Celticunderground:the Celtic Football Fan Podcast

This week we have another Podcast Xtra with the thoughts of Brendan and the St Johnstone guys following the borefest at Celtic Park this Sunday.   We have the Brendan post match thoughts along with the comments of the St Johnstone manager and a player who I’ve no Idea who he is.  The fact that ST Johnstone have players and I don’t know who they are, that not one of them would get a starting game for us and that every player in our team would start for them says A LOT more about pur performance that anything I could say on this podcast.   What I do do on the pod is have a little rant about sympathy reffing of wee teams in Scotland.  We were crap today and the ref was not the reason however I am getting fed up with fouls being given but cards not and the consequences of this bad refereeing habit.   Anyway, here’s hoping Thursday night makes today’s bore worthwhile.       Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticundergro

This past Tuesday saw one of the most sparkling performances of the team over the past few months.  A young team with 5 Brendan signings starting and 7 Brendan signings playing at some point, we had a host of players 23 and under and I’m sure at one point the most spoken language on the park was French!  Having won the game by half-time the second half wasn’t quite  as exciting but if it was a foretaste of the remainder of the campaign…bring it on.   Following that Hearts game, the following night was the end of the January window and for a change we were involved right up until the final moments with the completion of the Hendry move and the Bain 6 month loan for goalkeeping cover.  With all that exciteent we just had to produce a podcast and of course it had to be with our go-to guy in South America Mark Cooper.   Mark Cooper and I discuss the weather in South America, the performance against Hearts, the January window and just where in the world we could shop to obtain best value.   Enjoy… This is a public

Regular followers of me on social media will know that I have been trying to get a memebr of the SNP to come on the podcast to provide a counter position on the OBFA.  We have had James Kelly MSP who is proposing the repeal of the Act and we’ve had people from FAC on a couple of times but depsite a couple of fallen through promises no-one from the SNP…until now.   Anyone with a passing interest in the legislation and online will be aware of John.  He’s an abrassive character online but was not at all like that when I met with him.    As you will hear on the podcast I decided to keep with my regular conversational style on the pod to get to the motivation behind the act and I found John far more conciliatory in accepting the faults than expected.  Indeed I was never going to have a chat where he would have a St Paul moment and suddenly see that those against the act have been right all along but his acceptance that the Act was rushed, is ambiguous, has may faults and doesn’t embrace all aspects of prejudice in

The Offensive Behaviour At Football act - a more useless piece of legislation I’ve yet to come across, but that’s not my opinion, that’s the view of lawyers, judges, civil liberty campaigners, minority rights groups and of course the evidence of our own eyes and ears and the evidence of government statistics.  If it was meant to stop a problem it has completely failed.    Regular listeners will know my issues with OBFA - one is that the legislation was not needed - we had laws for dealing with racism and sectarianism and behaviour likely to cause trouble. It’s not very good - we’ve had to train the police what is and isn’t offensive so that they can arrest people and they are the only people being offended. It tries to wrap up societies ills - if we have offensive behaviour at football it will exist in society as a whole so why try to wrap it up in a nice bundle and say the issues are all a football one.   I could go on but surely better to have someone at the heart of matters discuss so we have Paul Quigley

It’s January and the winter break so sureley we’ve got nothing to talk about….DON’T YOU BELEIVE IT!  We’ve got loads and loads so who better to get on than the man who could start a fight in a telephone box Mr Lawrence Donegan.    Lawrence is a man of many talents  and many of you will know him from his role as the argumentative host of the ByTheMinCeltic podcast whilst others will know him simply as the guru of the ByTheMin empire.  For some he’s a great golfing journalist and for others he’s the basist who made Lloyd Cole and the Commotions and the Bluebells were never the same after he left.  For others he’s just that Celtic guy on twitter.   Whatever you know him as, I know him as a guy passionate about the hoops and so I thought it was about time he came back on the podcast for a state of the nation discussion so between us we take 90 minutes to discuss the Rangers game, the season so far, the transfer rumours we’ve heard (which are mainly about sales) and then our expectations for the rest of the campai

Today, Friday 5th January, Celtic completed their second signing of the January transfer window with the capture of Lewis Morgan.  The 21 year old former Rangers youth player has signed on a 4.5 year contract and will stay at St Mirren for the remainder of this season under the guidance of Jack Ross.   A two footed winger, Celtic have high hopes for the youngster who becomes the first Scottish player to sign for Brendan Rodgers.   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

On Saturday 23rd December Celtic defeated the second best team in Scotland 3-0.  The first half was tight but once Celtic scored there was only ever going to be one winner.   After the game Kristopher Ajer, Brendan Rodgers, Mark Reynolds and Derek McInnes spoke to the press.   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

Following the 2 goal victory over Partick Thistle the Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers spoke with the press.  He gave his opinion on the game, the way the players improved through the match and also gave some post match comments about the Thistle player who thumped the ball into the crowd.     Following Brendan Alan Archibald gave his post game thoughts and then finally there was the well groomed and lovely haired Stuart Armstrong.   That will be our final podcast out before Christmas so may all of us at Celtic Underground wish you and your loved ones a very merry Christmas.   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

It happened!  We lost!  3 Players slipped on their arse, the goal keeper had a headrush and pulled down a Hearts player and we thumped it long all second half.  Apart from that we also played poorly…! Yet despite ALL of this we remain top of the league and remain on course for another title and part of the way there to a remarkable back to back treble.  We broke a 100 year record and went 69 games unbeaten.  And of this has happened when you and I are alive.  You’ll tell your grandkids about these days!  Anyway, enough of the rambling…   After the game against Hearts and the end of the record breaking run I thought I should quickly pull together a podcast and discuss the game, the fall-out, the magnificant run and our hopes for the furture.  It’s all here along with the music.   We have Adam Glen with his debut single These Towns and Elvis with Martina McBride singing Blue Christmas from the ‘68comeback concert.   Enjoy…. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get

The past week has seen Celtic lose a two goal defecit to Hibs (a game we should have won by 5 or 6) followed by the Europa League Draw, followed by a FREEZING victory over Hamilton and then all rounded off with a lovely Christmas letter to all season book holders from the club.   With such an action packed week we’ve already squeezed a podcast extra in but have also decided to get @LachieMor1 back on to review the week.   Just before uploading the podcast I asked for cover versions or great intro’s on Twitter and was bombarded.  I have noted all and will get to them all.  Meantime I picked the request from @Hullbhoy for a Sinead O’Connor song and went for her cover of Don’t Cry For Me Argentina (should have saved for @markocooper) and Los Colorados cover of Katie Perry.  It’s quite unique!   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

The slump continues as Celtic reach 69 games unbeaten in domestic football.  At this rate we’ll be slumping ourselves to back to back trebles!  Following on from completely dominating the game against Hibs but losinga  2 goal lead we had the visit of Hamilton.  An excellent strike and a Jozo gift almost lead to Hamilton getting two goals in this game too but in truth this was a game that would only ever have one winner.  Ntcham was excellent again and Edouard had some good chances that he just couldn’t quite convert.   After the game we had Brendan Rodgers, James Forrest and Martin Canning chat in the media conference.   For music we have Morcombe and Wise and a cover of Kings of Leon.   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

Tuesday night was a pivotal game in our season.  Provided we didn’t lose by 3 or more goals we could enjoy European football after Christmas and this was achieved but perhaps not in the way we would have liked…but we’re there.   Following the complaint by Mark Cooper that he always gets the graveyard shift of a post Euro defeat I decided to get another guest on this weeks podcast and so we have Lachie Mor.  As the podcast was recorded we received breaking news about the basket case of another Glasgow Club and so we have a wee laugh for a minute or two at that too!   Music this week is from The Life of Brian and Madness.   Enjoy…. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

Well that was the PSG double header then…12-1. We all knew we would get beaten by the most expensive team ever and whilst none of us like heavy defeats, to channel my inner half glass full guy, there were some positives to take from that game…not many, but more than the home leg.   Immediately following the game i decided to ring up my pal Mark in Argentina in an attempt to pick the bones out of the performance.  We both decided that there was no point in analysing the game on a goal by goal basis and trying to pick out who was at fault.  we lost, let’s move on, learn what lessons we can and win on Sunday.   The music this week in, at the front end, expected - it’s Atmic Kitten with their cover of the Lustig song.  At the end of the podcast it’s the Nirvana cover of the Bowie classic The Man Who Sold The World.   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

This week I am joined by St Anthony in a chat that was supposed to be about our marvellous 100 yr record breaking achievement but in typical Celtic Underground Podcast fashion it went on a meander.   We started with the Anfield Wrap (neither of us could remember the name) briefly touched on the winning run and then got onto the meat and bones of the team and the challenges of team building.  It finished with Saints Ross County preview and has a few mentions of Lawrence Donegan in between.   In recognition of this weeks Country Music Awards the covers have a country fell and also are two generations  apart.  We have Harry Styles covering Girl Crush and Ray Stevens from 1975 covering Misty in a Country Music style.     Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

This week Harry is joined by Guardian Football and Golf correspondent Ewan Murray.  If you pick up your copy of the Guardian at the local paper you will be aware of Ewan for his coverage of the major games in Scottish football and perhaps have worked out that he is a Jambo.  If you’re aware of Ewan from his online presence you will either like him or loathe him or see him simply as a “hurting Hun”.   I normally can’t be bothered with people who occassionally take to trolling on twitter but in Ewan’s case I make an exception and must admit I find his interaction with many quite amusing.  Ewan and I have a very long ramble through his career and then onto Scottish football.  We recorded this just after the loss at home to Bayern so that performance is covered as is Hearts, their new stadium, Pedro, SEVCO coverage and…Airdrie.  It’s all explained when you listen.   The music this week is cover versions of a Bee Gees 1971 song and a Stevie Wonder classic.  We have the Rev Al Green version of How Can You Mend A Br

Celtic have fanzines older than some top flight clubs - Not The View is 30!   For fans under the age of 40 it’s always been there but for those of us of a certain age it was an essential part of Celtic culture growing up.  Perhaps it was the arrival of Souness at Rangers that spawned it or perhaps it was just luck but with everything that happened at Celtic in the first 7 years of its existance NTV was essential reading.   Without NTV perhaps Celts For Change may not have happened.  Certainly without NTV you wouldn’t be listening to this.  It is an essential part of our modern history and St ANthony met up with some of the guys to discuss the 30 years of history.   Prior to the NTV chat we have Brendan pre-Bayern game and Dedryck post Bayern.  Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

This weeks podcast extra is Brendantastic.  We start off with a brief chat before Brendan went on stage for his book launch at the Armadillo in Glasgow and then we have both Brendan and Leigh in fine fettle after the 1-1 home draw against Kilmarnock.   There is irritation in from Leigh about the failure to get a win and frustration in Brendan’s body language but none of us will complain if we get another treble but more importantly if resting players for ushc games facilitates Europe past Christmas.   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

Sorry for the break for the past few weeks but we’ve been busy but we’re back.  A football fans podcast from the guys behind The Celtic Underground and now in our 12th season possibly the greatest time in those 12 years to be a fans of the hoops and maybe longer.  Officially the best football fans in the world, we support a great team that is also in a different league to the rest of Scottish football.   Since the last podcast we’ve defeated Hibs to reach the first final of the season, bossed the 2nd best team in Scotland on their own patch and moved close to European football after Christmas.  With all of this (and the sacking of Pedro and construction of a 1960’s office block by Hearts) there was so much to chat about we needed two guests - Mark Cooper and Hullbhoy.   The music this week is Scott Bradlee’s Post Modern Jukebox with a cover of Shake it Off and Morcombe and Wise.  Ohh and it’s the Basque Atletic Bilboa and not the Castillian Athletico Madrid.   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to

Following the comfortable 2-0 victory in our second Glasgow Derby of the season (after a more tightly contested game against Glasgow’s second club at Firhill) we now have perhaps our most important Champions League game of the season coming up.  With such an important fixture I thought I’d continue our new podcast guests with a foreign based journalist, from Airdie, working for a French news agency.   New music comes from Tuvband and Mark Sharp.   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

We Battered Them   Make no mistake, whilst this wasn’tanother 5-1 victory we once again showed, on their patch, that the newest version of Rangers Football Club are a million miles away from competing with Celtic.  Not only are they a million miles away from competing with Celtic but as today’s league table shows, they’re quite a way from being the second or even 3rd best team in Scotland.   Audio was recorded at the game to try and capture the emotion of the day and then I dialled up Henrik Vegetable on the way home to try and capture the joy of the supporters in the immeidate aftermath of the game (so excuse the audio as the podcast is recorded in the car on the way back).   Rangers couldn’t cope with our movement in the first 15 minutes and were nothing after the 2nd goal - their heads went down and our superior fitness told.  Yes, we are 35 - 40 minutes fitter than them.  That is a huge gulf.   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus epi