Celtic's reserve side can clinch 8-in-a-row by beating Hearts next week in a game scheduled to be played at Stirling Albion's Forthbank Stadium.
After Rangers delayed the Rangers-Celtic reserve match due on March 17, Willie McStay's side returned to action with a 1-1 draw against Inverness Caley Thistle on Monday of this week.
Rangers 2-0 defeat from Motherwell yesterday leaves Celtic 10 points clear at the top of the league with four games left to play with Celtic clinching the title with a win over Hearts or a Rangers failing to beat Aberdeen.
Reserve titles on their own mean very little but there's little doubt that over the years the success of the Celtic reserve side has contributed greatly to the success at first team level.
Stephen McManus is the most obvious example, indeed he is going for his own personal 8-in-a-row having helped the reserves to four titles before being promoted to the first team where of course he is heading for another 4-in-a-row.
Others like Aiden McGeady and Shaun Maloney had brief reserve 'careers' with their promotion almost automatic through from youth team to first team.
Reserve glory has never been the aim, otherwise players like John Kennedy, Scott Cuthbert, Paul McGowan, Paul Caddis and Cillian Sheridan wouldn't be sent out on loan.
Those players would gain little from reserve team football which allows others like Jason Marr, Kevin Cawley and Danny Lafferty to step up into the reserve side to test themselves at a higher level.
The club's recent influx of young Eastern European players have been given valuable exposure and experience to becoming a Celtic player in a competitive environment where winning is expected.
No allowances are given for youth, winning is demanded but there's plenty of flair about the reserve side with Paddy McCourt and Mark Millar probably the most influential players in the current squad.
The future can rarely be predicted but the development of players is assured at Celtic, those good enough to move up from the youths get their chance, those too good for the reserves get loaned out for extra experience.
Hopefully Caddis and Sheridan will be part of next season's first team picture, Millar could be a dark horse as well with possibly McCourt or Koki Mizuno taking the leap from useful substitute/stand-in to a contributor at first team level.
Hail hail to the reserves regardless of what the SPL attempt to do next season, surely club's can carry squads capable of playing 22 games over a ten month season?
SPL Reserve Table
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Sunday, 5 April 2009
BOOZEGATE: All getting very, very nasty and personal
Kenny Miller is a regular in the News of the World, Barry Ferguson is a regular in The Sun, John Collins was incredibly critical of the Daily Record's role in the transfers of Kevin Thompson and Scott Brown from Hibs.
Football journalism at the highest level is all about cultivating contacts, getting close to prominent players, managers and chairmen. The journalist gains a valuable inside contact for off the record information and the player/manager/chairman has a sympathetic public voice to discreetly get their point of view out to the public.
The downside of this is that rival papers tend to go OTT in their comments about people who appear to side with rival newspapers.
More than a can of worms has opened, or exploded, during the recent international break. Lifetime bans and club suspensions have been handed out but today things have taken a very unusual twist with The News of the World upping the ante to escalate the recent Booze'n'vikkygate episode into a rammy between the two biggest clubs in the country as well as between the two biggest newspaper groups.
From Burley v Ferguson & McGregor we now have Celtic v Rangers and News International v Trinity Mirror.
The News of the World have gone to unseen levels to claim that the DR and one journalist in particular have dropped Ferguson and McGregor in trouble to protect Scott Brown.
I really can't remember any football incident where one newspaper group has given publicity to a rival by 'crediting' their part in a blockbuster story.
The News of the World have some very detailed allegations, there's nothing hit or miss or sketchy about it, they name times and places.
Amazingly the thrust of their story is that the DR protected Scott Brown as they exposed the story. The story was also run by The Sun who have a certain fondness for Barry Ferguson.
Whatever The DR could do to protect their man surely The Sun could do for their favoured player.
For the News of the World to give the DR such publicity is incredible as is the claim that the DR has the power to stir things up against two players in order to protect their man, whatever the DR can do The Sun can do at least equally well.
This story still has some running to do, Ferguson and McGregor won't be the only casualties.
A very messy tabloid war is out in the open which could be much nastier, and certainly more public, than anything in the world of football.
Having a pop at a rival paper is fair game, when the DR miss something The Sun gloats with the Day'late Record, when it's the other way around the DR laughs at the English-based tabloid.
Players need to be very discreet with what leaks out from dressing rooms and behind closed doors, Celtic have had their incidents already this season which quickly find print.
The Booze'n'vikkygate story has fingerprints all over it going back to certain camps and factions.
With a financially lucrative title to be won and lost and desperate times in the newspaper business there is still a lot of muck to be thrown around over the most spectacular and newsworthy international break ever.
Football journalism at the highest level is all about cultivating contacts, getting close to prominent players, managers and chairmen. The journalist gains a valuable inside contact for off the record information and the player/manager/chairman has a sympathetic public voice to discreetly get their point of view out to the public.
The downside of this is that rival papers tend to go OTT in their comments about people who appear to side with rival newspapers.
More than a can of worms has opened, or exploded, during the recent international break. Lifetime bans and club suspensions have been handed out but today things have taken a very unusual twist with The News of the World upping the ante to escalate the recent Booze'n'vikkygate episode into a rammy between the two biggest clubs in the country as well as between the two biggest newspaper groups.
From Burley v Ferguson & McGregor we now have Celtic v Rangers and News International v Trinity Mirror.
The News of the World have gone to unseen levels to claim that the DR and one journalist in particular have dropped Ferguson and McGregor in trouble to protect Scott Brown.
I really can't remember any football incident where one newspaper group has given publicity to a rival by 'crediting' their part in a blockbuster story.
The News of the World have some very detailed allegations, there's nothing hit or miss or sketchy about it, they name times and places.
Amazingly the thrust of their story is that the DR protected Scott Brown as they exposed the story. The story was also run by The Sun who have a certain fondness for Barry Ferguson.
Whatever The DR could do to protect their man surely The Sun could do for their favoured player.
For the News of the World to give the DR such publicity is incredible as is the claim that the DR has the power to stir things up against two players in order to protect their man, whatever the DR can do The Sun can do at least equally well.
This story still has some running to do, Ferguson and McGregor won't be the only casualties.
A very messy tabloid war is out in the open which could be much nastier, and certainly more public, than anything in the world of football.
Having a pop at a rival paper is fair game, when the DR miss something The Sun gloats with the Day'late Record, when it's the other way around the DR laughs at the English-based tabloid.
Players need to be very discreet with what leaks out from dressing rooms and behind closed doors, Celtic have had their incidents already this season which quickly find print.
The Booze'n'vikkygate story has fingerprints all over it going back to certain camps and factions.
With a financially lucrative title to be won and lost and desperate times in the newspaper business there is still a lot of muck to be thrown around over the most spectacular and newsworthy international break ever.
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Let's stay winners
The one week thrill of the Co-Operative Cup!
It was a great feeling, very enjoyable as it always is when you beat Rangers, especially so in a Hampden Cup Final which many of us haven't experienced, scarily Mo Johnson was almost a Celtic player the last time that a Cup Final was won against Rangers.
Darren O'Dea was the unlikely first goal scorer but with only one real goalscorer on the pitch at the start, Scott McDonald, then an unlikely goalscorer probably wasn't really too unlikely!
It was a classy header from O'Dea well placed with a good connection to Shunsuke Nakamura's free kick, Celtic had threatened repeatedly through the match with Glenn Loovens and O'Dea both coming close to scoring earlier in the game from set pieces.
After O'Dea's opener Celtic carved Rangers open and should have had the match decided long before Aiden McGeady went off on a great run before being hacked down by Kirk Broadfoot who was in the dressing room by the time Aiden smacked the penalty the penalty into the net.
The celebrations were great with half of the stadium cheering Stephen McManus and the team as they collected the cup, danced around the sponsors podium then showed the trophy to the supporters who were in full voice.
Fast forward seven days and it was the familiar frustrating story of the season as we drew 2-2 with Dundee United, passing up the chance to stretch our lead over Rangers to five points.
With Rangers throwing away a two goal lead to Hearts the previous day the stage was set for a decisive move to be made in the title race, Scott McDonald obliged with a first half header but before the hour mark Dundee United were in front through a double from Francisco Sandaza, at this rate he could be the latest from Tannadice to make the move to Celtic.
Lee Naylor pinged in the equaliser but there was not to be a late winner with the lead at the top of the SPL table remaining at three points.
One point gained or two lost?
Arguments can be put up for both outcomes, what can't be denied is our unchampionslike form since the turn of the year, especially away from home.
One away SPL win, at Kilmarnock, alongside draws at Inverness, Motherwell, Dundee United and defeats at Aberdeen and St Mirren in the Scottish Cup don't inspire confidence. Neither does a one man strike force with the other two options contributing a total of two goals since the turn of the year.
Full points are non-negotiable from the next two matches, at home to Hamilton Accies and Falkirk, after that it gets much tougher with the remaining seven matches all against top six opponents.
The Co-Operative Cup Final win showed the desire of the team to succeed, away games at Hearts, Rangers, Aberdeen and AN Other will test that resolve to the full if the league is to be won.
On a cheerier not have another look at the Co-Operative Cup celebrations
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Darren O'Dea dedicates cup win to Tommy Burns
Cup Final hero Darren O'Dea has dedicated his moment of glory to Tommy Burns.
The former Celtic boss lost his battle with cancer in May of last year, with O'Dea especially close to the man that took him from Home Farm to Glasgow.
When Celtic dramatically won the title last season against Dundee United two days after Burns's funeral, O'Dea was inconsolable amidst the celebrations.
The defender's extra-time header against Rangers sent Celtic on their way to lifting the Co-Operative Cup at Hampden but moments after lifting the trophy he was quick to remember the man that brought him to the club.
O'Dea told the Evening Herald: "There was only one man that I was looking to impress today and that's Tommy, he's always in my thoughts.
"Every time I pull on a Celtic shirt or training jersey I think of Tommy, he's a man that I aspire to. Everything that I do is for him."
Typically of recent Old Firm matches, there was little between the sides with both teams starting out with 4-5-1 formations.
Celtic were slightly the more adventurous, with Aiden McGeady given a free role behind Scott McDonald, but chances were at a premium with neither 'keeper over worked.
Gordon Strachan's men were a constant threat at set-pieces with Glenn Loovens twice coming close, forcing Pedro Mendes into a goal-line clearance in the 69th minute.
Celtic introduced Georgios Samaras to help McDonald, with Rangers also changing things around with Nacho Novo and Kris Boyd paired up front as both sets of supporters sensed extra-time.
Fifty seven seconds into extra-time the game turned Celtic's way when O'Dea steered his header beyond Allan McGregor from an inviting Shunsuke Nakamura free-kick.
The goal hero explained: "Naka's free-kicks are brilliant and luckily enough I got my head on the end of it. The ball was so good that I just needed to get my head on it.
"I had a chance with a header during the second half as well. I always like to think that I'm a threat at corners, as is every other player that comes up for them.
"I found out an hour before the kick-off that I'd be playing. I wouldn't say that I was scared about building my hopes up, I prepared for the game as if I was playing then it was just a case of waiting for the manager to give me the nod.
"I'm obviously grateful for him for keeping me in and I like to think that I've repaid him.
"We were the better team overall but Rangers had their spells, it's just a case of riding them out and taking our chances, so it's great to come out on top."
After O'Dea's goal Celtic really should have had the game sewn up with Samaras having two great opportunities, as well as chances falling to McDonald and man-of-the-match Scott Brown.
Cramp set in on O'Dea towards the end of the first period of extra-time with Mark Wilson moving on at left-back for the final 15 minutes.
Celtic had a clear edge in fitness during the extra-time, with Nakamura and McGeady posing serious questions of the Rangers defence with their accurate use of the ball.
It was typical cup-tie football till the end before McGeady raced away from the Rangers defence before being crudely felled by Kirk Broadfoot, who was red-carded.
McGeady took the penalty himself sending McGregor the wrong way before racing off to celebrate with his jubilant team mates before the final whistle was blown.
Just over a week after tumbling out of the Scottish Cup to St Mirren, it was Stephen McManus that collected the first trophy of the season as he raised the Co-Operative Cup to the Celtic support.
It was the first time in 20 years that Celtic had beaten Rangers in a major final, although the focus will now quickly switch to the battle for the SPL title where Celtic have a three point advantage with 10 games left to play.
O'Dea savoured the moment and the celebrations but knows that the next game, and trophy is always the most important for Celtic.
He added: "It's a great feeling, I'm absolutely delighted. We'll enjoy the celebrations but we know that there's still the run-in to the league ahead of us.
"For me it's a massive achievement but the only thing that matters is that Celtic won and hopefully that will kick us on for the rest of the season."
Two months ago O'Dea felt that his League Cup hopes lay south of the border with Burnley.
Owen Coyle was desperate to get the defender in on loan with a deal all but agreed with Gordon Strachan who accepted the need for O'Dea to play regular football.
The move could have gone through in time for O'Dea to play against Spurs in the Carling Cup but injury worries over Stephen McManus and Lee Naylor forced Strachan to backtrack on his promise to the young defender, who watched Celtic send Cillian Sheridan and Paul Caddis out to Motherwell and Dundee United while he waited on the sidelines.
O'Dea admitted: "A lot of people told me that things can change in a day and I struggled to believe them when I was out of the side.
"The move to Burnley was as close as you can get. It was all agreed but people had little niggles which stopped me going. It was literally down to the last day of the deadline and it looked like I might go. There were a few clubs interested in taking me on loan but it was Burnley that I had decided on.
"They are doing great down there but I'd much rather be here and this means much more to me. I thought I might have gone before the Carling Cup semi-final. Burnley were trying to rush it through but it didn't happen and I'm just glad I had a chance to stay."
Manager Strachan was thrilled to see O'Dea get rewarded after missing out on his loan move.
The Celtic boss said: "If anyone deserved something today it was Darren, I couldn't be more pleased for him.
"He's had disappointments. He wanted to go on loan, just to be a better player and come back and be a better player for us but I thought we were going to need him between then and the end of the season.
"He was disappointed but didn't let his disappointment affect himself or the squad. And it's great when you see young men getting their rewards like that."
Level-headed O'Dea knows that he has a battle on his hands to stay in the team and is already looking ahead to the next match. He added: "All I'm thinking about is next week and facing Dundee United. Who knows if I'll play?"
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The former Celtic boss lost his battle with cancer in May of last year, with O'Dea especially close to the man that took him from Home Farm to Glasgow.
When Celtic dramatically won the title last season against Dundee United two days after Burns's funeral, O'Dea was inconsolable amidst the celebrations.
The defender's extra-time header against Rangers sent Celtic on their way to lifting the Co-Operative Cup at Hampden but moments after lifting the trophy he was quick to remember the man that brought him to the club.
O'Dea told the Evening Herald: "There was only one man that I was looking to impress today and that's Tommy, he's always in my thoughts.
"Every time I pull on a Celtic shirt or training jersey I think of Tommy, he's a man that I aspire to. Everything that I do is for him."
Typically of recent Old Firm matches, there was little between the sides with both teams starting out with 4-5-1 formations.
Celtic were slightly the more adventurous, with Aiden McGeady given a free role behind Scott McDonald, but chances were at a premium with neither 'keeper over worked.
Gordon Strachan's men were a constant threat at set-pieces with Glenn Loovens twice coming close, forcing Pedro Mendes into a goal-line clearance in the 69th minute.
Celtic introduced Georgios Samaras to help McDonald, with Rangers also changing things around with Nacho Novo and Kris Boyd paired up front as both sets of supporters sensed extra-time.
Fifty seven seconds into extra-time the game turned Celtic's way when O'Dea steered his header beyond Allan McGregor from an inviting Shunsuke Nakamura free-kick.
The goal hero explained: "Naka's free-kicks are brilliant and luckily enough I got my head on the end of it. The ball was so good that I just needed to get my head on it.
"I had a chance with a header during the second half as well. I always like to think that I'm a threat at corners, as is every other player that comes up for them.
"I found out an hour before the kick-off that I'd be playing. I wouldn't say that I was scared about building my hopes up, I prepared for the game as if I was playing then it was just a case of waiting for the manager to give me the nod.
"I'm obviously grateful for him for keeping me in and I like to think that I've repaid him.
"We were the better team overall but Rangers had their spells, it's just a case of riding them out and taking our chances, so it's great to come out on top."
After O'Dea's goal Celtic really should have had the game sewn up with Samaras having two great opportunities, as well as chances falling to McDonald and man-of-the-match Scott Brown.
Cramp set in on O'Dea towards the end of the first period of extra-time with Mark Wilson moving on at left-back for the final 15 minutes.
Celtic had a clear edge in fitness during the extra-time, with Nakamura and McGeady posing serious questions of the Rangers defence with their accurate use of the ball.
It was typical cup-tie football till the end before McGeady raced away from the Rangers defence before being crudely felled by Kirk Broadfoot, who was red-carded.
McGeady took the penalty himself sending McGregor the wrong way before racing off to celebrate with his jubilant team mates before the final whistle was blown.
Just over a week after tumbling out of the Scottish Cup to St Mirren, it was Stephen McManus that collected the first trophy of the season as he raised the Co-Operative Cup to the Celtic support.
It was the first time in 20 years that Celtic had beaten Rangers in a major final, although the focus will now quickly switch to the battle for the SPL title where Celtic have a three point advantage with 10 games left to play.
O'Dea savoured the moment and the celebrations but knows that the next game, and trophy is always the most important for Celtic.
He added: "It's a great feeling, I'm absolutely delighted. We'll enjoy the celebrations but we know that there's still the run-in to the league ahead of us.
"For me it's a massive achievement but the only thing that matters is that Celtic won and hopefully that will kick us on for the rest of the season."
Two months ago O'Dea felt that his League Cup hopes lay south of the border with Burnley.
Owen Coyle was desperate to get the defender in on loan with a deal all but agreed with Gordon Strachan who accepted the need for O'Dea to play regular football.
The move could have gone through in time for O'Dea to play against Spurs in the Carling Cup but injury worries over Stephen McManus and Lee Naylor forced Strachan to backtrack on his promise to the young defender, who watched Celtic send Cillian Sheridan and Paul Caddis out to Motherwell and Dundee United while he waited on the sidelines.
O'Dea admitted: "A lot of people told me that things can change in a day and I struggled to believe them when I was out of the side.
"The move to Burnley was as close as you can get. It was all agreed but people had little niggles which stopped me going. It was literally down to the last day of the deadline and it looked like I might go. There were a few clubs interested in taking me on loan but it was Burnley that I had decided on.
"They are doing great down there but I'd much rather be here and this means much more to me. I thought I might have gone before the Carling Cup semi-final. Burnley were trying to rush it through but it didn't happen and I'm just glad I had a chance to stay."
Manager Strachan was thrilled to see O'Dea get rewarded after missing out on his loan move.
The Celtic boss said: "If anyone deserved something today it was Darren, I couldn't be more pleased for him.
"He's had disappointments. He wanted to go on loan, just to be a better player and come back and be a better player for us but I thought we were going to need him between then and the end of the season.
"He was disappointed but didn't let his disappointment affect himself or the squad. And it's great when you see young men getting their rewards like that."
Level-headed O'Dea knows that he has a battle on his hands to stay in the team and is already looking ahead to the next match. He added: "All I'm thinking about is next week and facing Dundee United. Who knows if I'll play?"
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