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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A Ceiler Gonof Rust
01:45 on 4 October, 2014
Petec, are you going to the hootenanny next week? Not making it myself due to a badly timed holiday in spain.
BobM will be chuffed to see you bro.
HH
============================================
maybes aye, maybes naw……
We will see, I’m not the most sociable dude ever but, there is always a but, sometimes you just huv tae get oot there and face yer public, a terrifying thought though it is, maybe I will.
What a track, from way Bach.
Sproston Green
Petec, that’s bollox mate. You’re a very sociable guy and a great addition to any Celtic gathering. Sort yerself oot and go meet ra Tims, you know it makes sense. I’m gutted I canny make it:_((
Hail Hail bruv
all of them
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
02:03 on 4 October, 2014
Petec, that’s bollox mate. You’re a very sociable guy and a great addition to any Celtic gathering. Sort yerself oot and go meet ra Tims, you know it makes sense. I’m gutted I canny make it:_((
Hail Hail bruv
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Thank You, M, a tract that resonates with yer fine person, what was it said midweek 3/4Million are on anti depression drugs in Scotland/UK, I hope to God it is UK.
Happy Atheist
A hootenanny without ACGR is likely to be very low key,
Aye right.
;))
ACGR
23rd and 24th shall be Glasgow fun times.
Here we, Here we, Here we effin go! :)
greenyin
the Devil is DEEEEEED.
just gota watch oot for his HUN son
hehe
Delaneys Dunky
02:14 on 4 October, 2014
ACGR
23rd and 24th shall be Glasgow fun times.
Here we, Here we, Here we effin go! :)
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Are you going to the Hootenanny?
Is the Pope a Universalist?
If the olde DD will escort me to the day oot, I’ll be up for going.
DD, booking my hotel tomorrow. Staying in the same place I did last night just off George Sq.
A smashing wee polish lassie battered on my door at 12.20 this morning (actually afternoon) and telt me check out was at 11. Ha ha, that big bassa skyisalandfill has a lot to answer for. He broke oot the drams when we got back to the hotel.
I hope he got home ok.
That’s a date bud, A fixed point in time as far as I’m concerned.
Petec
If you don’t come to the hootenanny with me I will be disappointed.
Slow zombies are rubbish. Watching a movie just now called “The dead” and the zombies are pretty gash. FFS, if you cant escape these deady dudes you deserve to be eaten
Gie me a fast moving zombie any day of the week, Gatusso for example. Now there’s a zombie ratbag you’d change into your steelies to give a right good shoeing to.
Delaneys Dunky
02:24 on 4 October, 2014
Petec
If you don’t come to the hootenanny with me I will be disappointed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Glee
The Lord was Looking out for me when the Dumbarton event was POSTPONED.
Hopefully, the CQN night happens, I love the Lord so much, more than anyone can ever possibly imagine.
DD, I think yourself and Pete will make a fine couple next saturday. Don’t wear the same frock’s though.
ACGRs there
FECKED up on the hoot there an after swally on the Sunday
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
02:32 on 4 October, 2014
DD, I think yourself and Pete will make a fine couple next saturday. Don’t wear the same frock’s though.
_____________________________
Some say the Devil is dead, the devil is dead………..more say, well archelogical digs pinpoint them at Dumbarton and Clydebank..
Bill Gates?
Butsybhoy, not really. There’s always another hootenanny and I’m in Glasgow often to see the team of my dreams.
Sunday’s are not a good day for me to be drinking in fun city, I generally have to be in ABZ early on a Monday.
HH bruv, hope you’re well.
CQN – What is Bill Gates all about?
Logic gates?
wakey wakey
Eugenics, just went uber underground.
Petec, does the devil live here?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vFTksaposs
Wee Suzie’s a masher so she iz.
okie dokie—————
Shiney Happy
Ronny D is the Man, the roots are the Reason that Ronny will be the Man.
TOMMY BURNS is hte Real Madrid of Celtic.
Learn?
Petec
The Kilpatrick Hills àre truly spiritual.
Damien dempsey
Kelly the boy from kilane
Best version .. Amazing.
In work so no link.
Delaneys Dunky
02:57 on 4 October, 2014
Petec
The Kilpatrick Hills àre truly spiritual.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Everyone that posts on these “hallowed pages” deserves to be listened to.
I love you to bits by the way.
Proudbhoy, here you go bruv.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJZOOekFNo0
HH
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
02:47 on 4 October, 2014
Petec, does the devil live here?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vFTksaposs
Wee Suzie’s a masher so she iz.
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Who knows, I certainly don’t. I know you are a drinker I’d like to drink with, often.
Mad Cyril
Goodnight Celtic men and wummin across the world. One more dram before I go.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-XM6AsWFEY
BobbyD, a better poet and lyricist than bobM but he canny organise a piss up in a city like oor winklepickerman can can. Can.
HH
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
03:17 on 4 October, 2014
Goodnight Celtic men and wummin across the world. One more dram before I go.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-XM6AsWFEY
BobbyD, a better poet and lyricist than bobM but he canny organise a piss up in a city like oor winklepickerman can can. Can.
HH
|Z|@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@|Z|
Saving the best for last. PedroV certainly knows his Music.
delaneys dunky
02:24 on 4 October, 2014
Petec
If you don’t come to the hootenanny with me I will be disappointed.
~~~~~~~~~~++~~~~~~~~~~
Is that disappointed in a Michael Corleone way?
Ffs,PETEC,you’d better come along or you’ll be sleeping with the fishes!
Besides,you missed the last one. That’s enough,more than that is just unsocial.
See Ya a week today,bud!
ACEILERGONOFRUST
Wow,that is the best version I’ve ever heard of that song,apart from the original.
And I only really added the last part in case Jimbo67 slaps me for heresy next Saturday-or worse,throws a curry over me in Charcoals!
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
03:24 on 4 October, 2014
delaneys dunky
02:24 on 4 October, 2014
Petec
If you don’t come to the hootenanny with me I will be disappointed.
~~~~~~~~~~++~~~~~~~~~~
Is that disappointed in a Michael Corleone way?
Ffs,PETEC,you’d better come along or you’ll be sleeping with the fishes!
Besides,you missed the last one. That’s enough,more than that is just unsocial.
See Ya a week today,bud!
~~~~~———~~~~~~~
If I get agitating prior to the event, I will likely be there.
The thing is, I’m not sure at all if I can make it.
Perhaps the petec has run it’s course.
Still gutted that Dr Stan has died and went to the Great place in the Sky, I have sent you so many emails linking to DRS commentary.
The guy was a Gift from God, I feel bad for not listening lately.
Formula1.csc
|_()\/£
PETEC
Ran your course,my backside!
My Dad’s nearly twice yer age,and he’s champing at the bit!!
Get yersel along and help DD down some dry-cleaning fluid. You know it makes sense,even if I don’t after a few…
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
03:56 on 4 October, 2014
PETEC
Ran your course,my backside!
My Dad’s nearly twice yer age,and he’s champing at the bit!!
Get yersel along and help DD down some dry-cleaning fluid. You know it makes sense,even if I don’t after a few…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If South Park are talking about Red Coos, well maybe I’m wasted, the temptation to take Dr Ugs is oh so strong these days, I am so tempted to Open my mind Further, any spirit can enter then.
pharmakeia – urghhh, horrible.
I keep telling those that buy into the Flu Jab nonsense, to get the Mercury free Jab.
One you loved!
Pedro McGedro is out of here.
nn& hh
Ronny (RD) Deila is the Man for Celtic.
Keep that Faith in the Lord, Always.
No money no problem,
More Money, More Problems