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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Cowiebhoy and Corkcelt,
My best wishes to you both and your families. Sorry if my mood upset your joy at this time.
Good mid-morning friends from a very wet and dreich looking East KIlbride.
67heaven
We had our practice last night, with Fr Nicky, hilarious it’s his 1st wedding, as he was trying to get the order of service
Hail Hail
Cowiebhoy……congrats too the couple and enjoy your day.
tnt…..still to make up my mind Arc wise,mind post the info
Have to go busy,have a great day cqn.
Parkheadcumsalford
jptaylor@celticfc.co.uk
Parkheadcumsalford
JPTaylor@celticfc.co.uk
And thanks for the message, and all the way from Oz
Thanks to macjay
Daughter no. 2 heading your way at end of the month :-)
barrach obampot
09:11 on 4 October, 2014
Sorry mate not got an e-mail addy for him.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Cheers Jobo
I can rise now.
Cowiebhoy
Last one from me for now cos I’m up to go to Roo’s fitba. But know that you and yours will be in my happy thoughts and prayers all day today.
Mind, it’s ok to shed a wee tear. We Tims are an emotional breed. It’s all down to having a big heart!
Love
HH jamesgang
Morning all.
COWIEBHOY
Best wishes to the happy couple. Have a great day.
HH!!
greenockiansabroadCSC
Barroch
Told SP you are looking for him via fb.
ParkheadcumSalford,
It has nothing to do with television companies.
Cowiebhoy and awbdy else….have a great day.
67………………
Waaaaasps?
The Billy Boys of the fauna wuurld.
You don’t have a Karcher power washer with a very long wand do you?
;)
Cowiebhoy and Corkcelt
Congrats and many blessings to you and your families.
Cowie are you sure you couldn’t get a tighter door policy lol
To Cowiebhoy’s family old and new have a great day
HH
Congratulations Cowiebhoy, incidentally – I used to play football in Cowie when I was around 12, it was always a pretty crazy experience! :)
A wee reminder for anyone who’d still like to petition Celtic to become an accredited LW employer. Signatures will be taken before tomorrow’s game also.
https://www.change.org/p/the-board-of-directors-of-celtic-plc-become-an-accredited-living-wage-employer
Cowiebhoy, have a brilliant day walking your beautiful girl down that isle mate. You must be so proud. I,ve got a big smile on my face thnking about you both.
Hail Hail my friend, and enjoy your hols too.
Hamiltontim and Cowiebhoy,
Many thanks for the info.
Lennybhoy
no worries I’m sure Paul67 will pass on
blantyretim
cheers, I mislaid his email and if he’s done likewise he can contact me through Mixcloud
HH
Thanks lhads, I wonder if the Jim McGuinness decision to step down as Manager of Donegal heralds an increasing role for him at Celtic Park.
Swindon to London,bus driver shaved 30 minutes off a 140 minute journey.
Very impressive.
Except the pub disnae open for twenty minutes,the eejit!
Bmcuw
Bookies will be open though..
Ciowiebhoy –
I hope that you and your family have a most fantastic day. Rejoice and be glad in it right enough!
CQN Saturday naps
please post today’s selection at the end of the previous article :
Celtic 1-0 Dinamo Zagreb
Cheers, fleagle1888
Cowiebhoy all the best for today
Sorry..This comparison with Neil is nonsense. He picked up a shambles and was clearly making it better with the odd blip. He wasn’t our greatest manager but he left Ronnie a reasonably good side light years ahead of anything in Scotland. The major change in our squad is Craig for Fraser and that looks to be to our benefit at the moment. The only other thing that has changed is the manager.
He talks about fitness and pressing but either our team do not understand or they are not good enough for this system.
Therefore Ronnie can’t communicate or he should use his tools more wisely.
I believe Neil would have taken us into the Champions League with the way the team were playing when he left.
Zagreb totally outplayed us at home ..embarrassingly so at times…The 3 defenders running to the ball is surely a reflection on Ronnie.
He is riding his luck just now…hearts Salzburg and Zagreb could all have won and then where would he be.
The amount of time that he will be given depends on luck and whether hidden from all our view there really is a managerial genius taking us into the future which I am sure most of us can’t see yet.
Good luck Ronnie.
Morning Bhoys..
Barrach I dropped you a wee message on Mixcloud…
Cheers BT
Bring on The Accies
Feel a bit better now, as I have emailed Celtic Park about the change in kick off times.
BLANTYRETIM
Cheaper in the pub,even at LoNdon prices!
Cue for a song for ACGR-I’m tired of hanging around!
And I could strangle that driver!!
What’s all this from Phil about SuperSally being under threat? Surely we deserve the entertainment to continue?
St Matthew’s Academy @StMatthewsAc Oct 2
This Sunday our Malawi fundraising committee will hold a bucket collection @celticfc park to support our work with St Peters in Mzuzu.
corkcelt
09:42 on 4 October, 2014
Apologies but I have not read back. I gather from posts you have also a family celebration today. Have a fantastic day with your family.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Re Craig Gordon.
Like some on here I think he’s better than big Fraser.
He commands his area and organises the defence superbly.
I for one however don’t want him in the Scotland team yet. I’m scared he will get injured.
Also, for what it’s worth, some of the stick that big Effe gets is totally unfair.
Have a go at Berget, Tonev, Scepovic, Johansen, Derk and Wakaso first.
Tippbhoy
09:47 on
4 October, 2014
Agreed.
nice one starry mate
I’ll drop you an e later
HH
just heading to work csc
RD has a complete blind spot with regard to Stefan Johansen. He seems to be the first name on the team-sheet every game. Why ? He is hopeless in the tackle, is a very poor passer of the ball and seldom has a shot on goal . So he has a good engine and can run all over the park….I dare say Mo Farrah could do that just as well. Give me Liam Henderson or Beram Kayal anytime. I feel for BK especially: he has played well every game he has played in this season and seems to have shed the ‘headless chicken’ approach yet cannot get a start.
Nope Lennybhoy, No celebration today, but there is one in the pipeline which will clash with our home game with Astra. Thanks for your good wishes all the same.