In U16 International Football today, Scotland face England in the U16 Victory Shield. The match will take place at Hearts’ Tynecastle Stadium and may feature Celtic Youth Islam Feruz(wiki), who has drawn some considerable press. The lad, only 14, scored his first international goal in Scotland’s nil-1 win over Wales. He was also born in Somalia, which has given the Tartan Army some cause for pause, but he could be something exciting for the Hoops

Scotland beating Wales… a novel idea at best.

Video of his performance against Wales can be seen here. The video is not of the highest quality, but we are talking U16s here.

UPDATE:
Scotland 1 [Grimmer (Aberdeen) 25']
England 2 [Ansah (Arsenal) 27', Turgott (West Wam) 60']
Match Update here

But Scotland could have gone into the break level when MacLeod put Islam Feruz through on goal.

The Celtic striker hit a left foot shot past Pickford but the ball rolled agonisingly wide to the dismay of the near 3,000 crowd.

- Starters for Scotland U16 -
Scott Campbell (Hearts)
Joseph Chalmers (Celtic)
Marcus Fraser (Celtic)
Mohammed Yaqub (Celtic)
Jack Grimmer (Aberdeen)
John Heron (Celtic)
Craig Slater (St. Mirren)
Islam Feruz (Celtic)
Matthew Kennedy (Kilmarnock)
Lewis Macleod (Rangers)

In the Daily Record this morning, new Celtic signing Ki Sung-Yong is asking Hoops supporters not to compare him to Shunsuke Nakamura, but instead to Liverpool’s Captain Fantastic Steven Gerrard.

“People will be expecting me to be the new Nakamura, but I’m not. He was a wonderful player and really gifted technically, but that’s not the style I play… I’m younger, faster and stronger. In South Korea, people compare me to Steven Gerrard, and I’ll admit that’s who I’ve based my game on.”

So this guy

doesn’t want us to compare him to this guy,

but to this guy.

Easy enough. Ki Sung-Yong will join Celtic at the head of the new year.

Some evidence of the young South Koren’s skills can be seen below.

Unhappy Celtic fans put board on notice of terrace revolt.

Is there a return of the Celts for Change?

Matt McGlone, a key member of the original Celts for Change, has go: “A group of fans from Partick got in touch with me recently, asking me if I’d be interested in setting up Celts For Change II,” he explained.

Wait! Really? You’re giving it the moniker with a “II”, as if it’s a Friday the 13th or Jaws sequel.

“People are losing patience, though. He’s [Tony Mowbray] regularly been booed at the end of matches home and away and if they lose to St Mirren this weekend then the whole ground will be at it. The fans will decide if he stays or goes and crowds are going down game by game.”

Is this really about Celtic? Is it more about Tony Mowbray? Or is it more about Rangers?

Rangers’ financials are in the crapper to the tune of £31.9million. Rangers are getting kicked about in their European campaign by three goals a night. BUT Rangers are a point ahead with a game in hand.

So, even if Celtic win this weekend, then it’s just a home win over St. Mirren, and Rangers will still have their game in hand, which won’t come level until 15 December’s match… at Tannadice against Dundee United.

For the Celts for Change crew, all that is wrong with Rangers is not an excuse:

“Rangers are in a hell of a state but at the moment they have a better team than we do. They also have more spirited players in their squad than we do and it hurts to say that… My worry is that the anger will turn to apathy because once people stop going to games on a Saturday you don’t usually get them back.

So it’s not about Rangers…

–
Celtic approach Match Day 13 in second place.

Last season, Celtic defeated Aberdeen at Parkhead 3-2 and took the top spot in the Scottish Premier after five wins, one draw, and an 2-4 Old Firm loss. Celtic maintained this league position for thirteen (13) matches, but would lose this spot on Match Day 24 amid a tidal wave of draws: nil-nil to eventually relegated Callie Thistle, a hapless nil-nil Old Firm derby at home, and a 1-1 at Fir Park.

Do the supporters have reason to riot on the current campaign?

Olivier “Bombscare” Tebily, who left Celtic in 2002, played for Toronto, until he was released last year. He scored an own-goal in his Celtic debut.

Stéphane Mahé, who left Celtic in 2001, played for Hearts until 2003, and occasionally helps with Saint-Nazaire. This guy liked to hurt people.

Johnathan Gould, who left Celtic in 2003, now helps coach Wellington Phoenix, a New Zealand side in the Australian league.

Vidar Riseth, who left Celtic in 2000, is on loan to Norwegian side Strømsgodset.

Big Johan Mjallby, who left Celtic in 2003, is retired from football and works in Swedish TV.

Paul Lambert, who left Celtic for Livingston in 2003, now manages Norwich City.

(Lambert scoring against ‘gers in 1998)

Stiliyan Petrov (coming on on for Morten Wieghorst in 67 to make his Celtic debut this day), left Celtic in 2003 and occasionally plays for Aston Villa.

(Petrov freekick against the ‘gers)

Ľubo Moravčík, who left Celtic in 2002 for JEF Chiba in Japan, manages Zlaté Moravce in Slovakia.

Eyal Berkovic, who left Celtic in 2001 on loan to Blackburn and eventually to Man City, is retired from football after a short managerial stint with Israeli side Maccabi Netanya (not the good Maccabi, Haifa)

Henrik Larsson, who left Celtic in 2002 for Catalan giants Barcelona, officially retired from the footie in October. He scored goals. Loads.

(Even against Celtic!)

Mark Viduka, who left Celtic in 2000 for Leeds, then the Riverside, and then a relegated Newcastle United side, is in football limbo around Australia, or thereabouts (also has a slight man-crush on Alan Shearer, but I’m pretty sure everyone does).

–
In truth the only two names that mattered at this match were Billy Dodds and Craig Easton, who both netted for The Terrors in Dundee United’s home victory over John Barnes’ Celtic side.

Dundee United 2
Celtic 1

This loss was the first in a stretch of dreadful Celtic play, including the following February 3-1 “Super Callie” Cup upset that would see Barnes out the door and make way for Martin O’Neill, thank god.

August 15, 1999 was the last time Dundee United defeated Celtic, until yesterday’s match, it was another Dods (close enough) – Darren Dods – that helped to sink Celtic, 2-1.

But, if that distraction doesn’t keep you from the re-ignition of the Scottish Premier this weekend, then here we go. [Deep breath]

The only solace I can give offer this match is this:
Craig Levein’s mind is on the wonder as he is the bookie’s favorite for Scotland managerial post. Having said that, Dundee United have won two tough away match against Killie and Aberdeen (0-2 both) (Damian Casalinuovo netted three goals of those four). United were bounced out of the League Cup by a spirited Saints side, due to a spirited Darren Dods’ own goal, not unlike another under-achieving League Cup side…

Notwithstanding, the terrors have no reason not to beat Celtic this weekend [Points for a triple negative?].

A recent article in The Daily Record – Steven Fletcher: Moving to England has made a man of me – now I want to prove it with Scotland.

Now this is the stuff dreams are made.

STEVEN FLETCHER felt like the boy who’d just had his Christmas stolen the day Hibs chairman Rod Petrie refused to sell him to Celtic… Less than a year on he looks back on that crushing disappointment as the decision that finally made a man of him.

Yes, Fletcher has been busy growing up. And he owes it all to Petrie’s stubborn refusal to let him go to Parkhead for a cut-price fee.

But Burnley snatched him up for £3million, and just look at him now!

“I got back to concentrating on my game and scoring goals and maybe it worked out better for me… Burnley must have seen enough to want to take me to the Premiership and you can’t play at a much higher level than that.”

“Since then we’ve been to places like Anfield, Stamford Bridge and White Hart Lane and even though the results haven’t been great the experience has and it’s all helping us adjust to life in the top flight.”

“We’re making progress bit by bit. People were putting pressure on us about our away record but now we’ve gone to a big club like Man City, drawn 3-3 and probably should have won.”

Maybe we should abandon this Celtic sinking ship and become Burnley supporters; they’re made of winners. And they’re in the Premier League.

Even effin’ Forbes is in on the action:

“One of Gartside’s more radicial proposals was flatly rejected. He wants the new clubs to include Celtic and Rangers, two top Scottish clubs that now play in the Scottish Premier League… The big boys don’t want further competition for the already limited number of places available to EPL clubs in the lucrative UEFA Champions League competition.”

This all off the heals of the relatively warm reception English club managers Harry Redknapp and David Moyes had to the inclusion idea.

So, no jailbreak tonight for the Teddies and the Bhoys. Oh well…

Here’s Thin Lizzy anyway.

All this while away from his main squeeze Celtic, “For me this is a nice change from the situation back home. We have been taking a bit of stick at Celtic … We’re looking forward to the game and it’s good to be away from Glasgow.”

The winger has yet to score in his 28 previous caps.

Celtic v Dundee United.

A Celtic starting eleven of Artur Boruc, Mark Wilson, Adam Virgo, Stanislav Varga, Ross Wallace, Shunsuke Nakamura, Neil Lennon, Stiliyan Petrov, Shaun Maloney, Magic Zurawski, and Welshman John Hartson.

Of that line-up, John Hartson (now retired), Zurawski (now playing in Cyprus) and Petrov (now playing for Aston Villa) netted for Celtic, giving the league-leaders the go ahead. But two goals in the 82′ and 86′ by late sub Lee Miller (now playing with the Dons, and made some interesting news by his lonesome this weekend) and David Fernández (now playing with Killie) drew the Terrors back level to split the points.

And so it was, Celtic 3 – 3 Dundee United – the last time time Celtic drew or lost in a match scoring three or more goals.

Until this last Sunday, when Celtic drew three goals apiece with bottom o’ the table Falkirk. Celtic had the opportunity to return the lead over Rangers to four points, but a gritty Falkirk, still searching for there first league win, deserved the points, if not the win.

Hamburger SV nil, Celtic nil…

According to The Herald, both Scot McDonald and the keeper, who still isn’t Artur Boruc, say Celtic can still qualify out of the Europa Cup Group Stage.

Scotty Mac, a beacon of light and optimism here, said, “There is plenty to build on and more goals would be helpful for every­one. We’d like a few more, but it’s not for the want of trying. We’ve had chances in Europe and we’ve been unfortunate, but we’ll look forward to the two games we have left.”

Because no one in the press pool believed him, or that they just wanted a(nother) good laugh, they brought in Lukasz Zaluska (who, by some token, made some real top-class saves this evening). Zaluska said, “We know this is a very difficult aim, but we had a few good chances and we have to win the last two games now.”

All this coming after what is becoming Tony Mowbray anger-after-a-win, hope-after-a-loss song and dance: “We will try and get the points which are in front of us, and what will be will be … [R]egarding the group, we have two matches left and we have to take max­imum points. That has got to be our focus at the moment.”

I don’t know about all that. I’m sure saving the European campaign might look something like this:

Because I generally love European nights, let’s hope I eat these words and Celtic take full spoils at Celtic Park and in Vienna.