Celtic 2-1 Newcastle United |
|
Date:
Wednesday 4th August 2004
Kick Off: 7.45pm UK
Venue: Parkhead Stadium
Att: 20,000 +
Ref: Willie Young
Comp: Pre-Season Friendly |
| Pre-Season
Match Report In Association With Toon
Ale |
|
Good Workout But Bad Habbits Still Remain
So we end our Pre-Season workout in typical Toon circumstances. Another
defeat on the road, a last minute goal against, some moments to saviour,
some moments to forget, plus points, minus points, an injury and more
talking points then you can shake a stick at. Talking points that
I shall try to highlight in this match report. The game was a pretty
boring, interrupted affair so I won't bore you with detail by detail,
instead I'll share with you the good
the bad and the ugly
of this defeat as I saw it from my slightly inebriated, jumping and
screaming viewpoint at Parkhead. Firstly...
The Good:
Steve Harper. When a keeper of Shay's ability succumbs
to rare absenteeism it can leave you lying awake at night dreading
the very thought of life without him (even for one match) and in Harper
we have a keeper who Shay's sheer brilliance between the sticks and
even more remarkable ability to fight off injuries has made him the
almost forgotten man. Well he produced 3 goal saving saves in this
match and from a distance (as I was) you couldn't tell who was in
goal. We have always known Harper is as good as wor Shay on his day
and just incase we forgot - the Easington lad reminded us last night.
I'll be more than happy with having the best Number 2 in the Premiership
in goal on the 14th - more than.
Titus Bramble. It's quite worrying seeing Bramble
of all defenders marshalling our back four and being the senior (central)
defender but it's also quite encouraging and his performance was exactly
that - encouraging. Up against John Fatson and Chris Glutton Bramble
made sure the beefy pair didn't run amok and although Celtic did cause
us trouble and opened us up on a few occasions it wasn't because of
a Bramble slip, or a Bramble air-shot, or a Bramble back-pass. The
lad actually had a decent game, as he has done all Pre-Season. However
because we are talking about Bramble here I'm saying nothing...
Nicky Butt. The more he plays the fitter he looks,
The more he plays, the more he looks the part in a Toon shirt. The
more he plays the more I like of him. Not a great performance nor
one without mistakes or moments of concern but he did something in
this match that we haven't seen in a long-time. Someone getting a
hold of the midfield and dictating the game. In spells Butt did that
and it sure is good to see a predominantly defensive midfielder orchestrate
forward moves. It's also good to see someone take charge. When fully
fit and fully settled he will lead the team from the engine room.
The midfield fell apart after he was subbed.
James Milner. This 18 year old kid with blisters
on his feet, a kid not yet fully match fit puts Laurent Robert to
shame on the work ethic front regardless of whether the Frenchman
is nursing an injury or feeling under the weather. His work rate is
phenomenal and unlike Dyer there is actually an end product in his
toes - an end product that produced the best bit of skill all Pre-Season
when he took on the full-back, beat him to the byeline, beat him again
into the box and then did a double drag back sort of thing to evade
a tackle before shooting from the tightest of angles - pulling off
a save and winning himself a corner, which he ran over to take (all
this down the left flank). I would start him ahead of Robert and Dyer.
Craig Bellamy. It seems during his spells on the
treatment table that our little Welshman has cultivated a footballing
brain and developed a maturity. He also seems to have brushed up on
his control, first-touch and his finishing skills - he's looking an
awesome, dare I say it, world-class player and was once again our
best player, in fact he was the best player on the pitch and he stood
out a mile. His movement, his thinking, it's all smart - even his
goal was smart. Having got accustomed to seeing him draw a shot just
wide, over or into the keepers hands his goal was all about control,
touch, placement, accuracy and calmness - a great strike after a sweet
move. He's back, Bellers gonna get ya, Bellers gonna get ya...presuming
he stays fit that is, please, pretty please, I beg you...
Passing & Movement. It wasn't as good as in the
Rangers game nor frequent enough but we have players who can play
football, who can move with the ball, who can pass the ball on the
deck. Something we didn't see much of last Season and although in
this match it wasn't by all means great, at least the attempt to play
football was there and that awful, putrid penchant for playing it
long wasn't. All those who even look skywards should be hanged from
the Gallowgate!
The Bad:
Defending. If it wasn't for Bramble's presence and
Harper's timely interventions we could have conceded more than the
two goals that we did. It says something when a player nicknamed Shambles
proves to be the rock between the lock - because Celtic picked at
it time and time again. Often down the flanks and through midfield
where even with Butt's presence we looked vulnerable. Vulnerable because
in Dyer we have a player who isn't going to protect the back four
when up against a stern midfield - he simply disappears and gets lost
in his own huff and puff. Vulnerable because in Hughes and Bernard
we have two full-backs who don't know which way they are coming or
going. Neither have a regular partner in front of them and even when
Robert teams up with Bernard as he has done for the past two Seasons
the left flank still gets opened more times than a tin of beens in
Liverpool. It's a worry. This game was a friendly and injuries played
their part of course but playing Dyer in the centre in the Premiership
will leave us vulnerable in defence, even with Butt in there protecting
the back four. As soon as Robert left the field Celtic got less joy
down our left and only late on as the game got stretched and legs
started to tire did they come back for seconds. If we are to keep
goals out the flank men have to do better to protect the full-backs.
That message in particular goes out to monsieur Robert because Milner
is showing that he can protect his full-back while also being able
to produce at the other end.
The Ugly:
Alan Shearer. Not only was his body language and
demenour worrying but his impact on the team and the game is something
to be concerned with too. For large spells in this match he was left
standing with hands on hips with the towering Balde hovering over
him. Shearer was hardly involved in the game and his lack of pace
was proving a thorn in shaking off the attentions of his man marker.
He had to come deep to get a foot on the ball, into midfield which
left us without a presence up top at times. When we played it on the
deck Shearer was usually bye passed and the manner of his public and
open unhappiness at being subbed suggests all is not right with our
Number 9 (no open secret there). Hopefully when the real deal kicks
in he will continue to do what he always has done - score goals. That's
if he hasn't be sold to Spain or something...
All in all just another normal day at the Toon.
Toon
Player Ratings Vs Celtic
Next up: Smoggies
Vs NUFC Saturday August 4th 2004 Premiership 5.15pm K.O
| Celtic |
Newcastle
United |
Match
Facts & Stats
Half-Time: 0-0
Full-Time: 2-1
Yellow Cards: 1
Red Cards: 0
Goalscorers: Sylla (71), Camara
(89)
Yellow Cards: TBC
Red Cards: 0
Substitutions: 10
Beattie (for Hartson 45min), Wallace (for Pearson 45min),
Hedman (for Marshall 61min), Sylla (for McNamara 61min), Camara
(for Sutton 61min), Laursen (for McGeady 61min), McManus (for
Petrov 76min), Cuthbert (for Balde 82min), O'Dea (for Lennon
82min), McBride (for Varga 82min)
Injuries: N/A
Goalscorers: Bellamy (60)
Yellow Cards: TBC
Red Cards: 0
Substitutions: 5
Brittain (for Robert 45min), Kluivert (for Shearer 61min), Jenas
(for But 61min), Pattison (for Dyer 72min), Chopra (for Bellamy
90min)
Injuries: Robert went off at half time with a suspected
injury (unknown) |
| Marshall |
Harper |
| McNamara |
Hughes |
| Balde |
Elliott |
| Varga |
Bramble |
| Valgaaren |
Bernard |
| Pearson |
Milner |
| Lennon |
Butt |
| McGeady
|
Dyer |
| Petrov |
Robert |
| Hartson |
Shearer |
| Sutton |
Bellamy |
| Substitutes
Bench |
| Hedman |
Smith |
|
Sylla |
Pattison |
| Cuthbert |
Ramage |
|
Laursen |
Gate |
| Wallace |
Jenas |
| McBride |
Brittain
|
| O'Dea |
Kluivert |
| McManus |
Chopra |
| Beattie |
|
| Camara |
|
| How The Goals Were
Scored |
Newcastle United Goal 60 Minutes: Craig Bellamy
A fluid move based on intricate passing and movement involving Brittain,
Butt and Dyer was finished off superbly by Bellamy who controlled
the pass from Dyer before striking a sweet low shot into the left-hand
corner of the net from 20 yards with his left peg. Goal of the game.
Celtic Goal 71 Minutes: Momo Sylla
Celtic new boy Henri Camara played in Momo Sylla down the right byeline
who sent in a low cross that Bramble brilliantly diverted behind before
a Celtic leg could poke it home. From Wallace's corner an unmarked
Sylla rose highest to crash a powerful header home after sloppy defending.
Celtic Goal 89 Minutes: Henri Camara
Camara ran at United's defence and when the ball broke loose to him
in the penalty area he swung a leg at it with the ball looping up
and over off Hughes into the back of Harper's net with the keeper
off his line and unable to stop it.
| Match Reaction From
Sir Bobby & Alan Shearer |
Sir Bobby said:
"Whether it was comfortable or not, I don't know - but we had the
game won. We have to learn to win games 1-0.
"With all the substitiutes that were made, one or two players lost
concetration and that allowed Celtic to equalise.
"Then we conceded a deflected second after a lad plays the most stupid,
innocuous pass out of defence. If that had been the Premiership, I'd
be blazing mad.
"I don't like it when one or two of my players come into the dressing
room after a result like that and say 'well played lads'.
"Well played? We lost! It wasn't well played at all in the end. When
it comes to the competitive stuff, we have to make sure we close games
out."
| Match Reaction From
Martin O'Niell |
O'Niell said:
"I'm just delighted that we've won the game, although the result was
unimportant, and it was a good confidence booster for Henri himself.
"The goal had an element of luck with the ball going over the goalkeeper's
head but he turned, went at them and was prepared to commit defenders.
"I think he will be an asset to us. He is delighted. The crowd that
were still there at the time gave him a great ovation and it is a
good start for him."
Nicky (forum member) said:
"Good game. Great workout for our lads (those who played). Milner
is superb, no other words for it. Nice finish from Bellamy, and their
winner was just a freak finish. Hit Hughes, then bounced over Harper.
Quick word for Harper too, he done himself no harm at all in goal...great
game. Bramble done well again also."
TyneBridge (forum member) said:
"Not a bad performance. Decent work out for the lads. Milner
put in a good night's work, full of industry. Butt was pretty solid,
Bells again showed excellent movement and kept up his scoring run.
There's a big problem up front, with Shearer and Robson not seeing
eye to eye - another open secret on Tyneside Shearer needs to shut
up and realise that this is a team game. We have competition for places
and we need to evolve, he needs to get used to it and quick."
Talk
about this match with fellow supporters in the match thread! |
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