Something extraordinary

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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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  1. Beautiful Karma that the huns trophyless season (in their deluded minds) comer down to two penalties that they were not given, league cup final and last night. Really sweet.

  2. The Huns in Europe this season – knocked of CL qualifying with a draw and defeat against Kiev.

     

     

    Beat Malmo, Bucharest, Nice & Fenerbache.

     

     

    Drew – Spurs, Olympiakos, Athletic Club

     

     

    Lost – Man Utd, Lyon, Fenerbache, Athletic Club.

     

     

    It ain’t nothing to gloat about really.

  3. Penalty because his shirt was ripped?

     

     

    Remember, we’re talking Castore, perhaps it was the poor quality and not the pull that made the shirt tear so easily! :)) por cierto

  4. bournesouprecipe on

    That awkward moment when Rory Hamilton asks Super Salary if there was a case for Rainjurz copying ‘the Bilbao model’ .

  5. Listened to shortbread podcast this morning. I swear these commentators are inhabitants of a different planet.

     

     

    All talk about major investment and Cerny being a priority signing at a reported £6-7 million.

     

     

    What is it about breaking even that they can’t fathom ?

  6. Bournesouprecipe

     

     

    Surprised Ally didn’t actually highlight rangers had a similar exclusive signing policy for decades last century.

  7. Super swally’s guide to commentating on the mighty euro runs

     

     

    Amazing block – the ball was hit at a sevco defender

     

    Great save – the ball was hit straight at the goalie.

  8. I don’t know An Dún – either a very small number of their community know that they don’t have much money and nobody is going to give them 100 mill out of the blue and/or the media are unable to state what you have just said

  9. bournesouprecipe on

    Burnley 78

     

     

    I think Rory quickly recognised his faux pas, comparing ‘signing policy’ – any signing policy with Rainjurz, wasn’t the best idea.

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