Match Opinion

 

There is a slight change of focus this year as the match opinions will be  just that, the contributor's opinions as he or she sees it, rather than a tendency to give a factual report of the game. 

If you would like to post a review of a Celtic match please email us at stoliverplunkettcsc@blueyonder.co.uk.  Your opinion would be most welcome. 

Please visit our Archives site at  www.stop-csc-archives.synthasite.com for Match Opinions for Season 2008/2009

 

The views expressed in the Match Opinions are those personal to the contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of St Oliver Plunkett Celtic Supporters Club.

 

 

 

I suppose it was inevitable that things seemed a bit flat around Celtic Park today. The euphoria surrounding the last game against Rangers with a victory secured albeit at the cost of lost personnel to injury. Notably,Gary Hooper was missing, but probably the team did need a ‘freshen up’ and three vital points were at stake in the league campaign.

 

Although we have not had the mid-week European ties to contend with, last weeks slip up to Motherwell did feel like a post European dip. Games against Rangers can be draining and the concentration levels are presumably similar.    

Hamilton nearly got us off to a flying start when in the first minute of the game Mensing sliced a clearance from the six yard line off the post. The game settled down to a predictable pattern with only one team really interested in pursuing the game. Hamilton played a ‘safe’ game and moved the ball around with hope rather belief that they could take anything from the match.

A rare flurry up the park from Hamilton resulted in a front post header from a corner which gave us some indication that if allowed to play, Hamilton might prove a bit of a problem. Samaras played his role fetching and carrying the ball frustrating the opposition in the process. Stokes was up front with Samaras in place of his striking partner Hooper.  Sammi looked as if he was missing Gary.

 

With ten Hamilton men behind the ball the breakthrough came just before half time when Brown squared the ball to Commons after a corner had been knocked out of the box. A left foot drive and a worthy contender for goal of the season this one, even Murdo would have been proud. This revitalised the game and saw us chasing a second with a few minutes left to half time.

 

The break saw young  Rogne  replace Dan the Man who had taken a knock in the first half and the partnership with Mulgrew which seemed inconceivable a few months ago was rarely tested in the second half. This was in part due to the injection of confidence the team received when a stray pass across goal allowed Commons to take the opportunity to score his second goal bringing his total to five for the season. A decent contribution given the number of games he has played. With 49 minutes on the clock Celtic settled back into training match mode. There were opportunities later in the game. Forrest and McCourt got some match time later on. Samaras was perhaps did not get his just desserts from a Forrest cross in the 70^th minute.

 

Overall a comfortable performance with few moments of anxiety from the defence. Perhaps disappointing that possession was not turned into goals.

 

Man of the Match:  Kris Commons

 

 

 

Opinion by The Holy Curate   

 

                           

 

Take your pick from the excuses from the men from the south-side of the city – an old tired manager ready to chuck it all in, 7 players injured, a small squad, no money to invest, an incompetent referee favouring Celtic following our recent criticism of officials, Celtic fans shouting loudly at the match and the Celtic manager Neil Lennon, who is to blame for everything seemingly because he is an Irish Catholic, former Celtic player and now our manager. 

This match took me back over 40 years.  Yes, those were the days and I quickly came to realise what Rangers were about;  because of their inferior footballing ability, they kicked and hacked their way through matches against skilful Celtic teams making every effort to maim our players in the process.  So it was again in this match where their cynicism and indiscipline returned to that which was common in the 60s and 70s.

The visitor’s line-up told us were intent on stopping Celtic playing and they showed practically no attacking intent with their defensive tactics.  They clearly hoped for a breakaway goal or set-piece, in the absence of that they would have welcomed a penalty shoot-out.  

It seems mandatory in a Match opinion to comment on the behaviour of the visiting support in these matches.  The behaviour of the visiting support was much better than usual today, at least from a distance, and they restricted themselves to acts of triumphalism over the Irish people, mocking the victims of child abuse,  dishonouring the victims of the Irish Famine and abusing Pope Benedict XVI.   The people of this country need to come together to take Scotland forward as a modern and vibrant society especially in these difficult economic times, however this sort of behaviour keeps us in the dark ages.  Such acts of sectarianism and bigotry must be highlighted in the hope that it will be addressed by the relevant authorities, both in Scotland and in Europe. 

Gary Hooper and Emilio Izzaguirre can consider themselves fortunate not to be recovering from broken legs following violent tackles by Bougherra and Whittaker respectively.  The latter was booked for persistent fouling and then sent off by the 35^th minute followed by the former in injury time following a tackle on Kris Commons.  Bougherra’s manhandling of the referee will surely bring a substantial penalty.  Diouf followed him and that capped an evening for the failed English Premiership footballer of baiting Celtic players and harassing the referee.  Prior to this he was called to the Ranger’s bench for instructions and on the way he deliberately obstructed the Celtic physio on the way to treat an injured Celtic player and this caused more mayhem.  After Diouf’s dismissal he ran to the visiting support who lauded him enthusiastically before he threw his jersey into the crowd.  One can scarce imagine any decent person wishing to possess never mind treasure that jersey given Diouf’s despicable past, however we are looking at a section of the visiting support who may have an alternative view.

Celtic started where they left off in the last match against Rangers and all the early pressure was towards the visitor’s goal.  They had five defenders at the back and our opportunities were limited. There was always the threat of them breaking away or getting a set piece which seemed their only hope of success. 

Celtic’s movements in the forward area were clever and caused the visitor’s defence problems.  Weir looks every inch a 40 year old man and he has certainly played a season too long in the top division.  His partner in defence, the loan signing 19 year old Kyle Bartley from Arsenal, could best be described as a big stupid boy.  How this hammer thrower got into the Arsenal squad, renowned for their silky football, I will never know.  His comments prior to the match that he and his team mates were out to target Scott Brown was thuggish, ill-advised and unprofessional.  His confrontation with Celtic’s assistant Johan Mjallby in the tunnel at half-time was laughable.  It was like Snoopy Dog taking on Muhammad Ali.  One question remains and that is, do Rangers sign thugs or do they sign players and turn them into thugs?

The first half ended 0-0 but the second period saw Celtic take the lead within 3 minutes.  Emilio Izzaguirre beat Foster on the left and crossed into the box for Hooper to knock on for Mark Wilson who struck a ferocious shot net bound only to see it headed clear off the line by defender, Sasa Papac.  The ball returned to Wilson who fired home and this was followed by jubilant celebrations  by all Celtic players and supporters.  Unfortunately, Papac was injured and his head injury looked to be a serious one.  He is a decent and honourable footballer and I wish him well.

Celtic continued to press and Giorgios Samaras hit a post with McGregor beaten.  In the absence of a second goal there was always the possibility of our opponents snatching a goal on the break or from a set-piece so whilst we had much domination, it was a nervous second period for the faithful.   Rangers didn’t have their first direct shot on goal until the 93^rd minute and that was from a free kick.  I expected them to throw caution to the wind near the end as this was a one -off cup-tie but it never happened.  Such was the paucity of the performance by the visitors that I look forward to a domestic treble this season and to a period of absolute domination in the next few years.

At the final whistle, the Rangers manager-elect, Ally McCoist, finally let his ‘cheeky chappie’ image slip as he whispered something in Neil Lennon’s ear as they shook hands at the end of the match.  That caused Neil, who had approached him in conciliatory fashion, offering his hand and an embrace, to react angrily.  With experience, Neil will learn to deal better with this sort of deliberate provocation.   Apparently the comment was in regard to Neil’s behaviour towards Rangers players in previous matches.  What a pity that McCoist thought it seemingly inappropriate to make an informal or formal complaint about the alleged comments but sought to gain revenge later and in doing so create a volatile situation.  This was a clear set-up designed to get a reaction from Neil and, sadly, in my opinion, unworthy of a manager of Rangers Football Club.  McCoist has cultivated the image of a cheerful wise-cracking wag and nice fellow over a number of years but I believe that we will see the real McCoist during his tenure as manager of Rangers.  He is by no means the universal choice of his team’s supporters and perhaps his actions today were designed to ingratiate himself to them.  If that is the case then his behaviour served only to diminish his reputation and that of his Club.

Rangers lost their composure and focus in this match.  That was always a possibility given our recent supremacy over them and their fear of another whipping.  They are well aware that we are the better side and that is cause for angst for them and their supporters.  Perhaps if they tried to play football they might regain some pride even that means defeat.

On a lighter note, Tony B forgot his spectacles tonight.  It was obvious from the start that he was in grave difficulty as he referred to the club secretary as ‘wee man’ – a stupendous error as our esteemed office-bearer takes up nearly two seats.  Thereafter, there was an impromptu session of football commentary for the partially-sighted.  Tony is a great guy but we wonder at how he still has an alternative opinion even when he cannae see.  His rise from his seat to join in a Mexican wave when two guys beside him got up to go to the pie stall was hilarious.  The winner of the £9,000 Paradise Windfall draw was unclaimed at half-time and perhaps Tony will have the last laugh when he can see to check his ticket.  There’s not much truth in all this but he did forget his spectacles and I did promise to stitch him up in cyberspace so there it is.....job done.

Man of the Match – Difficult deision with so many good performances but Mark Wilson was solid in defence and attack.  He has had many injuries and been in and out of the team in recent seasons.  His THIRD goal of the season and in such a crucial match allows him to just edge the award.

Opinion by Michael Connolly 

Celtic visited the home of our rivals on Scottish Cup business today. We expected to meet a Rangers side still hurting from our recent visit when the 'Giorgios Samaras show' took all three points.  On a visit to Ibrox we usually to face a Rangers support bereft of class and culture and this was not to change today in the light of their new signing Diouf.  This player's history has been well documented and I won't repeat it here. Suffice to say his signing and its defence by his management team as well his adoration by many of the Rangers support brings no credit on Rangers Football Club.  In my opinion, it shows a measure of desperation on their part that they are willing to risk their reputation and standards in the pursuit of success.  In my opinion, this demonstrates the gulf in integrity and class between these two clubs as he would never have got through the front door of Celtic Park. 

The contrast between this match and the last one at Ibrox as that Neil Lennon had a selection headache.  Players returning from injury and the Asian Cup meant he had to pick the right selection.  Daniel Majstorovic returned to the heart of the Celtic defence partnered by Charlie Mulgrew.  Hooper was preferred to Samaras and Stokes was on the bench replaced by Ki in a 5 man midfield.  The game got off to the usual frantic start and Rangers were the aggressors in the early stages taking the lead with a powerful strike from 25 yards by Ness which gave Forster little chance.  He must have been unsighted as the ball went through Kayal's legs.  The first goal in these encounters is usually an important one however Celtic steadied the ship and equalised in the 17th minute when Izzaguirre crossed cleverly for Kris Commons to hammer home.

Celtic had more possession and certainly played the better football but the game was to take a dramatic turn in the 40th minute.  Commons lost the ball in midfield and Jelavic passed to Naismith who ran in on goal.  Forster came to meet him and went to ground but didn't get a hand to the ball making contact with the attacker in the process.  Penalty.  The referee decided that this was a goal scoring opportunity and Forster was dismissed being replaced by Zaluska substituted for Commons.  Whittaker scored and we were a man down and a goal down.  The referee was badly let down by his assistant who should have clearly identified that Naismith had knocked the ball far in front of him making a yellow card the correct punishment.

Rangers decided that the way forward would be to revert to their favoured tactic  of holding what they have and hitting on the break.  This worked successfully in the early period of the half but surely sent a message of fear to Celtic who set about them with gusto.  Even with ten men we were in the ascendancy and held over 60% possession throughout the game.

Scott Brown scored a magnificent goal to equalise and Celtic controlled the game thereafter missing several opportunities to seal the tie.  Brown was booked for his goal celebration by raising his arms and standing still and looking at Diof after scoring.  A disgraceful episode, how dare Scott score against the ragamuffins and not apologise?  Samaras was through on goal to be incorrectly adjudged offside and McGregor also made an instinctive save to deny him.  Brown played a captain's role today and the arrival of Beram Kayal allowed him to flourish in the right hand side of the midfield.  Naismith was sent off in the 75th minute folllowing a second yellow card for diving in the penalty area.

A marvellous performance from Celtic who were the only side playing entertaining football today.  We did brilliantly to control the match after going a man down and the most pleasing aspect was the character of the team who overcame early adversities, kept their discipline and played some wonderful football.  we can consider ourselves very unlucky not to have won this tie today.  The match will be replayed at Celtic Park and will give Rangers another tie in their already crowded fixture list and give us an opportunity to further emphahsise the superiority of our team.

 

Opinion by Síochán leat

 

 

Celtic went into this match without the benefit of any recognised central defenders and facing an Aberdeen side seeking revenge for their two recent defeats to us.  This was likely to prove a tricky encounter in the circumstances especially with the experience and guile of their manager, Craig Brown.

Whatever intentions he had in terms of a game plan were up in the air after the 2nd minute when Andrew Considine was sent off after a foul in the the penalty area on Scott Brown.  Whether Brown had a clear goal scoring opportunity is open to debate and perhaps the Dons' defender's dismissal was harsh.  Anthony Stokes took the resultant penalty which was saved by Langfield.  A clear infringement by the goalkeepr who had move forward off the goal line but there was no sanction from the referee. 

The sending off did take a bit of pressure off the Celtic defence but with Wilson and Mulgrew moving inside from their full-back positions, the centre of defence was solid.  Aberdeen lost two players, David McNamee and Ryan Jack,  to injury inside the first 20 minutes and in addition to Considine's dismissal,  made their task a difficult one.

Celtic scored in 12 minutes, Commons teeing up the lively and alert Hooper midway into the Aberdeen half.  This was the result of neat one-two and Hooper controlled the ball beautifully before slotting home.  A terrific goal. 

Aberdeen regrouped and had a really good spell prior to half-time.  Celtic were playing great football and Kayal hit the inside of a post. 

Celtic pressed Aberdeen after the break looking for a second killer goal and Commons had two excellent opportunities, accepting a Hooper pass unmarked to thrash a shot over the bar moments before he did superbly to control a magnificent through ball from Paddy McCourt to round Langfield only for the ball to strike the outside of a post.

Mark Wilson scored with a header in the 75th minute, his first goal for Celtic and his first for five years.  This was followed two minutes later when Anthony Stokes shot home after another one-two with Hooper.  These two look to be developing a formidable strike partnerhip and will reap great rewards for us in the future.

This Celtic side is gelling beautifully and during the reigns of previous unsuccessful managers, the 'Celtic Way' of playing football was questioned by many, even shamefully some of our own.  Well this is it, skilful, attacking football played for 90 minutes, players desperate to win for the jersey and a management team who have an understanding of the ethos of and a passion for Celtic Football Club.  Long may that continue.

 

Celtic went into this match in the knowledge that if they slipped up then Rangers would be the benefactors.  It was not only essential to maintain the points difference but we needed to throw down a marker to the ‘Pretenders’ to the title.  Especially as in the run up all the media hype was about could they do the double over the O..  F...  When really what they wanted to say was can the wee h... help the big h...

The atmosphere at Celtic Park was pretty electric and some us could not believe it.  Usually this type of atmosphere is particular to mid week European ties.  To coin a phrase ‘ there was a buzz about the place’.  The crowd was behind the team from the kick off and after observing the minute’s applause for former Celtic player Alec Boden (RIP) who passed away this week, you could see the players were up for it.  I often think that four games a season against the same opposition lacks imagination but in retrospect it’s not a bad way for Lenny to learn his trade.  He set the team up knowing how that moaning B Jeffries was going to play.

Aberdeen manager, Craig Brown has been quoted as saying this week that you make your own luck and things do not even out over the season.  Well young James Forrest must have been listening because he got us off to a terrrrrrrific  start.  After a slide rule pass from Brown it looked like the three defenders in his wake had decided to steer him left of goal.  Bang! Top left hand corner and it was 1 nil, shot from the edge of the box when a cross looked like a better option.

The lid came off the stadium and we settled down to one of the best performances of the season.  Hearts reverted to type – kicking , pushing, shoving,  feigning injury but we more than matched their physical attributes with some clever quick play and got stuck in about it.  We did not get sucked in to their agenda.  We received two bookings which were questionable, in my opinion. Wilson looked to have got the ball cleanly and Igazuire did not appear to show his studs as indicated.  With the two full backs booked in the first half and the way the game appeared to be heading you might have thought we would not finish with 11.

The first half drew to a close with no second goal but the crowd stayed behind the team urging them forward with the encouragement of the whole repertoire of songs.

Celtic got their reward in the first five minutes of the second half when the unsubtle efforts of the Jambos resulted in a free kick from just outside the box . Stokes stepped up and despatched the ball into the net with the flaying Kello nowhere near the ball.  It was 2 – 0 and Hearts' game plan was in tatters.  From then on we absolutely dominated the game. Kayal and Brown closed down the ball and snuffed out any chance of a revival.  The front two also unsettled defenders into making mistakes.

Hearts were playing a high offside line in an effort to squeeze the game and this can always be dangerous. Celtic were patient,  playing the waiting game,  knowing a team always inevitably gets caught out. The opening for the third goal came when Hooper beat the trap and took it to a one on one with the keeper when he was caught by the keeper's  left hand and pulled down. Stokes was on hand in support slipping the ball into the empty net and save Kello from a certain sending off.      

Game over and Hearts looked very pedestrian with nothing to offer as participants in their own downfall.  Celtic were even more confident and on the hunt for more goals. Paddy who had replaced the injured Forrest in the first half slammed the ball into the net from outside the box to  keep up his tally.  It had looked like the opportunity had gone when the ball found it’s way  through the box.  Hooper had taken a fresh air swipe and Paddy was of a few on hand to capitalise on the defensive frailties to score.

The game ended with Celtic looking for a fifth.

The team, the manager and the support answered the questions on the night and we have good reason now to believe that it is within our ability to win the league.

This report would be incomplete without mentioning the much maligned Mulgrew. His critics have been many including myself but credit where credit is due. He had an excellent game, looked comfortable, stuck to the job and did not look out of place. There is much to be said about players who support the team they play for and how they perform when they know what is at stake.  Charlie and the Bhoys played a stormer!

Man of The Match - Scott Brown – a captain's performance at last

 

Opinion by Gloves

 

 

A good afternoon's work for the Bhoys today; three points secured with what might be reported in the media as a narrow victory.  In truth, we were worthy of much more.

This was a much improved performance from the visitors under the leadership of Brown and Knox. Their organisation was much more disciplined and their defence in particular stuck to their task. The 9 -0 mauling of the 6 November no doubt fresh in their minds.

Celtic started off brightly pressing Aberdeen from the kick off with the Hooper and Stokes partnership looking like it might yield an early goal.  With Paddy taking up the left wing in the absence of the suspended Forrest, the shape of the team remained in place.  There are high expectations when the man from Derry takes his place but he looked a bit tired from the off and his passing did not hit the mark.  However as we have came to expect he’ll look for an opportunity to have a shot on goal and he came close in the 21 st minute from the edge of the box and Langfield was scrambling to cover when it slid past the post.

The defeat of the Rangers in the lunch time kick off spurred on the team to take some advantage out of the game and the early efforts were there for all to see.  It was six minutes later that Stokes ran on to a simple Hooper pass to round Langfield before stroking into an empty net.

With Celtic pressing forward, Aberdeen nearly slipped in through the tangling together of Dan the Man and Forster when the keeper fell over knocking the big centre half over to clutch the ball.  A few moments later Majstorovic was struggling and was replaced with Mulgrew.  Charlie has played this position before but there was no doubt Majstorovic's presence was missed.  If ever we doubted it before it was all there for us all to see. Luckily for us the midfield of Brown and Kayal are coming on to a game and Aberdeen’s foraging up the park was confined to hitting on the break. 

If I haven’t said it before then I’ll say it now, the defence’s problem has been the midfield's absence.  When Ledley come on later in the game with ten minutes remaining you could see Lennon and Co had taken the opportunity to have words with him. A talented player who needs to add tackling to his game.

Then another bizarre (honest mistake) incident happened when Referee Iain Brines initially gave a free-kick against Langfield in the penalty area for picking up what looked to be a Considine back pass.  Hooper and Stokes were quick off the mark to take the kick and the ball was in the net.  Brines then changed his mind under what seemed to be duress from the Aberdeen players and gave a dropped ball.  Later viewing television pictures showed that there was a deflection from a Celtic player.  At the time I was angry (effing raging) at the thought of another refereeing blunder.   

The second half restarted with Aberdeen looking to even up the score although camped in their own half for long spells it became more obvious that the crowd were becoming increasingly unsettled. Why we push out those negative vibes is a topic for discussion on it’s own. But nonetheless it does transfer to the team and Hoops defender Thomas Rogne failed to control a long ball, Maguire came closer with a better effort from the same distance.

The play stuttered rather than flowed towards the Aberdeen goal but a second goal did not come and efforts from Brown and McCourt were off the mark.

I don’t doubt that if we had scored it could have been more.  But sometimes a team has to learn to defend what they have and we seemed unable to do that. This becomes a self perpetuating theory and we need to get out of this habit and for Saturday at least we did.

In the 75th minute former Arsenal star Freddie Ljungberg was given a huge cheer when he replaced McCourt to make his home debut.  Although he sparked us up we failed to capitalise. We haven’t seen much of him yet but we should not under estimate his value both off and on the park.  His confidence can and will transfer to the players.  He could be an important player in games to come.  

Play was stretched in the closing minutes but we held on against a late Aberdeen surge and took the three points and increase the pressure on Rangers.

Man of The Match  -  Beram  Kayal

experience of late has not been good in that area silly errors have occurred which have resulted in the loss of goals.  Two opportunities were presented to Aberdeen when Maguire had a snap-shot from 25 yards which went past the far post.  Moments later, after

 

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Scottish Premier League

 

Saturday 15 January 2011

 

Hibernian   0    Celtic    3

 

Review by The Holy Curate

 

You would think that playing for Celtic and being paid handsomely would be all the motivation that a football player needs. However sometimes we fail to factor in that when a player returns to a former employer it has an impact on  his appetite and subsequent performance in the game.

We had to wait for this today but Anthony Stokes looked every bit the player we saw at Hibs and produced two goals today which in truth should have been more. We expect and deserve this type of performance every week.

The surprise inclusion of Gary Hooper, who we all thought faced at least another week or so of inactivity, helped balance up the front line and he waded in with another goal to add to his tally. If we can keep this bhoy fit his particular prowess could assist us along  the way. It’s too early for title talk bearing in mind that if Rangers win their games in hand we still need to win on 20 February and events of last weeks Hamilton game may just have tipped the balance the other way.      

Apparently, it has been two years since more than one goal divided these teams in this fixture but, in truth, it could have been four or five. The return of Beram Kayal and the form of Emilio Izaguirre, excellent again, provided the base for the team. Both showed hunger and skill respectively in their last few performances as an example to perhaps less deserving weekly inclusions. Let’s hope that the team take confidence from this result and continue to improve over the weeks and months ahead.

Majstorovic failed to head in a Mark Wilson free-kick from four yards out with not a Hibs defender in sight. I like this man, he wears his heart on his sleeve and perhaps lacks the  pace required at times on this occasion he needed to compose himself and he should have done better. He knew it and we all knew it.

Just as we thought the first half was drawing to a close at 0-0, Hooper announces that he is back and shows us a bit of class and quality that has been lacking of late. We go into the break 1 up.

The second half performance was much better than the first, Celtic scoring just after the break.  Stokes, again from the penalty spot , after he was brought down by a desperate tackle from Stevenson.          

Then in the 65th minute, following an Izaguirre corner, Stokes spun round, magnificently pulling the ball over his shoulder and fired into the net with the hapless Brown a spectator. The game was over as a contest and we knew we could relax a bit with the three points in the bag before Rangers faced Hamilton.  Couldn’t help thinking at that point if only we had managed this level of performance against Hamilton we may have put a bit more pressure on Rangers to get a result.

We saw out the rest of the game with a bit of confidence Stokes almost taking a third we he was denied by a goal line clearance from Dickoh. With match time in mind, Ledley and Ljungberg were brought on and Mulgrew in the later stages.

 

Man of the Match:   Anthony Stokes 

   

Review by The Holy Curate

 

 

 

 

Scottish Premier League

 

Wednesday 12   January 2011

 

Hamilton    1    Celtic    1

 

Review by The Holy Curate

 

This was a game we needed to win and should have done so!  Languishing at the bottom of the League and fighting for their SPL lives there was never any doubt that 'Accies would give 100% effort.  Aside from the obvious incorrect decision which allowed an offside goal to stand we were not good enough to secure the three points.

As more eloquent reporters have written over the past few weeks the issues concerning referring decisions should not be allowed to mask the truth and that is we should have had enough in the tank to comprehensively beat Hamilton.

We struggled in the last third and it was notable that we had very few direct shots on goal. This problem has been apparent over the last two seasons and perhaps can be drawn back to that January window when WGS wanted a striker and we signed no-one.  Celtic’s proud history shows that our aim is always to score one more than the opposition and performances over the last few seasons have failed to live up to this.

However there was no doubting the effort of the team and we continued to battle on to the end and some would say we got our just desserts. It took a penalty from a referee in the 89 minute, who if you believe what is written is no friend of Celtic.  Nonetheless Stokes held his nerve and made the result at least a little more palatable.

The last minute sickener was not just that the ball had strayed over the line following a corner on the left before being headed into goal but that it had taken us 96 minutes to get to this position.

If we are to succeed this year and lift the SPL title we need to do better in all aspects, from preparation to game plan through to delivery on the park.

Games are won and lost without the kick of a ball and we need to get back to the position where teams such as Hamilton have more to fear from us than we have from any spurious referring decisions.

Man of the Match:     Emilio Izaguirre

 

Review by The Holy Curate

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

Celtic travelled today into that dark place for the Faithful.

The Celtic squad was depleted  and those unavailable today were -  Shaun Maloney,  Scott Brown,  Gary Hooper,  Glenn Loovens, Cha Du Ri,  Ki Sung Yung,  Andreas Hinkel,  Olivier Kapo and Daryl Murphy; all absent through injury, suspension or international duty.  Celtic had signed ex-Arsenal star, Freddie Ljungberg, during the week however he was unavailable due to a virus.

Rangers were in the ascendancy with a one point deficit in the SPL but with two games in hand.  Their recent form was much better than Celtic and they also had a settled team and management structure.  It has been long recognised that the ‘underdogs’ in this fixture were always likely to give the bookmakers a sore head so we approached this game with ‘hope in our hearts’.  Celtic’s chances had been written off by many, however, whatever the situation there would be, as Neil Lennon said, ‘no excuses’.  History shows that this is exactly the scenario where Celtic usually excel with special performances so we looked forward to our team relishing this challenge.  

There was a one minute silence before the start of the match to remember the 66 Rangers fans , May They Rest In Peace, who died in the Ibrox Disaster on Saturday 2 January 1971 at the end of the game against Celtic.  The teams were led out by Rangers and Celtic captains of that era, John Greig and Billy McNeill, who jointly carried a wreath.  There wasn’t a sound and it was a poignant moment, most especailly for us who had attended the match in 1971. My thoughts and prayers are also with the families of the bereaved who must have found this anniversary a particularly difficult one. 

Within 5 minutes thousands of Rangers supporters were singing the racist song about the Irish Famine.  This was followed later by their usual disgusting repertoire including disgraceful abuse of the late Celtic Manager, Jock Stein.  This is the same man who, on that dreadful day, helped carry the bodies of some of the poor souls who had been injured or killed in the crush.   One wonders when decent Rangers fans, of whom there are many, those in authority at Ibrox and the Scottish Football authorities will do something about this behaviour by a section of so-called Rangers supporters who bring disgrace to their great footballing institution.  My hope is that the scourge of racism and sectarianism in our country will be tackled with vigour and purpose.

Celtic lined up 4-4-1-with Wilson,  Rogne,  Majstorovic and Izaguirre at the back, Forrest,  Kayal, Ledley and Mulgrew in the middle and Samaras up front with McCourt slotted in behind.  We got off to a slow start and Rangers had the better of the exchanges in the opening period with a header by McCulloch headed off the line by Izaguirre and on to the bar.  Celtic came more into the game and honours were even at the break.

Samaras had performed valiantly on his own in attack and he was to get his reward in the 62^nd minute.  Ledley threaded a beautiful pass that saw Sammi running in on goal between the central defenders.  Keeper McGregor came running out but Sammi tapped it past him, collected it again and slotted home.  A marvellous goal showing the skill and composure that the big fellow has in abundance. 

He did it again in the 70^th minute he collected the ball on the half way line, ran down the right wing shrugging off a defender and ran into the box to be met by Bougherra.  Sammi’s change of direction to get past the Algerian caught him out a stonewall penalty was the result.  Sammi side-footed the ball in at McGregor’s right hand post.  The keeper guessed the direction of the shot but it was struck with such pace and accuracy that it gave him no chance – the ball went straight into the side netting.  Bougherra was on a yellow card and should have been sent of for this offfence but he remained on the field.

Rangers had all the pressure in the last 15 minutes but the Celtic defence was immense and arguably this was their best ever performance as a unit.  The Subway Loyal had left long before the end.

This was an outstanding result for Celtic.  Neil Lennon got the team selection, tactics and motivation correct.  Using Mulgrew to stiffen the midfield and bolster the defence was a master stroke.  His crosses and free-kicks added a new dimension to the side.  All the team fought and pressed hard especially Beram Kayal who chased and harried all game and making a point of sorting out Rangers' 'hard men'.  The back four performed really well and it was obvious that recent criticism of Celtic’s alleged poor defensive record has stung as they were quite superb.  In particular, Thomas Rogne was excellent.  James Forrest looked dangerous throughout.  The selection of Samaras worked a treat and he worked very hard;  I was surprised but delighted to see him clearing from his own penalty area as the game drew to a close.  Paddy McCourt was another who fought hard and tirelessly.  His tracking back to challenge Weiss near the end laid to rest the myth of the Irishman's lack of fitness.  There was not a failure in our team today and no accolade is too great for their committment, skill and work ethic. Celtic Football Club was honoured by Neil Lennon's demeanour and dignity in victory.   He brought credit on himself and all of us and this was as important as the win.

The psychological boost gained from a victory in this game is of incalculable value, often as important as the points.  I trust that the positive impact of victory on our players, staff and supporters is equalled by a negative effect on all those connected with our rivals.

My thanks to the management and players for their expertise and efforts in making my New Year a very happy one! 

Man of the Match  -  Giorgios Samaras

 

Review by Auchenshuggle  64

 

 

Scottish Premier League                         

Review by Auchenshuggle  64

Wednesday   29.12.10

 

Celtic  1  Motherwell  1

 

Celtic entertained managerless Motherwell this evening and the prospect of moving one point clear in the SPL was the prize for victory.  Thankfully, Neil Lennon dropped Giorgios Samaras and Daryl Murphy and replaced them with Anthony Stokes and Olivier Kapo.  Celtic started very brightly and made chance after chance. Emilio Izaguirre had the most glaring miss from close range when it seemed easier to score.

Eventually Paddy McCourt took matters into his own hands in the 27th minute.  He must have been fed up creating chances that his team mates didn’t take so he took it open himself to take the ball into the box and fired home.  A terrific goal.  More chances were missed and we faced another nervous second-half with the prospect of more lost points.

We lost the impressive Olivier Kapo to a hamstring injury in the first-half and he was replaced by Daryl Murphy who himself as replaced through injury the second period by Niall McGinn.  This left Stokes on his own in attack and our offensive intentions were over.  I might have put Scott Brown in a forward position where he has proved effective in the past but it was not to be so we had to see out the game defending a 1-0 lead.

The second-half began in the usual fashion with Celtic chucking it and Motherwell looking like Barcelona so awful was our performance.  Somebody has to do something about this second-half collapse in games at Celtic Park; we will pay a serious price for this continuing failure.  What would happen to you if you didn’t get on with your work in the afternoon every day?  Yep, you’re right, you would be sacked.

Near the end of the game Scott Brown was ordered off for a challenge on Stephen Hammell.  Video evidence clearly shows that Brown pulled out of the challenge and Hammell actually kicked Brown in the ensuing collision.  Hammell’s theatrical dive after the challenge was not appreciated and he was roundly booed after the incident.  Brown received a yellow card for the challenge and added to his previous card meant a dismissal.  As a result, Brown will be suspended for the match against Glasgow Rangers on 2 January.  Whilst Brown’s dismissal was incorrect, the fact that he gave the referee the opportunity to do this brings Brown’s judgement into question.  The boy should by now be aware of this scenario and he must curb his natural aggressive instincts especially in the 89^th minute of a match.  This now leaves us without an important player and our team captain for our most important game of the season so far.

Referee Steve Finnie lost complete control of this match in the second half and this was illustrated by the player’s dissent, unnecessary cards (6 yellows and a red) and crowd fury.  The official’s performance was utterly appalling (for both teams) and leads to a feeling of utter despair about the level of competence of match officials.  

Worse, is the recurring theme, prevalent amongst many supporters of alleged anti-Celtic bias in the light of such poor performances offficials by match .  This was illustrated by the chant ‘you’re just a hun with a whistle’.  Certainly, Mr Finnie and his officials got much wrong this evening and whatever the reason, such poor performances must be addressed.  Tonight’s events only added, rightly or wrongly, to the suspicion that this is payback to Celtic for the Dallas/McDonald incidents.   This is an extremely serious issue and it is urgently necessary for Scottish Football authorities to sort this now or better still, Celtic FC, get out of Scottish Football as soon as possible.  In my opinion, the search for a ‘level playing field’ in Scotland will be unsuccessful; our club and culture is not welcomed or valued in Scotland so it’s time to move on.  The custodians of our Club have been slow to realise the need for change, not least on economic grounds, and they must act quickly and decisively.

A decent result but our trip to Castle Greyskull on 2 January will be a difficult given the respective form of the teams and the absence of some of our best players through injury and suspension.  Paddy McCourt will be a key player but history tells us that he, along with our other pure footballers, are likely to be kicked off the park.  As the saying goes ‘fortune favours the brave’ but do we have players capable of such bravery.....only time will time will tell.

 

Review by Auchenshuggle  64

 

 

Scottish Premier League                         

Review by Pontius Tim

Sunday   26.12.10

Celtic   2     St Johnstone   0

 

Celtic entertained the team from Perth, Scotland's ancient capital, today amid more freezing conditions.  The brave souls who braved the conditions were not provided with a classic match but much credit to them for turning out especially the Saints supporters who had a long and ardous journey to and from Glasgow.

Having failed to win in the last three starts, Celtic began with Samaras and Murphy up front but their lack of competence gave little confidence that there would be a goal-fest. The teams went in at half-time at 0-0 and there was a distinct concern that the template of recent home failures would be replicated with the opposition taking the advantage in the second period. 

It was another day of frustration for Celtic with almost complete possession but with little in return for their efforts.  It became obvious before the break that a goal would be hard to come by.  That was to be the case and the 90th minute arrived with the prospects of another lost two points a probability.  Suddenly, in the 91st minute Cha Du Rui crossed the ball and it went into the net.  There was some debate amongst the faithful that Cha's cross was not in fact an awful cross but a wonderful effort of Lionel Messi proportions so I leave this to be decided by the eye of the beholders.  Nevertheless, Cha's celebrations were a joy to behold; he took off his shirt (is he crazy - it was minus 8 today!!) and ran to Neil Lennon on the touchline, knelt down and celebrated, all done to the roar of the Celtic support.  This was ujst great but of course it was punished by the award a yellow card by the referee.  This is clearly not an entertainment business and many thanks to the referee of reminding us of such.

Saints attacked and the fear that they would equalise was a real one.  This fear was allayed when the ball was played out of defence and played forward neatly by Olivier Kapo to Ki Sung Yung who fired a beautiful shot home.  There it was - disaster to delight in three minutes.  Despite the victory, this was an utterly appalling performance by Celtic and if this continues our chances of the Championship success will be poor.  Our match against our greatest rivals on 2 January will be critical and this is the game where heroes are made....the hope is that some of our players will take that opportunity.

The Club decided to issue fliers advising supporters to remain in their seats during the match in accordance with stadium regulations for safety reasons.  Young Daniel quickly identified these fliers as perfect material for paper aeroplanes so he sought supplies and built an arsenal of weapons as the game progressed.  He launched them in a fashion that reminded older supporters of the Clydebank blitz during World War Two.   Apologies to the people who were on the receiving end of his onslaught!  Every single one went into the lower stand, not an insignificant feat in itself, culminating in an outstanding effort in the 42nd minute of the match.  He launched one of his planes and it flew down, crossed the lower stand and onto the field of play just avoiding the North Stand linesman before landing on the hallowed turf.  A magnificent effort so far unsurpassed this season.  Daniel is a terrific guy and the old codgers around him were full of admiration for his efforts, not least his Uncle Tony, who must have been thinking 'that's my boy'!!  If only Celtic players could replicate Daniel's ingenuity, enthusiasm and competence.   WELL DONE, Daniel. 

 

Review by Pontius Tim

 

 

Scottish Premier League                         

Review by Pontius Tim

Tuesday   21.12.10

Celtic   1      Kilmarnock   1

 

Celtic went into this match with the chance of going top of the table but it didn't seem to dawn on the players who performed purposefully in the first half and as usual decided to practically chuck it in the second period.   The hillbillies from South Ayshire had a new manager in Mixu Paateleinen and had been performing well recently.  They hadn't won against Celtic in Glasgow since 1955 but given the teams respective form it seemed a possibility that this particular 'duck' might be broken tonight.

Kilmarnock performed competently and did most things well but our inability to take our chances led to the same story of recent previous games where the oppostion held their own then struck through Conor Sammon in the second half.  He picked up the ball 40 yards out and ran at the Celtic defence.  Everybody could see he was going to make it and shrugged off Majstorovic to slot home at keeper Foster's near post.  One chance in the game - one goal.

Celtic had lost Gary Hooper with a serious injury in the first half and this will prove to be a costly loss as he seems to be the only player in our team with a positive goal threat.  James Forrest had much of the ball but was a shadow of himself following his injury lay off and he needs games to recover his fitness and form.  Many chances fell to Niall McGinn who failed to convert.  Daryl Murphy missed a gilt-edged opportunity and this summed up a very poor performance from the Irish stiker.

Celtic equalised when Thomas Rogne headed home with 10 minutes to go but there was to be no winner for either side and everbody was just glad it was all over and get back to cars and buses for a heat.

Football is an entertainment business and whilst I can just about put up with poor quality fare, having to sit and watch a game in freezing conditions is unacceptable.  It's time for football to be played between March and October.  There will be many dissenting voices for a variety of reasons but as attendances fall, the sense of playing in reasonable weather will become apparent.

There seems to be a lack of fight in this Celtic team and that is worrying. This will cause us much angst in times to come.  I don't think players can be given this ability and it seems to me that others must be brought in to provide a mix of experience, determination and fight to aid our cause. Skilful and 'pretty' footballers are a joy to watch but without other qualities a team full of them is a potential disaster.  Oh for a Bobby Murdoch, Bertie Auld, David Hay, Stilian Petrov or Paul McStay.

I look forward to the January transfer window

 

Opinion by Pontius Tim

 

 

Scottish Premier League                         

Review by Auchenshuggle 64

Saturday  27.11.10

Celtic   2      Inverness Caledonian Thistle     2

 

After recent poor performances against Hearts, St Mirren and Dundee United we faced a team from the Highlands who hadn’t lost an away match in 12 months.  Their manager is a former captain of Rangers FC and he would not have been lacking in motivation to inflict a blow to our championship aspirations.

Celtic started with three at the back today – Majstorovic, Hooiveld and Rogne.  This was to revert to four at the back when Richie Towell replaced Hooiveld in the second half.  As usual we started brightly and had a few chances but no success until Ki scored with a fine effort in 38minutes.  Paddy McCourt added a second in 65 minutes and that should have been that.  There were 25 minutes to go and the aim for those around me was a 4-0 victory.  We had momentarily forgotten how Celtic are unable to finish off teams and close out a match.  ICT got one back in 70 minutes through Richie Foran after a comedy show from Majstorovic and Rogne.  This debacle would have done justice to the Chuckle Brothers, McManus and Caldwell – a disastrous example of defending.  This match bore an uncanny resemblance to last week’s debacle against Dundee United where we folded in the second half.  Caley always looked likely to score another and so it was when Grant Munro headed home in 83 minutes.  This was the signal for a Celtic onslaught......oh, wait a minute, that’s what we used to do when teams angered us by scoring.  Sadly, this is no longer the case and we spent the remaining minutes defending our goal with the occasional foray forward.

I don’t know what is wrong with this Celtic team I’m not a football manager.  What I do know is that this team does not have a leader on the park and they have no desire.  Watch them after the ICT goals.  They trudged back to the centre circle looking utterly defeated with not a semblance of anger, determination or belief in themselves.  In my review of the recent match against Hearts I reflected that we might have a team of 'bottlers' and that perception will grow stronger with more performances like this one.  The players talk a great game in the media between games but this represents some sort of fantasy football with no reality when it actually comes to their play on the pitch.

You can argue the tactics of the Manager but that doesn’t matter.  No technical football genius will ever be successful with players like this and it is really concerning.  Celtic have taken five points from the last twelve and this is not the sort of form that will win the SPL Championship.  I’m fed up listening to how we need to buy in the January transfer window to win the league.  As usual, too little too late, I’m afraid.

As a result of Scottish referees refusing to go their work today we had an official from Luxembourg, Mr Haimer.  He was excellent and what a pity it was a one-off. It’s back to incompetence and maybe worse next week.

There were some highlights today. 

My wee boy came running into the kitchen tonight after listening to the Radio Snyde phone-in.  He said that a panellist was having a pop at Neil Lennon and had said that Celtic Captains were the same as Rangers’ Captains (in term of their responsibility).   The wee man asked ‘Does that mean  that Rangers Captains hate the huns as well?’  Santa is currently working on an extra present for you, son.

There was an announcement prior to kick-off that all supporters remain in their seats during the game.  This seemed to be the first shot in a war with the Green Brigade following the criticism of them at the recent AGM regarding their protest regarding the ‘poppy’.  The Green Brigade has been outstanding in their support of the team this season with their singing and dancing enhancing the atmosphere in the stadium.  I never met anybody who could dance sitting down so there was likely to be some tension between them, official stewards and the police.  The Green Brigade remained in their seats in total silence.  There was no singing or dancing and some were seen to be reading newspapers. 

The Board of Directors would have been delighted at the success of their attempt to stifle entertainment and free speech.  they would not have been alone in falling for the 'sting' because after 20 minutes somebody blew a whistle and hundreds rose in unison to sing their famous chant 'oh oh oh oh oh oh' followed by their full repertoire of songs and synchronised dancing.  Utterly hilarious and much appreciated by the rowd who gave them a standing ovation.  At half-time there was another announcement about sitting down and this was met by derision by the Celtic support.

A poor result today but the efforts continue to bring the side up to scratch and we wish Neil Lennon and his management team all the best.

 

 

Scottish Premier League                         

Review by 'An Irish Club with a Scottish Connection'

Saturday  20.11.10

Celtic   1   Dundee United   1

 

Celtic travelled to Scotland’s capital city tonight.   Giorgios Samaras was re-introduced for this match and Jos Hooiveld replaced the suspended Thomas Rogne.  Hearts hit the bar in 11 minutes after a spell of pressure and the alarm bells were ringing even at that stage.  Majstorovic was booked in 14 minutes after protesting the award of a foul to Hearts after Celtic defender Mark Wilson was hauled to the ground.....yes, folks, it gets no better with these referees.  A  speculative shot in the 27^th minute was headed on by Majstorovic and straight past Forster in the Celtic goal. 

Celtic’s lack of forward intent was alarming up to this point and Hearts led deservedly.  Referee Thomson booked Hooper in the 33^rd minute for simulation....another poor decision from the official.  The second half started brightly with Celtic looking more determined but that lasted just 10 minutes until the 56^th minute when Ledley stupidly made a two-footed tackle and was sent off.  Two minutes later and Hearts were 2-0 up following slackness by Shaun Maloney.  Celtic were then denied a clear penalty when Stevenson handled in the box.  Neil Lennon was sent to the stand for his protest. 

Celtic continued to toil and could have played until next week without scoring....and the players knew it.  Neil Lennon must take responsibility for this debacle as it is his job to work out why so many players don’t perform.  My worry is that we may have a team full of ‘bottlers’.  Clearly, Neil wanted play it tight at the start of the game and that has been a proven failure at Tynecastle over decades.  They always ‘go for it’ straight from kick-off and we generally just stand back and take it. They’ve got a tight park and a partisan crowd...so what?  Let them have it and they’ll soon shut up.

Make no mistake this was an appalling performance and result for Celtic.  Tonight’s team should be ashamed of themselves.  We never turned up and were outclassed by a very ordinary team.  There will be no SPL Championship for us this season unless we can solve the problem of under-performance in important matches.  We play like world-beaters against poor teams and fail miserably against decent teams.  The opportunity to take advantage of the league leaders dropping points will not come along often and that is why tonight’s result is such a disastrous one.

 

It is never straightforward to predict the result of a match with Aberdeen.  We have given them some hammerings over the years yet they can often be difficult opponents.  Neil Lennon went with Stokes and Hooper up front.  I was pleased to see Thomas Rogne alongside Daniel Majstorovic in the central defensive positions.  Glenn Loovens didn’t get a place on the bench and it looks though his time is up at Celtic.

Aberdeen manager, Mark McGhee, tells us he has limited resources and a young team.  His team have got 4 points from their last 27 so I had high hopes of a good result today.   They were predictably stuffy opponents for the first 25 minutes.  Hey should have gone ahead within twenty minutes when they had a shot cleared off the line.  It started to unravel for them when a Ki shot was handled in the box by Hartley – a penalty and a sending of for the Don’s skipper.  Anthony Stokes fired home from the spot.  Gary Hooper scored two excellent striker’s goals in the next 5 minutes.  Celtic's Thomas Rogne was sent off before half-time after wrestling with an Aberdeen player just outside the box.  He was clearly adjudged to be last man but I thought this more of a booking than a dismissal.  Another penalty conversion by Anthony Stokes in 45 minutes after Shaun Maloney was brought down by Langfield, sealed the Dons’ fate.

Another 5 goals in the second half was a fair reflection of the play and represented a record SPL score as well as the worst defeat in Aberdeen’s history.

This was a poor performance from Aberdeen and the lost of their experienced captain was probably what changed the game.  It must have been disappointing for them that nobody else seemed to take the responsibility for organising them and there seemed to be a lack of character, fight and leadership.  Despite this, Celtic were terrific and as is often said ‘you can only beat what is put in front of you’.

Some media commentators reflected that this result showed up the SPL as a poor and uncompetitive league.  No mention, of course, of Celtic’s superb performance, excellent passing movements and clinical finishing.  Football is supposed to be an entertainment and this was it in plenty.  Most impressive was Celtic’s refusal to down tools at half-time and they continued to go forward in the second period leading to the demolition of Aberdeen.  How great it was to see the young kids around me so animated and excited by the quality of football they were seeing after seasons of relatively boring fare.  It was reminiscent of my own youthful experience at Celtic Park and an illustration of how to play football the ‘Celtic Way’.

 

Some comment is necessary following yesterday’s revelation that referee Dougie McDonald has been warned over his flawed report to the authorities following the Dundee United v Celtic match.  Whilst I reckon there is much more to be revealed about this matter, the authorities feel the issue of indifferent refereeing has been put to rest.   I trust Celtic will consider that this is only the start of the club standing up for itself and its supporters.  All connected with Celtic must continue to examine and challenge inconsistencies in standards, and behaviour, in governing bodies and the media,  that unfairly besmirch our reputation and prevent us competing with others on a level playing field.   Remarkably, there has been some comment in the media that Neil Lennon, although it actually is Celtic FC that is the enquirer, is wrong to have asked for explanations from the governing body; this probably has more to do with a dislike of Neil and his cultural background rather than an objective and dispassionate view of the circumstances.  Had the matter not been raised then the truth would have not been known.  The concern is that incident is the tip of a very unsavoury iceberg.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/dundee-united/referee-dougie-mcdonald-lied-over-celtic-penalty-admit-sfa-1.1064819

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2010/oct/30/dougie-mcdonald-penalty-sfa

The game got off to an explosive start when In the first minute Ki took a free kick and rolled the ball back to Stokes.  His shot was saved by the goalkeeper who palmed the ball out to McGinn who shot from a difficult angle.  Niall ran to the Celtic support behind the goal and was booked for his celebration.  Yep, this certainly isn’t a sport for the customers is it?  No sanction for the six Celtic players who joined in, of course.  It is time to drop this stupid rule.

Ki hit a post in seven minutes and there were many other chances but none were taken until the 40th minute.  A poor pass back from Milne fell to Emilio Izaguirre who took two touches and slotted home.  This was a terrific goal from the left-back and one that any striker would have been proud to score.  Celtic continued to dominate in the second half and St Johnstone never looked like coming back against a solid Celtic defence.  Thomas Rogne replaced Glenn Loovens today and whilst not tested to any great extent he did exactly what was required.  Shaun Maloney took ill prior to kick-off he was replaced by Cha Du Ri on the left hand side of midfield.  The right-back had an excellent match.  A very goood performance all round and credit to the team and management.

Man of the Match   Emilio Izaguirre -  talented, hard working, composed and worth the entrance fee on his own - simply terrific.

Review by Auchenshuggle 64

 

 

Scottish League Cup                          Review by Michael O’Conghaile

St Johnstone   2    Celtic     3             Wednesday  27.10.10

Celtic travelled to Scotland’s ancient capital of Perth tonight and a speedy return to normal service was essential after Sunday’s capitulation to our closest rivals.  Speedy was the word for it as Celtic raced to a 3 goal lead in 13 minutes courtesy of goals from Anthony Stokes (4 and 13 minutes) and Niall McGinn in 12 minutes.  Saints pulled one back through Sam Parkin in 31 minutes after a shocking error by Glenn Loovens (who else?).  He took a fresh air swipe at the ball in the box and Parkin scored an excellent goal giving goalkeeper Forster no chance.  One wonders how long Neil Lennon will persevere with Loovens who is clearly lacking confidence and in my opinion not Celtic standard.  I thought the Chuckle Brothers were twins but they are obviously triplets.

Although we were against inferior opposition than on Sunday it is interesting to note that we played with 2 strikers through the middle early in this match and used the wide areas to good effect.  Perhaps if we hadn’t been as wary of the opposition on Sunday things might have been different.  Sadly, the momentum of the first quarter of an hour was lost and they stopped playing wide reverting to the usual fare.  Parkin could have scored another just before the break.  Why we can’t push home such an advantage is a mystery to me and seems little to ask to entertain the supporters and make up in some way for the previous result.

Saints started in fine style in the second period and Davidson scored with a header from a corner in 55 minutes.  Parkin missed another great opportunity to equalise and the opposition continued to trouble Celtic for the remainder of the of the match. Rarely did Celtic get out of their own half.  Only a super save in the 90^th minute by Fraser Forster denied St Johnstone the draw and opportunity for extra time that they so richly deserved.

St Johnstone play good football and have troubled many a team especially at home.  Despite this, they should never have come close to nearly overturning a three goal deficit against us and that is cause for real concern for the Celtic management.  We travel to the same venue again on Saturday on league business and I hope lessons have been learned from tonight’s experience.

Review by Michael O’Conghaile

 

 

Scottish Premier League                Review by John Kelly

Celtic  1   Rangers    3                    Sunday 24.10.10                   

We entertained the league leaders today and I looked forward to an interesting contest   The contrast of styles was always going to be an interesting one.  The attacking and entertaining style of Celtic against the dour but effective defensive ‘hit on the break’ tactics of the visitors.  The duel between the respective managers, rookie Neil Lennon and the experienced manager with no surname was also anticipated with much interest. 

That’s not exactly how it worked out and the first half was a flat affair with honours even until the 45^th minute when Gary Hooper scored for Celtic.  The Hoops had set out to contain Rangers and played one man up front with Samaras and Stokes in supporting roles.  The fact we only had three attempts on target in the whole match illustrated the folly of this tactic.

The media this week was full of talk about today’s referee Willie Collum being a teacher of religious education at a Catholic High School.  The fact that he has a Crucifix on his whistle also seemed to be worthy of comment.  Mr Collum’s response that he does this as a testimony to his Christian faith seemed to provide no respite for the whistler.  This episode shames those in the media who have used the matter for their own ends.

We are used to referees showing incompetence and bias in these fixtures but on this occasion only the former was in evidence.  Collum had a reasonable game but got a couple of crucial decisions badly wrong.   Allowing McCulloch, who was already on a yellow card, to stay on the field after a deliberate body-check on Samaras who was running in on goal was a clear mistake.  The penalty award was of the soft variety and TV footage clearly shows that the referee had his back to the incident and only had peripheral vision of the alleged infringement but his decision was probably an attempt to prove his impartiality.  Funny, I had teachers at school who said that they had eyes in the back of their heads – maybe they were right.  These two decisions turned the game.

It was vital to keep a clean sheet and consolidate our lead as we went into the second half.  That lasted 3 minutes until Glenn Loovens scored an own goal.  This eejit has done us many disservices in his time at the club and should have gone together with Caldwell and McManus.  Neil Lennon should realise that players of Loovens’ quality lose managers their jobs.  Loovens went to pieces afterwards and that in itself proves he is not Celtic quality.

Rangers player Kyle Lafferty’s run to the Celtic support to rub it in was typical of the out of control idiot this guy is and this sort of behaviour causes nothing but trouble.  He tells us this week that former Celtic manager, Gordon Strachan, tried to sign him from Burnley for us on three occasions.  The big cheating thug says he couldn’t possibly have signed for us given his leanings to Rangers.  That tells us two things – that we were very lucky to avoid having this dud on our books and that getting rid of Strachan was a very good decision.

Rangers went ahead 7 minutes later when a shocking kick out by Forster went straight to an opponent after Majstorovic had given him a hospital pass.  The ball was knocked forward and Majstorovic was unable to control a simple ball allowing Miller to fire home.

Minutes later Majstorovic was judged to have fouled Kirk Broadfoot in the box.  The Swede pulled out of the tackle and there as minimal contact but Broadfoot saw the opportunity to go down.  He collapsed like he had been hit by a sniper’s bullet and the cheat was complete.  Miller blasted home the resultant penalty.

That was it – game over.  Celtic showed little positive attacking intent after that and even less fight.  A disgraceful and unacceptable showing from Celtic and one wonders how they are ever going to beat Rangers again on today’s evidence.  They have no clue how to play against a packed defence and our rearguard is appalling.  The villains today were our goalkeeper and both centre-backs all of whom fell well short of the requirements of Celtic players.  A self-inflicted defeat if ever there was one.  Stokes was anonymous, Hooper got no service and Samaras saw a lot of the ball but did little with it.  Shaun Maloney was taken off injured after 15 minutes and replaced by Juarez who showed lots of energy but no final result.  Ki did well and surprisingly was physically strong, Ledley looked lost and neither was going to boss the midfield.  Full-backs Wilson and Emilio were probably our best players.  There was no leader on the park today and that problem was exacerbated when we went behind.  We have a management team learning as they go and a team still gelling together; not the sort of situation to suggest success is just around the corner.

This team continues to lose the ‘big’ games and that is cause for much concern.  Neil Lennon said that their mentality wasn’t right.  That’s your job, Neil.  If they can’t cut it then ‘get rid’. 

The visiting ‘support’ again showed their quality with a diatribe of bigotry and racism against Celtic, Catholics and the Irish population.  Perhaps this behaviour is the result of a team bereft of a culture of its own.   This game often throws up many surprises but the behaviour of the visiting ‘support’ is never a surprise.  Rangers say they have tried to turn this around but they are as far from success as they were 40 years ago.

Most disappointingly, many Celtic supporters started to leave with 10 minutes of the match remaining.  Apart from those who leave early for legitimate reasons, perhaps due to health or those with small children, it is a shameful act that gives pleasure to our opponents and does nothing to help our team or the reputation of the Celtic support.  Each and every one of you is a disgrace to our club and hopefully you will decide to stay away altogether in the future.

PS to Neil Lennon – stop sucking up to the manager with no surname by making compliments about his performance and what a great guy he is.  It makes you look like a nice even-handed person.  We don’t want that – we want a winning Celtic team and dominance over the manager with no surname’s team.  He’s got enough sycophants in the media without you joining in.

Review by John Kelly

 

 

 

Scottish Premier League                     Review by Auchenshuggle 64

 

Dundee United   1   Celtic     2             Sunday 17 October 2010

 

Celtic made their first visit this season to the 'City of Discovery' and discovered a few things alright....but more of that later.  In the absence of Scott Brown the team captain was Shaun Maloney.  Neil Lennon has my full confidence but he does the odd daft thing like this and there seems no logical reason for his decisions.  Shaun is an excellent footballer and a very nice person but he ain't no team captain.  Dan Majstorovic is the man - the sight of him standing over referee McDonald and snarling and gesticulating at him was a joy to behold.  Wee Shaun just looked disappointed and turned away like a wean (young child) who has just found out there aren't any chicken nuggets left.  I know if I was in the team the fearsome Dan would have my full attention!

Celtic played some magnificent football today and went ahead in 14 minutes through Gary Hooper with a typical close range effort after great work on the right and a superb cross from Mark Wilson.  It has been a long time since Mark was in the first team and he was brilliant today;  he was solid in defence and attacked at will giving the  forwards options not generally available.  Such was the quality of Celtic's play I fully expected more goals. It was not to be and United equalised in the 37th through David Goddwillie.  He fouled Joe Ledley some 45 yards out and ran forward before shooting and saw the ball deflected off Glenn Loovens' leg into the net.  A serious error by the referee and another one to add to his collection of honest mistakes.

United started the second period in whirlwind fashion making chance after chance but the Celtic rearguard stood strong.  The game erupted in the 70th minute when Gary Hooper was fouled by Gary Kenneth in the box followed by a foul by the keeper.  The referee immediately awaded a penalty but after protests from the United players he consulted the linesman.  The result was a drop ball and no penalty.  The linesman had not signalled an infringement and had taken up his position in preparation fro the penalty.  It is reported in cyberspace that the linesman is a Rangers supporter and conspiracy theories are widespread.  Referee McDonald has a shocking record of controversial decisions involving Celtic and as Neil Lennon said after the match this must go down as another 'honest mistake' but the point he is making will not be lost on anyone.

Celtic continued to press and brought on Paddy McCourt for Shaun Maloney in the 88th minute.  Within seconds the Irishman went on a mazy run doen the left and crossed.  The ensuing melee saw Gary Hooper tap the ball home from close range for the winner. 

There were ecstatic celebrations at the end from the Celtic management team, players and supporters.  This was a crucial victory and takes us into next week's tie against the hammer throwers from south of the river on equal points. 

United manager, Peter Houston, described Neil Lennon's delight as embarrassing and 'as if the league had been won'.  Houston clearly has Jim Jeffries' title in sight as the most miserable, mean-spirited and moaning person in Scottish football.

 

Review by Auchenshuggle 64

 

 

 

Scottish Premier League                        Review by Auchenshuggle 64

 

Celtic   v   Hamilton Academical             Saturday 2 October 2010

 

Celtic entertained Hamilton Academical Football Club today.  The Lanarkshire outfit had  experienced their ususal poor start to a season but had picked up markedly in recent weeks.  My expectation was still for a victory margin of 4 or 5 such is the gulf in class between the sides.  Read on.... 

I didn't get to the match until 20 minutes had elapsed due to my cousins experiencing traffic delays due to road works the M8  motorway around the Springburn exit  The driver can travel betweeen Russia, Algeria and Scotland without difficulty but apparently the trip from the west end of Glasgow to Celtic Park is much more difficult.  Nevertheless, we all made it in the end.  Celtic need to take a very long hard look at travel arrangements to Celtic Park.  It needs a subway and proper car parking facilities which may come about after the Commonwealth Games next year, otherwise attendances will suffer as it is no pleasure to travel to a match.  If alarm bells are not ringing in the Board Room then they should be.  To add insult to injury I received a £60 parking fine in the Forge Retail Park after the match.  Time to get it together Celtic...and quickly.

According to those around me our late arrival was a bonus.  Hamilton had scored in 3 minutes and might have been three in front after 15 minutes.  This looked like one of those dark days to which we have become accustomed over the last season or two, taking a blow and not coming back to win - most utterly un-Celtic. However, this is a different team with a different mentality and although things were tough I never doubted a Celtic victory.  Shaun Maloney scored an opportunistic leveller and the teams went in level at half-time.

Worth mentioning is the half-time 'entertainment'.  This week it was 6 guys in various states of health and fitness (mostly poor), of very dubious footballing ability, dressed in full Celtic kit and boots who are given 10 seconds each to advance on a goalkeeper (a young girl from the under-15 Celtic ladies squad) and put the ball in the net.  It's like some sort of ritualistic humiliation for all those involved and must be stopped to protect the participants from themselves and the crowds from a horrid debacle!!  Can we not have a pipe band or Irish dancers or even live bingo or something!!  Here's a suggestion......turn off the tannoy system and let the supoorters talk amongst themselves.  So loud is the music you can't hear yourself speak before kick-off or at the interval.  If the music was decent you could suffer it but its awful.  Most supporters sit with friends and family that maybe we only see at matches and it's great to chat about how everything is with friends and relatives.  As things stand you can't hear yourself think most of the time never mind hold a conversation.

After the match Neil Lennon said he had given the side a rollicking at the interval and that had been the first he had felt the need to do that in his managerial career with Celtic.  It showed on the park and there as more urgency in the second period. Shaun Maloney scored with a free-kick and Gary Hooper secured the points with a fine individual goal.  This boy has been injured and probably some way off his best.  He worked hard today and with a bit of luck he could have had more success in front of goal.  He looks similar in build to our departed strike Scott McDonald but there is one vital difference...Hooper is a footballer and can control the ball with one touch.  Scott's second touch was always a tackle or a booking.

Ki was impressive in midfield and he strikes the ball around with competence, precision and composure.  Scott Brown just looks like what he is..an ordinary player and the much-mailgned Giorgios Samaras was Celtic's most potent forward player throughout until he was substituted. 

A good result and satisfactory performance today which took us to the top of the Scottish Premier League on goal difference.  Special mention to the Green Brigade who sang and danced throughout the match and made the atmosphere in the stadium most enjoyable.

 

 

Scottish Premier League                Review by Auchenshuggle 64

 

Dundee United   0   Celtic   2          Sunday 25.4.10   

 

Celtic secured second place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League thanks to goals from Diomansy Kamara and Robbie Keane against Dundee United at Tannadice.

With half an hour gone of an absorbing first half the Senegalese striker latched on to a Marc-Antoine Fortune pass before curling an unstoppable shot past Dusan Pernis.

Tannadice substitute Jennison Myrie-Williams, on in the 62nd minute for Danny Swanson, was dismissed in controversial circumstancesby referee Iain Brines for picking up two bookings.

However, any doubt over the destination of the points ended in the dying seconds when Keane scored from the spot after Pernis had fouled Aiden McGeady as the Hoops' midfielder ran through on goal.

It was Celtic's fifth SPL win in a row since Neil Lennon took over as interim boss and they were cheered off by the travelling fans at the end.

The Parkhead supporters were in fine voice throughout but in the second minute they were almost silenced when United midfielder Swanson drove in to the box and played in David Goodwillie.

The Tannadice striker kept the ball in play on the byline despite the attention of Hoops keeper Artur Boruc, turned and glanced the near post with a shot with the ball travelling across the line and eventually away to safety.

That set the tempo of the game and in the 12th minute, as the home side took their turn again in pressing, it was Celtic defender Glenn Loovens, back in side for the first time since February after recovering from a hamstring injury, who cleared Garry Kenneth's angled shot off the line with Jon Daly ready to pounce.

The match swayed to and fro but defences remained on top. Hoops stopper Thomas Rogne, also starting for the first time since February following a hamstring injury, was holding the Celtic defence together at times with some well-timed tackles.

The Tayside rearguard looked more capable against Keane and Fortune in the air than on the ground but in the 30th minute Celtic eventually got in behind the United defence and took the lead through Kamara.

The Senegalese striker ran on to a Fortune pass which split the Tannadice rearguard and steadied himself before curling a shot from 14 yards high past Pernis.

As the Taysiders wobbled, Fortune sent a header just past the post before Darren O'Dea had to replace Rogne who limped off with a reoccurrence of his injury.

A minute from the break Kamara came close to grabbing his second when he sidefooted Aiden McGeady's low cross past the far post from just eight yards out.

Celtic finished the first half on top and moments after the break they had the chance for number two when McGeady's driven free-kick from the left found Keane unmarked 14 yards from goal but the Irishman volleyed over.

United fought back and in the 51st minute Goodwillie received a Daly knock down and sent a low shot past Boruc only to see it crash back off the post before it was eventually cleared by Lee Naylor.

Just before the hour mark Loovens signalled to the bench that his hamstring had also gone and he was replaced by former United player Mark Wilson, a natural full-back who had to go in to central defence alongside O'Dea.

But in the 61st minute Kamara had a great chance to score when McGeady set him up with a clever chip but the Hoops striker opted to volley and his almost casual effort from 10 yards out went high over the bar.

With Celtic taking control, United boss Peter Houston introduced Myrie-Williams for Swanson in the 62nd minute but that was to go wrong.

Although the visitors remained on top the match was still in the balance and there was the feeling that at least one more goal would arrive.

That disappeared in the 76th minute when Myrie-Williams, booked just after coming on for a foul on McGeady, was sent off by Iain Brines for a second foul, this time on Landry NGuemo.

It seemed a rather harsh and confusing decision and the game became somewhat ill-tempered but in the dying seconds Pernis conceded a penalty when he brought down McGeady and Keane slotted in number two from the spot.

 

 

 

 

Saturday 17.4.10          Review by Auchenshuggle 64

SPL

Celtic   3   Hibernian   2

 

Celtic rescued something here, if not their season then at least a little of their lost credibility.

For long enough, they looked reduced to a kind of dolefulness, but then a final expression of defiance suddenly restored a vital quality. It is the spirit of a team that refuses to accept any outcome other than the one they demand of themselves.

The drastic change in this match revolved around Morten Rasmussen. The tall, awkward striker’s entrance, after 73 minutes, came when Celtic were 2-1 down and so despairing that the players were arguing among themselves. By bringing some physical might and a presence to bear, the Dane was a galvanising force as his team denied Rangers the chance to seal the SPL title against Hearts this afternoon.

With 10 minutes remaining, Rasmussen’s flick carried the ball to Aiden McGeady on the left and his cross was turned goalwards by Robbie Keane. Graham Stack parried the effort, but Marc-Antoine Fortune clipped the ball into the net to level the match.

Seven minutes on, Fortune drilled a cross towards the near post and Rasmussen reached it first to bundle a shot beyond Stack. Neil Lennon ran leaping down the touchline and a great relief was expressed around Celtic Park. “I wanted to get Rasmussen on because he can be a goalscorer for this club,” said the interim manager.

“He proved that; he was excellent when he came on. We got a head of steam up and they got a wee taste of how the crowd respond. It’s a small step in the right direction.”

At times, Lennon might feel as though he is the lone source of incitement for his team. With empty seats scattered around Parkhead, and only the vaguest hope of catching Rangers, there is a sense of ambivalence about much of Celtic’s work.

But then Lennon is capable of savage exhortations. He exists in a state of restiveness on the touchline, as though trying to enforce some urgency into his team.

This endless turmoil is in part something in his nature, but then Celtic are a side easily subdued. Even an early goal here, scored with the kind of acute intent that should have been rousing, failed to establish any kind of superiority. Only four minutes had passed when McGeady’s scampering run down the left ended with a cross that Fortune adroitly dummied to Keane, whose side-footed finish was exquisitely placed.

However, that did not prevent Celtic’s lead being casually discarded. Within two minutes, Anthony Stokes drifted infield and slid the ball to Derek Riordan, who drilled a low, accurate shot into the corner.

It was Hibernian who were stirred and they should have scored a second, but Colin Nish took a fresh-air swipe at the ball. The visitors’ passing was precise and although Keane deftly created an opportunity for Niall McGinn that Stack saved, Hibs were mostly at ease. This assurance became even more relevant in the second half.

Nish headed down to Stokes in the area, and the striker was caught by Josh Thompson as the Celtic man looked to clear. The contact was inadvertent, but the penalty was awarded and Stokes converted decisively.

“To be 2-1 up with 10 minutes left at Parkhead, there’s a real disappointment not to have taken something from the game,” said John Hughes, the Hibs manager. “Our passing was sloppy, and there was no belief that we could score a third. I felt we sat back a little bit.”

After Hibs took the lead, Lennon seemed, for a time, drained, as though he could no longer rouse the fight within himself. His response was to send on Rasmussen. A Scott Brown shot wide, and a Rasmussen effort that was saved reanimated the crowd. Celtic grew in stature, reminded perhaps of the authority they are expected to possess here, of all places.

“Where’s it been?” Lennon said. “Under Gordon [Strachan], under Martin [O’Neill], it was taken as routine, a groundswell of pressure. I don’t want to say it’s a turning point, but I hope they’ve learned something.”

 

 

Sunday 4.4.10          Review by Auchenshuggle 64

SPL

Hibernian    0    Celtic    1

 

A Happy and Holy Easter to All

May The Blessings of The Risen Christ Be With You Today and Always

 

Neil Lennon maintained his 100%  record as Celtic manager following a solid if uninspiring performance at the aptly named Easter Road Stadium in Scotland's capital.  Lukas Zaluska replaced Artur Boruc in goal and Lee Naylor retained his position at left-back.  The midfield was unchanged and there was a bold formation up front with Keane, Fortune and Samaras.  Hibs had the brighter start and Zaluska saved us on several occasions.  The defence continued to look fragile and Colin Nish gave them, Darren O'Dea in particular, a torrid time but it was pleasing that a clean sheet was achieved. 

One thing that the temporary management team have brought is a greater dtermination and this probably was what scure the points in our favour.  Even Darren O'Dea was snarling in the first half and his complaining earned him a booking.  Perhaps a bit silly but it was very pleasing to see this sort of attitude from one of our players.

This was indeed an awful spectacle of a football match and the only consolation was 3 points for the victory.  The real winner was the workman in hard hat and high vis jacket retrieving the ball from the area of the stadium being redeveloped.  Triple time and seeing the match for nothing - well done that man.

 

 

Saturday     29.3.10                  Review by Auchenshuggle 64

SPL

Celtic  3      Kilmarnock   1   

 

Under interim manager Neil Lennon and his assistant Johan Mjallby this Celtic side regained some pride after the last match against St Mirren.  It was evident from the outset that the team had been given a good talking to by the new management team.  They were really up for it and started in whirlwind fashion.  We could have been three goals up in the first five minutes such was the ferocity of the attack.

Lennon brought back Lee Naylor and Artur Boruc

The Irishman immediately showed he knew the basics of football management - the first is to win a match. Celtic beat a poor Kilmarnock side comfortably. The second point is to impress on the players just what is required. Andreas Hinkel revealed that Lennon had kept it short and simple: press when you don’t have the ball, pass it when you have.

There has been much written about Lennon’s inexperience as a manager but he is not overwhelmed by the task. He has admitted to sleepless nights but knows there is a simple formula that may keep him in a job.  He let the good players play football and it was one of the team's best performances of the season.

The first showed that Celtic have an element of class that is unique in Scotland. The second indicated that Lennon believes his midfield players need to advance into the opposition penalty area.

Brown has looked awkward as a central midfielder trying to dictate play. His passing is not good enough, his vision is not exceptional. But he is quick, committed and direct, Lennon said of his captain: “He’s got the energy. They’re a dying breed, the goal-scoring midfielder, and he’s one that can get beyond the back four and get beyond the strikers and get into the box because he’s got the legs. I told him: ‘Pick and choose your moments when you can’. The opportunity for his goal came with the breakaway. He’s laid it off to Aiden and kept going and got his just reward.”

Lennon seems determined to end the culture of bountiful possession and replace it with menace. “We have enough players who are comfortable on the ball,” he said. “I need somebody who can break away from midfield. I am expecting more of that from him, like Petrov used to do. He was a class player who could guarantee you 10 or 11 goals a season and, in the modern game, that’s priceless.”

He said of Brown: “I want him to be a wee bit more assured on the ball but I couldn’t have asked any more from him.” Celtic, though, need to increase the tempo of their play. This may come with confidence and as players adhere to their manager’s insistence that directness is not about the long ball but about moving the ball quickly through midfield.

Lennon was also pleased with the contributions of Georgios Samaras, McGeady and the back four. But Keane’s class shone brightly, if intermittently. His two goals destroyed a Kilmarnock side that face a relegation struggle.

It has been suggested that the signing of Keane has been an irrelevance to Celtic’s season as Rangers prepare to take the title. However, he could have a significant legacy. His goals could make him the kingmaker with a fellow Irishman ascending to the throne.

If the Tottenham Hotspur striker helps Celtic reduce Rangers’ lead in the league to respectable levels and helps the club win the cup, then Lennon’s claims for a permanent position would become persuasive, perhaps unassailable. Clubs do not discard winning coaches. Lennon will appreciate the simplicity in that, too.

 

Review by Auchenshuggle 64

 

 

Wednesday  24.3.10                  Review by Administrator

SPL

St Mirren    4     Celtic    0

 

There is no review of this match as a mark of respect to our departed manager, Tony Mowbray.  We thank him for his efforts on behalf of Celtic Football Club and its supporters and wish him well in his future career.

 

 

Saturday 20.3.10                  Review by Michael O'Conghaile

SPL

Celtic   3     St Johnstone    0

 

Celtic kept Lukas Zaluska in goal in preference to Artur Boruc and Paul McGowan was a surprise starter. The youngster had a very good game and was the player on the pitch. He was composed and showed guile and vision much lacking in some of his highly rated colleagues.  He linked weel with team-mates especially Robbie Keane.  Paul also posed a goal threat and had a couple of good efforts on goal. Mark Wilson returned to right back and Darren O'Dea and Josh Thompson played their third game in a row as the central defensive partnership.  Josh scored his own first goal for us in the first half and had another good performance.  He looks more assured than many of our recent central defenders and I hope that he doesn't disappear into oblivion in the reserves once others are fit.

St Johnstone are usually an attractive team to watch but not today.  They belied their nickname of 'The Saints' with some horrific challenges in this match and the referee had a busy time disciplining their players.  They offered little in terms of entertainment and made it difficult for us in the first half.  The second period was better and it was 'shooty-in' for most of the half.

As the Championship has now gone this had the feel of a real end of season affair.  The remaining games will have little to offer but will prove invaluable to the manager in trying to get a team together for next season.

 

Review by Michael O'Conghaile

 

 

Saturday 13.3.10                  Review by Michael O'Conghaile

SPL

Kilmarnock   0   Celtic   3

 

This match represented a very tricky tie indeed for Celtic. The hillbillies from South Ayrshire aren't up to much but they are determined and fuelled by a management team of Calderwood, Nicholl and Clark.  This trio was fashioned in the southside of Glasgow and still represent all that spawned them.

Lukas Zaluska replaced Artur Boruc in goal and Keane / Rasmussen partnership, so successful in last week's game at Falkirk, continued.  Kilmarnock had the better of the exchanges in the first half and could have scored on several occasions but bad luck and bad judgement let a disjointed bunch.

The second half was an entirely different proposition with Celtic starting more positively and created many good chances early in the half.  Kilmarnock continued to be a difficult opponent but things changed when Robbie Keane scored a beautiful goal.  Edson Braafheid launched a long ball forward and Keane controlled it with sublime skill, avoided the goalkeeper and slotted home - a beauty.  The second Celtic goal owed a lot Georgios Samaras.  He and Marc Fortune had replaced Marc Crosas and Morten Rasmussen.  Samaras, was playing in what appeared to be more of a 4-3-3 and it was on the left touchline that he did the damage.  A slack ball appeared to be going out for a shy but the Greek striker never gave up. He won back possession and fed Marc Antoine Fortune.  He was able to play the ball to Keane whose clever movement found him unmarked 2 yards from goal.  It was easy after that and it was 2-0.  This secured a semi-final place for us but a Celtic break, with Fortune again the provider, allowed Keane to sweep the ball home for his first Celtic hat-trick.

This game had two controversial incidents. Tim Clancy had a straight leg stamp on Morten Rasmussen which might have led to a leg break for the Danish striker.  This occurred only a few yards from the linesman but there was no booking.  Rasmussen then got into a tussle with Wright and raised his left arm to free himself which left the defender on the ground.  Two red cards but not a booking in sight.  From a Celtic perspective, I was pleased Rasmussen actually stood up for himself although an ordering off would have been a serious matter for us.  At least, he shows that after being kicked about by Kilmarnock defenders he could stand up for himself.  I trust more Celtic players will have the bottle to dish it out to SPL thugs.

Aiden McGeady had a great game today and was clearly Man Of The Match.  His movement and awareness were excellent, his dribbling and final ball were also good.  Josh Thompson continues to impress and although a youngster, he does everything well.  What I like about him is that he knows he isn't Franz Beckenbauer but he just does the best he can making good clearances and passing competently from the back - a good prospect.

Tony Mowbray's second half substitutions were the key in this match and well done to him for having the ambition to go for the victory.

 

 

Review by Michael O'Conghaile

 

 

 

Saturday 28.2.10                  Review by Tiocfaidh Ar La

SPL

Rangers    1   Celtic   0

 

This was always going to be difficult match and we needed to win to retain any reasonable SPL Champioship ambitions.  Celtic had injury and suspension problems and we went with an 18 year old and a 19 year old, Rogne and Thompson, in central defence. Oh how Boyd and Miller must have looked forward to this and they would have been expecting some reward from the inexperienced youngsters.  Despite an nervous start from the latter the defence was solid and better than in the days where we had experienced defenders such a Caldwell and McManus in those positions.  Rogne went off injured in the 30th minute and up until then he was composed and assured - I believe we have a player in this boy.  Thompson gained in confidence and performed extremely well giving the dubious duo little opportunity in front of goal.  Artur Boruc had one of his finest games and saved us from defeat on many occasions.

Celtic started brightly and had the best of the exchanges in the first half with Robbie Keane coming close on a couple of occasions. Fortune missing a sitter close to half-time.  Keane was kicked all over the place to the delight of the baying hun mob and Bougherra was booked for an assault on him in 10 minutes.  I looked forward to a sending off but he continued to assault Keane throughout the match without further sanction. 

I am certainly not paranoid and the failure of the referee to address this issue was obviously due to 'honest mistakes'.  The referee's collection of 'honest mistakes' increased when he booked Fortune for hand ball and failed to do the same to Miller whose action led to a disallowed goal.  Mr McDonald was on a roll now and when he sent off Scott Brown for wresting with Kyle Laugherty in 65 minutes that gave the ref the full set of 'errors'. 

Laugherty, the accomplished and proven cheat and thug from the North of Ireland, made sure he got involved with Brown and felled himself.  Not quite on a par with his cheating last season with Charlie Mulgrew of Aberdeen but close enough to shame him and see him removed from play soon after.  Laugherty is a quite utterly awful fooballer but he give Rangers everything they need and that says it all really. 

Brown should really have known better and his lack awareness of the ned's modus operandi was appalling and not worthy of a captain of Celtic Football Club.

This changed the course of the game and huns took the ascendancy but Celtic looked to have them in control.  As the game went on it became obvious that we had no attacking intent and a draw was our best outcome.  This was dashed in the 93 minute when Edu bundled home from one yard.

Sometimes 10 men can be difficult to play against but not today - it was easy for huns and their winning goal was no real surprise.  It was disappointing that Celtic did not make more of a fight in this match.  It was obvious from the outset that we needed to win but that wasn't, in my opinion, reflected in how we played.  Keane hadn't trained all week and it showed.  He was not at his usual level of sharpness and he tired very much in the second period.  Tony Mowbray tells us that McGeady had been ill during the week and couldn't have lasted 90 minutes.  Both these players started the game and perhaps they shouldn't have in the circumstances.  McGeady's illness may explain his poor performance today but not the many previous poor ones - time to go Aiden as you are vastly over-rated footballer and we need the dosh from your transfer fee.

Worringly, neither Brown or N'Guemo seem able to keep the ball and I don't view them as a partnership.  We didn't have a corner today and no shots on target in the second half.  Celtic have a plethora of midfielders but I do not see Brown as being the one for us.  He has had chance after chance but he still looks so ordinary and can't seem to gel with those around him - time to get rid.

Plus points were the performance of the centre backs and Andreas Hinkel who got stuck in.  N'Guemo looks great and appalling in equal measure.  He can tackle and has good vision but he also can't tackle and has poor vision - he needs to achieve some consistency as he is like a bomb scare at times.  Fortune played well apart from his appalling miss and his removal for Ki was beyond comprehension.  Braafheid looks as if he got a bus to Bayern Munich rather than played for them.  He makes Lee Naylor look like Carlos Alberto of Brazil.

Thankfully, we can now forget about this year's Championship ambitions and build for next year but that success is by no means guaranteed. 

It will be interesting to see how Celtic deal with yet another poor refereeing performance.  My own view is that we have to make a real effort to get out of Scottish football as the impartiality of its officialdom is seriously in doubt. 

 

Review by Tiocfaidh Ar La

 

 

Saturday 20.2.10                  Review by Auchenshuggle 64

SPL

Celtic  1  Dundee United   0

 

This game represented the first in a series of 13 matches which Celtic have to win to regain the SPL title.  Realistically, we can't afford to lose any more points in the pursuit of our title ambitions.  We replaced the suspended O'Dea and McGeady with Rogne and Ki.  The youthful defence performed well and why United didn't pressurise the youngsters is surprising but the young defenders performed well and dealt competently with everything that was put in front of them.  I was particularly impressed with Rogne who looked assured throughout.  Ki looks to be a bit lightweight for the SPL and needing more time on the ball than he will ever get in this league.

This was good performance by Celtic and the team looks to be gelling more as every game passes.  One disappointing note is the numbers of chances that we are creating but missing - this a potential banana skin and needs to be fixed soon.  This game should have been 'put to bed' in the first half and points could have been lost late in the second period as United made sporadic attempts to attack.  We have Artur Boruc to thank for an important save late in the game.

 

Review by Auchenshuggle 64

 

 

Saturday 13.2.10                  Review by Tiny Tim

SPL

Aberdeeen   4   Celtic   4

 

Celtic went into this match 8 points behind the league leaders and the chance to get a victory to reduce that to 5 points and put our rivals under more pressure.  Despite a goal in the third minute we conspired to drop more points and one wonders when our run of poor results will end.

After we scored I sat back and thought 'well that's it, today is the day where somebody will get that long-awaited skelping'.  How far from the truth that was as Aberdeen galvanised themseves, re-grouped and gave us one terrible time.  To be fair, Aberdeen only perform like this against us and their much-hated bitter rivals from the southside of Glasgow.  If you were Queen's Park then they would have been completely incompetent and failed miserably but we should have been aware of their danger on this occasion.

Aberdeen equalised through a fine goal by Paton then we took the lead again through Fortune following a great pass by Robbie Keane.  Back came the Dons and it was 2-2 at half-time.  We went two in front through Keane and McGeady meaning that the game was over and just had to be closed out - well, that's what the coaching manual says but not with this team.  Tony Mowbray brought on Samaras for Keane, Ki for N'Guemo and Rasmussen for Fortune, respectively. The manager said later he brought on Samaras to defend high balls into the box as he knew Aberdeen would use this tactic.  Perhaps it might have been better to have stiffened up the midfield to prevent them getting the possession they had - it was like the Alamo in the last 18 minutes and this came about, in my opinion, through his injudicious decision making and, I believe, tactical naivety.  This scenario is like a pre-season but played out in mid-season.

Funny how we differ, at 4-2, I was looking for us to go ahead score one or two more - that's the problem of growing up with the Lisbon Lions!!  We are good going forward and if we had a defence we would be some team.

Edson Braafheid gave away a penalty that was just simply shocking for a professional footballer.  He goes on about the fans at Bayern Munich not liking him - nae wunner, pal.  He had an awful game today and this clown is on loan so we can only be thankful for that.  His contribution is of the sort that gets managers the sack.  Come back, Lee Naylor.

I feel a bit sorry for central defenders, Josh Thompson and Darren O'Dea.  Whilst they were our weak link today they had absolutely no support from the midfield.  Everything just came straight through to them and even at 4-2 most of of knew the match was far from over.  The procession to the fourth was so obvious and not a surprise in the slightest.  Even Mrs Tiny Tim saw it coming.  Paul Caddis didn't cover himself in glory and he has been touted by many as worthy of a start but on the evidence of this performance, not at right back.  I suppose if we had fielded injured first choice defenders like Hinkel, Hooiveld and Loovens things would have been different but that made the protection of a fargile defence even more important.

I don't know what to make of Scott Brown other than that he doesn't seem to complement N'Guemo who looks half the player when he plays with him than with Crosas or the departed Massimo Donati.  Is he a holding player or an attacking midfielder or what - so what is his remit?  He seems to be guaranteed a game but I'm not sure of his worth to the team.

It will be a while before we get all our players back and can make a proper assessment of the team, its capabilities and potential but things are pretty desperate just now.  There seems no solution to our current form.  Even with a crop of injuries we should be able to come up with a plan to prevent a disaster like today's.  Even in the light of bad luck, injuries and a combination of incorrect refereeing decisions we look a very fragile team which seems full of skilful individuals but absolutely no cohesion whatsoever.  Calls for the manager's head are premature but we can't go on like this forever.  I could suffer no trophies this year as we are re-building but, sadly, I am not certain of any improvement next season either and that is the crux of the matter. 

The manager is under some pressure given poor results and the club needs now to decide to give him time get things right or to try someone else.  Given their track record I expect them to do the former, at least until the end of the season, and no-one knows how that will work out.  I think fortune has not looked kindly on Tony Mowbray and I reckon the activities of the Board may not have helped him in terms of their lack of urgency in investing in the strengthening of the team over the past couple of years.  This has left Tony with a mountain to climb in terms of turning things around and the resulting pressure that he is now under.  I reckon that another succession of poor results will bring things to a head and perhaps through that we will see the way forward. 

 

Review by Tiny Tim

 

 

Wednesday 10.2.10                  Review by Tiny Tim

SPL

Celtic   2   Hearts   0

 

Another three points in the bag and we managed to cut the deficit between ourselves and the league leaders to 8 points.  Hearts started this match with a seriously depleted squad yet still managed to bring in another load of brutish cart horses as replacements.  How the Gorgie hordes can watch this drivel week in week out is beyond belief.  Despite this they clogged up the midfield and made it difficult for us in the first half.

Two goals in quick succession by Glenn Loovens and Mac Antoine Fortune secured the points.  The former was replaced by Thomas Rogne in the second period.  He and Josh Thompson had little to do against the visitors who offered little in terms of invention or attack. 

Robbie Keane makes some great runs and takes up some really good positions creating excellent chances.  Sadly his is yet to hit the mark from open play and tonight we lost a very good opportunity to reduce our rival's goal difference advantage.  Had Giorgios Samaras missed these chances he would have been run out of town.  Robbie needs to score soon and continue to do that frequently.

I would have played Morten Rasmussen in this game up front with Keane and Kamara and Fortune in behind. I like Kamara as he is skilful, fast and has good vision.  For a striker he is very useful in midfield and supports the attack well.

 

Review by Tiny Tim

 

 

 

Sunday  7.2.10               Review by Tam The Bam

Scottish Cup

Dunfermline    2   Celtic    4

 

Some media pundits had this game down as a last-gasp for Tony Mowbray and a defeat would lead to his instant dismissal.  Tony made seven changes from the team that was defeated by Kilmaronck with Keane and McGeady on the bench.

Celtic started really well and bossed the match in its early stages and went ahead with a terrific goal by Diomansy Kamara in the 18th minute.  I like this boy as he can control a ball, pass accurately and shoot on target.  His goal was equalised two minutes later by David Graham.  Artur Boruc, why was your posotioning so poor?

The Pars went into the lead with a penalty which I have watched on TV several times but I am still to see the offence by Caddis but who I am I to criticise a top class referee like Charlie Richmond?.  We restored parity before half time when Rasmussen scord a typical striker's goal.  I don't reckon this boy will ever score a spectacular goal and he is what it says on the tin, he is simply a 'a penalty box srtiker'.  Oh joy! 

Keane came on in the second half and gave us another dimension with clever runs and an eye for goal.  He was about to strike before being clobbered by a defender.  A goal scoring opportunity - yes.  A sending off ?- no.  Why? - nobody knows.  Robbie sent the ball past their keeper with some style and we were in front.  The fourth was the result of great work by Braafheid and given to an own goal but Rasmussen's input was critical inthe Dunfemline defender's decison-making.

This was a good Celtic performance and special contributions by by Braafheid, Keane and Kamara.  The left-back, in particular showed an ability to defend, attack, cross and get right stuck in, such as which we have not seem for some time.  Keane demonstrated his obvious quality and it is a pleasure to watch him play.  Kamara just looks the part - strong, intelligent and dangerous.

Aiden McGeady came on as a substitute and was poor - he either needs a rest or a transfer to another team.  His final ball is quite awful and his conribution was not good.

Scott Brown played well and provided an arrogance sadly missing previously.  I am not a fan of his but who knows...maybe he is the man.

 

Review by Tam The Bam

 

 

Monday 1.2.10               Review by   Tail O' The Bank

SPL

Kilmarnock   1   Celtic  0

 

After the euphoria of the transfer window and the loan signings of Diomansy Kamara, Edson Braafheid and Robbie Keane we faced a Kilmarnock side desperate for survival in the SPL.  The Ayrshire side would also have benefitted from the excitement and they were undoubtedly geared up for this game.  Kamara and Fortune played up front with Keane in his customary role just behind the strikers.  This looked like a very offensive line up and I sat backed and awaited a goal rush.  Edson avioded the fight and went home to tie up a few loose ends - oh well, that's alright then!  Celtic looked the part in the first ten minutes then Kilmarnock seemed to get to grips with things and choked the midfield causing us all sorts of problems.  This is not untypical of our experience in the SPL and we don't seem to have an answer to it.

By half-time I feared that we would never score and when Kilmarnock went ahead through Chris Maguire we never looked like winning this match.  The panic in my heart was replicated by that of the players who just looked lost.  We have lots of very good individual players and that was how we played - a team with lots of very good individual players!  There was a lack of cohesion and maybe self-belief.  In their defence, this was a team brought together for less than one day so some perspective is required.  Tony Mowbray has been under relentless pressure for poor results but he does need time to get his new squad together.  Many of the new players signed in the transfer window haven't been playing regular first team fooball and it may be some weeks before they are performimg at their best.  That makes me fear for this year's SPL Championship but we are very much in a serious transition period and we may just have to accept that success this year is a step too far.

Despite this, our aim is to win every game and that is far from impossible.  Doubters should refer to Celtic's history and realise that ours is a great heritage of fightback and determination in the face of seemingly impossible odds.

It is clear that Tony Mowbray is till trying to find a blend in his team and until he gets time and a full squad this will be difficult.  I do believe that the time is right for Artur Boruc and Aiden McGeady to be rested.  Their performances are well below par.  Artur just doesn't look fit and he seemed late in going down for the shot that gave Kilmarnock the lead.  The Holy Goalie looks as if he has two dinners every night and his bulk has grown since the beginning of the season.  Aiden just looks tired and lacking in confidence.  I now regret that we didn't take advantage of large transfer fees for both these players when they were seemingly on offer.  If they can't reproduce their past form then it is time to cut our losses.  They have enormous warmth from the Celtic support and I include myself in that but the Club comes first and their current performances are not good enough especially in times of trial.

Much has also been made of the deployment of Scott Brown in a left back position with 17 minutes to go and this does seem strange.  Tony said it was to give us width but that just doesn't add up as drive from midfield seemed to be a better option.  Probably Tony's tactical vision has passed me by but I do worry that his decisions don't seem to provide the desired result.  Only time will tell if his overall vison for the team will come to pass but that time is not in great abundance.

I am concerned that many of our signings are of a loan nature.  This is probably good practice to enable us to assess the individuals concerned but my fear is that they will revert to their original teams in the summer and we will be back to square one.  I doubt if Keane will stay and Braafheid has been reported in the media that he moved to Celtic only to enhance his chance of being included in the Holland World Cup squad.  I believe that these signings are a month too late and they will not produce the instant improvement that we seek but I am hopeful of being proved wrong.

So it's onwards and upwards and a chance for our management and players to take their place in Celtic's history.  This is the type of situation that creates heroes and I hope that they will take advantage of this opportunity.

If permitted in a Match Opinion column, I must comment on the announcement this week of the joint sponsorship deal with Tennent's.  I am distraught that we find ourselves once again in cahoots with Rangers FC.  Their reputation in terms of the behaviour of their supporters is not one that I believe our club should be involved with.  The racism and sectarianism demonstrated by a large number of their supporters on a weekly basis is beneath contempt and Celtic Football Club is shamed by our association with them.  Their hatred of all things Celtic, Irish and Catholic should be abhorred by every citizen of Scotland.  Their abuse of our former Manager, Jock Stein and the victims of The Great Famine is particularly loathsome. 

The reticence of both clubs and the Scottish Football authorities to address this issue is distasteful and the their acquiesence in this mattter is disgraceful.  I take no pleasure in the suffering of others and I regret Rangers' current financial position as it affects them.  Why we would want to be associated with the financial situation that 'our partners' find themselves in beggars belief. 

Some commentators have suggested that we involve ourselves in this association because Celtic need a buoyant Rangers FC to ensure our financial success.  If this is true then our Board's proclamation that we are a 'global brand' is seriously flawed and indeed, I suggest, a lie. 

On another website it was suggested that instead of a sponsorship deal we ask 50,000 supporters pay an extra £30 on their season ticket (that is £1,500,00) and that would rid us of the association with the other major team in the City of Glasgow.  I would happily pay another £100 a year for this to come about and bring about the cessation of the selling-out of our principles for cash.  Another option would be to stop signing £1.5 m duds or sell some duds and recoup the sponsorship cash that way.

 

Review by   Tail O' The Bank

 

Thank you for that Opinion, Tail O' The Bank.  Your comments regarding the sponsorship deal have been added to our Updates Page.

 

 

 

Saturday 30.1.10               Review by   Auchenshuggle 64

SPL

Hamilton   0   Celtic   1

 

Celtic dropped Caddis, Crosas and McGinn from Wednesday night's match against Hibs and brought Hooiveid and N'Guemo.  This was always going to be a dreary match as these affairs at New Douglas Park tend to be.  They make little effort to attack and always seem to be seeking the draw.  It was made worse with a pitch in quite utterly appalling condition and unsuitable for decent passing.

This was a game with very few highights and was won with a goal by new signing Morten Rasmussen in 68 minutes.  He is indeed a different player from Samaras or Fortune and was always drawn to the penalty box.  His goal was an opportunist effort from 5 yards.

Fortune was fouled in the box late in the game and a penalty was awarded but he took it himself and made a hash of it.  At least know we know that Rasmussen is probably the man for taking penalties.

There will be lots of games like this as the team is rebuilt and players get to know one another.  Hooiveid had little to do but he and Thompson dealt cleanly with anything that came their way.  Boruc and McGeady were poor today and neither look the players they were.  Zhi just looks lost and Samaras had a really bad day.  It was ggod to see N'Guemo back and he is a good player but he sometimes spooks me by holding on to the ball too long.  Fortune rarely puts foot wrong and it's clear now why he was bought.  He will never be a prolific goalscorer in my view but his contribution is valuable and I look forward to his partnership with Rasmussen.

 

Review by   Auchenshuggle 64

      

 

There are 2 Opinions for this match

 

Wednesday 26.1.10               Review by   Tail O' The Bank

SPL

Celtic    1   Hibernian    2       

 

Celtic started this game in  a brilliant with confident swift movement and a goal in five minutes by Marc Fortune.  We continued to control the match but Hibs steadied themselves and after about 25 minutes the game looked more like a contest.  They scored through Anthony Stokes in 33 minutes.   Our defence was getting itself organised when the corner was taken and Artur was rooted to the spot without contesting Stokes for the ball.  Another poor defensive lapse and no Caldwell or McManus to blame! 

We started the second half and had almost all of the offensive possession but there was no cutting edge.  Samaras and Fortune continued to raid down the flanks.  The irony was not lost on me when Fortune skinned the Hibs defenders on the wing and I excitedly looked into the box for an option but you've guessed it - no Celtic attacker and nobody looking like getting there before tomorrow!

Paul Caddis slooted in at left back and played well but he is right footed and it shows.  I reckon he's at least as good as Hinkel anddeserves a chance in that berth.  He is also good going foward and was individually coached by Danny McGrain.  Josh Thompson and Darren O'Dea formed the centre back partnership.  It was difficult to judge their performance as Hibs had such little attacking intent which makes it all the more embarassing that they scored two goals.  Niall McGinn, Marc Crosas, Zheng Zhi and Aiden McGeady was not an effective partnership on the night with McGeady and McGinn well below par.  There is an increasing numbers of supporters who are thinking that a large transfer fee for Aiden might not be such a bad thing such is his poor decision making at times and lack of accurate shooting.  Zhi looks to have great skill but he tends to disappear and can't seem to impose himself on a game.  Crosas looks composed and can pass a ball but he needs others to react to that.

Morten Rasmussen, Ki and Paddy McCourt came on as substitutes to no avail.  The new signing didn't have the opportunity to do much but he certainly stays in the box alright - it was like a magnet to him which is just as well given the propensity of Samaras aand Fortune to do most of their work out of the box.  Ki just looks a very good player who gets stuck in and he should prove a valuable player for us.  Paddy McCourt?  I am a great fan of his but I don't undersatnd why he apparently can't last 90 minutes.  He looks fit enough and surely by now he has built up his level of stamina?  Any way given his level of skill and ability to shot on target I would give him 45 minutes in every game, preferably second half.

Hibs scored in the 92nd minute.  Ki threw himself down 20 yards from the Hibs goal looking for a free kick which was correctly refused by the referee who allowed play to continue.  Hibs made a quick counter and Galbraith slammed it across Boruc and into the net.  Artur's positioning was poor and he should never have lost a goal like that.  It was a tight decision for the linesman but, in my opinion the Hibs attacker was offside and his goal should not have stood but we at Celtic are becoming used to these sorts of decisions.

There is some considerable frustration amongst the support at recent poor results but I believe the signs are good but not maybe for this season.  It will take time for new players and a new system to come together and there may be more signings.  We also have one or two decent players to return from injury.   Once we have everything in place and a settled dressing room then I look forward to some great football and success.  Whilst I am disappointed at us trailing so badly in the league, this cloud does have a silver lining in that those in charge of the Club will now have had their attention focussed more on events on the field rather than on the balance sheet.

 

Review by   Tail O'The Bank

 

There are 2 Opinions for this match

 

Wednesday 26.1.10               Review by   1798

 

SPL

 

Celtic    1   Hibernian    2

 

A shocking result but a normal performance.   We had good goal scoring opportunities and we restricted the opposition to two chances but unfortunately they scored with both!  Celtic started brilliantly and scored a goal through Marc Antoine Fortune who ghosted in at the near post in the fifth minute and headed home off the underside of the crossbar.   So game on and a barrowload in prospect?....err....no.   Hibernian looked to be on their knees for the first 20 minutes and it was shooty-in for Celtic but, predictably, no further goals were scored.  This allowed them to get an equaliser before half-time when Anthony Stokes (why are we scouring Europe for a potent striker when this wee guy is along the M8 motorway?).   I know that he rejected us a couple of years ago for Keane's Sunderland but who is holding a grudge?

Hibernian played really well and whilst they are not Barcelona, they do all the ordinary things well like defending, attacking, keeping posssession and tackling.   Celtic had the bulk of the possession but could do little with it and I suppose in the circumstances Hibernian (negatively) deserved a point.  What they did not deserve was three points but that was what they got.  Referee Ian Brines (I think he is a polis - goodness help his charges given his poor judgement on the football field!!)  decided in the 92nd minute the Ki had dived when he was clearly fouled 20 yards from the visitor's goal.  This resulted in Hibernian taking the ball forward and Galbraith scored the winner from a clear offside position - no debate here, folks, I was in 407 and saw it at close hand. 

Despite a great start McGeady Hinkel, Zhi and Boruc were poor.  Boruc is overweight and Zhi is good for 10 minutes in total then he disappears.  Hinkel just looks so ordinary.  Why buy him when Paul Caddis is every bit as good?  Paul played reasonably well out of position tonight at left-back.  The midfiield was ridiculous - Zhi is just ordinary, as for Crosas the jury is out and does he ever tackle?  Does McGeady ever get a cross in or beat a man?  Niall McGinn - a young boy in the development process who has made an appearance too far.

The defence was OK with Josh Thompson increasing his confidence levels but that really should be done in the second string,  not in the first team.  Darren O'Dea also did well but he is unlikely to take us to the 'next level'.  Marc Fortune was immense in holding up the ball,  he was very skilful and athletic in getting out of tight positions and his general awareness was superb.  Samaras was as poor as he often is good - nothing more to say other than I believe his time to be up.  He has great skill and potenetial but it doesn't look to to me to being realised in the near future so bye bye... Sammi...bye bye.   Morten Rasmussen got a run but did nothing.  He looks like another dud who will trot out the phrase  'I didn't realise Celtic were such a big club....blah...blah...blah.

Artur....thank you for being our Holy Goalie but your time is now up.  You are overweight, disinterested and a complete liability so cheerio.

This was a fiasco and somebody had better make it better.....and quickly.

 

Review by   1798

 

 

 

Sunday 24.1.10                 Review by   Moville Mick

SPL

St Johnstone   1   Celtic   4

 

Given the league leader's slip yesterday it gave Celtic a chance narrow the gap however we are now in a postion where we need to win every game anyway.  A long injury list meant that Celtic started with a back four of Hinkel, Loovens, Thompson and O'Dea.  Things got off to a bad start when Saints went one up with a penalty in 11 minutes.  Loovens was judged to have committed a foul in the box.  Every body around me thought it a clear penalty and there no complaints from our players but I wasn't sure that an offence had been committed.  Shortly afterwards Loovens was replaced after a bad head knock.  Paul Caddis took his place with O'Dea moving to partner Thompson at centre back.

Lots of effort ensued for the rest of the first half but Celtic never really looked like scoring and after 45 minutes I was dreading writing a review of another defeat or draw.  The game turned after 11 seconds of the second half when Gartland was sent off for a foul on Fortune as he bore down on goal.  The game slowly became one way traffic and goals by Fortune (2), Samaras and McCourt secured an important victory.  Each player scored a goal that would have qualified as 'goal of the season' and we were treated to some great attacking play with St Johnstone being ripped to shreds.  The sending off was the key here but Celtic still had to do the job.  It was good to see Tony Mowbray throw on more attacking players to get the victory and very pleasing that the players showed the determination and fight needed to get the points.

Fortune had a good game; held up well and make good use of the channels.  He scored two excellent goals and is looking the player Tony Mowbray told us he was.  McGinn and McGeady didn't have their best days nor Zhi or Hinkel.  Paul Caddis continues to impress and in my opinion he is better than Naylor or Fox.  McCourt came on for the last half hour and he was worth the entrance money alone.  He terrorised the Saints defence and apart from his goal had another two efforts on target.

Although we played against a team with ten men in the second half this was a good victory.  The manager made good substitutions and the team never gave up.  It will likely be some weeks before we get a settled team with new players coming in and some returning from injury but the signs are good.

 

Review by   Moville Mick

 

 

Sunday 17.1.10                 Review by   Auchenshuggle 64

SPL

Celtic   1   Falkirk   1

 

Mathematical possibilities play a key part in any League Championship.  That is naturally so as the accumulation of points and goal difference determine who will be the eventual winners.  As Celtic are only nine points behind the leaders with a game in hand and with two games left to play against them then the SPL Championship is well within our reach.  Mathematically yes but does anyone really believe that they will lose at least seven points more than us in the run-in?

Today was another bad result and the usual fare – plenty of possession and chances in the first half but little to show for all that.  Our inability to score and a fragile defence will lose us the Championship unless something is done very quickly

There were lots of changes today.  Landry N’Guemo was at the African Cup of Nations and clearly cannae remember who pays his weekly wages (sorry, that is a personal gripe of mine).   Maloney, Fox, Loovens and Brown were all injured.   Caldwell, Robson, Killen and Flood had departed.  In came Stephen McManus alongside Darren O’Dea with Lee Naylor at left-back and Andreas Hinkel on the other side, Ki Sung-Yong and Zheng Zhi in midfield with Crosas and McGeady either side with Samaras and Fortune up front.

The team from the ‘land that time forgot ‘ brought a small number of followers who ably demonstrated their allegiance to their second team in the southside of Glasgow and they  kept the dubious reputation of their town and team intact.  ‘Fawkirk’  is no place for someone of my persuasion but too late now unfortunately. 

There is still much work to be done by Tony Mowbray however many of the support in general don’t seem to want to give him time such is the extent of their frustration.   I reckon that the Board are culpable here.  They failed miserably in last January’s transfer window and don’t look as if much is going to happen in the current one.  That familiar line ‘we can’t be certain of getting the players we are looking at’ is currently being given it’s twice yearly airing.

Maybe Tony is finding the job too difficult and given recent pronouncements by Caldwell and Robson that the manager’s comment about needing 10 new players upset the squad didn’t help.  Personally, I was thrilled when Tony said this as someone had, at last, spoken about  the poor quality of the players at our disposal.   I believe Gordon Strachan had built these players up to think that they were better than they are and sadly many continue to believe that to be so.  Their lack of awareness of how poor they are is truly unbelievable.  I have been an advocate of Samaras and Fortune as I believe them to be skilful and useful players however their performance today was not what we need.   They played well on the wings but they are supposed to be strikers but they never seem to get in the box to do the required damage and that is a worry.  On many occasions they did great work outside the box then strolled to the edge of the box instead of running into the danger area.

McManus went off injured and was replaced by Josh Thompson.  He is a big lad and did well and impressed me more than Darren O’Dea.  He looks to me to a ‘clear your lines’ type of player but looked slow on occasion.  Ki Sung Yong also made his debut today and this boy certainly isn’t short of confidence.  He made some great passes and missed narrowly with a thunderous free kick.  Aiden McGeady had a poor game and a transfer fee of £10 million would do nicely.

The performance of the referee was appalling.   I have never been a believer in ‘conspiracy theories’ but that is changing slowly given the ‘mistakes’ that are being made by officials in making decisions against us this season.  The referee made some very poor decisions today.   His refusal to award a penalty when Fortune was pulled down in the box,  his determination not to punish harsh tackles by Falkirk players with yellow cards or to reprimand  them for their time-wasting tactics throughout the second half leaves his competence and impartiality in doubt.  

Make no mistake, our failure today was due to our incompetence but the input of officials has to be challenged.  Tony’s ‘dignified silence’ about bad decisions is creditable but doing us no favours in the real world.  My own dear wife, who must be obeyed, often tells me that my failure in business was due to my honesty, decency and sense of fair play.  Tony seems to be a similar type of guy so time for him to change…..and quickly.

Falkirk opened the scoring in the first half and this was equalised by Giorgios Samaras before half-time.  Celtic made many chances in the first half but not so many in the second where a stout Falkirk defence kept us at bay.

Our next game is at Cappielow on Tuesday in the Scottish Cup.   I watched matches there from 1963 and this is not a fixture I relish.  It is a very tight park with a great atmosphere and Greenock Morton have taken many a scalp there.   One hopes our highly paid players match their salary with performance and that we progress to the next round.

It’s time for a bit of wild speculation now.  The scenario that we now have where Rangers FC are on target for another SPL Championship is worthy of debate.  My opinion is that our Board see their survival as crucial to our commercial well-being and that affects their decision making in terms of expenditure in the transfer market.  This was touched upon at the last Celtic AGM and rejected by Peter Lawwell.   There have been suspicions over very many decades that the both clubs have an alliance at board room level.  I believe that may be very real no matter how distasteful that might be to the respective supports.  Rangers FC currently have the ascendancy and that is unacceptable given our so-called financial advantage.   One can only wonder at the machinations behind the scenes.

 

Review by   Auchenshuggle 64

 

 

Sunday 3.1.10                  Review by   Erin Go Bragh

SPL

Celtic   1   Rangers   1

 

Thanks to St Oliver Plunkett CSC for giving me the opportunity to post a Match opinion - it is my first one and I hope members find it of interest.

Rangers went into this match having scored many goals in their last six games which led some to believe that we should be intimidated by this.  That should be seen in the context of five sides, Motherwell, Hibs, Dundee United (twice) and Falkirk all having their worst performances of the season and this was somehow forgotten.  No Bougherra, Miller, Mendez, Thomson, Naismith and Beasley meant that Walter ‘the manager with no surname’ would probably be conservative in their approach.  So it was.

My concern was that Tony Mowbray would go with one up front and be cautious.  The only way forward today was to take them on and see what they had as the prospect of a draw or defeat was unacceptable given Rangers’ points lead.  Tony went with Fortune and Samaras in attack.  Fortune led the line with power and strength and the Man of The Match, Samaras, mesmerised the visitor’s defence throughout.  Giorgios’ performance was mirrored in my opinion by Llandry N’Guemo who played with vision and composure.  Aiden McGeady had a good game but needs to learn how to finish.  Barry Robson had a good game and gave us a bit of dig.  I might have replaced him with Niall McGinn to run at their defence the last twenty minutes and get a shot or two on target but this was not to be.

Referee Steve Conroy, in his first match between these two teams, continued a fine tradition of getting crucial decisions wrong…..in favour of the southsiders, of course.  He disallowed a perfectly good goal by Fortune and then failed to send off Lafferty for an assault on Hinkel.  Lafferty got the customary yellow when a red was appropriate (this fellow is an accomplished thug and proven cheat so why does nobody at Ibrox ever speak to this boy to help him? …… mmm…..maybe that’s actually his job).    After his booking he took a dive and escaped without censure and continued to lay it off for the rest of the game without sanction.  Disppointingly, no-one sorted him out after that – oh for a Bertie Auld, Davie Hay or Shuggie Edvaldsson,  each of whom would have had this idiot (and McCulloch) cowering for the rest of the match .

So there it was…..0-0 and a full Rangers team on the field.  Phew…..that was close for referee Mr Conroy……whose career progression could have almost been at an end.  Get rid of the black tunic Mr Conroy and get yourself a yellow one…..the colour of cowardice.  I hope that it is indeed cowardice and not incompetence or cheating as these would be much worse.

Perhaps  the rage of ‘the manager with no surname’ at previous decisions and sendings off paid a dividend today.  The late Jock Stein and Fergus McCann had their own special way of dealing with these matters and perhaps our current manager and Board will learn from history.  Nevertheless Tony was dignified in his after match comments. Tony may wish to have a look at Alex Ferguson or Arsene Wenger and adjust his position accordingly.

This was an excellent performance from Celtic but it will never be known how much Rangers’ missing personnel and the tactics of ‘the manager with no surname’ contributed to this.  Celtic passed crisply and retained possession brilliantly.  The first poor touch that resulted in a loss of possession was when Scott McDonald came as a substitute in the 70^th minute!!  Enough said.  Scott did redeem himself in the 79^th minute when he scored a header from six yards which looked like securing the points until McCulloch headed home following a corner two minutes later.  I have been along time critic of Gary Caldwell and whilst he had a good game today he allowed McCulloch to get in front of him for their goal and this was yet another very costly mistake by Gary.  Caldwell will be gone soon and maybe that’s the best for all concerned.  One shot on target and one goal scored by the visitors…..memo to the Celtic Board – central  defenders are needed soon.  I have the feeling that if the visitors been a bit more adventurous then our defence may have had greater difficulty.

Celtic had chance after chance in this game but spurned them all.  It was one of the most one-sided contests ever seen in this fixture yet we remain seven points behind in the SPL.  The fare was terrific today and well done to the Celtic players and Tony Mowbray.   We out-fought and out-played them throughout.   Unfortunately, as already covered in many previous Match Opinions, we need a goal scorer (or improved finishing from existing players) and two central defenders.  I am afraid that until that is accomplished then we will continue to experience results like this one.

I was listening to radio in the car on the way home from the match and it is sad to comment that some ex-Celtic players and journalists with a so-called ‘Celtic background’ have sold themselves in their desire to progress their careers.  It is my hope that all Celtic supporters will turn their backs on radio phone-ins and the tabloid press in a show of defiance to combat  their clear anti-Celtic agenda.  You contributors are the oxygen of tabloids and radio phone-ins - please cut off that supply now.

The racist and bigotry shown by many of the visiting support cannot pass without comment.  Contrary to the Board saying that action is being taken behind the scenes to deal with this matter I do not believe that this is so.  I want all fans of Rangers FC banned from Celtic Park.  If you have visitors to your house who are acting inappropriately then they won’t be invited back yet we do that consistently.  It seems that a mob of 8.000 has some divine right to break the law en-masse without sanction.  This is in contrast to other games at Celtic Park where Celtic supporters are hounded by incompetent stewards and by police for singing the national anthem of our founding support.   Efforts to extinguish our respect and fervour for our heritage will not succeed.

Review by   Erin Go Bragh

 

 

 

Saturday 26 December 2009       Review by Tiny Tim

SPL

Celtic  2   Hamilton Academical   0

 

This was another shaky performance today from Celtic.  The early goal should have settled nerves and I looked forward to a barrowload to increase our confidence and goal difference but it was not to be.  Our opponents next Sunday must be rubbing their hands in anticipation because this Celtic team is just so poor.

Despite Celtic dominating the match all the usual deficiencies were evident and it was notable how Scott McDonald looks to have chucked it. He did the things he usually does but it’s clear that his heart isn’t in it anymore.   He was replaced by Marc Fortune who looks twice the player McDonald will ever be.  The big fellow looked the part by holding the ball up and his all round play was good.  He hit woodwork and looked dangerous in all areas of the field.  Samaras was also replaced and whilst his touch was a bit off today he was treated to the usual venom by many of the so-called Celtic support.  He is always in the thick of things and never hides but he is still the focus for the boo boys, most of whom are imbeciles in any case.  The big chap reminds me of Tommy Callaghan who used to get the same treatment in the same circumstances.  Meantime the likes of McManus, Crosas , Fox and McDonald escape unscathed - sometimes I do long for a crowd of 25,000 again where there was disagreement and debate but at least the punters knew a bit about football. 

Worthy of comment is Tony Mowbray’s  team selection.  The three substitutes, Fortune, Zhi and McGinn all contributed to the victory and all looked much more impressive than those they replaced.  How these three don’t get a start is a mystery and I think Tony still doesn’t know what his best team is.  He has persevered with his centre back partnerships and found out that all three duds.  I hope that he will make his mind up a bit quicker about the midfield.  

Does Tony Mowbray really know what is his best first eleven – I think not.  One of our members commented that it was surprising how the captain of the China national team never gets a start and that sums up my thoughts on Tony’s tenure as Celtic Manager.   The jury is out on you, Tony, and you need quickly to make a positive and effective case for the defence of your tactics and decision making.

I must say that Aiden McGeady just looks ordinary and I am getting tired of his ‘head down and run’ tactic.  Also of concern is his poor final ball in terms of pass and shot.   A large transfer fee for him would be most welcome.

Stevie Chalmers made the half-time Paradise Windfall draw and that only made those old enough to remember him in his prime long for a repeat of his exploits or for a Bobby Lennox or Willie Wallace, any of whom would have led to a potential double figure score today.

Worringly, the defence weren’t put under much pressure today and they still looked as if they didn’t know what they were doing.  The lack of cohesion is alarming.

I can only hope that the team will be galvanised for next week because they just look so ordinary.  Hamilton worked away and the greatest insult to Celtic is that the visitors believed so much in themselves and played as if the might get a point.  This is a bad Celtic team containing many impostors which look disjointed and lacking in confidence.  The January transfer window will be critical but I fear that there are some major disappointments around the corner as I do not believe that the Board have any intention of backing the Manager with substantial cash for transfers.

Landry N’Guemo got Man of The Match and I wouldn’t disagree but thought Samaras was always in the action and although it doesn’t always come off for him he does look as if things will happen when he gets the ball.  He’s got composure, pace and has a football brain but not at all appreciated by the support who seemingly would rather have somebody like Hesselink or McDonald.  You know, never mind the skill, just do something quickly and that will be alright.

Accies had a goal chalked off ten minutes from the end and the result was only secured with an injury time goal from Niall McGinn.

Three points were gained but this was a performance that is miles away from what is expected of a team representing the Celtic Football Club.  I hope that this is a transitional period but the longer it goes the less it will be acceptable.

 

Review by Tiny Tim

 

 

 

Sunday 20 December 2009         Review by Moville Mick

SPL

Hearts   2   Celtic   1

 

This was yet another defeat for Celtic leaving us 4 points behind the league leaders and an alarming 9 behind on goal difference which probably equates to another point in the event of a tie.

Celtic started this match in good form and were one up in 21 minutes courtesy of Giorgios Samaras and it should have been more but for bad luck and bad judgement again involving the Greek.  The match turned on a decision in the 30^th minute when Hearts were awarded a penalty. The ball crossed the 18 yard line and Loovens made no attempt to clear.  The ball ran through and Mole who was quicker off the mark than Caldwell who tackled him and was adjudged by the referee to have made contact with the man first.  A difficult decision for the referee or maybe not…..

This was a disgraceful error by Loovens and he always looks suspect on the ground.  He set up Caldwell for the fall and although his tackle was injudicious the blame lies squarely with Loovens.  Michael Stewart beat Boruc and it was 1-1.   McManus replaced Crosas on Caldwell’s dismissal.  That meant the awful prospect of the three chuckle brothers on the pitch in the same game and two of them in the capacity of captain of Celtic Football Club – just appalling.  As it turned out McManus had little to do as Celtic commanded the rest of the match missing chance after chance and hitting the woodwork twice.

Hearts’ winner was as sudden as it was unexpected.  Andreas Hinkel should look at himself over this episode and unsurprisingly, he was substituted shortly afterwards.

I am very sad to comment that I think Artur Boruc may have reached the end of the line at Celtic.  He doesn’t look like an athlete and he isn’t making the saves necessary to keep us from defeat nor does he ever get near a penalty.  Lukas Zaluska looks to be an able replacement and any money we get for Artur will be needed to strengthen the team in other areas.

The obsession at Celtic with midfielders is beginning to concern me.  If any of them could actually score goals on a regular basis or were able to be a 'utility man' who could also help out in defence or up front that would be different. The striking department needs a talented goal scorer and the defence is utterly awful.  The three centre backs should all be booted out faster than a guy singing a rebel song at Celtic Park (that is extremely fast nowadays) and the full-backs look weak.  Hinkel and Fox lose their men too easily and the latter can’t find a team-mate with a cross or a free-kick.  I’m not sure we can solve the centre back problem in the January transfer window as there will be too much  to do to get players out and in although even two heifers from many of the SPL clubs would do a job better that the current incumbents.

Giorgios Samaras tells us in the media that  ‘We are a team. If you want to blame somebody, you must blame the team, not just one player.  It is just mistakes, they are part of the game and there is nothing we can do about that.’  Oh, well that’s OK then.  Hopefully, there was something lost in translation.

Yes, Giorgios, I am blaming the team and also selecting individuals by virtue of their spectacular incompetence.  I can forgive mistakes but not from highly-paid players who have poor technical ability and who make the same school boy errors time after time. As much as you all want, from time to time, to hide behind each other with this type of talk in the name of team unity, the supporters are not fooled because our eyes tell us more than our ears. Better to shut up big man because you are beginning to look even more stupid than your countryman, Stavros Flatley.

Peter Grant is another one in the media this week telling us how hard the job is and how things have changed since he left in 1997.  Mr Grant, some of us have been sitting watching drivel for a large part of that time and your input is not needed other than to improve the current team performance.  Invoking the late Tommy Burns who he alleges loved the Celtic job but didn’t necessarily enjoy it seemed to me to be an attempt to make him and his boss look better after recent pronouncements about the job of Manager of Celtic.  All this was better left unsaid in my opinion.

Overall all a good performance from Celtic and despite the ordering off we continued to bombard the Hearts goal.  However, when you lack the ability to put the ball way and have a shaky defence you will never succeed.  The warning bells are now ringing very loudly and the SPL title looks very far away indeed.

 

A Happy and Holy Christmas to all the members of St Oliver Plunkett CSC.

Thank you for a great site.

You are all in my prayers.

God Bless You All.

 

Michael

 

Review by Moville Mick

 

 

 

 

Saturday 12 December 2009       Review by Auchenshuggle 64

SPL

Motherwell   2   Celtic   3

 

It was hoped that the recent signs of revival in Celtic's fortunes would contine today at Fir Park.  We fielded the same side that defeated Aberdeen last week and looked forward to a similar performance.  A bright start culminated in a goal from Giorgios Samaras in 14 minutes.  All seemed well and chance after chance was created without being taken.  Alarm bells were ringing by half-time as Motherwell went into a 2-1 lead.  Two defensive howlers confirmed our need for some decent defenders and for Artur to sharpen up his act.

Second half Celtic responded really well with an equaliser from Aiden McGeady but when Barry Robson missed another penalty there was cause for concern that more points were to be thrown away.  A winner from Marc Fortune who had just come on in the 79th minute secued the points.

We are at the stage where any victory is welcomed and this only right but it does highlight how far our standards have fallen that the four victories we have had in the last couple of weeks are celebrated with such relief.  We should be horsing sides like St Mirren, Hapoel, Aberdeen and Motherwell with hardly a thought.  We are clearly in a period of transition and it is heartening to see such flowing attacking football.  I trust there will be more of this as Tony Mowbray's philosophy takes hold with the players.  A matter of real concern is that players earning thousands of pounds a week can't take a penalty and this must be addressed as a priority.

This was a really good performance today with three goals scored, each one a potential goal of the season, a missed penalty, chances aplenty and the woodwork hit three times.  Worryingly, the defence still causes concern and Danny Fox isn't looking the player I thought he was.  The similarities between him and Lee Naylor are becoming more obvious as time goes on.  Andy Hinkel is great going forward but he's no Danny McGrain and the cental defence needs attention.

Footnote - I was pleased that the planned STUC protest at the match with Hapoel Tel-Aviv failed so spectacularly.  War and conflict only bring poverty, misery and suffering for all.  Celtic Park was no place for their attempted manipulation of ordinary people for this organisation's political ends. One wonders where they were when the Israeli team visited Ibrox a couple of years ago, or why they stay silent as the memory of Jock Stein and those affected by the Famine are sullied by vile bigots on a weekly basis, or when Aiden McGeady is villified throughout the land because of his nationality. 

The fellow in 407 with the kuffiyeh and waving a Palestinian flag went through the match without official sanction but did get pelters from a few supporters.  Try singing A Soldier's Song at the next game and see what happens -  you will be surrounded by Police and Stewards with the loss of your season ticket a distinct possibility.  As there seems to be no sanction either against supporters of Rangers FC for their behaviour when they visit Celtic Park,  it appears that the rules regarding unacceptable behaviour refer only to Celtic Supporters  http://www.celticfc.net/home/corporate/Unacceptableconduct.aspx.  Watch yourselves.

 

On a lighter note we have been in the habit of making paper aeroplanes with our redundant 'Paradise Windfall' raffle tickets at half time.  One of our number has had much difficulty in making the said aeroplane and asked young Daniel to make one for him.  Daniel was happy to oblige and on enquiry he quoted £5 per plane.  Our member felt this was a touch on the high side and negotiated a price of £1.  The plane was delivered and duly sent into flight but sadly, it did not travel as far as expected.  Our friend challenged Daniel about the plane's performance to which Daniel responded 'Ah, you see, if you had paid a fiver I would have given you one that would have travelled to the Lower Stand and come back up again!!'  Aye, wee man, you are indeed your Uncle Tony's nephew.

 

Review by Auchenshuggle 64

 

 

 

Saturday 5 December 2009       Review by Tanza

SPL

Celtic  3 Aberdeen  0

 

This was an excellent performance from Celtic against an Aberdeen side that offered little in terms of attacking intent.  Artur Boruc returned to the side today but he was a spectator for almost all the match

The match belonged to Giorgios Samaras who terrorised the Aberdeen defence from first to last before he was substitiuted.  So much so that Aberdeen defender Jerel Ifil was sent off in the second half after kicking out at Giorgios.   He scored two goals and looked as if might get one every time he went forward.  Scott McDonald also scored a fine goal after a terrific pass from Crosas and an early accurate ball from Andreas Hinkel.  Could have been Paul McStay, Danny McGrain and Frank McAvennie involved in that one -  great football

Whilst Celtic had pounded the visitor’s goal throughout, Ifil’s sending off was the cue for an onslaught and it was shooty-in for the rest of the game.  Aberdeen can consider them fortunate in the circumstances to get away with such a light defeat.

Three good wins in a week for Celtic and all achieved by playing good football and the players look to have the right attitude as well.

 

Review by Tanza

 

 

Wednesday 2 December 2009       Review by Tanza

Europa League

Celtic  2  Hapoel  Tel-Aviv  0

Celtic put in a solid display to defeat Hapoel Tel-Aviv 2-0 at Celtic Park, but they were knocked out of the Europa League after other results went against us.

We had to win and hope Rapid Vienna could beat Hamburg in Germany, but the Austrians were defeated 2-0 to send us crashing out. To be fair to the players they went into the match knowing the odds were stacked against them if they were to progress, but from the outset they looked fired up and ready to seize the chance should it come their way.

Celtic came out of the traps flying and started the game brightly and dominated the opening exchanges .  Hapoel were top of the group going into the match but they offered little and one wonders how they mange to get there.

Aidan McGeady had an inspired first half and was a key factor in Celtic’s dominance

Hapoel, cheered on by a couple of hundred supporters, had scored in all of their away ties in Europe going into the clash and their quality showed, keeping possession neatly.  They rarely threatened but like they did in Israel they upped the pace in the second half and caused a bit of concern until Barry Robson scored to secure the victory.

A good performance from Celtic and hopefully one that can be built on.

 

Review by Tanza

 

 

Saturday 28 November 2009       Review by The Holy Curate

SPL

Celtic   3   St Mirren   1

Today was all about three points and we have to be satisfied that the job was done. I find it hard to remember when the opposition looked so poor and yet we failed to capitalise on the goal difference.  The strikers scoring all three goals was particularly pleasing and will definitely boost their confidence.  There were a few positives from the performance. Aiden seems to be back on song, Hinkel looks better and better and Ngemo is getting back to where he was at the start of the season.  The centre backs have lost their way with Caldwell looking more like the player we bought rather than the player he was last season. In my opinion his confidence borders on arrogance and at times as he delays the simple pass looking each time for a killer pass. He appears over confident deliberates too much for my liking on the ball. This has got him into trouble and the team has in general have faced the consequences. 

Although their goal today did not stem from him.- an interception from Crossas to a weak cross which fell at the feet of their forward to make it 2 -1 just before half time. This was an entirely avoidable incident. As for Loovens, his passing and distribution of the ball was abysmal! . Both can improve with time but it is time we don’t have at the moment. I think that today’s lost goal typifies the indecision in the defence and the knock on effect is that the midfield get involved in defensive duties rather than focussing on doing their job.  One quality Loovens does possess in abundance is the ability to head the ball.  A few times today this stopped the supply of ‘route one’ balls from getting through and I am thankful for that.

The second half showing should have produced more than the one goal.  Fortune spurned a good opportunity, Fox produced the save of the game not to mention the very late missed penalty.  Next time Skippy put your head down until the ref tells you it’s time and imagine as all sports psychologists will tell you the ball hits the net.

So why am I moaning? The team won! It wasn’t a classic performance but we are top of the league and the season is less than half way through!  It’s because I want more and I do not want to settle for mediocrity.

 

Review by The Holy Curate

 

 

Sunday 22 November 2009       Review by Tanza

SPL

Dundee United  2  Celtic  1

This was another wholly unsatisfactory performance from Celtic.  One up with nine minutes to go we contrived to lose the match, disappointingly to two practically identical goals from corners.  

Barry Robson put Celtic in front with a penalty in 72 minutes after he was fouled by Darren Dods.  In the 84^th minute Loovens, Caldwell and Samaras defended their six yard line at the corner from which United equalised, but with the ball in the air, Caldwell stepped back instead of attacking the it, creating the space for Daly who headed home.  At the corner for the winner Loovens and Caldwell man-marked with Samaras defending the six yard line.  No one matched the deep run from Dods and Samaras was too far forward to compete for the ball, leaving the United man the opportunity to seal victory.

United couldn’t be grudged their victory.  Whilst Celtic had most of the pressure and controlled the game, United always looked dangerous on the break.  This was a poor performance from the Tangerines and they will be delighted with the three points.  The only plus for us is that it keeps them nearer to Rangers FC in the SPL and who have a re-arranged match at Tannadice on 15 December.

Lots of minuses today and our prospects look bleak unless there is a radical change in the performance of the team.

Review by Tanza 

 

Sunday 8 November 2009       Review by John 1967

SPL

Falkirk  3  Celtic  3

Let me get a few things in perspective before giving an opinion on this match. 

Falkirk were bottom of the SPL, played  10, won 0, Drawn 4 and lost 6, goals for  5 and goals against 16, their team was ravaged by injury without  7 first team regulars even losing Carl Finnegan just prior to kick-off. They had a team full of youngsters with a couple of pensioners in reserve.  Every time their manager is interviewed he looks as if he’s going to burst oot greetin’ or resign or something.  Celtic leading the SPL, were hoping to open up a 4 point gap over Rangers FC and were returning from a reasonable performance  against the Bundesliga leaders and with no major injury concerns  So that’s the scene set.

The team from the Land That Time Forgot started exceptionally well and controlled the whole of the first half creating ten chances and should have had the game wrapped up by the interval.  Aiden McGeady’s missed penalty just before half-time was appalling, hit weakly and then missed a tap-in on the rebound.  One wonders he is doing taking penalties given his shocking shooting record and with 2 strikers standing watching him.

The loss of a lead twice was just unforgiveable and this side looks completely lost.  I trust we are not seeing an attempt by players to have the manager removed.  I suspect some see the gravy train grinding to a halt in January and are getting their retaliation in first.  McCourt and N’Guemo were posted missing, Caldwell gave away another goal via the penalty and McDonald’s face when he scored both of his goals tells us his time is up at Celtic Park.  McGeady is a two-trick pony and much over-rated.  Hinkel and Fox looked out of it today.  It’s difficult to judge Fortune as he hasn’t had much time to establish himself but I think we already know he isn’t a goal scorer.  At least Samaras doesn't hide and yet maligned more than most.  Tony Mowbray said the team were mentally tired today after their trip to Hamburg.  A wee trip abroad staying in the best hotels and playing a game of football – am I missing something? 

In my wholesaling business, I recall an old salesman giving me sound advice years ago that saved me on more than one occasion.  He said that once your local newsagent can’t or won’t stock up with cigarettes and you see spaces appearing on the shelves then a business is in trouble – customers start going elsewhere and the lack of investment hurts far more than the cost of maintaining the product.  The Celtic Board are the shop here and the players are the cigarettes – be warned, gentlemen, you have some very big decisions to make very soon.  You got away with warning us at the AGM that there isn’t any money and to remember 1994.  The crisis at Rangers FC must have been music to your ears.  More results like today and there will be nowhere for you to hide.

Footnote – I passed Celtic Park at 6.25 a.m on Sunday morning and the place was lit up like a Champions League night, inside, outside, big screens and everything.  Maybe there would be more money in the kitty for players if we cut the electricity bill.

 

Review by John 1967    

 

 

Thursday 5 November 2009               Review by O'Donnell

Europa League

Hamburg  0  Celtic  0 

Never a bad thing to go abroad and be undefeated but Celtic really had to win this match. The victory for Hapoel Tel-Aviv and our failure to win tonight surely seals our fate and we will be out of Europe soon.  We played reasonably well tonight especially in the first half but I did get the impression that the fascists let us play in that half.  They upped the ante in the second period and we had a pretty difficult time for the most part.

One of the evening's highlights was the performance of Lukas Zaluska deputising for Artur Boruc.  This boy made some good saves and he looks the part.  I doubt if we will be able to satisy the ambitions of both so if Artur Leaves for decent money I won't be too unhappy.

Tony Mowbray went with McDonald and Samaras up front. The Greek did OK but Scott missed a couple of good chances in the first and Samaras one in the second - these are the chances you NEED to take in an away match.  McDonald's first touch, as is often discussed, was as bad as ever and he is fast becoming a collector's item....do you remember when he did that?....or did you see him do that?  I know it's frowned upon by the 'over and over we will follow you' mob to criticise but this is just so bad it has to be mentioned.

McGeady was substituted after an hour for Naylor and Fox moved into midfield with no effect.  I think you can log this one up as a mistake, Tony.  Fortune came on for McDonald and McGinn for Robson but they couldn't cahnge the game.  Thankfully, Hamburg were without six first team regulars and we came away with a point.  Question....in Scott Brown's absence, what does he bring to a Celtic side?

Once again, the vile Hamburg support showed itself tonight.  All I can say is that I have more sympathy and support for the supporters of their local rival St Pauli than ever.

 

Review by O'Donnell

 

 

 

Saturday 31 October 2009         Review by Auchenshuggle 64

SPL

Celtic  3  Kilmarnock   0

This was a good performance from Celtic and gave us something akin to the type of football we expect at Celtic Park.  The midfield of Crosas, N’Guemo, McGeady and McCourt worked well with movement and accurate passing.  From the off we were on the offensive and Paddy McCourt showed some great skill and composure.  What a pleasure to see such a footballer in a Celtic shirt.  Some fans still question his defensive qualities…when did this ‘tracking back’ thing start?  There are defenders behind him to do that work.   Jimmy Johnstone, George Best, John Hughes et al, never ‘tracked back’ in their lives and one wonders how they would have got on in the modern game.

Neither Scott Brown nor Stephen McManus were missed today and I do feel that Glenn Loovens is a more competent and confident defender than our captain.  Scott McDonald looks like somebody who knows he isn’t rated by the Manager and shows all the signs in terms of his body language, to have come to terms with this situation.  He is a decent striker but when he plays with better players he does look decidedly ordinary.  His first touch is appalling and he just looks lost in a tight situation.  His constant moaning to colleagues, especially Samaras, is becoming really annoying and the sooner he departs for Wigan or Middlesborough so much the better.  Tony Mowbray says he wants the ball to be controlled and passed quickly around the pitch accurately so clearly Scott doesn’t have a future at Celtic.

N’Guemo and Crosas combined well and seemed a much more cohesive partnership than Brown and A.N. other.  These boys kept the ball and passed accurately allowing McGeady and McCourt to drive forward.  It’s difficult to make an assessment of a partnership on the basis of one game but I think tthis was the best midfield performance I have seen all season.   Andreas Hinkel continues to impress both in terms of his attacking and defensive play.  Whilst not having much to do, Lukas Zaluska looks impressive and it’s along time since we had two good goalkeepers in the squad.

As one of Giorgios Samaras’ biggest fans (actually maybe his only fan), I alerted EK Tony to some of the big chap’s special skills today as he ran the Kilmarnock defence ragged.  I saw something of the Brazilian in Giorgios today and referred to him as ‘Samba Bhoy’.  Tony said ‘aye, right enough there is something of the Brazilian about him but it’s more in terms of his shaving equipment’……Ouch!!  Be warned if you’re gonnae take on Tony, make sure you’ve got it right ‘cos there ain’t no room for a comeback!!! 

Giorgios continues to flatter and if he could just be a bit more positive and confident in front of goal he would win round many more fans.  His goal was very well taken and his general all-round performance was good enough to win him the Man of The Match Award.  Marc Antoine Fortune came on as a substitute and played well.  His touch and awareness was good and he seemed intent on scoring but it was not to be today.  I like this boy as he has a football brain and he will score goals if he kids on he is not a winger and gets into the box more often.

I hear Mick was the only one to score in the Predictor League today.  Amazing how a guy who knows so little about football can achieve such success.  Our Club President was in good form today and Mafia bosses are again running in terror now that he is back in action.  The number of contenders for the ‘Mug of The Year’ trophy 2009-2010 grows by the week.

Review by Auchenshuggle 64

 

 

Wednesday 28 October 2009         Review by Moville Mick

Scottish League Cup

Celtic  0  Heart of Midlothian   1

Every match opinion seems to concentrate on team and individual deficiencies in the light of a poor performance.  If you're fed up with that them that is just too bad because here comes another one.  If you have a more positive view then please send us a match opinion which we will be pleased to post.

Let's start with the line-up.  Tony Mowbray decided to play a 4-4-1-1 formation.  Against Barcelona in The Nou Camp this would be a brilliant line-up but at home to Hearts?  I supposed it was based on quick-thinking and skilful midfielders supporting the lone man and using their swift accurate passing and keen shooting skills to take us to victory - the only problem is...we don't have any of these types of players.

Chris Killen played up front with Zheng Zhi behind him.  The big chap tried his best but he really should be partnering Colin Nish at Hibernian or Kevin Kyle at Kilmarnock.  He shouldn't be lonely there as there are many more Celtic players who shouild be plying their trade at these places too.

Danny Fox and Andreas Hinkel returned and Lukas Zaluska kept his place between the sticks for the injured Artur Boruc.  We had a midfield of McGeady, N'Guemo, Crosas and Maloney.  Celtic's best player, Barry Robson was missing and it isn't known if he was injured or just not selected.  Celtic started brightly and looked up for the challenge but the first half ended with only one direct shot on the Hearts goal. 

Hearts scored with a penalty on the hour mark and after that Celtic laid siege to the Hearts' goal.  Several chances were missed and Samaras suffered the wrath of the Celtic support.  Sad that as he actually managed to  get into the position to get a chance which was something his striking colleagues never did.  That seems to be the measure of our support nowadays - hide and you will be OK - try and you will be ridiculed.

Stephen McManus got his marching orders in the 91st minute for a clear foul on Driver who was running clear.  I've seen bookings for this type of tackle but the linesman dictated that it was a red and referee Craig Thomson agreed.

We are being served by a group of poor quailty footballers but there is a much more serious issue than that.  I suspect that there is a powerful clique in the dressing room.  Tony Mowbray has publicly criticised the player's lack of quality but he seems now to have drawn back.   There is as school of thought that says he should not have criticised them as it will dent their confidence as does crticism and anxiety from the stands.  The poor little 12k and 15k and 20k a week darlings....it's a tough life, isn't it?  Several players have questioned his opinion and that for me is unforgiveable.  Try that trick with the late Jock Stein or Martin O'Neill or Alex Ferguson and your feet wouldn't touch the ground.  Get the whole lot of them up for transfer and the squealers will identify themselves.  I suspect the clique to be led by a few mouth pieces who are only concerned with their own positions.

Of great concern is the high esteem in which the players hold themselves.  Most can't tackle, shoot, pass, trap a ball or see a colleague available for a pass.  The basic skills are woeful.  I lay the blame for this firmly at the door of our previous manager who built these incompetents up and they never did any wrong.  The players now clearly believe their press and it has become a very serious issue for our club.  Maybe if they had to go to Barrowfield every day instead of Lennoxtown in thie executive cars they would meet some real supporters and be brought back to reality.

I see no way forward in the short term here.  In my opinion, we need to rid ourselves of so many players and that will take time. I do believe that Tony Mowbray is a victim of a poor squad and a policy of down-sizing over the last few years however it is my belief that he is still the man to take us forward.  The number of supporters not turning up for matches is alarming and tonight's attendance of 20,000 was the lowest in living memory although I did see the old Celtic support tonight, faithful, dedicated and noisy fans - a real throw back to the old days.  That was the only positive of the evening and shame on those who didn't bother to come and support the team tonight.

 

Review by Moville Mick

 

 

 

Sunday 25 October 2009       Review by Auchenshuggle 64

SPL

Hamilton  1  Celtic  2 

In wet and windy conditions at New Douglas Park, Celtic got back to winning ways and returned to the top of the SPL.  We started poorly with badly placed passes and an in ability to retain possession.  Hamilton chased and harried us with good closing down play so it looked like another hard shift.  Maloney scored a fine goal and Celtic settled down after that, securing the points with a Scott McDonald goal.  So we thought, but whist Celtic were well in control in the second half, Hamilton went for it in the last 10 minutes and made it very uncomfortable for us.  Zaluska's save from McArthur with 3 minutes to go saved the day.

Movement and passing were not of the standard required and the best that can be said is that the players are lacking in confidence.  What the reason for that would be is a mystery to me and I favour Tony Mowbray's view that the quality is not there.  Many fans and pundits tell us that this crop of players won three titles in a row.  I wonder when this defence will be laid to rest. They did indeed win those titles against the poorest opposition in decades and playing the poorest football seen at Celtic Park for years.

Giorgios Samaras tells us in the media that he is puzzled Tony Mowbray says the quality is not in the current squad of players.  I can only hope that something was lost in translation here, however I do think that the big man's thinking in this regard is probably as wayward as his forward play.  Hopefully, Giorgios will be putting his house up for sale in January along with a few others.

It was clear from his after-match comments that Tony Mowbray was pleased with the three points but not much else.  One would not expect anything else from a 'performance coach' as this was no great perfomance.  It was also pleasing to hear him let the Scottish media know he ain't stupid and knows what they are up to.  Well done, Tony.

 

Review by Auchenshuggle 64

 

 

Thursday 22 October 2009               Review by William Connolly

Europa League

Celtic  0  Hamburg  1

Thankfully,  Hamburg had seven first team regulars missing for this game and that was just as well as a real hammering would have been in the offing on the evidence of last night.  This was an enjoyable match and it got off to a fierce start with hard tackles and some frantic activity.   Celtic were up for this match but found it difficult in the early stages to  settle as Hamburg pressured and harried in enthusiastic  fashion not dissimilar to that employed by Arsenal on their recent visit to Celtic Park.

Barry Robson and Landry N’Guemo and Barry Robson were head and shoulders above the rest in this match.  The usual suspects continued to fail us.  Our defensive frailties and incompetence in front of goal again contributed to another poor result.  Maloney, Brown and McDonald missed really good chances in the first half and the loss of the goal was just the usual fare.

Some of our players have been in the media this week.  If the played football half as well as they pontificate about it then we would be in a very good state indeed.  I do wish they would prove themselves on the field of play then start talking – maybe then I would listen.

Moment of the week from the fan interviewed on STV News who was asked for his opinion.  ‘Naylor, McManus, Caldwell, Brown, McDonald, Samaras – get rid of them all’.  Thank you, sir.

It was sad that we had to endure the Hamburg supporters.  Their links to Rangers FC and Chelsea FC are well known and they share much of the ideals of many supporters of these clubs.  I hope we have seen the last of them at Celtic Park.

 

Review by William Connolly

 

 

Saturday  17 October 2009       Review by Auchenshuggle 64

SPL

Celtic  0  Motherwell  0

Another gift to our city rivals.  How they must be relishing the season ahead.  Celtic have now lost 5 points in two games and surrendered a potential seven point lead in the SPL to trail by one point.

The starting eleven had none of Tony Mowbray’s signings so it was a chance for the duds who lost the Championship last season to absolve themselves.  Sadly, they reverted to type and delivered another insipid performance.

Samaras partnered McDonald up front with Barry Robson returning to the midfield alongside Brown, McGeady and McGinn.  There were plenty of chances  for Celtic to win this match but all were spurned, notably McGinn with two good chances before half-time.  One was a shot that was more like a pass back and the other a header that would have made a defender proud as he put the ball into touch.  McDonald also spurned a great chance in the 92^nd minute heading over from 3 yards.  Motherwell had their chances too and always looked capable of doing something on the break.  Artur Boruc was on his toes and had a good game.

Robson was my man of the match and must be made club captain.  He tried his best to inject some passion and enthusiasm into the side.   He managed to raise the crowd with his running and passing and he always looked dangerous.  He tired in the second half due to his lack of match practice and was substituted by Zheng Zhi to the angst of the crowd leading to loud booing.   Zhi is a class act with vision, composure and an ability to pass accurately – he makes the rest look shabby as my dear mother used to say.  How McDonald and Brown survived is a mystery.  These two are unable to pass or control a ball.  McDonald ignores the offside law and has no pace.  Brown is just not worth his transfer fee or his wages come to that.

Samaras was replaced by Maloney in 60 minutes and huffed and puffed his way through the last half hour with little effect.   Paddy McCourt replaced Wilson in 76 minutes and showed some nice touches in trying to thread his way through a stuffy Motherwell defence but he didn’t have enough time to save the day.   

So yet another bad result and there is much hysteria among certain sections of the support.  Tony Mowbray said he needs a few transfer windows to get the team right.  We can only hope that the Board supports him with cash and he makes good decisions in the transfer market.  Arguably, the Board are culpable for their failure to provide funds for transfer targets.   More urgent, in my opinion, is the need to get rid of the dross among the existing players.

What is most worrying is the inability of so many players to pass, tackle or shoot.  Nothing is ever done first time – the number of touches they need is pathetic and that is perhaps due to a lack of vision and ideas.  What happens at Lennoxtown every day is anybody’s guess.

Scott McDonald’s comments in today’s press about supporters frustration shows him up for what he is – completely deluded and out of touch with our fans.  He says we have been spoiled with success and our criticism doesn’t help the players.  No, it doesn’t but how long should we suffer dire football from overrated and overpaid players who think they are better than they are?  That’s a poor deal – you dish up drivel and we’ll stand and cheer you on relentlessly – it’s a two way street, pal.   I am now in my fourth season of watching this rubbish and if our Australian friend thinks I’ve been spoiled then he knows nothing about the ‘Celtic Way’.  Hopefully, he’ll be doing his talking in the English Championship in January.  With all the moaning he does on the park, it was good to see Barry Robson telling him to shut his face today and he took it – the rest of you lightweights take note.

The match was summed up when young Daniel asked his Uncle Tony ‘Motherwell are playing 4-4-2, what are we playing?’  Back came the reply ‘Shocking, son’.

Man of the Match   Barry Robson

 

Review by Auchenshuggle 64

 

 

There are two Match Opinions for Rangers v Celtic on 4 October 2009

 

Saturday 4 October 2009

 

Opinion by Moville Mick

 

Scottish Premier League

 

Rangers  2  Celtic   1

 

Just more of the same, I’m afraid.  Well not quite, this time we gave the opposition a two goal lead instead of the usual one goal lead.  Both McManus and Loovens conspired in their own ways to allow Miller to score twice in the first quarter of an hour.  A greater football tactician than I will  be able to work out why our defence is so poor but, speaking a layman, the three of them (Caldwell included) already having been identified several times by the Celtic Manager as culpable, seems to not be up to the job. 

Worryingly, the individuals concerned don’t seem to recognise or admit to their deficiencies and even on the park they give the impression that they are ball-playing centre-backs a la Franz Beckenbauer or Franco Baresi.   It’s like they act like one of the  wean’s toys – hit them mercilessly hard right in the mooth and they just bounce  up again with a smile on their faces, not thinking anything has happened.  It is really pathetic and so embarrassing to watch.

Tony Mowbray has to decide on which two are to be his centre-backs and let them form some sort of partnership.   It clearly isn’t Caldwell and McManus as these two eejits have had a number of years to form a competent partnership and have failed to do so.

Celtic continued to fight after going down 2-0.  On getting this lead, Rangers reverted to their usual 5-4-1 and held out for the rest of the match.  It’s getting to the stage where you could just go shopping at these games such is the predictability of how the match will turn out.  There was a succession of Celtic penalty claims which I won’t dwell on – penalties are a sort of award for failure to score, in my opinion, and a bit pathetic, really.  Nevertheless Celtic did get one in 24 minutes when Zheng Zhi was brought down.  McGeady was lucky to score, McGregor very close to saving his shot. 

Zheng  Zhi had a fine debut and never looked out of place in the frenzied atmosphere. He looks a class act and will be a first pick in the team every week – well if Scott Brown is…?  Hinkel and Fox were both unavailable through injury and replaced by Mark Wilson and Lee Naylor.  There is a rumour in Celtic Cyberspace that Scott Brown had an inclusion in his contract that he was not to be substituted unless he agrees….I laughed long and hard at that suggestion…not any longer.  Why does this dud never get replaced?

Aiden McGeady worked hard but with limited vision, no final shot or pass he has perhaps reached the fullest extent of his potential with Celtic and should move on (he will be much better with better players alongside him).  Maloney too, who played reasonably well today, should go as he is looking like a spent force and his missed chances against Rapid and again today cost us two victories – how much longer can he lunch out on his Player of The Year Award ?  I consider him to be a self-seeking duplicitous individual who only came back to Celtic when he had failed at Aston Villa.  Remember his face at the Caley Thistle game the match before he left as the supporters shouted for him to stay – Celtic supporters humiliated and now conned.

Hopefully, the players also looking for a new club in January will be McDonald, Brown, McManus, Killen, Naylor and Caldwell.

Having said all this, I believe that our team is in goods hands in the current management team.  The signings of Fortune, N’Guemo, Fox and Zhi have been good ones.  The challenge seems to me to be in ridding our Club of the rubbish left behind by the previous management team.

Opinion by Moville Mick

 

 

 

 

Well now that the season is off to a proper start and we can truly measure our standing in terms of our oldest rivals it is becoming clear that we need to go out and spend some serious money on a centre-back, perhaps even two.  On Thursday night, McManus made the mistake and on Sunday neither nor Loovens were covered in glory.  Two fundamental schol boy errors - never let the ball bounce when the forward is on your shoulder and always keep goal side of the forwards.  After 16 minutes I must admit that I thought about switching off and getting into the garden.  Caldwell must have wondered if he could have done better as we all did.

Two goals down and we started to play and Tony's midfield's selection, with the surprise inclusion of ZZ, got their act together.When Maloney went down in the box to a stone-wall certain penalty kick which wasn't given I was fearful of the consequences.  My mind wandered to the TB managerial tenure when we had all the play, all the chances but none of the results. Earlier in the week I had been discussing those times and thought that the football being played in every area of the field was first class and we usually got mugged at Ibrox.  I hoped that Tony had watched those matches and seen how Smith had set up his team.  With ten men behind the ball and to goals down it's a long way back.

When the penalty came I had to leave the room, I couldn't watch, I thought somehow I had some influence on the outcome.  It wasn't the best but it crossed the line and I thought 'game on' now let's see what these bhoys are made of.  We continued to push forward and at half time I thought we could regroup for the second half onslaught

With most of the game being played in their half we needed some moments of brilliance.  Maloney's miss at the front post from a cracking cross ball was a missed opportunity.  Rangers were rocking and we failed to capitalise as other chances went a begging.  Their second half forages were restricted to 'free headers' at corners and I am again sure that Tony will run through these with his defence.

We had most of the play today and the majority of possession and chances.  We were beaten by a poor side and I am disappointed but not downhearted.  Why?  Because we weren't mugged today or out-thought by a clever manager with some sort of indian sign over us.  Tony watched those videos and he knew what was going to happen but what he didn't bank on was - yes - two centre-backs incapable of doing the simple thing.

Let's get back to fundamentals!

 

 

Thursday  1 October 2009       

Review by John 1967

Europa League

Celtic   1   Rapid Vienna   1

Following the events of 1984 this was billed as a grudge match and the supporters were well aware of this although a full house was far from achieved with many empty Celtic seats.   In contrast Rapid had a healthy support of 2,500, not seen (or heard) in a European tie at Celtic Park since BK Copenhagen two seasons ago.

The Celtic support had a few banners ‘We Still Hate Rapid’, ‘We Still Have the Bottle’ , ‘Unforgiven’ and the absolute classic ‘Conmen, Cheats and Liars’ incorporated into the Rapid Club logo.  Take a photo on your mobile quick, bhoys, as the stewards had them removed in double quick time – reminiscent of the ‘Scotland’s Shame’ banner in a game against Rangers FC.  No doubt the UEFA Charter will be dragged out as justification for their removal. 

Late in the match the Rapid supporters unfurled two banners ‘Hey Jimmy dae ye have any whisky left’ and ‘Cheers from Rudi Weinhofer’ (the principal cheat of 1984 and the only Austrian I ever met with a turban).  The potential inflammatory nature of that was ignored and our visitors efforts were not quashed by the politically correct.  Pity the Celtic supporters were not afforded that opportunity but, after all we are only cash cows, so that’s OK then.  Not only is our Club slowly losing its soul but also its sense of justice, history and humour. 

Celtic started with Gary Caldwell and Stephen McManus in central defence with  Glenn Loovens on the bench.  Why the best central defender at the Club did not get a start remains a mystery to me, maybe he wasn’t fully fit.  Darren O’Dea at Reading - why?   Mark Wilson replaced the injured Andreas Hinkel at right back.  Scott McDonald partnered Giorgios Samaras up front. 

True to recent home form, we lost a goal within 5 minutes when McManus gifted the ball to Rapid, back it came to Jelavic who thumped it past Artur Boruc. 

My fear was that the Austrians would take the initiative and give us a thumping as they looked really good going forward in the early stages.  To Celtic’s credit, we got to grips with the game and Scott McDonald won a 50-50 ball 35 yards from goal, ran forward and slotted it into the net – a fine effort although he did little else in the match.

Celtic continued to go forward and created chances the best of which were spurned by Maloney and then McDonald in quick succession following good work by Samaras to create the opportunity.  Caldwell also missed a sitter from 6 yards in 56 minutes and had he been in his own box he would probably have given Artur no chance. Anybody can make a mistake but you have well run out of chances Gary.

Most of Celtic’s work was ponderous and the passing was slow and predictable.  More attempts to get to the bye-line might have proved fruitful or at least created a variation to test the Austrian’s defence. The most important issue,in my opinion, is to pass accurately and quickly but we aren't doing that effectively or at all really.   Rapid made it difficult by reverting to a ‘5-4-1’ formation and we never really looked like winning this match.

Once again, Scott Brown looked ordinary and whilst not his fault, he is not worth his transfer fee – we need to get rid of him very quickly as he contributes very little to our cause and his continual inclusion in the team despite poor performances is bewildering.  He is supposed to have a sore ankle but that doesn't excuse his persistently poor performances over a long period.  Anyway if he's no' well what is he doing playing? 

Controversially, Barry Robson does more for me and in my opinion he is twice as good as Brown will ever be.  I think N’Guemo needs to play with somebody apart from Brown.  He runs around incessantly but where are the forward runs into the box, shots on goal, free-kicks, accurate passing and vision?  He loses possession far too often for me.  Perhaps worthy of comment is that N’Guemo looked good playing with Donati but a lesser player when he left – I wonder why that is? 

Given his lack of first team action Mark Wilson did really well although he was very tired at the end and perhaps Paul Caddis might have replaced him.   Shaun Maloney did well but he has lost his goal scoring touch and is looking every inch the player Martin O’Neill didn’t want.

In 82 minutes, 20 minutes too late as far as I am concerned, Celtic prepared to make three substitutions, I wondered who would be replaced and the gentleman who sits beside me, Tony, said ‘it’s McManus, McManus and McManus’….absolutely hilarious and long did we laugh.  Tony is remarkable for his  tactical awareness and insight into the game but he surpassed himself this time!!   It sums up our captain and, in my opinion, our deputy skipper, Gary Caldwell is no better.  Forget a striker – get the defence sorted out quickly – it is utterly appalling.  The number of times Caldwell (and others) passed to a red shirt was embarrassing.

The Rapid supporters have the reputation of removing their shirts, singing and clapping for the whole match.  This they duly did and it created quite a spectacle but, let me absolutely assure you, after 60 minutes it would drive you to drink…..either sing a few new songs or shut up….please.

Fortress Parkhead has now gone and that is good.  For too long that title and the three-in-a-row nonsense blinded most to the deficiencies of our team.  We are not good enough for the Champions League and I fear on our performances so far, not for the Europa League either.  There are going to be very tough times at Celtic Park in the next year or two but I am confident Tony Mowbray will come good once he has his own team.  Rangers FC will be thrilled at the prospect of meeting us on Sunday such is our poor defence and insipid attack not to mention an unsettled midfield.

Man of The Match     None – In my opinion, and on this occasion, no personal commendation is appropriate in the absence of a victory.

Review by John 1967

 

 

Saturday 26 September 2009            Opinion by Auchenshuggle 64

 

Scottish Premier League

St Mirren   0   Celtic   2

 

Before kick-off there was a minute's applause for former Scottish Football Association president and FIFA vice-president David Will who died this week, aged 72.   May he Rest  In Peace.   David and his bereaved family will be in our prayers this coming week.

Thankfully, Gary Caldwell was dropped in favour of a centre-back pairing of Glen Loovens and Stephen McManus who resumed the role of captain of Celtic Football Club.

Paddy McCourt retained his place on the right side of midfield as Aiden McGeady hadn’t recovered from the injury sustained in the match against the team from the land that time forgot last Wednesday.  Chris Killen partnered Scott McDonald up front. ….I Know, I know, I feel the same….but I’m only setting the scene.

Celtic started well and dominated the early period, however,  this was as a result of a stuffy but poor St Mirren side rather than to any excellence from Celtic. 

Paddy McCourt put Celtic in front in 27 minutes with a superb solo effort.  He waltzed passed  5…yes 5,  St Mirren defenders and thrashed the ball past the keeper – utterly sublime.  This boy has a real raw talent and hopefully, Tony Mowbray can develop him into a top player for us.  The St Mirren defenders backed off him but that was entirely due to his ball control and unpredictability.  He has poise, talent, vision and plays with his head up – long time since any Celtic player excited me so much when he gets the ball.  Brilliant.  He had many other good runs and passes, rarely losing the ball or making a bad pass.  Rarely was a Man of the Match award more richly deserved.

Artur Boruc made a couple of good saves in the second half with the score at 1-0 and did all expected of him but was never under any serious pressure.    Shaun Maloney scored in 77 minutes but it was clearly offside.   The ball nearly hit Scott McDonald’s head but he claimed the goal as usual.  That was all these two did all after noon.  This goal made up for the penalty that should have been awarded to Celtic in the first half when Potter felled Killen as he was about to shoot from 6 yards.

That was the good….now the bad. 

This was a very poor team performance from Celtic and best summed up by after-match comments from Tony Mowbray.

"The positives were that we kept a clean sheet and we won 2-0. The negatives were everything else. It was a poor performance, poor passing, lacking of a cutting edge and creation, the decision-making was not good enough and neither was the quality."

"It's the poorest we've been all season.  I am very disappointed as are the players and we have to improve if we are to find the consistency of results.  Managers get frustrated.  The players are a good group to work with but I can't accept what we saw.  The players know that and we have to work hard to be better."

"It was a very disappointing performance and it was way, way below what we expect as a team.  We are miles away from how I want to see us play"

"I think I inherited a squad who have been mainly successful. But I see my own squad and my own team developing over the next few years. I would say we have a few transfer windows to get through before acquiring the players who will take us near to where we want to be."Contrast Tony’s comments with the previous incumbent of the post who would have taken a deep breath, given a wry smile and told us it was an excellent performance while not looking the TV interviewer in the eye.  It is my opinion that we now have the correct manager in place and the overpaid and under-achievers are clearly on their way out of Celtic.   This is not before time.  Tony now has their measure and I look forward to the next couple of years with him in charge.

On Paddy McCourt’s goal he said "That is the sort of football I expect and I see goals like that from him every day in training.  He has fantastic awareness, people just seem to disappear in front of him."

Gary Caldwell was on the park during warm-up speaking on his Blackberry mobile phone.  Now he may have had some serious family crisis or been anxious about a friend or family member in difficulty although his expression didn't indicate such.  I hope not but if that was the case he should not have been on the park at all.  As he has never done that before, one can only assume this was something to do with his contract difficulties and being dropped today.  If so, then it was an act of extreme childishness and stupidity, confirming my opinion that he is very, very, far from being Celtic class.  Gary, just go and everybody will be happy.

Sadly, yet again the behaviour of the St Mirren supporters was atrocious.  To call it foul-mouthed hatred doesn’t do their behaviour justice.  Nice new stadium is St Mirren Park but it is still filled with the same low-life support – shame on them.

 

Man of the Match    Paddy McCourt

 

Opinion by Auchenshuggle 64

 

Wednesday 23 September 2009

 

Opinion by Auchenshuggle 64

 

Scottish League Cup

 

Falkirk   0   Celtic   4

 

Mostly all change for Celtic tonight with Tony Mowbray resting 8 of Saturday's eleven against Hearts and what a performance!  Celtic had complete command of this match and two goals frm Scott McDonald set the scene.  A superb third from Paddy McCourt confirmed his award of Man of The Match - a stupendous performance from the Irishman beating six players with the ball never six inches from his foot and chipped the ball over Olejnik onto the net - sublime.  Forget the result, this was entertainment of the highest order with attacking play being the order of the day.  It capped the sort of delightful-to-watch display from the Irishman in which his outrageous abilities were all on show.  If only the 1970s throwback of a playmarker had 'core conditioning', as Gordon Strachan would refer to his questionable physicality he might have got a game earlier!!

Falkirk manager Eddie May too offered a team selection to chew over.  But it was more one to offer nibbles that the chunky morsels of his opponents.  Jackie McNamara and Tam Scobbie, among the club's established performers, started on the bench in a team that featured three changes from the scoreless draw at Hamilton four days earlier.  It could be argued that May, in fact, was more the manager with licence to experiment since the possible fall-out from defeat was pretty scant compared to his counterpart.  Even if the Falkirk manager contended that his supporters expected his team to win every game.  Surely, even the most one-eyed and rabid of their followers would have given up on that hope after May's men have only succeeded in recording only victory in seven attempts this season – and that a meaningless success in light of the fact yet, even if five SPL encounters have come and gone without Falkirk bagging full points, there were plenty willing to talk up their chances of scalping Celtic.  Especially when the line-ups came through. Both Barry Robson, who limped off late on, and Mark Wilson were playing their first senior games in eight and six months, respectively; Zukasz Zaluska was making his competitive debut for the club and such as Willo Flood, McCourt and Caddis have had no more than brief cameos under the new manager.

Even if the latter grouping all combined extensively, and successfully, in the shadow side Mowbray fielded throughout a hectic pre-season, there was every reason to suspect Celtic could be vulnerable on a ground where they have often been given problems in recent years. That was the theory. Only for the reality to fly in the face of it.  In no small part because Falkirk were desperate.

Celtic had so much possession they didn't seem to know what to do with it. Indeed, for much of the evening, their defenders so little to occupy themselves, they set out to make their own amusement by getting involved in things they shouldn't have.  That summed up Gary Caldwell's first half, anyway. The centre-back's decision-making was as suspect as his public airing of his contract concerns. He didn't have the excuse of coming in for one of his first starts in weeks or months.  Not that those who id let that show.  Although, how big a part Falkirk played in that is debatable.

A really good performance from Celtic and maybe a one-off but this was much better than the fare served up by the so-called first eleven - headache for Mowbray!

 

Opinion by Auchenshuggle 64

 

 

 There are 2 Match Opinions for    Celtic  v  Hearts      Saturday   20 September 2009

 

 

Finally something to celebrate and bhoy did we make hard work of it !

After watching a side coasting through the first half on Thursday we needed to bounce back.  The result on Saturday should have been an incentive in itself but the events of the past week have not entirely been conducive to produce a happy dressing room.  Regrettably, in my opinion the Heid or the big heid as I prefer to call him choose to go public and the media loved it.  I now read on other internet sites how cash strapped we are because Tony said that may be Celtic’s best offer.  I would prefer to think of it as that is Celtic’s valuation at the moment because again ‘big heid ‘ did himself no favours on Sunday.  Okay there was a goal line clearance, sorry, yes the one he caused when he was too far up the park out of position.  Balanced with that he choose not follow Boruc’s request to pass out to the left, took a chance at 1 – 1 and turned in the middle of a gapping goal a risk he didn’t need to take.  He is now looking like the player he was at Hibs when we questioned his ability to step up.      

Tony if you read this you know he needs to be dropped before he understands what is at stake so do us and him a favour and remind him from where he came.

Anyway on to Sunday – off  to shocking start, gave away the ball in midfield and they all watched whilst it seemed to be someone else’s responsibility to close him down.  He turned, he shot, he scored !  From where I sat Artur had no chance but I have now seen the video footage and I’ll be charitable and say he was at full stretch.  Later on in the first half he made amends as he kept us in the game with a fine save from an unchallenged header.  The defence was again posted missing and we all gasped collectively, knowing if that had gone in it was curtains.  The headlines flashed before our eyes ‘Celtic in turmoil’.

The first half over I prefer to think that the boo bhoys were aimed at the officials but alas the support is moving in a direction I personally find distasteful.  After all we did not lack effort – we lacked quality !  A reason to be concerned !

The second half produced better and although the deficiencies were still there for all to see we got the equaliser we deserved.  With a little bit of luck – no, I mean better positioning of the strikers following the ball into goal – something we learned at primary school we would have scored more.   We pushed up and going forward we did not lack effort but a little invention.  The penalty incident, seeing it live I was convinced and I have not changed my mind.  The ref looked to the linesman to make the decision and he was reading the Monday morning headlines so he did the only thing he knew – kept his flag down and they both bottled it.  The men in black conspired against us ?   Shocking !  However the linesman made amends we he correctly gave the corner which led to the goal.  How sweet it was to score in such a manner at such a time.  Lets get back into that habit but don’t let the gloss on this victory cloud your judgment there are major deficiencies that need to be addressed but the spirit is back !!!!!!!!!                         

 

 

 

 

Sunday 20 September 2009

Opinion by Moville Mick 

Scottish Premier League

Celtic  2   Hearts   1

 

Click link for Video Match highlights     http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/default.stm  (remember full screen option)

 

A good result but not such a good performance.  Gary Caldwell moved back to central defence to partner Glenn Loovens with Stephen McManus on the bench. Chris Killen partnered Scott McDonald up front with a midfield of Landry N'Guemo, Shaun Maloney, Scott Brown and Aiden McGeady.

Four minutes gone and Scott Brown gifts the ball to Hearts in the middle of the park, onward Santana and Celtic 1-0 down.  Celtic had much possession in the first half but showed little in terms of equalising and horrible memories of last week against Dundee United began to emerge.  Celtic made a positive start in the second half and Killlen's equaliser was much deserved.

The assault on McGinn inside the box with 5 minutes to go was as clear a penalty as you will see but referee Dougie McDonald decided to go with his assistant who had had his flag pointed determinedly to the ground. The aura of 'we aren't giving this, so what will we do?' was so obvious it was embarrassing.  Shame on McDonald who was only 10 yards away but laid the blame at his assistant's door.  A great Scottish word describes his behaviour -  'sleekit'. 

Tony Mowbray is quoted in today's press saying that he is 'miles away' from creating his dream team at Celtic.  He insisted that there will be major changes to his squad next summer and it would take several more transfer windows for him to be even close to creating a side in his image of how football should be played.  That is the opinion of many supporters and I am pleased that Tony has stated this publicly.  Some argue that will de-motivate some of the existing players and have a negative effect.  Some of them are taking huge amounts of money under false pretences and aren't good enough for Celtic so I reckon 'say what you mean and mean what you say, Tony'.  He also admitted that he wanted time to assess the squad on taking over the manager's post so I think the cull of the incompetents will start in the January transfer window. Well done, Tony.

Scott McDonald is looking less and less like a striker. His miss in the second half was comical and his touch six yards out was of schoolboy proportions.  His nickname is Skippy but I think kangaroos should be well miffed at that; there's nothing in the Australian Outback with a touch as bad as his.  Scott Brown was just utterly ordinary and some say he is not fit. I don't go for that as I think he is just utterly ordinary...anybody got Harry Redknapp's phone number or, as Choccy says, a Scotland jersey? 

Caldwell got absolute pelters today after allowing Andy Driver to advance on Artur Boruc. The Pole made the save then Caldwell cleared off the line. He remonstrated with Artur and the 'Holy Goalie' gave as good as he got.  There was fury in the stands and the anger over his comments about his contract negotiations in the press on Thursday morning was unleashed. A loud rendition of 'The Holy Goalie' song gave Gary the message. He made further errors in the match and clearly his confidence is now as low as his competence.  Tony Mowbray has indicated that Celtic's contract offer is probably the last one on the table.  My personal hope is that Gary maintains his high opinion of himself and leaves us for pastures new at the end of the season.

Landry N'Guemo had another good game and makes Brown look like reserve player.  Aiden McGeady was really good and seems to have been practising his shooting, more shots on target, and his shot from 30 yards that hit the bar was superb.  Danny Fox continues to impress. Shaun Maloney...you need to shape up, wee man.

All things considered a good result and top of the SPL but much work and worrying to do.

 

Opinion by Moville Mick

 

 

 

Thursday 17 September 2009      

 

Europa League

 Hapoel Tel-Aviv  2  Celtic  1 

 

Let’s not panic.  This was a poor result and a poor performance so let’s discuss some of the issues that made it so.  Tony Mowbray is clearly still trying to find his best team.  He was deprived of the services of Marc Fortune and Barry Robson through injury.  The excellent hold up play of the former and the drive and fight of the latter would probably have made a difference.  Looking for a team captain?….Barry’s  your man and Artur is the deputy.  Paddy McCourt could add a bit of skill and Barry could threaten anybody who comes near him.

Reports suggest that when Tony was appointed, he was surprised at the lack of quality and depth in the Celtic side.  This was no surprise to me having witnessed these same duds throw away the SPL title last year.  For whatever reason, he hasn’t managed to turn them around although there have been flickering signs of improvement.  He says that he needs two or three transfer windows to improve the side and I agree but why waste the last one?  Fox, Fortune and N’Guemo don’t even come close to solving our problems.  This is perhaps down to issues out with his control but I suspect he took the view that he would have a reasonable squad and he needed time to assess their worth.  I’m sure he would have been buoyed with support from the Board for this view.

Stephen McManus returned to defence to partner Glenn Loovens.   Gary Caldwell went into midfield.  This has been a long recognised mistake and why this tactic was used again just defies belief.  All this going on while Marc Crosas sits on the bench.  Caldwell had been moaning in the press on the morning of the game about his contract and how he wants a wage similar to the highest earners at the Club, £19,000 a week has been quoted.  Artur Boruc is reportedly on £32,000 a week but these days are gone now.  Anyway, Gary, you are really only less than half as good as Artur so you’re probably on the right money anyway.  Twelve hours later he is in the team.  He should have been told to pack his bags.  In my opinion, he should have worn his last Celtic jersey.

Celtic played well in the first half and went in at half-time with a 1-0 lead thanks to a Giorgios Samaras goal.  This goal seemed to be taken for granted given the lack of enthusiastic celebration by the Celtic players.  Celtic should have added another goal or two and Samaras hit the bar.

In the second half Hapoel raised the pace of the play and Celtic went to pieces.  The Hapoel goals were just going to happen as they ran at the Celtic defence ripping us open with ease.  They created many chances and could have won the match by a bigger margin.  I long for the days when Celtic would continue to go forward and continue to attack to secure a victory.  I am old enough to remember when we drove forward relentlessly, psychologically, 3-0 was always a safe result.  We were relaxed at the start of the second half and paid a very heavy price.

Artur Boruc had a good match but maybe a bit injudicious in using his feet instead of hands at the first  goal.  Loovens was pathetic at the second, slow, ponderous and appeared not to care.  Scott Brown just doesn’t do it for me - runs all day and looks brilliant in a Scotland jersey but this is never replicated for Celtic.   He can’t shoot, tackle or pass.   He just runs about like a headless chicken and how any composed midfield partner would even know where he is or likely to be is probably impossible.  Maybe he is a great player but just not got the quality around him that will bring out his best…who knows?   I wonder whether Donati suited N’Guemo’s game more that Brown.   N’Guemo seems to have lost his initial impetus, maybe due to his extensive foreign travel on international duty ot the absence of the Italian.

Maloney looks like a guy who is becoming a friend of mediocrity.  Useless at Villa and rejected by them, he just isn’t performing for Celtic.  He was anonymous in this match.  Even his trademark free-kicks have gone.  For me, only Artur, Aiden, Danny and Giorgios  got pass marks, yet only just.

This was a Celtic team who just looked completely disinterested in this match for whatever reason.  That worries me and I have a suspicion that all is not well in the dressing room. My own feelings are that there are players at the club who think they are better than they acyually are and are not slow to shoot off their mouths in the press.  You can also see it on the park at times.   I reckon we will have to undergo tough times for a couple of seasons until Tony gets a chance to turn things around.  There is a massive job to be done and he does need time.  The downsizing of the team is a problem and one which I hope he can overcome with the help of the Board.

It has been a tough start for Tony Mowbray.   The ridiculous pre-season matches, the Champions League qualifiers, a difficult SPL programme and the international break have all conspired to make his job even tougher than expected.  Despite this, I believe that he has a bigger problem in clearing out the deadwood and bad influences which I suspect exist in the dressing room – therein lies his first and greatest challenge.  Good luck, Tony, you will need it.  His after-match comments left something to be desired and was typical of those he made with West Bromwich Albion after a poor result last season.  The reference to the heat would have been better left unsaid.  I believe Tony is the manager for us but only with the right players with the right attitude and that is the big issue.

A friend of mine is a former Aberdeen player.  He says Alex Ferguson used to wait until the players were stark naked in the communal bath after a poor result and from an elevated position would and rip them apart for their incompetence.  Can’t see Tony Mowbray doing that but I’m afraid that’s what is needed.  An interesting journey ahead…..let’s see how it goes.

Review by Choccy

 

 

 

Saturday 12 September 2009

Opinion by Auchenshuggle 64

Scottish Premier League

Celtic  1   Dundee United   1

 

Well now, what are we to make of this?  A chance to go two points clear at the top of the SPL thrown away in the usual fashion. Tony Mowbray decided to go with five midfield players, as we now know, to counteract United's power in that area.  It was like the wean's pre-school, so small were the players but Patsy Gallacher, Jimmy Johnstone, Willie Wallace and Bobby Lennox weren't that tall either. Mind you, they had skill and vision to compensate.  Whisper it, Strachan used to change formations to suit the opposition and that failed miserably...

We went with one up front in Scott McDonald.  That afforded him the opportunity to see right along the United defensive line and make sure he was offside without his view being blurred by one of his own players.  One up front is fine if the midfiled players are able to offer competent support but this just didn't happen and was, in my opinion, part of the reason for our failure to secure all three points today.  Shaun Maloney gave his all for Scotland in midweek and the negative effects were there for all to see today.  Same for Landry N'Guemo who just looked as if he needed his bed.  There were others on international duty last week and everyone of them looked jaded.  In contrast, United looked fresh and had plenty of time to prepare for this match.

Niall McGinn got a start and played well making many good runs and crosses.  Although some gave Andreas Hinkel pelters, I thought he played well with McGinn and helped the boy show up well.  Strange that Paddy McCourt didn't get a run out today. Seemed a perfect opportunity given his excellent performance against Cork City last week but it was not to be.  I worry that Paddy, for whatever reason, make not make it with Celtic.

Gary Caldwell was culpable for the United goal and his rash tackling is becoming more of a problem - time to withdraw the offer of a new contract I'm afraid.  Glenn Loovens was his usual reliable self and Danny Fox continues to impress.  Marc Crosas just looked ordinary and Scott Brown always looks as if he could be brilliant but never pulls it off.

Giorgios Samaras replaced N'Guemo and Mizuno came on for McGinn.  Mizuno usually only gets a 10 minute cameo appearance and shows up well - today he got 18 minutes and did nothing. Samaras is an enigma - skilful and can score, composed on the ball, makes decent runs but sometimes looks like a frightened rabbit in car headlights.  The support's impatience with him is disappointing - I think they would prefer him to do something quick and just make a mistake so we can get on with the game.

Scott McDonald scored our goal from a free-kick which wasn't a free-kick. He did nothing else of note.

My fear is that Rangers dump the manager with no surname and laughing boy to appoint Craig Levein as their manager.  That would be a disaster for us as he clearly has talent, can spot a player and knows how to play against us. 

The officials contrived to ensure that Scottish football is on a road to becoming a non-contact sport.  The North Stand side linesman just isn't good at his job and the disallowed Samaras goal was a bad mistake.  The referee made serious errors in awarding Celtic a free-kick which led to our goal and denying a penalty late in the match following an infringement by Darren Dods. 

It seems to me that Tony Mowbray has realised the paucity of the squad at his disposal and I look forward to an active January transfer window.  I also think that the manager will need at least three transfer windows to get the team he needs.  Until then we could have a rollercoaster journey if today's events are anything to go by.

 

Opinion by Auchenshuggle 64

 

 

 

 

Champions League       Opinion by The Holy Curate

Arsenal  3  Celtic  1

Straight to the point - there is no place in football for cheating however you dress it up!  'Anticipating contact' my ar... as Andy Walker so eloquently put it.  He ran out of space saw the keeper and DIVED - why can't he say that?  

I was angry last night that a talented team and a manager with a high degree of integrity allowed themselves to be sucked into this 'professionalism'.   Let me say first of all that the result was never in doubt as we were playing for pride, but again the referee who was in a perfect position made a mistake and, just as in the first game, the decision did not go our way and they got the first goal.  We never looked likely to recover.

Across the pitch and throughout the game we looked second best at everything.  Hardly a pass mark among them all.  McGeady looked up for it in patches but was frustrated by his team mates’ lack of movement. If we did not know it already Gary Caldwell was well exposed.  I sat in the stand last Saturday and said he gives away a goal a game to the opposition.  He looked off the pace and his decision-making was poor to say the least.  His season can only get better !!  Thank God TM could see what we all did and took his captain off at half time or a second booking would have seen to that.  Gary, if there has ever been an incentive to play well it's to have a contract on the table to discuss, perhaps TM really knows your worth.         

I asked myself why is it that in such important games we come off second best when referees decisions are concerned?  Then I thought about getting caught flat footed, tugging jerseys, diving into unnecessary tackles and the cardinal sin, as far as I am concerned, not finding your man with your pass.  Where was the midfield and why were Arsenal able cut through us so easily? Was it the tactics? Or did the players let themselves down?  Is it a confidence issue?  Did we give then too much respect or it is it that TM needs more time to cut his teeth at european football level?

I prefer to believe that it's early season and TM is coming to grips with the task in hand.  The SPL has always been my priority this year and there have been a few positives in this area.  Lets hope that last night’s episode is not an indication of the ground we have lost but of a manager and a team at the beginning of a 'journey'.

 

 

 

 

 

Opinion by Rupert The Tim  

'Mug of The Year  2008/2009'   

'Everyone Knows His Name'

 

Scottish Premier League

Celtic   5   St Johnstone   2

 

Long time since I enjoyed a match as much at Celtic Park.  Just great and I felt as if I was back in times past such was the excitement of some of the football today.  OK there were mistakes, a quiet opening 20 minutes and it was only St Johnstone (sorry lads) we were playing but there was enough on show to suggest that we will be entertained in good fashion this season.

Fast flowing football, accurate passing and full-backs overlapping at will – that is playing football the ‘Celtic Way’ alright.

Credit to Saints for trying to make a game of it and they will cause many teams some  problems in the SPL this season. 

Artur Boruc had little to do today  and he must have been disappointed to lose two goals.  The first as the result of another Gary Caldwell mistake.  The ball came to him at an awkward angle 25 yards out and he got mixed up (this guy is on 20k a week and apparently wants 25k) allowing Colin Samuel to run on and fire past Boruc. The second was a comedy with Jody Morris running through the Celtic defence with nobody wanting to tackle him and the ball went into the net off Artur’s left hand post.

The abuse by the Saints fans of Artur was a shame and not worthy of them.  The ‘Fair City’ is title worthy of their home town but ‘Fair’ could not be applied of this section of their support. I trust they will reflect on this and change their ways.

It was always going to happen for Marc Fortune and today was it.  He will be an interesting player for us.  Already the ‘jury’ is considering Marc’s performances.  He isn’t a prolific goal-scorer but I feel his general contribution is good.  He is strong, can run and appears to have a good football brain. Some of his link up play is terrific and I think we have to get away from thinking of him as a target man.  We never had a target man before Martin O’Neill arrived and I don’t think one is required. A couple of years of JVOH was more than enough for me.  The big target man was always the modus operandi of our city rivals whilst we tended to have fast, skilful and deadly strikers. My opinion is that we will score many more goals with Marc in the team than not.

He scored two goals today, both taken with composure and he might just have had a hat-trick.  His general all-round play was very good and I think he has turned the corner.  Marc will be a vital player for us and it is a joy to witness his unselfish work and team ethic

Two goals also scored by Shaun Maloney who played really well.  He, McGeady et al ran riot on occasions today and it was brilliant to watch.  No more tippy-tappy sideways passing of the Strachan era.  At all times it was forward and I was certainly entertained today.

Scott McDonald looks to be exposed as the poor footballer he is.  On one occasion an excellent passing move ended with the ball hitting off him and ending up 4 yards away.  If he can’t control a ball at this stage then I don’t think it will ever happen.  He just doesn’t look the part in a fast moving set-up.  His greed never diminishes and I certainly do not consider him to be a team player.  Time to go.

Caldwell – his performances are now justifying my doubts about him over several seasons. He ain’t Franz Beckenbauer but he hasn’t realised it so time to go.

Fox – how delightful to expect and see accurate crosses into dangerous areas.

Loovens – can’t see him losing his place as he just looks so assured.

Killen – came on a sub with 20 minutes to go and looked lively, a different player from last season. He was full of enthusiasm and had some good touches.  Looked to be finished last season but now re-invigorated and a good prospect.

Brown and Donati also had good games.  Brown had some good touches and he will justify his potential if he starts scoring more goals.  The latter also seems to be re-invigorated and whist he made some inaccurate passes, his general performance was good.

Hinkel and Fox – not quite Craig and Gemmell or McGrain and Lynch but good defensively and especially in their attacking performances today.

A very good performance today and instead of just celebrating the points as we have done recently we are celebrating the points and appreciating good football as well. 

Plenty of Bumblee strips around today. Apparently all you can see from the Moon is the Great Wall of China and the Bumblee strip – nae wunner.

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 18 August 2009    

Opinion by John 1967

'I Know the Celtic Way and Won't Accept Anything Less'

 

Champions League

Celtic   0  Arsenal   2 

 

Where to start?  Arsenal have hugely talented players, loadsamoney and a manager who has been in situ for 13 years with a wealth of experience, whose appointment was sought in the summer by Real Madrid.  Ours is a team with modest cash for players, a squad that is nowhere near the quality of our English opponents and a new manager still in the process of assessing his new charges.

Despite the obvious imbalance Celtic performed creditably especially in the first half when we more than matched Arsenal until the 42nd minute when Gary Caldwell again showed his lack of finesse by giving a way a free kick which was put past Boruc after a deflection from William Gallas who was trying to get out of the way.  He must  be getting close to being the top scorer of our current team in European games.  Celtic came out in the second half and were all over the place for 5 or 10 minutes but regrouped successfully but never at any stage looked like getting back on level terms. 

Caldwell did it again in the 71st minute when he knocked the ball past Boruc in attempting to clear.   I have some sympathy for Caldwell as he had a difficult decision to make as Bendtner was waiting to pounce but Gary was stretching and had little control over where the ball would go.  it's just another bad decision and the defence for Gary is shaky.  I reckon  he has fully met his potential it's time to move him on.  He has a new contract on the table and according to reports he is stalling about signing.  I think is good news...for Celtic. 

Interestingly, Artur Boruc didn't have much to do in this match and that makes the loss of two lucky goals all the harder to take. Disappointingly, our passing was poor, players hesitant and I feel they looked a bit out of their depth.  I reckon on reflection we should have done better and not been so apparently intimidated by the big money players of Arsenal.  The tendency to run with the ball told me that most of players weren't sure of what to do on many occasions and the cry of 'help him' rang out from around me as our players failed to perform as a cohesive unit.  To be fair to the Arsenal players they worked hard and closed down brilliantly which made it difficult for us.  Even so our inabilty to make a first time and an early pass was all to obvious.  At this level you can't get the ball and then think about what to do or wait for a team mate to think how he's going to help you.

Loovens looked comfortable at this level as did McGeady who did his transfer value no harm.  N'Guemo again showed up well and showed composure and some nice touches. Samaras tried hard but didn't get much joy in the first half when he played up front on his own with Scott Brown in a supporting role. Brown made sure his transfer value decreased with an anonymous performance in which he had good company in Sean Maloney.  Marc Fortune needs time but not too much I hope.  My hope is that we will have a bit of a clear out in the next 11 days before the end of the transfer window.  There's a really good transfer kitty at Celtic in the form of existing players so let's convert them to cash and get shopping.

So it's off to the Emirates where we have a difficult task.  We have  history of seemingly impossible achievements on the field but I don't think we will add another next week.

 

Review by John 1967

'I Know the Celtic Way and Won't Accept Anything Less'

 

 

  

 

Saturday 15 August 2009  

   

Opinion by Rupert The Tim  

'Mug of The Year  2008/2009'   

'Everyone Knows His Name'

 

Scottish Premier League

 

Aberdeen  1  Celtic  3

 

A scintillating performance by Celtic in the first half and scoring three goals in the process was very welcome.  I looked forward to another load of goals in the second period but it was not to be as we allowed the pace to drop.  So much so, this allowed Aberdeen to score and get back into the game and they had one or two chances to narrow the deficit.

This half-a-game performance was sometimes a problem in the previous manager’s reign and was repeated yesterday.  Our failure to add to our goals tally allowed Rangers to go to the top of the SPL table.  I know it’s only one game down but it does give them a psychological advantage and goal difference is always important.  One lesson I have learned in watching Celtic over the years is that we need to put our city rivals to the sword at every opportunity – a lesson that was completely forgotten last season with disastrous consequences.  The players still at Celtic Park who were collectively responsible for last season's utterly shameful debacle may think that they have a clean sheet under a new manager but not with me. Get your act together and make amends big time.

Thankfully, Tony Mowbray identified and acknowledged this and said that we had played well but there was room for improvement.  We are a work in progress and he is correct to highlight that we have some way to go.  I know it's a honeymoon period but Tony just impresses me with his comments and view of things.  There is something of a Jock Stein RIP about him.  I always believed that great managers were great men and personalities first and this is why I say this about Tony - probably off the mark but that's my feeling. That's not to say he will have the same success as Jock, of course.  Some commentators put our second half performance down to the impending match against Arsenal on Tuesday.  I hope not because the SPL title is the key this year.  European nights are special and welcome but they are merely the icing on the cake and certainly not the main course.

Nice to see a Celtic team with two attack-minded ful-backs both of whom can beat a man and deliver a cross without it going into row ZZ.  I know a guy in the Upper Lisbon Lions Stand who used to brace himself every time certain players attempted a cross.

Good also to see a Celtic side without our illustrious centre halves McManus and Caldwell doing well although Aberdeen didn't provide the sternest test.  Stephen - your time is up and time to go.  Gary - if you don't sign a contract now then it's better you leave straight away - you clearly think you are Franz Beckenbauer but, belive me, you are not.

Donati looks to have some potential and Tony obviously sees something in this boy so it will be very interesting to see how this develops.   Does he really think Massimo can play at centre-back is this just a fanciful move?  Seems to be one thing about Tony Mowbray - we will never be bored!!

Marc Fortune seems to be settling in more.  How much was his influence in allowing Maloney and McGeady space to open up Aberdeen is open to debate and we will have the chance to assess this as the season goes on. 

Danny Fox just continues to impress.  Just a good full-back who does everything well.

Maloney and McGeady were in 'the frame' earlier in pre-season as targets to improve.  They certainly listened and were very good today, Maloney especially despite the fact that McGeady scored twice.

Scott McDonald – gonnae shut your moaning wee face and stop complaining to your own players.  You are doing my head in with this behaviour and it went on all last season too but not with Hesselink 'cos you were probably scared of him.   It is clear that your complaining has a detrimental effect on Samaras and Fortune is beginning to look the same.  They never complain when your second touch is a tackle (which is often).  If you could learn to do this you would be a very good team-mate. 

A good start and long may it continue.

Hail Hail

 

Opinion by Rupert The Tim  

'Mug of The Year  2008/2009'

'Everyone Knows His Name'

 

 

 

Saturday   8 August 2009     Review by Tiny Tim   

Challenge Match

Manchester City  2  Celtic  1

 

  Scorers:  Manchester City    Barry (14)   Bellamy (51)

                Celtic  Killen (24) 

 

Manchester City (4-3-3): Given; Zabaleta, Toure (Ben Haim 46), Dunne, Bridge; de Jong (Adebayor 46), Ireland, Barry; Wright-Philips (Weiss 73), Bellamy (Tevez 66), Robinho.

Celtic (4-4-2): Zaluska; Caddis (Hinkel 67), Donati, O'Dea, Naylor (Fox 77); Flood (McGinn 77), Crosas (McGeady 67), McCourt (Ferry 77), Mizuno (Fortune 61); Killen (McDonald 61), Samaras (Conroy 77).

 

City’s starting line-up cost £130 million.  Celtic’s considerably less. Were we worried?  Certainly not. This was a good performance from Celtic and whilst these pre-season games are billed as challenge matches, they are really just warm-up games.  Celtic replaced 10 members of the team that beat Dinamo Moscow with only Donati retaining his place – at centre-back.

A cross on the overlap from Pablo Zabaleta in 14 minutes caught out  Donati and found Barry ghosting in from deep.  Unmarked, he volleyed home with his left foot from 12 yards.

Celtic equalised 24 minutes.  Midweek Moscow hero Georgios Samaras was urged by Mowbray to drop deep as often as possible.  This allowed the striker space to work and from almost the halfway line he sent a perfectly weighted, defence-splitting pass to Killen.  Richard Dunne was policing him but Killen strode forward leaving Dunne in his wake then smashed home from 15 yards.  Good player, Dunne, but there was more chance of Rupert The Tim catching Killen.

Celtic grew in confidence and were able to get at the home side.  City will score plenty this season but a severe lack of defensive discipline runs through the side. Proof that you can spend big money on players but moulding them into a team takes skill, hard work and time.

City hit the winner in 51 minutes when a Wayne Bridge cross found Bellamy who beat O’Dea and put the ball behind Zaluska and into the net.

A deserved victory for City but a good performance from Celtic.  I expect more activity in the transfer market before the window closes – both arrivals and departures.  For the moment we are making satisfactory progress.

Will I get to do the reviews of the big games when you are all back from your holidays?

 

Man of The Match    Giorgios Samaras

 

Review by Tiny Tim

 

 

 

Wednesday 5 August 2009       Review by Tiny Tim

Champions League

 

Dinamo Moscow   0   Celtic   2          

(Aggregate 1-2)

 

Celtic ended a 22 game wait for an away win in Europe as goals from Scott McDonald and substitute Georgios Samaras earned them a 2-0 success against and a place in the next UEFA Champions League round. 

The only change from last wek's match was Danny Fox making his European debut in place of Lee Naylor who failed to recover from a knock.

The odds appeared stacked against Celtic whose last win away in Europe was six years ago against MTK Hungaria in Hungary and we had had never won through a European tie after losing the first game at home.  Given all this and our first leg defeat, I decided not to sell the house and put the money on Celtic going through.

Dynamo's 18,000-capacity stadium was well short of capacity only just over half full with only about three hundred Celtic fans in place having endured the visa application nightmare and hoping to see us make history.

An awkward evening appeared in the offing at the Arena Khimki when Dinamo made a lively start with Aleksandr Kerzakhov carrying the game to us with some lively front-running. When Dinamo's Russia forward did get the space to get in a shot after nine minutes, though, he failed to find either the power or placement to trouble Artur Boruc.

As the first period progressed, we began to control possession and after Landry Nguemo had shot straight at Vladimir Gabulov from the edge of the box the breakthrough came in the 44 minutes. Andreas Hinkel delivered a perfectly placed cross to the far post and Scott McDonald's firm downward header found the bottom corner. Dinamo almost produced an immediate reply but Hinkel cleared Dmitri Khoklov's shot off the line with Boruc beaten.  Dinmao had reverted to their usual 4-4-1 during the first half and showed little invention going forward.  The game was similar to last week but Celtic did not created as many chances.

The home side seemed content to sit in and look for the break, very much the way they had approached the first game in Glasgow, and at times a better pass or better vision may have caused Celtic problems. I expected Dinamo would change things in the second half but this was not to be apart from a 5 minute spell where they were in the ascendency.  Hinkel came to the rescue again early in the half to keep out Kombarov's goalbound header with Boruc beaten again.   Kombarov and McDonald both flashed efforts narrowly wide as the game opened up but, as the clock ticked down it was Celtic who looked more likely to go on and win the tie.

Brown came on for Fortune in the 68th minute to support McDonald from the midfield but there was a hint of extra-time about proceedings as time slipped away. Shortly after Samaras replaced Fortune.

With Brown driving Celtic forward, the Hoops went for the second goal and Maloney should have scored when he was sent through by the Scotland midfielder but Gabulov blocked. Shaun Maloney's quick feet carried him through on goal but he shot straight at Gabulov.

The decisive second goal finally came in added time, when Samaras collected a high ball, cut across the penalty box beating thee Dinamo defenders in the process and slid a shot low across Gabulov and into the bottom corner.  His first European goal for Celtic. 

Giorgios gets pelters from a certain section of the Celtic support as he does look a bit indecisive and ponderous at times but I think that is just how he shows his compusure and this goal was typical of others he has scored for the Hoops.  Anybody else in the team would have wasted a pass or balloned the ball over the bar so well done Big Man.

Such was the effectiveness of Fox, I don’t expect to see Lee Naylor as first choice left back again. This boy can tackle, pass, cross, shoot and gets stuck in – a good footballer.  Hinkel had a very good game and the centre-backs Loovens and Caldwell were solid.  It’s going to be a long way back for Stephen McManus.

Marc Antoine Fortune looked good first half but a goal eluded him and he spent a lot of time on either wing at the expense of Maloney and McGeady.  If these two strike good form at the same time we will be watching blissful football.

A more than satisfactory result for Celtic who overcame the difficulties of a new management team, early season rustiness and a good if not great side in Dinamo to win our first away tie in Europe and to record for the first time an aggregate victory after having losing the first leg at home.  I was very impressed with his substitutions.  Putting Brown up front was a master stroke and keeping Donati on the park helped to control midfield with N'Guemo. Good start, Tony, and keep making progress.

Review by Tiny Tim

 

 

Saturday 1 August 2009         Review by Tiny Tim

Challenge Match

 

Celtic   1   Sunderland   2  

Scorers:  Celtic (Crosas)

Sunderland  (Richardson, Jones)

 

Another disappointment for the faithful who turned out cheer the Hoops as they slumped to a friendly defeat against Sunderland. This a reserve side which included many pretenders to the top team. Only ten players survived from Wednesday’s tie with Dinamo Moscow.  Perfect opportunity then for second string aspirants but only Paul Caddis, as always, showed any promise and he was the clear candidiate for the Man of The Match award.

Goals either side of the break from Kieran Richardson and Kenwyne Jones gave the visitors a well-deserved lead until Marc Crosas put a better spin on proceedings when he pulled a goal back.

If Mowbray learned little from his side's performance then the sight of Scott Brown in his midfield will have heartened him ahead of the trip to Moscow.

Prior to kick-off there was a minute's applause as tribute to former England and Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson and former Motherwell player Paul McGrillen, who both died during the week.

The travelling fans admirably chanted Robson's name and they had more to sing about in a first half in which their side were by far the more impressive.

In the 12th minute Darren O'Dea's made a glaring error when dealing with a Jones flick-on allowed Keiron Richardson a clear run on goal and he knocked it confidently past Zaluska.

Seven minutes from the break Sunderland survived a penalty claim when stopper Anton Ferdinand clattered in to Koki Mizuno, before Chris Killen was too slow to take a clever Paddy McCourt pass in his stride inside the box.

Zaluska was forced in to a fine mid-air save from Reid's 30-yard drive two minutes from the break before Jordan Henderson cracked the bar with a speculative long-range drive as Sunderland reiterated their goal threat.

There were just eight minutes played in the second half when Sunderland doubled their lead, Jones rising unmarked six yards out to head Reid's pin-point cross past the helpless Zaluska.

A batch of Celtic substitutions on the hour mark meant the home side had changed half their team, while Sunderland boss Steve Bruce gave debuts to new signings Fraizer Campbell and Lorik Cana off the bench.

The tempo of the game dropped until the 67th minute when Crosas drove in off the post from outside the box after a corner had only been half-cleared by the visitors.

The goal sparked Celtic and their fans in to life and they kept pushing for the equaliser.

Two minutes from the end substitute Scott McDonald missed a sitter when he somehow headed Georgios Samaras' cross past the post from point-blank range. This chance was briliantly crafted by Samaras and McDonald’s was just stupendously bad.

Much too early to make any assessments about our chances this season but Tony Mowbray must have been disappointed with the last two matches and he reflected that he had learned a lot in the last couple of games.

So.another defeat in what many commentators are referring to as an exercise to get fit.  Maybe instead of travelling the globe on ‘branding’ matters the players should have been at Lennoxtown getting fit and playing games in Scotland against lower league or non-league opposition. 

Hopefully, Tony Mowbray will put a stop to this nonsense next close season as he made clear that our pre-season match itinerary was not to his liking. Our reputation is only damaged by such defeats especially to ordinary English opposition whose supporter’s catcall of ‘Champions League – you’re having a laugh’ was close to the mark. The noise of a full-house travelling Sunderland support put our claim to be the greatest fans in the world to the test in a poor turn out of Tims.

 

Man of The Match  -   Paul Caddis

 

Review by Tiny Tim

 

 

 

Wednesday 29 July 2009      Review by Tiny Tim

 

Champions League

 

Celtic   0  Dinamo Moscow   1        

 

Scorer:  Koronin (7)

 

N'Guemo, Maloney, McDonald (Killen 60), Fortune (Samaras 60).

Subs: Zaluska, O'Dea, Crosas, Flood.
Booked: Hinkel, Killen.

Dynamo Moscow: Gabulov; Kowalcyzk, Kolodin, Granat, Kombarov, Wilkshire, Svezhov, Kombarov, Fernandez, Kerzhakov, Kokorin (Smolov 74).
Booked: Wilkshire, Svezhov.

Referee: N Rizzoli (Italy)  8/10 

I reckoned that this tie would come a bit too early for Celtic and so it proved. Dinamo played two up front at the start and this tactic prove effective.

The scene was set as early as the third minute when Luke Wilkshire, the former Middlesbrough and Bristol City midfielder, stung the fingers of Artur Boruc with a 50-yard drive.

Dinamo had 15 league games under their belt coming into this game and the advantage was clear.  It was a horrific start from Celtic who lost a goal in the seventh minute. Good play down the left saw Aleksandr Kerzhakov leave Hinkel for dead. given time and space he delivered a brilliant cross into the box which was met by Alexander Koronin who managed to get in front of Caldwell to slot past the helpless Boruc.  The Champions League £10m payday looked as far away as ever.

Celtic re-grouped and to their credit attacked incessantly and made more chances in this game than we would have had in three or four SPL games last year. The players were clearly a yard short and ring-rusty. Evidence of this were the chances missed by Fortune, Maloney and Samaras and also the slackness at the Dinamo goal.  Dinamo defended comfortably for the rest of the match making several forays into the Celtic half in an attempt to finish the tie.

Tony Mowbray will need time to mould these players into an effective team and how long that will take nobody knows. One would hope that mid-October will see a more cohesive unit. Good to see wingers and full-backs bombing forward. Sadly, McGeady (does this guy not come back to training in the afternoons to practice crossing and shooting?) and Maloney failed to impress and these two will really have to sharpen up their acts taking some responsibility for making things happen.  No Bertie Auld are either of these two flatterers and I beg the question – how long do you stay a decent player with potential?

Fortune looks to be a good player, good hold-up play, powerful and fast with decent football brain.  It’s been well documented that he is not a striker and that was clear after this match.  N’Guemo is the real deal – tenacious, aggressive and talented, we will be fortunate to keep this boy after his loan period expires at the end of this season.  He is like Crosas in that he makes so many forward passes and I look forward to seeing him in the same team as the Spaniard and Scott Brown. Massimo Donati looked the same as he did under Strachan and I fear that this boy’s time is up at Celtic.  We all know he is talented but it just doesn’t happen for him- to many mis-placed passes and he just doesn’t impose himself on a game

Mowbray didn’t hesitate to change the strike force and in the 60^th Minute McDonald and Fortune were replaced by Killen and Samaras.  On reflection, I think Marc was a bit over-awed by the occasion and what was expected of him. We are probably a bigger club with bigger expectations than many think and Marc probably now knows this.  Danny Fox replaced N’Guemo and it will be interesting to see how Tony sees this boy’s role. I assumed he would replace Naylor permanently but we will see.

Never in our history have we overturned a first leg defeat at Celtic Park and given our appalling history away from home since 2003 we have a real battle on our hands to win this tie. Dinamo are a good side but no better than an English Championship team. My worry is that we are the same.

 

Man of The Match  - Landry N’Guemo

 

Review by Tiny Tim