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.
536 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 15
- »
Cultsbhoy –
Have you a link to the footage of Peter Lawwell injuring Erik?
Thanks in advance.
Fair article by Neil Cameron in the Herald: Anyone thinking Celtic’s draw against Astana isn’t a good result needs a reality check
VFR800A8
the Herald – gave them up about 10 years ago.
Money saved has paid for the ipad I’m using now, and one before that and the next one..
Let me guess ratio of +ve Celtic stories v -ve ?
How does that compare to Sevco ratio?
GREENSIDEUP-GBWO on 28TH JULY 2016 2:36 PM
BORGO67,
The ref booked Broonie’s because he’s the captain, the referee pointed at his armband as if to say you’re the captain, you should know better and in this case he probably got it right.
HH
The ref got it right for booking Scott Brown because hes captain ? 50 years involved in football in football never heard of it or seen of a captain being booked because hes a captain, can you back that up by the laws of the game ?
I thought the new rules they were trying to introduce was that ONLY the captain can approach/moan at the ref!?
HH
saltires en sevilla
Ditto, I don’t read it any longer; I clicked the link from Newsnow because of the title and was pleasantly surprised!
Scottish referees have been booking Broonie just for being Broonie for ages…
Astana are worried and resorting to dirty tricks, some blatant attempts to take Paddy out and rile Leigh.
Celtic are growing in confidence and were riled by their antics, even loss of a goal next week shouldnt be a massive problem, Rodgers will adapt far quicker than the previous boss and going forward if the final ball improves even slightly we will be absolutely fine.
All the ingredients are there to put them to the sword next week. 4-0.
HH
SES –
The guy was only highlighting one positive Celtic story in one newspaper. He did not say it was anything more than that, so why the forensic analysis?
Trad88
2-0 for me
Roberts 1st minute
Griffiths 45th minute
Shut up shop 2nd half
HH
Auld Tam
You think that was a forensic analysis? :-)
I’ve read Leigh’s comments about approaching the Astana second leg in the manner we did the imps match.
That would concern me.
We absolutely can not be leaving two on two or one on one at the back as everyone bombs forward.
We’re in the driving seat here, Astana has to force the second leg.
Keep it tight Celtic and let Patrick, Griffths and Forrest do their job upfront.
saltires en sevilla on 28th July 2016 3:03 pm
Would take that right now but I think at the moment with us measured attack is the best form of defence. Even Lincoln RI had a chance to make things awkward, so I don’t want us to let up if we were were to go, say, 2-0 up. Hard to know how to play it mind you.
I do think the players will be itching not just to beat them but to annihilate them after their antics last night. A bouncing CP as well will drive us on.
HH
Some confusion about Robin van Persie joining the sevc@nts. Rip van Winkle is much more likely.
Trad88
Yes, agree they need a lesson
You realise I’m going to have to take 4-0 on top of the 2-0 already forecast :-)
HH
Next week it is Astana’s turn to face the 5,000 mile journey, 5 hour time difference, unfamiliar pitch and hostile crowd. I don’t think they will enjoy it.
Noted Astana between last season and this have scored twice away from home
Once in Turkey and once in Cyptus
Imagine Turkey and Cyprus in terms of climate time and distance are a lot closer to home than
Glasgow
Astana 0 will do me
AT @ 2.35
I take it your local knitting B was just a bit too physical for your liking?
Get real — contact sport that should cut both ways.
We lacked physicality yesterday and KC’s attitude does not help.
That is one of their strengths although by CL standards we are currently weak.
Good performance, great result yesterday.
However we can still lose it if we get complacent — it has happened before.
AULD TAM on 28TH JULY 2016 2:40 PM
I don’t have footage but I heard he asked Erik to carry his wallet down to his car… Putting Erik’s back out in the process.
Anyhow glad you feel PL has addressed our defensive deficit… Didn’t look like it last night when we conceded from a bread and butter cross.
As P67 states the margins are tight but our penny pinching speculative transfer policy makes those margins tighter than they need be…?
I wonder how much wages Kolo will be on?
Quite a bit I imagine.
saltires en sevilla on 28th July 2016 3:11 pm
Celtic -1 will be tempting next week… we’re all pretty confident, hopefully its not a nail biter,
HH
It bemuses me that here and on many other Celtic fan boards the complete consensus is the it is Lawwell that won’t buy another centre back; does it occur to anyone that Brendan Rodgers may have said that with Sviatchenko, Simunovic, Boyata, O’Connell and Ambrose that adding Toure was all he wanted? Throw in Lustig and Ajer and we have 8 players to choose from when all are fit. We had 3 in place last night who performed competently and we achieved a decent result. With Toure, Sviatchenko and Ajer available next week we have plenty of cover. Boyata and Simunovic will be back in contention soon as well. When all are fit we will have 4 warming the bench.
When the ref booked Broonie he pointed to the Respect badge on his – the refrees – arm. Nothing to do with Broonie being Captain. Broonie had been chirping in his ear most of the game and got involved in the pushing and shoving, Standard practice in situations like that is too caution 1 player from each side which he did with Scott being the most obvious target. At least that’s the way I viewed it!
GEORDIE MUNRO
It just biddy feels like it.
Though even in games we are cruising every time our opponents have dead ball opportunities to put ball in our box i jump behind my sofa.
I hope Toure can be the defensive general.
Not content with playing each other in the league and domestic cups, EPL sides want to play each other in pre-season friendlies so that their stars can try to cripple each other:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwDoRvoN1Wg
Bizarre.
Also, the Internation Champions Cup contains many non-Champions. Surely it’s just the International Cup Containing Some Champions.
Barney,
More than he was on last week though ;)
Fan a tic,
Lol!!! Have you ever watched a game relaxed?? It’s rubbidge. :)
HH
Good Afternoon.
Good read Paul!
Here is my latest. All about that Robin van Persie ‘transfer’ to Sevco…
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2016/07/28/shite-van-man/
The Pink jersey – not my cuppa. Seems that the young ins like it though. Anyone I know late 30’s on nog keen. Younger than that it’s quite popular.
Imagine.
The away goalie jersey for the black shirt however – too close to blue for my tastes!!!!!! Abomination.
VFR800A8
I think the signing of Toure is enough for central defense.
A wise move as the one thing lacking in that area was an experienced wise old head.
I think Boyata took unfair stick last year as did most of our defenders due to a poorly implemented system that exposed them.
Simo hopefully will be injury free.
Erik is a good utility man.
The youngsters O’Connell.McCart and Kelleher all look good and are viewed as our future so the introduction of an experienced central defender was a good move.
Ajer to me is a central midfielder but in a pinch he can fill in defensively.
VFR800A8
No I hadn’t considered that – thanks….
I had considered that Simunovic is a sick note, Erik is a great player but arguably too short, Toure is 35, OConnell and Ager arguably too inexperienced and that Efe and Boyatta are not to be trusted.
Having said all that maybe the consensus of Celtic support across many forums is a random error.
I feel better now knowing that I and nearly every other Celtic supporter only think there is a deficit when in fact we are solid at the back.
Also who cares what Rodgers wants? Certainly not ourself appointed Director of Football – PL!
Davidpolous,
Grujic also left the field injured with suspected concussion.
The Serb says he cannot remember a thing.
Klop made me laugh with his reaction to it.
He said something like “Thats just not cool!”
HH
Geordie Munro
Haha, when I read that I read it in my best Jurgen Klopp voice. It made me laugh.
CULTSBHOY – SEES RIGHT THROUGH LAWWELL AND THE BOARD on 28TH JULY 2016 3:44 PM
I think you make fair points with the exception of Toure’s age – only because he is a short-term fix and I doubt his age will have affected him that much since he was MoM in the Europa League final 2 months ago.
” I can exkwoozuvwy wiveal that wainjurs have signed Ronald Van Persie…
from Dutch ‘cracks’…….. VV Katspis an’ will make his day-boo…..soon”
Aye, cheers Chic.
I’m not getting the argument Astana were physical.Apart from hacking Paddy,who’s hardly Goliath’s big brother,I don’t recall them bullying or outmuscling us.I’m assuming pshysical is being used to actually mean “naw very skillful”?Considering they were at home and more than halfway through their season the aspect that stuck out most for me was how poor their passing was.Given the crowds backing I reckon we’ve got enough to finish the job next week.
Time to start getting our gallusness back.
Clumps – ha ha! Some top clumping. Some one somewhere planted it. Bookies? Not originally probably but certainly ran with it when cash was being made.
L5? I wonder if the book is open on them? I’d stick a weeks wages on it.
More interesting point of speculation – Why the distraction? So many possible answers. On this occasion I reckon it’s the continuation of operation Sevco Pravda – ‘All is well. All will continue to be well. Look a squirrel.’
Lionsroar67 2.49
I asked the question about broonie as it did seem from the limited highlights that I saw that Scott got booked for being the captain , others have said the ref was rotten so it’s possible that he wasn’t involved in anything and copped it for someone else. Haven’t seen that happen since school.