The Offical Glasgow Celtic thread

[the colonel]

Was at the game today. Lucky to get the win in the end but could have had it wrapped up at half time. Seem to constantly stand off players when we are defending. Not enough pressure put on the hibs players by Brown and N'Guemo.Fortune is like jekyll and hide. One minute he's holding play up well, linking well and done well for all three goals then sometime he seems useless. McGeady was a lot better today as was Thompson (not seen replays of the pen).Rasmussen done well when he came on and should have been on earlier. Not a while fan of McGinn. A lot improving to do.

[lynchbhoy]

cannot understand how Rasmussen is not starting every week. He has looked like the best goal threat Celtic have since he has arrived. Fortune only useful when against teams that are trying to attack and leaving space for him to run - that doesnt happen in spl with 10 men behind the ball v Celtic !
Hopefully Hoiveld, rogne or Loovens are fit - O'dea could be out for a while after going off inj today.
Then again it prob doesnt really matter now -  but these players should be playing for their places in next seasons squad.

[the colonel]

I think rogne and loovens were back in training this week so one of those 2 should come in. I'd let Thompson finish out the season. The experience will be great for him. With loovens, o'dea, rogne and big joos I'd prob let him go on loan for a season to get him as many games as possible.

[GalwayBayBoy]

Great to see Robbie so happy to be scoring for Celtic.

[tyroneStatto]

cannot understand how Rasmussen is not starting every week. He has looked like the best goal threat Celtic have since he has arrived.

agree with this. beggars belief why he hasnt got more game time.

[Hound]

Neil Lennon on RTE news yesterday and in the business section of the Irish Times today.

Lennon was a director of a company called Rocket Developments that was planning to build houses  in Louth. Lennon gave a personal guarantee of €3m in relation to loans from Bank of Ireland to Rocket.

Rocket has defaulted on its loan obligations, so BoI are looking for the money from Lennon. Only problem is they have lost the guarantee! However, they say they can still prove that he signed such guarantee.

Hearing will take place on May 12th.

Elsewhere Billy Davies of Nottm For tipped to be next Celtic manager, Robbie Keane wins fans player of the year and Aiden McGeady wins players player of the year.

[Gaoth Dobhair Abu]

Jimenez keen on Celtic appointment
Tuesday 20th April 2010 8:22


Jimenez: Keen on Bhoys hotseat .
Former Sevilla boss Manolo Jimenez has admitted he would "love" to manage Celtic after revealing several links to Scotland.

The 46-year-old, who masterminded two Champions League victories over Rangers this season, has been out of work since being sacked last month.

He told the Scottish Sun: "I'd love to coach Celtic because they are the Real Madrid or Barcelona of Scotland with the biggest support.

"I was manager of the Sevilla B team when Celtic fans invaded Seville for the UEFA Cup final against Porto. Seville welcomed the Celtic fans and they will always be remembered.

"Jock Wallace was my manager at Sevilla when I played there alongside Ted McMinn. And, of course, I was manager of Sevilla when we beat Rangers in the Champions League.

"I've also been learning English for the last three months - an hour a day - and my teacher is actually a Scottish man called Ally.

"It's funny how I've a few Scottish connections. Maybe God is telling me I will be the next Celtic manager, which is something I would love."

He added: "When I was a player for Sevilla, we came to Scotland for pre-season and Jock Wallace and Ted McMinn took us to an Old Firm game.

"I remember the game having an electrifying atmosphere, it was an amazing experience. I would love to have that kind of experience as coach of Celtic."

Former Spain international Jimenez took charge of Sevilla in 2007, leading them to fifth and third in the Primera Liga, and the last 16 of the Champions League in 2008 as well as this season.

[Doogie Browser]

Keano gets the Celtic POTY award, not much competition in fairness.

[Club Rossa]

No competition at all,in fairness to Keane he has done well but it's a sorry sign when a player that has only been there a few months can win a player of the year award.

[the colonel]

From Celtic site. Strange that both clubs went for this but good to see. No surprise on who got the goal!!

MORTEN RASMUSSEN grabbed the only goal of the game as a Celtic XI took the spoils against Rangers in a closed-doors match at Murray Park today (Wednesday).

The Danish striker followed up his late winner over Hibernian on Saturday by netting from close range on the hour mark, giving the Hoops a victory which they more than deserved after playing some scintillating football that merited more than a 1-0 victory.

Both teams contained a number of first-team players, but Danny McGrain and Willie McStay's side took control straight from the kick-off.

They should have been presented with a golden chance to take the lead inside the first minute when Paddy McCourt skipped past Kirk Broadfoot and was caught by the big defender inside the box. But the referee waved away the strong penalty appeals.

Later in the half, a Rangers player handled the ball on the line, but, again, no spot-kick was given.

With Mark Millar and Ki Sung Yueng dictating play from the middle of the park, the chances continued to flow for the Hoops and eventually the pressure told on the hour mark.

Good set-up play by Edson Braafheid and the tireless Paul McGowan allowed Rasmussen to pounce inside the box and he made no mistake.

McStay said: "I think the performance was the most pleasing aspect. Right from the kick-off, they had areal positive attitude about them. They played aggressively, but played good football as well.

"Right in the first minute we had a penalty kick denied when Paddy McCourt sidestepped Broadfoot, who brought him down. And you could hear, never mind see the clatter. From that moment, it was just positive play. We passed, we probed and took the game to Rangers and created a few half-chances.

"Lenny was at the game with Johan and they came over they and were delighted with the attitude, application and quality from everyone.

"We can only talk highly of our players and their attitude to go there and perform. The 1-0 victory was nice, but for Danny and I - and Neil as well I am sure – the most pleasing thing was the application and the way we played the game."

McGrain added: "We had so much control of the game. I don't think we had one star player. You could go through the whole team and they all did well.

"The players will take confidence from the game, and the fact we won was great, but the main part of the exercise was to get all these guys a game for 90 minutes to get them match fit for Lenny, so when they do play they have that game-time under their belt."

Thomas Rogne and Glenn Loovens also started the match as they continued their comeback from injury. The Norwegian lasted an hour and the Dutch internationalist stayed on until half-time.

"It was great to get Rogne and Loovens back in the heart of defence," said McStay. "They were up against Nacho Novo and Andy Little, so they were up against a bit of experience as well and they coped well with that threat.

"They were never going to play the full game, so for them to get through unscathed was great."

McStay, who has now been back at Lennoxtown for 10 days, has been enjoying working again with McGrain on the development squad and is looking forward to teaming up over the remaining weeks of the campaign.

"Since I have been back, I have been delighted to be working together with Danny, training and taking the team and that's how we will be working towards the end of the season." he said.

CELTIC (4-4-2) Cervi; Caddis, Rogne (Young 60), Loovens (Tolmie 45) Braafheid; Zhi, Ki, Millar, McCourt (Johnston 75); McGowan, Rasmussen

[Main Street]

Mirror Exclusive
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Managerial-moves-Billy-Davies-ready-to-quit-Nottingham-Forest-for-Celtic-article401685.html

Davies ready to quit Forest for Celtic - Exclusive

'Billy Davies is ready to quit Nottingham Forest for Celtic if the Midlands club fail in the Championship play-offs.
But the fiery Scot is very unhappy with the buying policy at Forest, where all purchases have to be approved by 'transfer acquisition committee'.
And former Preston and Derby boss Davies, 45, is ready to walk out of the club for Celtic in the summer if Forest do not reach the Premier League.
Davies, who will hold talks at the end of the season with his Forest bosses, is also furious with what he claims is a lack of backing and remains frustrated they did not support him after his clash with Derby boss Nigel Clough earlier in the season.'

Billy is actually quoted as saying

"There will be no conversation until after the play-offs, where we are obviously three games away from the Premier League.
"But I will assess the conduct of people this season and assess what we've done and what other people have done.
"I'm not considering my future, I am reviewing and assessing what has taken place to move this club forward and to get better. It's absolutely crucial that we assess what's happened and look to the future.
"I made a number of changes last summer after escaping relegation and I will do the same again, whatever happens in the play-offs.
"I will talk about the rights and wrongs. I will review exactly what has taken place and what the future holds.'

[Main Street]

Congratulations to Rang....  shot rings out ..... aargh.

[ONeill]

Well done Rangers. Great achievement with a shite team

[Club Rossa]

Disappointed to see Rogne having to go off yesterday,looks like a really good player.5 league wins in a row now for Lennon,though i feel the Ross County defeat will scupper his chances of getting the job on a permanent basis.

[lynchbhoy]

Disappointed to see Rogne having to go off yesterday,looks like a really good player.5 league wins in a row now for Lennon,though i feel the Ross County defeat will scupper his chances of getting the job on a permanent basis.

yes I think Rogne's brief but impressive performance (as good a perf as his last game - which also ended in inj)  shows that it was correct in geting rid of the centre halves that couldnt defend.
A dundee utd attack that has been on fire in recent weeks were dealt with very well.
Dundee utd started off well as the Celtic defence had three changes from their last day out and were not at the races straight off, however after the initial two attacks down the wings, dundee utd were reduced to having no joy until both Celtic centre halves were off the pitch but then that fizzled out when the arabs were reduced to 10 men.

While Celtic looked decent from about 35 minutes onwards, you have to say that apart from showing the support that there are good centre halves at the club (with one more to come back from inj) - Lennon took a huge gamble in playing two half injured men. Did it pay off?
I suppose it did looking at the result, but this gamble could cause them longer term inj.
Also in changing 3 men out of the back four and inviting dunde utd to capitalise on their rustiness in the first ten minutes where a goal conceded would have been a disaster - shows Lennon maybe has a lot to learn tactically and in man management.

billy davies wont take the celtic job - he's not near good enough - hes a huge rangers fan anyhow !