The most interesting point to make about Adam Matthews is that, for another month anyway, he is still a teenager. You and I have seen enough of these games to know that the occasion has a habit of consuming inexperienced youth but Adam patrolled Celtic’s right with remarkable authority last night. All the more remarkable considering this was his first game back after injury.
Football business for 2011 is finished and new signing, Swedish international right back, Mikael Lustig (25), is now available for selection. At 6’3” Mikael has previously played in central defence but Neil Lennon insisted the player was primarily recruited as a right back but, despite the rate Celtic right backs pick up injuries, the need appears greater in central defence. It’s hard to see Adam Matthews losing the right back berth.
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lucky number 7
Class, sheer class.
:)
Bankiebhoy
As always,brilliant from you.
Hail Hail
FF 8, AM 9, TR 8.5, CM 8, JL 8.5,
SB 8, BK 9, VW 8, JF 8.5,
GH 8, GS 9 I TRUST LENNY WHOLE HEARTDLY
(forget who we sell/keep not supporters prob)
HAILx2
Did the huns sing any illicit songs last night?
Come to think of it, did the huns sing any songs at all last night?
Fergus slayed the blues
hahahahahah that is comedy gold
starry plough
James Forrest is Lennon
Big Packie’s Accent
reilly1926
Lads I hope you all accept my apologies for last night, to much drink and I suppose we all say and do daft things when we’re drunk.
Maybe next time I’ll keep my mouth shut until sober and can watch the game with clear head.
Healy’s was a red.
Mcullochs I still thought it was a 50/50 but after seeing the still image it was a sending off.
Anybody know when Sportscene is on?
fergus slayed the blues
HILARIOUS!!!!
Ye couldny make it up!
Paul67
I do wish you would not make predictions.
Cause some numpty (crap heid)always digs you up when it doesn’t come
to pass.
NostradamusC.S.C :O) HAIL HAIL
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon says:
29 December, 2011 at 12:38
Did the huns sing any illicit songs last night?
Come to think of it, did the huns sing any songs at all last night?
share
……
Hello Hello and FTP at least
awe naw
*¬)
bigjie says:
29 December, 2011 at 12:12
footage of healy’s booking , correct decision ?
http://www.kirkintillochemerald.co.uk/showthread.php?p=25172#post25172
I dont think so.
Its a straight red for me.
Looks like a tackle from behind, he doesnt get anything of the ball, and his intent is clear. Its a deliberate foul.
Seria A, La liga and the Premiership, would all be red cards I would think.
You know, even if he got the ball there, I still think that is a foul.
Dont know the rules down to the detail, but that looks like ‘dangerous play’ to me.
Would need to see the replays, but I think Forrest and Brown have been sent of for less this season already.
greenjedi
a few Fenian B`s as well ……..reptiles
If a Celtic manager had overseen the team papped out of the Champions League, papped out of Europa League, papped out of League Cup and a 17 point swing in the League all before the New Year.
Would the Laptop Loyal not be printing the GO NOW! headlines.
Aunt Sally, the rangers John Barnes…
HH
Awe Naw
Haha your some Bhoy!
How cool was that! If we go on to win this league I hope it doesn’t get forgotten that we recovered a 15 point deficit… It can’t be far short of a record.
Good shout regarding Adam Matthews, he was awesome, although I guess the wee criticism (looking to ahead) is that you can recover against Wallace and Lafferty, but, it’s a tougher gig against the players we’ll face in the CL next year.
I’ve not seen much of the comment on the game, so I’m sure I’ve missed an avalanche of praise for Thomas Rogne. Just want to add that I thought he was superb. Personally I’ve seen enough from him to convince me he should be given his head and allowed to grow into the centre half position. If we leave him in he may make as many mistakes as Dan or Glen, but, he’ll add tremendous value, and most importantly he’ll learn and grow… like all central defenders he needs the experience. That said, his positioning last night was excellent and he could teach each and every one of his defensive colleagues a thing or two based upon that.
Good as the outcome was, it’s only a domestic fixture and we clearly beat an average team, albeit a committed one. In the attacking area’s we were poor last night. Maybe the weather, but Sammi and Forrest made some bad decisions. They have the ability to take that kind of defence apart, and they were making good in-roads before greed took hold. Barca (I know) are never greedy – they make it as simple as possible. If Sammi and Forrest had donet he same last night we might have seen a heavy win… as it was they did well in difficult conditions. However, Rangers are not the benchmark, to paraphrase MON. Not this time. And elements of last nights performance could have been better.
Perhaps it was just the weather.
I’ve seen that Heally tackle before…… It was against Jinky, perptrated by some Hun Thug in 1968!!!
Hail Hail
TBhoy
By JOHN HARTSON
Published: Today
Add a comment (6)
SO MANY times it’s been claimed the big decisions go against Celtic.
Well, let me stress they got a huge one in their favour last night — and it could prove so crucial in helping to decide where the league title goes.
Especially if the league is won by a single point.
Rangers were robbed of an opening goal. Lee Wallace’s header was IN.
I had no doubts about it the moment I saw it — and TV replays backed that up.
I thought the footage was conclusive.
Fraser Forster did brilliantly to scoop it back out but it was a goal and Rangers have good reason to feel aggrieved about it.
Once again it has opened the debate over goal-line technology.
However, it shouldn’t overshadow the fact Celtic fully merited their victory.
And, remember, there was also a bad offside call against Gary Hooper in the second half which denied him a one-on-one with Allan McGregor.
I’m certain Hooper would have scored, so you could argue that was a bad decision to level things up.
Part of me felt Celtic’s victory was made in Wales.
Adam Matthews was outstanding — while Joe Ledley rose fantastically well to score with a header.
It was as strong a starting line-up as Neil Lennon could have gone with.
I was pleased he brought back Matthews at right-back because he’s a boy I really rate.
Victor Wanyama, possibly Celtic’s best player in recent weeks, in at centre midfield was another move that had no argument from me.
Georgios Samaras and Hooper were always going to start up front.
I’ve got to say I was surprised when I heard the Rangers team.
There was an expectation they would go with five across the midfield and just Nikica Jelavic up front.
But Coisty’s bold move to put Kyle Lafferty beside him deserved credit.
It showed he was determined to go to Celtic Park and win, that there was no fear despite Rangers’ poor form going into the game.
It was bold, it was brave — and I was DELIGHTED.
I wanted to see both teams going for it, not just Celtic attacking and Rangers trying to hit them on the break.
But the conditions were shocking, with the wind spoiling things.
I thought the first-half honours went to Rangers.
Apart from being denied a clear goal, they also had a great chance fall to Carlos Bocanegra — and it was no shock to me that he fired over from close range.
Coisty would have been gutted the ball dropped to a defender. Had it been Lafferty or Jelavic I’m certain they’d have scored.
A striker instinctively would have adjusted his body to finish. Bocanegra’s not used to being in that position and that’s why he missed.
Celtic took their time getting into the game. Samaras was full of running and James Forrest was trying the best he could to make an impact.
Hooper made McGregor work a couple of times — but they were saves you would expect the Rangers No1 to make.
The quality level was always going to be low with such a strong and unpredictable wind.
McGregor was the busier keeper, yet I felt Rangers were a bit more convincing with Sone Aluko lively.
Celtic had to raise their game in the second half — and they did it impressively.
Forster had almost nothing to do, which said it all.
Celtic did what they had to do. They were strong, they were determined.
There were top Premier League managers up to see Jelavic — the likes of David Moyes and Roy Hodgson — but Thomas Rogne and Charlie Mulgrew kept both him and Lafferty quiet.
Jelavic is a top striker, make no mistake, but he contributed very little.
Celtic dominated the second half after about the 50-minute mark — and for me there looked as if there would be only one winner.
Rangers were so limited and their indiscipline in the closing stages was very disappointing.
David Healy could easily have been sent off for his crude challenge on Forrest.
But the referee Willie Collum did well on the night.
He didn’t over-react to situations, and he gave himself a few extra seconds to consider what he was going to do.
Celtic deserve great plaudits for winning nine straight games, picking up 27 points out of 27.
Big questions were asked of them little over a month ago, but how well they’ve responded since then.
Lenny and his players have been magnificent.
But let me make it very clear — this result has decided nothing.
The title hasn’t been won.
Yes, Celtic have gained a massive psychological boost by beating Rangers and going top for 2012.
But the championship isn’t won by the outcome of these games.
Celtic gained more points from the Old Firm derbies last season — yet it was a defeat in Inverness which ultimately cost them the league title.
So there’s still plenty to do.
Rumours are that Balotelli was in Bairds bar last night with big Vics brother- surely a wind up. I also thought the Grant phone call was a wind up when I heard it on the way home last night- listen to the end- “if I didnt have so many pals who are celtic supporters I might have gone over to the dark side”
http://inbedwithmaradona.com/journal/2011/12/21/the-ibwm-100-the-class-of-2012.html?currentPage=2
Well Done to wee James Forrest
(he is around number 30 on the list)
‘But even though Celtic themselves are proof that even leads which yawn as wide as the Grand Canyon can always be bridged Lennon’s group don’t look as if they are capable of staying there. More importantly, however, Ally McCoist’s side appear well equipped to fight their way back to the top.’
WTF!!!
Fat Jabba really hurting… :)
Great result last night even though I didn’t think we played particularly well. Still lots of room for improvement. That said, there were some great individual peformances last night, none better in my opinion than Thomas Rogne who was immense. If he stays fit I reckon we’ve got a top class centre half.
3 years ago at this time we went to Ibrox and won 1 v 0 thanks to a Scott MacDonald goal. That put us 7 points clear. Complacency then seemed to rear its ugly head as the only signing we made in that January transfer window was Willo Flood.
The then manager, WGS, seemed keen to buy Steven Fletcher from Hibs. That’s the same Steven Fletcher that now scores regularly for Wolves in the EPL. The money men said no. I still believe if we had signed Fletcher and James McCarthy in Janaury 2009 we would have won the league that season. We didn’t and Rangers won the league instead.
While we should all enjoy last night’s result let’s not get complacent. Last night we won a battle, victory in the war has still to be achieved.
With Mikael Lustig already signed it could be argued that the defender Neil Lennon wanted in January is already with us. Let us hope the manager is also able to sign a quality, goal scoring, forward.
Let’s ensure we don’t throw the league away this year as we did 3 years ago. Complacency cost us then, let’s hope there’s no repeat this season.
HH
Craig has gotta help
By JOHN SHIELDS
NEIL McCANN turned up the heat on Craig Whyte after Rangers’ Old Firm defeat at Celtic Park.
The former Gers star insists boss Ally McCoist does NOT want to flog Nikica Jelavic in the January transfer window.
McCann said: “I ask myself if I was McCoist would I want to sell him?
“I don’t think he would want to sell him. He is that important to the team and the title bid.
“If he goes and you get £6million or £7m, Craig Whyte has to throw most, if not all of it, at Ally McCoist if he is to retain the title.
“Rangers are missing Steven Naismith. They need creativity and more thrust from midfield.”
“Maybe Kris Boyd would come back.
Brilliant performance by young Adam , and he was probably my MOTM , but he was run close by a good number of his teammates, as I thought Thomas , Charlie and Beram were also outstanding. On the whole though , pass marks for everyone in the Hoops, even Stokesy (silly yellow , but I’d have kicked Lafferty too in the same situation).
The atmosphere in the ground was fantastic , and is testimony to the bhoys in The Green Brigade. I don’t know if anyone else has mentioned it but there is the bizarre sight of a thread on Fuehrer Fuehrer PRAISING the Green Brigade , with a number of posters agreeing before the usual bile wins through. (Surely there can’t be that many Timfiltrators on there)
2011 has been a roller coaster in many ways from the disappointment of losing the league on last day (but a day filled with pride ), to Neil raising his first trophy as a manager, and now suitably finishing with the best team in the country at the top of the league .
Hail Hail to 2012 and a glorious Treble !!!
Lenny said on Sky last night that he want’s a CH and a striker, over to you Peter……..
ASonOfDan says:
29 December, 2011 at 12:48
‘More importantly, however, Ally McCoist’s side appear well equipped to fight their way back to the top.’
Jabba and the rest of them are starting to worry about life without Der Hun.
Anyone remember Ian Murray being sent off for blootering Aiden a few years back. Straight red for a disgraceful challenge. healy’s was the same. If mccoist had went to the huns end and got one of the knuckledraggers out the crowd to come on the tackle could not have been poorer. healy, lafferty and mcculloch showed them up for what they are last night. scum
We’ve got a wee Welsh ghuy called Joe Ledley.
bigjie kirkie emerald thanks for pictures.posted this last week to you.have you got a GIBBY in your ranks taxi driver about 64,married to ……RITA.
Any word on Craig Whyte’s defamation action against the BBC.
I’m starting to think it’s not going to happen.
Surely he hasn’t been telling lies about suing someone for calling him dishonest?
Fergus slayed the blues
That is one of the funiest things I have heard, what a fecking muppet ha ha ha ha
“a dinnae get much enjoyment” ha ha ha
no wonder going there every second week ya crackpot!!!!
head is thumping but its very much worth it.
Hail Hail
Great comment from the Guardian blogs…
Its quite a feat really if you think about it. R.F.C manage to epitomise everything that is s*** about football in one club. Stoke F.C can only look on in awe
cabbageandbacon says:
29 December, 2011 at 11:51
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b018cg10/Your_Call_with_Jim_Traynor_28_12_2011/
41 – 45 mins! Grant fae Perth bursts out greeting!
/\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ too good to miss hehe
Have I told you Ledley that I love you
Have I told you there’s no one else above you
Fill my heart with gladness
Take away all my sadness
Ease my troubles that’s what you do
reading the morning huns sob story
Greets the day with hope and comfort too
You fill my life with laughter
And somehow you make it better
Ease my troubles that’s what you do
There’s a love that’s divine
And it’s yours and it’s mine unlike the hun
And at the end of the day
We should give thanks and pray
To Neil Lennon, to Neil Lennon
Have I told you Ledley that I love you
Have I told you there’s no one else above you
Fill my heart with gladness
Take away all my sadness
Ease my troubles that’s what you do
There’s a love that’s divine
And it’s yours and it’s mine unlike the hun
And at the end of the day
We should give thanks and pray
To Neil Lennon, to Neil Lennon
And have I told you Ledley that I love you
Have I told you there’s no one else above you
You fill my heart with gladness
Take away my sadness
Ease my troubles that’s what you do
Take away all my sadness
Fill my life with gladness
Ease my troubles that’s what you do
Take away all my sadness
Fill my life with gladness
Ease my troubles that’s what you do
The Huns are stuck with Ally but is he stuck with them?
If any bhoy is looking for a way to continue the ole feelgood vibe then the BBCR2 documentary on ‘Fairytale of New York’ is pretty good [ and still available on the ole i-player.
Anyways, we’ve come a long way from being 3-0 down at Rugby Park, for which a lot of credit is due to the players, and even more to the coaching staff, especially our manager.
We’re playing some good stuff, a nice mixture of steel and finesse.
But just as the league wasn’t lost in the low points of October it’s not been won.
Keep it up Celts, and win the prize you so richly deserve.
I wish certain posters would keep quiet about Ally he is doing a great job under difficult circumstances. No right minded Celtic fan would wish a change of manager at rangrrs.
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon says:
29 December, 2011 at 12:38
There was a mention of the UVF in one of their songs so I guess given the SPL’s re-affirmation of their rules re. songs/chants about terrorist organisations, yes they did sing ‘illicit’ songs.
Will anything be done about it, of course not.