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.
898 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- »
DAVIDOPOULOS
Griff injury was a hamstring, I wonder if he will be fit.
De Vries doesn’t and hasn’t gave me the impression of being anywhere near the standard we need at Celtic, his distribution of chest high kicks to the touchline doesn’t put a smile on my dial either get CG back in I would say as it’s imperative we bounce back and snuff out the challengers early doors:))
Hearts are away to Saints and that could easily be a draw which with a Celtic victory could see that wee bit of fresh air open up wider.
Anything less than a win for the Sheep will see them with a mountain to climb against us.
Ross County should be looking to leapfrog the stickies into third…
As for the midfield Rogic should be back to open up the doors:))
Can’t wait to see the Tic
starry plough
Yeah, I’m actually starting to wonder if it is worth risking Griff even if fit after being out for a couple of weeks with a hammy.
I agree that De Vries hasn’t impressed much. If his role is a kind of quarterback/sweeper keeper maybe he needs time to adjust to the team? For what it’s worth I think Gordon is an excellent shot stopper who has had a rough patch and expect to see him back in goals at some point this season.
Yep, huge two games for the Dons coming up – if they don’t get 6 points their title challenge is a busted flush.
De Vries – quarterback? Mair like a quarter pounder ;-)
DAVIDOPOULOS
Was De Vries not the guy who through the ball into the net and got Dunfermline relegated???
I like Craig Gordon as a keeper. Had a rough patch yes but I think he’s an experienced keeper who overcame a lot to be still playing.
Good though for him to have competition for the spot.
Aye Sheepskin on a shoogly nail…
Pogmathonyahun aka Laird of the Smiles
Perfect – we’re playing those mad Hielan coos on Sunday…
I like Craig Gordon as a keeper. Had a rough patch yes but I think he’s an experienced keeper who overcame a lot to be still playing.
====
SP
He doesn’t command his 6 yard box never mind the rest of his penalty area.
De Vries has been hugely disappointing for a guy who won Forests player of the season last year and who Rodgers knows well.
The GK position is now as important to fill in January as the central midfield spot we are desperate to.
HH
Free the Joey one.
Got to give JB some credit for getting the OF shite and suicidal pneumatic mannequins off the headlines.
TRADITIONALIST88
Aye the new style of keepers seem to be players who can also use their hands, De Vries wouldn’t be the first player to find the Celtic jersey too big for him and that’s the impression I got watching him in the games he started.He lost some poor goals.
So unless he improves dramatically I would go with Gordon until January.
But I just running ma gob, in Brendan we trust!
traditionalist88
A GK I think we should be looking at is Australia’s Mat Ryan. He is only 6 ft but is incredibly agile – an onld fashioned cat-like keeper but also has a decent kicking ability. He’s at Valencia but hasn’t had much of a sniff in the first team since his move from Club Brugge. Also holds a UK passport.
STARRY PLOUGH on 16TH SEPTEMBER 2016 10:14 AM
TRADITIONALIST88
I liked the second-choice Dutch keeper for Barcelona the other night. Very Neuer-like and who came out of his box fast enough to act as a sweeper.
let’s hope they don’t chuck barton
EXPAT_CELT
He’s German I think but after his actions at the elf meter he would be onto a good kicking form me:))
The Man City game is shaping up to be one that will herald another miracle of Celtic Park, or leave our CL experience seriously soured. They are incredible going forward, but the key is staying with them for 45 minutes. If they don’t get the upper hand they can run into dead ends. Butterflies already.
In terms of the Barton circus I’m pig sick of it. Never has so much been written by so many about someone so utterly banal as a footballer. Conspiracy abounds around constructive dismissal. No idea if there’s anything in that, but looking at their fixture list, they don’t have a fixture at Ibrox worth a second glance until Hearts in December, and only one home game in November. The League Cup may be pivotal in whether wages become a stretch. Fire sale in January, or admin. Keep your eye on the release of accounts – and the release of numerous squirrels.
Have a horrible feeling the Huns are going to sack joey Barton and warbs, and bring back Walter smith. Please don’t let it be true.
BLANTYREKEV
When are the accounts due??
HH
SP
Agreed re Gordon till Jan.
That 2nd goal in Israel, though, is symptomatic of how timid and tentative we are as a team. Far too nice, a school team knows to deal with the ball and then worry about the consequences.
We did nothing to knock Barca off their stride or disrupt their thought process.
Domestically its not a major problem as our quality shines through. We have quality to get at teams in the CL too but we have to be up for a battle in midfield and defence. The one thing top class players don’t like is tough, uncompromising defenders but we stood in front of them and watched them, chased shadows and awaited the inevitable.
HH
Davidopoulos on 16th September 2016 10:19 am
Interesting shout – only 24 too.
HH
coolmore mafia
I was thinking about this earlier this morning. Walter Smith with no money to spend? It would not end well.
Football has moved beyond the Walter Smith’s of this world – his approach to the game is pretty archaic now. Just have a look at how David Moyes is doing with a similar tactical approach. And to think he could have been our manager….
TRADITIONALIST88
Top pros know how to mix it when it needs to be mixed, yer Pirlo’s Inertia’s Messi’s and Suarez’s, strength as a football player is not only about size, it’s about timing and positioning.
Celtic’s defensive positioning on Tuesday was appalling, the lack of technical discipline was ruthlessly exploited by some of the best in the world.
The next draft of signings need to have that toughness to stand up strong when you’re being overrun by a good good team.
I’m patient enough to recognise a revolution takes time to settle in:))
HH
Manchester City under Pep will be a very tough game.
Let us see what happens.
I’m hoping we can win, strangely enough, the 7-0 (which is the same as a 1-0 really) is out of our system.
We need to be Brave though.
ICT 0 Celtic 5
Keep on building that momentum.
Build a Fire. C S C
expat_celt on 16th September 2016 10:19 am
Yes, impressive, missed the boat there!
HH
Pretty quiet. Have the moaners ran out of steam about Tuesday night and have nothing constructive to offer about the game on Sunday???
;)
Went to The Celtic Story last night at The Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow, we were in the balcony and it was bloody warm inside!
Funny show with of course, great video and musical accompaniment.
Lots and lots of community singing!
Wee Bertie rolled out with the big cup, throughly enjoyable evening!
starry plough on 16th September 2016 10:38 am
Yes, and worryingly it wasn’t even just about mixing it, we were reluctant to get a foot in at times due to their speed of movement.
If there is such a gulf in class there is one leveller and that is if you mix it with them and don’t give them an inch. Class players like Messi and Neymar don’t like it and it unsettles them.
We gave them as much as they wanted and they cruised it.
We have done well to qualify but a bit more belief that we are there on merit would have gone a long way. It was almost as if it was Barcas ball and we were interrupting them at times. We didn’t get stuck in and we didn’t mix it and its hard to fathom.
Communication is also non existent with the exception of Brown.
Far, far too timid.
HH
Going to the musical on Saturday, looking forward to it.
Starry Plough – Hogmanay! Wonder who was pressing for the game/distraction to be played that week :)
Barton on Talk Sport. Dropping Warbuton in it.
Admitting to be too brash.
Asked if he apologised to Warbuton. Said he’s got nothing to apologise for.
vfr800a8
Oooft. Joey going out in a blaze of glory?
It’s not the wrong message he’s communicating but maybe not expressing himself too well.
VFR, Maxibhoy
You have email
HH
Blantyrekev
I’m going to the musical tomorrow as well….. 2.30 show I’m sure. See u there.HH
On DDV, give the laddie a chance, he’s only played 3 games .
Davidopolous, its gold to be honest.
Basically called Warbuton a fanny.
Reiterating he was right in what he said but could have said it better.
Great article Paul.
I have long regarded Roy Keane as the green equivalent of Graeme Souness – a nasty, bad-tempered, thuggish player and an egocentric, loud-mouthed, ignorant and spiteful human being.
Roy Keane cares only about Roy Keane and we dodged a bullet when the board decided not to go down that particular road. Boy does he bear grudges, just like his blue counterpart.
He’s not playing well he says but says no one is playing well. Team isn’t functioning well.
TRADITIONALIST88
For a few of our team it was a debut at that level and to be honest they bricked it.
From Nottingham Forrest, WBA etc to the Nou Camp, quite a stretch in standards.
A victory on Sunday is imperative and lessons learned for the City game.
A saw 15 minutes of their game and BMG were coming into it then next time I looked they were four down.
We will have to be at our very best still though to get any off of the tight Germans:))
I’m looking forward to every game something I can’t honestly say I did last season…
Put myself through the torture of watching the highlights. The more you watch it the worse it gets!
Came up with the following stat:
3-7
3-6
2-8
3-6
1-5
3-5
Those are the number of players in our box when the goals are scored. Barca first; didn’t count our keeper; excluded third goal (free kick).
That’s an aggregate of 15-37.
Maybe we should have scrapped trying to defend, gone 0-5-5 and scored a few goals!
Deary deary me,this mob just cant help themselves.What is it with Hun and shooty guns,marching and blind obedience.YEEEESSSS SAAAAAR.
Banner
If in doubt, hack
Banner
First Team
194
401 posts
Gender:Male
Location:The land of hypocrisy
Posted 13 hours ago
http://forces.tv/35831834
Quote
Rangers have become the first major football club in Scotland to sign the Armed Forces covenant.
The pledge, to recognise the contribution of serving personnel, veterans and their families, was made to the Deputy Commander of 51st Infantry Brigade at an event at the club’s Ibrox Stadium.
The Glasgow-based team has long-standing links with the military and will now offer discounted rates for forces personnel at home games.