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. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    SS1 has breaking news Sunderland have signed Will Buckley from Brighton for 2.5 m on display for the last 5 hours!!!

     

     

     

    GEEEZZA break Sky!!!

  2. Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo

     

     

     

    13:21 on 14 August, 2014

     

     

     

    Big Joe

     

     

    you would of you were playing.

     

     

    I reckon your nickname would be swivel head prop meister :)

     

     

    HH

     

     

     

    haha……………………. acomedianaswell

  3. SmashingMilkBottles on

    kit

     

     

    can deffo get one & poss another 2

     

     

    will confirm later

     

     

    cheers

  4. RD: “I’m far away from where I want us to be. Long way to go. But we are working hard every day and I know we will get there.” (MH)

     

     

    Seems a fair summary. I’m warming to this fella.

  5. RogueLeader

     

    13:14 on

     

    14 August, 2014

     

     

    Where do huns come into this?

     

     

    I think I said we could roll-up, but no chance at current terms. The Co-Op bank is a different institution now. I don’t see US hedge funds giving us the current terms.

     

     

    We need to be in a position of strength to ensure we can, if required, dump the debt.

  6. jude2005 is neil lennon \o/

     

     

    13:25 on 14 August, 2014

     

    SS1 has breaking news Sunderland have signed Will Buckley from Brighton for 2.5 m on display for the last 5 hours!!!

     

     

    GEEEZZA break Sky!!!

     

     

    Jim White has hijacked the controls of the teleprinter and locked himself in the lavvy.

     

     

    UnseenfenianhandCSC

  7. IMHO we are a long way off Being a cl team. Celtic should be whipping the bones of teams like st Johnstone. And says it all for me that teams like legia and maribor think they just have to turn up, and look on Glasgow celtic as canon fodder, oh how we have fallen. I also can’t remember as soft a celtic team. We can bury our heads in the sand all we like but this team needs major investment. And needs it now.

  8. Drambowiecelt

     

     

     

    13:26 on 14 August, 2014

     

     

     

    Big Joe is it fishul yet????

     

     

    NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

     

    twitter (IKNOW) saying 2pm.

     

    we’ll see

  9. Drambowiecelt

     

     

     

    13:26 on 14 August, 2014

     

     

     

    Big Joe is it fishul yet????

     

     

    H.H.NERVOUSCSC.

     

     

     

    eh………………………..

     

     

    mowwwwwwwwwwww

  10. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    2 days to make a decision?? I think the EUFA suits were wanting an extra day on the free booze!!!

     

     

    Useless twats imo!!!

  11. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon ....The angels are with Wee Oscar in Heaven.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    Watching last night’s game on Sky sports 1 …..30 mins to go

  12. See Sir Cliff Richard, might just be known as …………….

     

     

    Cliff Richards soon………………….

     

     

    GoodgodwhatwerethyallUp2

  13. Tom Molach – the only people who go on about this debt being due are huns and they use it as some sort of comfort blanket hoping it means we will follow them into shame and parsimony.

     

     

    There is no chance, none, that we will not get our debt terms renegotiated at similar terms. Why? Because of the reasons that we are not buying players. Celtic are being ran conservatively, at a profit. We are servicing our debts very easily and have cash to cover them.

     

     

    In other words there is zero risk for any financial institution in lending us money.

     

     

    If we put the word out we were looking to move our finance every bank in the country would be banging the door down. We will get the same terms we have just now no matter what the plethora of goat bothering financial experts wish to happen.

     

     

    Those are facts.

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

    Scotsman

     

     

    CELTIC remain in the Champions League after Legia Warsaw had their appeal for fielding an ineligible player turned down by UEFA, according to reports.

  15. With Suarez appeal result due from CAS in next half hour, could be a good time to bury controversy of UEFA appeal decision

  16. squire danaher on

    Whitedoghunch

     

     

    Perhaps never to return, does Barbados have an extradition policy with UK?

     

     

    Hmmmmmm…..

  17. squire danaher on

    squire danaher

     

     

    13:28 on 14 August, 2014

     

    Scotsman story based on Polish media speculation

     

     

    NOT official

  18. big wavy

     

     

    RD: “I’m far away from where I want us to be. Long way to go. But we are working hard every day and I know we will get there.” (MH)

     

     

    Seems a fair summary. I’m warming to this fella

     

     

    ————

     

     

    Lost count of the amount of times WGS or NL would talk up clearly dire performances as ‘excellent’.

     

     

    I like the cut of RD’s jib. Whether the players do remains to be seen.

  19. I really like reading TDs and Neganons posts.Many others as wellSometimes funny,sometimes insightful,sometimes crap,like us all.But good reads.

     

    I thought I could see a fair bit of the management teams coaching coming through last night.For 23 mins we gave Saints the runaround.We were moving the ball quickly,moving into space.Best passing in a long time.I will take time,and at least one striker prepared to run into space in the box.Very little of the laborious ball across the back and middle .

     

    Looking forward to Saturday.Think we will continue to improve.James Forrest will be major for us.

  20. • 67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon ….The angels are with Wee Oscar in Heaven.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors

     

    13:36 on 14 August, 2014

     

    Scotsman

     

    CELTIC remain in the Champions League after Legia Warsaw had their appeal for fielding an ineligible player turned down by UEFA, according to reports.

     

     

     

    The kicker is………………………….

     

     

    AccordingToreports……………………………..

  21. the long wait is over on

    67 heaven

     

     

    Staggering that the Scotsman are still referring to “ineligible” as opposed to “suspended”

     

     

    How careless is that?

     

     

    Still hope they’re right though…

  22. squire danaher,

     

     

    You know what, my son told me he was looking at property in Barbados a few weeks ago, no extradition. Bbc line is hes in Portugal just now

     

     

    lilys

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