9/29/2003

SYSTEM PROBLEMS

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25/09/2003

CIS CUP DRAW

Hearts v Falkirk Clyde v Dundee Hibernian v Queen of the South Dundee United v Livingston Rangers v Forfar Athletic St Johnstone v Dunfermline Aberdeen v Brechin City Partick v Celtic

22/09/2003

Injuries Update.

Celtic defender Joos Valgaeren has handed manager Martin O'Neill a major boost by returning to full training.

The Belgium international has been sidelined since the Celtic's 2-1 victory over Partick in August when he limped off after an hour with a knee injury.

According to the club's official website, Valgaeren suffered no ill-effects after joining the rest of his team-mates for his first full training session last week.

Meanwhile, fellow defender Johan Mjallby has not played since the first game of the season against Dunfermline, when he was told wear and tear to his left knee would mean a six-week period of rehabilitation.

The Swedish defender is now using the gym in a bid to return to full fitness along with Ulrik Laursen, who also has a knee injury and Paul Lambert, who is nursing a bruised bone in his foot.

The only disappointing news is that Stephen Crainey has yet to begin a rehabilitation programme after being told that he faces a six-week lay-off after stretching ligaments in his knee.

22/09/2003

O'Neill going nowhere?

Celtic have moved to quash speculation linking their manager with the vacant Spurs job. Glen Hoddle was dismissed after Tottenham were beaten by Southampton at White Hart Lane over the weekend.

Hoops boss Martin O'Neill emerged as the early bookies favourite to succeed the former England manager, with his Old Firm counterpart Alex McLeish also mentioned.

Now the former Barcelona boss Raddy Antic has emerged as the frontrunner for the job.

However, Celtic dismissed suggestions that O'Neill was ready to take control of the Premiership strugglers.

A Celtic spokesperson said: "There is absolutely nothing to this story. It is simply speculation."

21/09/2003

O'Neill for Spurs?

No doubt Martin O'Neill will be one of the bookies favourites now that Spurs have departed company with Glenn Hoddle. The media will probably have a field day starting 1st thing on Monday morning. I wonder if they will target Rangers boss Alex McLeish? I'm sure they will, I dont think.

21/09/2003

Bayern held at home in six goal thriller.

The game in Munich was an action-packed affair, with Carsten Ramelow giving Leverkusen a tenth-minute lead. Dutch striker Roy Makaay then followed up his midweek goals in the UEFA Champions League with an equaliser in the 25th minute, and the home side then missed a great chance to take the lead as former Leverkusen midfield player Michael Ballack missed a penalty.

Brazilian striker França restored Leverkusen's lead almost immediately, and the visitors seemed in control as another former Leverkusen player, Brazilian winger Zé Roberto, was dismissed three minutes before the hour to leave Bayern with ten men. However, two goals in five minutes, from Roque Santa Cruz and Ballack, looked to have earned Bayern the points, only for Yildiray Bastürk to salvage a draw for Leverkusen with nine minutes left.

19/09/2003

HEDMAN COSTS US DEAR (HE ADMITS)

Celtic's goalkeeper Magnus Hedman admits he is to blame for their defeat by Bayern Munich in the opening Champions League group phase match.

Bayern's Dutch striker Roy Makaay scored two late goals after Alan Thompson's header had threatened to win the game for the Bhoys.

But his winner came when Hedman chose to stay on his line when MaKaay bent in a cross-cum-shot that eluded Celtic's defence before curling into the net.

Hedman thought Makaay was trying to set up a header for Michael Ballack, but admits he made the wrong decision – one that Celtic a valuable point.

"I took the decision to stay on the line as the cross came in. That was the wrong decision," he told the Swedish newspaper Sportbladet.

But he is sure he can put the error behind him. Swedish international Hedman says he has shown before that he has the ability to come back stronger than before after making a high-profile mistake.

"I have to deal with it. Take it on the chin and get on with it and do everything I can to make sure that I learn from it and that it never happens again.

"I have made mistakes before and come back from it and I know that I am strong enough to handle it.

"I spent two hours this morning with goalkeeping coach Terry Gennoe working on my crosses and my positioning and trying to get it out of my system.

"When I was at the World Cup I made a mistake against England and I took a lot of criticism for it, but one of my best performances came in the next game against Argentina.

"I recovered from that and I will recover from this. There is more to come from me at Celtic," he told the club's official website.

14/09/2003

Police Investigate Lennon

Celtic's Neil Lennon is at the centre of a Tayside police investigation following a complaint made against the player for an alleged incident at Dens Park.

The Bhoys midfielder was caught on camera appearing to make gestures at a section of the Dundee supporters in Celtic'' 1-0 win. Referee Dougie McDonald missed the incident, and Lennon must wait to discover whether he faces punishment from the SFA. A police spokesman told Sky Sports: "I can confirm that we have received a complaint regarding an incident at the Dundee v Celtic football match regarding the actions of a player. "The incident will be fully investigated in due course." Police will now interview witnesses and there are likely to be many that will be willing to come forward against the player.

9/11/2003

LAMBERT DOUBTFUL FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OPENER

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill is sweating on the fitness of Paul Lambert for next week’s Champions League opener with Bayern Munich.

The Scotland international captain irritated an ankle injury against Germany in Dortmund last night which has all but ruled him out of Saturday‘s Bank of Scotland Premier League clash at Dundee.

The influential midfielder will have a scan tomorrow that will determine the exact nature of the problem.

The injury put paid to Lambert‘s hopes of facing the Faroe Islands at Hampden Park on Saturday, but played the first half of the defeat to Germany in which he exacerbated the problem.

With the Champions League campaign kicking off next Wednesday night in Munich, O’Neill will be crossing his fingers that the damage is not so severe that Lambert misses the game against the European giants.

Lambert also missed Celtic’s last game against Livingston, but his team-mates shrugged off his absence with a 5-1 victory

9/9/2003

Young Celt scores opener for Scotland U21's.

Celtic's Shaun Maloney struck the opening goal of Scotland's under 21 game in Germany, Maloney netted after 62 minutes. The score remains at 1-0 to Scotland with around 30 minutes remaining.

9/9/2003

Players on trial at Celtic Park.

Former Spanish international Ivan de la Pena and Portugal's Dani have joined Celtic for a three day trial.

The pair are both available on free transfers, although would be ineligible for the first group stage of the Champions League, as the deadline has already passed.

Dani, who had a spell with West Ham earlier in his career, is a free agent after being released by Atletico Madrid at the end of last season.

De La Pena, formerly of Barcelona and Lazio, is also available for nothing from Espanyol.

Bhoys manager Martin O'Neill: "They are here at the minute on a fitness assessment and it is a chance for them to take a look at us and for us to have a look at them, nothing more than that.

"Obviously the big disadvantage is that neither Dani or de la Pena would be eligible to play in the Champions League and that is something that we would have to take into consideration.

"They would not be able to play in any European competition that we might be involved in until after Christmas.

"We just have to wait and see now how things progress over this week."

9/6/2003

Invite for fans travelling to Dens Park.

The Downfield Juniors Social Club Dundee, have extended an invitation to Celtic supporters travelling to next weeks game at Dens Park, if your club would like to visit the club prior to the game please phone 01382-814703 for further details, the club is open next Saturday morning from 9.30am.

9/4/2003

DIOUF FINED £5,000 FOR SPITTING ON CELTIC FAN

Liverpool's African player of the year El Hadji Diouf has been fined £5,000 for spitting on a Celtic fan during a UEFA Cup quarter-final tie in March. The 22-year-old Senegalese pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to assault under provocation.

Diouf's defence said the player spat at the fan after being tapped on the head as he tried to retrieve the ball from the crowd.

Lawyer Joe Beltrami, defending, said being tapped on the head was degrading in Senegalese culture and reminiscent of masters counting their slaves during times of the slave trade.

Sheriff Craig McSherry accepted that Diouf had already been fined two weeks' wages by Liverpool, but said: "I feel it necessary for the court to show disapproval of this type of behaviour."

9/4/2003

Ticket boost for Munich match

CELTIC fans are set to receive 10,000 tickets for the Champions League match against Bayern Munich in Germany on Wednesday week.

The news will come as a huge relief to fans planning to make the trip and Celtic have indicated that supply will satisfy demand for Munich's Olympic Stadium, which has a capacity of 80,000. However, there were less encouraging signals from Anderlecht and Lyon regarding ticket allocations.

Early indications are the Belgians will offer just 1000 tickets to Celtic for their October 21 tie in the 28,000-capacity Constant Vanden Stock Stadium. Lyon are said to be offering around 2000 for the December match in the Stade de Gerland, which holds 42,000.

Celtic security officials are planning to meet both the Belgian and French clubs in a bid to obtain an allocation increase.

Lyon were dealt a blow yesterday with the news that their captain, Claudio Cacapa, has been ruled out of his team's match with Celtic on September 30 after suffering a torn thigh muscle in the 2-0 weekend defeat against Guingamp.

Celtic had fared no better on Tuesday when defender Ulrik Laursen was ruled out of action for the next eight weeks after suffering knee ligament damage during Monday's under-21 game against Livingston.

However, a scan has found that the injury is not as serious as first anticipated, although Laursen is not likely to return before November. The news is a further blow for the club, who already have Johan Mjällby sidelined with a knee problem.

9/3/2003

O'Neill denies Larsson rumours

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has denied reports that Monaco attempted to sign Henrik Larsson before the transfer deadline.

The Hoops boss admitted members of his squad were targeted before the transfer window closed at midnight on Sunday but claimed the French side did not make an offer for the club's star striker.

The Swede will leave Parkhead at the end of the summer when his contract ends, meaning Celtic risk losing their prize asset for nothing.

The French side signed Fernando Morientes from Real Madrid but O'Neill has dismissed claims that they tried to secure the signature of Larsson first.

O'Neill told the Celtic View: "There is no truth in the story about Monaco coming in for Henrik Larsson at all.

"Absolutely no-one from Monaco contacted us about a loan or a move for Larsson, it is completely and utterly untrue.

"There was never any question that they were moving to make a bid for Larsson and they certainly never once contacted Celtic about it."

O'Neill has been linked with a move for La Liga stars Ivan de la Pena, of Espanyol and Dani of Barcelona.

9/2/2003

NEW BHOY WANTS ENGLAND RECALL

New Celtic signing Michael Gray is so determined to resurrect his career that he is willing to write off his testimonial match.

After 13 years at Sunderland he joined Celtic on a four-month loan after falling out of favour with Mick McCarthy.

Ironically he revealed that Celtic had agreed to face Sunderland to reward Gray's service to the Black Cats.

But that big pay-day could now be scrapped if he earns a long-term contract - a sacrifice he is willing to take.

Gray said: "I spoke to him (O'Neill) briefly when Sunderland came up in a pre-season game. Obviously I see him on television and he comes across as a nice man.

"I did have arranged a testimonial match against Celtic for Sunderland which obviously hasn't progressed.

"But he did agree to play it whenever they had the chance at Sunderland and maybe that won't happen now if this loan deal becomes permanent.

"Those kind of things stay in the mind so I appreciated that.

"We didn't really have a date because Celtic were in Europe at the time and we had a word between the two boards.

"That's why I'm here on loan. I have got four months to try and impress the manager and the coaching staff here and if it can progress beyond those four months it will be tremendous for me."

The 29-year-old won three caps for England at Sunderland and he is still hopeful of adding to that tally.

Gray knows he will have to turn in some class displays for that to happen - but the Champions League will give him a stage.

He is confident he can scale the heights of previous years and knock on Sven-Goran Eriksson's door along with fellow Englishmen Alan Thompson and Chris Sutton ahead of Euro 2004.

"I don't have any European experience," admitted Gray. "But I have played for my country three times and that was an unbelievable experience for myself and something I am very proud of.

"I obviously still have ambitions to add to the three caps that I have already got which is going to be difficult, but if I have a chance to be seen playing well then Celtic is the place to be.

"I think it does have a bearing seeing how well lads have done up here. You mentioned Sutton and Thompson and I am sure more players have come up here and done tremendous as well.

"But I know Chris Sutton has been mentioned about getting back into the England squad and I am sure Alan Thompson is not far from that as well.

"You talk about left-sided players and he has certainly got tremendous ability and I am certain he could do it at international level."

9/2/2003

PORTO FINED BY UEFA

Porto fined for ticket violations Tuesday, 02 September 2003

FC Porto have been fined 32,500 by UEFA for ticketing infringements related to last season's UEFA Cup final.

Inflated prices The Portuguese club were found guilty by the UEFA control and disciplinary committee of offering tickets at inflated prices on the black market for the final against Celtic FC in Seville on 21 May, which Porto won 3-2. The committee ruled that Porto's actions violated UEFA's ticketing policies.