Celtic News - Season 2012/13

First topic message reminder :

Just thought I'd start a wee thread on here for Celtic, probably end up just like a wee diary for me to post to myself but c'est la vie

It's been a good start to the season, the league has been a bit slow, particularly at home but the European adventure has been a breath of fresh air, winning 5 and drawing 1 of our 6 games so far, including winning 3/3 away from home

Gary Hooper's performance in Moscow against Spartak was enough to have Gary Lineker drooling over him claiming it was the best CL performance from an English striker in years and claiming he should be called up for England, Fraser Forster got the call up too

Games so far

UCL Qualifier Celtic 2-1 HJK Helsinki -(Hooper, Mulgrew) 52,849 Assists: Samaras, Commons
SPL Celtic 1-0 Aberdeen - (Commons) 48,251 Assists: Matthews
UCL Qualifier HJK Helsinki 0-2 Celtic - (Ledley, Samaras) 10,269 Assists: Mulgrew, Ledley
SPL Ross County 1-1 Celtic - (Commons) 6,110 Assists: Watt
UCL Play-Off Helsingborgs 0-2 Celtic - (Commons, Samaras) 12,200 Assists: Samaras, Commons
SPL Inverness CT 2-4 Celtic - (Watt 2, Wanyama, Mulgrew) 6,100 Assists: Matthews 3, Twardzik
UCL Play-Off Celtic 2-0 Helsingborgs - (Hooper, Wanyama) 51,566 Assists: Samaras, Commons
SPL Celtic 2-2 Hibernian - (Lustig 2) 45,867 Assists: McCourt, Twardzik
SPL St Johnstone 2-1 Celtic - (Commons) 6,700 Assist: Hooper
UCL Celtic 0-0 Benfica - 57,298
SPL Celtic 2-0 Dundee - (Hooper, Wanyama) 41,073 Assists:  Brown, Izaguirre
SLC Celtic 4-1 Raith Rovers - (Hooper 4) 14,737 Assists: McGeouch, Forrest, Matthews, Kayal
SPL Motherwell 0-2 Celtic - (Hooper, OG) 10,496 Assists: Commons 2
UCL Spartak Moscow 2-3 Celtic - (Hooper, Forrest, Samaras) 43,351 Assists: Lustig, Hooper, Izaguirre
SPL Celtic 1-0 Hearts - (Samaras) 46,203 Assists: Commons
SPL St Mirren 0-5 Celtic - (Hooper, Ambrose, Wanyama 2, Watt) 6,008 Assists: Lassad, Mulgrew 2, Matthews, Izaguirre
UCL Barcelona 2-1 Celtic - (Samaras) - 75,000 Assists: Commons
SPL Celtic 0-2 Kilmarnock - 47,971
SLC Celtic 5-0 St Johnstone - (Commons 3, Hooper, Mulgrew) 14,399 Assists: Hooper 2, Commons 2, Watt
SPL Dundee Utd 2-2 Celtic - (Miku, Watt) - 10,521 Assists: Watt
UCL Celtic 2-1 Barcelona - (Wanyama, Watt) - 55,283 Assists: Commons, Forster
SPL Celtic 1-1 St Johnstone - (Watt) - 45,873 Assists: Mulgrew
SPL Aberdeen 0-2 Celtic - (Lassad, Mulgrew) - 18,032 Assists: Wanyama, Samaras
UCL Benfica 2-1 Celtic - (Samaras) - 49,000 Assist: Mulgrew
SPL Celtic 0-1 Inverness Caley Thistle - 44,238
SPL Hearts 0-4 Celtic - (Lassad, Lustig, OG, Hooper) - 15,264 Assists: Commons, Lassad, Mulgrew2
SFA Celtic 1-1 Arbroath - (OG) - 15,000 Assist: Miku
UCL Celtic 2-1 Spartak Moscow - (Hooper, Commons) - 60,000 Assists: Commons, Samaras
SPL Kilmarnock 1-3 Celtic - (Brown, Ledley, Samaras - 6,501 Assists: Matthews 2, Brown
SFA Arbroath 0-1 Celtic - (Matthews) - 4,195 Assist: Samaras
SPL Celtic 2-0 St Mirren - (Wanyama, Hooper) - 47,790 Assists: Mulgrew 2
SPL Celtic 4-0 Ross County - (Brown, Hooper 2, Forrest) - 49,428 Assists: Hooper 2, Lassad, Wanyama
SPL Dundee 0-2 Celtic - (Samaras, Hooper) Assist: Watt, Lustig
SPL Hibernian 1-0 Celtic - 16,805
SPL Celtic 1-0 Motherwell (Hooper) - 48,002 Assist: Samaras
SPL Celtic 4-1 Hearts (Hooper 2, Samaras, Lassad) - 48,374 Assists: Matthews, Commons, Brown, Izaguirre
SPL Celtic 4-0 Dundee Utd  - (Hooper 2, Wanyama, Brown) - 42,596 Assists: Samaras 2, Lustig, Hooper
SLC St Mirren 3-2 Celtic - (Hooper Mulgrew) 24,417 Assists: Brown, Commons
SPL Celtic 4-1 Kilmarnock (Ledley, Matthews 2, Stokes) 43,000 Assists: Commons 2, Hooper, Stokes
SFA Raith Rovers 0-3 Celtic - (Commons, Forrest, Mulgrew) - 7,144 Assists: Commons, Hooper, Stokes
SPL Inverness CT 1-3 Celtic - (Commons, Gershon, Miku) - 6,175 Assists:  Rogic, McGeouch, Stokes
UCL Celtic 0-3 Juventus - 57,912
SPL Celtic 6-2 Dundee Utd - (Ambrose, Commons 2, Ledley, Stokes 2) - 46,093 Assists: Commons 2, Izaguirre, Stokes 2, Forrest
SPL St Johnstone 1-1 Celtic - (Ambrose) - 5352 Assists: Izaguirre
SPL Celtic 5-0 Dundee - (Ledley 2, Forrest, McGeouch, Hooper) - 39,959 Assists: Izaguirre, Hooper, Stokes 2, Ledley
SPL Motherwell 2-1 Celtic - (Samaras) Assist: Forrest
SFA St Mirren 1-2 Celtic - (Ledley, Stokes) Assists: Forrest 2
UCL Juventus 2-0 Celtic -
SPL Ross County 3-2 Celtic - (Mulgrew, Hooper) Assists: McGeouch
SPL Celtic 4-3 Aberdeen - (Commons, Mulgrew, Hooper, Samaras) - 46,395 Assists: Stokes, Ambrose 2, Lassad
SPL St Mirren 1-1 Celtic - (Commons) Assist: Ambrose
SPL Celtic 3-0 Hibernian - (Commons 2, Lustig) - 46,049 Assists: Hooper, Lustig, Ledley
SFA Dundee Utd 3-4 Celtic - (Commons 2, Wanyama, Stokes) Assists: Wanyama, Izaguirre 2, Forrest
SPL Celtic 4-1 Inverness CT - (Hooper 2, Ledley, Samaras) - 55,000 Assists: Commins 2, Lustig, Izaguirre
SPL Motherwell 3-1 Celtic - (Hooper) - 7503 Assist: Watt
SPL Ross County 1-1 Celtic - (Stokes) Assist: Commons
SPL Celtic 4-0 St Johnstone - (Ledley, Stokes, Forrest, OG) - 57,000 Assist: Forrest, Mulgrew 2, Hooper
SPL Dundee Utd 0-4 Celtic - (Commons, Samaras 2, Stokes) Assists: Commons 3, Izaguirre
SFA Hibernian 0-3 Celtic - (Hooper 2, Ledley) 52, 000 Assists: Stokes 2, Lustig


Averages:

Average Home SPL Attendance: - 46,916 from 19
Average Away SPL Attendance: - 9,0002 from 16
Average Home UCL Attendance: - 55,768 from 6 games
Average Home League Cup Attendance: 14,568 from 2
Average Home Scottish Cup Attendance: 15, 000 from 1

Celtic Squad:

Goalkeepers:
1 Fraser Forster  
24 Lukasz Zaluska  
26 Lubos Kamenar

Defence:
2 Adam Matthews  
3 Emilio Izaguirre
4 Efe Ambrose
5 Rami Gershon (on loan)
6 Kelvin Wilson  
21 Charlie Mulgrew
23 Mikael Lustig  
25 Thomas Rogne  

Midfield:
8 Scott Brown  
15 Kris Commons  
16 Joe Ledley
20 Pat McCourt  
33 Baram Kayal  
46 Dylan McGeouch
49 James Forrest
56 Filip Twardzik
67 Victor Wanyama  

Attack:
7 Miku (on loan)
9 Georgios Samaras  
10 Anthony Stokes  
11 Lassad Nouioui
32 Tony Watt
88 Gary Hooper

Top Goalscorers:
Gary Hooper 31
Kris Commons 19
Georgios Samaras 14
Joe Ledley 10
Charlie Mulgrew 10
Victor Wanyama 9
Anthony Stokes 7
Tony Watt 6
James Forrest 5
Mikael Lustig 4
Lassad 3
Scott Brown 3
Adam Matthews 3
Efe Ambrose 3
Miku 2
Rami Gershon 1
Dylan McGeouch 1


Assists:
Commons 25
Hooper 12
Mulgrew 11
Izaguirre 11
Stokes 10
Samaras 8
Matthews 8

Were you at the game at the weekend mate? Have to admit I've barely been able to see the highlights of the matches the last month or so I've been that hectic. Gonna have to sort that out next year and make the trip a whole lot more than what I've been able to with hopefully a change of circumstances.

What do ya see as the big changes over the summer. It'll be hard to second guess the scouts on the talent they'll have eyed up to bring in but I think its fairly clear Hooper and Victor will be gone with a few others maybe joining them.

Yeah I was there, I go to most games, I heard rumours that Celtic have been looking at slashing season tickets by up to 20%, must say that would be a nice touch, no doubt the fans are staying away but I don't think its primarily to do with no Rangers, while that's a factor I think the football is just to expensive, my Season ticket is £600, 20% off that takes £120 off that, those kind of gestures would get the fans back in their droves. We must be the only club in the World who thinks an attendance of anything less than 50k is a disgrace


I'm not sure what will happen in the Summer, I think Hooper and Wanyama will go, I think we'll keep Stokes, I could see us possibly going in for Johnny Russell and Gary MacKay-Steven although we're reportedly in for the Bulgarian winger Tonev

I wouldn't mind a CB to be honest, I don't think Ambrose or Wilson are the answer at CB, I wouldn't mind a big no nosense all action CB alongside Mulgrew, he's out best CB in my opinion.

To be honest I couldn't blame many of them if they went in the Summer, its. Ashort break with the Euro qualifiers plus there isn't much left for them to do, maybe Forster will have a few clubs in for him too

I'm looking forward to the changes if I'm being honest, I've got no real attacment with many of the players these days so I don't find myself to fussed if 1 or 2 go now

I went a whhole lot more a few years ago but with Uni I just had no spare money to get over the last few years so now that I'm out and the prospect of a bit of work I'm going to be looking into getting a season ticket and going as much as possible saying I hopefully wont have to keep up the Saturday work.

I've said it before but I wouldn't mind seeing Hooper going as long as we get the right money for him. Victor will be a bigger loss but if a player wants to leave its up to them and none of them are bigger than the club.

I'm a big fan of Mulgrew but our CB recruitment record of the last few years hasn't exactly been stellar. So let's hope the scouts have unearthed a gem somewhere or other.

hi guys
Just found the testimonial for adam drury on youtube that we played you guys in so thought I would post it here aswell as the norwich thread incase any of you guys want to give it a watch
First Half- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2nJ8u1Oh84
Second Half- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaLbMh9ger8

Cheers mate I'll have a watch when I get to the laptop.

atmosphere for that game was great both at the match and prior to it. Walking down riverside in the sun and hearing you all was absoloutley awesome, would love for you guys to come down here again sometime

Well thats it for another season, very strange season indeed, first ever without Rangers, the league was an anti-climax at times but through no fault of our own and I absolutely love the Scottish Cup, its the only way to end the season.

The European adventure was unbelievable, played 12 won 7 drew 1 and lost 4, winning away in Moscow, beating Barcelona and playing well in the Camp Nou

Hooper getting over 30 goals Commoms geting 19

Its been an entertaining season, i suspect today might be the lasy time we see some of these guys as Celtic players

Who do you reckon will go Kay Fabe?

Hooper and Wanyama would be obvious ones?

Congrats to Celtic, I in no way wanted you to lift the cup but fairs, fair, here's to next season

I could see Hooper going. Don't know about Wanyama Olly I could see him maybe staying for another year.

Yesterday could have been Paddy Mc Court's last cameo in a Celtic shirt and its hard to tell who else.

Yeah I think every neatrul in the Country would have been rooting for the Hibees yesterday...when they finally do win the Cup it'll be one of the great sporting stories


Who do I think will go?

Hooper is a cert for me, he's been keeping himself on ice since the beginning of February, still 82 goals in 3 seasons 22, 29 then a career best 31 you cant really complain too much

I fancy Wanyama may go too, I can see him going to a top club though, the guy has frightening potential and the best compliment I coukd give him is he didnt look out of place against Xavi and Ineista

Paddy McCourt is offski too, id love to see him stay in Scotland though, what a talent...not a natual athlete but he gets you on your feet

Frazer Forster is another I can see leaving, while he just signed a 4 year deal last year hes been up here 3 years now, he has improved beyond all recognition to the big clumsy guy we brought up on loan in 2010 but now hes a regular in the England squad I could see an EPL club making a bid for him...realistically I think he'll do another year...4 years up here is enougj but if a good bid comes in I think we'll do business

Lazio and Fiorentina are interested in Samaras...hes a total enigma, he's become this European marksman for us but really looks interested domestically, I dont think he'll leave or wants to and I know the manager loves him but if a bid of £3m+ came in id be looking for the club to take it

I I also think the club might cash in on Kayal if they get a decent bid....I was a bi fan but then he lost his way after injury, he started to come on to a game this season but he always seems to be a guy taken off or left out completely, inthink the management may see him as dispensable

Thomas Rogne has knocked back Celtic's last contract offer, he'll be leaving, really annoyed at this, for me he's our best center half by a distance and its taken us long enough ro get him fully fit but Lennon prefers his favourite Wilson and gives the bombscare that is Efe Ambrose chance after chance, ultimately I don't blame the lad, he wants to play and inferior players continually get picked in front of him, for me our besy pairing is Rogne & Mulgrew

I expect him to be a Premiership defender before not too long

I'll be creating a brand new thread for the start of Pre-Season, I've enjoyed doing this and its easy to have a look and see how many goals a certain player has scored...next season I'll be adding assists to it, I wanted to do it for months but couldnt find a zite that would back date it from the start of the season so didnt want to do a half assed job...if there is anything else anyone would like to see added to it then leave your suggestions

So the clear out has begun

Miku sent back to Getafe
Gershon sent back to Standard Leige
Noring sent back to Trellborgs
Lassad released
Murphy released
Rogne refused to re-new his contract

Celtic also publicly denied they were about to bid £750,000 for Johnny Russell but with Derbyhaving a bid accepted and hes expected down there on Monday then we could possibly move for him

Celtic have also been linked with moves for Richard Dunne and Kevin Doyle

Celtics first target of the Summer Aleksander Tonev signed for Aston Villa, Celtic had agreed a £2m fee with his club Lech Poznan

Celtic are interested in Victoria Guimareas striker Amido Balde, it was thought Celtic were thefront runners but Crystal Palace are interested and its thought theyre willing to offer him double the £15k per week Celtic were offering

What do you reckon on Dunne?
Always have been a big fan of his. No nonsense puts his body on the line, committed defender. A real leader. It just remains to be seen how his latest injury has taken its toll on him.

Im a big fan, always have been, think he would instantly become our best CB, not sure if his injury would have taken its toll on him, apparently he's been fit for a long time now but Lambert was never going to bring him back into the side. Its a YES from me

Amido Balde is here for signing talks, posed with a scarf, I hate that, apparently knocked back Palace and an approach from Sunderland, hes huge, apparently some Celtic fans have already set up a fake profile on POF by the name of big boaby Balde haha

Celtic last night completed the signing of Amido Balde,  he's some size of boy, 6ft 4' apparently is very fast too,  a few weeks ago he was in the paper saying Celtic fans would forget all about Gary Hooper if he signs, big words

Potential Celtic front two

A. Balde T. Watt

really excited about the pospect of Virgil Van Dijk, classic name by the way, he looks like real talent, £2.6m, good to see the club trying to get business done early

Kay Fabe wrote:really excited about the pospect of Virgil Van Dijk, classic name by the way, he looks like real talent, £2.6m, good to see the club trying to get business done early

yeah it makes a change from buying quite late which celtic have done a lot of in the past. maybe players fancy it because celtic can turn hot prospects into real talents. 

apparantly celtic have accepted a bid of 10 million from southampten for wanyama? thought he could do better than that tbh.

Yeah I heard we're supposed to have accepted a £10m bid for him but it said Liverpool, Arsenal and Man Utd are interested so if those clubs are interested I think it'd be pretty foolish to accept the first bid, I csn see him going for £12m+

Looks like the bid we supposedly accepted from Southampton for Wanyama was £12.5m and knowing Celtic there would be some kind of sell on clause, so if thats what they're being offered with the likes of Liverpool still sniffing about I'm content with that, good to see big Vic knocking back their offer though, shows the player and our club in a good light, he's happy so it'll take an extrodanary offer to entice him.

Noticed today we're in talks with James McFadden, I think this if true is a very shrewed move,  he is a proven SPL talent, both in scoring and creating goals and I also feel he has the intelligence to play for us in Europe if and when required, getting Miku, Lassad, Murphy and Bangura off the books as well as potentially Hooper I think McFadden can offer us some definite goalscoring back-up

Agree on big Vic KF. Don't see why he'd want to go anywhere outside the top 6 or 7 in England.

On James Mc Fadden. Have we not signed him 28 times before? I liked him as a player but what has he done recently? Suppose you can't go too far wrong on a free but I think we need to be adding quality rather than quantity.

Europa League Attendance Stats

2011/12: Udinese 37,000 - Rennes 28,578 - Atletico 33,257 = Av. 32,943

2009/10: Rapid 42,013 - Hamburg 38,821 - Hapoel 32,000 = Av. 37,611:idea:

Watching these messages. Looks pretty good.
But look at their football shirt not how.

Statistical review of Celtic's 2012/13 Season


OVERALL

Played 59 games, 38 wins, 9 draws, 12 losses. 131 goals scored, 52 goals conceded, 24 clean sheets.

SPL BASED STATS

● Total league attendance: 891,415. Celtic’s average SPL attendance has dropped by nearly 4,000 compared to last season. Five of this season’s top 12 attendances in the SPL featured Celtic as the visiting side.

● Average attendance: 46,917

● Biggest crowd: v St.Johnstone (May 11) 57,000

● Smallest attendance: v Dundee (Feb. 24) 39,959

● Top scorers: Gary Hooper, 19; Kris Commons, 11

● Assists: Commons, 11; Adam Matthews 8; Hooper, 7; Emilo Izaguirre, 7

● Shots: 549 on goal, 285 on target, 92 goals. Commons: 82 shots, 44 on target; Hooper 82 shots, 48 on target; Victor Wanyama 59 shots, 23 on target

● Red cards: Celtic saw red just once in the league, when Wanyama was sent off in the 1-1 draw with St Mirren March 31; the red card was later downgraded to yellow.

● Yellow cards: 47 in the league, joint lowest with Motherwell, with Wanyama the biggest culprit with nine

● Clean sheets: Fraser Forster had 15 in the league after 21 last term.Appearances: Forster made the most league appearances for Celtic this season, with 34 starts

● Neil Lennon has managed 174 games as Celtic manager, winning 122, drawing 22 and losing 30 in his three years and two months in the job.


TOP PLAYERS THIS SEASON

● Most effective: Gary Hooper, involved in 80% of goals for matches played in. Hooper also played the most matches this season with 51 games.

● Second most effective: Kris Commons, involved in 78% of goals for matches played in.

● Others of note: Anthony Stokes, involved in 69% of goals for matches played in. Georgios Samaras, involved in 57.5% of goals for matches played in. Charlie Mulgrew, involved in 46% of goals for matches played in.


MOST MINUTES PLAYED

Fraser Forster played the most minutes with 4,590, followed by Kelvin Wilson who played 4,323 minutes. Charlie Mulgrew followed with 4,190 minutes, Gary Hooper with 4,181 minutes and Victor Wanyama with 4,094 minutes.


OTHER NOTE WORTHY NUMBERS

● Most subbed-in player: Biram Kayal, Paddy McCourt and Tony Watt were all subbed-in 16 times. James Forrest was subbed-in 11 times, while Georgios Samaras and Anthony Stokes were subbed-in 10 times.

● Most subbed-out player: Kris Commons who was subbed-out 23 times, followed by Georgios Samaras 14 times, Biram Kayal 13 times, Scott Brown and Gary Hooper 11 times.

● Own goals: Only 2 were scored this season, Fraser Forster and Efe Ambrose the culprits.


FINANCE & SPONSORSHIP

Celtic have increased turnover by 71.0% according to their latest interim report for the six months to December 2012. Celtic’s revenues have increased to £50.06m from £29.27m over the same period in 2011. As a result, net bank debt stood at £0.13m (2011: £7.05m) making the current SPL leaders virtually debt free.Celtic have announced a shirt sponsorship deal with Magners Cider from next season. The deal means that Celtic’s shirts will carry Magners branding for the next three years. Peter Lawwell did not reveal the specifics of the multi-million pound deal but said it was an improvement on the existing £1.5m per season agreement with Tennent's