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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Night night Timland, thank you for being there. Fermin in the mo. :-))
Weefra HH supporting Wee Oscar.
A very brave display from the team. Heroic effort after going down a man so early in the game. Did well to pull one back and unfortunate not to salvage a point.
I think Neil got the tavtics wrong again. I was very surprised that he didn’t sub either Stokes or Griffiths after the ordering off. Fair enough they gave Aberdeen a bit of a run around and the decision could be described as brave. However, once Aberdeen scored it was a major error of judgement not to strengthen the midfield/ defence. Gaps were inevitable and it should not have come as a surprise when we went two goals down. In my opinion, shoot me down if you like, it became too much of an ask for our players to get the points. We were unlucky as I said earlier but the task could have been made more manageable had the manager been tactically more aware.
Have to get up very early in the morning so I’m off to bed.
Just watched the game. Efe pass wasn’t the only misplaced pass on the night. The were worse. Wind played havoc.
Thought he did superbly after that.
Compare the pairing of Efe and VVD to that of Vidic and Ferdinand. I know which I prefer.
Hayes screamer of a goal shows that clean sheets are a fragile fabric. A record which will stand for a long time.
Impressed that our 10 men were far better than their 12. Cookie has crumbled. Looking forward to Saturday.
TET, if there’s one thing worse than a sheepshagger it has to be a secret sheepshagger who secrets a wee bet on on them.
Tut tut.
Nae mair shots for you at the sclaffbaw:-)
HAW Hail Hail bruv, hope you’re well.
BT
“so we live in mediocrity for ever…?”
It’s your thought not mine.
These past 15 years were better than the previous 20
Just watched the game,having avoided all contacts.
Red card spoiled the game, therefore unfair to criticise the performance.
We looked very comfortable in the game up until then.
In the grand scheme of things, no great damage done.
Unbeaten records and clean sheets are ok, as far as they go, but the only sheet that matters is the one flying on the flag pole come August.
At least it took a cracking goal to do it, though, I think Virgil’s presence would have prevented the second goal.
Thomson gave a RH Davidson-esque performance, after the red card, by flashing his yellow card.
One positive from the match was the boost Forrest gave us when he came on.
I have stated before that I fancy him in the Commons role. I hope he gets the chance to play there in the run in.
Onwards and upwards.
Can someone explain why we say ‘stonewall’ penalty? Stonewalling is about delaying, being defensive, obfuscating but not a phrase for something definite or indisputable.
A lot of standard expressions in football which are seldom seen in other connotations.
‘Cultured’ left foot. Why always left?
‘Prolific’ goalscorer. Why no prolific tacklers?
‘Sped’ down the wing. Is there a limit?
‘Rifled’ in a shot, ‘bundled’ it over the line etc
So easy to be a journo!!
SuperSutton,
The MSM highlight Efe and Amido…watch our fans toe the line :O(.
blantyretim is praying for the Knox family, plenty of Mr TET’s fine merchandise is up for grabs at the CQ10 gig, get there early and buy a ticket. There’s even a belt with a 42″ inch waist. It’s not pink though:)
HH
Given the financial constraints Lenny has to work under, it would be very interesting to see how a Top class manager would do under the same conditions.
No saying I want Lenny to go, far from it.
But if he did decide he has had enough, and we got a top manager in, I would wager that he wouldn’t do any better that Lenny given the resources.
Just saying like >}
HH
I should add
Neil is manager by default is not entirely true as he more than proved his ability by winning 8 SPL matches in a row with a squad that prior to his elevation as care-taker manager could hardly kick its own ass.
What I meant was he wasn’t PL appointment from “a list of candidates”.
gold coast tom
22:48 on 25 February, 2014
Just looked at the Virgil tackle again for the 6th time and I have to say it was a definite red card. If it had been at the other end we would all have been screaming for a red. Terrible play by Efe to give the ball away for that attack. What was he thinking?
Reynolds hand ball was a clear penalty though and the referee either bottled it or he is an out-and-out cheat.
Anyway, it’s February and we have just suffered our first league defeat of the season and some of the comments on CQN are an absolute disgrace. Some spoilt little brats on here for sure.
…………………………….
Re. The Reynolds penalty incident. I agree that it was a definite penalty. The thing that I always notice about Craig Thomson is that when there is a penalty shout for Celtic, his first instinct is to refuse it and run away in the opposite direction, whereas, I have noticed that most other refs tend to hesitate to give them thinking time to decide if an incident warrants a penalty. I think you’re right when you suggest that he might be a cheat.
Got to go this time.
ACGR
Business mi amigo.
Some on here have a problem betting on the hun and making money, never been a problem for me, I will take the bookies money all day long, the hun will win more than they lose, so it’s a no brainer, they are free money virtually every game they play, so why not enhance the bank balance, it’s no like me not betting on them will make them no win FFS.
HH
SFTB
the previous ten under a cheating regime at the bigotdome.?
Celtic will not move forward till we rid ourselves once and for all of the vermin in the south side.
we need to move forward not stand still hoping the bigots come back, we should be better than the oldfirm noose around our necks, .
before their cheating we had Aberdeen and Dundee utd winning leagues ,cups and doing well in Europe,
or do u only think in hun years..,
we do not need their hatred wile world, we should be moving on, planning for 20m cl money
u are old enough to have enjoyed the good days if the 60’s and70’s don’t give me your condesending crap about their dominance. I lived through that and I don’t want Cplc to be apart of having them back…
Efe always looks likely to cause trouble by his cavalier runs etc but I thought he was no bad tonight
Or the dandy dons >}
HH
Acgr
I’m pissed off enough…
Kevtic totally agree mate so many spoiled fans!!! Ok we lost probably to the best aberdeen team in 20 years and dundee utd have improved enormously and with no debt their challenge will get better. We wanted more competition now we have it Aberdeen will have more money to spend and that can only be good for the game. Also if this new team reach the premiership the stronger these teams the better. Ok we lost suck it up and move on its disappointing but what do you want back to Mowbray days? Sure gordon Strachan wasnt celtic minded according to some , mon was a chequebook manager we’re sounding like green huns!!!
It’s one of the great thing’s in football, the difference in opinion and the way we individually see them. After watching the match with fantastic Gaelic commentary I find myself disagreeing with many posters here on three crucial counts, one sending off and two hand balls.
The red card pish refereeing (GCT says otherwise. Watch it again), and neither of the “hand balls” was deserving of a penalty. If either of those hand balls was given as a penalty against us we’d all be crying “hun ref”.
Cool bananas, we all see it differently.
The other thing I picked up on via the bbc alba coverage was how crap are the Aberdeen support are? Have they no singers……………………………….at all?
Well done
Aberdeen
2-1
Well
So
Fook
21 points
Ahead
Who gives
A
If we get ,
10 in row
I will be embarrassed
Unless we get 2 a few
European finals
ProspectiveCSC
Tremendous stikre for Johnny Hayes. If you’re going to lose a record it’s no shame to a goal like that.
Ref Thompson got the red right – we would have been demanding it at the other end. Thing is, the Dallas school of Scottish refereeing showed through in the following ten minutes – the rule, of course, being to flurry a handful of yellows at The tims after a sending off – subdues any rebel response. There’s plenty history of that exact method throughout the years.
Effe is a great defensive midfielder and athlete. A trusty last man he is not.
Anto Stokes had a greta game, and he would have been the first one I wanted hooked when down to ten men.
Kris Commons needs a rest.
Great performance by the bhoys in the second half – kept the ball of the eleven with aplomb and Euro-cool. Only poor last-third decisions (Broony at the short free kick late on a prime example) prevented more chances and an equaliser.
A damn shame both records gone in the one night, but it will take one bitter green hun to find any overall fault with the team or Lenny tonight. Shit happens.
VVD was a red. Don’t see what all the fuss is about.
One thing I can guarantee about Thompson is that he is not anti Celtic.
He is not anti Celtic because he is so narcacisic, egotistic and self absorbed that I doubt he even knowns there is a team called Celtic exists.
Make no mistake. 22 players take to the field to make Mr Thompson look good.
The proof of this is this.
Why are there no Scottish referees at the world cup in Brazil this summer.
It’s not that they’re not good enough.
After all, a spineless Gollum was refereeing in the Uefa premium contest earlier today.
The reason there are no scottish referees at the world cup is that Thompson will not use Scottish linesmen outwith Scotland. He doesn’t trust them. He wouldn’t use them when given a choice in the Champions League earlier this season. He insisted on using assistant referees from the Republic of Ireland.
Hmmmmm…………..
This pissed off not only the SFA but UEFA as well. Hence why Lodge 1690 will not be represented at Brasil 2014.
Anyway. I hear Tottenham will have to reappraise who they will have as opposition for Ledley King’s testimonial.
Apparently there was uproar with police when the idea was floated with them that Sevcovians should be roaming the streets of south London.
If it turns out that Ledley suddenly remembers that he has a soft spot for Celtic ( and their 15, 000) travelling support, let’s remember who his first choice was.
ACGR
I saw the game on CTV, and I posted earlier that I though VvD got a touch on the ball.
This was discounted by a few other posters, but not having seen it again, I really can;t say.
I likened it to the time Hooper was not given a pen in the dougie, dougie thing, they saw it their way, we saw it like it was.
I still think he got a nick on the ball.
HH
BT, put an extra hole in the pink belt then and wear it yourself. I canny help your being pissed off mate, but I’m sure I can cheer you up with a dram or two.
TET, Virgil got the ball. My take is there was no foul.
A poor decision by Mr T and the rest is in the history books.
HH
Acgr
I’m always pissed off when Celtic loose, doesn’t male me a bad person.
Just a sore looser.
Wonder how that Aberdeen team will do in qualifying rounds of the Europa Cup?
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy had a point in his last post, a more expierenced manager would have taken a striker off and beefed up the midfield to offer some extra help to a weakened defense.
Lenny has made loads of mistakes in his time as manager, the overall quality of our players compared to our opponents domestically has ensured we haven’t been to exposed by his mistakes.
That may sound like critisim but it isn’t intended as such. He’s inexpierenced and has been a manager for less than 5yrs so I wouldn’t expect him to have all the answers at this stage of his manergerial career.
There are some very positive signs that this team is developing, Biton and VVD stand out for me at the moment and I actually think Baldi and Pukki will turn out ok and integrate into the team. Not to sure about Derk and if we could afford it I would go for Snodgrass as he is absolute quality and will be a sensation if he ever gets to pull on the hoops.
Jeezus two in a row .”it wis a red card” merchants.
I feckin give up.
BT
“don’t give me your condesending crap about their dominance”
There was not an ounce of condescension in what I posted to you.
You are responsible for the tone in which you responded.
Good night
TET, you’ll be up in front of the CQN disciplinary panel for betting against your own team.
You’re now the ‘Ian Black’ of the blog.
;)))))
Can’t believe some of the negative comments on here tonight. I thought every one of the10 men burst a gut out there. Had we held on until half time who knows. Second half permormance was very good. After watching the penalty incident again I think it should have been given but as someone already pointed outI think it was seconds later we scored anyway. The quality of refs in this country is shocking. Having said that my memories of JRP Gordon, Syme, Tait, McCluskey, Dallas etc weren’t fond ones either. I hope the fact we lost tonight gives the players the incentive to beat the record again maybe next season.
Looked like a red to me anyway. Thought we played well enough and in a way glad that the defensive record is gone – rather we achieve records for goals scored etc
Spend a few hours today with Yogi Hughes. Great stories which we will feature in the next edition of CQN Magazine – he hated playing for Scotland as selectors and supporters were all *uns – said he was playing over in Belfast and this moron with a Rangers scarf on spits in his face as they are getting on the team bus. The players used to have a wee bag that went over their shoulders to carry their boots. Big Yogi grabs his bag and clocks the spitter over the head, gets on the bus and laughs as hundreds of them are baying for blood as the coach drives away. The big man when he got back to Parkhead told Jock Stein he didn’t want to play for Scotland again due to this bigotry.
Heedrum! Hodrum!
Having waited to watch the game on Alba – I suppose I saved myself 3 hours grief from bitching by those who can see no fault with tactics or are quick to attack opinions (a.k.a. how fans see it at the time).
Spirited 2nd half (at times we looked as if we had the extra man).
Never a red card. Not last man. Not an obvious goal scoring opportunity. Not a reckless tackle. Thought Efe coped well after the loss of VvD and a soft yellow.
Poor 10 man tactics – Stokes should have been hooked and last season defensive Barca-type midfield applied. Fisher RB – Mathews WRM – Brown + Biton CMF – KC drifting (replaced by JF) – LG upfront (replaced by Balde with 20mins to go).
Not particularly worried about the loss of the clean sheet/ undefeated record – 60 years supporting Celtic and I would be hard pressed to remember 2 occasions of similar significance (other than one for Big Jock and one for MON).
Time for a radical rethink by management and proper utilization of our youth/ projects/ unused recent signings.
Some imaginative thinking will need to be applied by CFC and PLC between now and the end of May.
Disappointed but as always – glad to be a Tim!
H!H!
Wc nice one looking forward to seeing that article.
Consensus this evening seems to be that the 10 bhoys were very good tonight and I have to agree. Caveat is my frustration with Efe- again. If Efe was half the footballer he believes that he is, we’d be quids in- to the tube of about £50m…
The lhads did bust a gut, however Stokes was frustratingly wasteful.
On a side issue- NFLs treatment of Amido Balde is surely worthy of comment. His repeated introduction of the big man with 2 or 3 minutes to go actually demeans the player. On the evidence I’ve seen, he merits much more than the fleeting glances to date.
winning captains
And your point is caller >}
HH
the exiled tim – not sure, just thought I’d mention something about the big guy. He is going to write a blog post for CQN but he’ll have to wait as after Tommy Gemmell was on we
have had another Lion writing and Paul will post his contribution on a quiet day.
I reckon Amido is getting a few mins to boost his bank balance, just to keep him sweet, cynical I know, just the way I see it, he will get game time now I think, I hope, and then we will see what he is all about.
I saw a fair bit of him last season, posted about him when we signed him, never going to burst the bubble, but a decent player who gives his all, and I think we have seen that.
He is not a Lenny signing, as Pukki, Derk are not Lenny signings, just ask yourself, if you had paid X for players, why not play them ?
BTW, I don’t think Biton is a Leny signing either, but he is too good to leave out >}
It’s really no rocket science.
Sleep for this Tim,
Take care and god bless
HH
KTF