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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Pog
That is why suicidal dollies were on the menu
HH
This has changed the landscape slightly he said.
His performances need to improve but he’s not backing down.
VFR800A8
He got that right then:)))
“The Glasgow-based team has long-standing links with the military and will now offer discounted rates for forces personnel at home games.”
Is that a reward or a punishment?
..for those in the know The continued use of “six pack” towards someone is disrepectful just let it be and move on
Awe_naw, how are you and your good lady?
I hope you are both well.
starry plough on 16th September 2016 10:58 am
Yes, progress is being made, without a doubt. Very bad luck to land in such a tough group but we have to do what we can and further improve the team in January,
HH
I’ll sign a pledge to prosecute these scumbags
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/sep/16/apology-from-mod-over-iraqi-boys-drowning-at-hands-of-uk-soldiers
Sounds like Joey is making a case for “it’s either me or the Cat in the Hat.”
You can’t beat a we bit of hun on Hun action :-))
POGMATHONYAHUN AKA LAIRD OF THE SMILES on 16TH SEPTEMBER 2016 11:05 AM
“The Glasgow-based team has long-standing links with the military and will now offer discounted rates for forces personnel at home games.”
Is that a reward or a punishment?
Used to be known as “Jankers”.
Scrubbing bogs,peeling spuds.Now its a cheap ticket to watch them ,LOL.
Davidopoulos on 16th September 2016 10:36 am
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
——–
Football might have. That doesn’t mean “Rangers” have!
COOLMORE MAFIA on 16TH SEPTEMBER 2016 11:08 AM
I’ll sign a pledge to prosecute these scumbags
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/sep/16/apology-from-mod-over-iraqi-boys-drowning-at-hands-of-uk-soldiers
They will get a heros welcome at the home of the Hun.
The Mirror reporting Barton tried to go ahead with magic hat after magic hat tried to stop him going at someone else…….
Keep it up Joey. Could be our star signing of the transfer window at this rate.
Think jokey is the author of the Secret Footballer series. I think the penny is dropping he has joined a circus act
Manchester City ?
Juve beat them twice in last seasons’s Champions League .
Before the game in Manchester – Allegri heaped praise on City and opined that City were rightly the favorites . That done he added that having watched City lots of times he thought that City were prone to sucker punches, prone to losing concentration at the back and prone to faffing around when their self perceived superiority hadn’t resulted in them being 2 up.. -” I think my players might be mentally stronger than theirs “.
This season’s Champions League previews in the Italian media featured City being rated possible winners – but — only if Guardiola sorts out the defensive frailty and their tendency to lose concentration and team discipline .
GlassTwoThirdsFull
Good point well made…
POG
We are in the bosom of her family here in Samut Prakhan getting spoiled rotten Cannot wait to retire here. I threw a party for the Barca game … seemed like the whole town was here. what a ribbing … relentless … even the grannies were taking a shot… back in Glasgow mid October … fancy a weizen ?
HH
No doubt turkeybhoy
TRADITIONALIST88
Or good luck if you take the supports personal disappointment out of it.
It’s gives Brendan a really good chance to see his players under the greatest of pressures, to see who reacts, doesn’t react who can improve and who needs to be replaced.
The CL is big school for players nowhere left to hide.
Is you is or is you ain’t Celtic player:)))
Morning Celts
Hope we have all recovered from Tuesday.
Lets take it out on Inverness, see how they like it:)
HH
starry plough on 16th September 2016 11:18 am
I think we got a lot of those answers in Israel, thankfully it didn’t cost us.
But what a platform it gives to build on and in January I hope we can make a couple of interesting additions,
HH
Who was the old club player that put in a heavy challenge at training and Paul Le Guen sent him home? Was the beginning of the end for PLG.
Is this the PLG moment for Warburton?
Davidopoulous
More like a PG Tips moment, with the amount of monkeys swinging about over there:)
HH
During the years that the animals were refusing to pay her majesty’s income tax, British troops were being seriously under supplied including proper footwear, as I remember the Government being slagged off about it. It was due to financial cutbacks.
So while having Brit soldiers and their cannons wasting more tax payers money by letting off rather large cannons at ipox, they were clearly denying the Brit army that they love so much…basic footwear ?
I’ve put that fact to some Huns over the years, and of course there was no response , as they never have liked being confronted with the truth.
Phil Bardsley! That’s who it was. Forgot he was part of the Moonbeam Revolution.
I didn’t know you good folk but RIP Annie Dunbar and Gordon Murray.
My wee maws name was also Annie RIP.
Turned on Talksport, Jim Whyte’s voice, turned off Talksport…
The Green Man says SACK THE Board
They using PG now? They must have used up all the Yorkshire Tea that Charlie left behind after the season ticket queue picnic…
Davidopoulous
Im thinking of those old PG ads with the chimps.
I can imagine thats what training is like every day over there:)
Especially in the last week, when the rogue male Joey went bananas because the bigot chimps called him a fenian bassa:)
HH
WEST END OF EAST END on 16TH SEPTEMBER 2016 11:28 AM
Turned on Talksport, Jim Whyte’s voice, turned off Talksport…
Why did you bother turning it on in the first place?
quonno on 16th September 2016 11:46 am
I wanted to hear what Barton was saying, was that the answer you were looking for ?
Hang on….the huns do training??
The Green Man says SACK THE Board
I know mate. i like the imagery :)
NatKnow
Well, i say training….but swinging would probably be more accurate:)
HH
Awe_naw,
I should be in Glasgow until the end of the year so definitely up for a Weizen or 3 when you’re over, just keep me posted :-)
Trying to figure out if I prefer having the sweat run down between my arse cheeks in Brunei or having my eggs frozen off in Glasgow ;-)
Joey talks to Jim.
http://talksport.com/football/i-havent-done-anything-apologise-joey-barton-lifts-lid-rangers-ban-exclusive-talksport
KEVJUNGLE on 16TH SEPTEMBER 2016 7:36 AM
VFR800A8
___________
Hail Hail fella.
If, ye don’t mind me asking…?
Have you asked the Celtic PLC-Hierarchy
to explain they’re part in the rubber-stamping
of the deceitful-sleekit-ACT ?
Ye see,….wee, innocuous, nameless, statements
dropped onto the clubs website, abhorring the ACT
fool only those who are easily or, willfully fooled….imho.
If, ye respond, I’ll catch yer reply later, going off oot, stuff to do.
Hail Hail – laters.
___________________________________
Kev, I belive FAC have been in touch with the Board, so Hamilton Tim can advise you of that. I’m just encouraging people to fill out the form.
FAC the Act
KTF
Morning bhoys and ghirls. Heading to the Celtic Musical tonight because off to Lanzagrotty tomorrow for a fortnight (how’s that for crap timing).
Anyway, staying in Playa Blanca, on the Manna Rubicon side. Anyone with suggestions where to see the Man City game? Muchos appreciated.
I see Roy Keane getting it tight from a few posters, & there is no doubt he is a controversial confrontational type of guy who takes no prisoners. However there is another side to the guy, I was in his company once and he was extremely relaxed & friendly, no problem getting picture with him etc. There were a good few kids there that day & Keane was down on his knees with kids swarming all over him, chatting & signing autographs.
He is also a very generous patron of Guide Dogs for the Blind in Cork. My nephew trains these dogs and a few years back Roy was on an official visit to the complex.
The Lord Mayor & a shower of dignitaries plus their wives etc were invited & a posh reception was set up to welcome Roy, the young workers were more or less sidelined & certainly not invited to reception.
Roy arrived did the tour spent a bit of time with the dogs. Then totally snubbed the Big Shots and their reception & brought all the young workers out to a Local Pub & bought them free drink for the night.
Finally Roy has a real genuine affection for Celtic & I feel his outburst was triggered by his total frustration at seeing them lose 7 nil and not out of any malice.