Do you remember the Green and Whitewash season? In 2003-04 Celtic dominated the league. After drawing their opening game away to Dunfermline they won their next 25 consecutive league games, beating every team in the league home and away. Across all competitions, they beat Rangers five times in four league and a Scottish Cup meeting.
This was as dominant as a team could get but there were vulnerabilities. Not only was Henrik Larsson out of contract, much of that team were in the twilight of their careers. Paul Lambert, Neil Lennon, Alan Thompson and Chris Sutton would never command the same on-field fear again.
The team that completed nine league wins in a row on Wednesday night could not be more different from the 03-04 vintage in one important aspect; only four are older than 23-years-old and none of them are veterans: Brown, 26, Samaras, 26, Mulgrew, 25 and Ledley, 24.
With an average age of just over 22 years this team will continue to improve for years; we can see evidence of progress. James Forrest has made a huge step up in form from last season. Victor Wanyama is almost unrecognisable from the player who arrived in the summer. Big Fraser, 23, still young for a keeper, inspires a lot more confidence than he did last season, and the baby of the team, Adam Matthews, is a scarcely believable 19-years-old. He’s so new to this environment you have to wonder if even the lad’s father knew he had a performance like Wednesday night’s in him.
Ki, 22, Stokes, 23, Izaguirre, 25, Kelvin Wilson, 26 and Mikael Lustig, 25 all fit the same profile. They are a squad full of improving players with the appetite you only get when your career is in front of you.
Rangers, and the rest, should be very afraid. Wednesday night might be as close as they get to the coattails of the young Celts.
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Lennybhoy, neil,
Great to hear from you. Son raving about game, atmosphere met S. Given who was with Aiden mcGeady q’ing up to get into nightclub after game. We enjoyed the game , atmosphere in Dunboyne with fellow fans, for once place was packed. I didn’t go to Mayo as we had to attend funeral. Enjoyed reading all comments in CQN “Just can’t Get Enough”. Som eof us are going to arrange to go over for a game in 2012. Enjoyed your company and Neil’s this year, and the results since we linked up. Hopefully, will meet up with you in New Year.
I thought Samaras was MOM for his creativenes and work rate.
Keep The Faith.
Out in the car and listening to Snyde I just wish some so called Celtic fans would stay away from these phone ins and leave it to Bhoys like Frank,Sean and Terry O.Anyway on another subject I am off to Puerto Del Carmen,Lanzarote any suggestions for watching the Bhoys.
Jobo Baldie says:
30 December, 2011 at 18:23
Good evening friends and a big Happy Friday to one and all!
2 drinky evenings left before my usual New Year resolution kicks in. God loves a trier.
Jobo
Me too , although I am allowing myself until the 3rd. Was at S/Park gym today, really please to see I had lost 3 pounds since Tuesday, ignored the 5 pounds gained since last Friday and have rewarded myself with 3 large bottles of strong cider tonight for the Sky game. It`s Christmas after all…
RFC_OfficialRangers FC Official
Ally McCoist: “There is no panic and we won’t panic. We have to bounce back from disappointments and we will do that.”
I hope you all understand- there IS NO PANIC at Ibrox, I repeat- NO PANIC.
Same back at you The Exiled Tim.
Lubo.
TET
Sadly Paul’s response might reflect his thoughts on the work agents are doing on behalf of our young lads in seeking a move whereby they can easily double or treble their salary.
Bear in mind they’re not born Celtic supporters and money might well be their goal at the end of the day.
Lubo/Alderside Avenue
Happy birthday bhoys..
Patrick27: 18:35
Reading back and totally gutted to hear that Beram has a month out (though selfishly agreeing with others who have pointed out that it reduces the chance of him being sold during the transfer window)
I posted after the game that the side-story should be that tackle and not the non-goal as that thug should never have been on the park. Obviously his actions in a game afterwards cannot be considered during his appeal, but this will put pressure on the ’jury’.
Anyone who doubts Beram Kayals commitment to the cause, check the links to the 2nd half posted earlier and watch him pray in the centre circle before the second half kicked-off.
HH
cathach says:
30 December, 2011 at 19:27
Been great to converse with you and Neil since we hooked up as well mate. I have enjoyed your stories about the old days and other interesting topics.
Sorry to hear you never got to Mayo. Mrs. LB has a funeral tomorrow.
I most definitely will meet with you if you manage to get over for a game next year. We will definitely be in touch many more times before you get over.
Happy New Year to you and the family my friend.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Ghod so called Tims on Synde – WTF
can’t believe Im heading to a 40th tonight which will be full of orcs.
and
I’m not wearing green..o((
cathach says:
30 December, 2011 at 19:27
Almost forgot, yes indeed great to see Sammi hitting a purple patch. It is also good to see Forster coming into form.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Evening Bhoys
no quiz tonight, but it will return next week in all it’s glory.
2 points and it’s no even New Year!!!
HH
CRC
goldstar
Sally and the tax bomb
http://youtu.be/ZR6wok7g7do
Celtic_First says:
30 December, 2011 at 19:11
I get the blame for everything that I do ;-)
Hail Hail
blantyretim says:
30 December, 2011 at 19:36
Get the green on mate…they’ll know what you are when you walk into the room and you will be the only one smiling.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
right , am on carrol 2-0 16/1 and carrol 3-0 33/1 , buying money?
blantyretim says:
30 December, 2011 at 19:36
You might be wise to find an ugly tree ,climb to the top and fall off hitting EVERY BRANCH on the way down .
Just to help you blend in like .
hail hail
Very sorry to hear Kayal’s out for over a month. He and Izzy were the main contenders for POTY for many people last season, and just as one comes back, the other is sidelined.
Agree, however, that we have decent cover in this area of the park. I can’t praise the players enough for handling a spoiling Rangers side (is there any other?) on Wednesday night, but you could argue we lacked a creative spark. Maybe a bit less brawn in the middle will yield more goals.
Stokes and Hooper to renew their partnership on Tuesday.
Blantyretim,
Cheers. A wee joke for the orcs tonight wo might have one or two beers too many;
“If you hear of anyone who is due up in court to lose their driving licence – get them to hire Ally McCoist to defend them – he is absolutely brilliant at making 15 points dissapear” :-)
Right. Party time. Good night folks.
Lubo.
fergus slayed the blues says:
30 December, 2011 at 19:38
Marvellous!!
jmccormick
She sounds cheap. Ma sort of woman……:-)
ElDiegoBhoy says:
30 December, 2011 at 19:32
We simply have to remind them of one of the best players of his generation and in my opinion the best ever Celtic player – Henrick Larsson. Henke was sought by the alleged ‘biggest team’ in the world yet he chose to stay at Celtic. Money isn’t everything.
EDB
Unfortunatly you are 100% correct, and there’s nothing the club can do about it, money is god, not that I blame the kids, gone are the days of being loyal, horrible word , to the club.
We shouldn’t be surprised, these kids have been bought to sell, I just hope that we keep the right wans.
Talking of redevelopment around parkhead,here is an old article of Paul`s is this happening still.
Celtic Triangle Masterplan set for City Council recommendation
Glasgow City Council’s Executive Committee is set to receive a report on Friday outlining Celtic’s Masterplan for redeveloping the area around Celtic Park. The Masterplan Statement encompasses plans for the “Celtic Triangle” between London Road, Janefield St and the proposed East End Regeneration Route (EERR), to the west of Celtic Park.
Significant plans exist to develop the area ahead of the Commonwealth Games in 2014. The London Road School, which Celtic purchased from the council, will be refurbished with a new restaurant, cafe and bar facilities, as well as a new Club Museum. The entire area will be landscaped consistent with the “public realm strategy” with a Plaza space at the front of the stadium.
The key development will be where London Road meets the new EERR, where “a new landmark building [will be] developed at this junction to create an iconic gateway to the Stadium area”. Potential uses for this building include “a hotel, further restaurant and bar facilities [and] a casino”.
The report adds, “It is recognised that the design of the new buildings at this location should be of the highest standard to reflect the importance of this corner of the triangle as a key gateway to the site”
Plans are also noted to develop the peripheral areas of the site after the Commonwealth Games, with “the potential introduction of residential development to the west of the site”, as well as behind the existing tenements at the corner of Springfield Road and London Road.
The plan, which will be recommended to the Committee, will do an enormous amount for one of the most deprived areas in Scotland and provide excellent facilities for visitors to Celtic Park for decades to come. It is also infused with practical and deliverable ideas, while being completely void of speculative bouts of vanity, which hindered earlier stadium-vicinity redevelopment projects in Glasgow.
The Celtic Triangle will rise like a beacon, unlike the fantasy £700m redevelopment of Ibrox, which will never see ground broken.
stpatricksbhoy says:
30 December, 2011 at 19:27
Out in the car and listening to Snyde I just wish some so called Celtic fans would stay away from these phone ins and leave it to Bhoys like Frank,Sean and Terry O.Anyway on another subject I am off to Puerto Del Carmen,Lanzarote any suggestions for watching the Bhoys.
Jealous me….not ajot!!
Plenty of Celtic friendly places in PDC.
In the old town the Ha’Penny is the local CSC, it shows all games and the beer is good.
The Blarney Stone also shows most games, alot of screens usually showing 5 or 6 games at a time…but the beer is worse than tennents.Both these bars in Jardines del Puerto center at the main junction of the old town.
Another good bar is the Melting Pot( opposite Bourbon Street Showbar ) in the square across the road.If Ian has opened up he will show the Scottish games before EPL, also the best pint in Lanza.
Wishing i was there…..enjoy.
LET THE PEOPLE SING!!
I am no David Bailey but I got a new camera with a magic panorama lens. (so this may not work)
It caught that moment when for me , just above the main stand the spaceship of humanity stared upon Paradise and said to itself, “well that green and white lot look ok”
And then it sped off to Edmiston Drive and cried at the futility of its attempt to bring humanity to a desert of disaster!
Of the seventh kind
Hail hail
Estadio
Estadio
I never got back to you with regards your free I.T consultation ? ;-)
Have you made your mind up ?
Hail Hail
Awe Naw
Aye. Just goin’ with Webmatrix for a starter.
This time next year I’m goin to be a m……..
Hail hail
Estadio
jmcormick –
I set my sights far more modestly –
Liverpool to win my 2 or more, 8/5
3 or more goals in the game. 4/5
Treble – Southampton, Huddeesfield and Cheltenham – about 4/1
All up to just about cover my carry out for tomorrow night.
Jobo
Dear Beram,
I am extremely sorry that you are incapacitated for 4 weeks.
Get well soon.
Love and kisses
Awe Naw
AyeRightCSC
Estadio
dont forget to adjust your wage demands for acquiring all these new skills !!
HAil Hail
Estadio,
Good pic. I’m in the Main Stand and now worried about your new panoramic lens.
Jobo
oglach
Big difference with Henke and the kids we are talking about.
He was older, married, family settled, and was playing regular euro football, oh and he was on serious money, he also got a testimonial, he had no reason to leave.
When he did leave, he went up a few rungs on the ladder football wise, and probably financially as well.
http://i41.tinypic.com/11to038.jpg
Awe Naw
I can’t even afford me!!
Wage negotiations wae the black crow on my shoulder are proving to be a close caw!
hail hail
Estadio
Just logged on and read your leader Paul
I have to say, that is as fine an article as any I have read, not only on this blog, but anywhere.
Superb piece and the relevance of the content should never be understated.
Add to the mix the age and experience of the management team, accompanied with the hunger, desire and now the believe that is being shown and it really does augur well for the future.
I really really hope we can hang on to them all.
pyfinl
Just watched the game AGAIN……and still panicked when Manyama almost miss-kicked that clearance in the 4th minute of extra time……..whit am a like…!!!…..LOL
Please don’t sell broadfoot, sally…..please……LOL