Since Brendan Rodgers’ arrival in 2016, Celtic have played 27 games at Hampden, suffering only one defeat. Three of those games went to penalties (against Hearts, Aberdeen and Newco), with Celtic managing to win each of them. The only blot on the record was the extra-time loss in the 2022 Scottish Cup semi-final against Newco.
The ‘neutral’ venue has become anything but; we have also lost one of our last 27 domestic games at Celtic Park (two, if you count European ties). Lots of ingredients go into a successful run like this. Hampden cup ties bring their own intensity, and the more you experience this, the better adjusted you will be.
There is also a reinforcement effect of winning. “We win here” must be front of every Celtic player’s mind when they walk out the tunnel. I also suspect that Celtic can raise their game above their normal performance level. The player’s attitude was questioned by the manager after the defeat to St Johnstone earlier this month; there is no chance of an attitude deficit on Sunday.
The years between 2010 Brendan arriving in 2016 were not so kind. Ross County beat us at Hampden in the Scottish Cup and League Cup. Rangers and Kilmarnock beat us in finals, while there were semi-final losses to Hearts, St Mirren and (controversially) Inverness.
That’s seven defeats in a period which saw us win eight times at Hampden. It is almost impossible to gain perspective when you are in the middle of something extraordinary, but leaving Hampden as winners 26 times from 27 visits is astonishing.
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Smell that?
Yip, the weekend is approaching.
Happy Holy Thursday
– Aupa Atleti
Is CQN on its last legs?
Is Celtic`s domination of Scottish football a factor?
HH
Hot Smoked – why do you ask?
I have often wondered how many regular readers there are vs regular posters. At a glance, it hardly seems worth the bother for Paul to write a blog 5-6 times a week when the audience appears to have shrunk to barely more than a handful of regulars.
Back in the CQN glory days, daily posts were getting 1000+ comments. 20-30 pages or so. It stood out from the MSM as a place of informed (and ill-informed) opinion and debate with strict rules on language/trolling/abuse.
As other sites popped up, there was a gradual fall off with many regulars preferring to post on other sites. Twitter/X/podcasts also provided a different format for people to participate in all things Celtic.
It now feels more like a small gathering of old friends (real and virtual) who can’t be bothered to move on from their local run down boozer even though lots of fancy new ones have opened up nearby.
Astonishing record.
I can’t imagine it ever being bettered by anyone other than ourselves continuing.
Let’s hope we do for many years more.
Wasn’t that one loss a freak, due to the new turf rising as Tom Rogic’s ‘standing’ leg pushed it and ball, causing him to miss his penalty? Hearts v Aberdeen on BBC, whilst we’re expected to fork out to Premier Sports.
Well played Arsenal last night but I was surprised how poor Real were.
Hot Smoked / Denia Bhoy
I do think the fact that unlike others who seek to make a living out of these blogs and podcasts Paul does not need to do that and is happy to put out topics for debate. He is also pretty thick skinned and doesn’t seek popularity. I also think he is less in anyone’s pocket than many suggest.
Eg not seen him on the boardroom much this season for sure.
It’s still refreshing change from the same old narrative we see on other blogs I think. As it was in 2004. Although there are many less posters than lurkers I reckon.
A labour of love for Paul since Blogger.com and the wee bin where you could even delete your own rubbish, before he got to it. Personally, I’ve never forgiven him since he deleted my “Jiri Jarosik is a diddy” post what a waste of time and money he was.
Modern multi thread blogs are rubbish
Aff Oot CSC
After watching Madrid a couple of times this year I reckon Rodrygo
might miss out on Ballon D’or again.
Tonight , I will mostly be supporting Athleti.
Fastshowcsc.
Fancy the Huns to win well tonight and progress to the semi-finals!
(Trying this way as the other way, they’re getting found out tonight, in for a doing tonight etc, wasn’t working) por cierto
BOURNESOUPRECIPE @ 1:25 PM,
Yes – things have gone down hill since the rubbish bin was… well… binned.
Getting chastised by Paul67 for unwarranted banter denigrating Garry Caldwell on the forum, was the aul’ normal.
Now of course – anything goes…
Hopefully we’ll still be standing up for the Champions
Hail Hail
I recall the time on SSB when we had just brought in Jiri Jarosik and Derek Johnstone and Peter Martin were discussing the thinking behind the signing of JJ, neither of them could work out if JJ would be the type of signing which Celtic fans would be looking for, virtually trashing JJ before he even had pulled on the hoops for us.
These were the day’s when the Hun’s were in love with Jose’s Porto because they broke our hearts in Seville 2003
Then Davie Provan butted in and said, “WELL CELTIC MIGHT JUST BE LOOKING FOR AN ADVANCED MIDFIELDER WHO COULD HOLD THE BALL UP LIKE CHRIS SUTTON USED TO, AS A TACTICAL SWITCH IN THE CL, AND PROBABLY PLAY JJ AS A SECOND STRIKER. BUT YOU DON’T FIND YOUR WAY INTO JOSE MOURINHO’S DRESSING ROOM IF YOU HAVEN’T GOT SOMETHING ABOUT YOU.”
The silence in the SSB studio was only broken minutes later when BFDJ came out with his usual decoy trick that he used whenever someone got a positive conversation going about Celtic.
BFDJ “OH…WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT. BRIAN ALEXANDER HAS JUST SCORED FOR MONTROSE. WHAT A GOAL THAT WAS! TRULY MAGNIFICENT. OH AND AS I SPEAK ELGIN HAVE JUST EQUALISED VS BRORA RANGERS. THAT GOAL IS SO VITAL YADDA YADDA YADDA etc.”
Was waiting for Davie Provan to say “DID THEY AYE?”
As if anybody was listening to at that time West of Scotland SSB, the day after the Transfer Window had closed, to hear about fkn Montrose or Elgin!!!
It was a trick that BFDJ used a lot, like breaking up play, or killing a positive Celtic narrative to good effect as well ,as though he had been given a script by Traynor or sumbdy.
You could hear Peter Martin LHAO in the background.
“DeniaBhoy on 17th April 2025 12:52 pm
Hot Smoked – why do you ask?”
Simply because of the massive decline in numbers of posts/posters.
Hampden is such a shit stadium for watching football. Totally inferior to Celtic Park. I have been to see Celtic in every final since 1965. It has been a penance
I was in row A last May and Adam ran towards our section when he scored. Nice moment but shite view.
I think I will give up next season
CHAIRBHOY
Lazy journalism which conflates Brendan Rodgers arrival at Celtic and includes a defeat when he wasn’t there. The article could have read Brendan Rodgers has never lost at Hampden, but then it wouldn’t really have been CQN if it had?
HH
Good afternoon all from the Orchard Park.
Super Score Board
“ Were you at the match -caller ? “ James Sanderson
“ Naw a wis at ma Aunties funeral “ – caller
“ What time was the funeral? ” – James Sanderson
“ One o’ clock “ – caller
“ You could have made the second half “ – James Sanderson
I guess when the lead articles consistently put forward an argument that makes people unhappy then some will always talk about things not being how they were . But CQNs output and quality hasnt declined – an intelligent, well-informed article that you won’t see anywhere else, every day, as it’s always been.
I’m still waiting on someone, anywhere, writing something about Celtic that is as interesting as Pauls articles, whether I’d agree with the viewpoint or not. I think Paul always puts forward a convincing argument which is why he attracts so much abuse.
The comments section has always been secondary. The format was reasonably new when CQN first started but social media has been through several iterations since then so the blog and comments section is long outdated for most younger people, but as the intention was always to voice Paul’s personal opinions on Celtic I’d imagine he doesn’t feel the need to change it.
bournesouprecipe on 17th April 2025 2:37 pm
Super Score Board
“ Were you at the match -caller ? “ James Sanderson
“ Naw a wis at ma Aunties funeral “ – caller
“ What time was the funeral? ” – James Sanderson
“ One o’ clock “ – caller
“ You could have made the second half “ – James Sanderson
_________________________________________________________________________
An alternative ending bournesouprecipe
‘One o’clock, I wouldn’t have made kick off’ – caller
‘How long can a funeral last?’ – James Sanderson
BOURNESOUPRECIPE @ 2:19 PM,
Yes…
When we are prepared to highlight an Ange faux pas, before fully acknowledging a Brendan forte… it does highlight the redoubtable alienation.
Hail Hail
CELTIC40ME @ 2:43 PM,
Yes…
When Celtic supporters go on to there Celtic news now feed and click on the “headlines” then CQN will be there.
A perusal at Paul67’s lead and the Celtic “influencer” has done his bit.
Why would any of those ghuys want to read the comments of the bed wetting, Dunning Kruggerists!?
Hail Hail
There are a number of reasons why CQN posts are not so prevalent as they once were . I do think that there is a correlation with the notable current trend of Celtic supporters leaving Parkhead from 70 minutes onward.
Put bluntly. not all CQN,ers are still around since its inception. Others are now old with different needs.
CQN’S demography was / is on the mature side.
Much more competition, blogs, social media etc.
Many more alternative forms of entertainment .
Average attention span has dropped over the last 20 years.
Lack of tolerance for alternative views.
Many posters been banned and or cancelled. Some wrongly.
Celtic having virtually no domestic challenge. We will be the first team in the world to come 1st or 2nd for 30 years in their domestic league.
Entitlement?
Many posters achieving their goals of friendships through CQN. Maybe not the same incentivisation to post.
Diversity was always the blogs strength, we have moved away from that.
Can’t be bothered. Very noticible in all walks of life.
Life is now so hectic.
Laptops are old hat , a reluctance from some to embrace the modern alternatives.
Don’t like our host’s views.
Don’t like our manager or board or Peter Lawwell.
Many posters have taken the huff.
Many posters prefer secret WhatsApp groups.
Some think blogging is “dead” in 2025.
The online landscape has totally changed.
The rise of more graphic video sharing sites.
A sence of entitlement by some who think they are too good or important for an old blog.
For some potential younger posters , the rise in AI alternatives.
Some posters don’t like talking to some posters. They think they are above some individuals.
Calling everyone slightly different a troll.
Th origination of SC which took half the posters elsewhere
Im sure there are many more reasons, but thats a starter for 10 or so.
Cheers and HH.
A guy on Radio 1 just bammed up the huns,play Zombie Nation for them tonight 😁
BIGBHOY on 17TH APRIL 2025 2:16 PM
Hampden is such a shit stadium for watching football. Totally inferior to Celtic Park. I have been to see Celtic in every final since 1965. It has been a penance
*always was and I’ve been going there since the buddies walloped us in the 1959 semis and I’ve always hated it especially with that big lift at the back of the Celtic end, you were taking your life in your hands exiting it and I have often went down those stairs with my feet not even touching them, luckily for me the lanny seemed tae carry me along with those wonderful wins, huvnae been back there since Paul Wilson’s double in the GC against the deid team and NOT because I left the country several weeks later wtf I have been back often enough but NOT for me anymore.
Tontime tim
I was 9 in1965. No lanliq for me. Too young even in 1969. 4-0
However, I had a drink in 1971 League cup final. I remember lying in the grass on the rear slope and thought I imagined Thistle were winning 4-0. Sobered me up
Taylor offered new 3 year contract
Bigbhoy
I was in the same position at the 67 final where we beat Dundee 5-3
I had strayed into Bennys bar on the way back from work (Saturday, time and a half). At 17 I was easily led and got pi##ed even easier.
I was lying on that same grass, and remember asking our departing fans “did we win ?”
Disgraceful
£42 a ticket for Tannadice, ridiculous, we should charge the same for CP
Although it fell through I was offered a ticket for Perth @ £34. I take it they just price as they like, as Bada says just reciprocate the next time at CP
!!BADA BING!! on 17TH APRIL 2025 4:19 PM
Taylor offered new 3 year contract
……………………
Great news , hope Greg signs it as it would be very difficult to have two Left Backs of quality such as him and Keiran Tierney.
Greg looks more comfortable in midfield, got a decent pass in him makes space and has great stamina.
Very long time member, a rare poster, and occasional lurker now.
For me, it was the continuous myriad of adverts that moved me away from here. No end of ad blockers made a difference (unless someone can tell me otherwise).
Content was great, enjoyed the articles, even Fleagles Nap competition each Saturday ensured I returned, unfortunately not so now.
BSR
Perhaps KT can move to the back 3 or into midfield
Som mes
No ads with duck duck go on an android phone
Taylor definitely gives more options for sure,KT won’t play every game…….
GENE
Yip, gives us options the ‘inverted full back’ role has given new lease life and hopefully a new contract to Greg.