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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I was quite taken with Jim Sillars analyses on the news that said next time they should make a fresh break and ditch the Queen and the pound to go for an Independent Republic.
Wee Nicola is going to have a hard job keeping the SNP right and centre onside if the ex-Labour guys and the Trot entryists try to radicalise this loose coalition.
burnley78
23:09 on 30 September, 2014
Croppybhoy. I do agree with your point re the control AS had and how incredibly tightly he ran the party.
—–
Wtf? Stokesie had a party? Does Ronnie know? Was there any fizzie juice or sausage rolls?
Somebody’s gonna get grounded!
HH jamesgang
james gang
It might be quite difficult for the Yes vote scare tactic outlining Boris Johnson & The UKIPS to have any traction when we had Boris describe UKIP people, at his Tory Conference speech, as the type of people who have sex with vacuum cleaners.
corkcelt
A tricolour in one hand and a cross of St. Andrews in the other.
HH jamesgang
We Irish have to new heroes this year, both C. McGregor:
C McGregor – Official UFC® Fighter Profile – UFC.com
Callum McGregor | Celtic | Stats | News | Profile
Soz, Its pot luck over there. Most of the cafes show football all the time, mostly Spanish. I do know lads who did get to watch a Celtic match there a couple of years ago but have no idea of the name of pub. All you can do is ask at various cafes, if they have access they might put it on, if not they might be able to direct you to where you can get it.
Sftb
I assume neither Boris nor his lawyers are on CQN – though sometimes I wonder! – but given his much vaunted carnal pecadilos that might be seen by some as more of a ‘come and get me plea’ as much as anything else!
;-)
And all flippancy aside he has much more in common with ukip than he does with 90+% of the Scottish electorate IMHO.
HH jamesgang
I haven’t read back far but am I right in believing that:
1. There is a suggestion that the GB will demonstrate by waving saltires during Thursday’s game, and:
2. There is a view that this will be seen by UEFA as a political gesture and get the club into bother.
Surely even if one is correct, two will not be the outcome?
A Saltire flies over the ground, why have the club not had this brought to their attention before now?
jamesgang
23:01 on 30 September, 2014
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
################################
Yep its true, I was jailed about two mins before kick off, first in that big cell or room under the main stand, it was the week after Gibraltar, guys standing with berets and ski masks on, and I got the jail for a red card…
Ayrshire is Green and White
Hamilton Tim, a disgraceful slur suggesting I make a profit from selling zadok tones. That tone cost me four quid and is now resonating through the airwaves of thousands of Tim moby’s. I could end up sharing a cell in BarL with BGX for my undercover services to timdom.
Consider my offer to be the minx’s page bhoy officially removed.
FFS, will someone tell the auld cat murdering cyclist he was supposed to remove it when got pumped oota the CL. It’s only effective against the hun when we’re actually in the competition.
I’m away to look oot ma tutu:_)
micktt
Geez mhate that must have been some pretty aggressive card waving you were doing!
Unreal eh?
HH jamesgang
hamiltontim
23:03 on 30 September, 2014
micktt
Sorry Mick but I burst out laughing at that :-)
Some guys just have nae luck!
####################
Good, I laugh now too but at 16 and never ever even been spoken to by the Police I wasn’t laughing… I was greetin in the cell on the second floor of Govan Police Office, although I was impressed with the cell block, mmm this looks like the cell block in Porridge…!
HH
SFTB
BBC can do as they want now my friend. The deed is done. Their battle won.
Knighthoods all packaged up waiting to be delivered to the DG and his crew, along with ‘the treatment’ to those rebellious Scots and the subservient North Brits.
Still we can all get our loaf cheaper at waitrose thank god. And our pensions are just fine. And our wee extra week in Puerto P will be ok too.
Anyway at least we can be distracted by such stuff. Imagine on a Sevco website right now discussing how they can get rid of their biggest wage earner / liability / trencherman the sleekit chappie. And that is the least of their worries.
WeefratheTim
Cheers mate.. together we will all make a difference in the West of Scotland, and re kindle the Spirit of Brother Walfrid! Hail Hail.
MickTT, you are a bad wan. Have you got a saltire tattoo on yer boaby?
ACGR
The way he tells it the cat was fine. He took the hit to protect feline feelings.
HH jamesgang
Jamesgang
LoL.
burnley78
;-)
HH jamesgang
jamesgang
23:25 on 30 September, 2014
micktt
Geez mhate that must have been some pretty aggressive card waving you were doing!
Unreal eh?
HH jamesgang
################################
Was an utter disgrace, I only pulled it out my back pocket to wave it at two guys in the hun end I knew, I was at the enclosure, dragged out
“You trying to cause a riot son”
Couple of &@^^! $&…
HH
setting free the bears for Res. 12 & Oscar Knox but saying no to CQN racists
23:13 on
30 September, 2014
I was quite taken with Jim Sillars analyses on the news that said next time they should make a fresh break and ditch the Queen and the pound to go for an Independent Republic.
Wee Nicola is going to have a hard job keeping the SNP right and centre onside if the ex-Labour guys and the Trot entryists try to radicalise this loose coalition.
_______________________________________________________________________
Trot entryists. :-):-):-)
Oh,happy day.
For Macjay.
Bring back Miltant tendency.:-0
a ceiler gonof rust
23:26 on 30 September, 2014
MickTT, you are a bad wan. Have you got a saltire tattoo on yer boaby?
################################
No, but I can tie one on….!
oops another red card..
HH
Just popped on before the offski for nightshift to say
HAPPY HOOPY BIRTHDAY
to
MIGHTY TIM
(though I hope yer too blootered to read this!)
Burnley78, I wouldn’t get too upset. The chance is gone for now but the ball will not stop rolling regardless of folk like ernie and his “once in a lifetime” repetitious pish, I expect to vote again in another referendum before I cash in my chips and I’m 78 as well. I wont be burning my saltire just yet.
I posted last week asking where I could procure some of your fine produce. I think you missed my post or I missed your reply. I was also interested to read you are producing drams? Very interested in that in fact as an enthusiastic drammer myself.
HH
saint stivs @ 21.53
No officer class on here please
:o)
ACEILERGONOFRUST
Having seen you in yer onesie,the thought of you in a tutu is just too much.
So please,nae flouncing!
micktt
23:32 on 30 September, 2014
a ceiler gonof rust
23:26 on 30 September, 2014
MickTT, you are a bad wan. Have you got a saltire tattoo on yer boaby?
################################
No, but I can tie one on….!
oops another red card..
HH
—–
‘You trying to start – another – riot son!’
TimChippendalesCSC
HH jamesgang
jamesgang
23:35 on 30 September, 2014
micktt
23:32 on 30 September, 2014
a ceiler gonof rust
23:26 on 30 September, 2014
MickTT, you are a bad wan. Have you got a saltire tattoo on yer boaby?
################################
No, but I can tie one on….!
oops another red card..
HH
—–
‘You trying to start – another – riot son!’
TimChippendalesCSC
HH jamesgang
################################
Ah know childish banter, sorry…!
HH
MickTT, nothing to boast about. I had a club sandwich last week and there was a wee flag on a stick in it. I think it was a Belgian flag but don’t quote me.
Hamilton Tim
Think you missed my :o) when I said I read it on here so it must be true.
All of what we all say is through that wee personal prism and that is, as you say, a Celtic coat of many colours.
SFTB said earlier that he thought it unlikely that the GB would do anything on Thursday, which I tend to agree with.
First I read of this today was in a post by the Rascal of the Gorbals, TD 67, so it’s probably all his wee joke anyway.
I am sure I do contradict myself, but never knowingly.
Mrs RWE just says I am contrary, always knowingly.
HH
Macjay…wee Nicola might have a hard time with her coalition…the other side on the other hand wont….all Tories bitter together….bless em
Celtic question. Are any of our crippled players anywhere near playing again?
Lustig, Forrest, Matthews. Three player our manager could do with having at his disposal. What’s going on with them?
Watching the CL highlights and ManC seemed to have closed off much of their upper tier.
micktt
Don’t blame yourself. It’s all ACGR’s fault. He’s that wee ghuy at the back of the class that starts the mischief and then sits back and let’s good ghuys like you (your assault with a deadly red card apart) take the rap.
‘He’s not the messiah he’s a very naughty Bhoy!’
Right. Bedtime. Laters Timdom. KTF
HH jamesgang
Cheers corkcelt, have seen a good few bars with the usual prem league signs up, will ask around.
****Shays 12 weeks to Christmas details follow tomorrow****
Update from facebook today from Shay’s mum, Mary (who is 22 yo. I remember what I was doing at that age and it was fun, clubbing and drinking and nearly married as well, just to bring the fun back down to earth :-) )
“Shay has had a good wee day today! Shay was doing his exercises with his nana & lifted his wee head 3 times by himself! Too some people that doesn’t mean much but to us & for shay it’s brilliant! Keep going baby boy! We all lovee you! Nana was proud & It is defo a proud parent moment xxx”
You and me take this for granted of our kids/grandkids. This is why I am helping Shay along the way.
I would love you to join me
HH
CRC
CRC
You’re a wee angel. Albeit one with a well cheeky grin.
It breaks my heart – as a parent – what others go through.
HH jamesgang
Jamesgang, I was never allowed anywhere near the back of the class. I think that was a result of the day I put a turd in my maths teachers briefcase. He never left it at the back again and I was always front and centre after that incident.
Incidentally, it was never proven that I committed the crime, the evidence was purely circumstantial.
Oops.
ACGR
Night you circumstantial mentalist you!
HH jamesgang
BobM, aye the old onesie’s not had an outing for a wee while. Maybe if we get through the EL group it may be dusted down and get an airing at paradise. Tell you what. Just for you if we make an EL final in the next five years I’ll happily wear a Celtic tutu to the game and that ain’t flouncing buddy.