Brendan Rodgers’ deceptive smile hides the pain, and the European shame…
In light of Celtic’s embarrassing – not shock – exit at the hands of yet another European minnow, Kairat Almaty, the writing was always on the wall, and we all saw it coming.
It is an inconvenient truth that we knew we’d be let down, yet again, but were powerless to stop the good ship Celtic hitting the all-too-clear iceberg. Yes, the same obstacle which has sunk us for too long now.
The litany of clubs who have brought shame and humiliation to our great support over the years is appalling. The manner in which we have been hung out to dry is even more so! Maribor, Cluj, etc. now Almaty – you know them, all dismissing Celtic’s hopes and dreams of replicating Cesar, Jinky, and Wispy at the top table.
How did we fail so miserably? Well, answers on a postcard (from Kazakhstan) to D. Desmond and co. (very, very) Ltd!
Dermot Desmond prior to the Celtic vs St Mirren Cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park on May 20, 2023 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Rodgers has had to bite his tongue on several occasions as he challenged his paymasters to up the ante and give him a reasonable shot at Europe. Never mind Scotland, that’s a walk in the park, (literally), and we will clean up, again, despite the odd hiccup.
Europe is the benchmark and always will be. However, whenever we do an Oliver Twist and ask for ‘more’ just to get us there, we are rapped on the knuckles and sent to the ‘grateful room’ as punishment for our impudence.
Celtic fans in the stands Kairat Almaty v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Play-Off Round, Second Leg, Football, Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan – 26 Aug 2025Almaty Almaty Central Stadium Kazakhstan Photo Nikita Bassov/Shutterstock
The trend of waiting until we have qualified (which, more often than not, we don’t) until we speculate to accumulate, is galling. I don’t need to regurgitate the number of players lost compared to the few acquired, nor the cash-in versus booty smuggled away in a hidden, well-guarded bank account.
The smugglers have well and truly shafted both the manager(s) and the fleeced fans. It’s been going on for eons, so, when Brendan smiled (tentatively) and publicly offered a glimmer of hope that by the time the squad returned to Glasgow, there may be one or two signings waiting. Too damned late!
Yang Hyun-Jun of Celtic Kairat Almaty v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Play-Off Round, Second Leg, Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan – 26 August 2025Almaty Almaty Central Stadium Kazakhstan Photo Nikita Bassov/Shutterstock
By the time they are back in Paradise, we are out of the Champions League, and that is yet another kick in the Henry Halls for a fanbase who have shelled out fortunes for replica strips, flights and accommodation, and overpriced season tickets.
It has always been thus, but, as far as the Rhett Butlers are concerned, frankly my dears, they don’t give a damn!
If Celtic beat an average theRangers team at Ibrox on Sunday, they will expect that all is forgiven. They are so wrong – they will not be forgiven until they invest OUR money in the squad and provide a real prospect of regular Champions league football.
Celtic supporters, Kairat Almaty v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Play-Off Round, Second Leg, Football, Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan – 26 Aug 2025Almaty Almaty Central Stadium Kazakhstan Photo Nikita Bassov/Shutterstock
I would encourage the support to continue their vocal dissidence against the men who refuse to engage with their customers in a meaningful way, but we must always back the team! It’s the Celtic way.
Daizen Maeda of Celtic reacts to missing an opportunity Kairat Almaty v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Play-Off Round, Second Leg, Football, Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan – 26 August 2025. Photo Nikita Bassov/Shutterstock
Hail Hail
Eddie Murray
How can a board, a club, a football operation survive incompetence like this? Can’t beat anyone in a knock out game. Even diddy teams.
The number of charlatans, yes men, and hangers-on that Celtic board is astonishing. Same in the Csuite. #NotInMyName https://t.co/yQwNm6XKQI
— Roger Mitchell (@RPMComo) August 26, 2025
Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Foreword by Danny McGrain. Published on Celtic Star Books on 5 September 2025. Click on image to pre-order.
Help raise funds for Celtic Youth Academy by playing the Celtic Pools Weekly Lottery and you could win up to £25,000. The lottery is £1 per week. Click on image to join.
Rodgers is partly to blame as are the players. Everything we do is so predictable and I don’t think we can take Sunday for granted we’ve been poor in so many of the last few derbies especially away.
Only August and our season is over.
Embarrassing and shameful.
I tried for decades to defend Scottish football but today I put flowers on it’s grave.
The gulf is widening in Europe and we haven’t even tried to narrow the gap.
Beating a sevco team stacked with English Championship has been is our ceiling and only ambition now.
I would encourage you to shut the fuck up you bleeding heart twat. Has anyone looked into Kairat transfer window? Did the MINNOWS bring in a surplus of players for their manager or did he just fuck us in the ass with what he has. Heres a thought. Sub Schmeichel out at 119 minute mark and throw in Sinisalo for the penalty shootout. Young blood and bones move better in that situation. Just a thought.
Only Rodgers to blame. Terrible performance from terrible planning. A must win game with our only three strikers getting splinters on their bum on the bench, one for 76 minutes, the other two for the whole time there!
Must win! No goalscorers, no scoring opportunities, no gameplan, nothing!
Time to move along Brendan. I’m afraid you aren’t the elite manager we thought you were.
This must be how the new club’s fans across the city feels every single week!
You can’t tell me not a single players profile wasn’t passed onto Rodgers desk ,he has the final say so he either isn’t vocal enough or he’s just an incometent maanager ,,,,,,europe so far has proved this but we’ll get back to that , his thin veiled messages in pressers seems to get everyone on the brendan side , don’t want messages want action and so far he is the one who shat the nest , threw new signings under the bus by coming out and saying they weren’t ready ,,,,you must have given the go ahead for them or are you justa nodding donkey
Time and time again this system he plays in europe is brutal ,outdated and stifles players with any shred of ability Hatate a case in point , the guy used to score screamers now he’s regressed to walking around tippy tappy give the ball away ,no shots on target ,,,,nah mate we walk it in the net ,,,,no headers ,,,nah we just fire the ball across to nae knt everyone watching the 2 games saw the system played was to slow outdated and no good for europe ,,,,yet were surprised when the wee diddy teams come calling and put us out on our arse
we had a lucky run last year because we had good players who were brought in by another manager , this elite fraud always does well in his first season with teams he inherits ,,,,,then he gets found out ,maybe the reason we don’t have players in is because he can’t identify a good player we were screaming for a left back each year he’s been manager we got a loan signing
as for the useless board , the celtic support lost there voice and there standing when we started winning everyone ignored the downsizing because were winning ,,,,rodgers coming back ,,,,,no bothered were winning as long as we pump the huns ,,,,,how’d that work out last year
The waiting list killed any type of boycott as nobody wants to lose there seat ,,,, i doubt 10k are on the list but that’s my opinion ,,, ticket boycott for european games ,,,,,,not a chance , speak up at an agm ,,,,,,,to many happyclappers in the room asking stupid questions
face it as customers were fkd ,properly fkd it’s just some of us haven’t got our drawers down to realise that
so what now ,,,,,tumbleweed emojis would be helpful