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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. Geordie Munro on

    Oops.

     

     

    Posted too quick.

     

     

    Liverpool played it on occasion last season and Gooners too. Loads more I’d imagine

  3. Jobo Baldie on

    Lennybhoy –

     

     

    Saw them there too.

     

     

    It wasn’t long after the ‘stars on 45’ idea of segue-ing songs into one another and I remember the ran about 5 or 6 ELO songs together with orchestral interludes between. Absolutely fantastic. But at the end of the day just great pop songs. And nothin wrong with that at all.

     

     

    Right, fish cakes time!

  7. Jobo Baldie on

    I know that the CQN community just adore lists;-)

     

     

    Jeff’s Set list

     

     

    All Over The World

     

    Evil Woman

     

    Ma Ma Ma Belle

     

    Showdown

     

    Livin Thing

     

    Strange Magic

     

    10538 Overture

     

    Can’t Get It Out Of My Head

     

    Sweet Talkin Woman

     

    Turn To Stone

     

    Steppin Out

     

    Handle With Care

     

    Don’t Bring Me Down

     

    Rock n Roll Is King

     

    Telephone Line

     

    Mr Blue Sky

     

    Roll Over Beethoven

  8. Nye Bevans' rebel soldier on

    Goodnight Timland.

     

     

    Need to entertain the clan with my Cabernet Sauvignon wisdom.

  10. Jobo Baldie on

    roy croppie –

     

     

    every one of your photos tonight have brought back fantastic memories but that one at 20.02 is the most significant.

  11. mncelt on

    Roy C – Brilliant photos

     

     

    Big John’s goal remains one of my all time favourites, and I think I have seen every goal since the early seventies :)

  13. GourockEmeraldBhoy on

    The Public Health Protection Unit of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is liaising with other health boards, Health Protection Scotland, the Food Standards Agency and Glasgow City Council Environmental Health to investigate 11 cases of Salmonella.

     

     

    The eleven cases are all recovering in the community. One individual, with an underlying health condition, required a short period in hospital but has since been discharged.

     

     

    The 11 cases are from the Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire and Highland areas.

     

     

    Nine of the eleven cases have been formally confirmed through laboratory testing.

     

     

    Investigations have confirmed that all eleven people ate within the hospitality facilities at Celtic Park on Sunday 21st September 2014.

     

     

    Just got this off NHS website, did anybody hear anything from the Club ?

  15. Hamiltontim on

    RoyC/Jobo

     

     

    So ELO aren’t a real orchestra???

     

     

    What about Half Man Half Biscuit?

  18. lennon's passion on

    Had a seat next to GB last night. Those bhoys put some shift in. Are they aloud to eat chips.

  19. corkcelt on

    Favourite top 3 goals, Jan Venegoor header last minute against deid team, Naka’s free against United. Henrik’s dink in the 6-2. Any order you like.

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

    jobo balde:

     

     

    And one more:

     

     

    Wild West Hero

     

    All Over The World

     

    Evil Woman

     

    Ma Ma Ma Belle

     

    Showdown

     

    Livin Thing

     

    Strange Magic

     

    10538 Overture

     

    Can’t Get It Out Of My Head

     

    Sweet Talkin Woman

     

    Turn To Stone

     

    Steppin Out

     

    Handle With Care

     

    Don’t Bring Me Down

     

    Rock n Roll Is King

     

    Telephone Line

     

    Mr Blue Sky

     

    Roll Over Beethoven

     

     

    Keep the Faith!

     

     

    Hail Hail!

  21. jamesgang on

    corkcelt

     

     

    19:12 on 3 October, 2014

     

    The moaners are really pissing me off now. We all saw the same game and yes there were deficiencies, Kris did make a suicidal crossfield pass that set up an attack, in which Efe did feck up and Gordon had to make an excellent save from resultant snap shot and 3 guys did chase the ball leaving an unmarked man on the 18 yard line who should have scored when he got a quick return pass but again Gordon saved us. However I witnessed a countless number of times that Celts closed down their men and won balls they weren’t entitled to, I witnessed lads run themselves into the ground, throw themselves in front of shots, defend with their lives. I also witnessed a gem of a goal, and the closing down of their keeper which should have yielded a 2nd. I saw some lovely lay offs some nice passages of play and overall witnessed a bloody good game in which Celtic played their part. The team is not above criticism but please lets have some balance. gettingitoffmychestrantcsc.

     

     

    —-

     

     

    Corkcelt

     

     

    The voice of reasoned Timdom. Will it ever catch on?

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  23. Magnificentseven on

    roy croppie

     

     

    brilliant pictures as always, I think I got a speeding ticket from a bitter hun cop on the way home after the Tommy Coyne goal, if it’s the one I think it is, didnae care

     

     

    The Hartson goal is one of my favourites, killed the game stone dead and shut the English up for a wee while about how superior they were, will never forget the Seville run, still to watch the final again though……never will I suppose

  24. jamesgang on

    Leftie and Dena

     

     

    Thanks for your kind birthday wishes for my wee ghirl.

     

     

    And eddieinkirkmichael thanks again. A true gent.

     

     

    HT – I’m going to lock the 11 y/o divas in a room and let them get on with it. Or ‘P7’ as I believe you call it in the trade?!?

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  29. Tom McLaughlin on

    GourockEmeraldBhoy –

     

     

    It has already been established that the source of the problem was with an external supplier and the health authorities have no issue with the club’s catering and standards of hygiene.

  33. corkcelt on

    Hi jamesgang, Didn’t know you had a birthday ghirl in the house, Happy Birthday wishes to Miss jamesgang from Tipperary.

  34. Dontbrattbakkinanger on

    Favourite goals;

     

     

    1/ Harald v St Johnstone [ obviously…]

     

     

    2/ McGarvey v St Mirren

     

     

    3/ Big John v Scousers

  35. jamesgang on

    Thanks Corkcelt

     

     

    And I promise I was already tying nice things about you without knowing you’d just posted!!!!!!

     

     

    SerendipityCSC

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  41. sipsini on

    A good result last night, though there was some scary moments, we held out.

     

     

    Still not happy with the midfield, it’s too sparse as was witnessed especially in the second half…this needs addressed by RD if he wants fast forward passing and movement.

     

     

    Re: the wonderful goalkeeping display by Craig Gordon, how the huns must be hurting even more now after his master class display.

     

     

    I suppose I couldn’t put it more eloquently than this poster on hunmedia…..

     

     

    “We had first option on Gordon but McCoist felt we had enough cover in midfield” …;)))

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