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.
914 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- ...
- 25
- »
Jobo
I think you’re cheating on Estadio’s terms. he never “witnessed” McGrory or Thompson perform, well not as players.
I assume Bobo Balde is a spoof entrant.
McCulloch assault on Kayal – apologies if this has been posted already
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/3056/imag0122o.jpg
Kayals loss should be easy to cope with. Izzy back at left back frees up one of our best players to go into his best position. Step up Joe Ledley.
lF we sign a centre back and a striker that scores goals we will win the league at a canter. Just hope double D doesnt get any big ideas about the league and the huns perilous state that would stop us signing the players the manager wants.
SFTB
Bobby M was spot on. and now Bobby L!
Henrik is now 8th.
Jinky, Charlie T, Bobby M, Bobby L, Kenny, Brian M, Charlie N and then comes Henrik.
Hail hail
Arsetadio
fergus slayed
didnt read your mail – just seen the lead article and thought – ffs
the huns have won the league for 3 years in a trot
any jam tomorrow policy would need to give us 3 + very many
i dont remember a GOD when the huns had 3,500 at ibrox v p thistle
but aberdeen and dun utd were pretty good then
i’ll settle for a win on monday first and foremost
this is our inverness game
Jobo Baldie says:
30 December, 2011 at 20:37
1-1 at half time explains why the local bookie loves me, still he will never get fat on my £5 a week, I am simply giving back some of the £30 Kauto Star helped me to. Now I still have a sneaky wee Gerrard to score at any time at 6/4 , enough to get my £5 back if all goes well……. as ever like most true Celts I am a dreamer….
SFTB –
Bobo….Jobo….whatever… ;-)
Jobo
Estadio
Charlie Nick’s longevity was not much longer than George’s.
My Da reckoned Willie Fernie was better than Charlie but less of a crowd pleaser in your terms.
I’ll join you in promoting Bertie Auld to that elite.
I hope Aiden has a chance to come back and make that grade too with us.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/8983974/Rangers-manager-Ally-McCoist-needs-Craig-Whyte-cash-to-avoid-miserable-2012.html
Craig Whyte described as a ‘venture capitalist’ in the Telegraph; some interesting footballing points aswell.
Ninth!!!!
I missed Ten Therty
hail Hail
Estadio
Estadio,
You are right it was the Greek Thomson, which was at the start of Cathcart Road and Crown St. I think!
Estadio
Brian M????
McLair or McLaughlin?
Joe Filippis Haircut says:
30 December, 2011 at 20:37
you may find that we may have to sell two players to the ragers one if the EPL managers read the LL press .
How many times have we witnessed the hacks bigging up their players for sale jellylegs being the latest ,whilst playing down the price of our bhoy that are attracting attention .
hail hail
The Idiot says:
30 December, 2011 at 20:43
Thanks for that. I thought I was going nuts for a minute as someone had stated it was simply a 50/50.
No feckin’ way.
He had one thing on his brain cell and it is mission accomplished.
oops – hope I havn’t knick knacked the blog
Estadio says:
30 December, 2011 at 20:45
Allow me to jump in here, and I see you are now recovered which is great news. I am a wee ( I hope I am being accurate here) bit younger that you I think But I did catch the early 70`s late 60`s so best 7 in Hoops , would be Jinky, Lennox, Henrick, Maestro, Dalglish,McGrain,Lubo ……sorry I cannot rank in any order or ther would be blood spilled here. Cannot believe Slater is not in there, but there you go….
SFTB
I wasn’t just talking about longevity in front of the Jungle. Charlie N was an erse but they loved him on the north bank at Arsenal; even if the bargeddie bugger – George Graham – didn’t take to him.
Did I ever tell you the story about me, George Graham’s missus, a man in a sailor suit, a dry cleaner and a white porsche. Remind me later! (oh and George Gershwin)
Hail Hail
Estadio
THE EXILED TIM says:
30 December, 2011 at 20:00
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.
————————————————————————————–
i doubt if any of our 1st team aren’t earning serious money. It is a matter of money over substance. Why leave the Celts for a relegation yo-yo team from the EPL. Financial security is assured playing for Celtic, European games almost a certainty. Despite the media hype I doubt if any of our squad would be the targets of any of the major teams in the EPL at present, a couple of seasons ahead with the right progress yes definitely.
Jm
Paul the maestro as well…Henrik is now NINTH!
Hail hail
Rstadio (copyright – SFTB)
Joe McBride scored 54 goals in 55 appearances for Celtic.
Just saying.
Thanks for the old Gorbals pictures earlier guys. I was born just as the tenements were coming down and the high rises were going up. Were the damp houses at pine place not up long enough for pictures? My mother still stays there and would never move.
The Idiot says:
30 December, 2011 at 20:43
I said the same when I seen the BBC’s impartial version of only certain ‘highlights’.
I thought it should have been red for how high the straight leg was (2 counts according to the law)
Alan Thompson got sent off for much much less when the laws were much more lenient.
I havent seen the Healy one on tele or pics yet – ill have a butchers on youtube
I mean tenth.
SFTB
I was talking about Brian McClair, but if Brian McG had hurdled the scythes that stole him from our field of imagination he could have surpassed Jinky.
I still have a shiver at his smile and skill.
Hail Hail
Now skint Estadio who is giving it up for the night.
There was a guy who used to sell orange balloons outside Ibrox with a picture of the Pope on them with a pin to burst it. Predictably the guy done a roaring trade each match day for a number years. Inexplicably the guy just disappeared . Many years later a hun spotted the guy in a Glasgow pub. Approaching him he said You used to sell those Pope balloons outside Ibrox years ago didnt you.
The guy replied aye it was me. The hun says Why did you stop it was brilliant and you were making a fortune. The guy says Well the chapel roof was finished and the priest thought enough was enough.
TAL
Ernie
Joe McBride….what a goal scorer.
I can only imagine that he was the Jimmy McGrory of his day. We were privileged and perhaps lucky to have players whose antennae were tuned to the magnetic embrace of the onion bag.
He was the best I ever witnessed.
Henrik is now eleventh
Hail Hail
Estadio
Estadio says:
30 December, 2011 at 21:00
I love your posts , but Brian McClair and Charlie Nick before Hencke and Maestro suggests they drugs you are on are brilliant, goony gie me some?
Estadio says:
30 December, 2011 at 21:05
What ???? Henke is the best Celtic have ever had. No debate – FACT
Lads i honestly thought it was a fair 50/50 with elbows and i have just seen that still image and that is truly shocking that tackle.
I also listened to the clip were notthebus posted regarding Hugh Keevins saying league was over and after that call no one will take him seriously anymore.
Liverpool 2 Newcastle 1
Jobo
oglach
Problem with a lot of kids today is that their agents turn their heads.
Of course they are on serious money, it’s all relative, 15k a week is mega bucks to someone who is on 15k a year, but 15k a week is small beer to someone on 50k a week, and most of the journeymen in the epl are on 40-50k a week.
When the likes of Rio Ferdinand can command way over 100k a week there is something far wrong with the game, and then you have Man City paying obscene money.
If the likes of Adam Mathews is offered 3 times what he is on, he will want to leave, the prestiege of the epl will be hard to resist, I personally think it’s a crap overhyped league, but money talks, and I would think the suits would find it hard to turn down a few mill profit for one season.
I suppose we will just have to wait and see what transpires.
………………………………………………….
I hold my hands up about Henke and his deal in his last season, I was wrong, I should get my facts straight before I post flipant remarks.
Just caught a home recording of the sky footage on youtube there – still havent managed to see Healys tackle up close yet but I tell ya something else ya miss not watching the footy on the box – those after match celebrations from the players were something else.
Ive been a glass half empty guy ever since the Willo Flood transfer window – and il no doubt be critical in the near and distant future but there is one thing I will never criticise and its the one, single demand and minimum standard I apply before casting judgement;
Thats for each of the 11 to play for my team as I would. Run through brick walls and give every last ounce of energy in your body for the cause.
We arent quite there yet (if Peter Grant had 55 mins of 110% in him, thats what he gave rather than 90 minutes at 80%) but in the games since Hearts I have seen the group bond with eachother.
Its amazing the confidence and togetherness winning fosters in a team.
Another Bellamy goal..
jmcormick
I know what you mean. By tomorrow I will have convinced myself that I was wrong to have even attempted to pick a top ten or whatever.
In reality every swing of Joe’s boot, every flick of Henrik’s dreadlocks, swerve, jump, tackle, smile, and high five from every player that has ever strutted my dreams on that floodlit coliseum, as Bertie speared a pass into the heart of the monster, as Jinky jinked and rose again to his ten foot tall height and as Henrik made himself part oh my imagination’s DNA.
They were all the best and they are branded on our memories.
Hail hail
Estadio
30 December, 2011 at 20:43
McCulloch assault on Kayal – apologies if this has been posted already
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/3056/imag0122o.jpg
==========================
Guys, I went through it frame by frame (or as close as Sky+ allows) and that shot is a fraction of a second after the point where I think Kayal got his injury. Both players reached the ball at the same time, both hit (the ball) studs first and it looked liked Kayal’s contact was quite awkward as his foot was caught between the ball and the ground. The joint contact puts a hell of a spin on the ball which is where that image is taken. What happened next is I think Rogne collided with McCulloch which is how he (McCulloch) got hurt.
I’ve deleted the match now, so cant look again, but thats how I saw it.
Still think Healy should have had a red.
if we are having a poll, I say no red for McCollough. he went in hard, the straight leg was a result of the impact on the ball due to the impact by Kayal. I would reckon Kayal’s injury is from a jarring of ligaments from the contact on the ball. wouldn’t have red carded any of the Ulster Huns, better they stayed on to the end to soak up the atmosphere.
UC
3-1 Liverpool. Gerard. Great finish.
Jobo
Estadio- having seen most of the players you mention I have to say that henrick is second only to Jinky in having that special quality- you must be taking some strong medicine- like the kinds I used to buy in the Granite City bar
Who had a Gerard goal??? You got it.