Celtic growing into their skin, more on Maribor

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You could see Celtic mature during last night’s game.  They were defensively solid during the first half, and Craig Gordon was assured throughout, but for the best part of an hour we scarcely tested St Johnstone.

That changed after the goal, which arrived just as St Johnstone were enjoying their best period of the game.  Kris Commons didn’t have his most productive night but it was his pressing which led to the break through.

During the second half Ronny Deila replaced Commons, Stokes and the tiring Forrest with Boerrigter, Inge Berget and Kayal.  Even before the home team were reduced to 10 men moments after the final substitution, Celtic were clearly in a more comfortable shape.  Players were finding space which didn’t exist earlier.

Maribor made seven changes for last night’s Slovenian Super Cup Final, which they won comfortably against opponents who are pointless in the league after four games.  Celtic’s scouts are unlikely to have learned too much useful information ahead of next weeks’ game.

What is clear about Maribor is their aerial threat.  Five of their 12 goals this season have been headers, which may influence Ronny’s team selection.  They also break quickly down the flanks, so maybe a 4-5-1, offering protection to our full backs, is the way to go.  Hopefully we’ve learned we’re not quite ready for 4-3-3 away from home in Europe.

The Slovenian media are dismissive of Celtic’s chances, encouraged, it seems, but continuing celebrations from Maribor that they pulled an “easy” draw.  I suspect they’ve yet to see the Celtic who will take the field on Wednesday.

Fancy winning a pair of tickets in the padded seats of the Jock Stein Stand for flag day on Saturday – and helping Mary’s Meals?  Magners have kindly offered a pair of tickets, which you can win, if you donate £1 to Mary’s Meals.  You can, of course, give as much you like, but £1 is the minimum donation.
You also need to answer the question: Which team will Celtic play this Saturday, shortly after the League Flag flies?  To enter, forward your MyDonate confirmation email to celticquicknews@gmail.com, with your answer.  Competition closes at noon tomorrow (Friday), winner will be notified by email, so check you inbox.

It’ll cost you £1, you could win premium seats to the premium event, enter here.  Cheers to Magners.

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  1. ABZMike

     

     

    Now there was a store for the aspiring mod or plooky yoof in my case.

     

     

    C&A Modes.

     

     

    Competition from..

     

     

    Arnott Simpson

     

     

    Lewis’s (Naw no John Lewis)

     

     

    I would run past Frasers because the prices in the window made me feel sick.

     

     

    HH

  2. Marrakesh Express on

    Td67

     

     

    The Mill to Parkhead in 20 min?

     

    Aye in a taxi

     

     

    Delahunt kicks off with ‘Celtic fans seem to think they’ll beat Maribor’.

     

    I’ve read and heard more who think we won’t go through. Once again lazy, lying msm.

     

     

    Over to Shortie…

     

    Question to Mioduski..’are you disappointed Celtic didn’t communicate with you?’

     

    So many hurting and no matter the benefits to Scottish football, they won’t be happy if we qualify. The same people would certainly ridicule us and tell us to take our medicine, if it was us.

  3. Legia

     

     

    Too many people on here were patronising Legia, saying they were the better team without really giving a toss.

     

     

    If Celtic were in their shoes, I’d have backed them all they way if they were to try every single possible avenue of attack in order to get back into the competition.

     

     

    You only need to see the discussion between Auldheid and 67Heaven moaning about a decision that went Celtic’s way to see what would’ve happened had Sevco been in the SPHell from day 1 of Newco. It would’ve been more nauseating than listening to Jimmy Hill.

  4. Nye Bevans’ rebel soldier

     

     

    18:20 on 14 August, 2014

     

     

    Good Evening Timland

     

     

    Kevj……before you go oot great one,are you going

     

    on Saturday to see the flag being raised by wee Fergus?

     

    ______________________________________________

     

    Careful wi yer tone fella – or ye’ll be grassed-up by the

     

    self appointed blog police :))))

     

     

    No, I don’t go any more and, I would definitley not be two faced and cheer Fergus, who aint the nice wee cuddly angel that he is portrayed as on here and elsewhere.

     

     

    Fergus was bboed – deservedly imho

     

     

    Maybe, if Paul 67 got him onto the blog, I might have the chance to ask him, why he done away with the direct-debit scheme for, season 1998/99 season having ‘insisted’ that, before season 1997/98 was completed ie: the hun 10 in a row season, 1998/99 SB’s had to be paid for – in full at the start of May 1998?

     

     

    At the risk of being banned from the blog…Fergus was a feckin wee wideo.

     

    Just ask the family of the late TB(RIP).

     

     

    The Kelly’s & White’s were sacked – The Rebels Had Won

     

    Then, Fergus got rid of all the Rebels and became alittle tyrant.

     

     

    Fergus tried and, failed toe flog Johnny Collins to, Derby and Middlesboro.

     

    Johnny Collins had the – balls – to stand up to Fergus and, that is one of the

     

    reasons that I wanted JC to be our manager – he might still be?

     

     

    Anyway, take care of yer guid family amigo and stay a proud Tim. Ok.

     

     

    I have to leave, bye.

  5. We are not almost 30 mins in to Radio Scotland sports programme and all I’ve heard is a case being made for Legia being in the CL. Out management need to get some PR lessons – they need to be on these programmes setting out the position and setting these idiots straight. They are being allowed to say what they want with utter impunity. Just read out a txt msg from some hun stating that Celtic should have done the “right thing”. No comeback, no balance.

     

     

    Absolutely unbelievable.

  6. I used to hate getting dragged round C&A by my mum… I liked the gag though when the Princes Street store got quickly demolished – Shoplifting had truly reached a new level.

  7. minx1888 praying to Wee Oscar on

    burghbhoy

     

     

    18:15 on 14 August, 2014

     

    Anybody got on info on a public sale for Maribor tickets yet?

     

    Delighted to see its on the season book so both me & Burghbhoy junior sound but getting a visitor from Canada so need to buy one

     

     

    Thanks in advance

     

     

    We have spare don’t go buying any if you have HTs email address drop him an email. Regardless of what happens with Ant and Dec my eldest is on holiday and my Dad won’t make the game those tickets are available.

  8. Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on

    RT

     

     

    Pablo was a great mediator, cajoler, negotiator on the blog. This places misses his input badly. Fac to face he was less diplomatic in nice way. Paul67 reducing his role has not helped. Close season it is always a mad hoose

     

     

    HH

  9. KevJungle is a Celtic fan…not a supporter.

     

     

     

     

    18:19 on

     

     

    14 August, 2014

     

     

     

     

    Auldheid

     

    _______

     

    You can hahahahahappy-clap

     

    I’ll do my best to rattle the cages.

     

    Deal?

     

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

     

    As long as you understand that all you create is noise.

     

     

    I don’t do happy clap. I think for myself.

  10. Craigellachie10 on

    I am sorry, but I just heard the Legia chairman and Billy Dodds on shortbread. What a load of revisionist cr#p.

     

     

    In our shoes Legia would have given up their place – oh aye that’ll be right. The bold doddsy then says that the boy had served his suspension? How can you serve a suspension in a tournament you are not registered to play in?

  11. KevJungle

     

     

    It was being a tyrant that meant Celtic paid less than half what the SFA paid for a shitdump.

     

     

    Head honcho of a football club means being a tyrant. That’s the deal. That’s how you get the best deal for the company.

     

     

    He might not be a ‘nice guy’ but that was not his job.

  12. Actually, it must really grate on the zombies that rule breaking will actually lead to real meaningful sanctions, as opposed to the wink, smirk and nod variety.

     

     

    Celtic were victims of rule breaking by FC Sion.

     

    Celtic were victims of rule breaking by Legia Warsaw.

     

     

    Celtic played by the rules and were treated fairly.

     

     

    “Widnae happen in Scotland” says Billy to Graham.

     

     

    Don’t we know it.

  13. Away to Maribor : 4-5-1

     

     

    C.Gordon

     

     

    Matthews. Lustig. Van dijk. Mulgrew (for height)

     

     

    Forrest. Biton. McGregor. Johansen. Berget

     

     

    Stokes

     

     

     

    If Boeriggter has a positive impact again at wk.end against Utd, I would possibly put Berget up top, put Boeriggter wide left, and drop Stokes to bench…

     

    Because a team with Forrest, Boeriggter , and Berget has more counter attacking pace about it.

     

    Noticeably, Commons not included… He is technically sound, but doesn’t have pace, work-rate, or defensive capabilities.

  14. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon ....The angels are with Wee Oscar in Heaven.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    I’ve just watched the most fascinating film on the laying of the new pitch ……. Just google Celtic FC ……. really good, informative film on the home page, and the grass seems to have been extended closer to the fans….. !!??

  15. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon ....The angels are with Wee Oscar in Heaven.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    Same pitch as Real Madrid

  16. AweNaw – just shows what four or 5 attention seekers or kiddie on Celtic fans can do to a blog with hundreds of contributors.

     

     

    Shame.

     

     

    Look forward to anew awenawed daily record tomorrow

  17. RWE

     

     

     

     

    18:39 on

     

     

    14 August, 2014

     

     

    I’m certain Celtic were victims of rule breaking by RFC in 2011 when UEFA licence not pulled.

     

     

    I’m fairly certain SFA did not do their job to stop it.

  18. So what is the point of being a fan, a supporter without going to games to enjoy what it is all about win, lose or draw.

     

     

    If it was all about coming on here to moan, complain and be bitter how crap would that be?

  19. Captain Beefheart on

    BBC hurting? Hee hee.

     

     

    I predict our green huns will next try to convince us that it would be better to lose against Maribor and go into the EL.

     

     

    Loser talk. We need the CL. We could do ok with some investment.

  20. Doubting Thomas on

    Couple of points re St Johnstone, Craig Gordon very vocal, organising defenders, also good to see players chasing back and wanting the ball sadly lacking v Legia

     

    PS how about singing bring on the hearts the hibs the zombies, sevco instead of r*****rs, anything to keep annoying those hurting

  21. Minx

     

     

    Very good of you .Thanks very much.

     

    The ticket is for Teuchter Ar La of this parish.

     

    I don’t have HTs Email addy so I will E Mail Paul 67 and ask him to pass on my email to HT

     

     

    Is that ok?

     

     

    Thanks again

  22. minx1888 praying to Wee Oscar on

    setting free the bears for res. 12 & oscar knox but saying no to cqn racists

     

     

    18:45 on 14 August, 2014

     

    If HT goes to CP instead of going to A & D, will he end up in A & E?

     

     

    MadMitch csc

     

     

     

    If he takes me to CP then no, if I’m left with the Geordie duo …. YES!!

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