 Sunday, March 20, 2005
Celtic and United serve up a treat
It was as though we were transported back to the early 1980’s. Celtic and Dundee United both played fast attacking football, shared five goals and served up a thriller right to the end.
If the SPL could figure out how to serve this fare up every week there would be no talk about moving to pastures new.
Where to start with Craig Bellamy? Five minutes into the game he had enough time at the right edge of the box to fire home a right foot thunderbolt. It was a technically excellent goal which would have been beyond so many Celtic strikers we have seen between those heady days in the 1980’s and the late 1990’s.
There has only been one Celtic player in the last twenty years who could have scored Bellamy's second goal, and of the 242 goals that striker scored, few would eclipse this effort.
Ulrik Laursen carried the ball forward at speed before spotting a space into which he could release Bellamy. It was a fast moving ball, it was on his weaker left foot, he had a defender on him and it was outside the box.
This time the shot was a controlled finish into the postage stamp corner, not the hurried thump we see from so many strikers. Breathtaking football.
His hat-trick was another piece of art. Chris Sutton got a touch on a long clearance from Rab Douglas, Bellamy controlled on the chest at such speed he found himself free of the last defender at the edge of the area. This time it was a careful left foot finish which secured all three points.
Am I wrong to assume he has a weaker foot?
Craig Bellamy apart, we need to give credit to Dundee United. For a team at the bottom of the league who had lost by three clear goals to Kilmarnock last week they were great.
The contrast with ever other team we have played in recent weeks was marked. They are recognisable heirs to the Dundee United teams I remember from the 1980’s.
Their first goal mirrored Celtic’s third, a goalkeeper clearance where an alert striker lost his marker and finished with composure. My concerns with our defence are not immediate, they are good enough to deliver the double, however, before August is out we will have a Champions League qualifier to win – and that is a whole different story.
Barry Robson, smacked their second goal past Rab Douglas with the assistance of a slight deflection. It was not to be Robson’s last key moment in the game.
At the start of added time he pitched a free-kick to Rab Douglas’ top right hand corner. And we have been looking for a cure for those who leave early! On moments like these leagues are decided.
Robson must have felt it was Groundhog Day. Back in the autumn he had the same opportunity in added time at Ibrox. On that day he scored to deny Rangers the two points they are now adrift of Celtic.
Big Rab took a chance with the free kick. He lined his wall up to cover his left post and positioned himself near the right post – at this point I was busy screaming “move to the middle”.
His positioning was key, as he rose to save.
And it didn’t end there. There was a full five and a half minutes of added time, the most obvious justification for which was that it was a pity to end such a game.
And what did this time bring? Bullock, the United ‘keeper, brought the ball forward into the Celtic half before releasing a team-mate. Are these the characteristics of a team about to be relegated? I think not.
I even spent the latter half of the afternoon listening out for the results of United’s rivals at the bottom of the league, now convinced that I want this team to stay up. Well, they have denied Rangers more points than we have this season.
39 Comments:
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Paul
A lovely summary of the game. Keep up the good work. Two rules to abide by (though I think I preach to the converted). One - if it feels true to the writer it will read true. Two - don't let the grammar slip.
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An exciting game, terrific goals and United certainly belied their place at the foot of the table.I thought McIntyre's goal was given less credit beside the other more obviously outstanding efforts-very difficult skill to take a ball dropping over your shoulder and technically an excellent finish.
As you know had some blogging in problems Paul-have to register a couple of disagreements on recent analysis. Firstly, Hartson,injured or not has been terrible last two games. Yes, top scorer-BUT chances and overall play awful. I would be ashamed to be a professional player and be so immobile. Big guy doesn't=immoblile. Drogba/Eto'o? Athletes.And his first touch has been shocking.
And-on the other hand Ulrik Laursen-a player whose limitations you have commented on. For me he is without a doubt the best passer of a ball in the Celtic side. Recovered from injury/confidence problems. Does the simple thing. Rarely caught in possession.Excellent left foot.And an exquisite ball for Bellamy's second-still a bit of a finish though!!. He seems to me like a player who can improve and can fill that position.
Top of the league though. Back where we belong!!
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P.S. Killer being criticised for your grammar-can't see much meself.Surely you're entitled to a couple of pints after the game?!!
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Absolutely, unbelievably delighted to have come out of two tough away games with full points. United's performance today showed they are in a false position given the many good (and relatively well paid) players they have in their squad such as Crawford, McIntyre, Ritchie and Bullock. If I was a betting man, I'd put a bundle on Livi to take the drop.
Even so, their two goals today came from uncharacteristic errors. The first was scandalous wrong-side-of-the-man and not attacking the high ball defending from Varga and, to a lesser extent, Balde. At the second, Lennon made a schoolboy error but the finish from Robson was incredible.
As for Bellamy - that was as magnificent a performance as I've seen from a centre forward since the blessed Henrik's one-man demolition of Kilmarnock in the 2001 League Cup Final. What impresses me most is his Larsson-esque willingness to work for the team. Did you notice that, after Douglas stupidly handled Lennon's passback, that it was wee Craig who charged down the free-kick?
The wee man is loving himself here. Let's give him every ounce of backing. I have to confess I don't reckon he'll be here next season - but he'll be a five-month legend if he delivers the league and cup for us.
Lastly, excuse me for a while if I go back to a previous blog and the criticism of Terry Gennoe. This guy arrived with Barnes and Dalglish but he was retained for one very good reason - he's excellent at his job. What other goalkeeping coach in Britain works with THREE international keepers (Douglas, Marshall and Hedman)? They all speak highly of him. There are a few tremendous keepers in the younger age groups who have also benefited from his coaching. The travails of Arsenal and Manchester United have shown that getting a keeper who does not make mistakes is a hard task. Sure, Rab made a boo-boo against Rangers. But his incredible save today saved us two points. The whole team and MON hugged him at the end. I reckon Terry Gennoe had reason to smile.
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Big Joe, says
Hi there every 1, watched the game on the telly, due to not being in Scotland.
What a difference a month has made, Celtic are playing a passing game, which is a joy to watch.
Bellamy has given us so much, pace, work rate, finishing, and most of all, a passion, at the final whistle he erupted, punching the air, showing the kind of feeling missing for so long in the hoops.
I feel confident he will stay a while now, as Celtic seem to have the feel good factor just now, that’s something you cant go out and buy.
Top spot feels so good!!!!!!!!
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Fully agree with comments re Laursen, crisp passing - rarey wastes a ball. He reminds me of how Weighorst came on a game after a decent run in the Wim Jansen season. At the start of that season could anyone imagined him producing that extravagant cross to Regi Blinker? Is it a Danish phenomenon or is it just that some players need a decent run to bed in.
Interesting aspect of yesterday's game was that with Sutton being available, MoN chose not to go back to the 2 big guy approach and even when Sutton came on it was as a replacement for Hartson. May just have been to do with fitness, but perhaps we are seeing a change in approach emerging.
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I thought laursens pass was very good too let bellamy in for his second goal. Howerver he also made two very crisp passes too dundee utd players during the game he has to cut these mistakes out. I noticed that jackie mac had his ankles stood on during the game and in the dying minutes went into a fifty fifty ball with the same player who was as a result stretchered off wee jackie can look after himself. Not for one minute do I think he meant to harm the other player but in the back of his mind he must have known he had to go in hard and he did.
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Paul, until I read your piece I thought I might have been over reacting to an above average game, but no, you have confirmed my thoughts.
I would rather win 3-2 or 4-3 than 5/6-0 every week. Like yourself, I remember trips to Tannadice and Pittodrie, amongst others, when you really didn't know if we were going to win 3-0 or be on the end of a 4-1 drubbing (which I saw on more than one occassion). We were a good team, but so were they.
The passion and atmosphere yesterday were great, it is hard to describe how important it was for us to collect all 3 points.
I live just outside Manchester and about 20 regulars had come into the pub to watch the Blackburn v Arsenal game. My son and I, 'huddled' in a corner watching Celtic and keeping out of the way.
In the 2nd half at Tannadice, 3 out the 4 screens were switched to the Celtic game with 4 people concentrating on Premierships offering on the other.
The general consesus was, brilliant game, cant believe Bellamy smiles and there aren't many Premiership games that match that passion.
The usual token Orcs were being loud before the Hat Trick was complete, did I enjoy standing next to them ordering my post match Guiness.
I don't see every game but I really thought the quality was excellent. Does anyone really think that we would have stuck in and collected all 3 points after their 2nd goal, if this game had been pre Christmas? Personally I doubt it.
I noticed a different mentality during the Hibs game and it seemed to be even more prevalent yesterday. I really don't care where Dundee Utd are sitting in the table, if they keep playing like that they'll survive. They played exactly the same way against Aberdeen in the cup and won 4-1 recently.
I am more excited now than I have been for a long time, the displays against Hibs and Dundee Utd showed a cutting edge that has been missing. Obviously Bellamy was the main man but Thompson was solid, Jackie was everywhere and Petrov never stopped all game. Big Rab....stand up and take a bow.
You may have guessed, I am a bit pleased, I see a nucleus of a very special team again. Yes we need new players, yes we need more strength in the squad.
I wrote after the last Orcs game that they had given everything they had, and we were poor, but we still managed to have 3 or 4 really good chances to score and there wasn't much between the teams.
The kick up the arse we needed, for sure. I just hope little Craig doesn't get to hyped before we go to Kinning Park, he's already talking about it !!
Everyone take a breath, were in for another treat over the next couple of seasons.
I still see a Double ahead
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I have to agree with the praise being directed Laursen's way.He has come in and done on the whole a very good job.One thing still puzzles me . Back in November when we were playing Joos at left back why did MON not play Laursen. Ulrik Laursen is a Danish international ( although not a regular)and played many games 2 seasons ago including the UEFA cup final ( I think he came on as a sub).He is not Roberto Carlos but he is also not an unknown novice plucked from the reserves.I know that he has had a number of long term injuries but he only got into the team because of injuries to others.I personally hope that he keeps his place when Agathe is fit and Jackie and Lenon can share the midfield holding role . We are playing some good stuff just now but I would like to know what was going on with Sutton's inclusion yesterday. I know that BBJ is carrying an injury ( I think some of the flak he is taking is a bit unfair)but even I knew that hamstring injuries are tricky. MON seems to operate a patch up and hope they survive policy at times . This has failed a couple of times in the past ,the international week will be a help. Still the way Bellamy is playing who needs anyone else?
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Wow, what a game, what a hat trick, 5 goals, 3 pts, 1st place. Not much else you can ask from a game of football.
By the by Cabbagemcfabberwhatsmacallit, everyone in Boston was Irish on Thursday ;-) (It was more a reference to a stream last year when me and a few of the other
lads came up with names for CP)
Hail Hail
Martybhoy
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I think Laursen has been solid, right now am more concerned with Balde, is he carrying an injury?
Martin O'Neil is commenting on the stadium name change idea, according to KTF.
Nice to know it is being talked about, let's hope it does happen.
Money for nothing in my opinion!
Would it bring in as much as the Nike deal?
Any news on the interims yet Paul?
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The most impressive player IMO, after Bellers, was Paul Ritchie the United skipper. While not 6 feet 12 he handled BBJ and Bobo well. Coupled with his skill and his commanding presence he stood out for me. Hope we sign him one day.
This generation isnt great at coming up with nicknames for our players. Its about time the new "Jinky" was given a neat handle. "Wee Aiden" or "McGeady".... come on fans lets do better than that.
Maybe us old timers can come up with something. Remember when we all sang about feeding the bear..."Yogi" and when Lennox was the "Roadrunner" and Chalmers the "Greyhound". Any suggestions?
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You echoed my thoughts exactly on Bellamy Paul. That's the first time i have not missed Larsson since he left - long may it continue. I was delighted at the game as well as many of you guys were. Football is a sport with a purpose of providing entertainment and that exactly what we got on Saturday. I always felt that Celtic had enough in thier armour to overcome United regardless of some periods where they looked like getting back into it. I wondered about Henchoz's exclusion at the start of the game and after the first goal i believe MON would also be pondering it! He may well be turn out to be a better option before Varga by the end of the season - the big man was lazy and careless for the goal. MON wouldn't have been impressed. Celtic have tried a new tactic in recent games of sitting very deep and inviting teams on top of them. I assume this is to create space for our new style of attacking. The tactic relies dangerously on the defence effectively dealing with the long ball.
Stil don't think Thommo is earning his wage. For a player on a sch a high salary we should be expecting a lot more. The last time his form dipped or there were better options he was dropped for a few games. After that he came back like a new man showing real determination that is clearly lacking at the moment. It might be a good idea for MON to do the same thing again.
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Good to see Ulrik Laursen getting the praise he deserves. As I've said before, he played well when he was at Hibs, I recall him playing like a maurading left back against Celtic and thought he was a good signing when MON brought him in. He played well in the three man back line for a spell in the UEFA Cup run, (Blackburn-Celta Vigo time i think,) before yielding to the first choice selection when injuries cleared up. He seemed to get tarred with the Sylla-Fernandez-pointless-squad member's brush while he was injured (and suffering some personal anguish seemingly, was his father critically ill or something?) I could never understand the extent of negative feeling directed his way when he wasn't in the side and his contribution lately has been excellent, one obvious slip aside.
Jackie has been an exceptional player for us over the years. Remeber MON didn't fancy him at first and it took a while to change his mind. I recall a game at Celtic Park last season or the one before, also against Dundee United I think, when he played right back, left back and midfield as changes were required and excelled on each occasion he was moved around, whether for tactical reasons or due to injuries to team mates.
Bellamy seems to have found his spiritual home and everything must be done to extend his stay. We need players of this calibre if we are to realise our aspirations.
Great work by everyone contributing to discussions on this site, much more mature and informed than other forums.
Hail hail, there's some feel-good factor around at the moment, long may it continue.
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Pleased about the performance on saturday, but in particular the hunger that bellamy showed and the passion on his face after each goal, been a while since I've seen this in the team !!, think MON has got it just right at the moment, good mix in the midfield, petrov - great runs and support from midfield, lennon - hardwork and ball winning, thompson - good range of passing, and mcgeady - sheer brilliance. Would maybe like to see mcnamara play in lennons role, just to see how he compares and see if extra mobility in the middle would make any difference (maybe play agathe/henchoz at right back) , but then again don't see how lennon can be left out. Well Done Big Rab too !!, Agree with paul about defence needing to be looked at in the summer, but remember john kennedy is still to come back, I also think henchoz would settle in well at centre back with either varga or Balde beside him, he always played pretty well for livepool in that position. Also agree that laursen has done well but we still need a good left back in the summer, laursen will be a good back up player for this position however. Paul any word on signings in the summer ?? Any names for us yet ?? Great site, been reading for a while now, long may it continue....
Hail Hail
Declan from Derry.
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On Saturday instead of raving about a class striking display, going top of the league and a well earned 3 points from a stuttering performance when we were our own worst enemies I found myself bemused by my fellow fans and it made me think how fickle football fans are. Rab Douglas save in the last minute was cheered like another Bellamy goal and was meet by massive relief and surprise from the vast majority of the pub I was in. I found myself wondering why this was as having watched Rab for a number of seasons now we should all know that he is capable of the type of save that he produced on Saturday. The guy is a great shot stopper and knows how to position himself in those situations. Ok he has made mistakes but what goalie doesn’t make mistakes it’s a thankless task were his mistakes are more highlighted and are more often and not are fatal errors. The problem that we have with Rab is that he has now peaked and all the training in the world won’t improve his failings but he is still Scotland’s best goalie and more importantly the best goalie at Celtic Park and this from a man who just over a decade ago was playing in the Scottish welfare league.
The 1st time I saw Douglas was at a game down my local park can’t remember him playing but do remember that my friend scored a great goal one of his very few. Still talks about it to this day, as Rab’s profile got higher the shot seems to get further and further out will be at the halfway line soon. Douglas went from there to Livingston then to Dundee when he really began to stand out as a good solid goalkeeper that’s we myself and probably all the rest of us started to notice this big solid goalie saving his team from defeat but occasionally having the odd howler. Can remember him having a great game for Dundee at Celtic Park but then having a mare for towards the end of the game gifting Celtic two goals.
Can’t remember anybody moaning when we signed him he was and still is the best keeper in Scotland outwith Klos and also when we signed him we knew we were getting a goalie with faults that hopefully would iron themselves out. They haven’t and he is still the same goalie that has the ability to impresses you and also the ability to make you tear your hair out.
For me he has made one mistake to many and his faults are now here to stay no matter how good or bad the coaching is Rab has worked his way from the arse end of Scottish football to the very top probably last of the old school goalies that will make it to the top as all the rest will come from fancy academies and will have thousands spent on training them from an early age the question is will that make them any better than Rab?
The next time Douglas makes a world class save don’t be surprised we know he can do it and the next time he makes a howler don’t be surprised as we know he can do it.
He is just the same as all the rest of the Goalies except there is no many better than him.
Kilo O’Neal
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On Saturday instead of raving about a class striking display, going top of the league and a well earned 3 points from a stuttering performance when we were our own worst enemies I found myself bemused by my fellow fans and it made me think how fickle football fans are. Rab Douglas save in the last minute was cheered like another Bellamy goal and was meet by massive relief and surprise from the vast majority of the pub I was in. I found myself wondering why this was as having watched Rab for a number of seasons now we should all know that he is capable of the type of save that he produced on Saturday. The guy is a great shot stopper and knows how to position himself in those situations. Ok he has made mistakes but what goalie doesn’t make mistakes it’s a thankless task were his mistakes are more highlighted and are more often and not are fatal errors. The problem that we have with Rab is that he has now peaked and all the training in the world won’t improve his failings but he is still Scotland’s best goalie and more importantly the best goalie at Celtic Park and this from a man who just over a decade ago was playing in the Scottish welfare league.
The 1st time I saw Douglas was at a game down my local park can’t remember him playing but do remember that my friend scored a great goal one of his very few. Still talks about it to this day, as Rab’s profile got higher the shot seems to get further and further out will be at the halfway line soon. Douglas went from there to Livingston then to Dundee when he really began to stand out as a good solid goalkeeper that’s we myself and probably all the rest of us started to notice this big solid goalie saving his team from defeat but occasionally having the odd howler. Can remember him having a great game for Dundee at Celtic Park but then having a mare for towards the end of the game gifting Celtic two goals.
Can’t remember anybody moaning when we signed him he was and still is the best keeper in Scotland outwith Klos and also when we signed him we knew we were getting a goalie with faults that hopefully would iron themselves out. They haven’t and he is still the same goalie that has the ability to impresses you and also the ability to make you tear your hair out.
For me he has made one mistake to many and his faults are now here to stay no matter how good or bad the coaching is Rab has worked his way from the arse end of Scottish football to the very top probably last of the old school goalies that will make it to the top as all the rest will come from fancy academies and will have thousands spent on training them from an early age the question is will that make them any better than Rab?
The next time Douglas makes a world class save don’t be surprised we know he can do it and the next time he makes a howler don’t be surprised as we know he can do it.
He is just the same as all the rest of the Goalies except there is no many better than him.
Kilo O’Neal
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Kilo O'neil - despite your admiration for Douglas I am convinced your will not persuade me or the majority of Celtic fans that he is one of the first faces he would liked replaced with a higher calibre of player. He makes mistakes in really important games, he is terrible at coming for crosses, he doesnt install confidence in the defence and his positional sense might be OK for free kicks but in open play it leavs a lot to be desired. Remember Seville? He is a good goalie that has been found out when trying to take the step up to a higher level. We need a golie that can handle the big occasion, someone who makes the defence confident that they have someone protecting them - a presence! Have you ever noticed the way Celtic players will rashly lunge into blocks - they simply don't believe in Rab either.
As for the save yesterday, yes it was great but i don't really doubt that another goalie would have saved it too. I watched it a couple of more times to see exactly where the ball was going. When the margins are as tihgt as they are (a couple of points between successs and failure in the champions league and the SPL) then we simply can't afford to carry big Rab anymore.
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Celtic must get Bellamy signed up on a long term deal. Not because he is a class player. No, this must happen to stop every back handed hack reporting he is an excellent player, but that he is leaving at the end of the year.
We've had Jim Trainer tell us on Saturday that it will cost £12m to Celtic, why is it only with Celtic that wages over the whole terms of the contract are taken into consideration? Today in the Herald we've had some Rob Robertson bang on about seeing Bellamy before he leaves.
Every +ve is followed by a -ve. It's like everytime they mention Rangers have a problem they have to counter it by saying Celtic are just as bad. It's not reporting, it's gossiping.
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Paul, Don't know If I agree with you about wanting United to stay up. Based on that performance there will be a few serious injuries resluting from games involving them. In fact Im surprised it was eventually a United player that was carried off. A couple of bookings earlier in the match would not have gone amiss and perhaps we would not have been having those heart attacks in the closing stages. Barry Robson had two or three attempts at McGeady which copntributed to his withdrawal for henchoz. I could be wrong but i think Henchoz was being told, by Steve Walford, to get one in on Robson to stop him making those dangerous tackles.
Putting the dangerous play from some United players to one side, Bellamy, McGeady and Petrov were magnificent. McGeady is now making runs inside looking for Bellamy on a diagonal. petrov is at last getting beyind the forwards and as a result the opposition defence is looking stretched.
Its strange that so many are now saying laursen is the best passer in the team. I don't know whyt this guy was never trusted. He his positional awareness pace and passing ability are obvious and he has never put a foot wrong. Now there are some who would mention the last Rangers game but I believe he was drawn inside to cover for Varga, again at a long high ball! I lioke big Varga but he is definetly not the best at defending the long high ball. Bobo has been pushed out to the right with the absence of Agathe and has left that area of the pitch exposed to the punt from the opposing team. Time and again i have noticed Varga heading straight to an opposing player when defending an incoming high ball. Bayern Munich springs to mind and perhaps also Lyon. Henchoz in the middle with Bobo on the right and Laursen maintaining the left would be a much better option. only trouble then is the distribution from Bobo from the right side of the pitch. Everything moves through Laursen and inevtiably winds up on the left side of the pitch. Is there any coincidence with the dip in form and moving inside of Thompson with the emegence of Laursen?
In my view Thompson is learning how to play with a natural left footed player behind him and how to feed of either his first time pass or the second reverse ball from McGeady or Bellamy.
With the team the way it is I think everyone is clamering for Jackie to play in the Lennon position. Neil has been struggling of late and was obviously gutted by his mistake on Saturday. For me Jackie is quicker and more in the Lambert mould that Lennon is playing at the moment.
A striker aswell as Bellamy, an accomplished right sided defender, a box to box midfielder, and a goalkeeper are required.
The signing of bellamy plus a couple of Bosmans and a keeper for about 2 million should do the trick.
Oh and if only we could have seen Henrik and Bellamy play together!
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First post from me, great site keep it up Paul et al.
I would simply like to say that I agree fully with greenmaestro. The report on the game in todays Herald by Rob Robertson, either epitomises the negativity that we keep being told us Scots possess in abundance or a guy who for whatever reason is hoping that Bellamy is not here next year.
JimO
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The words that seem to be on every Celtic fans lips at the moment is "Can we keep Bellamy"?
I see no problem with this, for you have Paul Lambert retiring at the end of the season. Lambert is on wages in the £25-£30K bracket. On top of this, there is Juninho, who looks set to return top Brazil within the next month. His wages are reputed to be on £35-£40K PW.
These two would pay for the wee man on their own, and if stories are to go by then another couple of big earners may be heading out the door in Thompson and Sutton.
I see no problem in acquiring the funds for this, it all seems to depend on where Craig wants to ply his trade.
Wullie Gordon
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Lets not be taken in with the media hype about £12m for bellamy. It is the same situation as the Ferguson/Blackburn scenario.
If Bellamy wants to stay and digs his heels in and tells Newcastle that he is not going to Villa, Birmingham or any other club and that he will only join Celtic. What will Newcastle do – stick him in their reserves?
No, as the media were so quick to point out during Bazzagate, they will be left with no option but to deal with us and negotiate a deal that suits all parties and I can bet you it wont be a £6m fee that’s for sure.
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I forgot, we're measured against a different scale.
The Gossip columns aren't in the business of accentuating our positives and underestimating our negatives. So if the wages are secure, we only need the transfer cash, this shouldn't be dependant upon CL football. We've heard that there can be funds made available, just depends upon financial strategies. Could it be that the general feeling amongst the football journo's is more of a wishfull thinking? Like Rangers have improved immensly this season, when we can all see that it's Celtic who have thrown this league away and are in the process of winning it again. Like Celtic have no funds, a deflection away from the financial problems at Ibrox. Like Johnstone playing in a charity match, deflects away from the real story about where the funds are going.
This kind of bad feeling feeds upon itself, the more you say it the truer it becomes. Shit sticks! The opposite is also true, the way Rangers were built up in the press during November, continually telling them they were good (when anyone could see they were not), gives the morale and the ego that little boost. You do start to believe your own press.
You know, if we do move to the EPL. I for one will be very happy to see the mass redundancies of the Scottish football press.
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Below is a link to a competition being run by Coca Cola. The football club with the highest number of votes wins £250,000. It will only take a couple of minutes to fill in. Current leaders are Leeds United with over 30,000 votes. Celtic are in 18th with a meagre 3,000. See if you can do your bit for the club and also giver yourself a chance of winning £10,000. Apologies for posting this type of thing on this great site but maybe we could put it towards keeping Craig Bellamy. ;o)
http://www.coca-colafootball.co.uk/
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Wow - what a game. Congrats to Dundee Utd for really getting stuck in and showing some pride in their performance. Yes, they did dish out a few questionable tackles but I see nothing wrong with that - all teams should have to scrap for away wins.
Reading the Sky Sports report on the game it talks of Bellamy "turning in a Jackie Mac cross" and "slotting home a Laursen through ball" eh ? These two finishes were different class. Despite being barely awake at the start of the game (hate these 6.30am starts), I jumped out of my chair when the first one went in, not through the usual joy in Celtic scoring, but in admiration of a player showing incredible skill. The second was even better, this time on his 'weaker' foot.
I see some folks still saying big Rab has to go - give the guy a break - I agree he has his faults but credit where credit is due, he saved us two points on Saturday with a phenomonal save at the death.
I didn't think the defence were as bad as the Celtic commentary team were suggesting. Varga had a bit of an off game but he is a steady performer and I don't expect we will see him so off-key again this season.
The bhoys will get a major lift from the way they played Saturday and I really can't see anyone taking points off us until the end of the season. The big test is obviously Ibrox but with Rangers needing to win this one it will be a great opportunity for us to finish their season off.
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Paul67,
The task has been proposed, of finding a suitable sobriquet for our tantalizing teen,the master of shuffle,the one and only Master McGeady.
A daunting proposal indeed.
Ramming my thinking cap firmly on my noggin, my mental apparatus was not long in giving birth to the consummate alias.
Now let's see.
There is a Ronaldo, also a Ronaldhino and even a Juninho.......a Maestro, a Magico...Conceivably
even a Pinnochio!
Why not an AIDIO????
Pronounced.... AY-DEE-OH.
One can conceive the tremendous impact of 59,999 (there is always one....is'nt there?)Paradise Patrons, roaring those three syllables, every time our Enfant Terrible, is in full flight on the ball??
AY-DEE-OH......AY-DEE-OH.....AY-DEE-OH........
Pure Ear Candy!!!!!!!
I love it , love it!
Yours in Celtic,
Noah the Gnu.
(Pseudonym, dedicated to the stock response of my ex-wife, to my romantic nocturnal fumblings.....)
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no prizes for guessing who Noah the gnu is....
guys some marvellous blogs recently , i can dare to dream that bellars will be staying for champs league football in the autumn.
I agree with those who say douglas must go , we need a champions league standard keeper. we also need to augment our back line , i dont rate any of them as champs league standard to be honest.
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Nick Name for McGeady:
Hows about "come back here ya wee shite"
I'm fairly certain that he thinks that's his nick name already!!!!
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Dear Anon 7.13p.m.
Don't look now.......But your knuckles are dragging!!!
Windago alert~ Windago identified~
Lock up your children!
Danger, Danger~ Will Robinson!
The Sentinel
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Sentinel
I’m afraid you’ll have to take a look at your own knuckles for embedded tarmac.
Not wishing to dis a fellow Celtic fan, it is your good self lacking the intellectual capacity to glean the humour from my last post.
Hint, put yourself in the shoes of any SPL right-back???
Penny dropping?
Good.
Have a nice day!
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Dear Anon,8.32P.M.
You must admit, it is always a red flag, when the poster insists on remaining anonymous.
Strange,behavior for an innocent party.
Don't you think so?
Also, my good fellow, the scatological expression contained in your posting,is always a Windago giveaway.
The Good Fellows never resort to gutter language.
Straighten up and Fly Right, if you are going to post on this site.
And my take on this whole ridiculous confabulation, is:
"Ignotum per Ignotius"
The Sentinel.
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Saw something in Fansfc about a takeover bid,and MO'N being given money to spend.
Any truth in this?
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ExiledInAberdeen, I know the point you are making about Hartson. My fear is that he will hit a brick wall one preseason and not be able to lift himself to the level required.
In giving him and Bobo new contracts Martin has gambled with a large part of his budget. Big risk, but not any more of a risk than buying in a new player such as Camara or Juninho.
There is a full debate to be had on Ulrik Laursen, mention has been made by stevie67 about the Blackburn and Celta Vigo games, which I remember him well from. At CP against Blackburn he was very poor in possession against quick players who were closing him down.
Against Vigo away he played very well as part of a well marshalled defence – he also sent the ball forward for Hartson to score that night.
My basic premise remains; if he was not good enough to break into the team during his first two and a half years at the club we should be looking beyond him, irrespective of current form.
No worries about getting criticism for my grammar, which does not always get the attention it deserves. Loved to quote about ‘feeling true and reading true’.
Tony, still no news on interims. I am putting about the theory that they have been waiting until the CQN blogger problems have cleared up :-)
Declan, Kennedy will not be back until the New Year, so we need to plan without him for the CL. I have concerns about the defence, Varga has always been the most solid looking until a couple of recent mistakes.
Kilo O’Neal, who would send their son to be a footballer? Interesting piece on Rab Douglas, which deserves respect in itself and demands some from Rab.
We are an ungrateful lot us football fans, I know.
As you alluded to and TrueTim affirmed, for the size of budget we have we should have a keeper of real class.
Greenmaestro, JimO, good to hear from both of you. Thanks for your message Jim, however, time for my soap-box speech here:
You are correct that the media misrepresent easily accessible facts, however, you are missing their point. If they are not saying something of interest no-one will listen. If they are being controversial people listen, read, watch and discuss them.
This is the objective of the media. It sells advertising and (for the BBC) attracts audience figures. If you want someone to blame for all this misrepresentation, blame the people who listen, read, watch or click on the sites, without them the media would need to change the message to attract the audience.
Ignore them and they WILL go away.
Greenmaestro, you are right, when we join the EPL the demand for tired old hacks will diminish here.
It’s a big boys game Brendan, Celtic players can handle themselves.
Wullie Gordon, agree exactly.
Noah the Gnu, your patter is as personal as a finger print. Adios Ay-Dee-Oh!
Anon 7.13, I reckon The Sentinel “didn’y get it”. I did, you might be right.
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Anyone know why the share price has dropped by 10% over the past week? There seem to have been various smallish sales which have gradually knocked the shared down from 50p each to 44p each. I am not too bothered by this but it does make me more than a little curious.
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Sorry for being a nuisance but this is a test
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Hi Noah,
You have a way with words...reminds me of someone else.
Nice Idea on AH-DEE-OH, very Brazilian like.
so the chant would go...
" EE, Aye, Adio,
AH-DEE-OH's on the wing "
No bad.
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Still no indication of Glazers next move at Man Utd Paul, they are to announce their half term profits are down by 50% on last year, at sometime today. Apparently Glazers son is recovering from appedicitis and that may be the reason for the delay.
How long can Celtic hold their interim accounts back?
Is there a time frame when they must be announced?
Tony, Latvia
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I hear Shay Given, wants back to Glasgow. His wife is from Glasgow and has given birth to their first child within the last year. She wants ho,e to her family. Does anyone knw how many years are left on his contract ?
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