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. Just read interesting article on MON in The Sunday Times re Celtic moving leagues during his time with us.Maybe some bhoy could post it .

  2. glendalystonsils on

    You’ll see as many yellow cards given as you will reds in that situation but not when it’sCeltic.

     

    And certainly not when there’s a chance to put this unbeaten league season thing to bed.

     

    It must have been burning into their wee hun brains like a red hot poker.If it hadn’t been Thomson in this game, it would have been one of his cronies in another

  3. BMCUWP

     

     

    Ha ,,just had my worse day ever…Last job was to airport otherwise I was going for crisis loan:O)

  4. Love the current lads and Lenny but just listening to Barry Robson just now. How I wish he was still playing in the hoops.

     

    A marvellous professional shown the door way too early at CP.

     

    I honestly believe he could still be doing a job for us just now.

     

     

    A top class guy and a very good footballer.

     

    Good luck to him in what remains of his career.

  5. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS .........FC not PLC on

    VOGUEPUNTER

     

     

    Funnily enough,that fare had you heading in the direction of some real experts.

     

     

    Glad you finished wi a flourish,bud.

  6. @glendaly

     

    Thomson was made for tonight .He’s got previous when it really

     

    matters.A Dallas clone.

  7. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS .........FC not PLC on

    FRED C.DOBBS

     

     

    The fewer team-mates behind you to cover,the more glaring your mistakes become.

  8. Neil Lennon’s Celtic got beaten tonight and didn’t equal the unbeaten run of Martin O’Neil and his expensively assembled squad.No surprise.

     

     

    Fraser Forster did not equal the shut out record of vastly experienced Edwin Van Der Saar who played behind a defence assembled at obscene expense.No surprise.

     

     

    Dead Rangers will be found not guilty at the UTTT in Edinburgh,with the hidden influence of the Scottish Masonic cabal.No surprise.

     

     

    Not a big news day really.

     

     

    No alarms and no surprises RadioheadCSC

  9. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Ref spoiled the game then lenny brought on sammi. Why?

     

     

    We all know virgil has been carrying effe all year and we don’t buy a central defender ?

     

     

    we all know balde needs a run in the tesm, he got 5 minutes tonight ?

     

     

    we all know the buck stops at lenny and pl..

     

     

    this as much as you will try to sugar coated candy it gas heen a poor season for Celtic…

     

     

    ?

  10. I genuinely think big VVD is the real deal. A brilliant defender who will only improve with experience. I hope we can hang to him for a couple of seasons.

     

    Would be nice to see a couple of the young fellas during the run in. Let guys get early holidays in time for the CL qualies.

  11. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS .........FC not PLC on

    RYECATCHER

     

     

    The UTT(T) is in Edinburgh.

     

     

    Btw,how did Liverpool get on?

     

     

    Kidding…

  12. glendalystonsils on

    Fred C. Dobbs

     

     

     

    Efe has his ‘bombscare’ moments and one of them was bound to cost us eventually. I feel sorry for Virgil who has covered Efe’s backside on many occasions.

     

    I like to see Efe coming out of defence with the ball but it was his carelessness which cost us the red card IMO

  13. Lennon n Mc....Mjallby on

    The huns had a tax dodge for years,they mightve got away with it,they might not.

     

     

    What Id like to know is how Sevco with huns following them,are going to entice better players than us in the future without a tax dodge and crazy bank borrowing?

     

     

    Glasgows green n white.

  14. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Put a five timer on tonight, free bet from sky.

     

    all lost…at least it was a free bet…8))

  15. glendalystonsils on

    Efe takes a lot of risks which a midfielder might get away with further up the park but not at the back.

  16. A Ceiler Gonof Rust Says Hail Hail Big Fraser on

    Ha ha, just got a text from one of the aberdeen guy’s who works for me. he sits behind the goals at pitch level at the sheep dip because he’s too fat to climb any stairs.

     

     

    “GIRUY ya fenian bastard, yer team are shite. Not sure about the red but the result was right”.

     

     

     

    He’s getting the severe malky tomorrow.

  17. voguepunter

     

     

    22:57 on 25 February, 2014BMCUWPHa ,,just had my worse day ever…Last job was to airport otherwise I was going for crisis loan:O)

     

    The Easdales are a wee bit cheaper than Wonga mate :))

  18. the long wait is over on

    While it might not be a vintage season I fail to see how winning the league(assuming we do ), qualifying for the CL , breaking the record for clean sheets and not losing a league game until February can be described as a poor season…

  19. BMCUWP….

     

     

    Thought I said Edinburgh mate?

     

     

    Liked the fight from the Hoops 2nd half tonight.Think wee Jamesy gets unfairly slated on here at times.If he could get over his sciatica problem he will be as good as McGeady was.

     

     

    Need to be careful what you say on here sometimes,particularly late afternoon / early evenings,or the Keyboard hardmen and warriors start the personal insults ….on a blog ffs.

     

     

    Hail Hail mate and defo have a swally this side of Xmas.

  20. A Ceiler Gonof Rust Says Hail Hail Big Fraser on

    Thanks to all the guy’s who provided CQN match updates on what was otherwise a Celtic media blackout in cauldest Carmyllie.

     

     

    Off to watch the second half, wi a half.

     

     

     

    Hail Hail We Are Celtic

     

     

     

    ACGR

  21. unable to watch the game tonight but happy with the result. couldn’t give a **** about trebles. All that matters is the league and we are way ahead. it matters cos of Euro entry where the status and money are. Let the wee teams compete for the S Cup and L Cup. No interested.

     

     

    Now lets prepare for next yr. Are the peripherals and youth good enough? We have 2 months to decide. The only serious target now qualifying for Euro 14/15.

  22. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    If u had a player who fecks up once a game would you play him?

     

     

    We slag lenny for not learning why exuse effe…?

     

     

     

    Had he worn the no1 shirt he would have been thrown from the roof of the north stand. Do we now have to accept mediocrity?

  23. Pawlett is going down before the challenge,he has more previous than Polaris MacDonald fae the Deidco

  24. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS .........FC not PLC on

    RYECATCHER

     

     

    Serves me right for trying to be a smart bassa-never easy for me,but particularly not when I’ve just woken up!

     

     

    Ah well,you lot can sleep on the result. I can’t,at least not till gone noon. Life could be worse….

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