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
Showing posts with label Rasmussen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rasmussen. Show all posts
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
Sunday, 7 February 2010
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
Evening Herald Celtic report
Sunday, 31 January 2010
The next Celtic hero- Morten Rasmussen?
Could there be a hero in Morten Rasmussen?
Badge kissers are ten-a-penny in the modern game but the way that the Danish striker raced to engage with the supporters after scoring at Hamilton suggested that there could be a new hero about the place.
Other than a brief glimpse of Craig Bellamy there hasn't really been a striker for the support to identify with since you know who left for Barcelona.
Scoring with his first touch and without having started a match gets the birthday boy Dane, 25 today, off to a flier and keeps the flack and criticism at bay for now.
After watching his new striker score yesterday Tony Mowbray said: “Part of the reason that we signed him- his record is pretty decent- is that he makes a connection with the supporters and team-mates.
“He does enjoy scoring goals, football fans like to see how much it means to the players. You could see that today with his goal.”
The goalscorer added: “It was nice to score for myself and important for the team.
“Three points was important for us. Every time we play we have to win, we got the points today and need to do the same on Tuesday.
“As a striker it's important to score early at a new club, The manager told me to go in and fight for the ball in the box, that's where I'm strongest and what I'm trying to do.
“I'm not the player who will make the most beautiful goals but I'll fight for the team in the box and hopefully add some goals.”
Rasmussen's booking however bemused Mowbray who added: “When is a player allowed to enjoy celebrating?
“I could understand it if it had been an Old Firm game with a player going to celebrate with his supporters but I genuinely couldn't see a problem today with the boy celebrating with our supporters- making a connection with the fans.
“I like common sense. The referee is probably going by the letter of the law, if you leave the playing surface and go to the supporters it's meant to be an automatic booking.
“I've watched him score many many goals in Denmark and he's on the fence, he's in the netting, he's grabbing hold of the pretty girls in the crowd!
“He celebrates with his supporters. He'll learn quickly, it was a reflection of how much it meant for him to score a goal.
“He gets excited and wants to score again and again, he enjoys scoring goals.”
At the back Jos Hooiveld had a quiet uninteresting and unexciting debut- exactly what you want from defenders.
Playing alongside Josh Thompson the Dutchman didn't have any chance to impress and avoided the type of bombscare moments that have dogged the defence lately.
After the match he looked a picture of happiness as he posed with supporters for pictures.
Everything about Hooiveld screams character at you but life at Celtic is much more complex than 1-0 wins over Hamilton Accies.
The real characters respond and thrive to the cut-throat death or glory surroundings of the club.
Mowbray has now put his mark on the club, it looks like there will be other new faces before the close of play at midnight tomorrow.
The attitude shown yesterday is every bit as important as skill and ability, after facing Kilmarnock, Dunfermline and Hearts over the next ten days we'll be in a position to start judging the new look team.
Badge kissers are ten-a-penny in the modern game but the way that the Danish striker raced to engage with the supporters after scoring at Hamilton suggested that there could be a new hero about the place.
Other than a brief glimpse of Craig Bellamy there hasn't really been a striker for the support to identify with since you know who left for Barcelona.
Scoring with his first touch and without having started a match gets the birthday boy Dane, 25 today, off to a flier and keeps the flack and criticism at bay for now.
After watching his new striker score yesterday Tony Mowbray said: “Part of the reason that we signed him- his record is pretty decent- is that he makes a connection with the supporters and team-mates.
“He does enjoy scoring goals, football fans like to see how much it means to the players. You could see that today with his goal.”
The goalscorer added: “It was nice to score for myself and important for the team.
“Three points was important for us. Every time we play we have to win, we got the points today and need to do the same on Tuesday.
“As a striker it's important to score early at a new club, The manager told me to go in and fight for the ball in the box, that's where I'm strongest and what I'm trying to do.
“I'm not the player who will make the most beautiful goals but I'll fight for the team in the box and hopefully add some goals.”
Rasmussen's booking however bemused Mowbray who added: “When is a player allowed to enjoy celebrating?
“I could understand it if it had been an Old Firm game with a player going to celebrate with his supporters but I genuinely couldn't see a problem today with the boy celebrating with our supporters- making a connection with the fans.
“I like common sense. The referee is probably going by the letter of the law, if you leave the playing surface and go to the supporters it's meant to be an automatic booking.
“I've watched him score many many goals in Denmark and he's on the fence, he's in the netting, he's grabbing hold of the pretty girls in the crowd!
“He celebrates with his supporters. He'll learn quickly, it was a reflection of how much it meant for him to score a goal.
“He gets excited and wants to score again and again, he enjoys scoring goals.”
At the back Jos Hooiveld had a quiet uninteresting and unexciting debut- exactly what you want from defenders.
Playing alongside Josh Thompson the Dutchman didn't have any chance to impress and avoided the type of bombscare moments that have dogged the defence lately.
After the match he looked a picture of happiness as he posed with supporters for pictures.
Everything about Hooiveld screams character at you but life at Celtic is much more complex than 1-0 wins over Hamilton Accies.
The real characters respond and thrive to the cut-throat death or glory surroundings of the club.
Mowbray has now put his mark on the club, it looks like there will be other new faces before the close of play at midnight tomorrow.
The attitude shown yesterday is every bit as important as skill and ability, after facing Kilmarnock, Dunfermline and Hearts over the next ten days we'll be in a position to start judging the new look team.
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