Match Reports : Dunfermline 2 – 4 Celtic
By: Cham |
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Scottish Cup Fifth Round
Dunfermline 2
Graham 21, Kirk (pen) 28
Celtic 4
Kamara 20, Rasmussen 43,
Callum Woods (o.g.) 59 Keane (pen) 68
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Comment:
First Division Dunfermline, given a second chance at the Scottish Cup Fifth Round, gave Celtic a small handful of trouble for at least a good 30 minutes. At least the 2-2 halftime scoreline may have suggested such. Celtic at times looked to be playing 30 a-side football to deny The Pars any offensive opportunities. This also denied their ownside the opportunity to play any beautiful football.
But I don’t think Tony Mowbray wanted beautiful football Sunday afternoon. His strike force of Georgios Samaras and Morten Rasmussen was a decided contrast to Fortune and starting Robbie Keane, Diomansy Kamara aside. At the same time Samaras had had a relatively poor show of form in front of goal, and Fortune most likely needed a match day’s rest. Perhaps the advent of Robbie Keane was too high, too fast, and he would get his second bit of the cherry, making good of a run, felled in the box, and precise on the spot.
First, thank god Aiden McGeady was given a break, or as much of a break as he got, starting on the sub’s bench and coming on for Kamara in the match’s final third. He was quick, but not precise against Killie in the midweek, and his condition was giving him up to some obvious frustration. He should no doubt be back for Hearts Wednesday.
Second, Dio Kamara’s wonderstrike was well…. a wonderstrike. I wonder how many of those Celtic can hope to witness. He’s strong, he’s got touch, and his head is nice and shiny. What a right foot!
Morten Rasmussen must think he’s the hottest striker in Hoops right now, and perhaps he is. A fortunate goal to tally his second goal in two showings, and, in truth, Calum Woods own-goal was a bumble-bee stocking away from being his Scottish Cup second. Mowbray will wonder if Rasmussen workman-like goals are what he needs, and he may have to saddle Celtic on the Dane’s back.
Paul Caddis earned a start, or slipped in under the cover of Hooiveld and Hinkel’s injury. Either way: I’m confused with Caddo – grand on attack, pushing up on the pitch, grossly fallible in defense against Dunfermline’s spirited attack. I liked Caddis the last two times out, and his offensive minded moves endear me to think he’ll deliver a few assist or even a set-piece header. But Caddis gambling into the midfield is dangerous as Celtic’s true woes are still in the defensive third.
Robbie Keane traversed the bridal threshold and netted his first Celtic goal. He was unlucky or perhaps just a step-off (I don’t think a step slow) not to score against Kilmarnock. Will a penalty against First Division Dunfermline prove enough to get this season’s monkey off his new #7? Great question.
A partnership between Rasmussen and Keane might be worth a thought, but Kamara and hard-working Fortune have done nothing to also have their place in Wednesday league match-up.
But is this to be Celtic’s lot for the rest of the league and Scottish Cup? Too much offensive names and mindedness and still too much worry on the defensive backfoot? Was this match the birth pangs of a potentially silverware-less season?
(God, I hate being negative after a good Cup win.)
Category: Match ReportsOf Bhoys and Men : Own-Goal Gary strikes again
By: Cham | 1 Comment
Former Bhoy Gary Caldwell is back to old tricks as he scored an own-goal for Notts County, much to the Latics own peril and cup demise.
Caldwell then scored an own goal three minutes later to leave the Barclays Premier League side stunned and the Magpies looking forward to a trip to Fulham a week on Sunday.
This coming not too long after scoring his first pro-Wigan goal against Blackburn Rovers:
(Caldwell lead-up and goal can be seen around 4:26 mark)
Blackburn Rovers v Wigan Athletic
Uploaded by brezmexri. – Basketball, baseball, pro wrestling and more sports videos.
[Tip to 101 Great Goals for video; it's what they do]
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GaryCaldwell5 Tweet of the Week:
Like I always say: To score an OG you STILL have to get into the space. You STILL have to beat the keeper. They all count. Caldwell counts.
Category: Of Bhoys and MenLive Blog : Kilmarnock v Celtic
By: Cham | Add Comments
Kilmarnock
Celtic
Rubgy Park, 1930GMT
We’re gonna give this bit another try.
Well, the just “put in Keane and just add water” offense did not spring to fruition. I imagine there will be a Celtic Offside follow-up to this match, but I feel like I need to walk away from this for a tick.
Thank you to those who watched on with me.
Kilmarnock 1
Maguire 53
Celtic 0
Category: CelticIn the Press : “£1.3m risk for the title”
By: Cham | 2 Comments
Jim Traynor typically has a load to say about … well, everything, and he certainly has a decent bit of care to speak on Robbie Keane advent to Parkhead
Keane is 30 in the summer and won’t be part of Mowbray’s evolution of Celtic.
Unlike Morten Rasmussen, Thomas Rogne, Paul Slane, and Ki Sung Yeung, the Republic of Ireland internationalist is not for the future. He is a man for today.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker will be here in the SPL for one half of one season only. No more. But Celtic believe that will be enough to rip the championship from Rangers’ grasp.
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Comment:
This is nothing to do with him being a Celtic fan and neither is it about directors trying to win over their fans. This is no stunt. This is a measure of Celtic’s determination to win the title and claim the wealth to be found in Europe.
The timing of the move would have looked as though the whole thing was stagemanaged for maximum effect, but although Celtic had always cast envious glances towards London and Keane they never believed they could get him. This was a deal which was put together at short notice.
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On the bit about the board, I have already commented and completely agree: these furry of transfer business is a mixture – one part backing Tony Mowbray and his unique vision of football, specifically Celtic Football. He finally at an upper echelon of world football, albeit Scottish football, with an opportunity to move the pieces on the European stage and try out his vision of football against the likes of other great clubs and managers in the best leagues in the world. His vision includes Ki and Zhi, Kamara and Braafheid, Rogne and Jooiveld, N’Guémo and Fortuné.
And the other part is a move to win a league championship, to tear it from the hands of an average but good-enough Rangers Football Club. Robbie Keane has been brought as a supplement to that very real, very important need, but also as a circumventing of the play Gordon Strachan and Middlesbrough were already making for Scott McDonald –
Now, many have criticized McDonald’s abilities and results in front of opposition nets, but he has netted quite an number that, while not placing him at the top of great Celtic strikers, he has certainly played a mighty roll in Strachan’s trophy case. Sadly, he’s been released under the cover of night of injury and recovery, right as the mighty Keane machine was rolling into Prestwick, and he really doesn’t get the thanks from the Celtic supporters who hail him as a good and faithful servant.
The Robbie Keane Move has with it a good bit of stagecraft; a deus ex machina that seems to be great for all parties involved. Celtic Football Club, its board and outspoken supporters want a title, but they also want their heroes, and if following Celtic is about anything, it is about having heroes whose name you can sing, whose kit you can buy and wear with devotion and excitement. Robbie Keane is about bringing back a number of those supporters who may have stepped out for a moment. It’s also getting them back in their seats for the show Tony Mowbray is being paid to show.
Robbie Keane to Celtic is a good thing for Rednapp and Spurs, as they want their out of favor striker back in form, and that is why they are so insistent that this is a temporary loan.
Keane’s success at Celtic Park will no doubt encourage all parties involved. I just hope everyone gets to see what could be some very exciting football that includes him in the mix – to bring back the League and Scottish Cup to Celtic Park.
Category: In the PressMatch Previews : Kilmarnock v Celtic
By: Cham | Add Comments
Kilmarnock
Celtic
Rugby Park
So, the big rumour today is that Kilmarnock and Celtic finally want to make up the late December match. That whole “match in hand” bag.
Celtic’s opposition have had a time this season on their own. On 22 matches played, Killie have only three victories, one better than last place Falkirk. These three wins and the majority of losses are on Jim Jefferies, whom Killie sacked “on mutual consent” that this year’s campaign wasn’t going very well. Well, that and a short-sided mutiny on his hands at the hand of (ex-) club captain Keven Kyle.
Enter Jimmy Calderwood, fresh off his a few months holiday after he left Aberdeen at the end of the 2008-2009 season. Since he’s assumed the helm at Kilmarnock,
Kilmarnock 0 – 3 Motherwell
Aberdeen 1 – Kilmarnock
Hamilton 0 – 0 Kilmarnock
Alright, so only one point on three results, but a most recent and most exciting 4 – 4 draw home against fourth place Dundee United may signal that the wheels are in spin at Rugby Park and that the Killie club are getting behind Calderwood.
Kilmarnock have also acquired Scott Severin (Watford & Hearts), Chris Maguire (Aberdeen), Rob Kiernan (Watford), all available alongside “Bell, Ford, Hay, Fowler, Hamill, Taouil, Bryson, Pascali, Invincibile, Kelly, Kyle, Robinson, Skelton, Flannigan, Old, Owens, Fernandez, and Sammon” (BBC Sport).
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Celtic have yet another opportunity to climb within seven of Rangers today. Robbie Kean and Diomansy Kamara (whose official website is like watching those old joga bonito commercials) could already find their debuts today.
Edson Braafheid, on loan from Bayern Munich, will be unavailable. Paddy McCourt is also out with a knee injury.
Available for Celtic : “Boruc, Hinkel, Thompson, O’Dea, N’Guemo, Caddis, McGinn, Zhi, Ki, Crosas, McGeady, Samaras, Rasmussen, Fortune, Zaluska, Kamara, Hooiveld, McGowan, Keane” (BBC Sport)
In the Press : The Robbie Keane to Celtic
By: Cham | 6 Comments
This is a big one.
With all the hullabaloo that has accompanied Celtic’s January transfer trappings, you (meaning me) kinda wanted to wait this one out, until someone, besides the speculating wunderkind of Scottish newspapers, actually had a grip on this story.
The story in question : Robbie Keane to play out a loan spell at Celtic.
But in this kind of epic/myth/rumour/hype/rubbish story, who do you trust?
Especially since the rumour of Keane to Celtic has been around since 2005. And 2007.
The BBC had the drop on the story early in the day, with a load of soundbites from ‘arry Redknapp himself:
“It’s a good move. He is a Celtic man”
“Robbie needs to play. He’s too good a player not to be starting here regularly. He wants to play all the time.”
“It’s been difficult to guarantee Robbie a starting place at the moment.”
“He’s not a happy man when he’s not playing regularly, but he loves his football; he’s a great trainer, a great man about the place.”
Et cetera. Et cetera.
Thankfully Celtic have themselves confirmed the last minute transfer:
ROBBIE Keane has signed for Celtic. In a sensational transfer coup the club has captured the Republic of Ireland skipper and he joins the Hoops from Tottenham Hotspur on loan until the end of the season.
The 29-year-old striker fulfils a dream in signing for his boyhood heroes and becomes the EIGHTH signing the club has made in the January transfer window.
Keane flew to Glasgow tonight (Monday) to complete the whirlwind signing and Celtic’s bold move has grabbed headlines throughout the football world.
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Comment:
Maybe I’m concerned about Keane’s first team-ness. He subbed in for Jermain Defoe in Spurs 1-1 away draw at Birmingham last Saturday, just as he did for Defoe in a 2-nil home win over Fulham. Now, this probably speaks more to Jermain uncanny goal-scoring ability this season. Keane was of course back to White Hart Lane after an ineffective Liverpool stint.
Don’t get me wrong; this is huge news, and will no doubt be a large part of the talk as the Celtic turn around and look at all the new faces in and old faces out:
Robbie Keane in; Scott McDonald out; Diomansy Kamara in; Barry Robson out; Edson Braafheid in; Darren O’Dea back; Gary Caldwell out; Paul Slane in; Willo Flood out… And that’s not the entirety of the January transfers, but it’s enough to make one’s head spin.
No doubt the Celtic board do not want the same stick from Celtic supporters that accompanied them and Gordon Strachan last January. If Celtic don’t make an encouraging run at the title this time around, it won’t be because the board didn’t sign checks. And all this bit of business will heap a number of more stone pressure on Tony Mowbray. Let’s see what he can do.
The obvious questions remains: is all this excitement too late for a genuine title run-out? I don’t know, but it’s getting very exciting.
Category: In the PressMatch Reports : Hamilton 0 – 1 Celtic
By: Cham | 1 Comment
Hamilton Academical 0
Celtic 1
Rasmussen 67
After a gutting home loss to Hibs on the week and a last gasp of chops and changes via the closing January transfer window, Celtic were able to put all this and a scrappy Hamilton side.
But it wasn’t for lack of trying here.
The Celtic starting eleven was close to the same crew that started against Hibs in the mid-week.
Artur Boruc was trying to shake off the dreadful show of events put in against Hibernian. The defense started Andreas Hinkel, new Bhoy Jos Hooiveld in front of Paul Caddis, young bhoy Josh Thompson, and el capitan Darren O’Dea. Landry N’Guemo was back after finishing up his international tour of duty with Cameroon, who lost in the quarterfinals to Egypt. Both David Ki and Zheng Zhi started in midfield, along with Aiden McGeady (Both Marc Crosas and Niall McGinn would find their place of the subs bench, along Paddy McCourt, new signing Morten Rasmussen, and Paul McGowan) Up front against teams the strike force of Georgios Samaras and Marc-Antoine Fortuné. Fortuné scored the lone goal for Celtic Wednesday, as Samaras is no doubt still ruing his many chances last day out.
The first half was uninspiring and unconvincing. Celtic couldn’t pass with much consistency and fluidity, and Hamilton looked near happy to play the home tie out to a nil-nil draw, which would give them a point over Killie, who are currently hosting a some-what revitalised Dundee United, and Falkirk, who travel to Ibrox like lambs to the proverbial slaughter. Yes, a drawn point for Hamilton against a Celtic team lacking in self-actualization and identity would be just fine. Celtic were only award maybe two corners, and, aside from a flashes of offense from Aiden McGeady, the first half was quite forgettable, and half a point to Hamilton for their efforts.
Cue the second half. After a few more half chances, Tony Mowbray decided to give new signing Morten Rasmussen (are we still calling him “Duncan”?) a run, replacing Georgios Samaras, and Niall McGinn in for Zhi.
Now, much has been made about what type of striker Rasmussen is: a penalty box scorer, an ugly goal scorer, and scrappy goal scorer. Whatever.
And yes, whatever kind of goal-scorer Morten Rasmussen is, it’s the kind of goal Morten Rasmussen scored. The ball was played in by Fortune to Ki, who attracted two Accies defenders, and either a) laid the ball off to Rasmussen just as crowded in the box, or b) was dispossessed and the ball fell right to the feet of the Dane. Either way, Duncan turned and drug his foot about the ball and past Tomas Cerny, who had put in a solid effort. Was the goal worth the £1 (or whatever Celtic paid)?
Would this be enough to seal the tie and the three points?
Well, thank goodness it was enough, for right at the end of fulltime, Fortuné was awarded a spot-kick after being brought down just inside the Hamilton box by Mark McLaughlin, who is indeed a large man. Fortuné sized up the kicked, but tipped Cerny left, who saved the strike, denying MAF his fourth goal in three matches.
It was not to be, and Fortuné will be kicking himself for not having another goal to his name, but the points tallied in, now back to trailing Rangers by seven back to ten.
Category: Match ReportsIn the Press : Rangers Honour 1930s Striker Sam English
By: Cham | 7 Comments
A bit of press, or more so the by-line, from The Daily Record the caught my eye in a nasty way today:
Rangers legend involved in death of Celtic goalie to be honoured by club
Are Rangers honouring Sam English because his play on the pitch resulted in the death of a rival keeper?
No.
The article itself goes on to tell the story of Rangers’ Sam English and Celtic’s John Thomson:
Striker Sam English quit football at 28, just a few years after his tackle led to the death of John Thomson in 1931.
An official probe found the Ulsterman’s knee hit the onrushing Thomson’s head and cleared him of any blame. Despite this, he was taunted by opposing fans and released from Ibrox within a year.
Devastated English never recaptured his early form and retired from the game in 1938. He died in 1967.
He still holds the record as Rangers’ leading league goalscorer in a season, with 44 goals in 35 games.
For those of you all who haven’t seen the footage of the collision, you can find it here at the 4:20 mark (I won’t post it on the blog proper, as it might prove a bit graphic for some when they a sporting collision result in serious injury or, in this case, accidental death). Those who have seen the footage will note that there appears to be no malice or no ill-will, but a hard challenge by both parties, and it was John Thompson who fell victim to the intensity of the game. As well from the clip you can see Sam English, along with a Celtic player, signal for a medic to come onto the pitch immediately, for he knew the collision was of immense gravity.
John Thompson lost his life that day, not able to continue playing for Celtic or for Scotland, for whom he had four caps. He was immediately hailed by supporters, his grave-sight a place of near saint-like veneration, and a beautiful song was written to commemorate his sacrifice to Celtic Football Club.
Sam English would leave the game at the age of 28, the time when most players, especially in that day and age, are just at the pinnacle. Obviously his job was to score goals for his own club, and it’s a nice token that Rangers are honouring him, most likely for what he could have been, than what he did that dark day 1931.
I simply hope The Daily Record would err on the side of caution when it produces its headlines; The Old Firm needn’t any incendiaries to propel their already antagonist relationship.
Of Bhoys and Men : Marc-Antoine Fortuné brilliant equalizer
By: Cham | Add Comments
Down a goal in the 63rd minute, Marc-Antoine Fortuné, instead of laying it off to Georgios Samaras (who may have been offside) decided to take a lash at the ball. An absolute cracker, leveling the match at one goal a side. This wonder goal would be his first of two on the day.
A clip of the build-up and goal from a live broadcast of match:
A clip of the Sky Sports post-match analysis, with a few nice angles of the strike:
[Both found over at 101 Great Goals]
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My post-match comments can be found here.
Category: Of Bhoys and MenMatch Reports : St. Johnstone 1 – 4 Celtic
By: Cham | Add Comments
My in-match commentary can be found here. It was my first time even trying a live-blog of a match, and, while I need to hone how I do it, it was a load of fun. I will certainly try this again.
On with the post-match to-do.
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Having St. Johnstone as a fixture whilst so many Hoops were out – injured or in Africa – bought second place Celtic some time and 3 deserved points, gaining a whiff of ground on front-runners Rangers, who drew 1-1 with ten-man Hearts. ‘Gers now lead by seven points, and United now tail by four with the Hibees one more back.
This match tells me a few things about Celtic, or more so, Tony Mowbray. He has the tactics to beat any club in Scotland. His side was without ten first teamers, but he still played a full-pitch brand of play, wide and wider, that showered the opposing goal with chance after chance after chance.
Now, what the Celtic players did with those chances is a whole ‘nother story.
Not once did I think Celtic wouldn’t equalize and then go ahead, even with the number of squandered opportunities at the beginning of the second half. Call it courageous; call it Celtic arrogance, but the offensive threats were there by the bucket- and then boat-load. The Celts were just not poised to net those few first times. But, after a good many attacks, the dike was broken and the heart of defense – already exposed – imploded at McDiarmid Park. Even St. Johnstone keeper Graeme Smith (acquired from Rangers), who had a game to remember, couldn’t keep out four of Celtic’s clear opportunities.
Celtic’s initial defense were poor, yet again, and Liam Craig’s penalty issued the consequence. Glenn Loovens was not on his game, and even a scrap St. Johnstone’s can find opportunity against that. Josh Thompson, in for injured Stephen McManus, had a slow first step, but found his footing as a clearance man. In fact, one of those clearances put forward McGinn on for one of his best runs of the afternoon, perhaps by chance, but it was a nice heads-up thought.
For those who criticize the gaffer for signing new defenders, they need not look any further than this game and the most recent Falkirk game to find their retort.
Zheng Zhi’s early first half shot never fully crossed the goal line and the officials got this one correct. The ball was uncared for in the box and the astute Chinese international cracked it in, but was cleared off the line to St. Johnstone’s credit and luck. And aside from one other first half shot on goal, that was all she wrote. And then he disappeared. His second half replacement Paul McGowan didn’t muster too much else in his stead. Not a bad game for Zhi, and he will be disappointed to no fault of his own not getting his first Celtic goal.
Niall McGinn. Loads of quickness and technique, not unlike McGeady; he’s just not as savvy, not as apt to incorporate the rest of his peers in on the play. I think he could have picked Samaras or Fortune out once or twice in the first half to level, but he didn’t seem to look up until the blue shirts were already in the box.
Paddy McCourt had the most-choice occupation today: Come out against a ten-man side who are already huffing and puffing, show your show, and we’ll even give you a goal for your efforts. I’m not sure how effective he’ll be against a Hibs or a United, who probably have a few bigger boys and a bit more fitness, but “cult hero” McCourt is a proper injection to a side that needed more offense, hence a quality Mowbraw sub in for Andreas Hinkel, who played fine, but was unneeded most of the match.
A fair game, too, for Artur Boruc, who answered the call when he was rarely needed. Again, the penalty was on Loovens; it would have been a bonus had Boruc saved Craig’s spot strike, but the penalty was taken well, and there was little for the Pole Between the Poles (that’s mine) to do.
In truth, part of me is glad St. Johnstone scored early; it provided Celtic with a clear demand on the day, one that they responded to well. At the same time, Boruc did nothing wrong to not deserve the clean sheet (triple negative?).
If I were in to the whole player rating system thing, then on a scale of 1-10, Marc-Antoine Fortuné is/was a 7.5 for me. His first goal was, again, a wonder strike, akin to his brilliant goal and match winner against Motherwell. He won’t have a super goal every outing, but he may have one every five outings. I like him in the starting eleven. His second goal was dues owed to him for being in the right place at the right time all day. He (or Mowbray) say he’s a goal-maker and not a goal-scorer, but he’s making himself available to score, despite what many of his critics banter.
It was unnerving that Gergios Samaras couldn’t find the net more than once today, and had the score read 1-1 draw, I may be inclined to put must of its responsibility on him. At the same time, he was good to find the net, and often it’s luck who giveth and who taketh away.
Finally, I thought it was spot on to move Aiden McGeady over to the right side, McCourt on the left, and move McGinn on the back right. McGinn had had his run of the game on the St. Johnstone right defense, he just couldn’t make anything count. Enter McGeady to that side, and the offense of Fortune and Samaras, already hinting to the left were free to make themselves available. In the first half, it was as life the left side was completely over-loaded with potential, but the right was what needed the push. McGeady is still not finishing which is a concern to many, if not every Celtic supporter, who hold him as good, but not yet hero. And if Mowbray is able to hang on to McGeady for the final days of the transfer market, the manager will need to find the golden formula that gets McGeady to score goals. Otherwise, McGeady’s tenure at Parkhead will be much wasted, instead of hailing him as a great for these number of years.
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Even against a decimated (decem, Latin for “ten” – this is too easy) Celtic, St. Johnstone were ill-equipped to handle the Hoops offensive onslaught, which makes the Falkirk draw that much more of a tragedy.
But today, three points is three points, and Tony Mowbray will be happy that his side put in a stellar second half to overcome the deficit the first proposed.
Celtic have little time to celebrate the win; the Hibs come to Celtic Park Wednesday afternoon, fresh off their 5-1 mauling of the Accies yesterday. We will have to see if this same side, minus a stitched up Loovens I imagine, will be able to have their same way against the Green side of Edinburgh.
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St. Johnstone 1
Craig (pen.) 12
Celtic 4
Fortune 64, 81
Samaras 77
McCourt 86
Category: Match Reports
Tags: Aiden McGeady, Artur Boruc, Celtic, Falkirk, Georgios Samaras, Glenn Loovens, Graeme Smith, Hamiliton Academical, Hamilton, Hearts, Hibernian, Liam Craig, Marc Antoine Fortune, Match Reports, Motherwell, Niall McGinn, Paddy McCourt, Paul McGowan, Rangers, Scottish Premier League, SPL, St. Johnstone, Tony Mowbray, Zheng Zhi
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