Enthralling and successful league phase

189

Our Champions League, league phase, concluded with only our second defeat of the campaign.  Like the first, it was away from home against a club from a top five league, unlike the first, it was not a humbling experience.  Although five minutes in it promised to be even worse.

Celtic steadied and grew into the game.  Our major positive is the redemption of Adam Idah, who looked like he was in the wrong movie all this term, but flourished at Villa Park, scoring twice in the first half to bring us level at the break.

There are no complaints about the result; Villa deserved to win and in selling Kyogo on Monday, we accepted this probability.  The players and manager deserve credit for competing as they did.  However, the manager’s decision to throw on Dane Murray was demonstrably unfair on the 21-year-old.

Dane has not played a single minute of top flight football in his career and made his only Celtic start (against Midtjylland) in July 2021.  Brendan has shown no inclination of developing the player, but threw him into a cauldron last night.  Managers do like to play games; you and I are not supposed to notice.

12 points and a 21st place finish feels like a huge achievement.  The draw was favourable, but as we saw against Young Boys, it does not matter who you face at this level, you still need to go out and get the job done.

It could have been better.  Brugge figured us out and it took too long to adjust, two points were there for us.  We were far better than Dinamo Zagreb but didn’t find the opening.  Those four points would have taken us level on points with eighth place Villa, but out of the automatic qualification on goal difference.

Only three of the 20 clubs above us play outside the big five leagues: PSV Eindhoven, Benfica and Feyenoord, while Sporting and Brugge mean six teams outside the wealthy leagues made it to the playoffs.

There is so much to unpick from the new league format.  Celtic and Dinamo Zagreb are examples of how to recover from a catastrophic defeat.  Dinamo were draw against Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, Milan and Monaco.  They started with a 9-2 loss in Munich but finished with 11 points.  Denied progress only on goal difference from a draw which was expected to crush them.

It has been an enthralling, exhausting and successful league phase.  We have earned money, coefficient points and enhanced our reputation as a place to play and scout for players.  The platform has been raised.

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  1. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Good night for the coefficient.

     

     

    Not an ideal night for R2ngers finances.

     

     

    Not an ideal night for us.

     

     

    Tav’s statement is telling.

     

     

    No matter what they “achieve” we’re invariably their first reference point always.

     

     

    Tee hee hee.

  2. Scottish Football shitewipe

     

     

    No need to ask if you are a hun

     

     

    Factually incorrect.You called kevin?

  3. Playing in the Europa league means you have failed already, it’s a consolation tourey cause your teams no good enough to play champions league. It has been devalued further due to the new format and no drop down from champions league teams. If we were in it and won it I would celebrate it, but I would not deluded myself abouts it’s worth. I would recognise why victories are easier to come by.

  4. glendalystonsils on

    STEPHBHOY67 on 30TH JANUARY 2025 11:21 PM

     

     

    Correct . It would certainly pale into insignificance compared to 25/05/ 1967 .

     

     

    Just because the media(particularly BBC Scotland and STV) try to bum it up into some kind of equivalence because it’s Sevco , doesn’t make it so .

  5. At times this season watching the ‘top sides’ in the Europa, I’ve been shocked by the gulf in quality between the main and secondary European competitions. It’s a chasm. Probably never been greater than it is this season.

     

     

    We’re where we want to be.

  6. Burnley78 on 30th January 2025 9:09 pm

     

    Our city rivals will not know whether to stick or twist.

     

     

    With much less money for direct top 8 qualification in EL they would be financially better off with a play offs game they could win and then last 8.

     

     

    That said they have done well against a reasonable bunch of teams. 2 midweeks off might appeal more.

     

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

     

    There is a ‘want’ in you about the huns

     

    It is a real pity B78 folk like you were not so vocal about the nefarious business practices of the hun circa 2012,or critiquing our club as we appointed,while awaiting for the hun2 to come up Mr Deila.

     

    Now God willing we qualify for Champions league next season,we can strengthen the gap,the money differentials are massive,it may stop you worrying(with 100m+) about growing our transfer strategy(it should have been done during Ronnys tenure) but our heirarchy,like you and turkeynut its “whitarethe huns daen”permanently pregnant with rosemarys baby.

     

    its a total negative syche.period.

     

    We have to much to be getting on with ourselves.

     

     

    HH

  7. Can we imagine the Scottish media if Sevco had an upcoming box office Champions league tie against Bayern or Real Madrid coming up, while we were in the second tier tournament?

     

    Think about it.

  8. Celtic Mac on 30th January 2025 9:51 pm

     

     

    AJ got sucked infield and got exposed for the first goal. He was in no man’s land and did not track th runner.

     

     

    At second goal, the left hand side of the pitch fucked up by trying to play through the high press. Scales was particularly poor regards closing the villa player down.

     

     

    Scales was very, very poor for their 3rd goal, took the ball to far up the pitch and lost it, however he and angel had a chance to stop the attack way up the pitch but failed miserably.

     

     

    Regards the 4th goal, it’s not AJ’s fault that dane Murray can’t judge the pace of a ball and player running at him. He was far to slack regardless of age and experience, criminal defending. Shame but he likely blow his big chance.

     

     

    HH

  9. Burnley 78.

     

    Credit to the huns. What for?

     

    Their anti Catholic songbook. Their hatred for all things Irish. Their constant cheating. Their anti social behaviour. Give them credit for feck all.

  10. There is no doubt the CL is the place to be.

     

     

    However I would bite your hand off for any European trophy. Even the Conference ( Look how West Ham celebrated )

     

     

    The Europa has still got two of the worlds richest teams in the competition.

     

     

    Playing in Scotland, all European football refreshes the parts that domestic football cannot achieve.

     

     

    HH.. .

  11. BURNLEY

     

     

    I guess it is a decent outcome; if you’re an under-performing, largely winning f-all, team.

     

     

    Now, the media will be abuzz with news of the The Ragers winning the “We Temporarily Finished Higher In An Inferior Competition Than You Cup”

     

     

    I guess the whole of Europe – and certainly the woodwork trolls – will be talking and posting about it.

  12. stephbhoy67

     

     

    Saying it like I saw it. But you are right, the goals we lost, right from the first one were about poor decision-making. But no need to highlight Dane Murray, as Paul67 has done. Or indeed as you have done. Or as I did after the fourth goal, ….put it out for a corner! This is what the team game is all about. We support the team,…..and the club. And if Dane is lining up against Raith Rovers or Bayern Munich, or whoever I’ll be supporting him next time round. And Liam, and Alistair, Greg et al

  13. AT,

     

    You seem to have an unhealthy obsession with me.

     

    Please stop referencing me in your posts to others,with those hilarious name calls,you alone seem to find funny,as people might actually think I know you.Stick to your sparring partner,Ordinary Joe.

     

    In a braincells fight,evenly matched.

  14. I watched all of the Huns game last night against UNION SG.

     

     

    USG missed many great chances to win the game…maybe 4 or 5 GREAT chances lost.

     

    The Huns got very lucky especially in the 2nd half, when USG FAILED to convert several great chances.

     

     

    USG should be ” kicking themselves” this morning…then again they would probably MISS !

  15. An T

     

     

    The facts are clear.

     

     

    They had a series of games including 5 of the top 10 from the 36 in their competition. They had a very weak squad for various reasons, they were in a period of turmoil off and on the park. They still got directly through to Top 8. Although it may not be best financial outcome it will give them a real bounce of energy and put a smile on their faces. Momentum means a lot in football. They have arrested this. They are still our biggest rival. Hence my concern. Too many scars from the past for me to ignore them.

  16. Good Morning Celts – Grand Day To Be A Tim

     

     

    GREENPINATA @ 4:13 PM,

     

     

    Brendan Rodgers is not immune to criticism, that’s true.

     

     

    It would be great to have an open debate as to where we are half way through his contract.

     

     

    Yet because there is a fervent agenda against him, that’s very difficult…

     

     

    Brendan has shown no inclination of developing the player, but threw him into a cauldron last night. Managers do like to play games; you and I are not supposed to notice.

     

     

    Dane Murray was in and around the first team squad when Ange arrived, fholk seemed to be impressed by his performances.

     

     

    He got a bad injury that he took a long time to recover from.

     

     

    Once fit again he was sent out on loan as is our current development pathway.

     

     

    He impressed at Queen’s Park and was brought back early.

     

     

    We are told over and over again that if you show it in training you will get your opportunity.

     

     

    With Nawrocki obviously not impressing, with Welsh gone and now CCV injured.

     

     

    If Dane Murray is showing it in training why would we not give him his chance.

     

     

    Liam was obviously struggling, AV in the ascendance, a fresh, strong, fast pair of legs shoring up our defence seemed very sensible to me.

     

     

    BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 30TH JANUARY 2025 4:53 PM,

     

     

    “No, no, no wasn’t Dane Murray’s fault it was the usual target..

     

     

    🎶 We’re busy dissing Brendan working the whole day through.🎶”

     

     

    A very odd, but not surprising state of affairs.

     

     

    BR&CO at the beginning of the windoe, let Stephen Welsh go out on loan, brought Dane Murray back early to throw him into the Villa Park cauldron knowing he would fail.

     

     

    All to make a point to the Celtic hierarchy!?

     

     

    Or…

     

     

    Maybe Brendan Rodgers wanted to protect Scales, rather than throw Dane to the lions.

     

     

    Maybe BR&CO brought Dane Murray back early to expedite Dane’s development, to save the Board buying another Centre Half as we have one in development ready to step up.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  17. An T

     

     

    Re speaking out in earlier years. You don’t know what my thoughts were back then, or what I did or tried to do. One day over a beer I would be happy to share those.

  18. I don’t get the need to dis the other uefa trophies because r2ngers has progressed in one. Without automatic qualification to the CL we may be there next season.

  19. It’s a shame that Paul67, with his laser focus on Brendan’s Wales, never saw him talk to Adam Idah, giving the lhad detailed clear instructions while Matty Cash was down injured.

     

     

    After that Adam scored two goals in jig time from similar positions inside the box…

     

     

    Clearly hasn’t inclination to develop Idah…

     

     

    Hail Hail

  20. Watched the villa game back .Inc the villa fans attack on a defenceless young bhoy . Big men a mob even waiting on him down in the concourse to finish the job . Anyone on here know the lad and how he is . Where were the police .and villa should be getting rid of the steward who was laying the boot in too .

  21. Gene on 31st January 2025 8:18 am

     

    “I don’t get the need to dis the other uefa trophies because r2ngers has progressed in one. Without automatic qualification to the CL we may be there next season.”

     

     

    I think it’s 90% in jest. Some of my fondest euro memories are in that competition – Blackburn, Liverpool and Barca amongst them and I imagine most Celtic fans think fondly of it. I think the above 3 compared favourable to any CL wins I have experienced, Juve 4-3 on Halloween and AC Milan 2-1 in the CL were also immense but no more enjoyable.

     

     

    I get that some think the Europa League is devalued even more as CL teams no longer drop down which does lessen the quality of teams in it but I think that is a good thing for clubs at that level and would give us a better shot were we to find ourselves there again,

     

     

    I think Sevco doing well in the Europa also helps with the perception of our league in Europe which may help attract better players in addition to our own good results in the top tier. Still hope they get pumped out in the next round tho.

  22. Brendan Rodgers on bringing Dane Murray back…

     

     

    …remember that Dane had impressed Ange and was out for two years with a recurring injury.

     

     

    BR&CO gave Dane a two year contract extension at the beginning of the season and sent him out on loan, he was recalled at the beginning of the window…

     

     

    “On Welsh and Murray: “Well, we’ve brought Dane back for that purpose. He’s a young player I really thought highly of in the bits that I have seen him. Obviously, he had a horrendous spell with injuries, and we sent him to Queens Park, where Callum (Davidson), his team, and the club done a great job with him to ease him after a long period out; he virtually trained every day and got really good coaching and was at a fantastic club there.

     

     

    “The whole idea then was to bring him back. Stephen is a player that has pretty much been a part of the fabric of this club for so many years. He’s one of the guys that helps create the culture because he’s come through the system.

     

     

    “But there also comes a time where they need to look at their own career. There’s a possibility he’ll go out on loan. It’s not confirmed yet, but for him to go out and Dane come back, it’s quite an easy transition really.”

     

     

    Dane Murray handed Celtic chance after injury frustration

     

     

    Seamlessly fitting into Celtic’s homegrown quota regulations for European competition, Murray can now establish himself in the first-team fold after a long journey back from his injury trials and tribulations.

     

     

    The 21-year-old featured against FC Midtjylland in 2021/22 Champions League qualifying but spent over a year on the sidelines before eventually returning to the Lennoxtown picture.

     

     

    Encouragingly, the academy product made 20 appearances on Glasgow’s southside for Queens Park and has some senior experience behind him upon being recalled to Parkhead.

     

     

    https://www.67hailhail.com/transfers/brendan-rodgers-offers-celtic-transfer-update-as-dane-murray-plan-clarified-ahead-of-stephen-welsh-exit/

     

     

    What part of that sounds like Brendan Rodgers has no inclination to develop the player.

     

     

    Hail Hail

  23. Stephbhoy67 on 30th @ 11.30pm

     

     

    Regards the 4th goal, it’s not AJ’s fault that dane Murray can’t judge the pace of a ball and player running at him. He was far to slack regardless of age and experience, criminal defending. Shame but he likely blow his big chance.

     

     

    Blown his big chance? A tad extreme I think Stephbhoy. Dane was at fault, no doubt, but a single mistake and that’s it?

     

     

    I don’t know your age, Steph, but I was one of the 75,000 at Celtic Park for the quarter final European Cup (as it was then) in March 1969 when we played AC Milan in the second leg. First leg had finished 0 – 0 so the advantage was with Celtic. Going late into the second half it was still 0 – 0 when Jim Craig took a shy and threw it back to big Billy. A lightening quick guy called Prati was on big Billy in a flash, robbed him of the ball and ran in to score the only goal of the game. Big Billy never made the same mistake again.

     

     

    Ave Ave

  24. Transfer window about to close.

     

    KT not coming until the summer but Valle released on the assumption that Arsenal would accept a loan offer? And knowing our only LB left wants away?

     

    No replacement for Kyogo in place and our reported target’s fee has gone from 8 million to 12 million in the space of a month as our negotiating hand weakened.

     

    Meanwhile, having secured Jota, we are told on Sky Sports we have bid for another winger, one that Brendan says he knows nothing about.

     

     

    Does it all sound just a wee bit familiar?

  25. Deniabhoy

     

    “we are told on Sky Sports” say no more

     

     

    Hope your good lady is still on the mend

  26. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    https://x.com/Zeshankenzo/status/1885227529994109331

     

     

    Interesting

     

     

    … and evidence based.

     

     

    I knew their Champions League record was atrocious.

     

     

    I just didn’t realise how bad.

     

     

    If Lint ever peers into this blog?

     

     

    A points per game stat for each of their CL campaigns would be interesting.

     

     

    We’ve had a couple of stinkers of course but stinkers seem to be their norm.

  27. Bada,

     

     

    We cannot keep going back to the future.

     

     

    We are already taking back KT who was one of his teammates during Denayer’s tenure at Parkhead

     

     

    Next we will be looking at Jack Aitchison, only 25.

     

    Jozo ( Has Kenny landed yet ) Simunovic.

     

    What about Ryan Christie ?

     

    Wot about loan expert Patrick Roberts. Always topical.

     

    Stuart Armstrong is only 30.

     

    Should we right a wrong with Effe Ambrose?

     

     

    And so on.

     

     

    Cheers and HH.

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