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Brendan and Ronny. Even what looks like a lucky gamble isn’t

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

The absence of Jozo Simunovic for our Champions League game in Monchengladbach set off alarm bells, but few of us expected that he was rested as a consequence of being on a one-game-per-week long-term recuperation strategy.

This was a bold decision by what is clearly a confident manager. It was also informative that Brendan Rodgers prioritised the league game against Aberdeen to deploy Jozo over the Champions League – an equally bold decision. Defensive performances in both games suggest the manager made the right call.

This is the kind of gamble that is going Brendan Rodgers’ way but which would have backfired on Ronny Deila. It’s not down to luck, of course. Brendan has proven the point that defences are systems more than anything else. Get the system right and you can move the players around. Get it wrong, as we did in Barcelona, and it doesn’t matter which or how many defenders you deploy, you’ll take a hiding.

After surviving an onslaught at home to Celtic in September, Inverness scored an added-time equaliser to deny Celtic their only league points of the season. Since then our domestic form has been even better than it was before that game, winning everything for the loss of only a single goal in seven outings.

One thing we know about Inverness-Celtic games, though, is that lightening doesn’t only strike once, or twice for that matter. This team have punished Celtic repeatedly over the last 16 years, usually against the odds. Their only defeat since an abysmal August came against Newco, who denied the Highlanders their own onslaught. That was also the only game Inverness failed to score since Same Old Alloa dumped them out of the League Cup in August.

After tomorrow’s visit of Inverness, Celtic’s only home game in the next six is against Barcelona. If Brendan was to cast his eye over the fixture list for opportunities to experiment, this is as good an opportunity as he’ll have until Accies visit on 13 December.

Maybe an opportunity to go one at the back and five up front.  Or just to give Patrick a start.  Either works for me.

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  4. Almore on

    A reminder that Lynchiebhoy is looking for two tickets for the cup final. He had booked flights and accommodation for the SPFL match that weekend so if anyone can help him it would be greatly appreciated.

  9. petec on

    THE EXILED TIM on 4th November 2016 9:22 pm

     

     

    Oops….Ugly Kid Joe

     

     

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

     

     

    Bill Clinton or Hitlery? ;))

  10. GuyFawkesaforeverhero on

    AweNawNoAnnoniOanAnawNoo 4th November 2016 9.07pm

     

     

    Kevin, this country could with him now. Every country in the world would be better for having a jester. All the best to you and your brothers grimm.

  11. The Green Man says SACK THE Board on

    Bert Jansch could play a tune.

     

    ‘Black Waterside’ among many others.

     

    Wrote many a fine song.

     

     

     

    HH

  12. Almore on

    BSR: Rumours are it is on its way. Maybe the museum too. No word on the Celtic store for Melbourne though:-)

  13. Gerryfaethebrig on

    Petec 9.12pm

     

     

    Broony has had far more good seasons than bad…..he will be missed more when he is not there

     

     

    ScottBrownCSC ……. (and not just this season :-)

  18. Almore on

    Blantyretim: belated Breithlá sona.

     

     

    Dena29 & Ennisbhoy: Breithlá sona daoibh.

     

     

    Proudbhoy: Sorry to read about the loss of your good friend.

     

     

    Auldheid: can you post your email address and I will be in touch tomorrow.

  21. petec on

    Gerryfaethebrig on 4th November 2016 9:25 pm

     

     

    Petec 9.12pm

     

     

    Broony has had far more good seasons than bad…..he will be missed more when he is not there

     

     

    ScottBrownCSC ……. (and not just this season :-)

     

    ……………………………………………………………………..

     

    You are so Right. Scott has been Sensational this Season. I had him as being Finished. I Know Nothing about the ole game of Fitba. ;)

  22. the_huddle on

    BABASONICOS71 on 4th November 2016 9:14 pm

     

     

    I’ll check Quarry out.Can never have too many routes to sweet tunes.Cheers for the tip mhate.

     

    ———–

     

    Quarry is very good TV, the yanks do tele right

  24. Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on

    GUYFAWKESAFOREVERHERO on 4TH NOVEMBER 2016 9:24 PM

     

     

     

    We are all brothers ….. I see the pretty one next week.

     

     

    I will let them know

     

     

    HH

  25. Melbourne Mick on

    Hello again all you young rebels.

     

     

    THE BLACK BOOTS

     

     

    I knew what the wee mhan was up to, but i fell for it anyway, the

     

    old charm offensive.

     

    ” Papa ye must have been a great player when you were younger

     

    cause yir quite good noo even though yir ancient ”

     

    O.k the last bit wasn’t so good but the first part got him his boots

     

    before christmas.

     

    ” Do you think so, where did you see they black boots then?

     

    ” Rebel sports papa at the fountain gate ”

     

    ” Rebel sports eh they must surely have Celtic stuff as well right?

     

    Wrong! row upon row of every English top you can imagine,Celtic?

     

    forget about it not a sausage, i feel another rant coming on.

     

    ” there’s the boots there papa, crackers urnt they?

     

    ” Fecks sake wee mhan have you seen the price of them? you could

     

    fix all the shooglie steelwork at hundome for half that.

     

    ” A know papa but if am gonny be as good as you wur a need thum ”

     

    Black boots duly acquired and the wallet very thin it was straight

     

    down the parks after texting his mates, last seen smashing balls of

     

    crossbars and a wee huddle admiring his footwear.

     

    Suspect black boots making a comeback after christmas.

     

    H.H Mick

  26. Jobo Baldie on

    JOBO BALDIE on 4TH NOVEMBER 2016 8:49 PM

     

    Favourite ever Scottish/Irish singer-songwriters….

     

     

    Feeling very guilty now that in my rush I completely forgot about one of my top 3 – Justin Currie.

     

     

    So, sorry, but Roddy Frame – yer drapped!

     

     

    UPDATE

     

    Top 5 (in no particular order, if you ignore alphabetical)

     

     

     

    Donovan Leitch

     

    Gerry Rafferty

     

    Gilbert O’Sullivan

     

    Justin Currie

     

    Paulo Nutini

     

     

    Be My Downfall – https://youtu.be/GwASZpIHKLY

  27. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    JOBO BALDIE on 4TH NOVEMBER 2016 9:22 PM

     

    MACJAY1 –

     

     

    Joe Ledley tribute :-)

     

     

    Probably only you and I would have known the song. :-)

     

     

    Billy`s vocal good.

     

    But seldom solo and benefits from the harmony.

     

    Great comparing notes , my fellow Tim.

  33. Lennybhoy on

    The CQN Coupon has been relaunched, we are now the Magnificent 7:

     

    Jobo-Forfar

     

    Pog-Hearts

     

    GFTB-Sheff Wed

     

    BMCW-Preston

     

    The Exiled Tim-Airdrie

     

    Lennybhoy – Plymouth

     

    AWATR – Yeovil

     

    Keep the Faith!

     

    Hail Hail!

  34. timbhoy3 on

    Prestonpans Bhoy I didn’t go to the semi final.one of my mates said I should have phoned the Ticket office for the semi but I didn’t know about that. but I will get in touch next week anyway thanks again,and to all who replied to my request.

  35. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    MELBOURNE MICK on 4TH NOVEMBER 2016 9:33 PM

     

     

    Yer wee mhan`s a jammy wee article , having a ” soft touch ” papa like yourself. :-)

     

     

    Rebel Sports.

     

    Complaining respectfully usually does the trick.

  40. prestonpans bhoys on

    Sorry timbhoy3 for raising your expectations, lesson is if you can’t make the semi then buy one anyway just in case. You can always post it as a freebie on here I’ve done that before !

  41. Melbourne Mick on

    MACJAY1

     

     

    Wish i had a dollar for every store manager i have assailed

     

    about selling Celtic strips, i always get the same answer

     

    We are only allowed to sell this stuff.

     

    H.H Mick

  42. BABASONICOS71 on

    HUDDLE…

     

    I’ll definitely be giving it a try.The big massive dude from the Icelandic show ‘Trapped’ is in it I see,he was excellent in that.

     

     

    Mogwai – I Love You I’m Going To Blow Up Your School

     

    http://youtu.be/ub8J5SSn8DA

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