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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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  3. Jobo Baldie on

    ACGR –

     

     

    they would have played Hearts had they not already decided to get gubbed by us in the League Cup semi final.

     

     

    And they play Ross County away on Sunday, not tomorro. By which time they may weel be 4th in the league.

     

     

    Don’t mention it ;-)

  7. acgr @ outlook dot com - With a ringpiece like a Flanders Poppy on

    I’m good Jimbo, nice to see you. A wee bit hacked off I cant make the game tomorrow due some family business but I’m sure the team wont notice I’ve failed t show and will provide a performance and three points in my absence.

     

     

    Big shout to the boys from the AGPL who will be at the game tomorrow and painting the town green afterwards. I’ll be with you in spirit.

     

     

     

    HH

  9. What is the Stars on

    Maggie

     

    Ireland..its a funny place

     

    I was in a pub in the west of clare one night ( well a lot of nights) but this night in question we asked for a drink about 1 am ( official closing time 11.30 pm) but normally no bother until about 3.Bar man says we are closing early,theres a party in the vets house,all welcome, So up we go ( entire pub ) to the vets house for all sorts of shenanigans

     

     

    Another night the same pub ( a great place for a Delaneys Donkey type of cigarette) and we were told ” the sisters husband and his pals are in so no smoking until they are gone” Ye see de sister was married to a ” branch man” or detective in the police force who apparently frowned upon the old smoking lark

     

    Ah but about 2.30 am he went home so the old rizzla papers were produced

     

     

    Everyone was up for Mass the next morning mind you

  10. Margaret McGill on

    jimbob71 on 5th November 2016 12:07 am

     

    ah so so

     

    Off to Sweden tomorrow. Hopefully catch the inverness score before the flight.

  12. acgr @ outlook dot com - With a ringpiece like a Flanders Poppy on

    Cheers Jobo, I notice my post had them play Ross Co both Saturday and Sunday. Pity they wont as that would be a six point drop………………….ha ha.

     

     

    Fanx and please post the EK weather every three minutes, I’m cold turkey unless I know what its doing there. We deserve accurate up to date observations.

  13. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    WHAT IS THE STARS on 5TH NOVEMBER 2016 12:12 AM

     

     

    Jeez.

     

    I thought that only happened in Hollywood Ireland.

     

     

    What a civilised place.

  15. Jobo Baldie on

    In the remaining weeks of 2016 we have 13 games to play and Norman Bates’ Maw FC have 10. The difference being our 1 league game in hand and our 2 Champions League games.

     

     

    Domestically I’d say that our challenging games are away to Kilmarnock, Motherwell and Partick along with the League Cup final against Aberdeen. Our otehr games are home to Inverness, Hamilton, Dundee, Partick, Ross County and then a trip to Ibrox.

     

     

    Norman Bates Maw FC have to travel to Ross County, Partick, Hearts, Hamilton and St Johnstone. Their home games are against Dundee, Aberdeen, Hearts (again!), Inverness and The Champions.

     

     

    I have no problem at all with the fixture arrangements!

  20. Margaret McGill on

    WITS

     

    what you describe reminds me of a visit to maghera in 1982 after a day of consumption in Newcastle. Heading to the beach. People popped up everywhere with beach chairs and beer and mushrooms and jesus plants at 3am. The beach. It was freezing! great time. Mostly due to the local females.

  21. Margaret McGill on

    Irish women can be unrelenting though. I remember once in Macroom (same rented car from shannon) entering one of those box junction yellow criss crossed UK thingys (forgotten the name) in a main street traffic jam. Some lady driving perpendicular to me went nuts when I blocked her. Long story short I got fined 50 euros.

  22. jimbob71 on

    WITS

     

    Years ago, went with my Ma, Da and family to Westport.

     

    Ferry over, picked up family from the ‘Murph and headed south. Scheduled stop in Sligo where my cousin and her husband had been for a week, didn’t arrive til 2am but told to rap the back door of this pub…….everywhere in darkness, nothing stirred….door creaked open, a shout of what’s Yer name?? We replied, let in through 2 doors and 18 of us joined a massive lock in!!! What a night!!!

  26. What is the Stars on

    Jimbo

     

    Mags

     

    Macjay

     

     

    Ah the west of ireland…..

     

    You know the spanish expression Manana ( Manyanna) well they have similar expressions in the west of ireland ,,,,but nothing with the same sense of urgency

  27. Margaret McGill on

    jimbob71 on 5th November 2016 12:16 am

     

    Jimbo71

     

    One weeks work then of to awe naw’s next weekend.

  32. jimbob71 on

    wits

     

    Yip, in a pub in Foxford, we were staying in an old converted school house this time.

     

    Phoned a taxi, bar man said it would be a while so we ordered another round.

     

    Then the door opened, this woman about 95 shouted “taxi for Rooney”

     

    My uncle stood up, she saw our full pints and said Ach don’t worry, take your time, I’ll sit in the taxi, quiet day, my older brother will get any other hires!!!

  33. acgr @ outlook dot com - With a ringpiece like a Flanders Poppy on

    GFTB, good shout on trainspotting. Cheers for that, Great movie.

  34. What is the Stars on

    Jimbob

     

     

    To be honest

     

    as a Dublin lad it was like stepping into alternative universe,

     

    Going to towns like Westport,Dingle,Doolin,Miltown Malbay..mad crack

     

     

    My kids miss out that these days….they go to San Francisco or Madrid for weekends.

  35. acgr @ outlook dot com - With a ringpiece like a Flanders Poppy on

    Jobo, you’ve put my mind at ease on the fixture front. Enjoy you’re run, I’ll walk.

  37. acgr @ outlook dot com - With a ringpiece like a Flanders Poppy on

    WITS, my young relative from Auz who’s here just now got a return from Glasgow to Dublin for eight quid. FFS, I need to get a kid to book my holidays. Eight quid!! Eight quid.

     

     

    His taxi to the airport will be a tenner.

  41. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    ACGR @ OUTLOOK DOT COM – WITH A RINGPIECE LIKE A FLANDERS POPPY on 5TH NOVEMBER 2016 12:57 AM

     

    WITS, my young relative from Auz who’s here just now got a return from Glasgow to Dublin for eight quid. FFS, I need to get a kid to book my holidays. Eight quid!! Eight quid.

     

     

     

    His taxi to the airport will be a tenner.

     

    =================================================

     

     

    That and Air B`n B.

     

    Accommodation in Edinburgh last year in five minutes.

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