Scottish Premiership 2025/2026

[McCeltic]

Bis nächsten Mittwoch Jungs. Urlaubbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb

[Fightin-Irish]

Young Celts sparkle in the Highlands

By: Mark Henderson on 25 Aug, 2012 14:40

Scottish Premier League
Tulloch Caledonian Stadium
Saturday, August 25, 2012

INVERNESS CT…2
Draper 82, 86

CELTIC…4
Wanyama 4, Watt 25, 64, Mulgrew 48

TONY Watt bagged a brace on his first top-team start as a young Celtic side turned on the style to dispatch Inverness Caley Thistle 4-2 in the Highlands.

Victor Wanyama opened the scoring in the fourth minute as the Hoops made a blistering start to the match, before Watt grabbed his first with an excellent run and finish.

Charlie Mulgrew finished off a well-worked free-kick just after the restart before Watt added his second to seal a thoroughly-deserved three points for the dominant visitors.

The hosts salvaged some pride through Ross Draper's two late consolation goals in a match when they were completely outplayed by Neil Lennon's men, who now go forward to Wednesday's UEFA Champions League clash against Helsingborgs with another fresh injection of self-belief.

With a number of player sidelined through injury, there were six changes to the team which recorded the impressive 2-0 win over the Swedish side last week.

Thomas Rogne, Scott Brown, Beram Kayal, Joe Ledley, Kris Commons and Georgios Samaras dropped out, with Mikael Lustig, Kelvin Wilson, Victor Wanyama, Filip Twardzik, Paddy McCourt and Watt coming into the team.

For both Twardzik and Watt, it was their first competitive top-team starts – and they certainly rose to the occasion.

But it was Celtic's recognised predator-in-chief who threatened first, as Gary Hooper slipped the ball through a defender's legs and forced Ryan Esson into a smart save at his near post with a stinging drive.

From the resulting corner, the Hoops made the early breakthrough. The ball was swung into the box by Adam Matthews and Wanyama rose highest to power a header into the top of the net.

The champions had begun briskly and with purpose. In their next attack, Watt cut inside the box from the left and fired over. The lively Hooper was then caught by a lunging challenge by Ross Draper which saw the Caley midfielder receive the first booking of the match.

Charlie Mulgrew took the free-kick and his wicked, curling effort cannoned off the stanchion. When the ball eventually dropped in the box, McCourt volleyed over.

Watt also made good progress down the left and the teenager's low cross aimed at Hooper was turned behind for a corner.

Reeling from Celtic's breathless start, it took until the 17th minute for the hosts to test Fraser Forster as Aaron Doran's shot from distance was pushed away by the big keeper.

But they soon found themselves trailing by two goals as Celtic doubled their advantage after a brilliant breakaway. It was a goal manufactured in the club's Youth Academy.

Collecting a pass inside his own half, Twardzik found Watt. The teenager drove directly at Graeme Shinnie and left the defender trailing in his wake. As he bore down on goal, he still had plenty to do but he calmly slotted the ball into the far corner, rounding off a wonderful move.

Terry Butcher's side attempted to mount an instant respone as Doran reached the byline but Andrew Shinne's flick drifted harmlessly wide.

Celtic always looked capable of adding to their tally, however, and Twardzik nearly teed-up Watt again but the striker just couldn’t steer the Czech youngster's low cross into the net.

And they threatened once more just before the interval as Watt attempted to pick out Hooper in the area, forcing Gary Warren into a hurried clearance.

Any hopes the Highlanders had that Hoops would ease off the pace in the second half were swiftly extinguished as Mulgrew added number three in the 48th minute with a delightfully-worked goal.

Hooper was felled on the angle of the box. Matthews feinted to cross from the set-piece but instead laid the ball off to Mulgrew on the edge of the area and he swept a shot into the corner.

Celtic were rampant at this stage. Watt sped away from Simon King and supplied Hooper in the box but his low strike was blocked by Esson.

Watt then nearly scored an incredible goal as he beat Esson to Emilio Izaguirre's through pass on the byline. Showing great persistence, he somehow squeezed a shot towards goal but it trundled inches beyond the far post.

It had been one-way traffic but Andrew Shinne did call Forster into action with first-time shot in the box which the Englishman.

But normal service was resumed in the 64th minute as Celtic stuck a fourth time. Matthews met Izaguirre's cross from the left and, although his first effort was parried by Essson, the Welshman retrieved the loose ball to set up Watt, who hammered home from close-range.

As frustration grew among the home side, Josh Meekings was perhaps lucky to escape with just a yellow card after a reckless lunge on substitute, James Forrest.

Watt forced Esson into another save before another of Celtic's youngsters was handed their first-team debut when Joe Chalmers replaced Izaguirre with 15 minutes remaining.

As the clock ticked down, the hosts scored two consolation goals through Draper but it couldn’t take the shine of a dazzling display from the SPL champions.

CELTIC (4-4-2) Forster; Lustig, Wilson, Mulgrew, Izaguirre (Chalmers 75) Matthews (Bangura 68) Wanyama, Twardzik, McCourt, Watt, Hooper (Forrest 65)
Subs: Zaluska, Irvine, McGregor, Bangura, Slane

INVERNESS CALEY THISTLE (4-5-1) Esson; Raven (Meekings 55) Warren, King, Shinnie; Sutherland (Morrison 55) Draper, Ross (Pepper 66) A. Shinnie, Doran; McKay
Not Used: Reguero, Laing, Polwarth, Whyte


http://www.celticfc.net/newsstory?item=2990

[Fightin-Irish]

Celtic: European signing dilemma for Neil Lennon

Neil Lennon has expressed his intent to strengthen his squad before the end of the transfer window, with European football already guaranteed and Champions League participation a real likelihood.

But the Celtic manager may well have been given genuine food for thought about where he needs to strengthen - or, indeed, the need to strengthen at all - by the hungry performances against Inverness Caley Thistle of Filip Twardzik and, particularly, Tony Watt.

Now, the defences Celtic come up against in Europe are likely to prove significantly more difficult to unlock than Caley Thistle's.

However, Watt's instinctive finishing, great pace and his willingness to forage for opportunities makes him a serious option for Lennon, if not in the European arena, then at the very least as a more than competent leader-of-the-line when the manager has to shuffle his pack for domestic games.

Furthermore, buying a striker with those attributes and who is perhaps a more proven performer at senior level than Watt would cost Celtic serious money that might be better spent strengthening other areas of the team.

So, for argument's sake, let's say the Celtic board sanction a spend of ÂŁ5m, if and when Champions League football is secured on Wednesday. Which area of his team could Lennon measurably improve with the addition of a couple of players at between ÂŁ2-3m each?

The Celtic boss has chopped and changed his central defence for most of his time in charge, but Charlie Mulgrew is perhaps the only player who has established himself as a first-pick there.

Thomas Rogne is probably the closest Lennon has to a regular partner for Mulgrew, with Kelvin Wilson still to convince.

But, again, bringing in a player who could be guaranteed to improve that position for the kind of money Celtic could feasibly spend is nigh on impossible.

Do they go for a young player with potential, who might be sold on, a la Ki Sung-Yeung, in future years?

That is obviously a gamble, but an established player who could genuinely enhance Celtic's chances of progressing in Europe - for they do not need to buy to be fairly certain of domestic success - will be extremely difficult.

That, however, is the challenge for Lennon and Celtic's scouting network.

Can they unearth another Victor Wanyama, a Ki or a Gary Hooper?

Beyond centre-half then, where else could be improved?

Let's take striker out of the equation for the reasons given above.

Celtic are pretty well-served in central midfield when everyone is fit, despite the departure of Ki, with Wanyama, Beram Kayal, Scott Brown and Joe Ledley.

Perhaps, then, another wide player or advanced midfielder is what Celtic need.

If James Forrest reproduces his form from the first-half of last season, he will surely be a starter on big European nights.

Kris Commons looks to have started the season in something like his best form and the fact he can play either wide or off the main striker gives Lennon good options.

Georgios Samaras, too, seems to relish the big occasions and his ability to play wide or as a central striker is another bonus for Lennon.

However, Paddy McCourt remains an enigma and is not likely to be given a starting berth in Europe, so a more reliable creative player could be the difference between finishing bottom of the Champions League group and either third, to move into the Europa League, or the mouthwatering prospect of progress to the knockout stage.

One other conundrum for the Celtic manager is how to persuade players to join the club when, other than European matches, the level of competition has diminished further.

Is the lure of playing for a club like Celtic and the prospect of maybe half-a-dozen Champions League matches enough to convince a really top-class player to sign?

That question will be answered over the course of the next week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19381770

[Big John]

Tolle Leistung. Sogar Bangura heute mit guten Ansätzen. Hat sich viel bewegt und hat nen guten Antritt. Spielübersicht ist jedoch ein Fremdwort für ihn.

mein MotM natĂĽrlich Watt!

Sorry aber Bangura ist eine Oberpflunze. Gestern einmal ein Abschluss gesucht der ohne zu übertreiben 20 Meter am Tor vorbei ist. Zudem kann er den Ball nicht wirklich stark behaupten und zu lässig läuft der Rasta-Kollege auch rum. Bitte verkaufen

[Lubo]

Mon the Mo!!!

[McCeltic]

Spiel gegen die Hibs fängt ja am Samstag nicht um 16 Uhr DZ an oder ?

[McCeltic]

Hab mich verlesen, laut BBC auch um 16 Uhr DZ Zeit. Werde ich mir im Hotel anschauen.

[Big John]

Hab mich verlesen, laut BBC auch um 16 Uhr DZ Zeit. Werde ich mir im Hotel anschauen.

Du bist ja mehr vorm PC als am Strand. Da werden sich die Hotelangestellten doch wundern

[McCeltic]

Heute GrĂĽn gegen GrĂĽn oder 1. gegen den 2. Das hat es lange nicht gegeben.



Celtic - Hibs

Mal sehen, wer heute alles spielen kann.

[Jenson]

Mal was anderes-weiß auch gar nicht ob des hier reingehört.....aber :

Warum darf ein Verein der Insolvenz angemeldet hat (in dem Fall die Affen mit 180 Mio Schulden ) weiterhin einkaufen als ob nix passiert wäre ???
Also jetzt mal rein wirtschaftlich !!! Die sind Pleite-haben immer noch ein Haufen Schulden-und kaufen 1. Liga Vereinen die Leute weg ???
Also vielleicht weiĂź ja von Euch einer mehr ???

Und ab wann dĂĽrfen die nix mehr verpflichten ? und wie lang ???

Ohne ein Welle los zu treten ! rein Interesse halber.

[Lubo]

Das ist ganz einfach, du machst Schulden wie ein Wolf, zahlst keine Steuern, dann gründest du nen neuen Verein und überschreibst Stadion etc. einfach. Während die kleinen Betriebe, denen du Geld schuldest, Konkurs anmelden und deren Inhaber und Angestellte evtl. in persönliche Not geraten, kaufst du munter weiter - natürlich wieder alles auf Pump. Dann behauptest du einfach, alle sind ungerecht zu dir und es ist schlecht, dass du vierte Liga spielen musst und die Leute rennen dir nach und meinen du hast den tiefen Teller erfunden (Green). Dann schreibt man diese Story von der ungerechten SPL/SFA in sämtliche Foren im Internet, bis die Tasten glühen und alle meinen, das ist wirklich so. Was im dritten Reich der Volksempfänger war, ist halt jetzt das Internet, hier hat man schöne Möglichkeiten tolle Geschichten zu verbreiten und es finden sich immer wieder Leute, die das Ganze dann übernehmen.

Ich denke was da passiert ist zeigt ganz gut den Stand einer marktkapitalistischen Gesellschaft. Jeder schaut erstmal nach sich selbst und wenn die Firma groĂź genug ist, kann man sich eh erlauben was man will. GroĂźes Kino, was wir da ĂĽber den Sommer erleben durften!

Kann mir aber trotzdem nicht vorstellen, dass sowas in Deutschland auch gehen könnte.

[McCeltic]

http://www.celticfc.net/newsstory?item=3034



Wenn das heute mal alles funktioniert.

[Armin_Bhoy]

1-0

LUSTIG :P

[McCeltic]

Lustig zum 1-0 fĂĽr Celtic. Freut mich fĂĽr unseren Schweden.

[McCeltic]

Forrest ist der Hammer.

[McCeltic]

Man beachte, daĂź heute ca. 8 Mann ( ohne die neuen ) fehlen. Was aber die heutige auf dem Platz stehende Mannschaft zeigt ist absolute Klasse.

[McCeltic]

HZ 1-0 Celtic



Damit sind die Hibs bestens bedient.

[Celtic Frost]

Könnte locker auch 3-0 sein für uns. Aber der Auftritt von uns macht Spass und ein Aufstellung wie heute werden wir national zukünftig wohl vermehrt sehen vermute ich mal

[McCeltic]

Und mal wieder den Ausgleich selbst gemacht.

[McCeltic]

Ganz schlecht Paddy. Den muss man einfach versenken.