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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I love the Human Bean that Mario is.
I hope Brendan gets the Very best out of him and he keeps doing what he does outwith football.
PETEC
When I got a bit older and wiser!
Low or high,left or right of the keeper,always just inside the post.
And ALWAYS with my left foot.
My right was not to be trusted with a dead ball. Ever.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
04:02 on 26 September, 2014
PETEC
When I got a bit older and wiser!
Low or high,left or right of the keeper,always just inside the post.
And ALWAYS with my left foot.
My right was not to be trusted with a dead ball. Ever.
___________________________________________________
Me and Tyre were the St Peters wingers of Bellsmyre.
Despite James doing very well in his fitba career, he spoke very Kind Words to me later in life, he was drunk, funnily enough me too, about how I was unbelievable being able to Cross the ball in with my right foot from corners from the right, getting them to inswing (cricketer in me – Blame Dad). I’ve been so right footed it is EMF.
Queen of the South have a very good Person in charge, a very knowledgable person about the game as well.
outsideoftheboot.csc
PETEC
Never having seen you play,I’ll take your word for it.
Jim McIntyre has some left foot though.
FFM – I’m the only conspiracy theorist in the village)
03:12 on 26 September, 2014
ACGR,
Wee Nicola is looking hot again – she was clearly told to tone it down, and allow Alex’ sexuality to blossom – a clever ruse to keep Nicola low key in the political game until now.
But you chose Annabel.
Also, I live in hope that one of Nicola’s first moves will be to sack arrogant, self-loving bigotry merchant Christine Graham from the gravy train of the Scottish Parliament.
I saw loads of admiration directed at Christine for her sudden love of pensioners the other day, which almost matched her anger at young Celtic Supporters for causing sectarian murder by knife-wielding huns, by singing republican songs or wearing clothes that contained any shade of green.
It amused me that she seemed to be in hibernation during this referendum, yet now she’s out there pulling our heart strings for the sake of our OAPs.
She is indeed, an outstanding woman, and now more worthy of your attention than Annabel Goldie :)
—————————————————————————————————–
Get God fearing politicos in position and, straight off the bat, you have people who feel accountable and not to any Party.
It is never too late but I cannae see a Revival happening. Noone knows Anything, Democracy?
The money men control every aspect of Democracy, IMO.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
04:25 on 26 September, 2014
PETEC
Never having seen you play,I’ll take your word for it.
Jim McIntyre has some left foot though.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He certainly has. I was taking my Mum to Safeways wan Saturday morning and I read the headline that Tommy was in for James, it didn’t happen but it was just amazing seeing him linked with his Team, the Daily Record as well.
IMPORTANT INFO ALERT!!!!
Just under a year ago we lost one of our well-known posters,
ST JOHN DOYLE.
His family set up a charity foundation
SEAN’S TRUST.
BILLY NO’WELL is supporting act on a special night for the trust in four weeks time at
THE PEOPLE’S PALACE,24 Oct.
The main part of the evening promises to be even better!
This looks like a belter of an evening with the added benefit of a great cause-oh,and a few laughs too.
Details are here.
https://mobile.twitter.com/saoirsefanclub/status/514473542818492416/photo/1
PETEC
I think TB took Jim to Reading.
Not a great move,sadly. Very injury-prone down there.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
04:58 on 26 September, 2014
PETEC
I think TB took Jim to Reading.
Not a great move,sadly. Very injury-prone down there.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Good money wise though. ;)) Delighted for him and all the dedication he put into getting where he is now – I’ve got a lazy gene within, ma wee Brother runs Marathons in 3 hours – I tell you what God scripts a hell of a story.
It shows that ma wee Primary school pal almost signed for The Greatest Club there has ever been.
There were many in Dumbarton that Morning that had their spirits raised at the thought of James joining Celtic
Celtic is way beyond politics, way way beyond.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS @ 04:55
That is going to be a great night. I suspect a lot of CQNers wont want to miss that night out and excuse for a gathering. It’s already got a lot of interest from Celtic fans outside the world of CQN and a few well kent faces are coming. I suggest securing a ticket by emailing to arranging payment before it sells out.
MORRISSEY THE 23RD
Good thinking,batman!
Wi a brain like yours,can you tell me how to get my iPhone out of restore after back-up?
Bloody nightmare,this.
Any phone tech heads out there …
Think i have had enough of the iphone- 4s i have.
Few mates swtiched to samsung galaxy long ago and reckon its alot better.
Thinking of doing same very soon or is the iphone 6 going go be the main phone about ?
Up the tic
Amazing company,Apple.
Sell you a phone wi 16GB.
Which only has 13GB usable.
Then supply software updates which require 4.6GB. Or install via iTunes which takes all bloody night and ends up knackering yer bloody phone.
I hope Steve Jobs was given one on his first day in hell and told to figure it out. That would f..k him for all eternity.
PROUDBHOY
I’ve got an iPhone5 you can have.
Not really. Saving it for someone I don’t like.
Haha there annoying.. Apps keep kicking me out when i go into them.
Battery crap
Fortune to buy music
PROUDBHOY
I couldnae believe the battery life on mine when I got it.
Used to my old Nokia,never off it,totally user friendly.
Charged it once a week whether it needed it or not.
iPhone disnae last a day. How mobile is it if it’s permanently plugged into the effing power socket?
bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers
–
I know.. Im sitting here on mine with it charging at same time… Its getting the heeve ho in couple of weeks
Petec – What’s the story with the number 33?
I know it’s Masonic, is it evil though?
3:33 is a time I always seem to notice, be it on a digital clock or watching a news channel on TV.
My Irish lottery numbers are 1,3,11 and 33.Only for the reason stated,the time thing. Thought they might be lucky.
From 7 numbers(bonus included) –
4 x £1 trebles and 1 x £2 quad – pays over £7000 if all four come up. Got 3 up a few times @ 300/1, never the four though.
I’ll not be doing those numbers again in future.
HH.
Love the Ryder cup.
Think the yanks will take the first session 2 1/2 -1 1/2.
Just invested a right few quid on Speith and Reed to beat Poulter and Gallagher.
Kinda hope I’m wrong though:-)
Two years ago, a Tuesday, noticed those numbers on a strange car number plate.
No Irish lottery on Tuesday so I did the Irish Daily millions, same numbers permed, less odds though, because there are less numbers in the Daily Millions – so I increased the stake money to 4 x £4 trebles and 1 x £4 quad.
3 numbers came up, had a £4 treble @ 200/1,paid me £804.
Strange but true.
HH.
Good morning friends and a Big Happy RC* Friday from a damp underfoot but clear skied (therefore chilly) East Kilbride,
Jobo
* Ryder Cup, obviously
If the Ryder cup was being played in ma back garden, ah widney open the curtains.
Good morning CQN
Hope the golfing CQNrs enjoy their golf extravaganza this weekend
I’m in the good walk spoilt category, and the patriotic fervour over the Ryder cup also passes me by………………..too many Union flags
aff oot…………… to good a day to be in
Morning all.
To all those who will not be watching the Ryder Cup:
Ya bunch of Philistines!
:-)
Forza Europa!
HH!!
Good start from Europe.
I’m driving to Aberdeen, going to be a long drive avoiding Gleneagles.
Doc
Looks as though everyone is already in..place mobbed.
BT, there is about 10miles of restrictions, around half of that is 30mph.
Less on the M90, thinking about heading that way over.
An extra 1/2 hr whichever way I go.
Better get started.
Enjoy the sclaffbaw, I’ll have the radio on.
Good morning from a bright but windy north staffs – helping mrs gene and my daughter in law with a macmillan coffee morning that will last all day.
southside
tune into the lancs v middlesex cricket on ss3 from 10.30 -riveting game which i will now miss.
G’mornin’ troops…………..
early start, early finish the day……..
How’s Waka?
HH
33 [and a third]
Almost as great a number as 45.
Yet definitely above 78 and 16.
………and as for watching the “game” of Gowf….
on
the
……………………. telly?
Madness.
Utter madness.
;)
Bankiebhoy
Went to Scottish open when it was at gleneagles a few year ago.
Spent most of my time in hospitity tent watching golf on TV….o))
Good luck to Celtic ST holder, Stephen Gallacher at the Ryder Cup, and Martin Kaymer’s caddy too :)
BT
I’m sure I can’t be alone in being intrigued by what goes on in a hospitity tent.
Would you care to share … ?
FF
Live score update
ROSE/STENSON 2 up on Watson/Simpson having completed 5
BJORN/KAYMER 3 up on Fowler/Walker having completed 4
GALLACHER/POULTER 1 down on Spieth/Reed having completed 3
GARCIA/McILROY all square with Mickelson/Bradley having completed 3
As it stands Europe 2½ USA 1½
A hospitity tent?!
Can we try and get one for the next hootenanny?
HH!!
ff was the bells Scottish open
Plenty of peeling going on .. Fnar fnar.
folly folly
09:13 on 26 September, 2014
BT
I’m sure I can’t be alone in being intrigued by what goes on in a hospitity tent.
Would you care to share … ?
It’s a gazebo with balls :)