Ujpest resume with a draw against Paks

Ujpest Dozsa returned to competitive action after a three month winter break to draw 1-1 with Paks today in the League Cup.

After five weeks back in training for the resumption of the league next weekend Willie McStay's side had the unusual experience of playing on an artificial pitch with most of Hungry gripped by snow.

Next Sunday's league match with Gyor already looks in danger of being postponed but the former Celtic reserve boss was pleased with today's outing.

McStay said: "That was the first competitive game that we have played on astro turf. I have been working at Ujpest for 7 months now, and I cannot remember us playing in such windy conditions. 

"Astro turf and strong winds - is not the best combination, but the attitude of the players was spot on. We dictated play in the first half, and could have made more chances perhaps. Paks scored with their only chance, which I am disappointed with. 

"We will have Peter Kabat and Zsolt Korcsmar back for the next game, which will strengthen our team. It is also hard to see where we are at the moment as we have not yet played on grass."

The Hungarian transfer window remains open for another week with McStay hopeful than he can hold onto centre half Korcsmar who spent four days training with Celtic in December.

He added: "All of the teams around us have been adding to their squads during the break but I'm just hoping that we can hold on to Korcsmar.

"It's going to be difficult to repeat what we achieved in the first half of the season but I've told our players that our opponents can only field eleven players.

"Ideally I'd liked to have added to the squad but the players that we have have did well for us.

"If we can keep this group together, keep everyone fit and get off to a good start when the league resumes we'll be in for an exciting time."  
Ujpest website  
Hungarian league table
Celtic's u-19 side face Dundee United at Tannadice tomorrow in the quarter final of the SFA Youth Cup, kick-off 2pm

Post match Tony Mowbray interview.

Tony Mowbray's post match interview with ESPN was just as bewildering as the performance that his team  turned in to draw 4-4 at Aberdeen.

The watching Celtic fans were left  dismayed at the final whistle as more SPL points were dropped despite going ahead three times.

The various inconsistencies of referee Iain Brines, or consistent inconsistencies, were almost forgotten in the aftermath with Mowbray's comments adding to the confusion.

The Celtic boss explained that the decision to replace Robbie Keane with Georgios Samaras was to help out at the back against set-pieces and claimed that it could turn out to be a point gained over the weekend.

Whatever the outcome of the Rangers-Hibs match tomorrow Celtic dropped two points today and have now lost 12 points since the turn of the year.

"Quite inexplicably we gave them a lifeline, they grabbed it and it was a frustrating day for us," Mowbray explained.

ESPN: "It was really hard to explain the handball from Braffheid at that point in the game?

Mowbray: "You saw it, I saw it, sometimes it's difficult to explain them situations, it gave them a lifeline, they pushed very hard for an equaliser and ultimately got it.

ESPN: "Was that the disappointing factor today, you kept on letting them back into the game. I know that you have defensive problems but that must give you a real headache?

Mowbray: "It's there, it's evident to see. We knew before the game about our defensive problems. We didn't stand up to what came our way. We scored some great goals and we lost poor goals from set-plays and an inexplicable penalty kick.

ESPN: "As a centre half yourself though of course...

Mowbray: "Yeah, we just ask somebody to go and head the ball, it's not as if Aberdeen are a huge side. They don't have great height in their side, we're looking for somebody to take the lead today, to go and be dominant and that didn't come to fruition.

ESPN: "Easy to look back now I guess but at 4-2 you took Robbie Keane off, you must have thought that the game was won of course, do you regret that now?

Mowbray: "No, no. Only if Robbie could help us with set plays, he's not a giant you know. He's not going to head corners away for us, he doesn't even go back for them. Whereas Samaras does, he's 6 foot 3, that was part of the thinking, we knew that they would try and put a lot of balls into our box late on, as they did, they've got great free-kick delivery and set-play delivery and it was important to get some physique in there. I don't think that had any relevance to the game.

ESPN: "I know that you will fight on in the league Tony as always but it's going to be difficult now isn't it?

Mowbray: "I don't know. It's a point for us whose to say, we don't know what the results are going to be later on or tomorrow, it may be a point gained, we'll wait and see.

ESPN: "What did you say to the guys after that, what was their reaction in the dressing room?

Mowbray: "I'll leave the dressing room to the dressing room and we'll keep it there."

The arguments about the performance, the manager and the result will rage on which will help deflect blame away from another awful refereeing performance.

Iain Brines decided to book two Celtic players for kicking the ball away, one of them after a goal. Does Brines do this in every game?

After scoring Aberdeen's fourth goal Stevie MacLean lifted off his Aberdeen shirt and raced off the pitch into the crowd to celebrate without even being booked.

Brines took some delight three years ago in issuing a second yellow card to Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink away to Inverness Caley Thistle for celebrating with supporters WITH his shirt on.

What was the difference today?

Three weeks ago Morten Rasmussen was booked for celebrating with the supporters after scoring at Hamilton. That referee was following the letter of the law, the law that Brines forgot about today.

Aberdeen's Mark Kerr committed two bookable fouls on Celtic players without being disciplined: in the first half it was a two footed lunge at Aiden McGeady that went unpunished then in the second half he had a swipe at Robbie Keane.

Fouls were given to Celtic on both occasions without any card being shown by Brines who seems keener on booking players for kicking the ball away.
Celtic's u-19s face Dundee United at Tannadice tomorrow for a place in the semi-finals of the SFA Youth Cup, kick-off 2pm

McGhee names SAME side to face Celtic, O'Dea returns.

Despite the media hysteria Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee has made NO changes to the team that drew 2-2 with Hibs on Wednesday night!

Various people who should know better commented on reports that McGhee may have rested players with an eye on the Scottish Cup replay with Raith Rovers on Tuesday.

Celtic make one change to the team that beat Hearts 2-0 on Wednesday with Darren O'Dea coming into central defence to replace the injured Glenn Loovens.
Aberdeen: Langfield, Mulgrew, Foster, Diamond, Paterson, Paton, Kerr, McDonald, Aluko, Mackie, MacLean. Subs: Nelson, Young, Duff, Grassi, Marshall, Ifil, Fyvie.
Celtic: Boruc, Caddis, O'Dea, Thompson, Braafheid; McGeady, N'Guemo, Brown, Kamara; Keane, Fortune. Subs: Zaluska, Naylor, Samaras, Ki, Rasmussen, Wilson, Zhi.

Talks underway to restore SPL Reserves

The SPL are taking a look at restoring the Reserve League or providing some sort of league to bridge the gap between u-19 and first team football.

At a get together for managers on Thursday the issue was raised as clubs discussed the best way to bring through and develop players from the youth ranks.

It really was shameful how the Reserve League was abondoned at the end of last season as club's took the short sighted view of saving cash with the demise of Setanta a convenient excuse.

Any club that can't field a team for 22 Reserve fixtures over the course of a ten month season really is kidding themselves on.

Youth players need to develop and whilst the Reserve League was far from ideal it was better than the current arrangement of very little.

Addressing the current void Hibs boss John Hughes said: "Any walk of life should have a four or five-year apprenticeship. I didn't turn pro until I was 23. If we don't have a reserve league we'll lose too many good players."

Celtic of course have set about creating and finding fixtures wherever they can with Drogheda Utd, Queen of the South and Kilmarnock all played within the last ten days and another match lined up against Shamrock Rovers on February 23.

Those type of fixtures could continue to be played alongside a revised Reserve League, while 22 games might be a stretch for some SPL clubs Celtic would probably prefer to play close to 40 games over the course of the season for their reserve/development squad.

Players need to be pushed and tested outwith their comfort zone, putting the best 17 and 18-year-old's into the reserve side benefits them more than playing at u-19 level.

After one season in the reserve side any player showing the potential to make it into the Celtic first team should be loaned out for a season to see how they shape up. This season's loan deals have brought mixed results but have confirmed that Simon Ferry is up to the rigours of regular football playing on average more than one game a week for Swindon Town.

Bringing back some sort of Reserve League also requires an overall look at the u-21 rule which requires all SPL teams to have three u-21 players in their 19 man squads.

Gordon Strachan and Tony Mowbray have both complained about the restrictions of that rule which sees young players sitting on the bench when they could be out on loan playing whilst others like Paddy McCourt can't get a place on the bench because younger players must be listed.

If a club has got five or more u-21 players out on loan they shouldn't be forced to list three u-21 players in their first team squads.

Clearly that club has a commitment to playing and developing their young players, forcing them to fill the bench does no-one any good.

Strangely enough in the opening seasons of the SPL there was no reserve league, an u-21 league allowing five overage players was in operation between the u-18 league and first teams, with the u-18 league now replaced by an u-19 league things could turn full circle with the Reserve League returning as an u-21 league allowing five overage players to be fielded!

Celtic u-19s face Tannadice cup test

Celtic's u-19 side face their toughest test of the season on Sunday (kick-off 2pm) when they face Dundee United at Tannadice in the SFA Youth Cup.

Stevie Frail's side haven't played a competitive match in two months and have lost just once this season in the league- away to United in October.

The Tannadice side moved into joint top place in the u-19 league with a 3-2 win over Hamilton Accies and will be confident of going through on home soil.

Frail's side had to make do with a friendly against Dunfermline after their league match at Motherwell was postponed but the hoops coach is confident that his side can progress.

He said: “It's a bit unfortunate that our first game back is a cup match but we'll just get on with it and are looking forward to the match.

“We'll have a good look at the players and have an extra day to prepare with the game on Sunday.

“The players have trained hard, we had two games down south and had a bounce game against Dunfermline, hopefully that will be enough.

“Everyone is dying to get involved and play again, hopefully they can take us into the semi-finals.

“There's nothing that we can do now about the league match against Dundee United.

“We were on top for a long time then lost it in the last five minutes. We are aware of what Dundee United can do, we watched them beat Hamilton 4-2 earlier this week so we know their strengths.”

Any non-loved up Celtic fans in the Tayside area looking for some non-romantic action on Sunday could do worse than take a look at James Forrest, the Twardzik brothers, Greg Spence, Richie Towell and the other young Celts.

Anyone between East Kilbride and Tannadice looking to go to the match can contact myself.

Mild mannered Craig Brown slams officials

Craig Brown has almost always been one of the most mild mannered characters in the game but after seeing his side disallowed a goal that would have put them two goals in front of Rangers he lost his cool.

Television evidence has showed that there was nothing wrong with Ross Forbes tap in as the Rangers defence was opened up.

John Gilmour, the far side linesman, had a clear view of the incident but raised his flag as the ball hit the back of the net.

On first viewing it did look as if Forbes or even Steven Craigan must have been offside but both players timed their runs perfectly- or so they thought.

Brown spent over a decade as an SFA employee but found it hard to hold back his anger at the decision and confronted the officials after the match.

The former Scotland boss said: "I feel very aggrieved. All he has to do is look along the line.

"I've had this feeling before at international level when the other team gets decisions like these and now I know what it feels like at club level. I call them big team decisions.

"There's a sense of injustice in the dressing room. I really feel that at 2-0 the game would have been over.

"I've always been an advocate of not criticising the officials so I won't do that - certainly not publicly. I've seen the TV evidence which would indicate the goal was okay.

"But the officials have got jobs to do and they do them honestly. Unfortunately we didn't get the goal, which I think would have finished the game because we were very comfortable at that point.

"I was told that both Craigan and Forbes were onside but I don't want to be a moaner and a complainer. "You get some decisions and some you don't. We didn't get that one but we might get one in the next game. We just have to accept it."

The SFA may be interested in Brown's comments and ask the Motherwell boss to explain himself at Hampden.
Four months on from asking the SFA for the criteria for referring decisions to the Review Panel it appears that Celtic are still awaiting an answer from the games rulers.

BBC match highlights, only available to UK viewers

Premiership meltdown awaits as Portsmouth face Inland Revenue XI

Portsmouth and West Ham. Two clubs that regularly sign up players on Celtic's radar.

It's hardly old news to bleat about the money available in the Premiership and how player X,Y or Z has turned down the chance of a move to Celtic to join Portsmouth, West Ham or some other anonymous Premiership side competing to avoid relegation.

This morning Portsmouth are in the High Court tackling the Tax Man to stay in business after a season that has become a financial pantomime.

Four five or is it six owners so far this term has saw wages go unpaid three times and a transfer embargo placed on the club.

Seven million pounds is owed to the Revenue, less than a quarter of the money that they can expect to receive from Sky Television from a season of failure- should they remain in business till the end of the season.

David Conn of The Guardian goes into great detail about the financial chaos that is English football highlighting Portsmouth and Cardiff who met in the FA Cup Final less than two years ago.

Two clubs that have been pouring money out even quicker than they have been bringing it in, which brings me to West Ham.

Local geezers David Gold and David Sullivan bought their 'boyhood heroes' last month amidst a great fanfare as the 'ammers returned to local ownership.

Gold and Sullivan were falling over themselves to give media interviews as they broadcast their grand plans for the future of their club littered with mentions of the Champions League and playing at the soon to be completed Olympic Stadium.

Three weeks into the job the scale of the club's financial mismanagement is still being unravelled with the new owners screaming for mercy.

Twenty-five per-cent wage cuts are proposed if West Ham SURVIVE in the Premiership... the prospect of relegation and the loss of Sky's golden ticket has obvious implications as Leeds United, Charlton and Southampton will confirm from their places in League One.

On radio earlier this week Gold explained how Kieron Dyer was offered, and signed, obviously, a five year contract worth around £65,000 a week AFTER failing a medical.

Dyer has been injury prone throughout his career, the deal that he got from West Ham would have impressed Bobo Balde.

The price of the Premiership is beginning to emerge and could see Celtic begin to compete against clubs that attract crowds in the 20,000 to 30,000 bracket.

Wigan, Burnley and Blackburn would love to have crowds that size but at Burnley at least they are attempting to live within their means- and are heading straight back to The Championship.

Premiership clubs have been handing straight back to players and agents the television money that they are paid from Sky... when relegation comes calling the contracts remain and meltdown awaits.

Seeing a football club going out of business is rarely pleasant but if it sends a wave of reality through the game down south then Celtic can benefit.

We're forever told how well the club is being run, hopefully soon we can capitalise on that and start making strides forward again to competing for quality players and making an impression on the Champions League.

Guardian article

Killen scores as Celticboro beat Barnsley

All five former Celtic players were in the Middlesbrough team tonight as Gordon Strachan celebrated his 53rd birthday with a 2-1 home win over Barnsley.

Scott McDonald made his 'Boro debut but it was Chris Killen that opened the scoring in the 24th minute.

The win takes Strachan's side to within two points of Leicester City who are sitting in the fourth play-off position and will be a big relief for Strachan.

Middlesbrough's form has been less than inspiring since the Celtic boss took over from Gareth Southgate but after a taking full advantage of the January transfer window it is now without doubt his team on the park.

Stephen McManus made his Riverside debut while Barry Robson and Willo Flood have established themselves as regulars in midfield.

McDonald's goals will be crucial if Middlesbrough are to make it into the play-off's with Strachan looking forward to working with the striker for the third time.

The Boro boss said: “McDonald is a striker that scores. I've realised over the last year that people call themselves strikers without striking. Scott lives up to what he's called - a striker.

“He scored regularly for Motherwell and he scored in many big games for Celtic. His record says he has earned the right to call himself a striker.

“You can't build a team around one man, that's been proved before. Without Adam Johnson, we have to be a more rounded team and it's the same with Scott.

“We can't rely only on him. If you do that and the player is unavailable for whatever reason then it's not worth us turning up. That can't happen.

“As I keep saying, we have to be a more rounded team. We have to keep working hard and if we get a bit of luck then life will be easier."

“What the new strikers do is create competition, it tells everyone that to get a game they've got to play their best.”

The other group of former Celts at Swindon also had a successful night beating Oldham 4-2 at home to remain in a play-off spot from League One.

On-loan Simon Ferry was joined by Scott Cuthbert and Jon-Paul McGovern as Danny Wilson's side claimed all three points.

Shunsuke Nakamura expecting to quit Espanyol to return to Japan

Shunsuke Nakamura is poised to move back to Japan from Espanyol.

Coach Mauricio Pocchetino has informed the former Celtic midfielder that he doesn't feature in the clubs long term plans and is willing to release him to Japan.

"Nakamura is a big player, but his problem has been adapting to Spain," said the Espanyol coach.

"Then he can also not communicate with his team-mates and because of this it has been hard for him to offer good performances."

Nakamura barely spoke any English whilst playing for Celtic but with a club that dominated matches his football certainly did the talking.

Espanyol seem less willing to let Naka do his own thing with the parting of the ways expected shortly.

Sadly it seems that the wear and tear of four seasons in the SPL complimented by regular long-haul international trips have left the midfielder drained.

The 31-year-old had been expected to return to Japan after ending his Celtic contract in May but a long standing wish to sample Spanish football proved too much to resist.

Middlesbrough had put in a bid to take Nakamura on loan during the January transfer window but that was turned down by the Barcelona club.

Nakamura is expected to return home to the J-League when the new season begins next month.

Revealing insight from Tony Mowbray

After yesterday's 4-2 win at Dunfermline Tony Mowbray gave a relaxed and revealing interview to Radio Scotland's Jim Spence.

Most of Mowbray's recent press duties have been defensive and confrontational but Dundonian Spence put some enthusiasm into his questions and got  interesting answers from the Celtic boss.

For the first time Mowbray hinted at some concerns from the decision makers at Celtic but remained focussed and confident that a successful team was beginning to evolve.

There were no stock answers about taking defeats 'on the chin' but an interesting insight into his thoughts as he attempts to create and build a successful team against a mixed reaction from supporters concerned about falling ten points behind a Rangers side flirting with financial disaster.

Mowbray said: “I'm sure that the people that make the real key decisions at this football club can see what is developing.

“I hope that Celtic supporters and the extended Celtic family can see what we're trying to build here.

“While there is a certain amount of hysteria at times about what is going on I'm very confident about what we are building.

“The signs were there, when we are in possession of the ball and going forward this team can be exciting.

“I have great belief in the group, we were disappointed that we couldn't bring in a one or two players in the window.

“You have to have quality all over the pitch, at this moment we have a young 18-year-old centre half (Josh Thompson), we did try to strengthen in that area during the window but it didn't quite happen for us.

“We will get there. It's a longer term plan, once you build something with solid foundations you will find longevity of success.

“That's what we're trying to do here, the ingredients are coming together, they don't click overnight.

“I understand the hysteria around defeats but I try to build football clubs from a base of strength, you do that by bringing in quality players”

Celtic's attacking options were impressive yesterday but equally the defending was a concern.

Wholesale changes have been made across the back four over the last three games with Darren O'Dea, Lee Naylor, Scott Brown and Edson Braffheid all playing at left-back at some point.

Mowbray acknowledged the problems and difficulties in that area and is determined to get the team playing together as an effective unit.

He added: “There was some good and bad from us today, we have to set our standards as high as we can high.

“At times we were in total control and looked like scoring at will but other times we let our standards slip.

“The signs were there, when we are in possession of the ball and going forward this team can be exciting.

“At the other end of the pitch we have work to do, we had a few changes, we missed Hooiveld today, he brings composure to the back line

“Robbie Keane has genuine class, if you can add can add class to any hard working, talented football team, that little bit of class makes a difference.

“He ignited the team, it might not be any individual thing that he does but just by the cleverness of his movement, his little touches create space for others to do the damage.”
Evening Herald Celtic report

Radio Scotland interview

Ras- the ultimate predator

“I'm a striker and most of my goals are scored in the box. I am a box player, I like to be in the box."

Reading that quote from Morten Rasmussen as he joined Celtic I thought 'Great, a penalty box striker'.

Wrong. Rasmussen isn't a penalty box striker- he's a six yard box striker.

Three goals, yip, I'll credit him unofficially with the third goal today at Dunfermline, in 139 minutes is a fantastic return at any level. With all three goals coming from within the six yard box it's even better.

Weaving the prettiest of patterns will always be pleasing on the eye but without the ball ending up in the back of the net all the possession in the world is pointless as Arsenal found out again at Chelsea today.

The direction of the Celtic team under Tony Mowbray is unclear but without doubt he has uncovered a gem of a striker in Rasmussen.

None of his 'three' goals will ever feature in a goal of the season, or of the month, competition but having someone hovering around in the penalty box with the instinct to find the ball and lose defenders is priceless.

Rasmussen looks capable of linking play up as well, giving midfielders a target to aim for, but all the time his aim is to be on the end of the move to put the ball in the net.

The third Celtic goal today at Dunfermline was the perfect example of a predator. Rasmussen found space as Robbie Keane steadied himself to shoot but the ball broke off the keeper. Rasmussen didn't let his head go down, he hung around and as the ball was crossed back into the six yard box his presence panicked Callum Woods into putting the ball into the net.

There were real signs of a partnership and understanding forming between Keane and Rasmussen during the second half with Diomansy Kamara linking well with both players and looking a serious goal threat himself.

With all three players finding the net there will be a sense of anticipation and excitement about the game with Hearts on Wednesday although Jim Jefferies could be using the same words as he looks at the Celtic defence.

Landry N'Guemo finished today's match at right back just as Scott Brown had came on at left-back in the defeat at Kilmarnock.

Getting the balance and mix right at the back is vital if Mowbray's side are to make the most of their attacking options- till then it's hold on tight for a white knuckle ride that requires four straight wins over Hearts, Aberdeen, Dundee United and Rangers to make a fight of things in the SPL.
Evening Herald Celtic report