Nearpost Football: Celtic FC

Showing posts with label Celtic FC. Show all posts

Showing posts with label Celtic FC. Show all posts

Thursday, 6 August 2009

Celtic march on...for now!

When Celtic lost 1-0 to Luke Wilkshire's Dinamo Moscow this Celtic fan groaned. Out of the Champions League in July.

54,000 saw the first leg in Glasgow. In July for God sake, you don't play football in July in Glasgow, it's 13 degrees, it never gets dark and the Scots are all on their two weeks holidays.

But behold the Hoops. Aussie Scott McDonald nabbed the first in Moscow and then George Samaras got the second in the last minute. The last minute!

Celtic won 2-0, Aussie Scot now goes into the final Champions League Qualifying round where we may face Arsenal or Fiorentina or the like to get to the group stages,

Bring it on! Sorry Luke! Now back to the A-League.

Sunday, 12 July 2009

Celtic: Best away supporters in Brisbane.

Well unique at least, and bring colour and atmosphere wherever they go.

31,000 turned up to see Celtic trounce the Brisbane Roar 3-0 today at Suncorp. And a Kiwi Chris Killen got two for the Celts.

And with Fulham and Wolves pulling in around 20,000 and 11,000 this weekend across the wide brown land clearly the Scottish Champions have slightly more fan power than the English Premier League clubs; no surprise there.

And I'm sure anyone at the game today from Brisbane would never have seen an away support like it. Not for Rugby League, Super 14, AFL or our wonderful A-League.

And remember this was just a wee friendly.

And for the record 31,000 was just short or the Roars record crowd which was 32,000 v Sydney FC a couple of years ago.

Wednesday, 8 July 2009

Johnny Foreigner: A point of difference

When Johnny Foreigner, in the shape of newly-promoted but soon to be relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers steps up in Perth on Friday, closely followed by crack EPL outfit Fulham in Melbourne (I'm joking), one of the best supported clubs in world sport Celtic (I'm not joking)in Brisbane and Shanghai Shenhua in Sydney in coming weeks the new pre-season will be in full swing.

Tickets sale appear strong in Melbourne, Gold Coast and Brisbane and surprisingly mediocre in Perth according to an expectant Glory Chairman Tony Sage.

That said I'm still expecting record crowds to attend an A-League game in Perth Brisbane and of course the Gold Coast who have yet to play!

Are these overseas sides a good thing for our game? Blood oath they are.

Melbourne Victory attracted 43,000 to see a second string Juventus smash them 4-0. And Victory were amazingly outplayed.

Did it improve the profile, or damage the local league? Dunno but our Aussie players will have learnt from it.

It's too early to say if these games will be an annual event, or how many times these friendlies will entice fans to pay good dosh who knows. But surely there has to be more interest in these games than in another Victory v Adelaide pre-seaon game and of course the crowds will be bigger.

Thought one:
What happens if the crowds although healthy by A-League standards don't make it viable to bring overseas teams back? Do we revert to a pre-season comp?

Thought two:
Aussie Clubs need to introduce their new signings thru these games each year.

Thought three:
In the continuing battle between the four codes it's a marvellous way of getting some noise in the Aussie media before the A-League season, plus it's in the middle of the junior season and of course no other code can or appears able to bring overseas teams across for any games (outside of S14 normal season.)

The innovative Brumbies, probably the only innovators in Union or League really, they are currently planning to play a European side in Japan. The Brumbies might lead the way in the other codes, but even that innitiative only leads to Japan. Not much good for your local product, your future.

So football's advantage is the grassroots, and the international game. Bringing the international game to our kids is a great point of difference, hooking the kids to holler for their local team is of course the next part of the journey.

Surely every Aussie kid from Perth will want to see their side beat the English teams Wolves or Fulham. And if they don't it shouldn't be too difficult to get that anti-English feeling thru to our Aussie tackers should it!

Get a few guys around WAFL grounds to shout "come on the Pommies reckon they are gonna thrash our Aussie boys," and the Shed should be sold out in minutes!

Whatever these games provide, you can rest assured Union, League and AFL will be watching with envy.

When was the last time any of these codes attracted an international team with the supporter base of Glasgow Celtic for a pre-season game, and how long have those codes being playing!

With the games been played across Australia, East, West, North(ish) and South that's a noice spread innit.

Wednesday, 3 June 2009

Celtic to pack out Suncorp

Over 26,000 tickets have been sold for the Brisbane Roar Celtic friendly in July.

No surprise really, people just want to see quality..eh Fozzie.

(And I'm a Celtic fan of some mileage in case you are new to the blog)

Thursday, 4 September 2008

Champions League farce continues

There was a time when Celtic played Real Madrid, Juventus or even Notts Forest back in the old European Cup. I know I was at all the home games. Two games home and away and winners go through. Tense, exciting stuff.

Now like others we play Manchester United, Barcelona and co every year, in a Group stage, devised so the top teams can get through every year and get more money to buy more players to do it all again the next year. I know it's boring but wake up.

Two years ago, we, Celtic were narrowly defeated 3-2 by Euro Champs Manchester United at Old Trafford.

We then beat them 1-0 at home in the same group a few weeks later at Parkhead. In the old days we could have lived on that home and away result for 20 years or maybe more. We'd have knocked the English, Manchester United out. How good would that be?

Every Aussie can appreciate the sentiment, surely:)

Now UEFA can't have United knocked out, so, guided by the rich clubs, they make sure all the top sides go through to the last 16 every year, and hopefully from their point of view to the last 8.

So we have this drudgery about to start where all the top sides like Chelsea, Man United, Arsenal, AC Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid have bought the best and will dodge their way through the groups against the second tier like Celtic, Villareal, Anderlecht, Brondby and the like.

Any upset win achieved by a Belgium, Norwegian or even a Portugese club, the value is lessened as they still have five or so games to remain consistent.

And like the English Premier Leaugue, and Spanish League, eventually the teams with bigger squads and generally better players will move comfortably through their groups.

And we'll do it all again next year and the year after that.

Unless you follow Man United, Chelsea, Real Madrid, AC Milan or one of a small number of big clubs, just like most leagues in Europe, you can forget about winning the league.

For Celtic getting into the Group stage is our Euro Cup final, getting out of the Group is our World Cup final.

Oh for the day in 1967 when Celtic beat Inter Milan 2-1 to win the European Cup. All 11 players were born within 30 miles of Glasgow.

Will we ever see the likes of Celtic reach a final again.....by final I mean a Quarter Final.

Oh well here we go again..and yes let's hope we flog the Manchester United fatcats. Home and away.

Thursday, 17 April 2008

Scott McDonald misses Old Firm penalty.

But it's okay because Celtic beat Rangers with a goal in the last minute to keep the Scottish Championship alive, sort of. Here's the penalty

Sunday, 30 March 2008

Scott McDonald: Yes he played for Celtic

Celtic lost 1-0 to Rangers. Okay it hurt, but all is not yet lost, believe me.

Where's there's Celtic there's hope!

But Scott McDonald, the so-called injured Socceroo, came off the bench to play for Celtic on Saturday.

Two points:
1. Australia had two chances inside the six yard box against China. Marco Bresciano and David Carney missed. McDonald would have scored. If Australia miss out by a point or two, we should never allow Celtic manager Gordon Strachan into the country.

2. Scott McDonald scores many goals for Celtic. Not unlike Henrik Larsson and Mark Viduka when they played for Celtic. But McDonald, unlike Larsson and Viduka, seems to be on the bench for the big games, particularly the away games. Rangers away, Barca away.

Tuesday, 25 March 2008

Celtic v Rangers on Saturday....did it influence Scott McDonald's decision?

Cetlic need to beat Rangers at Ibrox to close the gap in the fight for the Scottish Premier League. A loss and the best team in the world will be six points adrift of the Gers.

Now did you see the footage of Scott McDonald getting called off on Sunday for Celtic after 63 mins? He looked, shall we say surprised, nay shocked.

And Manager Gordon Strachan quickly announces wee Scott has a calf strain.

A million dollars says he plays at Ibrox on Saturday!

Monday, 17 March 2008

Harry Kewell off to Celtic?

No it's not wishful thinking on my part. Media reports in Britain are suggesting it's on in the summer. Personally I'd be surprised.

Wednesday, 12 March 2008

Forget Beckham, it's Celtic for Melbourne

SBS are reporting that Melbourne Victory are aiming to play Beckham in a glamour game in Melbourne later this year.

But BETTER than that they are trying to fix a game with Celtic for July.

Take that Craig Foster:)

Tuesday, 19 February 2008

AFL Collingwood v Scott McDonalds Glasgow Celtic

Size isn't everything but.....

Having sat next to a Collingwood fan in the teaching staffrooms of Canberra, for many years.......

I had to listen to how great Collingwood was, how Australian his team was, and how much better AFL was than football, I hereby announce the turnover of the clubs.

Collingwood recorded a $2 million profit from $44 million turnover in 2006. The biggest AFL Club in Australia that's what my good friend used to tell me...everyday!

While Aussie Scot's Glasgow Celtic with turnover around $200 million are in the top 20 of World Football.

They are the only club outside Europe's established big five leagues - Spain, Italy, England, Germany and France - to feature in the top 20.

Rangers featured in last year's table but drop out in the latest standings.
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Thursday, 14 February 2008

5,000 Scottish fans worship Skippy!

The dear old Scots still use the word Skippy for their little, but valued Australian.

Wednesday, 30 January 2008

Another Japanese player off to Celtic!

Another small but growing sign that Japanese and Asian football is on the rise.

And will make Australia's World Cup qualification that little bit harder in years to come.

Celtic have completed the signing of highly-rated Japanese midfielder Koki Mizuno on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

With the number of Chinese, Koreans, Japanese and other Asian players playing in Europe on the increase, Australia can expect to meet increasingly difficult opponents across Asia in years to come. As if it wasn't hard enough already, Asia Cup 2007:)

Friday, 25 January 2008

We're all off to Sydney for BIG DAY OUT.

Ben Buckley reckons the Mariners and Newcastle Jets would bring 20,000 fans down for the Grand Final. So the Big Day Out will be held in Sydney this year.

Apparently we're ready for a neutral venue for the end of season Grand Final.

Sounds good. Must get my tickets, how about you.

What's the biggest Grand Final you've ever been to?

Celtic v Porto 2003 UEFA Cup Final in Seville is mine.

Press Release below

Football Federation Australia (FFA) confirmed today that the Hyundai A-League 2008 Grand Final will be held in Sydney, at either ANZ Stadium or Sydney Football Stadium.

“Our priority is to ensure that those who want to see the Grand Final do not miss out due to the stadium being too small,” said CEO of FFA, Ben Buckley.

“We had sell-out crowds in Sydney and Melbourne at the Grand Finals in the first two years of the Hyundai A-League and I do not want the situation where people are locked-out of the game.”

The two teams vying for a springboard into the Hyundai A-League 2008 Grand Final on Sunday 24 February, Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets, only have stadium capacity of 20,000 and 26,000 respectively.

“We anticipate that each of these clubs will provide 20,000 supporters for the Grand Final.

“If we were to keep the Grand Final at either of their home grounds, it would leave little or no capacity for supporters of the opposing team, or the many thousands of Hyundai A-League fans who just want to be part of the biggest game of the year.”

Buckley also said it is not unusual for sport to have neutral venues for marquee games.

“The FA Cup, the NFL Superbowl, the NRL Grand Final and the AFL Grand Final are notable examples.

“We believe the Hyundai A-League Grand Final, as the most important game of the year in the competition, should be given the status it deserves – and that’s what we’re doing.”

Thursday, 4 October 2007

Craig Foster: How dare you!

Celtic 2 AC Milan 1

On SBS Craig Foster derided Celtic. Himself and Paul Okon, and Andrew Orsatti severely criticised almost mocked the performance of my team this morning.

We football fans love to criticise, even mock, but try and do it with it some humour or insight.

The three of you gave a less inspiring performance than the mighty Milan. You should be mocked.

Get the Chase in I say!

You were boring, uninformed and lacking in any creative spark.

You guys are in the entertainment business. So lets have some entertainment in between boring games. You gave us nothing.

When asked what he thought of Australian Scott McDonald's performance Fozzie couldn't speak or give any assessment, never mind intelligent assessment.

So Fozzie and the SBS team here is my thoughts:

Lets' compare the budgets of the two clubs.

Celtic have drawn 0-0 with the mighty Milan at home in previous years. Milan are the European Champions.

We are the Scottish Champions with a very minuscule budget compared to Milan. Kaka would cost more than our whole team, but this doesn't seem to be of any use in your analysis Fozzie.

You get what you pay for in this game.

Creative players cost.

And you expect us with Nakamura and Vennegor of Hesselink out injured to conjure up other quality replacements to become dynaminc forward options.

Where do these players come from? Of Champions League standard.

After all we are playing AC Milan so beloved by the SBS team.

And weren't they boring. One of the most boring away performances at Celtic Park in recent years.

Would a Benfica or Manchester United have played with such caution.

Strachan set his team out to stifle Milan, hold the Champions and sneak a win.

He did it.

Dare I suggest if Strachan attacked as you would have liked then I'm sure you could have spent the show telling us how great Kaka and co are as they rip Celtic to shreds.

Celtic 2 AC Milan 1

Fozzie eat your heart out!

It was a dire first half, and little improved in the second half although Celtic did win Fozzie. Despite according to Fozzie at the break, "Celtic are not a football team."

It's the Champions League mate so a little respect.

ps. Celtic may only be Scottish, as you so often love to put it, but Viduka, Vidmar, Muscat, McDonald and Zdrillic and many other Aussies earnd and do earn their living there.

pps He who laughs last laughs longest. Celtic 2 Milan 1...not bad when you compare the budgets...not bad at all!

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