The major positive Brendan Rodgers brought to Celtic when he arrived in 2016 was the elevated level of professionalism he learned at Liverpool. Until then, Celtic were the biggest operation most of the football staff had worked in. Liverpool worked at a different level, which even Neil Lennon accepted when he returned in 2019. Standards have improved since he departed five years earlier.
The same was true when Ange Postecoglou arrived in 2021. Ange brought with him the City Football Group’s method of working, from recruitment to sports science. The bar was raised again, although some of that subsequently dropped off.
The game changes quickly. Even for the elites: a year without a league win and Manchester City have revised their football philosophy. The top coach in the game, with abundant money, has had to rethink everything.
As we discussed on Wednesday, decks have been cleared. Whoever comes in will help mould the football operation into a new shape. Where these influences come from is important. This is what Newco hoped to acquire when they appointed Danny Rohl, from his time at Bayern Munich and the Germany national team, although their flirtation with Steven Gerrard was bizarre. Rohl might be a rubbish manager, but he has seen elite operations up close and will try to bring some of that to Glasgow.
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Five minutes to go and the commentator says, “And a Nation rises to Szoboszlai. Not only those in the stadium but those throughout the country too surely.” Ireland had something to say about that. Jonny Kenny was unlucky not to score the winner when he put the ball past the goalie but the keeper’s slight touch put it round the post Parrott scored the winner two minutes later. Great victory. Wish I was in Dublin just now. ☘️☘️☘️
I feel a drink coming on!
5 minutes added. Hungary made a double substitution on 92 minutes which stopped the game for 58 seconds as both players strolled off the pitch waving to the crowd. Ref correctly added another minute. Winner hit the net on 95 min 47 secs.
Parrot was stretching so much he hit the ball with his studs.
Brilliant.
Tom Mc – I made it 95 mins and 16 sec – must be the time difference.
PedantCSC
TOSB
Make mine a Guinness
🟩⬜️🟧
TEXASTIM
I was watching RTE2.
Well done IRELAND…I didn’t have a Bet on any Fitba today.
HOWEVER, I DID have some Bets on the Horses Today at Cheltenham and Fontwell.
I noticed EARLY this morning that a particular Trainer ( C. TIZZARD) had only THREE HORSES running Today His Stable has been in VERY Good Form in recent weeks.
TWO Horses WON at CHELTENHAM at the EARLY ODDS of 8/1 and 7/1.
Tizzards other Horse WON at FONTWELL Today at EARLY ODDS of 7/2.
I backed the Two at Cheltenham in a DOUBLE…..and I also backed his THIRD Winner at Fontwell alongside the TWO earlier Winners at Cheltenham in a ” PATENT BET” which consists of SEVEN Bets, ( THREE Singles, THREE DOUBLES and a TREBLE.)
I also backed a Straight Forecast in a Race at Cheltenham.
That Bet paid out just over £47.00 for a £1 Stake.
I also had the first Winner at Cheltenham Today in a Single Bet….it WON at odds of 14/1.
Overall a VERY PROFITABLE Day for me at the Races.
NOT too shabby.
HH.
Interesting info on our possible new coach and his methods.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DRAzDzZncY
Well done Ireland.
What a result. Drink may be taken
A genuine moment of pure elation for a nation that only sport can provide.
A play off semi final and final await so there’s plenty to do but to win our last 3 games to get here is unbelievable. We were dead and buried in this group.
The few hun in the Victoria Bar were despondent when 3rd goal went in. They were quite vocal before that. Aww ra shame for the poor wee lambs.
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 16TH NOVEMBER 2025 4:22 PM
TOSB
Make mine a Guinness
🟩⬜️🟧
………………….
Mine too! 🇮🇪
Slainte!
According to the commentator,
` Boos rang out round Murrayfield`. If true, rugby supporters have changed.
Big Jimmy@427pm……nice one.
I had bet 2-2 in the Republic game but it wasn’t a bad way to lose my money.
Would be great to see Scales and Kenny play at a WC.
the magyars hibsed it.
Put twenty on Ireland then decided to pad it out a bit by adding Portugal and England onto the docket.
Might cash out to avoid supporting England 😂
Brilliant result for Ireland earlier. Watched it in downtown Fuengirola. Lots of partying until the early hours now. 🇮🇪🇮🇪
I know you’ve deceived me
Now here’s a surprise
I know that you have
‘Cause there’s magic in my eyes
I can see for miles and miles
And miles and miles and miles
Oh, yeah
Doctor Hugo Z Hackenbush, May 21st 1979.
an dun
A semi-final and a final?
How does that work, who plays at home etc?
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DPgcEIMW0AsWrIT.jpg
Second round
Main article: 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA second round
The second round (play-offs) will be contested by the twelve group runners-up and the best four Nations League group winners, based on the Nations League interim overall ranking, who finish outside the top two of their qualifying group. The sixteen teams will be split into four play-off paths, each containing four teams. Each path will feature two single-leg semi-finals and one single-leg final. In the semi-finals, the fixtures of each path will be determined by seeding pots, with the Pot 1 team hosting the Pot 4 team and the Pot 2 team hosting the Pot 3 team. The host of each path final will be decided by a draw between the two semi-final pairings.[21]
Nations League team selection
Based on the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League interim overall ranking,[22] the four best-ranked Nations League group winners that finish outside the top two of their qualifying group will advance to the play-offs. If fewer than four Nations League group winners can be selected, the remaining spot(s) will be allocated to the best-ranked remaining team(s) in the Nations League interim overall ranking that finished outside the top two of their qualifying group.[21]
CELTIC MAC on 16TH NOVEMBER 2025 6:23 PM
an dun
A semi-final and a final?
How does that work, who plays at home etc?
—
12 teams – random draw for semi and finals, so 3 teams qualify.
Highest ranked team gets home semi final with a coin flip to see who hosts final.
A lot of work yet to do.
16 teams competing for 4 places.##
thats why norn-iron are in thedraw
an dun/stivs
Thanks both for the update. Can only hope Scotland can avoid that pathway by beating Denmark on Tuesday.
If not could be some difficult opponents out there. Well done Ireland!
“Troy of the Rovers” stuff.What a few days for the boy.5 goals in two games.
Let’s hope the get a good play off draw.
So,the talk is Nancy will be the Coach.The players will be signed,by whoever,( Klaxon going off ),and given to him to form into a team.The recruitment will be with a view to future profit from the players signed,( Red lights flashing ).
For this to work,this AGM,will have to be one for the ages.Mass resignations,loads of new appointments,a root and branch modernisation of the system,football people only involved in recruitment.Realistic budgets set.Incoming transfers done in a timely manner.
Nancy has allegedly agreed to the Coach position only.Celtic will handle the rest.
Klaxons,flashing red lights,lifebelts being issued.People already brandishing THE END IS NIGH placards,fans stepping out of high windows.Emigration figures soaring.
My God,My God,why have you forsaken us.
Bit dramatic,but you get the picture.
Well done Ireland , what a comeback.
Well done Argentina …..what a comeback !!
The day of the comebacks 🫣🥴👍
Nae smoke yet ?
EIRE ☘️🇮🇪
Haaland ,unbelievable.16 goals in 8 matches.Has just equalled the all time record of scoring in 11 games on the trot.A machine.
Eratic,
A lot of French white smoke here.
I am going to stop smoking those Gaulloise fags.
It is not a totally random draw for play offs
Top 4 ranked 2nd place teams are seeded
NeXT 4 ranked 2nd place teams are seeded.
These are seeded by FIFA rankings
These 8 will play at home in the semi final one off game versus
1 of the 4 lowest ranked 2nd place teams in FIFA rankings or one of the 4 Nations league qualifiers such as N.Ireland.
The Final games are pre drawn but really random.
Turkeybhoy
Jeez , I remember smoking them in the late 70s…. Do they still have them…………..thank the lord I gave up !!🥴🤣
Those were the days….
Our office in Paris supplied them free gratis .. nae legal obligation 😎
Gaulouise.. with nae tip 🤔 … cough !!
Almore, must have been great watching the game in Feungirola. .
A never to be forgotten day.
lol
https://celtsarehere.com/celtic-fc-wilfried-nancy-transfer-rules-latest/
What a time to be alive.
HH
oot.
Well done Liam Scales. Thought he had a great game.
Hail Hail.
We could see, I tnink, teams such as Germany and Italy in the play-offs, or Norway and Slovakia. Not sure offhand where Scotland are in the big picture of things but doubt that Steve Clarke’s side are ranked that high in the rankings, but either way, as Andy Robertson said after the Greek game, if we had been offered a decisive home game against Denmark at the end of the campign we would surely have taken it. Need to get McGinn in the heart of the midfield not out wide right, Ferguson is too ineffective in the middle. I’d even be tempted to play McTominey at the back, and push Hickey (or even tht wee guy from Ayebrokes whits his name)) into the midfield with Tony R at right back. Got to defend better, and take more of the chances we created against Greece. Shanks deserves some game as does Dykes, not sure whts happened to Tommy Conway, was hoping we would sign him at one point. Not quite all or nothing for the Scots, but time Clarke got it right tactics wise in a really big game. There were three Celtic players (okay Brendan let Idah go) on the pitch when Ireland, got a result today, and more than half the Scottish team have Celtic connections so for them, and for that reason alone I really want us to make it through.
Monday morning still no white smoke from Celtic park
CQN big guns have fell silent, ITK posting down to a trickle
The blame BR narrative wearing out
Still we can rely on being world class in everything we do, can’t we
When we do we fall back on thoughts and prayers
Congratulations to Ireland making the WC play offs
WC 1970 as a 12 year old I loved the beautiful game, Brazil after beautiful inventive football was magical
Sadly WC 2026 I am completely disinterested, won’t watch a match
A country ruled over by a Cockwork Orange demagogue, abusing human rights doesn’t deserve to be in the spotlight
Have a good day
aff oot