Loading ...Robbie, Like Having A Henrik!
By · CommentsGreat To Bring On The ‘Real Deal’…
Not since we’ve had Henrik can I honestly say that we have had ‘real’ quality coming off the bench.
Now I know Robbie Keane isn’t the same kind of player as the King of Kings but he does have that WOW affect.
When you watch his movement and his ability in the final third you can see why we’re paying so much for the guy. His presence can only be good for all the players around him, especially Morten Rasmussen.
The big Dane likes to be in and around the six yard box, exactly where we need him. And if he picks up how Robbie moves and works, then short term and long term the club and player will benefit.
Getting on the score sheet for both players will do their confidence the world of good. All that’s needed if a run of games together, something Tony must do if both players are fit.
(Is this the start of something special?)
Robbie Salutes The Faithful!
Hoops Make Hard Work Of Pars!
By · CommentsKeane Penalty Seals 4-2 Victory…
Robbie Keane came off the Celtic bench to stick away a penalty in the 68th minute and put the Hoops through to the next round of the Scottish Cup.
But it was a real harem-scarem performance from the Bhoys.
Mogga made seven changes from the Killie game with Caddis, Braafheid, Thompson, Crosas, Samaras and Rasmussen all starting.
And it took the Bhoys only 20 minutes to take the lead with Diomansky Kamara shooting home from the left.
Anyone thinking that would signal a Celtic goalfest was sadly mistaken. Only 73 second later the Pars were level. Thompson left for dead out on the right before Graham slotted past the Holy Goalie.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Dunfermline went 2-1 in front when Charlie Richmond awarded them a soft penalty after Paul Caddis appeared to ‘push’ Graham at the back post.
That seemed to shake the Hoops back into life.
Morten Rasmussen, in from the start, grabbed a much needed equaliser after the Pars keeper blocked his first shot.
2-2 at half-time was certainly a coupon-buster but more importantly for Celtic it highlighted our defensive deficiencies.
Mogga threw on Robbie Keane for Marc Crosas as Celtic began to take control of the game. Keane had a great chance to put the Bhoys ahead but hit the keeper’s legs.
But Celtic weren’t to wait too long before restoring the lead. In 59 minutes Calum Woods was forced to put the ball through his own net after pressure from Rasmussen just two yards from goal.
Less than ten minutes later the tie was all but over when Robbie converted his spot kick after he was bundled to the ground in the home side’s box.
So, Celtic progress, but not without some scary moments.
Pluses and there are few, must be Edson Braafheid’s debut and Morten Rasmussen’s penalty box threat. Other than that……..
(Oh aye, three of Tony’s new Bhoys getting on the score sheet)
Click here to see Robbie’s goal
Dunfermline’s Part In Celtic History….
By · CommentsPars Influence On the Hoops!
Whether or not they are aware of it, Dunfermline Athletic have had a major part to play in Celtic’s history over the last forty plus years.
Starting with Jock Stein, the big man turned the Fife side from also-rans into a team that won the Scottish Cup, defeating Celtic 2-0, and then capable of competing in Europe.
This was before Stein returned to Paradise.
It has been said that Celtic’s 3-2 victory over the Pars on 24th April 1965 was the catalyst for the nine years of solid success that was to follow. You can see how much it meant to the players in the picture below. (particularly our very own JF)!
It was almost twenty years later that the two sides met on Cup Final duty. In the bright sunshine of Hampden we were to witness Henrik Larsson’s last two Scottish Cup Final goals in a 3-1 win for the Bhoys.
Our next meeting of note was at East End Park on the 19th February 2006 when Maciej Zurawski netted FOUR goals is an 8-1 romp. However his stunning display was over shadowed by a ‘JFK’ moment.
That was how captain Neil Lennon described his goal. You just had to be there!
Only a month later the teams faced each other again. Little did we know that we’d meet each other so soon as the Hoops faced the Fife men in the 2008 CIS Cup Final. The match was known as the ‘Jimmy Johnstone Cup Final’, as a mark of respect for Celtic’s greatest ever player who died the previous week. (Every Celtic player wore the famous number seven)
Fittingly, the Bhoys ran out 3-0 winners, with Roy Keane immense in playing his last competitive match for Celtic.
Only a year later Celtic scrapped a 1-0 win over the Pars thanks to Jean Joel Perrier Doumbe. The Cameroon full back scoring with only five minutes remaining of an uninspiring Scottish Cup Final.
And so it’s on to tomorrow.
Can Dunfermline play a part in kick starting Celtic’s present under Tony Mowbray? If the past is anything to go by, we’ll be on our way…..
Celtic 3 Dunfermline 2 1965
Oh, bye the way, the Pars have dumped the Huns out the Scottish Cup on a couple of occasions, just to cheer us up!
What’s Tony’s Best Eleven?
By · CommentsNow’s The Time For Consistency And Continuity
We all know that since Tony Mowbray took the Celtic job the starting eleven one week has bore absolutely no resemblance to the one the following week.
That has been mostly down to Mogga giving everyone a chance to stake a claim in the team and occasionally, because of injury.
Obviously injuries and suspensions will still crop up but now is the time for Tony to look at the players he has at his disposal and decide what his best eleven is.
Then try and field that team as often as possible.
Now that we’re into February the revolving door at Celtic Park has finally slammed shut. What we have now should be a better, stronger and more capable squad of players to take us to the end of the season.
Although it may be a tall order, but not impossible, the SPL is still up for grabs* and we have to make our mark on teh Scottish Cup. Winning the cup in the Hampden sunshine is a great way to end the season.
So, what is Tony’s best eleven?
Here’s my guess: (4-4-2)
Boruc, Hinkel, Hooiveld, O’Dea and Braafheid; Maloney, N’Guemo, Brown, McGeady; Keane, Fortune.
Subs: Zaluksa, Thompson, Ki, McGinn, Crosas, Rasmussen, Kamara
What do you think?
*When the Huns go into administration will they be deducted ten points?
Scott Brown Now Celtic Captain!
By · CommentsTony Appoints Broonie Until End Of Season
Unless my hearing is going, it was announced yesterday on Radio Clyde* that manager Tony Mowbray has appointed midfielder Scott Brown captain until the end of the season.
Surprisingly, none of the usual news sources have reported this.
Of course this is what we need, so that could mean good news, in which case the media have no real interest in reporting that.
They would much rather concentrate of getting Mogga his books.
Now that he’s here for the rest of the season, I hope we see the Scott Brown that was so influential for Hibs before he came west to Celtic Park.
Not the second touch is a tackle Broonie that we’ve witnessed until now. God knows we need some drive in the middle of the park.
Oh aye, he scored against Drogheda United last night, so we live in hope….
*Tony has since denied this, WTF