Matthews master of discipline

1000

Few Celtic players have glided through four seasons with scarcely a critical comment directed his way but Adam Matthews can make this claim.  I didn’t expect him to make it as a first team player as a 19-year-old when he arrived from Cardiff City, but he so comprehensively made the position his own, you’ll struggle to name the two right backs at the club when Adam arrived………….?

The limiting factor in his Celtic career arrived in the form of a tall Swede.  Mikael Lustig has had plenty of injury problems but when fit, he’s first choice, with Adam playing backup.

Adam’s most memorable performance came against Barcelona in that game.  With Lustig at right back and Emilio Izaguirre unavailable, Adam was asked to play left back.  Tony Watt and Victor grabbed the headlines that night but Adam’s performance was remarkable.

He didn’t miss an angle all night, no matter how fast Barca pinged the ball, Adam was there.  We faced so many balls on the wing that night but the discipline in defence was remarkable.  He was clearly asked to give the Barca players space outside the box and drop to the 18 yard line, I remember yelling “Close him down” all night, but Neil Lennon had done his homework, the tactics were sound.  That game is recalled so often, for so many great reasons, but while the tactical discipline deployed was not as sexy as the goals or the atmosphere, it was genuinely world class.  We analyse games through different perspectives: when Celtic win like that all you hear about is the atmosphere, but if a German team had won that way, UK pundits would wax lyrical about their discipline.  Adam was a big part of that success, and if he goes to Sunderland, he’ll flourish.

Those two right backs were Mark Wilson and shampoo hero Cha Du-Ri, b.t.w.  But you knew that anyway, didn’t you?  If you can remember the left back we signed that summer you’re doing very well.  So many miss the target for every Adam Matthews.

Well done to Celtic, who have improved the look of two stadiums this week.

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

1,000 Comments
  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. ...
  4. 14
  5. 15
  6. 16
  7. 17
  8. 18
  9. 19
  10. 20
  11. ...
  12. 27

  1. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    Getting a few emails from huns re my ZTP business, ACGR is a non discriminatory self funded operation with a corporate goal of getting it right up the hun.

     

     

    Each one was replied to and a wee dropkick fields tone included for their own personal listening enjoyment.

     

     

    Muppets.

     

     

     

    Roll up, roll up (not you bmcuwp) they are flying aff the shelves cos they’re free.

     

     

    ZTP is like kryptonite to the hun.

     

     

    Get your hun kryptonite here: acgr@hotmail.co.uk

  2. What is the Stars on

    Delaneys

     

     

    I am just not able anymore

     

    Many years ago I had a good pal who lived next door to the head of the drug squad

     

    Well one night we were outside his house smoking something colombian and about to drive into town for a night out.Next thing there is a tap on the window…Howya X,could ye give me a lift down the road….Of course jump in….Tell ye what says Drug Squad man I will jump in the front cos I’ll be getting out in a minute so tell yer pal to get in the back.(2 door car you see) So I clamber into the back (leaving the joint blazing away on the floor at the front passenger seat) In jumps Drug squad man and off we go.Drove him down to the local shop with the joint burning away at his feet while he asked the usual neighbourly questions of my pal.Nice to meet you he says to me as he got out.

     

    Mad

  3. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    Livibhoy, if Mrs LB ever divorces you I’ll marry you.

     

     

    Enjoy being a dad, it’s a magic thing.

     

     

     

    HH bruv

  4. Almore,

     

    sorry just noticed your reply,

     

    thanks for the reply,

     

    not sure about the GC but Downtown and the shopping malls

     

    are certainly on the agenda

  5. I was puzzled as to what evolutionary advantage might be gained by the tree swinging lemur having big baws ( you would have thought that to be an inconvenience to a tree swinger) but it seems it’s to do with two other lemur society traits, namely, female social dominance and sperm competition.

     

     

    Basically the lemur wimmen fancy having a lot of mates so a male lemur has to be prepared to sh** around in order to increase his chances of producing offspring. Therefore he needs a large store of the offspring producing stuff.

     

     

    Other characteristics of lemurs include torpor and low brain size

     

     

     

    Well, nae wunner.

  6. LiviBhoy

     

     

    Met you and Mrs LB at CQTen, not sure if you remember or not!

     

     

    Anyways, great post and all the best

     

     

    HH

     

     

    P27

  7. shropshirejambo on

    Livibhoy. There’s no set role, please enjoy the moments and the part you can play sounds like you had a great day. My wife had to give up work because of disability. She supported me wholeheartedly to get my boy away from my ex who was ruining his life, No other consideration than it was the right thing. We both enjoy what a 15 year old brings to the house, esp the grunts instead of words. We are both so happy to see him grow into an admittedly non-verbal for the moment young man.

  8. clogher celt on

    Livibhoy,

     

     

    If you fancy a break with the young one, why not head over here.

     

    Book yourselves cheap flights on Ryan Air, stay here.

     

     

    I will show you plenty of good things to see.

     

     

    It would be great to see you all.

     

     

    Clogher

  9. Delaneys Dunky on

    Livibhoy

     

     

    I just relived my time 20 years ago in your post.

     

    You reduced me to good tears. Thank you. :)

  10. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    Anyone know how many SB’s we’ve sold so far?

     

     

    I didn’t renew as I thought most of this coming season I’d be on foreign shores for long spells. Looks like long spells may become short ones and hence will be buying a ticket PDQ.

     

     

    Looked at the stadium map for the NS and although single seat availability is there, there aint much below row S which is where them bloody pillars are. Makes me think season book sales have gone well / better than last season.

     

     

    Looking at 405 / 406 so I can chuck the odd pie at HT if the fitba is shite.

  11. Kevjungle

     

     

    Never saw your post but seems you had good news, great to hear.. Keeping the faith pays off. Take care buddy.

     

     

    Livibhoy

     

     

    Excellent post.. The love of your family is easily seen in most of your posts .. As is your love of Celtic.

     

     

    Up the tic

  12. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    clogher celt, if livibhoy rejects my proposal of marriage what are you up to next Thursday…………………:_)

     

     

    Hail hail to you, a very fine gesture.

     

     

    Still hoping the Dublin hootenanny will be a goer for me and cant wait to visit your fine city again (probably via Cork for some fish strangling activities).

  13. rudicantfail on

    Watched these dudes in the Mars Bar Glasgow….

     

     

    Even before Chelsea Girl on the Whistle Test

     

     

    Anybody ever remember the Jam at The City Limits,Glasgow?

     

     

     

    ▶ 4:38

     

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO8F32IRby0

     

    23 Aug 2012 – Uploaded by 4evermusic61

     

    Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to …

  14. Slan_Abhaile on

    Podium?

     

     

    No matter.

     

     

    What does, is that the Greeks don’t capitulate to the troika like the Irish did.

     

     

    Default and stand up for future generations rather than let spineless politicians of the Bertie or Enda ilk, hamstring generations of Irish.

  15. shropshirejambo on

    Rudicantfail. Saw them at the Dutch Mill I’m Kirkaldy similar times. One of the best pub bands ever.

  16. Delaneys Dunky on

    WITS

     

     

    Was a recreational cannabis user till I started to get arthritic pain recently.

     

    It is now my best pain relief after a 12 hour shift.

  17. What is the Stars on

    Slan abhaile

     

    I live in Ireland and I certainly am not hamstrung

     

    Lot of nonsense talked about economy

     

    Let the Greeks do what they feel is right

  18. Livibhoy

     

    Fantastic post you have got your priorities right, I’m a couple of generations down the line just had a lovely 1st grandchild a few months ago and it is amazing the love you feel, was listening to christy earlier the boy from tamlaghtduf one of my favourites . A very uplifting post thank you

  19. clogher celt on

    ACGR,

     

     

     

    I know a good few Irish lads that are going back. They are back working again and like Ronnie’s football.

     

     

    Clogher

  20. Papa joe 55

     

     

    My favourite aswel .. Alongside 90 miles from Dublin town .. 2 great songs .

     

     

    Ride on Christy

  21. Slan_Abhaile on

    WITS @ 0117

     

     

    Ireland is shackled with debt, a slave to Europe for generations.

     

     

    Now that they have voted for unnatural marriage, I shudder to think what’s next.

  22. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    Sropshirejambo, my boy is nineteen now and like yours he grunts a lot, mumbles quite a bit too. In fact, the only time he isn’t grunting or mumbling is when he’s ripping the pish oota me and the size 22. But I love having him home as he loves the hoops, golfing with his faither and strangling the odd fish or two.

     

     

    We have a great laugh and I’ll miss him when he heads back to uni.

     

     

    HH

  23. Delaneys Dunky on

    Shropshirejambo

     

     

    Are you fae the Lang Toun?

     

    I love Kirkcaldy spelled properly. Catholic schooling. ;)

  24. What is the Stars on

    Slan abhaile

     

    Ireland is a great place

     

    Too much nonsense talked about being shackled and having our grand children paying. Just get on it. Life is good.

     

    As for your rather unchristian attitude to gay marriage…well you are entitled to live your life the way you see fit

  25. shropshirejambo on

    ACGR. They also need to wise up. My Callum wanted to show he was taller than me, he is by a wee bit. However he was happy to do the pencil on the wall bit, with me holding the pencil. He was distraught I was still taller until I pointed out that the angle the pencil is held is a bit important.

     

     

    He’ll work it through but it is our duty to help them along the road…

  26. Proudbhoy

     

    A couple of nonsense type songs from christy are don’t forget your shovel and the queen ( about her state visit to Dublin) with the classic line me and deckie were like two wasps looking out of a jam jar, and me and the rose ( about a Dublin police woman who won the rise of Tralee cheers me up no end.

  27. What is the Stars on

    Slan abhaile

     

    I don’t do irony

     

    I believe in the Christian values of peace love and tolerance

     

    Live and let live etc

     

    .that’s why I voted in favour of gay marriage

  28. shropshirejambo on

    Delaneys dunky, no about 8 miles north, Leslie. I knew the spelling was off but it’s late. Spent loads of time in the Lang Toun at the Links and on the bevy, bit more to it than Leslie..

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. ...
  4. 14
  5. 15
  6. 16
  7. 17
  8. 18
  9. 19
  10. 20
  11. ...
  12. 27