St Johnstone visit Celtic Park for the first time since January 2002 when they lost 2-1. Celtic have won their previous six matches against the Saints but the Perth side picked up the odd point at Celtic Park. In May 2000 St Johnstone drew 0-0 with a Celtic team managed by Kenny Dalglish. In September 1998 St Johnstone gained their last league victory at Parkhead. Canadian Nick Dasovic scored the only goal of the match. In fact, it was his only league goal in 120 starts for the club.
There is some experience coursing through the Saints side. Their goalkeeper, Alan Main is just four matches short of 200games for the club. The itinerant striker Kenny Deuchar has scored 104 goals in 174 games for all his previous clubs and Collin Samuel scored in a 2-2 draw on his last visit to Celtic Park with Dundee United (Boxing Day 2006). Also Portuguese midfielder Filipe Morais played in the SPL with Hibs and Inverness CT last season.
Saints' manager Derek McInnes, a Scottish Cup winner with Rangers against Celtic in 1999, has an excellent record since taking over from Owen Coyle in November 2007. In 75 matches in charge, he has won 33 and drawn 28.
Rangers travel on Sunday for the televised clash against Hearts at Tynecastle. The Jambos have yet to score a goal in competitive games this season after losing their opening day league match to Dundee United (2-0) on Monday and then losing 4-0 to Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia on Thursday night. It's possible that their Europa League qualifier will have taken a great deal out of them but as always they will be fired up to play Rangers. Rangers' record at Tynecastle is not the greatest in recent seasons. Last year only one match was played there (three between the teams were played at Ibrox) and Hearts won 2-1. Rangers' last victory at Tynecastle was a 4-0 (Darcheville 2, Novo 2) drubbing at the tail end of the 2007/08 season but earlier in the season Hearts had won 4-2. Oddly enough, Tynecastle is one ground that Kris Boyd has not scored at as a Rangers player. He has scored 5 goals (includes 2 pens.) in 11 matches against Hearts but all at Ibrox.
Last six matches at Tynecastle for Rangers: P6 W2 D1 L3
Friday, 21 August 2009
Celtic to play Cliftonville
The oldest football club in Ireland has invited Celtic to mark the occasion of their 130th anniversary. The match will be arranged once Celtic know their European schedule.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/irish/8213205.stm
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Velicka returns to Scotland
Andrius Velicka's loan move to Bristol City is off after the striker sustained a horrific knee injury in his debut against QPR. The striker collapsed after just 5 mi
nutes in the match at Ashton Gate and is likely to be out for 6 months.
nutes in the match at Ashton Gate and is likely to be out for 6 months.
Boyd to Turkey?
Kris Boyd has been the subject of transfer speculation this week with a possible move to Turkish Super Liga side Kayserispor. Boyd has one year left on his contract at Rangers but, with no extension talks mentioned, could be allowed to leave Ibrox. Kayserispor, who have drawn their opening two league matches 0-0 and 1-1, see Boyd as the goalscorer they require. The striker has scored 142 goals in the SPL and the £50,000 per week wage may tempt him away from Scotland.
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Manager Merrygoround
Ex-Celt Paul Lambert and ex-Rangers manager Dick Advocaat have been on the move. Lambert has left Colchester United to become manager of Norwich City. This means that he leaves the team at the top of the English Second Division (9 points after three matches) to join the team who are third bottom (0ne point after 3 matches). Bryan Gunn was sacked after Norwich City were beaten 7-1 by Lambert's Colchester on day one of the season.
Dick Advocaat has been sacked by Zenit St Petersburg in Russia. Advocaat had agreed to take the post as manager of Belgium but see out the rest of the season in Russia. However, since his decision to leave Zenit, their results have been poor including a 2-0 loss to Tom Tomsk at the weekend. Consequently, he has left the club sooner than first intended. Advocaat managed Zenit to their Uefa Cup Final victory against Rangers in Manchester in 2008 . link to BBC report
Dick Advocaat has been sacked by Zenit St Petersburg in Russia. Advocaat had agreed to take the post as manager of Belgium but see out the rest of the season in Russia. However, since his decision to leave Zenit, their results have been poor including a 2-0 loss to Tom Tomsk at the weekend. Consequently, he has left the club sooner than first intended. Advocaat managed Zenit to their Uefa Cup Final victory against Rangers in Manchester in 2008 . link to BBC report
Kevin Thomson to return
Kevin Thomson could make a start in Rangers' match at Tynecastle on Sunday. Thomson played just 13 minutes as a substitute on Saturday against Falkirk. The midfielder has been out of the side since sustaining a cruciate ligament injury six months ago.
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
Celtic 0, Arsenal 2 (Gallas 43, Caldwell og 71)
Celtic lost this first leg qualifier in somewhat bizarre circumstances. Before mentioning Arsenal's goals it should be said that they were the better team and closed Celtic down at every opportunity. However, with the match heading to a 0-0 half-time score, Fabregas was fouled by Gary Caldwell some 25 yards from goal. The ball was rolled to Fabregas who struck a neat shot. Artur Boruc had the shot covered but William Gallas, who was running across the line of the goal in order to unsight Boruc, deflected the ball off his back. In actual fact, Gallas was attempting to avoid the ball but it spun off him in to the far corner of the net. The goal on 43 minutes was a harsh blow for Celtic who had competed well up to that point.
Rather surprisingly, Celtic seemed to allow the goal to affect them just as much in the early part of the second half. Donati and NGuemo were off the pace and the latter twice lost possession sloppily. On both occasions Arsenal created chances, first for van Persie and secondly for Bendtner but neither was converted.
The surprise before the match was manager Tony Mowbray's decision to replace forwards McDonald and Fortune with Samaras and Brown. Celtic shaped up in a 4-5-1 formation that was designed to match Arsenal in midfield. For much of the first half, it worked well with van Persie and Arshavin not seeing too much of the ball. In the second half Mowbray removed Samaras and Donati in favour of McDonald and Fortune. Fortune created one chance crossing from the right but his cross was cleared for a corner by Gallas. NGuemo was booked for yet another foul on Fabregas and he will miss next week's return match. With that in mind, Mowbray replaced NGuemo with Paddy McCourt on 65 minutes. Arsene Wenger made a change of his own and brought Abou Diaby on in the 70th minute. His first contribution was to make a darting run into the heart of the Celtic defence and he passed to the left for Clichy. Clichy crossed the ball across the six yard box whereupon Gary Caldwell turned the ball past Boruc in goal.
For Celtic fans, the Arsenal goals were reminiscent of the defeat in Aalborg last year when Caca's shot on 73 minutes was deflected over Boruc and Aalborg's second goal was yet another own goal by Gary Caldwell. After that match Aalborg players were saying how they had enjoyed several years' luck all in one night. On this occasion, however, Arsenal did not need the luck. They were slicker in the passing than Celtic and better at keeping possession. Nonetheless, if only Celtic had enjoyed their slice of luck, they may have been awarded a penalty early in the second half when the ball struck Bendtner's arm from a Maloney free kick.
Rather surprisingly, Celtic seemed to allow the goal to affect them just as much in the early part of the second half. Donati and NGuemo were off the pace and the latter twice lost possession sloppily. On both occasions Arsenal created chances, first for van Persie and secondly for Bendtner but neither was converted.
The surprise before the match was manager Tony Mowbray's decision to replace forwards McDonald and Fortune with Samaras and Brown. Celtic shaped up in a 4-5-1 formation that was designed to match Arsenal in midfield. For much of the first half, it worked well with van Persie and Arshavin not seeing too much of the ball. In the second half Mowbray removed Samaras and Donati in favour of McDonald and Fortune. Fortune created one chance crossing from the right but his cross was cleared for a corner by Gallas. NGuemo was booked for yet another foul on Fabregas and he will miss next week's return match. With that in mind, Mowbray replaced NGuemo with Paddy McCourt on 65 minutes. Arsene Wenger made a change of his own and brought Abou Diaby on in the 70th minute. His first contribution was to make a darting run into the heart of the Celtic defence and he passed to the left for Clichy. Clichy crossed the ball across the six yard box whereupon Gary Caldwell turned the ball past Boruc in goal.
For Celtic fans, the Arsenal goals were reminiscent of the defeat in Aalborg last year when Caca's shot on 73 minutes was deflected over Boruc and Aalborg's second goal was yet another own goal by Gary Caldwell. After that match Aalborg players were saying how they had enjoyed several years' luck all in one night. On this occasion, however, Arsenal did not need the luck. They were slicker in the passing than Celtic and better at keeping possession. Nonetheless, if only Celtic had enjoyed their slice of luck, they may have been awarded a penalty early in the second half when the ball struck Bendtner's arm from a Maloney free kick.
Yellow cards: Fox, NGuemo, Loovens
Monday, 17 August 2009
Transfer News
- Andreus Velicka has left Rangers to join Bristol City on loan for the entire season. Bristol City, who play in the Championship, acquired Paul Hartley from Celtic in June.
Old Firm versus Arsenal
Celtic and Rangers have played Arsenal on many occasions but predominantly in friendlies. However, Celtic did play Arsenal in one official match in the Coronation Cup of 1953. This was a one-off tournament to celebrate The Queen's accession to the throne. The competition was by invitation and was to be played out by the top 4 teams in England and Scotland. The teams representing Scotland were Aberdeen, Celtic, Hibernian and Rangers. From England came Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Celtic were paired with Arsenal in the quarter-final and the game was played at Hampden Park on Monday 11 May 1953 in front of around 60,000 spectators. Arsenal were the English Champions and were expected to win with ease.
Celtic: Bonnar, Haughney, Rollo, Evans, Stein, McPhail, Collins, Walsh, Mochan, Peacock, Tully
Arsenal: Swindin, Wade, Chentall, Forbes, Dodgin, Mercer, Roper, Goring, Holton, Lishman, Marden.
Bobby Collins scored directly from a free kick in 24 minutes to give Celtic a 1-0 win.
Rangers v Arsenal
On 20 April 1892 Rangers played Woolwich Arsenal in London and won 3-2. Kerr, Barker and McBain scored for Rangers. A 'return' fixture did not occur until April 1912 when the sides played out a 0-0 draw.
British Championship 1933
In 1933 both Rangers and Arsenal were champions of their respective countries. A British Championship play off was suggested and the two matches were played in September.
Rangers won both fixtures, 2-0 at Ibrox and 3-1 at Highbury.
Celtic were paired with Arsenal in the quarter-final and the game was played at Hampden Park on Monday 11 May 1953 in front of around 60,000 spectators. Arsenal were the English Champions and were expected to win with ease.
Celtic: Bonnar, Haughney, Rollo, Evans, Stein, McPhail, Collins, Walsh, Mochan, Peacock, Tully
Arsenal: Swindin, Wade, Chentall, Forbes, Dodgin, Mercer, Roper, Goring, Holton, Lishman, Marden.
Bobby Collins scored directly from a free kick in 24 minutes to give Celtic a 1-0 win.
Rangers v Arsenal
On 20 April 1892 Rangers played Woolwich Arsenal in London and won 3-2. Kerr, Barker and McBain scored for Rangers. A 'return' fixture did not occur until April 1912 when the sides played out a 0-0 draw.
British Championship 1933
In 1933 both Rangers and Arsenal were champions of their respective countries. A British Championship play off was suggested and the two matches were played in September.
Rangers won both fixtures, 2-0 at Ibrox and 3-1 at Highbury.
Sunday, 16 August 2009
Opening Day Wins for Old Firm
Rangers and Celtic got their Scottish Premier League campaigns off to winning starts. Celtic kicked off at 12.45pm at Aberdeen, while Rangers unfurled the flag at Ibrox a couple of hours later. The Aberdeen-Celtic match launched the SPL for 2009/10 in earnest and was covered by Sky TV.
Aiden
McGeady (below) scored twice for Celtic as they stormed in to a 3-0 half time lead. The third goal was scored by Aussie, Scott McDonald. Both Celtic's wide players, McGeady and Shaun Maloney, were the main driving force behind Celtic's early attacks. McGeady's second was a sublime bit of play which saw him turn just outside the 'D' and curl a left foot shot into the goalie's rigth hand corner. Aberdeen scored a wonderful goal in the second half: a volley by Sone Aluko, which looped over Artur Boruc.
Technically, Aiden McGeady scored the first goal of the season due to the early
kick off at Pittodrie. However, had all matches kicked off simultaneously, the accolade of first goalscorer would have gone to Rangers' Lee McCulloch who scored on 14 minutes in his side's 4-1 victory over Falkirk. It was an excellent right foot shot into the top corner from almost 30 yards. Former Celt Kenny Miller (right) had a hand in the other three Rangers' goals with two good finishes of his own before setting up Steven Naismith to score the fourth with a fine though pass.
Aiden
McGeady (below) scored twice for Celtic as they stormed in to a 3-0 half time lead. The third goal was scored by Aussie, Scott McDonald. Both Celtic's wide players, McGeady and Shaun Maloney, were the main driving force behind Celtic's early attacks. McGeady's second was a sublime bit of play which saw him turn just outside the 'D' and curl a left foot shot into the goalie's rigth hand corner. Aberdeen scored a wonderful goal in the second half: a volley by Sone Aluko, which looped over Artur Boruc.Technically, Aiden McGeady scored the first goal of the season due to the early
kick off at Pittodrie. However, had all matches kicked off simultaneously, the accolade of first goalscorer would have gone to Rangers' Lee McCulloch who scored on 14 minutes in his side's 4-1 victory over Falkirk. It was an excellent right foot shot into the top corner from almost 30 yards. Former Celt Kenny Miller (right) had a hand in the other three Rangers' goals with two good finishes of his own before setting up Steven Naismith to score the fourth with a fine though pass.
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