Celtic 4 Hibs 0 - 4th December 1999

John Barnes' Celtic went in to this match against Hibs trailing Rangers by four points, having played a game more. With Rangers trip to St Johnstone postponed this was a chance to close the gap at the top of the table and get points in the bag.

However, having lost 3 of 6 league games since Henrik Larsson's leg break in Lyon, and having scraped through a midweek League Cup game against Dundee thanks to a 90th minute Morten Wieghorst winner, Celtic's form was patchy at best.

But this would turn out to be a comfortable victory, inspired by the skills of Lubo Moravcik. Mark Viduka opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 18th minute - a dubious award, it has to be said. Moravcik then added the second with a sublime turn and shot from the edge of the box. It may take a deflection on the way in, but it takes nothing away from the little Slovak's brilliance.

Moravcik adds a third, with a header which gives Paul Elliot's League Cup Final goal a run for it's money in the "how low can you head the ball" stakes. And Morten Wieghorst rounds things off near the end, pouncing on a mistake in the Hibs defence and sending a delicate chip over the keeper.

Highlights (~10m)



Just the goals (3m34s)

Celtic 5 Kilmarnock 1 - 30th October 1999

Nine days after losing Henrik Larsson to a season ending injury Celtic took to the field against Kilmarnock sporting the Swede's replacement, Ian Wright.

The Arsenal legend, just a month shy of his 36th birthday, had arrived at Celtic Park three days earlier on a free transfer from West Ham - on a day Celtic would lose at home to Motherwell and miss out on the chance to move to the top of the league.

Wright's signing would fail to make any real impact on the season as a whole. But for one day at least there was a genuine air of excitement inside Celtic Park and a temporary lifting of the gloom which had fallen over the club after Larsson's injury.

Wright would score on what would be an eventful debut for the veteran striker, adding Celtic's fourth to Mark Vidukas hattrick. Craig Burley would supply the fifth goal of an emphatic second half performance.


Just the goals (~4mins)




Highlights(~10mins)

St Johnstone 1 Celtic 2 - 24th October 1999

Three days after losing Henrik Larsson to a horrific leg break in a UEFA cup match at Lyon John Barnes' Celtic side returned to SPL action, taking on St Johnstone in Perth.

With Rangers not in action the Hoops had a chance to close the gap at the top of the table to just 1 point. And despite struggling without their talismanic Swede they would do just that. It was, however, anything but a convincing win.

Slackness at the back gave St Johnstone a 1st half lead from their first serious attack of the game - Nathan Lowndes the scorer. Mark Burchill levelled the scores early in the 2nd half. And It would take a controversial injury time goal from the head of Morten Wieghorst for the win to be secured. Judge for yourself whether his header crossed the line.


Highlights (~6mins)

Hibs 0 Celtic 2 - 25th September 1999

Celtic travelled to Easter Road to face a struggling Hibs side who had won just one of their first seven league games of the season. Despite trailing Dick Advocaat's Rangers by 3 points John Barnes' side were in decent form, having kept a clean sheet in seven of their nine games before the trip to Edinburgh.

That record would become eight in ten, as a Mark Viduka double gave Celtic the victory. However, it would be a hard fought match with Hibs proving stubborn opponents. The match would swing on the sending off of Hibs Frank Sauzee in the lead up to Celtic breaking the deadlock. Hibs would be reduced to just 9 men before the end.

The footage shows only the 2nd half action.

Just the goals (<2mins)>




Highlights (7mins)

Celtic 7 Aberdeen 0 - 16th October 1999

Going into this home match against Aberdeen John Barnes' Celtic were in fine form, having won 11 of 12 games in all competitions to start the season - a 2-1 league defeat at Tannadice in August the only blip. Unfortunately for Barnes Dick Advocaat's side across the city were going even better, maintaining a 100% record in their opening 8 SPL fixtures.

Six points adrift of Rangers, and up against a team rooted to the bottom of the table and who had been thrashed 5-0 on the opening day of the season, a win was not only required but expected.

The Celtic fans were not to be dissappointed. A 7-0 rout, on the back of an Eyal Berkovic opener and hattricks for both Henrik Larsson and Mark Viduka, kept the Hoops in touch at the top of the table.

But this was the calm before the storm. Within a week Henrik Larsson would suffer a leg break which would rule him out for the rest of the season. Within two weeks Barnes' side would lose at home to Motherwell to fall further behind Rangers. And within three weeks the first Old Firm game of the season would be lost at Ibrox. This was, unfortunately, as good as it got in season 1999-2000.

Just The Goals (6mins)

Highlights (11mins)

Season 1999-2000 Index

Clips from Season 1999-2000. A season which saw the dream team of Barnes-Dalglish turn nightmarish, Henrik Larsson break his leg, a shocking loss to Inverness Caley Thistle and a CIS Cup win to paper over the chasm like cracks.

Clips

25/09/99 SPL Hibs 0 Celtic 2
16/10/99 SPL Celtic 7 Aberdeen 0
24/10/99 SPL St Johnstone 1 Celtic 2
30/10/99 SPL Celtic 5 Kilmarnock 1
04/12/99 SPL Celtic 4 Hibs 0
11/12/99 SPL Aberdeen 0 Celtic 6
18/12/99 SPL Celtic 4 Dundee Utd 1
12/02/00 SPL Dundee 0 Celtic 3
01/03/99 SPL Celtic 6 Dundee 2

Celtic

Celtic. That is all.

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Celtic from celtic_clips on Vimeo.

Hartson

It could have been so, so different. When John Hartson 'failed a medical' at Ibrox in August 2000, Celtic got lucky. 12 months later, Martin O'Neill 'gambled' £6M on a set of knees that supposedly wouldn't look out of place on a geriatric elephant. Looking back on his time at Celtic Park, I think it's fair to say we got our moneys worth.

According to Soccerbase, John Hartson scored 109 goals in 201 appearances for Celtic. But Big Bad John was about more than goals. Often simply regarded as a huge battering ram of a player he also had a surprising deftness about his play, as witnessed by some truly great goals scored while playing in the Hoops. He was also a team player, forming impressive understandings with the Suttons and Larssons of this world - never afraid of putting his head where it might get hurt.

His form may have gone downhill over the course of his final full season in the East End of Glasgow, but that shouldn't detract from the overall contribution to the cause.

There's no doubt that we've been a poorer team without John Hartson. Here's a wee reminder why.

Click on the link below this video to see it in a larger format, or to download the file.

Hartson from celtic clips on Vimeo.

Jorge Cadete - Goal Machine

Re-uploaded on the back of the "How Good Was....Jorge Cadete" thread on Kerrydale Street, here's a stack of Jorge Cadete goals. This was my first attempt at a Celtic video (it shows!), and the quality isn't great at all. But you get the general idea.

All Hail Jorge Cadete. The most natural penalty box predator I've seen in the Hoops (give or take a Swede) and as mad as a brush to go with it.

Hunskelpin'

Lots of goals against the Orcs. No further explanation needed. If you want to watch the vid in a wider format follow the 'hunskelpin' link below the clip.

Enjoy!

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HunSkelpin' from celtic_clips on Vimeo.