SPL Discussion Thread

[Junior]

I was looking at the testimonial game (the event hype really doesn't interest me) for signs of life in Celtic. If there is anything to read into kickabouts.
Petrov looked happier in the middle after Keane switched sides. (haven't a clue if there was any issue about his playing role this season)
Lennon looks as good as ever.
A fit Balde with Varga might do.
Wilson is a strange one, a fit lad, full of enthusiasm and support play but some serious shortcomings, improvement?
Telfer goes awol, huge gaps left there at times for United. His positioning was shockingly poor.
On last nights game alone Hartson was an embarrisment to his own benchmark of professional standards. Clearly his injuries have handicapped about 90% of his game. In contrast, from a fitness point of view, Dublin looked in his prime.

Youre not wrong Petrov wants to ( and should) play in the middle, his best position. Alas it is of little concern anymore as he will surely be off in the summer.

Varga is pants and will be off in the summer I think.

Telfer - too slow, squad player at best.

Wilson, cracking wee player IMO. Will hopefully be our regular Right back next season despite filling in at Left back since January.

Thomson didn't do a bad job in the 2nd half in terms of trying to secure himself a move back to England!!

[OwlsFan]

Wilson, cracking wee player IMO. Will hopefully be our regular Right back next season despite filling in at Left back since January.!!

From the games I've seen on Setanta, Wilson looks the business.

I see Terry Butcher is off to coach in Sydney. That's a loss to the Scottish game.

[geysir]

Okay so Wilson is a RB, then that explains a few things.
But what about Hartson? he made Dublin look world class.

[eirebhoy]

I have to agree with the 2 previous posters about Wilson, he looks a great prospect and a bargain. Mulgrew didn't have much to do but he was apparantly Dundee Utd's best player in his few month's there on loan and he is certainly comfortable with the ball at his feet. He should still be backup at left back to a new signing next season though.

I'm still annoyed that Lennon looks like he'll be offered another contract. All he offers to Celtic is his off the ball work as anyone could do the work he does on the ball.

[Junior]

But what about Hartson? he made Dublin look world class.

Its a criticism that is thrown at Hartson by many of the celtic support, in terms of his mobility and fitness. Personally, I like the big guy and think he has many strengths,he's a handful for defenders and scores his fair share of goals.

It was an end of season friendly, you can't really read too much into the performance last night.

[geysir]

I'm still annoyed that Lennon looks like he'll be offered another contract. All he offers to Celtic is his off the ball work as anyone could do the work he does on the ball.

Only from what I saw last night of Lennon. He offered calmness when in possession. Made space for himself. Always available to receive the ball out of defense.
Can tackle (if the game allowed it), rarely gives a bad ball.
Looked confident and controlled. Very good positioning.
Outpaced twice though.
Considering financial limits, another year can't be that much of a negative.

[eirebhoy]

Only from what I saw last night of Lennon. He offered calmness when in possession. Made space for himself. Always available to receive the ball out of defense.
Can tackle (if the game allowed it), rarely gives a bad ball.
Looked confident and controlled. Very good positioning.
Outpaced twice though.
Considering financial limits, another year can't be that much of a negative.

When he's club captain it is a negative imo. I wouldn't mind if he was going to be backup but he'll most likely be playing in all the Champions league games. Keane offers all Lennon does plus so much more. If Keane is going to stay then I don't see any room for Lennon. I am usually in the minority when it comes to this subject but I can only imagine what fans of other big clubs would think if they were going to sign Lennon this summer.

He is calm but I watched him at one time on the ball last night and every Celtic player around him was marked tightly, he was clueless. He has no imagination and just passes it to anyone that is free. I think we can all agree that Lennon offers little going forward, considering how badly Celtic defended this season there's a lot of improvement needed there. As I said, if Keane goes then there is room for Lennon but it is a waste having the two of them.

[eirebhoy]

The Scottish Youth cup final is live on this link:
mms://channel67.celticfc.net/keanetelly

25 minutes gone.

[geysir]

Keane offers all Lennon does plus so much more. If Keane is going to stay then I don't see any room for Lennon..... As I said, if Keane goes then there is room for Lennon but it is a waste having the two of them.

if Keane stays there is plenty of room for Lennon ... when Keane is injured.
Keane was fully fit for a 1/4 of the games?

[eirebhoy]

if Keane stays there is plenty of room for Lennon ... when Keane is injured.
Keane was fully fit for a 1/4 of the games?

He probably missed missed 1/4 of the matches through injury but certainly wasn't fit for just 1/4.

Anyway, if Lennon was going to stay as backup to Keane I'd be more than happy but that's not going to be the case. If Lennon stays he plays in all the important games plus most of the rest.

[geysir]

Its a criticism that is thrown at Hartson by many of the celtic support, in terms of his mobility and fitness. Personally, I like the big guy and think he has many strengths,he's a handful for defenders and scores his fair share of goals.
It was an end of season friendly, you can't really read too much into the performance last night.

I would regard it as similar to the feelings that the Lone Ranger would have if he had to put down a 2 legged Trigger. It would hurt, but feelings aside, his last and enduring quality was his ability to win balls in the air. You could read that he couldn't jump. Maybe Hartson was handicapped by having to keep his elbows in check , United's (cinderella) defenders won almost every high ball with ease plus actually shoving Hartson off the ball.

Any chance that Boruc (an ace shot stopper) could get a bit of catch and kick practice with the Kerry GAA squad?

[Junior]

I would regard it as similar to the feelings that the Lone Ranger would have if he had to put down a 2 legged Trigger. It would hurt, but feelings aside, his last and enduring quality was his ability to win balls in the air. You could read that he couldn't jump. Maybe Hartson was handicapped by having to keep his elbows in check , United's (cinderella) defenders won almost every high ball with ease plus actually shoving Hartson off the ball.

As I said you're not alone in your thinking but he has consistently scored goals where ever he's been (including Celtic). He's only just turned 31, he needs to watch the weight and fitness levels, but he can do us a turn for a few seasons yet.

Any chance that Boruc (an ace shot stopper) could get a bit of catch and kick practice with the Kerry GAA squad?

He's looked suspect on the old crosses alright!

[eirebhoy]

Someone on Celtic forum, KDS, yesterday opened a thread saying Celtic have signed Riordan. A mod on the Celtic Minded forum opened a thread yesterday afternoon with an "Exclusive" that Riordan has signed. Today's Evening Times are now reporting the deal is done. The Evening Times wouldn't post crap so it looks like Riordan will be a Celtic player next season.

[Plastic Paddy]

http://foot.ie/showpost.php?p=408848&postcount=342



PP

[eirebhoy]

Celtic are delighted to announce that they have signed Derek Riordan from Hibernian on a pre-contract agreement. The player will join the Champions in January.

Riordan, who has already been capped by Scotland, scored 20 goals for Hibernian this season.

And he becomes manager Gordon Strachan's latest signing for Celtic, following the capture of Scottish internationalists Gary Caldwell and Kenny Miller, both of whom will begin their Celtic careers when the players report back for pre-season training.

http://www.celticfc.net/newsroom/news.aspx?id='2006-05-13_1122pc'

[Hibs4Ever]

http://www.celticfc.net/newsroom/news.aspx?id='2006-05-13_1122pc'

DAM IT


You've just got an AMAZING player there lads

[eirebhoy]

I assume he'll start training with Celtic in October when his contract expires?

/edit - according to most Celtic will just buy out his contract and get him before the season starts.

[Plastic Paddy]

DAM IT

You've just got an AMAZING player there lads

I expect he'll be the best player in the under-21s by a distance.

(It's like taking sweets from a baby... )

PP

[Poor Student]

I'm caught in two minds about Riordon. He's a good player (though not sure how he'll fit in?) but he seems to be a total ned. Awful hair and called Skacel an asylum seeker.

[geysir]

'Tis confusing when you get this piece of journalism
http://www.sundayherald.com/55628
"Strachan spent most of his playing career in red and the traditional Arsenal colour would suit him again on Wednesday when he watches the Champions League final hoping for the British victory that would put Celtic straight into next season’s group stage and guarantee them around £10 million. A Barcelona win would require Celtic to play in the treacherous third qualifying round on August 8/9 and 22/23".