Is there a budget to get in quality strikers?

The full extent of Gary Hooper’s injury, sustained in the 1-1 home draw with Kilmarnock, has not been discovered yet but the striker could be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Neil Lennon has intimated that there will be a minimum of a 4 week absence but the doom-sayers and tabloids are predicting that Hooper could miss the rest of the campaign.

Before this injury, Celtic badly needed a top striker signed in the January transfer window but now there is a need for two. The misfiring antics of Darryl Murphy and Anthony Stokes stretched some fans to breaking point last night and knowing that Samaras was the striking option on the bench wasn’t going to lower anyone’s blood pressure on a frustrating night.

If Samaras left the club in Janury, funds and wages could be freed up for Celtic to splash out on a better quality of strikers but the PLC board really need to be looking at really strengthening this department. For all that doom and gloom has descended upon Parkhead, the team are still in the title mix. A top quality centre-half and striker, with another reasonable forward added to the squad could make all the difference for Celtic’s title hopes.

Asking for three players to come in of a high standard may be asking too much from the board or for Lennon to find within budget, so would the return of Morten Rasmussen add a viable option for Celtic?

He never got much game time but Rasmussen showed that he has a penalty box striker’s knack of bundling homes and if Celtic were able to get the ball in the box, he would be likely to turn a good few chances into goals. There is no doubt the player needs to lose weight and his attitude and application to the game may need further work but if Rasmussen returned, it could enable Celtic to place their funds into fewer but better quality baskets.

Ha, it’s the old quality versus quantity argument from the summer …even if that argument was blown away by Ranger’s late addition of Richard Foster to their squad. Then again, he was never likely to be a first pick and has did a job when required. These players are fine….but bringing in players of quantity will not help Celtic and Neil Lennon compete for the title.

Yet again, the desire and drive of the Celtic PLC is on the line….they have failed the last few tests and you wonder if they fail this one, how will the Celtic fan-base react? It may be the 22nd of December but Neil Lennon needs to get his wish-list on Peter Lawwell’s desk pretty quickly.

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Video Review Panel causing concern

Another week, another matter for Celtic and the SFA.

Even the most hardened of Hoops fans will be thinking “again?” but even if you do not agree with the way that the Glasgow club seem to be continually in the press making complaints, in this instance, it is hard to argue with their sentiments.

There are many problems with video review panel in Scotland. It takes far too long for it to swing into power, far too long to announce its decision and there appears to be no consistency or transparency as to how players are referred to the panel.

Celtic boss Tony Mowbray was talking about it this week because it is likely his Danish striker Morten Rasmussen will be up in front of the panel. Kilmarnock defender Frazer Wright (the man who slapped Shunsuke Nakamura around the head to no punishment) has implored the panel to throw the book at the Celtic man.

And they probably will…and they’d be right to do so.

Video footage shows the striker elbowing the Killie man and regardless of the abuse Ra Ra Rasmussen took up to that point, you cannot react like that on a football field.

However, there have been many players this season who have elbowed their opponents, caught on camera, yet have not been hauled up in front of the panel. There have been assaults on the park in a number of games and yes, these players have avoided any punishment.

Therefore, let’s get away from the clubs involved and turn focus on the SFA.

Let’s get some transparency in the process. If an incident needs to be referred or nominated, how does this happen? Can anyone do it? Does it come from the television companies? Do Gordon Smith and George Peat sit down and decide what players and clubs shall be punished and which will get away?

We all know what Scottish football is like and having decisions shrouded in mystery and suspicion is just going to set certain parties off. If the SFA have a desire to improve the game, they will come out and tell everyone the criteria for these decisions.

If the SFA have no desire to improve the Scottish game, expect nothing to change.

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Will Lady Luck be a Jambo at Celtic Park?

Tony Mowbray has insisted that Marc Antoine Fortune sits at the top of his queue for strikers, so it will be interesting to see how Celtic line up tonight. In fact, the Celtic fans will probably be able to argue over the selection for every position of the field.

Apart from the Robbie Keane role which has been earmarked for Robbie Keane.

It looks as though Georgios Samaras will definitely drop out, the Greek strikers fragile head looks to have dipped even further in recent weeks but sleecting the rest from Fortune, Rasmussen and Kamara will be a tough task for any manager.

Rasmussen has given Celtic fans hope that he can be in the box when they need him and Kamara impressed on Sunday, albeit against Dunfermline and in a wide position.

The match against Hearts may see Celtic turn to Fortune but they will need an element of good fortune to overcome the Jambos.

The two sides have met three times this season and the Edinburgh side are ahead 2-1. Funnily enough, the two games Celtic lost they were completely dominant but the only Hoops victory was a tighter affair, although Celtic probably edged it.

What has separated the teams has been Celtic’s wasteful finishing and the Jambo’s ability to put the ball in the net with the limited chances they have. Okay, two of the four goals Hearts have got against Celtic have been from the spot but the other two goals were tremendous from an attacking point of view.

Terrible from a defending point of view, which is of course, Celtic’s other problem.

Jim Jefferies will be in charge for his third game at Hearts, second time around tonight, and his team have yet to score. The manager has also not won against Celtic since 2000. All of which, in the strange world of football, probably adds up to an away win tonight.

If that occurs, some Celtic fans may just reach breaking point but there will be no excuses for Celtic not having the firepower to down Hearts at Parkhead this evening.

How do you think this match will go tonight?

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Danish websites take an interest in the new Celtic hitman

It has been understandable that all of the focus of Celtic fans and international interest has been about Robbie Keane and Ireland. The player is without doubt a cut above the average SPL player but his loan signing has been as much about the commercial spin-offs as it has been about the player’s ability.

Then again, Tony Mowbray and Peter Lawell should both be happy about the impact the Irishman can have.

The past day has seen a buzz around another new signing though.

Diomansay Kamara looked impressive against Dunfermline, Braafheid made a solid start at left-back but Danish striker Morten Rasmussen has captured the attention of Celtic fans and his media back home.

Rasmussen may be the penalty box striker that Celtic have been crying out for and the player has two goals to his name, in only one start. He was also heavily involved in Celtic’s third goal against Dunfermline, his pressure forcing Callum Woods to place the ball into his own net.

Avisen is a Danish newspaper and their story focuses on the instant impact the striker has made and another new nickname for the player.

Avisen story about ‘Duncan’ Rasmussen

The obvious story about Rasmussen before he arrived centred on his nickname of Duncan, after Duncan Ferguson, so you can see the angle for Celtic fans! It turns out that the player was also previously nicknamed ‘Mini’, an ironic nickname given his height.

The paper picks up on the Ra Ra Rasmussen nickname but possibly picks up the wrong influence for the nickname. The spectre of Boney M (and a little bit of Lady Gaga) hangs high over the origins of the strikers nickname.

Regardless of this, the story has certainly caught the attention and WeKnowSFA hopes to have played a small part in the article. A link to the Rasmussen products in the newly launched WeKnowSFA store can be found in the Avisen article.

A google translation of the Avisen front page offers this insight to its readers:

With all of the focus on Robbie Keane, Rasmussen may be able to make the difference in the box for Celtic but will it be enough to turn the SPL title race.

Are you impressed with Rasmussen so far?

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Hoops into the 6th Round of the Cup

The fragility of the Celtic backline was once again exposed at East End Park but Celtic fans can breathe a sigh of relief as their forward line was up to the task of firing them through. Yes, Dunfermline are lower league opposition but in the Cup, it is just about getting through and Celtic will be in the draw on Wednesday for the 6th round of the Active Nation Scottish Cup.

The opening period of the game was scrappy but controlled by Celtic and the hoops opened the scoring in twenty minutes. Georgios Samaras struck the bar and after the ball bobbled in the box a bit, Diomansy Kamara was on hand to fire home his first goal for Celtic.

It was a powerful shot from the Senegalese player but Celtic’s lead was to be short-lived.

Within a minute, Dunfermline broke down their right hand side with the Celtic backline all out of position and the cross was turned home by David Graham, who wasted no time in turning to the Celtic crowd and making the shushing motion.

Worse was to follow for those Celtic fans before the half hour mark when Dunfermline were awarded a penalty.

On first viewing, and without television evidence, it appeared that Paul Caddis put a slight shove in the back of the jumping Dunfermline player. On that basis, a penalty looked correct. However, these incidents happen every game and go unpunished.

Also, when you examine it in the context of penalties that Celtic have not been given this season, it is easy to see why some Celtic fans have it in for refs.

As said, if television evidence stated otherwise we’ll be happy to alter our stance but at the time, it looked like a weak penalty but a penalty nonetheless. Artur Boruc was yet again sent the wrong way with spot kick and Dunfermline held a shock 2-1 lead.

You got the feeling that the Pars needed to get to half-time with their lead intact but Morten Rasmussen grabbed his second Celtic goal on 43 minutes. The Danish striker may be giving Celtic the penalty box presence they require to turn chances into goals and the striker is becoming a firm favourite with the hoops fans.

2-2 at half-time and having the ability to bring on Robbie Keane is a boost for any team.

Keane’s movement is immense, this shone through even in the defeat at Kilmarnock and his 45 minute cameo here.

Whether his team-mates will be on his wavelength is a different matter and Celtic are still fine-tuning their forward play.

There was a piece of close control that saw a Dunfermline defender dumped on his backside due to Keane’s quick feet but the Irish striker should have cut the ball back as opposed to having his shot rifle against Dunfermline keeper’s Fleming legs.

Keane also fired a hard cross which Fleming parried out and Rasmussen was quickly on it but failed to lift it sufficiently and Fleming pulled off a strong save but the feeling that a goal was coming was getting stronger.

Celtic regained the lead just before the hour mark and although it will probably go down as a Callum Woods own goal, it owes a great deal to a tremendous cross form Kamara and the penalty box presence from Rasmussen. Much like the second Celtic goal, the mere presence of a poacher puts defences under pressure and Dunfermline had to bounce back once again.

They were unable to and it was Celtic who grabbed the clincher, and this time, it was all about Robbie Keane. The Irish striker was in the box and looking to shoot when he was taken out of play by Austin McCann.

The forward picked himself up, ran, paused and slotted the ball home to open his Celtic account and give the hoops a 4-2 lead. Robbie scored the goal and did a forward roll as the player maintained his customary goal celebration.

After this, the game fizzled out slightly and although the ball raged from one end to another, no real chances were created.

Both teams will probably walk relatively satisfied but knowing that there is a lot to work on. Next up for Celtic are Hearts at Celtic Park on Wednesday and they will need to be a lot tighter if they want to get their league campaign back on track.

Celtic fans, happy to see Robbie off the mark?

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A strict medical to test the player’s knee

Celtic may have scored four goals in the second half against St Johnstone but they created 26 chances. This indicates that Celtic are still woefully inefficient with respect to the amount of chances they take from what they make.

This is why the club are in the market for a new striker and Morten Rasmussen appears to be the man of the moment for Celtic. The Glasgow club has agreed a deal with Brondby, leaving personal terms and a medical to be completed.

The player suggest that the personal terms, believed to be around £20,000 per week on a three and a half year contract, will not be a problem;

“I really hope this deal can go through.”

“My personal terms are the only thing outstanding, but it shouldn’t be a problem. Celtic are a big club and it’s a dream for me. I was happy at Brondby but I always hoped to get a move to a club like Celtic. “

“I think the Scottish league would be perfect good for a striker like me. I know great things about the club having spoken to [Celtic’s former Danish players] Morten Wieghorst and Marc Rieper.”

However, Celtic are expected to examine the player’s knee extensively as the player suffered ligament damage previously.

This injury kept the player out for a number of months but he has bounced back to score consistently in the Danish league.

Celtic fans are desperate to get a new forward on board but if there are any doubts about the long term fitness of the player, the club has to know what they are. It can only be hoped for the club and player that the medical will go smoothly but with so much at stake, it is easy to see why the Glasgow club will take every precaution possible.

Do you think Morten is the man to fire Celtic to glory this season?

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£1.5m deal for Hoops?

Yes, just days after beating Morton, Celtic appear to be in the hunt sign a Morten. Fans of other clubs may say “ooh Morten, Harket them and their spending of money.” Of course, if you are unaware of A-Ha and their terrible music, that joke will be lost on you.

Trust us, you are one of the lucky ones.

Right where were we? Oh yes, Celtic in the hunt for Morten Rasmussen. It has been noted in the Danish media that the move is on and Friday’s Herald has broken ranks to talk about the Glasgow side being close to clinching the player in a £1.5m deal.

The player currently plays for Brondby and it is said that talks between Celtic and representatives of the player took place in London on Thursday.

The “ever reliable” Wikipedia has announced that he has signed for Celtic…but they also have attributed some ludicrous comments to the player so it is probably safe to ignore the rantings of that site at the moment. You know that the originators of Wikipedia never had the creative talents of football fans on their mind when they set about creating this information site!

Either way, the stated 44 goals in 84 games is worthy of further consideration and any striker who can bring that strike rate to the SPL will go down well. Lets face it, Celtic are more than capable of creating the chances, it is putting them away that has let the Glasgow side down so far this season.

There have been rumours circulating that this signature will see Scott McDonald leave Celtic, which may leave some fans unhappy at proceedings but does tie in with the talk of one in, one out that is supposedly in place at Celtic this window.

Oh, did you want some Youtube footage? Here you go but remember that not every player is as great as they are made out to be on Youtube. Viewers should always remember that players may not cut it in real life but that the sun always shines on TV…..sorry!

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