Be afraid Rangers, be very afraid

914

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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  1. The Spirit of Arthur Lee on

    Well thanks to Celtic and Primal Scream for a great few nights

     

     

    Moving on up

     

     

     

    LOVE

  2. AoW

     

     

    Jeezo 15 is well enough trust me, they drink like fish, and eat like boars, but salt of the earth, and good honest football men.

     

     

    Donde esta su casa

     

     

    Where is this home ? your Spanish is better than mine :>)

  3. VMhan. Talking Too much sense there

     

    Crossroads here again do we:-

     

    1. Do nothing and keep Peter lawells bank balance high eg wilo window and hope the Huns keep imploding

     

    2. Or buy a striker and center half and forget the huns

     

     

    Exiled. If we got 8 million for Ki it would be great

     

    Neil would see very little if that

  4. SydneyMeldrew says:

     

    31 December, 2011 at 00:35

     

     

    You really are predictable, boring and bring this blog down with your inane ramblings and moaning from the other side of the world.

     

     

    Happy New Year when it arrives for you guys, no doubt by the time it arrives for us you’ll be back to your sad old self, that is if you can make yourself happy for a short time.

     

     

    hh

     

     

    bjmac

  5. Saw our new signing on the news tonight and he looked feckin tall (if somewhat skinny). It was either that or our sports paparazzi are wee midgets or he was standing on a rather high kerb. Are the kerbs regulation height and can they be deemed offensive (or shortist) under the new regulations? We need to know!

     

     

    Thoughts?

     

     

    HH

     

     

    AoW

  6. Vmhan

     

     

    I agree with you 100%, but it ain’t gonna happen, we ARE a selling club, and we will sell to balance the books.

     

     

    Of course I want us to hold onto the young guns, but PL will have other ideas, money talks mi amigo.

     

     

    I could accept one going, as long as it isn’t Victor, he will go in the summer for silly money, tis the way it is I’m afraid, I hope it’s the drink speaking but I doubt it.

     

     

    Anyways, time for bed.

     

     

    Have a wonderfull new years bhoys and ghirls.

     

    Take care and god blelss.

  7. Exiled Tim

     

     

    Mi casa es su casa!

     

     

    Anytime mate.

     

     

    I worked in London for a year and converted 3 ex-Chelsea sort of fat blokes to the cause but in all honesty John Hartson just edged them on the scales.

     

     

    So i’ll ask the question -“Donde esta?”

     

     

    HH

     

     

    AoW

  8. Saint Stivs – Spider thanks VMHAN, Coorslad and the Derry CSC says:

     

    31 December, 2011 at 00:55

     

    ============================

     

    No Doubt Higgie

     

    You’ll have to give me a shout the next time your in the Port for a pint,

     

    Donnachies or the Hibs,

     

     

    HH

  9. Top Corner

     

     

    My seat on Wed was in the upper sth stand.To the left of my seat was a guy who looked older than my da & he is 82.

     

    The old fella had a walking stick spent the night verbally contesting every ball while banging his stick,I thought I get

     

    2 involved but this old fella was the dogs b****cks. He knew the game as well,we talked all through it. I cuddled the

     

    old yin at the end but shame on me for not askin his name. HH

     

     

    BTW you aint recommended any movies for a while !

  10. Sydney Tim

     

     

    I respect your views but this team will grow either in spite of or because of PL.

     

    IMO we could sell any player apart from Victor & still be as strong.The tide has turned,enjoy ffs. HH

  11. Top Corner,

     

     

    If you are still up have a good night, and many thanks for your links to the game.

     

     

    Binned sky last year for Celtic reasons and gonna watch 2nd half now thanks to you.

     

     

    Much Appreciated!!

     

     

    HH GMB

  12. Saint Stivs – Spider thanks VMHAN, Coorslad and the Derry CSC says:

     

    31 December, 2011 at 01:12

     

     

    I’m certain that’s a wind up, very funny either way.

     

     

    Chic Dung was out of order with his Lenny in a dark room comment at the end of that piece, is that mental illness now fair game to these bassas….

     

     

    hh

  13. ET

     

     

    Haha, i just checked it out. As you said “Although most of the town’s people live in traditional houses a growing number of cave houses are being renovated and occupied by tourist as well as permanent residents of different nationalities”.

     

     

    Scottish piss would love to get hold of that!

     

     

    Please let me know when Rachel Welch turns up!!!!!! Fwooarr!!!!

     

     

    Any direct flights dude?

     

     

     

    HH

     

     

    AoW

  14. Palacio67 says:

     

    31 December, 2011 at 01:01

     

    **************************

     

    I got dropped off outside Donnachies after the match, it was locked and had to bang the door, a lad opened the door and said youve naw been in and I said I know ive been at the match, did ye come ddon in the car ….. etc anyway let me in because I was at the match, I’ve been in there loads of times but it looked a bit dodgy and although I was high from the game I left after a beer, they were still waiting for the buses, Derryghirl couldnt believe i came in that early…… I was knackered tbh :¬

     

     

    V

  15. brucecassavetes on

    Evening all,

     

     

    Still revelling in the win – this season was threatening to stretch into ‘Ally is God’ territory.

     

     

    Watched the 2nd half highlights posted by 77micke77 on YouTube – that Huddle is just phenomenal.

  16. !!Bada Bing!! Kano 1000 on

    Just read back there,re Charlie Nicholas, i played against him many a time at school level, and seen how special he was.IMO his first touch and footwork was as good as ive seen in a Celtic jersey.He has blotted his copybook for many re media stuff,but credit where its due IMO.HH

  17. Vmhan, Kano 1000 – Supporting Lenny & the Green Brigada! says:

     

    31 December, 2011 at 01:22

     

    ============================

     

    Vinnie, Wished you would have came to the Hibs, opened to one in the morn, allthough I threw the towel in at half twelve.

     

    Not a big fan of Donnachies but since I barred myself from the Star it will do when it suits me. I know what you mean about chapping the door to get in, trouble is that they are all green huns imho.

     

    Are you going to the Barrow CSC doo in Feb ????

     

     

    Palacio

  18. !!Bada Bing!! Kano 1000 on

    The Exiled Tim- hope you are well sir,the Ki to Aston Villa for £8 mil & Bannon,came from no less than Barry Ferguson,who has also been tapped up by McLeish to go to Villa.Watch this space.

  19. CultsBhoy loves being 1st on

    Bjmac

     

     

    I’m glad you mention the ‘dark room’ jibe . I heard it too and didn’t know how to take it. It felt like a wrong thing to say but I had only tuned in and assumed I had missed some context….?

     

    Shameful. I understand Chick the **** retires next year.. That usually loosens folks tongues. We may even get a confession of his Hun love at some point?

     

     

    I will be in Glasgow a fair bit next year visiting Low Moss And Barlinnie Prisons so will hook up then… If they let me out!

  20. CultsBhoy loves being 1st on

    I can get the Barry Bannon story verified tomorrow as my colleague’s son is a friend of his…

  21. GrannyMacsBhoy says:

     

    31 December, 2011 at 01:15

     

     

    at your service, captain

     

     

    hope we win

     

     

    :)

  22. VMHAN, I understand, but there may be a few tickets still available if you contact big bro.

     

     

    Anyway Hoopy New year when it come to you and yours

     

     

    HH

  23. weebobbycollins on

    CultsBhoy…to be fair to Chick Young, the “jibe” was in response to a question about perhaps going for a few beers, Neil suggested that he would probably spend the night in a darkened room instead. There was no malice intended in his comment…

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