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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Its interesting to know that Craig Gordon was training with the Rangers for a good part of last season and Fat Sleekit Ally did not sign him says a lot about the managerial skill of the fat one. Tonev just does not do it for me he has the same ability as Boerichter to hide in the game and Kris Commons although he scored a good goal broke up so much of our good play by loseing the ball.However,overall it was a good team performance well done to the Bhoys and Rony and his managerial team. H.H.
So, will the Super one be busy writing his own questions for his media pals to ask him?
Expect lots of attention deflection – Mohsni’s comments, Boyd’s appeal. Maybe even something about how they are doing better in the cups this year….
jamesgang
He might well have the runs…..
although he didn’t mention it in his list of symptoms!
mullet and co 2
13:20 on 3 October, 2014
Zagreb are a team with a smaller budget than ours albeit with a better homegrown talent pool. That said, they managed a much higher pass success rate than us. It goes without saying that although we are a bigger team they were technically superior in ball retention. We need to look at scouting players who can retain the ball. If Zagreb can recruit the likes of Soudani, Wilson etc why can’t we with superior resources?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Ssshhhhhhh!!!!
Remember we cant sign players because we cant offer the same wages as Engerland.
Stick to the party line would you!! :)
Last night I thought Tonev, Wakaso, Denyar all had good games along with a couple of others. This team will not be recognisable this time next year as there will have been a further 2 Transfer windows and, inevitably, others moving on por cierto.
The Daily Record has published a not very nice video of a man and woman beating up another woman in Greenock town centre. This sort of thing does my home town no good and may just mean a change to my repatriation plans when I retire.
However, my faith in the town has been restored by the welcome return to the type of incidents that tend to happen in Greenock more than anywhere else….and which gave Tom Shields lots of column inches for years… From the Greenock Telegraph (where else?).
“A GREENOCK man has admitted assaulting his girlfriend – with a bag of PYJAMAS.
Martin Gardner, 20, carried out the bizarre attack after the couple had attended a christening.
Despite the assault, during which the woman fell into a hedge, Greenock Sheriff Court heard the couple are now engaged to be married.
The incident happened near Gardner’s home in Hope Street on the night of 15 June.
Depute fiscal Hugh Brady said: “The complainer at the time of the incident was the girlfriend of Mr Gardner — they are now engaged.
“At around 10.15pm they had been at a christening and afterwards alcohol had been consumed.”
Mr Brady said a phone call had taken place which ‘annoyed’ Gardner.
He then described how the assault took place, adding: “There was an argument which resulted in Mr Gardner seizing and pushing her on the body, causing her to fall on a hedge, and he then struck her repeatedly with a bag.
“Police officers were called and he was detained.”
Gardner’s partner received bruising to her upper arms where she had been seized but required no medical attention.
When asked by Sheriff Derek Hamilton what kind of bag Gardner had struck the woman with, solicitor Jim Hanney was seen to confer with his client in the dock.
Mr Hanney then said: “It was a plastic bag containing pyjamas.”
The lawyer added that the pair had been at a local bowling club following the christening and said that by 5.30pm both were ‘fairly drunk’.
Gardner pled guilty to grabbing the woman on the body and striking her repeatedly on the body with a bag to her injury.
It was revealed in court that he’d previously appeared in the dock in 2012 and was convicted of an analogous offence.
Sheriff Derek Hamilton told him: “This is the second conviction for assault to injury in two years.
“The last time you were admonished — you will not be admonished this time.
“I will deal with it on this occasion by means of a Community Payback Order where you will do 100 hours of unpaid work in the community.” “
I only got round to watching ‘Marvellous’ the other day and I agree with everyone who said how brilliant it was.
Lou Macari comes out of it very well – I had previously thought of him as just looking out for number 1.
I looked up some of his managerial career – he had done pretty well with Swindon and Stoke before joining us in that fateful period.
What was interesting that he had strong views about fitness and alcohol – he said at Swindon that his players may not be as good as Man Utd’s but they would be as fit as them.
Maybe he might have had success, had he arrived at a different time at Celtic. I knew he didn’t move his home to Glasgow and instantly did the opposite of hitting it off with Fergus (hitting it on?) but food for thought, anyway.
Pleased with the win last night but the heroics of Craig Gordon and some poor finishing by Zagreb combined to ensure the result went our way.
I thought it was a thoroughly enjoyable game, even if the ole nerve ends were frazzled by the end.
[ I would also like to know where the thousands and thousands of policemen, who were kettling a couple of dozen CZ fans on Duke St last night, were on the night the Chelsea fans rioted in George Square]
Worthy Greenockian picked up on a breech of the breeches.
Exactly what did Tonev do of value last night? One shot in the first half?
He didn’t block any crosses, didn’t send in any decent crosses, didn’t track back well, wasn’t any kind of creative force.
Left wing/mid is a major problem for us given that our choice is Tonev, Berget or Dirk.
Wouldn’t give any of them a start in a 5s game.
Page 1 – Yahoooo!
AndyM
13:43 on 3 October, 2014
Im getting paranoid in my old age – Scepovic was signed to show us the loan strategy is the right one and Tonev and Berget were signed on loan so we could punt them and confirm the loan strategy is the only show in town.
Next season or 2 – enter the loans with no right to buy, just other clubs’ kids…..
tin hat…..
“Pleased with the win last night but the heroics of Craig Gordon and some poor finishing by Zagreb combined to ensure the result went our way.”
Dbia, I kinda agree but the worst ‘finish’ of the night was done by Celtic. We should have been 2-0 up at halftime.
Dont think those posh folk who live within the environs of Murray Park, would appreciate living amongst the noise, the smell, and the general mayhem that comes with such animals being close by.
Then again, they’ve put up with it for about 20 years now!
HH
AndyM- the ole Celtic left mid shows low levels of skill, fitness, resilience and commitment.
Andy M
Agreed – its hard to pick which one of the three is worse than the other.
Tonev shoots from absurd positions and rarely , if ever , on target when just about any other option is a better one.
Dontbrattbakkinanger
13:43 on 3 October, 2014
“It was revealed in court that he’d previously appeared in the dock in 2012 and was convicted of an analogous offence.”
“Analogous” in the Tele?
I would love to know more about this nightie wielding maniac possibly giving people a dressing down with a dressing gown.
Caddizy,
I hope the judge gave him a proper dressing gown. Oops I mean down :)
dontbrattbakkinanger
13:41 on 3 October, 2014
Pleased with the win last night but the heroics of Craig Gordon and some poor finishing by Zagreb combined to ensure the result went our way.
I thought it was a thoroughly enjoyable game, even if the ole nerve ends were frazzled by the end.
[ I would also like to know where the thousands and thousands of policemen, who were kettling a couple of dozen CZ fans on Duke St last night, were on the night the Chelsea fans rioted in George Square]
—–
You Sir should stick to medical stuff. Security stuff is obviously too complicated for you to grasp.
Housie’s Kettle Boys were deployed last night to protect the CZ fans from all the scary Celtic types.
They then return to their underground lair to await their next mission.
Had they been deployed to george square on that fateful evening then they risked arresting their family members while leaving the way open for a Green Brigade coup d’état in lenzie.
HH jamesgang
Cadizzy-the post- Christening events have set the bar pretty high for the wedding.
Kick out the jim-jams, oedipal expletives!
…………..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDjP4JqxgzQ
I think Craig Gordon signed a 2 year deal, probably for about 7-8 k a week, need to renegotiate IMO.The guy has more than proved his fitness, a world class goalkeeper for me.
KNOCK KNOCK
Who is there ?
Pajamas
Pajamas who ?
Pajamas around me and hold me tight.
mullet and co 2
13:20 on 3 October, 2014
Zagreb are a team with a smaller budget than ours albeit with a better homegrown talent pool. That said, they managed a much higher pass success rate than us. It goes without saying that although we are a bigger team they were technically superior in ball retention. We need to look at scouting players who can retain the ball. If Zagreb can recruit the likes of Soudani, Wilson etc why can’t we with superior resources?
………………………………………………..
we can’t recruit them because they will not pass the UK immigration laws.
They are not full internationals and they have not played 75% of their country’s recent matches.
If they are then we will be fighting for their signature with teams in EPL and championship .. and you know who will win that fight
It always surprises me how people make general assumptions about Celtic budget and other teams with loser budget but freedom to recruit whoever they want irrespective of nationality. They conveniently forget that due to UK immigration laws we would not be able to recruit these player if they are not full international with at least 75% participation on their lasts year/two year international matches.
CADIZZY
Tom Shields has a very witty way of putting things across.
His stuff about KILWINNING is superb.
And pretty damn accurate too.
As an example,police watched a local heavyweight stagger outa the pub then try to open the door on his Jag.
‘Haw,X,yer surely no’ thinking of driving in that state?’
Reply-‘Aye!
Well,ye canny expect me to walk hame!’
One of them gave him a lift home. The other followed in the Jag.
Geordie Monro… great minds
DBBIA
You clearly do not remember the story about the couple who had a huge fight during the wedding reception because he (having gone commando because he was wearing a kilt) sat on her knee and left what can only ever be described as skid marks on her pretty white dress.
You’d be flabbergasted to know that drink had been taken that day too.
The reception was held in the old Temperance Hall.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
From the diary
Sign in a Kilwinning shop door
“hauf day shuttin’ a’ day the day”
… though that wedding story may have been a hoax…..
imagine a bride in Greenock wearing white
Nye Bevans’ rebel soldier
Your attempt at setting a new record at around 2am last night had me in stitches when I read it this morning in work
B-)
A bit off topic here.Looking for a pointer in the right direction. A friend of mine was recently a victim of a crime, and had to appear in court as a witness. The accused decided to plead guilty, and my friend was told the case was now closed, and sent home. What he now wants to know is, is there anywhere he can find out what the accused’s sentence was?
I’ve tried Scotcourt but to no avail.
Any help appreciated.
HH
KICK OUT THE JAMS _____
Went to see the MC 5 at the Phun City Free Festival in the summer of 1970.
Other acts included The Humblebums / Kevin Ayers/ Mighty Baby/ Edgar Broughton / Pretty Things / Pink Fairies .
A crazy event . Freaks with briefcases full of Acid / Hells Angels on Newcastle Brown , Benzedrine and Mandrax and some local skinheads . Fabulous hangover !
Jonny the Tim
14:30 on 3 October, 2014
It should be sent to him automatically. If not contact the PF’s office.
He will also be given the option of wishing to be notified when the offender is released.
Geordie Munro
13:06 on
3 October, 2014
Corkcelt,
I though kc was honking last night. Everything broke down when the ball came to him.
That said, I still luvum for scoring the winner :)
His first touch was poor on some occasions,sublime in others.The position he plays makes all the more obvious when he loses the ball.Its a balancing act with Kris.He is not going to change now.
Tonev for me is Derk No 2.A waste of space.Some thought he had a good game.Sorry,if one shot on target is the level we are looking for to admire a player,all is lost.
Dont know how many times I said along with others,forget the hype about not being able to afford very decent players.Too many bringing up the joke that is England.Legia,Maribor,and last night showed us that their are players,miles ahead of many we have,in the basic skills of the game.Technically far superior.How can we continually get in the Derks,Tonevs,Bergets of this world,for more money than these guys are on?.TET has been saying for ages about Spain.Take in the Baltic countries and there is a wealth of talent out there.3-4 of these guys ,added to what we have would make us a much more formidable team.Just hope Ronny and Park have been taking note.
The fitness last night was evident in the last 10 minutes.
The 2 CHs are the best pairing in donkeys years.VVD,strolled through the game.One dodgy pass.His value will be soaring.
To me , progress is indeed being made with a solid European performance. Some say we were a bit fortunate, but who was it who said, you’re better being lucky than good!
I like the look of the team and I do like Wakaso. I like Nir Biton too but as I’ve said on here loads of time, we are crying out for a creative midfielder. Lubo would be great, but seriously we are crying out for one.
Defensively we looked pretty good, midfield , well ok and as a team we have what looks like the making of a good strike force, so as I say progress is being made.
Keep up the good work Celtic, we have a long way to go.
KINGLuBO
South of Tunis….you mentioned the Humblebums
I remember Connolly elling a story about The Humblebums being at a fancy reception in the US and Gerry Rafferty being not best pleased by the Barby doll wives who spoke to him in a way which he felt was condescending
“So, you’re from Scotland… that’s sooo cute. What’s your star sign?”
“Libra…….. though I was born a Leo”
“Wow. like that is soooo amazing”
“Naw really. In Scotland ye kin change yer star sign by deed poll”
“Oh really! Wow. like that is soooo amazing”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29479772
Messi to face trial for tax evasion
HT
Thanks for that.
Kris Commons used to frustrate the life out of, to the point that I started counting the number of times possession broke down with him.
Thing was, it was the same in virtually every game.
The difference between a ‘good’ Kris Commons performance and a ‘bad’ one was simply that in a ‘good’ one, while pass completion was as lousy as every other game, he happened to score.
FunnyOleGameCSC