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Trivia
- Australia Summer tour friendlies.
- Debuts for Kevin Wilson and Kevin Matthews
Review
I understand all the arguments about pre season friendlies being about match fitness more than anything else but I do find it utterly baffling why we started the game with Daryl Murphy playing as a lone striker and Richie Towell in midfield. The chances are that one or both of these players will not be at Celtic by the time the transfer window finishes so what is to be gained by playing them.
I thought the application of the Celtic players was very poor and they looked disinterested at times right up until they went a goal behind. They upped they ante then and should have equalised.
The least I expect of a Celtic team playing in front of Celtic fans regardless of the circumstances is 100% application.
As Celtic fly out of Sydney I feel completely underwhelmed by the whole visit both on and off the park. As well as a piss poor match the attitude of the players and management towards the fans left a lot to be desired. After the training session at ANZ on Friday not all the players stopped to sign autographs and pose for pictures and the ones that did werent too keen to engage in conversation and appeared aloof and disinterested. It should be noted that one of the players who did take time with fans was Biram Kayal who many feel is working his ticket out. Shaun Maloney also was another exception. Charlie Mulgrew signed a couple them walked right past a group of fans asking for his autograph, it was on the top of my tongue to tell him he wasnt good enough to have an attitude. Our club captain was also notable by his absence.
Also at the Q and A session in Cheers, were Neil Lennon appeared with Joe Ledley and Shaun Maloney, regretably our manager came across as a bit of a tool which for someone who has idolised him as a player and manager was gut wrenching. He appeared abrasive and unhappy to be there and lost it at one point because some people were making a noise, chanting his name by the way, while he was answering a question. He told the assembled throng that he and his players had been good enough to come to the pub and everyone should stand quietly and listen. He certainly had a point and there were many pished folks in attendance but it irked me a bit the felt he was doing us a favour by coming down to the pub for an hour. In actual fact he stayed for less than an hour then slinked out a side door without mentioning that he was leaving.
The best thing about the whole visit was as usual the Celtic support at the game who created a great atmosphere even in a quarter full stadium. The impression I have been left with is that Celtic came to Australia to make money and no other reason certainly not to engage with the fans down here many of whom havent seen Celtic in the flesh for many years.
(Michael Collins of KDS forum)
A couple of points re the attendance:
1) The Central Coast mariners are about as close to the stadium as Kilmarnock is to Celtic Park. This was no home game for them and this obviously reduced their support to a few thousand
2) The Mariners only get 5, 000 at best for a home game so their travelling suport is smaller still
3) the game ws played at the Olympic statium and everybody hates going there – its a soulless place in the middle of nowhere and way out of town
4) When the huns played in Sydey they literally had less than 2000 fans – if they had been playing last night the attendance would ahve been 40000 at best
5) Because Celtic are alos in Perth and Melbouren only a few Celtic fans travelled – compared to the huns who only played in Sydey and had fans from Hong Kong, Pether and everywhere
Teams
CELTIC (4-4-2) Zaluska; Matthews (McCourt 45) K. Wilson, Loovens, M. Wilson; Towell, Brown, Kayal, (Stokes 45) Forrest; Maloney (Ledley 72) Murphy (Hooper 45)
Not Used: Commons
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS (4-4-2) Pasfield; Bojic (Porter 85) Zwaanswijk, Griffiths, Rose; McGlinchey, Hutchinson(Sainsbury 66) Pellegrino (Hearfield 73) Bozanic (McDonald 72); Ibini-Isei, McBreen (Baird 56)
Not Used: Matic
Goals: (Hearfield 86)
ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Referee:
Attendance: 19,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
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Articles
Celtic Sunk by Mariners in Sydney
By: Mark Henderson on 02 Jul, 2011 12:59 Friendly match
Saturday, July 2, 2011
ANZ Stadium, Sydney
CELTIC…0
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS…1
(Hearfield 86)
CELTIC started their pre-season tour of Australia with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Central Coast Mariners in Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.
The Hoops dominated possession and chances but were undone by a spectacular strike from substitute, Troy Hearfield, in the closing minutes.
Lennon and his side will now move on to Western Australia for a clash with Perth Glory in a week’s time, bolstered by 90 minutes of competitive action.
In front of an impressive Celtic support, who had flocked from Sydney and beyond to the 80,000 capacity ground, the Hoops boss elected to hand new summer signings, Kelvin Wilson and Adam Matthews, their debuts.
It was the Australian side how made the early running. A neat interchange of passing, gave left-back Josh Rose space to cross into the area but his delivery lacked accuracy, drifting out at the far post with several attackers lurking in the middle.
However, the Hoops soon got into their stride, with Beram Kayal dictating the play from the middle of the park, and they created the best chance of the opening quarter.
Mark Wilson demonstrated good strength and awareness to intercept the ball on the left. He fed a low pass through to Daryl Murphy on the edge of the area but the big striker was unable to get the ball under the control, and it ran through harmlessly to opposition keeper, Justin Pasfield.
Shortly after, a wonderful raking pass from Kayal released James Forrest on the left and Murphy was agonisingly close to getting a good connection from the young winger’s cross.
Forrest was causing opposition number, Pedj Bois plenty of problems with his pace and trickery and he was involved once again around the midway point of the half, speeding away from several challenges but he was unable to find his way past the last defender, Royston Griffiths.
That set the pattern for the rest of the half, with the Hoops dictating proceedings, but unable to find an incisive pass to carve open the Mariners’ defence.
At the other end, meanwhile, Celtic, with new Bhoys Wilson and Matthews looking comfortable, were repelling any of the Australian side’s attacks with ease, which meant Lukasz Zaluska had very little to contend with.
Predictably, Lennon rang the changes at half-time, sending on Anthony Stokes, Gary Hooper and Paddy McCourt for Matthews, Murphy and Kayal.
And the triumvirate added an extra spark to the Hoops attack. Immediately Maloney went on a bursting run into the box but was unable to keep his footing at the crucial moment.
In the 60th minute, Scott Brown went made progress through the middle, before sliding a delicious pass through for Stokes. But the Irish internationalist was denied by the onrushing Pasfield.
It was one-way traffic but Graham Arnold’s side did show some attacking intent when Adriano Pellegrino headed wide from a great position. In truth, he should have scored.
The Hoops responded when Mark Wilson headed a corner wide of the far post, before James Forrest flashed a powerful shot over, after he was teed-up by McCourt.
It seemed the match would end scoreless but then a tiring Celtic side conceded an unlikely goal. A low cross from left was weakly cleared by Joe Ledley to the edge of the area. It fell invitingly for Hearfield and he picked his spot, curling the ball into the top corner Dom Cervi, who had earlier replaced Zaluska.
Celtic desperately pushed for a deserved equaliser in the closing minutes. And they looked like they had got it when Hooper stabbed Ledley’s flick past Pasfield, following good work from Mark Wilson, only to see it scrambled off the line by Sam Gallagher.
When Stokes eventually collected the resultant ball, his cross appeared to be blocked by a hand but no penalty was awarded, despite some strong appeals.
It would be the last opportunity of the match which ended in disappointment for Celtic in terms of the final result. However, the manager would have been satisfied to see so many of his players get some valuable game-time under their belts.
CELTIC (4-4-2) Zaluska; Matthews (McCourt 45) K. Wilson, Loovens, M. Wilson; Towell, Brown, Kayal, (Stokes 45) Forrest; Maloney (Ledley 72) Murphy (Hooper 45)
Not Used: Commons
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS (4-4-2) Pasfield; Bojic (Porter 85) Zwaanswijk, Griffiths, Rose; McGlinchey, Hutchinson(Sainsbury 66) Pellegrino (Hearfield 73) Bozanic (McDonald 72); Ibini-Isei, McBreen (Baird 56)
Not Used: Matic
Website Man of the Match: Kelvin Wilson
Central Coast Mariners 1 – 0 Celtic: Lennon pleased despite final result
Hearfield 87
Celtic 0
Whilst pre-season friendlies are almost instantly forgettable affairs, Celtic's 0-1 defeat to a limited Central Coast Mariners outfit in Sydney yesterday, did little to convince Hoops fans that Lennon's grim assessment would galvanise his players on their pre-season jaunt Down Under.
Lennon handed new summer signings Kelvin Wilson and Adam Matthews their full debuts and included just three starters from their Scottish Cup final-winning team.
But the match produced few clear chances until unheralded Mariners substitute Troy Hearfield curled in a shot from the edge of the area in the 87th minute after Joe Ledley had failed to clear a cross from the left. Another second-half Mariners substitute, Trent Sainsbury, cleared the ball off the line from Gary Hooper's goal-bound attempt just before the end of the 90 minutes, as Celtic had an appeal for handball refused.
Lennon omitted Thomas Rogne and Charlie Mulgrew as a precaution after they reported stiff muscles, while Kris Commons remained on the bench with a similar issue. Matthews started at right-back, with Mark Wilson on the left, while Wilson and Glenn Loovens were at the heart of the Celtic defence with Lukasz Zaluska in goal.
Richie Towell started on the right wing with James Forrest on the opposite flank outside skipper Scott Brown and Beram Kayal, with Shaun Maloney and Daryl Murphy up front.
Celtic dominated the first half but neither goalkeeper was significantly tested. Lennon rang the changes at half-time sending on Anthony Stokes, Gary Hooper and Paddy McCourt for Matthews, Daryl Murphy, and Beram Kayal.
Despite the one-way traffic towards the Mariners goal, the home side should have taken the lead in the 60th minute when Adriano Pellegrino headed wide with the goal at his mercy.
"The players condition and the quality, particularly second half, it was a remarkable performance when you consider the week they've been through," Lennon said.
"They've been travelling all the way over on Tuesday and Wednesday and then one day's training, played very, very well second half and controlled the game.
"I thought they scored with their one shot on target, and we could have had two penalties, but overall I'm delighted with the performance."
Mariners boss Graeme Arnold, who handed former Celtic player Michael McGlinchey the captain's armband, believes his side deserved to win despite Celtic enjoying the lion's share of possession.
"I thought our defensive structure was again good tonight, although we were rusty in our execution in the final third," said Arnold. "Overall, I thought we played well. It's the first time the boys have played in this stadium, and to play a powerhouse side like Celtic was fantastic for them.
The attendance of 19,482 at Sydney's ANZ Stadium was an accurate reflection of the game; respectable but not spectacular.
Celtic defender Daniel Majstorovic, Greek striker Georgios Samaras, and South Korean Ky Sung-Yeung are scheduled to arrive in Perth on Tuesday to boost Lennon's squad in time for the second match of Celtic's tour Down Under against Perth Glory next Saturday, where a reunion with former Rangers midfielder Ian Ferguson awaits. Celtic's final match in Australia is against Melbourne Victory on 13 July.
Central Coast Mariners: Pasfield, McBreen, Rose, Bojic, Zwaanswijk, Hutchinson, Griffiths, Ibini-isei, Pellegrino, Bozanic, McGlinchey (C). Subs: Matic, Porter, Hearfield, Mccdonald, Sainsbury, Baird, Gallagher.
Celtic: Zaluska, Matthews, Brown (C), Wilson, Maloney, Wilson, Loovens, Murphy, Towell, Kayal, Forrest. Subs: Cervi, Stokes, Commons, Ledley, McCourt, Hooper.