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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Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan supports Kano 1000 says:
30 December, 2011 at 21:54
Saw your post earlier on the RTC blog – interesting read.
Racking my memory banks – back to a discussion on here some 18 months ago re: MIH land deals – particularly one at Ratho.
Several regular posters were involved in the discussion pre-RTC days.
I am almost certain that someone had sight-of the lease deal for Auchenhowie – I did a planning search on the basis of the details available (99 years?).
As far as I was aware – the site was time-barred from; residential or retail development (public records).
I can’t be sure but there were 4 or 6 investors who set up the deal – it may be that they were acting as a 3rd party and as such RFC are not direct tenants but sub-contractors to the agreement.
If so – the land owners may well be getting paid but not by RFC?
BRTH
there was talk of huns training being cancelled today, any connection?
BRTH
sarcasm is my first footer.
the accounts being audited live
nothing without fans
Aye, scum does deserve better.
I wouldn’t be a person who would wish anything untoward on another, but in his case……….
I can’t remember the incident you are talking about there were so many, he does not deserve to be on a football pitch.
Guys like him will regret one day their actions.
The hat
Are you sure?
There were those who were certain that they were only tenants at Auchenhowie, and I am sure that the original deal was set up that way?
Just in from Mission Impossible with the junior ABs and cousins from Philadelphia .. We were all jumpin around mad.. Which brings me to my point.. How good did the Song Jump Around by House of Pain sound on Wednesday up full on the p. a.. If you don’t know song and or video check it out.. Some nice CELTICs and Irish connections..
That’s an aspect of Celtic that’s envied by every other club – our music and all the people world wide we embrace..
Music for our spirit..
HH…
Paulsatim
No connection as far as I know, but have seen a tweet suggesting that a national newspaper is running a story tomorrow stating that Steve Davis did not have his wages paid on time this month!!
praecepta
Are you saying that ragers are safe at Murray park ?
Thanks BRTH!
Artur Boruc. ( Willie Miller )
Dunky MacKay.
Danny
Bobby Murdoch. ( Bobby Evans)
George Connelly. ( Sorry, Billy )
Bertie Peacock.
Jinky.
Willie Fernie.
Larsson.
McStay.
Tully.
The good thing about this frustrating task is that you can, & will, change it every day of your life.
Now, who wants to tell Kenny that he’s not playing today ?
Zbyszek says: 30 December, 2011 at 22:21
My view on Scottish football is that the referees tolerate brutal play too often.
================================================
Agreed, mate. Maybe the refs are wanting the game to flow, but IMO if Scottish football is to move forward and become more about playing football rather than who can kick harder then the referees have to clamp down on the tackling. Think of the open spaces when it is 8 vs 8?
Don’t think elbows deserved a red,Ronge could have done him big time..Healy was a red.I think Brown,even if he didnt do too much on Wed,gives us that desire to win.Watching him in the tunnel fired me up,Their players were glued to him..We shall be out of site by the end of Feb…
THE EXILED TIM 22:40
Was it Burnley they signed him from? Anyway, I remember watching a game on TV and they showed Gordon Strachan in the stand and the commentator said he was there to watch Lafferty. First time I’d seen him and my only thought was “please Gordon, no”. He wasn’t overly vicious that day, just a rubbish footballer.
As 2012 nears it is good to reflect on what has been a tumultous year.
From the highs of 3-0 to to the lows of Inverness.
From the end of season ‘Thunder’ to St Johnstone.
But we stuck by our manager and our team.
We were in the depths of despair after 45 minutes at Rugby Park
to the joy of Joe’s goal on Wednesday night.
What a team, what a club.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
HH
Lennybhoy…Supporting Neil Lennon and CFC until I die says:
30 December, 2011 at 22:30
Cheers…..Ta for your support.
Happy New Year.
Will email you next week how things go.
Does anyone think coisty needs a mentor ?
I think someone like Lenny Henry would be good.
Or Mr Bean.
Brogan
Yes -100%. I think the past confusion arose as people construed a reference to a lease within the Land Certificate as relating to Rangers tenure. That merely referenced an inconsequential underlying lease granted to a utility provider for the purposes of a substation. The landlord’s interest in that will have passed to Rangers when they acquired the heritable interest.
They are confirmed in the Certificate as being the proprietor.
The fact the Academy Trust also took a standard security back over the property serves to back this up. A landlord of course wouldn’t require this.
nothing without fans
It was,I think they paid about 3m for him, and I do believe you are correct about GS looking at him, he got that one right.
He is a failed footballer, and an even worse excuse for a human being, a bit like his masters I believe, disny pay his bills, though he does have a Bently.
Evening.
Kayal is worrying but we should cope.
Diawara should do it.
Welcome the Swede, you look like a CB to me pal…
2 clear; how good does that feel?
HH, etc…
G64
The 3-3 game against Killie was the only game I have not seen as it happened this year, was on the way home and asked the wife to phone the young fella to find out how were were doing, I didn’t believe her when she said we were 3 down, thought she was winding me up, he phoned back when it was over.
Glad I never saw it, I probably would have had a stroke :>)
But looking back, it was possibly the kick up the jacksie that we needed.
Onwards and upwards to glory, it’s coming home mi amigo, it’s coming home.
THE EXILED TIM says:
30 December, 2011 at 22:46
praecepta
Are you saying that ragers are safe at Murray park ?
Not necessarily – BRTH scenario re: lease agreements is sound argument. What I am not sure is; if RFC are only sub-contractors and are not paying/ go breasts up – I am inclined to think there is a buffer between them and the actual land owners.
The onus to make payment would be by the investors who set-up the original deal – I think they would be liable.
BRTH scenario would need to be exercised by the RFC-minded investors who are handcuffed to the lease. Do they stick or twist – let them continue to train there or risk becoming creditors for non-payment of rent that they have been making/ will be making?
If this was the case – I’ve got to admit who else is left for the MBB to pi$$ off except the 25 year FF bond holders! :-)
schlaffen gut mien kindles
The Hat
well thankyou for that and perhaps explains a great deal.
Does the security in favour of the Academy Trustees signify that there is still money owed on the site?
If Rangers PLC do own the site, and if there is a potential interest in the site from other parties for use as a sports complex, does this present Craig Whyte with a potentially valuable asset to sell and pocket the proceeds– of course leaving the football club without the training ground and facilities?
Nothing without fans
Watched Burnley arsenal in a cup game because we were linked.
He got sent off for the type of lunge he either gets a word or yellow in a Huns jersey
He looked rubbish then and his skills and intelligence remain the same
googybhoy ♥ O’ Sheas on 28th says:
30 December, 2011 at 22:54
No worries mate, take care. I hope 2012 is a good year for you and the family.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
HAT/ BRTH
Seen your replies – this argument has been kicking around for ages.
There was definite paperwork stating that RFC did not directly own Murray Park (per public records) – that there was a lease arrangement with an intermediary back to the academy.
Did that arrangement change when the MBB queried the Albion Parking part of the deal – was Auchenhowie thrown in?
Whatever else happens this season
i’m proud of the guts shown by the players
and the unending support of the fans who
have been the best ever in my lifetime.
It’s been a priveledge to be at CP this season.
Out of here.
God Bless The Glasgow Celtic!
Until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Neil Lennon says NO to BESNA!! says:
30 December, 2011 at 19:47
Thanks for the info on Lanzarote,just back from the golf club taking the pash out of the unwashed.
Hail Hail
Brogan
The security was likely to cover “embarrassment”, i.e. it may have covered an entitlement to the seller to further uplift on the original acquisition price if there was a use change.
On the second point – yes.
Praecepta – I recall seeing the discussions on the content of the Land Certificate being debated on here years ago. It was being misread – they are the proprietor.
Kilbowie kelt@22.50
What a team. Went to my first game in the jungle in 1965. (giving my age away!) Obviously some of those bhoys were before my time but had the privelage to see most of them over many years. Don’t apologise for big george connoly. One of the best footballers i have ever seen. Would have paid a million dollars to see that team.
hh tae ye lbb.
googybhoy ♥ O’ Sheas on 28th says:
30 December, 2011 at 22:27
Just got your post of the 28th – or rather my missus did1
Glad the big lad met up with you. He was telling me a good night had by all.
Ironically enough – my second son was over with the Lurgan crew. They were having a few pre match pints and he bumped into the big lad’s mate who usually sups in O Shea’s but was back home in Glasgow for the holidays.
Small world.
Take care.
53
The Hat
Thankyou for that– I bow to your greater knowledge and the dispelling of a long held belief that there was a lease.
This “new” set of facts makes for a very interesting set of scenarios— I am away to contemplate!!!
praecepta
Thanks.
Seeing the replies it’s clear if The Hat’s info is correct.
TET
Not counting our chickens just yet.
But looking good mi amigo.
Are you planning a quiet Hogmany ?
I fear the BK injury is news management.
Everyday brings an increase in the time he will be out.
Struggle to understand the views of some on here that it was a 50-50.
LMcC was late and slow, BK tried to nip the ball away and got done.
The KR photo shows it all, LMcC came in over the ball and caught the player.
Straight red for me and WC played to his MIB future by making it a yellow.
As for the JF assault DH should have been “sin died” for that.
It was the most damage he could do in that situation without resorting to a baseball bat.
He really is a reptile if that is how he thought he could help keep the TFOD in the game.
Fair pay to JF, he could have taken the early touch to make it a foot race.
He ripped the moisture out DH with the wee feint and the wee flick.
JF’s bruises will diminish but DH will carry that assault for life.
How much lower can he go, sub behind the KB twins.
One time goal scorer now reduced to throwing hammers.
Ok
Now that the Kelt Of Kilbowie (note the initials KOK) has had the final word on the relative heroic stature of those who have woven dreams of gilded thread on our nightimes, it is time to consider the supporters, the goals, the reaction and the greatest noises.
On Wednesday the spontaneity and volume greeting the goal since the advent of the new stadium was arguably up there with Naka’s goal and Artur’s save against Man U, Jan Venegoor’s last minute winner against Rangers, Scott McDonald against AC Milan and Henrik versus Liverpool, Blackburn, Rangers and every one else.
Mind you before the days of plastic seats and snoods Big Billy raised the rafters a few times, as did Jinky, Joe McBride, Willie Wallace, Stevie Chalmers, Brian McClair, Murdo McCleod, Frank MacAvennie and then in the Fergus era, Pierre and
‘When the ball’s hits the net and it’s not Jorge Cadete …it’s De Canio, …….
when it flies through the air and it’s not big Pierre …… it’s De Canio, …..
when it goes like a bomb and it’s not Andreas Thom …it’s De Canio …..”
So while my beef lasagne is on the bake what’s yer loudest noises then?
Hail Hail
Estadio