Norway all his career.

     

     

    Am I missing something ?

     

     

    HH

  24. If we do NOT make a new manager statement before Wednesday does that mean we are waiting till the Europa Conference League Final is over, just a thought

  25. Tom McLaughlin

     

     

    Re London and Spurs.

     

     

    I picked up where you left off.

     

     

    I was in London from 84-93 and went to Spurs a fair bit. Always a great atmosphere and they always had attractive teams trying to play the right way. Never threatened to win the league mind you. They did win Cup Winners Cup I think v Anderlecht in a pen shoot out I recall.