Jock Stein won his first five League Cups as Celtic manager (no pressure, Ronny) but in the 43 years since we’ve won the trophy only eight times, including yesterday.
There has been a bit of chat that the Treble is a bit easier since Rangers were liquidated, but, if you know your history, you’ll know that’s not really borne out by the facts.
We’ve won three of the last 10 League Cups and lost to Rangers once but the six other defeats in that period have come at the hands of the likes of Morton, St Mirren and Kilmarnock. What’s more, Falkirk, Hearts (twice) and Morton all knocked us out at Celtic Park. We haven’t actually lost an away game in the League Cup for over a decade. 25 of our 35 defeats since Stein’s five-in-a-row have come to teams other than Rangers.
Here is a list of our eventual outcomes in the League Cup, winners or those who eliminated us:
2014-15 Winners
Morton
St Mirren
Kilmarnock
Rangers
Hearts
2008-09 Winners
Hearts
Falkirk
2005-06 Winners
Rangers (November 2004 Celtic’s last away defeat in the League Cup)
Hibs
Rangers
Rangers
2000-01 Winners
1999-00 Winners
Airdrie
1997-98 Winners
Hearts
Raith Rovers
Rangers
Aberdeen
Airdrie
Rangers
Aberdeen
Dundee United
Aberdeen
Rangers
Hibs
Dundee United
Rangers
1982-83 Winners
St Mirren
Dundee United
Aberdeen
Rangers
St Mirren
Aberdeen
Rangers
1974-75 Winners
Dundee
Hibs
Partick Thistle
Rangers
At the 40th anniversary of Lisbon I wrote about the 1965-66 until 1969-70 period. Jock Stein won 12 of the 15 domestic trophies available, five Leagues, five League Cups and two Scottish Cups. We also won and lost a European Cup Final, while beating champions from Italy, Portugal France and England.
That we went on to win nine-in-a-row disguised the fact that the real glory era ended in 1970. The last four title winning seasons were not characterised by beating anyone substantial in Europe (notwithstanding the fact that we reached two European Cup semis) and a series of capitulations in League Cup Finals. The downwards trajectory from beating Leeds at Hampden and finishing fifth in the league in 1978 is evident.
Two inferences can be drawn:
Winning trebles is incredibly difficult. One slip, one bad tackle leading to a red card, and you are up against it.
Teams who aspire to genuine historical greatness never switch off.
We have a ‘never switch off’ manager. No more Mortons, Falkirks or Raith Rovers’.
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jamesgang
The ole unseen Fenian firewall – indeed.
Jobo
That’s John (get down Shep) Noakes.
Not Alfie (goodbye cruel internets) Noakes
jamesgang thanks
forgot we can’t get in the way of the Champions League gravy train
oh well CQN updates it is!
HH
After reading the parcel of Scheidt by alan patillo, not the first time he has tried to denigrate our club I decided to do a bit of research on him.
Seemingly he is a dundee fan and yet he carps on about how hard done his rivals the arabs have been.
He also wrote a book about another rival, drunken duncan, said the Raploch pigeon fancier refused tae talk to him.
While in the Toffees site I came across a wee story about Jimmy Martin their kit man. Seemingly he was their bus driver and when Howard Kendall arrived the 1st time to manage them he promoted this whole hearted Evertonian to kit man.
34 years later and after a heart attack he is still there in his trackie at the back preparing the subs to come on and looking after the players coming off. No sitting in the front in brogues and a tie dishing out orders.
5 years later the beast promotes the park’s of hamilton bus driver. 2nd again.
lennybhoy
20:49 on 16 March, 2015
After you met Paul in the Big Tree, I got a text fae Andy last night, Paul & big Garry (you will know who I mean) all ended up in the Geo, including yourself that’s 4 guys who would never meet one or other for a pint but have shared a few shandies over this weekend…. Hope your driver to the station today had nothing too bad too say about me !
geordie munro
20:58 on 16 March, 2015
Tlwio,
I’m glad you seen the arm going up too.
Thought I was the only one
———-
Depends on what you want to see, don’t it..?
There’sNoneSoBlindAsThoseWhoWillNotSeeCSC
CRC,
I hope yesterday wasn’t too traumatic for your bhoy?
My mate can be a bit loud;)
Ole Celtic aren’t daft, no TV coverage pack them in like sardines £15 a pop.
There’s yer dinner.
barrach obampot@ 20 53.
Jason Molina.
Went to see him perform in Cleveland , Ohio.Too drunk to perform / he struggled to walk.
Sad , sad, sad .
R I P.
Wonder if we have or will now have a designated penalty taker on the park.Forrest’s actions reminded me of Joe Miller’s “I won the penalty and I’m taking it” routine against ex co at Parkhead which he went on to miss too.
gerryfaethebrig:
Nothing bad mate, said you were a good wee footballer.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Sipsini
Not at all, he thoroughly enjoyed it and was buzzing at the end
Thanks again for your help including the manned escort through the United fans :-)
HH
CRC
Sips
I bet loads of your colleagues took today off just to avoid you!
Oh the banter!
I don’t think I’ll be there on Wednesday. Gutted. But sense the wee Mhan’s not as daft about live footie as me and don’t want to scunner him.
So I’ll be scunnered instead.
HH jamesgang
Hello again all you young rebels.
Forgot to mention on my previous blog yesterday that during
our Paddy’s Sunday celebration we received a good luck email
from one of our younger club members who is presently on the
base camp Mount Everest and assures us he had on the hoops
singing Hail..Hail.
As i always say, the Celtic family, who’s like us?
H.H Mick
Swansea v Liverpool.
Two bucket teams playing in a piss poor money inflated league.
We are a fairly decent team and I would fancy our chances big time against either of them.
Tomorrow is the last day of Bobby Sands’ diary. I might not be about until later tomorrow evening though.
Beannachtai Lá Fheile Padraig oraibh.
Árd Macha
tontine tim,
100% on the button regarding Dumbarton Tims.
Massive amount from west of Ireland stock.
TLWIO
Hope you are well?
From my seat, it looked as though Bro Madden was going to give the penalty, until he got a call from the linesman or 4th official.
I don’t know if it shows in highlights , but there appeared to be a point when he moved to penalty spot, hesitated, and then moved to 6 yard box.
Two last bits
1) had the same happened to a hoops player, I would have wanted a penalty
2) I notice Celtic players are using their upper body a lot more when tackling – Italians have mastered this for years – and we just need to be careful as one man’s shoulder charge can be another man’s push
Melbourne Mick
For you mate….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYR4xf5MG24
geordie munro
I went back and looked.
You are – as ever! – right…
HH jamesgang
lennybhoy
21:13 on 16 March, 2015
I couldnae kick doors at Halloween…….
As for him, he was more of a take the man and if you get the ball its a bonus, he comes across as a gentleman but that Bhoy could take you from the neck down and still plead his innocence, the fact he is such a gentleman most of the refs let him away with it, that was amateur fitba for you
Have just done a quick virtual tour of the stadium seating plan and it looks like being a pretty low crowd.
I really hope we see a last minute rush and that Ronny and the Bhoys get the support they deserve.
Hail Hail
After 60mins non-stop rain in Rome – Sampdoria score!
Flukey goal for Liverpool
If, as most people believe,a penalty should be pretty undisputable, surely the fact that so many disagree on the matter makes the decision not to give it the correct one?
Liverpool have scored a rather fortuitous goal.
South Of Tunis
a tragic loss
this is one of my favourite JMo songs. It has a beautiful redemptive quality coming through the space’s loneliness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz2nyOLVwg8
Given what happened to him the comment “Free healthcare to all” is something we should all try to protect and preserve.
ps you were looking for a 7″ the other day by The Soul Boys? I saw a copy on Coxsone Records if that’s any use, and for a quarter of what e*** was asking
HH
its getting late, and, for some reason, I got a case of the blues …..
so, this is what I’m listening to …. a young kid from Texas …. think a young Sam Cooke/the Soul Stirrers ….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLzr5xv36UI
My sister sent me this song…..she thought it was really wonderful …..singer is from Donegal, I think …
http://youtu.be/0n67dSG35L4
Clashcitybhoy
21:20 on
16 March, 2015
Its called dunting the player oot the way as they are about to shoot(rough translation)
A favourite of mine at CQN 5s :-)
HH
CRC
Andy through In 3 sets. Braw
CRC
I am sure TLWIO used similar tactics many years back :-)
barrach ….. that is quite a good tune. thanks for that. have to give him a listen.
jamesgang
20:58 on
16 March, 2015
The response from Sam…….. AKA dufc27 made me smile :))))
Only a matter of time till a red gives a pen against Virgil for barging an opposition player out the road.
I thought it was a pen but Dow put his arm across Brown first which left Brown no way to move. Dow moves about a yard towards Brown rather than just continue his run forward which may have been why the ref didn’t award a pen.
CCB
I’m grand – hope you and yours are too.
Wasn’t at the game so can’t comment really other than what was on TV which wasn’t much really.
Certainly seen pens given for that but I’d like to think I’d have taken the same view if it was our claim. ( probably not though , let’s be honest..! )
I agree on the strength point. If we’re fitter and stronger why not use it?
Cheers
Tlwio.
mike in toronto
he has an achingly beautiful voice. I recommend “The Lioness”, “Didn’t it Rain” and “Magnolia Electric Co” for starters
one of my mates posted a tribute mix of Songs:Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co. on Mixcloud
https://www.mixcloud.com/black_ops/jason-molina/
HH
67heaven .. challenging the lie ..i am wee oscar / neil lennon.. ipox belongs to the creditors
21:27 on 16 March, 2015
My sister sent me this song…..she thought it was really wonderful …..singer is from Donegal, I think …
http://youtu.be/0n67dSG35L4
…………
Thanks for that pal.
Lovely song,great singer and lovely looking girl from Tyrone.
CCB
Aye cheers!
My recollection of my ability was a cross between Henrik and Lubo. Still can’t believe I was never picked up…
:-)
barrach
Thanks mate! Got some stuff playing in the background as I type this now. As you say, an achingly beautiful voice.