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Clear improvement from Celtic

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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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  1. BIG-CUP-WINNERS on

    Anyone been to a Barcelona v Espanyol match before?

     

     

    Thinking of going to one in December. trying to gauge the likliehood if getting tickets.

  2. Gordon64 on

    roy c

     

    Quality tunes as always amigo.

     

    Your taste in music is only equaled by your

     

    taste in football.

     

    HH

  4. Delaneys Dunky on

    Eddie

     

     

    See you Sunday bro. Talked 4 Dalmuir Tims into going to the Accies game. The two for one is a winner for unemployed bhoys who huvnae been to a game since redundancy. Hope we get a good turn out for Ronny & The Bhoys after a good professional European result.

  5. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    aceilergonofrustbackonthewhiskyagain

     

     

    He would happily swap the pyro in his pocket for a few cans!

  10. sipsini on

    Acgr,

     

     

    So you made it home then, bet you were glad I wasn’t driving!

     

     

    You’re bro Pedro was worried sick you never contacted him to let him no you were safe…not…:))

  11. andyR53 on

    “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.”

     

    That’ll do for me.. That’s why I’m a Celtic supporter. Well said Paul.. Very well said.!!

  15. pedrocaravanachio67 on

    ACGR

     

     

    He wis at the Arsenal game on Wednesday…..settin them aff fae milk bottles in his pockets :-)

  18. gordybhoy64 on

    Gordon64,

     

    my mrs has got a taste now for Scottish gin,Hendricks,

     

    blooming 28 quid a bottle,and a pound for the cucumber

  19. eddieinkirkmichael on

    ACGR

     

     

     

    Stop talking sh@@@, no way are you off the Whiskey. More chance of BMCWP being sober at his hootenanny

  23. jamesgang on

    gordybhoy64

     

     

    23:53 on 3 October, 2014

     

    Gordon64,

     

    my mrs has got a taste now for Scottish gin,Hendricks,

     

    blooming 28 quid a bottle,and a pound for the cucumber

     

     

    —–

     

     

    The Botanist from islay is amazing. £30 a pop and perhaps more. But wonderful.

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  25. gordybhoy64 on

    pedrocaravanachio67,

     

    not sure mucker,but she does disappear for a while after I come in,

     

    then says she is dying for a drink :-)))

  27. pedrocaravanachio67 on

    Gordybhoy64

     

     

    I hope she peels it first, terrible habit of repeating if u don’t ;-)

  29. gordybhoy64 on

    jamesgang,

     

    never heard of that one,is it available in the big supermarkets,

     

    or only speciality shops,wouldnt mind trying it

  30. A Ceiler Gonof Rust - Never Drinking Whisky Again on

    EddieK, changing my moniker this afternoon it was a rash thing to do. I’ll admit. Although, I was as rough as a badgers arse when I got back home today.

     

     

    Now having had time to reflect over a few wee goldies, it’s got to go.

     

     

    G64, I’ve tried a few of the Scottish gins and I’m no gin expert but the ones I have tried have been excellent.

  31. Gordon64 on

    emus

     

    Up until Artur arrived we had seen years of average GKs at CP.

     

    Over the road GKs were falling out of the EBT tree.

     

    FF was the best GK i had seen at CP however

     

    Craig Gordon’s performances have been the best i have ever seen

     

    as a Celtic GK.

  33. pedrocaravanachio67 on

    Happy birthday mrs ACGR,

     

     

    Puttin u forward for beatification, stickin wi that yin all these years.

     

     

    Saint Elaine of Carmyllie

     

     

    Enjoy yer day.

  36. Gordon64 on

    Scottish Gin is excellent.

     

    As for me i’m necking Larios Spanish Gin

     

    at 8.5 euros a litre !

     

    Smashing stuff.

     

    HH

  38. jamesgang on

    Mrs ACGR.

     

     

    Hoopy Birthday.

     

     

    You’re undoubtedly an angel!

     

     

    Night Timdom

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  41. BGX on

    Andyr53..” the ethos of our club is maintained and handed on”…i wish i could believe that..but imo recent events have shown that is no longer true…much to our detriment….too many have shown that their Ethos is No Thanks ..

     

    Im Fine…shameful…

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