As soon as it was revealed that Celtic would wear the black away kit, and not the hoops, we knew that we were in trouble.
And so it proved to be, as Celtic neither looked like Celtic or played like Celtic , yet decided to put the support through the wringer, which i suppose is exactly like Celtic.
With Hapoel needing three clear goals to continue in the champions League, you would have thought that changing anything that might rock the recent run of form would be far , far away from the mind of the manager, but not only did someone suggest the away kit, someone else put the idea of dropping Eoghan O’connell, who had formed a fairly reliable partnership with Kolo Toure, and opting to play Saidy Janko as a right back.
Hapoel had no choice but to go for it, and backed by a hostile and enthusuiastic crowd, they, like Celtic, were a completely different team from the one the Celts faced in Glasgow.
The roof threatened to cave in early on when Saidy Janko tripped a forward to concede a penalty, but Craig Gordon stood tall, or forgot to move, and the ball bounced off him and away into the desert night. The big keeper was too surprised to acknowledge what may well yet be the save of the season, and desite this statement that he was back to his best, the defence didn’t seem convinced.
So much so that Keiran Tierney managed to get in his way when the Israeli’s took the lead with a header from substitute Shavar, after Scott Brown was found wanting at a corner.
Celtic managed to get to half time without any further damage, but within a couple of minutes of the restart, it was Saidy Janko’s turn to get in the keepers way, and the resultant confusion allowed Hapoel to tap themselves into a two goal lead, and the momentum was all with them.
If at this point you heard a piercing scream, don;t worry. It was me.
However, for the next three quarters of an hour, Celtic somehow hang on. For that we have to thank the defenders, who played out of their skins, and Craig Gordon, who handled the pressure very well, when a lesser man would have crumbled.
The relief at full time was palpable, and Celtic had done it. Well, Hapoel had failed to do it would be a better way of desrcibing it, but it didn’t matter, and it was genuinely one of those occasions when we will, in the future, look back and laugh.
It would be unfair to single out any particular players for criticism, but it was clearly too much of an occasion for some.
Saidy Janko had a nightmare, but at least he never hid. Which was a shame, as at times he was easily the best attacking threat for Hapoel, but he is still only a kid, and perhaps he’s just not ready for this type of game yet.
Brendan Rodgers, as expected, ( by me ) decided to drop Tom Rogic from the line up, instead opting for the more industrious Calum MacGregor, and as the Aussie Ardiles has become a bit of a fans favourite, the support decided that any problems with the midfield were all down to the Scot, whereas in fact, we saw hopefully the conclusive example that Scott Brown and nir biton cannot -or will not-play together at this level.
But, football is a results business, and the result of last nights game is that Celtic are in the champions League, as illustrated here by Lady Kerry CSC on twitter…
In fact, should Red Bull, Ajax and Villareal exit the competition, Celtic will move into Pot 3, which might make it a little easier to be involved in Europe after christmas, which would be a bonus.
But if that doesn’t come to pass, I’m sure we can live with it.
A relieved Brendan Rodgers spoke after the game.
Not because we were through, but because Craig Gordon had kept his cool and not lamped the BT interviewer who reminded him that his place in the team was under threat, and drew a glare and a slight clenching of the fist from the keeper. Scott Brown was heard to whisper
“Leave it big man, he’s at it ”
Rodgers, glad that it wasn;t the police who were interviewing him, even if they would have probably been less hostile, said;
“I feel brilliant. It was probably the longest 90 minutes I’ve faced as a coach.
“From past experiences the players have had, sometimes you never know how it can map out in the game.
“I felt Be’er Sheva were outstanding. They had to force the game of course as they had nothing to lose but they played very well.
“I have to congratulate my players. All the work we have been doing over the course of pre-season has been around that mentality and quality of our game.
“But we know we can’t always play well. A lot of the games we have played well but tonight was going to be purely about resilience and persistence.
“It was an amazing effort by the players on the back of everything they have been through before, so a huge applause to them and I’m delighted they have got their rewards after a really long pre-season.
“I’m immensely proud, I’m so proud for the football club, firstly for Dermot, Peter and the board – it’s great for them as they stuck out their neck in the summer.
“The club has a really positive feel to it at the moment. This was always hopefully going to keep that forward momentum going and this was a huge step for us.
“I’m delighted for the players, for the work they have put in and the mentality and honesty they have shown, and they have got their rewards after a long pre-season.
“I’m delighted for my coaching staff and the team of people around us. They have had to work very hard, with not many days off, working and finding ways in which to improve the team in a short space of time.
“And obviously there are the supporters. It’s an incredible moment for them. They are going to back amongst Europe’s eilte – and it’s where Celtic belongs.”
There was so much riding on this qualification and it would be typical Celtic, from watching them over many years, that there would be be a 92nd goal and everyone is on their knees.
“But it has really happened. We have qualified. It’s great for everyone and great for the nation, for Scotland it’s huge.”
One newspaper, however, may well have taken something from those words that simply isn’t there…
Rodgers Euro Fury, trumpets the Herald, at once explaining why their circulation is similar to that of a man smoking eighty a day, and announcing to Celtic that none of their staff want a seat on the chartered plane for the upcoming away games.
Mind you, Rodgers Euro fury is nothing compared to Lennons Euro Furry…
Told you before, any excuse…
Curiously, Joey Barton, a man who has achieved the square root of fuck all in the game, apart from a two year contract at “rangers ” and hero status amongst the gullibillies, took to twitter to try to keep himself in the public eye, like he used to keep lit cigars in trainee’s eyes.
Watching that Champions League Qualifier and thinking…
followed by a link to something titled Lucky Bastard, from piss poor gangster flick “Snatch “, which ironically is also a slang term for genitalia, similar to other words used to describe Barton.
One or two “rangers ” supporters pointed out that they would prefer it if he did his talking on the pitch, with his feet, and presumably not on twitter, with his arse.
We wondered if the gauntlet being thrown down by the Englishman was worrying Celtic captain Scott Brown, but it doesn’t appear to be.
However, as the diary likes to think it gives credit and praise where both are due, without fear or favour, here’s a wee question for you…
Whats the story behind this ?
Over to Graeme Spiers…
My two wee lads were distraught tonight at missing 2nd half due to bedtime…I’ve slipped this under their pillows.
And the much maligned Gerry McCulloch, who does his best to make Derek Johnstone, Hugh Keevins and other vaccuums appear coherent on Radio Clydes Superscoreboard phone in show deserves a mention as well, after he commented on the Herald headline shown above..
I’m told this is the genuine Herald front page. “Fury?” Jeezy peeps!!
Though I have to wonder, does he use such filthy language on air ? ( Jeezy Peeps, not “Herald,” that is )
anyway, qualification means money for Celtic.
And more money for the other teams in the top division, with each set to bank around £200,000 with their own little windfall, which means a lot to some clubs operating on the breadline, indeed prompting one chairman to announce the effect it will have on his club;
Yesterdays caption competition,
the winner has a little more poignancy after the BT interviews last night, a shame as up until then their coverage had been excellent…
Caption
Broony:” Here gaffer whit wan a they hacks asked you questions about that fud Barton”?
St Brendan: ” Leave it Broony, he’s just a bitter Hun”.
Today, can you explain this ?
