We can debate which result last night would have been best for Celtic’s chances of winning the league was, although we don’t have enough information to answer the question completely yet. Forward projections is a different story.
Win or lose the league, Celtic will remain solvent without a drastic cut to expenditure, as will Hearts. Not so much Newco. Winning the league would almost certainly see them progress to the Champions League proper without having to go through qualification (the same is not true for Celtic and Hearts). For an organisation which has been subsidised by loans and capital injections practically every year since its inception, that would be a rare respite.
Losing the league means their current budget is unsustainable. That will have an impact on what happens next season and beyond. Last night’s Hearts win will have multi-season consequences.
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Rab Douglas cost us the league in 2003.
Sold three goals v the hun in a 3-3 draw at Celtic Park.
That cost us points that would have made goal difference irrelevant at the end of the season.
if my auntie CSC
Timmy7- spoiler alert. It’s Brendan’s fault.
Yesterday I recounted to a “younger Celt” my vivid memories of the 1985/86 League season.
The first game of Hearts long unbeaten run was actually at Celtic Park
(we played them off the park and lost 0-1)
After a decent start to the campaign that shook our confidence …
We squeezed by Motherwell at Fir Park 2-1 with a late penalty.
Then lost 3 in a row to Dundee United, Aberdeen and a dreadful R1ngers by an aggregate score of 10-1.
Patchy form throughout winter with Paul McGugan’s absolutely majestic leap and header in a New Year’s Day win being one of few highlights.
I think the other 3 games against Hearts all finished 1-1 ?
(two certainly did)
Finished the season with 8 wins from 8 games .. bookended by two trips to Love Street.
The first trip finished 2-1 with my unrequited love being shared equally between
Paul McStay for his last minute winner …
… and West Tip
(with whom, unbeknownst to him, I would go on to have a fruitful relationship over the next four years)
With the 2nd trip being that legendary day.
Happy times.
PS – slightly worryingly for me.
That “younger Celt” I mentioned … is in his early 40s
🤔🤔🤔
Still rejoicing in the huns’ demise but…
Where is our coward CEO’s public pronouncements on the officials’ cheating on Sunday? Guy is a chocolate tea pot.
Also, Tony Bloom took one look at how our club is run and saw low hanging fruit. Only MO’N can save the skins of the incompetents running the place.
Gary gillespies
MON liked big Rab big Magnus big Broto big Kasper
There was a goalkeeper ‘Hugh Johns’ played for Walsall 👍
Oh dear!
https://celticshorts.com/2026/05/union-bears-likely-to-infiltrate-sundays-glasgow-derby-at-celtic-park/
lol
https://bornceltic.com/2026/05/05/jamie-bryson-issues-response-as-spfl-ruling-favours-celtics-rangers-ticket-stance/
garygillespieshamstring on 5th May 2026 5:32 pm
Rab Douglas cost us the league in 2003.
Sold three goals v the hun in a 3-3 draw at Celtic Park.
That cost us points that would have made goal difference irrelevant at the end of the season.
if my auntie CSC
————
A very easy scapegoat. Rab gave us some great games but he was never the best as he himself admits.
He came into full time football late having spent time mixing football with bricklaying..
MON picked Rab and if blame is to be apportioned then the manager must take majority blame.
It should not be forgotten that MON’s preferred replacement Magnus Headman turned into a nightmare appointment.
In summary and to reiterate, a very easy scapegoat when it’s clearly the managers fault.
HH.
Paul’s article may be premature. Sevco could still finish second and enter the Champion’s League in Q2.
So our first priority on Sunday is to remove this possibility by winning.
TBB@530
I like stats etc but what they don’t say is when the goals occurred, who was playing at home with 95pc of fans behind them on a sunny bank holiday, which team were favourites to win a league etc etc.
Point being, I don’t think for a minute that that Hearts team would fail to beat Sevco 8/10 times.
Win (or draw) on Sunday and we’re guaranteed CL qualifiers and 2nd place.
That frees up even more tension, pressure etc. in the last 2 games.
But adds mega pressure onto Hearts.
ItsallsboutSundayCSC
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 5TH MAY 2026 2:31 PM
Tomas Cvancara in all fairness, did what very few other strikers could have done and has the dubious distinction of making Johnny Kenny look quite good.
________________________
In a season that could be defined by goal difference, the board failed to recruit a striker in the summer transfer window while shipping one out, and then were neglectful in their support of first WN and subsequently MON.
We signed 5 players on loan in January, and none of them made the benching either of the last two games, whilst the free agent we picked up after the transfer window closed did not get on the pitch yesterday, and got less than 30-mins the week previous.
Since Rab Douglas is being mentioned, my two penneth: there’s no doubting his commitment, but he was never Celtic class. If he admits that himself, then all credit to him. If we’d taken the GK position seriously in the 90s and early 2000s, i.e. before Boruc and Forster, we would have had considerably greater success.
LAXALT on 5TH MAY 2026 6:13 PM
Thoughts on your comments to TBB@530
____________________________________
I share some similar thoughts, as there is more color required to fully appreciate the story that those statistics are telling.
One correction being that only a win on Sunday will guarantee CL qualifiers through 2nd place (7pts clear of the huns with 6 to play for).
But I do agree that in that event it removes some pressure from us going into the last 2 games, and there is no doubt that the pressure continues to mount for Hearts. The sense of trepidation/expectation building in their fans was visible on Sunday, and will only get worse.
Their game away at Motherwell could be season defining, and given results in this season, who would put it past Falkirk to have an influence on things.
Most importantly, win on Sunday! If we get to the final game with a win being what we need, then that’s all we could ask for, and I’m okay if it comes down to goal difference. GET IT DONE!
#Spiritof86CSC
The huns are certainly at an impasse at the moment –
the managers from the ‘real rankers men’ pool can’t manage modern players or the players available to them now
the players available to them now can be decent but can’t fully adjust to the spfl
I wonder how the SF49ers will be able to address this especially with a hearts squad which could well improve next year – that does not mean they will but they will be able to play throughout the entire season.
Gary Gillespies
After reading TBBs post on fatal strikes we could say Dundees 2nd strike,cruising at 6-1,proved material that same season,last game before Porto.
Big Rab i feel gets dealt a harsh yin sometime,more so since he stopped playing,rise of Internet blabbing bout him when at end of days He wore the hoops (Goalie jersey) :-))
See yi Sunday maybe
HH
Eddie Holman
Holy Ghost
https://youtu.be/BpbJiJXWqRA?si=iDlHvjamJuAOLvpq
HH
Ged
Cheers
2 things to ponder…..Tomas came to Celtic and did the following…
Scored a crucial opener
Assisted a winner v Killie
Scored a pen to put us ahead ( I honestly cant mind who against )
Scored a winning pen at the debt dome in a cup semi final.
Now, here’s my points…
1. For a club as rich as us, if that wins us a league then the £1.2m? it’s cost us has been worth it.
2. And this is (I think) crucial to looking at oast mistakes and where we go from here re recruitment.
Look at the players in Scottish football who have a value of between £5m and £10m and tell me ( not you personally) which ones would instantly improve the Celtic 1st team?
Adamu
Antman
Tomas
Braga
Chermiti
Moore….
Answer probably none.
The value is in guys like CCV, Jota and Edouard…..ie not quite ready for the 1st team at their current massive clubs but good enough to instantly play for Celtic.
This is the market we’ll target this summer (i hope).
HH
Undoubtedly
Unlikely scenario, but a bit premature in writing the huns off just yet. If Hearts were to lose away to Motherwell on Saturday, and we contrive to lose on Sunday, the huns will have their tails up for two relatively easy games next week. If Hearts draw their last two games, huns would win league on goal difference over Hearts; even if we beat Motherwell we’d be a point behind both. It would also mean in the last game we wouldn’t know what to do – a win might give us the league if Sevco lose, or gift it to them if they win.
Unlikely but not impossible. So, let’s get it done on Sunday.
AULDHEID across multiple posts and including exchanges with others…
You, I and others discussing the workings of FSR and SCR is as important as any subject being addressed in the online forums. Regardless of how the season finishes, there is a VERY big summer ahead for Celtic.
Our dominance of the domestic scene is at stake.
It is however a very interesting dynamic that could be in the process of forming, as assuming we collectively build a better understanding of UEFA FSR, the board will find it more difficult to dismiss our ambitions based on their [anonymous] statements pointing to how they were restricted in their efforts to invest in the football squad and related operations.
The UEFA regulations arguably help not hinder a club of Celtic’s size and structure, in a league where those inherent advantages should routinely provide us access to their lucrative tournaments. There are no excuses, as domestic dominance goes hand in hand with modest European aspirations.
As the board is reconstituted this summer, the focus will hopefully be about “harmonizing the ambition of the support with the expectations of the shareholders”, while striving for as much overlap between the two as possible.
Seem to remember Alan Thompson missing a penalty against Kilmarnock back in 2003….
Maybe we should add him to the bourgeoning list of ‘Who To Blame’ we’ve got on here…..
RoguesGalleryCSC
I had very low expectations of the January transfer window.
Who was scouting for what to fit who’s needs
.. was always going to be a hiding to nothing
(It should never have come to that of course but, IMHO, that is a debate for no earlier than 19 days from now)
With the above in mind, I find it quite simple to find positives in each.
Not huge volumes of positives mind.
But, without their contributions, we’d be out of contention and playing dead rubbers.
Araujo (was actually signed for Wilfried, not Martin) was our best loan contributor. Good man.
Tomas. Lead the line when he had no one else, particularly Kelechi. Got the scoring going in 2-0 win over Falkirk.
Junior. Kept us in the cup.
Ox. Winners league games against Livingston and St Mirren.
Benjamin. Solid enough when Auston suspended. Help us win matches in League and Cup.
Joel. Mercifully failed his medical so we ain’t stuck with him. No hard feelings. Tatty bye.
I’d play tounekti on the right wing, Yang or Forrest on the left wing and Beep Beep up front.
and, we have to play Hatate
A skoosh then, nae bother
kinglubo
I think we should be doing everything to get Osmand or even Adamu ready for Sunday.
Maeda Osmand Yang
Then bringing on
Forrest
Tounetki
Iheanacho
The alternative is starting Tounetki (who IS a good player but young and still settling) and I don’t think that’s a good move.
To the people who seem to think Hearts are a good team, think again. Hearts have only won 4 of their last 6 games and only once have they won any of those games by more than one goal, they drew with relegated Livingston and lost to Kilmarnock during that period. The hype about Hearts is way over the top. The Rangers have capitulated in the 1st two games of the split and yet there’s some Celtic fans who still seem frightened of them.
We all know this isn’t a vintage Celtic team, but there’s no way I’m giving in to the idea that Hearts won’t trip up in at least one of the games before facing Celtic, I’m sure they will, what worries me, is whether this Celtic team are good enough to take advantage. Time will tell.
LAXALT on 5TH MAY 2026 6:49 PM
I largely agree. Also don’t forget Adamu’s goal against Dundee which kept us in the Scottish Cup.
That said, and with the outcomes you present, I would certainly accept that the £1.2M (if that is the number) invested in Cvancara could be considered worth it, along with whatever else we spent on the others who have contributed; Adamu with the goal mentioned, Araujo very good and big goal against Killy, Arthur played some minutes, and Mvuka has been comedy gold!
My point being, it should have been 3 or 4 or 5 times that amount, even if focussed on loan players. Just in the recent past, we have done this very successfully bringing in forward players of the caliber of Craig Bellamy (8+1 in 14), Robbie Keane (16+2 in 19), Patrick Roberts (6+2 in 13), Daizen Maeda (8+5 in 22) or even Adam Idah (9+2 in 19). These guys all arrived on loan in the winter window and contributed GOALS and ASSISTS!
The board were mid-calamity with Nancy, but compounded that when failing to prepare for a critical transfer window. Were they shopping in the wrong markets? Were they unwilling to spend money? Did they not trust the work of Tisdale? Were they uncertain of how to back MON as interim? Were they just complacent?
Answer: they were negligent, if not incompetent. It was painfully obvious what was needed, and they soiled the linens while counting the stacks of cash that they had accumulated.
Even if MON bails them out, this should not be forgotten!
GARYGILLESPIESHAMSTRING on 5TH MAY 2026 5:32 PM
As others have said a bit harsh on one player perhaps.
What about the penultimate league game of that season at Parkhead where we scored 6 against Dundee but conceded 2 ( including one I remember being absolutely livid about in the 90th minute)?
Had we not lost those 2 goals we would have won the league.
B2B1/2F – I was busy typing but share some similar thoughts regarding the list of players you reviewed.
I’d also agree that this is a subject discussed carefully in the forums, but ultimately best saved for later.
Lots of work to be done quickly after cup final day.
Jock Stein Thank you for your contribution
From Tirnaog09
https://tirnaog09.blogspot.com/2020/09/thanks-jock-when-i-was-boy-i-attended.html?spref=tw&m=1
HH
GEDINTE on 5TH MAY 2026 6:20 PM
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 5TH MAY 2026 2:31 PM
Tomas Cvancara in all fairness, did what very few other strikers could have done and has the dubious distinction of making Johnny Kenny look quite good.
________________________
In a season that could be defined by goal difference, the board failed to recruit a striker in the summer transfer window while shipping one out, and then were neglectful in their support of first WN and subsequently MON.
We signed 5 players on loan in January, and none of them made the benching either of the last two games, whilst the free agent we picked up after the transfer window closed did not get on the pitch yesterday, and got less than 30-mins the week previous.
—————————————-
We did and Julian Araujo the best of the bunch got injured, ironic we signed him for WN via Paul Tisdale and before MON’s spell.
Recruitment is entirely why we’re on manager 3 ( MON x 2 ) players, managers, HFO’s all recruitment issues.
No blame apportioning for MON n Shaun over recruitment, a ridiculous task to get players in January from a list of agents with their flotsam and jetsam. Not to mention previous manager BR ‘left’ because he didn’t get them in summer either, oh look….. we did need squad strengthening. The five players still at the club now in the split, look like the same symptom.The ‘permanent’ signing was trying to get fit at Arsenal training ground last August.
With regard to striker, BR told Celtic two days before the window closed he wouldn’t allow Adam Idah to leave without replacement, so Celtic went ahead and sold him, unreplaced of course.
What happens after all that, beggars all bawbaggery belief.
Miraculous MON CSC
https://youtube.com/shorts/JsLtkKRJyfQ?si=LZR0VTZTxdhifChd
New strip tomorrow?
Dunfermline 1 up
tbf.
in any season you lose the league on goal difference then every goal you lost in every game should take equal share of the blame.
If Hearts lose their next two games 1-0 and we win our next two games 1-0, we go into the last game of the season 3 points up and -1 goal difference.
I’m putting money on Motherwell this weekend.
Gunners 1 up.
Re 3003 / Ran Douglas
Thanks for the replies guys.
Good to read the different perspectives.
All valid observers. My feelings at the time were that we shouldn’t be scoring three goals v them at home and not win the game.
I remember being raging at the Dundee second goal as I thought we were guilty a a lapse in concentration.
BSR Hugh Johns 😂
AT : Hopefully see you on Sunday.
pure borefest at the emirates
Bhoys Town
Stop catastrophising! Ffs if my Auntie had cojones etc. Whst the hel is up eith everyone today. Focus on us – winning. Stop imagining what if scenarios that favour other teams. We will bury Rangers on Sunday. They are already out on their feet and just need a stake through their rotten heart.
Support Celtic! Been To Be Green! If you’re not behind us 100% then you’re a cheese eating surrender monkey. Look for scenarios that favour Celtic winning the League.