Hampden is ours!

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Scottish football was waning in 2016.  In the five years before then, Celtic won all league titles, while the Scottish and League Cups each saw five different winners – nine clubs won cups across both competitions.  The ‘neutrals’ raved at this and fair play to the likes of Ross County and Hibs, (especially Hibs), but there was something missing.

Brendan Rodgers arrival gave Scottish football a team who were not just champions, but imperious champions.  18 trophies have been awarded since, 14 to Celtic.  Those neutrals (yet to meet a neutral) bemoaned a lack of competition, but you and I know the truth.  The value in even the League Cup has never been higher.

Other teams want to win it because so few sides apart from Celtic get to win anything.  Celtic want to win it because we know the historic significance of these times.  We are living in a period that 100 years from now football fans will look back at the records and marvel.  This.  Is.  History!  You and I know it and we kicked every ball.

When I think back on highlights from those 14 trophies, that magnificently-horrible League Cup win in December 2019 jumps out first.  The thought of losing our run, history denied, was such, that the eventual relief was euphoric.

Next is the game we watched from home.  We knew the run that led to the Quadruple Treble was over before the Scottish Cup Final against Hearts in 2020.  An equally horrible performance before Kristoffer Ajer blasted his deciding penalty into the net brought a feeling no less joyful than beating Newco 5-0 to win the league.

When your status is as high as Celtic’s has been since 2016, historic significance is always on the line.  This is Celtic’s gift to the rest of Scottish football.  Every competition here has an importance other countries could only dream of, and I include the often-vaunted English game.  There, their top clubs use the League (and increasingly FA) Cup as a development opportunity.

Even the second strongest team in Scotland is not robust enough to do that.  They need the League Cup.  A loss there, while miles behind in the league, would be a disaster.  February is a bit early to have only the Scottish Cup to look forward to.  Can you imagine looking at the months stretching out between February and August and thinking, ‘at most, three games in the Scottish Cup”?  They cannot walk out of Hampden on Sunday muttering, “Bigger fish to fry”, it all goes on the line.

Celtic are playing so well, some of us are disconcertingly confident.  Hatate, Kyogo, Jota and Maeda are on fire.  The back line is rock solid, and Joe Hart looks ready for anything (except a back pass).  McGregor and Mooy will move, block and pass their way through the game, while Ange will make changes that reinvigorate the second half.

Five League Cups out of six, you know the script, Celtic, Hampden is ours!

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386 Comments

  1. garygillespieshamstring on

    Celtic Ghirlandaio 3 Sevco munters 0

     

     

    Or

     

     

    Oh the she huns are shite.

     

     

    Taking the deletion for the team..

  2. Aipple 11.41pm

     

     

    After a very very long week at work am just trying to

     

     

    “adjust ma can with no attitude”

     

     

    Roll on Sunday …. 🍀

  3. AoW 11.45pm

     

     

    Magic 🍀

     

     

    I look forward to the day you walking without a crutch and talking some sense :-)

  4. One doesn’t preclude the other Gerry!

     

     

    When I say walk, I mean lurch elegantly.

     

     

    I’ll never take for granted the simple things in life again. Health-wealth. 😁

  5. GFTB

     

     

    Nice! Roll on Sunday indeed.

     

     

    ——————

     

     

    AoW

     

     

    Walk on!!

     

     

    ———————-

     

     

    PETEC

     

     

    Keep on dancin’

  6. Art of War

     

     

    With hope in your heart …great news.👍

     

     

    Small steps gets ye to the top too.

     

     

    HH

  7. Judge not lest ye be Judged,

     

     

    Me and Aidan sittin the gether, First Time Evah aginst SEVCO – so many tickets seem to go elsewhere..

     

     

    Celtic Ta – It’s gonnae be an Unique Sat/Sunday……. Back 2work Tuesday,Possibly.

  8. AoW 11.58pm

     

     

    Without praising you … (too much) well done with the rehab

     

     

    2022 has been one shoitey year for you mate … surely 2023 will be a lot better… on a fitba front, starting on Sunday

     

     

    Hail Hail

  9. An Tearmann, walked to the top of Trinley Brae – a wee hill in Knightswood – that affords a view of the Campsies and West/South West of Knightswood. Can see X-scape in Braehead, new flats in Jordanhill and the heights of Drumchapel. Tis wonderous when four walls are your daily bread.

     

     

    Have not forgotten yourself and BRRB a kindness.

  10. An Tearmann,

     

     

    Ruud Bhoy,I’ve been so mega disappointed in Paul67 so many times.

     

     

    I’m a Roman Catholic, I huvnae practiced at all, I’m hoping Katie gets the vote.

     

     

    I Believe in the Holy Scriptures.

     

     

    Sunday cannae come quick enough.

     

     

    Do any of our Japanese Bhoys have tattoos?

     

     

    Hmmmmm…

     

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWOtCXu6dCE

  11. First games since Covid Bach @ Reardon’s in 12 David Gowers. I cannae Terry Waite.

     

     

    I Love UK Pool but the Rail shots in US Pool. Wow.

  12. Art of War

     

    Nice one,small steps,and small confidences taken my friend.

     

     

    Campsies and Dumgoyne are lovely,last couple of nights,great light

     

     

    HH

  13. AOW,

     

     

    Glad to hear your on the mend.

     

    Do you anticipate getting back on a bike ?

     

     

    Cheers and HH

  14. bigrailroadblues on

    Art of War

     

    Good to hear that your mobility is improving J. Try a little walk to the Shipbank next Friday to help your rehab. Taxi home would be advisable.

  15. BRRB – Hah! The Shipbank will have to wait for a wee while yet. Work on Fridays so will lookout for future weekend get togethers.

     

     

    Greenpinata, of course I’ll be back on bike. That’s a target for the future.

     

     

    Can’t wait for the game now!

  16. Over 2.5 Celtic first half goals. 22s

     

     

    &

     

     

    Over 5.5 Celtic goals. 111s

     

     

    This Celtic Team is Special.

     

     

    If we get in to the Rhthym and I think we will…….

     

     

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y4x2-xkliMg

     

     

    Thems is a stone loose frae crumbling Big Time.

     

     

    The 5 @ Celtic Park under Brendan should have been 7 or 10.

     

     

    Ange’s Celtic, if we are as far ahead, wullnae ease up.

     

     

    As AT says lets go to work Bhoys. Fruits of your labour will shine through.

  17. Good morning all Tim’s across the globe from a beautiful morning in the Garngad.

     

     

    Bring on that manky other mob manana.

     

     

    4-1 the Tic

     

     

    D :)

  18. If the sevco manager was asked who he wanted to referee tomorrow’s game and who he wanted to run VAR he would have picked the same two individuals officiating at tomorrow’s game. These people have been handpicked to help sevco.

     

    Only in fair Caledonia would this be allowed to happen.

     

    All things being equal we should be confident about the outcome but all things are not equal and I think this game is too close to call. We can expect controversy and these decisions will not be going our way.

     

    Same as it ever was.

  19. AOW

     

    Good to here that you’re mobility is improving.

     

     

    I was brought up in Knightswood.

     

    Where us Trimley Brae?