Sunday was a huge test of Celtic’s apparent return to form. Aberdeen had the luxury of training and preparing for their semi-final, while Celtic travelled to France to play on-form Lille; an exhausting occasion.
Apart from a couple of ominous looking early cross balls, the game was completely controlled by the holders, as they secured yet another domestic cup win: 35 without reply. 100 years from now fans will look back on this period in their record books and wonder at the incessant adulation the Celtic players and manager must surely have received……
Ryan Christie comes in for his fair share of criticism for shooting from distances that beggar belief. When offered inviting space 26 yards from goal he was always going to have a pop; it evaded the despairing lunge of Joe Lewis and found the top right corner of the ‘keeper’s net. It was a symmetrical strike to Mohamed Elyounoussi’s first in Lille.
By this stage, Odsonne Edouard, on his first start since recovering from Covid, passed up a double chance and, as manager Derek McInnes would later observe, the Aberdeen defence were “spooked” by his presence. Tom Rogic crafted the second and final goal of the game when he crossed from an unlikely angle, pitching the ball over Lewis to drop at the far post, where Elyounoussi committed to the cause, and the post*, to score.
There were many tired legs and minds in green and white in the second half but Neil Lennon chose to defend what he had. Aberdeen were given plenty of the ball but were unable to trouble Scott Bain. I was happy to see us play like this, there will be many occasions this season when we will need to shut up shop.
Hearts will attempt to be the first team to win the Scottish Cup in the ‘season’ they were relegated. It will be an historic final either way, as Celtic can become the first club to win four consecutive Scottish Cups, moving clear of the record they share with Aberdeen, Rangers and Queen’s Park.
We have become accustomed to setting records. The Invincible Treble was delicious and the first back-to-back treble historically special in its own right. That it was more of the same, did not make the last Scottish Cup final, also against Hearts, any less tense or celebrated. It is as though each additional achievement makes the next trophy all the more important, to Celtic and to everyone else.
Well done, Celtic.
*the post is receiving therapy.
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🤦♂️
Is anyone surprised at the Scottish Government’s lenient response to Sevco players breaking COVID guidelines, in stark contrast to their reaction to Boli? This is the party that asked HMRC to cut a deal with old Rangers. The Scottish Establishment stinks to high heaven.
sharp intake of breath, and a real shiver down my spine.
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The GAA
@officialgaa
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Nov 1
You know the corner of the modern-day Hogan and Davin Stands near the canal bridge? In 1920 there were trees there, and it was in one of these trees that William Robinson sat to view the match. It was here he was shot – the 1st victim of the Bloody Sunday killings.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1322833257377931264
It’s no surprise to see how Celtic get treated differently. It’s par for the course.
Like some others, the biggest surprise for me today was finding out that Rocky is not a dog. Who knew!
So Celtic didn’t act quickly, in the case of Bolingoli?
https://www.facebook.com/RankingRoyals/videos/313994366368420/
Hopefully this link works. Unbelievable how we have been up there with the European elite for goals scored.
HH.
Good point.
Only in Scotland during a pandemic would a football club be “commended” by the Government when at least two of their players blatantly breach covid protocol and put others in danger.
@NicolaSturgeon @jasonleitch
Given the sheer seriousness of Covid its unfathomable that there has been a cover up vis-a-vis the party in Devonshire Gardens. If it was Arfield’s property then he simply must have been dealt with by way of a fixed penalty . It would then follow that he (and any other players present) would require to self isolate.
The SG were very quick off the mark to offer their congratulations to Sevco. I must assume some basic research was carried out by SG to ensure that they are not made to look very stupid further down the line.
Every bona fide Celtic supporter will be delighted to see us beginning to get back on track for this, and indeed last season. There is no doubt in my mind that we lost focus after the long lockdown since March, unsurprising in the circumstances but a fact nevertheless. By that I mean as a club. And without being part of a crowd not a whole lot we as supporters could do about it short of supporting in absentia and being critical in the face of what appeared to be some kind of turmoil within the players and management after the early setback in the CL. It wasn’t the fans who claimed that there were players “who did not want to here”, it was Neil Lennon, and it wasn’t the supporters who hinted at an unsettled dressing room, it Calum McGregor. There seemed to be a lack of cohesion amongst the management, and that seemed to be affecting the players. Something was, and not just injuries and the impact of Covid 19, though they would have played a part. As did the majority of International games that do not need to be played, only the Euro 2021 qualifiers. Nobody likes to be criticised, but sometimes that criticism can be justified, if it has some basis. Now, Neil, his coaching team, and his players seem to be regaining focus, the Manager more involved, more motivated and the club moving back in the right direction. Celtic of recent seasons are a tough act to follow….even for Celtic. But that is what we need to keep aiming at, not losing sight of, something we were in danger of so doing. So well done the Bhoys, you are beginning to look more like yourselves.
Bolingoli hung out to dry and literally booted out the country to appease the Scottish Govt only for them to “commend” Rangers a few months later for what? Putting their players into isolation for breaking the same rules? Ridiculous.
I think it might be a good idea for us based in Scotland to ask our SNP MSPs to question the First Minister’s (lack of) reaction to this incident, while she felt it incumbent to interfere when Celtic were unwittingly caught up in an incident where 1 player contravened the protocols.
stebhoy
“We did exactly the same against Lille – it was clear we were being over run wave after wave – yet it took Neil 80mins before he responded. ”
I don’t see the similarities. we made 2 subs before the 73rd minute against Lille. Both were made (one enforced) while we were still 2:0 down. You could just as easily argue that those subs cost us the result.
Only one game saw constant attacks and that was the Lille game. The 2nd half with the Dons was a boring stalemate with a rare scrambled attack from either side.
The biggest similarity between the two games is that Lille and Aberdeen played in red.
GREENPINATA on 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 7:13 PM
https://www.facebook.com/RankingRoyals/videos/313994366368420/
Hopefully this link works. Unbelievable how we have been up there with the European elite for goals scored.
HH.
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that is brilliant,
that celtic were a great european cup team from 66 to 74 can be seen in the goals scored,
the people who do these graphics are quite talented.
Apparently Hearts have demanded half the empty seats for the Cup Final.
Pcs
In my experience queries are answered by an office assistant when you probe further they can’t offer anything other than what they have said, slippery evasive take your pick, with the msp on the record for nothing.
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD
I’ve already contacted my local MP & MSP regarding government response to huns breach of protocol
TIMBHOY2 on 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 10:20 AM
We in the second half came out the traps,but we should have went for the jugular against Aberdeen,so what I was watching we let them sort of dominate,and that needs to be addressed.
*what we witnessed yesterday was game management, especially with the fixture list we have.
The Big Mhan was a past master at that; you must remember a game where after 4 minutes we had taken a 2 goal lead. We then gave them the ball and sat back holding off the challenge.
Our support sung all way through the first half and at the interval, in the 2nd we resorted tae humming and whistling our tunes of glory, it was that easy and relaxed.
This incidentally was against a very good deidco side that 2 years earlier had completed only the 2nd treble in their history.
Fast forward 5 years and we are leading 1-0 in the SC Final through a Buzz Bomb, who else, goal just before the interval.
However for all our control of the game we couldnae add tae our goal and with a couple of minutes tae go and our fans whistling for the mitb tae end the game Harry Harry had possession of the ball and instead of heading tae the corner flag, like the first goal scorer in the above noted game would have done, he tried tae attack the goal, lost the ball tae the wee Fife ned Johnston who punted it up field tae his blatantly offside namesake, big bawface, who out jumped big Evan tae nod home.
The Big Mhan was furious after the match mainly due tae the missed chances but also our lack of game management saying there would be changes for the replay.
4 days later and the only change we made was for our sub wee Skip tae Ma Lou, who had asked for a transfer that midweek, replacing Wispy who had been very poor in the first game, ironically Lou would score our opener in a typical Macari goal.
The Wee Mhan though was the star, he was magnificent that night and it was a pleasure watching him destroy the huns, also as the Celts went up tae lift the Scottish Cup it was delightful seeing their greatest ever thug sitting on the touchline, his head bowed, not in prayer I hasten tae add, unless it was tae the widow’s son.
The score actually flattered deidco as we could have emulated our record cup final score, with around 15 minutes tae go Jock gave Wispy, who was a frequent scorer against them, a cameo replacing Harry Harry or mibbees he didnae trust our winning goal scorer that night tae see out time. Wispy though would leave the club 6 months later.
!!BADA BING!! on 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 7:28 PM
Apparently Hearts have demanded half the empty seats for the Cup Final.
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I had a wee thought over the weekend.
If ever there was an occasion not to have semi finals at Hampden it was these 2 games.
If no fans can attend why play them in Glasgow at the big stadium.
Why have any of the teams travel long distances.
It is an unnesseray circus for the gravy train troughers.
Celtic Aberdeen could have been in Dundee
Hearts Hibs if not Murrayfield, then Dunfermline.
Greedy and no self awareness.
The final could be at Pumpherston
The SNP relies on Celtic fans as their electoral base. The huns are defined by their right wing, Queen and Country unionism. Yet look at the relative treatment by the Scottish Govt.
Why any Tim would have faith in the wee tartan, Ibrox-leaning cult beats me. It’s also a cabinet overflowing witn mediocre careerist dumplins. Don’t kid yourself they’re any more competent than BJ’s callous crowd of cretins.
I think anyone who can should question their MP about this matter.
You would not need much intelligence to know there is a cover up here.On a big scale.
Thanks for the replies, Dessybhoy and Park Road 67.
I was seriously thinking of voting for the SNP next time but I hae me doots the noo. I was already seriously concerned after MacAskill’s reaction to their sectarian singing a couple of years ago but he is no longer in government but, if the SNP are now commending the deid team after their earlier reaction to us and Aberdeen, they won’t be getting any support from me.
We need to seperate voting for the SNP now to have an independent English tory free country,
Then let it take its new direction.
Really is at an inflection point, here and in Ireland.
ST STIVS
There was a time ,not too long ago , when Pumpherston’s would have been a better playing surface than Hampden’s . Thankfully it has improved .
SAINT STIVS on 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 7:46 PM
‘We need to seperate voting for the SNP now to have an independent English tory free country,’
##
I think what we need to do is consider what kind of Scotland it would be.
Yes it might be ‘English free’ (nice phrase, not at all worrying).
But it would not be Tory free.
That anyone is surprised by the actions of the SNP government baffles me. Have you all been asleep?
GLENDALYSTONSILS on 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 7:46 PM
ST STIVS
There was a time ,not too long ago , when Pumpherston’s would have been a better playing surface than Hampden’s . Thankfully it has improved .
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I know, I played there a few times for the real David Murray works select (Mimtec) and Armadale and Fauldhoose, amazed me so many great grass pitches in the mining places.
ST STIVS
Absolutely . They take their fitba seriously.
Ernie, use the full phrase
English tory free country,
it would be about no english tories dominating policy, the scottish tories will always be a minority nuisance looking after some borders counties, south ayrshire and now and again stirling and perthshire.
they might rise again,
hahahahhaha
I don’t get why people think we had to score a third or that we were getting over run yesterday.The second half was a good example of seeing a game out with few worries.Having played a game in France on Thursday and Aberdeen having a week to prepare for the game I think apart from maybe bringing the subs on a bit earlier we played it right.Since the Huns shambles we have definitely got better game by game
ST STIVS- I had the same thought last week re Hibs and Hearts travelling to Glasgow?
FB- Neil said after the game, a lot of the Bhoys said the pitch was very heavy,and sapped a lot of energy, as the guys have said,thankfully the pitch at Hamdump is much better these days.
SAINT STIVS on 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 7:55 PM
Why wouldn’t the Tories rise again?
If nationalism fails to deliver utopia, who is to say what people would fall for next?
The SNP are like the BBC with regard to the huns, perceived enemies as cosy as two bugs in a rug.
ERNIE LYNCH on 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 8:07 PM
SAINT STIVS on 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 7:55 PM
Why wouldn’t the Tories rise again?
If nationalism fails to deliver utopia, who is to say what people would fall for next?
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There is no Nationalism Utopia, even the youngest members of the family know this, they just want done with the status quo. Vote anything, get a British tory government,
I doubt many of them will vote a future scottish tory party,
then again, i might do it, just for the laughs of protecting a pension, and fluck everybody else,
aye, that is what i will do.
Still 105 minutes left to vote. Please. CQNPOTY@GMAIL.COM
!!BADA BING!! on 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 8:04
Surprised the SFA didn’t suggest playing at Livingston as a compromise, they’re stupid enough😱
SAINT STIVS on 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 8:13 PM
You maybe want to reflect on why the political vehicle you’ve hitched yourself to has a default position of favouring the huns.
Could it be that their vision of a separate Scotland might be very different to yours?
And theirs more likely?
Not getting involved in political shite..cos thats what it is…this is where our club should be challenging govt.
Mr Lawwell ?
PRESTONPANS BHOYS on 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 8:19 PM
!!BADA BING!! on 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 8:04
Surprised the SFA didn’t suggest playing at Livingston as a compromise, they’re stupid enough😱
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Gonnae no!!!!
🙈
ERNIE LYNCH on 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 8:21 PM
SAINT STIVS on 2ND NOVEMBER 2020 8:13 PM
You maybe want to reflect on why the political vehicle you’ve hitched yourself to has a default position of favouring the huns.
Could it be that their vision of a separate Scotland might be very different to yours?
And theirs more likely?
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aye, I need to go think of that, they are lulling me into a false sense of shortbreadiness, they will get the orange bands onside and implement anti-catholic wearing of the green type policies.
that is what is going to happen, ta.