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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Winning captains
Good to hear.
HH
For all those slagging off Efe. He is a major element of one of the best defensive records we have ever had.
Wind your necks in. We lost. Get over it and stop spouting pish.
COYBIG
Just back in from the game and had a wee scroll through the post match comments.
I’m genuinely surprised to see Ambrose getting such criticism. For me the guy has been exceptional this season. He’s in the unfortunate situation that he’s being compared to VVD who is one of the best centre backs that I’ve seen in a Celtic jersey.
Aye he was at fault for the first goal and yes I’ve no doubt he’ll make errors like that in the future but overall his performances have improved greatly and he’s been a rock at the back.
I recall Di Canio once saying that he expected Ferdinand to make at least one mistake in every game. It certainly didn’t make him a poor defender.
Ps Neil Lennon got the tactics horribly wrong for the remainder of the first half after the red card. Much of the time we looked as if we had 3 up front with Griffiths, Commons and Stokes.
He addressed this at half time by taking off Kris, who I think needs a wee rest having carried the team for months, and replacing him with Forest who was impressive and gave us a drive, energy and creativity that we lacked prior to the break.
Made myself watch the game again, and reiterate I thought Celtic were excellent in complete control until the controversial but predictable sending off. Debatable at best, especially when you have Celtic fans saying red, and others not.
Whatever Celtic were down to ten men, and not a forward or a midfielder but the star of the show, the rock of the side, gone, and the game was wasted as a equal competitive spectacle, That said Celtic still nearly could have a point, back from losing two goals before they had time to adjust to the loss of VVD.
What would the point have been of taking off a forward when you are two down at half time? – I don’t think we need damage limitation when we’re twenty points clear in the league. James Forrest was an inspired substitution and nearly retrieved it, as we completely outplayed Aberdeen with ten men in the second period.
Where I disagree with NL was the introduction of Samaras, who contributed precisely what we’ve seen before, too many times. NL may continue to play seniority before juniors, and it’s his right, his choice his call, to pick from what he sees at Lennoxtown and beyond.
Tough, times twenty one clear at the top, if Lenny hasn’t got it neither has McKinnes whose new Aberdeen got humped by Partick. A lot of Neil’s recent contenders for the top job, are commentators and some others will be in the future.
HT
Most of his critics are still on about the goal he caused against Juve, and probably never saw him tonight.
praecepta, you must have gone through the same levels of suffering as me. and then had the benefit of seeing Virgil’s challenge in hunners of repeat s / rewind repeats. A fantastic challenge that should not even have earned him a booking. Red card my arse!!
Anyway, that’s history now. How you doing? Hope to see you in a couple of weeks. Keep me a story.
Hail Hail Bruv.
Well, that’s me in, and off to bed…. :)
clink\o/
01:22 on 26 February, 2014
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha…….could you be a little clearer, please…..brilliant..!!
Bourne
I know it’s all about opinions and I can get why folk are critical of his mistake tonight but I actually have him in my top 4 or 5 performers for the season.
Alongside VVD he’s been immense.
FFS, someone’s hacked bsr’s addy.
Form the heart bruv
Hail Hail
Bourne
Ps is it a red card?
From my viewpoint it looked it.
http://youtu.be/FQCeU9lomGU
Refused penalty
HT
Very difficult, a yellow given every other week in identical circumstances.
He actually touches the ball first, but Thompson was aye ready.
Some Celtic supporters are telling us here that our season is finished tonight after our first league defeat. I don’t see it that way. We have a league title to win and I’ll be there following the bhoy’s until the end.
Well done to Aberdeen, they won we lost, we move on to the next game. We are Celtic.
We Are Celtic.
GG
Stonewaller and I thought so at the time. If it doesn’t hit his arm it’s falling to Griffiths who’s in 2 yards of space 6 yards from goal.
Bourne
I’ll have a look tomorrow. Agree that Thompson was only going to make one decision he was dreadful tonight.
Celtic should challenge the card against VVD. Show up how shit and incompetent our officials are.
Tonight was a good example of why referee’s should have to account to the paying support the reasons why they make such bizarre decisions, in real time, like they do in rugby.
Pish refereeing is the ruination of our game, regardless of influence by hunnerism or not.
As TET always says, sort out the referee’s.
The Hayes goal is indeed a fantastic strike but he gets a whole lot of time on the right side of our middle to set himself up?
AR
HT, it was never a red card.
Look again.
Anyway, I’m off, not off oot, I’m off in.
VVD, a brilliant challenge tonight that I hope to see repeated over and over again in the coming years, Tonight’s ref wrongly carded you but that wont always be the case.
The hun referee’s will die.
Hail Hail Celtic men and wummin.
Just in for a wee look…..
____________________
tommytwiststommyturns
22:08 on 25 February, 2014
______________________
Aye – you’ll know!
Whits – bombs n bullets – got to do wi the fact that
If, imho…Neil wisny a puppet – he widny be the manager.
He was a puppet afore the bnb’s – not my fault.
Anyway…you don’t like me – ah don’t like ye back. Fair ?
Take Care – Hail Hail – Off oot.
Pharrell ‘Happy’ Williams – CSC
Got in fae work at midnight and watched the Alba recording, not knowin the score. Hail Hail oor10men. We controlled and dominated fae 1-92 mins. We know your a hun! Craig Thomson. We know your a hun! Haha magic.
Hello delaneys,
Doesn’t matter when it happens, it still hurts when the Celts get beat bud! Away oot to chop doon some hun trees in the garden
AR
AR
I was proud of that 10man defeat, strangely. Ran the show, but never a red and a penalty hand ball. Good show fae zombie thomson.
To all those claiming our season is now over, let me ask you one question.
If we were now ahead of Aberdeen by just 1 point or even by goal difference, or better still, a point behind, would that be an improvement in your eyes?
Are Celtic victims of their own success? Because we are 21 poinsts clear and the title is “in the bag” our season is over? No reason to go to any more games? Is that what supporting your team really means to you?
Celtic have absolutely no chance whatsoever of winning 10-in-a-row . . .
. . . because we will be playing in a different league long before then.
bournesouprecipe
01:42 on
26 February, 2014
HT
Very difficult, a yellow given every other week in identical circumstances.
He actually touches the ball first, but Thompson was aye ready.
—————————————————————————————-
The view from behind the goal looks like he touched the ball.
The other view confirms to me he definitely did not.
So there.:-)
Just watched the game. Difficult game on a poor surface with strong wind. Thought Neil played the right team and made the right decisions with his subs, although throwing on Balde again with a couple minutes left was not necessary.
The ref spoiled the contest with the red card and numerous bookings. Virgil clearly fouled the player but it was not a clear goal scoring opportunity. Thought Efe stepped up after that and worked his socks off for the team. Biton was excellent despite the conditions and Broonie led by example. A brave performance from 10 men but not enough class in the final third to break open a 10 man defence.
Aberdeen 2 Celtic 1: Lennon rage as Dons end Hoops’ unbeaten run
NEIL LENNON blasted referee Craig Thomson and blamed him for Celtic losing their unbeaten Premiership record at Aberdeen.
By: Scott BurnsPublished: Wed, February 26, 2014
0Comments
Lennon was not pleased with the result [GETTY]
The Hoops boss claimed Virgil van Dijk should never have been sent off, and believes his team were also denied a penalty for a handball from Mark Reynolds.
In the end, neither decision went for the champions and they lost 2-1.
A Jonny Hayes screamer and another from Adam Rooney had the Dons 2-0 up at half-time before sub James Forrest pulled a goal back for the Hoops after the break.
The defeated ended Celtic’s spotless record in the league and scuppered Fraser Forster’s charge on Edwin van der Sar’s British shutout record.
The referee ruined the game. It wasn’t a sending-off
Neil Lennon
Lennon said: “I thought we were worthy of the win and we would have deserved it. The referee ruined the game. It wasn’t a sending-off.
“Peter Pawlett was going across the goal and I am sure Efe Ambrose was going to get across.
“Then in the second half there was a clear handball in the box.
“Everybody saw it but he deemed it not deliberate.
“Those were two big decisions that went against us.
“I spoke to the referee but all he said was, ‘I understand you are upset’ and left it at that.”
Lennon confirmed he will look at Van Dijk’s case and consider an appeal. Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes was delighted with the win and believed it was more than merited.
“I was delighted with every single player,” said McInnes.
“It was a good night for everybody at the club.
“The supporters are energised. They turned out in big numbers and it was important they saw us win.
“It is not easy to beat Celtic regardless of whether they have 11 or 10 men, so it was great to win and to score two magnificent goals.
“If we didn’t get the credit we deserved after our Parkhead win we should get it tonight.” Celtic defender Adam Matthews reckons his side should still have salvaged a point.
He said: “We started well but the sending-off was the turning point.
“It was a bad pass from Efe and Virgil felt he had to make the challenge.
“The first goal you have to hold your hands up, it was a great strike.
“The second we should have done better.
“At half-time we still believed we could do it. We played a lot better in the second half and deserved a point.”
Anyone heard about this latest piece of bureaucratic lunacy?
REMOTE STOPPING OF VEHICLES!
http://www.forbes.com/sites/tamlinmagee/2014/01/31/eu-police-group-contemplates-remote-stopping-cars/
Now we can start preparations for CL qualifiers.
Let’s give a few fringe players two or three starts and see how they do.
Rest a couple such as Kris Commons, Efe, Izzy and Brown.
Retire the likes,of Samaras.
Field Amido alongside LG and AS a couple of times.
Repay some of our promising youngsters by bringing them on as subs at HT.
And let’s ignore the whingers who will be on here criticizing Neil for experimenting and sussing out who he can rely on and ensuring everyone is sharp and match ready.
TWISTS N TURNS
I think there is a minor error in your article.
“The referee said I understand you’re upset,but GIRUY”
Corrected for you.
Watched the sending off a dozen times. In the Continental leagues, a sending off every time. However, I’ve seen worse tackles this season in the best league in the world and other Scottish league games just getting a yellow. Hmmm.
I also agree Kris needs a wee rest. And a new contract.
http://youtu.be/RvSjlfwlM5E
The red card for VVD.
The angle at 25 secs suggests the VVD plays the ball.
But the ref didn’t hesitate did he?
Bobby
Never managed to see the game, nor the highlights, but it was there in black and white on the team sheet that we were in trouble. As soon as I seen it, I thought, game over. Surprised no one else noticed it. Any time his name appears on a team sheet, we are toast.
Craig Thomson
twists n turns,
I watched the game on Celtic TV, as soon as I saw the tackle I thought he might be in trouble but my immediate thought was yellow but what followed was a throwback to the bad old days, red card followed by two swift yellows meaning that our front man and remaining central defender were both under pressure for the rest of the match, used to happen at Ibrox on a regular basis. In between this, Emilio is taken down from the back, a yellow card anywhere else in Europe but Emilio is lectured for complaining about being clogged.
I was concerned about the amount of time that Hayes had to set himself for his goal, a good player given that amount of time should hit the target, in this case he could not have hit it better. The second half IMO looked good because Aberdeen allowed us possession and apart from our very well worked goal, we didn’t threaten their goalkeeper again. It is good for us to have a half decent challenger, it should make us lift our game and become a better side.
AR
Antipodes red
Morning bud. Yeah, been reading the mixed opinions on the game. My comment was somewhat tongue in cheek, and definitely made without the benefit of having seen any of the action, but it seems as though we were beaten by a combination of throwback refereeing and a fairly decent Dons side.
To be honest, I never thought for a minute we’d go through the season unbeaten, though it was a good effort. Much better Celtic teams than this current one have failed to achieve that particular goal.
I harbour some serious reservations about the CL qualifiers. I hope we strengthen considerably in the summer, though I had similar concerns last season and we managed to negotiate our passage albeit at the expense of my finger nails.
Kris has been a standout this season, but it’s no coincidence that in games where he’s off the boil, we tend to struggle a little, so it might be time for Lenny to give him a wee break , maybe a couple of weeks off, and a longer close season to have him charged up for 2014/15.
There could well be a fairly downbeat few weeks. League wrapped up, record attempt over and not a great deal of incentive for the players other than the 3 points. Let’s get a few hours experience into some of the youngsters whilst the pressure is off.