Champion youth side make it eight-in-a-row

A second half goal from Callum McGregor gave Celtic's youth side a 1-0 win over Aberdeen today as Stevie Frail's side made it eight wins in a row going into Wednesday's SFA Youth Cup Final with Rangers at Hampden.

McGregor was one of five changes to the team with Richie Towell, James Forrest, James Keatings, Callum Bagshaw and Darren McCauley  rested ahead of the Hampden clash.

Into the side came Stephen O'Donnell replacing Towell at right back, McGregor, Filip Twardzik and Grant Gallagher formed a new look midfield with Michael Ordish playing wide in place of Forrest.

With the league secured after Rangers defeat to Dundee United yesterday and so many changes there was an understandable edge missing to the teams play but no one could deny that Celtic are worthy champions.

"I'm really pleased for everyone, to win a championship is fantastic," Tommy McIntyre, head of the Celtic Academy admitted.

"About eight or nine of the players have moved up to the development squad with the gaffer and Danny McGrain, they have been fantastic with us.

"Our players have worked with first team players and we see the difference when they come back to join us, their attitude has been great.

"We've been the best team in the league, we've been resilient, strong and shown a lot of character which is needed at a big club like Celtic.

"We had two turning points, winning away at Motherwell and also at Rangers.

"At Motherwell we had a lot of young players who came out with a win which wasn't pretty to watch.

"After that they responded well against Rangers, any Celtic-Rangers game will be hard- getting a win at Murray Park changed things.

"We've benefitted from having a fairly settled side especially at the back and have only lost two goals in our last eight games, that's a great record at any level.

"Everyone looks at success that comes with scoring goals and winning games but keeping clean sheets is just as important if you are to win things.

The first half was a bit of a non-event as far as Celtic were concerned despite the constant 'promptings' of Matty Hughes and Declan Gallagher at the back.

After the break Celtic noticably stepped up the pace with Greig Spence dropping deeper to link up with the midfield and Sean Fitzharris and Ordish pushing in more central to give more attacking options.

Midway through the second half Celtic took the lead with an impressive finish from 16-year-old McGregor.

Fitzharris created the opening cutting in from the right flank before laying the ball off to McGregor whose well drilled low shot across the Dons keeper found the net from 18 yards out.

"Callum has been doing exceptionally well at u-17 level," McIntyre added. "He still has to develop, he's still a young kid and a bit slight.

"He's a clever player, an intelligent player and that will stand him in good stead. He was in today on merit, he's scored an unbelievable number of goals and is one for the future.

"He's played with the 19s before because we believe in him."

CELTIC: Giordano; O'Donnell, Hughes, D Gallagher (Jones 74), Lowden; McGregor, G Gallagher (Bagshaw 76), F Twardzik; Ordish, Spence (Forrest 76), Fitzharris

SUBS: Kennedy, Towell,McCauley, Keatings.

McLeish can forget about Aiden McGeady 'swoop'

After months of publically attempting to 'tap' Aiden McGeady Alex McLeish can forget about any summer move for the Celtic midfielder- not that it was ever likely in the first place.

Selling McGeady may well be an option for the next Celtic manager to generate funds to reinvest in the team but McGeady won't be joining McLeish and Barry Ferguson for next season's relegation battle.

When Carsen Yeung finally took over at Birmingham in October there was talk of £20-£40m player budgets to help Birmigham reach 'the next level' after season's of bouncing between the top two divisions.

McLeish talked up the Premiership, the challenge that McGeady may require, and was about as subtle as a Doug Rougvie 50-50 in his attempts to entice the midfielder whilst undermining Celtic.

Only last month the Birmingham boss said: "He has got great potential, Aiden McGeady, to play in this league."

After all the talk of big money deals and a new era at St Andrews the reality is that McLeish will be given a summer budget that wouldn't buy him a better than average Premiership striker.

He admitted: "Will there be more than £10million to spend this summer? It won't be much more than that.

"We've got to be as prudent as ever and try and enhance the quality of the squad. We will try to get players (without spending too much) but you can't keep pulling rabbits out of the hat."

As ever with former Rangers managers the conversation quickly returned to matters at Ibrox.

McLeish added: "I heard Walter Smith talking about having a fantastic season at Rangers and then, because he's done well on a limited budget, they think they can take a bit more away and he can do it again.

"I worked like that at Rangers as well and you can't keep doing that. You can't keep pulling rabbits out of the hat. There has to be investment and I am sure the board will back me."

The truth about Birmingham's transfer budget has been followed up by the resignation of Chief Executive Michael Dunford.

The revelations about Portsmouth's financial problems has probably sent a shiver through the middle of the road Premiership clubs who think that spending on the never-never can short cut them to success.

Sky Sports £30m plus payments go straight through the clubs and into the bank accounts of players and agents as clubs try frantically to make ends meet and satisfy the demands of increasingly expectant supporters.

Clubs like Birmingham, Portsmouth, Bolton, Fulham, Blackburn and Wolves will never be in a position to go spending their way into the elite group of clubs challenging for a Champions League place.

Wishful stories about spending sprees buying up players like McGeady are never going to become reality at a club that averages 25,000 or less at the gate.

With cash tight again McLeish is likely to turn to Ibrox in the summer and add Kris Boyd, Nacho Novo and maybe Kirk Broadfoot to his old boys network of Barry Ferguson and Gregory Vignal.

McGrain shocked by refereeing decisions

Even after 40 years at Celtic Danny McGrain could hardly believe the performance of the referee in Wednesday's reserve win over Rangers at Murray Park.

Celtic's 1-0 win can be watched again on channel 67 as Morten Rasmussen scores the only goal of the match.

Without doubt the current term will be remembered as the season of the honest mistake with numerous decisions not going Celtic's way, especially in the games against Rangers.

The mistakes of Craig Thomson, Steve Conroy and Dougie McDonald have all attracted criticism with even Hugh Dallas forced into admitting his disappointment with some of this season's decisions although the only apology that has been issued was on behalf of Thomson after the opening derby of the season.

There are a few compilation videos around on the internet but by any standards the performance of the unknown referee in the reserve match from Wednesday will take some beating.

Speaking after the match reserve coach McGrain said: "I've heard of bad refereeing but we had three certain penalty kicks.

"The guy (Kirk Broadfoot) just took Paddy McCourt's feet away from him, the referee tried to say that he put his foot in.

"Then there was the handball, the ball was going into the back of the net and he said it wasn't intentional but if he stops the ball going into the net it's surely a penalty kick. You've got to get some advantage from it.

"But hey we won 1-0, we played the only football on the park. It was a great game for everybody concerned and especially for Glenn Loovens and Thomas Rogne, they came through without any problems."

Danny forgot to mention the third penalty incident where after some jostling for a bouncing ball Neil Alexander decided to drag Rasmussen onto the deck.

In all three incidents the Rangers players looked surprised to get away without punishment.

It's only fair to add that when Rasmussen did score his goal he could well have been in an offside position but the three penalty incidents were far from marginal.

Chanel 67 certainly goes someway to filling the gap left by the demise of Setanta and Celtic TV, Neil Lennon's interviews are honest and refreshing giving away a few snippets of information.

It's official: Celtic SPL u-19 champions 2009/2010

Celtic's u-19 side have clinched the SPL title today after Rangers lost 2-0 to Dundee United.

The result leaves Stevie Frail's side nine points ahead of Rangers with two games left to play with Dundee United moving into second place a point ahead of Rangers but with just one match remaining.

Celtic face Aberdeen at Lennoxtown tomorrow but despite clinching the championship Frail will be expecting nothing less than a win from his players.

He said: "It's great to be champions and we'll be looking to play like champions against Aberdeen.

"The players have worked hard to win the title and will be determined to keep up their recent form.

"There's maybe a little less pressure tomorrow but we still expect high standards from the players and they all have cup final places to play for.

"Knowing that we've won the league might change my thinking on who plays tomorrow. We're looking forward to the match knowing that there are still two big games to go this season."

Celtic face Rangers at Hampden on Wednesday in the final of the SFA Youth Cup then complete their league campaign next Saturday away to Hearts.

SPL u-19 league table

Celtic youth side prepare for title clincher

Stevie Frail has invited the Celtic support into Lennoxtown tomorrow as the u-19 side look to clinch the SPL title.

A draw against Aberdeen tomorrow will be enough to give Celtic the championship but after seven straight wins the young hoops are looking to keep their momentum going ahead of Wednesday's SFA Youth Cup Final with Rangers on Wednesday.

The league could be clinched this afternoon if Rangers fail to win at Dundee United but regardless of that result Frail is looking for another winning performance from his side against Aberdeen.

He said: "We've had a great week in training and all of the players are looking forward to this match, Saturday can't come quickly enough for them.

"They've been sharp and lively and are confident with the run of wins that they've had.

"It would be great to see a few more supporters along to see what's coming through at the club.

"Supporters like to identify players that are coming through the ranks and this group are progressing well."

Over the season Celtic have lost just twice in the league and responded to their last defeat, 2-1 at home to Rangers, by embarking on their current seven match winning run.

Alongside that they have beaten Threave Rovers, Brora Rangers, Dundee United and Livingston to reach the final of the SFA Youth Cup.

The squad has been changed frequently throughout the season with competition for places in every area of the park.

As well as players brought through the ranks from the traditional scouting areas of Scotland and Ireland the side has been able to call upon Italian goalkeeper Daniele Giordano and midfielder Filip Twardzik from the Chech Republic.

Last Saturday Celtic beat Hibs 2-0 to inch closer to the title with James Forrest returning to the side alongside Darren McCauley.

Competition for places in midfield and in attack is especially fierce with a dozen or more players competing for six places.

Every manager likes to be confronted with options when he picks his side with Frail no exception.

He added: "There are loys of factors that come into picking the team, we look at the boys in training, consider our opponents and how we fared in the last match.

"Grant Gallagher missed out through injury last week and Darren McCauley stepped into midfield, up front it was good to have James Forrest back after more than a month being out injured.

"We've got strong competition for places and that's what every coach is looking for, they all want to play and there's a cup final coming up as well.

"No-one is looking too far ahead and all of our thoughts or on Aberdeen.

"They beat Rangers last week and will want to finish the season on a high.

"Players have got contracts to play for as well as their own pride, we had Aberdeen watched on Tuesday when they drew with St Mirren and we know that they will be tough opponents.

"We started the season well with a 2-0 win at Aberdeen and the same sort of result on Saturday would be great."

Morten Rasmussen sinks Rangers in friendly win

Morten Rasmussen was the hero this afternoon as Celtic's reserve side beat Rangers 1-0 in a surprise 'friendly' at Murray Park.

The great Dane scored a typical poachers goal in the 60th minute in the first reserve level clash between the two side in a year.

Glenn Loovens and Thomas Rogne both returned from injury to feature in the match and will be assessed tomorrow for any reaction.

Loovens played the first half with Rogne lasting over an hour wth neither player showing any reaction to their recent injury problems.

Celtic had the better of the match but it took until the 60th minute to take the lead. Edison Braffheid created the opening on the left, his cross into the box was fed to Rasmussen by Paul McGowan who found the net from his favourite distance of six yards out.

CELTIC: Cervi; Caddis, Rogne (Young), Loovens (Tolmie), Braffheid; Zhi, Ki, Millar, McCourt (Toshney); McGowan, Rasmussen

Rangers: Alexander; Broadfoot, Perry, Wilson (K Naismith) Smith, Beasley, Fleck, Stirling, Kind-Bendiksen; Novo (Kisuka), Little

Rogne and Loovens return today

Thomas Rogne and Glenn Loovens will make their comebacks today in a specially arranged closed doors match.

Neither defender has played in the last six weeks due to injury and will give Neil Lennon some options at the back if they come through today's game unscathed although it's unlikely that they will be contenders for a starting place against Dundee United on Sunday.

The injury that Darren O'Dea picked up against Hibs however could change that with a win at Tannadice guarenteeing second spot and keeping Rangers celebrations on hold for at least two hours.

Loovens last played against Hearts on February 10 while Rogne limped out of the defeat from Rangers on February 28.

I'll have details and reaction from today's match later this afternoon.

Robbie seems Keane- but will he stay on?

Robbie Keane has opened the door to staying on at Celtic next season after admitting that he isn't motivated by money.

After the shock of completing the most rumoured, and rubbished, transfer in football earlier this year the possibility of Keane having his loan extended by another twelve months shouldn't be completely dismissed.

Having played for Liverpool, Spurs and Inter Milan Keane has achieved most of his goals in the game but clearly has a deep and genuine feeling for Celtic.

A further loan to Celtic would clearly require major changes at Parkhead but Keane has obviously enjoyed playing for the club despite arriving at the least successful period in the last decade.

Speaking after collecting the Supporters Player of the Year Award he told Channel 67: "People keep asking me if I'm glad that I came here and the answer is of course I am. I'm a Celtic fan.

“I'm not a footballer who's using Celtic to go to another club because I didn't have to come here, it's as simple as that.

“I could have played in the Premiership, I could have stayed at Tottenham who are a top four team.

“Celtic are one of the biggest clubs in the world to me and a club that I've always wanted to play for.

“I came here for a reason. It wasn't for money or anything stupid like that that people keep going on about.

“I want to play for this club and regardless of whether we're likely to win things or not it doesn't matter- I've got that jersey on and I'm doing my best for the club."

Keane added: "I only came in at the start of February and to get an award such as this means a lot to me.

“When I first came here I was in a lose-lose situation to be honest, I was a little bit worried because the expectations on me were huge.

“If I didn't score goals people would say that I should be scoring and if I did score they'd say that 'well he should be scoring goals with the amount of money that's been getting'.

"That's been highlighted over the last three months, I don't really like it but that's football. I was in a lose-lose situation but I think that I've done enough to turn the supporters around. I think that I've done a good job.”


Rangers 2-0 win away at Hibs today prevented Celtic from being crowned u-19 champions.
Celtic are nine points ahead of Rangers who have three away games to play, a draw at home to Aberdeen on Saturday will give Celtic the title.
Saturday's match kicks-off at 1pm at Lennoxtown with Celtic facing Rangers next Wednesday at Hampden in the final of the SFA Youth Cup, kick-off 7.30pm

Celtic chairman John Reid promises success

John Reid has promised the Celtic support that every effort will be made to return the club to winning ways.

There wasn't much to celebrate when the club chairman addressed an audience of sponsors and supporters on Sunday night at the club's annual Player of the Year Awards ceremony.

Reid's speach is available on the club's channel 67 service as well as interviews with the individual awards winners.

Robbie Keane won the supporters Player of the Year Award with Aiden McGeady getting the award from his team-mates but it was Reid's words that were of most interest.

No-one needs reminding of the disasters of this season with Reid speaking out for the first time following the humiliating Scottish Cup exit from Ross County.

The club chairman said: "We aim to reinstate this club to it's pre-eminent position in Scottish football as quickly as possible.

"We've had a false start this year- I regret that- but I can assure you that we respect the loyalty that you have shown to us and we will do everything in our power to repay that loyalty.

"I can assure you that this club from the top down will be doing all that it can to once again bring you the success which your support deserves and which this great club of ours ought to have year in year out."

Knowing the backdrop to the ceremony Reid acknowledged the frustrations of the season that are being felt by every Celtic supporter.

He added: "Your continued support this year in such numbers means a lot to me and more importantly to Celtic Football Club.

"It's always easy to support a club when things are going well, it's easy when it's fashionable. But when times are difficult it's easier to sit on the sidelines and criticise rather than in the stands and cheer the team on.

"Clearly this year has not been easiest or the best for everyone involved. It's been a difficult year and there's no point trying to put that any other way. 

"It's been a difficult and challenging year, clearly the club has experienced a very difficult season. To put it simply things have not turned out the way that we would have wanted.

"Despite a very promising start- and it was a promising start- I remember the opening game at Aberdeen, the pre-season matches, the football that we watched, the results and the excitement that it brought. 

"We had high hopes and a degree of optimism but despite that it didn't work out as we all would have wanted for Tony Mowbray and his team.

"I say that with a great deal of sadness and disappointment, I think that all of us would have liked a happier ending especially given the affection that Tony is held in."

Reid added: "When times are difficult the character of a club is tested, it's tested in every single one of us, from the board, through the management and players to the supporters.

"Our capacity to recover from the trials and tribulations; our strength, endurance, commitment and resilience are tested."

No complaints from Smith as Rangers avoid second trip to Pittodrie

Despite being on the verge of retaining the SPL title there is a distinct lack of dignity in the public comments from Rangers manager Walter Smith.

Since the end of February the destination of this season's championship has been almost a formality with no real challenge coming from a Celtic team whose caretaker manager described his side as 'having gone out every competition with an absolute whimper' this season.

Smith has made more than a few references to the troubled financial times that Rangers find themselves in, with the end of the season looming the club appear to be no closer to finding a buyer to take over from Sir David Murray.

Securing the future of the club in uncertain financial times would be worrying enough for most managers but bizarrely Smith has chosen to find fault with the SPL who have been more than helpful to his club on a number of occasions.

After beating Hearts today Smith said: "The whole thing about the split is impossible to do. When the human element comes in, there has to be a question as to why Rangers have to do it so many times and Celtic have not.

"Other clubs are having to do it so many times and Celtic haven't and they are the ones who were doing the complaining. That's all I was bringing up."

Rangers will have to play Dundee United away three times this season to make up for only going to Aberdeen once- there is no possible solution to that issue with the split in place.

Since replacing Paul le Guen as Rangers manager Smith has yet to win at Pittodrie in the SPL.

Celtic have been to Aberdeen twice this season but seem content to accept that as inevitable under the current set up.

Smith added: "The thing that annoyed me about the three games away from home this year is, the season we had the UEFA Cup final, we were told that nobody would be asked to play three games at home or away. Now they have given us three when it suits them.

"I can't understand that point of view. Somebody, somewhere, is actually making the conscious decision to do that, forgetting that they had told us the opposite."

The reason that Rangers have three away fixtures on the bounce was to allow the maximum number of Rangers fans to see their side win the title and the trophy presentation.

With the title almost in the bag the SPL anticipated Rangers clinching the title today against Hearts then bringing the curtain down on the season with the trophy presentation on the final day against Motherwell with both fixtures at Ibrox.

Rangers draw with Dundee United prevented that from becoming reality with the title likely to be completed next weekend.

The only reason that Rangers had three consecutive away games after the split in season 2007/08 was because they had been unable to schedule in a trip to Love Street to play bottom-six St Mirren in the previous six months.

The events of season 2007/2008 seem to be causing Smith particular concern despite the season being extended to assist Rangers bid to win an unprecedented quadruple as well as the postponement of a fixture to give Rangers extra time to prepare for a Champions League tie which they lost 3-0 at home to Lyon.

It's convenient to gloss over facts with the passage of time but some issues require being brought to light before they become distorted even further.

While Rangers were picking and choosing their fixtures through December Celtic played SEVEN SPL matches including a game away to Hearts which was played in a seven day spell that included Champions League ties against Shakhtar Donetsk and AC Milan.

Celtic became the only Scottish side to play two Champions League games in a week.

As well as sticking to their schedule of fixtures Celtic used a free midweek date, December 11, to play a postponed game with Falkirk.

That game had been postponed to help Scotland's prepartions for the EURO 2008 match with Italy, Rangers were due to play St Mirren in the same round of fixtures but never got around to playing that match until May 15- after the split when St Mirren had nothing to play for.

That fixture is the only time that a pre-split fixture has been played after the split.

While Celtic got on with their demanding schedule, recognising it as the price of success, Rangers requested the postponement of their game with Gretna on December 8 to give them extra time to prepare for their Champions League qualifier with Lyon.

Having won 3-0 in France Rangers required a draw at home to progress with Celtic into the knock-out stages but lost 3-0 to move into the UEFA Cup.

During December when Celtic played seven SPL matches Rangers played five games dropping just two points against the nine dropped by Celtic.

In hindsight Celtic would probably have been wiser to ask for a postponement of their match at Hearts but there is always a feeling that asking for postponements is flagging up concerns over a particular fixture.

By the turn of the year Rangers were two fixtures behind Celtic something which in normal circumstances could easily be made up but Rangers season took on an incredible turn as they reached the final of three cup competitions requiring replays in two rounds of the Scottish Cup.

In contrast Celtic's European interest ended in the Nou Camp in February with defeat to Barcelona before being knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Aberdeen at the quarter final stage.

Game by game the decisions made in December that saw Rangers play two games less began to get problematic for the SPL with any spare dates being used up by Rangers European run and Scottish Cup replay requirements.

Reluctantly, and at the expense of the other clubs in the top six the season SPL season was extended by five days to accommodate Rangers fixture congestion meaning that Celtic and others had to wait 11 days between their final two matches.

Despite this extension there were further soundings made about extending the season even further with suggestions that the Scottish Cup final between Rangers and Queen of the South could be put back into midweek to extend the SPL season by a further two days.

Queen of the South were far from happy with this with four weeks already separating the end of their SFL campaign with their cup final appearance.

With other clubs indicating that they wouldn't accept a further extension the final SPL fixtures got underway.

Rangers had to play three matches away from home as well as the outstanding St Mirren fixture.

Being as diplomatic as possible the SPL gave Rangers a run of away, home, home, away, away fixtures after the split with the St Mirren game played between the two final post-split fixtures.

These decisions clearly still annoy Smith, the problem could have been avoided if Rangers had played a similar schedule to Celtic through December.

By concentrating on European fixtures Rangers fell two matches behind with the SPL deciding to extend the season to ensure that all of the top six clubs finished their campaign on the same day.

Smith is clearly feeling the pressure of events at Ibrox and will no doubt celebrate his side's title success passionately.

Dragging up issues from two seasons ago when the SPL went out of their way to assist Rangers is poor judgement.

Since the split was introduced the SPL has given Celtic and Rangers 19 home and away fixtures with the derby matches evenly split.

The split will always create an imbalance of fixtures but is there any real difference between three away games against Dundee United and one with Aberdeen and two away games at each club?

Every single season there will be some imbalance thrown up by the split but after watching the Motherwell against Dundee United match today the only clubs with grounds for complaints are United and Hibs- any league looking for respect should have moved fixtures away from Fir Park with the 'playing surface' beyond a joke and a disgrace to Scottish football shown worldwide thanks to ESPN.