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Thursday, 24 May, 2001, 10:42 GMT 11:42 UK
Your verdict on the Scottish Cup final
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Martin O'Neill's Celtic have won the Scottish Cup and in doing so clinched their first domestic treble for 32 years.
Did Celtic deserve to win the Scottish Cup or did Hibs under perform on the big stage? In beating Hibs 3-0 Celtic again have showed their dominance in Scotland. Was it a great performance by the Bhoys? Was the Cup final a fitting end to the season? Did Hibs show their true form? Or was the pressure of a Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park too much for the Hibernian side?
Can this Celtic side go on and emulate the 'Lisbon Lions' side of the 1960's?
I find the some of the comments from our friends south of the border regarding Celtic's shortcomings tiresome. Celtic and Rangers both have teams good enough to challenge for the Scottish league. They don't compete in the English Premiership, therefore it's irrelevant what they could or couldn't do in that competition.
The teams in the English Premiership receive vast sums of TV money, if Celtic were competing down south, they would simply buy the team they need to win the championship and challenge for the title. It's as simple as that, anyone can compete with large amounts of cash at their disposal.
Since taking over Martin O'Neill has transformed Celtic. The club has shown fantastic strength in grinding out results week in week out as well as playing superb football. Martin O'Neill is a players manager and has instilled belief throughout the team. With him at the helm Celtic can go on to far greater things as long as the board get right behind him.
No doubt, Celtic had a fantastic season and they deserve congratulations, especially Martin O'Neill. But to reach the heights of the legendary Lisbon Lions, Celtic have to make an impact in Europe. I'd love to see that happen, but realistically, the opposition will be too strong for Celtic, who, let's face it, are playing in a weak league by international standards.
Celtic had a great season and Martin O'Neil did a superb job. Next season will be the true test and will indicate just how far the Glasgow club have come. Retaining the Premier League title is a priority, as is a good run in Europe. Nobody should expect us to advance too far next season. Even Manchester United took a while to find their European feet. Good luck to both Celtic and Rangers, the better they do the better the Premier League looks.
Celtic were second only to Manchester Utd this season in Britain, for Steve Brown who saw a Man Utd 'B' team torture? Celtic. if that's there B team - God help the Premiership next season, if Beckham, Giggs and Stam can only make the B team I can't wait to see their A team. Plus on the night Celtic played in the spirit of the game and tried to entertain the crowd, they were unlucky not to score. Celtic have deserved everything they have won this season, they'll prove again next season that it's not that Rangers had a poor season but simply Celtic are a better side. Celtic need to look to the example of Leeds, who came from one of Europe's weakest leagues and made it to the semi-final of the European Cup
Celtic were the better team, especially after they scored the first goal.
Steve Brown's earlier comment about the result of a friendly have no relevance. Celtic have beaten Man U on many previous occasions recently yet we never claimed to be champions of Britain. We will do OK in Europe if we can avoid Liverpool or any Spanish side in the qualifying.
Fantastic Bhoys! Stage 1 has been completed. Now we have to ensure Martin O'Neil gets the money he needs to keep Larsson and buy a few players to get us to stage 2 winning the league again.
Considering what Celtic have achieved in the "much maligned" Scottish arena, it is FRIGHTENING to think of what they could achieve on the bigger stage! If Celtic were able to play against better opposition every week then before long they would overtake most of the English lot, simply because of the supporter base and profile of the club. OF COURSE the Premiership is a better league than the SPL, but it seems some of our friends from south of the border have absolutely no idea how big the Old Firm are. Comments such as "the best they could expect is mid table" are simply LAUGHABLE. Get real indeed, Mr Brown!!
Since taking over Martin O'Neill has transformed Celtic. The club has shown fantastic strength in grinding out results week in week out as well as playing superb football. Martin O'Neill is a player's manager and has instilled belief throughout the team. With him at the helm Celtic can go on to far greater things as long as the board get right behind him.
I think next season will be a success if we can win the league again and get to the first group stage in the Champion's League. I think we will do a lot better than most people think. We're a hard team to beat and O'Neill needs a free hand to do what he wants and buy who he wants. Long may it continue
Forget all the hype, all the doubters and all the cynics who constantly look to pour water on great stories ... Celtic had a most brilliant season! Let's celebrate that and worry about what's next at the right time. Well done Celtic ... you were fabulous.
When a side like Hibs finish third you know how abysmal the league really is, they aren't a bad team, but they certainly wouldn't make it in any other major league. Celtic are the only class side in the SPL and unless Rangers address the problem this will happen every season.
To say Celtic are a great team is laughable, I watched Man Utd torture them in a friendly at Celtic park with their B team. Celtic will be lucky to qualify for the second round of the Champions League. If they were in the Premiership the best they could expect is mid table. Apart from Celtic & Rangers every other team in Scotland would be relegated in England in their first season. Get real
Hibs played better than people give them credit for, 3-0 flatters Celtic. Interesting to see how the Edinburgh team would have fared if Latapy hadn't gone on a 'bender'.
Personally I think the most exciting thing to hit Scottish football next year will be the re-negotiation of the SKY contract, with the Old Firm looking for at least £15m per season - the rest of the SPL teams will show their true colours and who knows, the Atlantic league may become reality. Well done Martin and the Bhoys for putting some pride back in Glasgow's Irish!
I can't envisage Celtic getting consistently good enough results at this stage of their early European development under Martin O'Neill. Even some of the teams from the so-called weaker nations in the Champions League will give Celtic harder games than some of the hopeless teams at the bottom end of the Premier League
Celtic have done well in a weak league. We can expect them to fail in Europe quite early as they are simply not strong enough to cope with any real opposition.
Never mind new contracts for the players, the Celtic board should get Martin O'Neill and his backroom staff on longer term contracts.
A treble in their first year after only having spent £20M.
What a magnificent achievement.
Martin O'Neill has done an amazing job in building the team spirit and belief of the Bhoys to great victory. As for Larsson, what a phenomenal season he has had. The question is will the Bhoys make an impact in Europe next year? That will be the test that decides if this is the greatest Celtic squad since the Lisbon Lions. Here's hoping!
Hibs were the better team in the first half and were unfortunate to go in 1-0 down at half-time and then a soft penalty killed them off. Celtic should enjoy their success while they can, as Rangers will be back to reclaim the title next season.
As a lifelong Rangers fan I have to confess that this present Celtic team are the greatest team ever to play in Scotland.
I am sure they will win the Champions League as well. This present Celtic team could scoosh the pants off us any day....much as I hate to admit it!!!
An unbelievable season, but this should only been seen as a building block for the future. Celtic were great but Rangers were weak. Some big summer signings, retaining the championship and a solid European performance must be expected for next season.
No-one can deny that Celtic thoroughly deserved the treble this season. They achieved huge victories over Rangers and maintained an unbelievable show of determination by the players after a gruelling season.
Their hearts and love for the club showed in one their proudest moments ever. We salute you Bhoys, go and enjoy a well deserved rest. You are all heroes in our hearts. Hail Hail to the Bhoys in green!!!!!!
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