 Monday, February 13, 2006
Rangers 0-1 Celtic
Celtic controlled the game from the start and were rewarded on the 12th minute when Zurawski swept Petrov’s pass behind Waterreus from sixteen yards.
Doubts as to whether Neil Lennon and Roy Keane could play in the same midfield were erased as the Celtic midfield controlled the game, providing the much maligned Celtic defence with the cover it has been denied for months.
Keane looked every inch one of the worlds most influential midfield players. Idle media speculation that the Irishman was causing his manager was disproved, as he repeatedly looked to Gordon Strachan for direction.
Rangers enjoyed plenty of possession in the second half, though never looked like scoring. Rangers’ best player, Chris Burke, ran relentlessly at the Celtic defence, and must have been frustrated at his level of commitment not being matched by anyone else wearing blue.
Thomas Buffel got free inside the Celtic box after 32 minutes, but the onrushing Artur Boruc seemed to startle him into a sloppy pass wide of the post, when a square ball would have found Nacho Novo unmarked in front of goal.
Celtic refused to push forward for most of the second half, to the frustration of many of their supporters in the Broomloan Road Stand, though keeping a clean sheet for the first time since beating Rangers 13 games ago was excellent payoff.
It was a Celtic performance reminiscent of many under Martin O’Neill, who made a habit of closing down the midfield and waiting on the Rangers defensive mistake. When Marvin Andrews and Sotirios Kyrgiakos both challenged John Hartson for a Boruc clearance, they left space behind them.
Hartson found Petrov, who prodded the ball to Zurawski to finish.
If you are not subscribed to the Celtic Quick News podcast, you can download the audio here.
Rangers: Waterreus, Hutton, Andrews, Kyrgiakos (Rodriguez 66), Smith, Burke, Malcolm, Ferguson, Buffel (Kris Boyd 72), Novo (Lovenkrands 61), Prso.
Subs Not Used: Klos, Hemdani, Murray, Namouchi.
Booked: Prso, Kyrgiakos, Kris Boyd.
Celtic: Boruc, Telfer, Balde, McManus, Wilson, Petrov, Keane, Lennon, Maloney (Pearson 89), Zurawski, Hartson (Dublin 74).
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Thompson, Nakamura, Wallace, McGlinchey.
Booked: Keane.
Goal: Zurawski 12.
Att: 49,788
Ref: M McCurry
100 Comments:
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1st?
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Keane looked to Strachan for direction ?
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Moanthehoops. Good strike. U took the 1st opporchancity!
Can't wait to go down Mammy's house tomorrow an' read the peepel's papers.
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Sing it loud sing it proud
"Championes Championes Away Away Away!"
Celtic No# 1
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Keane was outstanding. The tackle he made on prso and getting booked for was a class example of a player who knows how to read a situation well and what appropriate action is needed. The ball broke thro to prso just after the half way line and he ran with it, the defence for a moment seemed out of position and prso had space to run into and possibly have a very good chance of a shot on goal. Keane seen this and felt it was appropriate to foul him and take the booking. His reaction for the booking told he knew what he was doing. Pure class Keano.
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driveway finally shovelled clear of snow.
beer all finished.
great day !
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well done moan thehoops
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Just been out with some non celtic/football loving friends and they can't understand why beating rangers means so much to me.......in addition i'm so drunk i was unable to explain it to them.
Love being a tim
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Thats the first time i'v been first, hopefully theres some more to come. lol
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was I FOURTH or FIFTH ?
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Paul67
Would the purchase of the Death Star not be an incredible risk? If we say for talking sake £118M is paid for it with an annual rent of £8M, then it would take nearly 15 years to recoup the initial outlay (not including the loss of interest such an amount would earn).
Where would TFOD find this annual rent? What use would the Stadium be if TFOD defaulted? The land is worth nothing like that amount. Seems an unlikely scenario however stranger things have happened. Bob Malcolm is a professional footballer.
Heard from a Fulton McKay lookalike inside the Death Star that LeGuen is a done deal. That seems very strange but then again Kyriagos held out for more money and got it.
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Moanthehoops
Aye,Keanes booking was like the rest of his performance, class.
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Posted this a couple of minutes ago but seems to have disappeared into the ether, just like rankers chances of picking up a trophy this season!!!!!
Anyone reckon we're far enough in front now that we should start blooding some youngsters in preparation for next year's campaigns? We'll need as strong a squad as possible and by the sound of it we've got some great youngsters on the books.
How good is it to be a TIM!!!!!!!!
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Enjoyed the audio clip.
Championees.
Any chance of adding the
Fourth in the SPL chant?
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Paul
Mtch report spot on as always. This was a MON style performance. Reminiscent of the game when Sutty had to play centre-half(1-0). It was that comfortable.
I was one of those you mention sitting in the Broomloan end and believed that this very poor rangers team were there for the taking today. Never mind though. A wins a win.And a clean sheet is something to celebrate.
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Hi Paul,
I am sure you will all enjoy having the league trophy over at the east side of the city, but don't get too used to it, I'm sure that next season will see it return to it's favoured home in Ibrox. As you can imagine I disagree with a lot of you in that I didn't think it was a very good day today, the words *less than scintilating* were quoted by someone, that I would think was a fair opinion, but even at that I would have to say that we didn't deserve to take anything.
KirstyMcCabecfc:- Thanks, that brought my first smile of the day, however I can assure I'm 100% bluenose, Rangers through and through. not the happiest of men to be just now and not something I could see anyone pretending to be, this season at least :-) Obviously I have no way of proving this statement other than the persistency of viewpoint in my posts and also the first name I used on this blog, KilwinkieHun. You may well be right on the attention seeking, but after all isn't that the raison detre of blogs, to have others see what we think and to have the arrogance to think that others will find our opinions interesting enough to read.
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from the previous post............
kirsty, it just aint happenin' for you, is it? It takes a bit of gettin' used to. But the best way to find your feet is by using a previous thread to practice on. It is also best to preview before you post, as the very helpful blogger programe shows you were you have made a mistake with your link,
you'll get the hang of it I'm sure...........
Anyhoo, see the thing I don't get is the need to have "them" as our nemesis.................
By this I mean, I know no greater low than when "they" are better, or achieve more than us. Ergo, I welcome their demise with as much relish as is humanly possible.
Is it just me? 1-o, great 2-0 better, 3-0..............you get the picture. Edward is IMHO, a decent guy. To inhabit this site takes far more courage and dignity than I could ever muster. To him, I take my hat off...................
Anyway, long may their demise continue say I.
pablohanque
No.1 This day in History
Woman - John Lennon. 1981
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Ted, top man. But your team is meense.
pablophanque
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edwardarus
Care to indulge in a little attention seeking by giving your views on the main incidents today ?
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danny, message on noel's blog.
pablophanque
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I have just watched the first half on Replay.
BB was imperious in the air and commanding on the ground. When he keeps it simple we look rock steady at the back and my blood pressure remains slighly high instead of being sky high.
The Greek should have been red carded for bad acting after scything BBJ when the Welshman was looking for a one two. McCurry didn't even award a free kick never mind a card. Some may argue he played advantage, but Maloney on the ball with three defenders between him and goal is hardly more advantageous than a free kick in a dangerous position.
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Paul..
...Idle media speculation that the Irishman was causing his manager were disproved... ?
Yeah just read it again...sorry to be questioning your editorial judgement...mind you I am sure you are in a state of merriment...so forgivable. :o)
I thought that was a controlled and confident performance the augurs well for the future.... Special tip of the hat to Wilson.
Calmed down after my exasperation with a certain radio station. I should practice what I preach and ignore it...difficult to do today happily.
From this position we should be able to do what he have not done all year. Reduce the pressure, increase the understanding/spirit of the team and bring on the Bhoys of the Future....The essence of Gordon Strachans second objective .
A Small Step to that New Dawn and a Giant Leap towards the Title...Happy Day
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Edward
For the 4th time in 6 years it will be in the east end of the city so already we are getting used to it ;o)
As I said on my wee blog the minute the phrase "hardly a classic" is used it is a sure sign that Celtic have won comfortably.
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EdwrdUrsus
It was a terrible game today I agree. However Your team were absolutely awful. My viewing of Rangers has been restricted to games against Celtic and Champions league ties. Rangers had nothing to offer today. I do not necessarily agree that Le Guen (or whoever) needs to build a new team altogether. Rangers have some decent players. Buffel,Prso,Ferguson,Burke and Hutton could easily form the back-bone of a decent side.Not seen enough of Boyd against quality to judge.
The rest are however ordinary at best.
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PJBhoynyc and Beattie
Did any of you find wee Bazza in a snow drift while shovelling? His mammy, 40,000 Ranger fans, Big Eck and a Breton are out looking for him.
NJ Inuit CSC
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Dannythejanny :- I'd rather leave that till I've had the advantage of watching it again, the only point I would agree with that I've seen mentioned on here and only because I had a very clear view was that Kyrgiacckos at the very least over reacted massively. Much as I hate being negative about my own team this is a form of cheating I hate to see.
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I've been dying to post for the past two days but have been experiencing IT problems ( more correctly, personal ignorance of IT problems) . I have 2 browsers on my Mac, Int. Explorer and Safari; when posts go above 100 or so I cannot load them on IE which is where I first registered to this site. I have been able to continue reading using Safari but I cannot post there unless I register as a new user. Help anyone??? Maybe I need a tutorial from someone in the 18 to 21 bracket.
While the posts are low on this thread, I want to take the chance to express my sheer joy at the events of the weekend, from the pre-match tension and handbag squabbles to the euphoria of an easy victory.
Because of further problems with Freeview top-up ordering today ( have I angered the IT god Geekus?), I had to go to a mixed pub in Cambuslang and it was even sweeter to hear the complaints and criticisms directed at Bazza and Mcleish as background music. The Rangers guys in the pub were pretty embarrassed by the behaviour of their Greek Central defender. I'm sure the 300 Spartans i watched in my youth took longer to go down despite looking like porcupines by the time the Persian archers had finished with them.
I am seriously pleased with life and really looking forward to some low key gloating at work tomorrow. After all, we only beat the 4th best team in the league.
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Paul,........."Keane looked every inch one of the worlds most influential midfield players. Idle media speculation that the Irishman was causing his manager was disproved, as he repeatedly looked to Gordon Strachan for direction" !!!????
Please explain.
pablophanque
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kirstymccabe
You question the authenticity of Edward Ursus.
Well i go one step further, and in actual fact think that EVERY post is from Kojo or one of his psuedonyms
Kojo posts all comments - even Paul67's
He probably posted this one too!
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Kingoh/Edwarsursus
Boyd reminded me of a certain Stephen Thompson who was not Rangers quality. Come on as a sub and get booked as quickly as possible.
Edward apolgies for misspelling you name like the Amercian toy store
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Edward
A very reasonable answer re watch again.
Given that I hope you are not also Kojo and Paul67 as AmuseanEmu suggests
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Pablo
Thanks
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Hi all, a rapidly sobering-up Estadio here!
It’s only a small but hopefully atmospheric attic abode that I currently sit in, surrounded by some bright colourful prints, some slightly less colourful sepia toned vague memories, and probably worst of all, some black and white brylcreemed god-like figures of my imagination stirred by the magical imprint of ink, letters, and words!
Yes this is indeed Estadio’s wee temple dedicated to what has happened in days of yore, what is happening now, and the succulent fruits (stick your lamb up your slaughterhouse alley) that we can anticipate in the future dawn of bountiful orchards.(does that beat moonbeams of success?)
A fair few hours ago now, like Daniel approaching the Lion’s den, I took tentative steps towards BF1 at the pit of snakes, and there standing in the next queue like mythical gods made real, was Johann Mjallby and Morten Weighorst.
It was at that precise moment that I knew we were going to win!
I’ll come back to that later!
Anyway over the last few months, reading on many sites, listening to polarised conversations slung down the bar, and even as I walked home from Sharkey’s tonight with James O, while mulling over the exquisite clarets that had been presented to us those few hours ago, I was reminded by some passing apparent wit, that
‘poor as we are we still managed to beat an even poorer Rangers team’.
Poor as we are?
Right lets just look at this really poor team, a really poor team that has been fashioned by the effort, thoughts, talent, and personal dreams of Gordon Strachan!
In Goals - Artur Boruc! – Naw lets have Rab. Magnus, Jonathan, Stewart, or possibly even David back.
David’s day will come, but I think that Artur's time is now!
I’ll come back to the back four options in a moment!
Midfield candidates!
Stan, Shunsuke, Shaun, Roy, Neil, Pearo, Aiden! And in reserve Thommo or even Ross?
I would take on any midfield with weapons of subtlety, strength, commitment, skill, identity, and mass destruction such as those!
Of course our very own perspicacious paragons of truth and honour who wield the mighty sword of the blinkered press (and those who peddle their thoughtless meanderings and ignorant cul-de-sacs even on here ) are obviously correct!
But what about the forwards?
BBJ, Dion, Maciej, and still to come Craig, Michael (McGlinchey), and a host of other talent!
Not a morsel of talent there! is there?
And now for the back four:
A real problem area I accept.
Except that Bobo on his return has been nothing less than imperious (in his defending, as his passing still causes my bladder to faint) and in Mark Wilson we have one of the most promising talents at admittedly right-back, in Scotland. And don’t underestimate the Scotland categorisation, because it is going to gather real moss as the stone gathers exciting moss as it rolls forward into the future!
So much for the individuals, now let’s look at the competition, who will be absolutely delighted to find out just how poor a side we are!
Hearts, who are so improved that they were until a couple of weeks ago being tipped to win the SPL. But they are improved in fact they are streets ahead of anything they achieved or were even capable of last year!
Hibs continue to both astound (regularly) and disappoint (occasionally), but are progressing magnificently.
Motherwell, Kilmarnock, and Inverness are far better team than they were last year!
And wait for it, even that bunch of troglodytes over in Ibrox have reached the last 16 of the Champions League.
So we seem to be playing against better teams all of whom have a better record than previous years! (Surely the fact that our blue-nosed brothers are on the end of a regular beating couldn’t possibly influence anyone’s opinion)
But what about our own relative performance?
Last year at the same point, we had 65 points and a goal difference of 30!
This year we have changed the team beyond recognition and yet we have:
64 points and a goal difference of 39!
So let me just get this straight, that playing against far more consistent and better performing opposition, playing against a team who has reached the last 16 of the Champions league, while outperforming our goal ratio, and being one point less well off, we are actually a poor team!
Well if you want to believe the published and broadcast pus that masquerades as truth and honest opinion, then please do so.
I looked around at the thousands of supporters who not only cared but also glowed with that quality, much maligned on here at times, blind faith.
I realised it wasn’t blind at all, but it was hidden from the sight of those who just didn’t want to see!
And then I thought again about Johann, and Morten.
They were there, not because they had complimentary passes, or because they had an effortless freebie day-out, but because they cared.
They were there because these giants identified and empathised with us mere mortals, and as they lined up in that that singing queue, signing endless autographs, and raising their hands in timeless camaraderie, I knew that they would never allow us to lose this day.
I smiled and tore my stub of my ticket!
So now as I look around this little shrine of mine and as I register the smile on the faces of Quinn, Stein, Tully, Gallacher, Delany, Evans, Peacock, Maley, McGrory, Johnstone, Murdoch, O’Neil, McNeil, Moravcik, Larsson, and Gemmell among many others, I hear them shouting at me that here is a club playing massively within itself that not only away from home, but like Daniel who on entering that den, tamed the wild eyed man-eating beasts!
In a season of adventurous exploration for just about everyone involved, someone really does need to explain to me what more they can reasonably demand?
I have dreams of a marvellous future and of glorious European nights.
Give me those dreams anytime over the barren fears and hopeless nightmares of ambitionless and stillborn failure.
I think that Gordon also has these dreams. Let’s try to make them come true!
Estadio
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Enjoyed the game today and whilst watching the re-run on CH67, I am having a laugh browsing F****w F*****.com and quote...Rangers suffered their third defeat in eight days this
afternoon, going down 0-1 to Celtic at Ibrox, but the
villain of the piece without question was referee Mike
McCurry who totally abrogated his responsibilities in
failing to red card both John Hartson and Roy Keane....eh?? Kyrgiakos?? Boyd??
Sour grapes indeed.
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Some quality posts tonight fellas.
Thought that we had very strong performances throughout the team today (watched it on Setanta via Freeview PPV ... Brown is a Joke right enough ... "Oh! Hartson retialted by tugging him back" before Hatley says "There was absolutely no contact there" - on Kiriakos' dive).
Wilson - Excelled for one so young in such an important match (out of position).
Two centre-halfs - Commanding!
Telfer - Tackling much improved, distribution poorer than previous showings
Midfield - Bossed it. Nuff said.
Forwards - Worked hard. Excellent finish by Magic following foul on Stan. Excellent thanks to the fans by BBJ when substituted.
All in all we let them have the ball where they couldn't hurt us and apart from when Telfer got caught flat-footed and Buffell went through on goal and teh chance that Boruc smothered at the feet of three players never really gave them a sniff. I think a clean sheet is an immense psychological boost for the team ... Generation of dominance - BRING IT ON!
All the best
Corpachbhoy
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Estadio that was beautiful, your poetry is on par with the poetry that from Lubo & Larsson which has dazzled us in recent years.
If we forget about all the mess that WGS has inherited then you have to say he is a very lucky man. MON built a great team and inherited some great players, but he did not have the conveyor belt of talent WGS has coming through.
Afterall who was the young prodigys when MON took reign, Burchill? This made MON's life difficult because it meant he had to constantly buy success but money eventually ran out. The great man said himself in his leaving interviews that he felt the future lay with the youngsters. He has every faith that players such as Mcgeady will become world class.
In the short term it may not have been so good for WGS but now that he has managed to ride the destructive wave he has himself in a great position with a fairly good team with, not just one or two youngsters, but many ready to knock on the door over the next year, some are ready now.
Over the next couple of years we will see the development of a top class training facility and the growth of a fantastic scouting network. Aren't these fantastic foundations?
With some intelligent signings in the summer we can have a strong team to go into Europe. I think we will do alright, if not quite spectaculor. But the following season, our youngters will be matured and greatly experienced. With a further two transfer windows to bolster our squad I think we could potentially have a team that could better the Seville team.
i'm not looking with green tinted glasses here. We will need a bit of luck along the way, football has a way of coming up and biting you in the jacksie when things seem to be going well. If developments continue like they are right now, then why not?
Now that we have took some of the pressure off can us fans stop being so nervous? Who knows maybe we can do something completely crazy, something absolutely bonkers mad, something you couldn't dream of ever happening, maybe we could enjoy ourselves.
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Estadio
As one who has faith, I salute your sentiments and admire your poetic phraseology.
We have dreams and songs to sing.
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Bloody hell Estadio high praise indeed! Was it not yourself that wrote a beautiful piece on a visit to the site of our historic victory in Lisbon.
As I believe it was once said ... "If I have seen so far, it is because I am standing on the shoulders of giants". That should be our mantra! Land of our forefathers , players who've gone before etc.
All the best
Corpachbhoy
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Paul, I agree Chris Burke was the huns best player today. Didn't he come up through the Celic Boys Club?
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From previous post :
WGS,
Re Hofland. Just a hunch. He fits the bill, especially as he seems to have gone from Jaap Stam's understudy in the Dutch squad and a regular at PSV to mid table obscurity at Wolfsburg which surprised me more than a little. Am I a million miles away?
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Apologies for going off-topic, but I was thinking yesterday about just how impregnable we were at home under MON, and just checked through the records.
Our last home defeat before MON took charge was on March 8th 2000 when we lost 1-0 to Rangers.
In 2000-01 we did lose 2-1 to Bordeaux in November but the scores were level after 90 minutes. In May we lost 2-0 to Dundee but had already won the league by then.
In 2001-02 we lost 1-0 to Ajax in August, but again this did not matter.
We were entirely undefeated in all competitions in 2002-03.
In 2003-04 we lost 2-1 to both Aberdeen amd Dunfermline in April and May respectively, but again only after clinching the league.
Our first meaningful defeat over 90 minutes came on September 14 2004 when we lost 3-1 to Barcelona, more than four and a half years since the Rangers defeat.
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I don't want to upset anyone and haven't read through all the posts where an answer may be there but PLG looks like becoming the new hun boss and what has been said on here is as wide off the mark as the 15m budget WGS was meant to have.
Fans hang off every word on here...
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Sorry if this was picked up by someone previously . . .
I see Terry Butcher has lambasted Murray for his treatment of McLeish and in no uncertain terms. In addition to his previous comments on Rangers players approach to sectarianism, this is one man who will not be on the coaching staff at Ibrox, ever. Fair play to him, he is prepared to slate the Mint in a way that the independent media can't or won't.
As for yesterday, a stroll in the park although more ruthlessness would have been welcome to kill the game off. Even when 1-0 up and well in command, there is always the possibility of a costly error, as was very nearly the case when 3 Rangers' players were unmarked on the 6-yard line.
If that was, as I fear, NL's last appearance at Ibrox he had every right to smile when he walked off the park - we'll miss him.
Hail, Hail
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Morning all.
Not a great game but who cares?! How good does the league table look today?
Unbelievable (or is it) how no-one in the meeja seems to have picked up on the Greek cheat's cheating. Utterly disgraceful - and the ref was 2 yards away! Very lucky not to have been sent off for 2 yellows...
Apparently, he used to do this sort of thing in derby games in Greece in his time there. Just the kind of dignified player TFOD deserve then.
If Bobo's backheel had counted I think we should have voted it goal of the season.
I'm off to tell a few of Edward's brethren just exactly where they are in the SPL!
Hail hail,
H
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That was the best we've played in ages,good,solid,professional performances right through the team.
Clearly when Swansealdinho saw that Shellsuitboab was playing in midfield he decided to drop back and spread the ball around like Michel Platini if he'd been a giant,balding bearded redhaired Welsh colossus!
The victory was a tactical triumph for Minimus and the Cheefant!
What is Murray Park?Is it a football 'centre of excellence' or a Y.O.I.?
Bailey south 5 to 7,
occasionally gale 8 at first,
decreasing 4
later.
Rain then
showers.
Moderate or good,
occasionally poor
at first.
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I though I posted this yesterday, but here it is again.
That was an impressive away performance today. "Utterly professional" The Guardian calls it. I'll take that against any of our CL opponents next season, especially if it's a team in this season's last sixteen.
For anyone who wants to pick up on managers for not rubbing it in against Rangers, start with MON. The green and whitewash was great, but short by about 10 goals.
We will never get the credit for what we achieve this season from the media. At least let's give it to ourselves.
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recipe for a moonbeam of success....
add 2 goalies
3 centre backs
2 midfield players
2 strikers
no margin for error with any of them as existing quality is poor
1 new coaching team, with results demanded in year 1
total cost of the above
at least £20 million in transfer fees to do it properly
and the wage bill to rise by £10 million per annum....
this will be interesting !!
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PS BBJ's clenched fist departure is iconic. As good as MON with Lennon last year.
Let's have it on the T-shirts someone.
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JUst having a wee laugh about the post saying follow follow blamed McCurry for the defeat. In my view, McCurry didn't do any damage to our game, but Rangers were very lucky to finish with 11 men. I thought Kyrgiakos should have gone for the late challenge and dive - 2 bookable offences in the space of 10 seconds. I also thought Malcolm should have been booked for his cynical foul on Magic (no better than Keane's deliberate one, surely?) and Boyd was a very lucky one to stay on after two purposeful late challenges in the space of 2 or 3 minutes.
Anyway, thought it was a great victory. Closing the game off in the second half worked wonders and I'll never tire of hearing that we're 21 points clear of Rangers. Even better when you add we're 13 clear of Hearts and 19 clear of Hibs!
Much better from the defence and keeper yesterday - even Telfer played well (outwith a couple of hesitant moments) and also thought McManus played very well. The midfield choice worked well - before kick off I thought WGS was making a mistake, but I was happy to be proved wrong! Keane had a stormer and if he can keep that form up for the rest of the season, it'll surely give us the drive we need to the title. BBJ was back to his best - I thought he was great in the first half and Magic keeps getting better. Great finish and fantastic running throughout.
It's a Monday morning, yet I'm still smiling! Mon the hoops!
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Hey folks,
Check out Estadios comment from last night (earlier in this thread). The man inspires.
I agree chennaisebird, BBJ just loves sticking it to them doesn't he.
If you are BBJ, carlsberg dont do Sundays.....
I thought the back four were pretty solid. WGS was spot on with his tactics. Its going to be interesting to see how Strach plays the RK and NL card from now on.
I am happy I dont make those decisions. I must say that I was in the 'Roy Keane has it all to prove to me' camp..(There is one honest) but last night I couldn't stop thinking about how dominant he was in the middle of the park. So I am firmly back in the 'Roy Keane must stay in the line up camp'
Wilson. What can I say? Brilliant.
During the game, wasnt it odd that Joke never mentioned that Celtic had gone 12/13 games without a clean sheet and that the last one they had was against Rangers? If nothing else its is an interesting fact that you would think he might have picked up on. The Setanta studio was like a morgue afterwards. Even Rob McLean looked a bit peeved which I thought was unusual for him as I dont take him for a bear.
Okay Im rambling, give me a break, I dont get out much!
Copachbhoy, Are you a native of the 'Fort' area?
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Jas,
Interesting post, My guess is you are referring to Paul67’s ‘Roberts poised to take over from McLeish' it was an (informed?) opinion. Few posters agreed with this and the majority have indeed stated they thought Le Guen would replace Big Eck. You readily admit you haven’t read the posts, then you state Fans hang off every word on here.... What nonsense, if you cared to read the words on here you would see there is a great deal sense and Celtic knowledge amongst the regular posters and lively debate and differing opinions? For you to suggest that everyone is wrong smacks of ill informed arrogance. Personally I will believe the Paul Le Guen story when I see him in the dug-out.
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I’m not too sure what the problem is but since yesterday I have been prone to uncontrollable periods of smiling, I’ll be walking along or sitting watching T.V. when all of a sudden I break into an immature grin sometimes followed but a slight snigger, thankfully it last just a few seconds and not seems to notice.
Does anyone have any idea as to the cause?
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As Estadio points out - we are improving and statistically stronger than last year... but my point is that when "they" were winning league after league, I don't recall anyone denigrating their success by pointing out the disarray Celtic were in at the time - I don't think there's a group of fans harder on their team (and themselves) than Celtic fans.
It was interesting to see how often Keane looked to Maloney as the first ball - obviously rates the wee fella - and the time Keane put a bad pass over and then raised his hand to wee Shauny in apology. Class - I bet Shaun would never have thought of that in his future when working through our youth system...
Happy, Hoopy Days...
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Denia Bhoy,
Agreed, thought we did a great job yesterday but the performance deserved a more emphatic victory, Hartson pausing with the ball 20yrds from the Rangers goal said it all. Yet a few of the Rangers players impressed young Chris Burke looked good and after 35 minutes there was a Rangers pass to the right hand side of the Celtic box, it was Telfer’s ball and he was too slow and Buffel nipped in and should have scored. The original mistake was poor but the casual way Telfer reacted and left it to BoBo to deal with, was disappointing. (Telfer was very advanced for a FB IF he was supposed to be in midfield, I apologise).
WGS has now got the makings of a great team but it’s as if he’s at the wheel of a performance motor car but doesn’t want to put his foot down, in midfield there was no contest we were head and shoulders better
------------Ferguson-----Malcolm
---------Petrov----Lennon----Keane
A goal during Rangers purple patch in the second half (if you blinked you might have missed it) and we could be talking of another missed opportunity it seems we can either defend or attack. If we are to become a great team we must do both this team are more than capable of being a great team!
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Celticbhoy-you may be experiencing what religious scholars call'Eckstacy'which is a state of mind brought about by the knowledge that the Urukhai's best chance of European football next season is through the Intertoto.
As the broadsheets have pointed out,this is not a prospect to have Mme Leguen taking out a loyalty card at 'Whateverys'
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All Hail Young WILSON
Everyone is talking up Keane's performance, but I felt Wilson was superb.
Looked to hold the ball. Didn't panic, great distribution and linkage, sound heading and in for the tackle.
And that whilst playing at the opposite end of a back four from his usual position.
Also, what does BBJ have to take to get a free kick awarded? The Greek Geek got away with murder and McCurry gave him clear licence to foul BBJ at every opportunity.
Le Guen has NOT signed on. They've been talking since October but the deal is not done??? Methinks he awaits news of a European front opening up?
C'mon the hibees. Support your neighbours. Keep Europe Hunfrei in 06/07! You know it makes sense!
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Whoever said that WGS was man of the match has called it absolutely right. His decision to hold the midfield tight with the United Ireland double act was excellent, but the way he set the team out in containment for the second half was superb and very O' Neill-esque which is the highest compliment I can ever pay him.
I think this was his best ever performance as our manager and he deserves every bit of credit for it. I've not been convinced all season about his worth, but if he starts using his tactical head more often I'll become his number one fan. Love to see Mulgrew back and Wilson at right back though, think he will be a wonderful player for us.
Doomed, doomed, the huns are all doomed!
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Big Result & Big Performance to go with it. Chuffed for players like Wilson, McManus etc to experience what it's like to go to somewhere like Ibrox & get a result.
The discipline of the team & our defending gives me hope for our European jaunt next season. Up until yesterday it was a terrifying thought, now i'm quietly confident
btw - the news that Le Guen will soon be confirmed as the next gers boss is a major worry. I was sure that Paul & Kojo were convinced that this was a non starter. Can anyone clarify?
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Anyone got a picture or clip of Hartson's departing gesture for us o'seas guys to enjoy?
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Some debate about yesterday's formation.
I thought we played a 4 - 34 - 2 very well. That's four at the back, two up front and a wide midfielder on either side of the 32 counties! :-}
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To all those getting themselves worked up over the impending arrival of Le Guen. A few points to consider.
Foreign managers have a poor track in Scottish football.
His salary is going to be huge which means less money to be spent on players.
Will the players be mainly French, if so I don't think they'll be of the Thierry Henry standard. If not how will Scottish/British player react to a French manager.
Having said all that I can't help but think his assitant & wife were part of a Murray media stunt. Don't be fooled.
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Private Fraser,
I entirely agree with you but had yesterday's result gone against us GS would have been hammered by all and sundry for leaving Naka on the bench. A very fine line between success and failure.
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Yesterday's win could be more significant than we realise.
With Edinburgh Huns losing to Aberdeen on Saturday, an Orcs vistory yesterday would have put them into 3rd and just 5 points behind them with their tails up for the rest of the season. As it stand 2nd place is looking a forlorn hope. now that we've well and truly put the Orcs to bed and made significant strides on Hearts in the last couple of we must (and it really pains me to say this) hope that Hearts can find a bit of form and hang onto 2nd. Better still if the Hibees can go on a run.
The prospect of no CL next year must have a bearing on the PLG scenario. His non-commital baffles me slightly, given that he's currently out of work and if I was an Orc I'd be a we bit worried. Reports from the BBC suggest he's 'mulling' it over - not exactly cut and dried then is it?
If Murray fails to deliver on this one there will truly be Murder at Mordor.
Fingers crossed.
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3 relations of mine, blue noses, driving to the game and their car is pelted by 'tic fans as they come off the M8. Brief panic turned to embarrassment when it was realised the smiling assailants were covering the car with confetti. Harmless gold and silver confetti, every piece cut into the shape of '18' and '21'!
They sit in the Copland Road and watch "the worst Rangers team in living memory". And boy does John Hartson rile them.
Best of all at least they laughed at the morons around them. Artur Boruc runs out for the second half, stands facing and staring into their stand from his goal line, through the net. Motionless, staring into the heart of that fiery hell for 5 to 10 seconds. Starts to smile as the torrent of bile rains down and reaches crescendo, claps his hands, blesses himself and turns back to the play. Absolute mayhem ensues in the Copland Road.
Worth remembering that there really are blue noses out there who get embarrassed by the poison around them, and not just a handful.
Following on from Monteblanco's post at he weekend about Rod McDonald (PTFC) who got sent off for blessing himself in 1998:
I was at the World Cup in France for 2 days in 1998. In a bar one unforgettable night with 2 Bolivians, 2 Brazilians, 3 Venezualans and 3 Mexicans and my mate (a blue nose). Every now and again each nationality takes a turn to sing a song. The talk comes round to Celtic because they want to know what it is I'm singing. We've run out of Scotland songs after Flower of Scotland and Willie McBride and we now have 6 nationalities - Bolivian, Brazilian, Venezualan, Mexican, Scottish/Irish Celtic and Scottish Rangers.
The South Americans understand immediately and turn on the blue nose!! Rod McDonald's sending off was front page headline news in each of their countries. My mate's pretty taken aback and suddenly you can see a realisation in his eyes that Scotland really is a unique place, but not in the way he thought.
Back to the footy and did anyone else notice that Boruc was playing as sweeper? There's no way we passed the ball back to him that many times without it being preconceived. And it worked as we were never under any real pressure all day.
Hail Hail!
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dontbrattbackinanger
Thank you for your diagnosis, seems to make sense although I can’t get the tune of the Monkey’s song `I’m a Beliver’ out of my head with the words change to `I’m An Early Lever Not a Trace of Ger’s Fans in the Ground’
Any thoughts on this side effect?
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As has been said before on these pages DM wants to be loved.
There is so much gloom in Mount Doom that if Leguen was a cert for next season it would have been all over the papers ages ago.
The legendary Big Eck luck seems finally to have run dry this season and if European competition is not on for next season the only French letters arriving on DMs desk will be the special orange flavoured ones for the bogs in the Waddell Suite[Chic swears by them.ALLEGEDLY]
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Watched the game on setanta here in Sydney (yes knoxy it is me, at bondi)
So obviously didn't get the 'whole' picture but it did seem to me that the match officials were not bias against us.
Sure they made some mistakes but I thought overall, to my surprise, that they were okay! There was a couple of ofsides that went our way that the lino could easily have kept his flag down.
There was a great shot of Martin Bain in the stand next to PLG's assistant, not too happy! made me laugh.
Still a bit concerned that as bad as they are we still managed to give them a couple of opportunities to score, now had that been a decent team it could have been a different result.
I think the defence did well but still some tightening up to do.
Well done the bhoys and WGS,
'simply the best' ha ha
Jimmy
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"I'm sorry what was the result again??"
"A win you say.. and a clean sheet. Well fancy that!"
"Here my head is still swimming with the communion wine and I woke up this morning with a booming head."
"Sounded like a 21 gun salute!!"
/Bishop B
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corrib04 9:39
I used to live in Corpach which is just around the corner of Loch Linnie from The Fort. There are some pictures on my Blog.
All the best
Corpachbhoy
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One big ad at the top for shares and 4 little ones at the bottom, like that. Might stop some people complaining about Pauls bid to become a Millionaire.
Click the ads.
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PABLO..... ;-)
ur right aint working....if i could get scott macdonald to do it for me , would that make me a top poster????????????
edward if ur genuine..good luck to ya!
my rankers pals are all concentrating on the fresh investment coming their way....ive emailed them the ken gallagher article.
watched the game at midnight again and although keane and wilson were our best two, i thought boruc and balde were magnificent...
was in broomloan rear and found it interesting that all around were screaming at the team to get forward!!!????
with keane if we play a defensive/liverpool style we would have a chance in europe, me thinks.
however lets not get carried away i reckon there are only 3 maybe 4 players in that rankers team who would get a game for hibs
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A wee story to make you all chuckle ;
A rangers supporting friend of mine (i have a couple) was down in Wales visiting his in laws - anyway his Father in law got him a ticket for the Wales v Scotland rugby match.........
I never knew this until i sent him a text after the game for a wee gloat.........as you do..
He text back to say where he was ........ " at the rugby in Wales with GG 70,000 people in here .....and i`m sitting next to a Welsh c*** IN A CELTIC STRIP!!!!
Loved it !!!!
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Fantastic blog Corpachbhoy.
I just posted on it.
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