Thomas Gravesen... where did it all go wrong?
Two years ago Gravesen was a Real Madrid player that some deluded Celtic fans thought might become a Celtic player.
As the summer transfer window closed in 2006 Gravesen was a Celt as we prepared to defend the SPL title and make our mark in the Champions League.
The title was won in a canter and we qualified with a game to spare in the Champions League only to be knocked out by eventual winners AC Milan after extra-time in the San Siro.
Before then the wheels had started to fall off the Gravesen bandwagon, by the end of the season he couldn't even get a place on the bench in the Scottish Cup Final against Dunfermline while Teddy Bjarnason picked up a winners medal.
After a failed year loaned back to Everton Gravesen is back and set to play for the reserves against Albion Rovers and Livingston.
Another years salary, perhaps a loyalty payment at the end of it awaits unless an expensive pay-off can be sorted out.
It'll be a mystery how the transfer came about and a bigger mystery how the deal fell apart but for the 1,000 fans at Cliftonhill on Thursday the once Great Dane will be the star attraction.
VIDEO REPORT
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
Good guy Tommy Johnson
I had the pleasure to catch up with Tommy Johnson at the Masters football at the weekend where the Geordie Genius was the top Celt.
VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH TOMMY JOHNSON
TJ finished up as joint top scorer but once again Celtic lost out in the final, this time to Rangers with goalkeeper Kevin McKeown hardly covering himself in glory.
As ever it was good to see some old faces, Mark McNally, Darren Jackson, Regi Blinker and a real blast from the past with Jim Duffy called into service.
Johnson had a strange Celtic career, playing under Tommy Burns, Wim Jansen, Dr Jo, John Barnes, Kenny Dalglish and Martin O'Neill.
It was certainly a lively time at Celtic Park with TJ almost always playing with a smile and capable of the occasional spectacular goal.
He'll be best remembered for the title-clinching goal in 2001 against St Mirren and he's happy to laugh about mishitting the ball.
After Celtic he moved onto Sheffield Wednesday, Kilmarnock and others, at Rugby Park he scored a couple against Rangers before winding up his career playing for Sheffield United, Gillingham and Tamworth.
Tommy is now coaching at his first senior club Notts County and doing whatever he can for a local charity that is helping to educate kids in Guatemala and elsewhere.
Enjoy this VIDEO INTERVIEW with Tommy Johnson
VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH TOMMY JOHNSON
TJ finished up as joint top scorer but once again Celtic lost out in the final, this time to Rangers with goalkeeper Kevin McKeown hardly covering himself in glory.
As ever it was good to see some old faces, Mark McNally, Darren Jackson, Regi Blinker and a real blast from the past with Jim Duffy called into service.
Johnson had a strange Celtic career, playing under Tommy Burns, Wim Jansen, Dr Jo, John Barnes, Kenny Dalglish and Martin O'Neill.
It was certainly a lively time at Celtic Park with TJ almost always playing with a smile and capable of the occasional spectacular goal.
He'll be best remembered for the title-clinching goal in 2001 against St Mirren and he's happy to laugh about mishitting the ball.
After Celtic he moved onto Sheffield Wednesday, Kilmarnock and others, at Rugby Park he scored a couple against Rangers before winding up his career playing for Sheffield United, Gillingham and Tamworth.
Tommy is now coaching at his first senior club Notts County and doing whatever he can for a local charity that is helping to educate kids in Guatemala and elsewhere.
Enjoy this VIDEO INTERVIEW with Tommy Johnson
Thursday, 3 July 2008
Reserve pre-season friendlies
While the first team head off to the Algarve via Southampton and Fulham and onto Rotterdam it's a little less exotic for the reserves and youths.
Albion Rovers, Livingston and Berwick Rangers will all be facing Celtic XI's as well as a visit to Ireland taking in Donegal Celtic, Newry Town and Bohemians.
Glentoran will be visited at some future date, but not in July I suspect.
FULL PRE SEASON LISTING
Albion Rovers, Livingston and Berwick Rangers will all be facing Celtic XI's as well as a visit to Ireland taking in Donegal Celtic, Newry Town and Bohemians.
Glentoran will be visited at some future date, but not in July I suspect.
FULL PRE SEASON LISTING
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
That's why we're champions!
Yesterday somewhere in Europe lots of wee teams were put in the draw for the Champions League dreaming of battling all the way to the real competition, picking up a few euros before getting turfed out as the big bhoys make their way into the last 16 and the proper knock-out.
TITLE WINNING VIDEO
When we won the league the euphoria and joy was real, an amazing comeback from the seemingly dead as Rearangers wilted as they finally caught up with those pesky away fixtures that they had been avoiding.
Behind the sheer joy of winning the league was a very attractive prize, straight into the Champions League without having to visit Moscow or anywhere like that.
Twelve months ago the season's build up was all towards being ready for the Champions League qualifier and despite being seeded it couldn't have been any tougher than getting CSKA Moscow away.
Remember the tension? Artur Boruc out injured, John Kennedy playing on a plastic pitch, the joy of Paul Hartley's header, the dismay as CSKA murdered us down the left at home, cancelling out our away goal, Boruc and Lee Naylor squaring up (a bit one sided), Skippy's equaliser, extra time, Derek Riordan appearing, Maciej Zurawski and Riordan scoring, Boruc saving and we're through.
Well this year it will be nice and quiet as others scrap and battle to join the real teams in the Champions League, even Arsenal and Liverpool face qualifiers and we won't face AC Milan for the third year running because their in the UEFA Cup.
Every title win is sweet, demolishing big Eck's dream team and Hearts in 2006, seeing Paul LeGuen across l'channel in 2007 but 2008 was very very special, especially after too many scary home performances against too many teams to mention (such as St Mirren, Hibs, Aberdeen, Dundee United, Hearts and Motherwell)
There was no more margin for error when Walter's gladiators came calling, and twice they were turned over losing their cherished discipline as they ended both games with ten men.
Barry Robson and Paul Hartley were on fire, Gary Caldwell playing out of his skin, Aiden McGeady and Shunsuke Nakamura dazzling as we rattled of win after win and on to Tannadice.
Remarkably it was in our own hands, no outside help required and bhoy did we deliver as the other lot crumbled with another red card collected as they feebly fell at Aberdeen as the party started down the road at Tannadice.
It's six weeks now since we won the league but the dividend continues through the winter as we enjoy another Champions League campaign.
Enjoy the VIDEO FROM TANNADICE and sit back and prepare for a third consecutive Champions League campaign.
TITLE WINNING VIDEO
When we won the league the euphoria and joy was real, an amazing comeback from the seemingly dead as Rearangers wilted as they finally caught up with those pesky away fixtures that they had been avoiding.
Behind the sheer joy of winning the league was a very attractive prize, straight into the Champions League without having to visit Moscow or anywhere like that.
Twelve months ago the season's build up was all towards being ready for the Champions League qualifier and despite being seeded it couldn't have been any tougher than getting CSKA Moscow away.
Remember the tension? Artur Boruc out injured, John Kennedy playing on a plastic pitch, the joy of Paul Hartley's header, the dismay as CSKA murdered us down the left at home, cancelling out our away goal, Boruc and Lee Naylor squaring up (a bit one sided), Skippy's equaliser, extra time, Derek Riordan appearing, Maciej Zurawski and Riordan scoring, Boruc saving and we're through.
Well this year it will be nice and quiet as others scrap and battle to join the real teams in the Champions League, even Arsenal and Liverpool face qualifiers and we won't face AC Milan for the third year running because their in the UEFA Cup.
Every title win is sweet, demolishing big Eck's dream team and Hearts in 2006, seeing Paul LeGuen across l'channel in 2007 but 2008 was very very special, especially after too many scary home performances against too many teams to mention (such as St Mirren, Hibs, Aberdeen, Dundee United, Hearts and Motherwell)
There was no more margin for error when Walter's gladiators came calling, and twice they were turned over losing their cherished discipline as they ended both games with ten men.
Barry Robson and Paul Hartley were on fire, Gary Caldwell playing out of his skin, Aiden McGeady and Shunsuke Nakamura dazzling as we rattled of win after win and on to Tannadice.
Remarkably it was in our own hands, no outside help required and bhoy did we deliver as the other lot crumbled with another red card collected as they feebly fell at Aberdeen as the party started down the road at Tannadice.
It's six weeks now since we won the league but the dividend continues through the winter as we enjoy another Champions League campaign.
Enjoy the VIDEO FROM TANNADICE and sit back and prepare for a third consecutive Champions League campaign.
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