Raptor

Saturday 3 November 2012, Premier Division, Belfast Celtic v Linfield, Casement Park

Celtic's final home game in a series of five was the derby against Linfield. With three days left till the final first phase CL game, Arena had a difficult decision to make. Even though the Irish champions had already qualified for the next round, avoiding defeat in Glasgow would mean they'd win their group, and be seeded accordingly for the second phase. The American knew he'd probably have to rest players for that though, which could have consequences for this League game. With Celtic just fifth in the table, albeit with FOUR games in hand on leaders Cork, who had six points more, it wouldn't help their title defence to drop points today.

Ultimately though, Europe was more important in Arena's opinion. With little to prove in Ireland (though the manager still had to show HE was capable of delivering), he made nine changes to the side, and paid the price after just 62 seconds, when Gary O'Neill put the visitors one up.

Seven minutes later, David Healy extracted a massive roar from the crowd by getting his name on the scoresheet, as Celtic drew level with their arch rivals. Four consecutive titles or not, losing to Linfield was not an option in the eyes of the fans. Today wouldn't bring a win either though, and losing Phil Lloyd for some 10 days wasn't good either, but at least the League's new record crowd didn't see their side go down.

Celtic 1 (Healy 9)
Linfield 1 (O'Neill 2)
Attendance: 26,993

[This message was edited by Raptor on 24 September 2003 at 19:39.]

Raptor

FAI HQ, Dublin, Monday morning...

MF ... Why the hell did you schedule this "urgent meeting" at such an ungodly hour Bartley?! And how come it couldn't wait till later this week?

JB Why couldn't it wait?! It's only about talking to a new candidate for the most important TV deal in Irish football history!

MF And when did this "new candidate" first approach you?

JB Yesterday, when visiting Rangers.

MF Idiot!

JB Jesus Frost, you're grumpy this morning. Can't handle getting up early? What makes me an idiot now?

MF Making them feel they're important enough to change the entire agenda? Or basically telling them "yes, we have plenty of time on our hands to talk to you because no one else came anywhere near the ridiculous amount of money we're asking this time round"? Oh, and YOU try getting up at 5am after a baby keeps you awake all night!

JB Just be glad you don't manage a football team full-time anymore. You wouldn't be annoyed with the fact your travel plans to Glasgow needed changing now would you?

MF Wouldn't give you that pleasure Bartley... Now tell me, who the hell are so interested in the TV rights this couldn't wait a few days...

Raptor

Tuesday 6 November 2012, European Cup, 1st Group Stage, Glasgow Celtic v Belfast Celtic, Celtic Park

Frost's plans to travel to Glasgow on Monday were indeed ruined by Bartley's last-minute appointments. He wasn't going to miss Tuesday's clash of the Celtics which would decide who'd win Group D though.

Thirteen minutes into the game, the former manager was among 6,000 travelling fans of the Irish club who celebrated a perfectly executed half-volley by Dave Fitzgerald. The visitors, only needing a draw to top the group and get seeded in the second round, were one-nil up and looked good for their lead.

Martin O'Neill wasn't going to let the bigger Celtic suffer a second defeat against their Belfast namesakes though, and ordered his side to go for an all-out attacking approach, very uncharacteristic for the man. It definitely surprised Bruce Arena in the visitors' dugout, and the shock on his face after the Glasgow team struck twice around the 30 minutes mark was apparent.

After that, the home side reverted to a slightly more normal formation, and the Irish champions duly dragged themselves into the game again by taking control of midfield once more. no further goals were scored, however, and so the Scottish side prevailed in the battle for Group D supremacy, taking the coveted second round draw seeding home.

Glasgow Celtic 2 (Ford 29, Morris 32)
Belfast Celtic 1 (Fitzgerald 13)
Attendance: 60,254

Raptor

Belfast Telegraph, Saturday 10 November 2012

Arena "happy with draw" as Celtic face Madrid

Belfast Celtic manager Bruce Arena yesterday afternoon claimed to be happy with the UEFA Champions League Second Phase draw that saw his club placed in Group A along with Spanish giants Real Madrid. While the Irish champions will not be expected to finish ahead of the club who won Europe's main football competition a record eight times, in their current form they might give surprise First Round Group E winners Club Brugge (whose last day victory over Barcelona eliminated Real Madrid's arch rivals and sent the Belgians through) and Croatian champions Hajduk Split a run for their money, even though the latter side are jointly responsible for knocking out Juventus.

It is easy to overestimate Celtic's chances at this stage though, and one should not forget the incredible facts the club has achieved already this season. Six European games ago, Belfast fans were hoping for third place and qualification for the third round of the UEFA Cup, now they'll cheer on their side in the last 16 of the biggest club tournament on earth.

All three other groups have British representation, as Newcastle play Inter, Brondby and PSV, Glasgow Celtic face Lazio, Anderlecht and Dinamo Kiev, and Manchester United take on Borussia Dortmund, Lyon and Lokomotiv Moscow.

Unlike Belfast Celtic and their Glasgow arch rivals Celtic, Glasgow Rangers failed to qualify for the second phase, but go into the third round of the UEFA Cup instead. There, they will play double European Champions Hibernian, who are still trying to rebuild the empire carefully crafted by Stuart Redmond.

Without Irish representation in this round, attention will also turn to other British clubs such as Arsenal (taking on Milan in another mouthwatering tie), Birmingham (away at unlucky Barcelona for the first leg of their clash) and an ever-improving Stoke City side going head to head with Polonia Warsaw, the team knocked out of the Champions League by the Irish champions in August.

[This message was edited by Raptor on 24 September 2003 at 20:42.]

Raptor

Saturday 10 November 2012, Premier Division, Belfast Celtic v Shamrock Rovers, Casement Park

Celtic's huge amount of games in hand was well documented now, but still some players were reportedly unhappy about a mere fifth position in the table, apparently worried about their reputation.

Their first opportunity to change that situation came when Shamrock Rovers visited West Belfast. Trouble was, Rovers had top spot in their sights themselves, as a win would take them to the Premier Division's summit. Throughout the game, it showed.

The match could've gone either way, as was action-packed at both ends. Frequently, goalkeepers John Dodds and Patrick Bucic were called upon. They always answered to that call. Until the last 15 minutes...

Despite the good relationship between the two clubs, the game was a pretty nasty affair, with four booking and three injuries (Celtic unfortunately edging Rovers in both departments). For the home side, Christian Hanson had to come off in first half stoppage time, which quite literally became injury time. It was his replacement Thomas Power who initiated the attack that led to David Healy forcing Bucic into a fingertip save. It fell to Glen Keddy, however, and Keddy rarely fails to convert such a golden opportunity. Celtic led 1-0.

And still either side had a couple of great goalscoring opportunities. The only one to do anything with them were the hosts though, when late substitute Paul Scholes made the points safe with a fine volley. Another minute later, Michael Keane became the last player to be carried off, and as Arena had used all his subs, Celtic had to play out the remaining minutes with ten men. Rovers didn't threaten their win anymore though.

Celtic 2 (Keddy 75, Scholes 85)
Rovers 0
Attendance: 19,257

Raptor

That same day, across the Irish Sea, Stevie O'Mao witnessed his Hearts lose their proud unbeaten BPL (and indeed season-long) record at the hands of relegation-threatened Bolton. Richard Pacquette got the sole goal for the Lancashire team, which took them out of the bottom three. A day later, Man Utd won at Bramall Lane to relieve Hearts of top spot, albeit on goals scored! Celtic were in the hunt too, and the following week, they'd visit Bauld Park.

Questions were asked of Hearts' ability to mount a season-long challenge with such a small squad, and only intensified when a weakened side struggled at Second Division Burnley, needing penalties to save their blushes in the third round of the League Cup. And the squad wasn't even stretched by European fixtures...

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">British Premier League 1.Man Utd 12 9 2 1 23 - 8 +15 29 2.Hearts 12 9 2 1 20 - 5 +15 29 3.Celtic 13 8 3 2 20 - 9 +11 27 4.Newcastle 11 7 1 3 19 - 14 +5 22 5.Tottenham 12 6 3 3 13 - 9 +4 21 6.Millwall 13 6 3 4 18 - 17 +1 21 7.Hibs 12 5 5 2 15 - 12 +3 20 8.Stoke 12 6 2 4 12 - 12 0 20 9.Everton 13 5 4 4 17 - 14 +3 1910.Leeds 13 5 3 5 18 - 18 0 1811.Arsenal 12 4 4 4 21 - 20 +1 1612.Rangers 11 4 4 3 11 - 11 0 1613.Blackburn 13 4 3 6 11 - 16 -5 1514.Sheff Utd 13 4 2 7 19 - 20 -1 1415.Liverpool 12 4 0 8 14 - 14 0 1216.Birmingham 13 4 0 9 13 - 23 -10 1217.Bolton 13 2 5 6 6 - 13 -7 1118.Chelsea 12 2 3 7 10 - 17 -7 919.Portsmouth 13 2 2 9 10 - 26 -16 820.Sunderland 13 2 1 10 6 - 18 -12 7British First Division 1.Charlton 17 11 4 2 24 - 13 +11 37 2.Dundee 18 10 5 3 23 - 12 +11 35 3.West Ham 18 11 2 5 25 - 18 +7 35 4.Crystal Palace 18 10 2 6 23 - 12 +11 32 5.Ipswich 17 9 4 4 24 - 18 +6 31 6.Nottm Forest 18 9 3 6 29 - 24 +5 30 7.Motherwell 18 8 4 6 23 - 23 0 28 8.Crewe 18 7 6 5 20 - 13 +7 27 9.Rotherham 16 7 5 4 24 - 16 +8 2610.Brighton 17 7 4 6 15 - 15 0 2511.Man City 18 7 4 7 20 - 22 -2 2512.Sheff Wed 17 7 2 8 20 - 18 +2 2313.Coventry 17 6 5 6 20 - 20 0 2314.Southampton 17 6 4 7 24 - 23 +1 2215.St. Johnstone 17 5 6 6 13 - 14 -1 2116.Hull 18 6 3 9 21 - 24 -3 2117.Reading 18 6 3 9 14 - 21 -7 2118.Grimsby 17 5 5 7 13 - 21 -8 2019.Q.P.R. 17 5 4 8 19 - 18 +1 1920.Gillingham 18 5 4 9 22 - 30 -8 1921.Wimbledon 18 4 6 8 14 - 20 -6 1822.Derby 17 2 9 6 18 - 23 -5 1523.Livingston 18 2 7 9 11 - 23 -12 1324.St. Mirren 18 2 5 11 13 - 31 -18 11British Second Division 1.Bury 18 11 5 2 36 - 18 +18 38 2.Leyton Orient 18 9 7 2 25 - 14 +11 34 3.Peterborough 17 9 6 2 24 - 13 +11 33 4.Middlesbrough 17 9 5 3 28 - 19 +9 32 5.Carlisle 18 8 6 4 17 - 10 +7 30 6.Tranmere 18 8 6 4 26 - 21 +5 30 7.Wolves 18 8 5 5 19 - 19 0 29 8.Leicester 18 7 7 4 26 - 19 +7 28 9.Darlington 18 8 4 6 22 - 18 +4 2810.Kilmarnock 18 7 6 5 30 - 25 +5 2711.Port Vale 17 7 6 4 22 - 17 +5 2712.Watford 18 7 4 7 15 - 17 -2 2513.Aston Villa 18 6 6 6 28 - 26 +2 2414.Burnley 17 5 8 4 24 - 25 -1 2315.Wrexham 18 6 3 9 26 - 29 -3 2116.Arbroath 18 5 5 8 18 - 23 -5 2017.Wycombe 17 4 6 7 20 - 23 -3 1818.Swindon 17 5 2 10 15 - 20 -5 1719.Clyde 17 3 8 6 14 - 24 -10 1720.Notts Co 18 3 7 8 19 - 28 -9 1621.Airdrie 17 3 6 8 13 - 23 -10 1522.Bournemouth 18 2 8 8 19 - 30 -11 1423.Brentford 18 2 7 9 12 - 20 -8 1324.Stockport 18 1 5 12 15 - 32 -17 8British Third Division 1.Dunfermline 18 13 2 3 39 - 20 +19 41 2.Dundee Utd 18 11 4 3 37 - 28 +9 37 3.Luton 18 11 3 4 34 - 23 +11 36 4.Bradford 18 10 6 2 30 - 21 +9 36 5.Wigan 18 9 7 2 36 - 19 +17 34 6.Halifax 18 9 6 3 27 - 16 +11 33 7.W.B.A. 18 10 3 5 31 - 23 +8 33 8.Falkirk 18 9 5 4 35 - 21 +14 32 9.Northampton 18 8 6 4 27 - 22 +5 3010.Fulham 18 9 3 6 28 - 30 -2 3011.Aberdeen 18 7 4 7 24 - 24 0 2512.Bristol C 18 6 6 6 29 - 27 +2 2413.Walsall 18 8 0 10 18 - 27 -9 2414.Barnsley 18 6 4 8 26 - 27 -1 2215.Inverness C. Thistle18 5 6 7 28 - 29 -1 2116.Huddersfield 18 5 4 9 17 - 23 -6 1917.Morton 18 6 1 11 28 - 38 -10 1918.Ross County 18 4 5 9 26 - 33 -7 1719.Swansea 18 4 4 10 29 - 38 -9 1620.Cardiff 18 2 9 7 15 - 21 -6 1521.Norwich 18 4 2 12 24 - 30 -6 1422.Preston 18 3 4 11 20 - 34 -14 1323.Cambridge Utd 18 3 4 11 14 - 34 -20 1324.Plymouth 18 2 6 10 21 - 35 -14 12British Conference 1.Lincoln 16 9 5 2 23 - 13 +10 32 2.Northwich Vics 16 10 1 5 31 - 20 +11 31 3.Stranraer 16 9 2 5 23 - 22 +1 29 4.Ayr 16 8 4 4 21 - 16 +5 28 5.Oxford 16 7 5 4 24 - 16 +8 26 6.Southport 16 7 5 4 26 - 21 +5 26 7.York 16 7 5 4 21 - 19 +2 26 8.Kidderminster 16 8 1 7 27 - 21 +6 25 9.Rushden 16 7 4 5 24 - 19 +5 2510.Yeovil 16 7 2 7 20 - 21 -1 2311.Cheltenham 16 6 5 5 21 - 24 -3 2312.Alloa 16 5 6 5 21 - 24 -3 2113.Nuneaton Borough 16 6 2 8 31 - 33 -2 2014.Oldham 16 5 4 7 25 - 23 +2 1915.Southend 16 4 7 5 11 - 12 -1 1916.Shrewsbury 16 5 4 7 18 - 21 -3 1917.Blackpool 16 5 3 8 19 - 23 -4 1818.Scarborough 16 5 3 8 12 - 17 -5 1819.Bangor City 16 3 7 6 17 - 23 -6 1620.Scunthorpe 16 4 3 9 15 - 21 -6 1521.Chesterfield 16 4 3 9 15 - 25 -10 1522.Barnet 16 2 5 9 11 - 22 -11 11</pre>

[This message was edited by Raptor on 25 September 2003 at 6:46.]

Raptor

Wednesday 14 November 2012, League Cup, Quarter Final, Belfast Celtic v Cork City, Casement Park

Fixture congestion started to play a role in Celtic's campaign the following week. Their European adventure had seen the League Cup game against Cork put back a week, to the Wednesday before they'd face the same club in the League. Moreover, the Premier Division clash with the surprise table-toppers had been brought forward for live coverage on the Friday night, so the two sides would meet each other twice in 48 hours, and indeed fly to Cork on the same plane on Thursday.

Before that, they'd do battle in Belfast, for the right to host Bray Wanderers in the semi final of the League Cup...

Even though the winners of this tie would become clear favourites to take the trophy, both sides were more worried about getting through the game without injuries, thinking about the crucial League game just two days later. It was clear neither team would waste much energy in the second half, so it had to be decided before half time. Phil Lloyd, returning after a thigh injury, ensured it was. He scored twice in three minutes, not hindered by any defenders as he sprinted forward from midfield, and booked Celtic's place in the last four. As a consequence, the only midweek off between early September and the end of the year, Wednesday 28 November, would become a "normal working day" for the squad.

Celtic 2 (Lloyd 30, 33)
Cork 0
Attendance: 25,126

Raptor

Frost didn't travel to Cork to watch Celtic play, as he had to attend another ILCA executive meeting with UTV bosses regarding the new TV deal. The Ulster broadcaster had entered the race for the contract for the first time, and seemed to have Jonathan Bartley's personal backing, even though Frost didn't know why...

MF Right... So why did you make UTV feel like they're doing really really well in these negotiations? This is the second time you've weakened the ILCA's position like this.

JB I'm not weakening anything. I'm keeping them interested.

MF You believe that yourself? If I didn't know better, I'd think you have a personal interest in them getting the deal. Actually, I DON'T know better...

JB What are you implying Frost? I happen to believe UTV are offering a decent package.

MF Which focuses on Ulster clubs. Understandable for ULSTER TV, but this is a matter of national importance, ALL clubs should receive proper coverage. Need I remind you we're here to represent all 21 League clubs?

JB I know who we're representing. But you can't deny Ulster has done better than the rest of the country so far, so it's only logical they're more interested in those clubs.

MF And doesn't it suit Carrick Rangers just fine...

JB I suggest you change your tone when talking to me...

MF I suggest you stop looking after your own interests, and do what you're paid for. And that you remember well I know a thing or two about Rangers you really want me to keep to myself.

JB Fück you Frost, I won't be intimidated or threatened. Remember that. I told you before I know nothing of illegal affairs at Rangers. As for remembering things: know that I never forget people who screw me. So far, everyone's paid the price for that at some point.

Raptor

Friday 16 November 2012, Premier Division, Cork City v Belfast Celtic, Turner's Cross

Despite being five points off the pace, Celtic continued to argue they had three games in hand. While that statistic was true, it was also true no other club had such a massive imbalance between home and away games. Of the 12 League fixtures Celtic had completed so far, no fewer than eight had taken place at Casement Park. All other clubs had been on the road at least 7 times. With the division being as close as it was, it would be unrealistic to assume three away games in hand meant a guaranteed nine points. Celtic's latest away game was down in Cork, leading the Premier Division. A draw here would be a decent result in itself, but wouldn't see the champions make inroads into their lead, so Arena opted for their usual attacking style of play.

The first half was a tame affair, with just one shot on target between the two title contenders. That effort did find the back of the net, but much to the relief of travelling Celtic fans, Cork's midfield dynamo Robert Daly saw his "goal" ruled out for offside.

The interval came and went, both teams unsure what to do next. Push further forward in search of a priceless winner, or settle for a point to limit damage.

Cork were first to signal their intentions, bringing on an extra forward, which saw the home side create a few good opportunities. John Dodds defended his clean sheet well though. Then, with 20 minutes left, Celtic's management decided to take off Glen Keddy, as the top scorer had his third mediocre game in five outings. On came David Healy, who himself had been dropped from the starting XI in favour of Gary Malone.

But Malone couldn't break the deadlock either. Seven minutes from the end, though, Celtic won a corner kick which Michael Foley Sheridan floated in. Right on the six yard line, centre half Colin Morton rose above his Cork counterpart Keith Foley to powerfully head in off the crossbar. Despite six minutes of stoppage time, it was to be the only goal of the game. Priceless was the correct term indeed, as Celtic shot up the table, into second place, a couple of points behind today's opponents still having played three fewer games.

Cork 0
Celtic 1 (Morton 83)
Attendance: 9,997

Raptor

On Saturday, Mark and Katie take the kids on a day out, away from daily troubles and without the worst invention ever: the mobile phone. When they return in the early hours of the evening, Patrick's waiting for them, and he's quite excited...

KF Hi Patrick, we're back.

PO'K Heard the breaking news yet?

KF What breaking news?

PO'K That b@stard Bartley quit Carrick Rangers!

MF What?!

KF When, why?

MF I think I know the answer to the latter question!

PO'K He called a press conference at 5 o'clock, and announced he's leaving the club because of activities he doesn't want to be associated with taking place behind his back .

MF What the fück?! He publicly admits that?

KF I take it this is about the tape you have?

MF Yeah, but while I considered the possibility he'd sack his secretary, I never thought he'd leave the club himself, much less ADMIT Rangers are involved in illegal business!

PO'K You'd think he'd just come up with a weak excuse and leave Rangers to sort out the shìt.

KF Maybe he thought you'd make the tape public anyway, in which case the best thing for him to do was to publicly distance himself from all this.

MF I guess that's the most logical explaination. Bloody shame I can't take him down now. I have no interest in ruining Carrick Rangers, they're nobodies. It's Bartley I wanted off the scene.

PO'K Well, if he's no longer a club chairman, there's no reason for him to stay on the ILCA council or executive is there?

MF He's got enough friends to keep him in his job, he'd just use the same construction I did. And this far into TV deal negotiations, no one would want him kicked out.