Pre season Live Blog

By: Matt | July 18th, 2008

Well, it is the first live action of the new season, so expect a rusty effort from the Bhoys against Southampton FC. I figured I’d get the cob-webs out and do a wee live blog, but the Bhoys might not be the only ones rusty today. Viewing the premier of “The Dark Knight” last night until 3 AM and work at 9 makes me a bit tired, so if the insights might not be the best and the jokes not the funniest, but we’ll see. It does mean that friendly voice Tim Park is back “commentating” on the matches. Check back closer to game time (245 Eastern Standard Time), where I’m sure some jokes about shit haircuts will be made. See you then!

Pre-Game: -Apparently Strachan cut McDonald when he they were both at Southampton, but that’s all of the story I saw as the feckin’ stream is “buffering”. I picture the conversation that Ginger Baws and Skippy had last off season going as follows:
WGS: Aye Scott, we’re really interested in bringing you to Celtic.
Skippy: G’day Gordon, aren’t you the cunt who cut me at Southampton?
WGS: Aye, here’s a big fuckin’ bag a money, get the feckin’ ball in the net!
Skippy: Let’s put another shrimp on the barbey!

-Strachan in a suit and tie for the match? What’s the occasion, Strachan?
-Ian Crocker and Paul Lambert calling the game tonight
-Line Ups
Brown
Hinkel Caldwell McManus Naylor
Robson Hartley Brown McGeady
Killen McDonald

Southampton rocking out to Crocodile Rock?

Game:
-Here come the teams. Celtic in the new “Gold” away kits (If that’s gold then school buses are made of precious metal). Southampton in their traditional candy striped kits.
-McManus and McDonald will have new numbers this year. McDonald will take the legendary #7 and McManus will take Adam Virgo’s #4.
-And….there’s the Huddle! Celtic to kick off…and the road to 4 in a row starts!
-2′-I’ve grown like the yellow tops, but more importantly I LOVE the green shorts with yellow numbers. Looks really smart.
-Reports are about 3,000 Celtic fans and they are being heard now.
-5′-Skippy tackling in the middle starts a mini-break, Killen takes it up the middle and shoots. Has the finishing touch of Sebo and it’s into the stand. Not sure why Killen is in would rather see Hutchinson as Killen will really never be more than a reserve. Not really sure why we bought him, as he’d get first time at a smaller SPL club but not get much time here.
-7′-Celtic continue to attack as a great tackle by a Southampton defender stops a open shot for Hartley. Southampton counter and Paul Hartley plays shit defense and a corner is forced.
-11′-A bit of footskill magic from the “Southampton guy” (Tim Park’s term, lolz!) and blasts a shot that just misses. Southampton continue on the attack but Hinkel washes it. I think Hinkel’s addition to the squad in the CL will be massive. I’d much rather give Caddis or Doumbe playing time over Naylor (who is rumored to be shipped to Sunderland, but you know what they say about rumors…) and I think Hinkel is world fucking class.
14′-Good cross by Southampton by Caldwell clears for a corner. Rumors of a “Slim Shady” hair color on Caldwell seem to be just rumors but he has gone for a more shaved head look.
-19′-Skippy makes a chance himself, skies the ball and knocks the keeper down trying to win a header. Fields of Athenry easily heard in the ground.
-21′-ARGH! FUCKIN’ Killen has a 1v1 on the goalie and hits it right at the fucking keeper. Killen now has the nickname “FIFA”, as he hits the ball at the keeper every time. While thinking of funny jokes, Killen has another opportunity, this time shooting the ball 3″ to the left and the keeper makes a decent save.
-22′-Marc Brown shows why he is a back up keeper when almost giving up a juicy rebound to Southampton but corals it.
-26′-McGeady fouled just behind the halfway line. The game has been physical for a friendly. McGeady saves it from touch and plays a beautiful ball to Skippy who plays a nice one touch pass to Killen who SCORES! GOAL KILLEN! Chris Killen realizes that the goal is bigger than the goalie’s body. 1-0 Celtic!
-29′-McGeady with some fancy footwork and earns a corner. McGeady the 30′ MOTM so far…
-31′-Barry Robson continues to be the Robo cop. Winning tackles in the midfield and starting breaks. I was not a huge fan of his purchase by Celtic, but he is easily becoming one of my favorite players, enough to want a yellow Robson jersey (hint hint my birthday is in September). Of course as soon as I write this Robo skies a chance over the bar.
-34′-The ref really letting play go. Honestly, I’d like him to blow the whistle more as both sides are being physical, but I doubt either really wants any players hurt because of it in a friendly.
-37′-Robson with a great ball that meets 5′11″ Skippy’s head that goes just over the bar. McGeady and Robo vying for MOTM so far…
-40′-Celtic controlling the game now. McGeady with a beauty of the through ball to McDonald who fires a shot. Southampton keeper makes a beauty of a save but sends it back to McDonald’s head who puts it back on goal and forces another great save. Without the Southampton keeper, it’d be Celtic with at least 3 goals.
-45′-Southampton with a decent chance that is blocked for a corner. Resulting corner has the ball bounce in the box like a pinball until it meets Southampton boots who “FIFA” it right to Marc Brown.
-Halftime: Celtic go into the locker rooms up 1-0. McGeady, Robo, and Skippy have been good so far and the usually maligned defense really committed no gaffs. Lots of scoring chances and some really good keeping have kept it only to one goal for Celtic. I am off to shower during halftime to get ready for the Cleveland Irish Festival tonight (WOO HOO!) If I do not return, I probably fell asleep in the shower and probably drowned. It was nice knowing all of you.
-Back and teams are just coming on. Five changes made in the Celtic squad. Samaras, Donati, O’Dea, Wilson, and Sheridan who’s name I didn’t hear or recognize for McDonald, Killen, Brown, Caldwell, and Naylor. The second half kicks off!
-50′-Celtic on the attack still. It’s always 5 o’clock with Paul Hartley and his beard. Massimo Donati still with the bleached blond hair, apparently not remembering his crimes from last season…Joke of the day from the tictalk chatroom “Walter Smith is there scouting Bobo.” L-O-L.
-54′-Donati intercepts the ball and starts a break to Sheridan. Literally, Donati’s hair matches the kits. Ow.
-60′-Back and forth action, nothing of real consequence. Donati can’t settle a ball it seems and leads to a Southampton break, which leads to a corner.
-62′-Pretty ball for Southampton and a decent cross but Marc Brown on it like a guido on a heineken. Koki Mizuno comes in for Aiden McGeady. This is Mizuno’s first game with the first team.
-66′-So apparently some Southampton supporter has bought a spot to play in this testimonial match for Southampton. Pretty cool and stupid idea, but if you’ve got the cash, why not?
-67′-Celtic give up the fourth corner in a row, but clear and Samaras on the break, does his defender twice and on goal. Defender seems to have a clean tackle in the box but the ref calls for a penalty. Barry Robson takes the penalty and blasts it high left and in the net! GOAL! 2-0 to Celtic on a good penalty by Barry Robson. After the goal, the supporter who bought a spot is subbed on. To say he is a bit out of shape is being unfair to out of shape people. Oxygen masks and doughnuts are available on the side for him. Glad to see this is a “competitive match”…
-71′-Barry Robson, possible MOTM, is subbed off for the newest member of The New Kids on the Block, Paul Caddis. Caddis feeling left out, is also sporting a horrid haircut.
-75′-Koki Mizuno with a good wee run on the right and then a beautiful pass to Samaras who fires a low shot but a decent save by the keeper keeps it out. All those in reader land, anyone know anything about the Southampton keeper? He’s impressed me today. Matt LeTissier is coming on for Southampton and Bobo Balde will start his glorified trial for other teams as he is subbed on.
-79′-Apparently Fox came on at some point for Marc Brown and just made a great save on a Southampton shot. Don’t know much about this Fox guy, is he a Youth or reserve keeper?
-83′-Mizuno is very, very fast. Creates a lot of breaks and can usually find people with ease. I like him. Samaras sends his Mizuno pass into the 15th row though. And Klaus Vanderkamp finally comes on for a run in the last 10 minutes for Southampton.
-87′-Celtic flexing their muscles again as Samaras fires one across the goal mouth that Sheridan just barely misses. Samaras has fired a few rockets into the stands tonight but has made some smart passes as well.
-93;-I take back my previous award of chat comment of the match for tictalk. Instead this one is the clear winner “4:39renoc:Man of the match - the pie stall holder for outrunning Le Tissier” The whistle blows and that’s the match! Celtic get goals from Chris Killen and a penalty from Barry Robson to defeat Southampton 2-0 and the 2008-2009 season is officially underway. Overall, a very good match for Celtic. Good attacks, good passing, and the defense did well. The word on the street is that the Fulham match will not be televised and there will be no stream there for but we will just have to see. Thanks for reading. TAL!