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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. bamboo on

    One of my favourite moments from last nights encounter was in added on time when the defence was in full panic mode and looking like conceding a last minute equaliser , was Leigh Griffeth racing forward on the counter and having the presence of mind to head for the corner and kill the game off.

  2. Hamiltontim on

    Bourne

     

     

    I’ve read your posts on Plc management with interest and agree completely.

     

     

    I would go further though than just their depreciation of domestic competitions and the EL. For me their greatest crime is their management and manipulation of our expectations of the team and the club as a whole.

     

     

    Yes, SKY are culpable but I sincerely hope that one day we challenge their monopoly and if that means telling them to stick their pittance offering then so be it.

  3. Barrach Obampot on

    Evening CQN

     

     

    I need to contact Paul67 but have lost his email, can someone post it please.

     

     

    MWD, CRC and James Forrest I’m about to DM you on twitter, so please check as I’ve something doing that I’m sure you’ll be really interested in

     

     

    :-)

     

     

    HH

  5. Hamiltontim on

    Lennybhoy

     

     

    A busy time!!

     

     

    We’re away the weekend before Sean’s night at the Tyneside No1 CSC 25th anniversary dance, getting back on the Monday. We’re then away the Tue/Wed night up to Loch Torridon, a gift from a friend. Finally, on the Saturday we travel down to Worcester for the night as it’s my maw’s 65th!!

  7. Nye Bevans' rebel soldier on

    Hamiltontim

     

     

    During the Armageddon summer it was my wish that Sky would

     

    pull the alleged plug and fitba would return too 3 o’clock Saturday

     

    afternoon kick off’s.

  8. leftclicktic on

    Dear CRC

     

    just seen I scraped into the CL in the predictor .

     

    Coul;d you please ensure SFA style the I avoid these sharks in the group stages (wink wink) :)))))

     

     

    The ExiledTim

     

     

     

    Dim Sam

     

     

     

    Hmack

     

    and espesially

     

    Mrs CRC

  9. Jobo Baldie on

    Friday Night football on BT Sport is less than 10 minutes away.

     

     

    Table topping Dundee Utd are 11/10 to win at Killie, or 11/4 to win with both teams to score. Both of which deserved and investment of 20 shillings.

     

     

    Meanwhile on Jobo’s big TV as one by one my heroes (Dylan,, McCartne Simon, O’Sullivan…) lose their singing voices, ole Jeff Lynne still hits the notes, falsetto included ;-)

  10. roy croppie on

    Lennybhoy for me there is no greater Celt. HH

     

     

    Nye Bevans-the lying hun still denies it :)) so whit! HH

     

     

    bsr – merci buckets :)

     

     

    HH

  14. Hamiltontim on

    nye bevans’ rebel soldier

     

     

    One of the best Green Brigade ‘displays’ took place at McDermaid Park.

     

     

    It was a Wednesday night game and our KO was brought forward to 6pm as it was to be screened live on Sky but they also had CL football to be screened at 7:45pm and the KO times couldn’t clash.

     

     

    Within minutes of KO at Perth the GB kicked dozens of balls into the ground from the surrounding vicinity while others inside unfurled a banner proclaiming ‘BALLS TO 6pm KOs’

     

     

    Sadly, hardly anyone even noticed.

  15. emusanorphan on

    Jobo Baldie

     

    19:05 on

     

    3 October, 2014

     

     

    4 bottles of NB? Are you not running in Pollok Park tomorrow morning?

  16. Jobo Baldie on

    emusanorphan –

     

     

    my hamstring went again last night.

     

     

    But every cloud, etc… ;-)

  18. Lennybhoy...Supporting the DAM 5 and CFC until I die on

    hamiltontim

     

     

    19:32 on 3 October, 2014

     

     

    A bust time indeed my friend, enjoy. Give your Mum a big hug from lennybhoy on her 65th Birthday, she must be some Woman…thanks to her we have to put up with you…:)

     

     

    Only joking of course, she must be one proud Mother. I know you are proud of her.

     

     

    Keep the Faith!

     

     

    Hail Hail!

  19. Barrach Obampot on

    Lennybhoy

     

     

    cheers

     

     

    MWD, CRC and James Forrest can you DM your email as there’s something going on that I’m sure you’ll be interested in participating in

     

     

    :-)

     

     

    HH

  20. roy croppie on

    Hamiltontim

     

     

    I was there with my Bhoy and laughed out loud at their ingenuity…others around me thought they were clowns and others didn’t get it..

     

     

    strangedaysindeedCSC

  22. Coneybhoy on

    Glad to see a bit more positivity today. Great result last night in comparison to many TV cash rich teams

     

     

    Teams in this league qualify through a decent league run where they may have bloated teams above them getting to the CL

     

     

    Someone made the point earlier that as no Scottish teams makes this stage other than us, we are shooting at teams above or at the same level as us.

     

     

    Great point

     

     

    Two things I draw from that

     

    1. We should be more dominant domestically

     

    2. Why have half the ‘support’ not turned up for EL games?

     

     

    My 74 year old dad took my ticket last night cos I couldn’t get over this week from Ireland. He had recently had an op but went up on the train from Ayrshire. Proper supporter

     

     

    He said Griffiths was his pick because he dud a Bertie Auld in the last minute in the corner

     

     

    Modern supporters is rubbidge

  24. pintaguinness on

    Met Jeff Lynne once in a BA lounge. Big BIrmingham City fan. Says he went to Celtic Park once and said it was a “awesome cathedral”

     

     

    Said Celtic were one of few clubs with real “soul”

     

     

    Respect

  25. Nye Bevans' rebel soldier on

    Hamiltontim

     

     

    Kayal 1-0,was that the game?

     

     

    Fitba has should it’s soul too TV.

  26. jamesgang on

    HamiltonTim

     

     

    I was up till 1am the other night building her (complex!!!) ikea bed!

     

     

    That’s devotion for ya!

     

     

    And tomorrow night will see her disco sleepover with her pals.

     

     

    Simple enough @ 11 – the only carry oot is going to be from Dominoes!

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  29. Hamiltontim on

    Lennybhoy

     

     

    Thanks for that. Sadly, the Tyneside trip means I’ll miss catching up at the hootenanny!

     

     

    Roy C

     

     

    I thought it was quite well thought out and worth doing.

  32. QF on

    corkcelt – well said

     

    bamboo – the confidence and presence of Gordon meant that I was always confident we would not conceded from those corners even before wee Leigh went on his run. confidence at corners against us. that’s something new.

  35. Geordie Munro on

    “Which other team in Britain plays Ronnie system ?”

     

     

    Lennons p,

     

     

    Koeman played this formation for years. I’m guessing Southampton are doing it but can’t say for sure

  36. Jobo Baldie on

    pintaguinness –

     

     

    Jeff’s just moved up a couple of notches on Jobo’s here chart

     

     

    steppinoutCSC

  37. Hamiltontim on

    Nye bevans’ rebel soldier

     

     

    That’s the one, good memory son :-)

     

     

    Jamesgang

     

     

    Yes, that’s your cairry oot taken care of but what about the disco divas :-)

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