What's that advert on the telly? It's not easy being green? Never a truer word has been spoken.
I don't know what it is about this lot, I really don't but they just love to do things the hard way.
Active Nation's Cup match against Dunfermline, made it hard for themselves before eventually coming out 4-2 winners and then finding out that another away tie awaits them, Jimmy Calderwood's on form Kilmarnock, remember them? Robbie Keane will, the last time the Hoops went down to Rugby Park they lost 1-0!
After the cup match game a match at home v Hearts and again after a few close calls, Celtic eventually won the match 2-0 and this result coupled with Rangers 1-1 draw just gave a feel feeling that the Ibrox men could maybe drop a few more points before the end of the month.
But Celtic had to travel to Pittodrie to face an Aberdeen team whose form had not been great but would cause problems for any side on their home patch, especially the Old Firm.
When most Celtic fans picked up the morning papers and read that Mark McGhee could rest some of his players for the Celtic game, they must have thought, oh aye, might be in with a bit of a chance here.
The Rangers fans called the phone ins in disgust, this was typical, Mark McGhee was going to do Celtic a favour because he was a fan and used to play for the club, they were outraged, Celtic were going to win and that was that!
No one ever gave a second thought to the fact that Mark McGhee was an Aberdeen hero well before his time at Celtic and he is now manager of the Dons and therefore he would only pick the team he considered correct for the Celtic game; with a cup replay against Raith Rovers on the Tuesday which means more to Aberdeen Football Club.
At no time did I ever think that Aberdeen would ever put out a team of reserves to let Celtic roll over the top of them, Mark McGhee and Aberdeen Football Club would have had too much to lose if Celtic turned them over 4 or 5-0!
As it happens they played their part in what was a thrilling 90 minutes at Pittodrie and a game which Celtic lead,1-0, 2-1, 3-2 and 4-2 and still could not come away with all three points as they watched not only their lead slip away and also lost Darren O Dea, seeing red after a crude challenge on Gary McDonald earned him his second yellow which meant a red.
It all looked so good for Celtic as an attacking force with Kamara, Fortune, Keane and McGeady all hitting the back of the net but it was the defensive woes again at the back which have let Celtic down again and after Rangers defeated Hibs 3-0 at Ibrox, I think it looks like Celtic will need snookers to help them out.
But as Neil McCann said, Celtic should have looked after themselves instead of looking for favours and I agree with him, it does look like the title will be staying at Ibrox even if Celtic could beat Rangers twice, they would still need Walter Smith's men to drop something and that does not look likely anytime soon!
With Rangers in a state off the field many would have thought that their mood would not have been right on the pitch but this is far from the truth, the troubles off the pitch and that fact that Celtic have been able to bring in some top drawer players in January, somehow has lifted the Ibrox men and this season really could be one of the best in their history and Celtic have no one to blame but themselves!
Before I go I would again like to send good wishes to Murdo, keep the fight up mate, we are all with you!
Posted by scottyyahmps on 02/15/2010
This Celtic team still needs time to gel. Mogga deserves another year to get everything in place (despite what the reactionary clique of this fan base thinks).
The very reason I won't buy a Keane/7 top is because I don't honor rentals. Everybody knows Keano came to Parkhead for personal reasons as much as anything else (promising his da that he would one day play at Paradise, keeping his place in the ROI side secure by starting for Celtic when he wasn't seeing the light of day at Spurs).
Let's face it: Keane is GONE for greener pastures come summer, Mogga has probably told Ras to sit tight until Keane leaves and he can fill in his spot full-time up front.
Nothing is settled anywhere on this Celtic squad right now. Next season (a full season) will be the true test. The defense is unsettled, the midfield hardly imposing. This didn't get this way overnight (anybody under delusions of anything else would be well served to reference the matches v. Arsenal).
People need to chill.
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Posted by Alec Colquhoun on 02/20/2010
Great Stuff Sean! I think something that is under the surface of all of this was what Chris Killen had to say after he left the squad to join Strachan and Boro. There is a fine line between bringing in talent, and demoralizing the players under you. Mowbray has not got that balance right, and I even believe he brought in some very questionable players. Braafheid was awful for Bayern Munich, and so far he's failed to impress for Celtic. Objectively speaking, he's been responsible for the lion's share of the goals against since joining the side, and I know I am not alone when I say I am tired of seeing the fault placed on young Thompson who I think has performed rather well. Kamara flat out doesn't want to be here, and despite 2 goals for us so far I rather think he won't be a long term option. Finally Keane....loved to see him come up north of the border but I also question its long term impact for Celtic. Mowbray didn't shuffle the deck....he mowed it to pieces.
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Andy Muirhead is the Editor of Scotzine.com and produces the Scottish Football show The Final Whistle for Pulse 98.4FM. He also works on a freelance basis and has contributed to the Daily Record, The Scotsman, the Daily Mail and hasfeatured on BBC Radio Scotland and Sports Tonight TV.
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