SPL Discussion Thread

[Junior]

Neil Lennon got MOM in the Sunday Times although his name wasn't mentioned at all in the match report. Come to think of it, I did not hear his name mentioned in the radio commentary either. He is truly 'Mr. Invisible'.

Very Surprised he got MOTM. Did ok, but not great, neither was Petrov. I probably would have given it to Nakamura. Quality, skill, control and awareness he's a joy to watch when he's on his game.

[geysir]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,2767-1920661,00.html
Here is the link, knock yourself out :)

[eirebhoy]

Neil Lennon got MOM in the Sunday Times although his name wasn't mentioned at all in the match report. Come to think of it, I did not hear his name mentioned in the radio commentary either. He is truly 'Mr. Invisible'.
Lennon wasn't bad. He did what was asked, I wouldn't call him Invisible. Its just when Celtic are dominating a match Lennon is not the type of player that is going to be involved. He'll usually get it and pass it off to Nakamura or Petrov.

[geysir]

As he should do.
Lennon is alright by me, I'm glad he is playing well.

[Hibs4Ever]

Lennon wasn't bad. He did what was asked, I wouldn't call him Invisible. Its just when Celtic are dominating a match Lennon is not the type of player that is going to be involved. He'll usually get it and pass it off to Nakamura or Petrov.


Celtic were never "dominating" this match is the slightest. It was a very even game that was won by a sloppy goal from even sloppier defending.

[Junior]

'Dominate' would be too strong a word but I think Celtic were worthy winners. First half Hibs did nothing to threaten the celtic goal. Second half you were much more dangerous, Sproule is lightening fast.

The stats suggest a fairly even game, though I think at least 3 of those attempts on goal could be classed as 'back passes'

http://www.scotprem.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchStatsDetail/0,,10002~31266,00.html

[Hibs4Ever]

'Dominate' would be too strong a word but I think Celtic were worthy winners. First half Hibs did nothing to threaten the celtic goal. Second half you were much more dangerous, Sproule is lightening fast.

The stats suggest a fairly even game, though I think at least 3 of those attempts on goal could be classed as 'back passes'

http://www.scotprem.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchStatsDetail/0,,10002~31266,00.html

WOW Junior. We agree on someting:D The kid is quality. Thankfully we've got him contracted for a few more years.

And in fairness, 3 celtic goals aside, Zibby had very little to do also, claim a few crosses maybe

[eirebhoy]

I don't know, I felt Celtic dominated. Maybe not creating too many chances but certainly had way more possession. Looking at those stats backs me up. I'll watch the match again this week.

[Poor Student]

Offhand I can remember Hartson cracking the bar with a header, Petrov being put in one on one and hitting the side net and Maloney nearly putting it across for Hartson but it just being intercepted before he could put it in.

[Hibs4Ever]

Offhand I can remember Hartson cracking the bar with a header, Petrov being put in one on one and hitting the side net and Maloney nearly putting it across for Hartson but it just being intercepted before he could put it in.


So thats off target chances and a nothing pass then, Hibs hit a few shots near the goal too;)

[Junior]

WOW Junior. We agree on someting:D The kid is quality. Thankfully we've got him contracted for a few more years.

And in fairness, 3 celtic goals aside, Zibby had very little to do also, claim a few crosses maybe

Why does he only get a spot on the bench? And whats the story with Riordan he was muck in the first half - not wanting to damage his new clubs championship chances per chance;)

[Hibs4Ever]

Why does he only get a spot on the bench? And whats the story with Riordan he was muck in the first half - not wanting to damage his new clubs championship chances per chance;)


Mogga doesn't think he's ready to be starting all the time, he does start some games though. Deek got a knock in training on friday, his off game was nothing to do with the fact that every club in scotland wants him in their team. Personaly I think he'll go down south at end of season. He's DEFINITELY going nowhere in January

Was talking to Mogga in our club shop on Sunday, he felt the difference between the two sides was that Hartson was just too strong for our defenders.

Our defence has been our problem for a while now, hopefully celtic sign Caldwell :D

[Junior]

watched most of the game again last night on CelticTV - Its fair to say that Hartson was a real handful, he gave away some free's but won a fair few as well. Basically your centre backs didn't get a minutes peace. Whilst his second, err shall we say Ian Rush'esque the header that came off the bar would have been a peach for his hatrick.

What the fcuk was Mowbray doing in the club shop after the game & more to the point what the fcuk were you doing there - no pub to go to? - I presume you mean on the Sunday?

[Hibs4Ever]

Just saw that, changed to Sunday:D

We went to a pub called the Crown (something) on Duke St. after the match. Stayed there a few hours, then a crate of rollong rock, and kfc, and train back to Edinburgh, happy days :D

[Poor Student]

(Was @ the last 'Embra' derby;Hibs are about as 'Irish' as Ronnie Reagan was,btw).


I don't want to see any Hibee rising to this bait. Gonzo, cop on, that kind of post is against forum rules. The Irishness of Celtic and Hibs is not up for debate.

[Poor Student]

Sorry,PS,merely an Opinion/Observation.:o

Btw,No matter how 'nutty',surely any MB is about 'free speech' ?:confused:

Gonzo, I don't know how much of a regular you are here but this whole craic has caused a lot of fighting on foot.ie so we've had to draw up some pretty tough rules surrounding Scottish football discussion. Read the rules at the top of the "World Football" forum and follow them. You might not agree with them but trust me they are necessary.

[Hibs4Ever]

I don't want to see any Hibee rising to this bait. Gonzo, cop on, that kind of post is against forum rules. The Irishness of Celtic and Hibs is not up for debate.


Don't worry Poor Student. I've NEVER claimed Hibs to be Irish, nor does any other Hibee, so what he says doesn't bother me in the slightest, why sould it, they're Scottish. He makes no sense:confused:

[Hibs4Ever]

Hibs are ropey at the back.....even their own manager after they beat Hertz said they had no chance of winning the SPL. Decent side going fwd.(Was @ the last 'Embra' derby;Hibs are about as 'Irish' as Ronnie Reagan was,btw).

Anyway this all pales into insignificance......Now 'The Brat' has signed for the 'Tic:eek: :confused: .....SPL success is surely theirs!


Of course he did, as most managers do. He's not gonna come out and say "Yeah, we'll win this league comfortably". Like most managers he's playing down our chances to the media, but he still believes we can do something, especially finished at least 2nd for the other Champions League spot:D


GGTTH

[superfrank]

EDIT:Post is not
constructive

[Poor Student]

So Keano went to Celtic, no surprise there.

However, it disgraced me to see him saying: "Every Irish boy feels something for Celtic." Speak for yourself, gob****e. It's obvious he's forgotten his roots.

Is it not more than a little obvious by now that that is not the kind of discussion we want in this thread?:confused: :confused:

[superfrank]

Is it not more than a little obvious by now that that is not the kind of discussion we want in this thread?:confused: :confused:
Fair enough but people like him don't help our public image.

[geysir]

Why don't you take comments and your 'disgraced feelings' over to the Keane discussion in the World football forum.

[Poor Student]

Fair enough but people like him don't help our public image.

Fair enough what? Are you incapable of taking the hint?

[geysir]

I have to say, I was surprised by Celtics latest signing, I didn't think it would actually happen that Roy would think to fill up the family bus and move all to Glasgow.
Strachan looked a happy manager at the news conference and made a point of mentioning that the team were also happy. I would like to know what the financial deal was.
Any ideas where Roy will play? beside Bobo Balde? it's possible. Replacing Balde?
A direct swop for Neil Lennon? with Lennon as team captain it's a tough one, it is a no brainer that Roy is a better footballer but inch for inch Lennon's not bad and playing well.
Its possible that Petrov may be rested more, he has been playing non stop for years for club and country.

[Junior]

I would like to know what the financial deal was.

reported £45k per week a 50% pay cut. Though this is still well in excess of the clubs wage structure and cap, which leads me to believe that Desmond is funding this in part, though this was refuted at the press conference.



Any ideas where Roy will play? beside Bobo Balde? it's possible. Replacing Balde? A direct swop for Neil Lennon? with Lennon as team captain it's a tough one, it is a no brainer that Roy is a better footballer but inch for inch Lennon's not bad and playing well.
Its possible that Petrov may be rested more, he has been playing non stop for years for club and country.

Balde (and Camara I think) will be off to the Africa Nations shortly - so a defensive roll is a real possibility. Although Du Wei, the chinese lad has been biding his time in the reserves and will be looking to take his chance as well.

Lennon is probably having his best season with the club & as captain will be looking to retain his place, I can see the two playing in the same side with a lone striker such as Hartson being a possibility. Also, Lennon is a bright lad, he knows Keanes quality, I think the two of them will certainly share the roll of holding midfielfer.

You're right about Petrov, he could do with a break - looked tired against Hibs last week. As long as we get him tied up on a new deal pronto!! This would also leave a vacant midfield spot.

We need to remember, that on Saturday, Sutton, Thompson & Beattie all never featured whatsoever - they'll be wanting some action as well???

Some difficult decisions ahead for the wee ginger!!!

[eirebhoy]

3 at the back just might be the way to go. There's too many strikers to just play 1 up front (I'm really liking Zurawski) and its difficult to drop the captain. There might be a lack of width though with Nakamura and McGeady drifting inside.

[Junior]

There's too many strikers to just play 1 up front (I'm really liking Zurawski)

Not sure whats impressing you? He started slowly then scored a few and started to look a little more confident. He's hardly kicked a ball in 6 weeks. Im confident he'll come good - but I certainly haven't seen enough yet to get too excited. 3-5-2 could be the way forward.

[Roo69]

Good to see Keano causing trouble (http://www.rte.ie/arts/2005/1216/oasis.html) already :D

[eirebhoy]

Not sure whats impressing you? He started slowly then scored a few and started to look a little more confident.
It was obvious that Zurawski was suffering from confidence at the start of his career at Celtic. Confidence can turn a world class player into an extremely average player. No matter how good my football ability was I don't think I'd have ever made it at the top because confidence affects me so much. :) All he needed was a goal to get going. He got that goal after 5 minutes against Dunfermline and what a performance he put in for the rest of the match, scoring another and superbly setting up Naka. Top class. He was again the best player on the pitch in the following match against Aberdeen. He scored 5 goals in 5 games before injury and was playing very well.

He scored 7 goals in 10 qualifiers for Poland and is regarded by many as their best player, certainly in their top 2 best players. He'll definitely have be have full confidence to play well (like, say, Forlan) but when he has been full of confidence he has been superb.

[Junior]

It was obvious that Zurawski was suffering from confidence at the start of his career at Celtic. Confidence can turn a world class player into an extremely average player. No matter how good my football ability was I don't think I'd have ever made it at the top because confidence affects me so much. :) All he needed was a goal to get going. He got that goal after 5 minutes against Dunfermline and what a performance he put in for the rest of the match, scoring another and superbly setting up Naka. Top class. He was again the best player on the pitch in the following match against Aberdeen. He scored 5 goals in 5 games before injury and was playing very well.

He scored 7 goals in 10 qualifiers for Poland and is regarded by many as their best player, certainly in their top 2 best players. He'll definitely have be have full confidence to play well (like, say, Forlan) but when he has been full of confidence he has been superb.

Don't disagree with any of that - just haven't seen enough of it in the hoops yet.

[Pat O' Banton]

watched most of the game again last night on CelticTV - Its fair to say that Hartson was a real handful, he gave away some free's but won a fair few as well. Basically your centre backs didn't get a minutes peace. Whilst his second, err shall we say Ian Rush'esque the header that came off the bar would have been a peach for his hatrick.



No doubt for my MOM Hibs could really handle his anything knocked towards him. I haven't rated Harston that highly for a long time but he will always throw in a performance like Saturday's to remind you exactly what he does well. Thought that Lennon was good in midfield we caused alot of problems on the wing, however Strachan's refusla to use Agathe gets more confusing by the game, the amount of times that Nakamura got the ball and just needed someone to overlap is getting silly, Telfer is solid but thats about the heap.

[geysir]

I don't think there is any sign of life in Agathe, if he is not injured must have a collapse of form/confidence/pride in that how could he let a journeyman like Telfer take his place.
I was reading an interesting artice here in Iceland about 2 young local lads who are at Celtic. My son who follows these things very closely reckons that one of them, Theodor Bjarnasson, is carrying the dreams of a generation, ie if he does not make it into the first team then what hope is there for the rest.

[eirebhoy]

I follow the reserve and U19 reports on various sites and from what I've been reading, Agathe doesn't deserve to be in the team. He's a quality right back but he's putting in no effort in the reserves. Maybe its because he's been played on the wing. The reception he got when he came back from injury a couple of months ago was fantastic. Its a pity Irvine got injured when he did as Telfer probably wouldn't have been signed if Irvine didn't get injured.

Bjarnasson has apparantly been playing very, very well. A lad that goes to most games says half the current U19 team have a chance of being in the first team squad within the next year, they're that good. Bjarnasson is a box to box player and him and Ferry run most matches for the U19s. The other Icelandic lad (Finboggason - sp?) has been injured since the summer. He's a striker and was scoring regularly for the U19s last season.

[geysir]

(Finboggason - sp?)
Close enough,
Kjartan Finnbogason

thanks for the report

[sligoman]

Just to remind ye, that programme about Brother Walfrid is on the 22nd of this month(next Thursday night) on TG4.

[sligoman]

Rangers bet Hearts yesterday and Celtic only managed a draw with Inverness today.

TOP 5:
Celtic 19 14 3 2 48 17 45
Hearts 19 12 5 2 34 13 41
Hibernian 19 12 1 6 34 23 37
Rangers 19 8 6 5 30 22 30
Kilmarnock 19 8 5 6 35 30 29

[sligoman]

Former Republic of Ireland manager Jack Charlton insists Roy Keane is only at Celtic because the 34-year-old midfielder is past his best and believes Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson is of the same mind.

The Parkhead club pulled off a remarkable signing coup to capture Keane in face of interest from several Barclays Premiership clubs and Spanish giants Real Madrid.

He said: 'I think he has made the right decision as the SPL will not be so demanding as the English Premiership or a move to Real Madrid.'

Charlton continued: 'Let's be honest, Roy is past his best, though he still has a huge amount to offer in his new 18-month contract under Gordon Strachan.

'It won't be as hectic playing club games in Scotland and Roy will find it easier to push forward from midfield.

'I have always admired Alex Ferguson as a manager - his record at Old Trafford says it all. I am convinced that Keane would never have been allowed to leave Manchester United if the manager felt that the player could still make a major contribution in bringing back the glory days.'

From Aertel.

[sligoman]

Former Celtic striker Charlie Nicholas believes Roy Keane may have been lined up as a future manager at Parkhead.

The 34-year-old midfielder joined the Scottish giants after ending his long association with Manchester United, and will make his debut for the Bhoys in the new year.

Nicholas said: 'They will not worry about systems or how certain players have to adapt because Roy has arrived.

'I see no problem for Roy, but I just wonder overall if this is a move to possibly look long-term, or possibly getting Roy to become manager.'

From Aertel.

[Hibs4Ever]

Rangers bet Hearts yesterday and Celtic only managed a draw with Inverness today.

TOP 5:
Celtic 19 14 3 2 48 17 45
Hearts 19 12 5 2 34 13 41
Hibernian 19 12 1 6 34 23 37
Rangers 19 8 6 5 30 22 30
Kilmarnock 19 8 5 6 35 30 29


And Hibs beat Motherwell:D Even though the ref triedhis best to make sure it didn't happen.

SUPER DEREK RIORDAN:D

[Plastic Paddy]

SUPER DEREK RIORDAN

Will you still call him "super" when he joins Celtic reserves in January? ;)

:ball: PP

[Hibs4Ever]

Will you still call him "super" when he joins Celtic reserves in January? ;)

:ball: PP


Yeah Yeah, keep reading the Daily Record Rag and dream on

[Junior]

If hisd performance against Celtic was anything to go by, I wouldn't be in too much of a rush to sign him.

Both Hibs and Killie left it very late to get their winners on Sat, Im pleased that its keepng the top 5 positions still competitive. Hearts and Celtic dropped points which tightens it up a bit further.

Still confident Celtic can do it, Back 4 needs some serious re-organisation. It was shocking yesterday, whether its Keane or Du Wei or both, something needs to be done. Wallace still has a lot to learn in that position. Telfer, whilst I haven't been his biggest critic so far - he was woeful yesterday, Agathe must be worth a half, to see if he can come back in to the fold.

Rangers got a decent draw in the CL. Heres hoping that Villareal can do them a favour and knock them out before any more of their fans start coming out with the "we can do a liverpool", "I've already booked my holidays for the final" nonsense............

[Hibs4Ever]

If hisd performance against Celtic was anything to go by, I wouldn't be in too much of a rush to sign him.

Both Hibs and Killie left it very late to get their winners on Sat, Im pleased that its keepng the top 5 positions still competitive. Hearts and Celtic dropped points which tightens it up a bit further.

Still confident Celtic can do it, Back 4 needs some serious re-organisation. It was shocking yesterday, whether its Keane or Du Wei or both, something needs to be done. Wallace still has a lot to learn in that position. Telfer, whilst I haven't been his biggest critic so far - he was woeful yesterday, Agathe must be worth a half, to see if he can come back in to the fold.

Rangers got a decent draw in the CL. Heres hoping that Villareal can do them a favour and knock them out before any more of their fans start coming out with the "we can do a liverpool", "I've already booked my holidays for the final" nonsense............

Deek wasn't much better for this match either Junior, he was actually dropped to the bench, but Garry O'Connor got injured in warm up. But as Mogga once said, no matter how bad he's playing he'll always get you a goal.

Both Hibs goals made by Sproule, the kid is absolute quality

[eirebhoy]

Telfer, whilst I haven't been his biggest critic so far - he was woeful yesterday, Agathe must be worth a half, to see if he can come back in to the fold.

Agathe will never play full back for Celtic again unfortunately. Virgo has been playing right back for the reserves so he's next in line. Strachan see's Agathe as a winger which he hasn't been in a long time.

[Junior]

Agathe will never play full back for Celtic again unfortunately. Virgo has been playing right back for the reserves so he's next in line. Strachan see's Agathe as a winger which he hasn't been in a long time.

You may be right eirebhoy, Popular opinion suggests he could be on his way come January. However, I'd be surprised if that was strachans view on it, if he can see Wallace as a left back then Im sure he can see Agathe as a right back, considering he has played there (well) for a number of seasons.

Though he does seem to be out of favour and Virgo as you say has been playing right back for the reserves, Agathe has been playing a more forward role.

May be he'll go back to Hibs and we can make a few quid on the £50k we splashed out on him!!!!:D :D

[Junior]

jaysus, what rattled your cage?

[sligoman]

Just to remind ye, that programme about Brother Walfrid is on the 22nd of this month(next Thursday night) on TG4.Final reminder for all ye Celtic fans;). Tonight at 8pm

[Plastic Paddy]

Daylight robbery. The funniest game I've seen in years. :D

Huns and Hibs, eat your hearts out. With luck like that, the league belongs to Celtic.

:ball: PP

[gustavo]

would take a balls up of Artemedian proportions for celtic not to win the league now:)

[Junior]

Great game of football, lots of pace, tough tackles, off the ball incidents, goals, chances and atmosphere sounded great for a 17k crowd.

Hearts should have wrapped it by half time and gone in 3-0 up but for a great save from Boruc. Hearts still had chances in the second half but Celtic attacked relentlessly and once Hearts were down to 10 men they were really up against. We left it late though!

7 points clear and a massive physcological boost!!!

Killie and Hibs drew 2-2 today. A result Rangers will be pleased woth as it stops them from dropping to fifth :-)