Was it really almost 15 years since the only time Celtic beat reigning European champions? A late goal from Scott McDonald in October 2007 was enough to secure a 2-1 win over Milan in the Champions League. Two other Scottish clubs had already achieved this (Rangers and Dunfermline, both who beat the 1967 European champions), recording a mark the great Stein sides never did.
The reason I mention this to you is that in the days that followed we were glowing in our new European status. Then we visited Fir Park. It wasn’t even Motherwell we faced, it was Gretna, a team from 90 miles south of ML1 who did not have the facilities to compete in the top flight, so travelled the M74 for home games.
Gretna were leading until 85 minutes, when goals from Chris Killen and another late McDonald winner calmed our nerves.
We are now glowing at our great win and performance on Wednesday night. ‘We shall not be moved’ from the top of the league is the claim. I heard the same chant from Dingwall on Saturday when Newco took a 2-3 lead; chants don’t win points. The next game is always the biggest one and for Celtic, the next two, both on the road, are crucially important.
Players are not machines, they cannot climb the mountain every time. There will be an inevitable fall off in adrenalin at Fir Park. There are 14 games remaining, seven away from home, every one a cup final in itself. An acre of Lanarkshire is the stage for our next trophy. Win and keep belief alive that not by the Hearts, the Hibs or the The Rangers, we shall not be moved!
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DAN on 4TH FEBRUARY 2022 12:04 PM
Paul, the difference this year from last is that Rangers will be under pressure that they did not have last year. Will be interesting to see how they deal with that, especially on Sunday if they are 4 points behind before their game starts.
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Correct.
Last year – and I’m open to correction- I don’t recall that we took the lead against them in a single game.
We didn’t , of course, beat them in the League nor did anyone else.
We allowed them to coast through the season under no real pressure from us at all.
They also didn’t have the pressure of their home fans and their notoriously fickle “support”.
Wednesday was a huge pressure game for us but for them also (away, crowd in , poor form)
They crumbled. We crackled with confidence , speed and verve.
They are now , as you rightly say , under a pressure they haven’t had before.
The signing of Ramsey if he gets fit and plays well and the return of Jack might well lift them but my hope is that, if we can go on a winning run the pressure will just crack them.
I don’t think they’ll collapse but a 3/4 point swing in our favour in the next few weeks is distinctly possible.
We just need to keep winning. Simples!
DESSYBHOY on 4TH FEBRUARY 2022 1:11 PM
O’Riley strikes a cracking dead ball and he almost scored direct from a free kick, this will pin the keeper on his line or risk one flying into the net over his head.
DESSYBHOY, good point. Late second half on Wednesday O’Riley took a free kick just beyond the far side of their box. A quick whip with his left peg and The Beast was scrambling backwards to eventually tip the ball over the bar. As you say above, this will keep keepers (who would have been watching on Wednesday) on their line which in turn removes a key defensive advantage in the six-yard box.
Paul, hate to be pedantic, but I hope there is a lot more than an acre to play in at Motherwell on Sunday! The average playing surface of a top football park is 1 hectare or 2 1/2 acres. I know it’s a tight wee pitch, but that would be too far!⚽
pedantscfc
DENIABHOY on 4TH FEBRUARY 2022 12:28 PM
Anyone think John Souttar will put in any agricultural challenges this weekend?
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He’d need to be playing first.
Given the abuse he apparently got from his own fans recently and the opposition, a mystery injury in training wouldn’t surprise me…
sceptical citizen on 4th February 2022 1:37 pm
Your best ever post, congratulations.
AP in Manager of the Month shocker
TIMMY7_NOTED on 4TH FEBRUARY 2022 1:55 PM
sceptical citizen on 4th February 2022 1:37 pm
Your best ever post, congratulations.
______________________________________
Who appointed you as the judge?
HAIRLIKESPAGHETTI on 4TH FEBRUARY 2022 1:04 PM
Big Jimmy,
While I agree that Goodwillie should not be welcomed in any capacity in any position within a Scottish football club, is it not a fair question to ask of Sturgeon regarding her complete indifference and silence during his last five years with Clyde?
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Absolutely correct. She’s 5 years late.
https://thecelticstar.com/they-thought-they-had-a-really-reasonable-lead-and-theres-celtic-topping-the-table-martin-oneill/
MON should’ve parked the bus and played on the break like he did every other step of the way on that night.
👇
https://icdn.thecelticstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/a-dejected-celtic-manager-martin-oneill.jpg
Scott McDonald on sky yesterday was a really good interview.
On the wall was the Milan shirt from that game, and a celtic one with 31 on it.
He had been up since dark o clock to watch the game, and had not slept since.
He said interest in all things Celtic is phenomenal in Aus, NZ and Japan.
Quite interesting
sceptical citizen on 4th February 2022 2:01 pm
George Galloway.
Did anyone else watch the game live on Sky? Annoying beyond belief that they waited until the teams came out to put up the teams, players photos, team formation graphics etc. on the screen, thus blocking out the sound and light show during YNWA.
Something that could easily have been done 3-4 mins before
I was screaming at them to get their team graphics to feck 🤣
Wee Nippy is in place because dim Tims clinch the ‘swing’ votes for her.
Then the dim Tims stand scratching their heids wondering why “they” get singled oot for the muggings.
And the PLC oldfirm sharks watch on….rolling aboot laughing their heids aff.
HAIRLIKESPAGHETTI on 4TH FEBRUARY 2022 1:04 PM
………….
I can NOT answer that and you will need to ask The First Minister.
I dont know IF She ever said anything about GOODWILLIE or not, while he was with Clyde ?
Just for CLARITY…
I was NOT aware that Goodwillie had been playing with Clyde.
I only became aware that he was even still in Scotland when the Raith story broke.
HH
TIMMY7_NOTED on 4TH FEBRUARY 2022 2:12 PM
sceptical citizen on 4th February 2022 2:01 pm
George Galloway.
__________________
Aye lol, the elections are rigged to keep him oot so that he canny appoint anybody.
They awe fear the truth being aired or having to watch their media puppets taking a tanking off Mr Truth. 👍
Neil Francis on TalkSport live from Platform 5 Haymarket.
TIMMY7_NOTED
Can you imagine this guy standing in front of a camera giving it… 👇
“I can’t recall that incident.”
“I can’t remember this incident.”
“I’ve not got that information in front of me.”
“I can’t remember that either.”
“I don’t recall that either.”
“It wizny me, it wizny me, it wizny me.”
“I don’t recall black blah.”
For 2 full days live on TV and not a critical word about it in the media?
https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1374815685029863437/id7cMPHO_400x400.jpg
May be wrong but the Ramsey signing has echoes of us doing the same with Gravesen, Juninho and Ljungberg plus a few others.
DENIABHOY @ 2:13 PM
Did anyone else watch the game live on Sky?
Annoying beyond belief that they waited until the teams came out to put up the teams, players photos, team formation graphics etc. on the screen, thus blocking out the sound and light show during YNWA.
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No DB I didn’t. Was at the game.
I’d add “deliberate” to “annoying” above.
Likely too was the Sly Sports programme director’s decision to the game started 20 seconds before YNWA was finished.
Cretins.
Neil very complimentary about Ange, the team, recruitment, the attacking philosphy, sound a happy chappy.
Anyone seeking the truth will have a long wait if they’ve asked the race-baiting bigot Galloway….
Noticed when I came home from the game SKY had deliberately panned the teams coming out to the Jock Stein end of the ground making sure the nation didn’t see the GB and their marvellous tifo before the game. Probably, as apart from the Huns team, it would have scared the living daylights out their fans watching on TV as well!! :)))) por cierto
Por cierto – they also put up teams, pictureby picture during YNWA/ the huddle, obscuring the incredible live spectacle they pay to cover. Almost as if someone didn’t want to see it.
Awful broadcaster when it comes to Scottish football.
Watching thecteams in the tunnel I thought they were beat before they started. Kamara looked petrified for one.
Roofe looks as thick as elephant dung by the way.
Very good article.
The next game is the most important.
We seem to have an abundance of riches.
No concerns should we have to play the fittest 11 this weekend.
Turkeybhoy, Quadraphenian & Leftclicktick
Thanks for the birthday wishes.
GLENDALYSTONSILS on 4TH FEBRUARY 2022 1:08 PM
MYBOYSNOWATIM on 4TH FEBRUARY 2022 1:03 PM
Correct about O’Riley’s corner taking .
Instead of rubbish corners that we don’t look like scoring from , we now have excellent corners that we don’t look like scoring from ;-)))
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😁👍
Good article Paul, with a healthy dose of realism mixed in. That usually encourages the ‘usual suspects’ to shout “hun” and other types of invective. You will probably be OK.
DENIABHOY on 4TH FEBRUARY 2022 12:28 PM
“Anyone think John Souttar will put in any agricultural challenges this weekend?”
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Or Halliday? Or McKay?
Assuming all 3 put in an honest shift, Hertz have a few players that might trouble the Zombies. I’m thinking about Boyce, Beningame and Simms.
TOM MCLAUGHLIN @ 1:26 (last article).
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I hold no truck with Boris, or anyone else in the Tory party. He is the SNPcult’s greatest asset – a giant squirrel that hides the corruption, incompetence and maladministration in Scottish politics. They & their sheep can talk of nothing else – Scotland must be Calvin Klein’s biggest market.
I have fought the Tories and the SNP all my adult life, as a Labour campaigner, fund-raiser, member & voter. I quit when Commie Corbyn arrived on the scene – there may be a time when I will return…..the enemies will still be the same.
I think Ange might freshen it up a bit given that it might have taken a bit out of a few of the guys on Wednesday and his philosophy to use the squad.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see Scales (GT looked out on his feet), Rogic (maybe Matt needs a break after a whirlwind start) and Maeda (protecting Ababda or starting instead of GG) on from the start and possibly the game to re-introduce Julian at the start or certainly near the end.
5 subs and the bhoys coming back allows us to mix it up much more.
A win and arses continue to collapse at Snake Mountain that afternoon..
HH
Good Morning my fellow Celticquicknewsians
Hope we are all still basking in the win, I know I am :)))
I showed the highlights of the game to my students and I was still jumping up like a maddie.
My goal is to have one end of the corridor to do the Cmon you Bhoys in green song. I had them a few years ago jumping up and down to I wanna be Edouard.
I am really liking Matt O’Riley. There was one pass into GG that McGregor saved low, but he put a wee bit of spin on the ball to get it past the defenders, brilliant improvisation. Thought Greg Taylor and Juran Juran were brilliant. Loved how upset Kent was getting. Hopefully we keep it going at Motherwell.
Hail Hail
Sean
As a glass nearly empty sort of guy I am never confident against any team – it will be difficult for the Bhoys to go again after Wednesday’s adrenaline fuelled atmosphere. So it’s bread and butter spfl stuff against a packed defence and usual officiating.
We’ve got plenty of options but start with the best XI.
That awkward moment when you hear that the disco lights were an unfair advantage.
Hart
Juranovic > CCV > Starfelt > Scales
Hatate > McGregor > Rogic
Abada > Maeda > Jota
5 subs
Julien for Starfelt
O’Riley for Rogic
Bitton for McGregor
Forrest for Jota
GG for Maeda
There’s yer tea Mothers csc
HH
That clown Boyd should be sacked for that,it’s football not boxing
Looking like heavy snow on Sunday……..