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Title: John Hartson – Celtic Dragon
Release Date:2005
Review By: Kevtic Feb 10th 2010
Review
A no expense spent production this one. Keeps strictly to the tried and tested and ultimately banal formula for these type of DVDs. Celtic Dragon was released in November 2005 during Hartson’s last season at Celtic. The majority of the DVD concentrates on Big Bad John's time in the hoops since he joined in Aug 2001. Of course he still had a part to play for Celtic after this release and as we all know his battle with cancer is a story all of its own and a battle that thankfully he seems to be winning.
The DVD takes on the trusted format of interviews spliced with goal clips. Hartson was stuck on 99 goals when they made this DVD (he hit 100 on Nov 6th 2005, you would have thought they could have waited a few weeks) and there are many goals to savour. The interviews with Hartson were carried out while he was on international duty with Wales, my detective work leads me to believe the interview took place between around October 11th given the clues Hartson gives about missing a penalty for Wales. His international career gets a short section with interviews from John Toshack and Ryan Giggs.
There is little mention of his previous clubs which include Luton, Arsenal, West Ham, Wimbledon and Coventry other than to put his career in context. He was the UK’s most expensive teenager when Arsenal paid Luton £2.5 million for him in 1995 and there is a clip of him scoring against Celtic for Arsenal at Celtic Park in a pre-season friendly. There is no mention of the Eyal Berkovic incident at West Ham which I thought could have been a talking point given that they almost became team mates again at Celtic.
In another one of those strange situations that football throws up on a regular basis Gordon Strachan was the person who recommended him to O’Neill when he was manager at Coventry only for them to be reacquainted when Strachan took over Celtic in 2005.
Hartson talks honestly about his move to Rangers that fell through and how he would have had no problem playing for them but their loss was our gain as O’Neill took him to Celtic in Aug 2001 for £6 million. Amazingly it took him 11 games to get his first goal but it opened the flood gates and he went on to score a hat-trick and over 20 goals that season and helped Celtic retain the title. One thing that struck me about the goals that season were the number that came from crosses swung over by Steve Guppy who had been paraded the same day as Harston.
Hartson was a penalty box predator and his instinct for a goal and his aerial ability always made him an incredibly difficult opponent never mind the opposition defence also had to contend with Henrik Larsson or on occasion Chris Sutton as his strike partner. Hartson is hunskelper supreme and he talks about how special it is to score against the hun especially given the fact they knocked him back.
Hartson scored a number of memorable and important goals for Celtic and his contribution to the Seville run can never be overlooked. His strike in Vigo allowed Celtic to play in Europe after xmas for the first time in 23 years and he considers it his most important goal. Then there was that special night at Anfield when Hartson’s superb strike put Celtic into the UEFA cup semi final. A night I don't think any Celtic fan will forget and one of the few goals in his Celtic career that was scored from outside the box. Sadly Hartson had been carrying a back injury that needed surgery and his season came to an abrupt end.
It’s all ifs and buts but had Hartson made it to Seville who knows what might have happened but he is fairly philosophical about missing out during his interview. Also with Celtic losing the league on goal difference you have to think the presence of such a prolific goalscorer on the run in would have swung the balance Celtic’s way but sadly we’ll never know. We also can’t forget that Hartson got the goal helped secure a draw in the Nou Camp and is still our only away point in the Champion’s League.
If there was any real complaints about this DVD is that the many goals that are shown during the interviews don’t tell you who they are against although there is a DVD extra showing all his goals with this info but it would have been useful to have it in the main part as well. Of all the great players he played with during his time at Celtic only Neil Lennon makes an appearance and nothing from the man who brought him to Celtic, Martin O’Neill. Gordon Strachan pops up a few times but as he was his manager at the time that would be expected.
Overall Hartson comes across as pretty down to earth guy who loved his time at Celtic and he made a significant contribution to the success Celtic achieved during his 5 years at the club and this DVD celebrates those contributions. He had bigger battles to come but if you like to watch Celtic scoring goals then this will help pass an hour or so.
Product Details
Production year 2005
Running Time 80 mins
DVD Region 2
Release date 28/11/2005
Number of discs 1
Catalogue No. CEL011
Studio – John Williams Productions
Extras
Goals Compilation