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
- ...
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- »
I thought I’d said it live on here as this disnae normally happen but the Vmhan is off the drink in January, I’m thinking I need to clean out the pipes etc
oh and I should be able to jump up n doon more in the Green Brigade……
I will not falter in my love for the Celtic, I have supported Celtic all my days and I support our team, intrinsic in thiat statement is supporting our manager, look back at the posts on CQN when Celtic were 3-0 down against killie.
I was supporting NL who else was?
V
Palacio my wife went tae school with him, I used to go to the clune brae hotel wea the Port yins when I was winchin and then roadhouse when it got goy Celtica ….. I was one of the few who were allowed in, my wife was/ is a Docherty her wee sisters were Gwen and Francis.
V
HH
Feeding the junior L7 who knows no meaning or concept of time….
Skimming through the posts – (cheers bjmac) that chick dung has to be a wind up, from his eyes anyway, from mine not, it is completeley unacceptable to poke fun at mental health.
We, as a club, must address this and at the very least, force him to listen again and respond.
It is that simple
Chick dung – your agenda was clear and you made a fool of yourself!
But hey, I will not throw stones at you for that…, I too have made a fool of myself many times. Each time though I have been repentant and endeavoured to not repeat…
What do you and your churnalistic friends offer in retaliation to you poking fun at mental health?
pyfinl
I may have postede this previously, but I have no qualms about doing so again, my father was lucky enough to be borne in the bogside, his Scottish mammy ….. my Granny took him back to Scotland………. I wish I was born there….. its where I@ve met my very best friends both boys and girls, folk who I would do anything for and its Celtic that binds us.
The Celtic and Irish connection will not diminish through time…….. this is only my opinion but I do hope our board can get it even although half of them are just there for the job.
I’m a Celt but I’m not forgetting the failures of the people who are trusted with our name.
I think the Green Brigade are owed an apology for the farce that the board and management laid into them about one flag which was nowt to do with the GB.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbMln5JXXsQ
V
Vmhan:
around that time I posted this, took a fair bit of stick from some at the time but what saddened me most was the silence of concurrence. Still we have won nothing yet and every game to come until May is a cup final in its own right.
1. kitalba says:
30 October, 2011 at 10:13
Apostasy is both ripe and viral on here. Shame.
Remember I told you “I see Green Huns”, well they are walking among us today. Under various guises they first condemn our club and our manager; under other guises, (when we record a decent result) on they come praising the club and its staff, waxing lyrical about our ability to come back from the dead. Then lo and behold we turn in a mediocre performance, consequently dropping points and the green huns return and scream once again diametrically opposed opinions elevated to the level they now want to burn our manager at the stake.
What sort of person feels the need to post so many antipodal views yet has not the courage to do so under the one banner.
I watched the huns game and they could easily have dropped a couple of points. I watched the Celtic game too, after watching the Glasgow Water Rats, and although Celtic did not turn in a memorable performance they could without stretching the imagination, they could have come away with all three points.
Most of those players that wore the hoops are internationalists with one nation or another. They have to take their share of responsibility too.
For the record, we can still win this league, I think we will win the league and until it is mathematically impossible to do so… I will go on believing that we will win the league.
If the players and management were to stop believing – then we might be in trouble.
A burning pride deep down inside keeps hope a friend of my heart.
2. kitalba says:
31 October, 2011 at 12:16
You really must believe us… we’re gonna win the league.
night night all true Tims
Bjmac. The problem with us over the last few years is to cover over the deficiencies
That ploy had given the Huns 3 in a a row
Now like me, I am sure you are just as passionate
Maybe if fans like you had stood up at wilo window and shouted we must improve and not sit back, the Huns would have not won 3 in a row
As I said before transfer window opens in a few hours
Let’s be united. During this one and demand some quality backup
To wonderful players Like mathews and forest etc
If we do stand as one we will march away from
Them never to look back
Or ignore again and we know what happens
Center half and striker please and no f@@@ing around thus time
In 12 hours time in Brisbane and In 10 hrs time in Perth …… its the bells for the bhoys in Aus. and I don’t just mean my two :¬)
I love ye all !
V
vmhan, mate I think you got that mixed up, Brisbane sees the New Year in before Perth.
There was a post earlier from Ramie encouraging any and all Celtic Supporters are of a mind and have the time to drop Kano a wee New Year message…
Ramie says:
30 December, 2011 at 14:20
Estadio
Martin was asking about you on wednesday
I told him you were all good…just a couple of years older since the last time he saw you!!
he regularly asks what you are up to and where you are….I always let him know as much as I can from CQN
can you drop him an email when you are able?….I know you are busy….but it might be worth a wee chat when you can
mckane@iinet.net.au
any other tims out there who know of KANO …and are wondering how he is going ……
just drop him an email and I am sure you will get a reply…communication is GOD…..some thing we all may take for granted…
just imagine never being able to tell someone that you think something ….without having to spell every letter, of every word , of every sentence
be assured CQNers….you are a privileged lot and you should see your ability and right
of communication as a blessing…..some are not as blessed as you
i wish you all a peaceful time ….you all deserve it
hail hail
ramie .
.
.
If you’re not sure what to say, maybe you’d like to tell him how good it is to claw back that gap, how good it was to be at the game, the adventures of your journey to the game, the trouble you got into with the missus for being blottered after the game, how you didn’t car; anything, Kano would appreciate it. Ramie might not though, because he’s the one that will have to read them all out.
Kano would love to hear from you.
Kitalba and Syndey Tim et al
if ye want a wee bit of the oppossite of what Kit has posted …….. go into CQN search and type Kilmarnock 3 Celtic 3 – go for the live comments.
Our CQN posters between 1-0 down and about 65 minutes into the game……. it really is an education, there are many who have said so much they’ve not been back, some of the anti lenny comments were hunnish.
Sydney Tim you were not one of them and yir still getting the shit ????
Vinny
HH
Ps my comments were all against those who wanted to sack Lenny and I spoke against PL for his cheapskeating, ie if Lenny went in Mid Oct. then PL and the failure strategy would continue.
I do hop NL’s Celtic/ OUR CELTIC can win this league.
Message to Peter Lawell, Do not sell any 1st teamers, you’ve done it before and consistently got it wrong , do not tinker with our football players, go back to bean counting please.
Vinny
HH
Kitalba I have lots to say but….. well I wish I could communicate as well as all you cobbers .
I’ll do as you suggest, I wish I could be there with Martin and Ramie………….
V
Vhman I did not post during that game
But if I did. It would say we need a center half and striker
Ps. Guess what our manager says every transfer window
Yup
You are right. He says he wants a striker and center half
We are all consistent on what we need
Problem is getting would mean out CEO’s salary would be less and that I am afraid is the main target of Peter Lawell, not trophies :(
Kit, I sent a message on there, thanks .
its nearly 5am for me so im mostly blethering …….. but I’ve seen some Celtic stuff as you have…… when I was in the London Rd Tavern before the game, big Paddy and his daughter who are good Derry no1 CFC folk were and we had a drink to KANO.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjsoKMQNULc
V
Vmhan
Back Home in Derry – Patrick’s Head
The Hills Of Donegal
Ha Sydney Tim
you don’t know me that well………. the point I made was some of MY favourite CQN/ers were asking for Lenny’s head,
look back and see the craic, my point is, youre position was Liberal then, but noooooo yir still a bad yin…
I look and I have seen folk slagging ye into the deck for you’re shit………
the Vmhan likes yir shit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LanCLS_hIo4
HH
You’ll Never Walk Alone… only different
Just back from 3 weeks in India.
Religion is indeed crap.
There is something about the name Lennon I have always believed in. (or was it Lenin?).
Having read through the blog today as much as I could “thole”
I have to admit that that pity in someone of knowledge seems as absurd as blessed hands upon a psycho…being hamstrung as one can be in an internet cafe in Frankfurt airport.
Vhman. Not lennys fault. If you ask your CEO in 4 transfer windows for a goalscorer and center half. And that request falls on deaf ears then does not matter if it was best tactician in world , if you don’t have players you can’t do much
ST
Kit the hills of Donegal …. thats was good craic.
the Vmhans pissed and I just want my bhoys beside me……… fuck me any man would want theyre sons beside them on New Years Day.
My love is for my sons mother and my God she’s suffering.
V
When it comes to the transfer window I’m in agreement w/SydneyTim….
Rascar… it was a lot of r..r.r.r.r.r..r.r.r.r.r.r.r.r.r.r. rub..ruba …garbage!
ST not my CEO
I would prefer a Celt ….. like the current CEO but doing the managers job not his own.
You and I talk the same craic but not always in the same way
V
oh feck me Maggy’s on innaw :¬)
Ye awright pal?
V
HH
India. Any hoops about ??
Apart from you in the mirror :))))
Vmhan,
Thank god I never linked Far away in Australia, chin up mate Your boys will be good.
Vmhan
I’m awe right anaw noo noo that I back an oan an awe
ST…Not even a Celtic CSC in India…FFS!… I will remedy that some day
SydneyTim says:
31 December, 2011 at 05:30
Vhman. Not lennys fault. If you ask your CEO in 4 transfer windows for a goalscorer and center half. And that request falls on deaf ears then does not matter if it was best tactician in world , if you don’t have players you can’t do much
*********************************
Sydney Tim ….. you not listening to me?
Look back at my posts……. there are a load of posters and hun types who will not want to look back on CQN around the 15th OCT.
ME……. well I think I’m a wee bit drunk and I’m glad I stood with the GB and the Celtic faithful…….
V
:¬)
Vmhan
I understand what you are referring to mid Oct regarding many loosing the faith re Lenny. Most of us never did. Not in Lenny but the bored. The problem is I still worry about Lenny’s tactical nous as does paul67 and others. He is learning and he does need a good pool of players on which to depend. Any Jan transfer sales from Celtic should be studied with a critical eye though.
Just heard the guy on radio supposedly breaking down. It was so obviously a Celtic fan extracting the urine, and going by the reaction of the pundits in the studio, they also knew it.
Still very funny though, even if the guy’s acting leaves a lot to be desired.
:~)
JOHAN MJALLBY, the Celtic assistant manager, remains confident the club will not sell any of their key players during the January transfer window.
A raft of managers and scouts from England and beyond took in Wednesday night’s Old Firm match at Celtic Park, with the likes of James Forrest, Gary Hooper and Ki Sung-Yueng thought to be attracting attention. Celtic, whose numbers were bolstered yesterday with Mikael Lustig completing his free transfer from Rosenborg, moved to the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League with that win over Rangers as they pursue a first championship in four years.
Mjallby appreciates that to achieve that goal they will need to hold on to their main performers but is confident the Celtic board are of a similar mind. “We know that some of our players are going to be linked with other clubs, especially with those down south,” said the Swede.
“Of course, we want to keep all of our best, especially now we are in a good position in the league. We have to wait and see as we have a big squad, but we are still in three competitions and we need a big squad to mix the team around. We’ll brace ourselves and see what happens, but it’s a discussion the board and the manager will be having when some bids are coming in.
“I’m quite sure the board and the rest of us are on the same wavelength in that we want to win trophies. To win trophies, you need to keep your best players.”
Forrest is a young player in demand. The winger, still just 20 years old, has perhaps been Celtic’s most consistent player this season, his form earning him call-ups to the full Scotland squad as well as an invitation to play for Team GB at next summer’s Olympic Games in London. He would command a sizeable fee were Celtic to allow him to move on next month but Mjallby believes the winger has no desire to leave just yet.
“James is level-headed,” he said. “He’s a boy who just wants to play and I think he will definitely, no matter what bid comes in, will want to stay at least until the end of the season. I’m sure of that and I think it would be good for him to stay for at least five more months. James is doing great and has taken his game to another level.
“Arguably, he’s been our best player this season and he’s in a good place right now. He’s enjoying his training and he’s enjoying his football with his team-mates. That’s something you don’t want to disrupt.”
Mjallby welcomed the arrival of another Swede to the club in the form of Lustig, a defender who can operate either at right-back or more centrally. First, though, the 25-year-old will need to fight for his place. “Mikael sees himself as a right-back and he’s done that most of his career, but he gives us an option to experiment with a back three now and again.
“He has a great engine and likes to go forward, which suits the way we like to play. He’s good technically on the ball, reasonably quick, if not the pace of Cha [Du-Ri] or Adam Matthews.
“Also, he has the height for the Scottish game for set-pieces and diagonals. Mikael also has experience and he’s aiming for the Sweden squad in the summer for Euro 2012, but he’s got competition. Cha’s been terrific and we can all see what Adam can do. He’s been a great signing and everything is going for him.”
GRAHAM CAREY CAN’T BELIEVE RANGERS’ RANTS
ST MIRREN ace Graham Carey hit back at Rangers manager Ally McCoist and insisted: I’m no cheat!
Gers star Lee McCulloch was shown a straight red by referee Steven McLean for elbowing Carey during their 2-1 Christmas Eve defeat in Paisley.
McCoist was not happy with McCulloch’s dismissal and accused Carey of going to ground too easily, saying after the loss: “I’m a wee bit disappointed with how the boy (Carey) went down, to be honest. And no physio came on to my knowledge.”
But Carey insisted he only hit the deck because he was caught by McCulloch’s elbow.
Carey, left, said: “He’s caught me with an elbow and it was quite sore at the time.
“I can understand why he said I didn’t need treatment but, at the end of the day, if someone catches you with an elbow it’s going to hurt. I don’t think I did (go down too easily), everyone saw what happened and that’s all I need to say.”
He’s caught me with an elbow and it was quite sore at the time
Graham Carey
Rangers are fighting their player’s automatic two-match ban and Carey said: “I would have done the same if it meant he could play against Celtic.”
Celtic Park has been a popular destination for footballers from that part of Scandinavia in recent years, with Mikael Lustig yesterday following in the footsteps of Henrik Larsson, Johan Mjallby, Freddie Ljungberg and Daniel Majstorovic as he completed the formalities of his free transfer.
It is often dangerous to perpetuate national stereotypes but, just like many of his countrymen who preceded him at Celtic, the first impressions of Lustig were that he is extremely laid-back and quietly enthusiastic, with a quirky haircut and penchant for tattoos. He also, like the others, arrives with a decent pedigree. The 25-year-old right-back, who can also fill in at central defence, spent the past three years at Rosenborg in Norway, with whom he twice won the league title. He is also a seasoned Swedish internationalist with aspirations of featuring at next summer’s European Championships.
On that latter front, he admits coming to Scotland constitutes a risk. Celtic already have three accomplished right-backs on their books and Lustig may struggle to be selected ahead of Adam Matthews, Cha Du-Ri and Mark Wilson, when the latter recovers from a knee injury. That in turn could affect his international aspirations.
“I know it is a gamble, but it was going to be a gamble whatever team I went to,” he said. “I wanted to go to a team that plays my kind of offensive football and that is why I think Celtic is a perfect step for me. I have not been given any assurances that I am going to play here. I think Neil Lennon and Johan Mjallby want the best 11 to play and that is fine by me.”
Lustig saw some of the competition close up on Wednesday night when he watched Matthews excel for Celtic in the victory over Rangers. It was his first time in Scotland – all the transfer negotiations were concluded in Norway with their season still underway – and he was blown away by the atmosphere at the Glasgow derby. “I had only been in Scotland for two hours, so I was like, ‘Whoa!’ This is my first-ever visit to Scotland, so it has been quite an introduction,” he said.
“It was a wonderful atmosphere and everything was great. I had heard people talking about the Old Firm and saying it was going to be like the best game in the world. I questioned that. I said, ‘Really?’ When I saw it, though, I realised how amazing it is. In Norway, you have a few fans behind the goals who are cheering, but it was the entire stadium. If I am being honest, I almost watched the spectators more than the game.”
Lustig will be doing a bit more spectating in the coming weeks. The Norwegian season concluded on November 27 and he has spent the past month trying to recover from the rigours of a hard campaign. He believes it may be a few weeks yet before he is ready to feature for Celtic. “I had a really long season with Rosenborg and the Swedish national team, so I have just been resting my body and my mind over December,” he said. “Over these first few weeks, I will just train by myself and with the team. In two or three weeks, I would hope to be able to play.”
Lustig had other offers when it became apparent he would be leaving Rosenborg but Majstorovic’s input helped him settle on Celtic. “I spoke to Daniel and I know Henrik says such good things about the club and the city as well,” he said. “Daniel said that it is my kind of playing and he really likes Glasgow. He said that the fans are awesome and that he feels the club is really professional.
“When I signed, I said that I wanted to go and win titles. I wanted to go to the Champions League. At that time Celtic were actually 12 points or so behind in the SPL and they have now gone top, so the timing has been perfect for me.”
Lustig’s signing for Celtic should make at least one member of his family particularly pleased. “My dad really likes whisky and he has been to Scotland in the past on a whisky trip with his friends,” he explained. “He has been a few times and I know he watched Celtic when he was here. He always brought his whiskies home and has a large collection of them back in Sweden.”
Vmhan, Kano 1000 – Supporting Lenny and the Green Brigada –
31 Dec at 02:27
Check to be sure that both tail lights work .. check both backup lights and turn signals .. that generally means that bulb(s) are not working
Annus Horribilis?
Mibees Aye Mibees Naw to quote King Kenny
Its been a strange old year eh?
We started off the season full of hope and expectation that this could be our year, this was it….and then we hit the blip and it was (mostly) all doom and gloom until recently, when our belief returned and returned with a vengeance, and rightly so.
For those in the media and unfortunately some closer to home who doubted us and wallowed in what they seen as our “crisis” I hope you are still full of the festive spirit, perhaps your energies should or could be targeted elsewhere, possibly to the south side of the city where your beloved club is in danger of becoming banished to the annals of history, this evident danger continues to be under reported, it continues for the greatest part to be sold as some timmy mischief, the tax man cometh…. believe it.
Personal difficulties hit us all this year either through ill health, the loss of loved ones, the loss of fellow CQNers who we read of, we laughed with, we argued and debated with, and of course who we miss dreadfully, as is always the case the CQNers are there to lend support, some openly, some privately, you are as ive said before an incredible group.
We have much to reflect on, some of it sad, some of it will cause the anger to rise again, some sorrow, some joy and a lot, a helluva lot of pride,
much has happened this year, the openly sectarian and racist attacks on our manager and his family, the political interference from the Scottish Govt. the continual lop sided approach to media coverage, which to take a positive from has led to the explosion of the new media, we have amongst others Paul Phil and the RTC exposing what in years gone would have gone under reported, if they thought we would all continue to accept the status quo they were wrong, they were very wrong.
The times they are a changing.
We take our inspiration from many places, me? well I still go to Celtic Park every other week with my 81 year old father, he epitomises what Celtic are about, a relatively quiet man at the game, he doesnt say that much, but when he does……. at the end of the St Johnstone game a gentleman in the row in front is letting rip at all and sundry, I understood his frustration even his anger, we certainly all shared his disappointment, but it was going beyond he pale, when the the oul fella moves me out the way, leans over the seat and says ” listen son if you cant say anything good about the Celtic, don’t say anything at all, continue with that tone, you and I will have words again,”
Hes 81.
He loves the Celtic deeply
The Green Brigade love them or loathe have transformed Celtic Park, the colour, the noise, the music echoes around the stadium, they are part of the thunder, at times they ARE the thunder.
The Kano Foundation? what can I say that has not already been said or written, astonishing, absolutely astonishing, no where else in the world of football is there or will there be your likes.
To our host we owe heartfelt thanks, for his time his money and his effort.
And finally at the end of this B- essay, to the wee red headed guy who sits in the dug out, he has and continues to put up with more than most, he stayed when weaker or maybe more sensible persons would have left, he continues to show amazing character courage and strength, he is Lenny,
as someone on here first coined the phrase,
We Are All Neil Lennon
We have much to look forward to.
Hail Hail and thanks for 2011 (apart from a certain individuals horse tips which were as useful as an RFC balance sheet)
Che
Kayal out for a month, is that right? If so, it’s mission accomplished Elbows McCulloch, the man who should not have been playing in the first place. But after Alistair criticised the fast-track procedure, the SFA capitulated to him. So what’s changed at the SFA?
My next question: Why do we need 3 right-backs? (Plus Mark Wilson as back-up every 2 seasons.)
To any who don’t think elbows should’ve seen red.
The Idiot says:
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
Unremitting grimness lowers over a chilly North Ayrshire this morning..
Mission accomplished for McCoist and his creature, McCulloch.
In response, we must maintain our winning run.
Che says:
31 December, 2011 at 08:19
Morning Che, haven’t been on much, wondering what’s happening with the tipsters this weekend?
Are we doing today or maybe tomorrow?
Thanks.
Cathal.