The second leg of the tie against FC Utrecht takes place tomorrow at 2:30. Celtic enter the tie with a 2-0 lead gained at Celtic Park. Celtic are also coming off of a 4-0 drubbing of St. Mirren this past Sunday.
FC Utrecht were also impressive in their weekend match against Willem II by running out to a 3-0 score with a brace from Ricky Van Wolfswinkel. One player who will not be facing off against Celtic is Jacob Mulenga, the Zambian striker who left the match against Celtic with a calf injury. Celtic continue to miss long term injured Gary Hooper, Niall McGinn and Andreas Hinkel. Depending on who you believe Glenn Loovens left Celtic Park on Sunday after not being named as a starter or to the bench and may be on his way back to Cardiff.
Also, joining Celtic on loan is giant (6′7″) goalkeeper Fraser Forster. He is ineligible to play in tomorrow’s match but is eligible for Sunday’s match.
So let’s have a good turn out for tomorrow’s match and cheer the Bhoys on to European progression!
And the answer to the question “Will the match be broadcast?” is a resounding no.
No, it will not be broadcast in the United States. That means fire up the computers and go to Channel 67 (or other less legal means) to watch the Bhoys play AT HOME in the Europa League. Lovely.
That aside, Celtic will be playing their Europa League qualifier against FC Utrecht this Thursday with a new signing (or two) at their disposal. With Craig Bellamy going back home to Wales Celtic have welcomed in 33 year old Daniel Majstorovic, Swedish internationalist and center half to the squad and are close to signing 24 year old Ecuadorian Emilio Izaguirre, who plies his trade at left back.
Going the other direction is Darren O’Dea who is back on loan to Ipswich Town for 6 months. Celtic’s injured list include Gary Hooper (gone about 6 weeks), Thomas Rogne (2-3 weeks), Niall McGinn (2 weeks), Mark Wilson (2 weeks), and Pat McCourt who was Maloneyed after scoring the winning goal against Inverness this past Saturday (day-to-day).
The latest in rumor mill “slightly not completely rubbish” transfers have Celtic interested in two Manchester City players - Vladimir Weiss, a winger and Slovakian internationalist, son of Vladimir Weiss, Slovakian national team manager. The second player is Séamus John James “Shay” Given, who you may have heard of before. He’s apparently a goalie, Irish internationalist and spent 3 years as a Celtic youth player from 1991-1994. It was announced today (August 17th) by a man who wears a scarf an awful lot (no, not HIM), that Given may leave the club if he wishes.
So, enjoy the match in your own special way on Thursday and the match report for the weekend will come later this week!
The season begins! Well, the domestic season begins.
Celtic travel to ICT this Saturday morning winners of eight straight league matches under Neil Lennon. The last three times Celtic played Caley there were two wins (2-1 and 1-0) and one draw (0-0).
With the departure of Aiden McGeady to Moscow, Celtic are continue to shop for players, the latest being a loan offer for the return of Craig Bellamy to the Hoops.
The lineup has not been announced at this time but Thomas Rogne (you know, our one central defender who does not make you want to wet yourself on a cross) appears to be out due to an injury picked up in a Norway U-21 match played last night. He joins new signing Gary Hooper on the injured list. No other injuries have been announced but long term injured Niall McGinn looks to be sitting out until he’s repaired.
Last season wasn’t the most successful for Celtic but here’s to hoping for a much better season for the bhoys!
CHANGING GEARS:
I will be missing the next couple of Saturdays as I finish this rotation but if someone would be kind enough to collect I would be much indebted.
The match prices and season ticket package remains the same for this year. $10 per match and $300 for the season. If you are interested in the season ticket package and were looking to pay in installments, please contact me directly.
The other thing: guys and gals, we took a big downturn last year both in the number of people showing up and financially. Fado has been kind to us more often than not and I would like to repay them with good numbers this season. I know not everyone on this list is in town or always available, but please if you can show up for matches. It keeps the organization strong and financially afloat. If our numbers drop more we can’t buy matches. We can’t buy matches, the club folds. It is that simple. So let us continue to be t he strong, successful organization we have been up to this point.
Enough Debbie-Downer talk. COME ON THE HOOPS!!
Another early morning launch for the Bhoys as they take on Dundee United at Tannadice this Sunday.
Dundee United will be missing Scottish internationalist Paul Dixon while Scott and David Robertson return to action for the Terrors. Celtic will be welcoming back to the fold Kamara, Rogne, and Loovens from their various injuries.
On the ‘who’s going to manage Celtic’ front, Roy Keane has said that he does not have an interest. I guess this means Celtic should not fear getting relegated next year under his ‘tutelage’.
Another painfully early start but let us finish the year strong and have a good turnout!
And welcome back to another mid-week madness match for Celtic. Playing the second of three matches in 6 days Celtic will be hoping to continue their winning ways in a home match versus Hibs tomorrow at 2:45. Celtic came off of a 4-1 win over St. Johnstone this past Sunday while Hibs are coming off of an equally impressive 5-1 demolition of Hamilton.
Lots and lots and lots of movement as it still appears that Stephen McManus may be moving away from Celtic on loan (and probably putting paid to his time at Celtic Park) and Danny Fox on a 1.8 million pound transfer to Burnley. Incoming (and coming directly into the squad) is Morten (Duncan) Rasmussen, our new Danish international striker. Also looking to join the squad is Jos Hooiveld who may be seeing his first action this week as fellow countryman Glenn Loovens will be a closer to game-time decision due to the concussion he received this past Sunday.
Other injury front news has an announcement of Scott McDonald and Scott Brown both in training and returning to full strength.
Fun fact time: which player has 8 goals in the past 10 matches?
If you said Georgios Samaras, give yourself a point. Kind of snuck up on you there, no?
Due to illness I am no more than 50/50 for making the match tomorrow. If someone would be kind enough to collect, consider me indebted to you.
Celtic continues their SPL season by facing off against St. Johnstone this Sunday at half past 10. Celtic remain in second place with 38 points from 19 matches while St. Johnstone are holding on to 9th place with 19 points from 17 matches.
This game begins a series of 3 matches in 6 days for Celtic (Sunday - Wednesday - Saturday) and their hopes to get back in to the SPL race. Celtic have been facing a massive injury woe as Ki Sung-Yueng, Scott McDonald, Stephen McManus, Mark Wilson, Danny Fox, Paul Caddis, and Lee Naylor are injured. Landry NGuemo remains away on international duty.
Shaun Maloney and Scott Brown are apparently fit again but do not seem to factor in to this weekend’s match.
On the transfer news front, saying Scott Brown is leaving gets you sued, Scott McDonald is the next to go out the door to Middlesboro (apparently) or Wigan and we now have signed Thomas Rogne to meet up with Jos Hooiveld. Also rumored to be coming in are Paul Slane (Motherwell) a youngster on a free contract in the summer and (take this as you will) the Danish Duncan Ferguson,Morten Rasmussen for a fee of around 2 million pounds.
I hope to see everyone there on Sunday with a later start to gird our loins for the field of battle.
The Scottish Cup waits for Celtic tomorrow as they travel to Cappielow Park to face off against Morton. Morton, who currently reside in 8th place in Division One have lost matches to the big freeze recently and will come to the match without former Celt Paul McGowan, who is suspended.
Celtic who are coming off of a 1-1 draw with 12th place Falkirk (sigh) can now have the ‘injury-hit’ tag placed on them with Ki out for a month with an ankle injury, Danny Fox out with a groin injury, Stephen McManus out with a calf injury and our long term walking wounded of Scott McDonald, Shaun Maloney and Scott Brown still missing out. It is reported that Glenn Loovens will be returning to action after some tummy trouble.
As it being January two reports have surfaced in the past 24 hours. The first is Lee Naylor to Ipswich Town to join Roy Keane (which doesn’t make the best of sense as Danny Fox is hurt) and Philippe Senderos leaving Arsenal to join Celtic on loan. For those not knowledgeable about Senderos he is a central defender (YAY!) who plays internationally for Switzerland. If he does join Celtic (and that announcement should come today if it is coming) he would be the second Swiss defender to join Celtic in recent history. Let us hope he does better than the first.
The game will NOT be broadcast but you may be able to find online options for the game. Let us hope the Hoops find a better run of play tomorrow!
Celtic are back in league play again this Saturday, playing Falkirk at home. Celtic are currently residing in 2nd place in the table, 7 points back of the huns and 4 points in front of third placed Hibs. Falkirk are at the bottom of the table 2 points away from Kilmarnock who reside in 11th place.
Of course some changes have come to the team with Gary Caldwell going to Wigan, Willo Flood (who?) and Chris Killen (who?) going on loan to Middlesboro for the remainder of their contracts and Barry Robson (who was playing well) gone in a transfer to Middlesboro as well.
Joining Celtic is Jos Hooiveld, a 6′3″ center half who was bought from AIK in the Swedish league. He, like Georgios Samaras began his career at Heerenveen and is under contract for the next 3 1/2 years.
Other rumors abound, including (no, not mentioning Keane) Celtic looking at Thomas Rogne a 19 year old Norwegian center half and Markus Johnsson a Swedish right back who plays for AIK.
Adding more fun on the injury front, Scott McDonald will be out the remainder of the month with hernia surgery and the condition of Landry N’Guemo is yet to be determined as he came off injured in the Africa Cup of Nations. Long term injuries to Shaun Maloney and Scott Brown have yet to have a comeback date announced.
In Scottish Cup news, some interesting info. Dunfirmline had to forfeit their 7-1 victory over Stenhousemuir due to the fielding of an ineligible player. This means if Celtic overcome Morton then we would face off against a lesser light in the next round. Dunfirmline plan on appealing, but don’t you believe it.
I hope to see everyone bright and mid-morningy on Saturday!
Celtic face off against 5th place Motherwell at Fir Park this Saturday at 7:45 A.M. Celtic are working on a 3 game winning streak and bring no new injuries to the match. Motherwell, however are somewhat injury plagued as Shaun Hutchinson, Chris Humphrey, Marc Fitzpatrick, Darren Smith and Paul Slane are all out. They are coming off of a 2-0 loss to Hibs last weekend.
Outside of the match, Celtic have been linked with everyone with a pulse, taken several teams worth of trialists on and the Motherwell manager, Jim Gannon, has risen amazingly high in my estimation via his mid-week rant against Hugh “The Golden Apron” Dallas and Scottish refereeing in general. His statement, “Dallas had to defend the referee because the result of the game might have been different if he’d got his decisions correct at Ibrox.
“Celtic might look back on that result at the end of the season and decide that Ibrox in October is when they lost the league championship.
“There’s a question mark over the standard of refereeing in Scotland and the mistakes that are being made are having an effect on the league table.” has made me quite proud. Well done, sir.
Yes, it is cold and it’ll be early, but I’d love to see everyone there for an entertaining match.
A reasonable hour kickoff versus a dangerous opponent? Certainly! Bring it on.
Celtic face off against Aberdeen tomorrow at 10:00 A.M. Celtic are coming off of a mid-week game where they defeated Hapoel Tel-Aviv 2-0 (and the scoreline should have been more in our favor if you have seen the match) and previously defeated St. Mirren 3-1. Aberdeen are, of course, coming off of a 1-0 win over the huns at Pittodrie after playing down a man for the last 30 minutes of the match. If you’ve seen any of that match you also know that scoreline deceives somewhat as Aberdeen had two more excellent chances that did not bounce their way.
Returning to the lineup will be Artur Boruc (who pushed to start midweek but did not) and Zheng Zhi who was ‘injured’ or better said ‘ineligible’ for the midweek match. Other long term injury concerns are not coming back for a while as of yet.
On the transfer front, even though Tony Mowbray says Osman Chavez, an actual center back, impressed he would not be signed and neither would Sander Puri, an Estonian winger. Nothing was mentioned of the four Hungarian players we have on trial, but those would be for the future anyway. Coming in on trial is Milos Lacny, a 21 year old Slovakian winger/striker who is capped by their U-21 team. Since 2007 he has scored 11 goals in 29 appearances. Yes, the January transfer window approaches, meaning everyone everywhere will be linked to Celtic and we will sign Willo Flood (again).
It’ll be cold tomorrow folks, so bundle up accordingly and I will see you at the Shed at 10!
