What are you thoughts for the season ahead? is McCoist the right man for the job or would a more experienced manager been the better option following on from Walter Smith? Can see a clean sweep this season. No mug comments from Celtic fans, cheers.
Neil`s mind games not working at the moment ...looks like the tic need hmrc to intervene in title race? ...........................................
Hammer time as Lennon promises Celtic will hand out more beatings By JOHN GREECHAN
Neil Lennon hailed his 'Unstoppables' after a James Forrest-inspired Celtic fought back from a goal down to hammer Hibernian 4-1 in the League Cup quarter-final at Easter Road. And the Parkhead boss warned there are 'more beatings' awaiting opponents now that his team have hit their stride.
Forrest thue Daniel Majstorovic, but emerged rejuvenated for the second period, when young Forrest's quick-fire brace put the visitors in front. Anthony Stokes and Gary Hooper then secured their place in the last four. Having already predicted his stuttering team would dish out a thrashing to someone along the way, Lennon doesn't expect the wins - or the goals - to stop here. 'There are more beatings to come,' said the Northern Irishman, whose team finished the game against 10 men after Hibs winger Ivan Sproule was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Yellow peril: Cha Du Ri crosses as Hibs' Daniel Galbraith closes in 'There is more to come from this team and, hopefully, a few more big wins. 'We have a few long-term injuries not far away. We're a bit stretched at the moment but the hard core have been magnificent for me. 'The second half is the best we've played for a while. They gave everything in terms of running power, quality on the ball, finishing and passing. 'When they play like that, there aren't many teams who can live with them.
High praise: Neil Lennon delighted with his side's performance 'They should take a lot from the second half. I asked them: "How does it feel when you play like that? It must be wonderful because you are sensational to watch." 'I hope they carry on from that and keep the feeling going for the next few months. Players like Ledley, Ki, Matthews and the two centre-halves did everything we asked of them. 'That's the semi-final put to bed until next year, so now they can concentrate on the league.'
Long walk: Hibernian's Ivan Sproule is sent off Lennon conceded that Celtic - who join Kilmarnock, Falkirk and Ayr United in the semi-final draw - will now be the shortest of short odds to lift the trophy. Yet he warned: 'You only have to go back a year-and-a half to Ross County in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup (when Celtic lost 2-0). We are not assuming anything, although I'm sure that we'll be serious favourites. 'I'm just pleased we got this performance and this result. It was important we kept our run going in all competitions.'
Forrest fire: James Forrest (right) celebrates his first goal Lennon, who had recently seen his side come back from 3-0 down at half-time to pinch a draw at Kilmarnock in the SPL, could just about excuse his players for falling behind again when Sproule's shot cannoned off Majstorovic and into the net. He said: 'It was a poor goal we conceded, not a great delivery from the corner. It's just people switching off and not doing their jobs properly. 'And we could have been two down, so I have to thank Fraser Forster for a great save at 1-0. 'We were sloppy in possession at times, trying to pick the wrong pass. But the second half was the total opposite. 'They showed great character - and more quality tonight than they did even in the comeback at Kilmarnock.'
Brown and out: Hibernian's Mark Brown reacts after conceding his side's fourth goal Skipper Charlie Mulgrew remains doubtful for the SPL match, again with Hibs, at Parkhead on Saturday with an ankle injury, but striker Mo Bangura doesn't require surgery and could be back within a couple of weeks. A shaken Hibs boss Colin Calderwood, having watched his team throw away the one-goal lead, said: 'It's a man's game and you've got to play like a man. We didn't in the second half, we didn't play sensibly. 'At 2-1 down, you're still in the game, but we didn't pick up from a throw-in and we didn't pick up from a corner. We have let the air out of our own balloon today. We didn't make good decisions. 'It's as disappointing as it is disturbing, because no one will remember the first half now. And that hurts us.'
More... Hibs 1 Celtic 4: Loss averted by a prophet as mystic Lennon sparks Hoops Celtic rivals Sion set Court of Arbitration for Sport date in Europa League row Deadlocked: Celtic captain Brown's contract talks stall over agents' fee All the latest Celtic FC news, features and opinion
Neil`s mind games not working at the moment ...looks like the tic need hmrc to intervene in title race?...........................................Hammer time as Lennon promises Celtic will hand out more beatingsBy JOHN GREECHANNeil Lennon hailed his
ALLY McCOIST plans to extend Sone Aluko's trial period with Rangers after revealing he has been impressed by the former Aberdeen winger. Aluko spent this week training with the rest of the first-team squad at Murray Park and the Ibrox boss wants more time to assess the player before deciding whether to offer him a contract. Aluko has been without a club since his Dons contract expired at the end of last season but McCoist says the player has lived up to expectations over the last few days. He said: "Sone Aluko has trained with us this week and he showed up very well, as we expected him to. "We are going to have a chat with Sone and his agents and possibly keep him here for another four or five days training. "He seems to be enjoying it and we are certainly enjoying having him. "Sone is one of those players who has pace to take on a man and beat him. "He can play on either side and can probably play in the hole as well. He gives us that kind of option. "He definitely has talent, there is no doubt about that, particularly in the games that he played for Aberdeen against ourselves. "We always felt he did very well and that's exactly what he has shown us in training. He has shown us what a good player he can be." McCoist admits he is unsure as to whether Aberdeen would be entitled to compensation for the 22-year-old. He added: "I would have to plead ignorance on that but I would imagine there might be an issue with compensation. But that's somebody else's department and we will look into that." Rangers are also set to take Indian strikers Sunil Chhetri and Jeje Lalpekhlua on trial, with both players on the scoresheet for their country in a friendly win over Malaysia in midweek. McCoist said: "I've not got a date but I think we are trying to organise for them to come in a week on Monday. "I'll be better placed to tell you about those two lads then. "We didn't have anybody at the game but we saw the game. The world is a small place now with coverage and DVDs and action at the flick of a switch. "We have watched them in one or two other games as well, international and club matches, so we are pretty well covered and we are really looking forward to seeing the boys." On reported interest in South Korea midfielder Yoon Bit-garam, McCoist said: "He is a player we have seen and watched in a few games and he has impressed. "But there has been no contact to the best of my knowledge between the player and the agents and the club. We are not any further forward in terms of that player." Despite Rangers casting their net wide in search of fresh talent, McCoist insists there is no chance of the club recruiting players simply for the purpose of exploiting commercial opportunities. He said: "I can reassure everybody 100% that individual players will only be signed if we feel they can play in the first team and enhance the ability of our squad. "That's the only way we will sign any player, no matter what part of the world they are from. "Effectively they go hand in hand. It would be pointless of us to sign a player just for the sake of signing him and not play him and his commercial value would be zero. "There will be no players signed unless we believe that they will better the team and the squad." Meanwhile, the Rangers boss is hoping to avoid a post-international break slump when St Johnstone come calling in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League tomorrow after being held to a draw by St Mirren after the last break. He said: "Time will tell on that one. We didn't have as many away as we normally have. "We have not been ourselves after one or two of the international breaks. "I'm loathe to take any praise away from St Mirren, because they played very well against us, but we weren't ourselves in that game."
Users' Comments (35)
ALLY McCOIST plans to extend Sone Aluko's trial period with Rangers after revealing he has been impressed by the former Aberdeen winger.Aluko spent this week training with the rest of the first-team squad at Murray Park and the Ibrox boss wants more
Timmy smells blood... the missing guys are jumping out the rafters. We have had some requests from the missing ones for the Rangers thread to be resurrected... so here goes.
Girfuy
Rod - Celtic / United
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1qxJPzjObI
Timmy smells blood... the missing guys are jumping out the rafters.We have had some requests from the missing ones for the Rangers thread to be resurrected... so here goes.GirfuyRod - Celtic / Unitedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1qxJPzjObI
The OP did`nt want Gers men posting on the Tic Thread m8.
KC & The Sunshine Band - Shake Your Booty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQlXFQf1chY
Sorry JohnnyThe OP did`nt want Gers men posting on the Tic Thread m8.KC & The Sunshine Band - Shake Your Bootyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQlXFQf1chY
Philip Hobbs has only sent 2 runners to this race in the last 10 years they finished 2nd & 3rd behind Penzance in 2005. His representative today is Sadler`s Risk. Barring something going wrong it`s difficult to see him out the frame. Win/load place 10% / 90% is the call 2.32 / 1.24.
Kempton 2.00 Adonis HurdlePhilip Hobbs has only sent 2 runners to this race in the last 10 years they finished 2nd & 3rd behind Penzance in 2005.His representative today is Sadler`s Risk.Barring something going wrong it`s difficult to see him out the