It pains me to say it, but Newco’s run in Europe this season has been exceptional. We can make whatever excuses we like about the merits of Braga and Red Star, but this didn’t matter to us in 2003 when we eliminated Boavista, then 10th in the Portuguese league, and it should not matter now.
For much of the game last night, Leipzig looked ordinary; unable to get into the Newco box, never mind create a chance. The goal came from a low percentage shot by a left back who moments before mis-controlled the ball to let it run out of play.
Leipzig, though, are anything but ordinary. Defeat to two late goals by Union Berlin on Saturday was their only reversal in 17 outings, a run that includes wins away over Atalanta, Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund and Real Sociedad. They remain favourites to progress to the final, but the game did not go to plan for the Germans and their place in the final is not assured.
Four years ago today we beat Newco 5-0 to win the league on our way to being the first Scottish team to retain the treble. That day, that season, was enormous fun, but it was one in a long line of seasons when Celtic were not pushed. Strategically, that treble did less for us than I hope the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat two weeks ago will do. You and I now know we need to improve for next season.
To win this league we will need to better a team who reached a European semi-final. If we do, it would be a remarkable achievement for a new manager and overwhelmingly new playing squad. For the remainder of this season and almost certainly next season, we face-off against a very competitive outfit for a Champions League bounty that would be transformational to whoever wins.
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When was this 5-0 , title winning victory that is still causing disappointment in some?
Here`s hoping nothing so desperately inadequate happens this Sunday.
Sevco 14/5 to win at Ibrox on Thursday. Leipzig 10/11. That kind of surprised me.
Ange Postecoglou when asked if Rangers’ Europa League run demonstrates how well Scottish teams can do in Europe: “If you want evidence of how well Scottish clubs can do in Europe, there’s a trophy I can show you just down the road here, mate.”
Clamp CSC
Boris getting jail time, shame its Becker and not Johnson.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 29TH APRIL 2022 4:11 PM
Did that really happen? Brilliant if it did !!!!
Sunday IS the most important game in the season to date. What happens afterwards is for discussion Monday. Let’s hope it’s lighthearted & happy
Becker heads for grand slammer
Ange’s presser
BSR
Thanks. I looked it up anyway. Excellent delivery by our Manager who is top class with the Media.
Boris Becker jailed for breaking insolvency law.
Jeez.
HH
An Tearmann…you should be jailed for that copy and paste job… :-)
Apologies Please delete 4.36
AT
My finger is sore scrolling😱😵
INIQUITOUSIV on 29TH APRIL 2022 3:16 PM
AN TEARMANN ( from last blog )
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/apr/28/sounders-play-comeback-kings-pumas-at-own-game-in-concacaf-champions-league-final
You asked about the CONCACAF Final. It is the equivalent of the Champions League for Club sides in Europe ( There is also a CONCACAF Nations Cup ). The Club competition features sides from the U.S. ( MLS ), Mexico and the Central American countries. The Final is a 2 leg affair and the Seattle Sounders got a surprising 2-2 draw away to Pumas from Mexico in the first leg. No MLS side has won the competition for 20 years, but Seattle must fancy their chances, playing at home on artificial turf in front of a 80,000 home support.
Thanks for info,the world football prog on BBC,
The prog was talking of the cultural shift as its seen as owned by Mexican teams having continually won by them,will be interesting to watch.It will definitely be a boost to US football and its working model.
HH.
Apologies Celts.all I can ask is delete.meant to just post reply to INIQUITOUSIV.
HH back to garden :-)
AN TEARMANN….. Wee Chump 🤣🤣🤣😎
AN TEARMANN on 29TH APRIL 2022 4:36 PM
Rangnick denies accepting Austria job: ‘I will continue at United’
He’d better tell the Austrian FA who confirmed his appointment with a two year deal.
He’ll still be at United as a consultant which sounds like a dogs dinner of an arrangement
Just noticed,RB are scheduled to play a game on Monday night.
Surely be rearranged.Its on TV,still advertising it.
AN TEARMANN
I hurt my finger deleting that………
Many times read here & elsewhere that the Huns were shite.
Never bought into that, they are big, physical well organised team & they are a threat.
I believe we have the better footballers & play the more attractive football but that doesn’t guarantee you anything,
We have more or less set out to play our own game, regardless of opposition be it home or away, Domestic or European,
Next year we will have to be more pragmatic at European Level.
However this year was only about one thing & one thing only, Win back our League Title.
We are very close, just keep it going Celtic, get it over the line and let us Celebrate one of our greatest League Titles since we stopped the ten.
Next year can take care of itself.
Like to add my voice to those asking after PeteC, If you are lurking Pete let us know you are OK.
Sunday is an opportunity for Ange’s players to show they are the best team in the league
All the hard work was done in the two recent derbies, the mauling at Parkhead set the tone for the rest of the season, the comfortable win at ibrox put us in pole position to win the league.
Who would have thought back in the days of bottom six predictions and every game being a must-win that we’d come to the final derby comfortable in the knowledge that a defeat would not be a disaster, a draw a great result and a victory a league clincher
All the pressure is on them, they must win, while ignoring the distractions of Thursday. Every player will be thinking about the semi and possible final, no one will be gambling on a league that they’ve already told themselves is gone
Days like Sunday are to be enjoyed after the horrors of last season and the tricky start to this. And looked forward to. A free hit if such a thing exists in a derby
CORKCELT
I think our recent performances show this group of players have it in them to defend their own box far better than earlier in the season
In the last 3 derbies against a team who made it to the semi finals of the Europa League we’ve defended well, 10 shots on target over three games and thirty minutes is an impressive stat.
It’s easy to forget our back 4 in the first game against Bodo/Glimt was Ralston, Welsh, Starfelt and Scales. We had no Calmac in midfield. One out of 5 first choice defensive-minded players
Celtic40me, I agree our defense have tightened up a lot, but if we see out next couple of games and land ourselves in Champion’s League Group Stages we can’t go toe to toe with the likes of PSG & Man City.
CORKCELT on 29TH APRIL 2022 5:29 PM
Those days are long gone. Our best hope of some sort of competitiveness in the CL is getting some luck with the third pot team.
A third place finish and a decent run in the Europa would constitute a very good European season.
Moderator.5.03
A pop up from quatari air copies over the whole page
when I copy over say just your post.i dunno if others cross it replying on phone.apologies again will post a wee lush upbeat one later as thanks.:-)
HH
:-)
Watching Old Firm against Leipzig last night Alan McGregor had sweet Fk all to do and the Germans could have been there ’til the cows came home without scoring until the death. Celtic beat these guys in 2019 at home to finish on nine points and pip them for a place in the knockout stage of Europa. I would give Old Firm a great chance of makin the final.
Prior to Celtic’s Cup semi defeat they were coming off a series of some great results and were on cloud 9 after the 7 goal rout of St Johnstone. There was an air of arrogance going into that match against a’ supposedly Knackered’ opponents. Were they really interested in another Cup Final with the title beckoning?
There is a remarkle bond in such a small period of time by the new Celtic players which is clearly evident with the celebrations when we score thanks to Ange and his backroom team and Capain Calmac.
We will see a different Celtic on Sunday at Parkhead the hunger will be back big time particularly after the fine win last week and the full house bulging Celtic Park and no talk please about knackered opposition.
Sunday will be different.
AN TEARMANN on 29TH APRIL 2022 5:42 PM · EDIT
Moderator.5.03
A pop up from quatari air copies over the whole page
when I copy over say just your post.i dunno if others cross it replying on phone.apologies again will post a wee lush upbeat one later as thanks.:-)
HH
:-)
==========
Touche my mhan, touche lol
Joe , Jimmy Rimmer. Man U ‘s sub goalie in 1968. He started for Villa in the 1982 European Cup Final. .
Turn off javascript and there are no ads. Have to turn it back on for other sites and apps of course
just tuned in to the netflix documentary Sunderland til I die series 2 and they have just unveiled Jack Ross as the new manager
An interesting look behind the scenes of a football club
FSTB
JVR @6.04
I assume your post is about my query from earlier,but it was actually about a player who played for two different English clubs,that was Frank Gray.Enjoyed your post though.Here is another poser:
Nephew of Bill Shankly played in the 1967 european cup winners cup final for rangers and went on to manage two scottish league teams.Who is this player?
Roger Hynd
Yes Roger Hynd it is Scullybhoy.Was at the two each outcome at Ibrox ’67 which secured the title,jinky scoring for us and Jardine and Hynd replying.Torrential rain from when we got off the boat that Saturday morning right through until that night,ah memories!!!
Joe , sorry. . Thanks for the reply.
It’s a good trivia question though , English goalie with two European Cup Winners medals but only played in part of one of the finals.
On Roger Hynde. an old parish priest of mine was a Birmingham City fan (a Bluenose!) he couldn’t speak highly enough of Roger Hynde, said he was an absolute gentleman. When he left City he wrote to him thanking him for all he had done for the team and the city. The letter he got in reply, he said summed up the man. Definitely not a hun.
HANKRAY
the Germans could have been there ’til the cows came home without scoring until the death
That made me laugh out loud 🤣
KINGLUBO,
Too true
KINGLUBO
Appreciate the thought, but
Gonnae No Dae That…….