You will be told by some that an invincible season holds less than it would have before Rangers liquidation in 2012, but that assertion overlooks the clear facts. Martin O’Neill’s then-record points hauling treble winners lost to Kilmarnock. The Lions lost to Dundee United, twice. We always lost games to someone other than Rangers. If invincibility was achieved by stopping only one opponent there would be nothing special to report from yesterday.
This is an astonishing achievement. Invincibility over an entire season is unlikely, no matter what your comparative strengths in relation to the rest of your league are, for mathematical reasons.
Football teams convert a small percentage of their attempts at goal. There will be occasions when a team scored three from three chances, but there will also be times when a team has 20 attempts and fails to score.
Over the course of a season, the random distribution of chances converted is likely to match one of Celtic’s highly unproductive striking days, with an opponent who happen to score with perhaps their only attempt at goal. This phenomenon explains most results when poor teams beat significantly better rivals.
Strong teams are also commonly drop points away from home to top half of the table opposition. Here, Celtic have been truly imperious. We won twice away to each team in the top half of the table, scoring 6 at Aberdeen, 7 at Newco, 9 at St Johnstone, 7 at Hearts and 9 at Patrick.
It would also be lax not to mention the style of football. This is not a brutal domination of the ball and physical area of the pitch, Celtic play a stylish, flowing, game, which entertains and succeeds in equal measure.
One more bridge to cross before the job is complete.
Thanks for all the encouragement, and especially the donations to Celtic FC Foundation, for the Stirling Marathon yesterday. Before going to bed on Saturday night I read through all the donations and couldn’t wait to get started.
It was an unforgettable experience. We’ll wait and see if it’s also unrepeatable.
Our good pals at Intelligent Car Leasing have offered two (£100 each) tickets for the Lisbon Lions night at The Hydro, on Thursday. You can win them by raffle in aid of Mary’s Meals.
The raffle is open less than 12 hours, closes at midnight tonight, so mathematics also suggests your chances are none too shabby. To enter, make a minimum of £5 here, then email me, celticquicknews@gmail.com with the word “Hydro” in the subject line to confirm your entry.
Good luck!
ORDER TODAY AND WE WILL POST STRAIGHT AWAY FIRST CLASS POST SO YOU WILL HAVE FOR THIS WEEK’S CELEBRATIONS AND THE SCOTTISH CUP FINAL!
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What’s the chances of the MIB’s taking the field on Sat resplendent in their orange tops?
TTIMREAPER
Not alot since he decided to leave Everton, to be fair.
though I was referring more to his off field mistakes.
Sunderland is a graveyard for managers.
I wouldn’t rule him out of a good English Premiership side in time for August
thats the way it goes down there.
Either that or they go all Alan Curbishley.
Tontine Tim,
You really are the CQN historian.
Your knowledge of Celtic past is encyclopaedic and fills in a lot of the gaps that I personally have.
I hope you or someone is archiving your memoirs.
Apart from the 4th place finish Moyes has had a poor managerial career, scary that we were considering him
Imatim 5.42pm
I know CQN loves a list…
Favourite managers ….
In my lifetime….
King Billy …. Centenary season
Tommy Burns (lived the dream)
Neil Francis (Brendan is maybe the best but can’t be picked because of one jammy season :-)
Brendan (who is a cup away from being top)
Gordon Strachan
Davie Hay
Wim Jansen (stopping 10)
Ronny Delia
Liam Brady
Tony Mowbray
Luigi Macari
“A Tribute To John Terry”
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2017/05/22/a-tribute-to-john-terry/
Arrived in Lisbon. ….weather fantastic. ..Paul well done completing the marathon. …my boy did it as well…..still running according to the tracker he is still running
Sunderland Managers
David Moyes 23 Jul, 2016 Resigned
Sam Allardyce 09 Oct, 2015 23 Jul, 2016
Dick Advocaat 17 Mar, 2015 04 Oct, 2015
Gus Poyet 08 Oct, 2013 16 Mar, 2015
Kevin Ball 23 Sep, 2013 08 Oct, 2013
Paolo Di Canio 31 Mar, 2013 23 Sep, 2013
Martin O’Neill 06 Dec, 2011 30 Mar, 2013
Eric Black 01 Dec, 2011 04 Dec, 2011
Steve Bruce 03 Jun, 2009 30 Nov, 2011
Ricky Sbragia 05 Dec, 2008 24 May, 2009
Roy Keane 30 Aug, 2006 04 Dec, 2008
Niall Quinn 25 Jul, 2006 30 Aug, 2006
Kevin Ball 07 Mar, 2006 31 May, 2006
Mick McCarthy 12 Mar, 2003 06 Mar, 2006
Howard Wilkinson 10 Oct, 2002 10 Mar, 2003
Peter Reid 29 Mar, 1995 07 Oct, 2002
Mick Buxton 26 Nov, 1993 29 Mar, 1995
Terry Butcher 05 Feb, 1993 26 Nov, 1993
Malcolm Crosby 30 Dec, 1991 01 Feb, 1993
Denis Smith 09 Jun, 1987 30 Dec, 1991
Bob Stokoe 16 Apr, 1987 09 Jun, 1987
Lawrie McMenemy 08 Jun, 1985 16 Apr, 1987
Len Ashurst 04 Mar, 1984 23 May, 1985
Alan Durban 01 Jun, 1981 02 Mar, 1984
Ken Knighton 07 Jun, 1979 01 Apr, 1981
Yada Yada CSC
THOMTHETHIM FOR OSCAR OK on 22ND MAY 2017 5:57 PM
Tontine Tim, You really are the CQN historian.
Your knowledge of Celtic past is encyclopaedic and fills in a lot of the gaps that I personally have. I hope you or someone is archiving your memoirs.
*Thanks, most of it’s from memory (I can actually picture some events) although I do use some Celtic books especially the 1947-70 one to clarify some of my thoughts. I save everything I write as well.
BSR
Don’t think he’ll get a PL job, he’s damaged goods. He will need to take a job in the Championship or maybe he will be the next Scotland boss after WGS.
Good evening, friends.
Tontine Tim on 22nd May 2017 6:04 pm
———-
I’d love it (keggan style) if all your posts were just lies and you are really a 16 year old trolling us all :O)
If you aren’t 16 then I do love all your posts
Paul67 – well done on managing to to run your marathon – quite the achievement and quite the sacrifice too considering you gave up witnessing the last game of quite an incredible season to do it.
GERRYFAETHEBRIG on 22ND MAY 2017 5:58 PM
Imatim 5.42pm
I know CQN loves a list…
Favourite managers ….
In my lifetime….
King Billy …. Centenary season
Tommy Burns (lived the dream)
Neil Francis (Brendan is maybe the best but can’t be picked because of one jammy season :-)
Brendan (who is a cup away from being top)
Gordon Strachan
Davie Hay
Wim Jansen (stopping 10)
Ronny Delia
Liam Brady
Tony Mowbray
Luigi Macari
…………………
Ahem!
No place for MON?
GFTB @ 5.58
Did you not like Martin O’Neill?
A manager who was not a huge success but who we have much to thank for was Dr Jo Venglos. Signed Mjallby, Viduka and that gift from God Lubo Moravcik. And more importantly he played Henrik as an out and ot striker after realising Haraald was not producing the goods. Wim gets all the credit for Henrik but Dr Jo, IMO, deserves just as much
Jimbo67
PS
Ooops – apart from the small matter of the SC final of course!
GERRYFAETHEBRIG
Alright Gerry whit did Martin tae ye??
Happy Celtic Daze:))
Martin, St Martin was just under Brendan and just in top of Gordon
Dr Jo….. Gave us Lubo
So he is just under Gordon
Glad you all noticed my deliberate two mistakes :-)
I am posting while making dinner…..
Martin O’Neill sometimes I even astound myself with my stupidity
Jobo.. Good evening friend :-)
Martin O’Neill’s team achieved the Treble, 103 points the next season and won 25 matches in a row during another season. That was against a doped up and indebted Rangers, and lets not forget many other Scottish Clubs were living out with their means at that time. His team would achieve similar to what this team have this season had the playing field been level. MON was a phenomenal manager who deserved better.
Continuing the Celtic Retro Theme in the week of Lisbon.
Tontime Tim
Another informative article from you – thanks.
Do you have a source for the mention of John Finlay’s offer to become a director?
MON deserved better than a treble :O)
Watching a fanedit of Twin Peaks to get me in the mood for season 3, watched the first season with my Mum when I was 11, what a weird show.
Bowie was in it, well the off shoot movies, just realised that
Starry Plough 6.14pm
I canny believe I forgot Martin, my good lady just commented how could you forget MON, 27th of August 2000, I think, 6-2 was the best Celtic game in my lifetime, put the cheats in their place
By the way if you read my lists, you should know I get many things incorrect :-)
Hope all is good and you are enjoying watching our young energetic hoops winning trophy after trophy :-)
Gerryfaethebrig………unbeaten with this squad next season and why not. Watched Claudio Ranieri been interviewed yesterday interesting to hear him say that it was a culture shock for his players trying to cope with playing in the Champions Lge.and the EPL. Great interview with the man.
GERRYFAETHEBRIG
All good here mate:)
My wee girl is 7 on Thursday, so she’ll be the same age as I am now when we celebrate 100 years of the Lions victory:))
I would love to be in Lisbon but there ye go, I weighed on the flights to Japan for the family and that’s that for this year!
I was like a big wean last night couldnae sleep a wink, end up getting up again and watching the celebrations allover again!
You can’t put a price on days like yesterday!
I’ve not really been able to post the last few days, allied with problems trying to even read other posts, but a big thanks to VFR800 for helping me get back to the Blog……others might be of a different opinion ?
Firstly, a belated congrats to ALL at Celtic Park…and to an achievement that I had never thought I would ever witness.
Another massive thanks to The Green Brigade for ALL their superb support and hard work and preparation in ALL of their tifos, yesterdays tifo was over and above the “Call of Duty”….absolutely superb…what a spectacle !
I only wish i could be in Lisbon with CQNrs….but then again we can’t all get everything that we wish for ?
HH…Glasgow Celtic FC…Record Breakers.
Celtic surprisingly getting a good hearing on Radio Shortbread……though i’m sure they will have Brendan and half the team leaving soon…
BIG JIMMY on 22ND MAY 2017 6:44 PM
Yes, i would just like to apologise to everyone else on here for helping Big Jimmy back on to the blog.
Peace shattered I’m afraid.
(Only kidding Jimmy!)
KTF
And with that (a day of recovery and 5 gallons of water), his unbeaten title winning Sunday liver-assault hangover was gone…
Well done on the wee jog yesterday P67.
The Green Brigade on the 67th minute – definition of IMPACT! What a burst of joy and tribute that was, pyro and all; sounded and looked fantastic.
Regards LISBON:
Offski in the ealry hours tomorrow, attending dinner on Wednesday.
Question: will there be a ‘face’ table at the dinner- you know, made up of the more (in)famous long-term original CQNers like DD,BRTH,P67, etc, etc?
Just wondered if there was an etiquette for approaching such a table – maybe Sopranos style, with the passing of envelopes containing ‘tributes’…?
:))
Bada Bing,
Was even more surprised that Reporting Scotland mentioned it at all !
VFR800 @12-53
I was at my nieces graduation for NYU last week at Radio City Music Hall.
The pipe band that played the students into the hall had both Sean South and Scotland the brave in their medley.
Only in the best wee bigoted country in the world would offense be taken at Sean South.
PB – Lisbon stuff on RS now..
HRVATSKI JIM on 22ND MAY 2017 6:19 PM
Tontime Tim
Another informative article from you – thanks. Do you have a source for the mention of John Finlay’s offer to become a director?
*I originally found it when reading about John’s fiance who after joining the Inland Revenue and then SOE married a career soldier and traveled around the world finally retiring over here in Oakville where she passed away in 1980 in Trafalgar Hospital, a place where some of my family have had treatment.
Try this: http://spartacus-educational.com/SOEfinlayM.htm
THOMTHETHIM FOR OSCAR OK on 22ND MAY 2017 4:49 PM
I haven’t seen the Scotland squad, but there seems to be an air of bewilderment/disappointment that Calum is not in it. Personally, I would prefer if none of our players were selected. The upcoming Internationals stretch the season a further two weeks.
*aye me tae, the SFA have NEVER been guilty of doing us any favours. They had 9 of our players in the squad for a useless friendly against Russia to be played on May 10. Check that date again, just 15 days before Lisbon.
The Big Mhan was incensed at the SFA for their attempt at hindering us for the Big Cup, bet they cheered at big Cairney giving away that penalty. Incidentally, 6 of our players started in that game with Wispy coming on as a sub, no not for a Celtic player but Denis Law. Russia won 2-0 BTW.
I am about to post a wee concern.
I could well be wrong but here goes ?
This clown Pedro has shown himself already on several occasions to be a “Loose Cannon”. His recent spat with McInnes ( who I have no time for), when he accused McInnes of disrespect was/is a clear indication of how this Chump operates. Like many Sevco managers before him he will stop at nothing to appease their support.
When he told the media that he had ” the Best Squad in Scotland” etc……was THAT not disrespectful to Celtic and Brendan Rodgers………….of course it was imo ?
Aye, we all laughed when he said it but for me it is a clear sign that we should really be on our guard of this Hun nutter. we have all seen the recent handshakes, smiles and embraces between Brendan and him, and I for one hope that Brendan “Backs Off” this chump in the future, and maybe stick with an acknowledgement…and nothing else in future encounters, although going by what we have seen of Caixinho already, he may not be around come Christmas ?
The Hun “manager” has already shown how thinned skin he is whenever being criticised FAIRLY after showing his lack of tactics and so called ” assessments” of games and results.
Far be it from me to offer Brendan any advice about anything, but I just hope that Brendan in future…keeps this Hun Chump at arms length, because there may come a day when Brendan is being nice to him yet again….only for this Clown to come out with something outrageous when faced with Brendan, and for Brendan to maybe lose the plot with him ?
Just like Neil Lennon and that rat faced Fat Sally at Celtic Park that night. It was obvious to EVERYBODY who was the aggressor that night….and yet NFL got dragged into a situation NOT of his making…I wouldn’t like Brendan to be put in the same position because of this present Hun boss.
I imagine that Brendan is more than capable of looking after himself against anyone, but just like the situation Neil Lennon found himself dragged into…..unless “The AGGRESSOR” was to “own up, and admit being out of order, then brendan ( if faced with a similiar situation) would be painted as the Bad Bhoy….just like NFL ?
Brendan deserves better…just like Neil Lennon did.
i was/is great to read Pedro getting slaughtered by the Hun support for his hugs and smiles with Brendan…I get that……but I think it’s only a matter of time before Clown Pedro drags OUR manager into a slagging match ?
Again…I could be wrong ?
HH
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 22ND MAY 2017 6:53 PM
BIG JIMMY on 22ND MAY 2017 6:44 PM
Yes, i would just like to apologise to everyone else on here for helping Big Jimmy back on to the blog.
Peace shattered I’m afraid.
(Only kidding Jimmy!)
KTF
Naw yer no !
HH
Did someone say the first 54 goals by the Invicinibles:))
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wlSVL3kyQo
I would rather no Celtic players were picked for Scotland.
Can’t see any positives being around such a bunch of negative losers.
From the coach,SFA and second rate English based non winners.
Brendan has cultivated a winning attitude combined with strong technical habits and a strong sense of team first.
All of the above are missing from the Scotland set up.
I have stated on here many times i’m not a fan of the Scottish football team due to the treatment of Celtic and their players by both the SFA and Tartan army but at the present time it’s mainly because it’s an environment were the only thing learned would be defeatism and bad habits.