Posts Tagged ‘Bhoys’

A Window To The Future

Posted: February 1, 2012 by thebhoymcclay in Celtic Football Club, Football, Uncategorized
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New Striker Pawel Brozek

Celtic completed their transfer dealings with a day to spare as Pawel Brozek joined on loan from Trabzonspor until at least the end of season having already concluded deals for cover in midfield and defence in the Winter window.  Rabiu Ibrahim, a young Nigerian midfielder, has vowed to wow the fans with his flamboyant and skillful game which he models on a hybrid of Zinedine Zidane and David Silva, (a cross between the two would be just fine!) and the view from the manager and my Lennoxtown scout is the boy is something special. Denied any quality game time at PSV, Lennon has taken a worthwhile gamble on the twenty year-old who has received nothing bar glowing reports along the way – and the next few years at Celtic will hopefully be a productive one for player and club.

Rabiu Ibrhahim out to impress

Announced back in November, Mikael Lustig was the first player through the door arriving on a pre-contract from Rosenborg. There is still much debate surrounding this right-sided defender given the abundance of riches at the sides disposal in this department – Adam Matthews & Cha Du-Ri are already vying for the first team position, whilst the experienced Mark Wilson and young development player Andre Blackman also work towards a starting role. A fully fledged Swedish international in his prime playing years will not be arriving at Celtic Park for a place on the bench, however comfortable.

There were three heading the opposite direction with fringe youngsters, Paul Slane, James Keatings and Lewis Toshney going on loan to MK Dons, St Johnstone and Kilmarnock respectively for some valuable first team experience. The one disappointing story of the frantic final days proceedings, was that of Mark Wilson and the breakdown of his move to Leeds United. Disjointed & frustrating are words you would use to sum up the defenders spell at the Hoops since joining in 2006 – long-term injuries and rehabilitation being the route cause. And with additional back-up in Lustig his playing days with the Bhoys may now well be at an end. The opportunity of some game time in the Championship on the road back from his latest knee problem would have been essential if Wilson is to ever play competitive football for a sustained period.

Lustig in the Classic "Signed" Position

The main purpose of this window in my opinion, was for Celtic to maintain their current squad and especially their prized assets such as the striking combination of Gary Hooper and Anthony Stokes.  As I mentioned last month in “When The Saints Come Marching In”
http://thebhoymcclay.com/2012/01/18/when-the-saints-come-marching-in/
 - No good could emerge from Celtic letting their star striker leave at this point in the season, for any amount of money. Polish international striker, Brozek is waiting in the wings for an opportunity but again, how long will it take to get an understanding with another partner? Will he adapt to Scottish football in the short period he has to impress Lennon before he makes a decision on whether to make his stay permanent? Current squad members, who some may have not lost sleep over moving on to pastures new, such as Samaras and Ki – will prove their worth in the coming months also. Both players have individual styles of play with a lot of fans struggling to comprehend what they bring to the team. The Greek is direct and pacey, meaning the team can quickly switch to counter-attack or when struggling to break down a well parked SPL double decker. The Korean Player of the Year on the other hand, is able to command a game with the ball at his feet – his vision to pick a killer pass or dictate the play when under pressure could be vital.

Growing the side from a position of strength is something relatively new to Celtic, there is usually a diminution or two within the playing staff as has been seen in the last few windows. Rangers on the other hand, have adapted a polar opposite and not only let go of their most prized possession in Nikica Jelavic, but allowed another dozen or so players leave on loan or for good – if Celtic to fail to deliver the knockout punch in the coming months, it would have to go down as the most disappointing and unbelievable league campaigns of recent history. It is sport, human nature and one man versus another and of course, anything can happen – but to have such a dominating & dynamic young squad and positive mental edge, the forecast for green and white ribbons to be fluttering in May looks a sure thing.

 

 

When the Saints come marching in….

Posted: January 18, 2012 by thebhoymcclay in Celtic Football Club, Football, Uncategorized
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Our talisman

We need to tell them quite rightly, where to go with their £6m bid for our top striker.

Southampton’s efforts to unsettle Gary Hooper have so far been rebuffed by both club & striker, with the latter committing at least, his short-term future to the club and possibly beyond. Not only is the Englishman this season’s top scorer, his partnership with Anthony Stokes seems to have matured into a solid mutual understanding and double act which has taken the League by storm with twenty-one goals so far. He is also ahead in their own personal goals head-to-head, which is great for motivation and can only add weight to Celtic’s longing for the Championship.

I do believe in the coming years, our number eighty-eight will move back to England, but at a higher level than where he came from at League One Scunthorpe United. Southampton, come May, could well be offering Hooperman Premier League football in England, albeit with a struggling side, but that would probably come under an aspiration for any footballer born down South and Hooper will be no different.  In his primitive few years in professional football, the Celtic star has accumulated over one hundred goals at only twenty-three and has shown not only a knack for being in the right place at the right time, but an ease and sublimity to his finishing.

Not only this, but how demoralising and disheartening would it be for the team, manager and fans to let their star man go, midway through the season – especially when their only other striking target, Baba Diawara, appears to have agreed terms with Spanish cracks, Sevilla. Trying to find another striker, or trying to incorporate the unconvincing Bangura into a partnership with Stokes for the title run in would be akin to shooting yourself in the foot – and the pain would be far worse if this decision meant finishing runners-up again.

Walk On Through the Wind

Posted: December 29, 2011 by thebhoymcclay in Celtic Football Club, Football, Travel, Uncategorized
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The Only Way is Up for Ledley & The Bhoys

The “Hail” force winds in the East End of Glasgow were enough to knock Rangers from their lofty perch last night as Celtic showed their title credentials in the second Glasgow Derby of the season.

Fans and pundits alike were predicting a revenge mission of some stature for the Bhoys following their four two defeat earlier in the season, but the conditions were not suited for a footballing lesson – first things first, get the three points and regain your position. With at least two further encounters due for 2012, Neil Lennon’s team are now title favourites and this time, you would be deluded for arguing with the bookies odds.

Celtic, the good guys, took the game to their visitors – the evil demons, and were mounting pressure on Allan McGregor’s goal mouth before the first potential talking point of the game. Rangers from nowhere, had the ball over the line – it stopped short of the net thanks to a magnificent scoop from Fraser Forster but Wallace’s’ header should have been the opener – if we went over wronged decisions for Celtic in previous games in this fixture though, a candle and Horlicks would be required for the haul. In the second half even, a flag from the linesman stopped the onside Gary Hooper from adding to the woes of Ally McCoist. The Celtic manager, confident in his number eighty-rights ability called it “one apiece” when talking in the studio post-match about the decision.

The Bhoys in green deservedly swung the encounter in their favour from a majestic Mulgrew cross which met the head of Joseph Ledley ten minutes after the restart. Just as the first half had started, Celtic pinned their rivals on the back foot and kept jabbing away till the knockout blow – the Welsh star meeting the ball with a willing determination that took the festive stuffing out of Rangers. A team including Aluko, Bartley, Bocanegra and Wallace should never have really been heading for the New Year in top spot anyway – a disjointed mis-match lacking any real quality against the thoughtful, battling skills & prowess of Kayal, Forrest, Samaras and Wanyama to name but a few – the Hoops are now a youthful, energetic side with a winning momentum & mentality along with a fiercely strong hunger for success.

The depth of quality and lack of it on the Rangers bench was there for all to see when Sally called for the cavalry – Maurice Edu & David Healy. The latter was fortunate to only see yellow moments later for a scythe on James Forrest which took the young Scot on the knee in full flight and left him on the touchline in agony, a desperate and despicable act from an aged nobody who could only watch as Celtic ran out victors and completed a seventeen point swing in league points in their favour since the fifth day of November – Jelavic deduced from that moment that Rangers were unlikely to be caught, he will be scratching his head at how swiftly and nonchalantly Neil Lennon and his squad have turned the deficit around to be top going into the New Year – the year of the thunder.

Celtic’s Euro Star still Shining Bright

Posted: December 16, 2011 by thebhoymcclay in Celtic Football Club, Football, Uncategorized
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Celtic take the lead in Italy

On the week that the fans were silenced, the team fired a shot across the bow to Europe and their many opponents. From the first till the mid fortieth minute or thereabouts, Celtic seemed impenetrable – the pressing, marking and organisation was second to none and who knows what the second half would have held had Celtic kept that deserved lead through Gary Hooper’s opener.

The Italian’s, joint top of Serie A, started with a great rendition of the Parkhead sides usual “rabbit caught in the headlights” impression with the visitors making all the early headway. Georgios Samaras again seemed unplayable in an excellent first half display and before the lethal run and cross for Celtic’s 29th minute goal, the Greek forward had slid an inch perfect ball through for the lone Englishman to poke wide & been wrongly adjudged of a foul on Udinese’s last man after another purposeful run. In this vein of form you suspect Sammy to keep his place up until the Glasgow Derby on the 28th but these games do throw up surprise inclusions and omissions. In the second forty-five with Udinese finding their feet, they also found a way of dealing with Celtic’s number nine – mark tight and stop the runs before he gets in gear, for the most part, their tactic worked and Celtic’s main outlet was distinguished.

The saviour of the second half was undoubtedly the much ridiculed young goalkeeper, Fraser Forster. Some of his game is still very raw and requires some work, but his shot-stopping capabilities are at points world-class and other times breathtaking. With the Hoops defending becoming more ragged and tired, the giant Geordie pulled off a string of superb stops – culminating in a Di Natale double stop with the Italian’s second effort – a bullet header reached by the fingertips of an outstretched colossus returning from the far post, to the applause of his team mates and fans alike. Confidence in a goalkeeper can be vital, especially playing for a big side, and Forster has grown in stature these past weeks when he probably imagined the height of his seasons shot stopping forays was the last-minute penalty stop against Hearts last Saturday – his overwhelming and thunderous reaction to that save remains my screen saver and iconic image of the season so far.

Forster saves the day against Hearts

On the day that the big top finally came down on FC Sions’ court circus appeal to be reinstated, Celtic can come away from this test with more than just learning experience. From the disastrous away night in Switzerland, the Bhoys away form has improved to the point where we are now debating how unlucky we were not to win in Italy – a great reflection on how mentally tough this team and manager can be with a little heart, belief and determination.

I was overjoyed when I heard the decision to initially let the Bhoys into the Europa League proper – standing outside Glasgow Central reading Twitter feeds and news stories after work I took it as my duty to let some of my other friends still in work, hear the news – nonchalant and negative came back the responses, to a man the fear of injury, defeat and embarrassment was a burden to great to bear, this season especially. Two defeats to a top Spanish side with some extremely dangerous household names on their books, is no real embarrassment – Celtic never again played the role of the inexperienced and vulnerable pupil. With gusto and confidence they can go into these festive fixtures at worst still four adrift of their title rivals with the thunderous roars of discontent and disbelief engulfing Ibrox.

Oh and before I forget – F**k the SFA, F**k the SNP and UEFA too!

Paddy Sparks a Revival

Posted: November 7, 2011 by thebhoymcclay in Celtic Football Club, Football, Travel, Uncategorized
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The embers of bonfire night were slowly dwindling away just as Celtic were kicking off in Lanarkshire at high noon, and it took a sparkling Patrick McCourt solo run to keep the Bhoys title race fire burning. It looked as if Neil Lennons’ side were again going to give up valuable points in a quite drab & vicious encounter, before the two substitutes combined via Tony Stokes to take the vital win back to Paradise as Hooper again came off the bench to seal victory as he had done just a few days prior.

Motherwell began as they never do against McCall’s former club – with vigour and aggression. Celtic’s defence again succumbed to early pressure and with eleven minutes on the clock, Michael Higdon ghosted in behind the powder-puff rearguard to nod past the helpless Forster. Amazingly, left back for the day, Adam Matthews was in line with the burly striker and still had has hand up for offside – bar this error the young Welshman was industrious throughout and his endeavours were enough to see him named man of the match. For whatever reason, Celtic only come to life when they go behind, if it were still goalless I think we would have found the team plodding their way through to half-time as we have come accustomed too in recent weeks.
Samaras steered a header to Anthony Stokes with his third assist in a week and the Irishman converted his volley home from a few yards just minutes later – The Greeks’ height proved a weapon which Celtic were able to call on not just yesterday but against Rennes, and was a dimension Celtic had been missing in their game in previous encounters. His inclusion has perhaps given Gary Hooper some time to think on the bench and a break for the Englishman seems to have had a positive effect when brought on late in proceedings. His three goals in the last four games can surely spur Hooperman into a confident spell of form with Celtic are leading up to a make or break period post useless International weekend.

The Bhoys overcame a gritty, dirty and malicious Motherwell side who although ended up ten men late on, in hindsight were lucky the full complement was kept in tact for that long. Keith Lasley, the SPL player of the month, was especially tough in the tackle and within a few first half minutes had crippled Forrest with a lunge that reds have been brandished for previously and caught Beram Kayal with a flailing arm – Himself, Higdon and Craiganwere especially in the mood for taking bodies and it was surprising in the end that the misdemeanor for which Tim Clancy saw red for was a petulant little kick out at Gary Hooper.

Hooper

Hooperman seals the win

The Bhoys have now gone seven games undefeated since the beginning of October, and the Tynecastle defeat has spurred the players on to a four wins in that period. Usually to overcome a period of inconsistent and poor performances, you have to go back to basics and grind out results, something which Rangers have been doing all season – previously Celtics poor performances were justifiably ending in defeat, but now it looks like player performance and determination is on the rise. From wins, comes confidence and belief, this in turn will provide improvements on the pitch – again its unfortunate the international break has broken up the momentum as we will have to take all the heart and resolve to the Highlands in a fortnight’s time.

As a footnote I would also like to identify two performances which typified the type of steel and purpose with which we need to drive the team on – much maligned in my previous articles, centre back Daniel Mastjorovic and captain Beram Kayal – well done Bhoys!

Consistency is Ki

Posted: November 4, 2011 by thebhoymcclay in Celtic Football Club, Football, Travel, Uncategorized
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Lennon celebrates the third and final goal finishing the French

Firstly, I had no reason to single out the injured South Korean in the title – I think his work rate, goals & assists can not be dismissed in the games he has played thus far. Therefore it is only sheer coincidence that the balance of the midfield looked somehow more, erm..balanced I suppose last night against Rennes.

The main point is the first word – consistency. It’s not been there all season, the team have ambled from triumph to disaster all season and last weeks’ double header against Hibs was the prime example. In the first League Cup game, the Bhoys turned the game on its head after the break with a James Forrest inspired rout – a few days later in front of their own fans they lacked gusto, purpose and imagination as the Edinburgh side took a comfortable point.

In just three days Celtic make the short trip across Lanarkshire to second placed Motherwell – which in itself is a hard-line to swallow let alone stare at in black & white. Celtic need to show the same togetherness, spirit and fight they displayed to the fans coming off the pitch last night when Neil Lennon went round congratulating every beaming bhoy in a Hooped jersey. No hint of in-fighting, headbutts or general dressing room malaise were on show and even everyone’s favourite painter & decorator, Garry Parker was leaping about like he had just won a Nationwide contract with House of Fraser.

The celebrations last night following the final goal were an indication of the camaraderie that does lie within the squad – as Gary Hooper saluted the fans, most of the team were just behind him in a communal hug – something I have missed in the past month or so. One player that stands out in the handful of games he has started and an integral part in last nights comeback was Victor Wanyama. A collossus in midfield, whenever he has the ball – HE has the ball and don’t dare try to dispossess him, as he stands like an immovable force of ultimate strength and moves with all the majesty of a marauding gazelle. His battling nature also helped the topsy-turvy life of Beram Kayal manifest itself in a combative, positive display like days of yonder (well last year really!). Derek Rae, the ESPN commentator on the night, noted the pride with which Wanyama takes when wearing the Hoops and the tempo and effort he puts in whilst playing for Celtic, is of a level of importance which could turn the season in our favour. He could be our V for Victory akin to the Seville journey! (FK SuduVa, Blackburn RoVers, Celta Vigo, LiVerpool, BoaVista etc).

Lennon also described last night as miraculous due to the injury hoodoo which left him without a handful of regulars before the game, and one less in Glenn Loovens during it. The upside being a few of his influential players will be available on Sunday and with Emillio Izzaguire due back in January – hopefully a swing in favour to the East End of Glasgow can start taking full effect. With Naismith ruled out for the rest of the season and the A-bomb ticking behind Shooter McGavin’s eyes like a pinball, the release of Jelavic in January could be a decision taken out of their hands.

If on Sunday evening or Monday morning I am penning an obituary to this team, I will be at a loss when thinking back to last nights euphoria. I feel the momentum will be with us and see no reason to fear the Steelmen – providing we show our mettle.

A Joker in the pack…

Posted: November 2, 2011 by thebhoymcclay in Celtic Football Club, Football, Uncategorized
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commons

Want to see more of this...

But no ace…..so far.

A bit of clarity needed on the mass ejaculation that has taken place over Kris Commons’ training ground gag this afternoon. I suppose we should be happy that on the face of it, he is actually participating in training today – I mean how many injuries or mystery illnesses has the poor lad had the past few months!

Internet rumours as usual, are majorly wide of the target, and yesterday’s fable regarding the boss “sticking the nut” on his rebellious midfield star has been dismissed by the club as ridiculous – I bet most of you did give it a second thought though. Now Commons has been hailed as some sort of comedy genius, messiah and probable Player of the Year able to turn our season on its head with his posthumous Halloween stunt – sorry folks but most of that is not going to happen.

commons

...& some of this when applicable!

On the rare occasions when Commons has played  this season, he has been off the pace, looked disinterested and made rash footballing decisions – now the same people who vilified him against Hearts are trying to get him “trending” – and I can see the same reversal of attitude if he does not step up to the plate on Thursday or Sunday (if picked)!

I would much rather see him get the head down, train hard and be able to showcase his talents for Celtic on the pitch as he did following his move in January.  My own predictions for this season have taken a major blow following our disastrous start to the campaign as I was fairly confident a full season with Kris Commons could have been the fine line which we failed to cross first in May.

Hopefully this extra attention in the spotlight does not manifest itself in a negative way in this weeks crucial games.

Can the Joker have the last laugh?

Just Enough Education to Perform

Posted: October 27, 2011 by thebhoymcclay in Celtic Football Club, Football, Uncategorized
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Young James Forrest takes the plaudits from the sensational Hoops faithful

“I’d like to shoot you all” is the follow-up line from that song and during the first forty-five in Leith last night, a few Celtic fans would have been uttering similar sentiments at their own players. Another dire start to a game in which you would feel highly confident going into, led you too wonder what mindset these players were in.

The Celtic gaffer promised a mauling was to be served up to the next team who showed vulnerability, and in the second half Celtic could smell blood – in the away dressing room at half time they would’ve been licking their wounds (or switching to your match-turning boots in James Forrest’s’ case). In the top left corner, it certainly looked like a lesson was dished out – but Neil Lennon will again be scratching his head at how poorly and disorganised the Bhoys appeared in the first half. Only a Fraser Forster block before the whistle stopped Celtic going in two nil behind, and especially in a cup tie, you have to wonder what effect that would have on the players psyche and if they would have regrouped as well.

My good friend @daviep83, labelled it the worst 45 in a cast list as long as Lurch’s arm, and its hard to fathom what the problem is with the players and motivation at kick off – perhaps Lennon should give his half time team talk pre-match. The polar opposite was a major theme running through Martin O’Neill’s Celtic side, and the lift an early goal gave the crowd and players was usually enough to have depleted the oppositions’ resolve aswell. I would love for once for Celtic take the second half thunder, and pressurise the opponents from the first whistle – this would in essence relieve some of the pressure on the boss and his backroom staff as the Bhoys in attack and midfield have shown their potential firepower.

Hooper

A beaming Gary Hooper - a sight I want to see much more of!

The one defining positive from the night was Gary Hooper getting on the score sheet – a mere statue in the first half, the Englishman gave the ball away with almost every touch and also managed to miss a glaring opportunity from within the six yard box from a Beram Kayal cross. The majority of Hoopers performances this season have given cause for concern and it wasn’t long before a question mark over his happiness and loyalty to the Celtic cause were brought up. The free scoring, lively frontman has cut a forlorn figure in attack and only a handful of strikes against SPL teams is not good enough for a forward at Celtic – last night another glimmer of his undoubted ability will hopefully have his confidence reignited.

James Forrest, the young wide player has shown his more experienced counterparts up with his sheer grit & determination and last night he got his reward. The first a great strike from the angle of the box, and the second, my favourite of the two, a clinical finish following a neat run and one two with Tony Stokes. The goals from the midfield could well be telling when the silverware is handed out in May – Ki, Ledley and the clubs current top scorer wearing no 49 have contributed the most to the cause so far this campaign.  Inconsistency in defence, due to injury and poor form has cost us dearly at the back – I hope young Thomas Rogne can continue his solid showing last night against Hibs again at the weekend. The Norwegian centre back did one thing in the first half which I have been looking for nearly all season – he came out of defence and attacked a high ball with gusto and purpose midway in his own half which immediately took the ball right back deep into Hibernian territory.

Our opponents last night, have only won five competitive games since July -Colin Calderwood is probably the most under pressure manager in Scotland besides Neil Lennon. They also love conceding goals, so last nights second half capitulation wasn’t a surprise to many regulars at Easter Road. The team directly above them, only with better goal difference, were three nil up on us a week and a half ago – Celtic have taken over a month to get back to winning ways, a slog and a battle it has been but hopefully our newly found fighting qualities can lead us to a sustained run of victories.

Tax doesn’t have to be taxing….

Posted: October 3, 2011 by thebhoymcclay in Celtic Football Club, Football, Uncategorized
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Or so it seems for our Glasgow rivals. As they continue to grind out results,  we continue to grind to a pile up of car crash disastrous performances. If we were not so caught up in the farcical situation they’ve mismanaged their way into, a lot of heads at our club would be on the chopping board. When we were on the brink of going bust in the nineties, we acted & played like a club on our knees – Rangers are a wounded animal and fighting as if their lives are on the line. A rookie manager, an exit from Europe & a domestic cup shows how vulnerable a club they can be – but we have contrived over the past few years to let them survive and keep our slaying sword safe in our belts.

There will be more nail biting before the end of the season

I have heavily criticised Peter Lawell in a previous blog about his lies, & Matt McGlone’s piece last night further emphasised the magnitude of his failings as Chief Executive at our club. Gordon Strachan asked to be financially backed in a January transfer window in the 2008/09 and when funds were not forthcoming, this led to a frosty relationship and eventually the end of the Scot’s tenure at season’s end. Unfortunately for Strachan, this his fourth and final season in charge, ended without the league championship which had previously been in his control. Following managerial changes at other clubs and subsequent failings, I always say that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone – see George Burley at Hearts & Jimmy Calderwood at Pittodrie, they seem can be readily applied to Gordon – especially if this season continues in a similar vein. Martin O’Neill, the messiah was indeed citing health reasons within his family for his departure but it has been pointed out that perhaps a return would be ruled out whilst Peter Lawell is still at the helm – prior to his decision, O’Neill was given the cost cutting and debt saving blueprint for the clubs future and was none to enamored.

At this point in the season is it too late to bring in a new manager and save the league campaign? A lot of clubs and owners are given a hard time for being too ruthless and disposing of bosses after only a few games but perhaps in order to build relationships and mentalities within the team these decisions need to be taken earlier – Gasperini,the Inter Milan coach was sacked after three league games this year, but his successor Claudio Ranieri after a couple of morale boosting wins, was brought back down to earth with a three nil reversal at home to Napoli last night.  I feel Lennon now has to be given until the end of the season, and if he thinks personnel changes and tactical shifts may help then that’s a start as previously he has been quite naive in this respect. In hindsight, the mentor overlooking the inexperienced coaching team might have opened the managers eyes to things he might have been blinkering out.

Inconsistency has been such a big part of Neil Lennon’s Celtic stewardship and the past few weeks have been prime examples with a capitulation at Ibrox, decent wins at Dingwall and against Inverness, a spirited Europa League performance against Udinese & yesterday’s non-event at Tynecastle. Playing devils advocate, we can also look at the unfortunate series of major injuries we have been plagued by in recent times – even though Wanyama was the pick of the Bhoys, I don’t think Kayal and Ledley playing would have allowed the Hearts midfield to control the middle of the park as much. Inconsistent and no settled defensive partnerships has also not helped the cause, with many individual and team defensive errors costing us many crucial goals throughout the last season and a half. Again injury to arguably our best defender till the New Year, Emillio Izzaguire, has attributed to the lapses at the back with only the previously much maligned Charlie Mulgrew, now the only player you could entrust across the back line.

Celtic now have until the 15th October to mull over their recent shortcomings during another International break before making the trip to Kilmarnock. During a period with two of our toughest away tests, Rangers will soon make trips to Tynecastle & Pittodrie – possibly the hardest games they have faced so far this campaign. Before the next Glasgow Derby I would fully expect the Bhoys to be back in touching distance of top spot – anything less and I would expect all the faith to be lost.

Bhoys show mettle to maul Steelmen

Posted: September 10, 2011 by thebhoymcclay in Uncategorized
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Celtic made the best possible sign off for Spain with an emphatic win over Stuart McCall’s Motherwell at Celtic Park. A brace from man of the match James Forrest either side of half time, a delightful Joe Ledley goal and as always, a superb long range effort from the laces of Ki, dented the Lanarkshire clubs meek resistance.

Celtic lined up with Mulgrew at centre back at the cost of haphazard Dan and this meant new bhoy El Kaddouri was able to showcase his talents, of which their were many, down the left flank. Welsh youngster Adam Mathhews was also menacing down the right and going forward was a torment to the Well defence along.with his right sided partner in crime Forrest.

The young Scot was played in beautifully by Stokes for his first within the first ten and a neat move involving the aforementioned two set up Joe Ledley to calmly slot home from inside the box before half time. Celtic were in control and rampant within those first fourty-five and the play and guile must have delighted Neil Lennon prior to next weeks crunch at the Poundstretcher stadium.

The second half began like the first but with Motherwell showing a bit more ambition in their play, their possession was let down by poor final balls or met with a solid bhoys backline. The hoops got control of the ball again and started spraying the ball about the park and working some great combinations in and around the box. On 67 the game went beyond McCall’s men (if it hadn’t already) when the South Korean Ki, smashed a rasping drive into Randalph’s net with the outside of his leather. Time for one more and the pace and direct running of young Forrest devestated Tam Cowan’s beloved again as he ran at the heart of the defence before clipping a shot past the keeper with the ball taking a slight deflection on the way in.

Strength in depth is something the brothers of William do not have in their armour, but Lennon had Commons, Wanyama and new bhoy Bangura to bring into the fray in the closing stages. This could prove vital not only next Sunday, but during the season as Europa League exertions take their toll. To the cauldron on Thursday of the Calderon, can Celtic take their second chance with both hands and get a positive result in Spain? I think they should feel grateful that they have been given a great opportunity after what was two very abysmal performances against the Swiss court hookers, and play with the confidence which was on display today.