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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Now on Celticfc.net:
“BERAM Kayal has undergone two sets of scans on the ankle injury sustained on Wednesday evening and results received today have revealed that unfortunately he will be out of action for at least one month.
The midfielder, who missed the closing stages of the win against Rangers midweek, will receive a further investigation on the injury in one week.”
So Beram is out for god knows how long
Injured by a scumbag who shouldnt even have been playing
Also, apparently Gary Hooper was attacked by Huns in the city centre last night
It always makes me feel a bit strange when posters on here clamour for the services of hopeless ex-huns
like Kris Boyd and Carlos Cuellar.
“They could do a job for us” it is said.
But entering into the spirit of that kind of crazy, kinda wacky state of mind I would like to suggest a bid for Nacho Novo.
My idea would be to keep him in a glass case outside Celtic Park to amuse the kids that go to the games.
He did love Glasgow, did he not ? And he would love to come back.
“See the amazing snarling tattooed Snubber-Of-Celtic, he was once human, look at him now !”
And, of course, fans of all ages would be able to drench him in green gooey liquid.
I would also suggest that – at night – the case be covered up by a large cloth in best budgie-cage style
to allow the small fellow some respite.
For we are not cruel people.
If the Government can up with an extra 80 million rangers for some Olympic opening nonsense then I’m
sure the purse keepers for the Hoops can see their way to throw a few trinkets and pleasures our way.
This, obviously after they bring in the necessary personnel to ensure that the unprecedented 4IAR is no more.
And remember, Mr Peter Lawwell, that we can only use guys who are MUCH MUCH taller than the aforementioned Ratboy, unless
of course they have the talent of yon wee Argentinian.
Today I brushed past Mister Neil Lennon on my way into a cafe where I was meeting a pal.
It brought back the feeling from Wednesday night – minus the two dozen cans of beer, certainly, but
a great feeling nonetheless.
Speaking of beer……………..
pigalle
McCulloch(y) shouldn’t have been on the Park.
Just another washed-up hun hardman doing his bit for the shamed jersey.
Tem men won the league. We can play big Victor67 and Ledley in the middle with Izzy back at full back. We still have Ki as well so while Beram being injured is not good news we do have cover.H.H.
from earlier posts………………..Growing up in Glasgow
TMWTL
Injured by a scumbag who shouldnt even have been playing
My thoughts exactly.
I hope Hoops is ok.
HH
Moonbeams WD. Kano 1000 \o/ Supporting Neil Lennon 100%. says:
30 December, 2011 at 17:19
=====================
Just watched the Heally Hun tackle for the first time since the match, I said to my son from the Jock Stein upper def red card and kinda lost it when the wee runt only produced a yellow.
Sky and the beeb also airbrushed this out, how the feck was this not a straight red????
Firmly believe his remit was not to send off any of the orcs no matter what happened.
MIB mission still in full flow.
HH
LUBO @1711 re ripped off Britain
Great post my friend and so bloody true. I was talking it over with QUEENLuBO and we have granted you a Knighthood from 1st Jan next year
So Arise Sir LuBo
Hail Hail
KINGLuBO
bankiebhoy1 says:
30 December, 2011 at 15:53
STV have just announced a surprising tie up with the Ulster Scots Ass. of Northern Ireland
Spokesperson Billy Doig-Mathieson said he wuz rite gled o ‘ it, so he wiz.
It is thought (thocht?) that veteran broadcaster (sprechter?) Billy Kay will (wull?) anchor a specially convened nightly show at 5.30 (or 16.90 for the traditionalists)
Mair noos wen it’s riddy an’ no afor
————————–
I was amused a few years ago when the Ulster Scots’ lobby insisted on having parity with English & the Irish language when public service jobs were being advertised in the North’s newspapers.
The position of carers for children with learning difficulties actually appeared in print as seeking for persons competent to care for ‘ wee daftie weans’.
I don’t know if any of our Ulster Tims will remember this bizarre episode.
No disaster Kayal being out. Gives Ki and Ledley a chance to step up and Wanyama must start every game. Also less likely to lose him in the window.
Does put the SFA to shame tho as they didn’t follow through on the new procedures and someone who should never have been on the park did the damage.
Shame on Stewart Reagan and his muppets.
Kayal’s injury means that there will be no midfielders leaving in the Window.
JOE FILLIPIS HAIRCUT Joe you are spot on what you say about celtic supporters wanting to givec some cash into the club .celtic made a big mistake by not purchasing the old london rd school,the superstore ,the musuem cafes etc should have been put in place there.a money spinner there for sure.
Kayal out for a month, job done by that cowardly filth, who should not even have been on the park.
Hope SFA hammer him.
HH
Hurting Hun on snyde there, complaining about a dive by Charlie 30 yards from goal ffs.
Thems def hurting and clutching at small straws.
HH
everyone who watches the scottish scene with any intelligence will know that
when celtic signed john park, we were starting to go down the same road as
hibernian.
but young potential, pay them a better than average wage for their age. &
then sell them for big bucks. when they either are looking for too much money
or looking to move on, or the management at parkhead decide to cash in…
i think we will all agree that this is the correct way to go, and its already starting to bear fruit..
replacing mcgeady with young forrest is the example of what we are doing.
(im not advocating young forrest is anywhere close to aideanho btw)
im believing that young victor wanyama (we have won a watch with him btw, & i fail to understand
mr67s analysis of him being a vast improver, he looked it from day one) will be a mainstay for a
season or two before incredible money comes for him. this is the main reason why i think KI will
get sold for 9M over the next month.
if we sell hooper for big bucks, then get it done, and bring in another with the same
characteristics.
ajax, psv, marseille, they all do it. and finally, finally, we are doing it too.
suddenly, its all falling into place, & for the 1st time im starting to believe we will get that domination
thing…….
ask me that 6 weeks ago :)
I hope that when the hun goes down that we get an invite to leave for the EPL or a euro league i’m sick of the rigged games, mibbery and
sectarianism. I wanna hear the LL squeal, beg and plead for us to stay then tell them why we’re leaving, loudly from every rooftop and in every media,
new and old. This whole gig in scotland just holds us back from realising our true potential.
timbhoy2 I cant take the credit it was Stephbhoy that brought it up with some very good points of view I suggested he should pen a letter to Peter Lawwell giving his sugestions and ask for answers in a written reply.I urge you to do the same the more who do this the more we will be listened to.H.H.
What’s happening with Kris Commons? Is he still out with a thigh injury?
This is one guy I would like to see back in the team, can supply the goals from midfield.
gsu
Joe Filippis Haircut says:
dont think for a minute pl does not know or have same thoughts and he knows the answer, think selling it to the supporters is the problem, we all want to win but some cannot deal with the idea that every penny taken in for players is not reinvested in player. yet business diversity is the only way forward and if we continue to need to sell to buy we’ll never reach our potential on a eurpoean stage.
p.s. surely the commonwealth games opening (at celtic park) going out to an estimated 1 billion people gives celtic oppotunity to make money via renaming stadium etc… even if for a few weeks, its got to cost tens of millions to get that type of advertising out to such huge numbers, no
kayal injuried, step forward ladley bhoy, step in izzy bhoy
Good evening friends and a big Happy Friday to one and all!
2 drinky evenings left before my usual New Year resolution kicks in. God loves a trier.
Jobo
Bournesouprecipe @ 18.10
I think I bought that car- one old lady owner they said
MR Kilbowie,
How are ye sir?
Re oor freens wi’ the Ulster Scats……..
Ah’m no surprised wan wee bit.
Seriously tho’ there’s a long piece in Powell’s Book on the North “Great Hatred Little Room” where all concerned deride the credibility of the cultural attributes of this patois.
Lang may yer lum reek mate!
HH
Quote from Leggat- “Clark, who replaced the legenadry Davie Syme as………..”
What is it with Huns and their inability to spell the word “legend”?
The legned that is David Leggat
Davie I think it’s 62min in
Decent youtube of the second half of the game
And of course…..Thanks to Houl yer wheesht
Bisto Broonies, bisto sickens….. all in one goal
hail hail
Estadio
Davie
the link has not worked ,I will try again
I’m sure this has been posted, but the the penalty save against Hearts and the Gordon Banks save the other night from the big goalie Fraser made our month and maybe our season!
CautiouslyoverthemoonCSC
Davie
kitalba says:
30 December, 2011 at 11:31
Decent youtube of the second half of the game
Hope this works
macky says:
30 December, 2011 at 18:20
agree on ki, think he’s a good player, but we will not get much more than 9 million and his price will drop as he gets older when he still is not forcing himself into celtic first 11 every week.
hooper’s time will come but timing is everything not yet we are not flush with CF or at least not better than hooper
Neil Lennon Abbot of Clonmacnois – Totally agree, that was ANOTHER world class save by Forster and something that has been largely overlooked because of all their bleeting.
Stairheedrammy
I knew there would be a CQN’er connection somewhere.
I am very well young Bankiebhoy.
Hope you & yours are as well.
What a wonderful language Ulster Scots is when the best representation of ‘children with learning difficulties’ they can come up with is ‘wee daftie weans’.
God help them.
Goldstar10, spot the difference!? :-)
Big Fraser’s save seen from the North Stand
Anyone know if a link has been posted of Charlie Mulgrew laughing at Broadfoot???
Hail hail
BERAM Kayal has undergone two sets of scans on the ankle injury sustained on Wednesday evening and results received today have revealed that unfortunately he will be out of action for at least one month.
The midfielder, who missed the closing stages of the win against Rangers midweek, will receive a further investigation on the injury in one week.
Thought beram was only out for 10 days, make no mistake about it elbows knew what he was doing and the animal has kept him out for a month.
Thankfully, with Izzy fit again, Ledley can take his place in CM with Wanyama
HH
Kilbowie…….
This always makes me think of the stoatirs for some reason….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ke5Mr5eCF2U
:)
HH
Hi bhoys
I have just heard a hurting Knuckledragger spouting gash about CM diving ,I think he said it was in the 62nd min ,can anyone post the link ,I can’t seem to get it to carry on to the new thread .
It was posted by kitalba at the time in my post above but on the previous thread .
He compared it to sono U-boat Aluko’s naisy impression
hail hail