When Craig Gordon pitched up at Celtic in 2014, two years after his last appearance as a footballer and five years since serious injury first blighted his career, I’m sure the keeper’s closest friends didn’t believe he would play 200 games in less than four years – let’s remember, he couldn’t get a gig at Newco under Ally McCoist.
Now is he a regular international and a treble winner with more league medals than exist in the locker rooms of every player in the league outside of Celtic. It would have been more appropriate to celebrate his 100th Celtic clean sheet on his 200th appearance with a win last night, but there was little the keeper could do about that.
This is a great story. Well done, Craig, and congratulations also to Stevie Woods for his insight and development work.
It would be wrong to characterise all of our six home league draws this season as performances against packed defences, Newco and Hibs both drew while pressing the game, but visiting teams have an effective strategy to pursue at Celtic Park: defend deeply and you are in with a chance.
Doing what Dundee, St Johnstone (twice) and Kilmarnock have done at Celtic Park this season is not easy, if it was we would have done it in Paris, but it provides us with a timely reminder of how much work is required to finish off the season with a Scottish Cup.
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Those who are thinking of not renewing,WHY?Me personally,I will renew,for the simple reason,that if we don’t really strengthing our team,with Quality,in the Summer ,I think going for 8 in a row,we will struggle, Brendan Rodgers needs to add to the Squad,and transfer at least 4 or 5 of the Current Squad,ie Rogic, Armstrong.Dembele, Boyata,Lustig,Devries,Roberts,Edourad,I don’t think he is a 7 Million Player,I have added another 3 on my list,but to be honest I’m sure there are more that could be added, Quite Simply I don’t have much faith in this current Squad,
STARRY PLOUGH
I clearly said his name so whats your point?
If there is no movement off the ball who bares the responsibility?Players and coaches both have a say in this.
Also we rightfully praised the excellent job he did last season so are we not allowed to have an opinion on this season?
I have not consistently punted anything .I have stated my opinion on a few occasions including praise when due.
I also disagree as Ntcham is an excellent passer with vision.Our lack of movement makes it difficult for him to show his range.
Obsession with possession is an issue.We have to learn the difference between neutral, negative and positive possession.
Last night lustig gave a glaring example of turning positive possession into negative.Hendry gave him a pass and he had acres of space ahead but he immediately gave it back to Hendry who was being closed down.Hendry returned it to Lustig who now was also bing closed down and he hit a hopeful punt to avert danger.This happens frequently with guys who are in acres of space turn and return easy pass rather than play positive.
If it’s not a coaching directive then it should be coached out of them as it does nothing but put pressure on our back line.
Nobody is suggesting big punts just players playing with a more positive mindset.
I have shown no vitriol toward the coaches .
I agree some of the personal stuff on social media is beyond the pale.
Good evening bhoys last night was a blip, one of a few this season. When you consider some players have played an awful lot of games and some have been out for quite some time and maybe not up to speed yet, then maybe we can understand these blips. Let’s get PR7 and the Griff more game time. BR maybe trying to juggle both the above scenarios and keeping an eye on certain games coming up..Stroll on Sunday.
We are going for a double treble, so come on you bhoys in green.
Canny wait….. In Brendan we trust.
D. :)
As I’ve said, once or twice before, when the Brendan pub team skelping bounce wears off,………………………………………………………………………………………………..Apathy will find you.
Guid luck.
……oot.
Fleeting visit, much work to do.
At the end of the day IMO the players we have are good enough for where we are, at times they can turn it on in europe, to get the whole team to turn it on at once is a major ask again imo, tis the reason why we seldom do it.
I am not slagging the players, not my style, they do their best, sometimes some of the support don’t appreciate it, the same for the coaching, the players last season we a product of better coaching, maybes the hype has gone to their head, who knows, the constant pish in the media will turn a players head no doubts about it.
I personally think we pay them far too much as a basic wage, performance related is the way to go, Pedro will love me for saying that :-)
We don’t have to pay 10-20K a week in the spl, and we are not doing anything in europe so it’s throwing good money away, again imo, the huns were slagged big time for paying way over the odds when they could have blooded weans and saved a fortune, in a sense we are doing the same.
I have no a clue as to the answer, never professed to know the answer, it’s not my place nor my job, what I do know is that I love it when we win and play good free flowing football, jeez, if it was that easy we would all be doing it.
Lit the barbie tonight, first one of the year and am sooooo looking forward to it, laters mi amigos.
HH
DELANEYS DUNKY on 5TH APRIL 2018 2:03 PM
Greenpinata I cannot understand anyone making the effort to attend a match, choosing to leave on 70-75 minute mark. With 20 minutes to go, I was sure we would still score a couple of goals. Baffling.
*when parishioners would leave Mass after communion, usually tae jook the 2nd collection, my da used tae say “bet they widnae leave the pictures or Parkheid early”, must have been a different support then.
BTW when no working a Sunday, double time, shift he always went tae 11:30 Mass, the Balloch Hotel next door didnae open until 12:30 so no sense in leaving early lol.
DAVIDOPOULOS on 5TH APRIL 2018 4:33 PM
Imagine Nir Bitton was playing last night…
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I wish he had been , big mans a player and can pass a ball.
WITS – I’m enjoying ‘Dream of a Celt’ – Casement had am interesting life didn’t he
There was an article in a NY paper today that made me laugh … they asked the question ‘if Melania divorces Trump while he is the President, does she stay in the White House as the matrimonial home, and force him to move elsewhere?’
sorry … it made me chuckle.
David17
Is Biton signed through next season?
MIKE IN TORONTO on 5TH APRIL 2018 5:02 PM
David17
Is Biton signed through next season?
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Until 2020.
VFR
only 7 on target ast night . With regards to the same fixture in 2016, do you know how many were on target?
My point remains, the football was turgid, there was no imagination, no flair and little skill on display. Equally, it was a cold night and the crowd was as low as I can recall , not as low as 2016, but low by current terms.
To touch on DDs post about renewals, it was such low turn outs and a very slow uptake by May 2016 of STs that the decision was made to push the boat out on Brendan. Fans aint daft, they want entertained. I’m in my 50s, I accept there’s a balance, but the league is as good as won, there was no reason not to play Paddy or Charly to be on from the start. It would have certainly added to the crowd if trailed beforehand.
When Mrs TET is away
Mr TET will play.
I’m with TET. If we pay players fortunes to play at a level above their ability, then complain when they don’t entertain, who is at fault?
DELANEYSDUNKY
The antidote used for nerve agents is apparently quite commonly used in surgery and heart treatment. And when I remember the name of it,I’ll let you know!
Point being,any A&E department,and most likely most ambulances,will carry it as a matter of course.
Auldheid
Yip, we complain about the lack of cash at our level and yet……
I wish she wisny away tho, I might go out for a few beers at the weekend mind you :-)
HH
VFR
Cheers.
Ask if there is any update on SFA Compliance Officer Investigation into 2011 UEFA licence. in response to the recent petition to Celtic from 3000 petitioners.
If none ask if it is totally open ended.
I keep getting asked on Twitter so would be good to have something to refer to.
TONTINETIM
A couple of decades ago,the only people to beat the Parish Priest into the next-door Ardrossan Garryowen CSC were the bar staff!
I assume they attended the earlier Mass…
Auldheid
In business and the like it’s called the Peter Principal when you reach your level of incompitance, I suppose it’s called the same with footballers.
For sure we have the best players in scotland, yet some bitch when a team with the best players on the planet spank us, I honestly can’t get the head around that kinda thinking.
Love to the good lady.
HH
TIMHORTON on 4TH APRIL 2018 11:44 PM
i thought we were poor again at Celtic park and for the life of me i dont know why we let izzy go when we have no cover for kt.
*it wasn’t our choice and as Izzy has said himself “It’s very difficult to talk about. There will be a day when I can talk about my departure. I don’t want to, but it was due to personal problems I had with agents in England. That’s why I left.It was hard for me to leave and I felt guilty leaving.”
As for last night, been there with a better side than was put out last night. I mentioned earlier this week on our run in tae the record equaling 6-in-a-row that we had done the hard work with a tie up at the pen, the following Saturday our game against the Honest Men at hampden was cancelled due tae flooding, we were forced tae play there due tae a concern with the beam in the main stand at our ground, the sheep, on a 16 game unbeaten run, lost down at Brockville.
We now were 3 points behind the sheep (2 points for a win back then) with an +8 GD, this was a very good dons side containing the likes of national side but greetin face Bobby Clark, Stevie Murray, Martin Buchan, former deidco cousins forrest and willoughby, big Davie Robb, Arthur (Bumper) Graham and “harpers a barrel of scheitd”, lots of firepower in that side.
We only needed 3 points fae 3 games, however in our first of those we drew 2-2 at Love Street against a relegation bound Buddies. This was a St Mirren team that would finish 33 points behind us with an 86 GD between the 2 clubs, they were like Dundee last night also fighting relegation and in fact were actually demoted that night.
Incidentally, deidco finished in 4th place behind us, the sheep and st johnstone 15 points and a – 42 GD.
great stuff about izzy tontine
TONTINETIM
Is that a GD of -42 compared to us? Hard to believe they could run up an actual GD of -42. I’d PMSL though if it happened!
THE EXILED TIM on 5th April 2018 5:39 pm
‘For sure we have the best players in scotland, yet some bitch when a team with the best players on the planet spank us, I honestly can’t get the head around that kinda thinking.’
######
The complaints weren’t about being spanked.
They were about the ‘rabbit caught in the headlights’ approach by the team.
Not good enough.
And it wasn’t inevitable. The second leg showed that.
I’m not saying anything that wasn’t said at the time.
As you know.
hearts aberdeen on sat should be interesting – can aberdeen keep up their intensity and quality?
Heard Brendan on RS last night say the team seemed a tad tired. Whatever the problem, Celtic certainly didn’t have that necessary quantum of inspiration.
That said, I Lyndsay’s match report in the Herald today. The gist of it was that Celtic – on balance – were lucky to escape with a draw. Other Herald hacks adopt a similar tone about Celtic – just south of openly nasty.
The prospect of a double treble is one they hate and fear.
As a side topic ; I would wager if last night’s game was tonight there would be an additional 10k on the crowd.
HH.
Greenpinata
What is your reasoning for thinking that?
The warmer weather today?
By all accounts Celtic were low key last night but seem like Willie Mullins horses, are cantering to the winning post. The Champions league was the desired Holy Grail of Paris San Germain and Man City spending billions in the process of achieving that target but now despite all this have galloped out of Europe…….unless of course there is a miracle in Manchester. It’s bloomin cold weather for watching football these days and I experienced it in Croke Park last Sunday. What’s all this guff about global warming?
Bobby Murdoch
Might be Atropine given by injection, I have read that there is no antidote to Novichuk.
‘ pale into significance ‘
Steve McManaman
Much a do about nothing nothing.
Oh look! – Celtic dropped points at home again must go and crunch ma keyboard with the same old same old, post count on CQN goes through the roof.
Brendan , or Celtic are this that and the next thing, the supporters are at fault for no supporting bla bla bla de bla bla bla.
Everybody is entitled to an opinion, but the one that always wins it is ‘ I didnae see the game………….BUT I think……bla de bla bla de bla
WereYouAtTheGame?
……….James Sanderson CSC
DD,
Exactly, this seems like the beginning where the first shoots of spring are evident. ( In the west of Scotland anyway )
I was even able to venture out without the Antarctic survival gear.
Generally there is more people out and about and the boozers seem so much more welcoming . The population is drained with this prolonged bad weather and I would bet that SAD has been more prevailent.
Never underestimate the power of a bit of sunshine.
All in my honest opinion only of course.
Cheers and take care.
HH.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 5TH APRIL 2018 5:53 PM
TONTINETIM
Is that a GD of -42 compared to us? Hard to believe they could run up an actual GD of -42. I’d PMSL though if it happened!
*aye it was compared tae us, we had 66 GD and they 24. Ironically they took us tae a replay in the SC Final, the 2-1 score wisnae a true reflection on the game as like last night we were shot shy. Wee Skip tae ma Lou scored the opener in his first ever cup game and 2 days later another of the Quality Street gang scored 6 in Frank Beatties testimonial.
As an aside,perhaps the best we’ve played since the turn of the year was against the huns,even for all the defensive lapses.
But if you can find a decent batch of highlights,you’ll be struck by the fact that we played much more passes to a player to run on to,which created most of our chances. Many of you might even recall watching the game and thinking we looked like scoring every time we got the ball,which is how fans should feel about a good team.
Obviously we didn’t,but far too often this season when we get the ball,it’s worth nipping to the toilet/bar/pie stall as you can be fairly sure that you’re unlikely to miss much.
So,no,I’m not criticising the team. I’m putting in a special request that we play more frequently like we did on March 11.
MIKE IN TORONTO on 5TH APRIL 2018 4:39 PM
Starry … where you and I see things differently is that I think we do, in fact, have several players in our midfield who are, or at least could be, very good passers of the ball …
odsonne has shown some lovely passing ability … and, in the brief time he has played, so has Kouassi … Calum McGregor has shown a lovely touch and vision on occasion, and (and this is one I have to eat some crow on) Scott Brown’s passing has improved immeasurably over the years … but the static system that we seem to have adopted seems too otten to be stifling the innate passing skills that I see in the players..
I know injuries, make it hard to be consistent… but, for me, and as Fanatic has said, the way we are set up is not bringing out the best in the players at the moment… and that is BR’s responsibility.
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What the Big Brief said, in brief…..
HH jamesgang
DESSYBHOY
That’s the one,thanks! Since R2 effed about with their overnight schedules,I’m reduced to listening to R4/WS. But since I’m out of and in to a van every three minutes or so,I’m in danger of proving the old adage of a little knowledge.
As in jokes,I often miss the punchline!
BMCUW
Why were we told a month ago that there was no known antidote for Novachok?
The nice thing about watching football in bitterly cold weather is the aftermath pints of guinness and a nice bit of grub in the welcoming warmth of the local hostelry.
MIKE IN TORONTO on 5TH APRIL 2018 5:00 PM
There was an article in a NY paper today that made me laugh … they asked the question ‘if Melania divorces Trump while he is the President, does she stay in the White House as the matrimonial home, and force him to move elsewhere?’
*Interesting that a NY paper brought that up as when trumpet sycophant Mayor of NY at the time Giuliani announced that he intended to separate from his 2nd wife she was unaware of this although she did know he was having an affair.
He was ordered to move out of the Mayor’s Mansion by court order and was barred from entering the Mansion or meeting his children before the divorce was final.
Incidentally, his 1st marriage was annulled as he reportedly discovered his wife was also his second cousin. Her brother claimed that Giuliani knew at the time of the marriage that they were second cousins. Also, his best man, later became a priest and helped get the annulment, the fact they had no children helped in the the annulment.