Trending
Celtic News Now
Celtic Quick News on News Now
Celtic Quick News
You are at:»»Leigh at the margin, irony is finished

Leigh at the margin, irony is finished

536
By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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.

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

536 Comments
  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. ...
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15

  1. owen on

    Was hoping to catch a glimpse of me and my old fella at the game in Dundalk. Remember being called out of class and seeing my dad standing waiting for me, thought something had happened this being Lurgan in the 70’s- 80’s, he said nothing was wrong and led me to his mates van and handed me a cheese sandwich for the journey. Only problem was the van was usually used to bring the neighbours greyhounds to the races and I only had the wheel Wells to sit on boy did it stink in that van. Seem to remember the place was so full of Celtic supporters the old fella struggled to get in somewhere for a pint. The game it self was nerve-wracking but a good memory.

     

     

    The old fella died two years later but he brought me to some cracking games. Jock Stein’s testimonial against Liverpool and Celtic v Juventus were big occasions for a wee boy from Lurgan when you think of the boat and train journey involved.

     

     

    As a aside told my wee girl that I had travelled in train carriages just like the Hogwarts Express on the Stranraer – Glasgow line. Well impressive for a muggle said I.

  2. Hot Smoked on

    The Huddle

     

    Thanks for that link. The exchange of views on `that pass` had me intrigued 0:-).

     

    Having seen it, I feel there was Much Ado About Nothing. I can understand why James passed where he did and I can understand why some think he should have passed elsewhere.

     

    My own view is that , had he passed it to Leigh, then the central defender might have been able to intercept but I didn`t see the episode as important.

     

     

    JJ

  4. owen on

    See the media plant has arrived to try and distract attention from Aberdeen’s result by starting an anti Celtic row.

     

     

    Celtic have signed two players so far in this transfer window, if they sign no more or thirty more it would never appease this plant.

  7. Thunder Road on

    The main thing for me last night was about belief.

     

    We have a side that have been on the receiving end of a lot of disappointing results in European competition over the last few seasons so it would be understandable if our players were not too confident competing at this level right now.

     

    I dare say they go out there with a degree of confidence but i reckon there are a lot of scars in those players minds that will cause them to have some self doubt which may lead them to make desperate challenges defensively, snatch at chances that come our way, make poor decisions because players are almost trying too hard to force a situation when it would be wiser to pull back and choose another option or simply not be eager to show for passes because of the pressure they feel, etc, etc.

     

    I look at the challenges facing this team to get us to a standard that can compete in the champions league again as a flight of stairs and to me we may well have took that 1st step last night.

     

    I don’t mean because we have put ourselves in a good position to get into the next round but because as a team competing at that level, they will need to be mentally strong and have belief in each other…….and most importantly……..the boss.

     

    Maybe we would have got an equaliser regardless of the substitutions but it didn’t look that way and Brendan Rodgers actions led to us getting it.

     

    Personally i have already got so much more belief in him already because of those decisions not only because he had the tactical nous to see what was needed, but id like to think our players will be saying to themselves……if we listen to this guy and do what he says……it will work.

     

    Can we finish this particular job off in Paradise next week to go up another step?

     

    I guess time will tell but i believe…….and i think those players will have gained some belief and will have loved seeing the reward for the effort they put in last night, what listening to the new boss can do and perhaps a little bit of galvanization will have taken place……and 1 of those steps to becoming a strong team once again were taken.

  10. Almore on

    ThunderRoad: Excellent post. Much as I would love us to qualify for the CL I don’t think we are ready for that level of football. A decent run in the EL would help build team and supporter confidence imho.

  12. weeminger on

    Let’s not get into the CL, the one source of revenue large enough to buy CL quality players, just in case it makes the current squad feel bad about themselves.

     

     

    Nonsense.

  13. Delaneys Dunky on

    TR

     

     

    You have too much time on your hands, if you are able to write a cracking post like that. You are reading like your neebor Oldtim more by the day. Hope you are correct.

     

    Catchye soon pal.

  14. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    THUNDER ROAD on 28TH JULY 2016 10:13 PM

     

     

    Good stuff.

     

     

    Sadly , the C.L. is now far more about finance than prestige.

     

    But , unquestionably , it is where Celtic must be.

     

    It`s where we belong.

  16. Delaneys Dunky on

    Babasonico

     

     

    Had a great coastal drive from Valencia to Barcelona last week. Listened to the full Sandinista album. Memorable.

  19. Almore on

    Delaneys Dunky: Text or email me details of your Limerick excursion and I’ll work around it. My wee big bro is looking forward to it.

  22. NegAnon2 on

    Owen your attempts to dehumanise me and others who don’t sign up to your cosy world view are rather pathetic.

     

     

    Of course the media in Scotland hate Celtic. It’s about racism. But the people who run Celtic think racism sells.

     

     

    They are your enemy.

     

     

    You are simply too dumb to see.

  24. Delaneys Dunky on

    Almore

     

     

    Can’t make the bus time. Lookin at flights to Dublin and maybe share the fuel to Limerick wi you and R?

  25. BIG-CUP-WINNERS on

    Maybe RVP is facing a custodial in his current country and will petition to serve his time in the UK.

     

     

    He’d probably have his sentence realigned to our forward thinking diet of sentences.

     

     

    So wearing a tag or even community service could see him play at Her Majesty’s other Big House.

  26. !!Bada Bing!! on

    Dallas-as Geordie said,absolutely no need to apologise amigo,it’s unfortunate the Barca game is so close to the Astana game. Seems we are getting paid plenty for the 3 friendlies,and I believe it was about €60-70 a ticket for Saturday in Dublin,and you would hope to see both first teams. With Euros and Copa America not long finished,and the CLQ on Wednesday,will be doubtful if the big names are playing. On the plus side,a few need game time,and some of the youngsters will get a run. Thanks for your reply HH

  29. Lennybhoy on

    THUNDER ROAD on 28TH JULY 2016 10:13 PM

     

    Good post, see you tomorrow.

     

    Was thinking the same watching and immediately after the game, I have the belief once more.

     

    Keep the Faith!

     

    Hail Hail!

  31. Almore on

    DD: No problem. We’ll probably get a bus from Dublin (more beer time) but can collect you from the airport(Dublin). Let me know details and we’ll build around it.

  33. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    SALTIRESINSEVILLA 647

     

     

    Mailed you a reply,bud. Thanks.

     

     

    Had to hit the hay for a few hours…

  34. Delaneys Dunky on

    Almore

     

     

    It will be earliest flight from Glasgow to Dublin on Saturday. Will confirm when booked.

     

    Give R my finest regards.

     

    HH

  37. Almore on

    DD: More beer time! R is in Portugal at the minute but is looking forward to match. Will pass on your good wishes.

     

     

    Decent result for Cork City earlier this evening, they lost 0-1 away from home in EL but League of Ireland teams not doing badly so far this Summer.

     

     

    Anyway, off to mo leaba.

     

     

    COYBIP

  38. Delaneys Dunky on

    Neg

     

     

    No way was Owen dehumanising you or anyone by his post.

     

    Calm doon ffs.

  40. Celticrollercoaster supporting Shay,our bhoy wonder along the way on

    Thunder Road

     

     

    Lets hope BR gets the support from the board and makes all our CL dreams a reality once more. Although a good EL run would not be a bad thing either

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. ...
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15