Celtic held the ball for around 60 seconds at the 75 minute mark last night, and, thinking a corner had been turned, I thought “That’s been a difficult half hour since halftime but we’ve come through it”. Dinamo Zagreb soon claimed back control in the middle of the park and the game reverted to form.
Despite incessant pressure, in particular during the three minutes added at the end, I was never convinced Dinamo were going to score. The defence, for the most part, stuck to task, tackled well and put bodies in the way. In this respect it was our classic Champions League performance.
Even when the visitors got sight of goal, Craig Gordon was always the most imposing personality on the field. Our captain looked uncharacteristically meek on the receiving end of a rollicking from Craig. We like goalkeepers with authority.
Virgil van Dijk held the line very well, despite a couple of uncomfortable moments when called on to play the ball with his ‘standing’ foot, while Jason Denayer and Efe Ambrose coped with the incessant pressure. Efe played much of the game high up the field, very much in the wing-back role, but was able to track back with speed.
Emilio also stuck to task but he conceded a needless free-kick in exactly the same manner and field-position he lapsed against Salzburg, who equalised from the resultant kick. Denayer also lunged in needlessly a yard outside his box, collecting a yellow card for his trouble. Both occasions called for the defender to stay goal-side and not challenge.
Football teams are made by partnerships, as Anthony Stokes suggested after explaining the understanding he has with Kris Commons which allowed them to craft last night’s goal. Right now we don’t have many partnerships. Wakaso and Emilio were 10 yards apart for much of the game, but to no great effect. Tonev and Ambrose were similarly disconnected on the right.
Not much could have been done to improve this for last night. Neither Tonev nor Ambrose will retain their positions on the right after a pairing from McGregor, Forrest, Matthews and Lustig return. Wakaso and Emilio need to target becoming a more effective pair on the left.
We knew that without the ineligible Guidetti and the (as yet unproven and) injured Scepovic we would struggle up front, but our creative fulcrum was on hand to both create and finish the decisive opening of the game.
Despite the concerns Ronny expressed after full time, this was our second excellent result in the Europa League this season against two decent teams. The progress since the summer is evident.
Many thanks to everyone who participated in our Magners competition for premium tickets to the Hamilton Accies game on Sunday. The competition is now closed and draw will be made shortly and winners will be notified by email, so watch out for it.
I had a great time track-side with my youngest last night before kick-off talking about the great work the Celtic Foundation (which is you and me) do fighting poverty and hardship, and our responsibility in making sure the ethos of the club is maintained and handed on. On Sunday I’m doing the Great Scottish Run to raise funds for the Foundation, so I’m pretending not to have the sore throat, head and cough. Need a magic potion….
Thank you to everyone who has helped with the fundraising, you can get involved here.
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Plastic pitches in our top division…not for me.
It changes the game significantly and should be banned.
Excellent for lower league ‘community’ clubs but otherwise should be a grass pitch qualification for the premiership.
for all those over 40 – radio 6!
justafan
Fair point. But to be fair to Killie mibbee it’s just sound fwd planning on their part before they take the plunge to that level!
HH jamesgang
VP- good answer ya bass :-)
HH
CRC
A wee repost fae earlier, any help or ideas would be great.
Hello guys looking for a wee bit of help, in the town tomorrow with the bhoy ( 12 ), food, pictures, more food then I’m looking for live music maybe about 6ish…..most types of music welcome
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
HH PC67
JQB and G64
So sad that aid workers are being the ones to suffer. The modern equivalent of martyrs.
Christianity was there 500 years ago. Let us hope that others find their inner humanity.
Sorry I am in a pensive mood tonight.
After enjoying/ enduring the game last night I woke up this morning to find that we had been burgled. Nothing of real value was lost but the intrusion is disturbing.
Our black lab was really upset as he was in the room that was targeted . He is too docile to bark but he needs bit of tlc tonight. Mind you, an ice cream did seem to lift his mood.
jamesgang
Weans are adults…never put a penny into the hoose mind :O)
Lennyboy
Hope to see you soon my friend.
jamesg….
Let’s hope they take Hamilton with them too then!
:-)
VP
Then the least they could do is buy CRC and Lennybhoy and their esteemed Faither a pint!
Hope to meet you a week on Saturday. Save me scouring every bleedin cab in toon and wondering, is that VP?
;-)
HH jamesgang
Hrvatski Jim,
sorry to hear your news,hope you and your family,
(and the dog) are all ok and feel safe in your home
Looking for a volunteer to play 5s in morn at 9. C’mon put that beer down!
Any finely attuned sportsmen, need not apply :-)
It is a bit of fun and great to be able to kick SFTB, even if he is on your side :-)
Email me if you are interested: celticrollercoaster@yahoo.co.uk
HH
CRC
hrvatski jim
Sorry to hear that mate.
justafan
All joking aside I love the stuff. My wee Bhoy plays on it at alloa, Falkirk and the like and it’s the absolute bizz compared to the hell that was blaze and mitre 5s!!!
HH jamesgang
Hrvatski Jim,
Sorry to hear mhate.
A horrible feeling. No getting away from it.
Take care
HH jamesgang
Maybe there aren’t any such things as good friends or bad friends – maybe there are just friends, people who stand by you when you’re hurt and who help you feel not so lonely. Maybe they’re always worth being scared for, and hoping for, and living for. Maybe worth dying for too, if that’s what has to be. No good friends. No bad friends. Only people you want, need to be with; people who build their houses in your heart.”
― Stephen King, It “
Jamesgang
I believe birthday wishes are due in your household for one of your youngsters
I hope the day was enjoyed by miss jamesgang and presents were a plenty?
HH
CRC
pedrocaravanachio67
22:03 on 3 October, 2014
Sorry mate, can’t help.
CRC:
Will I leave it to you to contact Penfold?
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Hrvatski Jim
22:03 on
3 October, 2014
Sorry to hear you’ve been burgled mate. Only happened to me once, thank god, and it was before I had the weans. It’s unsettling to say the least, but you and your loved ones are safe, so keep the head up.
And buy a baseball bat ;)
Yes thank you Sir.
11 today. She’s back here tomorrow when her present fest will kick off in style.
11 eh?!? Look at me, who’d hVe thought it – we child bride that I was!!
;-))
HH jamesgang
Twinbhoy
22:10 on
3 October, 2014
You ok chief… genuine question?
Lennybhoy…Supporting the DAM 5 and CFC until I die
22:12 on 3 October, 2014
Yes, leave with me
HH
CRC
twinbhoy
Ditto
HH jamesgang
Hrvatski Jim
Horrible experience for you and yours.
Pedro 67
Sorry but don’t know anywhere that would allow weans in mate.
jimmyquinnsbits
22:12 on 3 October, 2014
Hrvatski Jim
22:03 on 3 October, 2014
Got broken in to on Easter Sunday 2000. Me, the wife and the Bhoy (15 months old at the time) were all in Bed. Not a great thing to happen. They took the Car as well as stuff from the House.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
the long wait is over
Thanks mhate HH
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BzDUe5MCIAEgxyM.jpg:large
Love you Lubo
HH
Hrvatski Jim
Thoughts with you & yours
All safe is the main thing.
My dug only barks if you chap the door :((
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BzAn-XjIQAAkh9j.jpg:large
Dixie
HH
HatesthehibsCSC
Hrvatski jim
So sorry to hear that. Thankfully no great damage done. Pity the lab wiznae a bit more aggressive. You’ve been here, and all the people around this area say, if anyone dares to break into your wee cottage, they must have a death wish. Seriously. Even a delivery guy got bit and he never even entered the property. Despite the signs, do not put your hands over the fence, he did. I offered him first aid,, but he refused. I have a lab/german pointer cross (rescue) and a border collie (rescue). Both cracking dugs. Hope you are all well. Take care.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Twinbhoy,
There’s a Radio 6?… when?…how?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=4z2DtNW79sQ
The Boss
forVPcsc
Efe Ambrose on bbc4
B-)
Cant beat a bit of 80’s on a Friday night
Or any night for that matter…
Sound of Silence
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=dTCNwgzM2rQ
HH
WeefratheTim
22:22 on
3 October, 2014
Dugs are great… always had them when I was growin up, all Labs and great characters.
The wife likes cats, which I never thought I would take to, but we have two and they have their own characters as well… in a sort of evil, don’t give a shit, philvis sort of way ;)
http://youtu.be/AMfE2Se4r9w?list=RDAMfE2Se4r9w
Roy,
what do you think,good cover or sacrilege
Lennybhoy & HT
Cheers anyway, what if I leave him ootside? :-)
Roy C
Cheers,an excellent vid.hh