21/02/2013 : CELTIC V DUNDEE, SPL, SUNDAY, 24 FEBRUARY
It’s the match against Team 12 on Sunday so it’s a rare opportunity to see the Bhoys in action at Celtic Park. There may be those on the other side of Glasgow particularly who wish it were Old Firm Sunday, but in fact it is Dundee who are the visitors, while the Hunnery have to make do with a trip to Berwick Rangers this weekend.
CELTIC V DUNDEE, SPL, SUNDAY, 24 FEBRUARY, KICK-OFF 13H45, LIVE IN THE OLD OAK
While Celtic go into the match with a nineteen point cushion at the top of the table, they were lucky to come away from Mc Diarmid Park with a draw on Tuesday night. At the same time, this is a very busy period for the Bhoys. Sunday’s game will be the fourth in eleven days so it is understandable if they will get caught out now and then.
And with a busy first half of March on the horizon, it may be no harm that Neil Lennon has signalled that he may give some of the regulars a rest on Sunday. “I will make some changes," he says. "We have got the Motherwell game next Wednesday”, he notes so he “will rotate the squad, but not too much”. "I will maybe give some of the fringe players an opportunity to play,” he signals.
Dundee have failed to win any of their last twelve matches and are firmly rooted to the bottom of the table. Having parted company with manager Barry Smith in mid-week, it would appear that they head to Celtic Park in disarray. But it often happens that the departure of a manager galvanises a team into action. So it may be that the Bhoys will need to assert their control early on Sunday so as not to give the visitors any encouragement.
After an excellent run in the SPL since the start of the year, we all hope that the Bhoys can get back to winning ways on Sunday, as we look forward to the SPL title being settled well before the end of the season.
Next on the List : Celtic v Motherwell, Wednesday, 27 February, Kick-Off 20h45, Live in the Old Oak
Hail! Hail!
Seán
CELTIC V DUNDEE, SPL, SUNDAY, 24 FEBRUARY, KICK-OFF 13H45, LIVE IN THE OLD OAK
While Celtic go into the match with a nineteen point cushion at the top of the table, they were lucky to come away from Mc Diarmid Park with a draw on Tuesday night. At the same time, this is a very busy period for the Bhoys. Sunday’s game will be the fourth in eleven days so it is understandable if they will get caught out now and then.
And with a busy first half of March on the horizon, it may be no harm that Neil Lennon has signalled that he may give some of the regulars a rest on Sunday. “I will make some changes," he says. "We have got the Motherwell game next Wednesday”, he notes so he “will rotate the squad, but not too much”. "I will maybe give some of the fringe players an opportunity to play,” he signals.
Dundee have failed to win any of their last twelve matches and are firmly rooted to the bottom of the table. Having parted company with manager Barry Smith in mid-week, it would appear that they head to Celtic Park in disarray. But it often happens that the departure of a manager galvanises a team into action. So it may be that the Bhoys will need to assert their control early on Sunday so as not to give the visitors any encouragement.
After an excellent run in the SPL since the start of the year, we all hope that the Bhoys can get back to winning ways on Sunday, as we look forward to the SPL title being settled well before the end of the season.
Next on the List : Celtic v Motherwell, Wednesday, 27 February, Kick-Off 20h45, Live in the Old Oak
Hail! Hail!
Seán
12/02/2013 : CELTIC V JUVENTUS, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LAST SIXTEEN ROUND, FIRST LEG; TUE, 12 FEB
So it’s Juve who are the visitors to Celtic Park as we start the latest chapter of the Bhoys’ European Champions’ League odyssey this season. Qualifying from a group that included Barcelona, Benfica and Spartak Moscow already represents a significant achievement. Now we enter the business stage of the competition and they don’t not come much tougher than the “Old Lady of Turin”.
CELTIC V JUVENTUS, CHAMP LEAGUE LAST 16 ROUND, 1ST LEG; TUE, 12 FEB, KICK-OFF 20H45, LIVE IN THE OLD OAK
Juventus came through the group stages without losing a match, and, of course, put defending champions Chelsea out of the competition along the way. During those matches, they scored twelve goals, with six coming from midfield general Vidal and striker Quagliarelli. They also conceded just four goals.
The Bhoys did of course inflict a rare European defeat on Barcelona during their group campaign and this should give them every confidence going into the Juve clash. At the same time, Neil Lennon is well aware that the challenge posed by Juve differs from that of Barca. “We’ll have to change the way we play, and certainly the way we did against Barcelona, but that’s only natural because Barca dominate possession like no other team”, the manager points out.
It is clear that Lennie has done his homework on the opposition. He highlights that “Juventus have excellent strikers – Vucinic, Quagliarelli, Giovinco – while they’ll also brought in Nicolas Anelka, but the player who has caught my eye recently has been Alessandro Matri”. He continues that “they’re very strong in midfield; Arturo Vidal is playing very well just now, Pogba and Marchisio are class players and, of course, they have Andrea Pirlo, who is still one of the finest midfield players in the world”. He also notes that “Juventus are very strong defensively and they’re very well-organised. They’ve been very consistent domestically and also very impressive in their Champions League campaign this season. Their 3-5-2 formation seems to be coming back into fashion again”.
But the manager sees no reason to doubt the Bhoys capacity to deal with the task ahead, saying that “it would be dangerous to underestimate Celtic - we’ve proved already this season that we can be a match for anyone”. And he concludes by recognising that Celtic are once again playing at the highest level in Europe, commenting that “we’re going up against a great team with a great coach, and it’s very exciting for me to challenge myself against Juventus and Antonio Conte”.
Undoubtedly, this will be a challenging and exciting match that Celts everywhere await with anticipation. We look to those lucky enough to be at Celtic Park for the match to play the role of collective twelfth Bhoy like never before!
Hail! Hail!
Seán
CELTIC V JUVENTUS, CHAMP LEAGUE LAST 16 ROUND, 1ST LEG; TUE, 12 FEB, KICK-OFF 20H45, LIVE IN THE OLD OAK
Juventus came through the group stages without losing a match, and, of course, put defending champions Chelsea out of the competition along the way. During those matches, they scored twelve goals, with six coming from midfield general Vidal and striker Quagliarelli. They also conceded just four goals.
The Bhoys did of course inflict a rare European defeat on Barcelona during their group campaign and this should give them every confidence going into the Juve clash. At the same time, Neil Lennon is well aware that the challenge posed by Juve differs from that of Barca. “We’ll have to change the way we play, and certainly the way we did against Barcelona, but that’s only natural because Barca dominate possession like no other team”, the manager points out.
It is clear that Lennie has done his homework on the opposition. He highlights that “Juventus have excellent strikers – Vucinic, Quagliarelli, Giovinco – while they’ll also brought in Nicolas Anelka, but the player who has caught my eye recently has been Alessandro Matri”. He continues that “they’re very strong in midfield; Arturo Vidal is playing very well just now, Pogba and Marchisio are class players and, of course, they have Andrea Pirlo, who is still one of the finest midfield players in the world”. He also notes that “Juventus are very strong defensively and they’re very well-organised. They’ve been very consistent domestically and also very impressive in their Champions League campaign this season. Their 3-5-2 formation seems to be coming back into fashion again”.
But the manager sees no reason to doubt the Bhoys capacity to deal with the task ahead, saying that “it would be dangerous to underestimate Celtic - we’ve proved already this season that we can be a match for anyone”. And he concludes by recognising that Celtic are once again playing at the highest level in Europe, commenting that “we’re going up against a great team with a great coach, and it’s very exciting for me to challenge myself against Juventus and Antonio Conte”.
Undoubtedly, this will be a challenging and exciting match that Celts everywhere await with anticipation. We look to those lucky enough to be at Celtic Park for the match to play the role of collective twelfth Bhoy like never before!
Hail! Hail!
Seán
08/02/2013 : CELTIC V INVERNESS CT, SPL, SATURDAY, 9 FEBRUARY
After last weekend’s victory over Raith in the Scottish Cup, it’s back to the business of the retaining the SPL title on Saturday as Celtic travel to Inverness to take on Caley Thistle.
INVERNESS CT V CELTIC, SPL, SATURDAY, 9 FEBRUARY, KICK-OFF 13H00, LIVE IN THE OLD OAK
This is a clash of first versus second in the SPL but, with the Bhoys fifteen points ahead at the top of the table and with one of the most significant games in the club’s recent history just five days away, Neil Lennon is taking a measured approach to Saturday’s encounter.
"It is a balancing act but I will make changes", says Lennie. He concedes that "I have got Juventus in mind”. He acknowledges that next Tuesday’s Champions’ League clash “is the biggest game we have had here since Gordon Strachan's time and the biggest game of some of the players' career, and certainly my managerial career”.
At the same time, he recognises that winning the SPL is the ticket to further European glory next season and so admits that "I don't want to take too many chances”. He is keeping things very much in focus and accepts that “we have got a cushion but that is no guarantee you are going to win the league and it is not the reason I am making changes”.
We all know that over the years Caley have caused us a problem or two. They would dearly love to consolidate their position at the head of the chasing pack by bagging the three points on Saturday. At the same time, a win for Celtic would provide valuable moment ahead of the visit of Juventus. Indeed, if the manager does decide to give some of the fringe players an opportunity to play their part on Saturday, who’s to say that they will not seize the opportunity to make their mark? That would be an added bonus for the future.
Next on the List : Celtic v Juventus, Champions’ League Last Sixteen Round, Tuesday, 12 February, Kick-Off 20h45, Live in the Old Oak
Hail! Hail!
Seán
INVERNESS CT V CELTIC, SPL, SATURDAY, 9 FEBRUARY, KICK-OFF 13H00, LIVE IN THE OLD OAK
This is a clash of first versus second in the SPL but, with the Bhoys fifteen points ahead at the top of the table and with one of the most significant games in the club’s recent history just five days away, Neil Lennon is taking a measured approach to Saturday’s encounter.
"It is a balancing act but I will make changes", says Lennie. He concedes that "I have got Juventus in mind”. He acknowledges that next Tuesday’s Champions’ League clash “is the biggest game we have had here since Gordon Strachan's time and the biggest game of some of the players' career, and certainly my managerial career”.
At the same time, he recognises that winning the SPL is the ticket to further European glory next season and so admits that "I don't want to take too many chances”. He is keeping things very much in focus and accepts that “we have got a cushion but that is no guarantee you are going to win the league and it is not the reason I am making changes”.
We all know that over the years Caley have caused us a problem or two. They would dearly love to consolidate their position at the head of the chasing pack by bagging the three points on Saturday. At the same time, a win for Celtic would provide valuable moment ahead of the visit of Juventus. Indeed, if the manager does decide to give some of the fringe players an opportunity to play their part on Saturday, who’s to say that they will not seize the opportunity to make their mark? That would be an added bonus for the future.
Next on the List : Celtic v Juventus, Champions’ League Last Sixteen Round, Tuesday, 12 February, Kick-Off 20h45, Live in the Old Oak
Hail! Hail!
Seán
01/02/2013 : CELTIC V RAITH ROVERS, SCOTTISH CUP FIFTH ROUND, SUNDAY 3 FEBRUARY
We can look forward to Cup action on Sunday in the happy knowledge that none of Celtic’s stars was lured away during the transfer window. So we anticipate them playing their part in the Bhoys’ push for the League and Cup double. And, of course, the squad has been strengthening by the signing of 20-year old Aussie attacking midfielder Tom Rojic and the arrival on loan from Standard of defender Rami Gershon and from Trellborgs in Sweden of goalie Viktor Noring. But the Bhoys need to be up for every game if we are to pull off that double. So Sunday’s trip to Stark’s Park for the clash with Raith Rovers is important in getting us back on the Cup-winning trail.
RAITH ROVERS V CELTIC, SCOTTISH CUP FIFTH ROUND, SUNDAY, 3 FEBRUARY, KICK-OFF 13H45, LIVE IN THE OLD OAK
Let’s not forget that this is our second Cup encounter with Raith this season. At the end of September last, they were visitors to Celtic Park in the League Cup, when they held their own for much of the first half before the Gary Hooper show swept them away, with the Celtic striker scoring all the Celtic goals in a 4-1 victory. On Sunday, we can expect them to have learnt from that experience and to be up for the Cup.
All the more so because, having lost their last three games on the trot, the home side have virtually no chance of promotion from the first division so the opportunity to rescue their season with a Cup shock can be expected to spur them on all the more.
Given the tricky clash coming up on Sunday, it is positive news that Fraser Forster has recovered sufficiently from his neck injury to be back in the squad. He has certainly been missed while he has been out. Good news also is that James Forrest appears to have overcome the hamstring injury that has kept him out in recent weeks.
So, while not taking anything for granted, we expect the Bhoys to turn up on Sunday and do the business to keep our hopes of the double alive.
Hail! Hail!
Seán
RAITH ROVERS V CELTIC, SCOTTISH CUP FIFTH ROUND, SUNDAY, 3 FEBRUARY, KICK-OFF 13H45, LIVE IN THE OLD OAK
Let’s not forget that this is our second Cup encounter with Raith this season. At the end of September last, they were visitors to Celtic Park in the League Cup, when they held their own for much of the first half before the Gary Hooper show swept them away, with the Celtic striker scoring all the Celtic goals in a 4-1 victory. On Sunday, we can expect them to have learnt from that experience and to be up for the Cup.
All the more so because, having lost their last three games on the trot, the home side have virtually no chance of promotion from the first division so the opportunity to rescue their season with a Cup shock can be expected to spur them on all the more.
Given the tricky clash coming up on Sunday, it is positive news that Fraser Forster has recovered sufficiently from his neck injury to be back in the squad. He has certainly been missed while he has been out. Good news also is that James Forrest appears to have overcome the hamstring injury that has kept him out in recent weeks.
So, while not taking anything for granted, we expect the Bhoys to turn up on Sunday and do the business to keep our hopes of the double alive.
Hail! Hail!
Seán
25/01/2013 : CELTIC V ST. MIRREN, SCOTTISH COMMUNITIES LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL, SUN 27 JAN
It has been a long winter break since the Celts last TV appearance but, happily, the intervening period has seen the Bhoys consolidate their position at the top of the SPL, where they now enjoy a twelve point lead over the chasing pack. So, for the next couple of weeks, we turn our attention to cup action, as Celtic continue to pursue the domestic treble this season. The action starts on Sunday when the Bhoys travel to Hampden to take on St. Mirren in the League Cup semi-final.
CELTIC V ST. MIRREN, SCOTTISH COMM. LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL, SUN 27 JAN, KICK-OFF 15H30, LIVE IN THE OLD OAK
Although Celtic’s recent record against the Buddies is strong, having won the last eight matches on the trot between the sides, Cup matches are a one-off and anything can happen, as Celtic’s recent Cup semi-final record testifies.
So Neil Lennon is taking nothing for granted, saying “I am very wary of St Mirren, I am very wary of it being a semi-final at a neutral venue”. He highlights his concern for his team, noting that "if we win it, we are expected to win, we lose and it is a big cup upset - that's why I am wary”. He also realises the significance of the match in terms of Celtic’s ambitions this season, emphasising that "we are walking on a tightrope and if anything goes wrong our dreams of winning the treble will evaporate in one game, so we need to be very careful”.
While St. Mirren’s recent form is far from impressive, they do pose a threat up front, with striker Thompson, who has already netted twelve times this season, likely to be joined by new Portuguese loan striker Goncalves. His arrival may well offer inspiration to a side determined to pull off a surprise result in front of the Hampden crowd.
For Celtic, Fraser Forster is not expected to have recovered from his neck injury in time to play and Kris Commons is doubtful with a rib injury. On the plus side, Kelvin Wilson is available for selection again after suspension.
After recent Hampden experiences, an early Celtic goal would be very welcome to settle the nerves. So let’s hope that the Bhoys can keep up their recent form and give a commanding display that takes them to their first Cup final of the season.
Next on the List : Celtic v Raith Rovers, Scottish Cup Fifth Round, Sunday, 3 February, Kick-Off 13h45, Live in the Old Oak
Hail! Hail!
Seán
CELTIC V ST. MIRREN, SCOTTISH COMM. LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL, SUN 27 JAN, KICK-OFF 15H30, LIVE IN THE OLD OAK
Although Celtic’s recent record against the Buddies is strong, having won the last eight matches on the trot between the sides, Cup matches are a one-off and anything can happen, as Celtic’s recent Cup semi-final record testifies.
So Neil Lennon is taking nothing for granted, saying “I am very wary of St Mirren, I am very wary of it being a semi-final at a neutral venue”. He highlights his concern for his team, noting that "if we win it, we are expected to win, we lose and it is a big cup upset - that's why I am wary”. He also realises the significance of the match in terms of Celtic’s ambitions this season, emphasising that "we are walking on a tightrope and if anything goes wrong our dreams of winning the treble will evaporate in one game, so we need to be very careful”.
While St. Mirren’s recent form is far from impressive, they do pose a threat up front, with striker Thompson, who has already netted twelve times this season, likely to be joined by new Portuguese loan striker Goncalves. His arrival may well offer inspiration to a side determined to pull off a surprise result in front of the Hampden crowd.
For Celtic, Fraser Forster is not expected to have recovered from his neck injury in time to play and Kris Commons is doubtful with a rib injury. On the plus side, Kelvin Wilson is available for selection again after suspension.
After recent Hampden experiences, an early Celtic goal would be very welcome to settle the nerves. So let’s hope that the Bhoys can keep up their recent form and give a commanding display that takes them to their first Cup final of the season.
Next on the List : Celtic v Raith Rovers, Scottish Cup Fifth Round, Sunday, 3 February, Kick-Off 13h45, Live in the Old Oak
Hail! Hail!
Seán
01/01/2013 : TO ALL BRUSSELS CSC MEMBERS, FRIENDS AND THEIR FAMILIES :
A HOOPY CHRISTMAS !!!
Here’s hoping that 2013 will dawn green and white for everyone!
Hail! Hail!
Here’s hoping that 2013 will dawn green and white for everyone!
Hail! Hail!
Brussels Celtic Supporters' Club, Brussels CSC, Dirk Van der Perre, Dirkio, Dirkio69, Brussels Celtic Supporters' Club, Brussels CSC, Dirk Van der Perre, Dirkio, Dirkio69, Dirk Van der Perre, Dirkio, Dirkio69