http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/ en Copyright 2012 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:53:51 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss The transfer window closed at 11pm on the 31st January and in all honesty not many Celtic fans were complaining about the club's failure to do any business in the final day, as Celtic's wheeling and dealing had been done over the previous few weeks. Okay there was a late bid to bring Leon Best from Newcastle on loan, but ultimately Celtic have ended the transfer window stronger than when the window opened. Celtic are in fine form of late, while rivals Rangers are looking a shadow of their former selves with Steven Naismith out for the rest of the season and top scorer Nikica Jelavic sold to Everton, really only one club can go from strength to strength, only one club is still in the hunt for the treble – Celtic. Even the Celtic fans are in the mood to party, unlike their rivals who seem to be lethargic throughout. http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2012/02/the_celtic_squad_a_review.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2012/02/the_celtic_squad_a_review.php Opinion celtic review squad Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:53:51 +0000 Facebook and Twitter, and it's been a long time coming. Celtic have had their facebook page for a while now and they are sitting pretty on 144,249 likes, however this pales in comparison to the likes of Manchester City who sit at 1,733,219, Liverpool at 8,052,963 and Manchester United on 22,047,580. Celtic finally launched their twitter account, in my opinion at least a year behind when they should have really delved into the social network site. With 12532 twitter followers currently, they sit far behind the likes of Barcelona who have 3,013,583 for example. Now it is fully understandable that Celtic will be far behind given the start the other clubs have on such social network sites, coupled with the worldwide appeal that such clubs have given the leagues that they play in and the marketing they employ. But they should at least equal if not surpass that of rivals Rangers, who sit at 28,638 followers on twitter and 229,355 likes on Facebook.]]> http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2012/02/celtic_and_the_social_media.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2012/02/celtic_and_the_social_media.php News celtic facebook social network twitter Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:32:09 +0000 In this afternoon's press conference, Celtic manager Neil Lennon has hit out at The Scottish Sun, following what Lennon deemed as trying to 'stir up some sort of controversy that isn't really there'. The Scottish Sun reported on its front page that Celtic first team coach Alan Thompson and Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor went for drinks at a pub in the West end of Glasgow on Wednesday night. But Lennon labelled the article a 'nothing story' and that the paper's attempts to stir up controversy was 'disgusting'. http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2012/02/neil_lennon_media_stirring_up.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2012/02/neil_lennon_media_stirring_up.php Opinion alan thompson allan mcgregor article celtic controversy neil lennon newspaper rangers scottish sun Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:14:18 +0000 Celtic are sitting pretty at the top of the Scottish Premier League, four points clear of rivals Rangers after the Ibrox side were held to a 1-1 draw at Ibrox. It has been a massive turn around in the fortunes of Celtic Football Club since the beginning of November when they were 12 points behind their rivals, with many writing off Neil Lennon's side. Lennon has overseen Celtic's 12 match unbeaten run, while Ally McCoist's side stagger, stumble and falter against teams they really should be beating. Proving that they were heavily reliant on the form of the want-away Nikica Jelavic and Steven Naismith, the latter being out for the season through injury. While Neil Lennon, his management team and the players must all share the credit for the great turn around, former Celtic team mate Bobby Petta points to the influence of Martin O'Neill. http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2012/01/the_influence_of_martin_oneill.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2012/01/the_influence_of_martin_oneill.php Interview bobby petta celtic martin o'neill neil lennon Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:58:00 +0000 The captain's position at any football club is an honour for any footballer to hold, it is a position that commands respect and is one of the most important roles within a club - unless you are Paul Le Guen. In recent years, Celtic have seen two captains of inferior quality in the guise of Stephen McManus and presently Scott Brown. Neither should have been handed the captain's armband at the Parkhead club for various reasons, but with Scott Brown in the process of re-negotiating a new deal, stalling only due to his agent's demands, maybe its time the club took a step back and decided to cash in on the 26 year old. http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2011/11/scott_brown_is_surplus_to_requ.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2011/11/scott_brown_is_surplus_to_requ.php Opinion celtic newcastle united scott brown transfer Wed, 23 Nov 2011 23:01:29 +0000 Sunday is a major test of Neil Lennon's credentials as Celtic manager. Forget the game against Rennes at Celtic Park on Thursday night, what matters most is the Scottish Premier League. With Rangers playing host to Dundee United on Saturday, Celtic's game against Motherwell at Fir Park could be the moment Lennon is either pushed out of the door or walks out of it. http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2011/11/neil_lennon_should_walk_if_he.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2011/11/neil_lennon_should_walk_if_he.php Opinion celtic manager neil lennon spl Wed, 02 Nov 2011 10:43:11 +0000 With international week in full swing, Celtic manager Neil Lennon should be using the time to dissect where the team is failing from front to back and finalise what his starting eleven, week in week out is. Otherwise he can kiss goodbye to the SPL title and his job as manager of Celtic. http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2011/10/lennon_must_get_back_to_basics.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2011/10/lennon_must_get_back_to_basics.php Opinion celtic defence manager neil lennon players tactics Mon, 10 Oct 2011 07:48:06 +0000 Celtic's debt was reduced once more to under £1 million, despite little or no European football revenue from the past three seasons. But after spending a mere £1 million this season, fans are becoming frustrated that the 'auld biscuit tin mentality' has reared its ugly head once more at Celtic Park.]]> http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2011/08/the_board_must_dig_deep_or_fac.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2011/08/the_board_must_dig_deep_or_fac.php Opinion board celtic dermot desmond neil lennon peter lawwell spl transfers Mon, 22 Aug 2011 09:41:21 +0000 Irish Politics has been ingrained in the Scottish game for half a century if not longer, but with Ireland trying to put the past where it belongs, the glorification of the troubles continues in the West of Scotland. Celtic fans sing ditties celebrating not only the Irish War of Independence, but also the troubles in Northern Ireland. They sing about the hunger strikers, particularly Bobby Sands as well as Aiden McAnespie - an Irish Catholic - killed by a British soldier in 1988. Likewise across the city Rangers fans sing The Billy Boys, Build My Gallows High, the racist Famine Song and a few other ditties with add-ons such as F**k the Pope and the IRA. While both sides have fans who march alongside republican and orange marches up and down Scotland's streets. But in 21st Century Scotland, what have such things go to do with our society let alone Scottish Football? http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2011/08/time_celtic_fans_ended_their_i.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2011/08/time_celtic_fans_ended_their_i.php Opinion celtic IRA jock stein loyalism Rangers scottish football songs Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:15:38 +0000 "Following a scan today, the club can confirm that Gary Hooper has a sprained ankle and could potentially be out for a few weeks. "The striker was injured during Saturday's 5-1 SPL victory over Dundee United at Celtic Park. And he'll miss the Hoops' Europa League play-off against FC Sion this Thursday."]]> http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2011/08/hooper_sidelined_with_sprained.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2011/08/hooper_sidelined_with_sprained.php News celtic gary hooper injury striker Mon, 15 Aug 2011 22:26:29 +0000 Celtic secured all three points with a 5-1 win over Dundee United to make it three wins out of three. Irishman Anthony Stokes opened the scoring for Celtic on four minutes, before Johnny Russell equalised for Peter Houston’s side on the half hour mark. But almost immediately Gary Hooper scored to put Celtic in the lead again. And the points were wrapped up in the second half through goals from Ki Sung Yueng, Joe Ledley and James Forrest. http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2011/08/celtic_41_dundee_united.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2011/08/celtic_41_dundee_united.php Match Reports celtic dundee united match report spl Mon, 15 Aug 2011 21:26:46 +0000 55,000 fans turned up for what was essentially a testimonial game for former Celtic player John Kennedy whose career was cut short by injury. While most other professional players take the proceeds from such a testimonial, John Kennedy donated all proceeds to Oxfam's East Africa Appeal. And so Celtic legends played host to Manchester United's, throwing in a few celebrity fans also. The final score will read 5-2 to Celtic, but the real winners were Oxfam as the Celtic family turned up en masse to see the likes of Henrik Larsson, Martin O'Neill, John Hartson, Packie Bonner and Roy Keane return to Celtic Park. http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2011/08/celtic_more_than_a_club_its_a.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2011/08/celtic_more_than_a_club_its_a.php News celtic john kennedy legends manchester united oxfam testimonial Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:45:14 +0000 Celtic secured a vital three points and secured two wins out of two in the SPL, but it proved a costly victory as Emilio Izaguirre was stretchered off injured. Anthony Stokes scored the only goal of the game in the 1-0 win at Pittodrie, in what was a dominant performance from Celtic. http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2011/08/celtic_secure_three_points_but.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2011/08/celtic_secure_three_points_but.php Match Reports aberdeen celtic izaguirre pittodrie report Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:24:39 +0000 With the closure of the transfer window fast approaching, Celtic are still on the lookout for a goalkeeper. Their main target Jagiellonia Bialystok's keeper Grzegorz Sandomierski is keen on a switch to Parkhead but the clubs are yet to agree a fee. Meanwhile, as I reported on my own website, Islam Feruz has left Celtic for Chelsea. And Celtic bid adieu for now to Josh Thompson and Darren O'Dea as they head out on loan - but is their time at Celtic Park at an end? http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2011/08/celtic_transfer_news_feruz_san.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2011/08/celtic_transfer_news_feruz_san.php News Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:19:52 +0000 Irish international Darren O'Dea has left Celtic temporarily once again as he signed for Leeds United on a season-long loan deal. It is just another sign that the Irish defender has no future at Celtic Park, after successive loan spells at Reading and Ipswich Town. He made the move to Simon Grayson's Championship side as he looks forward to helping the Elland Road side back into the Premier League. http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2011/08/odea_bids_farewell_to_celtic_p.php http://blogs.soccernet.com/celtic/archives/2011/08/odea_bids_farewell_to_celtic_p.php News celtic darren o'dea defender leeds united loan transfer Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:12:05 +0000