I wasn’t at the 4-2 game against Oldco on 21 May 1979, when “10 men won the league, tra-la-la-la-la.” Martin42 is still dealing with the consequences of going without me, but I endured the 0-3 defeat 20 years later that saw the title go to Ibrox.
In the intervening 19 years the authorities in Scotland have done their best to ensure we do not have a potential league winning game between Celtic and either of the Rangers group of clubs, but here we are. There may never be another opportunity.
That Celtic team in season 1998-99 started poorly with new manager, Jo Venglos, working among one or two strong personalities in the dressing room, but by the springtime we were flowing and a title challenge was on. When we met Newco on 2 May, a win would only give us an outside chance of the title.
Then came the news that we would play with a rookie, Scott Marshall. The result wasn’t Scott’s fault, but the chance added a pressure to a defence which already had Stephane Mahe, for some of the game, anyway. We could not handle the pressure. Oldco stuck to task and won comfortably.
This was a time when titles in Scotland were decided by sheer brute force. David Murray’s Rangers’ aggregate income for the four seasons which followed Celtic’s title win in 1998 was £180m – but they spent £282m, an average loss per season over four years of £25m.
The Rangers way of doing business was working. It delivered titles and denied you and me football success. There were many reasons to dislike how they did business. Liquidation would take another 13 years, but the consequences of financial irresponsibility were always inevitable.
Newco will walk into Celtic Park on Sunday with their own version of Scott Marshall, Jak Alnwick, who has made just two senior appearances (no clean sheets) since arriving in Glasgow 18 months ago. We need to make sure he endures a torrid afternoon.
After watching Graeme Murty earn two draws at Celtic Park I have a bit of respect for what he can do there. He should not be underestimated, few managers arrive for their third visit undefeated, but the man is so embattled right now, his ability to prepare a team must be significantly impaired.
By contrast, Brendan Rodgers gave a tactical masterclass in the recent games at Ibrox and Hampden, costing Murty any chance of securing the Newco manager’s job long term. For Brendan, Sunday is all about getting the job done as early as possible, before preparing the squad for the cup final, which is only three weeks away.
I know it’s greedy to ask for too much when we are within touching distance of a second successive treble, considering we only won two in 48 years before last season, but I really want this one. Let’s do it for everyone who was at Celtic Park on 2 May 1999, or who lived through the years when David Murray and Dave King sat on an Oldco board which lost £35.3m with a turnover of only £44.8m. Contemporary times show that some lessons cannot be taught too often to those who refuse to learn.
The same people are strutting around our game with the same sense of entitlement. Show them how to win the league with style and within budget, Celtic.
Raffle to play in an 11-a-side game at Celtic Park, closes 15:00 today, Friday 27th
An incredible opportunity to play on the hallowed turf at Celtic Park around the end of the current season 2017-18, in Club sponsor Intelligent Car Leasing’s match.
You will be provided with complimentary Celtic kit and receive the full match-day experience including arrival through the front door, access to the dressing room and proudly walking down the tunnel to enter the famous field of play.
Both squads will be managed by a former Celtic player. Date 16 May, 11:00 kick off. All monies raised will be donated to Celtic FC Foundation, a registered Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (number SC024648).
To enter the raffle, make a minimum donation of £5 to the Foundation at this MyDonate page. Then send your donation confirmation email to this address: celticquicknews@gmail.com
The opportunity to play on Celtic Park is just beyond words. I did it a few years ago, the memories will live forever, as will the photographs. The experience of preparing in the dressing room, as so many greats have done before, was fabulous.
You can enter for yourself, or gift the prize to someone you know aged 18 or over. Competition closes in just a few hours at 15:00, so enter now!.
Good luck!
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BMCW
From what I witnessed today Vale will struggle next season – absolutely dire stuff – the strange thing is that Carlisle mutually agreeing to part with Keith Curl .
Swindon beat me for £300…?
On a positive side Well keeps me in the LMS
Sutton sums up the Steven G thing very well in the DR
THEEXILEDTIM
The Lord Almighty could take that job for all the chance there is of success,not wi that mob in charge.
BADABING
Mad,backing Swindon this season is the quick way to the nuthouse.
DELANEYS DUNKY-hope your first week back went well mate?
BMCUWP-good that you’re back?
Brendan’s selection tomorrow is pretty certain with only the injury to Moussa Dembele and possibly Mikael Lustig which would alter the cup semi side starting the game.
James Forrest’s form has shaded but I think his pace will keep Patrick Roberts on the bench for later in the game when hopefully the damage to Sevco will already have been done.
The power of Celtic’s reserve with Edouard, Roberts , Griffiths and Sinclair is a symbol of the gap between us and them, but I’d like Moussa to start as our talisman with a remarkable scoring record and still the only Celtic player ever to have notched a hat trick against them.
We expect that Brown and Ntcham both fully fit unlike last weekend along with Tom and Callum will control the middle against their bosmans, loanees and other ragamuffins.
Sunday mornings – What larks CSC
BMCUW- I blame you, you posted a few weeks ago they were good away but not at home…☹ good to see you back, take it easy M.HH
BobbyM
I keep reading about the gap, from where I am sitting it’s no that big, they have crap players, they are a shambles from top to bottom, yet we are not that far in front of them points wise.
A coach with a bit of savy, one who has a name, one who can attract decent players, one who will probably command respect, aided and abetted by a corrupt governing body and cheating officials, the gap won’t be insurmountable imo.
For all that Brendan is a top manager, his dealings in the transfer market haven’t given us the bang for the buck imo, a fair few bob has been wasted, not a slight on the man, just my opinion.
HH
I’VEHADTOCHANGEMYNAME on 28TH APRIL 2018 6:04 PM
Win tomorrow for us puts them 3rd.
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They’re already 3rd mate – they need to beat us tomorrow to go into 2nd place – if they lose or draw they’re still 3st! :-)))))
THEEXILEDTIM, hi pal did you mean the nice cardinal heenan ex pupil .lol. how is the dugs.hh.
Just noticed Cliftonville beat Linfield 2.1 today.
They were 8/1 with Bet 365. Hopefully some of you were on at that price.
Hail Hail
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 28TH APRIL 2018 6:19 PM
Catman posted yesterday that Edouard will be the hunskelper tomorrow.
Hail Hail
Does Dermot Desmond have a role on the Celtic board otherwise then being described as majority shareholder ? Having bought those shares hasn’t he put any more money in ?
Big Packy
I have no clue who Cardinal Heenan is :-)
All are good, one is getting his leg amputated in the week, the super vet wisny as super as we were told, in saying that had the dog been taken to him when his injury happened he might have managed to save his leg, we got the dog too late to help him as it has turned out.
HH
THE EXILED TIM, so sorry to hear that, the one thing i can say to you is, we have a few dogs that come into the salon with only 3 legs, and to be honest you wouldnt notice, unlike us mamby pamby humans dogs cope.ktf.
GENE on 28TH APRIL 2018 6:06 PM
BMCW
From what I witnessed today Vale will struggle next season – absolutely dire stuff – the strange thing is that Carlisle mutually agreeing to part with Keith Curl .
———————————————————————————————————-
Have to wonder about the general standard of football at this level. Earlier this week my eldest son informed me that one of his youth team team-mates is now playing regularly for Blackpool. The lad in question was nothing special at the time but has obviously made giants steps to be now playing in the professional game. Just goes to show you that clubs should not discount players at 14 plus years old which many tell their coaches to do. Good luck to the lad – he’s done well for himself.
BMCUW – Was hospital food that bad you discharged yourself early and came straight onto this mad-house? :-)
Big Packy
Aye I know, problem is it’s his front leg and he is huge, it’s causing his spine to twist, but he will get a couple more years and a good life, the Mrs has put all the info about him on the FB page.
HH
NATKNOW
If we win 7-0……………they’ll go 4th
Allegedly CSC
M6bhoy
Clint Hill playing for Carlisle – where do you start
David66
Met Jim McKell and Andy Mullen in Esquire today. The Temple Scurvy Tims are magic.
YNWA
THE EXILED TIM im not on facebook but joan the missus has just asked the name of your facebook page.hh.
BP
Just Another Street Dog
HH
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 28TH APRIL 2018 6:43 PM
NATKNOW
If we win 7-0……………they’ll go 4th
Allegedly CSC
Sadly not so, they have a better goal difference of 13 compared to Hibs.
Sevco plus 30. Hibs plus 17.
Hail Hail
Big Packy
https://www.facebook.com/Spanishstreetdogs/?hc_ref=ARTzPfCmfmxuC4MfYWeFqF8ZOqJ3udaO_4hr82IEX28p1TzJbYkvReROmaxU6U_CBQo
HH
I think the 1st tax scam that was used at Ibrox was started in 1999.
So if the titles are stripped (100% should be) and awarded to the runners-up (debatable) then Celtic should win our 20th league in a row tomorrow.
Gordon
Hendry
Ajer
Boyata
Tierney
Ntcham
Broony
Forrest
Rogic
Edouard
Le Skelper
An easy 2-0
HH
ACGR
Great meeting you today in my home pitch.
Breakfast a Coias soon.
7 in a row after.
???????
funny story one of our apprentices, now when i tell you her name your gonna say pull the other one ,her name is molly malone seriously, anyway she goes to the shop on her lunchbreak, asks for a bottle of coke, and the shop manager asks for i.d., she was furious she is 17 and apparently you need to be over 16 to purchase sugary drinks.
BP
i know a lot of shops set a 16 limit for energy drinks but not Coke
GENE to be honest, it might not have been coke, but definately a sugary drink, hope you are well.hh.
TET
My wifes friend lost her big mastiff due to illness a few months ago, she decided to take in a spanish street dog,comes to her in June.
Molly is a magic name
My mammy is Molly Delaney. 83 last week.
She loves Celtic.
HH
DELANEYS DUNKY, ill tell our molly she shares a name with delaneys dunky,s lovely 83 yer old mum.hh.
BP
Good thanks – will be dog sitting in a couple of weeks for a fortnight for my daughter’s cockapoo Jenson
Might even try and post a pic with his Celtic collar and leash
Lefty
Good on her, I hope she gets a good dog, we send ours all over europe, a fair few to britland and even sent one to the States, most are mastins, but we have had lurchers, labs and a mix really.
HH
GENE, frankie and benny will be jealous with the celtic collar and leash.lol.