Celtic FC: Of Teacakes And Not Much Else
Article by James Payne
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Celtic’s progress to their fourth successive league title in a row carried on its merry way over the Easter weekend with results going very much the champions’ way – yet again.
Celtic played in Paisley against bottom of the league St Mirren on Good Friday and produced a competent performance to win 2-0 whilst the following afternoon Aberdeen could only draw nil-nil with Partick Thistle at home to leave the Bhoys seven points clear with a game in hand and nine matches to play. The remaining matches will feature away trips to Inverness, Dundee, Dundee United and Aberdeen amongst others so there is still plenty to be done before the celebrations can begin but few would bet on those celebrations not taking place. The Celts have collapsed in the home straight several times in the past- in 1980 Aberdeen won when they were as far behind as they are now and in those days there were only two points for a win- but on all those occasions Celtic wilted in the home stretch the team played as though it was expecting to be ‘mugged’ whereas this current team looks pretty sure footed with the rival side looking wobblier.
The match on Friday was not one which will live long in the memory. Against a side which packed its defence and made no attempts to force the issue it took Celtic sixty-three minutes to score but Celtic are a patient side these days and when James Forrest’s crisp shot from an Adam Matthews’s cut back hit the net that was it. Celtic’s second goal came quarter an hour later from the penalty spot after a Forrest shot struck Victor Genev’s left hand. Stefan Johansen converted expertly.
There was some attempt to engender some form of controversy about the penalty but it looked a straightforward decision for referee Muir to make and the only other talking point was substitute Leigh Griffith being spotted by the TV cameras having a sneaky Tunnock’s Teacake. I have no doubt some mad conspiracy theorist will be claiming that the contents of such confectionery should be analysed for the unfair advantage they give Celtic whist those who worship blindly at the altar of Ronny Deila will suggest that introducing teacakes in to the team’s diet is a masterstroke but really the teacake and the penalty (as well as the excellence of Celtic’s first goal) were it.
Celtic won again tonight against Thistle (a game for which skipper Scott Brown was absent) and a much trickier looking match at Inverness next Saturday lunchtime to come this week and it will be interesting – at least for Celtic fans like me- to see what teams Ronny Deila puts onto the field. On Friday he sprang something of a surprise when he picked Anthony Stokes as his main striker ahead of the Phantom Teacake Eater Griffiths and John Guidetti but the Irishman did not do much in the role. Stokes has not scored this year- even Scepovic has scored more in 2015- and he looks increasingly like a misfit these days. He has looked fitter than in the past and he has been involved in the build-up for some goals but his contribution has been markedly less effective than in the seasons when Neil Lennon was in charge.
Other than the usual odd stories coming out of Ibrox- don’t ask me what is going on as I have rather lost the thread there- the main talking point for Celtic fans was the decision of Ronny Deila to loan out Liam Henderson to Rosenborg for the next three months. I must confess to being uneasy with this one – especially as the inspirational Brown is out on Wednesday and Charlie Mulgrew is still injured. I would rather the youngster stayed to make a contribution for Celtic this season but unlike with, for example, Tony Watt when he was loaned out to Lierse at the start of last season this does look as though the manager is doing this to allow the player to develop- and be match fit for the start of next season- rather than doing so with a view to punting a player the manager does not believe is going to make it. I like Henderson and although I am far from convinced Ronny is the Messiah I increasingly think he knows what he is doing. Good luck Liam, stay fit and play well.
This article is shorter than any of its predecessors for this blog but in a week in which one of the main talking points was the eating habits of a player it is hard to come up with much. I’ll away and get myself a teacake. I suspect something stronger may well be taken in the coming weeks.
© e-Football 2015 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of e-Football
Subscribe to the e-Football Podcast for FREE on iTunes (Click Here)
Celtic’s progress to their fourth successive league title in a row carried on its merry way over the Easter weekend with results going very much the champions’ way – yet again.
Celtic played in Paisley against bottom of the league St Mirren on Good Friday and produced a competent performance to win 2-0 whilst the following afternoon Aberdeen could only draw nil-nil with Partick Thistle at home to leave the Bhoys seven points clear with a game in hand and nine matches to play. The remaining matches will feature away trips to Inverness, Dundee, Dundee United and Aberdeen amongst others so there is still plenty to be done before the celebrations can begin but few would bet on those celebrations not taking place. The Celts have collapsed in the home straight several times in the past- in 1980 Aberdeen won when they were as far behind as they are now and in those days there were only two points for a win- but on all those occasions Celtic wilted in the home stretch the team played as though it was expecting to be ‘mugged’ whereas this current team looks pretty sure footed with the rival side looking wobblier.
The match on Friday was not one which will live long in the memory. Against a side which packed its defence and made no attempts to force the issue it took Celtic sixty-three minutes to score but Celtic are a patient side these days and when James Forrest’s crisp shot from an Adam Matthews’s cut back hit the net that was it. Celtic’s second goal came quarter an hour later from the penalty spot after a Forrest shot struck Victor Genev’s left hand. Stefan Johansen converted expertly.
There was some attempt to engender some form of controversy about the penalty but it looked a straightforward decision for referee Muir to make and the only other talking point was substitute Leigh Griffith being spotted by the TV cameras having a sneaky Tunnock’s Teacake. I have no doubt some mad conspiracy theorist will be claiming that the contents of such confectionery should be analysed for the unfair advantage they give Celtic whist those who worship blindly at the altar of Ronny Deila will suggest that introducing teacakes in to the team’s diet is a masterstroke but really the teacake and the penalty (as well as the excellence of Celtic’s first goal) were it.
Celtic won again tonight against Thistle (a game for which skipper Scott Brown was absent) and a much trickier looking match at Inverness next Saturday lunchtime to come this week and it will be interesting – at least for Celtic fans like me- to see what teams Ronny Deila puts onto the field. On Friday he sprang something of a surprise when he picked Anthony Stokes as his main striker ahead of the Phantom Teacake Eater Griffiths and John Guidetti but the Irishman did not do much in the role. Stokes has not scored this year- even Scepovic has scored more in 2015- and he looks increasingly like a misfit these days. He has looked fitter than in the past and he has been involved in the build-up for some goals but his contribution has been markedly less effective than in the seasons when Neil Lennon was in charge.
Other than the usual odd stories coming out of Ibrox- don’t ask me what is going on as I have rather lost the thread there- the main talking point for Celtic fans was the decision of Ronny Deila to loan out Liam Henderson to Rosenborg for the next three months. I must confess to being uneasy with this one – especially as the inspirational Brown is out on Wednesday and Charlie Mulgrew is still injured. I would rather the youngster stayed to make a contribution for Celtic this season but unlike with, for example, Tony Watt when he was loaned out to Lierse at the start of last season this does look as though the manager is doing this to allow the player to develop- and be match fit for the start of next season- rather than doing so with a view to punting a player the manager does not believe is going to make it. I like Henderson and although I am far from convinced Ronny is the Messiah I increasingly think he knows what he is doing. Good luck Liam, stay fit and play well.
This article is shorter than any of its predecessors for this blog but in a week in which one of the main talking points was the eating habits of a player it is hard to come up with much. I’ll away and get myself a teacake. I suspect something stronger may well be taken in the coming weeks.
© e-Football 2015 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of e-Football
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