Celtic News: Season 2013-14

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Results / Fixtures


July

UCL 2nd Q: Cliftonville 0-3 Celtic (Lustig, Samaras, Forrest) Assists: Commons 2, Stokes - Att: 5000
UCL 2nd Q: Celtic 2-0 Cliftonville (Ambrose, Samaras) Assists: Stokes, Commons - Att: 44,389
UCL 3rd Q: Celtic 1-0 Elfsborg (Commons) Assist: Izaguirre - Att: 40,153



August

Premiership: Celtic 2-1 Ross County (Stokes 2) Assist: Commons - Att: 45,705
UCL 3rd Q: Elfsborg 0-0 Celtic - Att: 9,040
Premiership: Aberdeen 0-2 Celtic (Commons, Forrest) Assists: Samaras, Ledley - Att: 20,017
UCL Play-Off: S.Karagandy 2-0 Celtic Att: 20,000
Premiership: Celtic 2-2 Inverness C.T (Mulgrew, Matthews) Assists: Izaguirre, Brown - Att: 45,160
UCL Play-Off: Celtic 3-0 S.Karagandy (Commons, Samaras, Forrest) Assists: Samaras, Lustig, Stokes - Att: 58,000
Premiership: Dundee Utd 0-1 Celtic (Stokes) Att: 10,586



September

Premiership: Hearts 1-3 Celtic (Commons, Stokes, Pukki) Assists: Stokes 2, Commons - Att: 15,982
Champions League: AC Milan 2-0 Celtic Att: 43,000
Premiership: Celtic 2-1 St Johnstone (Pukki, Mulgrew) Assist: Stokes 2 - Att: 45,220
League Cup: Celtic 0-1 Morton (AET) - Att- 16,998
Premiership: Kilmarnock 2-5 Celtic (Commons, Samaras 3, Baldè) Assist: Samaras Commons 2 Mulgrew Lustig - Att: 6,149



October

Champions League: Celtic 0-1 Barcelona Att: 60,000
Premiership: Celtic 2-0 Motherwell (Stokes, Commons) Assist:  Brown - Att: 46,608
Premiership: Hibernian 1-1 Celtic (Forrest) Att: 14,220
Champions League: Celtic 2-1 Ajax (Forrest, Kayal) Assist: Stokes, Samaras Att: 60,000
Premiership: Partick Thistle 1-2 Celtic (Samaras, Baldè) Assist Izaguirre 2 Att: 7,978



November

Premiership: Celtic 1-1 Dundee Utd (Mulgrew) Assist: Izaguirre Att: 47,386
Champions League: Ajax 1-0 Celtic Att: 52,058
Premiership: Ross County 1-4 Celtic (Van Dijk 2, Ledley 2) Assist: Izaguirre 2, Mulgrew, Fisher Att: 5,982
Premiership: Celtic 3-1 Aberdeen (Commons 2, Boerrigter) Att: 49,638
Champions League: Celtic 0-3 AC Milan Att: 60,000



December

Scottish Cup: Hearts 0-7 Celtic (Commons 3, Brown 2, Ledley , Lustig) Assist: Ledley 2, Mulgrew 2, Lustig Att: 10,636
Premiership: Motherwell 0-5 Celtic (Commons 2, Ambrose, Stokes, Atajic) Assist: Stokes 2, Mulgrew, Izaguirre, Pukki - Att: 9,117
Champions League: Barcelona 6-1 Celtic (Samaras) Assist: Commons
Premiership: Celtic 1-0 Hibs (Pukki) Assist: Ledley Att: 46,065
Premiership: Celtic 2-0 Hearts (Commons, Forrest) Assist: Brown, Samaras Att: 46,058
Premiership: St Johnstone 0-1 Celtic (Van Dijk) Att: 7,034
Premiership: Inverness C.T 0-1 Celtic (Commons) - Assist: Samaras Att: 6,384



January

Premiership: Celtic 1-0 Partick Thistle (Ledley) - Att: 52,670
Premiership: St Mirren 0-4 Celtic (Mulgrew, Stokes, Commons 2) - Assist: Matthews, Ledley, Izaguirre, Forrest Att: 5,778
Premiership: Celtic 3-0 Motherwell (Commons 2, McManus OG) - Assist: Stokes 2 - Att: 47,489
Premiership: Hibernian 0-4 Celtic (Commons 2, Van Dijk, Pukki) - Assist: Izaguirre, Pukki - Att: 12,542
Premiership: Celtic 4-0 Kilmarnock (Ledley, Ashcroft OG, Mulgrew, Baldè) - Assist: Forrest 2, Ledley, Commons - Att: 44,271



February

Premiership: Celtic 1-0 St Mirren (Commons) - Att: 45,014
Scottish Cup: Celtic 1-2 Aberdeen (Stokes) - Assit: Samaras Att: 30,413
Premiership: Celtic 3-0 St Johnstone (Stokes 3) - Assist: - Griffiths, Brown Att: - 45,239
Premiership: Hearts 0-2 Celtic (Griffiths, Pukki) - Assist: - Stokes, Baldè Att: 15,801
Premiership: Aberdeen 2-1 Celtic (Forrest) - Assist:- Brown Att: 16,638



March
Premiership: Celtic 5-0 Inverness C.T (Griffiths 3, Mulgrew, Commons) - Assist Izaguirre, Forrest 2, Commons Att: 46,552
Premiership: Kilmarnock 0-3 Celtic (Commons 3) - Assist: Griffiths, Matthews, Mulgrew Att: 7,495
Premiership: Celtic 3-0 St Mirren (Johansen, Griffiths, Stokes) - Assits:Griffiths, Stokes, Samaras Att: 46,538
Premiership: Partick Thistle 1-5 Celtic (Stokes 2, Henderson, Johansen, Commons) - Assists: Izaguirre, Johansen, Griffiths, Samaras 2 Att: 7,549
Premiership: Celtic 1-1 Ross County (Commons) -  Assist: Griffiths - Att: 49,270



April
Premiership: Dundee Utd 0-2 Celtic (Samaras, Stokes) - Assist: Commons - Att:11,033
Premiership: Motherwell 3-3 Celtic (Stokes, Samaras, Griffiths) - Assist: Brown, Stokes 2 - Att: 7,493
Premiership: Celtic 6-0 Inverness C.T (Stokes 3, Griffiths, Ambrose, Pukki) - Assist: Griffths 2, Johansen, Stokes, Commons 2 - Att: 45,712


May
Premiership: Celtic 5-2 Aberdeen (Brown 2, Stokes, Commons) - Assist: Matthews 2, Stokes, Kayal - Att: 47,468
Premiership: St Johnstone 3-3 Celtic (Commons, Pukki, Van Dijk) - Assist: Mulgrew, Brown - Att: 4,624
Premiership: Celtic 3-1 Dundee Utd (Stokes, Samaras, Commons) - Assist: Commons, Stokes - Att: 52,400




Goalscorers:

32 - Commons
21 - Stokes
20 - Griffiths (13 for Wolves)
11 - Samaras
7 - Forrest; Pukki
6 - Mulgrew
5 - Ledley; Van Dijk
4 - Ambrose; Brown
3 - Balde
2 - Lustig; Johansen
1 - Atajic; Matthews; Kayal; Boerrigter; Henderson




Assists:

18 - Stokes
15 -Commons
11 - Izaguirre
10 - Samaras
7 - Griffiths; Brown
5 - Forrest
4 - Ledley; Mulgrew
2 - Lustig; Matthews; Johansen
1 - Fisher; Pukki; Baldè






Man of the Match:

vs Cliftonville - Georgios Samaras
vs Cliftonville - Kelvin Wilson
vs Elfsborg - Kris Commons
vs Ross County - Anthony Stokes
vs Elfsborg - Mikeal Lustig
vs Aberdeen - Charlie Mulgrew
vs S.Karagandy - Kris Commoms
vs Inverness C.T - Tom Rogic
vs S.Karagandy - Kris Commons
vs Dundee Utd - Virgil Van Dijk
vs Hearts - Anthony Stokes
vs AC Milan - Adam Matthews
vs St Johnstone - Virgil Van Dyke
vs Kilmarnock - Georgios Samaras
vs Barcelona - Virgil Van Dijk
vs Motherwell - Kris Commons
vs Hibernian - James Forrest
vs Ajax - Virgil Van Dijk
vs Partick Thistle - Emilio Izaguirre
vs Dundee Utd - Anthony Stokes
vs Ajax - Mikeal Lustig
vs Ross County -Virgil Van Dijk
vs Aberdeen -Efe Ambrose
vs AC Milan -Emilio Izaguirre
vs Hearts - Kris Commons
vs Motherwell - Anthony Stokes
vs Barcelona - Fraser Forster
vs Hibs - Mikeal Lustig
vs Hearts - Kris Commons
vs St Johnstone - Virgil Van Dijk
vs Inverness C.T - Kris Commons
vs Partick Thistle - Joe Ledley
vs St Mirren - Kris Commons
vs Motherwell - Kris Commons
vs Hibernian - Virgil Van Dijk
vs Kilmarnock - Joe Ledley
vs St Mirren - Stefan Johansen
vs Aberdeen - Virgil Van Dijk
vs St Johnstone - Anthony Stokes
vs Hearts - Leigh Griffiths
vs Aberdeen - Nir Biton
vs Inverness C.T - Leigh Griffiths
vs Kilmarnock - Kris Commons
vs St Mirren - Anthony Stokes
vs Partick Thistle - Anthony Stokes
vs Ross County - Virgil Vam Dyke
vs Dundee Utd - Kris Commons
vs Motherwell - Anthony Stokes
vs Inverness C.T - Anthony Stokes
vs Aberdeen - Scott Brown
vs St Johnstone - Kris Commons
vs Dundee Utd - Anthony Stokes



Average League Attendance for Season 2013/14: 47,079 from 19 games (894,501)
Total Home Attendance for All Competitions in 2013/14: (1,264,454)
Average Home Attendance for the UEFA Champions League in 2013/14: 60,00 from 3 games (180,000)
Average Home Attendance for the UEFA Champions League Qualifiers in 2013/14: 47,514 from 3 games (142,542)

Appearances:

Player's Names	SPFL Premiership (Subs)/Goals	Champions League (subs)/Goals	Scottish FA Cup (Subs)/Goals	Scottish League Cup (Subs)/Goals	Total Appearances (Subs)/Goals
1. Fraser Forster	37	12	2	-	51
2. Adam Matthews	20 (2) / 1	4 (2)	(1)	1	25 (5) / 1
3. Emilio Izaguirre	34	10	2	-	46
4. Efe Ambrose	37 (1) / 3	11 / 1	2	1	51 (1) / 4
5. Virgil Van Dijk	35 (1)/ 5	7 (1)	2	1	45 (2) / 5
6. Nir Biton	9 (7)	1 (2)	1	1	12 (9)
8. Scott Brown	37 (1)/ 2	9	2 / 2	1	49 (1)/ 4
9. Georgios Samaras	10 (10) / 7	12 / 4	1	-	23 (10) / 11
10. Anthony Stokes	30 (3) / 20	8 (3)	2 / 1	(1)	40 (7) / 21
11. Derk Boerrigter	4 (10) / 1	2 (3)	(2)	1	7 (15) / 1
15. Kris Commons	32 (2) / 27	10 (1) / 2	2 / 2	(1)	44 (4) / 32
17. Amido Balde	3 (17) / 3	(3)	(1)	-	3 (21) / 3
18. Tom Rogic	1(2)	(3)	-	1	2 (5)
20. Teemu Pukki	13 (12) / 7	2 (3)	(1)	1	16 (16) / 7
21. Charlie Mulrew	27 (1) / 6	8 (2)	1	1	37 (3) / 6
22. Steven Mouyokolo	1	1	-	-	2
23. Mikeal Lustig	9 (7)	12 / 1	1 / 1	1	23 (7) / 2
24. Lukas Zaluska	1	-	-	1	2
25. Stefan Johansen	13 (3) / 2	-	1	-	14 (3) / 2
28. Leigh Griffiths	11 (2) / 7	-	(1)	-	11 (3) / 7
32. Tony Watt	1 (1)	(1)	-	-	1 (2)
33. Beram Kayal	7 (6)	6 (1) / 1	-	-	13 (7) / 1
37. Bahrudin Atajic	(3) / 1	-	-	-	(3) / 1
41. Darnel Fisher	10 (2)	-	(1)	-	10 (3)
46. Dylan McGeouch	(1)	(1)	-	1	1 (2)
49. James Forrest	10 (6) / 4	10 (1)/ 3	1	-	21 (7) / 7
53. Liam Henderson	4 (4) / 1	-	-	-	4 (4) / 1
56. Filip Twardzik	1	-	-	-	1
Players On Loan
18. Tom Rogic - Melbourne Victory	7 (1)	3	-	-	10 (1)
32. Tony Watt - Lierse	8 (8) / 8	-	(1) / 1	-	8 (9) / 9
37. Bahrudin Atajic - Shrewsbury	3 (10)	-	-	-	3 (10)
42. Callum McGregor - Notts County	32 (5) / 12	- [	-	2 / 1	34 (5) / 14
46. Dylan McGeouch - Coventry	(8)	(8)	-	-	(8)
Players Sold
Joe Ledley	18 (2) / 4	4 (4)	1 / 1	-	23 (6) / 5
Kelvin Wilson	-	4	-	-	4
Gary Hooper	-	(1)	-	-	(1)

Horrendous. Muoyokolo is a bombscare. Van Dijk not much better.

Commons only player has done anything and Lenny wouldn't make a change till the game was gone.

Well played Karagandy.  

Better team won.

Not only a lack of quality, but a worrying lack of heart and desire on show there from Celtic

Horrendous Olly. No striker, no spark and a horror show on defence.

Commons the only one who looked like ever doing anything like you said.

A worrying lack of leadership I thought, nobody evidently trying to drag you through the game, and the players body language was abysmal.

Put yourselves in a stupid position now, still should go through

No quality evident at all. I've never been a Brown fan and would have expected more bite from him today.

Really gutted!

Maybe I'm being stereotypical, but I imagine Karagandy will try every trick in the book during the second leg. Shirt-pulling, time-wasting, badgering the ref, 10 men behind the ball, diving etc.

Fair play to them if they do. Celtic have allowed them the opportunity.

Really don't know why changes weren't made earlier. Not that there was any game changers in it.

He didn't even go two up top Boss to try and get a goal. Stokes left sitting on the bench as well

The worst part for me if I was a Celtic fan would be that bloke at the end they showed in a Man United shirt going mad for it. 1. it was a United fan in that country, and, 2. it wasn't even a real United shirt.

I said the other day Lennon doesn't rate Stokes. I really don't get what Lennon was at today. Sammy isn't a line striker either.

Never saw that Nick. Was he in the crowd?

Look like you missed big Kelv

I'd carry him back to Glasgow if I see another performance like that.

Samaras is never in his life a lone striker, hes hopeless up top, he's only valuable when he plays wide left and he can drift in and he can also get the ball and run at defenders, when he plays with his back to goal he's always terrified a CB will go through him and he cant get rid of it quick enough.

Izaguirre did well going forward but for me he cost us two goals tonight, his primary job is to defend and he didnt do it well enough.

Kris Commons is the only player in our side that can receive the ball om thw turn, its so frustrating watching our guys take the ball square on and it stops any hope for a quick move.

I'm guessing our CBs will bw getting pelters after that result but I think it was asking for trouble starting both together for thw first time in such a massive game, I actually thought Van Dijk had a decent game, Mouyokolo has had 3 years of knee trouble, he never looked comfortable on that surface


I thought we lost two cheap goals but I genuinely didn't think we played all that bad, we lack some genuine creativity in the middle of the park but I felt we bossed the game, we just didnt make enough chances, people will say we ahould have been more attack minded but not spread how many non Celtic supporters will remember Artmedia Brataslava, thats another tie we should have went through but we stupidly started chasing the game in the first leg and got humped 5-0

Neil Lennon played that night and I'm sure that was in his thinking, Stokes should definitely have been on the field, its obvious he doesn't rate Stokes at this level which is insane because Karagandy are decent but nothing more special than a decent Premiership side.

Over the past 2 years Celtic have got some pretty good results in Europe and most of them came when we played with a positive formation, I felt we were far too negative tonight and like almost every other time we've been negative we've been punished for it.

I'm far from confident we'll qualify but a more attacking mind set mixed with a cauldron like atmosphere at Celtic Park and hopefully a fit Derk Boerrigter then its definitely a do-able task, our tempo has to be much better second leg.

I'd agree with all of that KF.

I just don't get why zlennon was do reluctant to make changes which really annoyed me!

I could just about understand him not making changes at 1-0 but as soon as Samaras got injured he should have been off, there is an over reliance on Georgios Samaras from Neil Lennon, i could just about understand that if we actually played him in his best position, hes a duck out of water up top alone, I really hope Neil Lennon wasn't trying to make a point to the board

Never thought about that. The point was well and truly proven anyway if that was the case!
We don't have options and its so frustrating to watch!

I think Elfsborg away was proof if anyone needed reminding that Samaras shouldn't be up pn his own, we got away with it but thats another game we looks like creating very little

Heres the thing that gets me, Samaras is seen as our best attacking outlet in Europe, if Gary Hooper was still here he'd be playing while Samaras would be used in his usual role, now obviously Hooper isn't here anymore but logic surely has to tell you that you use someone else in Hoopers position even if ypu dont rate them as equals (Baldè/Stokes) and you surely keep Sammy in the position he is most dangerous.

I personally dont think Lennon was trying to prove a point to hos board tonight but I fell he's been very very nieve and hasn't learned lessons from similar scenarios he's already encountered in Europe

Tactically and selection wise he was shown up today. Very poor decisions were made. I agree with Lennon insofar as Stokes is not the answer. We need to replace Hooper. stokes will get goals in SPL but not in Europe. However, he was the logical option to play today.

Chequebook needs to come out.

When the commentators were talking about no need to strengthen if we don't get in Europe it really brought it home hoe badly we need Europe. Any good work from the past few years will be eroded.

The commentators annoyed me, especially Clarke Carlisle, he was saying we've underesrimated Karagandy, we clearly didn't, the last time we left Scotland so early to prepare for a European tie was the Uefa Cup Final, also we brought in Van Dijk and Mouyokolo to combat their ariel threat, we just lost a really cheap goal because Izaguirre switched off at the back post and the second goal was just against the run of play, im not making excuses at all but to say we took them lightly was incorrect IMO...we just struggles to break down a 9 man defence

Carlisle was making my mood 10 times worse watching it! Horrible commentary on a really condescending tone.

Creativity and technique is a massive problem. To beat that sort of defence we'd have needed the wingers to the byline and a target man or have done proper creativity along with Commons.

Talking about bad mood and wingers, James Forrest is the most overrated player we've got...how many times does he need to stop and throw his arms in the air and just completely give up when the ball is still there to be won

I'm generally a fan of Forrest but if hrs not getting past his man he's next to useless. Doesn't mix it up well and technically isn't too handy at all.

I hate when he throws his arms up in the air and just stops, he doesn't do enough fpr me, when he drifts inside I feel he doesn't make himself space, feels like he hides, when he's on his game he can be a real danger man but for me he doesn't do it enough, he's clearly a Lennon guy though, he's always a first pick with the manager

It's very frustrating. He can be so dangerous but needs to add more strings to his bow.

Sammy had one of his nights where he reminded me of the enigma of a few years ago. He is out of position but it was his seeming lack of effort. I know that's his natural demeanour but it was very evident tonight.

I know exactly what you mean, carbon copy of his performance at Elfsborg too

Player Rating

1. Forster - 5
23. Lustig - 5
3 - Izaguirre - 5
22 - Mouyokolo - 5
5 - Van Dijk - 6
8 - Brown - 6
21 - Mulgrew - 6
16 - Ledley - 6
48 - Forrest - 4
15 - Commons - 7
9 - Samaras - 4


Subs:
2. Matthews - 5
17. Baldè - N/A

Player Ratings

1. Forster - 5
2. Matthews - 7
3. Izaguirre - 6
4. Ambrose - 7
5. Van Dijk - 6
8. Brown - 6
33. Kayal - 4
18. Rogic - 7
Mulgrew - 6
Watt - 5
Baldè - 6

Subs:

Ledley - 6
Atajici - 4
Lustig - 5

I wasn't too disappointed with this result, was majorly annoyed at the defending for the goals or the lack of I should say but I thought going forwatd we could have scored a lot of goals, we missed some very good chances and also wasted a lot of chances too, I lost count of the amount of crosses Izaguirreover hit either beyond everyone or just over the bar, the one cross he kept low we actually scored from...go figure Emilio!

It was a lot like the performance against Karagandy, lots of possession and twrritory and lots of crossing opportunities but no cutting edge im the middle or natural goalscorer,  I knew we wouldnt score a lot though with that team we had out, midfield was to samey and narrow and Baldè isn't a goal grabber and Watt hanst scored in his last 20 appearances for club and country so it was always going to be a struggle.

Inverness are a good side, Terry Butcher has done a cracking job with them, Aaron Doran is a class act for them.

Is the Shakther keeper on drugs?!!!!

He's freaking me out!

Scott Brown being a muppet again, Hopefully Uefa take a look at that and ban him had no reason to do that at all.

Big Sammy is up for it tonight!

Massive goal that for Celtic on the brink of half-time. Just when you sensed they were getting desperate, and the fans getting frustrated, Commons finds the net brilliantly. Could go either way this, if Karagandy keep up their (mostly) good organisation in the second half.

They're fairly hard to break down and the keeper was inspired their. Fingers crossed!

2-0 now. Celtic probably got about 72 minutes to score the winner, as Karagandy don't look like scoring.

Don't put the scud on, duty!

3-0 FT. Well done Celtic.  

Karagandy were too negative though.

My stream broke on the 91st minute. I'll take it!

YES CELTIC!

Best thing about the Champions League.

Right Pete let's get the chequebook out now!

Yeeeeesssss ya dancer what a night, as good an atmosphere as I've ever experienced on a European night

Efe Ambrose was outstanding, best performance in a Celtic shirt for me, Adam Matthews was sensational, Lustig never put a foot wrong, Samaras was majorly up for it, Forrest after a poor first half came onto a game and Kris Commons is just the catalyst for us, he was brilliant.

Joe Ledley let the occassion get to him, dont know if it was picked up on TV but he spent the first half just moaning and complaining to everyone band anyone

This was the draw I wanted, it should have been more comfortable but it was a cracking comeback and gives Scottish Football a massive boost

Player Ratings

1. Forster - 6
2. Matthews - 9
21. Mulgrew - 7
4. Ambrose - 8
23. Lustig - 8
8. Brown - 6
16. Ledley - 6
49. Forrest - 8
15. Commons - 9
9. Samaras - 8
10. Stokes - 8

Subs:

11. Boerrigter - 6
5. Van Dijk - N/A

I am not a Celtic fan but as a Scot would like to congratulate them on reaching the Champions League. Any Scottish club succeeding in Europe has to be good for Scottish football what with the co-efficients and all that.

However, wouldn't it be great if Celtic had more of a Scottish taste to their squad? Sorry but they have a lot of sub-standard foreigners in their team which irks me such as Ambrose. That is my mini-rant but well done all the same.

An rise had a great game last night I though. I'm not his biggest fan and can see where you're coming from. But which Scottish players are good enough to come in and add to the squad?

Well in place of Ambrose any of Russell Martin or Grant Hanley. Ledley is another who I don't see what he brings to the team - you could have anyone from Morrison, Maloney, Snodgrass, McArthur or Mackay-Stevens in there amongst others. Samaras is another past his best now in my honest opinion. Blows very hot and cold though realise he is a huge fans favourite.

I completely disagree with Samaras. I was a big critic of his a few years back but he has made me eat my words. I do like Grant Hanley though.

Maloney is a great player but just had no luck with injuries and I would take him back not a bother. Joe Ledley is Mr Dependable and I'd have him in the team over Scott Brown.

Sorry but I watched Samaras last night and sure he bagged a goal but time and again he'd get into prominent positions but his final ball was terrible compared to players in other teams who will be playing in the Champions League.

Fair enough mate each to their own but I don't see any Scottosh players that can scare a defence like he does when running from deep. Steven Fletcher is a player I'd take to parkhead no bother!