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Why 2016 has been a brilliant year for Celtic fans

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Other than collecting the SPFL trophy in May the first five months of 2016 are best forgotten until a splendid weekend when Celtic found themselves a football manager and Anthony Stokes delivered the Scottish Cup to Easter Road.

On Monday 23rd May Brendan Rodgers was introduced to the Celtic support and said all the right things- how could be hope to follow up that performance?

Follow it he did, step by step everything fell into place.

The fans that had been scunnered by Ronny Deila needed a reason to come back and responded by snapping up season tickets.

More importantly fans with season tickets turned up for matches, empty seats that have been paid for is the ultimate sign of discontent.

Since Rodgers took over memories have been made, half a dozen duds from last season are unrecognisable.

The system that drove supporters to distraction is working a treat, there are no square pegs and the football is very watchable.

It’s been some start to the season, flick through the images below for a reminder of how good it is to be watching the Celtic side of 2016.

Dembele scores from a penalty against Astana

What a way to score your first Celtic goal!

Astana had proved to be difficult opponents over 180 minutes, as you’d expect from a side that had played in last season’s Champions League group phase.

Moussa Dembele came on as a substitute, earned a penalty then tucked it away to book a place in the play-off stage of the Champions League.

Taking that penalty required guts and nerve, Dembele joined Celtic to sample the Champions League, soon it was to be the stage that he excelled in.

Standing room only

Celtic will always be about the support, the players, managers and directors may change but there will always be an extra dimension coming from the supporters.

The introduction of a standing area has formalised the 111 area of the ground that generates the colour and atmosphere that Celtic is known worldwide for.

Beating Astana over two legs won’t feature in any future books or DVD’s but it marked the start of a new era under Rodgers where the fans felt connected to the dug out and dressing room.

Griffiths puts Hapoel to the sword… but they bounce backCLeigh Griffiths seemed to be on a personal mission to deliver Champions League football with two brilliant first half strikes to knock the confidence from Hapoel Be’er Sheva.

A 3-0 half time lead seemed ideal, we could think again about our group phase opponents but then suddenly Malmo was back on the agenda as the visitors scored twice.

Thankfully this Celtic side didn’t wilt, a couple of positive changes later and it’s Barca time via a scary D-tour to Israel.

Magic from the skipper

He’s not really known for his goal scoring, or his celebrations but who cares.

Leading 4-2 looked promising to take to Israel, winning 5-2 proved vital.

It was unconventional but given a second chance Broony hooked the ball into the net and everyone was given the chance to dream again about the Champions League.

The true importance of that goal was shown in the return leg in Israel. Celtic were barely recognisable as they toiled through 90 minutes with Kolo Toure responsible for keeping the scoreline to 2-0 and a 5-4 aggregate victory.

The temporary enforcer

CIt looks like being a brief Celtic career for Kolo but whatever he is paid it was worthwhile thanks to that 90 minutes in Israel.

With panic breaking out all around him the former Liverpool defender somehow held together an incredibly fragile defence to avoid losing a third goal after going 2-0 behind in the 47th minute.

An away goal seemed unlikely meaning that Toure had to hold the defence together through to the final whistle. A third Hapoel goal seemed inevitable, somehow it never arrived and for that we can all be grateful to Toure.

The clock ticked down frustratingly slowly but as the picture of Kieran Tierney illustrates the wait was worthwhile as the Hoops got through on a 5-4 aggregate to return to the Nou Camp as usual.

We’re back!

The clock ticked down frustratingly slowly but as the picture of Kieran Tierney illustrates the wait was worthwhile as the Hoops got through on a 5-4 aggregate to return to the Nou Camp as usual.

Finally the ghosts of Maribor and Malmo had been cast aside, there wouldn’t be another team added to that frustrating list.

After the lessons of the Nou Camp Celtic were a team transformed as they roared their way to a 3-3 draw with Manchester City reminding a global audience of how much their absence has been missed.

Moussa’s hat-trick joy

CDisaster strikes with an injury to on-song Leigh Griffiths!

Fortunately we had another hero waiting in the wings with Moussa Dembele stepping in to demonstrate the faith the his manager had shown in him.

All three goals were wonderful in their own right as the Sevco bandwagon came to a shuddering halt against a Celtic side just starting to find their feet under a new manager.

Rod’s doing the huddle too

He does like a party and couldn’t let the moment slip by as 80% of the ground joined in a huddle.

In the heart of the Directors Box Rod Stewart joined in the fun as thousands of Celtic fans celebrated in the sun as their new look side hammered Sevco 5-1.

The result was never in doubt but after months of #goingfor55 hype that myth was put to bed in emphatic style as the gulf between the two Glasgow club’s was cruelly exposed.

So long, farewell

The gobby Scouse jailbird had plenty to say for himself in the lead up to what turned out to be his final appearance for the tribute act.

Sinking deeper and deeper back towards his defence little was seen on the ball of the ‘former England star’.

Alas it was to turn out as Joey’s farewell appearance. A dispute with Andy Halliday and a confrontation with Mark Warburton earned the 34-year-old a two year pay off knowing he’ll never have to face Brendan Rodgers and Scott Brown again.

Pep greets his footballing hero

Serious questions were being asked of Brendan after the 7-0 defeat to Barcelona, was he a dreamer or simply out of his depth?

Celtic Park will never forget the 90 minutes that dollowed as Celtic set about the Premier League leaders who had arrived in Glasgow with a 100% record under their coveted new manager.

Pep had no real answer to the power, passion and skill of a hungry young Celtic side which led three times before having to settle for a draw.

The goal that made Europe sit up and take notice

The first half had everything- the second half had more.

Within five minutes of the restart Kieran Tierney swung in a cross from the left, Dembele took a touch to tame the ball then spun round to send an overhead kick into the net.

Manchester City couldn’t believe it, suddenly clubs across Europe were taking note of the £500,000 kid who had humbled the defence of the Premier League leaders. City recovered to take a point but Dembele was the after match talking point.

A touch of genius

CIt had been a long frustrating afternoon at Hampden dominated by missed chances and honest mistakes.

Fortunately Sevco had only managed one attempt at goal as Celtic dominated every aspect of the game.

Some clever touches from Leigh Griffiths created an opening down the right, his perfect delivery was met by Moussa Dembele’s heal and after that it was Hail Hail with the bhoys on course for the first trophy of the season.

A job well done

It wasn’t 5-1 but in every other area it was equally as emphatic.

Rodgers team showed patience and belief as they dominated the second half without finding the net.

As ever the manager made changes that made a difference, Stuart Armstrong brought greater drive while Leigh Griffiths support of Dembele was crucial as illustrated by the winning goal.

Making their point away from home

After losing 2-0 at home to Borussia Monchengladbach the return fixture looked daunting.

A damage limitation exercise looked to be the order of the day but Rodgers had other ideas.

Taking on board the lessons from the home match and using a completely redesigned defence Celtic took the game to Gladbach and deservedly took a point, if Callum McGregor had converted a late chance no one would have said the win was undeserved.

Prize guys

CAfter the high of defeating Sevco in the semi-final Rodgers immediately spoke of getting something tangible to show for the impressive start to the season.

Aberdeen won the battle to get half the tickets but their team barely showed up as Celtic won 3-0 to claim the Betfred Cup.

First half goals from Tom Rogic and James Forrest ensured that the second half was party time with a Moussa Dembele penalty the icing on the cake.

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It was important to finish this Champions League campaign with some style and a statement.

Celtic achieved both as they drew 1-1 with Manchester City at the Etihad with loan bhoy Patrick Roberts opening the scoring.

It could have been an away win, substitutes Leigh Griffiths and Gary Mackay Steven missed decent chances but rather than park the bus Celtic played the game and took the credit with a second draw against the biggest spenders in the business.

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