You and I have watched a lot of Celtic away from home in the Champions League; we know what to expect. Stick to your task, clear the ball long, tackle hard and exploit set-pieces as best we can. That’s been the plan for 27 away games. 25 of them ended in defeat.
Away game 28, in Barcelona, fell apart at the seams, but last night in Manchester built on the progress in Monchengladbach. From nowhere, Celtic have gone two unbeaten away from home in this tournament.
It wasn’t just the result (in either game) we had more attempts at goal, more attempts on target, we passed with speed and precision under pressure. City caught us on the break to score, and could have added another, on the break, but we had the better of the chances in both halves. Moussa Dembele, Gary Mackay-Steven and Leigh Griffiths will all feel they should have scored.
Jozo Simunovic and Erik Sviatchenko again proved they can operate at Champions League level. The difference in central defence since last year, when one or other of them was unavailable, is beyond credible.
The night was another success for Stuart Armstrong, who built on a transformational visit to Motherwell on Saturday. James Forrest took on and beat three players to setup Dembele, but James fell to a familiar foe and retired injured.
Gary Mackay-Steven, playing his first senior game in over eight months, looked exhausted after his first sprint. There are no shortcuts to match fitness. That chance, when he was clean through with Caballero to beat, will no doubt haunt the player, but he delivered a performance reminiscent of the one he gave in the San Siro two years ago, before being sacrificed. As though alchemy is at work, Celtic have squad-fillers from earlier times looking the part at the highest level.
I had a notion that it wouldn’t be too bad if Patrick Roberts had an anonymous game. That lasted all of four minutes, when he waltzed into the Manchester City box to open the scoring. Did he do enough to convince Pep Guardiola that he’ll be needed in the City squad next season when his loan to Celtic ends? Probably not. That’s the way of it at Manchester City. They will spend >£100m between now and 1 September; Patrick will go the way of Jason Denayer.
Bring on Partick Thistle.
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An Teach solais
Cheers, I still dont see it on the website though
Neustadt Braw
Happy Birthday
DESSYBHOY
Sorry I should have made it clear that I was paraphrasing club statement as enunciated on Shortbread TV Scottish news.
Vfr 800 has posted statement in full – prob. a press release.
HH
After an earful of the hysterical screaming of Kris Boyd, I switched over to 5live hoping for something a bit more upmarket.
Charlie Adam and Joey Barton!
Another soup taker, Mark Wilson, condemning the behaviour of Celtic supporters (unlimited) at away games on BBC website. No condemnation of his DU thug friend, then?? HH
We are reported differently from every club in this country, always have been:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxNEiZhpinY
C’Mon Peter – get us outa here…
SIXTAESEVEN – 65 TROPHIES IN MY LIFETIME
Eric Burdon, tip top:))
Happy Birthday wishes to Braw and MWD! Pint raised soon as my day is over.
Coincidentally my missus made us burgers for dinner last night. Delicious! Hand rolled grass fed buffalo meat, smoky flavour, enhanced with Oregon organic sharp cheddar, chopped portobello mushrooms and chili aeoli.
Disclaimer- no domestic livestock endured a greasy mark on its erchie in the consumption thereof.
Not long back, thoroughly enjoyed the performance from this ever maturing Celtic side.
I’ve read some of the posts on this article about a debate regarding the song book. I’m not sure of the purpose of this other than for some Celtic supporters to tell other Celtic supporters that singing particular Irish Republican songs in unacceptable.
Personally, I think it would achieve nothing.
I do struggle to understand what right anyone has to tell someone else not to sing something of this nature if they’ve sung it previously.
Anyways, I thought we were superb last night.
ERNIE LYNCH on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 2:35 PM
Personally, I would like to have heard God Save Ireland being sung, given the location of the game and the place it has in the history of Celtic.
*much prefer the “Smashing o’ the Van”. Reminds me of a Summers Saturday afternoon on the way home fae work and popping intae a bluenose pub in Alexandria, it was a good shop which didnae sell gills of the mammy mine and close tae the hoose at the time.
Pub was quiet which was the norm on nice days then with most of the locals heading up tae Balloch, a Bhoy I knew sitting in the corner was playing his guitar, at seeing me he shouts me over and then says tae listen tae this, Smashing o’ the Van, it has probably more verses than Kevin Barry. I mentioned this being a bluenose shop, eff them he says DOBs.
Neustadt Braw/MWD
Many happy returns lads.
Hail Hail
Delighted that we took on Manchester City twice and came away with our credibility as Champions of our country undamaged.
We’ve no idea what the Celtic squad will look like by the 2017 qualifiers, but we can hazard a guess that it’ll be at least as good, and probably better.
It can’t be all about attitude? – it must be down to systems, and coaching because this is virtually Ronny’s team with Dembele added.
If you aren’t convinced of how imperious we are, study the deep permanent establishment scars in SMSM, who
are whipped up to devil dug level five.
Two more sleeps CSC © ole Baldie
Happy birthday Braw. It’s all your day as it’s not my birthday. :-)))
MWD
Former Partick Thistle physio now alleged to have been involved in abuse. It’s clear that this problem runs deep within the British football and all clubs need to collaborate to investigate what went on and also provide support to victims. Absolutely shocking stuff.
DAVIDOPOULOS on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 3:44 PM
Tontine Tim
We really dodged a bullet when the Bunnet rejected his application for the GM position as IMHO he would truly have been the enemy within destroying the club we love.
Cannot believe I am just finding this out now!!!!
*he was overlooked for the position in 1997 by jock brown, who only lasted 17 months, 6 months later was the coin toss game which IMHO he and the wee sleekit tail of the banker provoked with big Stephane being sent aff. He has again IMHO never forgave us.
Turkeybhoy,@2:45pm.is that you getting a life:-)))#statsrme
DAVIDOPOULOS on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 7:44 PM
Absolutely right mate it’s abhorrent, however, sadly with the mindset of some folk this will all become about point scoring. It’s really very, very sad.
Does anyone know why John Davies left the now deid Rangers?
Rumour and hearsay going back many years in the Pollok area!!
Just rumour and hearsay though but I always thought were there was smoke there was fire.
MWD
TONTINE TIM
If this is absolute fact then there was a clear conflict of interest which should have precluded Dallas from ever refereeing a Celtic match. Clearly the SFA failed again to uphold the integrity of the game.
Just watching the game back. Stonewall penalty when wee Paddy was pulled back in the box!
Good grief. Now rent-a-gob Boyd turns up on 5live!
HAMILTONTIM
Yes, the point scoring is pathetic. On twitter there were Celtic fans goading Rangers fans because of the news about Gordon newly which I found disgusting. Having said that, the news that many clubs have these horrible characters associated with them, including Rangers, seems to have no impact on those who like to refer to us as Bheasts. One of the first thing that needs to stop is using these abuse cases as tools to beat each other with. Everyone has to unite to get to the bottom of these scandals.
*Gordon Neely
DAVIDOPOULOS on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 7:57 PM
Spot on. The specifics of which clubs are involved is completely immaterial. Anyone using this as an excuse to slag off opposition supporters really needs to have a look at themselves.
Jock Brown was a disaster, Dallas the same
Anyone who has had child protection training will be aware most cases are within families, very sad .
As I’ve been saying for weeks, Leigh Griffiths, it’s time.
Wembley is quiter than the Etihad tonight.
Why are the front 20 rows behind the goals blocked off?
Ooft, goal CSKA
Gooooood evening CQN
MWD blame that CRC fhella for the duff info :-)
Now who is in control of radio Clyde panelists ? I only listen when driving home from work, so the guest at 7 Mon ex Hun in Houtons speaker list, then tonight another ex Hun superstar, someone from NI who I have no idea if he actually got any games for oldco
Didn’t hear on Tues night ( I had something else to do last night :-) so no idea who the guest was
Hail Hail
Mark Wilson
Mark – please wise up and keep your opinions to yourself – for God’s sake… ;( :( :(
Pass completion in the Champions League –
Scott Brown: 95%
Toni Kroos: 93%
Xabi Alonso: 92%
David Silva: 86%
Luca Modric: 86%
Cowiebhoy
It’s not my birthday until the equivalent date to that that I was born on in 1995.
MWD
Joey Barton N/A
Just read Mark Wilson comments
If true ? Another Trumpet
THETIMREAPER on 7TH DECEMBER 2016 8:29 PM
Joey Barton N/A
——————————-
Oh, I see. Joey completed every pass so no need to calculate the completion rate, therefore N/A. Gotcha.
;)
Leicester getting skelped and out of the CL, also in the relegation zone in the league.
DESSYBHOY
Are they not top of their group no matter what happens tonight?
N/A
Nae attempts.