YOU were there to see it. When you look back on the great teams, the great seasons, the team who established a new British record of 69 games in domestic competition unbeaten, will fill your heart with joy. This team, The 69’ers, eclipsed the Centenary Team by some distance and will measure alongside the Seville Team in our annuls, second only to the Lions.
They are that good.
There is more than just being good. They have been incessant. They suffocate the life out of opponents. They played fast, attractive, football and when they sensed a vulnerability, they went goal crazy. They never gave up.
Eclipsing the club’s 100-year-old unbeaten British record last month took an emotional toll. After this, a late winner against Ross County, an industrial Cup Final win and that unforgettable late show at Fir Park suggested the players needed a new chapter. You and I discussed getting through December after a near thing at Easter Road, but the players just couldn’t climb another mountain.
It ended emphatically, amid two defensive slips and a stonewall penalty. Despite being three, then four, goals down, the players had the hunger, but not the imagination, to overcome the odds one more time.
The run has been a joy. Scott Sinclair announcing himself at Tynecastle in August 2016, then Moussa doing the same with a hat-trick a month later. In a little over four months of starting his first league campaign, Brendan watched his team score four or more against seven Premiership opponents. These were not just victories, they destroyed opponents desire to be on the field. 14 of 38 league games during that campaign saw four, five or six Celtic goals.
In 69 games across two seasons, one moment unquestionably towers above all others. Celtic were on the verge of a truly unique achievement: an Invincible treble, but the 2017 Scottish Cup final hung in the balance with two minutes remaining. One slip, and the most impossible of achievements, then in touching distance, would disappear.
Tom Rogic carved Aberdeen open and dinked the ball over the keeper in a delicious finish to a magnificent season. They did it! League Cup, League and Scottish Cup winners without losing a game. That Final could have been won as easily as the 3-0 League Cup win over Aberdeen earlier in the season, but fate would gift us a dramatic conclusion. Grown men cried.
Celtic winning the Premiership this season is the surest thing in sports betting. Their odds, 1/33, reflect how the betting companies can invest your money for the time they hold it, rather than any prospects of Celtic not delivering. A bet on Celtic winning the league is not actually a bet, it is a savings account.
We have planned to address the short-term issue of remaining unbeaten for too long. Now we can focus on being ready to defend the Scottish Cup, our trip to Russia and perhaps more European adventures. We will overcome Brechin City at home in the Cup next month, leaving four games for a second treble, while the January transfer window will bring the opportunity to add depth to the team.
Brendan, in the words of another great Celtic manager, you and your players have been utterly brilliant! Thank you.
*There’s still time to get a signed copy of Jim Craig’s new Lisbon Lion Diary, Right Back to 67, in time for Christmas. And we will also give you a free copy of That Season in Paradise, signed by fellow Lisbon Lion Willie Wallace. Just order Right Back to 67 today at www.cqnbookstore.co.uk
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Fascinating analysis on MNF from Carragher and Terry on Man City, Spurs, Chelsea and the high pressing tactic. What it makes abundantly clear is that we don’t have the personell to play the way we do in Europe. Brendan could spend all day and all night coaching the players we have but on game day we will get done. We even got done yesterday. So the question is does Brendan sacrifice his style or the players? I suspect the latter.
celtic by numbers
Thank you for your input on here
BIG PACKY on18TH DECEMBER 2017 7:01 PM
Depends how love is defined. I find this a useful description and hope KevJ’s screen persona is just a wind up and not the real KevJ.
1 Corinthians 13New International Version (NIV)
13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
==> 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. <== (how to recognise love)
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.
11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.
12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
We do not have a young defence, our 1st pick back 4 being Boyata 27 Jozo, 24, Lustig 34, with KT being the youngest at 20. An age spread comparable with a lot of other major clubs.
As far as I,m concerned , our midfield needs beefed up , and seriously beefed up . Only guy we have in there with any bottle Is broony , (god forbid anything happening to him ), I,m not going to rake over old ground , BuT anyone who doesn,t see where our problems lie ,need to pay more attention . Yes a couple of nice wee ball players in there , ideal if the team are in full flow , but absolutely posted missing if the game is a bit towsy , as it was yesterday . A fellow poster asked about Allan . Henderson and Christie , smashing players , but not going to compete with the likes of lafferty , no we need a couple like ,hay . Auld .brogan ,the bear wanyama . We should be looking at what we need to make an impact in the europa cup . Instead of what we need to get to 7 in a row . Cos we need to up the anti now , they all know how to play us .
MADMITCH on 18TH DECEMBER 2017 7:38 PM
V8K @ 7.30
Do we really have a young and inexperienced defence at the moment?
_________________________________________
Tierney – 65 senior games
Simunovic – 97 senior games
Boyata – 86 senior games
Tierney and Simunovic are young and inexperienced. Boyata is inexperienced.
Backups of Ajer (young and inexperienced), Ralston, (young and inexperienced) and Bitton (inexperienced).
The only regular, properly experienced defender we have is Lustig. Sviatchenko seems (for whatever reason) to be out of the picture. Ergo, the smart move is to bring more experience in to help those who don’t have it.
KTF
KevJ,
disgusting comment about Leigh Griffiths,
if any Celtic fan was stabbed or slashed,
it wasnt his celebration that caused it,
VFR800 is now a Monster 821 on 18th December 2017 7:49 pm
Agree inexperience is the key factor here but why has it come to this especially given our qualification for the CL. Our not signing someone of the ilk of a Marvin Compper or Kolo who ‘may’ have added a much needed element of composure to the defence now seems a tad inexplicable. Compper seems to tick a few boxes – lots of experience in major leagues, a former German international, albeit 1 game. Alleged cup tied for Europe! Therefore must assume BR has prioritised strengthening the CB position ASAP.
If our scouts were to find a modern day Virgil v Dyke and a Victor Wanyamma for a combined total of 3.5 Mill, there would be experts on here telling us they are crap, as I said they are wasted on here spouting their pish, they should be out there making millions with all the knowledge they have ammased, wasted a tell ye.
GARY67 on 18TH DECEMBER 2017 7:23 PM
Listening to Sportsound, Michael Stewart talks too much sense for the BBC, Alex Rae is a moron
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Spot on.
As I listened it occurred to me that Michael Stewart (ex. pro footballer turned pundit) seems more logical, neutral, impartial and insightful than anyone else in the BBC studio. Including “Chief Sports Writer” (and presumably experienced and trained journalist) Tom English.
English is an utter waste of airtime – he adds nothing worthwhile. Radio Clyde is his natural home and surely he’s on the shortlist for a job there as soon as they sell enough Irn Bru to cover his expenses. He’s the ideal mouthpiece for all the morons who take that station seriously. Including some on CQN. Mostly trolls, mind you…
a tell ye.
NATKNOW on 18TH DECEMBER 2017 8:03 PM
My take on it is English & Shrek had a spat a few weeks back about the ‘Scottish football needs a strong Rangers’ by Shrek & English shot it down.
Stewart is measured in his responses but is basically saying same ……Sevco are not numero dos.
MS has seen a gao in the market…….tell more of the truth
Goa….gap !
AULDHEID yes see your points .but it seems on here everyone wants to give kevj a kicking. now i dont know kevj from adam. but i have been in the jungle and when celtic scored it might have been kev j who i was embracing who knows. it might have been you. we are all celtic supporters from the happy clappers to the mineshafters.ktf.
re the eejit that posted earlier.
The wee insinuation that our keeper deliberately didnt try at the goals seems to have slipped through unchallenged.
But at least he has stopped calling our captain a hun.
.
Big Packy
He may have been a Celtic fan once but he aint a Celtic supporter now.
Goooood Evening CQN
Welcome to the Celtic family “Daniel”
Over the moon for you and family Leftclicktic
(Daniel Fergus McGrain, my own personal favourite all time Celt :-)) )
Another thing, went into work wearing a Green shirt and Green jersey today, strangely not a word about football mentioned :-)))
This is what it’s like to Celtic :-)))
Not to worry, this time in 48 hours we’ll be tearing our hair out, sorry, I mean enjoying the game !
AULDHEID on 18TH DECEMBER 2017 7:28 PM
#########
Thanks for your response, and continued offer.
But, I refused to meet you before, and I do so again, I am still consumed by, dubiety, apathy, suspicion, etc….
Res:12 covers what, season 2011 ?
That’s six years ago!
I’m not being flippant, but, there is more discussion about heated pies at the agm, than that of, Res:12.
I’m sorry, but, the only way that anything gets done is by, emptying the park.
A half empty park recruited Brendan, imho.
In 1994, the unsackable Kelly’s and White’s were gotten rid of, when Celts For Change organised a bhoycott.
The bottom line for me is, the corrupt Celtic Old Firm PLC board, play with the Celtic support like toys, and they do it with ease.
The Kelly’s and White’s were a lot of things, but, they wouldn’t have sat at the back of the bus, looking the other way, despite being in possession of John Reid’s dossier, as the huns swindled £140 million and, stole 20 odd trophies, that innocent Celtic fans paid to see their team competing for.
The throwing of NFL under the bus, by the PLC, after he proved his team was being cheated, should have emptied the park itself.
When that didn’t happen, well, ye know that its never gonnae happen. The fans and are soulless, and the PLC are playing them.
Anywye,….good luck with Res:12. HH
……oot.
CLINK\O/ you might not agree fair commen.t but i think once you have been to paradise you will always be a celtic supporter.hh.
Leftclicktic: Fáilte roimh Daniel.
Kevj
They werent at the back of the bus cos they were too busy fleecin supporters with attendance figures…..
Merry xmas
HH
Lefty
Mucho congrats, just read back :-)
HH
ADI_DASLER on 18TH DECEMBER 2017 8:09 PM
a tell ye.
NATKNOW on 18TH DECEMBER 2017 8:03 PM
My take on it is English & Shrek had a spat a few weeks back about the ‘Scottish football needs a strong Rangers’ by Shrek & English shot it down.
Stewart is measured in his responses but is basically saying same ……Sevco are not numero dos.
MS has seen a gao in the market…….tell more of the truth
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You could be right dude, all pundits have a living to make. But seriously – some of the pish that Tom English comes out with is hard to defend. A proper journalist should be able to articulate a something worthwhile – a well-considered opinion. Communication is his trade. He comes across as an unhinged moron who has no problem contradicting something he said a few minutes ago…
As I say – Clyde One is his level. Soon as their main “Celtic man” hangs up his gimp mask…
Leftclicktic.
Many congratulations to you and your loved ones.
Hail Hail
Leigh Griffiths brings it on himself.
Marvin C is pish, another 32-year-old journeyman like that other 30-something loser Moravcik we signed in the 90s.
Not just the chestnuts that are roasting at this time of year, it seems…
Not posted in a while.
Firstly I would congratulate our team and manger for the fantastic run of 69. Outstanding and exceptional
It has been wonderful
But forward we go. I do think that in recent weeks we have gone back and some weaknesses we suspected were highlighted yesterday
As a team we need to have a more compact defensive game plan Andy be harder to beat, in Europe in particular
Brendan knows I hope!!
HH
good night all
once again thank you for all the nice thoughts and wishes.
Thank you for being here CSC
THETIMREAPER on 18TH DECEMBER 2017 7:40 PM
Spot on, I’m sure Brendan would Love to play the Glasgow Celtic way but as you say, we don’t have the quality to push forward with the speed and panache which is needed.
We are a good team to watch when on our game which is a joy to watch.
We need a hard man to sort the spoilers when the time suits. HH
KevJ –
“The Kelly’s and White’s were a lot of things, but, they wouldn’t have sat at the back of the bus…”
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Naw – because they would have been in the back of a Limo swigging champagne at the expense of the fans while the team went underfunded, the stadium was ruined and the polis were charging down the street with sticks hitting fans over the head.
Tell you what though – we emptied the park and got them out….
Thank God Fergus arrived and saved us.
Natknow
You may be correct.
Alec Shrek is a complete di**
Trying to keep sevco in the mix with everything 2nd 3rd etc
So, our defence is rubbish and needs wholesale changes.
Do the facts support the perceptions or are they cuckoo clock opinions ( it’s in- no, wait! it’s out, no! it’s definitely in etc; etc;)
In the league in 2017/18 at CP we have played 8 times conceding 7 goals, away, we have conceded 8 goals (including the 4 v Hearts) in 10 games- maybe that is too close to 1 per game for some but our 15 conceded compares to 21 for aberdeen, 23 for Sevco and 19 for Hearts who have scored half of what we have.
In domestic features we have kept a clean sheet on 11 occasions, conceded a single goal 7 times, 2 goals on 3 occasions and 4 on our last ( the 17 scored against us includes cup competition against domestic teams).
In 17 matches gainst foreign opposition (including friendlies), we kept a clean sheet on 9 occasions, 1 goal on 2 occasions, 2 goals once, 3 goals once and more than 4 on 4 occasions (including both PSG games).
I will look at last year’s equivalent for July to mid-December 2016 for comparison shortly.
https://twitter.com/shgkes/status/942480597104111617?s=08
One too many….
ADI_DASLER on 18TH DECEMBER 2017 8:41 PM
Natknow
You may be correct.
Alec Shrek is a complete di**
Trying to keep sevco in the mix with everything 2nd 3rd etc
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Oh absolutely – a 5-star, gold-plated moron.
Michael Stewart called him and the others out when debunking the “strong Rangers” pish.
Bada
There must have been feck all in the rucksack !
It’s noticable this season, the amount of times players turn back the way when players get the ball in good forward areas of the pitch IMO
Natknow
Agree
HH
KevJ
Well after 6 years where your lack of information has only served to fuel and reinforce your suspicions don’t you owe it to yourself to find out if you are correct?
You may well be, but on an informed basis.
The choice is yours. I’ve always tried to be patient and offer is made from kindness.
Must hold my hand up here , and say I had a go at Leigh griffiths too . But to be honest it was a wee bit retribution for saying he wouldn’t celebrate if he scored against hibs . Can’t undestand that . He is in a position that tens of thousands of us would love to be in , I love the guy ,great wee player , but that statement disappointed me . When he has finished playing ,he will be remembered as Leigh Griffiths of celtic , not hibs , wolves , or hull ..
BB at 8:44
Very good. Is that what people do who are keen to please others?
Cheerio f or now.
JJ
PS Those who know know that I do not subscribe to the view that opinion is an entitlement. Some of the comments on here since our defeat offer evidence in support of my view.