Do they mean us - Shakhtar reaction from the other side

Opinion on Celtic’s UEFA Champions League Group stage opening game is fairly solid that the team were thoroughly outplayed. Here are a few snippets from Ukraine journalists.

Eduard Kiselyov, The Sport Arena:

Shakhtar turned out to be considerably stronger. Gordon Strachan and his side were shocked not only by the two quick goals, but mostly by the level of Shakhtar’s performance. They definitely were not ready for that. Shakhtar exceeded all their expectations. They couldn’t have guessed that there was such a strong team on the outskirts of Europe. Mircea Lucescu’s team did their job perfectly well. The two goals knocked the Celts down and allowed Shakhtar play their game. What impressed me most, was the Miner’s confidence with which they defeated the Scottish league leaders.

Mykhailo Metreveli, The Futbol v Litsah magazine:

Shakhtar delivered a high-quality performance. During first 20 minutes they were totally dominating the game. Our team were very aggressive in their attacks. With two quick goals Shakhtar secured their success. As to my mind, all the players looked very good. But still, I would like to mention Fernandinho. I think he has potential.

But Shakhtar had problems in that match too. Celtic, being pressed down, managed to create a couple of goal opportunities. It was a miracle the ball didn’t cross the goal line in one of the episodes. So, it crucial for the team to learn to remain concentrated all through the match. But all in all I enjoyed this match I think Shakhtar are able to preserve the first pace in the Group and advance to the next stage.

Dmytro Korotkov, The Segodnya:

Most of all I liked two things in that match: first, Shakhtar managed to make Celtic play under their rules, and second, the Donetsk players looked much better in terms of individual skills. And the fact that Celtic were unable to push forward and switch from defence to attack made Shakhtar’s task even easier.

But this match also showed Shakhtar’s weak points. First of all the team are emotionally unstable: they seemed to be surprised at their own success and gave up the initiative for some time.

Celtic aren’t the strongest squad in Group D. It means Shakhtar will have to make efforts to keep the leadership.

Full Time: Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 Celtic

Scorers:
Brandao (6) , Lucarelli (8)

Gordon Strachan set his team out in almost exactly the same way as for the trip to Moscow to play Spartak with Hartley replacing McGeady on the left, the only change from that side being Gary Caldwell who retained his place from domestic duty at the expense of John Kennedy.

If the Celtic players thought they would have a chance to settle into the match, they were in for a rude awakening when Stephen McManus was put under pressure by Scott Brown pass and the centre back's awful touch fell to Brandao who shot Shakhtar ahead in six minutes.

It almost got worse one minute later when Lucarelli fired just over but the Italian had only seconds to wait before taking his chance for Shaktar's second. At that stage, Celtic were ragged and the full-backs, Wilson and Naylor, yet to report for duty.

It was shooting practice for the Ukranians with Celtic looking a hapless bunch. Scott Brown in particular, so outstanding recently, was having a Champions League night to put Thomas Gravesen to shame, picking up a yellow card in the 16th minute. At that stage he looked unlikely to finish the game, the only doubt being about whether his exit would be at the behest of Strachan or the referee.

He had little time to think about it - Lucarelli shot at Boruc a minute later and Brandao had the ball in the net only to lose out to a tight offside decision on 19 minutes. Bratislava was beginning to look like a day out at Troon.

Just when Lee Naylor, making Kirk Broadfoot look like Paolo Maldini, was mouthing off to Scott McDonald (presumably fancying a punch from someone smaller than his goalkeeper), Srna was fancying his left-back vacancy and firing in a cross that Artur Boruc did well to smother.

Naylor wasn't the only man at fault - Celtic were passing the ball like a team of blind men on stilts. It wasn't looking good.

In the 29th minute, Celtic had their first meaningful attack, Shunsuke Nakamura finding McDonald whose shot was adjudged to have been deflected for a corner. However, the Japanese international failed to beat the first man from the set piece. Moments later, Nakamura had a free-kick wide on the right which he fired in only to see Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink head over from six yards.

Celtic were gaining some possession but finding Shakhtar closing them down 25 yards out with text book defending.

On 33 minutes, Scott McDonald drew the first save of the match from Pyatov after a splendid one-two with Massiomo Donatti. Nakamura again squandered the resultant corner.

Things were starting to look better for Celtic and a sweeping move which had Vennegoor of Hesselink combine well with McDonald saw the Aussie striker harshly adjudged to have fouled the goalkeeper.

But then, panic again. Crosses from the right had been the order of the night and Jadson almost benefited only to be denied heroically by Boruc who held a second shot from the same player half a minute later.

Celtic went straight up the pitch and the front two put the Shakhtar keeper under all sorts of pressure to offer a glimmer of hope. There were definite signs that the home defence had weaknesses for Celtic to exploit as the half-time whistle approached but there was to be no goal despite another corner on half time which led only to another Shakhtar attack and a further scare.

Much talking required by the Celtic manager.

But 15 minutes is a long time, memories are shoret and people are stupid so those who hadn't out their house on Shakhtar with stupid online live betting were probably imagining all kinds of heroics.

Whose afraid of the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf...

As the second half began, Celtic enjoyed more possession and looked more composed although Boruc had to look lively to stop a goal-bound deflection early on.

But Shakhtar, understandably showing less urgency, were still dangerous and Srna hit the side netting before Brandao headed over, having split the defence yet again.

Celtic were looking better with Brown and Hartley imposing themselves on the midfiled but Shakhtar's counters were truly frightening and Lucarelli tested Boruc again on the hour mark.

Celtic replaced Nakamura, who had contributed nothing, with Aiden McGeady but Shakhtar continued to raid down the right firing balls into the Celtic box at will.

Shakhtar rested Jadson, replacing him with Castillo, for a team looking utterly untroubled.

In what looked like a shout for "high ball time", Chris Killen was brought on to replace McDonald, whose buzzing runs had up to that point provided one of Celtic's few threats.

On 70 minutes, Lucarelli was replaced by Gladkiy but Celtic's route one football could have paid off when Vennegoor of Hesselink won the ball in the air only to head wide.

McGeady was causing some problems getting Celtic forward on that left flank that had proved troublesome all night. But Brandao continued to torment Celtic skinning Mark Wilson on the other side while Brown, by now collecting fouls gae away a free kick which was blasted over from 25 yards.

On 75 minutes, a crude tackle by McManus gave Shakhtar another free kick in a central area 23 yards out but Fernandinho's shot was high and wide. Three minutes later brown was penalised again and looked to be living on borrowed time but there was no movement from the bench.

McManus had an excellent chance on 79 minutes but his header from McGeady's free kick was more of a clearance. Seconds later Boruc denied Fernandinho from 30 yards and the defence somehow scrambled the ball wide.

With Shakhtar still looking the more likely team to score, Maciej Zurawski replaced Venneoor of Hesselink in the last throw of the dice, five minutes from time.

For a desperate Celtic, McGeady found Killen whose shot was saved by Pyatov but a second header when the ball was played back in missed the target. Donati then hit the side netting with Celtic's surge coming far too late.

McGeady continued to try hard and made a great late run into the box that resulted in a corner but celtic could make nothing of it.

The whistle almost came as a relief that Celtic hadn't conceded more goals, especially after Castillo almost rubbed salt into the wounds in injury time, firing just over.

All Celtic's pre-match confidence proved to be in vain, easily outclassed by the Ukrainians in an often chaotic performance. A slight improvement in the second half was no consolation for a team that yet again has preserved the worst away record in Champions League history.

Shakhtar Donetsk: Pyatov, Srna, Hubschman, Kucher, Rat, Ilsinho, Lewandowski, Fernandinho, Lucarelli (Gladkiy, 70), Jadson (Castillo, 64), Brandao. Subs (not used): Shust, Duljaj, Gay, Byelik, Yezerskiy

Booked: Srna 30

Celtic: Boruc, Wilson, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Donati, Hartley, Scott Brown, Nakamura (McGeady, 64), McDonald (Killen, 67), Vennegoor of Hesselink Zurawski, 85). Subs (not used): Mark Brown, Sno, Kennedy, O'Dea.

Booked: Brown (16)

Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)

Half-time: Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 Celtic

Scorers:
Shakhtar Donetsk: Brandao (6) , Lucarelli (8)

Gordon Strachan set his team out in almost exactly the same way as for the trip to Moscow to play Spartak with Hartley replacing McGeady on the left, the only change from that side being Gary Caldwell who retained his place from domestic duty at the expense of John Kennedy.

If the Celtic players thought they would have a chance to settle into the match, they were in for a rude awakening when Stephen McManus was put under pressure by Scott Brown pass and the centre back's awful touch fell to Brandao who shot Shakhtar ahead in six minutes.

It almost got worse one minute later when Lucarelli fired just over but the Italian had only seconds to wait before taking his chance for Shaktar's second. At that stage, Celtic were ragged and the full-backs, Wilson and Naylor, yet to report for duty.

It was shooting practice for the Ukranians with Celtic looking a hapless bunch. Scott Brown in particular, so outstanding recently, was having a Champions League night to put Thomas Gravesen to shame, picking up a yellow card in the 16th minute. At that stage he looked unlikely to finish the game, the only doubt being about whether his exit would be at the behest of Strachan or the referee.

He had little time to think about it - Lucarelli shot at Boruc a minute later and Brandao had the ball in the net only to lose out to a tight offside decision on 19 minutes. Bratislava was beginning to look like a day out at Troon.

Just when Lee Naylor, making Kirk Broadfoot look like Paolo Maldini, was mouthing off to Scott McDonald (presumably fancying a punch from someone smaller than his goalkeeper), Srna was fancying his left-back vacancy and firing in a cross that Artur Boruc did well to smother.

Naylor wasn't the only man at fault - Celtic were passing the ball like a team of blind men on stilts. It wasn't looking good.

In the 29th minute, Celtic had their first meaningful attack, Shunsuke Nakamura finding McDonald whose shot was adjudged to have been deflected for a corner. However, the Japanese international failed to beat the first man from the set piece. Moments later, Nakamura had a free-kick wide on the right which he fired in only to see Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink head over from six yards.

Celtic were gaining some possession but finding Shakhtar closing them down 25 yards out with text book defending.

On 33 minutes, Scott McDonald drew the first save of the match from Pyatov after a splendid one-two with Massiomo Donatti. Nakamura again squandered the resultant corner.

Things were starting to look better for Celtic and a sweeping move which had Vennegoor of Hesselink combine well with McDonald saw the Aussie striker harshly adjudged to have fouled the goalkeeper.

But then, panic again. Crosses from the right had been the order of the night and Jadson almost benefited only to be denied heroically by Boruc who held a second shot from the same player half a minute later.

Celtic went straight up the pitch and the front two put the Shakhtar keeper under all sorts of pressure to offer a glimmer of hope. There were definite signs that the home defence had weaknesses for Celtic to exploit as the half-time whistle approached but there was to be no goal despite another corner on half time which led only to another Shakhtar attack and a further scare.

Much talking required by the Celtic manager.

But 15 minutes is a long time, memories are shoret and people are stupid so those who haen't out their house on Shakhtar with stupid online live betting are probably imagining all kinds of heroics.

Whose afraid of the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf...
Shakhtar Donetsk: Pyatov, Srna, Hubschman, Kucher, Rat, Ilsinho, Lewandowski, Fernandinho, Lucarelli, Jadson, Brandao. Subs: Shust, Duljaj, Castillo, Gay, Byelik, Gladkiy, Yezerskiy

Celtic: Boruc, Wilson, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Donati, Hartley, Scott Brown, Nakamura, McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink. Subs: Mark Brown, Zurawski, Sno, Killen, Kennedy, McGeady, O'Dea.

Booked: Brown (16)

Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)

Dull, boring, beautiful football will do just fine

Celtic will play Shakhtar Donetsk in tonight’s opening Champions League match with one statistic illustrating the vast change the club has gone through since Martin O’Neill’s resignation. Of the 13 players who featured when the teams last met – less than three years ago – only Aiden McGeady remains at the club.

And none of the players from that truly awful night in Donetsk when Celtic were turned over 3-0 will feature tonight.

Those two matches against what was then a clever but unexceptional side showed just how far short Celtic were as Champions League challengers as well as betraying a naivety in Martin O’Neill. At Celtic Park, Shakhtar lost two men within the first 60 minutes, yet O’Neill made one of the greatest miscalculations of his career.

Rather than press on for more goals that would have allowed Celtic to at least match Shakhtar in the head-to-head standings that would become crucial if the sides were level on points, O’Neill was content to protect a one-goal lead. Afterwards, having secured Celtic’s first win of the tournament, O’Neill would fancifully claim that Celtic were in with a “fighting chance”.

Little could have been further from the truth. The reality was that the Ukrainians would only need to match Celtic’s points total to go into the UEFA Cup and so Celtic’s chance of emulating the run of the previous season was virtually dead there and then.

Though it has rarely been said openly, there was room for strong suspicion that he had failed to fully understand the rules. Ultimately, that was all academic as Shakhtar defeated a greatly weakened Barcelona in the final game, having previously failed to score in any match other than Celtic’s visit to Ukraine.

Tonight, the difference in Celtic will not just be in personnel. Having learned and greatly improved since last season’s campaign, Gordon Strachan will be haunted by a statistic of his own – last season Celtic conceded nine goals in three away group fixtures. So it should surprise no-one if the approach will be very similar to that which secured a valuable score draw in Moscow just a few weeks ago.

Strachan’s critics have been muted in recent weeks, the team having delivered goals and excitement as well as points. But hopefully, they aren’t just waiting to wail about an opening Champions League performance that should focus on defending and, Strachan might feel, the duller the better..

With Celtic, Shakhtar, and Benfica unlikely to be separated by more than two points come the end of the group campaign, one point each in Donetsk and Lisbon would give Celtic a tremendous chance of qualifying from an extremely difficult group.

The energy and attacking instincts of Scott Brown, matched with the positional control of Massimo Donati, give Celtic the potential to gain control of the midfield. If they do so, the points will come, even against a club that spent £40m on players in the summer.

But, having come through the group stages for the first time last season and having overcome the most difficult qualifier imaginable against Spartak, Celtic have won a degree of respect that entitles the team to face the biggest challenges with justifiable confidence rather than fear or foolish expectation.

So now is the time for the players to show the world that Celtic are a side to be reckoned with. And the fans can learn to love, dull, boring football.

Rangers stiff signing for £75k

Good old Dave! Who says he’s tight with his money? After it was widely reported that Stephen Naismith had followed the growing trend of players donating a portion of their transfer payment to their old club – a very noble gesture – Kilmarnock chairman Michael Johnston has set the record straight: “It is not true that Steven gave us £75,000. We have not received a donation from him.

“It is true that he waived the fee, but that was to help Rangers meet the price we had asked.”

After losing out on Derek Riordan and David Murray’s brash claims about excessive spending at Ibrox, it is interesting to note that such relatively small sums seem to make such a difference. Perhaps Rangers really are that cash-strapped or perhaps more plausibly the “£1.9m” Rangers were reported to have paid (remember they were adamant they would not pay Kilmarnock's price) actually became £1.925m with Naismith’s contribution allowing Murray and his friends in the media to claim Rangers were not swayed by lowly Killie who had demanded £2m all along.

What a great start to a professional relationship when a young footballer is expected to use his own money to save face for Dave.

SPL should tackle St Mirren after Celtic abuse

Way back in November 2006, a St Mirren stadium announcer took it upon himself, without prior authorisation, to remark on "disgraceful chanting" by Celtic supporters at Love Street urging fans "to keep the good name of St Mirren intact by not responding to sectarian songs being sung at today's game".

At that time, St Mirren chairman Stewart Gilmour responded: "The comments were definitely off his own back but I thought it was fair comment. We certainly did not ask for it to be said. I have no problem with what [the announcer] said and I am glad to say this is not a problem we have at St Mirren."

Well, Mr Gilmour, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander and anyone who witnessed the behaviour of St Mirren fans at their ground in the 5-1 thrashing by Celtic should be asking the club and the SPL to take a stance against the conduct of their own supporters.

The recent standards of unacceptable conduct as set out by the football authorities, specifically prohibit fans from abusing players by raising doubts about their sexuality. Yet Paul Hartley was continually abused by St Mirren fans with the chant “Paul Hartley is GAY”.

Therefore, unless the SPL match observer was deaf or only paying attention to Celtic fans, the rules in place now clearly demand an investigation into St Mirren.

It is amazing that the fans of Scotland’s other clubs continually sneer at the conduct of Celtic and Rangers fans when they are often rife with bigots of their own. But St Mirren chose to make themselves part of this story and now is the time to insist that they take their own responsibilities seriously.

A person present at or in the immediate environs of an Official Match engages in Unacceptable Conduct where their conduct is violent and/or disorderly.

Disorderly conduct includes (i) conduct which stirs up or sustains or is likely or designed to stir up or sustain, hatred or ill will against or towards a group of persons based on their membership or presumed membership of a group defined by reference to a category mentioned below or against an individual who is or is presumed to be a member of such group; (ii) using threatening, abusive or insulting words or conduct; or (iii) displaying any writing or other thing which is threatening, abusive or insulting.

“Presumed” means presumed by the person or persons engaged in the conduct.

The categories referred to above are:-

• female or male gender;

• colour, race, nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origin;

• membership of a religious group or of a social or cultural group with a perceived religious affiliation;

• sexual orientation;

• transgender identity; and disability.

Losing the new winning for club in crisis

Anyone with more than a passing knowledge of the Scottish media knows that the notion of Rangers supporters manning the desks at newspapers is not paranoid fiction – it’s farcical fact.

There could be many explanations for this – sheer juvenile pettiness being the least sinister and perhaps most plausible. Fortunately, though, there are two things in favour of those who would draw attention to the naked and idiotic level of imbalance in reporting Celtic and Rangers. Firstly, with notable exceptions, the average sports journalist in Scotland has about as much intelligence as fashion sense and that is displayed with a heck of a lot of, gold, aftershave and hair gel.

Secondly, they provide written evidence of their partiality in the shape of their bemusing observations. For example, let us suppose that newspapers were confidently predicting that a Scottish club would sign a player - Julien Faubert, for argument’s sake – and that player went on to sign for West Ham for a significantly higher fee than was offered by a club like, say, Rangers.

Would you expect a tabloid to think of this as headline news or choose to splash with the “exclusive” that another pop at signing Carlos Cuellar was on the cards? Curiously, newspapers such as the Sunday Mail seem to prefer to lead with flimsy speculation than hard news – that the transfer coup that had been touted was no more pie in the sky.

Meanwhile, another tabloid prefers to claim that Steven Naismith will sign for a fee that had already been rejected by Kilmarnock. In fairness, if Celtic decline to make a bid for Naismith, there is some possibility that he will start next season at Ibrox, with the small proviso that Rangers find the money to offer some realistic fee. And for the record, bidding £4m for a player who you know won’t move for less than £6m does not indicate an ability to pay big money – Gretna could offer £100m for Ronaldinho if they wished (much like Rangers’ previous “attempt” to sign Ronaldo).

These pundits are fooling only themselves and Rangers supporters desperate to believe in the tooth fairy. Who knows – maybe tomorrow there will be a shilling under Walter Smith’s pillow.

Celtic, politics and war crimes a bad mix

Yesterday, the headlines brought a load of jitters for Celtic supporters with fears – that the club tried hard to allay – that Shunsuke Nakamura might leave; and for only £1million. We are entitled to our cold sweats on such occasions as there are two main types of Celtic fan: those who love Nakamura and those who prefer other clubs.

But, in the best traditions of political spin, a potentially more damaging blow was floated in the press and played down by mainstream media and independent fan sites alike. That was the credible suggestion that the Right Honourable Dr John Reid MP might be offered a place on the board of directors at Celtic Park.

Let us be clear on one thing – Reid’s Celtic-mindedness is not in question as anyone who has witnessed the super-smooth passing of his vehicle to the main doors of the stadium will testify. The fact of his being ushered to his place with such efficiency shouldn’t irk horn-tooting Celtic fans too much – Special Branch takes charge of that sort of thing, with Protectevent left to deal with the lower-risk targets.

But in an era when Celtic fans have rightly enjoyed – if not always fully recognised – the fact that we now rarely need fear the back pages of a red-top press dominated by a desire to define our club as in crisis, the Kerrydale Street suits have taken a monumental risk. Or to be more figuratively melodramatic – they have thrown a loaded gun in the air and invited the unidentified catcher to do as they please.

With such a dangerously bad plan, it is difficult to know where to start in highlighting exactly why such a decision would be so wrong. So let’s focus on the uncertainty – the fact that no-one will confirm or deny such a proposition exists. From a cynic’s point of view, that all seems very in keeping with the New Labour style Reid so readily adopted – float controversial proposals with an unsubstantiated off-the-record briefing and test the public response, particularly when there is a more engaging story to capture the attention.

If that is the case, the relative lack of media interest will only convince Reid, Peter Lawwell, Brian Quinn and Dermot Desmond that such a move will be accepted by fans and a Scottish news industry that has been in the pocket of the Labour party for decades.

But what does Reid bring: political contacts and nous? Certainly, he self-evidently has all of those in spades, hence his rise to the roles of Health Minister, Home Secretary, Minister of Defence and Secretary of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland. Balancing that has been a “combative” style that has been likened to a Rottweiler’s, aggressive attempts to bully dissenters into submission and a contempt for debate on matters of such trivia as international law; of life and death.

The latter issue should be of greatest concern to Celtic directors, sponsors and supporters. Let’s not forget that history – and many still hope an international court – may yet judge key figures in our government to be war criminals due to its illegal invasion of Iraq, against the will of the British people and at the cost of thousands of innocent lives, not to mention Scottish soldiers. John Reid has been one of the most ruthless proponents of this indefensible calamity. Is it supported by even a sizeable minority of Celtic fans?

Do our supporters in North America, where distaste for the war is growing rapidly, feel the need for one of Tony Blair’s arch henchmen to take a position of honour and influence at Celtic? Will Reid help promote the Celtic “brand” worldwide in countries where his beloved war is reviled?

What does all this promise of Reid’s sensitivity and sympathy towards the feelings of fans? True, he once made a shamefully misguided attempt at populism as the former health minister who urged that people should be left to smoke. That sort of blunt knife approach to public opinion has largely been eradicated from Celtic since the wreckage of the Kelly-White era was salvaged to create a modern corporation that understood how to communicate.

The suits at Celtic have done remarkably well in recent years in turning around a club that routinely got a kicking on and off the football field.

That they should even contemplate entertaining the contemptible practices of tobacco companies and comparable organisations seeking to use old-pals leverage for political gains without regard to the views of the people who support the club smacks of a small group of men who are in danger of losing touch catastrophically.

Few politicians rise to the heady levels Reid has enjoyed without dirt or blood on their hands. He has been no noble exception. Hearts made a similarly audacious move with the, by comparison, angelic George Foulkes. Presumably this example impressed some of the powers that be at Celtic.

Finally, it is perhaps only proper to apologise to Celtic supporters for, on this occasion, rejecting Peter Lawwell’s request to disassociate Celtic from politics. If we hear no more talk of Reid’s involvement at Celtic, it might be easier to comply in future.

John Reid on Wikipedia

George Galloway on John Reid

Stop sobbing, Deek

"So what happens? He gets the title shot outdoors on the ballpark and what do I get? A one-way ticket to Palooka-ville!"

Derek Riordan, who has been whining to the tabloid press about his tough time at Celtic strikes me as a nice enough lad with no sense and a fondness for the dummy.

I always suspected he wasn't the brightest when he said that his mother knew how to pronounce Riordan but his dad didn't because "look at the way it's spelled". It's just as well his old mum didn't marry Mr Colquhoun or Deek would be spitting out a heck of a mouthful to the polis at weekends.

Several months ago Stephen Pearson who gave everything to get into the team, had to move on but acted like a Celtic player should with maturity and dignity. Almost every Celtic fan is delighted that Pearo earned promotion to the Premiership. In his place we have a greetin'-faced wee boy who thinks that the odd flash of ability makes him a certain starter. He is a good player who can either knuckle down or head off to West Brom or Cardiff City.

Gordon Strachan gave all the strikers a chance - admittedly Kenny Miller more than others. That was because Miller's attitude and work rate meant that the team always got something out of him and because he deserved every break he could get. If Riordan, Craig Beattie, Maciej Zurawski or even Jiri Jarosik had turned chances to goals in the way that Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink managed, they would have been regular starters. I'm sure WGS would have loved that scenario - not least because the title would have been wrapped up in March.

So save the whine, Deek, look at videos of Lee Naylor, from your mansion that Celtic paid for, and figure out what he's doing and you're not - and get your hair cut!

Lisbon Lions week: the second greatest story ever told

“What a result. What a performance. I hope this will change the trend that has made football defensive and dull. This was a victory for attractive, attacking football and that is the most important thing to remember.”
Jock Stein

"Massive attacking" . . . "a victory for sport"

Dare it be said, The Scotsman's account of that 25th May 1967 deserves to be read. What a pity there is no by-line attached to the story.

"In old Lisbon tonight Celtic annihilated Inter-Milan by a single goal. They were hailed uproariously as new champions of Europe and not since Real Madrid in 1960 has there been more decisive and satisfying winners of the European Champions Cup. They were great as they became the first club ever to win their National Championship, their National Cup and the European Cup."

"All who sat in this great national stadium in the burning sunshine were happy that once more attacking football had won. Those of us who were Scots and indeed British were wildly emotional and we ranged from those who had hitch-hiked across the 1,700 miles of Europe to those of us who thought we were blase and had seen it all.We do not like to see a football field invaded, but when these Celtic supporters broke at the end and knelt and kissed the turf, and some “howked” out souvenir clods, we could understand."

How The Scotsman reported Celtic's triumph

Novo makes a fool of himself (again)

Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
Abraham Lincoln

Football journalists get it wrong. That much is clear and, sometimes, depending on the journalist, they get it wrong more often than not, sometimes deliberately.

Add to that the fact that they report on footballers who don’t need to pass any academic exams to earn their corn and the results can be farcical. Witness the idiotic piece circulating from the Press Association from football luminary, Nacho Novo, criticising Scott Brown.

"We have no interest in players who have no interest in coming to play for this club," he said.

"If he wants to go and play for another club, it is his loss, not our loss.

"Everybody knows Scott Brown is a great player but it is one thing to play for Hibs and another thing to play for Celtic.

"£4.4million is a lot of money and he will need to prove himself. He is a good player but every player needs to prove himself. I think he will do so because he is a talented player and a strong, young lad.

"I know Celtic is a big club as well but we want players who are committed to coming here and decide to come here."

The piece then also claims: “Novo, 28, found himself in a similar position four years ago when he was courted by both halves of the Old Firm after scoring a huge number of goals at Dundee”.

There is one similarity in the two cases – Nacho Novo wasn’t made an offer by Celtic and Scott Brown wasn’t made an offer by Rangers. In Novo’s case, he was shown around the stadium but Martin O’Neill declined to make a move for him. For Brown’s transfer, Rangers were ruled out of the bidding when the asking price reached £3.5million. So the fact that Brown clearly indicated his desire to play for Celtic months ago was largely irrelevant.

There was only one winner when Celtic “lost out” in the Novo case – Rangers found themselves with a thoroughly nasty player who disappointed when he was most needed and constantly made unintelligent but provocative remarks.

It wouldn’t be hard for Brown to do better.

Celtic make historic signing

The worst thing you can do to a young footballer is make outrageous claims as to their potential or compare them to all-time greats. For that reason, apologies are extended to Scott Brown, who has agreed a five-year deal with Celtic at a reported fee of £4.4 million.

Anyone who makes stupid predictions (also see video two below) is putting himself in the firing line but let The Celts are Here stick its neck on the line and say that Celtic have signed the major emerging midfield talent in British football and one who, with hard work, discipline and effective coaching will be drawing comparisons to Roy Keane in a very short time.

The move is a testament to the vision of Gordon Strachan, the financial strength of the board and the ambition of the player himself in choosing a lower financial package than offered elsewhere for the chance to play in a team that is still in the ascendancy and one with real hopes of making an impact in European competition.

It is no secret that, despite what is on paper a near embarrassment of riches in the midfield, Strachan was faced with three positions in that area in which no player has made himself indispensable. That is the first target for Skoosh and one that he is more than capable of achieving.

Players like Brown are few and far between - box-to-box specialists, full of energy, making vital tackles and crucially having enough of an understanding of the game around them to make a vital forward pass within a split second of winning the ball. Anyone who has watched Brown's game over the years will have seen a player who has the sharp instincts and determination to match his talent. Don't be surprised if this proves to be one of the club's most significant signings for years.

Keep Madeleine in mind

In common with many other sites, we are joining with Celtic Football Club to publicise the plight of Madeleine McCann. The following statement appeared on the club website yesterday:

Celtic players will wear yellow armbands at tomorrow’s game against Aberdeen to mark the fourth birthday of Madeleine McCann, the little girl who was abducted in Portugal last Thursday, May 3.

The club hopes that the gesture will help keep the focus on the search for Madeleine. Celtic, where Madeleine's dad, Gerry, had worked before moving to England, were asked to help by the little girl's aunt.

A Celtic spokesperson said: “We were approached to wear the yellow armbands and naturally we were very happy to agree to this. Hopefully, this will keep the focus on the search for Madeleine.

"Clearly, the thoughts of everyone at the club are with Madeleine and her family at this extremely difficult time and, of course, we are pleased to be able to offer any kind of help or comfort that we possibly can."

The family of Madeleine McCann have already made an appeal through the club, for help in the search to find her.

They have asked that, if anyone has any information about Madeleine’s whereabouts, they should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 (UK).

Who are the Celts fans in Camp Nou hall of fame?

Anyone who has toured the museum in Barcelona's Camp Nou should take some time to browse the magnificent collection of photographs evoking the spirit of football across the world. If you do so, don't miss the series of photos of some of our very own fans, entitled "The passion of the football fan".

These pictures come from a Spanish sports magazine and were taken during Barca's visit to Celtic Park in 2004 (the caption doesn't say which one).

But who are these fans - do you know? Are you pictured? Do the fans themselves realise they have been immortalised in one of the great sporting grounds of the world?

If you know anyone pictured, please send an email to theceltsarehere@gmail.com or leave a comment below.

Lest we forget - the Celtic title party

No time for coasting at Celtic

Unlike some of our counterparts, most Celtic fans can acknowledge the phenomenon of being beaten by a better team on the day and Rangers were certainly that at Ibrox on Saturday.

Despite what some might care to suggest, there is only one type of Old Firm defeat – a bad one and, while we should view this season in its entirety rather than constantly whining about failings of style or substance, it is also fair to note that sometimes the players just do not perform.

From a personal perspective, it is difficult to think of one Rangers player who would be preferred to his opposite number in green and white by any objective observer. That said, Walter Smith has now secured two wins over Celtic through employing the old-fashioned methods of organisation, guts and graft. Celtic’s players ought to take note.

Boruc, McManus, Lennon, Naylor, Nakamura and Vennegoor of Hesselink have been the only players guaranteed a start when fit since the season began. The reason is obvious – they always show up when needed. Others, whether big names like Gravesen, super talents like McGeady and Riordan or major signings who combine trying hard with true talent, like Miller and Hartley have had to come to terms with dropability (it will be the new sports hacks’ buzzword by next season).

Strachan has pursued a wise and courageous policy in demanding that players perform to the highest standard at all times to earn a place in the team. When he has eight or nine un-droppable players, Celtic will have a team to reckon with – and one that need not learn embarrassing lessons from less talented but more focused opponents.

Stand up for the wee man

“If you’re an O or a Mac, for the love of St Patrick, let me in.”

We may not have Walter Macken to stir our emotions or guide our thoughts today but one thing we do have – a manager of Celtic who is marked by neither of the above. We also have one of the finest managers in our history.

In these days when some of the old, perhaps “trivial” traditions of our club are treated with so much disdain, it is perhaps worth reflecting on what it means to be in that role.

Once, and not so very long ago, the manager of Celtic had a special status in the community of Celtic supporters. Celtic fans have always been proud to know what they stand for. Those simple but profound values need not be articulated here – anyone who requires guidance ought to do some study in order to “know your history”.

Amongst the unshakeable values was an understanding of the status of key individuals. Throughout the darkest days of the club, the supporters stood shoulder-to-shoulder with those fighting their cause on the pitch and the man on whom the role of club figurehead was bestowed.

We have no ceremonial swords with which to confer honours. Instead, we have the glory of tradition, handed down through generations, and an ethos so easily translated that it is readily adopted by those who discover Celtic as if a new bloom in a garden.

We also have won over even our most bitter opponents with the love and acceptance extended to all who seek our embrace. It was this that converted a Rangers-supporting Jock Stein to a Siegfried-like figure, embodying all the virtues that would shape our common psyche. It was this that shaped the sentiments of Daniel Fergus McGrain, Kenny Dalglish and scores of others.

When Stein replaced the greatest goal-scorer in British football history as manager, it has often been mentioned that he continued to address him as ”boss”. This was more than psychology and regard for the person. Stein understood the importance of acknowledging the status of any man who endured countless pains in order to lead a legion of people devoted to his cause. When certain individuals then failed to extend that respect to the greatest-ever Celt, a knife-wound was created, painful to the faithful, and one that would set fans against those who had enjoyed an unearned privileged status at a club they were unfit to run.

Today we have a man who has devoted himself to our cause – and done so with such skill and artistry that, given the chance, he seems likely to chisel his name into our story with such conviction that he may yet re-write the future of Celtic. How sad that he has yet to earn the unconditional love and support of the faithful.

But each day is a new one and today presents a wonderful opportunity to rediscover the loyalty (a word that we too are allowed to use) so deserved by anyone who gives his all for Celtic. We face our oldest rivals buoyed by success and with our manager facing down Scottish football’s establishment having been wronged at his finest moment by a “coward whose name is not worthy to appear here”.

But we need not write his epitaph – we can and should sing his praises from the stands of Ibrox, Hampden or Celtic Park.

Jock Stein was neither an “O” nor a “Mac” but, for the love of St Patrick, let Gordon Strachan in.

Turning full circle

It’s been a long wait.

For anyone who endured the Souness/Smith and early Advocaat era at Celtic, the memories are still raw. Rangers were signing England internationals. Celtic were signing Martin Hayes, Wayne Biggins and Carl Muggleton.

Rangers were playing in the Champions League. Celtic were losing to Neuchatel Xamax in the Uefa cup.

Rangers had cash in abundance. Celtic had biscuit crumbs.

Rangers had the Laudrup/Gascoigne halo effect. Everything Celtic had turned to Scheidt.

But maybe – and it’s only a maybe – it was worth it.

The late 80s and early 90s saw Rangers in full “we arra peepul” cry. And didn’t they let us know it. Ably assisted by their fans in the Scottish press, they took every opportunity to brandish their superior cash, their super stadium and their success. They mocked, condemned and humiliated Celtic fans, players and managers. But when people have egomaniac tendencies, they rarely have friends to advocate humility. The best they might have is a sensible wife urging them to watch their spending, save a little for a rainy day. Rangers lacked that – and it’s been bucketing down lately.

You can cheerfully ignore what the tabloids tell you. The evidence of Rangers’ decline is there to be perused – the third place finish last season, the offloading of their own youth development programme, giving up their retail outlets, the fact that they are about to embark on a fourth full overhaul of the squad, post-Advocaat, with ever-cheaper players coming in.

Meanwhile, Celtic are not satisfied with signing players like Thomas Gravesen from Real Madrid or a Dutch full international striker in Jan Venegoor of Hesselink – one of the best strikers in Britain – or even Shunsuke Nakamura, who must surely be tempting the aforementioned Real Madrid, given the fact that he is a far superior player to the right-sided free kick specialist who will be plying his trade in Los Angeles next season.

Why is all this relevant? Because, at long last, that hex sign that hung over Celtic Park for more than a decade seems to have moved south. Only football (and Nacho Novo) seems to have that quite merciless ability to put the studs in when a man is down and nearly out - the sort of thing that sees an already fragile club finding itself facing sanctions for signing a player who was injured before he could play a game.

We are now going to see just how much of a miracle-worker Walter Smith is – without the luxury of a Laudrup, Gascoigne or Hately, though there’s always a Coisty.

And somehow, it’s difficult to imagine Celtic messing up the position of supremacy that has been so hard won.

Many Celtic fans are wary of gloating too much over their rivals’ embarrassments – perhaps the memories are too raw; perhaps there is the superstition that pride will precipitate another fall; maybe it just seems like bad manners. And choosing not to seek out Rangers fans for harassment is certainly the more dignified and meritorious approach.

But remember this the next time you allow yourself a chuckle of schadenfreude. All the problems that Rangers are now enduring are the results of their crass "Loadsamoney” tactics beginning in the 1980s and carrying on throughout the David Murray reign.

They are paying for their vainglorious excesses. And, for all those Celtic fans who endured the jibes, the headlines and the cracked crests – you’ve paid for this time in full. Enjoy it – it’s yours.

The ins and outs of a transfer window

We are used to it now – the silence that hangs over Celtic Park when it’s transfer time. But that doesn’t seem as difficult to put up with as it once was because, unlike during the bad old times of the Kelly dynasty, Celtic actually get things done these days.

Just a few months ago, we were wondering who the hell Lee Naylor was, having expected Michael Kadlec to sign from Sparta Prague. Half-way through the season, Naylor now looks to be one of the best left backs in British football making a nonsense of any disappointment at losing out on Kadlec.

There is a new professionalism at Celtic, headed by financial heavyweights of international standing in Dermot Desmond and Brian Quinn, Peter Lawell a chief executive who understands the value of getting on with doing business rather than making himself a television personality and, crucially, in Gordon Strachan a manager who has been more thorough in his approach than any of his predecessors – and more so than virtually all of his peers.

Strachan occasionally refers to his database containing several alternatives to all of his prime targets. This – and the fact that he doesn’t attempt to hold a gun to Lawell’s head, demanding his first choice signing at all costs – gives Celtic an immensely strong bargaining hand when it comes to bringing in talent. The success of the Naylor signing, apparently a third choice for Strachan, merely increases confidence that failing to persuade one target to sign will not undermine the immense progress that is being made on the park.

All this is more pertinent when considering the case of Anthony Stokes, who it seems is likely to sign for Charlton or Sunderland when offered the chance to join a team with some genuine top-class players, experience Champions League football and be at a club where the likes of Henrik Larsson have come to international prominence.

Stokes is entitled to make his own decisions, though passing up the chance to sign for Celtic for financial reasons may be a decision he will regret. The good news is that there is room for real confidence that whoever Strachan turns to is likely to be a quality player. In fact, he has yet to make a poor signing.

Various names have been bandied about as potential strikers with the unpalatable fact being that hard-working, gifted players such as Maciej Zurawski and Kenny Miller are simply not scoring enough goals.

At least one central defender will be required for the Champions League with suitable cover at left back a necessity, given the physical abuse Naylor has received on the pitch. And the names Scott Brown and Kevin Thomson continue to be linked to the club.

On the way out are Stephen Pearson – an excellent player who has simply been unable to overcome ferocious opposition in securing a left-sided place and Alan Thompson who will be asked to close the door quietly on the way out, given the fact that he has rarely looked interested in breaking sweat since Martin O’Neill gave him one of those bumper contracts he reserved for his favourite players.

But what is so exciting for Celtic just now is the fact that the rapid improvement in the quality of the squad seems to be continuing under the most astute manager the club has had in decades. Meanwhile, we compete with a Rangers in disarray, faced with the near certainty of a second season without a trophy, with perhaps the fifth-best squad in Scotland and precious little money for the much hailed miracle worker Walter Smith to use in effecting a recovery.

All this as Sir David “Moonbeam” Murray prepares to hand over the remnants of a once mighty Rangers to another investor. Investing, in what, one wonders.

Dream boss at Rangers cheers Celtic

It has now been established that Barry Ferguson is a disruptive influence at Ibrox Park and footballing genius Paul Le Guen has taken strong steps to eliminate such elements from his team. This should be welcomed by everyone who loves football – therefore Celtic – and can’t help chortling at the Gorgie-esque pantomime that is currently developing at Rangers.

It is well worth remembering that Wee Bazza is the same veteran of the Battle of Bothwell and a younger sibling of Derek, who Graeme Souness once sold to Hearts without consulting him, apparently believing that Fergie major would prove to be the undoing of Ian Durrant. And that should be remembered for two reasons – as a reminder that Bazza hadn’t benefited from the ideal example of how to handle the Old Firm ”goldfish bowl” and, more importantly, the strides that he has taken towards attaining the maturity required to recognise the potential for good or ill that attaches itself to an Old Firm captain.

Many Celtic fans seem to feel that antipathy towards Barry Ferguson should be a natural response, given his foolish youthful ventures, and chest-pounding demonstrations of his near-obsessive love for Glasgow’s second team. Yet, it is clear that he has grown up and learned that a degree of dignity doesn’t take 132 years to develop. That has translated itself to a degree of – whisper it – respect from a substantial number of Celtic fans who are prepared to forget youthful aberrations and maybe even see shades of Paul McStay in the loyalty Ferguson has shown to a club in decline.

But of course, loyalty is in abundant supply at Ibrox, according to Sir David Moonbeam, who brushes over the hundreds of staff who lost jobs at Rangers shops when he talks of how cleverly he moved on Walter Smith, Dick Advocaat and Alex McLeish. And already Ferguson’s loyalty to Rangers is being questioned by the “please let’s have a miracle” element of the Govan Thistle support. After all, didn’t Bazza run out on the club – having signed a contract and then accepted a move to the Blackburn Bank of Souness that many cynics interpreted as the ultimate act of sacrifice from a player who had been made aware of the fact that his beloved club’s desperate need for money was more pressing than their need for a midfielder.

Then, the revisionist story goes, he “came running back” from a far better opportunity, with Rangers ploughing through a quagmire and commentators questioning the fine line between loyalty and insanity.

Today, his failings are more extreme. He has been trying to exert too much influence on a Rangers team that is, quite frankly, abysmal. This is not working the way Paul Le Guen wants. But Le Guen, before his crude attempt to cash in on and vilify Ferguson in one move is more reticent on a number of key facts
- the ONLY players at Rangers who have been any good this season are those who were deemed inadequate by Le Genius
- Ferguson has been the best of all of them
- Le Guen has demonstrated the sort of horse sense in the market that sees people come home with 20-year-old Clydesdales with ginger under their tails.

But more importantly, it seems that Ferguson’s complaints that his team-mates haven’t performed to an acceptable level equate to unwelcome interference, as interpreted by Le Guen. Luckily, the fair and loyal Sir Dave is on hand to repay loyalty with a P45.

All of this is great news for Celtic. Our only credible rivals are in a financially frail condition while their manager gets rid of his best player for suggesting that standards improve.

2007 looks like being a happy and prosperous gloat-fest of a year. Enjoy it!