It’s been a while since Celtic have taken the field without Kris Commons or John Guidetti in the team. Commons was absent through injury on Saturday while Guidetti was largely peripheral to proceedings after opening the scoring, but they are the two most capable match winners in the squad right now.
With Guidetti ineligible I’m sure Ronny Deila will give Commons every chance to make the starting line-up, the manager needs goals and Kris is the great creator. This requirement will have to be accommodated alongside the performance of the midfield on Saturday, led by Stefan Johansen in a more advanced than usual position.
Astra are bottom of the group and we can anticipate they will defend deeply, a scenario made for Commons’ close control and ability to shoot from the edge of the box.
Many thanks to everyone who donated to Mary’s Meals while we ran the competition to win a pair of tickets for the Kilmarnock game, courtesy of club sponsor Magners. Thanks also to Magners for their help.
Thanks to those who ordered Caesar & the Assassin, the accounts of Billy McNeill and Davie Hay as Celtic managers, yesterday. It documents the period of our history from when Billy took over from Jock Stein in 1978, through to the end of his era 13 years later, including Davie Hay’s four years in charge.
Billy and Davie will both sign the early orders we get to them, more here.
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TOMMY GEMMELL – SIGHTS SET ON WARSAW!
CELTIC legend Tommy Gemmell has mixed memories of European Cup Finals.
The goalscoring defender, of course, wrote his name into the Hoops history books with his sensational equaliser in the 2-1 win over Inter Milan in Lisbon in 1967.
And Gemmell was on target again to give Jock Stein’s men the lead in the Final against Feyenoord three years later.
Unfortunately, the Dutch came back to win 2-1 with a goal three minutes from the end of extra-time.
But it is as a spectator that Big Tam rates his day in Seville in 2003 as a recollection that will live with him forever. Speaking exclusively to CQN Magazine the Big Shot has this to say:
“I can well understand the Celtic supporters’ frustration at not reaching the Champions League this season.
“That’s where a team of Celtic’s standing and calibre deserve to be.
“People are calling the Europa League second-rate and perhaps that’s understandable.
“But was that not the situation 11 years ago when Basle knocked out Martin O’Neill’s side from the top tournament?
“Celtic were favourites to beat the Swiss, but they turned out to be a very good side.
“We won 3-1 in Glasgow, lost 2-0 in Basle and went out on the goals away rule.
“The fans were hugely disappointed and people labelled the UEFA Cup as a consolation trophy.
“Were they still saying that when Celtic got to the Final in Seville?
“Just look at the tens of thousands who turned up for that game for your answer.
“It was a fantastic ride through to the game against Jose Mourinho’s Porto.
“It’s always good to get one over on English opposition and, of course, Martin’s side managed it twice.
“Graeme Souness brought his Blackburn Rovers side to Glasgow and it was tight before Henrik Larsson got the winner.
“Afterwards, though, Souness and his Rovers players dismissed Celtic. One national newspaper had the headline, ‘Men v Bhoys’.
“I think that might have fired up Martin and his players before the tie at Ewood Park.
“It’s history now that Larsson and Chris Sutton scored the goals that dumped the English – and the former Rangers manager – out of the competition.
“And didn’t we enjoy ourselves at Anfield? What an evening that was!
“We had drawn 1-1 at our place after Henrik had scored in the first minute a big Emile Heskey levelled.
“But Alan Thompson, with a clever free-kick, and John Hartson, with a stupendous effort, gave us a great win down on Merseyside.
“Eventually, of course, we got to Seville but our courage wasn’t rewarded.
“Henrik Larsson was simply immense and scored two outstanding. Bobo Balde was sent off and Celtic lost in extra-time.
“I was there and I was disappointed for my team.
“But it was such an exciting time. The fans didn’t think they would have gone on such an exciting European adventure when they lost to the Swiss back at the start of that season.
“So, it’s not all doom and gloom today.
“Let’s make the most of the Europa League and, you never know, we could be back in Warsaw where the Final is taking place at the end of the campaign!
This should be Celtic’s target and I see no reason why we can’t win the Europe League. We are Celtic after all!”
Cunning by name cunning by nature.
He’ll be back in March next year and we can all pretend it has never happened before.
Shame to see Everton fans being treated in such a way. Will be familiar to any tims who went to Amsterdam.
Everton fans were subject to unprovoked attacks by locals. Congregate in the main square for safety in numbers. Police attack them.
Shameful.
J t T
None the wiser!! Sorreeee
I saw the The Glib and Shameless Liar at the ole Burns Howff……
…….they promised that they’d be good…but they lied.
what a complete waste of time and money etc etc
the winning line up tonight
=================Gordon==============
Lustig======Denayer=======VVD ======Izzy
=====Brown=====Mulgrew====Johansen
McGregor========Scepovic==========Stokes
Subs. Matthews, Ambrose, Biton, Commons, Griffiths, Wakaso, Zaluska
2-1 Hoops with Scepovic to score his first goal
Cadizzy
I’m sure your Alvin Stardust memorabilia sits well alongside your Dr Feelgood stuff.
cadizzy
Ya caddd!!
ger57
And his J W F I badge???
Siesta time zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Burgas Hoops
“This team are better than all other SPL outfits including United and Aberdeen.
You’re wrong there -)))))”
Aberdeen have been in Europe on 3 occasions in the past decade
07/08- Qualified for Uefa Group on away goals and finished 3rd in their group before losing in the next round to Bayern
09/10- lost their only qualifier 8:1 on agg. to a Czech team Olomouc
14/15- Beat Latvian and a Dutch team (Groningen) before losing their final qualifier to Sociedad
United have 4 appearances in Europe in the past Decade
05/06- Knocked out of their first qualifier by My Pa (Finland)
10/11- Knocked out of their first qualifier by AEK Athens
11/12- Knocked out of their first qualifier by Slask Wrocklaw
12/13-Knocked out of their first qualifier by Dinamo Moscow
Astra have only recently become a sugar daddy big team in Romania. They are in their second European season
Last year they beat teams from Slovenia, Cyprus and Slovakia in the qualifying rounds before falling at the final fence against Maccabi Haifa.
This year they knocked out Slovan Liberec and Lyon to qualify for our group.
Astra are ranked at 67 in the IFFHS rankings (Celtic are at 23). No other Scottish club is ranked in the top 200 World clubs.
I think there is an argument to say I am not wrong ))))
Timaloy29, I hope UEFA are watching, don’t expect it though.
Jude
Do you think he has an Osmonds scarf?
Bloody hell. FGS Scepovic cant start the night!!! FGS
Cld do. The family one is 100yds long btw!!
Griff in. End of!!!!!!
Been early summer since I last posted, as per usual I’ve read most of Paul’s leaders but haven’t been able to keep up with the blog….
Would imagine there may have been a tete a tete regarding…
Our summer transfer window
The in/oot referendum
The appointment of our new Manager and performance so far.
As I missed it could someone jot down a wee synopsis and the consensus of afore mentioned:-)
Looking forward to a quality performance and good result tonight… Kris and not Astra not lighting up Celtic Park tonight.
Celtic 3-0 Astra
Bloody hell.
You make a couple of wee comments about Alvin Stardust and people immediately accuse you of having an Osmonds’ scarf….and a J W F I badge whatever that is.
“Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated!”
Tommy Gemmell paraphrasing Mark Twain.
Delighted at the news.
HH!!
cadizzy
“You make a couple of wee comments about Alvin Stardust and people immediately accuse you of having an Osmonds’ scarf….and a J W F I badge whatever that is.”
Is the badge on the scarf por cierto
cadizzy
15:01 on 23 October, 2014
Well? …… Have you? …..hahahahahahaha….
por cierto/67Heaven
scarf…..no
badge…..I don’t bloody know as I don’t know what a J W F I badge is (does anyone?)
People need to stop picking on me as I can give out fun but canny take it
Alvin Stardust .?
One of the choons I bought as a wean was ——–
Shane Fenton and The Fentones -I/m a Moody Guy ( Parlophone )
Way better than anything he did as Alvin Stardust .
Today s news saw me digging it out and giving it a twirl.. Mrs S of T responded with a –
“Why are you playing that crap ” ?
Remember the strange way that Alvin used to hold his microphone?
S o T
Are you back in Sicilia?
Weather?
I’m still in Scotland. Weather crap.
Saluti!
HH!!
Tallybhoy
Yes ..
Weather ———– sunny mid 20s . .
Auguri !
I remember entrusting my Sainted Mother with my pocket money to buy me a copy of Coo Ca Choo…
As Airdrie was sold out of Alvin’s classic, she bought me “The Show must go on” by Leo Sayer.
Felt like Jack in the Beanstalk’s mum…..
Till I played the “B” side and he was belting out a choon far superior to either “Hit”
Hail Hail
ger57
15:20 on
23 October, 2014
“Remember the strange way that Alvin used to hold his microphone?”
What kind of exercise would you have to do to get good at that?
Fingers Yoga perhaps.
SOT
Bernard Jewry wasn’t even the original Shane Fenton. He was the roadie when the original one died and he was asked to take over (Again from wikipedia and not from any fan club annual
What was your reply to your wife btw?
Chairbhoy
your sainted mother did well to buy you a record by the sainted Leo who, as some will remember, was once known as “Leo Sayer, excellent CQN’er”
Hail hail hail
I think the safe option tonight would be to keep the team as similar as possible to the one from the wknd. Keep KC on the bench, and then decide wether to drop down to 2 in midfield, or replace him on a wing, or use as a 2nd striker. However, with a great atmoshphere, and a quick pressing start to the game, we could put them under a lot of pressure, and be 2-0 up in the first 20mins with KC starting. Certainly interested to see what RD does, and he won’t be able to please everyone thats for sure. Either way, hope we are talking about wether we won comfortably or rode our luck, after taking the 3 points!
I think that there is a lot to be said on either side about whether Commons starts or not.
What seems to be the almost uniform view is that the manager should change things as little as possible from Saturday.
On past form I await that more in hope than in expectation
cadizzy .
something like ——
The man has died ——–I remember buying this when I was at primary school .Memories etc
Her response was to reiterate her view that I really didnt have a life before I met her ( in mitigation -she is an Italian woman -a very Italian woman )
SOT
“Her response was to reiterate her view that I really didnt have a life before I met her”
Well, that’s par for the course…and then after you meet them whatever life you do have belongs to them anyway
Lustig FGS Celtic 3-0
LB
Just to clarify ,things regarding the living wage, what do the other clubs pay there staff, people come on here telling us not to tell the media , radio stations, regarding celtic football club, and low and behold ,the celtic trust issue a statement regarding the livingwage, no wonder they cant get into AGM, ,
Tracy Emin is not as attractive without her make up on.
Cadizzy
Missed your earlier post, as I’ve been busy today. (Stop laughing!)
Yeah, that was some documentary on the Canvey Island boys.
Glad Wilko’s not joining Lee quite yet.
Glad to read that you’ve not changed over the years, y’know, as regards dishin’
Sharing the sentiments of most on here…
Deila should name almost the exact same team as what played versus Ross County at the wk.end.
The decision becomes, who replaces Guidetti as the primary striker in the side.
We could argue the toss over Commons, Scepovic, or Griffiths.
i won’t mind which of those 3 it is, so long as Broony and Mulgrew anchor the midfield. Johansen is allowed once more to play the central attacking midfield role, and Stokes and McGregor in their Left and Right flank positions respectively.
Mon the Tic !