Roy Keane played 13 games for Celtic and the first two of those were memorably for a disastrous performance and result away to Clyde, then what looked like an out of shape performance by the former Ireland international at home to Kilmarnock.
The remaining 11 games of his Celtic career were a lesson on what a great central midfield player looks like. This was an era when we had recently seen Champions League winner, Paul Lambert, and Neil Lennon, play central mid, both masters of their craft, but Keane fulfilled the role better than anyone I had seen in a Celtic shirt, even as a 34-year-old.
There’s a video of his solitary performance away to Rangers (@FocusOnCeltic), where he asserts himself effortlessly, a lesson on how it should be done. I watched a similar video of Olivier Ntcham against Newco on Sunday (@CelticBible).
The obvious point should be made. The Rangers team of 2006 that Keane faced had players like Barry Ferguson and Dado Prso, and had a proper manager, whereas the team Olivier Ntcham faced are not of the same calibre, nor were they at home, but you and me have watched rubbish Oldco/Newco teams over the years without seeing such a complete performance from a Celtic central mid as Olivier’s.
Last month I suggested we drop Olivier and pull Callum McGregor deep, as the former’s passing and effectiveness was off the pace during the qualifiers. He was one of several subject to bids and contract talks over the summer. A clear head seems to have elevated the 22-year-old’s game to a new level.
The King is in town, get along to see Henrik and pals do their stuff at Celtic Park tomorrow.
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MATT STEWART
Clicked on that :)))))))))))
ended up at fitba or whit, look forward one day to learning about “the shilling” :))))))
Till later all.
Oldtim67
Keep on keeping on
We’re comin…we’re comin……we’re comin fae Aiberdeen !
Thought blog was broke !
I would like to see someone recruited for the youth development to create a strategy that teaches youngsters for the future and was less focused on the now.
Countries like France,Holland and even England have shown the difference spending on youth can make to your long term future.
To often young players are judged on their performances against opposition rather than focusing on what the future requirements will be.
Johnston and Christie are both good examples of having a great skillset but to date lacking the physicality to to be truly effective in the environment we play in.
KT is the most prepared youngster we have produced but even he had to be physically stronger.
Dembele ,Edouard and Nt’cham were all physically, mentally and skill ready for our environment.
Why is that?Is there something the French youth academies do that we do not?
The modern game requires guile, strength and skill.
Are we scouting the wrong kind of youth for the modern game?
Oldtim67
good to see you post my friend,keep the chin up,like yourself i am not on as much,
i will be in touch soon,dont be letting those who write bout Celtic on here get you down.
You are Celtic ya auld codger,keep smiling and on the positive
its what we Celts do.
god bless ye :-)
HH
OLD TIM: Sorry to hear you are less than your usual ebullient self. Hope you well enough to enjoy a small libation with cucumber,and the accompanying tonic of your choice.May your health and mental strength recover ASAP and I will do a wee caunle for you on Monday.( that St Winin’s is costing me a fortune,)
TONTIME TIM: Tales of yesterday years are what made ?? clappers,! A run like Brendan’s team is the stuff of dreams and you didn’t believe it anyway!!
OK,I get Ntcham is a fantatic midfielder.Along side him and Broony,we have Calmac,who most fans rate,and the players rate,as Celtics most influential midfielferWe have added,the 3rd most influential midfielder,in the SPFL last seadon,Mulumbu,we have added Benkovic,who will let Brendan play,3 at the back.We now have IMHO the best squad we could have to put up a performance in the Europa.So many people,have to forget about,Mc Ginn
Mulumbu is the man.I said I was taking a break,but,I really fancy our chances,away from home,which we never have done before.
Time will tell.
Looking back on old newspaper cuttings to relieve boredom,came across match report Dunfermline v Celtic 4 days after Scottish cup final win April 1965.We lost five one last league game of season.Then beat rangers 2 -1 in Glasgow cup semi-final.Now I have to go to KFC for my grand- daughter.Ah well!!!!!
Fan-a-tic
Are we scouting the wrong kind of youth for the modern game?
I think we are, I think Scotland is still stuck in the blood and snotters view of football. A 6 foot prop forward type will get picked in front of a speedy 5 ft 4in player
I thought I would get on before the usual suspects,you know the ones I mean.The ones who tell us how we should pay wages,how we should,just go ahead and pay £ 4 million for SPFL fodder,like Mc Ginn.The ones who know,how to make multi million £ contracts,the oned who spend their time telling us all Celtic should be run.The fekin idiots who have no clue,how to run s business.Sorry,its up to you who you..
believe.These idiots,or the guy who has put Celtic on the map,as the best run club,in Britain
Howdy folks and hope all’s well . Quiz at 8 pm as usual . PLease join and support . Your participation is appreciated.
Hail Hail
TURKEYBHOY @ 5.10
Posted all their p**h during ‘the window’ vented all their anti Celtic venom, even blamed Celtic
for ‘ the crush ‘
Celtic win, and its all so pointless posting on a Celtic Blog.
No lover of PL,but I know once the hysteria has died down what he has done for us should be looked at in a different context.
I will you this,if I had been CEO,and Bredan came to me,saying”I need £4million for another midfielder,I would have said,like any other fan would have said,Fek off,its a CH we need..We need another midfielder like a hole in the head.Hence we switched to Congertons,jewel in the crown, Mc Kenna..OKto blame PL for all the wrongs,but a few more should be inbthe dock with him.
I genuinely think Ntcham is the best midfielder we have had in many a long year (and I include Lambert, Lennon and Thompson in that). He has the potential to be a huge player for us and for France. I dearly hope we can keep him for more than a couple of seasons!
KTF
Statement on the Pre Match Events…
http://www.celticfc.net/news/14923
Bhoyjoebelfast
Jings, …….. that is a shocker would never ever, have thought of that, wonder what happened that day?. I see it was a full team checking the side on Celtic FC.
Maybe some older CQN’rs will recall that game.
Good job there was no internet in those days.
HH
turkeybhoy
madmax and his mates will be sharpening their fangs.reat
great posts.
I see we now have an independent review of last weeks shambles!
http://www.celticfc.net/news/14923
KTF
Following the events prior to kick-off at the match on Sunday 2 September, the Club has instructed Fairhurst, consultants specialising in sports event safety management, to conduct an independent review to identify the contributory factors to the incident, any issues that require to be addressed and what improvements might be made to prevent a recurrence.
The Club has requested that Fairhurst consider feedback from supporters who attended the match.
Any supporters who attended the match and would like to provide information to Fairhurst, please do so direct to 020918feedback@fairhurst.co.uk .
Any information already provided to the Club will be passed on to Fairhurst.
via celticfc
OLDTIM, hope your feeling better soon.hh.
chairbhoy
sorry
VFR
sorry
Very interesting development
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2018 5:43 PM
No need to apologise; you got along quicker than Plod did on Sunday!
KTF
TIMHORTON
I am ready for these idiots.If they want post their,ill informed pish,I will answer.
One thing about me,I will speak the truth,as I see it.I wont jump on any bandwagons,as so many halfwits like to do .
I have no time for PL or his Board,but common sense tells you they are not soley to blame.If that offendes anyones sensibilities,fek em.
BSR;
Indeed a shocker!6 of the side were European cup winners medal recipients
almost two years later.To the Hun lurker a recipient is someone who..never mind check it for yourself.
AND IF YOU KNOW THE……..
TONTINE TIM, brilliant post as always.hh.
bhoyjoe
Celtic Wiki ; Review
Having won the Cup Final against them, the fates conspired to pit the two teams against each other in the League. Given the selections and changes in the Celtic team the likelihood is that Stein had his eye firmly set on the Glasgow Cup and saw this game as a diversion with nothing to play for. For Dunfermiline no doubt this victory was sweet.
HH
Keiran Tierney switching flanks for his national team is so Danny McGrain.
Funny old blog this.
I post something that would hopefully start a debate about our football team and get one response.
Thats actually more than i usually get.
Ubertim comes on and posts his typical attacks on Celtic supporters.
Followed by others with the same agenda.
Here was silly me thinking it was a blog our football team
COYBIB ;-)
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2018 5:36 PM
Bhoyjoebelfast
Jings, …….. that is a shocker would never ever, have thought of that, wonder what happened that day?. I see it was a full team checking the side on Celtic FC.
Maybe some older CQN’rs will recall that game. Good job there was no internet in those days.
*couple of points here, Dunfermline were a really good side then, if the truth be told better than us that season. They finished 12 points (2 for a win) ahead of us with a 28 GA and were only 1 point behind kilmasoninc and the calvinists who were 1st and 2nd with a superior GA and GD to both.
Our cup win was a bit of a shock to onlookers as 2 weeks earlier we had lost 2-6 at brockville, the same night the Pars gubbed deidco 3-1 at East End Park. 3 days later we were booed off the park, 1 week before the final, losing 1-2 to the Maryhill Magyars.
On the Friday night on the eve of the final the evening Times back page headline was Celtic go with the “G” men, big Tam and Charlie G were in the side replacing the President and the Wee Mhan.
if we hadn’t won the cup that day is not worth thinking about.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2018 6:06 PM
Keiran Tierney switching flanks for his national team is so Danny McGrain.
*and big Tam for Eddie McCreadie
I see Celtic are holding an independent review of thr crush at the Hun game.Not great news for the people trying to lump Celtic into the shambles
BSR @ 5:43 PM,
The more the merrier:)
Hopefully a clear picture and it will ensure no reoccurannce – good positive step by Celtic
Ntcham on for France U21 (1) v Bulgaria U21(0)…
Hail Hail
TURKEYBHOY on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2018 6:32 PM
I see Celtic are holding an independent review of thr crush at the Hun game.Not great news for the people trying to lump Celtic into the shambles.
Good news.
Especially since many of the Celtic fans caught up in the terrifying situation refuted both the police and clubs original statement.
TONTINE TIM, correct me if wrong ,but was eddie mcreadie and billy bremner, both tims that celtic could have signed.hh.
MAHE THE MADMAN on 7TH SEPTEMBER 2018 5:25 PM
Howdy folks and hope all’s well . Quiz at 8 pm as usual . PLease join and support . Your participation is appreciated.
Hail Hail
——————————————————
Here on CQN??
BB @ 2.38
You are so low rent.
If we are a £100mill pa T/O club then we can afford to pay £100K pw to our star / signature player.
If he brings us in £10mill in extra revenue then we can afford it.
In today’s marketplace — KD of circa 79 to 84 would be worth it.
PMcS of circa 87 to 92 would be worth it.
HL of circa 2000 to 2005 would be worth it.
We are or we want to be a big team.
Therefore we need to think like one and behave like one.
We are paying top dollar for our CEO then why shouldn’t we be paying top dollar for our main man if he is an international star.