Central-mid quandary for Celtic

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We know what to expect from Aberdeen tonight.  They will flood (pardon the pun) central midfield, defend deeply and, let’s be clear, they will score any time we allow them the kind of space they exploited at Celtic Park this month.

Question is, what will Celtic do about it?  If Stefan Johansen’s ankle knock keeps him out the central-mid triangle of Johansen, Brown and Biton will be disrupted, and surely Neil Lennon will not revert to a central two after the Scottish Cup lesson.  The picture is further complicated by the injury to Emilio Izaguirre, which forced Charlie Mulgrew back at the weekend.  Mulgrew would be a suitable direct replacement for Johansen.

In 10 years doing this stuff I’ve probably used no more than a few dozen words to praise emerging young talent; it’s been a rough decade in that respect.  Without wanting to go overboard in any way, Darnell Fisher has looked more than comfortable at right back in the absence of Mikael Lustig and Adam Matthews.  Darnell’s problem going forward will be that he has two excellent international players ahead of him in the pecking order, but for tonight, I would be tempted to bring Matthews to left back (if he can do it against Barcelona….) and restore Fisher to the right back slot.  This would allow Charlie to sit alongside Scott Brown and Nir Biton in central-mid.

Well done to Frank McAvennie, who is jumping out of an aeroplane 15,000 feet in the air.  You can play your part in this exercise by supporting the Quarriers run, Chavey Down residential home, in Newton Mearns, which helps young people up to the age of 16.

The need is for sensory equipment, toys and wheelchair-appropriate play areas.  To contribute, go to Frank’s JustGiving page, or text FMSD 89 followed by £1, 2, 3, 5, 10 to 70070.

If you would like to read the new CQN Magazine, GO HERE to read properly, and for FREE, the graphic below is just a taster.
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  1. Uncle Tom Lawell will have his head in hands now.

     

     

    Virgil Van Dyke just wiped a couple of million off his transfer value.

  2. There’s The ITHER GOAL that Ah wiz Talkin aboot..

     

     

    Whit Noo. Neil

     

     

     

    Ur ye noo gonna Strengthen the Mid Field

     

     

    Noo ye ur Regrettin Playin Stokes.. instead of Playing HENDERSON

     

     

    like Ah told Ye..

     

     

    Of Course ye ur.

     

     

    Neil… Ye sure need a Few Lessons Mair.

     

     

    Ah am free..any time Ye want a wee bit help

     

     

    Kojo

     

     

    Mad

  3. A man down

     

     

    Cannot keep the ball

     

     

    Cannot break down the Sheep when we have it

     

     

    2 goals down

     

     

    Well all I’d say is cannot see it being turned around.

     

     

    The red card changed the game. We cannot defend now and the Sheep will let us have the ball and hit us on the break.

     

     

    Not looking like our day.

  4. Kojo

     

     

    before you dish out the lessons to Neil check the bench..who would you suggest?

     

     

    Ther are no midfielder s !

  5. We gave up.. when Neil didnae Bring oan anither Mid Fielder..

     

     

     

    Henderson shoulda Played..

     

     

    Stokes.. No..

     

     

    Ah told Neil that.. Afore the Game started

     

     

    Celtic , need tae Play wi a Five Man Middy.. agin Aberdeen…

     

     

     

    Aberedeen are Playing too Weel fur us tae face them..

     

     

    Wi an UNDERSTAFFED MIDFIELD..

     

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Mad

  6. EMILIO Izaguirre makes his return from injury for tonight’s Scottish Premiership showdown away to Aberdeen as Neil Lennon makes one change from the team that defeated Hearts on Saturday.

     

     

    The Honduran replaces Stefan Johansen, who picked up a knock in the win at Tynecastle as the Hoops aim to extend their unbeaten league record to 27 games.

     

     

    Kick off at Pittodrie is 7.45pm, and there will be live updates of the game on the club’s official Twitter feed: @celticfc

     

     

    Tonight’s team:

     

     

    CELTIC (4-3-1-2) Forster; Matthews, Van Dijk, Ambrose, Izaguirre; Brown, Biton, Mulgrew; Commons; Griffiths, Stokes

     

    Subs: Zaluska, Samaras, Boerrigter, Balde, Pukki, Fisher, Forrest

  7. Just logged on and a bit deflated. Does anyone know what changes Neil made when we went down to ten ? Did Mulgrew drop into CB ?

  8. Frank Ryan's Whiskey on

    Kojo why single out Anto, KC has been almost anonymous most of the game and his passing has been poor.

  9. pfayr

     

     

    If your job is to come on to the blog to depress people….get yersel a rise…..ye deserve it

  10. Kojo

     

    I would bring Amido on and let him bully the Dons defence.

     

    I would take AS off except I’m wary of LG’s yellow.

  11. Some people need to get a grip. We are down to ten men. They scored one of the best goals this season.

     

    Season over? Lawells fault?

     

    Do we expect to win every game? Do we expect Fraser to never concede a goal?

     

     

    Aberdeen are a decent side, lighten up lads.

  12. Debateable red card’s usually go against, and Thompson didn’t hesitate, but was reluctant to show yellow to and Dons, and booked two Celtic players for their first tackles, into the bargain.

     

     

    Plus ca change, – superb strike from nowhere from Hayes and a missing Centre Half’s easy clearance leaves Celtic 2-0 with little chance in the second half.

     

     

    Expect to see Samaras to slow things down, not necessarily to great advantage, sadly Celtic looked excellent in the first ten, before the red.

  13. corkcelt- SUPPORTING THE DAM 5 on

    Uncle Tom Lawell will have his head in hands now.

     

     

    Virgil Van Dyke just wiped a couple of million off his transfer value.

     

     

    ryecatcher, At times I find it hard to believe you are a Celtic Supporter. Team are in trouble 2 down at half time, down to 10 men and all you can come out with is a piece of meaningless nonsense. In the first instance getting a red card will not affect Virgil’s worth in the least and secondly now is the time to close ranks and prove we are real supporters.

  14. Aberdeen weren’ t getting a kick of the ball when it was 11 against 11. An Effing Efe blunder like that was bound to happen sooner or later. Hayes had acres of space against ten men when he hit that great shot.

     

    KC keeps giving the ball away. I’d replace him with Sami.

  15. Kojo

     

     

    Which midfielder would you select, choose from

     

     

    Samaras, Boerrigter, Balde, Pukki, Zaluska, Fisher, Forrest.

  16. Sure thur Ur..

     

     

    Fraser is a Damn Fine Mid Fielder..That is the Position That Fisher First Started

     

     

    Ah know That..

     

     

    Is Fisher no oan the Bench..???

     

     

    Anyway.. Henderson shoulda Played..

     

     

    Oor Trouble goes awe the wey back tae That..

     

     

    Neil..is an Amateur..

     

     

    Don’t mak excuses fur Him.

     

     

    Kojo, Hates.. excuses

     

     

    Don’t Argue.. He is Jist a Learner..n we don’t need wan of them

     

     

    Kojo

  17. We all know that Samaras & Forrest will be the first two subs to come on. The manager is a creature of habit.

  18. corkcelt- SUPPORTING THE DAM 5

     

     

    The only thing I am suprised about is your use of “at times”

     

     

    Guys a hun

  19. Joe Filippis Haircut on

    Lennie is showing his lack of managerial knowledge again again when VD was ordered off he should have brought Mulgrew to Centre Back and taken off either Stokes or Griffiths and brought on another midfielder.Also Celtic players are standing off Aberdeen when they should be in there face.Lennie needs to sort it out at half time but im worried he doesnt see it. H.H.

  20. Kojo,

     

    I have to say, you have been saying the same thing for quiet some time.

     

    Close down the midfield, they are coming at us in droves.

     

    Ambrose is making to many errors.

     

    Can’t see a way back, but one never knows. Stokes has done the biz in

     

    similar situations before.

  21. No Samaras please.

     

    We need blood, guts, thunder and hard work.

     

    None of these are in Sammi’s toolkit.

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