Lenny's illegitimate blog

Unsecured Loans

2011-12-06T16:27:00.000-08:00

With Jos Hooiveld signing for Southampton after looking not only steady and reliable at the back in the south coast club’s rise back toward England’s premier division, but indeed already scoring three times this season, each of which coming in one goal victories. Should Celtic have bucked current trends and had the Dutchman as a fixture in their starting eleven when his loan deal ran out?

In the past this was common place, and with the abolition of reserve team football it seems strange that this does not happen more often in current times, particularly in Scotland. However, realistically, of the ten players loaned out from Celtic's senior side this season, Jos would be the only case to argue that the loan deal could have in any way given him a chance of making inroads into furthering his career at Celtic.

Celtic is certainly not the only club whose players have suffered a reduced impact while out on loan from their clubs. In the past, certainly in the UK loans had been mostly used to allow young players with enough potential to suggest they could ‘make it’ but not enough experience to be relied upon, to go out and gain that experience to come back to their parent clubs ready to show them they were worthy of a first team place. This was a great way for clubs to see what their young talents were made of, not only a test of their ability, but of their fight, determination and character. Often dropping to third and forth tier of the league set-up, were they prepared for when the going got tough in a boggy marsh that was a sad excuse for a football pitch in front of a handful of unimpressed ‘supporters’; understandably this acid test made and broke many footballers careers. There are still some contemporary managers, Including Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, and Harry Redknapp who hold this method in high regard, be it for youth development in terms of getting games and adding missing parts to their game, or purely to show their mettle before they deserve a shot at the big time.

Harry Redknapp, throughout his career has favoured loaning out his most promising academy graduates, and previously has said.

“What you’re looking for when you loan them out, you’re looking for them to make a real impact wherever they go. And when you get them back you think, ‘Stick him in the team.’ That’s what you want. It’s a different kind of football, but you want to see them, ankle-deep in mud, doesn’t bother them, just getting on with it. You have to adjust.”

Other managers like Arsene Wenger, who is not as old fashioned in the ‘ankle deep in mud’, throwing tackles about stuff, but is keen on first team exposure at any level, still likes to see his lads loaned out. With top clubs like Wenger’s Arsenal taking all the talent when they are barely in high school- there is a uneven distribution of good young players, not only hindering lower league clubs who in the past would have been able to blood good young players and sell them on, but the good young players are now on the books of huge top level squad importing talent earlier and earlier, giving their youth teams even greater competition to break into the senior set up and a lower chance of young players ever making that full progression.

Players can be loaned out – and be seen as a complete success by the club they’ve gone to – yet on return to their parent club there is still no real place for them. A great example of this is young Scott Sinclair making short term moves from Chelsea, and in particular achieving great impact and success at Swansea.

Looking closer to home, both Paul McGowan and Graham Carey impressed on their loan jaunts, but in truth, were never going to be given a chance after showing up well in Greenock, Paisley, and Huddersfield. In recent years, only Liam Miller can I remember that has gone out for first team experience elsewhere then returned to a run in the Celtic team off the back of that.

Given the impact of football’s current financial climate it is not overly surprising that players are often dealt with in such a short term mindset by clubs. Clubs like Celtic want high earners who aren’t likely to make first team impact off wage bill, guys like Rasmussen, Juarez, and indeed Hooiveld who don’t break into the starting eleven with any regularity will likely be moved on if acceptable offers come in willing to pay their wages for 6 months or a year, with no real thought of how the club can use them, or will value them afterwards.

And with smaller clubs not having money, loan singings are a good non-committal was of bulking up squad numbers with decent quality, without serious long term gamble in terms of transfer fee’s and contracts needed to be weighed up. While this might seem good for players looking for experience a rung or two down the football ladder, with money tight and pressure on managers for success never been greater - young players are often overlooked in favour of older pro's regardless of the potential ability even if they have been brought in from clubs of far greater stature. Josh Thompson, who certainly didn’t let himself down in the 15 or so games he had as he filled in for Celtic as a 19 year old, has gone to Peterborough and Rochdale, but been kept out the side as managers who although they saw enough ability in him to bring him in, wont even risk him at that level. These guys know a 30 year old cart horse who has bags of 3rd Division experience won’t be seen as a gamble that could potentially cost them or their reputation. The greater the pressure, the less gambles a manager will take, at any level. This surely doesn’t bode well for young players looking for loan moves to boost their career, but may well help the bigger name players who just haven’t settled at clubs who cant necessarily afford to keep paying their wages if they aren’t impacting the first team (like Robbie Keane going to Celtic from Tottenham a couple of year back, as opposed to Man City seemingly in no rush to ship Tevez off).

Often the younger players are sent out on loan to teams in need of inexpensive but able squad members, and keep there interest dangling over the potential prospect of coming back trusted for the first team. The danger of the loaning system for talented young players today is when the development process goes out the window, and the reason for loaning the player out becomes solely as a means to keep him happy.

David Bentley the former Arsenal youngster parted company with Arsenal after two loan periods to two different clubs. Frazier Campbell and Ben Foster were shipped out of Manchester United after multiple extensive loan periods. Chelsea have sold off talents like Israeli Ben Sahar after multiple loan periods. Sometimes while these youngsters see the opportunity for first team football elsewhere as a short-term solution, in the long term it may prove better for them to stay at their clubs and try to compete there for a first team place. Ashley Cole’s break into the Arsenal first team came as a result with an injury to Sylvinho. Jack Wilshere’s break into the Arsenal first team last season came as a result of injuries to Aaron Ramsey and Fabregas. When you are loaned out as a young player, it may become a case of out-of-sight out-of-mind, you are not considered by the manager anymore, and players are brought in to fulfil your position.

Currently Chelsea have 2 young talents playing for the England U21′s who are no strangers to the loaning process. Jack Cork and Ryan Bertrand have been on loan to 6 and 5 different clubs respectively. Scott Sinclair, who cut ties with the club earlier this year, had also been shipped out to 6 different clubs on loan before he finally moved on.

This type of loaning is not loaning as a finishing school. There is in fact evidence that multiple loans can prove to be the ‘kiss of death’ to talented youngster’s chances of making it at their ‘parent clubs’. Shared ownership of players, which is prevalent in Serie A, is non-existent in England. In Italy, big clubs maintain ties with talented youngsters by surrendering the player’s registration to play to the smaller club, whilst keeping (usually) 50% ownership of the players. This gives incentive to the smaller club to play the youngster, as an increase in his market value will benefit the smaller club. English clubs maintain ties with their young players by repeatedly sending them out on loan, as they are not yet ready for the first team, but its debateable whether there is real hope for them to still be a useful asset for there parent club.

Signings like Juarez, Rasmussen, and Hooiveld, who don’t settle into team with good form, but unable to move on, are easier to be loaned out, being kept off wage bill, and pick up first team football, and given a slim chance of being able to be moved on for a reasonable transfer fee at some point, but realistically aren’t going to return to Celtic Park and become part of the furniture.

The others like Cillian Sheridan, Milan Misun, Graham Carey, Paul McGowan, now Niall McGinn amongst others are loaned out to keep them happy and taken by lower teams, desperate for bodies (while Celtic picking up the majority of the wage), and hoping on the off chance, that whenever they are used, they can show flashes of the ability (that while not coming anywhere close to holding down a first team spot at Celtic) that got them their contract at the Parkhead club in the first place. In truth this now tends to be just a part of a slow decline before the player ends up released and spiralling down the leagues.

All in all, doing the admirable thing; going in search of first team games outwith Celtic is unlikely to be seen by the promising youngsters in the ProGen series who’ve played Barca and won against Man City, as a good advert for a long term career at Parkhead.

Down But Still United

2011-11-01T14:26:00.000-07:00

Having heard rumours of Neil Lennon losing the backing of the Celtic dressing room, it would appear strange (to me anyway), that the players in that squad have been so vocal in their support of him.

I have taken note of a few of these (all from the past couple of weeks, with the exception of Common’s quote taken from Twitter towards the end of September after he was dropped for the Rangers game) and charted them below.

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Fraser Forster
“The manager has been absolutely fantastic with me ever since I walked through the door. I can’t thank him enough”

Mark Wilson
“We're firmly behind the manager and we love working under him and the coaching staff. It's up to us to repay his faith in us. We've not done it this season”

Charlie Mulgrew
“The manager has shown faith in a lot of boys here and everybody wants to win the title for him. We are all right behind him and working to repay his faith.
We feel we owe him so everybody is concentrating on doing the club and the manager a turn”

Daniel Majstorovic
“It is important for all players that the coach believes in you. I am always motivated. I don’t think about anything else. I feel really good here. I really like the club and I just need to be focused and deliver on the pitch.”

Thomas Rogne
“We have let the manager down too many times now and haven't done him justice. We are desperate to turn it around for him, for the fans, for the club — everyone.

I can stand here, though, and talk to you about every player wanting to turn it around but we have to show it on the pitch. But we have to step our game up and be united as a group as we have been and believe in ourselves.”

Adam Matthews
“Every single player in that dressing room plays for the manager and respects the manager. There is no doubt that every player is playing for him. All the boys are really close and they are close to the management staff as well.”

Victor Wanyama
“The manager spoke but the players were involved in it as well. We all agreed with what was being said so it was positive.

The Celtic squad's like a family. The players help one another and that's helped me. As players we want to help one another. The manager is part of that — we all are."

Ki Sung Yueng
“I'm young and I'm very happy with these players and the manager. I'm very pleased with this club. I just want to help the team win the league.”

Beram Kayal
“I will do everything for the club and the manager to achieve success. It was the manager who wanted me here and I want to achieve things for him, the club and all our supporters.

The gaffer gives everything for the players and every one of us wants to give everything back to the gaffer. For me, he's not just the manager. He gave me everything, he always believed in me. When he speaks to me, he gives me energy. It is especially good that he played in my position, because always he gives me tips during the games. Every time he tells me to do something in a game, if I do it, I have success.

I left my family to come here and I feel that all the club, not just the gaffer but the coaches and players are my family now. The gaffer has a bond not just with me. He has a bond with all the players.

We just want to win games for him."

Joe Ledley
"We want him to stay, he's a great manager and we all want to try to win things for him and ourselves. We just have to keep working hard and try to get back on track. He is one of the greatest managers I have worked with and we want to keep him here.
We want to keep him here because he is a great manager and everyone believes in him."

James Forrest
"It's just nonsense to suggest the manager has lost the dressing room. The players are right behind him.

I've known the gaffer since he was in charge of the reserve side and he was the one who gave me my chance in the first team. If you ask the players they'll tell you he's good to work under but we are the ones who have to show him what we can do.”

Kris Commons
“Celtic is the best club I've ever played for and Lenny is no doubt the best manager I've worked under.”

Anthony Stokes
“We are all right behind the gaffer. It is up to us as players to show that we are good enough here. We are desperate to bring success to the club, and the manager is the man to do that.”

Johan Mjallby
“If I was a player I would be happy to have Neil Lennon as a manager and I would be fighting for him”

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Obviously backed into a corner under questioning, an employee is hardly going to get stuck into their current boss; however the majority of the quotes from the players have come in post match interviews, or questions about the clubs form, rather than directly about Lennon’s ability, future, or indeed popularity.

Given the players could have avoided the subject on almost all of the above, I think it shows that whatever is causing Celtic’s poor form, a lack of support for Neil Lennon amongst his players, is not the reason.

Managing a Crisis?

2011-10-18T03:20:00.000-07:00

We must keep Lennon – I am in no way saying I am not worried by his apparent lack of ‘learning from his mistakes’, but think the way for us to build a successful squad is to keep a bit of consistency, as since O’Neill left in 2006, our turnover of manager has severely affected the massive number of signings, which I think is a big part of our current problem.

You cant tell from one game to the next who will be played, I can understand Lennon’s reluctance to pick players who he doesn’t think are firing on all cylinders, but when his replacements form is too in doubt – surely from now on you stick by a pretty much pre decided unit. That’s how good teams get to be good. By no means just through having good players, often teams backed into a corner through lack of finance to have other options (see Walter Smith’s Rangers), can become a successful unit. We have too many options. Too many players who ‘could’ do a job. But frankly, too many of them, just aren’t.

It doesn’t seem how much we spend, or how many we bring in, our centre halves are unable to attack the ball with the level of aggression and certainty that other teams even in lower leagues have no problem doing. Majstorovic gets more than his fair share of criticism in my view, as he can at least attack the ball. At times, his mobility and decision making leaves him unable to do little else. However, loads of other teams have centre halves who are just in their for their steel, aggression, and presence, and the balance of their backline is such that the other players do their bit and cover in behind when needed.

Loovens, Hooiveld, Rogne, Wilson, all brought in and showed even glimpses of promise, but are unable to sustain any kind of meaningful partnership. And in all honesty, Mulgrew has done well individually at times, his desire and qualities cant be questioned in the most part, but even he has struggled to secure a consistent back line for us.

It’s not only defence where the balance is wrong. The formation worked last season, we were taking our width from our full backs, the midfield drifting inside to get on the ball seemed fluent, going were need be, fighting for each ball. Without Izzaguire, Wilson (or the other right backs) have tended to sit deeper to protect their defence, and neither side has overlapped, leaving Commons looking a very average player – not given the tools to go and win the match. This season only Ki has kept a good standard (though only shows what he really can do, when the tempo is upped, while seeming unable to dictate the tempo being upped), but all other midfielders have fallen by the wayside. Fitness, suspension, or just plain form – we have been disjointed and out of confidence. I think Wanyama should be used to help us build balance and confidence again. Works hard off the ball, and keeps it simple on it – need to find the other players to use effectively with them. I know Forrest has ability, but changing strike partnerships, and underperforming midfield hasn’t helped him use his skills in the right area, and often finds most joy dribbling across the pitch, and unable to create the goalscoring opportunity for either himself or others that his work should be deserving. A more experience player would have been best served given what’s been around him, keeping wide, and allowing us to open the game up, rather than to narrow the space by running towards players (when no one else is helping to take them away). Our lack of use of McCourt has been again, truly baffling.

Kayal’s attitude on the park has been poor. Last season he was excellent. The type of player I thought we wouldn’t see for Celtic again. Could do it all. Brilliant off the ball, intelligent, composed, and able on it. He looked so gifted, yet still hungry. The perfect personification of what it looked like Lennon was building. But this season, be it contract dispute or lack of form, his intelligence has turned to frustration, composure turned to laziness, and his ability has turned to arrogance.

I don’t agree with how he has been offered contract, for me I would have liked to have seen Celtic say – it’s not the time for contracts at this point for either party, lets concentrate on form and we can sort that out at Christmas. Looks like he has got what he wanted because we weren’t sure how best to deal with it. Giving him all the cards, then going all in. Lets hope he throws a few aces our way for the rest of the season, and maybe it’ll work out for the best. We’ll see.

The players just aren’t helping themselves or the manager. And yes I want more from Lennon, I want to see him put out a more settled, secure, and balanced team, but the manager essentially is looking for our big players to stand up and be counted. But who exactly are these big players?

We need the players to fight out of this current slump.

They need to take responsibility for their part in the poor form; they need to right their own wrongs for us to make progress.

And even if fans do want the axe to fall on Lennon's Celtic career, are there realistically better options available?

I am not aware of many managers who would be interested in coming to Celtic that I would be happier came in and improved things without setting us back again. As if there were, I have little doubt they would have gotten the job ahead of Lennon (and even Mowbray), as it was touted to all and sundry to see what interest we got back. The fact the Mark McGhee didn’t want it - still deeply troubles me. I just don't think a new man coming in and starting again would be the solution.

One minute we are all Neil Lennon – the next minute we don’t want to know. Not good enough from the Celtic support for me. If by summer we still have the same concerns and progress isn’t deemed ‘enough’, by all means re-evaluate then.

But not now.

We’ve got ‘our’ man, let’s stick by him...

End Of Season Report Card

2011-06-11T12:45:00.000-07:00

Frazer Forster - Relatively untroubled throughout the season and bar Rangers game early season has looked extremely comfortable. Still leaves a niggling feeling that under the cosh there would be better candidates in the market we could get between the sticks for a similar type of fee as Newcastle would be looking for. B –

Lukasz Zalusca – Didn’t take his opportunity prior to Forster’s signing with a ‘mare against Utrecht. Need a backup that can be relied upon to do better that that. Hopefully will go on to prove he is a good keeper elsewhere. F

Mark Wilson - Rediscovered his best Celtic form in 2011 where his versatility, ability, and experience helped our defence maintain easily the best record in the country despite a horrendous run of injuries. Form prevented us from feeling the absence of Cha’s early season performances. B+

Cha Du Ri - Good addition to the squad, added strength, and pace in both defensive and attacking areas. Crossing had improved prior to Asian Cup leave, then a run of injuries which curtailed the second half of his season. B

Charlie Mulgrew – Proved his worth in both a midfield and centre half berth when Lennon really needed him to step up and be counted in the absence of others. Gave his all and showed that for the modest transfer fee in his signing; his ability, consistency, goal threat, enthusiasm and new found positional maturity, he demonstrates great value. A –

Dan Majstorovic – His experience helped those around him and the relative novelty of an aggressive centre half who attacks the ball in the air was a breath of fresh air, particularly given most SPL’s ‘subtle’ style of football. Was posted completely missing at the defeats in Inverness and at Ibrox which has to be taken into consideration against anything else good he brought, but given his age and pace perhaps shouldn’t be totally surprising. B –

Thomas Rogne – Got over the previous seasons injury problems to give a good return of 20 games. Brought in to partner Mulgrew in January and was steady, astute, and composed. Next step is to hold a starting spot under healthy competition. C+

Glenn Loovens - Given a deserved exodus from the side after complete horror show at Perth in October (on the back of several other toothless outings). But to be fair to Loovens, he hauled himself just about back from the brink with competent showings on the smattering of appearances afterwards. Albeit under no real pressure, had terrific performances in the final three games of the season. D -

Emilio Izaguirre – Assured, imposing, strong, and eye-catching throughout the season. A joy to watch going forward, and works hard to get back and cover his defensive duties too. His performance in the 3-0 win against Rangers was a master class in the art of the modern day fullback. A

James Forrest - Great impact for debut season in first team, scored goals and was the difference in several early season games. In and out the team after injury, but his pace and direct running offer a great option and one Lennon seems to rate highly. B

Efrain Juarez – Promised much, delivered very little. Be it attitude or whatever else, unless he sorts whatever is maintaining his absence from the starting line up then he’ll have future at Celtic. F

Niall McGinn – Injury interrupted season, but when given a run in the team, seems to make a good impact. Like Forrest, pacey, stays wide and is very direct. Next year will be make or break as to whether he’ll ever be a fixture as a Celtic player. C-

Ki Sung Yeung – Starting to impose himself on games in the manner a player of his ability, vision, and even physique should be. Took his chance with Brown and Kayal’s absences and managed to finish the season back in the side and on great form, not allowing his Asian Cup leave, to curtail his opportunity. A –

Beram Kayal – Possesses a will to win that befits his ability on the ball. Uses the ball well, tackles, gets forward, and is a great influence on others. Had injury not kept him out of a large part of 2010 then I have no doubts he would have deservedly ended the season a league champion. A+

Marc Crosas – Made more impact on twitter than he did on the pitch. Clearly a capable player that will do well in the rest of his career. Sadly never showed that he was able to hold down a place in our midfield long-term. F

Scott Brown – Without doubt, Brown has at times this season played his best stuff as a Celtic player. Works tirelessly for the team, has improved his passing and cut out the silly stuff that at times bogs him down. Still think he has a bit to learn to be as effective in the middle as he can be wide right. B+

Joe Ledley – Mr Consistency. Could impose himself a bit more on games in an attacking sense, but positioning, work rate, defensive work, and his performances against Rangers have marked his Debut season at Celtic a success. B

Paddy McCourt – Showed that he can do the simple things to go with undoubted talent and wonder goals. Held his place in the team at times and always looks positive and capable of opening defences up. How long will he hang around unless he can become a permanent fixture on the team sheet? B

Shaun Maloney – Ubiquitously in and out the team through injury. Shows enough when involved to keep him part of things, but is reaching an age where more is expected in terms of being consistent and able to be relied on by his team mates. C

Freddie Ljungberg – Didn’t do too much wrong, but never made enough of an impact when he had his chance to justify keeping others out of the team. F

Olivier Kapo – He came, he saw, he left. F

Kris Commons – Made as much of an impact in a season as you are ever likely to see from a January acquisition. Scored 15 goals from midfield in half a season, created several others, and was a thorn in Rangers side when he had the chance to play against them. Terrific. A

Gary Hooper – His movement, pace, partnerships, and goals really did surpass expectation for a player signed from Scunthorpe. Like Kayal was unlucky to miss part of season with injury, but made up for lost time the minute he was in the side.
A

Anthony Stokes – His goals and his link up play with Hooper were a feature of much of the positives in Celtic’s attacking football. Needs to learn when and where to take his man in, and when to keep things simple. His work rate improved as the season progressed and he was unlucky to be overlooked for a couple of key matches. B

Giorgios Samaras - Unquantifiable – even in ratings. From the sublime to the ridiculous at times. He has ability and he works hard, but at times in the wrong areas and with the decision making of a child with a felt tip pen near a cream sofa.

Daryl Murphy – His Messi like dribble and finish aside, didn’t offer anything like enough to give us a different type of option as a big man upfront. F

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Neil Lennon

After what most would describe as a pretty incredible season, in terms of consistency and quality produced on the pitch every bit as much as the incidents off it, it still seems absurd that Lennon did not end his first season as a manager with the league trophy. Bold decisions like a mass influx in transfers last summer were in the main vindicated, and his use of Celtic’s scouting network has without doubt been a true success. Unafraid to drop players be it fans favourite or a big personality within the squad which is definitely a bonus for future development, however needs to learn that there are times when it’s important to have all his best goal scoring threats on the pitch at the same time

European games came too early to judge either manager or squad’s ability to compete at that level, but it is fair to say an improvement on what was shown in those early season fixture for the club and it’s supporters to be contented.

What was shown in the season was a determination, team spirit and for the most part, a cutting edge that had been sadly lacking for the past couple of seasons. Disappointing moments like the Inverness catastrophe and a toothless end of November cost us dear when compared with Walter Smith’s mindboggling royal blue juggernaught.

Lennon has shown he is very capable, not afraid of a difficult decision, extremely committed, and has a great eye for a signing. Next year will be a real test for Lennon, can he show that he can build on his early promise, keep focussing on the pitch, and is he able to replace players piece by piece until the squad are all capable to perform at the standard required of top level football.

Certainly wouldn’t go as far as saying ‘must do better’, but from this season’s offering, there is more than enough evidence to suggest that Celtic definitely can do better. B+

Eastern End Bhoys

2011-06-07T14:58:00.000-07:00

Almost four years since Gordon Strachan persuaded a Work Permit appeal panel that as a player of immense potential and huge technical ability, Koki Mizuno’s move to Celtic should be ratified, the Japanese winger is currently part of a successful club side whose stock is most definitely on the rise.

However things have certainly not gone according to plan for 25 year-old Mizuno. While he may be part of a successful team, he is not playing in the hallowed footballing continent of Europe as he had hoped, and indeed has become very much a bit part, squad player as he works himself back from injury playing for Kashiwa Reysol back in his homeland.

Following a patient wait and being continually and curiously overlooked after some very promising performances in his first competitive outings, Mizuno returned to Japan with Kashiwa Reysol in the summer of 2010 after playing only 12 games in Scotland.

Dropping to the second tier of Japanese football, hoping to Kick-start his career, in a crushing blow, young Mizuno tore knee ligaments within ten minutes of his Reysol debut. In his absence his teammates have gone from strength to strength under the leadership of veteran Brazilian manager Nelsinho Baptista. Aiming to recapture their form of mid to late 90’s when superstar players like Careca and Stoichkov donned their colours, Kashiwa Reysol won Division 2 last season and are sitting top of the J-League with 8 matches played so far this term.

Injury free Mizuno now aims to get more game time, get back in the starting eleven, and get his career back on track.

"When I found out the extent of the injury, at first it was a big shock, I had just come to the club and I was brought in as a reinforcement to help win promotion, so I felt like I had let the team down.

I got injured last season and was only able to play one game, so I want to win my place in the team as soon as possible.

Having just come up from J2 it will be a hard season, but last year we were able to establish our style and we are aiming to make progress.

I had injuries in Scotland, and the hardest aspect of it is how it affects you mentally. How you deal with it is the most important thing, and you have to make sure you keep your motivation up.

Playing for Celtic with Nakamura helped me a lot off the pitch as well as on it, To be able to play with a player like that and get advice from him is something that can only make me a better player.

"I went over there (to Scotland) and didn’t really show what I could do, and I still haven't got back to the level that I was at before. I wish I had been able to show my strong points, but that is what I am aiming to do here.
If had gone over there and given it more, then I think I could have made it, and that's something I regret.

But that will spur me on to improve here.

Playing in the Old firm Derby for Celtic was amazing — unlike anything I've ever experienced, it was something I really enjoyed, and to be able to take part in a game like that is the biggest achievement of my career. I want to work hard and improve here so that I can sample an atmosphere like that again in the future."

Meanwhile 53 Km South West of Kashiwa, Mizuno’s former team mate and a man who certainly savoured the big match atmosphere at Celtic, Shunsuke Nakamura is definitely more of a central figure on his return to Japan. Having started all but one league game so far this season which he missed through minor injury, captain Nakamura, always the consummate professional, has performed well but not quite at the scintillating heights he did in his first spell for hometown side Yokohama Marinos, or indeed in his explosive spell in Scotland with Celtic.

With his technique, quiet influence, and now vast experience; it was expected that Nakamura would drive Marinos back to challenge for the title after eight years completely out of contention. And indeed on his second debut for the club, he scored a trademark long range strike signalling he might do just that. Offering quite the opposite in terms of success that Mizuno suffered on his immediate return to their home country. Despite being an integral part of every starting line-up, Nakamura has not consistently dominated games in the way that had been hoped scoring only 4 more goals in over 30 games last season, taking them to a lacklustre 8th position in the J-League.

This season has seen Nakamura’s side fair far better, currently in third place, only 3 points from the top, and the Marinos faithful will be hoping their captain can add a patented free kick or five to his solitary strike this term to help them overthrow his old pal Koki Mizuno’s team from top of the league.

Measuring Success

2011-05-25T14:27:00.000-07:00

If you listen to any football pundit or analyst bleat on about the game, soon enough you will hear them utter the phrase “It’s a results business”. There is no doubt this is literally correct; as they mean that: in football, success is measured in how good your results are.

As much as football is certainly not as black and white as that, obviously by having more positive results, a manager is more likely to win trophies, and in turn, be deemed successful. And in the main most people wouldn’t argue with the measurement of success being stacked on the amount of games won. Football should be played in the right way, based on passing, attacking, movement, and moments of magic, but there is no getting away from the need, at times, for games simply to be won. There is nothing worse than managers telling you of their great football philosophy of expansive football, but playing in such a way that sees them unable to consistently win.

However if this season has taught Celtic fans anything; is that there are times where you succeed without merely winning matches, titles, and cups. Without playing the victim card, to many, this season has brought back what it is to be a Celtic supporter, regardless of the fact on the morning of the 21st of May this year; Celtic could have well ended the season winning nothing.

Obviously the sense of injustice within the football institutions of this country, and in the wider society as a whole, felt by Celtic towards their manager and the club have unified the fans, players, manager, and club together in a way that can only make positive foundations for their future challenges together.

Neil Lennon has built his team’s followers a squad to be proud of, guys who can show the mix of passion and ability needed to play at the top level. They look like they are playing for the jersey, but doing so with guile, flair, and a cutting edge, so often found missing in the past 7 years. The fact that the team have challenged in every game until the final whistle, and indeed challenged for every domestic trophy right to the final game of each competition so early in both the managers and most of the player’s infancy at Celtic, bodes well for the forthcoming season. The average age of many of Lennon’s starting line-ups have also been nothing short of unbelievable, providing an indication that this is a squad and a team that he will allow to grow and grow, and provide the fans with something more tangible in return for their faith, than simply pride. These players haven’t come to Celtic Park with massive egos, or unwanted elsewhere because they have been proven not good enough. These hungry young players have come to Celtic to prove they deserve the chance to play at this level; Izaguirre, Kayal, Ki, Commons, Hooper, even Mulgrew and indeed others, and have been bought for very reasonable sums. Yes there is no doubt these players will go up in value and if huge bids are made could move on, but the length of contracts, and the scouting methods used, suggest that generally speaking, this team will stay together, be added to, and only slightly altered as they move on.

Another major factor in the success taken from Celtic’s season is the return of the atmosphere and relationship amongst the Celtic support. Whether you agree with their politics, songsheet, or their reluctance to use the seating provided, what can not be argued is the impact made by Celtic’s Green Brigade. A focal point, talking point, instigators, and ultimately; pure unadulterated Celtic fans. Clearly the type of football, incidents with authorities, and the anti-Celtic bigotry that was seen in the tail end of the season has not harmed the type of collective atmosphere that the Green Brigade revel in, but they have definitely taken the current position and used it to galvanise their position within the Celtic support. Bringing new songs, adapting others, encouraging other fans to join in, the noise, the passion, the deep feeling and dedication has definitely forged a relationship with manger and players that leave you thinking, if this isn’t success for this team, I can’t wait to find out what is.....

Turbulence On The Path To Success?

2011-04-27T14:17:00.000-07:00

Given the tumultuous season suffered by Celtic so far this season, it’s surely more than a touch ironic that they have managed to place themselves with 5 league matches remaining, with the destination of the title placed almost solely in their own hands. With little else this season seemingly within Celtic’s control, great testament must go to the team that they have kept the most important thing for the football club, taking the league title from Rangers, contained in their own command.

Considering the complex nature of not only the reported attacks and hate campaign at Celtic and Neil Lennon, but the league title race itself, it seems all the more impressive that this Celtic side seem to be coping so well with such an inexperienced, and newly formed management team. With an assistant manager position the most senior held between Lennon, Mjallby, and Thompson combined, its beggar’s belief that a seasoned pro could have done much more so far this season.

Hand in hand with that is that this is really the first year that the bulk of this squad have had together. With some of the team performances they have put in, particularly the several against Rangers in 2011, that again seems difficult to believe. In the Cup Semi-Final against Aberdeen, only Scott Brown had played in the ill fated Cup Semi-Final of last season. With the fragmented and failed squad that last season’s manager had thrown together, it took courage to go quite as back to the drawing board as he felt necessary.

Then to make things further difficult for the Irish rookie, his key players, Hooper, Kayal, Brown and even Majstorovic have had lengthy spells on the sidelines and the teams performances, momentum, and squad spirit, has managed to cope. Albeit, their return certainly gave the team the gel to bring the parts that seemed to be performing well together and fuel the purposeful style that has left Celtic with a great chance to take the title.

Obviously there have been external issues, certainly of a less positive nature that have made this season a difficult one to tackle. Even though forced by media led criticism into the middle of the storm, Lennon has in the most part (and undoubtedly more so than most other more experienced managers would have), remained focussed on football, throughout the referee and SFA debacle that seemed to plague the first half of the season.

Letting other people do most of the talking, allowing them to convince many onlookers of his constant connection, even when he remained uninvolved, its easy to forget that Lennon was the person most wronged in Dougie McDonald’s self importance circus, leading to the most embarrassing removal of labour after justified criticism from some quarters to poor and shadowy refereeing and administration of our game.

I suppose a manager having death threats, bullets, potentially fatal bombs sent to him, and actual physical assaults (added to the verbal assaults he ubiquitously suffers at every game) speak for themselves when it comes to the difficulty of what is meant to be a football season. However, it’s astonishing that this Celtic side is still giving us something to talk about in a football sense as we approach the business end of the season. Celtic do not deserve to win the league because of the injustice, difficulty, and barriers that they have overcome, but they have a handful of matches to confirm that they deserve it because some of the terrific footballers, football, and performances they have already showed this season.

Style and Substance

2011-02-21T13:40:00.000-08:00

With not only the current players at his disposal, but also the type of players he purchased in the Summer, there was certainly a feeling amongst many observers that Neil Lennon was building a squad full of very technically able footballs.

While there has been the odd game or run of a couple of matches where the players have not expressed themselves upon the game, I would say that it has been generally accepted that Celtic at times though appearing fragile defensively or other times lacking a cutting edge up front; they have definitely aimed to pass the ball and play forward thinking football.

A return to fitness of a couple of key players, the addition of a couple of new faces in the Winter transfer window, alongside a general gelling of the squad, has given the team an added strength and has seemed to have sorted out the any deficiencies preventing Celtic from allowing their brand of attractive football becoming consistently successful.

Without drawing too much on sentiment, it appears as if Celtic looked early season to be moving in a similar direction as the club did in Tommy Burns’s reign, certainly in terms of the style and expectation of how the game should be played. Burns was also the first Celtic manager to really utilise the foreign transfer market. Players like Di Canio, Cadete, Van Hooijdonk, and Andy Thom brought a swagger and technical ability that allowed the team to play with flair and an attacking mentality which observers thoroughly enjoyed. Despite much early season criticism (possibly understandable given Celtic’s shambolic squad performance last season under much weaker management than this season certainly looks to be offering us), it looks like a worldwide scouting network has come up trumps and in terms of building a squad and giving the fans value for money, I don’t imagine many Celtic fans will be complaining at the moment.

Neil’s ability to focus his performances and those around him as a player definitely looks to have stood him in good stead and he has brought a visible sense of directness totally opposed to his predecessor that gives a great foil for the swashbuckling forward play. The mentality Lennon seems to have instilled in his players have allowed him to add a real purpose to the aesthetic attacking style the likes of Izaguirre, Hooper, Stokes, and now Commons have shown so far. Beram Kayal really epitomises the teamwork, determination, and fight that the team Lennon himself excelled in under Martin O’Neill, hopefully marrying both approaches to provide Celtic with long term success.

The main difference that Lennon has brought to the club in comparison with his mentor O’Neil is a sense of squad, rather than a sense of team amongst the eleven on the park, with whom the manager clearly puts all his trust in. Lennon seems to have rotated pretty well, the usual unhappy squad play rumours seem to be quiet, certain players play in certain games, and to a man, he seems to have the players up for the fight.

Obviously there is a lot still to prove, and indeed improve on, but the signs are definitely there that this squad, which is terrifically youthful, can grow and be the building block to challenge a seemingly ever consistent Rangers team. However, it is against Rangers, and Hearts, and indeed other big fixtures that this team have the most demonstrate that they can handle the high pressure, physically demanding, important fixtures, as early season memories of Braga, Utrecht, and Rangers are still not forgotten.

Cut and Paste and Twist

2011-02-09T08:25:00.001-08:00

Being someone who doesn’t read daily papers and indeed tries to avoid the tabloids at all costs, I tend to pick up on scandal and outrage at headlines or articles through word of mouth or more often that not, the internet. While hearing it through a third party allows you to take a step back and get less involved in the emotion of it all, you do get a sense of the media tide turning from time to time.

I had mentioned to someone at the weekend that Celtic seem so strong and in the past month picked up such momentum that you will start to hear less and less indignation from the Parkhead faithful.

I certainly felt the tide turning as reports of Scott Brown given the rite of reply against El Hadji Diouf’s claims of onfield oral assault, then even widespread coverage of Neil Lennon’s comments and not in a mocking ‘the paranoid Celtic Manager’ of Diouf, Naismith, Peter Houston, and Sunday’s referee.

Another look at today’s back pages in the newsagents proved the same. Celtic are so good that they can’t find anything bad to write, or are Rangers so far on the slide with poor form, injuries, cheating players, and questionable signings and transfer policy, that they are far easier pickings from now on in.

Those who feel most sections of the media exist with an anti-Celtic sentiment may well suggest that the Celtic juggernaut is gathering so much pace, leaving very little to chance in each of the past 5 or so matches that there is almost nothing that can be thrown across the back-pages against Celtic. A bit like the late Mr Stein’s assertion that if you are good enough the referee doesn’t matter, if you are good enough perhaps the level of media bias does not matter either. Celtic tearing Aberdeen apart seemingly on loop, and terrific performances against title challengers Rangers and Hearts, are not providing enough ammunition regardless how much the tabloid press would like to stick it to Celtic

The more reasonable amongst us may well chalk this down to the majority of the tabloid media being, well, tabloid. And in having a slant against the current strongest team makes no sense, as an editorial direction of negative stories would not provide a great volume of compelling headlines. But picking on a team not on their best of form, who look like they could be out-ranked consistently could provide enough headline, stories, spin-off stories, interviews and quotes to stir things up and keep them going for more than a while.

With Diouf’s every step being watched, growing injury and suspension worries, and points to be lost and competitions to be exited with such a congested fixture list; seeing Celtic march on in the background could well leave Rangers as the media’s succulent lambs to the slaughter.

January Report Card

2011-01-24T06:21:00.000-08:00

January 2011 Report Card

Forster – With the exception of when playing Rangers at Celtic Park, he has looked assured and consistently reliable - 8
Zalusca - Blotted his copybook against Utrecht, will be moved on in this window or next - 4

Cha - Steady. Defensively solid and gets forward well, final ball had improved before his Asian Cup absence - 7
Wilson - Getting stronger and more involved by the game - 6
Rogne - Has looked steadier than other centre half options and has worked well as part of the defensive unit, not convinced he is the long term answer for Celtic however - 7
Hooiveld - Talks in the press better than he plays on the pitch. Inconsistent in the games he has played - 4
Loovens - Decent start which completely fell apart as form and confidence drained from him. Won’t get another run of games. - 4
Majstorovic - In the main has looked strong and commanding. A defender who actually attacks the ball in the air! A couple of big games he has struggled in which is a slightly worrying but settled relatively well and could well be important for us. - 7
Izzaguire - Brilliant signing, gets forward like a winger but is strong and positions well in defence. His top form has slightly tailed off but a top top player - 9
Mulgrew - Slow start but has come back into things and showed a mature and resolute performance at Ibrox which will keep him in the picture - 7

Forrest - Excellent preseason saw him thrust from nowhere into starting X1 and deserved every bit of it - Another one who has struggled to get back to form after injury - 8
Juarez - Terrific start to his Celtic career - abruptly stopped after about 4 games. Struggled for form since being dropped by Lennon - 4
McGinn - After being out injured came back with a bang but has fizzled out somewhat - 5
Ki - Grabbed opportunity with Kayal and Brown out - our most consistent performer so far - didn’t have a bad game before jetting out to Qatar - hopefully he will come back on the same vein - 8
Kayal - Started very very well, injury kept him out for 3 months or so - but is back and looking an excellent signing - great on the ball and dogged off it - 9
Crosas - (very) fleeting appearances show him to still look fit sharp and a good passer of the ball. Wont be on our wage bill by August - 5
Brown - Great start - showing the much discussed 4.4 million paid for him to be money well spent - injury and suspension prevented him from building on that so far. - 7
Ledley - Seemed to be an efficient but low key performer, although when the going gets tough he stays relatively anonymous - 5
McCourt - Brilliant to watch early season, kept out due to injury, of late has shown a mature, ball retentive, hardworking and defensive minded side which has kept him in the team more consistently than when he was coming off the bench scoring wonder goals - 8
Maloney - Started well but effectiveness tailed off prior to his latest injury - 6
Ljungberg - bit part but steady start - 5

Hooper - Flying start curtailed by injury - looks to have got back to form and amongst (and creating) the goals again - 9
Stokes - Started well but toiled when played wide or on his own. Has thrived alongside Hooper since Christmas - 7
Samaras - Struggled to keep place, often used wider when he has featured. Showed some flashes of ability and drive, and gave a 90 minute showing of such at Ibrox - 6
Murphy - A physical presence but not too much else - not a goalscorer - 4

Standard Officiating

2011-01-19T16:22:00.000-08:00

Assuming that given it is now the year 2011, there is no lingering anti-Celtic, Catholic, or anti-anyone, agendas in the SFA or amongst our refereeing fraternity as we started this season. Then surely refereeing standards are at such an appalling standards that the average (but intelligent) Scottish football fan must be wondering if indeed these are the referees we were meant to be desperate to keep from striking, and refrain from calling into question their integrity or competence in carrying out their job.

From the lowest level of football in Scotland to the SPL, it appears referee’s attitudes are pretty appalling. With a visible refusal to speak to players like adults, or show them respect enough to explain decisions. This basic lack of respect happens at least ten times a game in the unpressured environment of Amateur football, and appears to happen even more frequently at the top level, and is surely contradictory to the level of respect they wish to receive themselves, and indeed would be healthy in our National game. Obviously all referees are not the same, and yes I am sure there are some good ones out there but the majority I have come across certainly seem power hungry, obnoxious, pompous, and arrogant. It is the level of arrogance that I find worrying, as it seems to be cultivated at such an early level, and indeed encouraged in the refereeing fraternity. I appreciate as the adjudicator they have to assert a certain level of authority, but it shocks me that given they seem so unhappy with their current ‘treatment’, that they have not called into question, their own actions, attitudes, and how they may come across to and indeed affect the actions of those around them. This level of superiority is a major factor in the distrust and lack of respect shown to our officials.

From my own experience, often when you question decisions, referees tend to put their back up against you and give you 'nothing'. This is not to do then with an anti-Celtic, sentiment, but anti teams who wont lie down and accept decisions. Perhaps then it is clever to accept bad decisions against you, even when they happen repeatedly, but this is just not right, and isn’t right in any other sector of business.

It’s now accepted that football is big money business. Anyone involved in such would be badly managing their club, company, shareholders money, and all stakeholders if they didn’t question poor rules, officiating, and other perceived injustices. In any other 'big businesses' it is done without a seconds thought. Why is football different? Football seen by many as an old boys network, run by old-fashioned men who struggle with a more inclusive, open, and prejudice free 21st century! With these antiquated systems, committees, decision-making processes, and power hungry people who demand respect whilst not understanding either how you gain it, or indeed how you give it out, is certainly not helping the relationship between clubs, referees, and the ruling authorities.

Everyone in today’s society seems to be questioned for their actions; if we can question the Police, politicians, bankers, teachers, and councils, then what makes Referee’s so special? Players are often branded ‘a cheat’, or ‘lazy’ both questioning their integrity, alongside the routine examination of their competency as a footballer. This is fine according to our media as they are paid the money to accept these criticisms, but yet it is deemed unacceptable to question the integrity of a referee. This is surely more than strange? When 80% of Scottish grade 1 Refs failed a basic refereeing test and yet still receive the same wages as the 20% who passed, it would appear foolish to accept the competency or morals of this. Anyone who witnessed Hamilton hosting Celtic last week could testify that the match officiating was anything other than competent.

Referees will make mistakes, and like the majority of Celtic players they will do so in most matches, and I have no problem with that. Infect my personal preference is against the use of TV evidence for referees, as human error is sorely part of the appeal of sport. However I think the expectation is that those referees and officials who have been elevated to grade 1 status are those who make fewer errors and are the best they and the SFA can offer. I just think it sends out the wrong message seeing refs backed by their supervising authorities at every turn, leaving them with an arrogance of knowing they can almost officiate in any manner they see fit with they will be backed against any criticism no matter how relevant.

It appears Steven Cravan resigned due to Dougie McDonald's sheer lack of integrity. I cannot profess to know a great deal about Mr Cravan so I don’t know whether Scottish football has lost a great linesman or not, however it has certainly lost another level of integrity. That match at Tannadice earlier this season showed an incidence where a referee followed no other protocol but his own, and even afterwards wasn’t professional enough to explain the truth behind it and the process of his decision.

I do appreciate the sentiment amongst many that had Celtic been playing better and more efficient football that these decisions wouldn’t matter. And Celtic indeed should be scoring goals from open play against the bottom side and do so comprehensively enough that poor officiating couldn’t withhold the 3 points from us. But is that the point. Obviously when not at your best, decisions against you are more highlighted as they become more important in terms of the difference in taking no, one, or three points. This doesn’t mean the actual decisions or the making of them are more important. That should be important regardless of who is playing, what the score is, whereabouts in the pitch it is, or what time of the match an incident happens in; or else surely football does loose some credibility and integrity, if indeed I am allowed to say that. I suppose a counter to those who claim sour grapes on Celtic's part could be pointed toward the Dundee United episode where indeed despite the controversy, Celtic won, but felt compelled enough to question the SFA and levels of officiating.

With Lennon and Celtic’s alleged constant complaints, perhaps it wasn’t as much a surprise when Neil Lennon’s appeal to a two-match ban was rejected and automatically extended to a six-mach ban, well not as much of a surprise as it really as should have been. Does questioning a decision or judgement, with supposed reasoning, provide any justification in itself to triple an initial punishment? It just seems to reek of ' how dare they question us'!

I don’t think any football club should be censored or criticised for asking for explanations. Infact perhaps more teams should do it, as it’s a healthy way for modern organizations not only to air grievances, but to communicate and resolve issues with their members. Although sadly it now seems to be a media hotspot – ‘imagine having the temerity to question decisions/referees/the SFA’ and inturn some kind of negativity fixed to it regardless of the actual circumstance.

What seems the most worrying issue to me is; what if an official or a group of official’s integrity were in doubt? There is clearly no route for a club to go down to validate such a compliant. Imagine for example a Hearts player punches a ref after an altercation, but the altercation was of such controversy that while Hearts and Jim Jeffries do not condone the player’s actions, they are also livid with the referee for his actions leading up to it. In the forthcoming games referees and Jeffries come to several confrontations, and referees are so appalled with Hearts and their players and perhaps management behaviour that they start to discriminate against them in terms of the decisions they make. This may well happen subconsciously - on the back of the negative connotations that Hearts are being labelled with; perhaps referees are no longer refereeing their games objectively. It seems to me that committees, the SFA, and even the media, would just back the refs and find in favour against the club involved. It has been made plainly clear in the past couple of months that Scottish football do not accept questioning, official, private or otherwise, or even inference, that any kind of bias or lack of integrity could ever come from their refereeing body.

Perhaps the best option in the Celtic/SFA conflict is a speeded up process of Celtic (and Rangers) moving outwith the Scottish league. Unless new procedures, attitudes, personnel, or mentality are applied I can't see this conflict being resolved long term, without a flare up every now and then, leaving each party asking the same frustrating questions.

Would it suit both Celtic and the SPL parties to see the back of each other in the pressure cooker of the Old firm and SPL environment?

Before Celtic go anywhere, the best thing for them to do, is to win regardless of perceived bad decisions or officiating. This would certainly negate the ‘sour grape’s criticism, and would give them better standpoint to take rational and composed complaints to the footballing authorities.

"If you're good enough, the referee doesn't matter."

If only it was that easy….

2010-10-07T15:56:00.000-07:00

Rangers look to be waltzing through the Champions league group stages without much trouble at all. Regardless of how they have set-up in their two games so far, no one can decry the fact that four points from two games (including what on paper looks their hardest of the six) is an exceptional haul. One real shot on Alan McGregor's goal in over 180 minutes of the highest level club football can offer, suggests they must be doing something right.

In the past 7 years, Celtic have only played two Champions league games where a genuine assessment would say they won with any level of comfort. Rangers showed against Buraspor how comfortably you can win whilst only scoring one goal, so this is not about a failing with Celtic unable to go out and score three or four goals against European opposition. Even at home, a club with the expectations of Celtic really should have the ability to control the odd game without any lead seeming like its held by such a thin and wavering margin that its just hoped they can cling on until the 90 minutes are up.

A simple difference in terms of the physiological advantage held by Rangers, allows their defensive formation a far greater chance of success than Celtic’s failed attempts of setting up on a more forward footing. The confidence of ‘seeing a game out’ with a positive outcome breeds the belief that this can be done again, obviously having the players and management team with the ability to carry the system out is important, but with Celtic never having the confidence to relax on their own ability – be that offensively or defensively – when they are not winning, they seem to chase the game with a frustration, desperation, and lack of belief that gives the opposition too much of a chance to get themselves into the game. And if they do get in front; the frustration, desperation, and lack of belief leaves the ball like a hot potato and the players without the composure to carry out the managers instructions with the strict discipline and focus that European football necessitates.

Rangers simply believe that followings Smith’s detailed choreography will reap results, and by sitting the extra man at the back rather than in midfield when choosing a lone front man, they have added protection to a defensive partnership that creates the barrier they seem to rely so heavily upon. It appears ironic that regardless of it being a more defensive set up, that Rangers can consistently play with more belief that they can get something from each European fixture - with players focusing upon ball prevention, more than ball retention.

This is not for one second something I believe that Celtic would be prudent to follow, as not only do the Parkhead club struggle to pair two centre halves together but a lack of belief while letting quality opposition have the ball against you, is a recipe for disaster. However, perhaps after a couple of good results, teams of Celtic and Rangers’ level, of a decent stature but by no means top level, should play against good sides with the type of confidence that puts the onus and in turn the pressure, on their opposition to show what they can do, rather than the burden Celtic usually look like they are playing with.

Perhaps the financial position Rangers have found themselves in for the past few years has allowed them to develop the way in which they have approached European football. Giving them the opportunity to hone their 'style' without overbearing pressure.

"The thing about the Champions League is, we're basically going in for the money. That's how it is”

Being in a position where Walter Smith admitted earlier this year that they were using the champions league primarily as a revenue stream rather than a ‘competition’ as such, certainly changes perspective on things. However to give Smith credit, he certainly isn’t one of those from within the club easing pressure on the players to first and foremost get the best out of each game. Pretty or not, Walter continues to get the best out of a bad situation amongst Europe’s elite.

Given its level of success in terms of the sheer grinding out of results, there must be more than a slight temptation to use their European system against Celtic next week. With many of Celtic’s players playing regularly at International level (and indeed several in the recent World Cup finals) and with experience of playing in European competitions, would the vast difference in expectation in ‘old firm’ matches prevent Rangers from playing a similar system that they do against other teams with a similar level of playing ability and experience (given they did so against Buraspor). It would be hard to imagine Walter would be sure he had made the correct decisio until 14.30 next Sunday, as leaving Celtic Park with anything more than a draw would see any onlooker accept that a back five of Whittaker, Bougherra, Weir, Papac, and Broadfoot was the best option to use.

It is often said that in derby matches form goes out of the window, a phrase which I find a completely incorrect assessment; these are games I believe to be won by a clarity, motivation, and discipline of system. Whoever can master that, and do so with belief and vigour, generally come out on top. But with a different environment and a more familiar opponent than in Europe, would the defensive set-up, play into Celtic’s hand, giving them the onus, possession, tempo, and indeed motivation to force Rangers onto the back foot and unable to get a hold into Celtic’s game.

Celtic will have to set themselves aside from Man Utd and Buraspor, they will have to not only dictate the play (which Rangers will often be happy for them to do), but will have to penetrate when they do so. This will be the first ‘old firm’ encounter for many players in the Celtic team, strong leadership from the few who have seen the course before will be needed, and using the ball well in the space Rangers allow them will be as important as pressing when not in possession to put this Rangers team under more pressure than in either European game so far this season. This is surely the only way to ensure Rangers defensive line goes home seeing their green and white counterparts win their eight SPL game of the season.

Sub Standard?

2010-09-29T16:01:00.000-07:00

With Paddy McCourt's latest cameo
(against Hearts 11th September) providing another beauty of a goal showing the skill, poise, balance and arrogance of a player deserving of making any starting eleven in Britain, It does begs the question; is he more adept as a 'super sub' or could he make a similar impact if he was consistently named on Lennon's team sheet?

In recent years we have moved from the term 'supersub' to the politically correct 'impact player' - and with larger squads and long seasons, many players make their contribution throughout the seasons in different ways. The top teams sometimes even field separate teams dependant on which competition they are playing in, with Arsenal and Man Utd playing eleven youngsters and fringe players in the Carling cup, a more experienced but still relatively relaxed and attacking side at home in the league and cup, and a more resolute side away from home and in the champions league. It has become horses for courses in terms of team selection.

Could Paddy’s slightly less than galloping style, be more beneficial to the team in his ‘impact’ in coming off the bench in the second half of games. He certainly has the ability to make a difference, to give the opposition something completely different to think about, but is being a plan B, getting the most out of a player of McCourt’s talent?

Some impact players make a difference by bringing their pace and running power (like Samaras particularly in his first 12 months at Celtic) to the fore in the latter stages when the game becomes more open, others use a dogged determination and persistence to make their mark when defenders are tiring (shown by Nacho Novo throughout his spell at Rangers), players like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer watch the game seeing where they can cause danger and come on and take advantage of their knowledge of the game when defenders are struggling to concentrate to see the game out, while others are brought on to totally change the style of play that the team will attack with (used to great effect by England with Peter Crouch coming on as they move to a far longer passing style using him as a target to play off). Paddy McCourt can be said to bring a bit of all of these in his very own unique style giving the opposition hell, and bringing goals to Celtic when he comes on. Although by no means the quickest, he is willing to take possession and run at fullbacks again and again, and has the ability to pass, cross, or strike a shot with either foot once he has eliminated his marker (and often several others).

Logically it follows that there are calls from the Celtic fans that their cult hero should be elevated to the first eleven to see what he can do if played all the way from the starting line. Surely if he can change a game in twenty minutes then he could do even more given the whole hour and a half. The more chance he gets to do so, the stronger, fitter, and better understanding he will be able to build.

At Celtic we have seen the likes of Maloney, then McGeady get the majority of their chances off the bench in their first season or so, and this is often the case with young players all round the globe serving as understudy to more experienced and more trusted players. Not quite able to justify a start but building experience and trust on each performance. Whilst this has similarities to McCourt's current predicament, its not that Lennon doesn’t trust his mercurial countrymsn, or doesn’t quite know what he will get from him, quite the opposite, he knows exactly what Paddy brings, and indeed what he doesn’t.

With bags of natural ability, what does not come natural for the Irishman, is working hard, covering his fullback and stretching the opposition with his running without the ball. Certainly in some games, these things are a necessity to provide the team with the platform to then allow your attacking players to take the game to the opposition. Surely there could be more than a fleeting argument made that as Paddy is clearly made for only the second part of that game plan, that only once the platform has been built by other more industrious bodies, that he comes on to provide his more creative touch to proceedings.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's famous quote could well have come from Celtic’s number 20;

“'It is no great mystery how I manage to score goals after going on in the later stages. The other players had already done 70 minutes' hard work, while I was fresh. That gives you an edge.”

And in Paddy’s case, that edge could be the difference between opening up a deep lying resolute defence, in those games that separate champions from the rest. Players like McCourt that can undo these defences, and win these tight matches, surely need to be given the best situation possible for them to perform. I am still to be convinced that for Paddy this lies in him starting most games.

Wing players, especially those who come in and out of the team, frequently struggle with confidence leading to inconsistent or a loss of form. McCourt; be it off the back of a spell on the sidelines, coming on as a sub, or starting a game, has the type of self belief that at times is half the battle whilst going at opposition defenders. Coming on with 20-30 minutes left of play does not seem handicap his confidence at all, infact I would go as far as saying he looks at his most comfortable and dangerous when the team have worked hard, the game has slowed down, and McCourt appears from the sidelines believing, even knowing, exactly what he can bring to the game. Excitement, entertainment, mazy dribbles, creating chances, and ultimately - goals.

If he continues to do that, and stays fit, who is to say he should force his way into the starting eleven, why can he not just continue being the super impact sub he has shown us already he can be?

Natural Born Talent

2010-09-15T16:27:00.000-07:00

British football has long been criticised for being behind the times, be it youth development, players diets, training methods, tactics, sports psychology and now even the naturalisation of foreign born players eligible for their national sides. Even the fact a gentleman’s agreement has been made and stuck to pretty rigidly from the home nations that they would only pick players born with a bloodline to the country seems pretty antiquated in modern football.

While Jack Charlton’s early attempts at getting the most from Fifa’s eligibility criteria were often derided by a British media whose countries were neither going through a successful period nor where they just about too, with only Ireland of the home countries able to claim with any level of truth that they had made great strides from the 90’s onwards.

The recent introduction of the an added thread on the criteria being “having lived on the territory continuously for at least five years after the age of 18” has cerainly brought a fresh look at how National squads are now selected.

Owing much to the globalisation of the wider football community, even the larger countries have now made use of assimilated foreign players, with England (given their British gentlemens agreement) the only big hitter in Euriope not yet to have utilised it. The value of EU citrizensship for players in terms of their club careers cannot be underestimated, amd this can directly be used to beenfit the adopted nations international side.

While it is now generally accepted as ‘part of the game’ often Countrys face fierce opposition when its first raised, though I doubt whether theb portuguse fans who didn’t want Deco, the Spanish supoorters that didn’t want Senna, and even the Turkish patriots that didn’t want Auerlio, would now hold firmon their initial displeasure.

Since Brazil is the greatest producer of football talent in the world it follows that footballers most likely to be naturalised are from Brazil. There are Brazilians playing for Croatia, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Azerbaijan, Tunisia, Lebanon, and even Qatar.

With Owen Hargreaves being the closest thing England have to a naturalised foreigner (with Owen’s father and upbringing being that of an Englishman) being born and raised in Canada, he certainly couldn’t claim to have been completely accepted by the English national teams loyal fan base. These supporters’ opinions on the matter read like a BNP manifesto, with even the media accepting that a huge correlation is placed on National identity and the national football team. Skinheads and football hooligans aside, for the average Englishman it is important that players who turn out for England have a strong connection with the country. The fact that a player may to choose to play for England simply because they are not good enough to play for the country of their birth just doesn’t sit well.

Let's face it: amidst the immigration backlash in many parts of Europe - "look what these bloody foreigners are doing to our country" - style scapegoating, it's far from easy to become citizens of any number of Western European states. However, would there be a slight leeway given for those whose skills are very much in demand. Mikel Arteta filling England problem left hand side is probably as comfortable the English public would be in accepting a naturalised player playing for England. It would be a major step for Capello to look to naturalised foreigners and recent British citizens, but as a foreigner himself Capello seems the ideal man to initiate such a call-up and in doing so bring England into the 21st century, Thus far Capello has not discussed the subject of Arteta with his employers, the Football Association, because it does not become a live issue until Arteta obtains British citizenship, and then pressure applied on the agreement betwenn the home countries.

Regardless of how scared England, and the rest of Britain are and would be of immigration and the impact it might well have on the future of our international squad, it will happen.

The new EPL squad systems certainly play in favour of talented players moving to England at a young enough age to gain citizenship while they are young enough to just be starting their club careers. The emphasis on home-grown talent regardless of the country of birth with only the exception of 25 players in each squad will mean clubs not only invest well on the best available talent round the globe, but are likely to be used or at least groomed for first team action.

Not only an increased scouting networked now used by many British clubs to identify untapped foreign talent, but simply increased immigration to our shores will help this happen. Whole families moving to Scotland, with many young boys growing up in this country not only doing so feeling a large part Scottish (spending their formative years here) and having a very strong affinity to Scotland and our culture, they will be involved in youth football set up, playing for clubs, schools and even Scotland Schoolboys and part of the national set up. Celtic's young Islam Feruz will be seen as a trailblazer and certainly shows the potential to have the sheer talent to change opinions, have guys not caring what colour, background or birthplace their Scotland players are, but if they can play like Islam then we’ll take them just fine. No longer is it about naturalising players who aren’t good enough for ‘their own country’, but about embracing talent and changes in society. Join the rest of the more forward thinking football nations, lets benefit from it.

Scotland benefit from Celtic, while Celtic could well benefit from Scotland if our society continues to accept immigrants, and our fans keep away from the extreme opinions shared by many of our English counterparts. Perhaps the difference in ability and expectations in the two countries provide difference enough as I get the impression Scotland would be happy with any good (even decent) players regardless of colour of skin or where he is from. The most abuse our country has produced to the world of football in recent time is in the frequent insults thrown towards Aiden Mcgeady. Regardless of the catholic/protestant issues used to explain it, could it be simplified that Scottish fans are aggravated that ‘one of their own’ is playing for someone else and would happily accept a foreigner McGeady’s ability coming in the opposite direction to play for Scotland.

Certainly how I feel about Celtic, I don’t want players as good as McGeady to play for someone else, its great to see the likes of he, Maloney, and young Forrest breaking through as you can relate to him and like to think there is continued hope for future young Celtic fans to get a chance to represent Celtic – However more important to me is that the players that do represent Celtic are the very best that we can possibly get.

It's not the creed or nationality that counts, it's the man himself

D Day 2010

2010-09-01T16:42:00.000-07:00

So that’s the window ‘slammed shut’ then, well we certainly weren’t the only ones who didn’t rush and sneak someone in as the window was metaphorically shutting yesterday. With the Stokes deal albeit a done deal on Monday, now officially completed – it leaves us with a current first team squad of; L. Zaluska, F. Forster, D. Cervi, E. Izaguirre, D. Majstorovic, J. Hooiveld, Cha Du Ri, M. Wilson, M. Misun, C. Mulgrew, G. Loovens, T. Rogne, E. Juarez, S. Brown, S. Maloney, N. McGinn, J. Ledley, M. Crosas, Ki Sung Yeung, P. McCourt, B.Kayal, J.Forrest, G. Samaras, A. Stokes, D. Murphy, G.Hooper, with Andy Hinkel out with long term injury

Looking at the all round quality and balance of those players I can’t say I’m unhappy with it;

First step for the team to really gel will be getting together a settled team and in particular the back line – as the importance of the centre half partnership cannot be overlooked. Lennon as already mentioned about the team changing set up dependant on the opposition or whether Celtic are at home or away, however he will look to send out the same defence week in week out no doubt, and allow the middle to front to be changed in relation to the teams we are trying to break down. Majstorovic has got to be part of the pairing, as his experience (never mind ability) will be vital to build from particularly early season, and although many Celtic fans may be disappointed that no other centre half was brought in during the transfer window, the manager must well think that the likes of Hooiveld, Loovens, Misun, and Rogne who all have been seen in their careers to have decent potential can provide a foil for the aggression and know-how of the big Swedish defender. Again, would Kelvin Wilson, Curtis Davis or various other names, be a certain improvement or partnership with Majstorovic, I’m not so sure. It’s my belief that by the next transfer window the squad we currently have will have produced a far more steady and reliable partnership than we’ve seen in recent years.

While on the topic of players we didn’t sign, again I was not distraught that Robbie Keane didn’t make another deadline day dash – this time to sign permanently. Sure if we could have got him on loan would have certainly been worth another go, but for any more than a year, we’d be looking at 6 million at least if we’d got him permanently, and what sell on value would we be looking at there. Not worth what we’d have got from him I’d guess, particularly given this season will see us plough a domestic furrow only, and we should be quite confident that we are more than capable of edging out Richard Foster et al.

Regardless of their long term capabilities as players, which only time will tell, the only player Lennon has purchased that I am unsure about why we signed and his place in the squad is the weekends goal scorer Daryl Murphy. Given his transfer fee is undisclosed but estimated to be somewhere between £1-£1.5 million, I cant see what Lennon expects from the former Sunderland man that he couldn’t have from Morten Rassmussen. The Scandinavian forward is not someone I can profess a great knowledge of due in large to such fleeting appearances since he signed – but neither he nor Murphy are the quickest, but would provide much needed physical presence against certain opposition. The main difference between the two is probably best noted in Rasmussen’s goal scoring record – whereas Murphy can’t quite claim to be prolific.

The turn over of players is turnover still too high in a short space of time for my liking – not even taking into consideration the ability of players brought in and inadequacies of those who are away, but I feel a more gradual approach would give each new comer a slightly better chance of succeeding, and not as great a risk of instant abject failure! However Lennon obviously decided swift action was needed and the one great positive the transfer window brings, in my opinion - is that now it’s good to be able to close the hatch and know what we’ve got to work with – and let the management team shape them into the team they and we want, one in which that will win the league.

I have looked on enviously at the way Rangers have made the best out of a decidedly mediocre squad, their better player reaching a consistent level, and the other guys digging in for the team. When someone underperforms, their lack of options often leaves him in the team for next week, and there are no great chances. That consistency brings not only a unity and spirit, but the players become familiar with how everyone plays and the system becomes indoctrinated in the whole squad. That’s what Celtic under Lennon need to achieve, and I think the squad we have amassed while having far more options and strength in depth that Rangers, are capable of mirroring their admirable focus that has dragged them out of the mire while we were busy shooting ourselves in the foot repeatedly.

We have again outspent rangers and have a far stronger looking squad so I was in no rush to see the money from the sale of Aiden McGeady spent just so we can see ourselves at net sellers. Also if the players specified by the manager weren’t available at the right price then maybe it was best not to be hung out to dry over a player we likely wont need to win a league against an even poorer rangers side than their previous poor side. Celtic fans seem obsessed by buying big – marquee signings, big money, blue chip, call it what you will, the last time we did, Hibs played hardball for Scott Brown and saw us spend nearly £5 million on him. The majority of fans haven’t exactly thought he has represented much bang for those bucks. I stand by my view that we have spent enough ever season since the turn of the millennium to have secured the league given the standard of our opposition. I understand there is a slightly displaced anger associated with this dating back to our lack of spending in January 20009 - although if the manager wasn’t able to win the league with the 7 point advantage, and a better squad than our competition then perhaps he wasn’t the right man to have been given more money to in retrospect. That said, perhaps with the shrewd moves Lennon has made thus far we need not worry about that this season, not only is there still money in the pot available for players, but its conceivable that we will already have blown Rangers out of the water by January.

He played on the left - He played on the right....

2010-08-31T03:52:00.000-07:00

Football fans are routinely portrayed based upon their passion, hero worship, and unwavering support, however, what is often glossed over is their vast capacity to ignore statistics and facts that don’t suit their at times slanted views. Often happy to defame their own team’s players by applying labels and tags, they can be the main instigators behind negative media perceptions.

These labels show their 'fans' to be in the most part, pretty harsh judges. What often strikes me about the whole fan/player relationship is the way in which it can affect a player’s whole career and how they are perceived by not only by other fans, but also by the media and the football world in general.

Once a player is known as lazy, slow, overweight, a poor finisher/tackler/headerer/out of form [delete as appropriate], or even worse the ill fated 'bottler' then they can spend a whole career trying to shift the tag. Given their thirst for stories to fill their pages, once a tag has been banded about the terraces or phone-ins, the media are more than happy to jump on it and spend line after line putting said player on the doc with little or no evidence to back up their accusations. Not only does it fill spaces and set up repeat articles but it also seems to make everyone’s job easy. It becomes the basis for match analysis from the hordes of pundits, for newspapers match reports and player ratings, interviews, and an easy topic for the now endless number of ex-player columnists.

Aiden McGeady loads of talent, fast feet; but lacks the pace, application, and final ball to be a top top player.

Even looking back on his first couple of appearances back in 2003/04 I can recall Aiden outrun several defenders, always available for the ball and prepared to drive the team forward, and indeed lay on goals for his team mates. However the mere implication, backed up in written media would be enough to punish most players a player to a career imprisoned in the SPL with the Scottish Press happy to sit in the public gallery and look on in almost enjoyment.

However, young Aiden, not one to be put off by public perception, utilized the resources available at Celtic and trained hard alongside then fitness mogul GregORY DuPont, and seemed to magic not just an extra yard of pace, but several yards.

Aiden McGeady loads of talent, fast feet; but lacks the application and final ball to be a top top player.

Allied to his new found pace, Gordon Strachan’s system and style placed emphasis not only on Aiden’s attacking prowess but asked him to help out defensively. In order to keep his place in the team, that is exactly what the Celtic fans saw from the young Irish winger, Aiden’s work rate became inescapably part of his game. Between Strachan, DuPont, and McGeady himself, they had reinvented perception of McGeady as the ‘luxury’ player he had been accused of being in the past

Aiden McGeady loads of talent, fast feet, but lacks the final ball to be a top top player.

Aiden (and Nakamura on the opposite flank) became charged with the team’s creative responsibility as Gordon Strachan often opted for two defensive minded centre midfielders and no defenders really adept at stepping into the midfield with the ball. Far too often this left his Celtic team mates expecting miracles from McGeady, when he not only carried the ball 30-40 yards again and again, and was asked to hold possession till his less mobile colleagues made their way to support or go for goal alone. Luckily McGeady took this responsibility on his shoulders and wasn’t found criticising those around him, either on the pitch or in the papers, unlike many other prodigious talents in British football.

Whether he was stuck tight to the touchline or drifted inside it was often from McGeady’s trickery, pace, and skill that many of Scott McDonald or Vennegoor of Hesselink’s goals came from (including a McDonald hat trick V Motherwell where McGeady claimed three excellent assists). Since Aiden secured a regular starting berth; with the exception of the diminutive Scott McDonald, Celtic have played with centre forwards who played much of their game outside the opposition penalty, had he played more with the Larsson’s, Sutton’s, or Hartson’s of this world, I have no doubt at all that his assist levels would have been through the roof.

The reckless labels attributed to footballers often completely disprovable, and are not always negative, with Danny Fox, Edson Braafheid, and Shaun Maloney before them, tagged as set-piece 'specialists'. Granted Maloney has scored a couple of excellent free kicks for Celtic, they were now some time ago, and since his return from Villa he has remained a frequent free kick taker simply because he hasn’t shaken off his label which the stats most definitely disprove. Other classic examples in recent years as bought into by the Celtic fans are - Samaras being lazy (despite the fact he is as regularly found tracking back behind the midfield as he is in the opposition penalty box), Nakamura is a luxury player who Celtic can ill afford to have their players carry (clearly ignoring that even out with his goals and assists - he statically covered more ground on the pitch than any of his teammates), and Artur Boruc last season was overweight and off form (with such an inexperience and mistake laden defence in front of him he consistently kept us in games and made several outstanding saves).

The more you hear any of the above fallacies said, the more it almost becomes accepted as fact. In no way is this a unique phenomenon with Celtic’s fans and players or something that applies only in Scotland, this seems to be universal with football fans everywhere.

The example of this that strikes me every time I see him play is John Terry. Be it the fans, the papers, other managers, or pundits and analysts – we are force-fed the notion the John Terry is not only a great defender but that he is so because of his ‘commanding’ presence. Even opposition accept Terry’s reputation; by the expectation of his commanding presence seem to give him far too much respect and credit and allow him to win tackles, headers, and challenges at times without contest. However I find Terry ambles his way through games, kept right by his far more positionally astute colleagues Carvalho and Ivanovic, (and Ferdinand at International level) as he is dragged out of position and is beaten too easily by often pretty average strikers who have the audacity not to buy into Terry’s fraud.

With McGeady being on the opposite end of the spectrum to Terry in terms of the now media driven views on the negative side of his game, Aiden has fought his own case so well over the past few years that he would certainly be found not guilty off all three charges (pace, work rate, and final ball) if all the evidence was fairly weighed up. The determination he has shown to do this however has even been thrown at the mercurial Irishman as a criticism. Whether down to such individuality as a player ability or his refusal to be bow to the easy decisions, his determination is often spoken of as a unconstructive stubbornness and defiance, and it is true he and former manager Gordon Strachan had their run ins, but looking outside in, McGeady did seem to be treated harshly by Strachan.

I have even read comment in a newspaper about Mowbray mentioning that McGeady was not the cleverest of chaps. This as well as being ludicrously irrelevant to his on pitch activities at Celtic, is quite far from the truth. A straight ‘A’ student until he left school for full time football had even cited Law as an alternative profession had he not made it in the game. In this intelligence and determination he is set aside from the majority of footballers, and on which he will have to utilise to succeed abroad in the Champions League team of Spartak Moscow.

There are those who questioned whether McGeady would have elected for the move to Russia and who now question his mentality to succeed, and while the former shows the young man to be strong willed and brave, only he can go on to prove the latter.

Fitter, Happier, More Productive

2010-08-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

The improvement in Celtic since last season, even since the opening games against Braga cannot be overstated. Three consecutive clean sheets must have brought Neil Lennon as much hope for the future as his now double figure SPL winning streak. Although it is defensively that Neil will be relying on Celtic to perform to their best tonight, it is no the only area in which Lennon's Celtic have made dramatic steps forward.

I have seen more signs of a "stronger, fitter, faster, younger" team than I ever did under Strachan, and more "open, expansive, free flowing" football than under Mowbray. Lennon promised was that he was going to bring back the intangible thunder, whereas his predecessors promised more tangible things that in truth they didn’t come close to delivering in full.

Whilst having so many players comfortable on the ball with a mobility and fluency that have long eluded those in green and white hoops, it was interesting to hear the manager talk this week that he is likely to set up very differently whether we are playing at home, away in the SPL, or in European competition. Lennon will no doubt believe their is finally a system and personnel suited to playing on the counter attack for first time since Celtic's last lengthy run in Europe's second highest competition. Not only are there good attacking outlets so possession can be used well and sensibly to stave off the pressure for spells in the game, but also players with real top level pace.

With Samaras, Fortune, Brown, Juarez, Cha, Kayal, Maloney, Forrest with McGinn and Hooper to come back from injury this may well be the quickest Celtic team in living memory. And while realistically, this team may never become the juggernaught that overpowered team after team like O'Neill's could, smart money could be placed that it could eventually play even better football than their counterparts of a decade ago did.

And lets not be mistaken by the long and direct football it was said Celtic played then. That team played excellent football. The interchanging of passes and positions, the variation of goals and scorers, the touches, the flicks, the nutmegs, the stepovers, the short passing, the long passing, the freekicks, the volleys, the overhead kicks - they were all in there. The facts show that regardless of who wanted to ignore it.

We might just see all that again.

Love Lenny Love Celtic

A Wee Story

2010-08-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

Neil Francis Lennon looked up to see the brightness of the sun obscuring his view to the large automated scoreboard, held aloft by the sold out 62,000 seated Celtic Park and pondered whether this is how Martin O’Neil had felt when Celtic defeated St Mirren to win the SPL back in 2001. He could see the date – the 16th of April 2011 but not much more. It was one of those rare summer days in the East End of Glasgow when the sun splits the sky and everything just looks better, the grass look greener, the sky bluer, and the football looks sharper and faster.

Even though he sensed Alan and Johan beside him, desperate to race onto the pitch and celebrate with the players, a numbness had overtaken his body. This was not a numbness he had felt before, he had battled that demon. This was more like an outer-body experience, as if his pride seemed to take him to a new level, he felt the joy everyone else did, but seem paralysed by it.

Pat McCourt stands almost absolutely static for half an hour after a mazy dribble or a wonder goal, maybe he feels this too, I’ll ask him later Neil decided.

At first he had thought it had been the Guinness from last night, after all, he hadn’t been in Tennents bar all season, well just about, (far less than the past few years anyway), and last nights tipple with the boys that had come up for the game had hit him hard. And indeed left him more than a tad hazy this morning – It was fine he had judged, that the team knew what they were doing by now anyway, an unchanged side were starting for the fifth game in a row and this had an almost robotic effect on their ever increasing winning streak.

Breathing new life into failing Celtic squads in dire need and showing them near instant success was certainly not all they had in common. The Northern Irish midfielders had been hard workers in successful teams, and not always entirely appreciated in all quarters, but had learned from top managers, with O’Neil’s lessons from Clough passed onto to Lennon and his team-mates in those heady Celtic days a decade ago.

Gaining much experience and know-how from his mentor Martin O’Neill, Lennon himself knew he also drew from Gordon Strachan’s tenure. The way he refused to let his team be characterised by his opening European defeat, Neil thought, that is exactly what I want after Braga.

That night, he felt alone with the level of confidence he had in himself, in those players, in this team – to gel together and bring success. Not only success in terms of recapturing the league, he wanted this team to thrive, his team, to kick on and show the grit, determination and indefatigability (that although he played down occasionally, he was enormously proud) that he was know for in his playing days. Had Gary Hooper played that night we would definitely have got a goal or two over there he would regularly concede in private, and definitely changed at least the complexion of that tie.

After Hooper’s 32 goals, including today’s brace, it would be hard to argue with Lennon’s assertion; the lively striker certainly had given Celtic’s attacking force a new and more potent dynamic this season.

A sharp learning curve he continuously assured himself that the first two matches were, were viewed not only by the management team, but now anyone else who cared to consider it, as a mere blip in the process of building a team, with new players, new manager, and ultimately a new formation and playing style. Thankfully they had not been an indicator of where the team were going, or any real long-term problems that Lennon would not be able to remedy.

A scarce cloud had now briefly blocked the sun allowing Neil to confirm to himself that the inevitable could not be delayed for much longer.

It read -

CELTIC 2 HIBS 0

And the clock in the corner showed that the game was entering its 93rd minute –
It wasn’t the Guinness, it wasn’t even the pride, it was the fear of failure that was slowly lifting from Lennon, he had proved to everyone, himself included, that he was cut out for football management, he had showed a talent (allied to his heart and spirit) that he wished he had been recognized for as a footballer. But that didn’t matter now. Like Martin had added Clough’s ruthlessness to his own considered approach, Neil had succeeded in at last parading his measured and intelligent side that was backed up by his ubiquitous bullishness, rather than being tarnished by it.

As he forced himself to reality, he instead let his emotions guide his actions rather than his usually careful almost paranoid thought process, as Lennon realising by now that the whistle had gone several seconds ago, ran to the far side of the pitch, grabbed Scott Brown in a headlock, and dragged the Celtic captain to a now rapturous Celtic support.

Glasgow Celtic Champions 2010/2011

Missing Pieces

2010-07-27T04:29:00.000-07:00

According to his Celtic supporting teammate at Scunthorpe, Gary Hooper is strong, quick, and great in front of goal. If Michael O'Connor's assertion is true, and lets hope it is, then it really is a missing part in the jigsaw that Lennon needs in order for balance and to progress this Celtic team. Spending over £2 million pounds on such a young striker would suggest that not only is he someone Neil Lennon is very confident will succeed, but that Celtic will not be bring in a Robbie Keane, Craig Bellamy, big name, sharp striker to play alongside our 6 foot plus options (currently Fortune, Murphy, Rasmussen, and Samaras). Although a relative unknown to me, perhaps the level and intensity of our interest and bid for Hooper suggests the level of potential that the boy has, and could turn out to be an exciting move for us.

The manager has confirmed he has been in talks with David James, so obviously he is still in the market of top-level competition for Zalusca for the number 1 goalkeeping spot. The Polish understudy may well feel pretty aggrieved has he not the opportunity to stake a claim for Artur's shirt as he looks a talented and unflustered goalkeeper, although perhaps the availability of James in the Bosman market has forced Lennon's move on this. England's number for free would certainly look to be a great deal, and since moving to Man City over five years ago - James has been in almost consistently terrific form, slight injury aside he would have been a unanimous choice as England number one for the world cup for any one who would have passed judgment. I am sure if James is in any kind of serious discussion with Celtic he knows that he will not be getting wages on a par to that he was receiving last season and indeed other offers he has received this summer, so a coaching role may be the sweetener (not that Champions League football and 60,000 fans every other week should need another sweetener behind it) that makes James' decision for him. End his playing career as a hero for a huge club - could be too much for the Observer columnist to turn down.

Too complete his squad, Lennon has spoken of still looking for a left back, so I would assume we will see that position covered by another singing, and surely a more experienced centre back to marshal the younger legs around him. If that is not to be Sol Campbell, I think it could be wise that someone of intelligence and know-how is brought in to shore up the impetuous and rawness we seem to parade there.

New Start

2010-07-26T15:44:00.000-07:00

With less than 48 hours until Celtic kick off their European campaign and in doing so - their season - away to Braga, Neil Lennon has an array of vitally important decisions to make, decisions of the like he hasn’t had to make in his football career to date.

Not only is it important he gets his season (and first permanent managerial post) off to a good start, but he has to put on the kind of performance against a very decent Braga side that shows the clubs fans that the team is not the limp toothless bunch that staggered pretty aimlessly through last season, and that his Celtic team can put up a good showing in Europe just as Neil did in just about every season he played in the green and white hoops.

The importance of this game will not be lost on Lennon. He could effectively start building the platform for his own success, or on the flipside, he could give the fans the first slip on his downward spiral as Celtic manager. Obviously the radical nature of the score makes it an obvious example, but Gordon Strachan was repeatedly reminded of the Bratislava brutalising, and perhaps the manner of it never allowed him to repair that initial defensive fragility in the eyes of the fans. Conversely, with such a positive performance against Moscow in his first European outing, Tony Mowbray may well have covered the cracks in his managerial reign for longer than the fans would have otherwise allowed him.

In order to ensure the fans start off on the right footing with him, its definitely more the result than the manner of the performance that Lennon will be placing importance on. While he will want to stamp his own mark on the team in time – Wednesday night will not necessarily be his starting point for that. Given that the manager admitted he didn’t rate many of the players he felt he had to persist with at the tail end of last season you might expect radical changes for his first competitive game, however I wouldn’t be overly surprised to find a relatively familiar looking line-up. With the exception of the positions left up for grabs by players departure (Boruc, Naylor, Keane and N’Guemo) – I imagine Neil will go with players and a system he has seen before at first hand. Radical departure is not always the best course of action. Tony Mowbray veered that way after both the summer and the January transfer windows, and it certainly looked like too much change at once. A sudden shift to relying on the untried and untested did not reap rewards for the big Englishman.

While the deal to bring Hooper looks close to completion bringing our tally of new signings to 6 will hopefully improve and freshen a previously toiling squad – lets hope Neil can build the foundations to allow him to bring it through to his style and ideas slowly but surely.

The Numbers Game

2010-07-22T02:51:00.000-07:00

Its always been my belief that a side with basic players should stick to 442 as not only is it the formation likely to be best known by almost every player (as they’ve probably been using it since primary school), but it also provides a good balance of defensive cover without setting out completely on the back foot.

However Celtic fans over the past few years wouldn’t have been dramatically surprised of the failings attributed to England’s formation in the world cup. Inflexible, obvious, slow, and overly reliant on individuals to pull teams through games. Seeing Strachan have a very European double holding midfield of Sno and Lennon when we played at the top level of the worlds premier club competition was not a failing in itself. If we had trusted McGeady and Naka more with the ball (being the only 2 creative players of the outfield 10) then we might have had more success and got forward in numbers to pin Milan in a tad more.

Ever since O'Neil reverted away from the 352 I just don’t think we have attacked with the same speed, numbers, pressure, or intent. I think you need really good players working in a good unit with a real togetherness to succeed at the top level with a 352 (or even an out and out 433).

I also think a back four, particularly in a league that we maintain such a possession advantage in most games, give a huge amount of possession the our defence and rely on fullbacks carrying the ball a huge number of yards to start most attacking moves.

As fullbacks have to carry the ball so far forward, their ability or inability to do so, severely affects how the players in front of them both set-up and indeed play. Good attacking fullbacks give midfields a chance to play more infield rather than the obvious route wide with only two forwards in attacking assistance

Given we haven't yet showed to have top players who work well with each other and haven’t had a defence comfortable on the ball for quite some time now, I am not surprised that we have stuck with the 442 and are likely to start the season at least with the same.

Caddis and Ferry to Swindon for £350,000?

2010-07-21T08:07:00.001-07:00

With an honest assement of talent and the potential impact they could make in our first team - I am disappointed to see Ferry and Caddis go.

Ferry is a terrific midfielder who could certainly do a job as a box to box midfielder for Celtic, and although perhaps he isnt the most polished players, if given the chance to play at the intensity and pressure of Celtic, from what I am seen I think he would revel in it and bring him on as a player.

Caddis too - great player, lots of ability, good delivery, and gets back and defends well, but perhaps in his case he has stagnated in terms of his form and his ability when we have seen him - purely because of the lack of football he has been given since his first introduction into match day squads.

I wouldnt be surprised if given 12 months of first team football, they do move on from Swindon to a bigger club down there and are in or around the Scotland squad (albeit not that difficult these days I suppose).

However having said that - perhaps Lennon has shown us something new here, if they arent going to be considered for a first team slot - then move them on - no point keep doing what has happened to a long list of promising players not given the platform to show what they can do or progress as playes pointlessly and left hanging about the squad. I think a lot is made in football when a player moves on from a club like Celtic (or Rangers for that matter), and how he performs through the rest of his career, as if a poor/underachieving career made letting him go the right decision. I think its more a case of getting players the right opportunities at the right time.

I have seen lots of young Celtic players performing well in the 19s and reserves that could have had a crack at the first team every bit as well as some of those plundering week in week out - and have hungabout waiting for their chance, and when they have moved they perhaps hungabout too long and lost momentum in their career. Celtic are to blame in several of those cases.

Good luck Paul and Simon - wherever your careers take you

Transfer Window still propped open

2010-07-20T04:12:00.000-07:00

Celtic's movement in the transfer market has definitely been interesting thus far, however it wouldn't be the first transfer window that Celtic have purchased talented players then never really given a decent run in the team.

It has been good to get a couple of unknown players who already come with plenty of real experience (Cha du ri kicked about the bundesliga for years - played in two world cups including starting the semi final in 2002, and Juarez already dipped his toe in the European water going to Barca for 6 months or so and again played in the World cup), and the signing of Joe Ledley looks a particularly shrewd move.

Ledley is a player admittedly I don't know a tremendous amount about but over the past few years there has been plenty of EPL interest in him - getting such a player on a free when our competitors down south would have had to pay £3 million is definitely a route we should look to go down again. Boruc, McManus and probably McGeady were all likely to have gone and as long as we reinvest the McGeady money in a goalscorer, then he and the other players in our squad should compensate for the loss of admittedly a top player.

Given McCourt seemingly buoyed by his involvement in pre-season so far, Maloney and McGinn are returning to fitness, we have signed Ledley who views himself as a wide midfielder, and have bid for Liam Laurence (who indeed can count McGeady as an understudy at International level) would suggest that although I wouldn't say any of those mentioned are quite on Aiden's level, we are certainly well covered for wide creative midfielders.

McGeady's million's may well be the key to helping our under performing, unproven, or inconsistent 3 only real first team strikers. If the money is invested in the right way, not only may the new purchase score goals that are key to winning and adding balance to our team - but may improve the chances of Messers Fortune, Rasmussen, and Samaras having a successful season in 2010/11 themselves.

Having watched the three pre-season games so far I would still like to see us purchase an experienced centre half too, as regardless of the huge number of players we have capable of playing there and I am sure some of whom are very capable, they need direction and someone alongside them to lead them.

Not only have we acquired quite an array of centre halves (Hooiveld, O'Dea, Loovens, Rogne, Thompson, Misun, and any new recruits added there), we seem to adding right backs at a similar rate of knots. Involved in some of this overspill must be some dead wood who aren’t likely to feature that we have to let drift away before the end of the summer hopefully.

Artur Boruc - Modern Celtic Legend

2010-07-13T02:05:00.000-07:00

Artur Boruc has just had a terrific season. His form was consistently good with some stand out saves. One season in 2008/09 with patchy form (at times still showing his undoubted ability) is pretty good going given the team (in particular defence) infront of him in the past 5 years.

Still one of the best keepers in europe at the moment - And I wont be surprised if we hear him be lauded as such in the Serie A.

Artur Boruc - Modern Celtic Legend

Looking Forward

2010-07-01T07:29:00.001-07:00

I am really looking forward to seeing how Lennon shapes this Celtic team. I still think that with the players we have in our squad we could be on the cusp of being a very decent team. Albeit we have lost and are likely to lose some of the players that I feel really could have taken us to the next level, perhaps we have needed the knocks that were taken in the past 12 months or so to make us take stock and move forward. Get a strong functioning eleven on the pitch rather than a talented squad of 20 or so that struggle for the balance and shape to get the best out of ourselves.

With Mulgrew signed, and the Korean Du Ri at right back/wing back, it certianly could signal a shift to a 352 as we used to great effect when Lennon was first signed. That did gloss over inadequacies in the full back areas, which again we show up short in, and with Mulgrew about as attack minded a 'defender' as you are likely to see, he certianly like Thompson, would be a more important asset feeding the strikers rather than getting back goal side of the oppositions. Granted Alan Thompson was great in the tackle and physically dominated his marker, and indeed had 3 very effective defenders behind him. Mulgrew might well work if we are playing a team likely to give us respect in terms of possesion, but given his frailties will be shown up agaisnt a team taking the game to us and will definitely need a stronger defensive option for those , wether that be a change in personel or in tactics could well be the making of Neil Lennon as a Celtic manager, as Celtic's left back is becoming a decade spanning problem position!

If McGeady has to move on for Celtic to afford to bring in the kind of top level goalscorer that we are crying out for, then I would grudgingly wish him all the best. He certianly hasnt had anything like the support cast to allow him to flourish to the level and stage befitting his ability and underrated workrate. Maybe now is the time that would suit both parties to make the break, a premiership move with enought money to compensate his loss. There seems to be enough options in wider positions, with the majority of our midfield and attacking players able to play there and be expected to do so with pass marks against most of our competitiors, but the goalscoring striker/partnership has looked something a bit more ellusive of late. The confidence of a Keane, Bellamy, or even a Michael Owen, a guy who his teammates 'know' will get them goals, and opposition defences fear the same, would certianly allow Celtic to play with added freedom allowing more chances to be created than currently sees teams sitting at their 18 yard box and watch while McGeady unsupported (at times) tries to break through or create something for static team mates. Boruc like Aiden would be a sad one to let go as we know his undoubted ability could play at better level than the SPL can offer, the cash and Zalusca as an able deputy might see his departure a likely option for the new management team

With Crosas and Ki - we have two players who look that they could in a 5 man midfield be good assets in terms of passing and ball retention, but alongside Brown, is there an important third man needed. The talk of Bullard for this role, Cambell to marshall the back, and a Keane or Bellamy figure brought in up front could really complete a focussed and determined squad. Important that although Cambell, Bullard, and indeed Du Ri are maybe not being banded about by many Champions league aspirers, their level of experience could be vital. Bullard has been relied on as being the main man in the middle of the park for his past two clubs, has drive, a directness to his play, good ability and hopefully the dig to get things going when the ubiquitous staleness sets in at Parkhead. Cambell has Premiership winning, Champions league finals, and major international tournaments under his belt. May not be at his physical peak - but he showed last season upon his Arsenal return that he is in really decent shape, and if he can be the one who can bring our endless number of promising and relatively young/inexperienced centre halves into a unit at the back then his 100 meter sprint wont be at the forefront of his critics minds. The interesting prospect of Du Ri could be another legendary Celtic 'experiment' who might see only sporadic minutes in a Celtic jersey - but this is a guy who has played in the bundislega, had an international career spanning almost 10 years, and indeed has seen him start a World Cup Semi Final, so maybe he has a bit more weight behind his call for a first team game that relatively 'unknown' quanities that have come before him!

I wouldnt be surprised to see a more focus and slim lined squad in terms of numbers with a couple of defenders, younger members, and 'squad players' moved on to pastures new. Players like Wilson and Maloney mgiht fill the squad roles as they've seen the course before and know what is expected, while Rasmussen like his fellow scandinavian Centre halves havent had the chance yet to impress, but all look like they could play a role if the right addition were brought in alongside them. Ive said before that I would be in a rush to sell Samaras as he could certinaly do a job on his day, and perhaps Neil is the manager to bring out the best in these type of players the way that his mentor Martin O'Neil was.

Alternative View - Shooting from the Lip

2010-05-20T02:49:00.000-07:00

AV: Why was it Celtic and not another team you chose to support?
Michael: Don’t suppose I had much choice really, and once you support Celtic there is no going back – they are just one of those teams. I imagine almost every player ever to have played for, leaves as a Celtic supporter to an extent.

AV: As we now look for a new manager with Tony out the door within 9 months after promising so much with his long term plan which never showed any promise at any time, the results of his time in charge and the mess left behind are horrendous. Do you think the board should have taken action sooner regarding Tony?
Michael: It’s a difficult one, you don’t want to jump the gun and change a whole management team too early (particularly one you have invested pretty heavily in). You want to back your manager and team to allow them to succeed. However I think Tony’s team weren’t showing any real signs of improvement at all, if there had been, I think people would have given him a bit more breathing space, but there wasn’t, so the St Mirren game seemed more an underlining of where they team were at, rather than a mere blip.

AV: Neil Lennon has come in and rescued what was left of the season, achieving 24 league points from 24 reducing the final points gap from 16 to 6. As we wait any day now for the announcement of the new manager do you think Neil will get the job or do you think Celtic will look for a more experienced manager?
Michael: If there was a decent calibre of experienced managers out there I think it would really ask some questions of the board, but given there doesn’t seem much in the market of a level, experience and price that would suit Celtic(and viceversa), I think the job’s all his to be honest. Is a guy with a couple of seasons experience that far above Lennon for the job? Or could Lennons knowledge of the players, of seeing the club run well, and conversely, seeing the club struggle, be invaluable, especially in comparison to what’s available.

AV: How much do you think you spend on tickets & Celtic merchandising overall each year?
Michael: £200-£250. I am lucky enough to be offered a ticket to most home league matches through various family members season books, but my wife and I always buy tickets for European matches and I buy the odd home shirt.

AV: Do you buy the Celtic View and do you think it represents the view of the support?
Michael: Haven’t bought it in years but don’t get the impression that it’s a ‘fans favourite’.

AV: What is your opinion of the Alternative View?
Michael: Its good that the fans have another option when it comes to our voice in the media, and it’s pretty widespread and relatively cheap.

AV: Do you think it matters that a Club like Celtic should always have an ex-Celtic player in coaching or management who understands the Club, rather than a foreign coach who would perhaps find it difficult to understand the supporters’ expectations and aspirations?

Michael: Not a jot. We should have the best available people in those jobs, there will always be enough people around the club who know what its about, and as fans its our responsibility to ensure those involved know our history, expectations and aspirations.

AV: Do you think the Celtic board do enough to make Celtic the force we expect them to be, or are you of the opinion that they look at what’s happening at Ibrox at any given time and only spend enough to financially compete on whatever level Rangers are at?
Michael: I am happier that we are living within our means, and actually think we have spent enough every year this side of the millennium to have won the SPL. I don’t think we are at a juncture where its worth gambling for European progression as in the next couple of seasons I think many teams who have tried that will pay the price.

AV: In terms of re-building for next season, where it looks as though we may well have to shift out at least 6 players, can you give us 6 players in the current squad that you think can still be part of a future successful Celtic side?
Michael: Boruc and McGeady if we keep hold of them (although Zalusca would be a more than able deputy), Brown who I reckon will have his best season in 2010/11 Crosas, McCourt, and surprisingly Samaras. Big Sammy has the ability to take teams apart – pace and power with good feet. He is horrendously inconsistent and his decision making is up there with the worst I’ve ever seen, but you don’t get many matchwinners around in Scotland anymore, and surely strong coaching and good management is what is needed to improve decision making and consistency. However, I’d like to see a bit more of Ki who looks to be a talented user of the ball.

AV: Do you think Scott Brown is a Celtic captain and do you think Scott is good enough to be an automatic first team pick, which is what a captain should be?
Michael: I think he looks to have all the attributes to be a Celtic captain, but the balance of the central midfield pairings this season have just not worked, and infact haven’t worked on a consistent basis since Scott’s been at the club, so he hasn’t been on top of his own game, which has affected his ability to inspire others. Given only Boruc in our current squad has real leadership qualities, I think Scott is as good as anybody at the moment and has every chance to become a great captain for us if he can grow and improve in the role. His ability places him as an automatic first team pick, lets hope he gets his form consistent enough to justify that.

AV: In your time watching Celtic who is your favourite manager and why?
Michael: Martin O’Neil, it wasn’t just the level of success, but the level of progression he made in that time. I will always judge future managers on where they have taken the club. From almost constant failure from Brady to Barnes to Uefa cup finalists and almost guaranteed champions league participants, I don’t imagine we will see a leap like that in such a short space of time again.

AV: You’re favourite Celt that you’ve seen in your lifetime and why?
Michael: Nakamura, just edges it ahead of Lenny, Lubo, Lambert, Cadete, Collins, and McStay. His ability, touch, vision, workrate, passing, and just the way he went about the game were a total joy to behold. In the modern game where so much seems to be focused on physical strength and lightning pace, Naka gave us the chance to see that regardless of his slight build and leisurely pace, remarkable footballers can play in any surroundings at any level.

Rumours of white smoke

2010-05-18T15:10:00.000-07:00

If they appoint today/tomorrow then Id say they have had a fair idea from the start who they want/will get. Maybe only pursued one or two other options

I reckon Neil had enough support at boardroom level for various reasons, and it was a case of - lets see who is available out of x, y, or z. A brief chat with them then Lenny it is I reckon.

We should have spoken to Avram Grant. I hope we assertained how much Hughes would cost and then if he was seriously interested (rather than just 'interested' in the media). Also touch base with a few previous interests (we have looked for managers 3 times in the past 4 seasons) Billic ect.

I wouldnt consider Lambert unless he or his agent contacted the club showing interest after he publicly made such a strong case against wanting the job

Celtic 2 Rangers 1

2010-05-04T15:04:00.000-07:00

A great team performance - first game this season Id say has really been won by any of our central midfield pairings.

However lots to work on for whoever is going to get the job on a permanent basis.

On tonights showing....

Boruc/Zalusca - Reliable
Hinkel - Shakey
O'Dea - Erratic
Wilson - Assured
Naylor - Motivated
Kamara - Laboured
Brown - Energetic
N'Guemo - Solid
McGeady - Ineffective
Fortune - Wasteful
Keane - Anonymous

I wouldnt pay more than 1million for Kamara. Even at that I wouldnt really want him

Fortune is truely awful regardless of how hard he works or what attributes he does have.

Wilson may well be an answer to our centre half issues.

O'Dea goes from being very commanding to unsure on a minutely basis. You can see their is a good defender in there - and is solid for the most part. But he just gives fowards too much of a chance far too often.

Keane was as poor as he’s been - to be fair to him, neither Kamara nor Fourtune can do anything early or without taking about 10 touches. He showed for passes all night - particularly when he was left up alone but didnt think he was in dangerous positions when we broke as a team.

And we didnt get McGeady involved anyhting like enough - in the first half they were backing off him so much when he had the ball - you could physically see their fear.

POTY

2010-04-19T15:03:00.000-07:00

Slim pickings this year

I'd have gone for....

Boruc POTY

McGinn YPOTY

McCourt GOTS

Neil Francis Lennon

2010-03-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

In my books a supremely talented footballer, not because of his physical attributes, but his brain for the game of football was and likely is, exceptional.

The ubiquitously cliched midfield 'winner' brought the kind of steely mentality that is the difference between success and failure. But his will to win apart, his appreciation for tactics, systems, and the players around him are what seperated Lennon from a sterotypical midfield bulldog. The things that made him great, were in the mind. He didn’t have the pace to take on players, or even cover the ground while defending quicker players. He had to learn how to position himself and how to release the players around him, to allow him to compete against the best. Very rarely, even at 35, did you see him be outpaced.

Technically superior footballers often struggle as managers, and no wonder. How on earth can Diego Maradona be expected to explain how to dribble by a whole team, Or score an exquisit chip from 40 yards. The things Lennon might well struggle with, is guys that lack heart, the determination that allowed Neil to overcome his phyical and technical shortcomings and be a top footballer. Is that a bad thing? Perhaps not. Do we want a team that has a lack of heart, yeah we can have the odd flair player who needs his manager to get on at him/understand that work isnt whats gonnae make him make his mark on a game of football. But what Celtic need is guys who are willing to do what it takes to succeed. Hopefully Lennon will be a massive help with this. Even if this just is in the work he will do with the current squad until June.

Look at the modern game (certainly Britian) - who have been the top managers of the past couple of years, Ferguson, Wenger, Mourinho, Walter Smith, and even Davie Moyes. Only O'Neil was anything like a top player, and again, he was more of a hard working thinker in a great side than actually a great footballer. Certainly leads me to believe that the Lennons and Lamberts of this world will develop into top managers. I remember when my mum and dad got their season books - summer of 2000. I started to appreciate what a truly wonderful player Paul Lambert was. Their seats were high up, angled in the corner, giving a great overview fo the pitch, picking up on bits of lamberts game and the reading of the game that other seats and tv just didn’t do justice. The laughable claim that Lambo and Lenny couldn’t play in tandem was ridiculous, and with those two in one team its no surprise that we rose to the heights of being the best Celtic team Ive ever seen.

I am not saying Neil Lennon is definitely the man for the Celtic job just now, as indeed only time will tell. However I think given the right opportunities and support he can certianly become a top manager for someone. Maybe now is the time for more experience - to galvanise a struggling Celtic side. However are there many candidates of that ilk available at a price that will suit Celtic, on indeed that they can afford. Is a guy with a couple of seasons experience that far above Lennon for the job, could Lennons knowledge of the club, of the players, of seeing the club run well, and the conversely the club struggle, be invaluable, and indeed edge him infront of the Lamberts, the Keanes and even Mark Hughes of this world.

As I said - Only time will tell I suppose...

29/3/2010

2010-03-29T15:02:00.000-07:00

“A young, inexperienced, fearless, defensive midfielder with nothing to lose who managed the reserves and is now manager of the team he supported as a boy, loves through and through, and captained through some of its most successful years.”

Pep Guardiola or Neil Lennon?

25 March 2010

2010-03-25T16:19:00.000-07:00

The St Mirren game aside, what a great day to be a Celtic fan.

And lets face it, the game was pretty meaningless in the grand scale of things. The League is already over, and perhaps the defeat in Paisley just brought the inevitable to a head.

Celtic have offloaded a desperately underachieving manager, brought in - two, not only fans favourites, but great players, tactically aware, determined and influential characters to steady the ship till the dry land of the close season is found. Lennon and Mjallby have the chance to see if they can show theyve got what it takes (in from a Celtic point of view, is a relatively pressureless environment) from now until the end of the season.

Yes, I would expect an experienced manager to be installed in the summer, however Lennon must be thinking if he can win every match from now to then, he could be in with a shout. Certainly wont do him any harm.

For the new management duo, the most important thing is the balance of the team they put onto the park. There is no doubt that Celtic have the best squad in Scotland, it is certianly the case that Mobray struggled to make a functioning X1 out of them.

The importance of a single match does seem crazy. At a club like Celtic one result can be the difference between being sacked and keeping your job - its easily concievable that had Celtic won yesterday that Mowbray could have been Celtic manager after the close season.

Four goal defeats are unnacceptable, I dont suppose anyone has to tell Neil that.

Good Luck Lenny

St Mirren 4 Celtic 0

2010-03-25T02:47:00.000-07:00

Total embarrassment.

Celtic 3 - St Johnstone 0

2010-03-22T08:44:00.000-07:00

Paul McGowan was a surprising starter who had a busy game and acquitted himself well - linking up cleverly and involved in almost all our moves.

Bad day at the office for Aiden who looked totally out of sorts. Unlike Samaras who capped a terrific cameo with a superb goal.

Zalusca literally didnt have a save to make

Kilmarnock 0 Robbie Keane 3

2010-03-15T09:10:00.000-07:00

The kind of goalscoring performance by one of their strikers that has so often alluded Celtic this season puts them in the last 4 of the Scottish Cup (to play Hibs or Ross County as it turned out).

What has now become a fairly typical - abject performance was churned out in the first half with a few hefty and late challenges giving the only real excitement of the opening forty five minutes. However Keane's movement and confidence in front of goal allowed the other players to play him in and inturn, give Keane the opportunity to take the match ball home.

Falkirk 0 - Celtic 2

2010-03-10T03:49:00.000-08:00

Any honest assesment of Robbie Keane's post transfer deadline performance would surley admit that Sunday was the first time he has showed the level of class the he would have been expected to bring.

Sharp movement, link up play, great touch, and ultimately match winning goals.

The first goal was certainly the first time I think Ive seen anything like a partnership forging between Celtic's strikers since McDonald and Hesselink won the SPL with Celtic in 2008. Keane took the quick pass from Rasssmusen excellently leaving a player of his ability with an easy finish. The clever Crosas picked out Keane brilliantly with a quick free kick for the second, showing what Crosas can bring when we play a striker on his level of footballing intelligence infront of him.

Rangers 1 Celtic 0

2010-03-01T06:42:00.000-08:00

Yes yesterday was a horrendous and toothless performance.

Yes this has been a terrible season.

However, I would give Mowbray until the end of the season AT LEAST.

Depending on how that goes - Give him until the middle of August - with not a penny more to spend. See if he can mould the players he has signed into a team, before we make the plunge to replace him.

Id love to think this team can improve - but there have been literally no signs that they are.

Plenty of players with what seems like the right attributes, but no coherent style, shape, desire or dominance from us in even one full ninety minutes that show they are moving in the right direction.

The board has backed the manager so much that not only have they bought in the players he has wanted, but have shipped out quite a number he didn’t. Leaving this squad firmly, Mowbray's. Financially and logistically he is best placed to get the best out of these players. So lets hope he shows in the latter stages of this season (albeit without real competitive pressure) and this team make miraculous improvements to a level that merits Mowbray starting next season, as lets be honest Mowbray owes the club that, Its not fair to the board or a new manager to have to deal with this squad as they are at the moment.

I am by no means claiming that given a clean slate I want Mowbray as the manager, just that there are now so many difficulties that arise if he leaves - given the level of backing he has received that he really needs to turn it around - ultimately to avoid the club picking up his mess (and financially not being able to change the squad much).

The technique, touch, close, control, and pace of some of our players is so far ahead of Rangers it is unbelievable - but in truth, Celtic were nowhere near rangers yesterday, or in the league campaign.

No refereeing decisions are big or bad enough to overshadow that.

Celtic 1 Dundee Utd 0

2010-02-22T08:05:00.000-08:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/8523293.stm

No consistency

2010-02-16T03:30:00.000-08:00

Celtic seem to have a pretty big squad of players all who get a fair bit of first team action, as in the main, their abilities are around a similar level.

However instead of creating competition - it just seems to be the opposite - no one is playing really well, so no one is holding down a first team slot, so everyone gets a chance and the team therefore changes pretty frequently.

You can almost predict the Rangers team every week, and get say 10 of the right every week - Regardless if thats due to squad size of whatever, good (succesful) teams have a consistent spine

Celtic have a different Centre half/Cenre mid/Centre forward pairing every other week.

On a quick check of our last six games ......

4-4 Aberdeen

Central Defence - O'Dea Thomson
Central Midfield - NGuemo Brown
Strikers - Keane Fortune

2-0 Hearts

Loovens Thomson
NGuemo Brown (and McGeady)
Keane Fortune (and Kamara)

4-2 Dunfermline

Loovens Thomson
Crosas NGuemo
Samaras Rasmussen

0-1 Kilmarnock

Loovens Hooifield
NGuemo Ki
Keane Fortune

1-0 Hamilton

Hooifield Thomson
Zhi NGuemo
Samaras Fortune

1-2 Hibs

O'Dea Thomson
Crosas Zhi
Samaras Fortune

Aberdeen 4 Celtic 4

2010-02-15T07:50:00.000-08:00

By all accounts Saturdays debacle was a nightmare for our backline. It does appear, regardless of the players in possesion of our defensive jerseys, that they are all far too capable of causing opposition goals.

I could well imagine so of the worst perpetrators of these errors going to another club and performing well. We seem to have quite a collection of defenders who are temporarily rated by the fans/media who then decide they are not good enough, and indeed in turn, there performances are not good enough.

We have brought in several options at the back now, but it still looks to me like we are lacking pace and aggression when attacking the ball.

Perhaps it’s a confidence thing, perhaps it’s just been the coincidence and we just haven’t had a settled pairing who will complement each other. Regardless, it’s not good enough. We have enough in our locker (and certainly on our wage bill) to be able to do enough against some of the team who have been taking points off us, that we really should be turning out 3 points even when not playing at the top of our form.

I genuinely think there are guys who have been playing that are or should be, really good players. Caddis, like O'Dea doesnt look the same player he was when he first got first team exposure. Perhaps that’s what happens when you are starved of football for 2 years as a young player. Not only does it stunt their growth as a player - they have actually gone backwards. I blame Strachan predominately for that. These boys were both GREAT young players, and now even with first team football from now on - they don’t look like they will become the players their potential initially suggested they could be. In the past month when Mowbray has relied on both of them, and neither has really given their chances of an automatic start a boost.

Mowbray obviously rated the guys like Hooiveild, Braafhied, Thompson, And Rogne - but none of whom seem to have stemmed the tide in their brief outings so far.

Would a change in formation give more of a difference than change in personnel has?

Is it just a failing in our manager and coaching staff?

Its no longer worth sacking Mowbray if the board/fans wanted to because the league is over and it would be more prudent to try and keep costs low en route to the end of season.

On that note - Id try and cancel the Keane loan, with no champions league place for finishing second it really doesn’t matter if we come second or third in the grand scheme of things.

An ambitious gamble that didn’t pay off - cut our losses

I still am not saying for sure that Tony Mowbray can’t be a good manager for Celtic. But it would have to take one hell of a turnaround from where we are now

Celtic 2 - Hearts 0

2010-02-12T06:11:00.000-08:00

I was a bit dissapointed 70 grand or so a week cant buy you a goal with those chances, but to be fair to Keane, he seemed to be doing the right thing and it just wasnt going for him

I was giving fortune hell in the first half - but he looked tremendous in the second - full of pace, power and threat. McGeady looked like the ball was stuck to his feet in some of those dribbles, and Kamara has a great touch. Plenty of options middle to front these days.

Loovens goal was a belter, the wee pirouette and the smash into the net is something Samaras would struggle to do once in 100 times of asking.

Hearts looked very poor

Scott McDonald

2010-02-02T06:07:00.000-08:00

Watch 'that' interview after we won the league in 2008

Two consecutive home hattricks, a good scorer against Rangers. THAT goal V Man Utd. His ability to sniff out chances, get in the right place, and do it regardless of the opposition - Milan, Moscow ect.

Cracking finish V Vienna this season at home, and an unbelievable strike rate against former club motherwell - trying to do all he could to make up for THOSE two goals.

McDonald is a Celtic Hero.

Hope he does great at Middlesbrough Hibernian

Craig Balloon Burley

2010-02-01T06:06:00.000-08:00

Craig Burleys best comment from Saturday - Mowbray really has to find out if this board are gonnae back him

Then when pointed out by the commentator that they had (quite significantly) he continues, "I mean properly back them" "you dont know if these were his first choice or not, theres no point in buying guys on the cheap, "

Commentator again says, I really think they have spent a fair bit in this window.

The diddy Burley pauses but you know he cant let it go - he says "aye but its not exactly signings that have the fans lined up London Road for"

Whats your point caller.

How to Argue Burley Style

1 - Make ridiculous comment

2 - Ignore when you are proved wrong

3 - Try to make another point different to the 1st to pretend you are making the same point

4 - Repeat number 3

Brilliant

Celtic 1 - Hibs 2

2010-01-28T05:57:00.000-08:00

McGeady ran into traffic every time he had the ball (like he did against Falkirk) then looked exasperated that there was no pass on. I'll put it down to the rest of the team underperforming. but It cant go on. Top players are players than teams rely on when everyone else is playing gash.

However the ‘strikers’ aren’t helping.

Aidens beaten two players on the wing, the centre half comes across, he looks up to cross into the box, neither fortune or samaras are anywhere to be seen, McGinn trying to steal in by the full back and centre halves to win an unwinnable header - No on from the strikers not at all.

At least with McDonald you know what you do and dont get.

Ki should start next week.

Look at Rooney - dont think anyone else at Utd have kicked a ball in 2010 - but he has kept them from falling behind. McGeady should be doing that in the scottihs league

Aye Brown NcGuemo might bring more steel and hopefully urgency. But we need to offer something different.

Im not saying sack Mowbray. Anyway - if things keep going like this - he will walk away at the end of the season. He is an honourable type of guy i think, i imagine he would know if it just wasnt working out.

I like a lot about Mowbray - but I think there is more wrong than just not taking our chances. We dont hunt in packs, we dont create the right sort of chances, we seem easy to break down. There are no leaders, no one to fear, no consistency.

I think Mowbray can turn it around - but dunno if he will

I hated having Strachan - but if he had stayed we would probably be top of the league

One of my main gripes with Mowbray is his substitutions. At times they just end up mental leaving the team with no balance. Mind the McGeady for Naylor away in Hamburg, Last night to take off McGinn when we were going for a goal seemed mental to me

Id have taken off sammy - put mgeady off a striker -

But was just on the back of mcginn stealing in at the backpost which he was unlucky not to score (there wasnt meany times you caould said that about any of our players over the 90 mins) - so just made me think - we are taking off a threat

Id rather Lambo and Lenny in charge – then we’d win 10 in a row

Cyclical

2010-01-19T05:41:00.000-08:00

Personally I dont get the whole doom and gloom surrounding the scottish game. These things tend to go in cycles. In our lifetime weve seen poorer teams and poorer european campaigns. We have risen the expectations with managers such as O'Neill, Strachan, Smith, and McLeish really doing exceptionally well.

Either way - if the premiership implodes the likes of Fletcher, and McCarthy would have stayed in the SPL at either their current club or Celtic or Rangers would have gone for them as the Burnleys and Wigans of this world would be playing their own young talent rather than offering those exorbatent wages and signing on fees that lure these boys down there. However, if the EPL/sky manage to work on the government to make footballers exempt from normal tax rates to compete with la liga, then the recent upturn in the number of British players forcing there way into EPL starting line ups will slide back and we'll see even more foreigners again

Celtic 1 - Falkirk 1

2010-01-17T05:39:00.000-08:00

Most players played part of their game well and part poorly. Except Naylor and O'Dea (who looks like he has comeback from Reading a cross between caldwell and Mcmanus). Zhi started well and Ki was pretty good througout. Was happy that we played a formation that allowed McGeady to play in 'the hole' although it was the poorest ive seen the mercurial 'irishman' all season. Crosas was good and pretty steady but culled in one of Tonys odd substitutions. Although having McGinn and McCourt on when chasing the game was probably the right move, why bring on McGinn for Crosas only to put him as a makeshift rightback by taking off Hinkel for McCourt 5 minutes later. No one looked sure of the formation or where they should be towards the end which to me looked a main reason why we didnt look like scoring again.

Strikers have decent attributes but given they like to roam so much - they are almost impossible to link up as a pair. And aye we might have got away with that if we had midfielders stealing into the box. But that was few and far between. McDonald has less pace, power, mobility, and touch/dribbling ability - but you know he will always be there for a cross/cut back. Holds his position, and gets infront of defenders. A big miss.

Ki Zhi and Crosas - all footballers and even if they sit deep - they are not destroyers in the way NGuemo defo is. Nguemo is a bit slack on the ball, but off it he is terriffic. A black lenny with pace - Godsent!

How do the fans not understand that they make the honest Naylor play much worse. He will run all day for you, is never played in when he should be. Often moves the team up 30-40 yards. But also has limitations. Its like watching someone be bullied, he goes more and more into his shell.

Thomson lookes like a young Bobo without pace

Rapid Vienna 3 - Celtic 3

2009-12-18T08:16:00.000-08:00

Definitely keep

O'Dea
Zalusca
Hinkel
Aiden
Sammy
McDonald
　
　
Keep

McGinn
Zhi
Loovens
NGuemo
Crosas
Robson
Fox
Boruc
Fortune
Maloney
Brown
　
　
Deserves a go surely before we decide one way or the other

Ferry
McCourt
Mizuno
Caddis
Misun
Miller
Thomson
　
　
　
Sell (for one reason or another)

Flood
Wilson
McManus
Caldwell
Naylor
Killen
Hutchison
Sheridan
Conroy
McGowan

Mowbrays Moans

2009-10-29T05:34:00.000-07:00

I must stay - its stuck in my craw somewhat - every time Ive heard it said or alluded to that Mowbray is struggling cos he has been left with essentially what is 'Strachan’s team', or that he hasn’t been able to get in 'his players' or 'his team'.
As if in someway he has been dealt a short hand and has been harshly treated
Mowbray has publicly stated he needs more money and we have to increase our budget if we want to improve.
Never heard Gordon ever complain about the hand the Celtic hierarchy dealt him.
And it wasn’t the strength of Gordon’s squad that was his downfall - it was his failure/stubborness to change or play the 'right' player (and his downright Stubborness to change his attitude)
　
　
Anyway - the following Herald article really backs that up…..
　
　
GORDON STRACHAN has hit back at Tony Mowbray’s claims that his former players do not have the quality needed to cut it at Celtic.
Strachan has been unveiled as the new manager of Middlesbrough – his first job since quitting the Parkhead hotseat at the end of last season.
The man who spent four seasons in charge of The Hoops has rubbished his replacement’s scathing assessment of the players he left behind in the East End of Glasgow.
Mowbray has repeatedly criticised the pool he inherited since he arrived in Scotland from West Brom in the summer.
The Englishman has stated he could need to buy up to 10 players during the January transfer window.
That has increased the possibility of Strachan, who became the first Celtic manager since Jock Stein to win three titles in a row, of moving in for some of them himself.
Asked about Mowbray’s comments, Strachan said: "Yes, I’m surprised because there are some terrific players at that football club.
"I don’t want to comment on what Tony might have said but I will say this, I used to go to training and think to myself ‘I love watching this’.
"I loved watching some of these boys paying the game.
"I loved the boys with technical ability – the McGeadys, Maloneys, Nakamuras and Browns.
"I was so lucky to have so many good players to work with over my time there.
"In fact, I would set up the training sessions knowing fine well I couldn’t wait to watch it or coach it.
"It was a pleasure to be on the same training pitch as these guys.
"These are good players and good men.
"I loved working with these guys every day."

The Balde Truth (apparently)

2009-09-21T05:14:00.000-07:00

Big Bobo has a pretty hefty mercenary tag that in my book seems unfair

Given he could have moved to three different teams and earn more money in the last 18 months or so when he was being frozen out.

Although story goes for Celtic to have released him from his contract which they were more than willing to do at any point over the pat couple of years - he had to sign a confidentiality agreement. Given the very personal bad treatment he had received (which obviously gave rise to the confidentially agreement being muted by the club) - he basically refused. They were trying to force him into leaving a club/city/contract he was very happy in.

The consequence of it all - is a budget backline of Caldwell and McManus being not only accepted - but a main stay for about 3 years.

I think the main one that leaked out is that he was told to turn up for training, they had moved it elsewhere without telling him, and he was fined for not turning up on time. Almost like they were trying to claw back as much of the £24000 a week in an attempt to make him leave (and save some money in the process). Seems exceptionally unprofessional - especially to a guy who is by all accounts the consummate professional. Think of how hard he worked to play (at times really quite well) at such a level when he clearly wasn’t blessed with great ability. Just because they signed off on a deal for him that they later regretted shouldn’t give them the right to be as unprofessional and by the looks of it - a personal vendetta against an employee. I suspect they regretted doing it after they had started and realised he was going nowhere - but by that point they probably had gone too far so just kept it going

Loovens – he looks better than Caldwell and McManus - Not hard. He is actually looking more dominant and sharper in the past couple of games. Think he would benefit of a run in the team alongside the same partner. Surely he and O'Dea would be worth a shot. O'Dea has well suffered from being held back from first team - I reckon if he had gone into the team 2 years ago - he would be a cracking player now. I actually think Loovens could be quite the player aswell given the right circumstances, however I am still unsure why he was signed (other than a tired one-upmanship against Rangers), as the two centre halves (Caldwell, McManus) were obviously cemented in the team and we had O'Dea waiting in the wings already looking clearly better than the other 2 starters. Unless one or both of O’Dea and loovens were going to be given a serious chance to displace the two Scottish donkeys - it all seemed a bit pointless.

Recent Clamour for Balde

2009-01-02T05:13:00.000-08:00

Recent Clamour for Balde

Bobo is no longer a viable option in my eyes - he is surely now at a stage that to get the best out of him he would need a good bit of first team football (which given our current problems we don’t have time to wait for – we need an instant fix)- and even then - he wont be the player he was - which had his flaws in the first place.

Even I (Bobo backer of the year 2004-2008) cant believe people are seriously calling for him to be brought into the team now.

However some of the blame on him about how unprofessional he is for "not seeking first team football elsewhere" is nothing short of incredible.

I don’t see him as he sitting 'taking' his wages - he is/and has been willing to earn them fully - however the manager claims to prefer other players.Our fans complain when guys wants to leave then complain when another doesn’t

The problem with Derek

2008-10-27T04:58:00.000-07:00

The problem with Derek.

Had Hibs signing of Derek Riordan been a straightforward and regular signing then he would currently be hailed as an inspired deal for the Leith club. His impact has breathed life into a team struggling to stay conscious under the stewardship of Mixu Paatelinen, infact such positive the impact that it may have been not only a catalyst for a change in the teams performance but for the supporters view of where the Finnish manager was taking the club.

Riordan has showed ability, movement, confidence, class, desire, and importantly; goals since his return. Not that any one who watched him play for Hibs in his previous spell would be in the least surprised. Nor particularly would his teammates or management at Hibs who had a couple of attempts to lure him back from Glasgow on loan thwarted by Celtic, loathed to let such a talent go. Its not unusual for a 25 year old footballer to start to show the above attributes as he finds real form and consistency in his career, however the most impressive thing for young Riordan is that not only is he looking for consistency, he is looking for it again, lets not forget the player netted 60 goals in three seasons prior to his move along the M8. The desire and confidence that is back is breeding the movement, ability, and thankfully for Paatelinen, scoring and creating goals with apparent ease again.

Perhaps his two years at Celtic will go down as a mere blip in what could progress to be an otherwise highly successful career. But it will always be a point of interest for not only onlookers, and Celtic supporters, but surely Derek himself. Given the application he has shown since his return east, perhaps he is analysing what happened and what he think went wrong, and trying to put it right for the sake of his career and currently for the sake of Hibernian Football Club. For Riordan himself, I suppose he could hide behind the excuse that he didn’t get a fair chance in Celtic's first team

But what did go wrong at Celtic, was it his attitude (mentality effort application belief confidence) his ability, Celtic, the situation, his position? The system (like gravesen)

Maybe he knew he didn’t have the application and that’s why he knocked back the moves abroad when he was at Hibs the first time, or again maybe its because he wouldn’t break himself from his home comfort zone.

Or perhaps Derek Riordan isn’t drawing from his Celtic experience, perhaps the slipping back into his Hibs comfort zone was enough, the already earnt adulation from the fans, the memories of success in the non-hooped green and white, the cushion - knowing that one bad game, or even two, wont have the fans calling for him to be axed from the starting line-up. Players play better when they are relaxed (and keep their focus) and maybe the system he was asked to play didn’t allow him to be relaxed.

Upon his return to Parkhead (in a Hibs Jersey) he played on the left hand side (like he did in his fleeting Celtic) - but he didn’t go at the full back, he drifted inside to get involved (and get others involved) and allowed his fellow midfielders and the left full back to fill in the wide position. Perhaps his talent is allowed to be the most important part of his game at Hibs, they let him flourish. But at Celtic there are other talented players occupying various positions and its important to keep a team shape and system in order to get the best out of the whole team as that doesn’t necessarily come from getting the best out of the best player - like maybe it does at Hibs.

Maybe he will move from Hibs in a couple of seasons and we will see him test himself and become the player his talent really deserves him to be.

Opposites Attract

2008-08-20T05:06:00.000-07:00

Danny McGrain won many of his 62 caps for Scotland playing left back, mainly because he was such a proficient full back that playing on the opposite from his natural side still allowed him to play at a very good standard. However, there are too many flaws in moving a great player, when weighed against the benefits that are gained. I am sure Sandy Jardine was a steady and decent right sided full back, however to include him in a very average side ahead of McGrain, who was contending for the greatest right back in the world at that point, and infact several opponents would have put him in that bracket alone, was not in the best interests of the Scotland squad. Shifting Danny to left back surely decreased the teams accumulative effectiveness.

Games are won - particularly at the top level of football, by a team's best players. The margin between winning and not, can be so small than any decrease in effectiveness of your best players could be such a major disadvantage. I am an avid believer that you play your best players in your best position and not just to fit in as many of your top or favoured player as possible. Play your best at your best and figure the rest out from what’s left.

This is often seen with teams creative players being pushed out wide just to keep them in the team, while allowing the central midfield to remain physically and positionally strong and disciplined. But anyone who has watched the likes of Shunsuke Nakamura playing both positions, (central and out wide) would tell you that he is more comfortable and at his best centrally.

Unfortunately with modern formations and team playing systems that are all about not showing weakness and not allowing your opponents a chance to get at you, rather than showing ability and being better than them, players are now shifted around the pitch to fill spaces that wont necessarily get the best out the players, but indeed get the best system for the managers desired tactic.

The first time I really became aware of players playing on the opposite natural side (in particularly wingers) was when Gordon Strachan was in charge of Southampton. The naturally left sided Fabrice Fernandes played right midfield and anytime he was involved, cracked shot after shot at goal, to the bemusement of the opposition left back. This was done as an attacking system by the studious tactician Strachan. In that circumstance, I think the decision was made on the available players, who would offer most attacking threat. And I think both players who played wide that day cut in and let fly whenever they could. I remember it becoming an obvious ploy during the game and Strachan even mentioned it in his post match interview. If no players in their squad were particularly adept at 'hitting the by-line' or even that Strachan thought the opposition fullbacks were good enough to stop that, then surely their surprise tactic was worth a go.

If a manager is solely based their decision on a certain player who is better at; shooting once cutting in (on their opposite natural side), linking up with a deep lying forward or the general play in the middle of the park, hanging up crosses using their weaker foot (which more depends on who is the striker) - than they would be at getting to the by-line on their natural side, then it is probably best for the players they have at their disposal. Shaun Maloney naturally right footed, is a better left midfield player than he is on the right due to his footballing assets.

But if it is a decision on who to buy - a guy who can do that, or a guy who can do that - then I personally would rather a guy who can get to the byeline, though I am not sure I would strictly keep that to players playing on their natural side as Aiden McGeady get to the by-line on the left and delivers a variety of crosses which seem to cause centre halves infinite problems, though when delivery from your natural side you are probably inclined to cross it with your stronger foot. Although Aiden is not a normal case as most players on opposite wings will try and cut back to their natural foot to cross if they possible can.

Part of this dilemma is based on positional development as wingers are rarely used as by-line wingers, even in a 4-3-3 the two wingers are better described as wide midfielders who hold a wing berth until the team loses possession. Even on their natural side wide midfielders keep the midfield compact never straying to far from the line held be the central pairing. Those on their opposite natural side are used effectively to keep the compact unit as they generally don’t dribble forward as much and along with cutting inside and staying close to their teammates they are being naturally drawn to their favoured side (so become slightly more central). This works at its best with overlapping fullbacks who are often used as the 'real' width in the team providing more deep crosses than any other crosses the striker will receive.

Another feature of this is the introduction of the 4-5-1 - but playing the personnel of a 4-4-2 (playing a hard working striker wide midfield to allow him to support the striker when the 451 breaks forward). This again discounts the wide midfielder from providing the wealth of crosses one might expect from that position and a fullback like Alan Hutton is again the service that the main striker will rely upon.

Being able to vary with players swapping sides and roles (of who crosses and who cuts in) is also surely a bonus rather than a straight switch of right footed to left side and vice versa. However too often it is not about that, it is about keeping things tight and or/having as many of the teams best players in the team.

It’s not as simple as having a player who can cut in and shoot -versus- a player who can get to the by-line and cross and how that effects and or helps the team. As I have mentioned, given that in the modern games most (even) natural wide players don’t get to the by-line anything as often as the wing wizards of days past, so whether or not it would be best to play a player who can do that might not give the best answer unto who should play on which side.

The future is Green and White

2008-08-06T04:42:00.000-07:00

Im usually a firm member of the 'lets not make a big deal out of it - just rise above them' brigade.

But this feels different. This is huge. This is what we've seen happening for year under Murray (and obviously hoped for).

They are going down the Leeds route. They no longer own the rights to their own stadium, which their accounts value 6 times more than its actual valuation. They spent 9 million pounds on players in a summer where even top clubs havent been throwing big bucks around. Their signing have been principly on stikers, of which they now have 8 (Miller, Velicka, Lafferty, Boyd, Novo, McCulloch, Cousin, Darchville) and they only play a formation with one up front. They expected to have sold Cousin and brought in Davis (at a profit) - None of this has happened. They regularly play with 4 Centre halfs along the back line, two defenders in midfield. They are in debt and MUST have gambled their transfer kitty on at least making the uefa cup.
On the flip side - we have just signed a player from Barcelona for pennys
Meaning the past four seasons have seen us buying a player every season from Europes elite.

2005/06 - Roy Keane (MAN UTD)
2006/07 - Tommy Gravesen (REAL MADRID)
2007/08 - Massimo Donati (AC MILAN)
2008/09 - Crossas (BARCELONA)

Throw a Chelsea, Seville, and PSV in there and you see our status and market position we hold (finances permitting).

With Samaras at a snip (1.2 million) - and next to nothing for McCourt (what looks to be a cracking squad player) - we seem to have wasted no money and still be in a better position. Boruc, McGeady, McDonald not only on long term contracts but openly willing to stay. We are straight through to the group stages of Champions League and have the complete Scottish section of the TV money.

Things couldn’t be more polarised.

I remember how long it took me to get over losing the league on the last day then the Artmedia debacle - it was a long and unenjoyable time footballwise(copyright Charlie Nicholas).

It is different - they know it and we know it. Its almost pointless 'rising above it'. We are above it. The level of fun we decide to poke at them is wholly our perogative.

The Future's bright, the future's green and white.

Tommy Burns

2008-05-15T04:25:00.000-07:00

The Chuckle brothers

2008-04-14T08:56:00.001-07:00

The two strikers may have bagged the headlines along with their goals, but it is the midfield where Celtic's improvement was most obvious. The industrious pairing of Hartley and Robson might not be the most creative, but they won the ball, kept possession and used it with the kind of control and dominance that other pairing have struggled to do in that position since the turn of the year, and before, infact.

With Celtic's creative players holding wide positions this season (Nakamura and McGeady), surely too much importance has been placed on getting a creative yet hardworking balance in the middle of the park. If the Celtic midfield can win the ball using their aggression and energy, be available to take the ball from defence, and be able to use the ball well enough, surely that will be enough to win the majority of midfield battles they will encounter. With the style of the hoops wide men, I don’t imagine the type of swashbuckling and steely grit that the Scottish Hartley and Robson provide, would adversely affect Celtic as a forward moving unit.

As long as at least one of the central midfielders, (alongside a wide man, and both strikers) are moving and supporting attacks then it should be enough for the mercurial Irishman, and the class of Nakamura. Energy and aggression in the middle is not enough without the consistency of team selection in order for the players to understand and forge on field combinations. If Brown cant figure out how to use his assets alongside a partner, then perhaps Paul and Barry will be given a chance between now and the end of the season....

In Reserve

2008-04-14T08:35:00.000-07:00

Koki Mizuno could become one of the best players to play for Celtic in years. And could genuinely feel he could make a real impact in this seasons remaining games. He has everything that the current first team is lacking. Imagination, invention, ability, confidence. Okay, this maybe was shown in a game against Gretna reserves, but his range and mix of passing, and delivery was quite something to behold. I understand Celtic are allowing him to settle and I completely understand that. But the flatness and almost a fear that looks to have creeped into more than one or two Celtic players is completely harming there ability to construct fluent football and attacking moves with the type of verve and pace that the players are capable of. Mizuno set up one with an exquisite left footed pass to Caddis when all seemed expecting a cross field ball on his right, another when he ghosted into the box causing enough concern to leave Killen unmarked giving him an easy header. And for Killen to complete his hat trick, Mizuno swung in the sort of cross with his right foot that his countryman Nakamura would have been proud of with his left from a free kick 40 yards from goal.

Mark Millar in the middle of the park looks to be progressing very well too, however he isn’t the first central midfielder to have done so and never made an impact at first team level. Paul Lawson, Teddy Bjarnnson, Simon Ferry, and Charlie Grant have all excelled in youth and reserve level but never been given the belief by Celtic that they can shoe themselves in the most difficult position to break into a football team at. The game is won and lost in the middle of the park and anyone watching recent Celtic reserve fixtures would have seen Mark Millar doing exactly that. Sorry, winning I should have said. Tackles, possession, passing, and even goal scoring, he certainly hasn’t been doing much losing of late.

With the undoubted craft of Mizuno, the power of Chris Killen, the ability of Riordan, and the explosive nature of Ben Hutchison in full flow around him, it is no doubt young Millar is able to fuse his skill into such a winning midfield.

Killen’s impact isn’t just in his great reserve goal scoring record; Cillian Sheridan looks to have been learning from the giant Kiwi striker and finding the net pretty regularly too.

Current results and performances aside, I am a tad concerned about the make up of the Celtic reserve squad.

It is made up of several first team squad who are and have been struggling to get into the starting X1 for sometime (Balde, Sno, Riordan, Brown, even Killen), new signings who are young enough to justify holding them back (Mizuno, and Hutchison), then reserve players who have been there for a while and have no real chance of pushing the first team players (Cuthbert, Conroy, McGlinchey, McGowan). Since O'Dea made his debut in December 2006, has any player broken into the first team squad on a regular basis?

McGowan was on the bench a couple of games (to justify knocking back the bid from Morton), out with that, Id say only Caddis has looked likely to not only have the ability, but to get the chance to play in the Celtic starting X1. And even then, how much was Caddis' push was plainly down to injuries to other players. I wouldn’t count Sheridan as he is still featuring heavily at u19 level, and regardless of his goal scoring for the reserves is clearly being given a thorough education before his first team exposure.

I suppose the make up of the reserves should bode well for the current squad Celtic have at the moment, but certainly not for long term progression. However, the fact that the first team are underperforming in terms of their level of performance, results, and league placing, show that we could perhaps do with seeing some potential on the horizon....

Celtic reserves are currently on course for 7 in a row this year

Strachan Must Go?

2008-04-10T08:17:00.000-07:00

Strachan Must Go?

Strachan can stay (and has earned the right to do so) IF he is willing to redress certian issues, and renege on his stubburness.

I liked a lot of Gordon's interviews last year and before where he talked about

the future
his plans
his knowledge of what was going wrong
his knowledge of what he needed to do to make things right

I liked how he spoke of changing/playing his team to suit the opposition/circumstances/conditions of each particular game.

I envisaged a team full of fluidity (which we are at our best), but one that could play different formations and different styles to suit the players in our team and to contrast with our opposition. Even the thought of putting X1 players out that could change to different systems would have been encouraging.

But we have gone every bit as stuck in the 4-4-2 as O'Neill's team did. At points this season Celtic have had no full backs, no wide midfielders, and only one striker available and on form enough to geniunely be considered to start matched.

Yet the most radical team set up has been a 4-4-1-1.

And many players out of form, sharpness, and confidence have been routinely left to pull on the hoops.

Celtic have not adapted.

It is my opinion that at the beginning of this season, the Celtic squad were on the cusp of something great - and for that - the current manager should be credited.

Unfortuanely he hasnt yet been able to take this group of players as far as they really could go. Whether or not he is able to do that could be shown in how he deals with the forthcoming end to the season.

Would staying would be an act of stubbornness in itself for Gordon Strachan.

I suppose it would be, yes - but only if he didnt challenge his own descions and actions in his time in charge of Celtic

IIf he stayed but and willing to learn from his mistakes, something he is not alone in football management (but is certianly up there with the worst of them), then perhaps he can use his experience as a basis to move on and improve. Gordon Strachan has so far been a successful Celtic manager, I suppose it’s the manner of that success allied to the consequent slip that is where many Celtic supporters could perhaps legitimately be concerned.

Worrying times....

2008-03-19T06:52:00.000-07:00

I do not believe Celtic have shown the spirit to win the league.

When was the last match Celtic won?

When was the last match that wasnt a must win?

Last night Celtic were the antithesis of the great Celtic sides.

There was many parts of Celtic under O'Neil that were frustrating, but there was one thing that I really really liked. Once the league was wrapped up, they were awful in league matches. Almost couldnt win. Regardless of the gulf in ability between the teams. It was like the players were such professionals that they couldnt lift themselves for games that meant nothing, but regardless of whether it was St Mirren at Home, or Juventus away, if the points were important, Celtic would turn up and do their best. There was this mixture of professionalism and spirit that was just so Celtic. It suited the players, and it suited the club. This seems to have been lost.

The balance is wrong everywhere on the pitch.

Caldwell and McManus dont work well together. Mo and Scott havent worked well together. Jan and wee Scotty arent working well together.

Artur is our captain. He is more commanding, authoritative, inspirational, and better at communicating than not only McManus but anyone else in our team. His distrubution is better than our centre half, and as of last night we discovered he causes more trouble in the opposition penalty area.

Lee Naylor was the only player I gave pass marks too .
Donati albeit poor of late had a decent game yesterday but if the sitting midifelder picks up the ball and there is no movement (or movement of any real thought or intelligence) then there is not much he can do.

Celtic have good footballers yet do not play good football. Do not possess natural width yet play with wide midfielders. Have a poor defence yet Darren O'Dea struggles to get on the bench. The goals have dried up yet Samaras gets only 20 minutes of a game. Gordon should know better, if he doesnt Celtic may need to move on.

Samaras doesnt link up much with his other striker and Gordon likes the fact that Skippy and Jan work with and off each other. You know what, they do that at times because they wont take the responsibility to do it themselves. Giorgios takes responsibility and is willing to have a go. Stephen McManus takes as little responsibility in a footballing sence than almost all other centre halves you will see. What other team has to have their full backs tucking in at every oppostion attack or cross ball. McManus got caught between two players last night, Caldwell wasnt fully on one. Yet still McManus took the easy way out and stopped to complain for offside.

Why do they insist on going for the same ball all the time?

The answer to this is for two reasons.
1 - They dont trust the other to deal with it. That is the only correct part of their decision making process
2- Their positioning is not great and end up in the wrong areas dealing with the wrong things

Caldwell tries to overcomponsate for this by being casual, McManus tries to overcompsenate by being all encompassing. Neither works.

And if the players put on the pitch cannot deal well enough with scenarios that are not logically defined, as in things they havent explicitly gone over in training, then there has to be a point where they are replaced.

Celtic are a team that admit it or not, Gordon will not like. There is so little off the cuff football played. No invention. They look overcoached, frightened, weak, and at times, very basic.

I think Gordon has assembled a squad that take his coaching and training onboard. However the likes of McManus, Caldwell, Naylor, Naka, Broony, McDonald, Hesselink all seem to have fallen into predescribed decisions and predescribed moves. The players look overcoached - do what we have been told but unable to cope if a situation that is foreign arises .

I hate seeing failings that I have heard flagged up months/years in advance still haunting Celtic.

Its worrying.

In the last 3 Celtic games McManus seems to have picked up a knock and played on. I dont know if its the same problem. Coincidently (or not) these past games have seen McManus be as poor as he has been for a while. Its been said before but he was made captain as there was a shortage of alternatives, the problem is that although he is/can be a decent defender, he is by no means an automatic first pick that a captaincy needs/levitates him to. For his own sake, his forms sake, and the team sake we should take him out for a couple of games altogether. O'Dea is crying out for a run in the team, infact the only hope he hasnt been waiting too long (being on the bench hasnt given him much reserve football over the past 6 months or so). McDonald and Hesselinks have many stregnths both individually and as a partnership, but it and they have not been firing recently. If Samaras' link up makes his partnership potential harder to asses, it doesnt neccessarily follow that he shouldnt break into the team. His form, momentom, and the pressure he causes other teams make him a definite starter at the moment. I reckon naka behind him threading balls through to him to get behind defences would be a good option currently. Naka and Aiden could switch from the flank and the hole so that they were harder to pick up and causing different problems.

Hartley has to start. He is Celtic's only central midfielder who can be relied on for week in week out consistent performances. Robson beside him might be a start to work from....

Transfer Window

2008-02-01T03:01:00.000-08:00

Comparison between certain traits our number 27 possesses and those of a previous number 7 may have been noted this season. However, if Robson uses his aggression, drive, and great delivery to fill the Thommo sized void that is often spotted in our midfield, then I think we will see both the ex Dundee Utd man, and indeed Scott McDonald really flourish this year.

Must say I wish Jiri all the best. Never had a run in a central berth which I’m sure would have shown us the true player that lies within. That said, I never felt the big man let us down, good performances in the Man Utd double header last year (including those well eh, falls I suppose), and the Milan and Shaktar at Celtic Park in particular this year showed his class and ability. Good luck…

Ins
Andreas Hinkel (£2.1m, Sevilla) Koki Mizuno (£600,000, JEF United) Giorgios Samaras (loan, Manchester City) Ben Hutchison (tbc, Middlesbrough) Barry Robson (£1.25m, Dundee United)

Out
Teddy Bjarnason (£250,000, Lyn Oslo) Jim O'Brien (loan, Dundee United) Jiri Jarosik (£750,000 FC Samara)

New Year resolution

2008-01-22T10:29:00.000-08:00

Since the turn of the year, with unforeseen circumstances giving us only two fixtures played, there seems to be staleness in Celtic's performances. Not short of enthusiasm or work rate, but again a lack of cutting edge giving us too few goal giving opportunities particularly considering the possession statistics in both 2008's games. Even the season's outstanding player Aiden McGeady couldn’t cut Stirling Albion open with the same panache that he has done to far greater defences this term.

Obviously there are many extenuating reasons why Celtic have not played close to their optimum. Having not played the players may have struggled to get back into their stride, although you would think the two weeks break would have been a rest that may have benefited and increased energy in the players performances. But it seems to be that final break through the opposition defence that is missing in Celtic's build up play. Perhaps the opposition, a lower league Stirling, and an injury hit Kilmarnock may have accepted Celtic Park as sheer damage limitation, but again I am not convinced. Although neither played what you would call adventurous football, they were hardly a 5-5-0 type formations to deal with.

In four games without conceding a goal and resulting victorious in all of them, I am sure Gordon Strachan will be reasonably content, but football fans increasingly concern themselves with the manner of victories as an indicator of form and future performances. Regardless of the managers defence of his team, Celtic are not setting the heather alight currently, and hope McGeady's return after his Kilmarnock suspension, allied with match sharpness of Nakamura and those around them, will breath fresh life into Celtic.

Boruc, McDonald, and McGeady cannot continue to win games alone if Celtic hold out league winning ambitions. There are several others expected, and needed to step up to the plate....

Celtic 1 - Kilmarnock 0

2008-01-22T05:43:00.001-08:00

Celtic 1 - Kilmarnock 0

With Hartley in for the suspended in-form winger McGeady, Celtic lined up in a familiar looking 442 system. However within 15 minutes Gordon Strachan’s plans were up in air with injuries to new full back Andreas Hinkel, and Dutchman Venegoor of Hesselink, with attacking pair Riordan and Killen the substitutes brought on. Hinkel seemed to have pulled something in his upper leg, and while he seemed mobile enough the Celtic manager obviously was taking no chances. He was withdrawn alongside Hesselink who had a nasty forehead gash after a challenge with Simon Ford.

With Hartley covering the right back role again, Riordan had the benefit of the wide left midfield, and Killen a straight swap for Hesselink. The changes seemed to encourage Celtic into a more open style of football, with everyone looking forward when possible. However, untidy passing, poor touches, and obvious moment were giving possession to Kilmarnock far more than the home side would have liked. Donati showed glimpses of his class, but alongside Brown again failed to dominate in an offensive manner in the manner hoped by Celtic. On the occasions Nakamura linked up with Donati, Brown, or when he switched wings for a spell, Celtic looked dangerous. Riordan almost took advantage twice, firstly a stylish chip after some neat control saw the ball almost glide over Combe who managed to flick the ball over the bar, and the second chance where Riordan drove forward and smashed a left foot shot towards goal which the keeper saved well. Despite possession and endeavour, Celtic created very few goal-scoring chances throughout the ninety minutes.

The second half was a duller affair with a low drive by Scott Brown, propelled into the net by a Martyn Corrigan own goal, who feared the onrushing Killen would break his home duck at Celtic Park. A couple of smart Combe stops aside, the only other talking point was the penalty claim by McDonald, which looked cruelly turned down by the Mosspark preacher Mike McCurry. The Australian seemed to have been felled as his run saw him flying by two Kilmarnock defenders and crash to the ground about 8 yards from the away goal, however, the diminutive striker had to make do with a yellow card instead of the more appealing spot kick.

Many happy returns

2008-01-20T10:36:00.000-08:00

Celtic 3 Stirling Albion 0

Two goals in the last 25 minutes gave a pretty resounding scorline in a game that gave Nakamura's return to the team after injury. He did so scoring Celtic's third goal in style with ten minutes remaining.

A Hesselink diving header broke the deadlock after 35 minutes from McGeadys timed cross which looked to open the flood gates, however it never really materialised as Celtic seemed unable to show the gulf in class in the manner they would have liked. McDonald and Nakamura's finishes, in the end showed Stirling why themselves and Celtic are literally leagues apart

Celtic 3 - Gretna 0

2008-01-02T10:32:00.000-08:00

A Decent Celtic performance. Good work involving McGeady, Hesselink McDonald give the Australian striker a chance to get his shot away to score the first. A brilliant pass and move from Brown to Donati, the Italian rolling the ball behind him to the onrushing Brown who finished with aplomb. Scott Brown really should be showing this ability more often. McGeady rounding off the game with an identical goal to his strike at home to Benfica in November. Riordan in a rare start showed his frustration when storming down the tunnel when he was taken off in the second half.

Sadly the day will be remembered for the death of Motherwell captain and ex-Celtic midfielder Phil O'Donnell. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEbTdy_Wz2U

Bobo's Boxing Day return

2008-01-01T10:32:00.000-08:00

Dundee Utd 0 - Celtic 2

The return of Bobo Balde coincides with a return to away clean sheets. Hesselink looks sharper, he and McManus picking up a goal a piece.

Inverness 3 - Celtic 2

2007-12-17T07:24:00.000-08:00

"If there's a shop where I can buy something that stops bad defending then I'll go there."

Yes, they are called defenders.

I suppose the first place to assess this quote is by looking at the players who could be filling the defensive slots within the current squad. It would be folly to suggest Celtic shouldn’t invest on their defence in the January window, however in the couple of weeks before then, for Celtic to keep their title charge realistic, it is imperative that the defence in its current guise cannot continue without some sort of reshuffle. Let’s play one who has proven experience and quality. At times against Inverness it seemed like Pressely and McManus were attempting to gift the highland side points for Christmas, with all three goals conceded by Celtic after scoring twice, surely avoidable by more competent defending.

Whether loved or hated, it must be conceded that Balde has been part of some very effective units in the past, and indeed even in his fleeting appearances in the past two seasons, statistically Celtic are more defensively resolute with Balde in the starting line up. Persisting with the defensive personnel who have been playing of late, is plain embarrassing. Gordon has to bring at least one of Balde or O'Dea in before the transfer window. If he does not, he is all but accepting the standard that the defence has been playing at.

In the past 5 games, what has Stephen McManus done to justify his inclusion ahead of O’Dea’s? I could accept O'Dea starting the next couple of games at centre half, as that is at least dealing with the problem in some way. Although I had thought he would be good enough cover at left back, O'Dea has looked poor at in that position. I thought he was below par in san siro. He has never looked anything close to poor at centre half though. Celtic at times over the past year have fluttered on the cusp of something great, and for that the manger deserves credit.
However, he has to be more proactive with his defence unless he risks undoing the good work.

Sadly due to the stubborn inflexibility of the manager, Balde playing under Gordon Strachan (bar an outbreak of bubonic plague) is as unlikely as Celtic opting for a back three. Given the personnel available recently, Strachan should surely have been playing a back three for months now. There will be reasons why the manager will not change his desired formation; however the benefits of doing so must surely be weighing up against it given the generosity of goals from his back four.

Through his captaincy McManus has achieved first pick status that his ability hasn’t always merited. To digress slightly, I would imagine had Celtic not appointed a Captain following Lennon's departure, and looked at the squad on current form and ability, Paul Hartley would have been head and shoulders ahead of McManus in the vote. The young centre half could then have been not only led by a more experienced and able footballer, but been allowed to be taken out of the team when form suggests so, and indeed learn from his mistakes rather than continue the pretence that things will improve without change, which he is suffering currently.

Gordon's post match interview again yesterday took the embarrassment further than the football pitch. His claims of a great performance were clearly not true so spare us the nonsense. If he is not prepared to give a truthful interview, I don’t see a problem with him not conducting an interview at all. For a fifteen minute spell in the first half, Celtic hit great form, out with that, McGeady again seemed alone in his quest to produce quality befitting a Celtic team. From that, I am not sure what Gordon can make a great performance.

The main positive I did note however, that Hesselink was back amongst the goals, and showed he is able to, like his strike partner McDonald has of late, to benefit from McGeady excellent set up play, with the Dutchman looking particularly sharp for his second.

For all the talent and potential Derek Riordan has, the player couldn’t say whole heartedly say he has shown enough to deserve a starting berth from his Celtic performances. However, currently there aren’t enough players playing at a level to merit keeping him out the team, and again yesterday, his entrance to the game seemed to bring a slight breath of hope to both supporters and players of Celtic alike. However Killen could not capitalise when Riordan played him in literally two yards from goal. Surely Killen cannot continue to be brought on with the expectation he will do anything other than play a similar style to Hesselink but with less mobility, ability, and certainly goal threat. Zurawski and Riordan offer a different type of approach, and if Hesselink's approach isn’t giving goals or a threat, then surely the Polish striker, or Riordan are a more positive proposition.

Celts for Change

2007-12-13T08:29:00.000-08:00

With a 442 system in the style Celtic have (with quite a tight 4, with typically only one of whom supporting for each attack) a target man in terms of a big man just up there to win headers and flick ones is very outdated. This was even seen latterly in Hartson's time.

John Hartson was a magnificent target man, perhaps the last of the true great British target man of that mould. The game has changed in many ways, teams are more conservative and play more defensive minded players even in advanced positions. Unless a team play with wingbacks, fullbacks can now almost always be replaced by good centre halves. Look round at European leagues, particularly those in the better league, Celtic are not alone in playing 4 players more adept to playing Centre back. Barcelona played Puyol at right back last night, I’m sure Sergio Ramos played fullback for Real, Wes Brown played for Man Utd, we have all seen Gallas, Carvalho, Toure play fullback in the Premiership. At Celtic Park in recent years I have seen both Paolo Maldini, and Collochini play fullback for Milan.

European action and success is a must for top teams, losing is a disaster. Teams are so frightened of losing Defenders defending has becoming increasingly more important (harking back to a bygone era before Carlos and Cafu were king). Raiding fullbacks may become a thing of the past, and in terms of style, it wont be a pretty game we move to. With the likes of O'Dea and Caldwell as full backs, their objective is not to bring the play forward, link with the midfield and take part in an open attacking and attractive game. Whether due to ability or direction from the sidelines, in tighter defensive systems invariably advocate those in the fullback positions playing long (and sometimes hopeful balls to the strikers).

Yes players like Hartson have played this role in the past, particularly as he was exceptional at holding the ball up and good close control, but it was crosses from wide and support from midfield that Big John and others (like Shearer for example) thrived on.

With the exception of corner kicks, how many headed goals have Celtic scored recently from cross balls. Not many.

The 'new' target men are still physically strong but now their game is based as much on energy and mobility as it is on sheer power. Rooney, Drogba, Ashton, Torres, Etoo, Ibrahimovic, in the past these players would be coached and encouraged to use their physicality to get on the end of crosses, however these guys gave exceptional movement and mobility, dropping off to receive these long clearances up field. As likely to chest the ball down and bring others in to play than to flick it on to their smaller partner to run onto. The balls up field from defence are often not as accurate as crosses from wide midfielders use to be, so for the striker, its all about getting away from their marker to get it first, judge where it going, and move to where they can be most effective.

This is where Hesselink struggles. With the ball in front of him, he attacks it well from what I have seen, but he doesn’t seem as comfortable dropping off and moving to where the ball from defence is going.

It’s my opinion that to get the most out of a Hesselink type, wide midfielders OR forwards are the key. If we are insistent that wingbacks are a thing of the past for Celtic, and 4 defenders are our future, complete with midfield tighter than Murray's purse strings the 433/451 formation has to be used.

When we don’t have the ball the wingers become midfielders, and when we do have it, they become the number one outlet to supply the main striker with as many crosses as possible. It also gives the runner from midfield and opportunity to get forward to support and be brought in by the striker, whilst still providing enough cover behind.

The main problem in this is the relative performance of Hesselnik and McDonald. Whether its our systems fault or not, Hesselink hasn’t been playing the standard of McDonald. Can we justify adjusting or team/system to suit he rather than McDonalds competencies? The headed goals I do recall from cross balls this season have been from McDonalds supply. Perhaps with McDonald on the right, McGeady on the left, we could give Hesselink the supply that would justify his place in the team.

Whatever we do, Hesselinks involvement in our current big man little man partnership, has to change.

Currently I see our dysfunctional attacking philosophy and play, making our use of Hesselink sadly look like a 90's Scotland team with Duncan Ferguson.

Celtic 1 St Mirren 1

2007-12-12T12:09:00.002-08:00

When Jose Mourinho claimed Tottenham "brought the bus and they left the bus in front of the goal" at Stamford bridge in September 2004, I am sure many Celtic supporters knew exactly the sentiment intended.

With the gulf between Celtic, their closest rival, and the rest of the league at its widest, it is not unusual for teams to line up at Celtic Park as if it was a damage limitation exercise. Most try and fail, though some notable successes such as Dunfermline’s 1-0 victory in 2004 where they played a delightful 5-5-0 formation, should be remembered. In some sense, the success of 'parking the bus' is determined by the way in which a team parks it.

St Mirren parked strategically, with concentration, energy, and discipline. For the most part, leaving the bus more at the 18-yard box than the goal line, with Celtic not getting beyond it there with any sense of purpose. Celtic struggled all game to break down St Mirren, who seemed a far fitter and better drilled team than their appearance at Celtic Park earlier in the season. Not to say the Paisley side played pretty football, as the bus parking suggested, it was very much an off the ball type performance. When Celtic had it St Mirren worked tirelessly to close the spaces down, and again, like several teams this season, allowed only Celtic's back four time on the ball.

A team playing with natural fullbacks, can comfortably take possession, link and overlap with the midfield, however with Celtic's dearth in that position, both O'Dea, and Caldwell were often left in unfamiliar and by the looks of things highly uncomfortable positions. To their credit, both players made all attempts to get forward, but their possession, use of the ball, and most importantly delivery into the box were just not good enough for players covering the roles expected of them.

St Mirren's defence were just batting every crossed or through ball back at Celtic and almost asking them to come up with something that might actually trouble them. Again like most games this season, McGeady and McDonald endeavoured, but McGeady was sometimes left with 2 and even 3 men covering his driving runs, and McDonald found himself at times alone in his pursuit to force the bus back to the goal line. Hesselink a complete passenger again, seemed unable to even get in its way when it veered in any way forward.

Hartley and Brown in Celtic's engine room played with as little effect, and verve as you will see from them this season. With McGeady perpetually marked by two defenders, someone in midfield really should have been moving enough to benefit from the space. Brown seemed to lose the ball any time he stepped forward, yet Hartley seemed content on letting Brown be the one to engineer attacking moves. Jarosik was drifting inside from his left midfield slot, possibly in an attempt to influence play, but it did seem to confuse matters when Celtic broke forward. Jarosik isn’t a natural wide player, so is often content to drift more centrally and let the fullback go by him, and of late, he and Naylor seemed to have made this work to good effect. In Naylor’s absence all it seemed to do was push O'Dea into a position further and further from that he is used to.

A close McGeady free kick aside, in the first half, the home side didn’t create any chances likely to break through the parked traffic in front of Smith's goal. Teams that set up as St Mirren did, and play a game based on extreme discipline and work rate, tend to suffer from fatigue and lose concentration as the game wears on. This didn’t seem to be a major problem for them, with Celtic however beginning to pound on the windows of the bus that bit harder in the second 45.

A free kick delivered by Hartley gave Jarosik a great opportunity, although one in which he could only steer onto the post and watch agonisingly come back out and be cleared by the St Mirren defence. A Hesselink header and a McDonald shot on the turn should have given Celtic better chances to score but the Bus remained defiant beneath a sky now pouring with snow.

Along with a change in ball for a more visible yellow, Celtic made the bold move to bring on Riordan for O'Dea (to supplement Sno on for Jarosik ten minutes previously) in order to bolster Celtic attacking options. Gordon Strachan must have hoped for not only Riordan's threat in the final third, but with Hartley dropping back to fill the vacant left back slot, surely a player more adept to building moves and comfortable on the ball would benefit Celtic's cause. Within minutes Gordon had his answer, a quick break by St Mirren found Mehemmet bursting up the wing, Hartley looked hopelessly exposed as a right footed midfielder out of position at right back, as he got the wrong side of both Mehemmet and the ball. The big Englishman, once past Hartley, tested Mark Brown with a clean strike, which Celtic's keeper parried to the onrushing youngster Stephen McGinn to easily slot past Brown.

As McGeady had a 20-yard strike palmed over the crossbar by Smith, Celtic hoped for one of those infamous comebacks, though given the lacklustre performance, it looked highly unlikely. Five minutes from time Sno gave Celtic a change to claim a point with an outrageously good pass, curling to the path of Riordan over the St Mirren resolute rearguard. Riordan, with one touch and finish did not disappoint and made it a goal a piece

Milan - To the Last 16

2007-12-12T06:19:00.000-08:00

It certainly wasn’t a vintage champions league performance to take them into the last 16 of the champions league, but no doubt Celtic will have been delighted at the nights outcome nonetheless.

Going in to a game knowing you need only a draw can sometimes be a dangerous thing, and Celtic certainly set up as if one point was their raison d'etre. With McDonald preferred to Hesselink ploughing the loan furrow up front, Massimo Donati came in to sheppard a midfield of McGeady, Hartley, Brown and Jarosik, against the might of Milan in his native land. O'Dea kept his place at left back with Naylor still absent through injury. Milan played as strong a midfield and forward as any other team in Europe could muster, electing however, for experienced heads like Cafu, Favalli and Simic in their backline alongside Bonera (in a four man defense which possessed a highly enviable 270 international caps between them).

In all truth Celtic rarely tested the ageing Milan rearguard, with Jarosik's drive from distance Celtic's only real highlight and threat of the first half. Although the home side had the bulk of the play, they didn’t seem to create as many gilt-edge chances as at times it looked like they really should have. Like many performances of late, Celtic's full backs seem to be the only ones in any kind of space when the team are in possession. Sadly, O'Dea, and Caldwell who are seen as ball playing centre halves, are in any way, comfortable in possession on the flanks, and repeated long balls forward were easy for the Italian's to deal with.

In order to capture their home form, whilst on the road in Europe, Celtic must find a way to bring there better and more progressive players into the game. Even with McDonald upfront alone, there must be more effective way to bring the flowery play of McGeady, the energy of Brown, and the experience of Jarosik to the fore in order to take the pressure off the defense.

More and more, Kaka became instrumental in Milan’s dominance, and as Celtic, who had managed to keep the score line goalless at half time, began to show the signs of cracking. Venegoor came on in an attempt to allow the long ball to have an effective outlet. To no avail, as Milan kept Celtic pinned in, with Inzaghi who earlier missed a header which looked easier to score, slotting home on the 70th minute to score his record breaking 63rd goal in European competition. Milan had few efforts on goals after this, and Scott Brown bombed forward to get on the end of a hopeful ball from defense but didn’t test the keeper when really he should have.

The best action of the night for the Celtic support was the intermittent updates of the Shaktar V Benfica game, showing that in the end, Benfica did enough to pave the path for Celtic to charge on to the latter stages of the Champions League for the second year in a row.

Hearts 1 - Celtic 1

2007-12-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

In a team showing only the two enforced changes with Pressley and O'Dea inplace of injured pair Kennedy and Naylor, Celtic produced the type of performance intimating that more changes may have served them better at Tynecastle.

In actual fact both the experienced former Hearts captain, and young Irishman O'Dea were two of Celtic better performers, with Pressley again using the ball well, and O'Dea looking pretty assured to his left even getting forward to support the midfield. The game was a pretty stale affair, neither teams having many chances.

Hartley's whipped freekick as the game looked destined for a goalless draw, squirmed away from the Hearts keeper leaving Scott McDonald able to pounce to make it 1-0.

Surely then the game would settle Celtic's way, however a last minute abboration by Gary Caldwell, deciding to clearly push Tall in Celtic's own area, gave Velicka another chance to score against Celtic.

Shaktar Victory

2007-11-29T06:23:00.000-08:00

No matter how many times I've been there, seen it, lived through it, I just can’t bring myself to understand the magic that happens at Celtic Park.

About 65 minutes gone, there was just no way I could see Celtic scoring again, no way I could see them winning.

Far more intelligent and eloquent men that me, have failed to understand, never mind explain what it is about Celtic on these nights that make them the most special team in the world.

It’s not just the supporters, that would give you and I too high a place in it all. It’s Celtic. It’s the strip, the history, the players, the stadium, the songs, the hope, the belief (sometimes), the passion, the disappointment, the stage, the fans, the teams and players of days gone by. So many tangible’s make up the intangible beauty that is Celtic, that not only wins games like last night, but also reinforces the belief all around the world that Celtic are one of those special clubs. Where people are drawn to, and once here never can escape completely.

Celtic becomes a part of you, every bit as much as you become a part of Celtic:

Ninety-seven minutes to do it all again. To be deflated, to build yourself back up, to lose our way (and players), to bring ourselves back into it, to hate the opposition, to get hold of the match only to give away chances. All of this, to end where so many have ended before. Twelve months ago Nakamura did it, against Milan Scott McDonald did it. As Neil Lennon said "Yes I've seen this before, every time I come here, I don’t know why you're all surprised" It should have been, whose turn would it be tonight?

McDonald endeavoured and was directly involved in the first, with his sheer persistence causing the Shaktar defence enough concern to force the error giving the ball to the calm and impressive Jarosik. The buzzing from one defender to the next continued to cause them problems, and won a couple of the corners late in the game as we tried to keep the pressure on. But it wasn’t a day for McDonald or his less persistent partner Hesselink, to be the hero.

McGeady too, no lack of effort from the young Irishman, and like McDonald certainly played a supporting role in the story of the night. But his obvious talent led the Ukrainian side to double up on him, giving him a hell of a task to play his part as effectively as he has done. However, he worked away, and what the defence prevented him doing in terms of dribbling and taking them on, he certainly made up for in delivery. Two or three crosses giving opportunities that really should have broken Shaktar hearts, with Donati's 92 minute strike making up for Jarosiks far simpler first half chance.

Brown worked determined as ever and got about the pitch well, but there will be future European nights at Celtic Park where his name will be song at the final whistle. Much like Boruc, who one excellent save apart, had little chance to impact on proceedings in a match winning capacity.

Naylor and Kennedy, both had prologues giving them a script worthy of the last minute winner, however injury curtailed their games and both had to be replaced early on. Naylor having such a torrid start to the season, really looks to have got over it, and looks far more confident, what timing a hero's performance would have been for the willing fullback who had little time to do anything constructive before he went down in distress to be replaced my midfielder Donati in what had to be a tactical reshuffle. Even more concerning was the sight of the collapsed Kennedy on the Celtic Park turf, after his early mistake giving Brandao an easy chance for Shaktar to go one up, a goal would have been great for the big man, to ease the pain of the 3rd minute. Although that pales in significance to the worry that his first half substitution was a reoccurrence of the knee injury that kept him out for over two years. Hopefully it wont prove to be anything as serious as that, but indeed, Left him out of the race to be the man to bring Celtic back to touching distance of the last 16 of the Champions League.

McManus didn’t do too much wrong and a steady performance (albeit with mixed distribution) kept him away from the glory that he and McDonald enjoyed against Milan. After the cruel injury blow to Kennedy, Pressley took his place alongside McManus in the heart of the defence, and in truth gave one of his most assured performances in a Celtic shirt. Kept it simple, and gave the ball to those more gifted at the beautiful game than himself. In his first game in 7 months, Pressley even remained back at Corners thus ruling him out of any goal scoring opportunities, in a clear attempt to maintain a level of sharpness and energy until the final whistle.

If any player on the pitch was deserving of not only a victory, but also some personal glory, it would have been Paul Hartley. Will work tirelessly with all his experience in any position given, and showed that he will give his all for Celtic. Being shifted to left back would seem galling to most midfielders but Hartley got on with the task at hand and performed more that admirably. But an overlapping fullback he will never be, and was content to sit in, hold his position and let other vie for the glory.

It has been said before that Gary Caldwell is not good enough at Champions League level, however no-one can call into questions Gary's determination, effort, and most all off bottle. To his detrement Gary Caldwell will not hide, he will take the ball and he will try his best. Yes often that is not good enough, and I don’t think it will benefit anybody to turn Gary Caldwell into a good footballer, because it would be stretching the truth. But lets for once give him credit, credit that is deserved for anyone who works like he did last night, for the bottle he has, and for the help he has given us when he stands up to be counted. Spartak game, Boruc and Naylor almost crack under the pressure and go for each other, who splits them up Gary Caldwell, not our captain who is standing beside him. First penalty of the shootout to take us to the all important group stages, who steps up, a centre forward, Hesselink, no, a centre half, must be our captain then, no, Gary Caldwell. Against Milan his calm and controlled shot caused Dida more problems that Rab McHendry giving McDonald his goal. Last night, his efforts to get forward in the latter stages have to be applauded, as indeed does his slipped pass to Aiden on the wing leading to the goal.

But Gary will only ever be part of a team able to take Champions league points, if he has other players around him, good players, match winners. Last night, one such player, a good player indeed, was Jiri Jarosik. Not only did he put to bed the nonsense that he isn’t up for the fight, but he put in a goal and all round performance that was deserved of his man of the match award. Not the left midfielder that will hit the by-line, not only due to his natural foot being his right, but his game is far more on a calm, passing, possession play that on big nights is needed more than the plain effort and pace that fans sometimes think best. Jiri not only tackled, marked and covered his and any other man he could, he used the ball well, and along with his fantastic strike to draw level, got into two great positions from which he could have scored. What Jiri does particularly well, he refuses to be bullied into playing the rushed pass and has the presence of mind to build the move slowly without playing a pass blind just to force it forward, which in pressure situations is always a consideration.

However well Jarosik played, and how great a strike his goal was, there was one reason why Jiri Jarosik was not the name on the tip of 60,000 tongues leaving Celtic Park last night. That reason was Massimo Donati. With a basic overview, the Italian was purchased with Champions League performances in mind, so therefore last night was purpose built for him, and accordingly he delivered. Things, unfortunately haven’t been as simple as that for the likeable Italian, who was disappointed not to be named in the starting eleven for the second consecutive Champions League again. There was good reason why he was amongst the subs, Paul Hartley has been giving the type of performances, with grit, passion, composure, and stability that Massimo has struggled to show since the first couple of matches. Tonight he came on and tried to put that all right. It didn’t all work for him. But his effort was plain to see, and on the 47th minute of the second half, there was something else plain to see.

Massimo Donati had just become a part of Celtic and Celtic in turn had just become a part of him.

Post Aberdeen - looking to Wednesday...

2007-11-27T06:30:00.000-08:00

Saturdays game was the best Celtic performance for a long time. With Boruc missing the game after pulling up with an injury in the warm up, it was good for Mark Brown to get a shut out. However having no saves to make, it wasn’t overly difficult for him, either way a good confidence booster (which may be important if he has to fill in on Wednesday again.)
With McGeady on his natural right hand side, with Brown one in from him, Aberdeen were given no chance by the sheer pace, power, and skill of the pair of young midfielders. Donati replaced Hartley(out with a virus) and was efficient enough, but with Jarosik and the two young players to his right dominating proceedings there wasn’t much need for Donati to pull out all the stops.
Naylor looking more and more the willing attack minded full back we witnessed last year, got forward all game, and indeed deserved to have turned in the chance he narrowly missed.
Kennedy, McManus, Caldwell and Brown will never have had such an easy afternoon, as the rest of the team kept Aberdeen on the back foot for such long spells it looked an effort for Aberdeen to get out of their own half. Without yet convincing that he is the talisman expected upon his arrival from Eindhoven, Hesselink not only got on the scoresheet but indeed couldn’t help but get involved with the fluency and speed of play when the midfield got up time and time again to support he and the ever impressive Scott McDonald.

Going into Wednesdays game, already without Nakamura and Wilson, hopefully the consistent pair of Artur Boruc and Paul Hartley will (as the club hope) recover in time for the match up with the Ukrainians.

Still concerened about the appearance of Caldwell in our backline in the Champions League, however a fitter Kennedy with an improved match fitness will help McManus to the level of performance he has shown beside David Weir. McManus has looked very much stretched agaisnt Donestk and Benfica so far this campaign, and will have to do better to ensure victory against the strikeforce that Donestk posses. Kennedy must be sharper alongside him, but hopefully playing the amount of minutes he has done recently will give him the boost our defence badly needs.

Naylor seems to get forward more with the experience of Jarosik or Hartley infront of him, with McGeady covering the ground infront of a rightback who isnt of capacity to support attacking moves the more likely choice, however to pack the midfield and give attacking options on the wings, I would have Brown wide right and MCGeady on the other side.
A big performance from Hesselink would be timely and take some pressure off McGeady and McDonald who so far this CL campaign have stood up to be counted more than most.

Boruc

Caldwell Kennedy McManus Naylor

Brown Jarosik Hartley/Donati McGeady

McDonald JVoH

Looking for impact from the bench of Zurawski in the second half as an important outlet for us also.
We really need to take 3 points from this one, so substitutes could be vital for us, with Riordan as an attacking left sided player might give McGeady's effectiveness a chance to play through the centre if we are still in search of goals late on in the game….

Celtic 3 - Aberdeen 0

2007-11-26T01:39:00.000-08:00

From The Times

November 26, 2007

Celtic power to win thanks to Aiden McGeady’s masterclass

Celtic 3 Aberdeen 0

Phil Gordon at Celtic Park

When Scott Brown admits to being envious of someone else’s energy, it has to be a special talent. The eager Celtic midfield player is not one to stop in his tracks for anything, and certainly not to admire the view. However, even Brown feels second-best right now, compared to the raw power of Aiden McGeady.

Just seven days earlier, Brown left a few world champions gulping for oxygen as he took Scotland’s Euro 2008 fight to Italy. On Saturday, he put in one 90-yard run that tore Aberdeen apart and conjured up a pirouette that Zinedine Zidane would have been proud of. Yet, Brown still felt in awe of McGeady’s performance. The Ireland winger earned high praise from Gordon Strachan – “It was a flawless performance from Aiden,” the manager said – but the endorsement of Celtic’s £4.5 million summer signing from Hibernian probably counted more with McGeady. Kind words from the manager are important, but kudos from the dress-ing-room is much harder to earn.

Brown watched McGeady torment Aberdeen – finding the net with the same fierce accuracy from distance that he employed against Benfica four weeks ago – and he is hoping that his teammate is saving up of those goals when Shakhtar Donetsk come to Celtic Park on Champions League business on Wednesday. McGeady was sacrificed by Strachan when the two teams met in Ukraine on the opening night of group D, as the Celtic manager went for a 4-5-1 formation only to lose 2-0, but there is no chance of the 21-year-old being on the bench this time round.
“Aiden was frightening again,” Brown said. “For the last month, I don’t think anyone has been able to get close to Aiden. I hope that continues. Since I came to the club, his performances have been on a different level. His pace, his work-rate and his skill are incredible. He regularly runs 60 or 70 yards several times in a game, taking players on, but he still gets back to help out in defence. He has amazing energy.”

Jimmy Calderwood will also take his team into Europe this week, away to Atlético Madrid in the Uefa Cup on Thursday. However, the Aberdeen manager acknowledged that even in Spain he may not see a talent quite like McGeady’s. “We contributed to our own downfall but Celtic were magnificent and it was a wonderful performance by McGeady. Celtic’s energy and desire were terrific. Look at him and Scott Brown when they were 3-0 up, they were still hungry for the ball.”

During the week, McGeady can be spotted on Celtic’s training ground running with a harness round his waist as he drags a tyre, to improve his speed. On match days, it is opponents who seem laden down as they trail in his wake. McGeady symbolises Celtic’s progress in the Champions League this term: neither got out of the blocks in Donetsk but they are now well into their stride and Wednesday offers the chance to go second behind AC Milan.

“We were disappointing in Ukraine,” Brown said. “We lost two early goals and we tried to come back in the second half but it was not to be. This will be different. We are home, where we have a great record. The fans will be like a twelfth man for us and that will really help us. The performance against Aberdeen was one of the best I have seen. We had 11 players at their peak and we will need something like that against Shakhtar Donetsk. We have to win all our home games to have a chance of going through to the next stage in the Champions League. We’ve won the last two, against Milan and Benfica, and we badly want the victory from this one, too.”
Had it not been for Jamie Langfield, then Aberdeen would have been badly mauled in the manner that they so often were when Ebbe Skovdahl was manager a few years ago ago. This was three, going on seven. The goalkeeper produced a string of first half-saves to prevent Scott McDonald and Brown adding to the thirteenth-minute header from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and McGeady’s raking shot, on off the post. Jiri Jarosik also grazed the top of the bar with an audacious long-range effort.

Even though Langfield committed an error that allowed McDonald to pounce and secure his fourteenth goal of the campaign, after initially saving at the striker’s feet, the goalkeeper atoned for that in superb fashion in the 69th minute with a remarkable double save from McGeady and Vennegoor of Hesselink, as they rained down venomous efforts upon him.
Calderwood was deeply unhappy about Aberdeen’s display. Only Chris Maguire, the teenage substitute, was absolved from blame. “Chris showed great desire and no fear but I cannot say the same about more experienced members of the team,” the manager said. “They have been told a few home truths and if they don’t deliver, they will not play.”
Scott Severin, the captain, admitted that Aberdeen cannot afford to allow
Atlético Madrid the same latitude on Thursday. “It is a massive game for us but it will be a difficult one,” Severin said. “When we get to Spain, we want to cause them a few problems – we just did not do that to Celtic. It will be the biggest club game of my career, though I was on the bench when I was 18 and at Hearts and we played Real Mallorca.

“The manager was going to see Atlético play on Sunday night and he will work out a game-plan for us. We were on a good run until we went to Tynecastle to play Hearts before the international break and now we have conceded seven goals in two games. We did not do that last year. We were very hard to beat and we have got to get back to that standard.”

Celtic cruised past Aberdeen without the industry of Paul Hartley and the goalkeeping of Artur Boruc. The Scotland midfield player was suffering from a virus but should be ready to play on Wednesday but Boruc’s fitness is more of a concern, after picking up a toe infection while on international duty with Poland. Mark Brown was promoted from the bench when the problem became evident 30 minutes before kick-off. “There is something wrong with his toes, he can’t kick the ball properly,” Strachan said.

Thankfully for Strachan, there is nothing wrong with McGeady’s toes. He is quite simply, poetry in motion just now.

Celtic 3 Aberdeen 0

Scorers Celtic: Vennegoor of Hesselink 14, McGeady 27, McDonald 49

Celtic (4-4-2): M Brown 6 G Caldwell 8 S McManus 7 J Kennedy 8 L Naylor 8 A McGeady 9 S Brown 8 M Donati Y 6 J Jarosik 8 J Vennegoor 8 S McDonald 8 Substitutes C Killen (for McDonald, 77min), M Zurawski (for Vennegoor, 77), E Sno (for Donati, 82) Not used P Caddis, D Riordan, D O’Dea

Aberdeen (3-4-3): J Langfield 8 A Diamond 6 S Severin 5 L Mair 4 M Hart 5 B Nicholson 7 C Clark 4 R Byrne 5 J Smith 4 L Miller 4 S Aluko 7 Substitutes: C Maguire 6 (for Clark, 46min), J De Visscher (for Smith, 72), S Lovell (for Miller, 75) Not used D Soutar, R Foster, K Touzani, A Considine

Referee M McCurry
Attendance 58,000

Spanish Press

2007-11-13T08:52:00.000-08:00

Printed in El Mundo, 8/11/2007PLEASE, DON'T EVER COME BACK AGAIN

Dear Rangers supporters- never come back to Barcelona again.And not because your players themselves aren’t a legitimate team.No, it’s not because of that- the Nou Camp frequently hosts teams who are lazy, boring, who only defend,who run and kick their opponents, and who shouldn’t be in elite competition.On top of this, Rangers merely defend, run at the oppositionand play dirty. Their defenders are butchers, their midfielders, heavy-footed; andtheir strikers just stand there like the furniture.

But even apart from the footballing aspect, the best thing would be for Rangers neverto return to Barcelona, because every time they do, they make a mess of the place. 35years ago, you (the Rangers supporters) destroyed the seats at the Nou Camp. Thistime we have enjoyed no less than 48 hours of brawls, provocation, rackets, fights andcommon drunk women throughout the whole city, which you have fouled howeveryou pleased.

Stay at home and vomit in your own living-room, urinate in your sitting-roomcorners, fight with your neighbours, the Celtic supporters (who deserve a prize just forputting up with you) and foul the streets of Glasgow instead. Don’t come back hereagain, because it is not a laughing matter. And, by extension, don’t play in theChampions’ League either. You are not at that level neither in a sporting nor humansense.

There are noisy groups of supporters who, although they drink vast amounts of beer,make friends at the same time. But you? Not you, because everywhere you go, youturn into a rubbish tip. You are undesirables. And so are those who fraudulently sell,or “rent out” their tickets. These people screw Barca over, because they trade theirseason tickets illegally. And in doing this they cause massive annoyance for othermembers of the club. A true Barcelona fan would not re-sell their ticket for the match.If you are not going to the match, give it to a family member, or you could even usethe 'Seient Lliure' service (an automated ticket service used by some Spanish clubsincluding Barcelona).

From now on, the responsibility lies with UEFA and the club itself to ensure who theticket is sold to. The best thing for all of us would be that you as a supporter, in amoment of lucidity, decide not to travel if you do not have tickets. As that is nevergoing to happen, those who sell the tickets illegally must be brought to justice. But thebest thing would be if we never had to play Rangers again.

Barca Failure for Rangers

2007-11-13T08:51:00.000-08:00

Half the problem is the Scottish mentality on the playing field, which at least through playing and managing in England for so long, Gordon Strachan has partially escaped. However, its more than that, its the fine line between ambition/risk/good business. Seville couldnt have just bought Alves, Kanoute, Kersekov (Sp?!), Poulsten, Palop, and Luis Fabiano in one summer and think (a la Peter Risdale at Leeds) right if we do well then it willl pay for all their transfer fees and wages, if not - we'll go bust...
It's a building process. With Rangers and Smith - there isnt an overriding sense of future involved in anything thats happening. To me its even shown in simple things like... bBoyd is young, can score goals at any level, alright so he doesnt have a style thatat the minute suits playing one up front against the top teams int he world. In my eyes there are two options, one, dont play one upfront (particularly if your best striker isnt suited to it), or indeed two - you teach him and give him experience doing it so that he learns and as your team progresses he adds another string to his bow. Another part to that is, has he ever had any number of games playing the lone role or is it as simple as, he doesnt seem to work hard in a two so couldnt possibly do it himself?
Give barcalona the ball for 60-70% of the game against any team in the world and they will win - its sheer folly to even attempt it. The level of possession and pattern of paly was of such that if Rangers had gone 3 upfront then Barca couldnt even have had any more of the ball/game. If you play one upfront in a pitch that size agaisnt players of the Barca level, your two wide midfielders have to get up and support your forwards when you've got the ball - effectively they have to be the fittest, hardworking and bravest players on the park. Beasley doesnt have the bottle to go by SPL players so was never likely to do it at the camp nou. Had Novo and Naismith played the wider areas ten it might have given ranegrs a chance, an outlet even just to take the pressure off from time to time.
But both thos players are just auxillarily strikers, bar Burke (wherever he is these days) do Rangers have any natural width. Charlie Adam being told to get up and down the line, is just plain daft, if he does that for 30 mins he'l be leaving himself open to be run ragged for the rest of the game. I actually thought the occasions he drifted infield he looked rangers best and most composed player. In big games he plays with more bottle than Ferguson, who for huge spells I geniunely thought wasnt playing.
Rangers need to buy players, not just to win the next game, but to help them move to the next level, or even to sustain their position at this levelm or else, what the point of it all.
I dont buy into Barca on that form are unstoppable - Barca werent even on their game anything like to the level they can be. Its easy to say "aye thats a good score agaisnt a team like that", but its not, if you play like that you have to get a 0-0 or its just plain terrible. Its like you have allowed a team to beat you. As a celtic fan Ive seen it too many times also.
As we showed against Benfica, the best form of defence against teams of higher techinque is attack. But you have to pick the players and system to allow your attackers to attack. Two weeks ago we got done by benfica, they had all the pressure and almost all the chances, fast forward two weeks, we have far more chances, far more possesion. Whats the difference, we arent any better and they arent any worse, but we played to let our forwards cause them problems and take the pressure off our (shakey) defence. Playing at hom does give you a boost, but doesnt make bad players good and vice versa.
Thought McGregor, Hutton, and Adam all got pass marks, because they at least looked comfortable at that level.

Aiden Fantastic - Fans not so...

2007-11-13T08:50:00.000-08:00

Aidens performance almost needs no further analysis than to say – Excellent.

Was absolutely disgusted to her audible booing as Evander came on last night

Greatest fans in the world – hardly

Disgrace....

The same people were pummiling Aiden not two months ago - they shouldnt even be allowed to watch him play...

I am shocked at the praise certian members of our defence are getting. There is a consensus that McManus had a good game. Celtic websites, and aparently Roy Aitken on STV were praising his performance. This has got to stop. How many goals, games, defensive partnership does he have to give away before we realise that he is still raw potential and still not that much more. He would be an asset with a steady, intelligent, classier centre half, but without one he suits the Celtic centre half bombscare role as well as anybody else. He gave away two or three goalscoring chances to them last night, had it been at the other end, McDonald would have a hattrick.

McGeady, Hartley, and McDonald were really good last night, we would have been lost without any one of them. If Killen was a bit more mobile he could have had a double.
Hesselink needs to get fit before he plays. Everyone who starts a game is in my eyes claiming to be fit enough so should be judged in the same terms as the rest of the team. Hesselink didn’t work hard, didn’t offer enough, and didn’t win highballs, whether or not this is down to fitness, heart, or ability, it really doesn’t matter. Im no Killen fan, but he did more, won more, and caused more problems than Hesselinks 80 minutes, in his ten minute cameo at the end...

McGeady had the raw materials and was confidence and phyical aspects holding him back
Sadly for Stephen and Gary, they are both confident 'footballers' who wont/cant improve much in terms of pace and strength....

Prince after King

2007-11-13T08:49:00.000-08:00

"Scott McDonald is the king of kings...

Sadly, due to the ridiculous amounts of money in football and spiralling transfer fees a club legend now costs £50,000 more than one did a decade ago. Shameful."

He’s only 23 and still has a lot he can learn – but certainly has plenty of time to do that in. All the raw materials are there - we need to give him the platform to show us he can do it...
I was reading someone the other day talking about O'Neil and the day we signed Hartson, Sylla, and Guppy, saying basicly if ever it showed O'Neil was excellent at the 6 million range in the transfer market - but fails in the six figure signings was then.

Made me think that Gordon is the opposite. With the exception of Scott Brown, the 3 players we have spent the most money on are Gravesen, Jarosik, and Hesselink. None of them have been an unqualified success' for various reasons.

The likes of Naylor (bar a shocking 3 months that we have thankfully seen the back of), Artur Boruc, Scott McDonald, even Hatley and Nakamura cost less than 2 million each - All look like amazing value for money

Your Killen me Chris

2007-11-13T08:48:00.000-08:00

Striker Chris Killen has become the latest Celtic player to complain about not being given enough first-team opportunities.

"I am always disappointed when I am not playing," he admitted. "I thought I had a good game at the weekend against Motherwell. You know in yourself whether you have had a good game or not. I think that is the same for every player.

http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport/headlines/display.var.1804163.0.0.php

Aye just cause Dianbobo and Derek feel hard done by - its not a queue for Diddies not starting eleven material to run to the press

Next we'll have Mark Brown telling us he should be ahead of Artur - infact thats not as riduculous as Killen moaning.

He started against Benfica and featured in several matches this season – which is far more than I thought. How many goals has he scored – One.

Complaints of 31/10/2007

2007-11-13T08:44:00.000-08:00

O'Dea wasnt on the bench.

Infact no defenders were on the bench.

That is bad planning.

After watching Hesselink last night I would infer that he is a couple of weeks away from starting - I dont know how aparent this would have been in the training field to our coaches, but Im surprised after the level of his fitness that he showed enough to get a start.

We started okay mainly because we were doing well down the left with Aiden and Lee looking very sharp and lively, with Hartley ontop of everything in the centre. As soon as Lee came off, we lost Hartley from the middle of the park. Albeit he looked out of place at left back (and certainly not capable of Naylors 45 in that position, it was his void in the middle of the park that was our biggest loss. Clearly Sno was brought in to anchor and let Donati float forward, but along with leaving Hartley indeed, all at sea at leftback, the balance and position of our midfield handed them an oppurtunity to push 1 of there 5 midfielders on to drive (r) at our defense to support the hardworking Elliott.

I suppose its worth mentioning that Caldwell doesnt help proceedings, by giving away possession to their midfield with every clearance, but then, should we not just expect this now?

More worringly from my perspective, is, where does this leave us? Out of the CIS cup - yes, im sure we'll live. But who is available for Saturday and Wednesday, and infact more pressing, who will Gordon deem justifyable of a green and white jersey. Worrying enough that Gary Caldwell, Chris Killen, and Evander Sno were all looked upon good enough to knock Hearts out of the cup, are they they players Gordon feels are his best option. With Jarosik (and even O'Brien) an unused sub, Teddy Bjarnsson adding Tuesday's Rangers reserve game to his website man of the match pile, Riordan, Dianbobo, and Darren O'Dea all fit and raring to go - will Gordon stick with the players he knows didnt, and even cant perform against Hearts in the positions he played them.

Gordon, preseason and aftermatches (on the occasions he fancies a chat) makes alot of noise about knowing what is wrong and how to change it, and even how we should/could change system for each match. Thats all well and good, and surely we should seen signs of this before, lets for the moment forget about the past - Gordon has a duty to now change things. Players, formations, systems. Not for a minute do I think he or the players at his disposal are not capable of adapting, but there has to be a willingness to accept that what you have done and chosen in the past might not have been the best decision, and that you personally as manager made wrong decisions. The stubborness that keeps Gary Caldwell in my team, that keeps Stephen McManus as my captain, that kept Lee Naylor in my team at the start of the year (when he needed to be taken out as he couldnt have been playing worse), the stubbornress that wont play Jiri Jarosik in his chosen position, nor Riordan is a position he is proven in (whether its his favourite or not), this stubborness has to go, or else team 3 will go.

It will go from top of the league, it will go from Europe, but i'll tell you what won't go. Our dismal away form (champions league and defensively even domesticly).

PS - I heard the boo's coming out for young Evander last night - totally out of order. Yes he was poor, and indeed has had a noticeably poor start to the season, however at NO point last night did he hide. If he is put on the pitch, all you can ask is he does his best. If his best isnt good enough - its up to the manager not to put him on until his best is befitting of our starting lineup...

The Problem with Bobo

2007-11-13T08:43:00.000-08:00

He has been treated appallingly because he is highly paid and Strachan fancied far poorer, cheaper players in his place - add Strachans inability to redress his views on players/situations when they dont work out = Problem

No McDonald?

2007-11-13T08:40:00.000-08:00

I heard this question asked last night both before and after the game…

Is it me - or does this NOT answer the question - why was scott mcdonald on the bench?

The manager left striker Scott McDonald on the bench tonight, along with Shunsuke Nakamura, and revealed his reasons for his staring line-up.“It’s just a case that we have only two fit strikers at the club just now – Scott and Chris Killen,” he said. “Scott is in terrific form but he’s playing all the time and we’re asking a lot of him.“That’s why Chris played and he did alright. He should be happy with himself. We’ve had a few injuries and we don’t want to run them all into the ground. Our priority is to win the league.”

Why could Gordon not come out and say – we were going to defend for long periods and wanted the option of a high hopeful ball that Killen could win to take the pressure off our defence (and God they need it). But no, lets go for the smart arse answer…

Glorious Failure in Lisbon

2007-11-13T08:05:00.002-08:00

Where was the glorious failure? I must have missed that in the midst of all those humps up the park (supposed defensive clearances) and benfica pressure...

Part of it is the players arent good enough - but its far more than that. Its a mentality, its believing that we can do something, its not having 4 or 5 midfielders sitting ontop of your defence cos they cant handle the pressure, its not bringing pressure on yourself, its taking pressure off, its making them defend, making them work, its keeping possession, 'it' in essence, is being Aiden McGeady.

We need to break out off the shackles of predisposed opinions on our players. We should hire a foreign manager in as a consultant for a week.

Kennedy once fitter could start at the back, cant last 90 minutes at this level at the moment - no use to us really. McManus is what he is - only useful at this level if playing along side a type of centre back we dont have on our books (an intelligent experienced classy one). Caldwell is a centre half with poor distribution and very prone to error, not a great resume for a right back. He was woeful last night, one of the main individuals who seemed intent on us not holding possession. I actually thought Naylor was far better last night that we have seen him at points this year, he took responsibility in possession, and particularly in the second half moved forward with the ball - but again, he could be part of a back four, but only with a capable other 3 helping him out. Relying on him isn’t fair (as he isn’t good enough for that) and is only ever going to bring more pressure.

Then looking at our midfield, or as they played last night, the player playing just in front of our back 4. No I don’t mean Paul Hartley, I mean all 5 of them. Whatever the reasoning for sitting so deep without possession is total suicide. To keep afloat in the champions league, you need not only to stand your ground defensively, but to ask questions of the opposition through your use of the ball. Yes this takes, confidence, ability, self belief, but is that too much to expect? I certainly don’t think so. Without doing so, what is the best we can expect? - I’ll tell you what - last night, exactly that. To play 90 mins without the ball, is to prolong the time till the goal(s). We need to play further up the park and play to them, an not only might we ease the pressure, but infact might create a few chances ourself. Hartley did okay, didnt use the ball particularly well, but then, who was available to take it from him, his jib was stopping them, and covering his defence, in that he sis a good job. Donati has to hold the ball, sometimes using the ball, isnt always passing it, using it can be holding it and control the tempo a bit. It wasnt motivation or workrate that Donati didnt show, it was positional discipline. Whether or not they were told to sit deep I dont know - but he attempted to play Hartleys role also.

Jarosik on the left? No thanks, the big man can play - but pushing him wide so he can support the strikers doesnt work. Aye Shaun and Aiden were at there most attacking in that role, but their games are based on dribbling, Jarosik's game is about winning the ball and controlling it then finding a pass and moving. He should have played centrally. He and Donati infront of Hartley should give enough protection and support to defence and midfield against a team of Benfica's ability. McGeady couldnt have done more but when he beat his man, majority of the time Killen wasn’t even in the box cause he had to work so hard just to be involved that in the later stages he was "running on treacle" to quote Provan. He put a decent shift in, and did fine for what he could. We left Brown to fill the canyon between midfield and forward. 60 yards for periods this was. How on earth can we build play with this glaring imperfection? We need to help ourselves as in the Champions League we'll just get punished.

Brown didn’t play badly as such - just in the wrong areas, there were so many Benfica players in the Gulf between Killen and the Midfield that hitting him with a pass from centre wasn’t much of an option, so he tried to use his energy and enthusiasm dribbling by players. I genuinely feel for us that would have been best served out wide given how deep or midfield was. McGeady on the left, Brown on the right would have served us better.

However I don’t think we have the players, know how, or system to play with one upfront against a team like Benfica, who lets face it, are hardly the cream of Europe. If you let most of the Champions League group teams onto you, they will do the same.

Above and beyond the shape and system-

Balde and O'Dea sitting on the bench - and we wonder why we cant defend.

Our best midfielder on the bench - we wonder why we cant pass or create chances

Our top scorer for the season was on the bench - we wonder why we don’t score

Hardly rocket science....

May I add (sadly) - That actually last night was an improvement in actual performance cos we sat deep 'well' for the majority of the game - Just don’t think we should (or have to) be even playing like that and don’t think it will serve is well to continue to do so in Europe.

Champions league is the pinnacle of club football - expect every team to "have to win", and yes we have to expect that teams like benfica will throw the kitchen sink at us. But does anybody honestly think the answer is sit back and watch them smash the enamel off Gary, John, Stephen, and Lee until the whole kitchen unit was forced over the goal line.
By no means do I think we should have been playing an overly attacking formation/team. But it’s the mentality that’s all wrong. That what its all about, personally I wouldn’t have gone with the 9-0-1 formation that we did, but even so, to play that way whilst being brave, strong, self believing, and with ability (see our number 46 last night) would certainly give you more of a chance of even getting the draw than booting the ball to Benfica's possession then sitting in and seeing how long it takes them to break us down, and see if we can manage to get lucky. We shouldn’t be looking to just get lucky, we should be looking to get good. If we get a bit of luck doing so, then that’s even better. In any way we lined up, we had to be prepared to play, to take responsibility for the game not being played 18 yards from Artur Boruc.
Yes Nakamura isn’t in great form, and I can even understand him being on the bench. I don’t understand not bringing him on, particularly when it was clear we were not passing the ball at all well. I certainly wouldn’t leave Naka out as we need him fit and in good form to bring to the 3 remaining CL games. I don’t think Naka "picks and chooses when he plays for us", personally I don’t think he has quite recovered his form since being injured. Perhaps a wee spell recuperating will bring him back in full fitness and full form.

Previous Posts....

2007-11-13T07:59:00.000-08:00

Defensive worries going to Lisbon....
-------------------------------------

‘Steven Pressley, who has been a longer-term injury absentee, has also travelled and could play if required.
The experienced central defender, who has not played this season because of a back injury, could act as cover should McManus fail to recover.
Out-of-favour centre-half Bobo Balde checked in with Gordon Strachan's squad.’

I can confirm "It is not required Gordon"

If Balde didnt currently languish in our reserves - it would be a common perception that he would walk into our starting eleven. So he should do exactly that. Need to get Caldwell out of centre back role, id accept him playing right back - for 2 reasons, 1- we have little option/cover there, and 2 - he cant possibly cause the amount of upset to the team than he does in the centre

Rangers V Celtic team news....
------------------------------
Rangers keeper Allan McGregor and defender Alan Hutton are expected to recover for the Old Firm game at Ibrox. But manager Walter Smith has injury doubts over Brahim Hemdani, Jean-Claude Darcheville and DaMarcus Beasley. Celtic's Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Paul Hartley are doubtful with hamstring injuries, and Scott Brown is unlikely to feature.
Gary Caldwell is expected to shrug off a knee injury, while Maciej Zurawski is in the frame for a return.

Rangers: (from) McGregor, Hutton, Cuellar, Weir, Papac, Whittaker, Ferguson, Thomson, McCulloch, Naismith, Boyd, Carroll, Beasley, Adam, Darcheville, Gow, Cousin, Ehiogu, Broadfoot, Shinnie, Emslie, Lennon

Celtic: (from) Boruc, Kennedy, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, McGeady, Nakamura, Donati, Jarosik, Killen, Scott Brown, McDonald, Mark Brown, Riordan, Zurawski, Sno, O'Dea, O'Brien

Michael's team

Boruc
Caldwell Kennedy McManus Naylor
Brown Donati Jarosik McGeady
Nakamura
McDonald

Subs O'Dea Brown Riordan Zurawski O'Brien Killen Sno

Naka playing as a number 10

It would be beautiful - The pace of Aiden and Brown hitting them down the flanks - supporting skippy (then magic from 70mins) with naka a free range of possesion, passing and through balls

Celtic 2 - Milan 1
--------------------
Caldwell was fantastic - as was Kennedy when he came on. And Doumbe was having a great game.

Jiri was great in my opinion, showed for the ball, took it in tight positions, and offered an added aerial threat for set pieces. He did however tire drastically in the second half.

Naylor playing with Hartley on LM on Saturday, then Jiri last night looked a far better proposition, and distribution was better.

He and Aiden do not link up well.

Dont think anyone foresaw Gordons tactical masterpiece that was playing skoosh right up off McDonald.

McGeady finished strongly, had he been so involved earlier on, the game could have been over by half time.

It was great to see Stephen score last night. Thought he had a reasonably good game - overshadowed by Gary's best game in a Celtic Shirt, and John's excellent cameo appearance.

Sky Sports announced Zurawski was starting proir to the game, then he wasnt even on the bench....

Celtic V Milan nerves……
---------------------------

Balde isnt even in the 20 man squad for tomorrow, I held a tiny tiny hope that he would partner McManus, in a Balde rises like a phoenix from the flames against all who overcome situation.

Only O'Dea, Jarosik, and Zurawski left in my romantic hero like fairytale for tomorrow...

I would not start killen

I would like to see Jarosik and Zurawski at somepoint in the game

If Naka is anything less than 80% I do not want to start him

I cant decide how I would play it. Without Hesselink, at home, Id consider the old chelsea 433/451 Id love to see a front 6....

Brown Donati Nakamura
McGeady Riordan
McDonald

But I dont see us going for that, or Riordan being strong enough to start. if we go one up front, We should be looking at McDonald for 60 mins and Majiec for 30mins as itl be a hard shift for the wee man. Hartley is on form, physically strong, and works his backside off, could we do without that?
I’m fearful of Naylor and Caldwell (if he is played at CB). But then Kennedy looks like he could be doing with being a bit fitter. Is doumbe ready for it? Is he strong/experienced enough? On the flip side, could he give us that threat from fullback that didier did to great effect. If we go quite tight in central areas, a raiding fullback (aslong as they can get back also) could work really well.
Too many questions…..

Definite starters
Boruc (THG)
McManus
Donati
Brown
McGeady
McDonald

Perhaps

Boruc

Caldwell Kennedy McManus Doumbe

brown donati hartley

McGeady Naka
McDonald

Subs

brown
Naylor
Zurawski
Sno
O'Dea
Riordan
Jarosik
killen

Celtic 3 - Dundee Utd 0 ....
------------------------------
McGeady on that form is in the top 5 players in british football. He was unstoppable, and he had McDonald (the just someone to put the ball in the bloody net that we were crying out for last season) to finish off his good work.

Hartely still looking good, as is brown. Was the least influential Donati has been in the spl so far. I have been dying to see big Killen get a decent run out, after his 58 minutes doing so, I dont need to see him much more. Not saying he wont ever be usefull, just dont think he will ever seriously challenge our strikers for a starting game if they are fit.

Id go Zurawski McDonald up top on Wednesday.

Naylor did better, Doumbe albeit looks shakey from time to time, stops the cross in every time - which is promising. Gary and Stephen were not challenged at all during Saturday, that said, I do worry for Gary at centre back in europe. Id even rather see him at right back as he looks less vulnerable there.

As For Milan - I expect them to be formidable.

I expect Aiden to be even better

I dont expect to win. I hope we win 2-1

League Cup in Dundee....
----------------------------
Hardly a disaster as we won the game but I am starting to seriously worry that Gordon sees the faults in his team that others do, and left unaddressed it will cost us .

I dont read any newpaper, and spend very little time on CQN these days. Im just going on performances to starting lineup and strachan interviews (pre and post matches) - and i geniunely doesnt think he sees the problems.

I've called for Balde well before people started complaining about McManus/Caldwell partnership. What signals are we sending out to Lee Naylor, no matter how poorly you play you will not be dropped. Conversely with McGeady, no matter how well you play, you might be dropped.

When Gordon took over, we had ability in midfield, and goals up front, what we needed was a defence. He has never dealt with it sufficiently, and I am shocked that only now people are starting to pick up on it...
I dont have any qualms that we will win the league, and I dont think Gordon Strachan is completely inept as a manager, just think (like many managers) his stubborness to admit/see mistakes prevents him from bettering himself (and in turn Celtic)

Riordan didnt step up to the plate at all - Had Aiden been playing, he would have ran riot. Evander did reasonably well, but I would have thought a Donati/Sno partnership would have allowed Mo to bomb on, but they seemed a bit confused who was to sit and who was to support the front men. Hesselink looked the out of sorts way he has lately (so much so, I do wonder if that is him in sorts). Caldwell at right back was always going to be limited.

I thought Naylor was better than he has been of late. Kennedy did okay, I do wonder what we CAN defend against, we always hear, "we struggle with small nippy players", but Dundee pitched up against us, with several huge players, and our defence won very few headers. Boruc's shot stopping was exemplary, but was not protected by our defence on cross balls, allowing three, 6 foot plus, dundee players to go right ontop of him every time.

Dundee - were excellent. There young players look good technically (Swankie and McDonald in particular) but also their sheer physical threat gave Celtic problems. Swankie (silky winger) had 3 excellent freekicks, one hitting the post, and Boruc saving the other two, the big polish lump upfront, won everything and knocked it down to midfielders timing their runs brilliantly, and wingers drifting in to support when needed. Kevin McDonald (the Dundee goalscorer, big powerfull ball player) patrolled the middle of the park with grit and a swagger that last night Scott Brown would have wished for, can totally see why Celtic bid for him last season.

O'Brien should have been on to give a bit of width, Killen deserves a start in current climate, and we HAVE to see Darren and/or Dianbobo in the starting eleven now .

Donestk Disaster...
-------------------
I completely understand why Aiden didnt start, but if I was picking the team, he would have been the second name down on the team sheet (Artur - how long will he stay at Celtic when the gulf between his ability and ours becomes more and more aparent - Boruc, being first)

There was a long list of things that were wrong with us last night. To an extent, I certainly buy into the "I do not think we are in a position to expect good results away from home" theory, however I think we deserve, infact - we are entitled to expect we are not out of the game after 10 minutes.

I was asked the question - . Would you feel any better if we had lost the two goals in the last ten minutes?

Much better as it goes.

With progression (long term I mean) in mind, its not the scoreline that is always the most important, its the manner of the scoreline, and the positives which can be taken for it.
Its hard to judge positives playing against a team who are playing in a game they have already won

If McManus controlled the ball adequately then the ball from Brown wouldnt have been a poor ball.

However Brown was lost out there - Id have brought him off earlier on and got McGeady on. Even before half time - to send out the message - here, this games not finished yet.

Didnt see a particular amount of heads not going down. Mo's did for a spell, however when he got over it, he showed again, and looked far better. Hartley cant be blamed for his wide left performance, but I wouldnt have thought he would have been as poor. Did ok once moved infield. Naka's passing looked like he had been watching Naylor. McDonald was my one praiseworthy outfield player. Endevoured, ran, showed, and got a few shots off.

There tight three in midfield's main weakness is allowing fullbacks to push onto them, so Naylor and Wilson saw more of the ball then anyone else in our team, and were given space. To have done better, we needed fullbacks more complete than the level we have. And on the night, neither even defended well. Would have even rather seen doumbe play given their tactics (which theyve used for the past year), so we could have used our fullbacks as a beacon for us to move forward as a unit and get Mo and Brown involved further up the pitch.

Killen looked sharp and movement was good, but playing as little football as he has this season, he was never going to change anything. I would have brought magic on earlier.

Darren has to be brought in for a few spl games to get him back involved, in europe, his mobility and distribution is NEEDED in our defence.

Funny Money...

2007-02-23T04:33:00.000-08:00

Hartley for Rangers..... Surely not...

2007-01-29T04:02:00.000-08:00

2006-10-18T15:32:00.000-07:00

Celtic Transfer List

2006-06-05T06:26:00.000-07:00

Rangers Transfer List

2006-06-05T06:19:00.000-07:00

The perfect picture...

2006-05-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

Ged and a Pair of Champions...

2006-05-18T05:49:00.000-07:00

Did I ever tell you about the time I met the man who single handedly wont he european cup... what do you mean yes...

2006-05-17T16:17:00.000-07:00

Meeja Speculation - Hilarious...

2006-05-17T05:58:00.000-07:00

News just in from the SPL Disciplinary Board

2006-05-03T06:07:00.000-07:00

News just in from the SPL Disciplinary Board -

"No action will be taken against the Hearts player involved in the alleged incident as we have established that spitting on Catholics has been tolerated for so long it has become a tradition in Scotland. We would also like to confirm rhat we are in full support of the Anti-secterian charter launched yesterday."

2006-04-27T06:02:00.000-07:00

Just lookedat the official website and voted for player of season/young player/goal of the season.

We scored some utterly amazing goals. I mean truely amazing. I dont think in my Celtic supporting memory we would never have been able to boast such individuals and team goals.

Goals of The Season http://www.celticfc.net/ASP/poy/poy_goal_2006.asp

I went for Beattie's wondergoal - You cannot strike a football any better.

And great work from Maloney too, kind of the start of him showing that he could do it when we NEEDED it - and for that he recieved my POTY award - just nicking it ahead of Naka,Lenny,Majiec, and Stan (couldnt argue with any of them really). Oh its great to be a Celtic fan again!

Young player of the year - Aiden McGeady EASILY - no one came close for me. ( http://media.putfile.com/McGeady-v-Motherwell & http://media.putfile.com/McGeady)
No one...

2006-04-27T05:31:00.000-07:00

2006-04-27T05:30:00.000-07:00

2006-04-27T05:25:00.000-07:00

Me and my good good good friend Henrik...