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. I suppose a silver lining for me is, I have the dandy dons to finish 2nd in quite a few on going pre season bets, and the bookie want’s me to cash them in, not a hope in hell.

     

     

    Sweating a bit on Barca now for 1, Wolves for another, Benfica, City, Chelsea for others, only need 1 hit for a very good pay out.

     

     

    HH

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

    VOGUEPUNTER

     

     

    As you know,you are welcome anytime,bud!

     

     

    That’ll save me phoning a taxi when I miss my train as usual.

     

     

    Thinking tenth of May…

  3. eddieinkirkmichael on

    Just seen the handball incident on Alba, not for me would have been soft and given that we scored from the next passage of play it wouldn’t have made a difference anyway.

  4. Voguepunter….

     

     

    If you want to move your arse off a bar stool in Rutherglen and travel 300 miles South for a swally then join in if you want to.

  5. blantyretim,

     

     

    Honestly cannae believe we are watching the same player.

     

     

    Love the guy…just don’t know why his mistakes are highlighted!

     

     

    Cos they ALL make them.

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

    BLANTYRE TIM

     

     

    I’m also hoping for a wee sesh nearer to your place.

     

     

    So nae luck right back at ya!

  7. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    eddie

     

     

    Murray is showing he had his arms tucked in. He didnt! And the pics prove it.

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

    THE EXILED TIM

     

     

    That website you were on about last night,COLLARS-N-CUFFS.

     

     

    Sounds a wee bit porno to me. Kids read this,you know.

  9. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Fred c

     

    He continues to make them, therein lies the problem.

     

    football is a simple game, if you don’t learn from your mistakes you are a liability.

     

     

    Ask yourself had effe been a keeper how often would he been allowed his mistakes

  10. 10 Season record:

     

     

    2004/05 BAD – writing on wall when the King was replaced by Camara

     

    2005/06 surprisingly GOOD – from the pits of Motherwell & Bratislavia; great season!

     

    2006/07 GOOD – Double & CL last 16

     

    2007/08 bad – except for CL & last 8 league games but overall football rubbish.

     

    2008/09 bad- threw the league away

     

    2009/10 bad – Mowbray debacle but Neil amazingly wins 8 SPL games in a row

     

    2010/11 Good – win cup, go close in league and play best football in years

     

    2011/12 Good – follow up previous season with title

     

    2012/13 Good – win double & great CL campaign

     

    2013/14 Up n down – great to get into CL but we haven’t performed in the big games

     

     

    Trophies:

     

    MON – 1

     

    WGS – 6

     

    Neil – 5

     

     

    For manager it’s between WGS and Lenny. Both picked us up when we were on the canvas and turned things around from impossible positions. 2004/05 wasn’t MON finest.

     

     

    Difference would be under Strachan we weren’t a selling club like we are under Neil.

     

     

    For me Neil has the biggest challenge in that he is losing his best players every season whereas WGS and/or the club fell out with his best players.

  11. eddieinkirkmichael on

    jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/

     

     

    23:23 on

     

     

    I thought it looked a soft claim and also had no bearing on the game as the ref wouldn’t have sent him off for it.

  12. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon, supporting WEE OSCAR..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    Neil has ALREADY taken us to the next level ……. The challenge now is to keep us there,,,,,,,,,these are grand old days for the Bhoys ……… Never thought I’d see the demise of derhun………

  13. The Spirit of Arthur Lee on

    FCD

     

     

    We all disagree when celtic get beat

     

     

    I just think Efe cost us the game tonight

     

     

    Love

  14. eddieinkirkmichael on

    Drambowiecelt

     

     

    23:25 on

     

     

    No but I’m watching it on BTvision so can rewind live TV and watched it a few times and still wasn’t convinced it was a pen mate.

  15. BoabyM

     

     

    Close but no cigar >}

     

     

    It’s online, all new, revamped, but is running a bit slow, the pics are getting reduced to compensate the speed thing, no loss in quality, just to speed it up.

     

     

    It’s much better than the last site, no jewellery on this one, concentrating on the belts and collars, geared for the footy fan, so hopefully when it’s running a bit better, I can indulge and ask for hits to get it up the ratings.

     

     

    I did a bit of googling and was astounded as to how much some co’s spend to get their site up the ratings, it’s frightning, mega bucks for a place up the ladder, certainly money I don’t have, or could dream of having to give away.

     

     

    HH

  16. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Kevtic

     

    we had this discussion tonight after the match, who could or would replace lenny should he decide to go..

     

    Clarke Mckay, or someone who would tell the board that he was picking and choosing who played for Celtic?

  17. Pass an off licence in Moss Side,on my way into Manchester every week.

     

     

    The proprieter’s name is Swalley and the sign proclaims ‘Swalley and Sons Off Licence’

     

     

    It means nothing in Manchester but what a cool business name that would be in Glasgow,ey?

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

    THE EXILED TIM

     

     

    Sounds excellent,mate. Now that you have set my mind at rest re getting my,erm,collar felt for inappropriate web access,I’ll give it a go!

     

     

    Bestaluck…..

  19. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    TeT

     

    I made a mistake, mini now being almost 14 is no longer into pink, its all bhoy bands etc so im in deep trouble, no worries coz its a great first Communion gift for her wee cousin, if we can prise it off oldtims napper…

  20. BT

     

     

    If you mean signing decisions, I am not sure Malky managed that feat at Cardiff. It is, in fact, part of his tribunal defence against his dismissal that signings were corporate decisions, as they are in all clubs, including Stevie Clarke’s West Brom.

     

     

    If you mean picking the team, then any manager that does not have that right should walk. I haven’t heard of that being an issue since the days of Bob Kelly.

  21. eddieinkirkmichael on

    jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/

     

     

    23:32 on

     

     

    We scored almost immediately after the incident from next passage of play. So we get penalty we wouldn’t have created goal, that’s what I mean.

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