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. I see St Pauli are playing at Dunfermline in a few weeks time. There are connections between the ownership of the 2 teams. Hopefully there is a good turnout for the game.

  2. Evening all.

     

     

    Hard to describe how I feel today.

     

     

    The Treble feeling has been dulled sadly.

     

     

    Then I have just read this post from earlier today and now I feel shinier and happier.

     

     

    Priorities and perspectives.

     

    ===============================================================

     

    WEEFRATHETIM on 5TH JUNE 2023 2:49 PM

     

    Good afternoon all,

     

     

     

     

     

     

    GREAT NEWS FOR ME, just had a call from my consultant ar Hairmyres, the tumour I’ve been diagnosed with is NON CANCEROUS. Whoopeedoo. Thank you all from my heart for all your best wishes and I’m convinced your prayers have brought this positive outcome. I’ve got a tear in my eye at the moment. HH

     

    ==============================================================

     

     

    Brilliant, just brilliant.

     

     

    It’s good to be a Tim.

     

     

    Brian

  3. glendalystonsils on

    WEEFRA

     

    Can I add my congratulations on your good news. A heartwarming story never goes wrong .

  4. Tom McLaughlin on

    BURNLEY78

     

    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.

     

    They won the UEFA Cup v Wolves in 1972 and again v Anderlecht in 1984 on penalties.

     

     

    They became the first British team to win a European competition in 1963 when they won the European Cup Winners Cup in Rotterdam, beating Athletico Madrid 5-1.

     

     

    I watched Ardiles, Villa, Hoddle, Perryman, Archibald etc. Hoddle is one of my top 10 players ever seen. Loved him as a player.

  5. Tom McLaughlin on

    BURNLEY78

     

     

    My next door neighbour is a Dunfermline season ticket holder and has promised me a ticket for St Pauli.

  6. WEEFRATHETIM,

     

     

    Not the best day ever, I really wanted to see Ange’s team in the CL 12 months on.

     

     

    But hearing your Good News has really softened the blow.

  7. Keith,

     

     

    I think it is in Japan.

     

     

    Callum is something else.

     

     

    He might not be scoring the goals he did @ NC but his versatility is Incredible.

  8. Shuggiebhoy67 on

    Nice to see Hamburg fail to get promotion in the Bundesliga,goalkeeper playing out from the back was an accident waiting to happen,sure enough oops!! Stuttgart 2-1 (5-1) 10 minutes to play

     

    HH

     

    Celtic onward and upward!!

  9. GuyFawkesaforeverhero on

    Saint Stivs on 5th June 2023 7:27PM

     

     

    Thanks for this. It’s the first time I’ve been able to decipher what we were holding.

     

     

    My aisle seat had a black sheet with the seats to the right white. I see now we were the bottom right corner of the O in TO.

  10. Tom McLaughlin

     

     

    Thanks for sharing the Bernard Ponsonby article. I think it is fair.

     

     

    Ref 84 and the UEFA cup final you are correct. I recall Parks as a stand in sub keeper that night from memory.

     

     

    I was really lucky for several years my company (Grand Metropolitan) were agents for Holstein beer which sponsored Spurs back then. So we had a few good and very sociable nights in a very fancy box on the half way line. Weirdly the senior folks in the business would not be seen around football back then as it was blighted with the not insignificant hooligan element and the associated negative image. We loved the perk and took full advantage.

     

     

    The new stadium is apparently another level from anything else in the UK but it would be hard to beat the energy of the old White Hart Lane when the Spurs team you mentioned was in full flight and on their game.

  11. Keith,

     

     

    He is, IMO, World Class.

     

     

    Everyone knows I reckon Paul is the Greatest.

     

     

    Callum is really getting Dani Bher.

  12. Tom McLaughlin on

    UP LIKE A BIRD

     

     

    Brendan has distanced himself from the job. He said he wants more time out of the game before weighing up his options.

     

     

    In other words — he’s waiting for an EPL job.

  13. Tom McLaughlin on

    BURNLEY78

     

     

    I used to prefer standing up on the shelf. Great atmosphere and fantastic view.

  14. GREENPINATA @ 12:21 PM,

     

     

    Just for the record MON is now 71 and looking great. He does not need a full time unrelenting job and the hassle of relocation.

     

     

    Martin lived in The Chilterns all the time he was a Celtic, never relocated from the time he took the Wycombe Wanderers job, from what I know, he’s still here.

     

     

    Mind you at 71 the commute might be a bind.

     

     

    As I said a while back, on reflection fholk will realise that Angelos Postecoglou was our fourth best Manager this century.

     

     

    BSR

     

     

    Who would win a fight between Fraudgers and Fraudgelos!?

     

     

    Hail Hail

  15. TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 5TH JUNE 2023 9:07 PM

     

     

    A calm, clear aricle which addresses Ange`s departure without much in the way of emotion.

     

    I certainly wish he had stayed but I will have nothing but good memories of him now that he has gone. He was superb for us and will be a hard act to follow.

     

    Goodnight all.

  16. excathedra44 on

    When you trust someone,watch him endear himself to the fans every game,only to.find out he was negotiating an exit as he applauded the naive onlookers,me amongst them.

     

    Not deterred with being 2nd choice,as the Feynoord Manager exhibited loyalty,he continued with extensive lies.

     

    I still cannot believe being duped to this extent,and I am.sure the Board must feel the same.

     

    Of course he done well to win the Treble,but has left us with a miscellaneous array of detached Nationals who will rightly feel let down.

     

    Dress it up any way you want but it is a shocking display of the worst kind of despicable behaviour.

     

    His drivec towards a Japenese base is successful in.parts but my preference would be a return to a more conventional % mix.

     

    In other words anyone in the “project” category,sell to Spurs.

     

    You were well supported Ange by the Club and fans,I will remember you with little fondness.

  17. Burnley78

     

     

    Like you I spent time in London 88-94

     

    I recall moving down in Centenary year friday after Maestro sliced a pass for Chris Morris to lay on a plate for Macca to score:-) got settled so friend took me to spurs arsenal,I found them a bit passionless,a bit of applause ,singing after a goal then back to hearing players on the park! Come ….on….ye..was the only shout….zzzzz

     

     

    They were always a big club in Norf landon but even then they had a false insight into themselves and their position in Eng League.i attended mostly with friends Liverpool and Man U fans,they always loved playing as a liverpool player told me then we are playing soft southern shaaat as they often would buckle.

     

    Found there to be more passion at West ‘am,Millwall,Palace and even Arsenal.

     

    I just thought they had no insight into themselves

     

    Harpin back to a dabble in 61 or when the year had a 1 at the end of it.maybe just me.

     

    I understood the fans goin as they got big crowds

     

    But more famed for fa cup runs imo.

     

     

    It was always good to fly up here and catch a Celtic game,£100 single! pre Ryan Air days even you could catch delights like the fox on park,fly down next morn then next day flew up again with a few friends who overseen lifting B.o.S foreclosure changing our club for the better

     

     

    I just think the modrin epl suits them,reward for 4th,5th etc into CL and a drop into one of the minor European trophies which suits their pedigree,and even when they do that they don’t take themselves serious in them,gettin pumped regularly,I know they got to CL final with Poch but as I say their passionless entitled base need a look at themselves

     

     

    I agree they have a 22nd century stadium,the food is splendid and Beyonce etc can do 5 nights at it I believe that’s a bit noisy but it got passion.

     

    Joe and Levy have their work cut out,a £Billion stadium and I believe the only epl club to owe B.o.E £175million.

     

     

    Just my view B78,and would have posted same before recent history,they must be raging at Chelski’s success as when I was down there they were a yoyo club.

     

     

    That hubristic attitude really vented on their sites at poss Ange app.they are a big club in Norff landan,maybe he will change it….we’ll see.

     

     

    HH

  18. Not posted in a long time.

     

     

    WEEFRA – marvellous news!!! Delighted for you!!!

     

     

    Re Ange, disappointed he’s gone so quickly, he’ll be difficult to replace. He needs to do what is best for him and his family, and only he can decide that.

     

     

    Important we act quickly on the plans in place…

     

     

    hh

  19. Melbourne Mick on

    Hello again all you young rebels.

     

     

    So ! Brendan is the favourite this lovely Aussie morning.

     

    Do I want him back definitely nooo..well maybe, because

     

    when I put my jilted heart aside, I know he’s a good manager,

     

    knows how to hump the hun, and I think will make us a

     

    better European team.

     

    Maybe we should stop idolising managers now and realise

     

    that it’s our club the Celtic, and the support that makes us

     

    special, and not a talented gobshoit we know will leave at

     

    the first sight of a EPL contract.

     

    WEE FRA

     

    Whatever happens manager wise at our club it won’t be as

     

    good as your news I’m reading this morning 👍

     

    QUADRO

     

    Good to see you back.

     

    H H. Mick

  20. WEEFRAETHETIM, from East Kilbride South (not too far from your good self in terms of Geography) can I add my sincere congrats on your good news (especially on this rather bleak-news day).

     

     

    I read your first blog last night when you outlined your possible bad news, but to get the all clear is fantastic. Prayers and positive thoughts sometimes work, eh?

     

     

    Ave Ave

  21. P67 was bigging up the city group connections not so long ago.

     

     

    I hope its not Maresca. He’s obviously a talented coach but with 14 games as an actual manager under his belt before getting chopped in Serie B, he simply doesn’t have the relevant experience. The days when we appointed rookies should be long gone.

  22. bournesouprecipe on

    Chairbhoy @ ages ago

     

     

    Hmmm…. raw emotions and mild shock believe it or not has St Brendan ahead on points. I believe blogger friend Bada Bing that we’d been trying to get Ange to commit to a new contract for some time.

     

     

    You know it’s trouble when Dermot is in Kerrydale St, Parkhead and not on a golf course somewhere. At least he brings his son with him nowadays, and if Michael Nicholson has any sense, we should be further down the recruiting line with the

     

    next ‘lucky man.’

     

     

    Ange’s book should be good we’ll have to wait he might even outsell MON or Brendan. Regardless I’ll still have to cut the hedge and edge the lawn.

     

     

    As ever CSC

     

     

    HH