Glasgow Celtic Supporters Thread

[noelyf]

Lennon expecting Utrecht to go for broke

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Neil Lennon




Celtic manager Neil Lennon fully expects Utrecht to go for the jugular in tonight's Europa League clash but insists his side will be ready for the challenge.


The Hoops boast a 2-0 lead from the first leg of the play-offs at Parkhead last week and are determined to finish the job in Holland.


Utrecht coach Ton du Chatinier claimed all the pressure was on Celtic to salvage their European hopes after they crashed out of the Champions League at the qualifying stage.



But, with Celtic firmly in the driving seat following goals from Efrain Juarez and Georgios Samaras, Lennon disagrees with his opposite number.


'I think the onus is on them,' said the Hoops boss.

'With them being the home team and being 2-0 down, I think they will come out and attack but we will be ready for that.

'We've got plenty of pace in the team, not just for Utrecht but to handle other teams as well.'


The gulf in revenue between the Champions League and the Europa League has been well documented over the last couple of days.


But, despite missing out on the opportunity to join Old Firm rivals Rangers in the money-spinning group stages of Europe's top club competition, Lennon insists continental outings are still crucial for the Parkhead side this term.


'It's very important,' he said.

'A lot of players come to Celtic to play European football so you don't want that to be finished by August.


'You want to try to put a concerted run together in Europe so to get through this round is very important.'

Lennon would love to kill off the tie with an early goal but concedes that a degree of patience may be required.

'We just want a goal at any time,' he said.


'We just have to be patient and play our football and concentrate for 90 minutes and see what the outcome is.

'Having seen our recent performances, I'll be taking a lot from that. We will try to be difficult to break down and try to attack in numbers when we can.'

Celtic traditionally do not have a good record on the road in European competition but defender Jos Hooiveld insists he has no interest in the past.


He said: 'Like every game, this is a game in itself. That kind of side of things don't tell me anything.

'We are feeling confident and good, just like before any game.


'It's getting better. We saw in the last game against St Mirren that we were able to find each other, you know what kind of pace people have and stuff like that so it is getting better and better.


'We are still growing and there is a lot of progress to make over the season but we have had a good start.'

 

[wheelo]

and you wont even have to watch it on streaming, as setanta have it on. poor me has to watch on streaming for the blues mancity

 

[noelyf]

Theres a few links there for you now wheelo ;)

You should find a decent stream in there.

 

[wheelo]

cheers noel, saw your post earlier

 

[Tamarc]

marc-antoine fortune signs for west brom

Newsroom Staff
MARC-ANTOINE FORTUNE has today completed a move to West Bromwich Albion. The striker, who had previously spent a loan spell at the Hawthorns, has now joined Roberto Di Matteo’s side on a two-year deal.

Fortune, who joined Celtic in July 2009, made a total of 43 appearances for the club, scoring 12 goals.

Everyone at Celtic Football Club would like to thank Marc for his contribution and wish him all the best for his future career.

 

[noelyf]

Honduras star Izaguirre joins the Hoops

Honduras star Izaguirre joins the hoops

Newsroom Staff
CELTIC today officially unveiled Emilio Izaguirre as a Celtic player. The Honduras left-back, who will wear the No.3 jersey, will be in the squad and could be available for this Sunday’s SPL clash with Motherwell.

The 24-year-old played for his country at the recent World Cup in South Africa, and has joined Celtic on a four-year deal from Montagua in his homeland.

Speaking about his latest signing, Celtic manager Neil Lennon said: “He's a good player. He's strong defensively, he's quick, he's got a very good left foot and he's good going forward.

“He had a good World Cup for Honduras. Full-back is an area we've been looking to fill for a while. We've taken our time with this one and we think we've got the right one.”

More press conference reaction to follow on the official Celtic website.

 

[allybird58]

Last night was bad night for the lads Noely:faint: Bring on the SPL league and Cup.That will cheer
you up no end Noely;)

 

[Tamarc]

it was another bad night in europe for us,sadly getting used to it now !

 

[noelyf]

I`m nearly 40 years supporting Celtic and it has to be the worst performance I`ve ever seen from a Celtic team.

Not one shot on goal in 90 minutes :dunno:

As Tam said above, "sadly getting used to it now" :(

 

[noelyf]

http://www.celticfc.net/home.aspx

Murphy fires Celts to victory

Mark Henderson
DARYL Murphy’s first-ever competitive goal for Celtic sealed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Motherwell.

The Irishman found the net in the second-half after the impressive Shaun Maloney had been hauled down in the box by Steven Saunders while through on goal

It was a thoroughly deserved three points for Neil Lennon’s side, who responded well to the disappointment of Thursday night’s defeat against Utrecht to overcome Craig Brown stubborn outfit.

Neil Lennon had made several changes from the side that started in Holland. Most notably, Fraser Forster and Emilio Izaguirre made their debuts for the Hoops, while Glenn Loovens, Maloney and Daryl Murphy also came into team.

The hosts had the first effort on goal when John Sutton flicked on Tom Hateley’s free-kick just wide of the near post.

Celtic replied immediately with a sweeping move. Murphy found Forrest on the right and his low delivery was met by Maloney in the middle, forcing Darren Randolph into a wonderful one-handed stop.

Maloney had enjoyed a lively opening to the match and, after another darting run, he was brought down by Stephen Craigan 20 yards out. The midfielder took the set-piece himself and sent his strike narrowly off target.

In the seventh minute Izaguirre, who had made a confident start for his new club, picked up Ledley’s return pass and sent a dangerous ball across the six-yard box. However, there were no takers.

The Hoops had now gained a real grip on proceedings and Murphy was next to threaten, cutting infield and directing a powerful low drive on target, which deflected over the bar.

From the resultant corner, Forrest collected the ball at the back-post. He skipped inside, but his low shot lacked the necessary power to trouble Randolph.

Lennon’s side were dominant at this stage with Forster a virtual spectator in the Celtic goal. And, after an intricate passing move, Maloney was crowded out in the box when poised to strike.

Midway through the half, Georgios Samaras teed-up Brown at the edge of the area. His shot was blocked and eventually the ball was worked wide to Forrest. The teenager hared away from Stevie Hammell and Maloney glanced his cross wide.

Samaras, who had come in from tough treatment from the home side, showed excellent determination to burst past two challenges. He found Murphy on the right, but his driven ball inside was blocked for a corner.

In the 38th minute, Cha swung a deep cross in from the right, Murphy rose above his marker and looped a header over the bar.

Just before the break, Maloney showed tremendous skill to dance past three defenders, but he could only find the side-netting from an acute angle.

Motherwell introduced Nick Blackman for Steve Jennings at the break in an attacking substitution, but it was the Hoops who continued where they left off in the opening period.

Forrest won a corner on the right after 48 minutes, and Majstorovic headed over from Izaguirre’s delivery. Then, 60 seconds later, Brown fed Samaras 18 yards out and the striker’s shot was pushed away by Randolph.

The Steelmen had rarely threatened and when Craigan blasted a shot on goal from a Humphrey corner, Majstorovic was on hand to bravely block with his head.

Yet the play continued to flow towards the home side’s goal. Maloney put a dangerous ball into the mix from a free-kick. It bobbled around the six-yard box, but was eventually cleared with Samaras in close attendance.

In another rare foray forward, Keith Lasley failed to trouble Forster with an ambitious swerving shot from 25 yards.

While Celtic were dictating the play, they just couldn’t find a killer touch in front of goal, prompting Lennon to send Paddy McCourt on for Samaras in the 67th minute.

The Hoops continued to pour forward. Murphy was next to threaten, engineering space for a shot but blasting high and wide from a tight angle.

It was from a direct route that Celtic finally opened the scoring. Maloney got on to the end of a long ball and scampered clear of the home defence, but just as he was about to pull the trigger, Steven Saunders hauled him down.

Referee Dougie McDonald pointed to the spot and showed the defender the red card. Murphy took the kick and sent Randolph the wrong way from 12 yards to score his first competitive goal for the club.

With the 10 men now having to push forward, Celtic were finding an increasing amount of gaps to exploit. In the 78th minute, McCourt embarked on a trademark run through the middle and curled a shot just wide of the far post.

Brown led a Hoops breakaway and slid a ball through for Murphy, who held off his marker, but dragged his effort wide.

In the final five minutes, Celtic had a number of good chances to extend their advantage, with McCourt forcing Randolph into two saves and Ledley shooting wildly over.

But Murphy’s strike proved to be enough to secure maximum points, as Lennon’s side continued their 100 per cent start in the SPL.

 

[dee]

Anthony Stokes passes medical at Celtic ahead of a move from Hibs👍

 

[noelyf]

Anthony Stokes signs for Celtic

Newsroom Staff
CELTIC Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Anthony Stokes from Hibernian. The Republic of Ireland internationalist has joined the club on a four-year deal.

The 22-year-old striker, who has won three caps for his country, scored 23 goals for Hibs last season, while he’s also hit one for the Easter Road side this term.

And Stokes becomes Neil Lennon’s eleventh signing of the summer. The Irishman will be officially unveiled as a Celtic player at a press conference in Celtic Park later this afternoon.

 

[noelyf]

Stokes: I want to be a success in Paradise

Laura Brannan
Anthony Stokes became Celtic’s 11th signing of the new campaign and has committed himself to the Hoops for the long run.

After a flurry of different clubs during his short playing career, the 22-year-old striker hopes Glasgow will be the place he can finally settle now he has signed a four-year deal.

Signing just hours before the transfer window slams shut, Stokes has vowed to fight for his place up front and wants to become a long term regular in Neil Lennon’s starting XI.

“I’m delighted to get the deal all done and dusted,” he told Channel 67 in an exclusive interview. “The last few days have been hectic and I’m now looking forward to getting into it and playing games.

“I’m hoping I can get one or two contracts here and really settle down for a long time because I am enjoying myself in Scotland and the people up here are great, so for me it couldn’t have been a better move.

“It’s hard to settle when you are going to clubs on loan for two or three months at a time. It’s hard to get into your stride and into your football so a few years here will give me some stability and something to focus on.”

The Dublin born striker started his career in the Arsenal youth side before moving to Sunderland in 2007. Loan spells at Falkirk, Sheffield United and Crystal Palace, before joining Hibernian last summer, has handed Stokes a wealth of experience during the first five years of his playing career.

And his move to Glasgow has opened a door for Celtic's new number 10 to take on a new opportunity and settle at a club for the long term.

He knows it will be difficult to break into the starting XI but is ready for the challenge which lies ahead.

“I’ll have to work hard in training to get into the team, but hopefully I can do that and get some goals,” he said.

“I had a chat with Neil Lennon and obviously with Gary Hooper being injured at the minute he’s looking for someone to get in there and score the goals. It’s up to me now to work hard and give the boss a headache.

“The main thing for me is to keep my head down, work my socks off and get myself into the team and I’m sure the goals will take care of themselves after that.”

Having already played in the SPL for two seasons, Stokes knows exactly what sort of competition he faces when the side returns from this week’s international break.

He displays a determined and fighting spirit and already has his sights firmly set on winning the league this year.

“I’ve been watching Celtic this season and obviously it has been very disappointing in Europe,” he added, “But with three wins so far and three clean sheets, it couldn’t really have gone much better when the league is the main thing this year.

“Rangers are going for three in a row so the most important thing is stopping that and hopefully the cup runs will go well as well.”

 

[noelyf]

Moving story of John Hartson's brave battle with cancer


Paul Cuddihy
DURING his five years at Celtic, John Hartson established himself as a hero among the fans, not least because of the 110 goals he scored for the Hoops in 201 appearances.

Yet, whatever admiration Celtic fans had for him as a player is nothing compared to the admiration they have for him following his brave fight with cancer.

John was diagnosed with testicular cancer in the summer of 2009, though with the cancer having spread to his brain and lungs, he ended up in intensive care fighting for his life.

And a moving new DVD, Celtic Dragon 2, tells the complete story of John’s remarkable fight against the killer illness, from diagnosis to treatment and beyond.

John speaks candidly about that harrowing time, and there are also moving interviews with his wife, Sarah, and members of his family.

“Men have the attitude that it will go away, it will clear up,” John said. “That was the attitude I had and it was a lot more serious than I was treating it.

“I had it four 4 or 5 years – and there’s no excuse because I had a doctor at every club every single day.

“You know, cancer has taken bigger men than me in its time… but I had four children to live for and fight for.”

His wife Sarah explains: “I suspected he wasn’t in the best of health even just in the amount of weight he’d put on. He wasn’t sleeping very well, and just generally he wasn’t right.

“I said to him that I’d really like him to get to the doctor’s and get himself checked out, and get everything looked at. And that was when he told me that this lump he had, had got a lot bigger.

“On the Sunday I found out I was pregnant and by the end of the following week John was on a life-support machine in intensive care.”

Thankfully, through tremendous courage and bravery, John Hartson has battled his way back to recovery, supported by the love of his family and the prayers and good wishes of the entire Celtic family.

And as well as telling what is a profoundly moving and inspiring story, Celtic Dragon 2 also has a vital message for anyone who chooses to ignore the warning signs relating to their health.

With the support of a dedicated team of doctors and nurses, John Hartson has fought back against his greatest opponent but he’s also been very lucky. In Celtic Dragon 2 he explains how lucky, and pleads that you learn from his own harrowing experience.

You can order the Celtic Dragon 2 DVD now by clicking HERE

It will be available in Celtic retail stores from Friday, September 24.

 

[noelyf]

Neil Lennon: Jock Stein was the greatest

Laura Brannan
NEIL Lennon paid tribute to Celtic legend Jock Stein on the 25th anniversary of his passing by remembering his outstanding achievements as a football manager.

The current boss paid his respects for the man who managed Celtic during the club's most successful period in their history. Stein was the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup in 1967 and was in charge of the club for 13 years.

He tragically died on this day 25 years ago, September 10 1985, while managing the Scotland national team, and Lennon remembered Stein’s reign at Celtic.

“He is the greatest manager in the club’s history and one of the greatest managers in football history,” he said. “He’s an iconic figure at the club and he’s one that we all aspire to, to get even close to.

“What he achieved, if you look back at his record, certainly in the late 1960s and early '70s, was nothing short of remarkable and I think it’s right that the club should remember him.”

The official match programme for this Saturday's match against Hearts.

SPL football returns to the fore this weekend after the international break and Celtic welcome Hearts to Glasgow for tomorrow’s (Saturday) 3pm kick-off.

With three wins and three clean sheets Celtic top the league, but Lennon knows that Jim Jefferies’ side will provide a difficult challenge.

The Hoops boss said: “We had last weekend off which was nice, especially after the transfer window had shut, but it’s good to have all the players back, especially in a clean bill of health which is important.

“Hearts are on good form and have had two weeks to pore over things and recent games.

“They had a very good result at Hamilton and by all accounts they were unlucky not to win the other games they drew so it’s a tasty game for ourselves.

“It’s at home, though, so we’ll be going into it to try and win the game and hopefully the players will be fresh enough.”

A minute’s will be held before this Saturday’s game at Celtic Park against Hearts to mark the anniversary of the passing of Jock Stein.

 

[noelyf]

James Forrest is young player of the month

Newsroom Staff
JAMES FORREST has been named the Clydesdale Bank Young Player of the Month for August after a string of impressive performances for Celtic in the opening month of the season.

Forrest, a product of the Celtic Youth Academy, scored his second goal of the season in the 3-0 victory over Hearts at the weekend to add to the one he netted recently against St Mirren.

The goal, set up by Daryl Murphy, was Celtic’s first of the afternoon and Hearts boss Jim Jefferies was sent to the stand after complaining it should have been ruled out for offside. Subsequent replays have shown conclusively that the assistant referee was right not to flag Murphy offside and the goal was a perfectly good one.

Speaking about his Player of the Month Award, 19-year-old Forrest said: “It’s my first wee run in the team and this is recognition I have done quite well. Playing in front of 60,000 at Celtic Park is what it's all about.”

 

[noelyf]

Celtic family's thoughts are with Evander Sno

Newsroom Staff
EVERYONE at Celtic was shocked to hear the news that Evander Sno suffered a heart attack during a match.

The 23-year-old former Celtic midfielder was playing for Ajax reserves when he collapsed on the pitch.

Medical staff at the game managed to revive him and he was rushed to hospital where he is said to be in a stable condition.

The thoughts and prayers of the Celtic family are with Evander and his family at this time.

 

[noelyf]

Celtic/Santos Laguna

Newsroom Staff
Following speculation concerning young player Gustavo Ruelas, Celtic today confirmed that the Mexican could come to Scotland and train with the club.

A spokesman for the club said: “Celtic can confirm they are in discussions with Santos Laguna with a view to developing a potential football and commercial relationship.

“With regards to the player in question, we understand he’s an exceptional talent and we are looking at giving him the opportunity to come and train with Celtic.

“It should be noted that there is no formal loan or transfer agreement concerning the player at this stage.”

 

[noelyf]

Celtic 6 - 0 Inverness CT

Samaras netted a hat-trick in the 6-0 demolishing of Caley Thistle


Celtic cruised into the quarter finals of the Co-operative Insurance Cup at the expense of Inverness Caley Thistle.

Georgios Samaras put Celtic ahead in the 17th minute when he re-directed a Joe Ledley drive from close range.



Gary Hooper doubled the lead four minutes later, then Samaras scored his second from an Efrain Juarez pass.



The Greece international recorded his hat-trick with a close-range effort and Anthony Stokes netted a double including a 74th minute penalty.
Ki Sung-Yueng had to block a goal-bound shot from Nick Ross almost immediately after kick-off when Shane Sutherland split the Celtic defence in two.



In the ninth minute Tuffey pulled off a fine save from Ki's 25-yard free-kick, after Grant Munro had bundled Hooper to the ground.



Celtic took the lead when Ki's corner from the right was cleared to Ledley, whose first-time drive was re-directed in to the net by Samaras from eight yards.
Moments later Samaras was sent through on goal by Juarez, but this time with only Tuffey to beat, the striker crashed his shot off the bar.
However, the former Manchester City player atoned for that miss when he played in Hooper who turned at the edge of the six-yard box and volleyed past Tuffey to double Celtic's lead.



The tie looked settled even at that early stage but in the 31st minute Jonny Hayes fired in a shot from the edge of the box which came off Fraser Forster's legs.
Then Juarez blazed the ball over the bar from close range after good work by Mark Wilson on the right, before Tuffey made a good save with his foot from Anthony Stokes.



Celtic added a third goal in the 37th minute when Samaras raced on to a Juarez pass, chipping over Tuffey and watching the ball trundle over the line.
Caley showed some spirit at the start of the second half but that was quenched when Samaras bounced Proctor off the ball inside the box before burying his low drive in to the corner of the net.



Stokes made it five from the spot after he had been felled by Tuffey inside the Caley box after racing through to take advantage of Munro's headed back pass which was too short.
The Irishman then scored the goal of the night with nine minutes remaining, driving powerfully from outside the box to give the flailing Tuffey no chance.


Wednesday, 22 September 2010
CIS Cup




Celtic 6-0 Inverness CT FT (HT 3-0)

• Samaras 17
• Hooper 21
• Samaras 37
• Samaras 57
• Stokes (pen) 74
• Stokes 81

 

[wheelo]

good old georgeous giogios, whats your opinion of sammi? great for young stokes as well, it will be hard to drop him in this run of form


this one sure beats the headline of about ten years ago "Super Cali Go Ballistic, Celtic Were Attrocious" :doh: