Shoehorned title kicks off our weekend previews

Yes, that’s a fairly awful link between the Celtic Manor golf course which was supposed to be hosting the Ryder Cup this weekend (it’ll get there eventually no doubt) and the build up for this Saturday’s matches.

Being absent from European football may have meant Celtic fans have had to watch other teams in action this midweek to satisfy their need for football but the bhoys are back in action at Celtic Park against Hamilton Academicals on Saturday.

With 6 wins out of 6, Celtic should be confident of making it a magnificent 7 league wins at the start of the season but as always, complacency could be the biggest hindrance to Neil Lennon’s squad.

Hamilton started the season poorly, shipping 8 goals in their first two games but they were missing players through injury. Since then, they have gotten back some of the resilience which has been a major factor in their SPL survival. In fact, survival is a harsh term because the Accies have been better than merely just avoiding the drop; they have pushed to be the best of the bottom half since their return to top flight football.

There hasn’t been much news emanating from Celtic Park this week regarding the status of injured players so selecting a squad is still hit and miss at the moment. Jamie Forrest is said to be further back than expected in his comeback trail but players like Paddy McCourt, Niall McGinn, Charlie Mulgrew and Emilio Izaguirre are the more pressing concerns for Celtic. If any of these players are fit to return, especially the left-backs, the Celtic side may start to form a recognisable shape and look.

Well, you know the vast majority of Celtic fans will be heading along to Celtic Park in expectation of a few goals but at this stage of the season, Celtic just need to keep winning. The international break provides some space but after Hamilton, Celtic have two massive tests with a trip to Tannadice and then the visit of Rangers to Parkhead.

For now though…Neil Lennon must guide his team past Billy Reid’s men, who will be just as desperate for the points.

How do you see Saturday’s game going?

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Good three points but a lot of room for improvement for Hoops.

It is hard to think what to make of Celtic these days.

For chances created, they should have had the game won out of sight within the first twenty minutes.

Last week’s villain of the piece, Glen Loovens, opened the scoring early on and the initial signs were that Celtic would go on to seriously punish Hamilton Academicals.

The Lanarkshire team hung on in there but it was one way traffic.

Of course, the longer the game went on and Celtic never got a second goal, the more nervous it became for the Hoops fans.

Loovens had a header cleared off the line, sub Fortune hit the post and Robson and Samaras narrowly missed the target.

As the 70 minute mark came and went with only the one goal so far, the Celtic fans and defence started to get uptight and there was a genuine threat that the Accies could steal a point.

All the home teams fans had their hearts in their mouth as the Accies put the ball in the net but there was a foul in the build-up. Regardless, Danny Fox was caught well out of position before the cross came in and what Artur Boruc was doing, God only knows.

The Polish stopper made a good save with his chest in the first half but a diving save to his left in the second half was even better…but question marks were definitely raised over the Polish stopper in his role in Accies chopped off goal.

That said, even though the foul was apparent, it was a let-off but as can so often happen, it galvanised the home team…slightly

And just as Celtic fans were streaming for the exit, Niall McGinn lashed home from the edge of the box to seal a 2-0 victory for the Hoops.

On one hand, 2-0 was the least Celtic deserved for their overall dominance. However, you have to credit Hamilton for hanging on in there and keeping in touch with the home side.

Of more concern to the home club was the number of missing seats. Yes, the weather was atrocious and many families had other concerns for Boxing Day, so perhaps it was understandable but historically, Boxing Day have gathered big crowds.

However, as these pictures taken just after Loovens broke the deadlock show, there was a big number of empty seats.

The gap behind Rangers is now at one point and all Celtic fans will be hoping that Hibs can do them a turn at Easter Road.

Celtic fans, did you brave the cold and did you enjoy it?

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Boxing Day bonus for fans

Traditionally, matches at the festive period would experience a higher than normal crowd.

The reasons for this would include family members being home for the Christmas celebrations and people being off work. Given the fact that Boxing Day games used to offer a number of high scoring matches, perhaps a sign of players over-indulging the day before, there was a great excitement around these matches.

The fact that Celtic have announced there will be a cash turnstile for their Boxing Day clash versus Hamilton is therefore interesting news. With the crowds dropping at Celtic Park this season, it is not a major surprise but it is difficult to recall the last time there was a pay at the game league match for Celtic.

In all likelihood, it would have been prior to the Hampden season but if any WeKnowSFA reader with a sharper mind than ourselves can recall one, please let us know.

With kids entry for a fiver, it could be a good move for Celtic by possibly picking up a lot of people on the day of the match who may decide they want to get out of the house for a bit.

The fact that adult seats are still £25 is going to be a drawback but an adult plus two children for £35 isnt terrible value in the modern world of Scottish football.

It would be nicer if it was cheaper but hopefully it will allow some people to attend who may not otherwise get the chance.

All clubs need to do everything they can to entice more people through the gates but Celtic have had a bad year with regards to punters attending. If this move is a success, it may be repeated at various points throughout the season.

Better quality on the park and cheaper entry is likely to be the only two ways to get more supporters into the game though.

Would a cash turnstile make you more likely to go a game?

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Does this explain comments from the Rangers AGM?

The comments made by Rangers chairman Alasdair Johnston at the clubs AGM regarding naming rights for the stadium seemed to come out of nowhere.

However, some of the Celtic internet sites have been suggesting that Celtic have reached an agreement to sell the rights to the name of their stadium.

Celtic Park or Parkhead?

The name of Celtic’s stadium varies depending on which person you talk to. Yes, the stadium is located in the Parkhead area of Glasgow but for some, this is how it is referred. To others, it has to be Celtic Park.

There are also many Celtic fans who don’t seem to care what it is called, as long as the Bhoys play there.

According to Celtic Rumours, the sums involved are:

£5 Million a year for next 5 years.

Most football fans agree that this sort of deal would be money for nothing for a club like Celtic. The fans wont call the stadium anything different, the only people really affected will be the media and those who need to refer to the stadium name in a professional capacity.

Naming rights are effective for a new build stadium but for re-naming an existing stadium, it is a much less convincing argument.

There will be some who will feel this is a black day in the club’s history and selling out the ideals of the club…but in reality, some people need to get a grip! If the renaming of the stadium can add some extra bite to the managers transfer budget, then most Celtic fans will consider it a good deal.

Of course, many Celtic fans think this money will be going straight to the PLC as opposed to fuelling the next wave of Tony Mowbray’s team and that is where the cynicism will come into play.

Who would you want to see sponsor Celtic Park?

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

You wouldn’t be surprised to see Celtic struggle versus St Mirren

It is fair to say that a number of Scottish footballing greats have lost their way due to battles with alcohol but for Tony Mowbray, it may be the boos that see him off at Celtic Park. Last weekends reversal at the hands of Dundee United, due to the inability of his centre halfs to defend their six yard box from corners was a breaking point for many fans.

The concern is, no matter who plays at the back, Celtic look vulnerable. Captain Stephen McManus is available for selection after suspension leaving Mowbray to perm two from Heid, Hoof and Goofy.

On current form, it would be hard for the club to make one good centre half from the three of them and any visiting team to Celtic Park must fancy their chances.

The last league game at Celtic Park was a 3-0 win for the home side but you can bet Kevin Kyle has had a few sleepless nights since over the golden chances he failed to put away. A fragile defence and a crowd on edge could be the key for St Mirren profiting from Glasgow’s East End.

The Buddies add John Potter to the squad which pushed Hibs all the way last weekend and these players will be hoping to stifle the green and whites again.

Zhen Zhi and Paddy McCourt come back into contention again for Celtic, leaving Mowbray with a few choices to make. Most fans were reasonably satisfied with the midfield pairing of N’Guemo and Crosas last weekend.

Oddly enough, the debate came over Barry “One Foot” Robson being played on the right hand side of midfield.

The player had a terrible game and yet was almost the saviour for Celtic with his jagging run into the box which earned the penalty, which he duly dispatched. If the Celtic backline was as tenacious in their defending as they were in their wage demands, Robson would have delivered all three points but as it was, his performance left many Hoops fans unimpressed.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.