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.
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‘GG
23:27 on 25 September, 2014
I think they were No voters, so they may have received a few extra points from prediction papers that were entered without barcodes and secretly by passed, so Jobo and myself did not see them. :-)
HH
CRC
fishing v golf.
non contact sports for the not really good at team sports persons.
Ryecatcher
Westies is spot on the old town is place to go.
McLaughlin’s Irish Pub shows every Celtic game owner is Tic mad.
Address is Kurze Straße 11, 40213 Düsseldorf, Germany
HH GMB
USA v EUROPE
yachting and golf.
anything else ?
Saint Stivs
Round the world sailing, now that is a sport >}
HH
Just saw colin montgomery on stv.
One question….how did he ever get a bird..dont say money…or he’s goat a big club …
tet ,
once its been done, why bother again ?
lol/
Saint Stivs 23:31 on 25 September, 2014
golf is the shitiest pass time on earth.
………………………………………………………
St Stivs, as a glover, I agree with your summation:_)
BGX
23:51 on
25 September, 2014
Just saw colin montgomery on stv.
One question….how did he ever get a bird..dont say money…or he’s goat a big club …
————–
em, cos his member club has got a big goat.
ayshire masons & golfers whits the difference csc.
Glover? WTF is a glover?
A man or lady who wears a wee glove on one hand, aye that works.
Golfer, I think is what I typed. Damn and feck this new fangled tablet gizmo.
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
23:53 on
25 September, 2014
play along, i am on invisible mode, i quite liked my weekend in carnoustie at the wee rental hoose next to the railway line, i saw your recent trips to bucharest comments
some other time/
T.S.D.
Apologies that I am sometimes unable to respond to your posts.
Crust first.
:-)
St stivs, whit about carnoustie glover?
When is our next home league match?
Saint stivs….shhjhh..cover your work brother…lets keep the goats tae urselvs….its mine a tell ye…its mine…
Galloway on bbc1 Fight abt to start.
Saintsivs,
It is a good sport if you persevere .
First time I tried …..the snobby president rushed out the clubhouse and shouted at me , instructing me not to play off the Ladies tees…..should have seen his face when I said ‘Feck off…..it’s my third shot ya Dober’….
Boom boom
The old ones are the best CSC
Jude…..
Galloway not very good at fighting these days….
Got his head kicked in recently
HesafannyCSC
bgx
23:51 on 25 September, 2014
Re: Mr Doubtfire
I’m reminded of the Mrs Merton line (Manchester accent required)
“Loo-vely Debbie McGee – wot were it attracted yeh to millionaire Paul Daniels”……
St stivs, Bucharest is a stunning city, beautiful. See once you get 10 km outside it there’s a constant stream of hags carrying piles of sticks.
I had a good week apart from the drive to and from the field.
Romanianhag.com
Ryecatcher, did you have your willie out at the time. Rules is rules.
The luckiest shot in golf when you thin one over a fairway bunker and it stops on the green,is called a ‘Sister in Law’….it means you’re up there but know you really shouldn’t be.
I’m staying in fun city after the game next Thursday.
Who’s furry bevy in the toon?
ACEILERGONOFRUST
Home to HAMILTON on Sunday 5/10.
3pm.
rye
Kinda agree with you, But he does tell you things the other wimps fail to tell us!!
Worth a watch imo.
ACGR..,,
Would have done but didn’t want the auld bassas wife to come running over too haha
All you YES guys like me ..who like a bet .like me …Paddy Power has Farage fronting an advert for Ryder cup…shameful…..PP joins the list for me…Asda Daily record..John lewis..M&s etc
Ryecatcher, the unluckiest shot is when your put just slips past the cup. That’s called a Brazilian as it just shaves the hole.
BobM, fanx bud.
This guy should get his name changed
BGX
I think PP are just showing up Farage for the opportunist money-grabbing limelight-hogging twat which he undoubtedly is.
For which I congratulate them,money well spent.
SETTINGFREETHEBEARS
Kinda reminds me of ACGR’s joke from last night!
I’ve never seen Lesley Riddick until I saw her on QT tonight.
Sipsini, will probably add her to his stalking list. At least wee Nicola will get a break.
ACEILERGONOFRUST
You guys must have been great to be with on a night out in your youth.
Go ugly early.
Concerns remain after first clean sheet in 9
Great header from our Paul67
It sounds like Senga MacSenga hingin’ oot the windae telling her neebur that she’s concerned that fiancé Billy McBilly has taken to pishin in another wummin’s bed , after his weekly visit tae the Ludge haha
sftb, it’s probably pronounced “Van”. That doesn’t make it any less funny though.
Good morning all.
a ceiler gonof rust.
Seen yer post early yesterday. Glad to have met you also on Sunday. Didn’t make it last night, but my tickets have arrived for next Thursday. Hope to meet you again ya nutter. ;-))))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Bobby murdochs…i get thats your take on it…but i see what i see…your insight , i do get, but what ever the reason is they are paying him
.he is getting free air time
…i just dont agree with it under any circumstance….each to their own…