Football is often about the margins. Virgil van Dijk’s header, when Celtic were 0-1 up away to Maribor, beat the keeper and defence, but struck Stefan Johansen on the line. A year later, with Celtic 2-0 and rocking Malmo to their core, Stefan came close to putting us 3-0 and clear, but both Champions League playoff ties turned and a chapter in our history changed.
Trailing 1-0, yesterday’s tie against Astana could have tipped out of control but sublime play by both Patrick Roberts and Leigh Griffiths turned the game on its head. It was a ballsy play. Patrick wouldn’t give up, Leigh used all of his experience to despatch the ball into the net from the edge of the box. It went exactly as I predicted in yesterday’s blog, “A great deal of responsibility will lie with Leigh Griffiths. He’ll have space to receive the ball from Roberts”. Astana were stunned.
Not so stunned they think they’re out of it, in fact, after the game their manager and players were talking about winning at Celtic Park. See Maribor, above, if you think that’s not credible. They reckon the tie is “50/50”. None of them were impressed by Celtic, the sentiment it they let us off the hook. We will have work to do next week.
Kolo, is there anything you can do to sort us out at corner kicks? Eoghan O’Connell lost his man, but we lose too many goals from corners inside the six yard box, or on the line, for me to ask no questions of Craig Gordon. Is his starting position right? Maybe if he started a pace off his line he’d get a fist on a corner before the striker. It feels like there’s more going wrong than just the defenders losing their men. If a goalkeeper comes for a ball in his six yard box but doesn’t get it, he’s responsible.
Irony is finished.
Care to guess which club issued this statement after the Scottish Cup final two months ago?
“Any attempts to attach blame to our supporters for the disgraceful and violent behaviour will not be accepted or tolerated by this club”.
Yesterday, the same club, Newco, not only accepted and tolerated those same supporters being blamed, they led the charge by banning them indefinitely and telling them they would lose their season ticket for the coming season without a refund!
“Any club’s supporters would have done the same”
Here’s the thing, after the cup final, Newco’s statement not only tolerated fans’ behaviour they made unprecedented attempts to justify it:
“We acknowledge that a tiny minority of Rangers fans also encroached on the pitch but only after having been faced with prolonged and severe provocation and in order to protect our players and officials who were being visibly attacked in front of them. Any club’s supporters would have done the same”.
If Celtic did this we would be mocked on every front page for a week. Unfortunately, Scotland does not have appropriate oversight in any walk of life, or the post-final reporting and political reaction would have been entirely different.
Thanks to all who are involved in the eBay auction for this incredible prize:
Courtesy of Celtic sponsor, Intelligent Car Leasing, we have an outstanding auction prize, as the centrepiece of our summer good causes. For the Kilmarnock game at Celtic Park, on 24 September 2016, you can win:
2 seats in the directors’ box
Champagne reception
5 course meal in the Walfrid Suite
Fully expenses bar (pre and post-match)
Half time snacks and refreshments
Car Parking
And a match programme.
The auction is open for only ONE MORE DAY. This is a fabulous opportunity to indulge yourself in some high living while watching Celtic and contributing towards the construction of a school kitchen in Malawi for Mary’s Meals. You can get involved here.
Thanks again to Intelligent Car Leasing.
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DD, are you a go for next Thursday? Looks like Renfrew is the sclaffbaw park of choice (Ohits choice). A tough track by all accounts. Had a look at it on the interweb and apparently it’s got tree’s. That screws me up then cos we don’t have them at Carnoustie, so I’m up shitstreet…….:_)
the jimmy portrait
it will be a collectors item.
“i was there when james made a difference”
Lee Dorsey – Give It Up
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jh3cygQeZ1E#
Meant tae add, Coronation Cup winner and captain of the 7-1 team Bobby Evans – 5″ 8″
ACGR
10 minute drive over the brig for me.
Tidy course.
Erik Sviachencko is three inches taller than Carlos Puyol and that’s as far as I’m going with the centre back height debate.
Other than to say, Carlos wisnae bad wi the heid in that role. If we have half the player Carlos was I’ll have some of that.
ACGR
My hoose looks over the Clyde to Renfrew Golf Course.
If I could walk over water I would walk it in 5 minutes. :)
DD, I’ve had a load of texts from that wee fish wife Ohits telling me how tough it is. Its got tree’s….ha ha. I like tree’s. Tree’s can deflect a sclffed baw back into the sclaffbaw court better than the thin air at god’s holy sclaffbaw arena.
Looking forward to a pre match swally, the game, a post match swally and a sclaff roon Renfrew. What more could a carmyllie country bumpkin like me enjoy more.
HH
ACGR
I love trees too. Will we have time to climb some? ;))
DD, I’ll be in the BV around 4pm on Wed and I’ll have wee dram hipper for you. It’s a real belter and the last of the bottle. BTW, we’re all staying in the same place and are planning on hitting the Pot Still after the game.
You’re choice of sclaffbaw partners may be somewhat limited………………………:_)
I propose we all play against you until we get you blootered then we can rearrange the team lines.
ACGR
All sounds Hunky Dory tae me.
Crackin 2 days aff work next week now. :)
HH
I hope all the CQN crew playing at Aberdour tomorrow have a great day out, especially my three favorite sclaffbaw tims, Jobo, TBB and the big chap You know who I mean, you John Paul aye you …………………………….:_)
Whit a three ball that would be.
DD, cool banana’s bruv.
Ohits will be running aboot like a wee mother hen. Worrying about if you have a chainsaw in your bag.
We can sort him oot in the BV and put him straight………………………..ha ha.
HH
Goodnight Celtic men and wummin, hopefully see some of you next Wednesday.
HH
ACGR
GNGB bro. Hope you see close to 60000 of us in Paradise next Wednesday.
HH
Whit a night to have insomnia. Nobody aboot.
GG
HH if you’re still on. So this is what it feels like to be a moon howler. Saw both the Imps match and the Kazak match on the way down to Miami. 1st in Lucky Leprechaun in Orlando (great Tim hostelry) and the other in a small bar in Vero Beach.
Looking forward to Keys trip have heard so much about the area.
You look after yourself and keep the faith.
Tony Abu
HH
Hunderburds, I cant sleep.
Talking to myself.
Can Brendan be the defibrillator that brings the likes of Efe, Jamsie, Dedryck, Stefan, Kris C and Nir, back to life and contributing to our squad?
There is speed aplenty, vital in the modern game, in Efe, Jamsie and Dedryck, however inconsistency and lapses in concentration are their bogeymen.
Stefan, Kris and Nir have undoubted abilities when on song, each have different types of skill to offer, but these days, whether through injury or form loss, we rarely experience these attributes.
Yes we need a few incomers, and I’m sure we will get them – however the rehabilition of some, or, all of the above, will be great boost to our squad.
The month of August is going to be a very important time in our history – continued European involvement, either in the CL, or, EL, is essential for our development under Brendan.
There will be sadly, a number of departures – we wish them well and thank them for choosing Celtic – let’s be optimistic, Brendan will not let us down HH.
I was told yesterday that Celtic are signing Jason Denayer and Danny Ings on loan and signing Scott Sinclair and Danny Ward permanently, irrespective if we make the Champions League.
I don’t know anyone in the know, the guy I travel to work with says the guy has been right before – this is at least 3rd hand information so don’t take it as Gospel.
Oh and a Belated Happy Birthday to my Big big wee Sister Co. 50 yesterday. Remarkable the Charity work she has done all through her life.
Yer Thee Greatest OrinoCo Flow.
LifeLegend.CSC
Good evening CQN
I see the deady bears have a new musical coming out
Staring Dave King as the Fiddler on the roof
Gees yer cash
Hail Hail
Mt
I’m so glad I wasn’t at Life events when you felt threatened.
The Lord is Almighty. You are indeed the Bravest of the Brave.
Read that Roll of Honour
The way the Elites sway and manipulate is impressive.
You can’t Afford to Live without Christ as your King.
Mountblow tim,
God Bless ye dude.
The Administrators have the Celtic home game as early as possible. The Rangers being the Administrators, to try and ……………
take advantage of a New Manager – knowing they will have Full on Wins because of bent (allowed to use that word now in the Cultural Marxism State/pickle?) Referees.
Politicising a Police Force for Pride.
Aye.
And there is Not an Agenda against God?
ROFL
Wake up.
Pope Francis gets me thinking more and more, Howevaah.
God Bless Honesty.
Gearoid
Now I know who you are. Abu Tony. I wasn’t aware you were an Arabic speaker.
Couple of spots I’d like to mention
Bass Pro Shop and Islamorada Fish Company in Islamorada Gulf side. MM 81 about
There a restaurant at the marina. Large circular pool in the middle with sharks coming into pool from Gulf. Foods so so but the atmosphere after dark under the large tiki with lit palm trees and calypso music is relaxing. Usual beer choices.
Also the Morada Bay has full moon nights which can get a wee bit wild, I’m told.but we always had kids and grand kids and they loved watching sharks.
The Green Turtle Inn down the street has a good reputation but iVe never been myself for the above reasons.
I always stayed in a house in Marathon on Coco Plum Beach. Long natural undeveloped sandy beach with glassy clear water perfect for kayaking and walking. The turtle nest sites are usually marked at this time of year and if it’s a full moon there’s a chance they may be hatching.
Sombrero Beach is a developed beach in town which is manicured daily.
It’s worth hiring a boat or going on an organized trip to the reef and the lighthouse. Unless the sea is heavy, unusual, and like me you have a tendency to chum the water with breakfast or lunch.
Three generations of us loved the Dolphin Research Center and the Turtle Hospital.
Bahia Honda Key, just after 7 Mile Bridge, has a great beach with views of Flaglers old railway arches, fascinating for an old train buff like me.
Key West is not my scene, too many bar crawlers for me, but the sunset show at Mallory Square is worth an afternoon’s visit and some of the bars have decent music.
If you want noisy excitement, Key West is the spot, but if you want a quiet, relaxing time spotting dolphins, fishing, kayaking or sunbathing the more northerly Keys are good. Except maybe Key Largo which is more geared to diving and deep sea fishing.
‘GG Keys Tourist Board ;-)
The Word instructs to Pray for Leaders.
Worst Time ever to be a Leader from what I can ascertain.
Imagine asking people to Pray for Tory May?
Forget about God – Man is the Man now.
LOL
Morning Petec.
There are People I’d like to fight in my Work. They are hurtful, hateful, and they need me a lot more than I have EVER needed them.
Patience is a virtue, Scab comments, Nasty Commun ist comments. Sad as my tears, and there are so many.
It is Embarressing seeing young people being Worked up the Back in the Place to BEEE, looked after in a BROTHERHOOD Fashion to Single out that K*nt as a???????
WhyLie?
Wylie
The Secret Brotherhood.
YESHUA.CSC
THE Word is True.
jimthetim53 on 29th July 2016 4:43 am
Morning Petec.
………………………………………….
Sick of the Champagne Socialists up in Rosyth.
Anti Christians.
The Communists Isolate.
I must be Really getting to them being an alcoholic @ the weekend.
The amount of Under the breathe comments about me being a Scab.
I’m a scab apparently, there are selected people, know the reason I didn’t join the Union.
It was merely clerical.
These Haters, they are Hysterical.
The Most Judgemental people have a Sad LIFE.
Stay strong.
Anyway -Welcome to HyperInflation.
Unfortunately I’ve been exposed to the Unite Shite, by joining it Independetly, they send me crap about the Big World View.
Look @ local issues FFS.
End Times. For sure.
SCAB
16 Roads,
Rules for Radicals – the appreciation is plain to see.
Donald Trump is engaging Christianity, if you check it out.
It is a miracle that Corinne survived all the operations to keep her on this planet.
If people have a problem with his running m8, a Born Again Believer……….
Canamalar it looks like OCD obsession on 29th July 2016 5:03 am
SCAB
………………………….
ok
Carroll/Carrol
Means nothing to you. It means Nothing to you.
doubtingThomas.CSC ;))