My friends in Celtic, this is not a happy read. Not since Tony Mowbray was in charge 11 years ago have we been under pressure like this at the end of the year; second favourites for the title by a significant margin.
A 12 game period saw us eliminated from the Europa League at the group stage with only one win and one draw to our credit, our first defeat in the League Cup in almost five years and a number of grim performances in the league that sees us 16 points adrift with three games in hand.
Unaccustomed as we are to defeat, the shock drew protests against the manager and board and worse for players leaving Celtic Park after the Ross County defeat. Neil Lennon looked beleaguered as the board came under pressure to sack him but that campaign was itself undermined by an unexpected win against Lille, helped in no small way by the arrival of David Turnbull and Ismaila Soro in the starting line-up.
Crisis on the park added to pressures off it as the club had to cope without fans at Celtic Park since March. Whatever sporting advantage was lost due to this is nothing to the commercial consequences, that will see the club plunge into debt. Chasing their own Holy Grail, Celtic declined to sell their most saleable assets and pressed ahead with purchases in the summer. It was a gambler’s play we have not often seen from Celtic.
Champions League income was a potential salvation that Ferencvaros extinguished in a pitiful manner. Early season league form gave an indication of what was to come, then the music stopped with the visit of Newco. Celtic did not record an attempt on target and were relieved of the points by a superior opponent.
2020 was the year Celtic won 9-in-a-row for the second time. They started the year smarting from a home defeat to Newco but form after the break was imperious, while Newco did not have the legs for the race, or as their manager put it, did not have the “bottle”. The Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen was held over until November, the final, 11 days ago against Hearts, will live long in the memory.
It was a classic Celtic performance this season. Two goals ahead at halftime, Hearts bossed the second period and took the game to extra time. Again we took the lead, again Hearts levelled, but as Tommy Burns once said, “there is something about this club”. The Scottish Cup was won for the fourth consecutive time, a new record, also securing the fourth consecutive treble and Celtic’s seventh overall. We celebrated history in our homes.
That defeat to Ross County means another club will lift a trophy in 2021, the first apart from Celtic since 2016. More importantly, the record we have tracked for nine years is in trouble. Celtic’s form has improved significantly since that win over Lille, we are now back to playing the way we were early this year, but the gap at the top of the table is significant and we are up against an opponent that has lost only one game in all competitions this season.
You and I have seen Celtic come back from more difficult positions than this against original Rangers in 2007-8 and form at the corresponding stage of season 1978-9 gave no indication of how that title would be decided. But having read the story of each of our 51 league title wins, I don’t think any would match a league win in 2021 – and I include 1998 and 1966.
We are only here because we know there is something special about this club, so ‘hope in our hearts’ is not easy to extinguish, but we will find out more about our chances on Saturday.
I hope you each have a safe New Year and a healthy 2021. Take care, Paul67.
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Happy New Year to all Celts across the world.
It’s great not to be a monkey from Snake Mountain !
Wishing all CQN’ers and their families a healthy and happy New Year!
Big new year thanks to PAUL67 for all his good and hard work in providing us with this great platform to do what we do on here.
God bless all!
Happy New Year y’all
It can only get better
Startin Saturday
All the very best to you and yours bhoys.
No matter what:
2 Nines – first and never to be repeated
Quadruple treble – first and never to be repeated
Four Scottish Cups in a row – first – and never to be repeated- unless we k
Make it five😀
Solvent without the help of Spivs and crooks – unique in Glasgow
Aw ra best
Happy New Year all you Tims in green and white.
We’re gonna do that mob!!
Hail Hail brothers and sisters🍀🍀🍀🍀
Much on Saturday depends on NL – his selection and how he sets them up and what instructions he gives them. To be honest I don’t mind him starting Brown as long as it’s only for first 45 minutes, then Soro. I think Barkas should have, as Lennie planned, gained a lot of confidence from the DU game – clean sheet and he saw his “potential replacement” let in 3 goals! And Lennie rightly has been talking up Barkas since then. So hopefully he won’t make any blunders and will go on from strength to strength. I think he must play Ajer at right back and 2 up front (Eddie and Griff). Much also depneds on our centre backs. If Jullien is out NL has to go with Bitton along with Duffy. If they’re on form I think we’ll win. If either of them are having problems bring on Walsh or move Ajer and bring on Ralston. MJ to feature at some point but not to start. Pressing pressing pressing. He who presses best will take the spoils.
TheLurkinTim on 1st January 2021 12:18 am
AiPPLE…go to DJ mode…👍😂
————-
DJ mode engaged.
Spoke with ma da at midnight his time. He has Euro themed day of food ahead tomorrow.
HH!
Happy New Year all.
3 points on Saturday would be just what the Dr ordered.
You can do it Celtic.
19 points behind would be something else to claw Bach.
Keep Refreshing the Team.. gonnae need to because we are playing every few days soon.
Win Saturday and we are on it.
Celtic History is quite remarkable.
I was worried about the United game but we played our best Fitba at the right moment.
Wtf is going on with Celti Park pitch.
Callum would have put in a perfect cross only for a small bobble at the worst possible time. Not good enough tbh.
A Guid New Year to One an Aw
May all our Celtic dreams come true.
I Believe there is a video of me walking from Downpatrick to Belfast singing about 19 Something or other missing. ;)
I expect Soro and the Broonstigator to play.
Callum is obvious.
Massive calls.
You can dae it Neil.
Just Win. ;)
Thought it was only me that noticed the bobble for Calmacs cross.
Woken up by thunderstorms,lashing rain,lightning.When we get bad weather here,it tends to be Biblical.
Ah well,I player on,watch,Jools,,Only An Excuse,and some Tartan Hogmanay.
Turkey been on lockdown between 9 pm,till 6 am,weekdays,Friday,till Monday morning,total.Started 8 pm on Thursday,till Monday.In a month they have halved the figures.Brilliant.
Happy New Year to all the Good Guys and Ghirls.
ESPECIALLY to my Local Hero ” DAVID66″, and his family.
OLDTIM67, Great to see you Posting, take good care of yourself.
I still havent had ANY Drink since October 9th 2020, the day that the Pubs were told to close at 6pm. IF/When the Pubs do reopen, I hope that I can remember how to Drink vast amounts of Beer once again……who am I kidding….it will come naturally ?
LOL.
I watched a TV Comedy show until around 12.45am and then bed, I had NO desire to ” Bring in the Bells etc” and I never heard anything from outside except some eejit setting off a few fireworks.
Just like Christmas, I will be watching TV and stuffing ma face with Chocolate Bars, Biscuits , cakes and sweeties while drinking cans of Coke Cola.
Wee SORO makes me smile, I do hope that he and his Celtic Team Mates tomorrow make my smile even BIGGER by beating ” The Animals”…..
I think there will be a few Goals Tomorrow…so I expect a few anxious moments but….even MORE moments of sheer delight as the Celts bring them back to reality…Fingers crossed ?
HH and COYBIG.
Happy New Year to all you bhoys and girls wherever you may be.
I hope 2021 is a happy and healthy one for you all.
God bless Celtic and let’s get the new year off to a flyer and slay these Orcs at Mordor.
HH
🍀💚🍀
Good Morning CQN!
Happy New Year to all you bhoys and girls wherever you may be.
I hope 2021 is a happy and healthy one for you all.
God bless Celtic and let’s get the new year off to a flyer and slay these Orcs at Mordor.
HH
🍀💚🍀
Same old CQN always kicking me out and making me look foolish by posting twice, 2021 bah humbug!
Happy new to all on CQN
Year oops
Preferably a win tomorrow, at worst a draw.
Hello again all you young rebels.
A happy and healthy New Year to each and everyone of you.
Been boozing, barbieing, beaching, and every other ing that
an aul retired Tim should be doing.
But wee Grace and the weemhan are back with their parents
and the typing heid is back on, so the game against Der hun?
I feel the first goal is critical for us, get it and the confidence it
exudes will carry us to victory.
Lose it and if it’s a calamitous one, well only one outcome.
I’ve a feeling big Shane will play regardless how Christopher’s
injury is, and guess what? he’ll score the winner.
H.H. Mick
Happy New Year Mick !! 😎🍺🍷🍷🍾
Hoopy New Year to all.
3-1 Tomorrow to the bhoys in green and Duffy to score a header.
D :)
Oh and good morning cqn from a still frosty/snowy 2021 Garngad
Hail Hail
D :)
This covers everything I think………….
HNY to Tims on This Dear Green Place.
HH.
……………………………………………………………….
JINKYREDSTAR on 1ST JANUARY 2021 1:49 AM
All the very best to you and yours bhoys.
No matter what:
2 Nines – first and never to be repeated
Quadruple treble – first and never to be repeated
Four Scottish Cups in a row – first – and never to be repeated- unless we k
Make it five😀
Solvent without the help of Spivs and crooks – unique in Glasgow
Aw ra best
Just win it Bhoys…………..
Given the way the runes have been cast a draw won’t cut it……….
Any win will do.
All eyes on Boaby…………….
Aye.
HHH.
Good morning, friends and Happy New Year.
…oh,and btw logged-in with consumate ease, as per usual…………….
HH.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
….while I’m logged on…………..
:)
Talk of Elephant Gin earlier…..?
Embdy remember Elephant Beer ( Naw?)
A (bottled) Beer You’ll Never Forget, I think was the slogan.
I think it was from New Zealand and for a wee bottle packed a helluva punch. Tried it for the first time one Christmas Eve at The Boulevard ( Bouley) Clydebank……………hungover till Hogmanay.
Anyhoo…..away for a swim.
Logging -off :)
DryRobe CSC
A very happy and healthy New Year to Paul67, his loved ones, and all CQNers throughout the world. May tomorrow bring us unfettered joy.
Happy new year to every contributor on here and apologies to anyone I have fallen out with last year!
We all want the same thing – god bless you all.
:))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Theres been NO Frost etc in The Calton….Maybe Im not actually in the Calton…but in The Feckin Bahamas ?
LOL
Are the Pubs in the Bahamas OPEN ?
Mon the Hoops.
HH.
*splash*
Happy New Year
to everybody wether
a lurker or poster
and may the force
be with us tomorrow .
One Morning I opened the Door in my Pyjamas….How a door got in my Pyjamas…I’ll never know ?
Copywrite Groucho Marx 1930 something.
Why do Pyjama Tops have a Collar….its not like you are gonna wear a Feckin Tie to bed ?
LOL
HH.
Big Jimmy
” I will be watching TV and stuffing ma face with Chocolate Bars, Biscuits , cakes and sweeties while drinking cans of Coke Cola.”
….and there was me worried about your health !!
Good to see your morning posts back on here.