Last night’s convincing win was exactly what was needed. Hearts were subjugated by three goals and an avalanche of chances, John Guidetti got off the mark and we kept a clean sheet after eight games without one.
We are a lot more potent up front than we were a month ago and the return of Scott Brown in central mid has tightened things up but that defensive record remains a concern. Hearts were utterly outplayed and failed to score, but that wasn’t for the lack of hospitality from their hosts.
It’s not clear what the difference is between last season’s record-breaking run of domestic clean sheets and our current porous look. Jason Denayer is partnering Virgil instead of Efe Ambrose, while Efe has been shunted right to cover for injured Adam Matthews and Mikael Lustig, but this wasn’t the case for some of our European nightmares last month.
Apart from last night’s pass between two statues, Emilio has overcome his early season jitters and Craig Gordon has been impeccable in goal.
It’s more likely that whatever changes have happened to the shape of the team, specifically, what is happening in front of the defence. Emilio’s back-pass last night occurred when he was under pressure and his midfield options were busy looking for a forward pass. Anthony Stokes’ error on Sunday led to Motherwell’s goal, but it happened on the halfway line. Against Motherwell! Who were able to exploit a lack of defensive cover.
Ronny’s Celtic press quickly and high up the field. I like this plan. As he navigates the squad into a position where this is their natural state there will be transitional damage, but the basis of every successful team is keeping the back door shut.
It will be some time before the manager gets a chance to finalise his defence as he awaits the return of Matthews and Lustig, and he decides on whether to partner van Dijk with Ambrose or Denayer (or Lustig), while Emilio could benefit from being pushed on the left by Charlie Mulgrew. In the meantime, Brown and Johansen, together with whoever plays wide, will need to practice their reverse gears.
St Mirren have failed to score in five of their last eight games, so as well as three points, and a clean sheet, we should be looking for whoever plays in goals to have a trouble-free afternoon.
Thanks to everyone who donated to the Great Scottish Run fund in aid of the Celtic Foundation, and to those who signed up for the race to do their bit. I know our gas has been at a peep recently but the flame of why we are Celtic fans burns as brightly as ever.
You can sign up for the race through the Foundation here, or if you’ve misplaced your trainers, you can help me hit my target here.
[calameo code=0003901718cdc4362fa2e? lang=en page=4 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]Many thanks.
723 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- ...
- 20
- »
BMCUW-Different game mate.
Badabing…
Correct…
The Friday night after we won the League at Love Street…
The Pieman scored his second hat trick against us in a diddy cup final
We just got pished and sang Champions all night in the Broomloan and ignored the meaningless game lol
Dallas Dallas…i live in the east end..im in brigton often…and as a YES supporter i love to tell them.
We took your city..
And we will never give it back…
TNT
Hrvatski jim
Re the kirriemuir song, laughing here as it was my mate charlies new year party piece….. only after his mrs went to bed you understand hehe.
:-)
HH
Bada
Cheers mate.As always.Ta.
Blantyre, the St Etienne scarves were belters. I think there was the ouline of a lion on them.
A number of our fans wore some the following season.
That 1984 league cup final still rankles with me. We were poor defendively that day. Choccy got our first with a well worked free kick when our dear departed Tommy flicked the ball over the wall & Choccy ran on to volley it in. I couldn’t believe we got a last minute penalty which was brillianty converted by Mark Reid. He had some bottle to take it.
Unfortunately, big Roy went into the back of Sally, giving him the chance to play best man fall.
Sally was just as sleekit then as he is now. Horrible git.
Awww naw…..Jo Whiley just finished…..
Could listen tae that wummin talk all night
eddieinkirkmichael
21:49 on 25 September, 2014
adi_dasler
Different circumstance
Love the wee boys story
…but
If you are at a game and dont like whats on offer…?
BTW
I dont boo or agree but every supporter (guys who pay ) are entitled to do that
Thats all mate
Are we really meant to be playing Partick Thistle in The League Cup on Tuesday the 28th of October?
Astra on Thursday the 23rd October
Kilmarnock on Sunday the 26th October
Partick Thistle Tuesday 28th October
Inverness on Saturday the 1st of November.
3 games in 6 days?!
BGX, yes had one letter too many for the hunnites to spell & understand.
God bless wee Jay.
Still got a tear in the eye.
HH!!
Dallas Dallas…laughing at that…
BGX, there’s a shop for sale next to one of the boozers in Bridgeton. The estate agents sign is green & white. It gives me a wee chuckle when I think of some of the locals being annoyed about it’s colours.
The 1984 LC Final.
Sleekit scored a hat-trick. Valentine was the ref and gave them two pens. Packie saved one but the pie man scored the rebound.
HH!!
Meant to watch this tonight…..
Shows Oor wee Lou Macari in a very good light apparently……
Will watch on CatchUp tomorrow….
Unmissable I’ve been told
Marvellous is a British drama television film that is set to first broadcast on BBC Two. The ninety-minute film, directed by Julian Farino and written by Peter Bowker, is about the life of Neil Baldwin.[1][2][3]
An tearmanm
I didn’t realise just how dirty the real lyrics were.
Glad you enjoyed the cleanish version.
Good night from beautiful Croatia.
1983-4 LCF – Celtic lost 3-2 in ET, Sleekit hattrick
May 1986 Friday night Glasgow cup final – Sleekit hattrick.
Two separate games
Dallas Dallas ..i just tell them..if it wasnt for the sheep(who they hate) and the highlanders(who they ridicule) they would all have to change their name to LIAM..
They now live in the Democratic Republic of Glasgow(rebel style).,,kills them ..
Thunder road
Thistle game will be the Wed 29/10.
Does anyone remember Not the View did a page in every fanzine titled ‘They Embarrassed The Hoops’?
Looking back it was seriously bad idea,
Some very good Celts got ridiculed in it.
The one on Danny Crainie stopped me buying it…….
He didn’t deserve it and lots of others didn’t too.
Just imagine you were standing next to some of their family in the jungle reading that shite…..I was one day
Bubba Watson comes from Baghdad!
Baghdad, Florida that is.
HH!!
Ryecatcher
one off the guys who help write it worked with me in dhss for a couple of years, told him I would break his legs if u put a certain player in it….8)
squire danaher
Thanks.
Still 3 games in 6 days but sunday, wednesday, saturday is better!
Blantyretim….
Yer auld da is a Legend.
I’d have broken his feckin head too…..
Loved going into see the Original Holy Goalie when he had the Laser Lounge in Cambuslang.
Is there still a pub there or have the developers turned the Circuit into Lanarkshire’s Merchant City?
Ryecatcher
its now a gym, couple of pubs and an indian later….
Blantyretim…..
The thought of the Himshe dudes in a gym now, makes me giggle…….
The Circuit was full of Huns …….hopefully the place is now a Retail Park or something similarly obscure.
Tell ye what though….the Tims who lived there ( not many) were great guys mate.
CQN Predictor Cup
Qualifying Round 1st Leg
PaddyBhoy1888 22 Patrick27 0
Catalpa 29 fleagle 32
Bognor hoops 21 Travel Bhoy 13
Bjmac 23 ticgaz 21
Bhoywonder84 19 BMCUWP 29
Sipsini 29 The lizard king 16
Thom’s Sellik 28 Elharto 24
Jamesgang 13 Bognorbhoy 24
The ExiledTim 27 deccyrollercoaster 21
Kolncelt 29 Praecepta 13
realnineinarow 19 Lennybhoy 21
Hutchbhoy 13 Kelvin Bhoy 23
Ard Ri 14 GoogyBhoy 30
Twists and Turns 21 Penfold 21
sftb 39 Hamilton Tim 27
Mrs CRC 23 Dick Byrne 23
cliftonville celt 26 Marapapa 21
3mick3 28 celticrollercoaster 37
Jonnythetim 29 Stevenage Bhoy 23
Celtic Rose 13 Cowie Bhoy 16
mayanaman 14 Leftclicktic 21
Murdoch Auld & Hay 23 GG 25
Pogmathonyahun 15 Castlebhoy 0
The Token Tim 14 B-Boy 38
Dim Sam 25 Bobby evans Superstar 15
Hmack 23 The Lurker 6
DougC 25 saint stivs 6
Blantyre Kev 21 St Patricks Bhoy 43
Thecelt45 43 McFudge 28
Jeez_I_thought_blinker_was_pants 20 Doc 0
Jobo Baldie 26 sponsored by cheetah 8
bada bing 0 Smashing Milk Bottles 0
2nd leg this weekend
HH
CRC
Ryecatcher
I worked in that boozer, Saturdays, it was mad, you’re correct about the good circuit bhoys, same as larkhall bhoys..
BT
Gerry G and the Cambuslang RFB before your time?
Celticrollercoaster supporting Shay,our bhoy wonder along the way
22:52 on
25 September, 2014
CQN Predictor Cup
Qualifying Round 1st Leg
—————
I AM THE ALLY MCCOIST of fitba predictors
BT,
might have you mixed up with someone else,
are you a school teacher,used to know 2 girls from Blantyre that became teachers,
surname was McPake,had a couple of brothers too
Saint Stivs
22:56 on 25 September, 2014
Ach you’ll win the second leg, I hear Son of Dallas is your ref for the day :-)
HH
CRC
Rye,
‘Marvellous’ is…marvellous.
Can’t wait for this Ryder Cup…..
Heart says Europe…..Average World Ranking for players……18
Head says USA…….Average World Ranking for players…..16
Go get them Mr Paul McGinley…….Make me bet with my heart tomorrow……..Always feels much better when that type of bet stoats….
that Neil Baldwin drama tonight was very very good.
Lou Lou skip to ma Lou,
everyone wanted him, at the time, to come to celtic.
his best signing in the programme is Neil Baldwin.
his wosrst decision, not bringing Neil to celtic.
god bless, neil and his mam, his friends, his supporters, lou and his family
quite brilliant drama/comedy
Gordybhoy67.
wrong family mate, I know the McPakes from Blantyre, couple of families, yer pal delaneys donkey will be able to tell you my surname.
!!Bada Bing!!
21:05 on
25 September, 2014
Neilson is a hun fae EK,
Yep,the same hun that led his team to victory over even more huns on the opening day.I like this kind of hun.
ryder cup.
full of No voters.
lights green touch paper and backs off the 18th hole