It’s Champions League for Celtic; over-30s in form

By Joe Behan

Things have heated up a little bit in Glasgow since Rangers beat Celtic 2-1 in the semifinal of the CIS Cup, with the Gers scoring the winner in the 105th minute. The best response Martin O’Neill could give was a 5-nil win over Dunfermline last weekend in the Scottish Premier League.

“Let your football do the talking” is now the motto for the Bhoys — and Henrik Larsson is all over that. The super Swede hit a hat trick to get the Hoops immediately back on track for Champions League 2002. The brilliant striker knows he must get back into CL next year to show that he is one of the best in Europe, beside his Golden Boot award.

It’s expected that Celtic will win the league. For Rangers to win the UEFA cup would seem shorter odds, but the Gers and Alex McLeish would beg to differ.

For the Hoops, it’s about chemistry, while Chris Sutton and John Hartson have clicked and both are now in the team for the SPL run-in. The team spirit has indeed strengthened in defeat and it looks like the Hoops may take that Old Firm loss out on the league. O’Neill knows he must get to the 2002 CL to open the Parkhead check book for new signings — something Celtic will need one way or another, especially if they want to improve in CL.

The recent Old Firm clash meant more to Rangers than it did to Celtic. The Parkhead story is about Champions League and any and all domestic cups on the way would, of course, be nice. But the SPL title is where it’s at for the Old Firm rivalry these days.

In the likelihood of an SPL title, Celtic will get better again. O’Neill is exceedingly good when it comes to buying players, and thus making his squad stronger. However, Brian Quinn, the Celtics plc. chairman, speaks of Parkhead balancing the books with trading players. Quinn knows since O’Neill’s arrival the financial balance is weighing in the right direction for the club. Quinn also knows that supporters will want to see the splashing of money.

It’s the first time in a while that the Celtic fan can get over losing an Old Firm clash, at least a bit quicker than before. All eyes are on the 13-point lead the Hoops have over the Rangers. There is also a 13-goal difference just in case. Celtic will be expected to go unbeaten right up to the next Rangers game, Ibrox, on Sunday, March 10. No more the talk of trebles at Parkhead, but it will not take long to start talking about the double for Celtic.

Ultimately, supporters will want the league title and European status. The finger is beginning to point at Quinn and Co., but for now, it’s one game at a time for the Bhoys.

Over 30s still kicking

Republic of Ireland international veteran Niall Quinn got his name on the scoresheet to give Sunderland a huge 1-nil win over Derby last week. John Gregory may have joined Derby to avoid relegation, but for Quinn and manager Peter Reid, it was a matter of pride.

Sunderland’s Reid has been criticized for the slump in the club, both on the field and in the stands. But the CuChulainn of Irish football came to the rescue once again for the Wearsiders. The last time Sunderland won was as far back as Stephen’s Day, it’s also the last time the Mighty One scored.

Paul Ince just about makes it into the Over-30s team due to a lot of luck. His shot on goal was traveling right into Nigel Martyn’s arms when a piece of turf popped up to redirect the ball into the back of the net.

David O’Leary’s Leeds looked like they were getting their acts together after Robbie Fowler flicked the ball home with his head. Leeds was unable to finish off a disorganized Boro defense in the first half and thus paid for lack of killer instinct.

It is a costly two points lost that opens a noticeable gap of 10 points off the table-topping pace. While Ince was spoiling Leeds’ chances of CL qualification, Paul Merson was also halting Chelsea’s European dreams.

Merson joins the Over-30s with his goal as Aston Villa drew 1-all with Chelsea. Merson’s goal while not a winner stops Chelsea’s recent form of good results. Chelsea and Leeds are now the leaders of the pack behind the top four: Manchester United, Liverpool, Newcastle and Arsenal.

The top over-30 pick goes to Alan Shearer, who is right up there with Newcastle, and the striker is in scintillating form. Newcastle hold out in top company as 31-year-old Shearer proves he’s still one of the best. He has 16 goals, two behind leading goal scorers Hasselbaink, van Nistelrooy and Henry. Shearer hit a double for Newcastle in their 3-1 win over Southampton.

While the over-30s are still kicking it in the EPL, the young ones were making noise at the top of the table. Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solskj’r hit two clinical finishes that rocked Charlton. The Gunnar crossed a defender from a superb pass from Roy Keane, then the baby-faced assassin curled the ball into the corner of the net with nothing but composure. From an acute angle somehow Gunnar latched onto his second to put United back on top. It’s hard for Alex Ferguson to retire with young strikers like Solskj’r around.

Liverpool’s youth were on fire and destroyed Ipswich 6-nil. Michael Owen and Emile Heskey each hit two, sending a clear message that they want the title, badly. Ipswich was brought rapidly down to earth by Liverpool after the Blues had recently surged up the table away from the relegation zone. How can they bounce back after such a devastating loss?

Fulham’s Jean Tigana made it clear that his side are the up-and-coming team in the EPL by beating Blackburn 2-nil, thus sending Rovers into the thick of a relegation battle. The bottom two, Derby and Leicester, come face to face this weekend, and a Leicester loss may determine relegation for City. What an incredible downfall the club has experienced since Martin O’Neill left Filbert Street. It is a true measure of his impact on any club, something he has already achieved at Celtic.