Our scepticism about Celtic being favourites to progress before last night’s Champions League qualifier was well founded. As in the first leg, the team lacked urgency throughout the first 45 minutes. During that period, Kairat allowing Celtic possession in their own half, but as soon as we crossed the halfway line, the visitors were easily dispossessed; outnumbered and without a pragmatic plan of attack.
It was only when Arne Engels and Adam Idah arrived on 70 minutes that Celtic were able to hold the ball in opposition territory with any reliability, but the problem from the first leg persisted: how to breakdown a well-organised defence. We went down to The Philippe Clement failure.
Since that heroic performance in Munich, we have lost Nicolas Kuhn and Greg Taylor, and signed Benjamin Nygren and Kieran Tierney (with Jota injured). It does not sound like the downgrade it is often portrayed as; the difference in performance levels does not match the change in roster. Something else is missing.
Yesterday I hoped for “no excuses”. Brendan Rodgers may well have every justification (will come onto this in a moment) for again leaning on the lack of big money signings this summer as a reason for our exit, but that is not sufficient to excuse a loss to a team who are likely to break all the wrong records in the Champions League this season. It was an embarrassment and he shares blame.
Add to the fact that none of his £32m signings last summer were deemed good enough to start the game last night, and he should conclude that he carries significant responsibility.
A point for Michael Nicholson and Dermot Desmond. Two years ago you appointed a manager who, every time he has spoken this month, has put you in the dock for this one. Brendan’s is the only voice representing the club right now and it is not flattering. The gloves are off, his future intentions are crystal clear and he will have one target in mind after every dropped point.
This theme will only grow as the season progresses; players are being asked about a lack of signings and echo what the manager says. It will get worse.
There is no media conspiracy against Celtic; they report based on information put in front of them. Supporters judge what you do with their money largely based on what they hear from the club (only the manager/players) and from opinion influencers in the media.
I know running a football club is not as easy as it looks from the outside. Transfers are seldom as straightforward as we believe. But the lack of a constructive narrative is self-defeating and leaves fans wondering: What’s going on?
360 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- »
Anyone questioning BR’s CV will be in for a shock when we announce a new manager next summer !
James Forrest on 27th August 2025 11:50 pm
Oh, on our sites?
Naw, fella, you’re banned. And you know why you’re banned, and you’re staying banned.
————–
banned ?
a bit fascist nawe ?
dont you plebs go post stuff on the trinity they do not like.
bigchipsuk
I like it!
Lets follow that shining path….
jimtim on 27th August 2025 9:29 pm
“Brugge a good outfit .very good wingers.”
%
Double up and the wingers have to turn back the way.
Brendan dizny understand that basic concept.
Thats why Khun couldny wait to get oot of paradise.
The huns are guff, but, if they play 5 at the back vs us on Sunday, then the scrutiny on Brendan will be brought into sharper focus.
If Celtic were run by real people and not the perma/tanned/exotic/golfing/society then Rodgers would be more careful spending Celtic fans money, than to spend £32 million, leave it all sitting on the bench whilst we’re toiling vs the nearly Chinese version of Livingston, and pleading that you are not being properly resourced is just Stinking Rich Tory Spoiled Brattism.
Why has Rodgers not been sacked yet?
What kind of fkn club/company/halfway-house/ is it?
From the Wolfetones to Wham the songbook is symbolic of Celtic decline.
Diversity has destroyed Sinn Fein, Ireland, Snp, Scotland, etc.
Who is behind diversity/wokeism/trannyism/anti-women/children/black-people/white-people/brown-people/yellow-people/etc?
Answer = The Lobby.
The end is looming for the Western World if we don’t defeat the Lobby.
WPB led by fearless George Galloway, will put their steel toe capped boots through he first Dominoe of the Lobby and he needs his courage to be voted for, or maybe there is nobody left worth saving?
Covid Vaccine compliance suggested that that is sadly the case.
Auroraborealis79 @ 11:47pm.
Cheers.
No arrogance intended at all.
And no challenge about the competitive merit of those on the list.
The reason Celtic, Red Star and Ferencvaros are not there is simple. They lost to Kairat, Pafos, and Qarabag respectively.
The (perhaps unpalatable) truth is TV Rights are the engine of the Champions League financial juggernaut.
And the aforementioned three clubs ain’t going to trouble the Nielson Ratings.
All of this against a recent backdrop of an attempted formation of a European Super league.
Money talks and always has.
If it didn’t, for instance, Celtic wouldn’t be the proud holders of the 1953 Coronation Cup.
login
And so I cry sometimes when I’m lying in bed
Just to get it all out, what’s in my head
And I, I am feeling a little peculiar
And so I wake in the morning and I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream from the top of my lungs
“What’s going on?”
Saint Stivs
Don’t give that pathetic individual any of your time.
Don’t give his sad little blogs of negative crap a consideration.
It’s all the sad little guy has. He can’t even afford a season ticket at Celtic.
Sat in his folks front room peddling bitter stuff for clicks . Not worth it.
I watched the whole of Brugges v Newco.
TNT Sports Hun commentary team of MCCOIST and RORY HAMILTON managed to mention DURING this humilation that ” THEY HAD DINNER TOGETHER the night before the Match”.
Gripping Stuff !
They BOTH NEGLECTED to mention that BRUGGE had TAKEN OFF 3 or 4 of their BEST Players in the second half, and that Brugge had ” CERTAINLY taken their foot OFF the Gas”, and that was just TWO of the reasons why Brugge ONLY Scored ONE GOAL in the 2nd half.
Overall, it could/should have been 12 – 0 for Brugge.
I CHEERED Every Brugge Goal as I LOVE to see the Huns getting GUBBED in any game.
However, I had a BET on Bet365 hours before the game that Brugge would WIN by the Correct Score of 6 – 1 at odds of 66/1. I went to bed NOT able to remember whether my Bet was on 6 – 0 or 6 – 1 as I couldnt be bothered switching my Computer back on again UNTIL this morning ?
I didnt know whether to BLAME the Huns for NOT Scoring One Goal or BLAME Brugges for not allowing the Huns to score One Goal …even a dodgy Penalty. However, I think the Huns only got into the Brugge Penalty Are Once in the 2nd half ?
Late on at 6 – 0, the watching Hun fans on TV must have been even MORE Pissed Off, to see RASKIN ” SMILING and LAUGHING” with the Brugge Goalie as HE (RASKIN) Mis Controlled a ” PASS” that ran away from him and into the arms of the Brugge Goalie in a brief encounter into the oppositions half….LOL.
It was also funny to hear the BRUGGE fans singing ” ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE” throughout the game, which was directed at the Hun fans.
LOL
HH.
Ive read some of Russell Martins comments after that humilation last night.
At one Point he stated that ” We will NOT lose 6 – 0 again” !
That ASSERTION make come back to bite him in the near future ?
Lets make it happen again on Sunday Celtic………..wouldnt that be just wonderful ?
LOL
HH
BIG JIMMY on 28TH AUGUST 2025 7:01 AM
Ive read some of Russell Martins comments after that humilation last night.
At one Point he stated that ” We will NOT lose 6 – 0 again” !
That ASSERTION make come back to bite him in the near future ?
Lets make it happen again on Sunday Celtic………..wouldnt that be just wonderful ?
LOL
HH
—————-
What if someone thrashes them 7-0?
TechnicallyTheTruthRSC
Morning Jimmy
I never watch them – what we do is what matters.
I do however like them getting pumped and in normal circumstances I would be smiling broadly today but sadly I can’t get our own embarrassment out of my head. Genuinely thought we were past that parsimonious BS that we have pulled this summer and can’t believe we are choosing to regress. In the days of Cluj, Maribor etc. we didn’t have the cash in hand we have now so the argument was that there was a genuine risk that we speculate to accumulate. That is not the case now so failure to try and improve is inexcusable but we go a stage further and fail to even try to stand still ffs…….
Do we need to adapt our playing style against the low block? Yes we do but regardless to not do all you can to make the team better or even the same is absolute neglect and frankly from a business perspective is corporate and sporting sabotage.
This Trump like lying that has become the norm for some on here is out of control but the willingness lap it up. The latest one that BR has been brought multiple players of multiple values even up to £10m and refused them all – what nonsense what absolute nonsense. If that were remotely correct does that mean he agreed to Inamura, Simpson-Pussey, Shin etc – if he said yes to them how bad must the others have been?? FFS some people will say anything to push their agenda without apply any common sense. It is wilful neglect and self harm and if the executive hate BR so much then sack him – show some courage and leadership and sack him. Let’s hear what you’ve all got to say and not hid behind NDA’s and let the fans know the real story, then we might be able to make sense out of this clusterfuck.
Moisey17 on 28th August 2025 7:48 am
Morning Jimmy
I never watch them – what we do is what matters.
I do however like them getting pumped and in normal circumstances I would be smiling broadly today but sadly I can’t get our own embarrassment out of my head.
……………………………………..
I DO UNDERSTAND some Celtic supporters like your good self NOT being able to gloat too much over the Huns and their humilation last night as Celtic have their own problems at the moment…I get that…
Lets HOPE that the Celtic Bhoys give all of our supporters an opportunity to SMILE on Sunday ?
HH Mate.
Moisey
But they won’t sack him as that requires leadership , this mob have none its run by a conservative autocrat,BR has already said he is here and won’t leave, so there we have it , think they intend to make it as bad as can be then you’ll be grateful for winning a league cup.
the long wait is over on 28th August 2025 7:29 am…
“What if someone thrashes them 7-0?”….
……………….
Then Russell Martin will be correct I suppose…..however, since he got the Huns job I feel that HE ( RUSSELL MARTIN), is more than capable of talking as much ” GOBBLYGOOK” as PEDRO CAIXHINO and CLEMENT ever did in his Press conferences so far.
HH.
O must admit I do like the huns gettng humilitated.
Its good for the sole.
However the bigger picture is that two teams will meeteach other on Sunday. Two teams who have just embarrassed Scottish footbal, embarrassed their clubs and most importantly. Embarrassed their fans.
It’s live on the TV to a UK wide audience and Sky will promote ” Old Firmism” to the maximum .
They have to, because the supporters are the only thing that makes this a big game.
N9 doubt I will get caught up in the pub atmosphere and will be screaming for a thrashing of the hun, however after the game there will still be a sour taste in the mouth about our abject failure to progress in Europe when the door was ajar.
Not for the first time I ask , do we need psychological help in Europe. It must be a serious consideration.
HH.
Greenpinata on 28th August 2025 8:25 am
O must admit I do like the huns gettng humilitated.
Its good for the sole
————–
Bit early for the fish puns….but here goes…….”Carpe Diem”
GP
It is much simpler than the unseen, we need good players throughout the team playing to the best of their abilities, with a system that works with the skill set of the players we have, look at Bruges’ switch passing last night fast accurate and cutting them open every time. We are crippled by fear McGregor doesnt pass the ball forward nor do our players lose their markers.
And we drew 1.1 with that Bruges team or much of it last season conceeding an o.g. but again their was a pile on the manager for not winning the tie.
there
The regression is stark and self inflicted by the Club management.
How does BR approach Sunday ?
Stick with the same team and bollock them?
I don’t blame him for trying Idah – we needed some one to aim for, the midfield don’t know who to pass to
We know what Ralston gives – he’ll be effective but needs quality around him to do overlaps and get crosses in.
Nygren will make space and spot passes but the rest have latched on to him yet and doesn’t anyone to pass to
Daizen is not last season’s Daizen at the moment
They will sit on calmac and we don’t have a MO’R to make hay in the space made by them focussing on calmac
Engels delivery is normally excellent – that’s one thing that will help – hope we get a corner/free kick for Scales to header it in.
Idah and JF to come on late will help
mediocre versus okish
Last new year we went to Ayebrokes and got gubbed 3-0.
I can’t recall if we even had a shot on goal.
The were without 3or 4 of their first pick defenders .
We will struggle on Sunday .
TT
What GP said @ 08:25am.
The realisation is greater/amplified that this fixture doesn’t really matter in the wider scheme of things.
3 days out from this “big game” I’m not feeling much at all.
Re Bruges game last season?
I thought we did well to get the 1-1.
If there was going to be a winner on the night it wasn’t going to be us.
We played fine but the energy level had dropped from Leipzig.
A vivid memory of that night for me was the preparation for one particular Bruges corner in the second half.
Six of them marched purposely into our box.
They were physically huge.
Looked like a basketball team.
There’s a world of difference between us and the Huns right now.
We’re a coached team. The players know their jobs. We’re cohesive at the back and have conceded on goal in 6 competitive games this season. They’re squad and manager are united despite some blogs attempting to divide us.
They’re an utter basket case with a dressing room that have largely downed tools.
We’ll win on Sunday.
!!Bada Bing!! on 27th August 2025 10:39 pm
That was funny :-))
Thanks An Dún
Yes, for sure we are a coached team, an over-coached team that plays football by numbers such that a half decent manager with half decent athletes at his disposal can set up a team to shut us down.
With staying a baw hair ahead of the huns our unchanging benchmark for success we can expect accelerated downsizing after the events of the last 2 days.
It works for the dusty old plc as the fans keep lapping up the new merch etc. I will be surprised if they sell out their crappy EL packages to watch Thursday night borefests with a team full of Yang level ‘talent’.
Back to Molde-level standards. The Board’s happy place.
!!Bada Bing!! on 27th August 2025 10:39 pm
Boy was seen in the away end with his rosary beads in hand and the onions have shouted abuse telling him to F off as there’s no prayers or catholics allowed in the rangers end , he said I’m not praying I’m keeping up with the score 🤣
……………
Now, THAT Post made me laugh out loud….although NOT quite as loud as last night when every Brugge Goal went in.
LOL
HH
Stebhoy,
You complain about the lack of entertainment,slow play,no attacking flare from BRs teams.
Sorry,are you talking about the same team that scored,112 league goals,another load in the. Cups,and 10 CL goals in our 4 home ties ?.That boring,non entertaining team?
Some tripe gets spewed up onto these pages.
Burnley,
You are really becoming a caricature of a Celtic fan.I often wonder how you can comment on games,when it must be difficult for you to see the actual play,with your head so far up the various Board members arse.Do they move their cheeks for you occasionally,let you shout abuse at Brendan.
There’s a good boy.
Your personal abuse of another Celtic fan,James Forrest,is a disgrace.Then again,reading your sly,snidey posts,I suppose its difficult to keep up the fake facade you try to put across on here.
You are kidding no one.
“Yes, for sure we are a coached team, an over-coached team that plays football by numbers such that a half decent manager with half decent athletes at his disposal can set up a team to shut us down.”
Aye, but they don’t have the half decent athletes at their disposal…even ‘always cheatin’ Alloa scored twice against them.
Granted we were poor on Tuesday but we’ll win on Sunday and it’ll be fun to watch the ibrox meltdown.
That’s my opinion anyway…too much hysteria following a bad result.
Onwards as always, with or without Brendan Rodgers and his tight-fisted board…
I wonder what the Think Tank at Grace Brothers,are up to today?
Have to agree re B78…
His comment about James Forrest…”He can’t even afford a season ticket at Celtic.” displays terrible snobbery. There are many people who can’t afford a season ticket these days.
You keep hanging on to Lawwell’s coat tails…
If Martin continues to bench Tavernier and Raskin then advantage us. Their defence is rank rotten, only their keeper has been playing well. Tavernier is nt great but he is dangerous for set pieces and crosses.
Raskin is their modern day Ferguson, snarling, biting and fouling his way through the game – but he has enough to upset our lightweight midfield.
Their manager has dropped the pair of them a few times to play his own signings . Aarons and Rothwell. Both have been awful, especially Rothwell who has played like a 5-a-side pub team player looking for his fags and a pint before KO.
Our defence is ok, reasonably solid, midfield hot and cold on any given day and front line worst I’ve seen in many a year. Jamesie, who is likely to start, does not play well against them and Yang is a player down if he starts.
I guess it will be Maeda, Idah, JF, not exactly inspiring for a game at Ibrox but maybe Idah will have his one good game in 10 and batter them.
I keep looking on Celtic sites for something optimistic.
Nothing!
Just loads of folk who think we’ll hammer the huns cos they’re shite.
Well, imho, so are we.
We fanny about at the back and across the midfield. We have supposed wingers who can’t take a full back on to cross.
We have shite centre forwards who get little service anyway. (They do feck all when they do.)
And, we don’t shoot.
No apparent tactics or gameplan.
Plenty of grounds for optimism.
Mmmm!
How d9 Celtic respond:-
We go to Grey