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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Has Joe Ledley’s header still crossed the line?
Vmhan
Thanks for that. I’ve got my train tickets for the 14th Jan so no rush. Bloody SwanseaBhoy is moving north about a week before that! Hope to meet him before or after game though.
BSR
STV have requested clarification
Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan supports Kano 1000 says:
31 December, 2011 at 11:10
‘Why don’t the Tones re- record the bloody song with the words ” Ooh ah up the celts”. Re-release it, and we will buy it.’
Because it would be bowdlerism.
It would be air brushing history, a bit like those photographs of the Bolsheviks, with Trotsky missing.
Qui s’excuse, s’accuse.
Partizan says:
31 December, 2011 at 10:12
Quiet monrning on CQN
Kitalba you must have been fair pissed to post that version of Walk on
Here’s another version I posted a few days ago.
Charice Pempengco “You’ll Never Walk Alone”
PF / BSR
STV has just recruited goal line ‘specialist’ Andy “Hawk-Eye” Davis to review Joe’s alleged ‘goal’.
A spokesperson has said that until wee Andy has spoke they cannae say anythin’ mair.
:0
Everyone in CELTIC FC
The greatest Football Team in the World and best supporters too!!!!
Here’s hoping you all, wherever you be, have a healthy, happy New Year and on the footie front, I’m sure we will.
2011 was a difficult year on the park, but ever the optimist, we have a very young, talented and hungry team, and for that I am full of confidence.
All the very best to everyone and Paul, you run a brilliant ship and should be on the honours list for sure.
Keep up the good work
Hail Hail
KINGLuBO
Hoopy New Year CQN’ers. First place to see the New year in. It’s wet outside and wet inside. Top of the league. Hail Hail to that bhoys and ghirls. Where eva you are all the very best for you and yours in 2012. May it bring you happiness , fun, success and a trebel yell for Neil Lennon and the celts. Hail Hail. Have a good one each and every one of you. Thank you for hangin around.
Taurangabhoy
BRTH great post, but my understanding is that the Wolfe Tones original recording of oo ahh up the RA was changed to Ooooh aaaah up the Celts.
The Green Brigade who as you know are trying to bring the atmosphere back to CP, sing the CFC version.
Someone should tell Lenny that.
V
The Honest Mistake loves being first says:
31 December, 2011 at 11:00
Monaghan.
It would be easier to find a catholic rangers supporter than a catholic orange nan to contest it in court.
Catholic Orange Nan? Do I need a recipe note to order that in my local take-away??
;-)
HH
Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan supports Kano 1000 says:
31 December, 2011 at 11:10
class act, as ever
and a great idea
HH
M
Bonbhoy/Partizan:
beat this
Righteous Brothers “You’ll Never Walk Alone” 1965
PF
They are as sick as the proverbial parrot.
A seventeen point swing is hard to bear for the bears, – and that’s only the press.
We are back where we belong singing, and dancing a wee Babbity Bowster from the ‘Top of the League’
Carp Diem
Hail Hail
Paul67
Can you send me Partizans email addy when you have time.
Thanks In advance Paul.
V
BRT&H
Thanks for that response to my request of you.
Some interesting points to be digested. Although to allude that the Wolfe Tones are to blame for the eventual fine accepted so fervently by our PLC is a stretch.
Still. It was good to hear your views on the PLC’s acceptance of our supports vocal support singing a song recorded at Celtic Park most probably after having charged them a fee to do so.
My view is that the whole shebang was orchestrated by Celtic PLC and thus they were complicit. That opinion is based on nothing more than gut instinct and how the events panned out at the time along with my distrust for everything PLC.
MWD
Bourne yir burd was on telly last night, good auld crooner that yin!
Vinny
BRTH
excellent as ever
very pertinent re picking fights …i was raging re the clubs failure to appeal the decision …after giving it greater consideration they may have been correct …i am too emotionally attached to make a dispassionate decision
many thanks for your posts through out the year …
btw i had the same understanding as you re Murray Park …it will be interesting to know the full story behind it`s ownership …i`d be very surprised if it is owned by RFC and if so owned is without substantial debt attached …otherwise why would SDM sell for £1…
vham , Happy New year mate. Have a good one with you and yours in Blackpool. Tonights gonna be a good night , 2012’s gonna be a good year. Hail hail.
kitalba says:
31 December, 2011 at 11:17
Kit ,I don’t agree with you mate.
From my seat in the north stand
thought right away ,elbows has done
Kayal,watching replays even more convinced
tackle was behind the two Celts going in.
His studs were up,Kayal in front studs were
going for top of ball,elbows going for our player.
Animals .
….PFayr says:
31 December, 2011 at 11:19
Many thanks big pal – noted and will follow your advice :-)
Paddy Gallagher says:
31 December, 2011 at 11:04
I was on the Voyager of the seas on the med ,had a great time .
Boat was great ,20 odd bars ,food was great excursions are a bit pricey but overall glad we went on them at the time .
May be worth your while to plan your own days out ,I would avoid pre paying your tips when booking as they may not go to the people you intend them for .better to tip the staff who looked after you on your trip .
They add tips on to your drinks order 10% I think .
If you fancy a wee half for your room stick a bottle in your suitcase before you go as they take any duty free you have when boarding and return it to you on your last day .
Grub is available 24hrs and the staff were great ,so you should have a great time .
hail hail
bonbhoy says:
31 December, 2011 at 11:26
That was great! Would love to see/hear her at Celtic Park.
Away to listen to Kitalbas suggestion now.
Mentioned earlier, a few months ago someone posted a version of JCGE by a French female trio. It was outstanding (and the singers were gorgeous!). Anyone got a link to that?
Final CQN coupon of the year. Surely…..
Jobo Baldie – Stoke
Lennybhoy – Middlesboro
PFayr – Southend
AWATR – Cardiff
Greenlion2 – Norwich
Estadio Nacional –
Blantyre Tim –
The Token Tim –
Jobo
bankie
Pity we hadn’t had goal line technology, as it could have proved Big Fraser kept the whole ball out.
Now that STV have made the ‘bias’ official, at least we can begin to disengage from their like, and make
Celtic begin disentangle itself from the ‘Old Firm’ – label of convenience’
Do we have the Board, that recognises what’s happening to Celtic in this country?
No better time to tell them like when your’e Top of the League.
Hail Hail
voguepunter says:
31 December, 2011 at 11:36
Mate I’ve stepped it through frame by frame and trust me, Beram Kayal’s studs were higher than Elbow’s. Elbow’s makes first contact with the ball and it is Kayal’d downward studs that forces the ball under Elbow’s foot and force his leg high. Just as this happens Beram changes his direction and you can very graphically see he not only twists his own ankle but he puts his own body weight down onto it. It is surprising he did not snap his own ankle. It had nothing to do with Elbows.
As I said I would not support a bad hun and I have watched it several times frame by frame.
vmhan
Recorded, ahem…..for later. と( ° . ° )つ
HH
kitalba says:
31 December, 2011 at 11:31
Bonbhoy/Partizan:
beat this
Righteous Brothers “You’ll Never Walk Alone” 1965
share
————
Sorry Kitalba, Bonhoy wins that one. :)
fergus
i thought they only added tips to your bill if you didn`t take the pre pay option
could be wrong …the rate my lot were spending an extra 10% on the bevvy would have gone unnoticed
Partizan (and everyone else) –
Enjoy!
JCGE – The smooooothe version!
Jobo
Kitalba
Kayal may have caused injury on himself.
What I am saying is McCulloch went in to damage
one of our players.His rolling around afterwards
convinced me ,he thought he was going off.
Hail hail
jobo
EN has taken Spurs
TTT has taken Swindon
only waiting on BT ..who is adopting a curious tactic in his pusuit of top spot on the tipsters league by not selecting as the remainder of us pick duds
PFayr –
cheers for that.
Jobo
Jobo
Brilliant! Bookmarked now.
Wrote this before listening to it again as I may watch it a few times. Thanks mate.
oo aah
I remember the 70’s well. Graffiti everywhere. You could see FTP, FTQ sprayed everywhere. You could see IRA, UDA, UVF everywhere.
I can remember seeing ‘up the RA’ but less often. I suspect ‘oo aah up the RA’ is a bit of poetic license rather than an actual quote but I wouldn’t rely on that.
I’m sorry but if you walked to Celtic park in the 70’s Graffiti was everywhere and the song is offering that experience from a supporter who had been away for some time. In that respect I think the song is both historically accurate and conveys the feelings of anticipation involved.
At no time does the song make any reference to, support of or other mention of the RA. In that respect, I do not think the song falls foul of existing legislation. It does not promote or encourage support of a proscribed organisation. It reflects pretty accurately graffiti in Glasgow in the 1970’s.
The fact that those who do not know the lyrics or context perceive it otherwise is frankly their problem. Some of you legal eagles on here may have a view but in terms of existing legislation, this should be totally defendable and winnable in court.
Now the forthcoming legislation WILL change all that…………….
Pf
not looked and dont want to pick a dud….
Partizan says:
31 December, 2011 at 11:45
I demand a stewards inquiry, I was going for the worst ever.
Voguepunter:
His acting was deserving of a card but his tackle was clean.
BT –
well don’t, pick a good onw instead ;-)
Jobo
For anyone who is still in any doubt, check out the still photograph of Elbows “tackle” on Kayal.
A shocking assault designed to injure by a cowardly thug.
It is on Tictacticsuk blog or you can see it on the NewsNowCeltic site under Battle of the 4-4-2.
He should not be allowed to get away with this, particularly after his attack on the St Mirren player.