Celtic Have Some Press-ing Matters

By Aidan Begley

The fact that some bookmakers have already paid out on Celtic winning the SPL title goes to show what a stranglehold that the Bhoys have on the SPL. Gordon Strachan’s men have shown no signs of slowing down and despite three draws in a row over Christmas are still in top spot.
Celtic are a mammoth 17 points ahead of second placed Rangers who recently showed manager Paul Le Guen the door after his spat with captain Barry Ferguson. Meanwhile over at Parkhead, everything seems to be going swimmingly well.
This time last year, Celtic unveiled Roy Keane as their latest signing who left Manchester United in rather acrimonious circumstances. One year on, it’s another player signing, another acrimonious departure from a club, this time it is former Hearts captain, Steven Pressley.
Scotland international Pressley, 33, was a free agent after coming to an agreement to leave Hearts earlier this month following his criticism of majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov.
Pressley also claimed there was “dressing-room unrest” at the Scottish Premier League club. He was then dropped to the bench much to the Hearts fans dismay and this was the beginning of the end for Pressley before he negotiated his release from Tynecastle to sign a deal with Celtic until May 2008.
Pressley had also undergone a medical at Charlton Athletic and new boss Alan Pardew thought that he had a good chance of signing Pressley, however, events took a dramatic turn when Celtic’s giant central defender, Bobo Balde broke his leg on Boxing Day.
The Guinea international was carried off in the first half during the 2-2 draw with Dundee United. Gary Caldwell and Mark Wilson are currently sidelined with injuries, leaving manager Gordon Strachan short of defensive cover.
It is thought that Balde, who moved to Glasgow from Toulouse in 2001, will be missing for “a number of months” forcing Gordon Strachan’s hand into the transfer market to pick up Pressley on a free.
Speaking at his unveiling at Parkhead, Pressley said: “I’m absolutely thrilled and honoured to join Celtic and it is a fantastic opportunity for me at this age.
“There is a great opportunity for me to win silverware here at Celtic Park and in eight-and-a-half years at Hearts, I got the opportunity to do that only once and it was a fantastic feeling, so I came here to get that feeling again.”
Pressley began his career with Celtic’s city rivals, Rangers, but was attracted to the Scottish champions’ status. He joins a small band of players to have played for Glasgow’s two main clubs, following the likes of Alfie Conn, Mo Johnston and new team-mate Kenny Miller.
“I’m passionate about my football, regardless of who I play for, and hopefully that commitment will endear me to the Celtic faithful,” he said.
“I looked at Kenny Miller who also started with Rangers and since he’s been here since the summer, there hasn’t been a problem, so I don’t think there will be one with me.”
Pressley also admitted the opportunity to play Champions League football had influenced his decision.
“I’m just looking forward to playing in the Champions League. It was a big draw. Obviously, as I played for Hearts in the qualifying rounds, I’m unable to play any part this season. Hopefully there will be the opportunity next year where I’ll be able to play against some of the best teams in Europe and some of the best players in the world – that was a massive draw for me.”
Gordon Strachan won the signature of a player who had also been linked with Southampton, Derby and Leeds. Pressley and Strachan were both at Coventry, so the manager knows his qualities well.
“I’ve known him since he was a kid and he has got better every year, not only as a player, as a man,” said Strachan.
“He has shown over the last few years he is an exceptional leader. He has presence, not only on the field but in the dressing-room. We need these kind of people at our club, our centre-halves are young, we need a leader.
“So far this season, we have played some great football and we’ve given ourselves the best chance possible to make our mark on this league, but we haven’t won anything yet, there is still a lot of football to be played.
“Obviously, we have managed to get ourselves a easy little tie against AC Milan in the Champions League, so it’s going to be a tough task for us, but we’re really looking forward to it, playing at the San Siro will be a fantastic experience for the players and our fans who I’m sure, a few of them may make the trip out there.”
Looking forward to 2007, Celtic have the opportunity to strengthen their squad during the transfer window and recent reports suggest that they are lining up a bid for the latest Irish hotshot on the block, Anthony Stokes.
Stokes, 18, has been on loan at Falkirk from Arsenal and the Dubliner is currently top of the SPL goalscoring charts after finding the net 14 times in the Bank of Scotland Premier League.
The Arsenal player has attracted interest from Celtic and Sunderland, with Charlton Athletic also reportedly in the hunt and he recently netted his third hat-trick of the season in Falkirk’s 3-1 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle, but his initial loan period has now expired, with Celtic one of the clubs scrambling for his signature.
A natural finisher, Stokes is highly regarded at Highbury and has proved his versatility in recent seasons. He is nominally a striker but can also operate on the flanks or in central midfield and Stokes got his first taste of competitive first-team action when he came on as an 88th-minute substitute for the Gunners during the Carling Cup victory at Sunderland in October 2005.
If this form continues over the rest of the season – particularly if Stokes signs for Celtic, then he could be the latest striker to stake a claim for a place in Steve Staunton’s Republic of Ireland squad.
With Kevin Doyle of Reading hitting fine form in the Premiership alongside Robbie Keane, then should Stokes develop as a striker and not disappear into obscurity (Richie Partridge ring any bells?) then this will greatly increase the attacking options at Steve Staunton’s disposal, which following recent performances, is greatly needed.