From crisis to coronation, Celtic’s title win was as dramatic as it was unlikely months earlier and we have Martin O'Neill, his backroom staff, and the players to thank for a fairytale ending
At one stage I did not think Celtic were going to make it. Especially when the offside flag went against Maeda. What on earth was that stand side linesman thinking ? McInnes Game Plan almost worked, but I think ultimately they ran out of steam at the end, and they definitely missed Halkett and Leornard.
McInnes made all his subs by the 67 minute mark and I agree that they ran out of steam, but I also think O'Neill tactically out thought McInnes.
As for that offside ruling by the linesman, thank god we have VAR, because that would have been ruled out and would have been the worst decision this season if it didnt stand.
Ultimately a team reflects the spirit of the manager on the field, and unfortunately for Hearts , McInnes has shown his ugly side to his nature, insinuating that Celtic cheated to win the league, this was no doubt to salve the conscience of his fraternal brothers of Ibrox.
Has that little pipsqueak, the Cheeky Chappie McCoist sprung up yet to call cheat too ?
Appreciate you are reporting from the green side of the fence but I think you’re being a bit on harsh on Hearts (I’m not a Jambo btw).
This has been a poor quality season overall in the league, especially for the old firm. It’s definitely been tense and unpredictable, which is refreshing, and it’s been a bit fraught for the ‘big’ teams. Been great not to have yet another Celtic/Rangers battle for the title from January onwards!
Hearts have done a great job in taking advantage of the OF up and down displays.
But they just didn’t have the strength in depth nor the seasoned experience to see it over the line. Celtic did. Hearts didn’t bottle it and lose it on Saturday, they lost it in the last few games of the run in, dropping points while Celtic were collecting them. That’s what comes with experience of having done it before, and with a manager that knows how to handle it.
I hope it’s the start of a spell with less OF dominance, with more teams giving them a decent challenge, god knows our football needs it.
The most disappointing thing about the game was the pitch invasion, and the aggro between fans and the Hearts players. That has got NO place in the game and there is no excuse. Be thrilled and emotional and excited by all means, but don’t be a ned about it.
Hey David, on this site at least I am speaking with my green tinted specs on. McInnes' game plan worked in the first half bar the penalty -which was a penalty despite claims from other supporters calling it the usual corrupt and cheating - which I think threw Hearts off their game going into the second half.
MON's half time sub of Iheanacho coming on also disrupted McInnes' game plan and he had to make a quick sub - but even throughout the first half there was play acting, time wasting, all in an attempt the run the clock down.
The injuries clearly didn't help - they all came within the past few games, while Celtic have had major long term injuries to key players for much of the season - and with all subs made by 67 minutes, McInnes couldn't change things up as soon as MON rang the remainder of his changes and that won out in the end.
But I do stand by the 'bottlejob' comment because under pressure you find out who the real winners and losers are. After Maeda scored, Shankland's head went and he was more interested in squaring up to Saracchi and Maeda [kicking out at him and grabbing him by the throat - should have been sent off for two bookable offences] than trying to get his team back into it.
As for the pitch invasion, we all love a pitch invasion now and again, but most of the time its wee bams making it all about them. Theres nothing wrong with giving players pelters etc. however, I think some of the reporting has not only been overblown, but also published with no evidence to back it up. We are on Monday now and still no footage of players being attacked. Goaded yes. Hearts players pushing fans away or grabbing their phones and stamping on them several times yes. But not attacked, assaulted etc. We can obviously discuss the fact that the fans shouldn't have been on the park in the first place, but we have seen it all over the world for decades with and without violence. I will add that the narrative around the Hearts players being attacked, was initially coined to Eilidh Barbour in the Sky sports studio post-match yet less than an hour later Sky Sports reversed back on that to say goading, yet the damage had already been done and everyone ran with the assaulted line - and as I mentioned still no proof days later despite the huge amount of cameras there. Some running the line to suit their own agendas rather than reporting what they want to be aired rather than what actually happened.
Agree with most of that, especially about the Hearts players themselves having a go at the fans at the end. Shankland being pulled away by his teammates. Not a good sight - there’s an ugly side to his game too, always spoiling for a fight.
Hearts tactics were typical McInnes. It was the Aberdeen way when he was there. Nothing wrong with showing a bit of battle but the diving and squaring up to opponents is ugly to watch. I’ve no time for McInnes as an individual, never stops niggling the officials.
Still can’t agree that Hearts bottled it though - they had a tactic of not losing the game, and tried to have a go first half, but once they went ahead they seemed to close in on themselves and didn’t have much of an answer to the Celtic pressure. Celtic overpowered them.
I’ve always enjoyed watching Celtic play, from being a young laddie idolising Kenny Dalgleish. I’m looking forward to seeing them in Europe but they’ll need to build a better squad AND they’ll need a manager of O’Neills stature too.
Personally, I’m looking for a much more enjoyable season for my own team next time - Livingston. 😳 We’ve been dreadful to watch. Totally out of our depth, clueless management, poor quality signings. We have punched above our weight over the years but the small support and lack of money catches up with you. At least next season we should have something to play for in a more even and exciting league rather than being the minnows in a pond of big fish (and there’s no VAR!! Woohoo!).
Celtic have a huge job on their hands in the summer beyond a new manager - a complete squad rebuild is on the cards and that comes with a hefty price tag. But I can't see Celtic being as bad as they were this season. And as for Europe, they need to make sure they are ready for the Champions League playoff and not make the same mistake as last year as it will cost them £40-50 million minimum.
As for Livingston, yeah they haven't been great. I have been over to Almondvale a number of times [Celtic games v Livi] and it's a not bad day out really - Lidl parking helped lol. But there seems to be something in the background not helping at all. Martindale should have been shown the door not moved to what I can only be described as a supervisor role above Marvin Bartley. And then theres what Bartley said on Clyde One last week, where he was told he had to job long term before being told that he had to interview for the job along with others. I think you guys have lost a good manager, he certainly knows the Championship, but he'll be more than happy in his pundit gig at Clyde One.
The biggest thing missing from Scottish football is the coverage of the Scottish Championship and I have always argued that there needed to be an SPFL tv setup - with live matches across all the leagues, highlight packages, feature shows, fan shows etc. And move away from Sky Sports as quickly as possible.
The lower leagues definitely need tv revenue. It won’t come from the BBC - it’s Old Firm or nothing most of the time with them.
We would have had Marvin staying on. The general consensus is Martindale is still pulling the strings. We won’t move on as a club until he is gone.
As a family we’ve had great times at Livi over the years, coming up and down through the leagues, it’s much more ‘genuine’. And our last stint in the Championship saw us win the Challenge Cup and promotion - though many Livi fans would have preferred to stay in the Championship, we weren’t ready for promotion.
Fan base has changed a lot from our long standing ‘family friendly’ reputation though - we now have our very own pack of black-clad balaclava youth ‘ultras’ spoiling for trouble on match days. That’s not Livi!
Not on this article David, this was solely about the game. I will write about the pitch invasion etc in an article that will be out later tonight mate.
Regarding the huns' European participation, I'm not sure if I'd care should Dunfermline win, but silverware is our default position, so I'll be cheering them on but should we not win, it'll be some silver lining.
Obviously, would hate to lose a double and especially to Dunfermline. But it would be funny as fuck when they implode and shout about corruption and cheating again lol
Against the odds in football terms David, given everything that happened with long term injuries, managerial upheavals, most defeats for the club in decades and chaos off the field also. So yes against the odds given where they were back in February as a club in the table.
At one stage I did not think Celtic were going to make it. Especially when the offside flag went against Maeda. What on earth was that stand side linesman thinking ? McInnes Game Plan almost worked, but I think ultimately they ran out of steam at the end, and they definitely missed Halkett and Leornard.
McInnes made all his subs by the 67 minute mark and I agree that they ran out of steam, but I also think O'Neill tactically out thought McInnes.
As for that offside ruling by the linesman, thank god we have VAR, because that would have been ruled out and would have been the worst decision this season if it didnt stand.
Ultimately a team reflects the spirit of the manager on the field, and unfortunately for Hearts , McInnes has shown his ugly side to his nature, insinuating that Celtic cheated to win the league, this was no doubt to salve the conscience of his fraternal brothers of Ibrox.
Has that little pipsqueak, the Cheeky Chappie McCoist sprung up yet to call cheat too ?
He's in hiding, but he will pop up sooner or later from another drunken stupur.
Appreciate you are reporting from the green side of the fence but I think you’re being a bit on harsh on Hearts (I’m not a Jambo btw).
This has been a poor quality season overall in the league, especially for the old firm. It’s definitely been tense and unpredictable, which is refreshing, and it’s been a bit fraught for the ‘big’ teams. Been great not to have yet another Celtic/Rangers battle for the title from January onwards!
Hearts have done a great job in taking advantage of the OF up and down displays.
But they just didn’t have the strength in depth nor the seasoned experience to see it over the line. Celtic did. Hearts didn’t bottle it and lose it on Saturday, they lost it in the last few games of the run in, dropping points while Celtic were collecting them. That’s what comes with experience of having done it before, and with a manager that knows how to handle it.
I hope it’s the start of a spell with less OF dominance, with more teams giving them a decent challenge, god knows our football needs it.
The most disappointing thing about the game was the pitch invasion, and the aggro between fans and the Hearts players. That has got NO place in the game and there is no excuse. Be thrilled and emotional and excited by all means, but don’t be a ned about it.
Hey David, on this site at least I am speaking with my green tinted specs on. McInnes' game plan worked in the first half bar the penalty -which was a penalty despite claims from other supporters calling it the usual corrupt and cheating - which I think threw Hearts off their game going into the second half.
MON's half time sub of Iheanacho coming on also disrupted McInnes' game plan and he had to make a quick sub - but even throughout the first half there was play acting, time wasting, all in an attempt the run the clock down.
The injuries clearly didn't help - they all came within the past few games, while Celtic have had major long term injuries to key players for much of the season - and with all subs made by 67 minutes, McInnes couldn't change things up as soon as MON rang the remainder of his changes and that won out in the end.
But I do stand by the 'bottlejob' comment because under pressure you find out who the real winners and losers are. After Maeda scored, Shankland's head went and he was more interested in squaring up to Saracchi and Maeda [kicking out at him and grabbing him by the throat - should have been sent off for two bookable offences] than trying to get his team back into it.
As for the pitch invasion, we all love a pitch invasion now and again, but most of the time its wee bams making it all about them. Theres nothing wrong with giving players pelters etc. however, I think some of the reporting has not only been overblown, but also published with no evidence to back it up. We are on Monday now and still no footage of players being attacked. Goaded yes. Hearts players pushing fans away or grabbing their phones and stamping on them several times yes. But not attacked, assaulted etc. We can obviously discuss the fact that the fans shouldn't have been on the park in the first place, but we have seen it all over the world for decades with and without violence. I will add that the narrative around the Hearts players being attacked, was initially coined to Eilidh Barbour in the Sky sports studio post-match yet less than an hour later Sky Sports reversed back on that to say goading, yet the damage had already been done and everyone ran with the assaulted line - and as I mentioned still no proof days later despite the huge amount of cameras there. Some running the line to suit their own agendas rather than reporting what they want to be aired rather than what actually happened.
Agree with most of that, especially about the Hearts players themselves having a go at the fans at the end. Shankland being pulled away by his teammates. Not a good sight - there’s an ugly side to his game too, always spoiling for a fight.
Hearts tactics were typical McInnes. It was the Aberdeen way when he was there. Nothing wrong with showing a bit of battle but the diving and squaring up to opponents is ugly to watch. I’ve no time for McInnes as an individual, never stops niggling the officials.
Still can’t agree that Hearts bottled it though - they had a tactic of not losing the game, and tried to have a go first half, but once they went ahead they seemed to close in on themselves and didn’t have much of an answer to the Celtic pressure. Celtic overpowered them.
I’ve always enjoyed watching Celtic play, from being a young laddie idolising Kenny Dalgleish. I’m looking forward to seeing them in Europe but they’ll need to build a better squad AND they’ll need a manager of O’Neills stature too.
Personally, I’m looking for a much more enjoyable season for my own team next time - Livingston. 😳 We’ve been dreadful to watch. Totally out of our depth, clueless management, poor quality signings. We have punched above our weight over the years but the small support and lack of money catches up with you. At least next season we should have something to play for in a more even and exciting league rather than being the minnows in a pond of big fish (and there’s no VAR!! Woohoo!).
Celtic have a huge job on their hands in the summer beyond a new manager - a complete squad rebuild is on the cards and that comes with a hefty price tag. But I can't see Celtic being as bad as they were this season. And as for Europe, they need to make sure they are ready for the Champions League playoff and not make the same mistake as last year as it will cost them £40-50 million minimum.
As for Livingston, yeah they haven't been great. I have been over to Almondvale a number of times [Celtic games v Livi] and it's a not bad day out really - Lidl parking helped lol. But there seems to be something in the background not helping at all. Martindale should have been shown the door not moved to what I can only be described as a supervisor role above Marvin Bartley. And then theres what Bartley said on Clyde One last week, where he was told he had to job long term before being told that he had to interview for the job along with others. I think you guys have lost a good manager, he certainly knows the Championship, but he'll be more than happy in his pundit gig at Clyde One.
The biggest thing missing from Scottish football is the coverage of the Scottish Championship and I have always argued that there needed to be an SPFL tv setup - with live matches across all the leagues, highlight packages, feature shows, fan shows etc. And move away from Sky Sports as quickly as possible.
The lower leagues definitely need tv revenue. It won’t come from the BBC - it’s Old Firm or nothing most of the time with them.
We would have had Marvin staying on. The general consensus is Martindale is still pulling the strings. We won’t move on as a club until he is gone.
As a family we’ve had great times at Livi over the years, coming up and down through the leagues, it’s much more ‘genuine’. And our last stint in the Championship saw us win the Challenge Cup and promotion - though many Livi fans would have preferred to stay in the Championship, we weren’t ready for promotion.
Fan base has changed a lot from our long standing ‘family friendly’ reputation though - we now have our very own pack of black-clad balaclava youth ‘ultras’ spoiling for trouble on match days. That’s not Livi!
Yeah I remember the days of the 'Drum Beat Mafia' definitely an acquired taste lol
I agree Martindale needs to be move on but he won't do that voluntarily.
No comment on the pitch invasion?
Not on this article David, this was solely about the game. I will write about the pitch invasion etc in an article that will be out later tonight mate.
It was never in doubt, Andy.
Nudge, Nudge, Wink, Wink.
Regarding the huns' European participation, I'm not sure if I'd care should Dunfermline win, but silverware is our default position, so I'll be cheering them on but should we not win, it'll be some silver lining.
Obviously, would hate to lose a double and especially to Dunfermline. But it would be funny as fuck when they implode and shout about corruption and cheating again lol
Against the odds in football terms David, given everything that happened with long term injuries, managerial upheavals, most defeats for the club in decades and chaos off the field also. So yes against the odds given where they were back in February as a club in the table.