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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saltires en sevilla says:
31 December, 2011 at 11:06
Good morning fellow Celts from wet Renfrewshire (is it ever onything else? :-)
Still luxuriating in the warm afterglow of results in the last week.
Week 52 has been a bit of a trial for our freens down govan way: – suddenly all those timmy stories and rumours are coming true- whit nay money? -nae billions to buy hunners of top class players? and refs sending off two blue shirts in one game …and got beat by buddies and timmys …..with the mothers to come on Monday…jeezo
Oh aye ..this is the ‘bleak mid-winter’….at least for the currants it is ….magic;-)
On the last day of 2011, I would like to thank Neil Lennon and his young team for never giving up when it must have seemed at one point that all was lost. Lesser men would have crumbled and fallen…or run away. Not NL and his young lions. Lenny in particular, stood up when he was needed and Celtic fans everywhere should pause for a moment at some point over the next day or so, to reflect on what he has endured in 2011. To bring us to the point where we have a real chance of taking the main prize this season, will stand alongside the greatest achievements in our long history of great achievements.
There is a long way to go, but it is looking very promising indeed.
I have been fortunate to see a few league flags won by great Celtic managers over the last 50 years, they were all special, for different reasons. Some were more special than others: ’66 the first in soooo long; ’72 record 7 in a row; ’74 for 9 in a row; ’79 the 4-2; ’86 and that wonderful push to glory at Love Street; ’88 for 100 years double; ’98 wee Wim ending the dreaded 10; 2008 and the title for Tommy….wonderful times with a mixture of sheer joy tinged with some sadness…
For me nothing will compare …nothing…to seeing the joy on Neil Lennon’s face when he wins that flag in 2012
As we celebrate with him, I will not give a single thought to ‘thems’ or their troubles and woes.
Happy Hogmany to Paul67 for providing this wonderful site, to all CQNers and yes, even you sad, miserable hovering huns ;-). With very best wishes to you and yours in 2012
Hail Hail
Nice comments Saltires – couldn’t agreee more! Finally got the hang of posting on this site after many years lurking:)
CQN Saturday Naps Competition
Lads, for those who are in the CQN Saturday Naps competition, please go back and post your selection on the previous article :
(“Teenage Matthews excels on Celtic right”)
Alternatively, if you cannot access the previous article for any reason, then you can send me an email message with your selection to : fleagle1888 at yahoo.co.uk
All the best, fleagle1888
Celtic Underground Twitter
LawTop20Gregory Ioannidis
I understand that Celtic’s Maritimo target is heading to Panathinaikos.Portuguese coach & Arabic investement are having the edge over Celtic
PF Ayr
The term you are looking for is ‘Heritable Title’ I think but you’ll know that?
Does RFC have heritable title to ‘Murray Park’. I don’t know for certain but I’d be astounded of forehead if the answer was ‘yes’. Without Heritable Title they have no right of sale. They could of course sell their ‘lease’ but I suspect that it contains clauses preventing that without clearance from the land owners. They are also free to sell any of the ‘moveable assets’ they have placed on the land.
An interesting question that has not yet been probed much is; What happens to the Murray Park Lease if RFC ceases to exist? I suspect it becomes null and void. Therefore, in order to avoid that, then Whitey Nighty would need to negptiate a change in advance if he wanted a Phoenix newco to ‘inherit’ the lease.
Any views?
HH
fergus slayed the blues says:
31 December, 2011 at 11:39
Many thanks foe that mate, flying up to Glasgow this Wednesday then on to Newark on Friday.
Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan supports Kano 1000 says:
31 December, 2011 at 11:10
Great post and a great idea. I am also tired of them profiting in the name of our great club while at the same time they demean our name with their stupid add ons.
I want to buy the “Up The Celts” Version of the Celtic Symphony.
Hail Hail
JD
BBC announced last night that it was the wettest year on record in Scotland. Too true it was and North Ayrshire has to be one of the wettest spots of all, never mind the stormiest.
Still, The Celtic are top of the league.
WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED.
kitalba says:
31 December, 2011 at 11:53
Partizan says:
31 December, 2011 at 11:45
I demand a stewards inquiry, I was going for the worst ever.
======
Haha okay you win by a mile! :)
And Jobo thanks again for the link to JCGE. Can’t really share what that version (and the singers) stir in me on a Celtic site :)
Jobo another version you may have heard
saltires en sevilla says:
31 December, 2011 at 11:06
Good morning fellow Celts from wet Renfrewshire (is it ever onything else? :-)
On the last day of 2011, I would like to thank Neil Lennon and his young team for never giving up when it must have seemed at one point that all was lost. Lesser men would have crumbled and fallen…or run away. Not NL and his young lions. Lenny in particular, stood up when he was needed and Celtic fans everywhere should pause for a moment at some point over the next day or so, to reflect on what he has endured in 2011. To bring us to the point where we have a real chance of taking the main prize this season, will stand alongside the greatest achievements in our long history of great achievements.
========================================================
Well said, saltires, Y.D .
Very “Kojoesque” comments, except written in plain english and not in Ulsta Scats as is his wont.
“Fulcrum” is my new word for 2012. (Victor, Ledley, Broonie). If we keep the fulcrum fit, then we will have this league at a canter.
Shat!
DBB
Happy New Year to all the Aussie Tims.
I have a feeling that 2012 is going to be a good year for all in the Celtic family,
Hail Hail
BRTH
The big picture, the more it is looked at the greater the understanding.
I was starting to lose faith in my belief in the smartness of our support, thanks for restoring it and providing a lead- a subject for a blether ;)
whitedoghunch –
that one stirs up a different emotion!
Jobo
row z
If we’d appealed the UEFA charge surely any half decent lawyer would have got us off with it.
It just is not a sectarian song or even a political one.
Now we’re stuck with being found guilty of -offensive? illicit? sectarian? singing . Crazy!
I am NL in NZ Tauranga says:
31 December, 2011 at 11:36
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.
*************************
All the very best to you and and family Tauranga, 2012 looks like being a good year, as long as the CFC board don’t tamper with out 1st teamers.
Vinny
HH to ye!
Another year older today. Despite some lovely gifts from my nearest and dearest the best present of all is heading into 2012 top o the league. Thank you Neil and all the bhoys.
Now we just need to keep up the level of concentration, application, determination and perspiration and all will be fine.
Although I would like Diawarra as well or is that just being greedy?
A big fat joyous top of the league New Year to every man jack of yeese in the CQN universe
Kitalba @ 9.19
With regards to the LMcC tackle on BK you are at it.
I don’t know what your agenda is but it is some way from reality.
LMcC came in over the ball, he got their first but he did not get the ball.
You have to ask why, if he comes in over the ball then he is after the player.
It was a cheapshot from a washed out player from a beaten team.
It was not the only one in the last 20 minutes.
The TFOD had little confidence in scoring so they resorted to “Buddy Ball”.
Consequently I am surprised at the number of people on here and KDS playing down the incident. BK was lucky in that he did not break his leg although the ankle twist looks bad enough.
All I can say is thank heavens SKY weren’t covering the game against M’well reserves in the 70’s when BMcL got done. Would today’s chorus of 50-50 still apply?
How many times are the mentalists in the TFOD squad going to be allowed to get away with their “Ninja” tackles?
coupon
went with the 7 ……………£1250 for a tenner …that would be nice
To Nuclear Bov – Happy Birthday!
To our Antipodean friends – Happy New Year
To the rest of youse – Happy Hogmanay!
I have a feeling that 2012 could be a good ‘un
Just caught a wee glimpse of Paradise on Football Focus bbc1 NOW!!!!
Gonna have to watch it all to see their take on the Celtic fans and the atmosphere… Gave me goosebumps!
Kitalba
I’m with you. Had he gone for Kayal he would have hit him first, he made contact with one side of the ball as K did with the other, movement after that was dictated by the energy both players put into winning the ball.
Sure he was fly in the aftermath but that is not a red card offense.
Can’t believe we are still going on about McCulloch. Actually debating if he days after the event.
The guy went over the ball to injure kayal, yes he did. Just a pity Kayal played the ball, rather than him. McCulloch knew what he was doing, just like he did when he hooked the Sheffield United player (Armstrong ?), it’s what he does. The disappointing thing for me is that McCulloch wasn’t targeted himself. Remember Hartley and Robinson doing it in 2008 ? Our current midfield took it in turns to sort him last season too.
It’s important to mark McCulloch’s card early, if not, you run the risk that he’ll inflict a sleekit, cowardly elbow, punch or stud.
Truth of the matter is, if a Celtic player had “done” McCulloch we would all be lauding him. Paul Hartley anyone ?
Bamboo
Totally agree. But the CFC Board clearly had an agenda and possible involvement in this. it suits their agenda not to take it on with UEFA.
It is an agenda supported by many posters on here.
HH
row z
heritable title …quite correct
i cannae see the huns having that
knowing SDM`s smoke and mirrors method of business i`d be astouded if they did …probably owne dby some third party charging the Huns a fortune in rent
re the lease …what`s it worth …not a great market for training facilities of that magnitude i`d imagine
as i stated earlier why sell for £1 if they own such an asset
in any event even if they do it`ll be something else for the administrator to realise in satisfaction of their debt
Don’t want to pass through one year to the other,with bad thoughts in my mind.So,Mcculloch is a thug of the highest order,he IMO Deliberately went in to hurt Kayal,the only time a player rolls about waving his hands,is when he is seriously injured,McCulloch wasn’t,he is a coward and a cheat.
May I wish all CQN’S and their families all the best for 2012.Hail Hail Slan
With BK out, Izzy must be a cert to return on Monday against Dunfermline thereby allowing JL to go back to centre midfield
Ian Brines is the ref for Monday with Alan Muir in charge of our game against Peterhead
MadMitch:
I will say it one more time, I watched the tackle frame by frame, it was a fair tackle. Elbow’s takes the ball and what follows, follows. I think maybe Rogne takes Elbows in the end but I can’t get a clear enough picture.
Tell me, out of curiosity, why would you think I was at it?
Watch the pictures for yourself… no apology necessary.
Celtic – Rangers
row z \o/ (O) Mississippi Burnin Nearer Home says:
31 December, 2011 at 11:50
************************
Great post but our board have proven themselves as quislings in this regard. I believe half of them have never had a Celtic ST or shares, the PR officer (where we have been particularly wanting) is a hertz fan, the hertz HATE us and we employ one of them FFS.
We need to take tips from the huns fc re this………. its a big area for improvement in our club, if they continue to allow our club to be “just the same” as the huns , then we should sack those responsible, who’s recruiting these non Celts? …… oh aye now I get it.
Glasgow Hibees.
Vinny
BIG-CUP-WINNERS says:
31 December, 2011 at 12:23
There is something flawed in your logic mate.
Kitalba,
I’ve not looked into it in you’re depth….. freeze framing etc, but it was two Celts and one hun……. we don’t get those decisions….. ever.
V
HH
vinny
re posts last night..
I will speak to my dad tomorrow…
Kitalba @ 11.43
Stop wasting your time with the SKY feed.
Look at the press pictures for the best view.
Lenny Ramsey – Picture No. 23.
LMcC has gone to ground with the tackle.
Straight leg, foot up, studs showing.
Add in excessive force, body mass – fat / old / slow – and it is dangerous play and a straight red.
What have you got?
Cheap shot out to injure the other player.
It was “Buddy Ball” for the last quarter of the game.
If the TFOD were going to lose they were going to make us pay.
MadMitch: 31 December, 2011 at 12:16
I’m certainly no fan of Elbows – but he did not go over the ball. Both players went in to win a 50/50 and the position of Kayal’s foot on impact meant he came off worse on this occasion.
It looked bad at the game, but I watched it again last night and I thought it was a hard-but-fair tackle. What was offensive though was the reaction of Elbow’s who rolled around as though his ankle had snapped. In my opinion this was done in a cynical attempt to get Kayal dismissed rather than avoid a sending-off for himself.
The Healy assault on Forrest was a red card. The incident appears to have been airbrushed from history already. The BBC decided it was not worthy of a place in their highlights piece which I watched with growing fear this morning. It looked like they were all over us – I must have been at a different game.
MadMitch says:
31 December, 2011 at 12:16
And please don’t accuse me of having an agenda, I don’t. But I think you are out of order suggesting that I have.
CQN Saturday Naps Competition
Please post all naps on the previous article : “Teenage Matthews excels on Celtic right”
…and in keeping with the festive spirits, any of the following punters who missed out on a Boxing Day selection, feel free to put up TWO selections for today (as long as they are NOT in the same race !)
Eurochamps67
hunza rugli
PFayr
Raymac
Som mes que un club
The Token Tim
tommytwisttommyturns
What is the Stars
wolfetonebhoy
All the best for the gee-gees today… and 2012 !!!
fleagle1888
MadMitch says:
31 December, 2011 at 12:33
Lazy jounalism, don’t you be so lazy as to follow them lest you be as bad or worse than them. I’ve posted the link, watch the pictures for yourself, and when you see it is a very good tackle by McCulloch, then don’t bother with an apology, just remind yourself to be wise before you bleet.
The highlights are on bbc 1
McCulloch is a recalcitrant hun bully boy recidivist he deserves no understanding
his feigning of injury discloses his guilt
or perhaps this time he was being fair and hard in the tackle and feared serious injury before making a remarkable recovery
you chose ……