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.
942 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 25
- »
Celtic 1 Zagreb 0
Murray 2 Cilic 0
Having fun with my friends today. Viva la Scozzia ! is the best they can come up with.
On assists for comparison to KC 9 in one season
consider that Leigh Griffiths clocked up 7
(despite only signing in January and coming off the bench on quite a few of these appearances)
Posters who disect each individuals every pass are missing the point of this being a TEAM game, we would argue for hours about who would improve the Lions back in the day.
A guy in the South Stand wanted to punch my lights out because I thought Agathe was one of the best full backs we have had, whilst he (aggresively) thought he was the pishiest player we’ve ever had (some would like to punch ma lights out for other reasons).
I think we have generally, AS A TEAM , have made some very promising steps since the start of the season. Looking slightly ahead (post Xmas), Scepovic, Forrest, Guidetti, Lustig, Matthews, Fisher & Mulgrew should all be available.
Even if we don’t buy in the Xmas window we have options available there which would enhance last nights team/squad.
Awe naw- said similar last night, our ball retention in midfield is very poor, the lack of movement ahead doesn’t help.
It looked and felt like a Euro tie from the eighties last night.
HH
bawsman- must have been South Stand front……..
The Onlooker
15:38 on 3 October, 2014
On assists for comparison to KC 9 in one season
consider that Leigh Griffiths clocked up 7
_____________________________________
Wow – would been a mortage, car and kids down if had to bet on that one!!!
bawsman
you make a valid point. In order to complete a pass or provide an assist you need team mate in the right position. Our lack of a cf (till now) hasn’t helped.
also the old 5yd passing around the back may help the stats but might not provide any chances.
!!Bada Bing!!
15:46 on
3 October, 2014
bawsman- must have been South Stand front……..
=====================================
Nope.
The guy was shouting abuse at every Didier touch, so I started clapping his every touch. Jeez, did that light the touchpaper :-)
Ronny, keep listening to Johnny Collins and
ye’ll sop looking like a pillock. imho
It’s a ‘team’ game – in dug-out as well, ok.
Gene’s a Bhoy’s name
15:52 on
3 October, 2014
bawsman
you make a valid point. In order to complete a pass or provide an assist you need team mate in the right position. Our lack of a cf (till now) hasn’t helped.
also the old 5yd passing around the back may help the stats but might not provide any chances.
================================
Correct mate.
I played a lot of football, in a lot of different teams in my time.
I definately played better football when I played with better football players.
sop=stop
who’s the pillock – CSC
HT
You can add …scored “or created” a goal.
27 league goals scored, plus 7 assists = a remarkable season for Commons last year.
Doesn’t invalidate my point, which I think you missed, for which my apologies for writing inarticulately.
PeteTheBeat
13:40 on 3 October, 2014
_____________________
I think that Fergus McCann boobed by getting rid of Lou(Luigi) Macari.
Bringing in the late Tommy Burns(RIP) was a mistake that ultimately
secured 9 in a row for the huns. imho
Ye see, we were going to be under – under – under – under – dogs what,
with the ‘Myths’ huns out to equal then, break Mr Stein’s record of League
Titles.
If, Celtic looked like stopping the huns then, the ‘honest-mistake’ era would have
started 10 years earlier – as if the cheating wasn’t bad enough in those days indeed,
if we be accurate here…the Celtic have ‘never’ been free of ‘honest-mistakes’ in any
era of our history. imho
Anyway, back to Lou Macari.
I have long said on here that, Tommy Burns(RIP) was too ‘good’ a person to deal with
the axis of evil that Celtic had to overcome. imho
Do you or, anyone else on here think that, Mr Stein(RIP) would have made us into what we became if he wisny a – durty big bassa?
Ye see, Macari was what one of the huns at my work used to call him – a tricky ‘Mickey’.
Macari was set upon on the STV studios during – Sport In Question – by, Archie MacPherson and, hun QC Donald Findlay.
Both of them tried – in turns – to brow-beat Macari into seeing it their way that, David Murray was quite right to ban the Celtic fans from the up and coming O## F### game at ibrox but, Macari was having none of it – even threatening that, if the huns went ahead with the ban then, Celtic would ban the huns-fans from CP in the next season!!!
Needless to say….once Macari went to ibrox with an – impoverished – Celtic team and, with no supporters in the stands to back them, the players were gallantly led on the pitch by the ‘Magnificent’ Johnny Collins who scored(putting us in front) with one of his classic
fk’s – right into the net at the Copeland Rd end – Brilliant, just Brilliant.
Ye see….Macari was viewed by the hun establishment as a – shady wee / uppity Tim.
Macari was streetwise enough to know that, to beat the ‘Myth’ you play him at his own game ie: Park The Bus.
Macari did and the huns scraped a draw from a shot that deflected off BTM’s back leaving
Packie Bonnar helpless.
Macari knew that he had to be devious to beat the huns – they didny like that – a Celtic manager that could see through them.
Macari knew that Peter Grant was pish in midfield so, brought in Gary Holt to replace him.
I say, Gary Holt replacing Peter the pointer would have been along the same lines as, the present day replacing FF with CG – if ye know what I mean?
Anyway….that Macari was ‘nobodies’ mug, Fergus so that as a problem.
Fergus McCann was – imho – a tyrannical bully and put, having a ‘puppet’ manager of more importance than, stopping the hun 9 in a row – that was wrong.
Anyway…Off oot, bye
I thought a lot of attacks broke down due to poor ball retention by Kris last night and I thought Ronny was right to hook him for Kayal. However I still regard him as a most valuable asset because of his ability to put the ball in the net. I would always have him on the panel. Some lads saying we were awful last night, but Zagreb themselves are saying that they played well. We won, I know CG made a couple of great saves but that is his job, we scored and held them scoreless, we couldn’t have done that if we were awful. A great job done by all, now we have a tricky game Sunday, we need to be careful of post European hangover, select team wisely, collect the 3 points and head into International break in good spirits.
gene’s a bhoy’s name- I thought we brought a lot of the 2nd half pressure on ourselves, through a lack of forward movement and inability to take a ball in under pressure. Every time Efe had the ball he turned and passed the ball backwards, this invited DZ to close us down quickly.
Kev j @1558
Well you’ve changed your tune.
Bawsman
Didier Agathe’s biggest problem was that he tried to look up to see who to pick out with his cross.
(Most would expect that to be the objective of any winger)
Our coach at the time ,John Robertson , (who knew a bit about that position) disagreed.
JR had been coached by Brian Clough (who knew a bit about receiving the ball in the box)
Cloughies instruction to John Robertson was
“never mind where the strikers are, get the ball into the box , leave the coaches to make sure that the forwards are in the right place”
You can imagine the discussion afterwards if the players ( including Martin O’Neill) were not in the correct position when the ball arrived
Back to present day
We still have too many instances where our wingers whip in the ball past the defender
only to see all of our forwards (witnessed in recent SPFL games) charge into the 6 yard box in a line ,
if it misses the first man it misses them all.
The fans in the stand then blame the winger ,when the fault is with the players in the middle.
The Onlooker
A Hun Bloggers view
Friday, 3 October 2014Why Mike Ashley Wants Rangers
News broke on Tuesday that hedge firm Hargreave Hale had sold 4,000,000 shares at a value of £853,000 to a ‘mystery buyer’.
Immediately Keith Jackson presumably got on the blower to Dave King who disappointedly conceded he was not the customer in question. No, yours truly was led to believe it was further shares being snapped up by Mike Ashley, but without being able to substantiate this I could not go public with it.
It was confirmed yesterday by the Club that Newcastle owner Ashley had indeed bought those shares, taking his stake to 8.92%, and making him second only to Laxey Partners in terms of numbers owned, and pushing Sandy Easdale down to third.
To be exact, Ashley, through his MASH holdings fund bought by proxy through yet another hedge fund in BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC, purchased 4,265,000 shares.
His overall number is 7,265,000.
So, getting away from the numbers, let us try to examine why Ashley, a multibillionaire (reputed wealth at just under £4B) who already owns English giants Newcastle United, is interested in owning Rangers.
The fact is it would be more of a puzzle as to why he was not interested.
To begin with, since he became the major shareholder at Newcastle, they have won absolutely nothing. The club’s success was in the 90’s, during that thoroughly entertaining tussle between Keegan and Ferguson. But since then, the Geordies have failed to make a single final, far less win anything. They did have a decent run in 2013’s Europa League, making the quarter-finals, no less, but the fact is big football clubs’ major income is prize money. And to that end Newcastle have failed to secure a bean in Ashley’s entire tenure.
Secondly he is a very, very unpopular man in the north. Newcastle supporters have never especially liked him, and downright began to hate him after the ill-fated attempt to rebrand St James’ Park to the ‘Sports Direct Arena’. It essentially led to ‘Ashley Out’ banners and it was fair to say Ashley was no longer the toast of Tyneside. We will not even touch on that ‘pint’ episode.
But why Rangers? Well there really are a lot of reasons.
First off, Rangers are in a low place right now. Shares are going for a mere 20p, the football is ghastly, and supporters are restless. The Club is currently stuck in the Championship with no guarantee of promotion, and season ticket renewal levels are at an all-time low. Ibrox is struggling to command crowds over 40,000 these days, even for the bigger matches. You may ask ‘why would that encourage a buyer’.
Well it really is simple: Rangers’ potential global stock is gigantic, a Club with a massive fanbase – we saw pre-season at tiny college grid iron pitch-clad stadiums for the friendlies where the stands were lined with blue tops. Even in small American towns we had barely heard of, Rangers fans filled the ground.
So when better to buy an ailing ‘fallen’ giant than when it is as cheap as chips, will only cost you a few million at tops (the guy has almost 10% at barely £2,000,000) and when it is back where it belongs your ‘pennies’ have become pounds.
Let us not forget just how good Ashley is at business and just how valuable Rangers potentially are. His Sports Direct brand, founded by himself as just a small shop, has grown to a multi-billion empire. This guy, for all his personality defects, knows how to turn something into big money. Meanwhile Rangers, as I blogged some months ago, are at least £40M down per season thanks to loss of ST revenue, TV revenue, SPL prize money & CL participation cash.
In short, Newcastle will never win the English Premier League, nor will they ever get into the Champions League again. Indeed, they may get relegated into the English Championship next season. With the right captain at the helm, Rangers could actually be challenging for the SPL within a few seasons and be back in the Champions League within a similar timescale.
Bluntly, Rangers are a back-door into the CL and the money it entails (Something Newcastle will never achieve), while his own cash will invest in the team to obtain a collection of players good enough for that level. £100M is pocket change to the man, and he is the type of guy who knows a good deal when he sees it. Add to that the increased revenue from either winning or coming second in the SPL, the increased ST numbers (trust me, they will go back up again), and the increased TV money and the turnover will look much, much better.
He, simply, is buying Rangers slowly, methodically, and carefully, while the Club’s stock is cheap and low, and by the time he has fully invested and the Club is once again profitable, at the top and in the CL, he is making big cash.
Yes, it is all about the money, and yes, Ashley is no big Rangers fan. But Rangers need a businessman like him capable of making unpopular decisions for the good of the Club.
Fans cannot argue ‘they have never heard of him’ or that he is ‘a shady character’ – Ashley is pretty much WYSIWYG.
And it is not always especially pretty or pleasant. But damn, it is effective.
NB: Passage referring to lack of finals or CL was meant to specify during Ashley’s tenure, not a blanket period since Keegan left. Apologies for ambiguity. Posted by Ibrox Noise at 12:38
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to PinterestLabels: Ibrox, Mike Ashley, Newcastle United, Rangers 8 comments:
Anonymous3 October 2014 13:00
Thought the whole time you were going to say this is why we don’t need him until the last few sentences.
Agree. I mean I’d rather it was Dave King making moves but I don’t know why fans are so against Ashley. Like you say he sees potential in the brand and is buying while the price is low. The only way he’ll get a return is if the team on the park is successful. Its not ideal having a guy who’s primary objective is promoting his own business but its a hell of a lot better than the fast buck shysters that Green got on board.
ReplyDelete
Anonymous3 October 2014 13:12
No good will come of Mike Ashley owning your football club. That much is certain. 5 yrs from now you’ll wish the parasite had never been born.
ReplyDelete
BillytheFish3 October 2014 13:33
I would gladly see my beloved Newcastle back in the lower tiers of English football if it means this awful cancer of a man is out of our club.
He has got a City divided and infighting and couldn’t give a damn.
All he is interested in is advertising for his brands, and he couldn’t give two hoots for history or sentiment.
He is buying brands all the time so watch out for you stadium to be renamed “Dunlop Arena”, your shirt sponsors “English Heritage, as offensive to you as Wonga is to Geordies, and your stadium looking like the inside of a sports direct store, and all the while he will neither comment or communicate with you because you are beneath him……..This is what he has done to Newcastle.
ReplyDelete
Anonymous3 October 2014 14:11
Please take him off our hands. You say we’ll never get into the Champions League again. We would if Ashley spent ANY money on our club instead of making a profit each season. He is the worst thing to happen at Newcastle United in the fifty odd years I have supported them.
Like I said – take him. We’ll dance in the streets when he’s gone.
ReplyDelete
Anonymous3 October 2014 14:45
Ashley and Rangers are a perfect match, guaranteed champs league every season giving him worldwide advertising for his tatty sports shops. His buy em cheap methods will work a treat in the Scottish league, due to it not being very competitive but still giving the players the platform to do well and get sold for higher value after a couple of seasons.
In the English league you cant go on selling your best players and expect to stay 10th every season but in Scotland it’ll work a treat.
Bottom line is, He will make money and Rangers(or what ever he changes the name to) will be in the champions league every season, as they were a few years back.
Everyones a winner.
ReplyDelete
richard bell3 October 2014 14:52
I think you’ll find newcastle got to two successive FA Cup finals AFTER keegan left. Not to mention qualifying for the champions league under Bobby Robson.
Pretty shoddy “journalism”
ReplyDelete
Anonymous3 October 2014 14:54
Could his family or friends be buying Rangers shares at this same time bearing in mind he cannot own more than 10 percent whilst owning Newcastle. Sell the Newcastle, and purchase shares from family/friends, control of Rangers.
ReplyDelete
richard bell3 October 2014 15:15
You overlooked two (consecutive) fa cup finals AFTER Keegan left. And Champions league under Bobby Robson.
Anybody help. Just bought a iMac all in one. trying to watch Celtic TV. I get this message. Error Loading Player: No Playable Sources Found. I tried my wife’s laptop and able to get it on there. So its not my internet connection. Any thoughts what it might be
The Onlooker
16:06 on
3 October, 2014
====================================
I thought Agathe’s ability in the tackle dug the two centre halfs of the time (Bobo and the big Eastern European fella who’s name escapes) out of the crap on countless occasions was awesome………..He seemed to have a telescopic leg which extended and wrapped around the ball, never commiting a foul………Brill.
The onlooker
I posted similar last week. This rubbish that the winger picked out his man came from Provan etc trying to big up his crossing ability (_which was good)
The winger puts it into a position The striker or forward playing midfielder fills the area.
Bawsman – Well it really is simple: Rangers’ potential global stock is gigantic, a Club with a massive fanbase – we saw pre-season at tiny college grid iron pitch-clad stadiums for the friendlies where the stands were lined with blue tops. Even in small American towns we had barely heard of, Rangers fans filled the ground.
A massive moonbeam of success is headed Sevco’s way. Just you wait, Timmy!
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) (thumbsup)
timjim – install flash on your browser. (thumbsup)
TimJim,
Careful now.
‘Flash and mac’ done incorrectly can get you in bother.
philvisreturns
16:26 on
3 October, 2014
timjim – install flash on your browser. (thumbsup)
—————————————————————————————
Thanks,how do I do that not too literate with computer skills
GM
:-)))
Ah but there’s a world of difference my friend.
I said that occasionally Commons can have a poor touch, at times this was evident last night. I’ve also though, explained why I think he may give up possession.
That’s nout like claiming, “Kris Coomons has a poor first touch.”
Full stop, no reasoning, no understanding of why it may happen, just a bland statement.
I maintain….you know nothing about fitba :-)
HT,
Pmsl.
Did you get the weans? Do you mind keeping them for me till Monday?:))
Timjim –
http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/
(thumbsup)
I’d like to see Fisher start instead of Efe on Sunday, thought he looked really good when he got a run of games last year. My team for Sunday:
Gordon
Fisher, O’Connell,Virgil, Izzy
Brooney Kayal Henderson Wakaso
Commons, Scepovic (if fit-if not Griffiths)
geordie munro – how come flashers are never Christina Hendricks? (thumbsup)
philvisreturns
16:24 on
3 October, 2014
==================
That pre-season tour of American backwater collage football scene was completely bizare in every respect, even had a circus involved………(make your own punchline).
A good run in the Champions League is worth approx £22m to Celtic.
Whoever finishes bottom of the EPL receives approx £63m in tv money.
Yes, I’m sure Ashley is desperate to offload Newcastle in favour of the huns rather than positioning himself with a view to protecting his onerous interests when the bubble goes “pop”
Oh Dear, corkcelt makes a big boo boo, I left out my favourite player, Guidetti, Scrap that team, Guidetti instead of Scepovic or Griffiths.
philvisreturns
16:37 on
3 October, 2014
Thanks for the link, I’am having to go out (collect the wife from work). I will try later, I’ll let you know how I get on.
Corkcelt,
That’s four changes!!!
Do you want Ronny hung??!!?;-)
Philvis,
Are you another hendrixophile?
Geordie, After the exertions of last night, we need fresh legs, its 5 changes really if you count that Kayal didn’t start last night.
Blantyretim
I used to watch my son’s team training when he was about 13
The drill was simple
Winger runs down the sideline, hits bye line , whips ball across the box (diagonally away from the keeper)
Three strikers run in a staggered / ‘flying wedge’ formation
They used the goals as their reference point.
First man runs in line with near post
Second man 4-5 yards behind runes in line with penalty spot
Third man again 4-5 yards behind in line with far post.
The simplicity of this system was that if the first man is too far in front or behind the 2nd and 3rd man can adjust.
When I see our players bursting into the box you can throw a blanket over them.
Same at corners , everyone on the 6 yard line.