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You are at:»»Spare me your poor grasp of history

Spare me your poor grasp of history

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

How many times have we been here? Miles ahead in the league, League Cup in the bag – or as often, only a minnow to take care off in the final, when some bright spark realises we’re only a handful of wins away from an elusive treble.

Celtic have had more than three great teams in the last 70 years, but anyone with a grasp of history will tell you that trebles are hard to get, particularly for a Celtic team who occasionally have to play teams at Hampden where outfield players are granted goalkeeper rights.

The ’67 team won the League Cup and Scottish Cup before anyone knew where that season would end. Rangers were still very much in the hunt for the league, while only the hearts of Celtic fans believed they would win the European Cup.

By 1969 the league title had become the formality it is now, as had the League Cup – Jock Stein won his first five League Cups as Celtic manager. A Scottish Cup final against Rangers was all that stood in the way of Celtic’s second treble. Big Billy, George Connelly and our own John Fallon with a man of the match performance destroyed our old, old-enemy 4-0.

Only a fool or a liar would tell you Martin O’Neill would overcome a +20 deficit in the league and take both cups in his first season in charge of a rag-tag looking Celtic in season 2000- 2001. It wasn’t so much winning the treble that made this special, or, indeed, the football we played, but the incredible leap forward we made between Martin’s appointment in May and that Glorious Six in late August.

Everyone was stunned, including Celtic fans, although not as much as some others. In a unguarded moment that season, one Rangers fan said to me, “I don’t think I can take any more of this”. All the old certainties came crashing down. A domination, which for the financially blind looked like it would continue for decades, was over.

Martin had the Midas Touch, for a while, anyway, and the treble was secured, but although his team continued to improve for a few seasons, that would be our last full house.

Brendan and the players are new to this. With faith in each other they may well be prone to getting ahead of themselves. There is a lot of work to do to win the Scottish Cup. Should we get past Queen of the South or the Rovers, the trip to Pittodrie will be difficult. And if we cope there, Tynecastle will be equally hostile in the quarter final.

So spare me talk of trebles until May.

Every pantomime needs a baddie and this year’s is Ally McCoist, who, against all precedent, finds his secret ballot activities for a resolution at Newco’s AGM public knowledge.  It’s astonishing that we know how McCoist did or didn’t vote.  In any other country, ‘news’ like this it would be a story in itself.  It’s something private that we just shouldn’t know.

But when the clarion call goes up in Scotland, “”Who are these people” who failed to support us?”, the answer surely follows.  Whatever reservations McCoist has about the current regime are his business until he says differently.  Behind the headlines, there is little analysis about why he would jeopradise his reputation in order to inhibit King.

There’s the story.

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  2. Neustadt-Braw on

    Prince was a big fan of knitting…..purl plain…purl plain…!!!

     

     

    Hi J …very cold in central Germany today…how is it doon your way?

     

     

    Dreadful news about the Brazilian football club….and of course all other passengers and crew….

     

    Chapecoense YNWA…..

     

     

    No sae braw…

  3. Neustadt-Braw on

    Oh and hoopy birthday to Mike in Toronto….and anyone else who is celebrating …

     

     

    Have a braw day…..

     

     

    Braw.

  5. beatbhoy on

    Lmcbhoy

     

     

    Looking back, the pain is alleviated for me by knowing that we were cheated, and that applying the rules means that’s our title.

     

     

    Also, had a great day at Rugby Park the following season when we righted that wrong. ( Not forgotten, J, if your lurkin’!!).

     

     

    Let’s right the other wrongs too!

  8. Burgas Hoops on

    Hail Hail A

     

     

    I think Alan has taken up knitting btw, been trying to get him 2 tickets for Manchester shitty game away but only found one up till noo.

     

     

    First fall of snow this morning temp dropped 10deg, Husky’s are loving it and they want the sled oot to woosh me around the toon :-)

     

     

    Hope yir good there.

  10. Turkeybhoy on

    MICKBHOY1888 on 29TH NOVEMBER 2016 1:06 PM

     

    The Huns get to keep 20% of the gate receipts to cover match expenses.The remaining 80% is divided equally between them and their opponents

     

     

    I believe the TV money is pooled and shared among the competing clubs in the competition

     

     

    As it stands by drawing them against Motherwell may see them out of the competition having only played 1 game

     

     

    Exactly what I was saying last night.With the crowds they get at Ibrox for cup ties,and the money being split,they will hardly make enough to keep the lights on for a week.Utter nonsense.Anyone thinking that Warbs will be looking forward to this game is delusional.

     

    Of course I am forgetting as someone posted las night,that Motherwell will just roll over,with the approval of Mark Mc Ghee.

  11. Neustadt-Braw on

    Clothed Celt …smiley thing….

     

     

    Burgas …sounds like fun ..mush mush…I hope A enjoys it..only 2500 tickets for the Tic…25 k would have sold !!!

     

    Give him my best …

     

     

    Braw.

  12. Big Jimmy on

    Mike in Toronto,

     

    A very happy birthday young man !

     

    My God, that’s the first time I’ve ever wished a lawyer good wishes ! I must be going soft in my old age ?

     

    Only joking MIT.

     

    Have a great day.

     

    HH

  18. Jimmynotpaul on

    Hey MIT.

     

    Happy Birthday, have a blast.

     

    Hopefully you will be sharing a 2,000 prize on Sat when the two finalists selections both fail.

     

    Hail Hail.

  20. mike in toronto on

    Just got in but have to wait so just checking in.

     

     

    Thanks for all the very nice bday wishes.

     

     

    Been a great week so far … lots of nice bday wishes and dinners, a Celtic cup win, dinner with my lovely KT tonight, meeting the CQN legends Tobago Street and Dan from Milan tomorrow to hopefully watch a famous TFC victory, followed by the Michael Kawanuka concert on Friday

     

     

    I am well and truly blessed!

     

     

    I wish everyone has as great a week as I am having

     

     

    Hail hail

  21. BABASONICOS71 on

    MIT…

     

    Happy birthday and many hoopy returns.

     

    === === ===

     

    Thoughts to all involved in the air crash in Colombia.A real tragedy.

     

    Chapecoense YNWA

  23. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    Mike in Toronto, happy birthday.

     

     

    Enjoy a few cold ones on your special day.

  24. mike in toronto on

    JNP. Cheers mate.

     

     

    I know that I should want to win it, but I think that sharing the prize with young Deccy would be my preferred outcome as well!

     

     

    And if young Deccy wins … no one will be happier for him than I. It is no loss when a friend wins.

     

     

    And since he is there and I am here, it will probably be easier to get him to get a round from the winnings! :)

  25. The Johnatron on

    Happy birthday MiT!

     

    Certainly one whose posts I enjoy reading. Usually.

     

    ;-)

     

    HH – TJ

  26. Hamiltontim on

    Absolutely awful news from Columbia and all those poor souls who sadly perished.

     

     

    Sometimes out of tragedy we see the best of humanity.

     

     

    The opposition team that Chapecoense were due to play have asked that the cup be awarded to them. In addition, other Brazilian clubs have offered Chapecoense players to ensure that they can continue as a club.

     

     

    Nothing will make up for the terrible loss but it’s a sign of solidarity that I’m sure will be appreciated.

  27. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    ⚽️☘️⚽️☘️⚽️☘️⚽️☘️⚽️☘️

     

    Happy birthday MIT…….

  31. yorkbhoy on

    I posted earlier today asking what former Celtic players would you like to see in today’s team. Not necessarily the best Celtic player but one that would fit into the team and improve it. Most of the replies were attacking, defensive or creative midfielders. Thinking about it this afternoon I don’t think anyone (including myself) put Paul McStay… Imagine The Maestro in today’s team…

  35. Jobo Baldie on

    Happy birthday Mike In Toronto.

     

     

    Now, there was something I was meant to remind you of. Escapes me at the moment ;-)

  38. thetimreaper on

    CAPTAIN Scott Brown has hailed the importance of the Celtic collective after the Hoops’ dominant League Cup victory over Aberdeen.

     

    It was the club’s 100th major honour and the midfielder has now skippered the champions to nine of those trophies and played a part in 11 of them.

     

    Once again, his contribution in bringing silverware back to Paradise was significant as he turned in an outstanding performance in the middle of the park to drive his team on to a 3-0 triumph at Hampden.

     

    Personal praise or individual accolades are never something the 31-year-old is comfortable with, however, and it was no surprise that he was keen to highlight the contribution of his colleagues, Brendan Rodgers and the rest of the management team when he spoke exclusively to this week’s Celtic View.

     

    “It’s fantastic,” he said. “It’s a great honour to be the captain of this club and it’s a great honour to be playing with these top-quality players, and to have a top-quality manager and backroom staff as well.

     

    “We’re all together and that’s the main thing. We enjoy it and celebrate when we win trophies like this. You saw us all celebrating together because we’re a close group.

     

    “I’m playing football with a smile on my face – probably the first time that I’ve done so in 15 years – but it’s been fantastic. It doesn’t matter about my own performances, it’s about success for this club and the gaffer’s done that.”

  42. West End of East End on

    PSG will donate €40m to Chapecoense after the air crash, Brazilian teams will loan players for the remainder of the season and asked the FA to exempt them from being relegated for the next 3 seasons.

     

     

    Football does deservedly get a bad name at times but kudo’s to all who are there in Chapecoense time of need.

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