Under any normal circumstances, a run of consecutive trophy wins would end with defeat, but at this time, with seasons overlapping, Celtic’s four consecutive trebles was bookended by a dramatic Scottish Cup win against Hearts. It was fitting to be able to celebrate a world record, instead of lamenting a defeat. Our run came to an end on a joyous occasion.
As predicted, Neil Lennon returned Scott Brown to the starting line-up ahead of Ismaila Soro and Ryan Christie replaced Jeremie Frimpong at right mid, but Conor Hazard kept his place in goal for his third consecutive (and in total) start for the club.
The captain has his critics but football managers have a habit of choosing their trusted old guard and the reasons why were laid bare on the Hampden turf. Football is not all about your ability to play; it is also about your ability to cope, your fortitude against intimidation, pain and rules being bent against you.
With the score still 0-0, Steven Naismith stamped on the prostrate Scott Brown. Referee John Beaton should have red carded the Hearts striker, instead, he awarded a foul, which led to a moment of Instant Karma, as Ryan Christie curled an inch perfect strike from outside the box into Craig Gordon’s top corner.
Naismith was later booked for striking Scott Brown off the ball as Hearts prepared to take a corner kick. Brown would not allow him near Conor Hazard, as Hearts second goal happened as Naismith elbowed Hazard in the ribs at a corner kick, disabling the ‘keeper’s attempt to make what would have been an easy catch.
The naive among you might expect players and the referee to just go out and do their thing, but as you saw yesterday, refs sometimes take a lax view on Celtic players being stamped on, and despite the ref and a fifth official on the goal line, apparently referees do not always watch out for fouls on the goalkeeper.
What you get from Scott Brown is someone who did not shrink or hide when stamped on and made sure his keeper was protected, despite the blind spots of the attending referees. That at 5’ 8”, he won the header in the first period of extra time that led to Celtic’s third goal, is incidental to his contribution on the day. If you watch the highlights over, do not miss his goal celebration in the direction of Naismith.
John Beaton booked six Hearts players, who were happy to kick their way through the game, and awarded Celtic a penalty, but Steven Naismith was the real referee on the day, he decided what was and was not permissible. For days like these, you need an experienced leader. This is why Scott played.
Cup finals are for winning and when it mattered, Leigh Griffiths, Callum McGregor, Mikey Johnston, Conor Hazard and Kristofer Ajer had what it takes to bring the trophy home. What took place in the preceding 120 minutes of action was as dramatic as seen in the previous 134 finals.
Christie’s opener was as good a Cup Final goal you could hope to see. It was from the classic Christie-low-percentage-shot distance, we have watched so many go high and wide, but this one found the sweet spot. Odsonne Eduard’s penalty dink after Berra’s volleyball block sent us on our way, or so we thought.
Celtic’s utter domination by halftime was replaced by lethargy at the break, Hearts worked the ball into a dangerous crossing position, no defender was able to block the cross or meet the ball as it dropped in front of goal. Liam Boyce did the necessary.
It could easily have been 2-2 before Hearts made it level, courtesy of Naismith’s foul, the Celtic defence was in disarray. Confidence is a fragile commodity at the moment. After the leveller, Callum McGregor pushed higher up field and Celtic regained some control of the game. They created several good chances, all of which fell to Odsonne Edouard. Whatever ails the striker, it has not passed. Hearts had a chance to win the game near the end of 90 minutes but, on that occasion, Ginnelly panicked.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. You know that we are in trouble when Leigh Griffiths gets the call. Post-match, Neil Lennon called him a “footballing genius”. Yet again, he was the sugar in our tea. He got a foot on Scott Brown’s header from a corner but Craig Gordon blocked. No one in the game is faster onto a rebound inside the six-yard box than Griffiths, surely now Celtic would hold on?
Conor Hazard came for and missed the cross that brought Hearts level in the second period of extra-time. These mistakes can damage a career but the day was not finished for the young Irishman.
Leigh Griffiths and Callum McGregor convince me they know what to do with a penalty kick. Ryan Christie is better from >20 yards than 12. I would also allow Odsonne Eduard to retire from penalty duty, as his non-Panenka record is poor and keepers will now anticipate the chip.
Mikey Johnston has the temperament and technique to cope with these scenarios, while Kristofer Ajer’s decisive kick would have taken Craig Gordon into the net with it, had the keeper got in the way.
With each team down to two penalties left, Hearts were ahead. Conor Hazard twice threw himself across the goal to save. Celtic’s performance was error strewn and anything but pretty, but there was unrelenting joy at another world record for this magnificent football club.
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Happy Monday from a reasonably mild Louisville.
Too much to ask for no silly arguments today and just the joy of 4 x 3 talk?
We shall see.
HH!
Congratulations to Celtic football club, we may not have all the answers at the moment nobody does, we just have all the trophies.
Conscious decisions genuinely made and Neil Lennon’s rightfully Celtic side, just safely parked the quadruple in the history books.
Celtic were just a ‘Cup team’ till Jock Stein arrived, I’m sure we’ve read, he topped that with the biggest cup of all. He also changed the cup culture at Celtic, and made Celtic a team for all seasons yesterday was more than a cup win, it was a testament to the art of a winning Celtic.
To win four trebles in twelve consecutive trophy wins unlikely ever be repeated, not even by Celtic, the late Stein didn’t even know what he was starting.
🏆 First club ever to win 4 consecutive trebles ✅
🏆 First club ever to win 12 consecutive domestic trophies ✅
🏆 First club to reach 40 Scottish Cup wins ✅
🏆 First club ever to win 4 Scottish Cups in a row ✅
🏆 Neil Lennon the first manager ever to win a treble as a player and manager ✅
🏆 Scott Brown, the best win % cup record of any player in Scottish football history ✅
Just another Celtic Sunday, take a bow Celtic FC
Hail Hail
🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆
🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆
🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆
Fantastic achievement. Never to be equalled. End of an era though unfortunately.
Hi, Big Jimmy,
Sorry it’s taken so long, but I finally caught up with the Open Reach boys about your old chum – not CHUMP- Vance. Apparently given his advancing years they decided to do him a good turn and take him off outside pole duties and gave him an easy number inside the exchange ..:..::whereupon he fell off the top of a ladder and seriously injured himself. End result he took early retirement, although not that early as he was due quite soon anyway.
So glad you had a good birthday weekend thanks to the Leather Belts. Keep safe.
Whilst I’m on – been only lurking lately as a family crisis has taken precedence- I thought FRIESDORFER had a brilliant AGM, unlike our board, so many thanks A.
Keep It Lit, Everyone.
Big Jimmy
Thanks for the info – my colonography is at 8am on Thursday – so it’s a light breakfast then 2 doses of the laxitive before 4pm on Wednesday. I’ve put a loo roll in the fridge.
Head hurts…..mouth dry. What a rollercoaster..Yeooooowww…
Quick look back. Wicked witch of the West seems to have had a bucket of water thrown over him which is nice but a few stray flying monkeys around it appears still :)
Result was all that matters for the history books and what an achievement. In years to come that’s as far as the analysis needs to go. GIRUY lurkin’, hurtin’ Huns…but bhoy oh bhoy we rode our luck.
If you want any portents for the rest of the season however then see all previous (and wearily tiresome to repeat) posts since the season started – selection, tactics, game management, the overblown focus on pantomine antics was all there to see again (sorry Paul67, this constant niggling between Naismith and Brown didn’t have any material impact on the game and will unfortunately lead us to thinking we need more of the mythical jousting and pointing at Ibrox when actually what we need is younger, fitter, faster)
Sadly.
HH
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 21ST DECEMBER 2020 12:18 PM
Today you get a thumbs up
But you know tomorrow we need to have the debate about our future
Hail Hail my friend
67ECW
Slow start on here today. A few quadruple hangovers no doubt.
VOGUEPUNTER on 20TH DECEMBER 2020 5:25 PM
I usually walk out the stadium during penalty shoot outs ,was thinking of going into the garage, knew Christie was going to miss ..but managed to hold on ..yessssss, wife called me a fekn idiot over a stupid game.
I am now with peace with the World .hh :O)
***********
I’m with you all the way VP. Haven’t watched a penalty shoot out since Dixie ballooned one vs Inter in ‘72. Had to sit in splendid isolation until I heard my 8 year old grandson screaming “we’ve done it, we’ve done it We’ve won the quadruple treble!!!”
Turned the pad back on and Premier Sports were about 2 minutes behind so saw Big Kris blast the back of the net as live, or at least as live to me. Happiness and pure elation burst throughout the house. Wonderful,just Wonderful. No other feeling like it.
Paul67
Your observation of the performance of the officials is spot on – any chance our board will make any representations to the SFA – not to mention McCann and co of the bias broadcasting corporation.
Magnificent achievement, cup football is all about winning.
A game of fine margins, but it shouldn’t sugar coat the glaring issues.
If young Hazard is the best we have at the moment, we are in serious trouble. A keeper in January is essential. We should also call time on Shane Duffy, its just not worked. Centre Half also on the shopping list.
Apologies Pablo – haven’t even read your leader. Will get to it in a bit.
Always good to start the day with a laugh.
And I laughed out loud at this one in previous thread …. courtesy of Ernie Lynch
########
DAVID66 on 21ST DECEMBER 2020 11:22 AM
‘very unprofesional of big Gordon yesterday throwing the ball at Eddie.’
###
And his distribution hasn’t got any better either. He missed by a mile.
Even more remarkable to make quadrofenian footballing history with such a Jeckyll and Hyde performance.
All praise to Ajer and Broony whose grit and attitude kept us fighting. Good to see our coach staff talking now and again about what was developing; nagging doubts seeing them shrug shoulders in bewilderment.
Lovely to see a relieved and happy Neil tho; Christ, he deserved the levity and legendary status it brings him/us.
It wasn’t lethargy Paul, it was e thfamiliar cracks in confidence and organisation that allowed the Jambos to hack their way back into parity – looking as good as a squad whose spend dwarves their paltry resources.
No personal inventory of the squad that made history for our fantastic club but a few changes are needed:
Au revoir to the vouloir partirs AND big Fraz in and any of these two…
Gallacher at M’well.
Or Kipre from WBA’s bench.
As much as the Board backed NFL in the last windae, we still need to shut the bloody door at the back.
A proper proud quadrophenian today!
We wish to welcome you to munchkin land.
Rent free.
Congratulations to the history makers. We are living through a magical period in our proud history. You will tell your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren about this.
That’s all from me, suffering from a rare condition today the “Quadruple Hangover “ and its a belter.!
Someone drank all my malt whisky…..Oh wait a minute…..
HH JIL
Back to
If he’d hit Eddie he would have been off – no laughing now
Absolute treasutre chest of images..
https://twitter.com/CelticTV/status/1341003880956628999
SCANIEL on 21ST DECEMBER 2020 12:21 PM
………..
Great to see you Post.
When I knew Vance in the 1970’s as Apprentice Electricians he was always imitating Kermit the Frog as The Muppets were at the height of their ” Fame” at that time…others like me, were trying to impersonate Cagney, Bogart, John Wayne, Norman Wisdom, Tommy Cooper etc, while avoiding doing any work.
Vance was just a helpful and nice young fella back then…albeit he tended to overdue the Kermit stuff….very harmless of course. He MIGHT remember me, as he was one of the few workmates that I invited to my 1st engagement party in early 1977 ?
LOL.
Hopefully once this Covid stuff is over and I am well enough, I can get a Train to Dumfries etc and get to see all those wonderful Donkeys ?
Hows Big Jimmy doing…I hope that hes fit and well…as well as all the other wonderful animals that you look after. I really do hope to see them one day.
Cheers mate, and stay safe.
HH.
Brown at the end of the video …
GENE on 21ST DECEMBER 2020 12:28 PM
Big Jimmy
Thanks for the info – my colonography is at 8am on Thursday – so it’s a light breakfast then 2 doses of the laxitive before 4pm on Wednesday. I’ve put a loo roll in the fridge.
………..
You’ll need MORE than One…Trust me !
LOL.
Well done Celtic, Hearts are a horrible outfit , who will cheat , stamp, elbow and kick their way through a game then complain about the winners !
Did Gordon really throw the ball at Eddie or did he just throw it in annoyance that he had been beaten by such a cheeky penalty?
ERNIE..
Did you ever drive a Milk Cart ?
LOL
Stay safe young man.
HH to The QUAD Squad.
HOT SMOKED on 21ST DECEMBER 2020 1:10 PM
…..
It DID look as though he was aiming at Eddy who was totally oblivious to it cos he was too busy celebrating.
HH.
God bless the QUAD SQUAD FC.
Classy Barkas was the first to console Craig.
Broony (aka walking wounded) what a captain!
HS; nah; he threw it in OEs direction for sure.
I am, almost sure that Beaton took the same view as I think he gave Craig Gordon a yellow card…I could be wrong ?
HH.
The Quad Squad – I like that Jimmy.
D :)
You’re all probably fed up with this by now, but what the hell
‘O Captain! My Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,[a]
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
O Captain! My Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills;
For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding;
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head;[b]
It is some dream that on the deck,
You’ve fallen cold and dead.
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won;
Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!
But I, with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my captain lies,[c]
Fallen cold and dead’.
BJ and Quad
Thanks. I agree he threw it in Eddie`s direction but with the intention of hitting him? As ernie suggested, a very poor attempt if that was his objective.
Anyway, relatively unimportant.
Naismith being allowed to bundle our `keeper over is much more of an issue for me.
NOTTHEBUS on 21ST DECEMBER 2020 12:59 PM
…..
Thanks for posting that video…GREAT stuff from The QUAD SQUAD.
HH.
BIG JIMMY at 1:06
When this is over, I’ll come up and get you!
The other Big Jimmy is doing fine. Mrs S has a soft spot for him and makes sure he gets an extra breakfast in the morning and an extra dinner in the evening.
All the donkeys are oblivious to the mayhem around them but are scunnered with all this rain. Tortoises, cats, shetlands, ducks, geese, dogs, hens, ponies all doing well. It’s we humans that are the problem!
Stay Safe.
Seeing as O Captain! My Captain is getting big licks on here, I would recommend a reading of all Walt`s poetry.
The American Transcendentalists …Whitman, Thoreau, Emmerson and others — will help pass the winter months of Lockdown more enjoyably than might otherwise be the case.
Firstly what an achievement.
Delighted for Lenny & Brooney in particular,
I believe both are in their final year at Celtic and both deserve the utmost respect,
Brooney was my man of the match yesterday.
Game itself was as strange as they come,
First half we were controlled & impressive and it looked like we would stroll it 5 nil.
Then Ajer who was having a fine game was done twice by a poor player the cross was converted & suddenly the composure & confidence evaporated.
There was some crazy defending like Julien & Duffy bumping into each other & presenting Hearts with a great chance which thankfully Hazard saved, Hazard himself looked a bag of nerves & didn’t inspire confidence but whilst we could have lost it, at the other end Eddie missed 3 great chances.
Strangely I’m glad it was as mad as it was.
Now I will never forget the day, that History was made much , much better than a polished routine 5 nil win.
Really looking forward to Ross County game, anything might happen.
NOTTHEBUS on 21ST DECEMBER 2020 12:59 PM
Absolute treasutre chest of images..
https://twitter.com/CelticTV/status/1341003880956628999
——————–
that is a wonderful watch, look at the celebrations, that is not a team of cliques, they are all in it together. broon to gordon at the end is wonderful.
Big Jimmy…how’s the wee man?
GFTB
I don’t think a flounce or exile from the blog is necessaary.
Apologise if you have done something out of line and try not to deliberately antagonise some posters. If others do not like you, so what? But , stick to the argument and not the man or personality that you are dealing with, and it should be quickly forgotten
The blog did not get much in the way of negative thought or even critical analysis last night as most were enjoying themselves with our historic achievement so it’s unecessary to call them out for their absence when they are doing precisely what we asked of them and what was the right thing to do.
Today is a better day for critical analysis and I will be making mine.
Why don’t you think of what went wrong yesterday and this season and gove your thoughts. It is not disloyal to want a better version of Celtic just don;t get addicted to the negative side as it can drain the enjoyment out of you.
Quad Squad is Brilliant.
Take a bow James.
SFTB
Wise and sagacious advice.