February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Henrik Larsson and John Hartson hit five goals between them for Glasgow Celtic against Livingston to retain the Scottish Premier League title in front of an ecstatic Parkhead over the weekend. Larsson hit a hat trick while Hartson doubled in an easy 5-1 lesson for the opposition.
The Parkhead arena was too big an occasion for Livingston and the annihilation began within the first three minutes. Larsson reminded the football world that he is the Golden Shoe marksman of European soccer.
There was good work from a throw-in by captain Paul Lambert and Hartson got the Scottish International on the Livingston back line with Larsson waiting in the box to make it 1-nil. Then in the 19th and 25th minutes, birthday bhoy Hartson joined the Parkhead party with his brace. Didier Agathe’s speed made some space to cross the ball for Hartson to finish with ease.
Celebrations began in Parkhead when Stilian Petrov’s back heel led to Hartson crashing a shot off the post after the Welsh striker wriggled around his marker. It was clear that Parkhead’s adopted son had found his home with Celtic and Martin O’Neill.
In the 24th minute, Hartson read Steve Guppy, Agathe and Larsson like a book as they combined to set up his powerful header. Guppy crossed once again in the 33rd minute and Larsson tucked his neat header into the corner making it 4-nil. The game and indeed the SPL were over as the striking “Sons” entered the second half with two a piece, and a total of 56 goals in the league.
Just on the hour Swedish International Henrik Larsson made it 57, hit his 11th hat trick for Celtic, and his 100th SPL goal.
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The significance of Livingston’s goal by Barry Wilson in the 72nd was that they were the first team to score in Parkhead since Jan. 19. The Hoops’ goalie, Robert Douglas, was furious with conceding the goal and his reactions indicate just how important it is at Parkhead to get a clean sheet. O’Neill very much instills this defensive mentality with his Bhoys and knows it is absolutely essential at Parkhead for Champions League in particular.
To keep the team reminded that European goals must continue, Larsson’s hat trick has given the Hoops something to shoot for on the continent. The Swede’s teammates can help him keep his Golden Shoe for another year.
Larsson has hit five in his last two games, putting him right back in the hunt for that golden boot. With 29 goals to his credit in the SPL, he is now just six shy of the record, which he equaled last season.
The silky Swede in fourth place has 43.5 points and now pressures Jardel of Sporting Lisbon, who leads on 49 points. In second and third are Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Thierry Henry.
While Larsson gets back in among the big names of goal scoring, O’Neill is very much on the same line with management.
Livingston manager Jim Leishman claimed that Martin O’Neill has the trademarks of the legendary Bill Shankly and Manchester United’s Alex Ferguson.
Leishman based his high praise of O’Neill starting with what the Irish manager did in the cups with Leicester City. City’s league standing was also impressive, finishing in top flight year after year. In the last 10 years, O’Neill’s name can be mentioned alongside the likes of Ferguson and Gerard Houllier, claimed Leishman.
For O’Neill to become on par with the big names of management, that road could be well paved if he signs for Celtic until 2005 — which, interestingly enough, is when Ferguson surely retires.
O’Neill has begun his talks with Dermot Desmond to extend his future with the Hoops. Desmond said, “Winning the title for the second year just shows what a good manager Martin is. He is the pivotal force in the continued development of Celtic. We will do all that is in our power to support Martin in that respect.”
For Celtic’s chairman, Brian Quinn, it is a matter of “persuasion” in keeping O’Neill at the club.
All the high praise and speculation of a bright future for Glasgow Celtic with O’Neill is promising. For now, it’s a question of Champions League budget and O’Neill prompted that “in the next week or two” he will be asking for figures.
O’Neill has done very well in the transfer market for Celtic. It’s great that he brings in good players to suit his system. However, at some point that budget will have to go up another level for O’Neill and Celtic in the Champions League. More important, for O’Neill, he must keep his current team together. Interest from other clubs in Celtic players will increase and new contracts for current players must be finalized.
In the meantime, Henrik Larsson keeps things sizzling in his goal-scoring quest at Celtic. It’s already European interest after Glasgow Celtic win the SPL title for the second time in two years. The season is far from over for Larsson and O’Neill’s Champions.
Keegan’s City for Premier
Manchester City also scored five goals and are on their way to the Premier. Kevin Keegan is interested in Steffen Effenberg and Edgar Davids. The energetic Keegan has made his intentions very clear going into the premier. He wants to challenge for the title.
King Kev has done it before with Newcastle but he claims that City is a stronger team. Richard Dunne got a mention as a potential premier player from Keegan, something Mick McCarthy will note for his World Cup squad. Keegan has brought City back to where they belong. The Blues are a big club and Keegan is out to prove his passion for attacking football is important.
The fighting and positive spirit of Keegan is still very much together. His passion and motivation are second to none in the game.
He has proved he is a Div. 1 master of promotion and he will want to continue his belief in exciting football. He doesn’t care about goals-against. Div. 1 teams come in flying for the first third of their promotion season. What a good start for Keegan that would be.
But what’s more important now is to keep Manchester City in top-flight football, something like what Newcastle have done.