Harsh lesson that Celtic need to improve

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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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344 Comments

  1. Corkcelt,

     

     

    Not being smart,but who could we possibly sign,that would enable us to compete with Man City,L,pool,PSG,etc.

     

    Our level is the EL.That’s were we are,and its not going to change overnight,if at all.To get far even in that Tourney,you need loads of luck,(And penalties ),to prove the point ,look at the teams who have already gone out.Getting to the semis winning 6 out of 17 games,is the kind of luck you need.

  2. How the Hun team perform in Europe has nothing to do with us.

     

     

    And all we can do is gub them on Sunday.

  3. Don’t know if anyone read,or was even interested in my earlier post.Leipzig have to play Borussia MG away on Monday night.

  4. turkeybhoy

     

     

    Ja genau! Had a look at both RB and Monchengladbach websites and they are both showing the fixture for Monday May 2nd at 7.30pm. The Bundesliga site and it also shows the game so looks like the match is going ahead as scheduled. Then again the other lot have got to play us Sunday.

     

    Another thing I did notice on the Borussia site is that they are due to play Ukraine on May 11, kick off time to be announced. No doubt part of a meisterplan to help Ukraine get in tip top shape for the match against Scotland in a few weeks. Der Schweinhund!

     

    Nein?

  5. An Tearmann on 29th April 2022 8:24 pm

     

     

    Senior cqnr’s

     

     

    Each goal v deidyins from the 1960s

     

     

    https://youtu.be/HiCeGkchN8A

     

     

    HH

     

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

     

     

    Thank you. Some fabulous memories there. My favourite goal is George Connelly in the Scottish Cup Final of 1969. What a sad loss to the Club he was.

     

     

    HH

  6. Tom McLaughlin on

    TURKEYBHOY

     

    Don’t know if anyone read,or was even interested in my earlier post.Leipzig have to play Borussia MG away on Monday night.

     

    It was discussed during the commentary on BT Sport and then mentioned on here during the game. There’s no question of the Monday game being postponed. CL clubs play on Saturdays/Sundays then play Tuesday/Wednesday. Playing Monday then Thursday is no different.

  7. Bhoyjoebelfast on 29th April 2022 7:00 pm

     

     

    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!!!

     

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

     

     

    BTW I am just good at Goole search – sorry. I could not have guessed that, to be honest. My first Derby was 1970, and sadly it was a 0 – 0. My father took me (we lived in Belfast at the time) because I had passed the 11+.

  8. Fergusslayedtheblues- watch bad sport about Italian referees and their cheating.

     

     

    Parallels with Scottish Refs

     

     

    D :)

  9. Tom McLaughlin on

    DAVID66

     

     

    Sorry but you simply cannot compare the corruption of Italian referees as highlighted in Bad Sport with the refereeing situation in Scotland.

  10. TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 29TH APRIL 2022 9:07 PM

     

    DAVID66

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Sorry but you simply cannot compare the corruption of Italian referees as highlighted in Bad Sport with the refereeing situation in Scotland.

     

    ———————–

     

    Correct… the Italians did it for money , the Scots did it for hatred of Fenians,

  11. I saw that Andy Goram was mentioned earlier, reminded me of this…….

     

     

    Funny how somebody taking a bit of time just to be nice can really make your day. I was on a plane to New York with my wife some years ago and Andy Goram was in the seat beside me. We got to talking about football and I told him I was a Celtic fan, but it didn’t matter to him, he couldn’t have been nicer. He insisted on paying for our drinks, showed us wallet pictures of his family and said he was en route to Honduras to help build an orphanage for blind kids. I happened to mention to him that we were going to New York for the weekend to celebrate my wife’s birthday. That night a huge bunch of flowers arrived at our hotel for her. On the card it said, Many happy returns to a very, very special lady. Best wishes to you both for your weekend in the Big Apple and for the rest of your lives. Love will always conquer division. Yours in sport, Andy. Beside the message he had drawn a picture of a union jack and a tricolour intertwined with a Smiley and a heart on either side. I sent him a note of thanks c/o Rangers and every year since a bunch of flowers and a card have arrived at our house on my wife’s birthday, each time with the same special drawing on it. I would post a picture of it on here except I made it all up and Andy Goram is a complete bell-end. Liam Brady did give me a pen once, though.

  12. fairhill bhoy on

    If the huns want to play for a draw happy days jhb

     

    Unfortunately for you (kid on hun) it’s going to be another beautiful Sunday.

     

    And then you need to move on to something else troll 🤦‍♂️

  13. VP – Exactly

     

     

    Anyone that thinks our Referees are not cheats should take their head out the sand.

     

     

    D :)

  14. TURKEYBHOY on 29TH APRIL 2022 8:16 PM

     

    Corkcelt

     

    Not being smart,

     

    ———-

     

    Fair play TB for being so self deprecating 😎

     

     

    Only messing 🍀🍀🍀

  15. TET – Ya scoundrel ye I was reading with amazement there.

     

     

    😂😂😂

     

     

    D :)

  16. celticforever on

    For a second we all thought we had the wrong impression

     

    of Andy Goram but then confirmed what we already knew

     

    that he is a c+nt

  17. If any sevco players go down injured on Sunday could someone please tell

     

    Kyogo and Hatate to keep well away from them and to let them sort themselves out!!

     

    HH

     

    Phil

  18. TET

     

     

    Giggling here at yer post🤣🤣🤣,AG was a doyen of the local bowling club circuit sadly.I read over last week or so he is hit with big C,a bigger battle to face.i hope he gets the best of care.

     

    Are you still lookin to move back here k?

     

     

    HH

  19. AT

     

    Would move back in a heart beat, but to where, selling up and buying something else in today’s climate ain’t as easy as it was a handful of years ago, we would probably-hopefully go to Ireland, but prices are crazy there as they are in shortbreadland, we would also want a rural place, as rural as it comes, off grid preferably, but it looks like we are here for the long haul, but you never know, fingers crossed n all that.

  20. Just logged on and will be quickly logging off after I say this.

     

     

    I don’t know Andy Goram personally, however I do know that he disappointed me & many Celtic supporters with his performances against us whilst playing for Rangers.

     

     

    I believe he is now in hospital getting treatment for cancer. I would like to wish him, as I would wish any human being in that position, all the best in his fight against this horrible illness.

  21. PHILCOOL on 29TH APRIL 2022 10:19 PM

     

    If any sevco players go down injured on Sunday could someone please tell

     

     

    Kyogo and Hatate to keep well away from them and to let them sort themselves out!!

     

     

    HH

     

     

    Phil

     

     

    I don’t think you will stop that with Kyogo and Reo,I know you or I would be saying get sweary sweary up,maybe an honour of opponent thing rich in Japanese culture,maybe after more swinjers they will learn.

     

    Interestingly watching liv v villareal was talking to mate bout how much ‘player down,(stop take pressure off) ‘head injury’in progress is occurring and going to become more so in our var game.i suggested automatic head injury sub would stop the feigning of injury

  22. JHB He disappointed us with his performance, Talking about a rival player.

     

    What kind of terminology is that for a Football Supporter.

     

     

    Something very strange about your Posts.

     

     

    Re Goram, A real nasty piece of work,

     

    However as you say I would not wish Cancer on anyone and I do hope he recovers.

  23. An Tearmann, it’s a well know secret that refs predisposed to a der hun predilection make known in advance their strategy to those that might carry favour.

     

    Every rule can be circumvented for those in the know.

  24. TET

     

     

    You should write for a tabloid

     

     

    That was feckin good

     

     

    Hail Hail to you and your wife

  25. Would move back in a heart beat, but to where, selling up and buying something else in today’s climate ain’t as easy as it was a handful of years ago, we would probably-hopefully go to Ireland, but prices are crazy there as they are in shortbreadland, we would also want a rural place, as rural as it comes, off grid preferably, but it looks like we are here for the long haul, but you never know, fingers crossed n all that.

     

     

    Yeh inter country move I would say would be a big push,expensive and complex nowadays,I have my spots,well isolated but you’d need to buy out Cameron macintosh yon west end music guy,up bout loch Nevis and knoydart,off the scale.

     

    In Donegal the prices for sites are still daft and planning nigh on impossible to work at anything.

     

    It currently has its own building scandal “mica” ,complex case(do google) houses fallin down literally,built in ‘tiger’times.In Dublin prices are just bloating,was reading,Google were complaining to Irish gov bout availability of flats for their staff,I believe they ended up purchasin a block.

     

    Good luck K,get the pool gone,looks a cracker

     

     

    HH

  26. PHILCOOL on 29TH APRIL 2022 10:58 PM

     

     

    Indeed, An Tearmann, but i think a substitution would really break up the play when under severe pressure

     

     

    As always if it’s a genuine,the sub would be made,it was just a daft observation :-),it may stop them feigning to stop play as was goin on on wed night.The head injury lobby is going to have a big say in the game in future.see what happen 😊

     

     

     

    HH