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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And my next random read was Easter Rd September 15th 1979 3:1 Celtic
Most interesting part was from the chairman Tom Hart who say Hibs will not tolerate IRA chants from their own fans, any hibs fan with a Eire flag will be put out the ground😱
PHILBHOY on 1ST JANUARY 2021 4:06 PM
That’s one of Lennon’s failings.
We are in the position we are in because he has trusted the old non performing brigade.
He needs to grow a pair.
IMO
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Bit hazy here Phil .😊 you callin Neil a shitebag? 🤣
Yir a brave man lol.
Aw the best to you and the family PB
HH
https://twitter.com/cfcliamk96/status/1345021342635208706?s=08
Celtic sign an Orangeman…
Celtic has been a special thing to cherish for generations.
The Huns? Well, thur rekord speaks for itself.
Aye ready to re-write History in a complicit scoddland.
HHH.
And what’s special about Celtic v Kokkola in 16th September 1970 and not the 9:0 score…….matches will not be decided by the toss of a coin but penalty kicks.
One for a quiz master👍
I just wanted to wish everyone a very happy new year, I pray God Blesses you and all those you hold dear.
A happy new year to one and all on CQN and a very good performance tomorrow at Ibrox please.
If my memory is right (and it might not be) if you wanted into Big Jocks Celtic team back in the ‘60s you HAD to be clean shaven, no ‘taches or beards, and hair had to be no more than collar length.
If I’m right, between ‘65 and ‘70 no team photo showed facial hair or long hair.
Or is my memory as bad as I think it is?
PRESTONPANS BHOYS on 1ST JANUARY 2021 6:29 PM
I was at that game but I’ve nae idea . Was it something to do with the strips . was it the first game where we weren’t allowed numbers on the shorts?
Glen,
Read my comment again, I gave the answer no toss of a coin😄
On to another programme Hamburg 5 November 2009 was a programme for all three of their european games, now no chance of Celtic doing that gig
Nice banner outside CP,paying tribute to the Ibrox Disaster victims
!!BADA BING!! on 1ST JANUARY 2021 7:05 PM
Wonder how many of the MSM will see fit to comment on it?
Fantastic thing to do, hate to say this but if the shoe was on the other foot…………
PRESTONPANS BHOYS on 1ST JANUARY 2021 6:56 PM
Doh! ………….
just had a sneak onto FF oh and them’s are super confident of giving us a doing tomorrow 4-0 seems to be the call , them’s reckon if we go 2 up top it will suit them better to give us a thrashing.
Just get a win tomorrow Bhoys.
celtsarehere.com/respect-ibrox-disaster-banner-appears-outside-celtic-park/
Here’s the banner big Bada posted about .
https://celtsarehere.com/respect-ibrox-disaster-banner-appears-outside-celtic-park/
Hope all focus is on a Celtic Victory tomorrow…………….
A strong performance will help write Celtic history and consign hun hopes to the dustbin……….
I love it when they get over confident . They are expecting the same kind of weak Celtic side as last time .
Now is the time to restore our pride and put the fear in them .
GlenD……………
Correct.
The orchestrated mood music is aw abooot the Huns….whether it’s current dominance or the scouse ned………
……..it’s really abooot beatin’ the Tims before they take to the park………….
eality is they’ve goat a wee bit beetter but benefitted from a whole load a luck and have been gifted free passes from hun-compromised refs……….
Let’s beat them an’ thur pals the morra.
HH
PRESTONPANS BHOYS on 1ST JANUARY 2021 4:58 PM
This evening will be a festival of programme reading, a mixture of my own and my dads. Starting with Wednesday 18th October 1967 World championship against Racing😄
The away game is via; Paris>Madrid>Dakar>Rio de Janeiro only takes 20 hours😱 oh and flight tickets were still available from McGinley of Holiday Enterprises😂😂😂
==========================
Hi Prestonpans bhoys,good health and luck to you and yours for 21.Am sure youll know of an established tho not to frequent poster here who’s da was Mr McGinley of the above travel company.think he was at it too.
All the best
HH
Genuine question: Where has ‘the most important game in ten years ‘ narrative come from?
Was it the season when Sami missed the penalty, they won the league and were temporarily bailed out by CL revenue?
What is ‘the most important game’?
I would say the game against Aberdeen when big Tam scored to secure an invincible treble was the most important game in Celtic’s history was pretty important until Chris Ejer burst the net to secure a quadruple treble.
You create a rod for your own back when you smash records, every game is ‘important’.
AN TEARMANN on 1ST JANUARY 2021 8:05 PM
Best wishes and health in 21 for you and your family too. That was indeed a interesting comment you made.
Next programme is Real Madrid both home and away. Was in with the Madrid fans , never been so glad of Celtic being knocked out the European cup. If we had qualified they would have killed us, instead after the third goal we shared a shackle of red wine.
If memory serves me right think Bobby Lennox nearly scored in the first minutes😵
Happy new year y’all.
Fingers crossed for tomorrow; we’re the underdogs but send a team out with bite please, lennie – all I ask.
Sorry, I forgot to answer my own question 😂😂😂
I wouldn’t trade that invincible season for any thing.
https://twitter.com/AnthonyRJoseph/status/1345082789193019398
One of the reasons I am proud to be a Celtic supporter.
History makers – starts tomorrow!!!
I trust that Neill has the Bhoys focused and motivated as to what they are facing tomorrow.
I also hope the Scottish lads rummle up the foreigners to know what to expect from the sleekits……………
PB- I’m sure McCluskey missed a sitter at 0-0….
Apologies again, I’m making a real dick of my self ( too much wine with the steak pie.).
The FACT Celtic have been so successful for so long renders what they’ve done irrelevant.
It only proves it was possible all along.
Sack the Board.
Caught Sly Sports promo piece for the Huns……………
Horrible, then, horrible noo, horrible forever.
HHH.
Bada
Aye remember the shoot not the player. You’ll not be surprised to know I wiz half pished before the game, train to Dover then hitched a lift on a Glesga CSC bus. Must have drank for four days.😂👍
PRESTONPANS BHOYS on 1ST JANUARY 2021 8:13 PM
AN TEARMANN on 1ST JANUARY 2021 8:05 PM
Best wishes and health in 21 for you and your family too. That was indeed a interesting comment you made.
Next programme is Real Madrid both home and away. Was in with the Madrid fans , never been so glad of Celtic being knocked out the European cup. If we had qualified they would have killed us, instead after the third goal we shared a shackle of red wine.
If memory serves me right think Bobby Lennox nearly scored in the first minutes
================================
I was at the first leg of that Real tie, in 1980(jayz where did those 40 years go.)
Wee johnnhy doyle and george mccluskey i seem to recall.we played well in first leg,laurie cunningham played for real. Rumours abounded of death threats/harassment if i recall in the build up to 2nd leg.well done you on getting out there,ps poster was brth.😊
HH
Prestonpans bhoys
Re the programmes.
Some of those progs you mention may be worth a bob or 2 mate.i recall a “new”football magazine/paper came out called ‘football scot’ i recall getting every issue,it was trying to get scottish fans away from ‘shoot’magazine
I kept them all.all good nick…well until oor hoos was renovated in the late70s.when they got lost……..fast forward to start of summer and i see on twitter a guy saying 1 copy went for 600quid!! I gret am tellin you.i had the whole series.ma maw probably used them to put under the carpets ha! Maws eh lol
:-)
HH
AN TEARMANN on 1ST JANUARY 2021 8:54 PM
Aye wife said sell them but no chance , next two reads are Benfica 12th November 1969 and AC Milan 12th March 1969 lost 1:0 after 0:0 away
Omens for tomorrow reading 1970 Scottish cup final Daily record special @ 3/6
Quote ‘now Rangers are goal grabbers, relentless attackers, exuberant, resilient but always putting the accent on assault’
Score …Celtic 4 Rangers 0
💪👏👏👏💪
In the year 2525…..
Getting carried away there, Happy New Year to all in 2021
Even happier if we win tomorrah
Which we can. Pretty much got the whole squad fit, apart fae Big Jools, and wee Jamesie of course, goes without saying. But I said it anyway, for the record.
Here’s the thing, Lenny picks the right team, the right tactics and the right substitutes at the right time…
We win!
PRESTONPANS BHOYS on 1ST JANUARY 2021 9:06 PM
AN TEARMANN on 1ST JANUARY 2021 8:54 PM
Aye wife said sell them but no chance , next two reads are Benfica 12th November 1969 and AC Milan 12th March 1969 lost 1:0 after 0:0 away
Benfica- Big Tam in the 3-0 game.superb so he was.on way to feyenoord in milan
Ac smiling here.this tie somehow always comes up in conversations i have about Celtic,
EC quarter final,0-0 over there in the snow.
A shy to big billy and it slipped/bobbled at his foot and in nipped PRATI.1-0 to AC at our home.i thought that team (onto treble winners 69) matured from 67.they had venom.
.i recall their manager saying once they beat us he thought he had beaten the beat team in cup….but PRATI has lived in ma heid since😊
HH
Last programme comment before I bore all to death…..
Frank Beattie testimonial 14th May 1971 second last page header ‘ Celtic the glamorous’
Quote ‘ there has, of course, always been a bond of friendship between ourselves and Celtic, for instance one of the greatest Celts of all time, Jimmy McGrory was our manager, as was Malcolm MacDonald.’
Just saying 😵😱😂
The team are going to Dubai for a winter break.