This time last year the league was in the bag, as it is today, but we had Champions League football to look forward to in the coming days, and would ultimately go on to win the Scottish Cup. The Champions League is always going to be a hard place to measure progress for a club seeded in pot 4, last season it was hard enough to Benfica, a pot 2 team who were eliminated by Celtic but still progressed to the Europa League final.
Domestic cup performances for Celtic is a more accessible measuring tool. After home defeats to Morton (good grief) and now Aberdeen we may well ask, what went wrong?
It was evident from early in the second half that whatever match plan we had was not effective, and despite the introduction of fresh faces, the performance didn’t improve. Aberdeen defended outside their box very effectively, making it difficult for Celtic to play the kind of passes which Samaras released Stokes with to score early in the game. Forrest found red shirts blocking his path whenever he got going. Commons had a day when nothing sparked. Possession was cheaply conceded throughout as Celtic continued to ask the same question of the Aberdeen defence.
While we are playing in in impoverished Scottish football Aberdeen represent the strongest possible opponents. They are second in the league and were the last team to score against us on merit. Yesterday wasn’t a fluke result, it was deserved and marked the progress of Derek McInnes’ team.
So where does this leave us? Celtic remain imperious in the Premiership, the fact that they’ve not tasted defeat against a weaker team there, or conceded in 11 games, is historically impressive, but against the best of the rest, there are question marks, as there will be for Champions League qualifiers.
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Re the Cup draw
I don’t think anyone is suggesting a conspiracy ….just a happy coincidence that most of us were able to predict
maleys bhoy
19:48 on 9 February, 2014
If its a
They offered £500.00 discount on 8 month old car
Meant to add
BMW
If I had a geographical choice I wouldnt touch them
Musings Regarding FoCUS and OB Act. Was it a dish prepared earlier (Before shame game?)
Taking the OB Act first, I can fully understand why Rangers (and their shareholders in the SFA) would welcome this. Their fans were unique in singing racist and sectarian songs en masse so to have a new law that created a new definition of “political sectarianism” (remember that from BBC during the Nevin affair) which lumped a large number of Celtic fans in the same category as their Old Firm rivals. This was the “evening up” that Christine Grahame let slip when the OB Bill was being considered by the Justice Committee.
Then there is FoCUS, a unique national (as opposed to regional) police force with its own intelligence unit tasked solely in dealing with football related crimes.
Again Rangers would welcome this as FoCUS was founded by Strathclyde Police where the brethren are more kindly disposed to the boys in royal blue. Remember Ass Chief Constable Campbell Corrigan’s glowing praise for the two hour sash bash at Hampden (in stark contrast to his boast to smash the GB)?
In Rangers submission to the Justice Committee before the Bill became law they said:-
2. Offensive Behaviour at Regulated Football Matches
Rangers Football Club welcomes the focus to address offensive behaviour at football
matches throughout Scotland and, along with Celtic FC, called for the establishment
of a national Football Policing Unit at the original football summit in March.
We are pleased that this unit is now up and running as we are acutely aware of
inconsistencies in policing such behaviour across the country.
The inconsistencies in the enforcement of existing legislation has a major effect on
the behaviour of fans. Greater and more consistent enforcement of existing
legislation , we believe, will have as much if not more impact than the introduction of
new legislation in this area, though we fully understand and support the Scottish
Government’s desire to eradicate offensive behaviour.
We would also encourage greater use of football banning orders.
Neither the police, nor the courts have a consistent approach.
I can fully understand why, with their friendly/fraternal closeness with a Glasgow-based national force Rangers would want to get away from the problem of regional police forces dealing with their fans. Regional forces might not be as sympathetic as Corrigan and Co, but I cannot for the life of me understand why Celtic proposed setting up FoCUS in March 2011.
Nor can I understand why they went along with the OB Bill without demur at JAG, only putting up a token resistance to it when it was apparent by the submissions of other Celtic fans, groups and supporters clubs that they saw the OB Bill as a tool to penalise Celtic supporters more than others. Proscribe the songs of the Celtic support and government conviction stats might not look so bad for the establishment team.
Paul McBride for whatever reason was the only member of the legal profession who was passionately in favour of the OB Bill, but whatever that reason was, (& Paul was a political activist) it wasn’t in our interest.
And note that Celtic and Rangers called for the setting up of FoCUS in March 2011 at the first JAG meeting! Only days after the shame game! If ever there was a case of the powers that be serving up a dish that had been prepared earlier this was it.
A recipe of a House chef to show his skill on the national stage perhaps?
Am I being paranoid in thinking that Celtic supporters are unfairly targeted by FoCUS and the OB Bill? Well a 17 year old lad has just been admonished at Dunfermline Sheriff Court for setting off a smoke flare at Central Park, Cowdenbeath.
He was arrested by FoCUS, didn’t have his door chapped at 3 in the morning or spend time on remand in jail. Weekend in cells then sheriff almost apologised, as he had suffered enough, but do you think these officers and courts would have treated a youth with a G40 Postcode doing this at Celtic Park in the same way?
Discuss?
maleys bhoy
Make as if to walk out the showroom saying you will try elsewhere,
trust me :))
Yeah, where is Tony Donnelly and his list? He’s not been on all day. Has there been some sort of divine intervention? Has the wife banned him and his list?
PFayr
That doesn’t make any sense. Either the draw was rigged or it wasn’t. What’s your position?
Lots of empty seats in Sevilla.
HH!!
When the time comes PL will employ another compliant manager he can control ,a la Strachan,Mowbray and NL.Step forward Owen Coyle.
Tallybhoy
20:23 on 9 February, 2014
Lots of empty seats in Sevilla.
La Liga needs a strong Sevco
Big Nan
20:22 on 9 February, 2014
but do you think these officers and courts would have treated a youth with a G40 Postcode doing this at Celtic Park in the same way?
Thought about it, NAW they wouldn’t:)))
Aw Naw
The idea that Celtic read CQN and pay any attention the its ravers, other than to dismiss them as ludicrous, is ludicrious.
Of course they do.
When I left home for Bramal Lane yesterday, Celtic were one nil up, they looked on top and I thought we should get through to the next round. Disappointed when I got to the ground and saw they were getting beat 2 1 Making my mood even worse, I had been bragging,to some friends that Atjaic a sub for Shrewsbury, was the real deal, that’s the impression some on this site had given. I don’t want to judge the lad on the twenty minutes he was given on the field yesterday. However he did not pull any trees up. One thing I would say he certainly looked fitter than Tony Watt, who played here in the summer. He was a disgrace, unfit and little skill. Billy Stark was fuming with him.
Now a young guy was making his third appearance for Sheffield United, Scougall, recently purchased from Livingstone for £400,OOO. He is not very tall and very slight, but he has lots of potential. Do Celtics scouts not watch Scottish football.
S.O.T 18.06
Jimbo67 18.20
Would never deny any supporter the right to criticise the team,manager,tactics,board, et al,in fact like many others on here,when I saw the team and it contained both Sammi and Forrest I knew we would struggle,and as Auldheid says
” perspective “comes with age,but the OTT reaction to yesterday cannot be based on reasonable assessment of the game,
Someone mentioned Thistles 4-1 League Cup Victory win but Jock Steins record in getting to LC Finals was immense pity the wins didnt match up.
HH
David Peter Deans
18:54 on 9 February, 2014
I would like Gus Hiddink. He is available i beleive.
———————————————————————————————————-
I’d like to take a bath, full ay champagne wi Scarlett Johansson…
Let’s see who gets lucky first…..
Springhill bhoy
Is your blog name taken from a place or a street in Coatbridge?
1-1 Barca, Alexis offside when he scored
IPaddy
If what I predict about the semi comes about them there us an issue
We have had jokes about hit ball etc for generations but this year I question the probability which is why I have asked questions of the betting guys on CQN
I normally wouldn’t bet on tomorrow being Monday but I was a baw hair away from shifting a wad onto Rankers v Albion and I am also looking closely at the semi line up bring-
Aberdeen v Dundee Utd or Inverness
Rankers v St Johnstone
This is just an aside – I’m still sick that we are oot – but I might as well make some money – if somebody can tell me how to do a betting slip – honest I huvnae a clue
Ta
Barca equaliser offside.
iPaddy
Why doesn’t it make sense ?
Not suggesting a conspiracy rather a happy ( for Sevco) coincidence
I was being sarcastic
I thought that was fairly obvious
archdeaconsbench
20:30 on 9 February, 2014
It’s no awe its cracked up to be. Trust me.
Incidentally, when the huns were on the brink of administration in February 2012, guess who their Scottish cup opponents were?
Not Queen of the South
Not Morton
Not Ayr United
It was Dundee United. Yes, the team that pumped them in 2013 were the same team that pumped them in 2012.
But hey let’s not allow inconvenient facts get in the way here eh?
Sorry to interrupt the self-flagellation but has mention been made anywhere of the TWO handballs in the build up to Aberdeen’s second goal?
Thanks adi dasler and leftclick.
Just wondering what extras I could go for….they gave me trade in that i was looking for no problem so think I might be able to get something. ..would like automatic but is worth £1500…
Margaret McGill @ 20:35
Was it not soda water you used with Gus Hiddink?
Jinkyredstar.20.18
The odds for any 4 from the 5 you mentioned out of the 8 left
getting to the semi finals would be low.
The odds on the previous draws would be higher due to the
amount of teams in at that time.
The cup draws are completely random.IMO.
Remember we drew the dead team in early rounds twice in
three years in the early nineties ? Rare but it happened.
Look at how many away ties we were given in domestic cups
in the last 3 or 4 seasons.Statistically the chances were slim.
Overall the zombies got lucky in the draw.
Football matches are less random.
Don’t waist energy worrying.
They will get humped in the semis.HH
PFayr
You posted earlier today they should have saved any pretence of fair play and given the huns a bye into the next round rather than have a draw.
I should of course have realised that you didn’t actually mean that
Brollies out in Sevilla.
Pishin’ doon!
iPaddy
Aye ok boss
2-1 Barca, great goal from Messi
My last comment on yesterday .
Sounded like an Aberdeen home game.
Their songs were vulgar but they showed a passion for their team we were renowned for .
The soul is being blootered from our crowd.
That IMO is down to the board.
And probably the most worrying thing this season amongst a season of worry
Bhoys there is no sense complaining about the sevco gettin easy home draw.
We got easy home draw to Morton in league cup and couldn’t beat them.
They got lucky, they will also get lucky in semi finals and get St Johnstone. And they will prob get lucky in final aswel, few honest mistakes and before we know that wee sleekit horrible **** of a man mc coist will be dancing at our stadium with the Scottish cup above his head. Watch and see!
I know you’ll all have seen this before but it’s really funny and cheered me up:
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/craig-whyte-profile-the-scots-billionaire-1076110
Great goal from messi
Going to have to turn off Call the midwife
Stupid then – stupid now – stupid forever:
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/barry-ferguson-dave-king-returning-2360162
IPaddy
What’s with the aggression ?
I don’t understand why you are getting so exercised about this
I doubt there is anyone who truly believes that the draw was a stitch up ….
It gives us something to moan about ….had we not made a pigs erchie of it yesterday nobody would have given a toss
I really don’t want a fight about this …principally cause I don’t care enough
This is my all time fav:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/9146997/Rangers-in-administration-Its-too-late-to-send-in-the-clowns….html
big nan @ 20:22.
Girlfriend in a coma, I know, I know….it is serious.
YeshuaHAMAShiach.csc
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the WORlD he didnae exist.
Things are so simple.
I dislike Alex Jones because I think he does more harm than good but the poster on there, the pp forums, Joe Stirling, is relentless in exposing Masonry. I dinnae trust Jones or Stirling.
HH and keep up the guid work.