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!
1,046 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- »
GFTB -yes mate was in the same year as Aldo,was only in history class with him,but he spent all that in leisure land hustling ?
Soz,
If they are smart and all black with no white stripes I’m sure you’ll be ok. I’ve worn my Skerchers, smart grey before. You’re more likely to get hassle if you are wearing a T-shirt.
Can hardly believe it……
Celtic on the brink of a title decidin’ triumph an’ iShortie have bearly a mention of the momentous game at Paradise……..
I’m guessin’ they are happy to go along with the unsubstantiated stories from the Bad Dream Factory.
16 Roads .
Good point .
I also likened the Gerrard approach to John Barnes through the week.
TT
Bankiebhoy
Traynor knows what he is doing.
But there is no way he can stop the 7.
TT
Fairhill Bhoy
Ma mate who I met in 1989 working in HMRC went to Holy Cross with “Aldo” we used to play a bit of snooker “paid holiday fae work” in the Cue Club at Charing Cross and your fellow pupil was straight over… I thought he was a bit of clown :-) but a decent snooker player (ie no pals and couldn’t play fitba)
SOZ-it’s just like being in a more expensive Witherspoon ?
GFTB
Do me a favour … leave me out of your posts, and, going forward, I will scroll by your posts.
Ra GLorious Glasgow Warriors………….that convenient bearth for amnesiac huns …….gettin’ a guid go!
If David Murray is allowed back in at Ibrox then the game is definitely rigged in this country.
He ran up debt of huge proportions, was in bed with banks and judges, and stole from his own workers pension funds to try and prop up his failing businesses including Rangers. He more than probably devised this whole scenario of selling the debt to a patsy to dump the debt and start a fresh… An absolute disgrace if he is allowed anywhere near a football club in this country again. I also think that many supporters of many clubs will just stop going if he is back at a Scottish club..
Aaahhh
Come on Celtic pummel the Hummel Hun bar stewards
D. :)
GFTB -no idea how he ended up holly cross,but honestly he was never at school always in leisure land playing snooker,he also played in the Davis club on a Sunday,all the dads one two tables and the weans on another?
TinyTim…..
In the land of the blind, the wan-eyed man is King….as it were…………
The Level of hun distortion is effective in context. Been battering on abooot it for years.
Perception is reality.
MIT 10.35pm
Consider that favour done
Fair play with the scrolling by but hope in your posts your sentiment will be reciprocated with me :-)
A few spelling issues there Gerry,but you know what I ment?
Fairhill Bhoy
I totally agree … ma mate said he used to dog School to play “pool” with McManus and fair play in the Charing Cross cue club when McManus was high flying he came right over to our table…. I was more of a Gloss Bhoy nick into Hamilton get a burd and sneak back through Strathy Park :-)
Murray and Ashley to buy out King?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28NnWphc8IY
Reckon 4-0 tomorrow, with two coming from corners, the other two from shys.;)))☘☘☘
SIPSINI on 28TH APRIL 2018 11:02 PM
You think the huns will win 4 nil?
Can’t see it myself,
GFTB-ffs you’re not on that long and already falling out with folk?Hated Gloss,more a Park Lane man my self ?
MIKE IN TORONTO how are you pal, was just saying to david66, where is mike and how is seamus..hh.
Whit is it wi the huns and Tim managers ?
Have they seen the light ?
smiley thing.
HH
SIPSINI-it’s already set in stone,I slagged of our corner taking earlier so it’s a given ?hopefully ?
Good night all
Early flight tomorrow morning.
Release The Coias Ten
Oh and before I retire for the evening may I say.
Lads stop the silly bickering.
Dont burn bridges th
Continued
Dont burn bridges that
Hello again all you young rebels.
Lovely morning here in Oz but a cool 18 degs expected and the leaves falling of
the trees at a fantastic rate.
But lets get to more important things, the main man is back on the blog, great to
see he is back to his best, hope you impressed all those nurses with your lovely
Celtic top from the peninsula rebels BOBBY M.
Our bhoys have a big home game today and a chance to top the league, hoping
the wee mhan batters in a couple today again to put me in the mood for our
game against the reincarnated mob tonight our CSC in Mornington will be jumping
I feel a hangover coming on 8-))
H.H Mick
Dont burn bridges that dont need to be burned.
Jaysus..fat fingers
Fairhill Bhoy
Never mind your Gloss
I scored a barrowload of Goals when the Jock Stein pitches were first opened ….HillhouseCSC
Ernie Lynch…
???you know what I meant.
Our corners are hopeless and we would be as well shying the ball to the opposition.
Hopefully it’s something that is being worked on.
GFTB-only played the jock Stein across the way on a Monday,MARSPAPA made the occasional appearance so he did ,calm down pal like WITS said,no need for burning bridges ?
Sometimes Celtic fans are not that interested in Celtic :-)
7 @ row “hopefully”
Good times
Fairhill Bhoy
7 @ side player
I played on parks as a kid behind the fences
By the way Saturday morning on the Jock Stein gave us a thirst fir the Bay Horss :-)
GENE on 28TH APRIL 2018 6:43 PM
M6bhoy
Clint Hill playing for Carlisle – where do you start
————————————————————————
wonder if their fans are “glad all over”?
ERNIE LYNCH
Fine choice of words:))
Withnail CSC
FAIRHILL BHOY on 28TH APRIL 2018 11:07 PM
Reckon most of us are fed up with wasted corners and throw ins ( shy Ins to us older blokes on here) it should be to our advantage
But we don’t make the best of them that often.
Yer big mate marspapa popt up today, speaks very highly of you.
Catch a beer sometime.HH
Fairhill Bhoy
No burning bridges here
Why could you every fall our out texting ???
Am just staying up because I my mind we are facing Rangers the morra let the rule book massive ask their children ? About time Cqn grew up and stop kidding themselves on :-)
Almost time for that ‘last sleep’…
So see for all the self righteous that dknt recognise the Sevs why not let the other Celtic fans just enjoy Celtic winning ???☘️