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Thursday 2 October 2008

The champions league away record

Well, well, well, surprise....
the hoops fail again to get anything away from paradise in europe.

Here's my theory.

We are not on a level with other teams such as villareal, porto, benfica, liverpool, etc....

The reason our home record is so good is because when we're at home most teams come up against an atmosphere rarely seen at any ground in europe and a wall of sound which can seem deafening at times. This must really put the majority of players off. And therefore cannot really play their normal game.

I think this is the main reason for our success at home, although when we go away, we do not have that massive big night atmosphere combined with the wall of noise coming from all the lunatics in the stands.

Thursday 18 September 2008

Celtic vs Aalborg


Last night was a disappointing night for everyone connected with Celtic football club. Although I think that we are a victim of our own success at home.

Last night the script said that we were to hammer the danish opposition with some ease, but as you know, football doesn't always work like that. Watching the daily huddle last night with John Collins and Peter Latchford, it would seem that everyone had the same view, Celtic were dead certs for a result. I had a the back of my mind that we are unstoppable at home, and that perhaps we were due a bad result. Ok barca have beaten us twice at home, but that's it. No other team in the champions league has even drawn with us at home.

I think a little complacency slipped into the Celtic play last night, there was a massive midfield battle going on for the majority of the game. The defence and especially Artuc Boruc had very little to do. We had most of the possession and pressure, but we never done anything with it.

I thought Samaras had a good game up front, however Scott MacDonald wasn't really buzzing around as he usually is. Naka was fairly quiet in the first half, but started to come onto a game in the second.

I was a little surprised the exclusion of McGeady. I know that Maloney has played well the last couple of games, however McGeady has also been on fire this season and last season. I though Strachan would have gone with McGeady. Although in saying this, I did think Maloney played well, perhaps overdoing it at times when he could be whipping the ball into the box.

Scott Brown played Ok, I though, I certainly think that we have not seen the best of this young man, I watched him when he was at hibs and he was immense, I think he can replicate this at Celtic, but he needs games and confidence. I would urge fans to get behind him and show him some encouragement.

Monday 15 September 2008

Motherwell vs Celtic

Well, well, well, as they say.... its a game of 2 halves!

I thought celtic were immense on saturday, will excellent displays from most of the team, with Samaras and Maloney sticking out. All of the goals were beautufully crafted and finished clinically. I though that the best goal by far was the last goal of the 2nd half with samaras slotting the ball home. The build up was brazil-esque with around 4-5 one touch passed and a deft back heel slipping samaras into the goal mouth area. It was great to watch. Its not often nowadays that we can get such entertaining football like that. Although Aiden McGeady does provide that type of genius on a regular basis.

2nd half was a different story as celtic looked ragged at points as motherwell piled on the pressure. They certainly did not look like a team getting hammered 4 nil after the 2nd half whistle went. They were on a mission, God only knows what Mark McGhee said to them at half time, I would have loved to be a fly on the wall.

Shaun Maloney
When there was talk of little Shaun coming back to the club, I did feel that perhaps we should not entertain the possiblity of him returning, after all, it was his decision to leave the club and I thought that he had his chance. I did not think that we should take him back after him turning his back on us. Although when I actually thought about this, I felt that maybe he was just a little niaive and could see the $$$$ of the premiership - you would only know what this is like if you have been in his position. I also remembered how good a player he was, and some of his performances before he left were sublime.

The way I see it, is if he can do a job and add the the quality of the squad, then why not.

By the way he played on saturday, I think this was an astute move by Strachan and Lawell.