5/31/2001

IT'S OFFICIAL.

TELEVISED GAMES TO BE ON SATURDAYS

The Scottish Premier League today announced they are moving their live Sky Sports matches to Saturday night. The controversial Sunday night kick-off time of 6.05pm was met with disapproval from the SPL clubs and the supporters.

5/31/2001

THE END IS NIGH (THANK GOD)

The dreaded Sunday night kick offs at 6.05pm may be coming to an end, it seems SKY TV may start showing games on a Saturday evening instead. Nothing confirmed as yet but the word on the streets is it's about to be announced.

CELTIC TRANSFER RUMOURS

Celtic are said to be favourites to sign Marc Libbra from Toulouse, he would be a good first signing as Martin O’Neill tries to beef up the squad for the new season. A statement in today’s daily rags indicates that talks between Celtic and Toulouse are at an advanced stage.

5/30/2001

Celtic v Fulham confirmed

Fulham will play Celtic in a pre-season friendly against Martin O’Neill’s treble winning side at Celtic Park on Friday 20th July, kicking off at 7.45pm.

The match could see former Bhoys favourite John Collins line up against his former side as Fulham prepare for their Premiership campaign in style.

5/30/2001

DON’T IT JUST MAKE YOU LAUGH

Today’s Daily Ranger continues it crusade to rid Celtic of King Henrik, it reports today that the King’s agent has offered Barcelona the chance to buy him for just £10 million.

If Mark Viduka or John Hartson for that matter are being touted for £15 million or more then what price the King.

Come on guys at the Ranger you’ll need to come up with something much better than that.

5/29/2001

LAST CHANCE TO NAB LARSSON

Just three days after winning the treble today’s Daily Ranger is informing us that Henrik Larsson’s agent has laid down an ultimatum to the PLC board of the club.

The Ranger states that unless the PLC board can come up with a better offer than is on the table at the moment then the Henrik will be for the off.

No doubt this one will grow arms and legs over the next few days.

5/28/2001

MAJOR RUMOUR DOING THE ROUNDS

The latest big money signing who's said to be on the way to treble winners is Sunderland's Kevin Phillips.

Rumour has it that he is due to be at Celtic Park this week to undergo a medical.

5/27/2001

TREBELS ALL THE WAY

* We won both domestic cup semi-finals 3-1. * We won both finals 3-0. * Larsson's hat-trick in the CIS Final was the first at "New Hampden". * All 3 goals conceded during the CIS campaign were penalties. * Jackie's goal in the SC Final was his 3rd against Hibs this term. * Prior to the SC Final we had lost our last 3 matches. * We had failed to score in all 3. * As the season entered April we were faced with 3 games in a week to win the title * We won all 3 by the odd goal. * When we won the last OF match at Ibrox it was our 3rd 3-0 away league win of the season. * We only lost 3 league games. * We were just 3 short of recording a century of points.

5/25/2001

HIBS EXODUS AFTER FINAL?

It looks as though there may well be a few more people following Russel Latapy out of the Easter Road door after the final on Saturady. Hibs boss Alex McLeish is said to be the target of West Ham whilst Mixu Paatelainen may be on his way to Canada.

5/25/2001

From the King's Icon Site

Larsson: Beginning to feel that Cup final excitement

The feeling that we are in a cup final has really started to dawn on us this week. We wanted to get the last game of the season out of the way before we started to think about the Scottish Cup, so it's now that the excitement is building.

Obviously it is great to be in another final, and it would be a great way to end our season to go out there and win it. To be honest, though, I don’t even like thinking about winning at this stage. In the same way that I can't say what it would mean to Celtic to lose the game, it isn’t my way to think of the result until it has happened. Then I'll let you know what it's like.

Of course, it has been a great season for us, for the fans, and for the manager. We all want to win everything, that is the way it is, but we'll just have to see what happens this weekend. A few players didn't play in the game last weekend, including me, and we feel very ready for the final.

Despite a long season we are all fit, and the fact is you don't ever have to raise yourself for a cup final. I'm sure it will be a great day, and I'm sure Hibs will help make it a good game of football. We won't be thinking about our opponents too much, we will just be concentrating on working out what we have to do, and let them worry about us.

Hibs have some very good players, and I really like Franck Sauzee, their captain. He's got a very cool head, and the right temperament for the job. He is very composed under pressure, and makes life difficult for his opponents. He marshals the defence well, and has turned them into a very solid unit. He has been operating in a sweeper role, and is very good at learning any danger that gets through the other three.

I like Marc Libbra up front, who is quick and skilful, and has a very good touch. Hibs have played some really nice one-two football, and players like Libbra are very good at it. He is always a threat, and a player you can't afford to give a yard to.

I also like Mixu Paatelainen, who is both physical and skilful – a dangerous combination.

5/23/2001

FROM TONIGHTS GLASGOW EVENING TIMES O´Neill: I will be staying at Celtic By Ronnie Cully

MARTIN O´NEILL today delivered the news all Celtic fans wanted to hear - the treble-chasers are the only club he wants to manage.

So incensed is he by claims his representatives have had talks with Manchester United over his move to Old Trafford next year that he is reported to be considering legal action.

O´Neill, who is attempting to concentrate on Saturday´s Tennent´s Scottish Cup Final, has come out with all guns blazing in a bid to nail speculation he is considering taking over from Sir Alex Ferguson at United.

The Parkhead boss insisted: "No-one from Manchester United has ever made any sort of contact - official or unofficial - with me about the manager´s job at Old Trafford, nor have they contacted the Celtic board about my position."

O´Neill also fired a warning shot across the bows of those who suggested he had ´cheated´ with his team selection at Kil-marnock last weekend.

The Celtic manager knows his way around the legalities of such situations, having studied law prior to beginning his football career.

And he is reportedly ready to use the full force of the law to set the record straight over what he sees as slurs on his character.

Referring to the weekend article which claimed his representatives had met with United chief executive Peter Kenyon and another colleague at a hotel in Perthshire, O´Neill said: "This is a very serious matter indeed.

"First things first, there´s not a single grain of truth in the Observer story. For a start, I don´t even have an agent.

" I must admit to being surprised that this nonsense originated from a quality newspaper, surprised and disappointed.

"I´ve been attempting, unsuccessfully, to get hold of the sports editor there ever since the story appeared."

While being linked with the top management job in British football might be taken as a compliment by some, it clearly irks O´Neill.

And he reiterated his intention to see out the remaining two years of his contract with Celtic.

He continued: "I have only said that about 15 times already. I am perfectly happy at this club."

He continued: "There are many challenges ahead, starting next season when we try to qualify for the Cham-pions League."

O´Neill is only too aware what can happen when Celtic lose. But he believes the reaction to Sunday´s defeat at Rugby Park was over the top.

He is enraged by suggestions his decision to put out a side minus nine regulars could be construed as cheating Hearts out of a Uefa Cup spot.

Tynecastle striker Stephane Adam was quoted after his side had seen Killie pip them to the final Euro spot as saying the decision to leave out the top names put Hearts at a disadvantage.

O´Neill does not deny the Frenchman the right to express his view, but he is upset at the way it was reported.

He said: "I resent being called a cheat. But I´ve read the quotes from Adam and, while I don´t agree with what he says, it was important I didn´t see the word ´cheat´ in there anywhere.

"He has not said it, but it has been written anyway, and again I will be seeking advice because it´s a serious matter."

O´Neill believes his integrity has been questioned, and he is not prepared to let that happen without a fight.

He continued: "Last week we were beaten at home by Dundee. We had a full-strength team and were accused us of having one eye on the cup final.

"This time we are criti-cised for not risking two players who have knocks - Henrik Larsson and Lubo Moravcik - and keeping out Neil Lennon and Joos Valgaeren, both of whom are on the verge of being suspended for the start of next season. It was a no-win situation."

The news on Larsson should put a smile back on O´Neill´s face. The striker is training again after a hamstring strain and he is likely to be partnered by Chris Sutton at Hampden after he recovered from a knee injury.

Moravcik, however, has a dozen stitches in a leg gash and he may miss the cup final.

Hibs are still sweating on the fitness of inspirational defender Franck Sauzee.

5/22/2001

DUNFERMLINE APOLOGISE OVER MURDOCH SILENCE

Dunfermline have apologised for their failure to observe a minute's silence in memory of Celtic legend Bobby Murdoch. The Scottish Premier League have launched a probe into why the tribute was not held before Sunday's match against St Johnstone at East End Park. Dunfermline did not receive notification of the arrangement for the silence to be observed at SPL matches and the Scottish Football Association admitted there had been a mix-up.

5/21/2001

TOMMY JOHNSON PLACED ON TRANSFER LIST

Tommy Johnson will be looking for a new club in the coming weeks. He has been place on the transfer list by hoops boss Martin O'Neill.

5/21/2001

LUBO DOUBTFUL FOR FINAL

Celtic's Lubo Moravcik has had 12 stitches inserted in a leg wound after he was involved in a clash with Celtic's Dimtri Kharine. He is now looking doubtful for Saturday's cup final.

5/19/2001

LIVERPOOL GRAB LAST PLACE

Liverpool grabbed the last remaining place in next seasons Champions League by giving Charlton a 4-0 drubbing, all the goals coming in the second half.

Liverpool now go into the the same qualifying group as Celtic and must get through over two games to proceed to the league stages.

The other two English places had already been decided with Manchester United and Arsenal qualifying automatically to the 1st group stages.

5/19/2001

SORRY FOR LACK OF RANTS OVER THE PAST WEEK OR SO, NORMAL SERVICE WILL BE RESUMED THIS WEEKEND

5/10/2001

From Celtic Teamtalk Site

Celts lose under 18 clash

Aberdeen defeated Celtic under 18's at Hampden tonight by 2-0 to clinch the under 18 Scottish Cup. An early strike by Dons skipper Fergus Tiernan set Aberdeen up for their victory, with Scott Michie making sure in the 20th minute as he fired home from close range. Celtic hit the Dons with all they had but found Mark Peat in top form as he managed a shut-out.

5/8/2001

HARTSON FOR THE HOOPS?

John Hartson of recently relegated Coventry City is again being linked with a move to Glasgow, this time however it’s SPL Champs Celtic who are said to be lining up a move.

I think this one may be well off the mark as Hartson who was knocked by Rangers during the season after apparently failing a medical has only recently signed a four and a half year deal with Gordon Strachan’s side.

HENRIK SCORES AGAIN

51 goal hoops hero Henrik Larsson has been grabbing the headlines once again. The King of King shot a hole in one at The Tom Boyd Testimonial golf day, the historic event took place at Cathkin Braes Golf Club in Glasgow.

The remarkable shot came at the 210-yard 16th hole and in time-honoured tradition, the Celtic striker had to buy a drink for everyone in the clubhouse - some 200 people. Larsson said later: "I couldn't believe it because I had a shocking round apart from that."

5/5/2001

TESTIMONIAL MATCH LIVE ON 5

Tom Boyd’s testimonial match scheduled to take place on Tuesday 15th May 2001 against English Premier League Champions Manchester United is to be screened live on Channel 5.

This will be the 1st leg of the unofficial Champions of Britain competition, the 2nd leg takes place at Old Trafford on Wednesday 01st August 2001. The game at Old Trafford will be for Ryan Giggs.

Celtic have requested around 15,000 tickets for this game.

5/4/2001

MJALLBY MISQUOTED?

Martin O'Neill has revealed that defender Johan Mjallby has apologised for a recent article in a Swedish newspaper.

Mjallby was quoted as saying that the club were stalling on a new contract and threatening to move to a top English team.

But O'Neill maintains that the new deal for Mjallby will be made a priority along with Henrik Larsson and Didier Agathe ahead of the Scottish Cup final.

"Johan did speak to a Swedish journalist and he said he had been misquoted - but players have always said that when confronted with the manager," smiled O'Neill.

5/2/2001

AWAY KITS FOR FINAL.

Celtic and Hibs have been denied the chance to wear their traditional kits in the Scottish Cup Final.

The clubs met SFA officials at Hampden Park yesterday to thrash out a number of issues for the May 26 showpiece.

And, after consultations with match referee Kenny Clark, it has been decided both sides will wear their second strip in the final.

5/2/2001

CELTIC HAVING A BALL

England defender Michael Ball has emerged as a £3.5million Champions League signing target for Celtic as Everton stalled on a new contract offer.

Ball has readily confessed he would love to stay at Goodison for life, he has been stung by the club's refusal to discuss an extension to the deal which expires in two years' time.

He also freely admits that Celtic are second only to Everton in his affections and is certain to be swayed by the added attraction of testing himself in the Champions League next season, should Martin O'Neill make his expected approach.

5/1/2001

REPORT ON SUNDAY'S PROCEEDINGS

BY A MAD TIM FAE GOVAN

COPYRIGHT 2001 : GOVAN EMERALD CSC Lord - come and take me up. Or am I in Heaven already

Well what can you say about that victory yesterday that hasn't been said already. Not one for words me so we'll just use ______________. Please fill in your own word.

Pure fcking elation. A perfect day in every way. Started the preparations on the Saturday. Down to the pub and picked up the brief for the game. Everyone is buzzing like fck - we're like weans going to the zoo for the first time. Which isnae too far from the truth. The boozer is going to be fcking bouncing the next day with bhoys from Ireland coming over so it's operation munchy time. Up to Asda and buy some grub. 20 loafs of bread and 200 rolls, fck knows who many packets of meat. That grub is just for big Besty who's doing well on the diet. Drop the grub at the pub and then a few of the bhoys are wanting the t-shirts with the Larsson photo done. We shoved the picture on t-shirts with the message "fly the flag - no excuses" Though we've still to think of a good message for the back of them - any ideas ? Was going to go up the road and have a wee cosy night in with the Mrs as i wanted to be fresh for the Sunday. Everyone else is drinking away in the pub and asking me if I want a drink but I say no. One of the bhoys thinks i'm short of lolly and asks how I am for cash. I think he's looking for a loan off me but he's offering to bail me out as he thinks that's why I'm no drinking. Well sitting in the company of these bhoys with no drink is like Tore andre piss-is-flo-ing playing on a football park. Soon I give in and have a beer and I'm on the way. For piss-is-flo-ing I don't know how he can make himself less out of place. The quiz is on through in the lounge and I see that big Besty is on form. It's the picture round and you have to name something that you do, beginning with "W", for each word. Here are the categories and the big mans answers

Kama Sutra - wnking Water - wnking in the bath Dream - wnking and wet dream Advocaat - wnk Race course - wnk when my horse romps home Kitchen - wash the sheets.

After his last answer we think he's calmed down until the quiz guy reads out the rest. "Wash the sheets.....after all the wnking I've done" Anyway I'm getting away from Celtic but basically the day turned into night and everyone of us were fcking wellied...............

Next morning and I'm up like a salmon. Cargo put into a bag and onto Paisley road west for a taxi with my Mrs to my mates. Taxi driver was going the other way and must have dropped muppets off at the hunnery. He took a look at our tops and for a minute the fcker thought about no turning. Twisted fcking coupon - aye this was a hun all right. Dropped us off and got his tip - "taxi for a couple of fannies at Ibrox after the game"

Into big Besty's and his wife has the rolls and square sausage waiting. Fcking magic. Beer opened. 6-2 game on. Larsson's chip and we're fcking ready. Into the street with the beer as we head to the boozers. We have a couple in ******. Cannae reveal the name in case the polis are on the prowl. After that we head down to our own boozer. I've just got a fcking round when the polis have come in. It's before 12 and the fckers are shutting the pub down. bstards ! Instead of having 120 Tims contained in a pub these bright bstards have us pouring out into the street before the kick off. Not even that but they decide for the heavy handed tactics and call for van loads of re-inforcements. However all our bhoys are on best behaviour. It's still and hour to the game and a few are heading to their hooses for a cargo. We decide just to head up towards the hunnery and what a fcking journey. Walking from the Celtic end of the ground and the mood is pure fcking elation. Bhoys with big shiney trophies, loads of singing and Tims walking by you with cigars like fcking fcking traffic cones. ahhh happiness is a team called Celtic. A few of the muppets were on the other side of the road and bhoy did we sing to them. They were absolutely fcking beeling - the walk from the new cop shop at Helen street to the hunnery must have felt like the fcking walk to the gallows for them. We on the other hand were like spring lambs as we skipped along. Get to the stadium and Mick is in the broomy rear. I'm in the broomy front. Into the stadium and I'm a few rows back from the front and to the left of the Celtic goal (looking out to the Copeland road end). I can see perfectly the muppets in the Govan stand and all their twisted fcking faces. The hun dj is spinning the discs though the cnt would have been better turning the speakers off for the day. All it did was rev all the Tims right up. any fcking tune and you'd have thought we were all fcking mad ravers. Jumping about as if someone had filled our kegs with ice. All the Tims were like extras out of Riverdance as we jigged to the music. Then came the tune we'd all been waiting for - Simply the Best. Pure fcking pandemonium !! Think of a Thundebirds puppet on speed and you're getting close. Ohh how we danced and waved our arms. You'd have thought we were stranded on a desert island and a boat was passing by - that's how frantic our arm waving was. ohh how the muppets were beeling. Next came the team lines and we cheered every hun nmae as it was read out. a few Tims then booed the nasty Celtic team. Ohh how we laughed. The teams then appeared and the Broomy end was rocking. "Championees, Championeees"

Next up came a video of Jim Baxter. The Celtic support started clapping which was followed by the Rangers support. Which brings me on the the minutes silence. Going perfectly until one guy in the Broomy Rear shouts "there's only one neil lennon" Rangers supporters were quite right to feel angry but shouts of "dirty fenian bstards" only served to set off a sort of chain reaction which forced Dougal to cut it short. My mate told me the person who broke the silence was quickly huckled out. Hopefully he will never see another Celtic game. Ok 3 minutes of silence was maybe ripping the pish but this was as much for the Celtic support as it was for Jim Baxter. Sadly one guy let us down. For a few minutes after the silence the atmoshpere was very subdued. You could sense the Celtic support felt genuinely let down and there was a lack of emotion in the singing. After a while it did pass as we went back into party mode.

Non stop singing was order of the day. Someone forgot to tell the rangers fans that it was only a minutes silence for Jim Baxter as they done their own 90 minute tribute. At the front of the Broomy rear stand Tims assembled with a letter each. they held them aloft spelling out "Champions no excuses". The game started and the huns came out like the rabid dogs they are - we expected them to go at us from the off but even then we were never really troubled. After 10 minutes Celtic began to come into it more and at one point we cheered every pass Celtic made. The huns were fcking raging - even more so when we started cheering for the huns when they passed !!! Not too much to report on in the first half but come the interval the party was kicking off again. Unfortunately I couldn't see the coupons of the muppets as I was under all sorts of banners but their faces would have been a picture. At this point a chant of "Keanoooo there's only one Keanooo" broke out in the Broomy rear. As I was in the front stand I could not see him. However my mate was only a few seats away and says he spoke to him. i got sent off in our five aside league on the Saturday so they needed someone to fill my shoes next week as I sit out my suspension. Keane will be a guest player in our team. And the name of the team ? "7". At this point I noticed the Celtic players were sitting at the front of the Broomy rear right at the advertising boards. Stubbs Weighorst and Sutton were entertaining us at half time. The supporters round about them were handing them flags and banners. One fly bhoy asked Weighorst to hold the end of his banner, which he happily done. However Wieghorst then read the message - "SIMPLY DEPRESSED !!" and gave up his grip.... Next up was big Stubbs in a moment of pure class. We're all chanting Alan Stubbs and he takes a Champions flag off a supporter and stands up waving it like laldy. The big man is waving it so much that he only goes and snaps the cane holding it !! Simply the best comes on again and it's Thunderbirds ARE GO !!!

The teams come out and Celtic are shooting in to the Broomy road end. Well we would honestly have been happy with a draw but to get a victory the way we did was the stuff dreams are made up. Make no mistake this game was a bigger humping than the 6-2. Lennon gets the free kick, into Larsson who holds it up and draws his marker to the wrong side, Lubo runs onto the ball and the defence parts like the Red Sea, Klos advances only for Lubo to tuck it into the far corner. Pure fcking bedlam !!!!!!!!!!!!! The big man beside me has his face against mine - no problem but he hasn't shaved for 2 days. It's like a match box grinding into my face. However that pain is fck all compared to what the muppets must have been feeling. From now on till the end of the match you'd have thought the fckers were at the pictures watching a film. Not a fcking peep. But we more than made up for them with ditty after ditty. "Can we play you every week" "Easy Easy Easy" and my personal favourite yesterday to the tune of "Knees up mother brown"............."NO EXCUSES NOW, NO EXCUSES NOW, NO EXCUSES NOW" Been singing it ever since. Next came the substitution that put us out of site. On came the young bhoy Maloney to live his dream. To think this lad would have still been at primary school when we last won at the hunnery. He missed a good chance early on but instead of breaking him it might well be his making. The hun fans laughed when he missed it but the wee man was to rip the piss from them for the remainder of the game. He gets a head to a Douglas kick out and knocks it on to Lubo. Lubo advances to the goal with Rickson on the right side. Lubo then turns him inside out before cheekily flicking it by Klos. Meanwhile Rickson is making his way back in at the turn style after being sold such a sweet dummy. at this point I'm only 3 rows infront of where I'm sitting - and still moving !!!!!!! Nows the time to spark the cigars. i look towards the Copland road end and i can see the muppets making their way down the stairs at the big glass bit. Fck knows why they are leaving so early - especially with 10 minutes to go. I pick myself up and head back to my seat. albertz has the ball and it's dedication time for squareheid. "ALBERTZ ALBERTZ WHAT'S THE SCORE ??" aye the cnt would have been hurting all right. Then comes the icing on the cake. A through ball to Larsson who goes round the keeper like a skier on the piste and plays the ball across the goal - either for young maloney or for himself. It hits the back of the net and the roof of Ibrox broomy stand hits the fcking moon. What a perfect day. Larsson scores his 50th goal at the broomy road end of the ground to give us our first win here in years. Young maloney just stands at the post screaming into the crowd. Yes I like this bhoy. At this point David Murray pushes the button on the trap door and the hun hordes dissapear. As my mate said this must have been the planned "BLUE SEA AT IBROX DAY" that rangers were publicising. And what a sight it was - row after row of blue fcking seats !!!!!!!!!!!!!! We then gave it "Walk On" followed by a "MON, MON, MON" Oh how we sang and how we laughed - that's what I'll tell my grandweans...Oh Ibrox in the sun Celtic 3 and the rangers none.

The final whistle blew and the players came over and saluted us. Neil Lennon looked like he wanted to dive into the crowd. Probably as well he didn't - he'd have drowned in all the emotion. Eventually we made our way out onto the streets and into the pub just in time to see the kick off...We watched it another twice after that on the big screen. Then sometime in the afternoon came the moment for the huddle. It was pishing down as well. So there's the whole pub standing at Craigton road in Govan doing a massive huddle at the roundabout. 40 ? 50 ? of us directing traffic up by the pub instead of straight through. Next minute the bus comes and the driver is adament he's getting through. Aye like fck he is - as his bus is directed up the other road his window is rolled down and he's shoutin "Get it right up yis ya micky taig bstards !!!" how we laughed and sang and dance as the rain came thundering down. This was a day which nothing would spoil.................

5/1/2001

Celtic cleared by Police & SFA

No action will be taken against Celtic Football Club after police said that they were satisfied that nothing untoward had happened after Sunday's massacre at Ibrox. The SFA have said that as far as they are concerned the matter is now finished.