Celtic Football Club, Scottish football Options

[hubert]

Thomas Rogne last night slammed claims that Celtic are big game bottlers.

Neil Lennon's Hoops have come under fire after two painful defeats in a week. And critics — like SunSport's Davie Provan — insist they can't handle the big occasion.

But Rogne hit back: "That's nonsense. We have played a lot of big games and we have won them in the past. We've lost two big games now — but that can happen."

Defeat to Kilmarnock in the League Cup Final wrecked Celtic's Treble dream.

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/ho...s-bottlers.html

I dont always like to see player comments in print, however these are good comments by Rogne.
Celtic need quality up front, and have for sometime, its all verywell knowing Hooper and Stokes can score goals all beit against very average fitba teams, ie. the SPL.
Players like Hooper, Stokes, Samaras, Forrest, have to do more on the park, the old addage that defense starts at the front is in my opinion of primary importance, and from what I can see and determine, it most certainly is not there.
Getting the ball upfront requires not just scoring goals, but to at least hold onto the ball and troubling the opposition defense for at least a period of time, not immediately losing the ball or being offside or fouling, giving the other team the ball.

[hubert]

Neil Lennon hits back at critics of his young side. By RONNIE CULLY

Neil Lennon reckons critics who are trying to claim his team lack bottle on the big occasions are looking in the wrong direction.

The Celtic boss admits to being “bemused” and “bewildered” at suggestions his players are not up to it.

Lennon is adamant their track record should afford them huge respect, not cheap shots. He said: “I think these are people on the outside looking in who are just looking for the slightest excuse to have a pop at the team who have lost two games in the last 28.

By Hughie Stein. LoL
Unfortunately the two games lost were biggies.
I will wait till the last kick of the ball this season before I make my final judgement on Neil Lennon, Celtic and all things considered.
Here is a consideration in regards to the SPL title, when we win it and its more than ten points, I will have a smile like a Cheshire Cat, and if its less than ten points, I will just have a happy smile.

[ashfield]

Just heard the shocking news that Stan Petrov has been diagnosed with acute leukaemia (see story below). I wish him well and the strength to fight this horrible illness.

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/west-central/3...with-leukaemia/

[hubert]

Get well soon Stan, treatment will work.

[Tennscot]

My sincere wishes for Stilian and his Family , I know how terrible it can be having lost our Mother to that awful disease.

[hubert]

Celtic 2 St Johnstone 0.
An additional three points towards the total for the SPL title.
Forster 6.5
Lustig 6.5
Loovens 6.5
Rogne 6.5
Mulgrew 6.5 MOTM
Commons 6
Brown 6.5
Ledley 6
Samaras 6.5
Stokes 5
Hooper 5

[GG]

I wasn't paying attention – I thought that was the title but, of course, with Rangers winning yesterday at Motherwell, Celtic will need to wait at least another week to have the party.

Celtic moved within one point of clinching the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title by beating St Johnstone at Parkhead.
The Hoops found it a struggle in the first half against a well-organised Saints side, but a Georgios Samaras header and an own goal by midfielder Chris Millar after the break saw off the visitors, whose striker Cillian Sheridan missed a great chance with the game goalless.
It was not a vintage Celtic performance, who were perhaps a bit deflated by Rangers' win at Motherwell ON Saturday which prevented a possible title party on Sunday.

However, that will not worry Hoops boss Neil Lennon, whose side need only a draw at Kilmarnock next Saturday to be crowned champions. ...

Bhoys move one point away form SPL title
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/...-SPL-title.html

GG.

[hubert]

Celtic have two good interesting games coming up, next week against Kilmarnock which even a draw sees us the SPL champs, and the following week we play Hearts in the Scottish Cup semi final.
Watching the lineup today at the central back, it was Loovens at right centre back and Rogne at left centre back, I was thinking how many permutations has Celtic and their coaches made at the back including the right and left wingbacks, its beyond my remembering because it seems countless, and not only that even some players get switched from right to left frequently, you see its quite a number of different players but as I said they go from one side to the other often.
Then we have players up front especially Hooper and Stokes whom I think have forgotten how to score, I believe Commons has for he has not scored this season I heard.
Samaras got a real good header today and scored, but he and young Forrest can be playing long enough without scoring results.
To get to the point I guess is, that continuity and consistancy is ultimately required for a strong above average competitive team, and that goes beyond the very average SPL standard we see every week.
Can Celtic achieve this, I think they can, so then why do they look like they wont?
I have my thinking on this as to why, however THOSE running Celtic in my opinion are content to let the fans take what is dished up, in other words, "what you see is what you get"!
"We aint seen nuthin yit"!

[Jim D]

Get well soon Stan, treatment will work.

I hope so, he is a genuine nice guy.

I remember when he came to Celtic that he was a very big contributor to charity. Not just by making appearances.

If I recall correctly, he used to send about 50% of his salary back home to charities in Bulgaria.

[Mathieson]

Re Stilian Petrov : Hopefully he will overcome this dreadful illness. All the best to him.

[JAGZ1876]

Re Stilian Petrov : Hopefully he will overcome this dreadful illness. All the best to him.

Hear Hear.

[hubert]

Kilmarnock 0 Celtic 6.
Magnificent Mulgrew, MOTM.
Congratulations to Neil Lennon and all at the Celtic club, to a well deserved clinching of the SPL title today.

Forster 7.5
Mathews 7.5
Loovens 7.5
K Wilson 7.5
Mulgrew 8.5 MOTM
Commons 7.5
Brown 7.5
Ki 7.5
Ledley 7.5
Samaras 7.5
Hooper 7.5

[ashfield]

Yes, hearty congratulations to Neil Lennon, all the players and staff at Celtic for becoming worthy champions. Well, they must be worthy champions because even Walter Smith said so (as did McCoist after Watty told him to )

[Heather]

Well done Celtic.

Raised on Celtic. Sung by the Thai Tims.

http://youtu.be/w0ujjdjTDVs

[GG]

Heather!

It's a huge personal achievement for Neil Lennon, especially winning the title at Rugby Park, where the Celtic manager was within one goal of probably leaving the club (Celtic were 3-0 down to Kilmarnock at half-time and 10 points behind Rangers in the league).

October 15, 2011

With Kilmarnock leading 3-0 after 72 minutes, it looked like this was going to be a seismic day for Celtic. It would turn out that way although not for the reasons that seemed most likely at that time. A fourth defeat in 10 league matches would likely have ended Celtic's championship aspirations and could also have led Neil Lennon to resign, the Celtic manager later admitting the thought had crossed his mind.

Instead he had James Forrest, Anthony Stokes and Charlie Mulgrew to thank for getting his team back on track. Forrest, Celtic's best performer on the day, started the comeback, winning the free-kick that Stokes curled beyond Anssi Jaakola. The Irishman then scored again, before Mulgrew turned in an equaliser. The road to redemption started out at Rugby Park.

Five games that won the title
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/footba...4-celtic-1-rang

GG.