22
May

vs. Hearts. Sunday 24 May, 8:00 A.M.

The last match of the season, people. From the highs (12 wins in a row, up 7 points twice) to the lows (4-2 loss to the huns, 4-2 loss to Aberdeen, anything since January, more or less) this season has been quite the ride.

And now, with the league out of our hands, all Celtic can do is play.

So, the Hoops face off against Hearts at Celtic Park this Sunday at 8 A.M. At the same time (and broadcast on a TV we can see, I have been told) will be the huns playing at Tannadice, where future Celt and current Arab Lukasz Zaluska can be a hero for two teams at once by getting the Arabs at least a draw or even better a win over the scum. A single point would put the Arabs into Europe. The more important thing is a single point for the huns (or less, please) and a Celtic win give us 4 in a row.

This, of course, is predicated entirely by Celtic getting a win over Hearts. Any other result will give the league to the huns, even if they do lose. Celtic were horrid finishers in a 0-0 draw at Easter Road while Hearts came off 3-0 winners against Dundee United. Celtic have played Hearts 3 times this year with 1 win (2-0) and 2 draws (1-1 each time).

So. 90 minutes of football in two places on Sunday will let us know how this is going to end.

On an aside, congratualtions to Gary Caldwell, the SWFA Player of the Year for 2009 and Clydesdale Bank SPL Player of the Year for 2009. Good job, Heid.

See you all Sunday.

15
May

vs. Hibernian. Sunday, 17 May. 8:00 A.M.

So, anything big happen since our last chat?

Celtic have regained the top spot due to some lovely play in the first half and a butt-clenchingly tight second half against Dundee United in a 2-1 victory at Celtic Park. At Ipox the huns drew 1-1 with Hibs due to a strike from Deek Riordan, knocking them in to second.

So onto the match. Celtic will travel to Edinburgh to play at Easter Road at 8:00 A.M. While Celtic remain in the top spot, it is by a razor thin goal difference of +2. For those of you who remember 2003, goal difference can be key. Right, Dunfirmline? Hibs are currently 6th on the table and can rise as high as 5th or as low as 7th this season. The Bhoys will also know where they stand on the table as a very, very angry Aberdeen team face off against the huns Saturday morning at 7:30 A.M. By Sunday morning all should be clear again.

In Celtic news, the club announced that three players will not return to play this season - Stephen McManus, Barry Robson and Mark Wilson.

If you would please take a moment and remember that one year ago today Tommy Burns passed on.

The James McCarthy to Celtic goes on for the third year in a row. He’ll be close to retirement if/when he signs for the Hoops.

And from the “Only a hun” file, this ditty:

“Rangers defender Kirk Broadfoot was taken to hospital after an egg he was microwaving exploded in his face.

The 25-year-old Scotland international was poaching the egg at his home near Mauchline, Ayrshire, when the accident happened.

It is understood hot liquid squirted onto his face and scalded his cheek when he opened the microwave door.

The footballer was treated in hospital, before being allowed to go home following the incident on Sunday.”

Lesson, kids? Don’t microwave eggs and don’t be a hun.

Hope to see you all Sunday morning!

07
May

vs. huns. Saturday, 9 May. 7:30 A.M.

4 matches left. 1 point and 3 goals seperate Celtic and the forces of evil. The season boils down to this. If you aren’t antsy already I would have someone check for a pulse.

So, Saturday morning Celtic will cross Glasgow to face the huns. Celtic are coming off of a 3-1 victory over Aberdeen with two second half strikes from Scott McDonald. The huns are coming off of parole. And on the pitch they defeated Hearts 2-0.

The local Glasgow papers have, of course, been building up to Saturday’s showdown with the usual fair coverage you have come to expect from such storied and truthful institutions. So far, Artur Boruc has been ‘caught’ straightening some female’s hair and Bawwy Ferguhun might make a ’shock’ return from injury (would we ever be so lucky). Speaking of luck, Stephen McManus of the obvious injury is coming closer to being ruled out for Saturday but nothing at this point would surprise me.

And the oh so impartial SPL has ruled Scott Brown (that would be PLAYERS’ PLAYER OF THE YEAR Scott Brown) out of this match. Coincidentally, Madjid Bougherra has finished serving his suspension and will be able to play.

The referee for the match will be Craig Thomson, who I am sure will call as consistent a game as Tom Henning Øvrebø did last night with Chelsea-Barcelona.

Belated congratulations go out to Scott McDonald who was player of the month for March 2009. Two of the biggest awards of the season went to Scott Brown as Players’ Player of the Year and Gordon Strachan as Manager of the Year. Congrats to all.

See you all bright and early on Saturday.

30
Apr

vs Aberdeen. Saturday 2 May, 7:30 A.M.

Celtic face off this Saturday against Aberdeen (and just Aberdeen) at 7:30 A.M. Unlike two weeks ago when Celtic played both Aberdeen AND Motherwell (or Motherwell in Aberdeen’s kits - I forget which), this time Celtic play the Dons away.

Celtic and Aberdeen faced off at Celtic Park two weeks ago with the Bhoys running out with a well deserved 2-0 victory. Goals from JVoH and Scott McDonald sealed the victory and the customary fit-throwing by McDonald earned him a yellow. Again.

Celtic still remain at the top of the table with 74 points from 33 games while Aberdeen reside in 5th with 48 points from 33 games. Celtic also hold a 1 point and 3 goal difference over scum F.C.

The latest news has Naka working off a groin injury to be a game time decision. Other injury information has not been announced by either side at this time.

So I hope everyone can make it bright and early on Saturday morning to watch one team play another. Not one team play two or two on one or my conflating the entire SPL to face off against Celtic this weekend.

16
Apr

vs. Aberdeen. Saturday 18 April, 10:00 A.M.

As the pre-split portion of the season comes to a close this weekend, Celtic face off against Aberdeen at Celtic Park this Saturday at 10:00 A.M.

Celtic return to action after a 1-1 draw with Hearts at Tynecastle this past Saturday. A first minute JVoH strike was canceled out by a Bruno Aguiar goal in the 32nd minute. Even with the draw Celtic remain at the top of the league (albeit barely) with 71 points from 32 matches. Aberdeen, Saturday’s opponent, won 3-1 against ICT. That win placed them in 4th with 48 points.

Injuries have reared their head once again for Celtic with JVoH injured (again), Samaras out until the first post-split game, McManus a question mark and Darren O’Dea fighting off a knock. It should be interesting to see what team or formation might be fielded this Saturday.

It should be an absolutely lovely day so what better place to spend it than with friends watching some hopefully good football this weekend?

09
Apr

vs Hearts. Saturday 11 April, 7:30 A.M.

The quest for SPL supremacy continues with Celtic facing off against Hearts this Saturday at 7:30 A.M. Celtic maintained their run of good form by defeating bottom of the league Falkirk 4-0 on Wednesday. Goals from Caldwell, JVoH, McGeady and O’Dea sealed in a hard fought victory that could have been much, much worse for Falkirk had the bar been that much higher. The game also saw many hard tackles and collisions for all involved, including one that left Georgios Samaras on the mend for at least this week with a hip issue.

Celtic remain top of the league and extend the goal difference with 70 points and a goal difference of 43 while our closest competitors have 67 points and a goal difference of 39. Hearts are sitting in 3rd place with 52 points.

While Celtic had a midweek match (for better or worse), Hearts last played on 4 April, beating Kilmarnock 3-1 with a pair from Elliot and one from Aguiar.

This is a big match (although they all are this time of year) as it is both away and against some good competition. Let us hope that our run of 4-0 results continues at the expense of the Jambos.

In utterly non-Celtic related news, the gruesome twosome did not play on Wednesday in their 2-1 victory over St. Mirren and may have finished their run for scum f.c.

07
Apr

vs Falkirk. Wednesday, 8 April 2:45 P.M.

Celtic return to action in a midweek match at Celtic Park against Falkirk at 2:45 P.M. Celtic, who are currently topping the table with 67 points from 30 matches play the bottom of the league Falkirk who have 27 points from the same 30 games.

Celtic returned to their winning ways in a 4-0 victory against Hamilton this past Saturday. Another big return was strikers not named McDonald scoring for Celtic. Georgios Samaras bagged a double while JVoH notched his goal after substituting for Scott McDonald.

Falkirk have to be disappointed after outshooting their opponents with their 1-0 loss to the huns from a Boyd goal at 9 minutes.

The huns will be traveling to St. Mirren at the same time on Wednesday. I know two people who will not be making the trip, however. Discussions exist on whether leaving the “Two right up ye” boys out of the lineup is a good thing or a bad thing.

And a big congratulations to Scott McDonald for his winning SPL’s Player of the Month for March. The other awards went to Mixu Paatelainen (Manager) of Hibs and Steven Fletcher (Young Player), also of Hibs. With the possible, or as some pray, eventual departure of Big Jan, Fletcher continues to be linked with Celtic.

I hope to see some bright, shining faces there on a Wednesday that appears to have some improved weather!

02
Apr

vs Hamilton. Saturday 4 April, 10:00 A.M.

And welcome back from your international week. May your team(s) of choice have won their matches.

Celtic return to action at Celtic Park versus one of the more intriguing teams of the season, Hamilton. The Accies sit 8th on the table with 33 points from 30 matches while Celtic continue to reside atop the table with 64 points from 29 matches, continuing their 3 point lead over the huns.

Hamilton have been signing many new players this week who may feature against Celtic on Saturday. These include Derek Asamoah (striker), Christy Fagan (striker) and Lamine Diatta (defender). Celtic have had few things to report outside of Artur Boruc getting dropped due to his ineffectiveness against Northern Ireland. Kevin is probably torn about this.

Celtic last played a 2-2 draw with Dundee United with a 81st minute Lee Naylor strike (and it was just that) while Hamilton drew 0-0 against St. Mirren.

20
Mar

vs. Dundee United. Sunday 22 March, 10:00 A.M.

Celtic return to league play this weekend against Dundee United at Tannadice after winning the Scottish Cup last weekend by handily humping the huns in extra time, 2-0.  The 10:00 A.M. match gives Celtic the opportunity to gain the necessary momentum in the final 10 games of the season to bring a second piece of hardware home.

The last time Celtic played a league game was on the 4th of March, defeating Kilmarnock 2-1.  Dundee United’s last league match was a 2-1 defeat to Motherwell on the 14th of March.  The last time these two teams faced off was on January 3rd, ending in a 2-2 draw with Georgios Samaras’ double being wasted in a second half collapse.

Celtic are continuing to top the table with 63 points from 28 matches while Dundee United reside in 5th place with 43 points from 29 matches.

For those interested in the team that loves to finish 2nd, scum F.C. faces off on Saturday at Ipox against Hearts.  As always in cases like this, cheering for the meteor would be the best option.  Until that happens, I’ll favor the Jambos.

I hope to see everyone there this Sunday!

12
Mar

CIS Cup Final vs. huns. Sunday 15 March, 11:00 A.M.

OK, nothing but reporting the facts this time. Coming off of a performance that could only be described as “really, really bad” last weekend that crashed Celtic out of the League Cup, Celtic now face off at Hampden in the CIS Cup Final against the huns.

Sunday’s match begins at 11:00 due to the time change here that has not made it across the Atlantic as of yet. As this is a huns match AND a cup final I think everyone knows to be in attendance.

Celtic and Nike have agreed to continue their 5 million pounds a year deal kicking in after the 2010 season. Since for all intents and purposes Celtic is debt free it might be interesting to see where this money goes.

The latest injury news has Robson, Maloney, McCourt and Mizuno out with Naylor and Mark Wilson as possibles. On the ugly side of the ledger, Nacho Novo and Lee McCulloch may be fit enough to play.

Any info anyone else wants to add, please feel free.