Celtic centre halves have a combined age younger than Davie Weir
Crazy times at Celtic and Rangers
Another game, another injury problem for Tony Mowbray to concern himself with.
Glen Loovens, admittedly more useful in the opposition box than his own at times, limped out of the game with a hamstring injury that is looking like it will rule him out of Celtic’s match at Pittodrie on Saturday.
Considering Edson Braafheid took what looked to be a bad knock and was later replaced, the Celtic defence had a strange look about it. Yes, in recent weeks, the Celtic back line has been a mish mash but finishing with a back four of Caddis, Rogne, Thompson and N’Guemo is asking a lot.
Celtic were lucky they were facing toothless Hearts although the defence coped admirably with what they had to do.
Even luckless Loovens was comfortable in his clearances and interceptions, it was when he had time on the ball that he looked in difficulty. The jury remains out on Paul Caddis as a full-back, his interplay with Aiden McGeady was strong but whether he can be a permanent right back is a different matter.
So, back to the attention grabbing headline.
Josh Thompson – date of birth: 25/02/91
Thomas Rogne – date of birth: 29/09/90
Davie Weir – date of birth: 10/05/70
So, Davie Weir is currently 39 whereas Thompson and Rogne are 18 and 19 respectively, making the Celtic centre half pairing 37!
At times this season Davie Weir has had youngster Danny Wilson beside him but the difference in centre backs between the two clubs is of note.
There is no doubt that Celtic need a more commanding and experienced figure in their backline, as much to progress the youngsters around him as to shore up the backline.
Celtic kept a clean sheet last night but they will face a tougher test at Pittodrie on Saturday.
Can Celtic cut the gap to 5 points on Saturday?
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Josh Thompson has done really wel for a raw youngster of his tender years. Sometimes injuries can perhaps be a blessing in disguise as they allow guys like him to get 1st team games they would never ever previously have got a sniff of otherwise.
He seems to be really level headed as well, saying that he still has loads to learn, etc.
Young Rogne is highly rated in his homeland. I know it ain’t exactly the ideal experienced pairing for a match os such magnitude but as the old cliche goes – “If you’re good enough you’re old enough” .
Besides, Lee Miller is not around anymore to batter centre-halves senseless.
When you consider the way that Thompson has been thrown into the Celtic team and the upheaval around him, the boy has performed very well.
Near the end of last night’s match, he was looking very composed and distributing the ball very well.
The loss of Lee Miller will give Celtic a helping hand (which sums up how poor the Celtic defenders could be when Miller consistently gave them a torrid time) but the new boy MacLean for the Dons scored last night, so it may not be a stroll in the park for the youngsters on Saturday.
You’re right Ed, it certainly won’t be a stroll unless we present Mark McGhee with a special set of Rosaries beforehand to remind him where he’s from and do us a turn
Not that we need to do that as the Sheepies always ‘lie down’ to us anyway?!? Especially when Tango & Sash were in charge.
I would settle for a scrappy 1-0 win or a repeat of the opening day performance when we won 3-1 at Pittodrie.
Very impressed by Josh Thompson its loovens i dont trust .
Don’t worry Billy, sidemouth will have his team lying down for you on Saturday, he needs his beloved Celtic to be winning trophies.
Suppose it’s not so much the sheep lying down, more so cheating their own fans with their performnace levels not what they are when they play the Rangers. Mind you the sheep hate us so much they probably would settle for beating us in the season to the detriment of their own position.
Hopefully a tasty game, think Celtic have too much in attack for sidemouths sheep though.
MARK McGHEE has confessed he’s ready to field a WEAKENED team against Celtic tomorrow.
The Aberdeen boss could rest key men ahead of the Scottish Cup replay against Raith Rovers next week.
That would incense Dons fans and spark fury with Celts’ title rivals Rangers.
It would also break a league rule which demands all clubs field their strongest teams.
Former Hoops striker McGhee said: “We do not necessarily have to beat Celtic on Saturday to finish fourth in the SPL and make Europe.
“We DO have to beat Raith in the Cup.
“We need our strongest squad to be fit for Tuesday so I will need to be careful who I pick.
“It might be I’ll make changes for Saturday to make sure the best team is clear to face Raith. It’s something I have to look at carefully.”
McGhee is desperate to beat Raith after the Dons’ dramatic injury-time escape at Stark’s Park last Saturday.
A win in Tuesday’s replay at Pittodrie would bring a trip to face another First Division side, Dundee, in the quarter-finals. McGhee is eager to avenge a Co-Op Cup defeat at Dens Park at the start of the season.
The cash-starved Dons are also keen to reach the Hampden semi-finals as they bid to end their trophy famine.
McGhee could rest key duo Zander Diamond and Sone Aluko against Celts as they have played twice in a week after long lay-offs. He may also let the likes of Mark Kerr, Charlie Mulgrew and Darren Mackie rest strains to ensure their readiness for the replay.
But any move to field a weakened side would contravene strict SPL rules and the Dons could face sanctions.
Rule B5 of the league regulations states: “Each club shall play its full strength team in all league matches.”
Lifted from the Sun, at least the cretin doesn’t hide his allegiances anymore. Remember Jim Duffy doing the same at Parkhead when we went to the last day of the season on goal difference, ironically enough, the late consolation Dundee goal that night actually clinched the SPL crown for Rangers.
considering hes only won 4 out of his last 12 games mr mcghee better watch as his jacket will be on a shoogly nail . t
Jaz, he’ll have a game against Rangers soon enough, if McGhee can get another point at Ibrox the Sheepies will love even more.
His jacket is possibly a bit shoogly…but it will become dangerously placed if they lose to Raith Rovers in the cup.
That said, if McGhee does play a weakened side, people need to question it – and not even the Rangers fans – the Aberdeen fans who are paying good money. If their hatred of Rangers is so much that they would accept it, then they maybe get what they deserve for stupidity but there will be more than enough Dons fans who want their team to win.
However, it should be remembered, a weakened team need not necesssarily mean Aberdeen have no chance, Celtic have weaknesses and perhaps a player or two who is playing with something big to prove to his boss will have a bit more hunger and fight than someone who is always in the team and is maybe subconsciously thinking about the cup-tie.
In short, lets see how it pans out before anyone gets too concerned…its not quite the mick mccarthy at old trafford situation but there will be a few interested parties watching the pittodrie game on saturday.
he done it at motherwell left 4 good players out against celtic on the sat including his goalie , to return against rangers on the weds
That’ll be the season when McGhee won at Celtic Park with Motherwell?
It is good to know that much like Calderwood and Nicholl for Celtic fans, Rangers fans also have their own pantomime dame, where every decision can be examined and booed roundly.
If McGhee does field a weakened team and Celtic win, then yes, by all means, say “haw McGhee ya fat git, thats out of order” but if we have learned anything this season, it is that Celtic on their travels are beatable.
Jaz, we agree, if McGhee does make changes then yes, questions should be asked – however, we’ll wait until the line-up and then how the game pans out before jumping up and down.
The Rangers Trust have issued a statement, so you can say that at least (a slight representative) of your club is making the issue wider known. We’ll no doubt at some point over the weekend examine it in more detail.
Question is, am I Mystic Meg, Mark McGhee or just wise to the Aberdeen Manager?
Mr Ed, jazz makes a perfectly valid point of McGhee and his previous in resting players against his beloved hoops. Whether his team won at Parkhead earlier in the season doesn’t matter, it was the title run in and he had no valid reason for doing what he done when playing both sides in quick sucession. His integrity must be called into question.
Quagmire,
we agreed with Jaz in our above comment
“Jaz, we agree, if McGhee does make changes then yes, questions should be asked”
Wasnt trying to deflect attention away from McGhee and what he did – just trying to balance it a bit. You ask the crowd in Celtic Park that day and a lot would have replied that McGhee had delivered the final nail in the Celtic title challenge coffin that day. Didnt turn out to be case but it was a mighty blow for Celtic at the time.
But yes, we also agree with you, there needs to be integrity in games and Rangers fans will pick out the actions of McGhee.
Celtic fans will do likewise, heck everyone will – St Mirren fans still hold Alan Main responsible for chucking in three goals against Dundee United which kept the Arabs up and put St Mirren down.
Plus, Mr Ed??? Lets be saying neigh to the nickname!!
Mr Ed is much easier to type that weknowsfa or an acronym!
Haha, absolutely….its just being likened to a talking horse that is a bit off-putting.
Been called a lot lot worse over the years so cant really complain about being likened to a famous TV horse!