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Post by caspday on Oct 25, 2012 4:29:06 GMT 1
Adam Matthews believes Neil Lennon is gathering together a core Malcolm Jenkins jerseyof young players who will gladly form the future AB1025zyh of Celtic.The Hoops boss revealed last week that the Parkhead club had begun talks with the Wales right-back and other players such as Victor Wanyama, Thomas Rogne, James Forrest, Charlie Mulgrew and Gary Hooper, with regards extending and improving their current deals.The former Cardiff player, who sat out as Celtic defeated Motherwell 2-0 thanks to Gary Hooper and an Adam Cummins own goal, has pledged to sign a new contract if and when it is offered. And he claims that Lennon is fostering a spirit within the dressing room which means Mark Ingram jersey no one is in any rush to leave.“You can see by the players that he signed that he is trying to sign a squad for the long term,” said Matthews. “I think all the players seem really happy here.“They enjoy playing in front of the fans, like I do, so I can't see anyone going.”Matthews is honest enough to admit that the prospect of Champions League football is a huge draw for the Parkhead club when they try to recruit players. Celtic are back in the competition for the first time in four years and travelled Marques Colston jerseyto Russia yesterday for tomorrow’s Group G clash with Spartak Moscow.The 20-year-old made his debut in the competition in the home goalless draw against Benfica last month and recalls: “The atmosphere against Benfica was probably one of the best — alongside and Old Firm game — that I have played in,” he said.“It was great be a part of that so I am looking forward to the rest of the campaign. The club is massive. Champions League is one of the main things, obviously.” Rangers 2 Motherwell 0: Ally McCoist believes this win over Motherwell in the Martez Wilson jerseyScottish Communities League Cup proves Rangers can still compete with the best Scottish football has to offer.Goals from Lee McCulloch and Northern Ireland’s Dean Shiels secured victory at Ibrox and allowed the Light Blues to progress to the quarter-finals of the competition.The third round tie was the first opportunity for Rangers to face Clydesdale Bank Premier League opposition since being consigned to liquidation in the summer and voted into the Irn-Bru Third Division. Boss McCoist said: “It was really satisfying. I thought Matt Tennant jerseythe performance warranted the victory and the two goals were top-class.“It's a wee indicator to ourselves and the support that we can play against teams from the top of the league and higher up in the divisions but we can't get carried away.“It's a very small step on what's going to be a long road.“I make no apologies for telling the supporters that — we've got miles and miles to go. “But it shows you, in a one-off game, we can compete with anybody.”Ten SPL News From:saintsjerseys4sale.comclubs voted against newco Rangers' application for entry to the top-flight in July.But McCoist denied there was additional satisfaction from reminding the SPL of exactly what they are missing as they dumped Motherwell.He said: “Not at all. I just wanted to win the game tonight to progress into the next round of the cup.“I was aware of who we were playing and they are top of the SPL and arguably the in-form team in the country at the moment.
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Post by caspday on Oct 25, 2012 4:28:20 GMT 1
Goalkeeper Neil Alexander insists Rangers must improve quickly Matthew Stafford Jerseyafter a lacklustre display against Forres Mechanics AB1025zyh in the William Hill Scottish Cup.The Highland League champions were reduced to 10 men following a red card for Nathan Sharp in the second half of the second-round tie at Mosset Park.But Rangers only just managed to scrape through in the end thanks to a first-half Kal Naismith goal, with the home side perhaps unfortunate not to claim the leveller that would have earned a lucrative replay at Ibrox. Alexander said: “If I'm being brutally honest, it was a poor performance Jarett Dillard Jerseyaway from home again from us.“I think the only positive we can take out of the game is that we're in the next round.“We knew it was going to be hard, it's a tough place to come to. They came out with all guns blazing and made it really hard for us to play.“We thought we would create all the pressure and maybe score three, four, five goals. But we just didn't get to grips with the game and that's all credit to them — I thought they were fantastic. We found it hard to get any real rhythm to our game and we didn't Jason Fox Jerseyreally create any opportunities and work their goalie.“I think I was probably the harder-worked goalie, which shouldn't be.“We should be coming to these teams and scoring a lot of goals and putting on a show. It didn't happen for whatever reason.“We were very disappointed in the dressing room and the manager has given us a right rollicking. The old Rangers Football Club owes the taxman up to £94.5m, its Jason Hanson Jerseyadministrators have revealed.In its final report to creditors, Duff and Phelps said HM Revenue and Customs was owed £18.3m, mainly in unpaid PAYE and national insurance contributions, from the period after Craig Whyte's takeover in May 2011.The soon-to-be-liquidated club had also admitted liability for a £3.1m discounted option scheme relating to payments to players Ronald de Boer and Tore Andre Flo from 1999 to 2003. One issue yet to be resolved is an SPL-appointed commission hearing, set Jeff Backus Jerseyfor next month, into alleged undisclosed payments made by Rangers to players in relation to the use of Employee Benefit Trusts from 2000 to 2011.The sum owed as a result of the Employee Benefit Trust case has been estimated at £73m for purposes of completing the formalities needed before liquidators assume control of the company, now named RFC2012. Scottish Football Association Jerome Harrison Jerseypresident Campbell Ogilvie has News From:newlionsjerseys.comconceded he has not done his job properly for the last six months because of his previous involvement with Rangers.The former Ibrox company secretary was employed by the club from 1978 until 2005, when he joined Hearts.Due to his past connections with Rangers, Ogilvie has not participated in any meetings or discussions during what has been a turbulent time for the Glasgow giants and Scottish football as a whole. Ogilvie said: “Because of my involvement previously with Rangers, I didn't take part in any of the discussions.
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Post by caspday on Oct 25, 2012 4:27:19 GMT 1
Kris Commons believes his Celtic team-mate Gary Hooper has great potential Tom Brady Jerseyafter the striker marked his first Champions AB1025zyh League start with a goal in their 3-2 win over Spartak Moscow on Tuesday.Hooper's first-time finish set Celtic up for their first away victory in the group stages of the competition. Georgios Samaras, who was making his first start since recovering from an elbow injury sustained on international duty with Greece last month, scored the late winner. The Celtic manager, Neil Lennon, described Hooper's Danny Woodhead Jerseyperformance as "world class" after his striker scored his seventh goal in four games. He also set up Celtic's second, and his movement and alertness to receive a short free-kick paved the way for Emilio Izaguirre to cross for the last-minute winner by Samaras. Hooper's pace also led to a red card for Juan Insaurralde when Spartak were 2-1 ahead."When he [Gary] puts his mind to it, he can be anything," said Commons. "He has great movement, he is a natural goalscorer, he Stevan Ridley Jerseyleads the line well and he is so strong. Even if his marker is quicker than him, he puts his body in positions and gets away from him and he has vision as well. Not many strikers have got great vision but he always seems to set me up for goals as well, which is good."Commons says Celtic's chances of reaching the Champions League knockout stages are "a lot better than they were before the Spartak game" but he is aware that the Scottish champions, second in Group G with four points from two games, face a double-header against leaders Barcelona. Realistically, a point from both would be Jerod Mayo Jerseymagnificent," he said. "They are the bookies' favourites to win the trophy and rightly so, they have the best team and the best squad in the world. For us to get anything off them... it would be a dream come true. We will probably need some luck."I think it will come down to our home games and trying to nick points off Benfica," Commons added. "But you know how hard it is to get a result away from home in the Champions League and for us to produce that against Spartak after going 2-1 down is tremendous. Meanwhile Charlton's chairman, Michael Slater, has lodged Deion Branch Jerseya formal complaint about Spanish police after revealing that he was knocked unconscious before last month's Champions League game between Real Madrid and Manchester City.Slater was caught up in an incident close to Madrid's Bernabeu stadium in which police wielding batons allegedly charged City supporters in an unprovoked attack before kick off. As well as being knocked out, Slater, a Manchester City fan, was left with minor head injuries and severe bruising. He has reported it to the head of security Devin Mccourty Jerseyat the Football Association News From:minespatriots.comand wants the matter to go to Uefa.Slater told Charlton's official website: "I can confirm that I was assaulted by at least one police officer in Spain without any provocation at all. I have been in contact with the FA, and I am expecting them to take the matter up formally with Uefa."It is a great feeling and the lads are buzzing."
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Post by caspday on Oct 25, 2012 4:26:29 GMT 1
Georgios Samaras fired his second winner this week to send Celtic back to the Adrian Peterson Jerseytop of the Clydesdale Bank Premier AB1025zyh League.The Greek forward drilled home in the 34th minute following a Kris Commons through-ball and Celtic comfortably saw out the win even if their performance failed to match the spark of their maiden Champions League away win against Spartak Moscow.Callum Paterson had missed a great chance to give Hearts the lead before Celtic lifted their game with Commons again at the heart of their best play. Celtic, who were briefly knocked off top spot by Hibernian, were Harrison Smith jerseyflat at the start of the second half before exerting some decent pressure in the final quarter.Celtic were without Scott Brown, who continues to battle a hip problem, and lost his Scotland team-mate Charlie Mulgrew in the first half following an early collision with Hearts goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald, who was carried off with a bad head knock.Another player in the Scotland squad for the World Cup double-header against Wales and Belgium, Andy Webster, was in the Hearts team after a back injury. MacDonald was on the park long enough to force wide Mulgrew's shot Jamarca Sanford jerseyafter a brilliant first-time return pass from Commons.But there were immediate signals he would be unable to continue after he bravely attacked Emilio Izaguirre's cross to punch the ball away from a crowd of players before Commons and James Forrest failed to convert the loose ball.The goalkeeper was taken off wearing a neck brace to warm applause from around the stadium with Peter Enckelman taking his place in the 13th minute. Mulgrew played on, although only temporarily.Celtic, wearing their new Jared Allen jerseywhite change strip with black shorts, initially found it difficult to break down Hearts' solid formation and Paterson should have scored in the 25th minute after Andrew Driver slid in to dispossess Kelvin Wilson as the Celtic defender tried to shepherd the ball behind for a goal kick.Driver laid the ball back but Paterson fired wide from 12 yards. The teenager was stretching but he should have done better with the goal gaping. Celtic responded when Samaras met a Commons cross with a controlled Jasper Brinkley jerseyfirst-time volley which hit the outside of the post.Mulgrew left the field, apparently concussed, and handed the captain's armband to Samaras, who took just two minutes to embrace his new-found responsibility with the opener.Commons was the provider with a pass with the outside of the foot into the left channel and the Greece striker ran on to it and fired a left-foot shot through the legs of Enckelman. Commons almost caught the substitute Jerome Felton jersey goalkeeper out News From:vikings2012.comwith a quick free-kick moments later but the ball sailed just wide.Hearts were still posing a threat from long range - Driver saw a curler deflected wide with Fraser Forster wrong-footed, Ryan Stevenson fired an effort just wide and the Celtic goalkeeper tipped over Mehdi Taouil's powerful strike.The champions came closer in the sixth minute of injury-time after some sharp build-up play from all their forward players that ended with Commons firing across the face of goal and just beyond the post with Gary Hooper just too far away to convert.
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Post by caspday on Oct 25, 2012 4:25:23 GMT 1
Rangers 2 Queen's Park 0: Rangers captain Lee McCulloch likened next Sunday's Aaron Rodgers Jerseytrip to Clyde to a cup final AB1025zyh after his double against Queen's Park put his club back on top of the Irn-Bru Third Division.Rangers recovered from their defeat at bottom club Stirling with a 2-0 derby victory, but they were far from convincing and McCulloch's second goal came in injury-time after Queen's had pushed their hosts back for much of the final quarter in front of a 49,463 crowd. McCulloch was handed a tap-in in the 57th minute after Dean Shiels had opened up the James Starks Jerseyvisiting defence but the floodgates failed to open and the amateurs had a great chance to equalise following the best move of the game but Andrew Robertson could only hit Neil Alexander with his shot after being sent clean through.But the victory was welcomed by manager Ally McCoist after the defeat in Stirling and McCulloch has now targeted their first away victory of the league season when they travel to Broadwood. The Rangers striker, who took his goal tally for the season to 13, said: “With going top Nick Perry Jerseyof the league, I think we should be looking at next week like a cup final.“Everyone knows our away form has been nowhere near good enough. If we treat next week like a cup final and get a positive result, then we can certainly try and kick on from there as well.Rangers needed to take Queen’s seriously too and McCulloch revealed there had been some heated discussions at half-time. Rangers had good spells at either end of the first half but the Spiders matched them in Donald Driver Jerseypossession for the majority of the first 45 minutes and created several half-chances.McCulloch, whose second goal was another tap-in, after substitute Barrie McKay hit the bar, said: “The players were obviously disappointed and at half-time today and there are four or five different arguments, and we are all getting uptight.“It just shows there are a lot of winners in the dressing room, that 0-0 at half-time is annoying the players and they expect more from each other. I think that showed in the second half with the way we played.“I think it's a healthy Greg Jennings Jerseything if boys are arguing, as long as it's not getting ridiculous, which it isn't. It just shows a will to win.“And it's good to see the young boys getting involved as well, and they are not scared to speak up to the experienced ones. It's all looking good.”Queen's Park manager Gardner Spiers, whose team arrived at Ibrox as league leaders, praised his players for showing the belief to mount a serious challenge to Rangers. He said: “I was disappointed with the News From:2012packers.comway we played and performed. I said before the game we would have Randall Cobb Jerseyto be at our best to win this game.“We didn't get anywhere near the heights we got on Sunday or have done all season.If you asked anybody who's watched Rangers all season, they've never played anything like that but it was always going to be the case.For Motherwell boss Stuart McCall, there was little in the way of positives as his SPL leaders failed to match the high standards they have set for themselves this season.
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Post by caspday on Oct 25, 2012 4:24:20 GMT 1
St Mirren 0 Celtic 5: Joe Ledley will enjoy further vindication of his decision Tony Romo Jerseyto join Celtic when he takes to the field at the Nou AB1025zyh Camp tomorrow night.The Wales international (25) raised some eyebrows two years ago when he turned down the chance to go to England to sign for the Parkhead club from Cardiff.Ledley's dream of playing in the Champions League came true this season and, after helping the Hoops to a 5-0 Clydesdale Bank Premier League win over St Mirren in Paisley, he turned his attention to Barcelona. “It's taken a while but we're finally here — qualifying is a Demarcus Ware Jerseyfantastic achievement — and we all look forward to these sorts of games.“We just need to go there and enjoy it and you never know what could happen.“They're a fantastic team, for me the best in the world.“It's going to be a big step-up for us and it'll be more difficult than we're used to.“They'll have more of the ball than we will and are sure to attack well. So we'll need to be on our toes, defensively as pairings and as a unit. We've done well so far but there isn't too much pressure on Morris Claiborne Jerseyourselves. If we can stop them then hopefully we can counter-attack.“But we believe we can go there and do something. It's a great opportunity for us.”Celtic will travel to Barcelona buoyed by a sparkling performance against the Buddies.Victor Wanyama's double amid goals from Gary Hooper, Efe Ambrose and Tony Watt gave Hoops manager Neil Lennon the commanding victory he was looking for ahead of their meeting with the Catalan giants, whom they trail at the top of Group G after two games. Ledley said: “”It was a fantastic performance, especially Felix Jones Jerseyin the first half. We defended really well, created loads of opportunities and, on another day, we could have scored more goals. The gaffer said it was a game we needed to win with Tuesday in mind, just to boost our confidence.“We did that and now look forward to facing Barcelona.”St Mirren manager Danny Lennon highlighted the difference in resources between the two clubs as he licked his wounds. Celtic skipper Scott Brown (hip), winger James Forrest (groin) and Sean Lee Jerseymidfielder Kris Commons (hamstring) were missing and striker Georgios Samaras was left out to allow a recent elbow injury to heal further with full-backs Emilio Izaguirre and Mikael Lustig starting on the bench.The Saints boss said: “I thought Celtic's transition from defence to attack was incredible.“They were in their own box and within five seconds they were having at attempt at our goal. Hearts lost another player to injury in the 52nd minute when News From:2012cowboys.comJohn Sutton Keith Brooking Jersey replaced Paterson, who had taken a knock on the back of his leg.The visitors were keeping Celtic in their own half without creating any chances and Neil Lennon made a change in the 70th minute, replacing Hooper with Beram Kayal and moving to a 4-3-3.The tactical change immediately worked.Commons fired just over the top corner after good skill in the box and Enckelman pushed Izaguirre's strike past his near post after the left-back had nutmegged Ryan McGowan.
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