It’s okay to admit it, you thought we were going to make an arse of it as well, didn’t you?
Or at least have another tale of another Champions League nearly men ?
I couldn’t have been the only one remembering Billy McNeill’s summary of the 1970 European Cup, where he described beating Leeds and losing to Feyenoord as falling over the molehill at the top of the mountain you’ve just climbed.
After looking like things were getting back on track against Kilmarnock, more pace, more directness and plenty of chances created, Young Boys should have been there for the taking last night, and could have been five or six down by half time as Celtic swept towards their goal with almost relentless aim.
Three times Kyogo Fuhruhashi found the net, three times it was ruled offside.
Of two penalty claims, one was awarded, and a nervous Arne Engels hesitated long enough to make a bit of a pigs ear of it.
But Celtic, to their credit, kept going, and Young Boys were extremely fortunate to go in at the break level, which, of course, gave them a little bit of confidence.
As Celtic began to run out of steam, which wasn’t surprising, YBB crept back into it, and their attacks, becoming more frequent, started to make our back line, never the most assured at the best of times, a little jittery.
At this point an image of Dariusz Dzeikanowski against Partizan Belgrade began to form in the back of my mind.
We all had our own ideas about changes, and we all guessed wrong. Instead of going two up front, we swapped left backs.
Instead of removing Reo Hatate and adding energy and enthusiasm in Luke McCowan, the Japanese midfielder remained on the pitch.
And of course, on came Adam Idah, looking for his first goal since he left school.
A collective “Well, that’s fecking that, then,” was heard throughout the land.
Or that might have just been me.
And yet, a McStayesque pass, a Sutton-like shield and a shot that bounced off a keeper and a defender later, the mood had changed.
The pass was top drawer, Idah shrugged off a defender and Celtic were into at least the play offs.
European knockout football awaits….and frankly, I don;t give a toss who we end up playing.
There’s still an outside chance , with a win against an unconvincing and inconsistent Aston Villa , that the hoops can skip the play offs and finish top eight.
for those who think that’s a wee bit beyond us, consider that had Bruges and Dinamo Zagreb been beaten, which are in the coud have should have bracket, Celtic would now lie fifth in the overall table.
It might seem like a bit of a roller coaster of a campaign so far, but it’s got us where we need to be.
We’re in the next stage, at least.
Add to that a League cup, progression in the Scottish Cup and a pretty much unassailable lead at the top of the league, and any criticism is harsh.
We’re doing alright, if I don;t mind saying so myself.
However, it does look like with qualification assured, one of our own may be leaving.
Kyogo Fuhruhashi is in advance talks to join Rennes, with Jota, remember him, about to rejoin Celtic.
Keiran Tierney’s loan at Arsenal is up…see the Diaries five years ago, i did tell you he was only going there to try to get his hip fixed and keep his match fitness at a decent level….so he’ll slot in to the squad either this month or at the end of the season.
Kyogo’s exit could mean a new striker, or simply a move central for Daizen Maeda, who incidentally got sent off last night for retaliation, with a snap kick to a player that looked worse than ot was, but the little buzz bomb had had enough, and although he apologised for letting everyone down, most would agree that at least everyone now knows that if you kick him he will kick you back.
Jota Maeda Kuhn isn;t a bad line, though of course, we’d rather Kyogo stayed as well.
Idah proved again last night he can win matches from the bench, well, not literally, obviously he has to be on the pitch, but you get the point.
Kasper Schmeichel signed a contract extension, and don;t underestimate his contribution last night. Most of us probably weren;t looking when he made that last minute save, but it was just as valuable as the goal.
All in all, we can be happy, or at least relieved.
Anything can happen in knockout football, and probably will.
We got a bit of luck last night, but we deserved a break.
Maybe these things do even out, and maybe there’s still a chance of a memorable season at home and in Europe.
Wouldn’t be the first time we’ve won a quadruple…..
Last time, we had this…
Party games in the White House, pin the tail on the donkey.
Today…
Sevco fans waving goodbye to the leafed abd a couple of cups.
Caption
“Etims CFC depart for the Allianze “
“Last charter gets back from Lisbon “
“ Ryanair blah blah blah “
Caption: The sports department at The Record rejoices as The Rangers new signing jets in.
caption: Kieran jets in
“Bye Philippe, don’t come back.”
From Jackie’s 4 goals to so many failures at the last hurdle I worried but Celtic were superb. I hope we don’t lose Kyogo but we need an in form striker to offer an alternative to the were man and Idah. I believe the latter still suffers for his disrupted pre season.
Schmeichel made 3 fantastic saves last night. Hatate played his best game since before his injury, now it’s Khun’s turn to struggle to get back to where he was pre injury. Defence solid, usually our weakest link in Europe.
Rodgers deserves the plaudits and Villa will be interesting . If they are as bad as they were on Tuesday night we can win, they probably won’t be.
“Farewell, and thank you, Kyogo!”
It’s the Nazis, quick do the Elon Musk salute!
Caption: Relief at Celtic as some bits of KT’s body found in the Arsenal physio storeroom are dropped off by courier.
Just relieved to get over the CL hump last night can’t complain about the offside decisions except experienced forwards should know how to run the line. Hoping big Idah’s fluke will spur him on. 6.5 million game. What a world at the top end. Kyogo out? Who’s coming in? Saw their big CH just brush him off the ball after a few minutes. His goal scoring with a bit more physicality and that’s some player. Big loss if Maeda gets a 3 match ban but he’s back for the semi…..
He’ll be back for the Quarter-Final away at Liverpool or Barca. 😉
Rangers players pause in the shipyards as a rival player jets off to Germany
Emila Earhart’s attempts to teach her ground crew the steps to YMCA, from 10,000ft, met with limited success.
Kevin muscat arrive promising sexy football
Very satisfying and deserved win. Once again we created plenty of chances and
missed them. The forwards need to work on that chance to score ratio. In the end Hatate and Idah so very well to force the goal. Into the knockout round playoffs at least. Well done Celtic
Just look how high the CELTIC are flying now
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Ralph takes to the air in search of new caption comp photos.
Caption
Celtic board celebrate the sale of Kyogo.
The first half last night was totally dominant, there should have been two penalties, the sleekit shove on Maeda.
In the second half we lost our way as Young Giants decided to stick it to the team. McGregor was outstanding, as for the rest they fought to the end. Now we should bring in strength for the play off rounds, as for the talk of Kyogo wanting away, if so we want guys playing for the shirt.
Caption:”Oh, and remember…..shoite on the barstewards below!”
One was for a foul by McGregor, when he pressed their defender but caught him, although in real time I thought he’d nicked it through the player’s legs.
Kyogo was offside at first and then Meada for the other 2 non-goals.
Celteris Parabus, we’ll be playing either Bayern or Real, followed by Liverpool or Barca in Quarter-Final. 🙂
With 12 points (so far), 3 wins, 3 draws and 1 defeat, its already a memorable season in Europe, compared to the last decade.
Kyogo leaving, which seems to be the mood music, is a bit of a buzzkill and smacks of the dreaded Player Trading Model nonsense. “We got 4 years out of him and made a £5m profit”. Nobody ever says, if he stayed we’d earn far more than this with him leading the line.
Maeda isn’t the answer through the middle. Yes, he can fill-in to lead the line but his lack of composure and technical ability would be a liability. It would also emasculate his strengths, which is his wing play and pressing.
If the news is correct then I hope we’ve got a suitable replacement lined up, which isn’t Jota returning and moving Maeda through the middle or signing an Aston Villa reject prospect.
I hope lessons have been learnt and we’re not going to shoot ourselves in the foot again from a position of strength.
Caption: Unabashed joy from the ETims editorial team as the pish stained reporter ’jets in’ from his 3 week long, Ollie Reed inspired, “burst your liver” holiday extravaganza.
Caption: Is that Jota on the wing?
Caption: Peter Lawwell gets a huge round of applause for leaving Parkhead for the final time in his “world class” flying machine!
Whilst it’s terrific to be through to the knock-out round at least, it does paper over some obvious cracks in thinking, bravery and tactics. We absolutely threw away 4 points vs Brugge and Zagreb due to those failings and were ultimately very lucky to get through. Thank you Kasper and happy new contract! Well done Adam Idah for causing the goal with a fantastic, but becoming all too rare, pass from Reo.
The fukking about at the back we did was a waste of the 1st 20 minutes and excruciating crap from a supporters’ position and we nearly ran out of time. Think about that and what use that eye-bleeding shit is all about. I make no apology for speaking out as I see it. Re Kyogo, if we’re honest here, he’s not been great this season at all and as long as he’s replaced with quality I’m okay with that and will forever wish him well for that smile he brought and gave to us along with some scintillating football and goals.
The dreaded ‘Awaiting for approval’, again FFS! See below.
Dundee game in doubt due to Stadium storm damage and there will be a decision tomorrow morning.
Good shout Cha, thanks for the heads up!
I won’t be in Glasgow tomorrow but it may well help lots of others.
Game off.
You may well have saved somebody a nightmare.
Nice, unselfish thinking! 🙂
Hopefully, those going to the game were up to date, but overseas Tims that get up at ridiculous o’clock to go watch may not have been aware.
I knew, underneath it all, you were actually quite bright and caring. 😉
Well done!
Caption. Two 14 year old subs on their way to old Trafford
Is the Kyogo deal finalised yet?
if not, surely he’s still eligible for next Thursday.
he can fly out from Birmingham to France and play for Rennes Saturday, everybody wins.
I’ve no doubt he’d give his all even knowing it was his last, he certainly did against Young Boys.
I’ve been wondering about that too. I mean, what is the big rush to sign with Rennes that can’t wait a week? Surely any agreement with Kyogo and his agent to release him from his contract could have been made to kick in after the initial group stage had been completed. The whole business seems very strange and you wonder if there is a story we’re not aware of.
Morto/Owen, it just seemed like an unwelcome bolt from the blue!
Unless, as Owen says, there’s more to it then it doesn’t make any sense whatsoever, not from ANY point of view. It’s not beyond Celtic to go to Birmingham and win and with Kyogo in the team the chances are certainly better and it may improve our chances if it led to a more favourable draw in the play-offs. We still wouldn’t make the top 8 but we’d leapfrog Villa so worth it for that and the money, to hide under Lawwell’s ‘Chair’.
Kyogo leaves then the stadium falls down.
Coincidence? I think not.
Brilliant Cha! Japanese Voodoo? 🙂
Jeepers, we might (the team) even collapse like a pack of cards now as a “Skelly Chairman” once said. (Thanks to R St Parsley some time ago).
The best theory I’ve heard is that, since Rennes are in the relegation zone in Ligue 1, the Parkhead bean counters feared the same offer might not be available in summer. A bird in the hand etc…And talk of him wanting to force his way into the national squad is bunkum – Hatate and Maeda have both been called up so playing in Scotland can’t be that much of a problem.
Truth is, I think the wee guy is just scunnered with the way his career has gone under BR. He just hasn’t looked the same player since Rodgers came back and certainly doesn’t seem to be enjoying his football as much. Sorry to say it but, despite BR talking approvingly of Kyogo, I think he is the main reason he wants to leave for a fairly run of the mill French outfit.
All sounds feasible, Owen.
I wanted Brendan back but he’s NOT the messiah. Sometimes he’s a very naughty boy.
Some of what he says makes no sense and some of our play is just vile, slow, out from the back, possession for possession’s sake crap and we’re not even good at it!
Lawwell and meddling are never far apart and NEVER for the benefit of Celtic FC. Just for him and his PLC boss, another human flea. Parasite!
I’m not going to defend Lawwell and some of the decisions made but he’s only doing what his boss and employer wants so maybe we’re complaining about the wrong person/people here.
As things stand currently we’re a successful financial institution that just happens to run a football team.
I’d much prefer we were a successful football team leading to a successful financial institution but I don’t see that changing with the current owners.
Morto, I see your point but it’s not quite accurate. Celtic FC IS the institution it’s just been overtaken by capitalist scum, like most football clubs. As for Lawwell? Well it’s like saying Goebbles, Himmler and the like were just following orders, it’s just not true. PTL (the T is for Toxic) has greedily and consistently plundered money from Celtic and it’s ALL provided by our supporters ultimately. The accountant should be accountable and may yet be.
Owen, I get that argument, particularly if Rennes do go down they’d likely not come back in. However, one week wouldn’t have made any odds to them and could make a huge difference to us.
would have liked to see a replacement in the door at the same time too.
will miss the wee guy whatever his reasons for going.
Yeah, as I say what’s the rush to leave about? The whole affair smells fishy to me but I don’t suppose we’ll ever find out what has happened behind the scenes.
He’ll certainly be a big loss to the team. Brendan’s cautious backpassing approach didn’t seem to excite him as much as big Ange’s up and at ’em style. I can see where he’s coming from.