We’ve not lost the joy in supporting our team

898

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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898 Comments

  1. ACGR… Reckon my brother and his bhoy will be using the tickets, even at that I will make the hootenanny and hope fully the game.

     

    I’ll be heading down for the away game with the Fenian four as we are known…. Go away back. HH

  2. The Green Man says SACK THE Board on

    Gordybhoy64

     

     

    You should try it, good on a winters afternoon, keeps the frost off your toes:)

     

     

     

    HH

  3. bournesouprecipe,

     

     

    We are rocking and ROLLING again.

     

     

    CELTIC – Mr CELTIC.

     

     

    Sounds like the Whole Stadium is Singing Big TIME.

     

     

    Celtic.

  4. Afore I retire, I see that the DNC have come out and said that Hillary has had a few days rest and is back on the campaign trail, she had a wee wobble on the 11 th, but now she is hunky dory.

     

    Why are they not talking about the body double who came out of her daughters apt a couple of hours after she had her wee wobble and declared that she was 100% and it was a great day in NY, or have they airbrushed this from the airwaves ?

     

    How in gods name are the septics where they are, as thick as pig shit 99.9% of them, the best they can come up with is these two, dearie me, but it’s all about the muney, the luvely muney and feck the people.

  5. The Green Man says SACK THE Board on

    DD

     

     

    Look forward to it bud, im always about.

     

    I play you a few tunes.

     

     

    HH

  6. acgr @ outlook dot com - Get your FREE the Zadok ringtone on

    DD, well as much as Barton is a total wanker, at least he had the stones to stay out of the bigot fest photo shoot.

     

     

    Going by the stuff on hunmedia, and I’d assume it will be similar on ff, he’s already toast in the eyes of the orc support.

     

     

    The timing couldn’t be better before their game with Ross Co………………………….ha ha.

  7. Gordy

     

     

    I make a mean minestronè wi crusty bread.

     

    You are welcome to join TGM and I for a bowl anytime. ;))

  8. THE EXILED TIM on 15th September 2016 11:28 pm

     

     

    Abortion is a killer vote.

     

     

    I know you ain’t all that Religious.

     

     

    Trump Always for me. Protect the Life.

     

     

    Progressive Democrats.

     

     

    You are HAVANA a laugh.

  9. ACGR

     

     

    He is toast cos of his photo refusal.

     

    I would love it if no Tims bought a ticket for the glorified Victorian lavvy at hogmanay.

     

    The Broomloan could fall on your head that day. Stay away Tims. Unsafe!

  10. Delaneys Dunky, Need to get to a game together. I’ve been horrible ALL my Life. Please forgive me.

     

     

    Gordy and The Green man – no driving. Bus must be the only Mode of Transport.

  11. Petec

     

     

    The only one who will forgive us, will have San Pedro at his gate to welcome or reject us.

     

    Look forward to catching up wi you and young A again.

     

    Amazing Grace. How sweet the sound.

  12. gordybhoy64 on 15th September 2016 11:46 pm

     

     

    Petec,

     

     

     

     

    some shift on here today mucker

     

    ………………………………………………………

     

     

    I had a wee sleep. Don’t tell any fecker.

     

     

    VictorWanyama.CSC

  13. Delaneys Dunky on 15th September 2016 11:50 pm

     

     

    Petec

     

     

    The only one who will forgive us, will have San Pedro at his gate to welcome or reject us.

     

     

    Look forward to catching up wi you and young A again.

     

     

    Amazing Grace. How sweet the sound.

     

     

    ………………………………………………………………………………..

     

     

    Joey is a Good Dude.

     

     

    He is Brutal in his Honesty.

     

     

    Aidan said that Kolo would be Capitano by the End of the Season.

     

     

    C’mon the Celts.

  14. I feel a little sorry for Joey Barton…..probably thought he was joining a non sectarian team, pick up some dosh and play Celtic. Truth is Sevco have reverted to the vile, sectarian mob they were pre SDM years. King and his cronies are total bigots who confuse Celtic with Catholicism.

     

    I always pitied them, now turning into something close to hate.

  15. Cosy Corner Bhoy on

    The Exile Tim: My sincere apology for not mentioning your ‘ parcel’ before now. Believe it or not it turned up in a plant pot in our front porch on Saturday whilst I was at the game and Mrs CCB was doing her usual ‘just tidying up’ when I was away. Dated 29th August so no idea when it came. ‘The Ladies’ in the family are well impressed! Anyway, between golf Monday and Wednesday and re-decorating our bedroom Tuesday,today and tomorrow I forgot about it I might have quick reactions but I am a bloody slow painter and decorator :) Anyway,sorry for delay and I apologise again.

  16. Delaneys Dunky,

     

     

    Thinking back to what I listened to.

     

     

    The Nefarious wan is happy to come back later to try it.

     

     

    That is uber intelligence.

     

     

    The Lord stepped into his own Creation.CSC

     

     

    CELTIC

  17. The Green Man says SACK THE Board on

    DD

     

     

    Give me a call next time you are free bud.

     

     

     

    Petec

     

     

    Keep it lit my friend

     

     

    Hail Hail

  18. acgr @ outlook dot com - Get your FREE the Zadok ringtone on

    DD what’s the betting on a Ross Co win? Just been talking to Sipsini and asked him to add a wee bit onto his bet for me.

     

     

    The zombies are there for the taking.

  19. TGM

     

     

    Will do soon.

     

    Hearing tonight that Niko Kranjar is having leetle problems like Joey did.

  20. acgr @ outlook dot com - Get your FREE the Zadok ringtone on

    DD that’s good. I was thinking that it’s nice that some of their better players are rebelling then I remembered that they’re all shite.

     

     

    Did you see my wee pal on Saturday, I’ll bet he was singing all the songs and dancing in the isle…………..:_)

  21. ACGR

     

     

    6/1 RC. 9 or 10 of the RC starting 11 on Saturday are Celtic supporters. Lead by Petec’s pal, fenian fae the Rock James MacIntyre. Score on RC fae me on my Godson’s recommendation. RC are going to doomdome expecting to win.

  22. acgr @ outlook dot com - Get your FREE the Zadok ringtone on

    DD, that’s good enough for me bud. See you on the 28th.

     

     

    HH

  23. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    DELANEYS DUNKY on 16TH SEPTEMBER 2016 12:20 AM

     

    ACGR

     

     

     

    6/1 RC. 9 or 10 of the RC starting 11 on Saturday are Celtic supporters. Lead by Petec’s pal, fenian fae the Rock James MacIntyre. Score on RC fae me on my Godson’s recommendation. RC are going to doomdome expecting to win.

     

     

    ======================================================

     

     

    Got high hopes myself pal.

     

     

    I would love it.

  24. Petec – you’re a guy who needs to give yourself a break. Be gentle with yourself.

     

     

    You pray? pray for me and mine. Please. I can’t say why.

     

     

    I don’t always agree with you. But you’re a sincere guy.

     

     

    Pax