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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15:45 AYR
SIR ROBERT CHEVAL
HH.
Morning all,Going to try big ootsider(not had brekkie yet) POYLE VINNIE 3.45 Ayr.
Good luck all.
A very good morning to all.
Ayr. 2.00
Delectation
Ayr 310 Garcia
Good luck everyone
Not happy with draw despite the trainer being fourth out in ballot. Think he went to wrong side by choosing stand side , however, I’ll risk:
Aeolus in the big one at Ayr.
GL all
15:30 @ Listowel – Killiney Court – NAP!
Good luck everybody.
POYLE VINNIE 3:45 Ayr…
Regards & Hail Hail
TBM
I fancy Poyle Vinnie and Orion’s Bow in the Gold Cup but Highland Colori in the 3.10 has a great chance.
Fill yer boots
Teruntum Star in the 3:45 Ayr
for me
good luck to all
hail hail
Fancy Buick to win the last two races at Newmarket but going for
Garcia 3.10 at Ayr.
Cannae get beat.
Autocratic 2:50 Newbury
Todays NAP
GK CHESTERTON.
3:15 NEWMARKET.
Good luck to all.
Drumfad bay 2.00 ayr
Growl, 3.45 Ayr. Fahey himself fancies it.
Eiri Na Casca 2.55 Listowel
I feel obliged to have a go at the gold cup so here goes with today’s nap:
Magnus Maximus @3.45 Ayr
Good luck and happy punting!
Eccleston 2.35 Ayr – good luck everyone.
Intisaab in the 235 at Ayr please, be lucky
Autocratic- 250 Newbury
Magnus Maximus is now a non runner In the Ayr Gold Cup so I’ll go for
Fort Bastion Ayr 3.10
It looks like the draw is going to be critical today, so nap runs in the Ayr Gold Cup from a low draw :
Nameitwhatyoulike
G’luck to all,
fleagle1888
Snoano
Ayr 1620
BMCUWP. POYLE VINNIE 345 Ayr. CCB Francisco 425 N
Does anyone recognise – or admit to – this nom de plume: –
Ray Winstone’s Big Disembodied Heid
:)
Cheers, fleagle1888