Cynicism for international football, which I have plenty of, did not survive the festival we were treated to yesterday. Switzerland scoring three before eliminating World Champions on penalties is a feat for the ages. That it fell to the game’s most prodigious prodigy, Kylian Mbappe, to miss the decisive penalty and turn France Miserables, could have been scripted by Victor Hugo himself.
Croatia’s miracle ran out of steam in extra time against Spain, Europe’s other footballing giant of recent times. They were no less enthralling than the Swiss. The difficult side of the draw lived up to its reputation.
Football is the game we love because of the drama and excitement good competition generates. League rosters everywhere are full of fixtures with little consequence. Lose and you have a chance to recover. Celtic’s quadruple treble raised the excitement bar in Scottish football. For aspiring teams, every League Cup game was a must-win as it presented a viable chance to win silverware.
Great champions raise the stakes for everyone. When they lose, the sense of achievement the likes of Ross County, who were first to eliminate Celtic from a competition, and Switzerland last night, achieve what was thought barely possible. We need to get back to the top of the pile.
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Had NL been the fabulous manager, many on here would have you believe, it’s curious that he wasn’t poached by an EPL team, if he had been approached he’d have moved faster down the M6 than BR did.
Given all the EPL jobs still vacant I’m shocked he’s not been snapped up.
…huns eh……?
Fix fitba; Empty Hampden.
HH
Whit age is that ref??
Demolish Hampden is an absolute dump
Bada Bing
“FB- he’s first choice right back for Sweden in the Euros,but you’re saying he couldn’t have done a job for Celtic in the last couple of seasons? Open your eyes, and look at the rubbish we have threw money at replacing him,sometimes it’s good to admit you were wrong, the abuse the guy got on here was ridiculous. ”
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I think we overestimate the level of International football. Stephen O Donnell was picked for 3 games at the Euros but I would not be happy to see him play for us, nice boy though he is. The Swiss RB was on loan to the Huns from Newcastle and wasn’t considered good enough for them.
Lustig was great for us and deserves serious praise but we let him go at the right time, as we did with a few other legends who woudl have kept at a diminished level but chose not to. Mikel went on to Belgian football with Gent and was not a success and left on a free after a year to play for AIK back in Sweden.
I agree that we had some poor options but a diminished Lustig would have been just another of them.
We need to scout at club level not at full international caps- they are overpriced options on the whole
WESTCRAIGS on 29TH JUNE 2021 9:26 PM
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We’re not going to agree on Peter Lawwell. However we did have it easier than ever before with this latest 9iar – I agree with you.
Now if the past behaviour by some on the blog is anything to go by – I will be called a “unionist hun” for saying so – you probably won’t 🤣
GO TELL THE SPARTIM on 29TH JUNE 2021 9:36 PM
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If only there was a Public Inquiry into the revamp. Masonic heads would roll like snow off a dyke.
Lustig was offered an extension on reduced terms the same as Craig Gordon, they both decided to move on.
We replaced both of them with bad buys I include Jeremie Frimpong who in fairness to the player just wasn’t a right back.
International players on reduced wages always have better options, Celtic failed in the market and we went back to the sieve.
BSR
A very good point you make which many will have missed
I read both CQN and SC sites, the reason why I do this is that always want to hear honest, up to date info on the CFC I love
As yet, I have not met any of the posters from either site, hopefully in the future I will be able to meet the ones I enjoy their comments.
What I find really sad is when what appears to be like minded Celtic supporters engaging in poisonous comments, IMHO, there are enough agitators out there in the SMS.
I have never ventured onto any Sevco sites, however, if any trolls from the dark site had delved into my favourite sites, they must love watching us going tonto to one another.
I. shy of 58yrs old, I’ve worked in some nasty environments throughout Scotland, (SPS 16yrs), I am used to be in areas that have intense emotions, I am most certainly not a ‘happy Clapper’, and I am more than happy to call what I believe is right and what is wrong.
Being a Celtic supporter to me is fantastic, we can all fall out or disagree, but can we please be respectful, that’s what I believe keeps us apart from them.
HH
Brian
JHB you demonstrate your unionist hun credentials every day, the assumption from most is that you’re proud of it. Why would that upset you?
Hun Helander booed on to the pitch making a sub appearance for Sweden.
Squire, are you sure? He doesn’t play for Celtic. Could you be mistaken?
Doesn’t suit the agenda.
SFTB- BSR- bottom line, how much have we spent trying to replace him,and we haven’t, we still need a right back, symptomatic of how Lawwell ran the Club.
TIMMY7_NOTED on 29TH JUNE 2021 10:13 PM
Squire, are you sure? He doesn’t play for Celtic. Could you be mistaken?
Doesn’t suit the agenda.
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That was why I posted.
Bada,
We haven’t solved any of our defensive weakness for years, every replacement has been weaker than the player replaced.
!!BADA BING!! on 29TH JUNE 2021 10:16 PM
SFTB- BSR- bottom line, how much have we spent trying to replace him,and we haven’t, we still need a right back, symptomatic of how Lawwell ran the Club.
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It was said Mr Stein didn’t have an eye for a goalkeeper.
Mr Lawwell clearly didn’t have an eye for a right back.
SQUIRE
29TH JUNE 2021 10:17 PM
Really ;-)
SFtBs @ 9:28 PM,
Ok, I think I’m with you now, we are playing a type of top trumps, where BR’s peak achievements are measured against whose of other managers…
Well firstly I was not using higher in the sense of paramount and even if I was surely an invincible treble trumps an ordinary one:)
Still, what I was talking about was the way the Football Club run and performed, coaching, fitness, sports science, quality of players, player development, Club regard, in general a higher performing more professional football Club.
The statement was that the Brendan Rodgers era demonstrated
i) Celtic could achieve success at a much higher level.
Now as far as Europe goes and the apples v pears or as you ghuys put it, if your auntie had…
Back to the top trumps – UEFA pay money to football clubs in direct proportion to their success in European competitions – during Brendan Rodgers time we earned a wee unsurpassed fortune from UEFA.
Have a great night
Hail Hail
Chairboy
Excellent post.
Ukraine made that look easy in the end.
SD- Mr Stein was qualified to judge a right back, Mr Lawwell wasn’t…HH
Chairbhoy
“Still, what I was talking about was the way the Football Club run and performed, coaching, fitness, sports science, quality of players, player development, Club regard, in general a higher performing more professional football Club.”
Ah! the intangibles where perceptions turn into facts before your eyes.
I just do not have enough inside info to tell how much any department improved at CP during BR’s time. I do have the objective information on how the football matches went though.
Brendan had an Invincible season and two Trebles. Great domestic achievements but they did not improve the club in Europe. Brendan built a good team out of a faltering Ronny Deila era where Senior players had undermined the boss. In seasons two and three with us , there were diminishing signs of this magic and excellence- I will, at a convenient time, take another trip back into the archives and confirm what we, as Cetic fans, were saying about him and his teams in Seasons two and three because they do not match what we are saying about him now through nostalgia.
Brendan ain’t coming back. The new era has started but we still live in the same world that all our managers have had to operate. A backwater league with a club with a proud and fading history, disadvantaged on almost every metric of the game.
But we’ll stilll with logic set aside, hope that Ange can have a tilt or tw at the bigger boys and get us being more consistent domestically.
Next year I’d settle for winning the league back
!!BADA BING!! on 29TH JUNE 2021 10:50 PM
SD- Mr Stein was qualified to judge a right back, Mr Lawwell wasn’t…HH
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That was my point.
I was being facetious.
SD- 🙈…sorry….
June 29th, 2021 Anno Domini. Holy Mass on the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles, Pope Francis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgE5LYKQ9QA
BELMONTBRIAN on 29TH JUNE 2021 10:00 PM
Hail hail.
Been a while Guys ,hope every one is well.
Hot Smoked, your post was a cracker.Bang On Mate.
I started the first Celtic Supporters Club in Australia 40 years ago.I don’t think I need to bang on about our ups and downs during that period. The one thing I can tell you I have met many Celtic fans.Some absolute fantastic people. I have also met a lot of people who call themselves Celtic fans who once I got to know them I should have hunted them and not let them near our club.
We now live in a small town outside of Melbourne which our man Melbourne Mick has kept you informed. We are very excited about Ange being the new manager. I really pray it works out. We have our regular wee Social nights and have a guy called Richie McKay who does the Music.I can’t think of anyone I have heard who is better. I have asked some of THE SO CALLED CELTS why they don’t turn up. They are within walking distance. You want to hear some of the excuses.
Should I still consider them to be part of our Celtic Family. Take care and God Bless.
PADDYMACOZ on 30TH JUNE 2021 2:41 AM
Some similar issues here. Poster here yesterday said he’d be happy if season ticket sales weren’t good at our club.
Still has the brass neck to carry on posting.
An absolute imposter.
PADDYMACOZ on 30TH JUNE 2021 2:41 AM
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Great to see you Posting PADDYBHOY.
Please also tell MICK I was asking for him.
HH Mate.
Paddymacoz
great to see you on.hope health is holding up
have a good day Celts
hh
Engurlund v Germany…
Two bang AVERAGE mobs, who again almost bored me to death.
Germany SHOULD have scored at LEAST TWO Goals thru Werner and then later Muller. The shocking miss by Thomas Muller was the ” Turning Point” in the match as that would have made it 1-1 with Germany having the momentum.
Muller should have been HOOKED long BEFORE his miss, he offered nothing throughout.
NONE of the above was/is Engerlunds fault of course, I know that.
It took the ” World Class” Arry Kane” just over 19 Minutes to get his 1st touch, and as for his headed Goal…He SHUT his eyes, was UNMARKED and hoped for the best from only 5/6 yards out…it could be argued that the German Goalie SHOULD have did better, as the ball was very close to him before crossing the line and/or why he never cut out the Cross ?
” Arry Kane offered nothing throughout either and he also should have been Subbed long before his Flukey goal.
Some Engerlund Pundits describing Engerlunds performance as being ” OUTSTANDING”…even Martin Keown during the Sweden v Ukraine match……” Outstanding…REALLY” ???
Engerlund have been the most BORING / Average Team during the EURO’s and yet again the Engerlund Pundits and Media just continue to go Overboard.
FACT…lets NOT forget that many Englund fans were NOT Happy with their Team before yesterdays win….THEY were BOOED OFF by their own Fans when failing to beat a very average lot in Scotland.
My Bet as Winners of the EURO’s was/is ITALY @ 8/1…I still hope to collect from the Bookies ?
Cooee still here
TIMMY7_NOTED on 30TH JUNE 2021 7:47 AM
Exactly! you are not renewing and you don’t want anyone else to.
Your motivation is solely politics now.
Just thought I’d remind early readers of your stance.
🤣😂
Those claiming Hampden is the worst stadium in the Euros obviously haven’t been to the Olympic Stadium in Rome.
I’ve enjoyed the overnight Copa America matches on bbc red button. If Europe only brings one more idea from across the Atlantic Ocean, then I’d want it to be their football goal-nets. Quarter-finals this weekend.
Peru v Paraguay Fri10pm (immediately following Bel v Ita)
Brazil v Chile Sat1am (triple header)
Uruguay v Colombia Sat11pm (continuing Ukrainian party celebration)
Argentina v Ecuador Sun2am (that’s enough football…till the semi-finals of course)
BIG JIMMY on 30TH JUNE 2021 7:21 AM
bang on mate
Aye Italy are looking very good
So you were referring to me? Just checking the levels of obsession were still high you’re a very strange person.
The ongoing problems you have with telling the truth are worthy of a proper scientific study. I’ll go back to ignoring your childish digs particularly when you aren’t even brave enough to direct to the individual.