I never really understood what was so special about Roy Keane as a player until he came to Celtic, where he opened my eyes for 11 games (his first two performances, against Clyde and Kilmarnock, were awful).
He’s right up there in terms of great footballers I’ve seen play for Celtic, but he’s difficult to feel affection for. Today’s comments are a case in point:
“When [Celtic] qualified [for the Champions League]the celebrations were way over the top.
“I thought they’d won the competition. People were hugging each other, the manager, the coaches, the players.”
And the fans, Roy, Celtic fans were celebrating every bit as much as anyone you watched on television. No one thought we’d won the competition, but we are all aware of the transformational impact group qualification has on our football club. That’s worth celebrating. Fans all did, even if some former players found it difficult.
Brendan Rodgers qualified for the group stage with what was largely the same squad which disintegrated in Europe last season. He became the first Celtic manager to reach this level in his first season.
This challenge, coming a few weeks into your time as manager, is viewed as hugely difficult objective by the club. New managers seldom takeover successful gigs, with an upward trajectory and a list of targets ready to sign up.
The significant achievement in Europe this season, which has largely gone below the radar, is beating last season’s Champions League group stage participants, Astana, 2-1 at Celtic Park, with 11 starters who were all at the club before Brendan took over (one Rodgers signing started the away leg).
By any measure, Astana should have considered their chances that night and concluded, “We were better than them last season, and they’ve not added a player to the team”. (Two of Brendan’s signing came on as second half subs).
Going into this season we turned-over around 10% of what one of Roy’s other former clubs, or Barcelona received. If we had around £450m extra to spend, every season, there would be less celebration at reaching the group stage, as it would no longer be transformational. Maybe we’d be like football fans in Manchester, and only fill half our stadium against a Bundesliga team.
Or maybe we’ve not lost the joy in supporting our team. Neither have the manager, coaches and players.
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To go back to the article, I never commented on it, Keane is a horrible wee man, I am glad we never signed him as manager, Now he doesn’t play football, Everyone gets his aggro. I would hate to be in his life. I honestly think he is so mean and angry. I think most things he says are none of his business or he is miles out in his opinions. I would like to know exactly what Martin O’Neil thinks of him off the record. He doesn’t have a nice word to say about anyone or anything and I think he would be a nightmare as a coach, Very critical without any solutions.
I might be totally wrong but I have a feeling i’m not.
KLV
MIT
I think its rather strange, that we are only hearing about it now.
That following that no-mark Warbutron having the fecking cheek to comment on Celtic v Barca….typo there, but…Warbutron sounds better:)
HH
Davidopoulos ….
I used to have a photo of some grafitti from a bathroom wall at the Harvard Centre for Religious Studies … funniest thing I have ever read … I’ll see if I can find it … there are one or two others that Iike, but which might get me in trouble if I posted them on here …. okay … I’ll live dangerously ….
And God said to the shepherd, ‘F off! This is cattle country!’
Mon the Hoops,
Magic hat is imploding like his club, just can’t get enough.
Ayrshire is Green and White
Brilliant- Well done 10 man Dundalk!
Well done Dundalk tonight on a 1-1 in Holland.
Good to see Man U get beat as well.
How i knocked out that big mouthed Hun by Joey Barton
Three week serial in Titbits or the People’s Friend:)
Foreword by David Starkey and David Cameron
HH
‘Former’ England International Joey Barton…..
Feyenoord 1 Man Utd 0.
A former Giant slays a former Giant!!!
Do I hear the sound of a cracking crest?
legia losing 6 nil at home puts our disastrous night in perspective and backs up what people have been saying about their being a moneyed elite and then the rest of us
Wow RB Salzburg stadium barely a third full. Ridiculous club.
EL or not how can little Dundalk go away in Europe and get a credible result, what is it they do defensively that we dont and I know we were playing Barcelona but our EL away record isn’t great either?
Keane was a superb player, very poor manager and rubbish pundit.
Arrogant and self opinionated as his comments about our qualification prove.
A has been simply making a noise as no one is interested.
joey,
Joey joey.
Joey,
joey,
Joey joey,
Joey,
Barton
An irrelevance REALLY.
Get that Footballing midfield together Brendan.
Quite like Keane as a pundit to be honest.He plays his part well
You just shouldn’t take him seriously
Bill Oddie has turned up at Murray Park for a special edition of Hunwatch.
I put on a Bet @ Bet365 for the RC to beat the Newco.
After these REVELATIONS…. Surely there should have been movement? :))
I don’t really care as I’m all in. Nae Cashout. Come on the CELTIC C’mon the RC as well.
SANDMAN
Is he looking for the endangered Gaol Bird?
Joey Barton, Ragers Fc what could possibly go wrong:)))
HoHoHo
Davidopoulous
Probably a Bustard:)
HH
MOONBEAMSWD ‘STAND UP ON 15 FOR THE GB’ on 15TH SEPTEMBER 2016 7:37 PM
VFR
So in your opinion Peter is not CEO of the company, just CEO of advertising.
Defo not worth his £1M salary/Bonus per an bum then.
MWD
________________________
Aye, very good. If that’s what you glean from it, fill yer boots!
FAC the Act
KTF
Pray for Joey.
According to Keith Jackson, Joey Barton assaulted every member of the rangers* first team and then sang Sunshine on Leith .
Awe Naw ,
as always , you are a gent .
Sanna
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD
I’m worried mate are ye alright, 3 posts on this page and no mention of the PLC:)))
Shape up or ship oot CSC
Starry Plough
I prefer a gag of an evening:)
Although everything i said today, was spot on:)
HH
Agent Barton return to base.
His hat was Melted
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD
I read back a wee bit don’t you worry:))
The Goalpost Shifter:))
HH
Jimmy – get the draw.
Anything else is a Bonus.
;))
Celtic & RC… Thumbs up.
Do them.
Anger the haters more. :))
Starry Plough
Did you notice though, the unmistakable whiff of Mr Burnt Pastry on the blog today?
HH
SFTB: I didn’t realise Dundalk were down to ten men. Great result for them.
Dessybhoy: Stephen Kenny has managed Dundalk for a few years and has had time to build a team of confident players. Myself and WITS both counselled against wishing to meet them in the final round of CL qualifying.
Sannabhoy: Count me in for your collection. As long as I’m allowed collect where the fans’ café should be built beside the superstore. I’ll email you to confirm (eventually).
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD
You might be right there…makes no difference to the blog though, we’ve always had huns and bass and everything in between trying to disrupt The Dear Green Place.
They’re choking for air now with the goings on over there…
Ye can pit lipstick oan a pig but it won’t make Joey’s legs go any faster:)))
Hapoel beer Sheva playing well in the San Siro, they’re having the best of the game so far but still 0-0
Astana lost 2-1 at Apoel
I’m sitting here watching this Hapoel game, and they are playing really well so far against Inter….!!!!
I would fecking love it if we could put out 11 men on the pitch with even half the attitude that Keane poccesses.
First reaction in hearing about Barton – Sevco are trying to break his contract. Buyers remorse !