portbhoy
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You got to be in it to win it :Laugh:
Celtic FC Thread
- Thread starter MH
- Start date
Watched the full game and enjoyed it. Classic example on the only way to punch above your weight. Park the bus and hope for a lucky break or two.
So nearly worked too. Very unlucky not to get a point but your lot played well against a world class side. I fear for you at Celtic park unless you adopt the exact same tactics
So nearly worked too. Very unlucky not to get a point but your lot played well against a world class side. I fear for you at Celtic park unless you adopt the exact same tactics
portbhoy
Inactive User
The 125 candles on Celtic’s birthday cake were extinguished with a result that flared around Europe as they administered Barcelona’s first defeat of the season courtesy of a Victor Wanyama header and a dazzling strike on the break by the 18-year-old Tony Watt, despite a frantic late rally that saw Lionel Messi score his inevitable goal.
Yet fate had dealt Lennon a mixed hand over the course of the day. The news that Georgios Samaras had overcome the ankle injury which caused him to be replaced during the first half in Barcelona was countered by the absence of Scott Brown - understood to have succumbed to a virus - which added the Celtic captain to a casualty list that deprived the manager of Emilio Izaguirre, James Forrest and Gary Hooper and left him with three teenagers on the bench - Tony Watt, Dylan McGeouch and John Herron. The alternatives available to Tito Vilanove were immense by contrast - Gerard Pique, Cesc Fabregas, David Villa, to name but three.
In such circumstances, when Celtic’s sinews required to be stiffened and spirits to be summoned there could not have been a more inspiring backdrop than the teams encountered when they took the field to a stunning array of spectator-borne colours which spelt out a tribute to the club’s 125th anniversary, superlative even by the standard of such choreographed displays.
Lionel Messi was to display a moment of characteristically wondrous skill before half time when he accepted a prompt from Andrés Iniesta and juggled the ball from right foot to left and off the crossbar in less time than it takes you to read this description of the attempt. So swift was Messi’s reaction that it required examination of the slow motion TV replays to discern that Fraser Forster had actually got the tips of his glove to the shot.
By that time, though, the most explosive development had seen Celtic seize the initiative. Just as they had done in the first meeting of these sides they took the lead from a setpiece.
Celtic had put in their work on the training ground. Charlie Mulgrew’s delivery was pitched perfectly beyond the back post and Victor Wanyama timed his run perfectly to beat Alex Song to the punch and head sweetly past Victor Valdes.
The priority for Celtic was to preserve their lead to the distant interval, a feat that had eluded them in Catalonia, where Iniesta equalised just before the break. But Barcelona refused to yield the ball and there were two heart stopping moments. One came when Dani Alves crossed for Alexis Sánchez to cushion a header beautifully across Forster but the ball skipped off the far post and out. The other was a Jordi Alba cutback bound for Messi’s straining boot until Forster inserted a hand to divert and allow Kelvin Wilson to clear.
Barca became increasingly frantic following the break but a world class Forster stop thwarted Messi and it was the goalkeeper who got the assist, with a kick from hand, when Watt left Mascherano for dead to finish perfectly and ensure a victory which could not be diverted even by Messi’s strike in stoppage time as the skies over the east end of Glasgow boomed to the Hoops’ euphoric anthems.
Celtic (4-4-1-1): Forster; Lustig (Watt 72), Ambrose, Wilson, Matthews; Commons, Wanyama, Ledley, Mulgrew; Samaras (Kayal 79); Miku. Subs: Zaluska (g), McCourt, Herron, Fraser, McGeouch.
Booked: Miku.
Goals: Wanyama 21, Watt 83
Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes; Dani Alves, Bartra (Pique 71), Mascherano, Jordi Alba; Xavi, Song (Fabregas 71), Iniesta; Pedro, Messi, Alexis (Villa 65). Subs: Pinto, Jonathan, Montoya, Tello.
Booked: Song, Jordi Alba.
Goal: Messi 90
Referee: B Kuipers (Holland)
Celtic 2 Barcelona 1: match report - Telegraph
Yet fate had dealt Lennon a mixed hand over the course of the day. The news that Georgios Samaras had overcome the ankle injury which caused him to be replaced during the first half in Barcelona was countered by the absence of Scott Brown - understood to have succumbed to a virus - which added the Celtic captain to a casualty list that deprived the manager of Emilio Izaguirre, James Forrest and Gary Hooper and left him with three teenagers on the bench - Tony Watt, Dylan McGeouch and John Herron. The alternatives available to Tito Vilanove were immense by contrast - Gerard Pique, Cesc Fabregas, David Villa, to name but three.
In such circumstances, when Celtic’s sinews required to be stiffened and spirits to be summoned there could not have been a more inspiring backdrop than the teams encountered when they took the field to a stunning array of spectator-borne colours which spelt out a tribute to the club’s 125th anniversary, superlative even by the standard of such choreographed displays.
Lionel Messi was to display a moment of characteristically wondrous skill before half time when he accepted a prompt from Andrés Iniesta and juggled the ball from right foot to left and off the crossbar in less time than it takes you to read this description of the attempt. So swift was Messi’s reaction that it required examination of the slow motion TV replays to discern that Fraser Forster had actually got the tips of his glove to the shot.
By that time, though, the most explosive development had seen Celtic seize the initiative. Just as they had done in the first meeting of these sides they took the lead from a setpiece.
Celtic had put in their work on the training ground. Charlie Mulgrew’s delivery was pitched perfectly beyond the back post and Victor Wanyama timed his run perfectly to beat Alex Song to the punch and head sweetly past Victor Valdes.
The priority for Celtic was to preserve their lead to the distant interval, a feat that had eluded them in Catalonia, where Iniesta equalised just before the break. But Barcelona refused to yield the ball and there were two heart stopping moments. One came when Dani Alves crossed for Alexis Sánchez to cushion a header beautifully across Forster but the ball skipped off the far post and out. The other was a Jordi Alba cutback bound for Messi’s straining boot until Forster inserted a hand to divert and allow Kelvin Wilson to clear.
Barca became increasingly frantic following the break but a world class Forster stop thwarted Messi and it was the goalkeeper who got the assist, with a kick from hand, when Watt left Mascherano for dead to finish perfectly and ensure a victory which could not be diverted even by Messi’s strike in stoppage time as the skies over the east end of Glasgow boomed to the Hoops’ euphoric anthems.
Celtic (4-4-1-1): Forster; Lustig (Watt 72), Ambrose, Wilson, Matthews; Commons, Wanyama, Ledley, Mulgrew; Samaras (Kayal 79); Miku. Subs: Zaluska (g), McCourt, Herron, Fraser, McGeouch.
Booked: Miku.
Goals: Wanyama 21, Watt 83
Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes; Dani Alves, Bartra (Pique 71), Mascherano, Jordi Alba; Xavi, Song (Fabregas 71), Iniesta; Pedro, Messi, Alexis (Villa 65). Subs: Pinto, Jonathan, Montoya, Tello.
Booked: Song, Jordi Alba.
Goal: Messi 90
Referee: B Kuipers (Holland)
Celtic 2 Barcelona 1: match report - Telegraph
portbhoy
Inactive User
Happy birthday Celtic
gazupnorth
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Well done Celtic, great win over Barca.
You are the pride of Great Britain.
You are the pride of Great Britain.
portbhoy
Inactive User
Celtic returned to winning ways in the Scottish Premier League as they overcame stuffy resistance from Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
Substitute Lassad Nouioui stroked home on 73 minutes after Victor Wanyama had crashed a powerful shot against a post.
And Charlie Mulgrew arrowed a neat finish into the bottom corner four minutes later to make sure Celtic moved back to the top of the table.
Aberdeen were rarely seen in attack as their bid to stifle Celtic failed.
Neil Lennon's team had dropped points in each of their last three league outings, meaning the in-form Dons were just one point behind the reigning champions before kick-off.
But a bumper crowd of 18,083 could not inspire the home side as Celtic did most of the pressing in a match that failed to live up to its top billing.
The Dons, lining up in a 3-4-3 formation made a lively start, with Johnny Hayes hitting the side-netting early before his low strike was gathered by goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
But Celtic soon asserted themselves as Wanyama headed wide from the first of six corners won by the visitors in the first half, with the low winter sun causing problems for the home defence.
Play media
Dons teenager Ryan Fraser skipped in from the right flank to have a strike at goal but his effort was straight at Forster.
Celtic should have gone ahead on 27 minutes when Kris Commons delivered a great cross from the right to find Tony Watt at the back post.
The teenage striker, who has just signed a new contract, failed to make proper contact with his head and could only graze the base of the post from six yards.
A largely drab first 45 minutes closed with Mikael Lustig rising high to reach another of Mulgrew's corners but the Swedish defender glanced the ball wide from a promising position.
Mulgrew whipped a long-range free-kick into the arms of Jamie Langfield early in the second half and there were huge, mocking cheers from the home fans when the same player, a former Don, blazed another set-piece over from the edge of the penalty area.
Aberdeen were packing men behind the ball to frustrate Celtic but managed to threaten on 67 minutes when Hayes once again found the side-netting with a low strike after being set up by Niall McGinn on a swift break from the men in red.
Play media
However, just as the Dons looked like opening up a little more, the hosts fell behind.
Wanyama bustled forward from midfield to unleash a thunderous strike from 30 yards that cannoned off the post and into the path of Lassad for the Tunisian to roll in his first goal for the club.
Moments later, Celtic's advantage was doubled when a shot from Giorgios Samaras was blocked and fell to Mulgrew, who steered a fine shot into the bottom corner of the net from 15 yards.
With Neil Lennon's team well on top, Efe Ambrose was in an offside position when his header drew a good save from Langfield, therefore Wanyama's follow-up effort was ruled out.
Aberdeen offered little by way of response after going behind and fell to their first home league defeat of the season.
BBC Sport - Aberdeen 0-2 Celtic
Substitute Lassad Nouioui stroked home on 73 minutes after Victor Wanyama had crashed a powerful shot against a post.
And Charlie Mulgrew arrowed a neat finish into the bottom corner four minutes later to make sure Celtic moved back to the top of the table.
Aberdeen were rarely seen in attack as their bid to stifle Celtic failed.
Neil Lennon's team had dropped points in each of their last three league outings, meaning the in-form Dons were just one point behind the reigning champions before kick-off.
But a bumper crowd of 18,083 could not inspire the home side as Celtic did most of the pressing in a match that failed to live up to its top billing.
The Dons, lining up in a 3-4-3 formation made a lively start, with Johnny Hayes hitting the side-netting early before his low strike was gathered by goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
But Celtic soon asserted themselves as Wanyama headed wide from the first of six corners won by the visitors in the first half, with the low winter sun causing problems for the home defence.
Play media
Dons teenager Ryan Fraser skipped in from the right flank to have a strike at goal but his effort was straight at Forster.
Celtic should have gone ahead on 27 minutes when Kris Commons delivered a great cross from the right to find Tony Watt at the back post.
The teenage striker, who has just signed a new contract, failed to make proper contact with his head and could only graze the base of the post from six yards.
A largely drab first 45 minutes closed with Mikael Lustig rising high to reach another of Mulgrew's corners but the Swedish defender glanced the ball wide from a promising position.
Mulgrew whipped a long-range free-kick into the arms of Jamie Langfield early in the second half and there were huge, mocking cheers from the home fans when the same player, a former Don, blazed another set-piece over from the edge of the penalty area.
Aberdeen were packing men behind the ball to frustrate Celtic but managed to threaten on 67 minutes when Hayes once again found the side-netting with a low strike after being set up by Niall McGinn on a swift break from the men in red.
Play media
However, just as the Dons looked like opening up a little more, the hosts fell behind.
Wanyama bustled forward from midfield to unleash a thunderous strike from 30 yards that cannoned off the post and into the path of Lassad for the Tunisian to roll in his first goal for the club.
Moments later, Celtic's advantage was doubled when a shot from Giorgios Samaras was blocked and fell to Mulgrew, who steered a fine shot into the bottom corner of the net from 15 yards.
With Neil Lennon's team well on top, Efe Ambrose was in an offside position when his header drew a good save from Langfield, therefore Wanyama's follow-up effort was ruled out.
Aberdeen offered little by way of response after going behind and fell to their first home league defeat of the season.
BBC Sport - Aberdeen 0-2 Celtic
Last edited:
lancet fetich
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Good performance today I thought. Especially when Forrest came on.
IT was seven years ago today, on March 13, 2006, that the player voted the Greatest Ever Celt by supporters passed away after a long and courageous battle with Motor Neurone Disease.
James Connolly Johnstone, known to his friends as Jimmy and to the wider footballing world as Jinky, was born in Viewpark on September 30, 1944, and he remained immensely proud of where he came from throughout his whole life.
He signed for Celtic in November 1961 and made his debut for his beloved Hoops on March 27, 1963. It was a less than auspicious start to what would become a glorious career – Celtic lost 6-0 against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park – but it did not deter or dishearten the diminutive winger.
Like many of his contemporaries, it was the arrival of Jock Stein at Celtic Park in 1965 which galvanised his career, and Jinky would go on to play a pivotal role in the unprecedented success Celtic enjoyed at home and in Europe over the next few years.
The pinnacle of that was, of course, the European Cup triumph on May 25, 1967 when Celtic beat Inter Milan 2-1.
Jinky, however, wasn’t content with just making his mark on that prestigious competition, and on Wednesday, June 7, 1967, in the Bernabeu Stadium, he and his team-mates provided the opposition for the great Alfredo Di Stefano’s testimonial.
The legendary Read Madrid player may have been the focus of the night, but it was Jinky who grabbed all the headlines with a breathtaking display that had the Madrid fans shouting ‘Ole!’ at his every touch.
Jinky stayed at Celtic until 1975, and made a total of 515 appearances for the club, scoring an impressive 130 goals.
He remained an immensely popular figure amongst the Celtic support who, in 2003, voted him the Greatest Ever Celt.
By that time, however, he was suffering from Motor Neurone Disease. He faced that battle against the toughest of opponents with incredible bravery and courage, always strengthened by the support of his family and the convictions of his faith.
Sadly, Jimmy Johnstone passed away on March 13, 2006, and the Celtic support, as well as the wider footballing world, mourned his passing.
A statue of Jinky stands outside the front of Celtic Park, alongside those of Brother Walfrid and Jock Stein, as a permanent memorial and a reminder to future generations of a wonderful player.
And on this day, the Celtic family will say a prayer for the loss while also remembering the unique talents of a player who was always proud to wear his beloved green and white Hoops – Jimmy ‘Jinky’ Johnstone, the Greatest Ever Celt.
James Connolly Johnstone, known to his friends as Jimmy and to the wider footballing world as Jinky, was born in Viewpark on September 30, 1944, and he remained immensely proud of where he came from throughout his whole life.
He signed for Celtic in November 1961 and made his debut for his beloved Hoops on March 27, 1963. It was a less than auspicious start to what would become a glorious career – Celtic lost 6-0 against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park – but it did not deter or dishearten the diminutive winger.
Like many of his contemporaries, it was the arrival of Jock Stein at Celtic Park in 1965 which galvanised his career, and Jinky would go on to play a pivotal role in the unprecedented success Celtic enjoyed at home and in Europe over the next few years.
The pinnacle of that was, of course, the European Cup triumph on May 25, 1967 when Celtic beat Inter Milan 2-1.
Jinky, however, wasn’t content with just making his mark on that prestigious competition, and on Wednesday, June 7, 1967, in the Bernabeu Stadium, he and his team-mates provided the opposition for the great Alfredo Di Stefano’s testimonial.
The legendary Read Madrid player may have been the focus of the night, but it was Jinky who grabbed all the headlines with a breathtaking display that had the Madrid fans shouting ‘Ole!’ at his every touch.
Jinky stayed at Celtic until 1975, and made a total of 515 appearances for the club, scoring an impressive 130 goals.
He remained an immensely popular figure amongst the Celtic support who, in 2003, voted him the Greatest Ever Celt.
By that time, however, he was suffering from Motor Neurone Disease. He faced that battle against the toughest of opponents with incredible bravery and courage, always strengthened by the support of his family and the convictions of his faith.
Sadly, Jimmy Johnstone passed away on March 13, 2006, and the Celtic support, as well as the wider footballing world, mourned his passing.
A statue of Jinky stands outside the front of Celtic Park, alongside those of Brother Walfrid and Jock Stein, as a permanent memorial and a reminder to future generations of a wonderful player.
And on this day, the Celtic family will say a prayer for the loss while also remembering the unique talents of a player who was always proud to wear his beloved green and white Hoops – Jimmy ‘Jinky’ Johnstone, the Greatest Ever Celt.
Nice post m8 JJ was a legend
Well done celtic
Good performance and a very good 1st and 3rd goal. Playing like that you deserve to go through. Well done
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