I was a teenager when I looked back at the record books and saw Celtic won five consecutive League Cups in Jock Stein’s first five seasons as manager. This extraordinary achievement was less prominent that it otherwise would have been, due to the nine-in-a-row league title wins and that business in Lisbon.
Those five seasons, from 1965-66 to 1969-70 stood out from the tail-end of Stein’s then record breaking winning run of league titles. The European finals and two semi-finals, five leagues, five League Cups and two Scottish Cups; the rest of Scottish football had to scrap their joy from three Scottish Cups, as Celtic ended their long drought in spectacular fashion.
The current Celtic team are bidding for eight-in-a-row league titles, but this era also splits between the first six and the last two and a half years, where the trophy acquisition rate has become metronomic: cup, league, cup, cup, league, cup, cup…
Celtic players looked tired at times during yesterday’s Hampden final. Aberdeen looked far better than a team beaten 3-0 by Motherwell a week earlier, but the result was never in doubt. No amount of rest and recuperation while Celtic toured Europe midweek prepared Aberdeen for a cup final against the champions.
Ryan Christie will remember this League Cup competition for the rest of his life. Whatever he achieves in the game from this point forward can be traced to his halftime substitute appearance in the semi-final against Hearts at Murayfield five weeks ago. His goals settled both games and his performances marked him out as a pivotal player at the business end of the field. He also has an appropriate amount of aggression in him, which will take him places in the game meeker men will not see.
For much of the final play was squashed into a 30 yard area in the middle of the field. Aberdeen held a high line, compressing space, inhibiting Celtic from exploiting their traditional passing style. The compromise from this approach from Aberdeen was to leaving space behind the defensive line for the right ball over the top.
The goal came when Odsonne Eduard dropped to open a gap at the top of the field for Dedryck Boyata to ping a pass which the sprinting Christie controlled with his first touch. It was one run too many for Aberdeen to cover. After the initial shot rebounded off Lewis, Christie found the net with the rebound. Once ahead, Celtic were never going to be denied.
The award of a ludicrous penalty kick should have settled the matter early in the second half, but justice was served when Aberdeen keeper Joe Lewis rushed off his line before Sinclair’s kick was taken to make the save functionary. We left Hampden thinking ‘Scottish referees can do better’, then watched television pictures from elsewhere to remember they can also do worse.
Gary Mackay-Steven’s head clash with Dedryck Boyata knocked the Aberdeen player unconscious before he hit the pitch. Players seemed untutored on how to react. Mackay-Steven was flipped onto his back with his neck unsupported, an act which would have had potentially fatal consequences if the injury was different. Then, realising the seriousness of the situation, Aberdeen captain, Graeme Shinnie, berated medical staff for not having a stretcher on the field sooner, despite the fact that the player was already receiving treatment and not yet ready to be moved. Some simple head injury training is needed before another player is flipped while motionless.
What does this this trophy mean for Celtic?
For you and me, we have celebrated the seventh consecutive trophy – an achievement no Celtic fan has experienced before and a joint Scottish record. I’m not going to tell you this one was up there with the 1997 League Cup win over Dundee United, but it easily eclipsed the 2000 win over Aberdeen, when we got to enjoy a trophy, but endured a hollow season. This one means so much because it is a measure of how good a Celtic team this is.
What does it mean for the rest of Scottish football?
Sport thrives on great champions. It slumps with mediocrity. Right now, every trophy, every cup game, in Scottish football has enormous importance. When (or if) Celtic lose a cup game, every club remaining in the competition will think, ‘Maybe this year!’ Similarly, every other aspirational club knows that with Celtic just so imperious, they have to make every chance at a cup count.
230 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- »
HOT SMOKED….
Mick looks good for his age.???☘☘
Motherwell will be brutal on Wednesday night. We couldn’t win in two attempts at Fir park last season. 3 points will need to very well earned.
Sipsini
Just got a text from my neebor to say I was brilliant in the rebelkaraokoe last night.
Forgot I sang 3 songs last night. Great day oot ?
YNWA
jimthetim53 and weefrathetim,are you about, haven’t seen you on the blog lately, hope you are both ok hh.
https://twitter.com/Green20William/status/1069675168073744386?s=20
HS JJ
Touch and go at moment, but probably yes. Even if just for a bira
YNWA
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 3RD DECEMBER 2018 7:30 PM
—————–
???????
Gerryfaethebrig on 3rd December 2018 6:22 pm
Whooft … 39 passes before Ryan scored (as per Shug Keevins) I just thought Boyata lumped it up the park … so I take that Brendan character knows what he is doing with backward and sideway passing :-)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________-
Gerry, I thought the defenders were on the look-out for that throughout the game. It did come off once or twice before we scored but we didn’t capitalise on it.
In fact, Christie scored from a much less promising position than others were offered. Apart from his speed and control his shot from the rebound was a collector’s item.
DAVID17 on 3RD DECEMBER 2018 7:55 PM
Anyone disagree with what Kev said ?
——————————————————————
Stopped reading at K, many years ago.
Sipsini,
Belter.
HH
SIPSINI on 3RD DECEMBER 2018 8:19 PM
HOT SMOKED….
Mick looks good for his age.???☘☘
…..
I would bet you a wedge that Mick would shoot his good self the second before he reached a Hundred….
smiley Carnoustie Haar thing
Braw
Jimmynotpaul @ 6:33 pm
‘SFTB.
One of friends is a Celtic tour guide.
Recently there was an old bhoy on it and Robert asked him if he had attended the 7.1 game, he said yes and that as an 8 year old he had attend The Empire Exhibition final in 1938.
I wonder if it’s the same bhoy.
Hail Hail”
There can’t be too many with the same claim. Fit enough to walk briskly up to Hampden too.
JOBO BALDIE on 3RD DECEMBER 2018 1:27 PM
——————————————————————–
Thank you for your earlier post,
I have applied the fix and it appears to be working well.
Prior to this my machine was so slow it was hardly worth logging in,and to post the odd comment was laborious and very lengthy.
Part of the enjoyment of great results is to log in and have a look at comments and interpretations of the game,so getting into a quick response environment is terrific.
Many Thanks.
Fritsong
It was a very clever second shot by RC.
He placed his shot in a trajectory that was impossible to save. Genius strike.
YNWA
Fritzsong 8.32pm
I think “lumping” it up the park definitely has its pluses … the further away from our goal the better, plus nearer the opposition goal gives us a chance to notch
Sipsini
Hearing the Carnoustie Mafioso are heading to Castlemilk wi a horses heid. ??
YNWA
SFTB 8.34.
Brilliant, I love to hear stuff like that.
I think that Celtic T.V. should ask to interview him.
There can’t be many alive who attended that game, in 1938.
He is a living part of Celtic history.
Hail Hail
DD…
The mulk is a fortress.?☘☘☘☘☘☘☘
hi bhoys was just googling where my old factory was sadly closed now, hurls brickworks in glenboig, suddenly remember, now this was probably 1970/7i queing up for our wages this orange bassa an electrician grabs my wage packet and says, that’s fag money to me but you taigs can feed a family on that, now that was nearly 50 years ago but still remember it to this day sadly don’t think Scotland has changed.hh.
JIMMYNOTPAUL on 3RD DECEMBER 2018 8:44 PM
SFTB 8.34.
Brilliant, I love to hear stuff like that.
I think that Celtic T.V. should ask to interview him.
There can’t be many alive who attended that game, in 1938.He is a living part of Celtic history.
Hail Hail
—————
FFS Jimmy, you not been to a CQN day?
Only joking nicer people you never will meet.?☘☘☘
Sipsini
I know that from experience.
Take a brave or daft man to mess wi Mulk Bhoys.
YNWA
Saw Ryan Christie joining in YNWA. He seems to be a right good Bhoy. Young Benkovic seemed to caught up in the Celtic spirit too. Long may that continue. He is some player.
Hot Smoked
Playing up at Panmure at the weekend, any advice?
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 3RD DECEMBER 2018 8:32 PM
Kool.
Watching U.S. news channel ,,GW Bush coffin put in the the back of a hearse to a band playing GSTQ? Embdae?
Big Packy
If it annoys you so much you should move back up :-)
Scotland is beautiful and I can assure nobody ever even tried to take any wage I earnt :-)
David 17
Sorry. I have never played there.
Bada
I believe there is an American song that goes by the same tune.
Cheerio for now,
JJ
“My Country, ‘Tis of Thee”, also known as “America”, is an American patriotic song, The melody used is the same as that of the national anthem of the United Kingdom, “God Save the Queen”,
Bada Bing,
I noticed recently when my youngest made watch that recent excellent documentary series about Vietnam, (over several weeks), the tune was played many time throughout during reflective moments. I googled it then.
Copy and paste Wiki:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Country,_%27Tis_of_Thee
DAVID 17-it’s all about the commas?✅✅?
DAVID17 on 3RD DECEMBER 2018 8:57 PM
Hot Smoked
Playing up at Panmure at the weekend, any advice?..
…………………
dinae wander off oot of bounds as MOD lives next door and for Kafflicks there is probably still a shoot first…. questions 50 years later on policy….
smiley dinae bother with a brolly as the keen wind will blaw it inside oot thing
Braw
D17
Thermal underwear, winter woolies and waterproof outer clothing. Enjoy Panmure in December. Brrrrrrrrr ?
YNWA
Police Report
Thanks guys.
I really enjoyed watching the match (from sofa) yesterday
Going to Prague on Friday,wife’s birthday day present,anywhere to maybe watch game on Saturday,thanks.?
Check aw they commas ?
Sipsini 8.54.
:-) :-)
Hail Hail
BP
I am a pacifist, but had that happened to me?
My forehead would have accidentally broken the orange sparky’s nose.
YNWA