I’m largely ignoring the defensive lapses of last night. There will be at least two changes for the Champions League, and everyone will be far more attentive. It was, though, a concern that both Kilmarnock goals came as a result of Celtic’s left-hand-side being breached.
Malmo’s Age Hareide will have noted this, and whatever attacking resources he deploys next week are likely to try to exploit a perceived weakness. Ronny will have a choice: Izzie or Charlie? My money’s on the latter.
Tom Rogic didn’t have the perfect game but it was good to see him take so much responsibility. He’s looked like the office junior of the Celtic midfield on previous outings, as did Nir Bitton for most of his early games. If Rogic has genuine talent, we need to let him find his feet in games like these.
Ronny Deila answered all questions after the game but gave little away. I hope his dismissal of injury worries was accurate. Kris Commons is the gravy in his pie. We are capable of beating anyone without Kris, but we need him doing his thing if we are to take a comfortable victory to Sweden.
Yesterday I was looking over Celtic’s form in November 2006 after doing an interview for a French magazine, who are writing a piece on Shunsuke Nakamura. That was the month Naka scored the goal which sent us top of the group and into the knock-out rounds of the Champions League for the first time – with a game to spare, no less.
It’s less well remembered that earlier that month we went out of the League Cup after losing at home to Falkirk on penalties, or that we couldn’t win at Easter Road immediately after the Champions League win.
Indifferent performances and results surround some of our greatest European performances. Getting it right when it counts is what matters.
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BMCUWP
I think it’s a win win situation for both Hibs and ourselves.
Hibs prevent a major competitor gain a seemingly useful player advantage.
They then strengthen their own team with a player whose capabilities they know.
And maybe they gain the services of a loan player to further strengthen their midfield.
AND they get paid for it.
We gain a proven Scottish youngster with an under 21 cap.
One of our promising youngsters gets a chance to play regularly.
And it costs us less than the price of a charter flight to a European cup venue.
“AND that’s not all” says the voice over man from the side
The Glip and Shameless Liar downstream gets to look like an empty biscuit tin over investor who has been found out.
AND the MSM and the fan base look silly after all the publicity about buying the lad.
The bangs you hear all over Glasgow are from West of Scotland fans throwing their TVs out on to the streets below.
Bang crash wallop.
From the Herald. The Penny (Arcade?) Is Dropping.
PETER LAWWELL first joined Celtic in 1990 in a role that at the time was rather comically entitled Financial Controller. In other words he minded the biscuit tin.
There wasn’t much in the way of finance back in the day at Celtic Park, never mind control, and the club stumbled on for years in the shadow of Rangers who rather lorded it over their poor, in every sense of the word, rivals on the other side of the city.
“For every £5 Celtic spends we will spend ten,” so boasted Sir David Murray then in charge of Ibrox and in truth much of Scottish football. It was a put-down that worked on a number of levels, one of them being that rarely if ever did Celtic’s spending make up half of what was happening over the road.
Of course, we now know that Murray’s words came back to haunt him in ways none of us could imagine 20 something years ago. Is this the quote that Lawwell, now chief executive, and others inside Celtic Park use as a motivational tool when they get up in the morning?
It is Celtic who today are the big spenders in a sense that for every tenner Rangers can afford, they can spend five times that amount albeit on a smaller scale. Which brings us to Scott Allan who may soon be wearing green and white hoops, presumably for the first time in is life.
From the outside looking in, you can’t help but speculate whether this is a bit of PR or to use the Glaswegian parlance a “get it up ye.” We’re the big boys now and without so much as flexing a financial muscle we can take one of your own from under your nose with some of the kitty, goes the message.
Despite this, Rangers would still have felt that Allan would have been gettable. But Hibernian decided they would be prepared to sell their best player to anyone else but the one team, you and they would imagine, stand between the Edinburgh club and promotion this season.
There are some who would seek to blame Dave King and the current Rangers board for this. While it’s true many of the promises made by the South African-based businessman have yet so far to come to fruition, would Hibs really have let the 23-year-old midfielder go to Govan even if they had received a bid close to the £1million they rate their man? That is extremely doubtful.
So Celtic pounced. They will say it is good business and, while this would never be uttered in public, it gives their fans something else to gloat about, as if they didn’t have enough ammunition.
Of course, there is a football aspect to all of this. Allan is a talent, no question, he is young, Scottish and with the technical ability to play in the Premiership and perhaps even in Europe. So he’s hardly just a pawn in some game of one upmanship.
A puzzle, however, is where he would fit in. Celtic are strongest in midfield and while no squad can be too good, would Allan choose to move to a club he was far from being guaranteed a game?
Nit Bitton is the best player at Celtic. Alongside him is captain Scott Brown behind Player of the Year Stefan Johansen, plus Tom Rogic has done well since fighting his way back into the team and not forgetting Charlie Mulgrew who can also play there. It’s a crowded area of the pitch.
There is also one other thing Allan has to consider. Is this going to be worth the hassle?
If Allan does move to Celtic then walking down the street untroubled is going to be difficult. If he stays at Easter Road on loan for one more season, the reception he will receive at Ibrox, where he used to watch games as a supporter, will be less than warm.
This is not his fault and while you might view them as First World problems, it is something he, his family and advisors should consider.
It could put off even the strongest of personalities, however, as one agent once told me having sat in the Celtic boardroom with Lawwell with a player who was uncertain about moving to the club; “Peter can be the most persuasive man in the world.”
And, anyway, he is hardly the first self-confessed bluenose to sign for the other lot in Glasgow. Check the history books, these ex-Bears tend to do rather well.
Ronny Deila yesterday did a great impersonation of a Norwegian downhill skier in the way he dodged any direct question about Allan. What he did want to talk about, however, is why Celtic are concentrating their scouting on the Scottish scene whereas before they would look down south.
“England is a market to itself at the moment. It is very hard to get value down there but it’s different to all other countries,” said Deila. “There is talent there because they have such big squads and it is hard to break through.
“You can find guys who maybe haven’t quite made it, players like Boyata, and bring them in. You need to have your eyes open but the time has gone to bring in big names from England.”
This means Celtic will continue to pilfer their direct opponents; ominous news for everyone else.
“We have brought in three players from Dundee United and we are looking at other Scottish players,” said Deila. “There are a lot of good players in Scotland. If players do well in the league then we will look at them.
“We have to have control of our country first and then look to other countries. If I am looking at two players are similar and one is from Scotland and one is from abroad, I’ll pick the Scottish one.”
For every five players you spend money on to bring through your youth academy, we’ll buy at least one of them. That seems the Celtic motto right now.
Good Morning Timland.
You have to hand it to the ole cabbage’n’ribs, they’ve played
a stormer.
have a great day cqn.
The Scotsman runs with ‘Celtic ready to gazump Rangers’
Gazump : to make a higher offer for something where a bid has already been accepted by the seller.
Hibs did not put an asking price on Allen, nor did they accept any bid from Sevco.
A typically desperate and inaccurate headline from a hurting msm sports editor.
Some of post article comments are equally desperate, claiming SA is a died in the wool [hun] and won’t settle at Parkhead, not to mention the grief he’ll get.
Dalglish, Mcgrain and Dixie Deans are three of many who blew away that theory,
The pain.
Big fat DJ says the sevs can still get Allan according to his column in today’s Times.
He said he didn’t think Scott Allan would sacrifice the chance of playing at Ibrox by moving to us.
His chat is like that Iraqi general who said the Americans were nowhere near Baghdad.
Big Derek is a bigger comedian than Frankie Boyle and Kevin Bridges put together.
I would be happy if we give them DMcG – and loan them SA and LH for the season with an option to take either back in january should we need them
That would give our 2 valuable playing time together and stregthen hibs campaign
Morning all
Whilst Scott Allan is a decent player, not sure our priority should be in the midfield. I’m hoping upon hope for a quality left back.
Been a wee while since I spent any time coaching, but I’m prepared to offer my services free to Celtic if indeed we do get a left back. I think it’s all about the language.
I shall concentrate initially on explaining the meaning of the ” back” part of the left back position.
After that I shall move on to breaking down the ” striker” role. I shall begin that session by dropping the “r” off the end of the word ” striker” and explaining the concept of what we are left with and what it means.
Lesson 3, all based on Wednesday nights game will be centred around the difference leaving one little word out can make. Passing TO a player, and passing a player, two entirely different results.
Dallas
DJ is probably the No. 1 sucker. He’s done a great job, as have his laptop loyal buddies, in keeping the masses drip fed regular fairy stories. Sadly for them, they’ve been buying all the BS for four years.
MARRAKESH EXPRESS on 14TH AUGUST 2015 6:44 AM
The Scotsman runs with ‘Celtic ready to gazump Rangers’
Gazump : to make a higher offer for something where a bid has already been accepted by the seller.
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A fine distinction.
Like it.
I have to confess though my session on the ” dirty tackle” caused all sorts of confusion…….
Morning all.
Overcast down here yet once more.
Still, I feel a wee boost in the likelihood that we may well be signing thon wee Hibee. Have the rags been urging him to do so??? Doubt it. Worth it for that alone. If our manager thinks he can work with him, then that’s fine with me.
I hate reading the blog on the train in the morning and missing the controversy and deleted posts
Happy Friday bhoys
Ole Jobo up north
Alastair he maybe gate crash your family bash. :-)
Sorry Dena
Didnt mean to miss the girls. 8)
BLANTYRETIM
I’m considering a screen grab in future for the deleted posts before they get moderated. Still beelin’ about the copy of my sister’s text about Sky getting the treatment three weeks ago.
Did you get my mail yesterday? No need to reply,still not a clue how to resolve the issue concerned!!!!
Enjoy theBV later,and say hi to the troops for me,cheers.
Don’t really know what Celtic expect to gain from this signing, apart from a red face.
Good morning friends and a Big Happy Friday from a rather grey looking Loch Rannoch.
Ach, that just wasn’t the same…..
Good morning CQN
Mostly a lurker nowadays and becoming an infrequent one at that largely due to the tabloidization of the blog, however the growing old firm fan obsession about each others team is also far to prevalent for my taste, Scott Allan ? Re regurgitated DJ pash, im sure big DJ was delighted
How we going to get past Malmo ? who is going to score the goals ? can RD and our management team get the tactical set up required at this level ? defensive disaster mid week, two center backs miles apart, same set up against Malmo and its Europa league
Jobo
What times are you clocking up now? 21.45 ish?
LIONROARS67 on 14TH AUGUST 2015 8:23 AM
Three quarters of Wednesday’s defence probably won’t start v Malmo this week so not too worried. Add in the returning skipper as protection in front and we’ll be fine.
My friends in Celtic,
If our manager genuinely wants Scott Allen and PL will provide the finance then that is good enough for me.
I have not seen him enough to express any meaningful comment or opinion.
HH.
Ryan Christie linked with Swansea move, would be a good signing for us although probably the time is wrong. Sign and loan back? Stokes replacement?
Gooooood Morning CQN
Have I missed anything :-)
A wee song for Jobo
Sure by Tummel and Loch Rannoch and Lochaber I wil go :-)
Hail Hail
Gary67
That’s who we should have signed, and not someone from our championship
Hail Hail
COWIEBHOY on 14TH AUGUST 2015 8:54 AM
Why not both?
Gary67 on 14th August 2015 8:44 am
Glad you not worried Gary
I have seen lots of worries in how we have been defensively set up in European competition by RD regardless of the personnel deployed
LIONROARS67 0901
Good point,mate. We lost,I think,23 goals in Europe last season. And 17 in the league despite playing about three times as many games.
How many goals have we lost in Europe this season??
I did laugh at that Herald article. Isnt it wonderful that national newspapers in scotland feel completely comfortable with threats (not so veiled) to players going to Celtic of abuse and voilence from the dark side of Glasgow.
And its done is such a throwaway manner, such casual racism, that we are all so conditioned to that we dont bat an eyelid.
Scotland is such a fascinating social society to study.
Qarabag didn’t look like scoring for 180 mins apart from 1 shot from outside the box. There is clear progress from last season, IMO we’re starting to look like a proper unit defensively. This is coming just as much from the front 3 (well 2 of the front 3!) as the rest of the team.
If there are any worries it should be at the lack of chances created recently, especially at home. The majority of our goals are not coming from the main method we are using to try and score. The only goals this season that i would put in that category are Johansen’s vs Ross County and Rogic last week. It’s great that we’re weighing in with goals from set pieces, wonder strikes, but we need the front 4 to click into gear and start being a lot more clinical.
Haven’t seen much of Allan, but what I have seen I have liked. Can play the defence-splitting ball, which is never a bad thing to have.
Henderson will benefit from the loan – get some games under his belt.
BMCUW
Got it and will update numbers when back in office
Out on visits in the posh west end at the moment
It’s a difficult situation indeed
Gary67
Thanks for your update yesterdsy on the rules change about players being ‘tied’ in Europe. Sorry didnt reply esrlier but yesterday was last full day in sunny Crete and we were out all day.
A wee aside. At brekkie in the hotel this morning Mrs Emeraldbee turned and said “There’s another of you guys” and I turned to see a wee guy wearing the new away strip. Funny thing is I had him down as a sticky when I saw him at the airport. You shouldnt rush to judge, eh?
I’d give them Scott Allan, Henderson, McGreggor or even O’Connell
Ronny isn’t going to regularly play them. Might as well help Hibs out and get them experience.
NEGANON2 on 14TH AUGUST 2015 9:25 AM
Agree mate . I read that article from the herald , and thought how do they get away with it . If that young lad reads that , he will be wondering if he is doing the right thing signing for celtic . I wish this had all been kept quiet until he was ready to be paraded . As I feel this move could maybe now not take place . Utter disgrace .
LONDONBHOY on 14TH AUGUST 2015 9:27 AM
Qarabag didn’t look like scoring
Icelandic team were absolute gash, we still managed to concede through dreadful defending, and as you point out Qarabeg don’t do attacking football, for Qarabeg its keeping possession and denying the opposition space and to be fair to Qarabeg it has been successful for them in terms of not been on receiving end of humiliating aggregate defeats like 6-1 Legia Warsaw
I agree that RD looks like he has learned from last seasons European defensive disasters, next two games are a test which i hope he comes through……………..although i am concerned
Be a busy day at Level 5 anyway. Wonder what they will come up with?
“King – we will not over-pay for players”.
Hibs would not have sold to us even if we had bid 30m
“Warbs – we don’t need Allan; we have the new Iniesta in our youth team”.
looking at the interactive seating plan for the malmo game.
looks like a healthy biggest crowd of the season is goin got happen, 50k plus anyways.
did i read somewhere malmo are bringing 1800 fans ?