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. NatKnow - Supporting Wee Oscar on

    MadraRua

     

    20:39 on

     

    25 February, 2014

     

    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.

     

    ————————————————-

     

    Some perspective. Good post.

  2. Pub league defending for first goal.

     

     

    Good strike but the amount of time given to steady himself and shoot….deary deary me.

  3. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    ‘GG

     

    20:39 on

     

    25 February, 2014

     

    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.

     

    ——————————————————————————————–

     

    Agreed.

     

    Lenny will be drumming it into Leigh to keep the heid.

  4. The performance of the team in the second half will tell us everything we need to know from now to the end of the season.

     

     

    If they come out fighting and try to win this then we know that this is just one of those nights.

     

     

    If however they come out with a limp performance and lose more goals then I’m afraid some big changes need to come somewhere either in attitude, management skills or elsewhere.

     

     

    I will reserve judgement to I see what the manager does from here and how the players react when they come back on.

  5. Joe Filippis Haircut on

    notthebus. Who picks the subs is it not Lennie ? so if there is not a suitable midfielder on the bench blame him.However, bring Matthews into midfield and put Fisher at right back was a no brainer but Lennie failed to act. H.H.

  6. Tall order 2nd half but ain’t gave up.

     

    Agree with Kojo.

     

    After Virgil sent off, Fisher on, Stokes off, Matthews into midfield and Fisher at RB.Charlie to CH.

  7. What’s the current formation? Is it

     

     

    Forster,

     

     

    Matthews ambrose, mulgrew, izziguirre,

     

     

    brown, biton, commons,

     

     

    Stokes, Griffiths

     

     

    ?

     

     

    If it is then it is crazy. To be out-bossed in midfield sounds like repeating the same mistake and expecting a different result.

     

     

    Time to re-group. Time to win the midfield. One striker up – Balde. Fisher into midfield. Stokes and Griffiths off.

  8. Broonie should have burst the net early doors but that’s fitba.

     

     

    We were always going to lose a game but was hoping not against this lot.

     

     

    Lenny needs to get active on the scouting front for midfielders,central and attacking.

     

    We also need a robust forward for just these sort of nights.

     

     

    Stokes and Griffiths of with Forrest and Balde on.

     

     

     

    KTF 3-2 Celtic

  9. snake plissken

     

     

    20:45 on 25 February, 2014

     

    The performance of the team in the second half will tell us everything we need to know from now to the end of the season.

     

     

    If they come out fighting and try to win this then we know that this is just one of those nights.

     

     

    If however they come out with a limp performance and lose more goals then I’m afraid some big changes need to come somewhere either in attitude, management skills or elsewhere.

     

     

    I will reserve judgement to I see what the manager does from here and how the players react when they come back on.

     

     

     

    We see to be having limp performances at least every game in 3.

  10. Ryecatcher

     

     

    It was a freak goal an absolute blockbuster that caught the wind on the way in very little anyone cud have done about that

  11. All good things come to an end.

     

     

    Thompson has seen to that.

     

     

    Ach well.

     

     

    2-5 in the second half.

     

     

    COYBIG

     

     

    Lubo.

  12. glendalystonsils on

    Snake Plissken

     

     

    agreed. It’s a long time since we’ve been in this kind of position in a domestic game. Our reaction in the second half will be very important and very revealing, regardless of the outcome.

  13. For the record… contributions towards Fraser Forster’s Scottish league shut-out record were as follows:

     

     

    Player (Mins)

     

    Forster (1255)

     

    Ambrose (1252)

     

    van Dijk (1227)

     

    Commons (1220)

     

    Brown (1218)

     

    Izaguirre (1096)

     

    Stokes (950)

     

    Ledley (935)

     

    Mulgrew (756)

     

    Fisher (637)

     

    Forrest (567)

     

    Matthews (562)

     

    Pukki (451)

     

    Biton (435)

     

    Samaras (364)

     

    Johansen (274)

     

    Griffiths (198)

     

    Lustig (180)

     

    Boerrigter (110)

     

    Balde (63)

     

    Atajic (11)

     

    Henderson (6)

  14. Frank Ryan's Whiskey on

    We’re doomed I tell ya, doomed. I just absolutely fecking hate being beaten by the lanolin lovers.

     

     

    KC off good call NL

  15. If Ye Read Back..

     

    Ye wull Read that Ah said

     

     

    Commons, is mis Placing Passes..

     

     

    Sure he is No Playin Well

     

     

     

    But , Stokes should bin Pulled aff..n.. Fisher..shoulda Bin Brought oan. Much earlier..

     

     

    Neil,is the guy you should be getting oan tae..No Me.

     

     

    Ah am only a Baby Duck..

     

     

    Neil..is the Manager..who ..well

     

     

    No Managing//

     

     

     

    Ah knew that we shoulda started this Game

     

     

    ‘wi a FIVE MAN MID FIELD…

     

     

    Wi WAN MAN UP.’

     

     

    Neil.. didane Agree…

     

     

    He refused tae Gie Henderson a Game..

     

     

    Kojo

  16. bhoylo83

     

     

    20:39 on 25 February, 2014

     

    An dun

     

     

    Aye charlie went to cb

     

     

    —-

     

     

    Thanks. Suppose that’s the only choice we had. Charlie and Efe will concede more chances in second half, it’s not looking good.

  17. Can I Have Raspberry On That Champions League Ice Cream

     

     

    Well whose fault is that?

     

     

    Lets get something straight here.

     

     

    Lose this game and the interest in the season really is over other than lifting the league.

  18. Snake Plissken

     

     

    If they get beaten with ten men – it’ll tell us we’re still 21 points clear.

     

     

    You post every week moaning about change, maybe you’ll be happy

     

    tonight, we’re no longer unbeaten.

     

     

    Maybe CSC

  19. Noo Neil Brings oan

     

     

    A WINGER!!!

     

     

    Ma God..

     

     

    Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

     

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Mad n getting Madder

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