Dinamo Zagreb dropped points for the second time in 10 league games this season on Saturday when they drew a blank against bottom of the table Slaven Koprivnica. Slaven took only one point from five league games in August, and lost heavily to Zagreb on the opening day of the season, but have tightened up at the back in recent weeks. Parking the bus on Saturday was enough to curtail the Croatian champions.
That blank score line was a rarity for Dinamo, who had scored in all but one of this season’s 18 previous outings. After losing their first leg at home to Zagreb, Aalborg shut up shop in the Champions League qualifier in Croatia and overturned the first leg deficit.
So what can we expect on Thursday? We’ve kept only one clean sheet in the last 10 outings, and that was to lower league Hearts, who missed a penalty and struck the crossbar. Looking at Celtic’s defensive record, Dinamo will fancy their chances of getting a goal. Like most teams away from home in Europe, they will plan to defend first and foremost, and take their chances on the break.
Having collected a vital point away to the top seed on match day one, the group opens up for Celtic if they can beat Zagreb this week, but how should they go about achieving this? If St Mirren, Motherwell, Dundee and Inverness can score against Celtic, Dinamo Zagreb will do so, unless Celtic protect their back line considerably better than they have so far this season. Celtic are likely to need to score two or more to win the game. Without Goals Guidetti, this sounds like a big challenge.
Going on form, it’s in Celtic interests to ensure this is a tight game, deny Dinamo space to break into, and use their own speed to attack when opportunity arises. We’ll need to hold the ball, and that means Kris Commons will have to play, no matter how fit he is, but I would be tempted to give him a deeper role than usual. Johansen and Brown have critical roles to play in protecting the defence but they will need Commons available to bring calm to proceedings.
I see The Telegraph have taken a punt on Craig Whyte, et al’s, Worthington Group being in sufficient funds to mount their threatened legal challenge to Sevco Scotland Ltd, now known as Rangers International PLC, for acquiring the legal entitlement of Sevco 5088 Ltd. Sevco 5088 had irrefutable entitlement to the assets of liquidated Rangers FC but this entitlement was assumed by Sevco Scotland, then owned and controlled by Charles Green.
Green and Craig Whyte both claimed to control Sevco 5088 when the company’s entitlement was assumed by the other company. So what does all this mean? There’s nothing in The Telegraph story that we didn’t know two years ago. Even if a journo had first-hand information from a prime source, you’d have to wonder what value you could invest in what any of these characters say.
Until Our Hero spins the roulette wheel at the Ibrox Casino, everyone’s chasing shadows on this one.
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Croppybhoy…i get all you say…but …the YES campaign is crying out for socialism imo…ive been there…its such a wide diverse cross section of society who really CARE….but LABOUR in its current state does not get anywhere close to this…and untill it comes out and divorces itself from the RED TORIE policies that it subscribes to…as i said….Labour is finished in Scotland…
People like me will make sure of that..
jamesgang
22:28 on 30 September, 2014
As was I but you’d have held your’s higher than mine :-)
I would bet that if the GB were to organise an identical display now, in 2014, you would get Celtic supporters, who would have held it normally, refusing to do so now because it had been organised by the GB.
jackie mac
I would put Wakaso into your quality section.
He has the eye for a defence splitting pass and the ability to put the ball right where he…..and the striker wants it.
I thought he was a winger but after seeing him in action a few times id say he will provide more goals for us with passes…..than crosses.
the comfortable collective,
aye ok mucker,i suppose unlucky was putting it a bit mild
Burnley
Being a cynic I would suggest that the money in the City of London will dictate that the UK stays in the EU – the nutters in UKIP may appeal to elements of the Tory right that sees the world through the Daily Mail but come the General Election they are likely to fade away again
IMHO
HH
Jungle Jim 2238:-
That’s fair enough comment, professionals can get it wrong as much as any of us on here. :)
I don`t think we have been great this season, or even good all that often either. There are mitigating factors, not least the injuries to Lustig and Forrest which have knackered us down the entire right hand side.
Nonetheless I`ll be there on Thursday night hoping for a good win to give us a fighting chance of getting to the last 32 in the Europa. To do that with this team would be a very good achievement.
Just in case anyone missed it
That “pub team” Maribor went to Schalke 04 tonight and got a 1-1 draw.
They have 2 points from 2 games.
A petition? No, seriously. A petition?
LOL
HT
Interesting.
Perhaps even the conflicts within the Celtic support might have been united by ‘that woman’!
Sad that it would take something as profound as that/her to completely unite us.
I’m now a bit of an auld fhart but I do see folk whose shutters come down – against – almost as soon as the GB are mentioned.
And a bit of a cheek given that the auld yins sang a lot more radical things in days of yore!
How’s yer multitasking going?
HH jamesgang
SFTB..
.lets just disagree…i think that people where warned off .you dont…it makes the world go round….proof is for courts….opinion(although the numbers suggest different) are opinions….
gordybhoy64 22:42 on 30 September, 2014
“the comfortable collective,
aye ok mucker,i suppose unlucky was putting it a bit mild”
—————————————————————-
‘Mild’ is my middle name. . .
HT
I know your concerns, just like yourself, are completely genuine. I honestly believe though that the outlook is fine and that this time next year (Del Boy!) , we will be listening to Zadok the Priest other than as our ringtones!
Good night all,
JJ
Pat Kane on stv talks about ‘horizontal connections’ in Scottish society.
Is that posh bonking?
HH jamesgang
The thing about the mid-field is that it always looks as if we are at least one player short.
The present midfield seems to be trying to do too much and failing – to make goal opportunities and also to protect the defence.
JJ
You’re a right positive soul. That’s not a bad thing. Mibbee we need some of that on here!
Hope the bod’s healing well.
HH jamesgang
Jamesgang
No’ very well, I’ve given up all other tasks for the love of CQN :-)
As always, after saying cheerio I think of something else I want to say!
I support the Green Brigade. If they do decide to wave a plethora of Saltires on Thursday, I will see it as a comment on the arbitrary and stupid nature of UEFA`s no political display policy.
Good night again!
JJ
We could start a petition and Vow everything will be ok this time next year SFTB. :-)
MWD said AYE
Bobo’s gonna get ya
Minx is gonna get ya….
One if these prospects is scary. The other is fatal!
HH jamesgang
Bgx
I think we will have to disagree on the yes campaign -it might have been that way in the west of Scotland but I would doubt if it was that way all across the country
As I said -this was a well thought out and planned campaign. The main drivers for the vast majority of the time being Salmond and the SNP
It will be interesting to see how the SNP reacts to the huge influx of new members because for the last decade it has been a very disciplined group which did exactly as Alex said
You might well find that in a year or two there are big divisions -but by that time we will have a new Westminster government
Many might want to re fight the referendum but to me that would be self indulgent and fighting the last battle
Finally for tonight -been good arguing and debating with guys who have passion for their cause – we might not agree but we can still enjoy the joust!
HH
“Hope the bod’s healing well.” said Jamesgang.
I believe it is. Some on here would say it was knackered and I should get a new one 0:-)
JJ
JJ
I think your just a pimp for ACGR and his ringtone sales :-)
Keep well and stay safe.
Hamilton Tim.
Ref Maggie Red Card Day
Living in London at the time I managed to work a double shift and get time off to drive up for the Red Card game. Then drove back down to London again for day shift on Sunday.
One knackered Datsun Cherry and one ecstatic tired Celtic supporter post Sunday shift surrounded by yuppies in Camden who didn’t give a shit about this incredible uprising against that most vindictive of leaders. Greed after all was good back then before Gordon Gecko too.
It really was a different country. It kind of still is in my view.
One of my favourite Celtic memories though. Still got the ticket somewhere for old north enclosure.
Jamesgang
Well seen I’m in Hamilton tonight!!
LongDistanceBraveryCSC
hamiltontim
22:40 on 30 September, 2014
jamesgang
22:28 on 30 September, 2014
As was I but you’d have held your’s higher than mine :-)
I would bet that if the GB were to organise an identical display now, in 2014, you would get Celtic supporters, who would have held it normally, refusing to do so now because it had been organised by the GB.
##############################
I held mine up at Ipox and got lifted…
1-2 Celtic….. Walker and McStay
Burnley78…great post man…
Ghuys.. can I take this opportunity to let you know the the Celtic Foundation are again supporting a Foodbank collection on Saturday 1st November before the 3 oclock ko v Inverness. As last years fantastic event, all the donations will go to the Trussell Trust at the Calton Parkhead Chuch in Helenvale St. The GB will again be organising the uplift and delivery of all donations. There will be 4 drop off point located in the surrounding of Celtic Park. Last years appeal in December before the Hearts game brought in 5.5 tons of food.!!! Unbelievable!! I hope everyone will support this cause again this year. I hope no one will object if I post this weekly before the 1st November.. Well done the Foundation.. well done the G B. COYBIG.!!
Bit of a long shot but does anyone know of any bars that might be showing the game in Marrakech on Thursday?
micktt
Did you really. Shower of focus bassas even in the pre focus era.
JJ
When you start shopping in New Bods R Us gonna pop into the knee aisle and get me a couple!
HT
Long distance bravery is the wise Mhan’s choice. Said so in my CQN fortune cookie!
HH jamesgang
burnley78
I’d only missed two games the entire season but only realised on the Friday night that I didn’t have a ticket!!
I ended up with two and was so elated I just gave the other one away to a mighty thankful Tim outside Toryglen police station.
The whole day, including the red card display, remains one of my most cherished Celtic memories.
andyr53
You keep posting that as often as you like my mhan. The more the merrier. :-) KTF.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
micktt
Sorry Mick but I burst out laughing at that :-)
Some guys just have nae luck!
Croppybhoy
You may be right but the complete breakdown of conventional rules in politics driven by middle England nationalism, the unelectable nature of the UK labour leadership the mistrust of liberal and the pro Indy Yes backed SNP will drive the outcome which will not be sweet for North Britain or our future democracy. We will be ruled by a very different country and type of people for some time.
Croppybhoy. I do agree with your point re the control AS had and how incredibly tightly he ran the party. It will be interesting but I do sense similar strengths with Ms Sturgeon. It is the depth of talent lower down which is the issue. And ability to plot the right strategic path vs emotional knee jerk.
Those of a Yes persuasion looking for a wee bit of a laugh to take the edge off should take a wee look at BBC online where they have allowed Frankie Boyle to do a post-referendum dissection. It’s only available on BBC online- typical BBC establishment censorship I am sure.
Some of Frankie’s guests give as good as they get in response to Frankie’s cruel but funny miserabilism.
Horror, Scottish lads might wave Scottish Flags at a football game in Scotland. Downright blackguarding, they should be knocked to the ground and have their flags ripped off them, like the wee lass in George Square. If looking at the Saltire makes some of the No boys unhappy well tough sh*t as far as I’m concerned.
burnley78
23:05 on 30 September, 2014
Croppybhoy
—–
Apropos – I refer the learned gentlemen to my post below. Get ready for a tsunami of bullingdon boys and ukip’s casual racists.
Prepare to be scunnered. So very scunnered.
jamesgang
22:38 on 30 September, 2014
Anyone see Boris Johnson on the BBC news?
CondescendingF***CSC
HH jamesgang
Hamilton Tim
I was in London but managed 16 league games. Still got the tickets or programmes where no ticket needed. Some great late wins. Some of which I had to celebrate on motorway heading back down South as often had to leave early to get a head start down the road. I think the semi final of the cup was one of them.
Great times. Crowd and team together. 110%