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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Lionroars67
Even in a bland interview, STV has to add its own little slant:
“Desmond INSISTS the Norwegian needs to be given time to settle in the job, BUT adds he looks forward to ever improving displays.”
DD did not `insist` and seemed relaxed about improving performances.There was not the veiled threat that `but` implies. I do not know enough about DD to make any meaningful comment but I am with him on this ie looking forward to ever improving displays.
JJ
KevJ –
4 posts in a row in praise of kojo?
What has he got on you or are you both from the same lodge?
BT
Very best today bhud, hope all goes well
Will be in our thoughts throughout
Hail Hail
Jungle Jim, I’ve not seen or read any interview with DD but I can guarantee 100% he’s more concerned about a making a total fud of himself on Carnoustie’s man’s course than he is about tomorrow night’s game.
And rightly so. No Course for Old Men. I may pop down tomorrow and heckle him for a wee bit before heading off to paradise. Have you goat a saltire with a boaby oan it? We can make it a double act, bring a kipper, or a smokie in case I get hungry.
BT
All the best with your op today and a speedy recovery thereafter.
HH
Tom McG, you’re so mainstream now since you crossed the equator:_)
Naw um urnae.
Posted last night enquiring about our injured trio, ML, JF and AM. Anyone know when these guys will be available picks for the team?
BT
are you really james forrest ?
good luck -you are in my prayers
Jungle Jim
09:14 on
1 October, 2014
I never get wound up with MSM they are irrelevant and most importantly not to be confused with or compared to Celtic fans
We all wish RD success, desperately want him to succeed, no hiding place unfortunately at a big club which has huge advantages in a very small league, he will succeed by what happens on the training pitch and in match days
Looking for a much improved cohesive performance on Thursday and of course a Celtic win
Hope you are over your recent injury woes
ACGR
:-)
Is that what your trying to do at the end of your post? ;-)
Give me a bell later.
BT
Best wishes today!
Wee prayer said.
ACGR
Sorry Bud, but these ghuys will never be fit again.
Sorry for linking to a story about the other mob,and from the DR too,but there’s a wee poll at the end of this.
Should Sally stay?
It’s a close call,so get your vote in!
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-win-championship–ally-4355780
Politicians and the Catholic Church
I see a few posters are speculating about various politicians’ views re the Church and Catholic schools. Let’s be clear; Catholics comprise approx 18% of the electorate, mostly concentrated in the central belt. In some parts of the country, there is a substantial anti Catholic vote.
No major party is overtly anti Catholic although some individual MPs and SMPs do pander to the neanderthals, eg Donohoe and Graham. Salmond has cultivated the Catholic vote and Cardinal Grey made a few pro Nationalist comments a few years ago. I remember a speech Salmond gave where he noted Scotland’s ancient status as the “special daughter” of the Church. We have come a long way since mainstream politicians were openly talking about “popery on the rates” in relation to Catholic schools. The settled view seems to be that state funded faith schools are here to stay.
There are several senior Tory politicians who are practicing Catholics. In a democracy, we must accept that people have different views and get on with it.
Philbhoy
09:48 on
1 October, 2014
ACGR
Sorry Bud, but these ghuys will never be fit again.
————————————————————————-
So you have access to their medical files? Or are you the doctor at Celtic Park?
BLANTYRETIM
Really hope for a good job done this time,mate.
All those pills yer on are getting me jealous!
Philbhoy. You may well be right but Lustig returned to the first team to soon after his operation.So is likely he will return fitter than before. H.H.
hehe
https://twitter.com/theclumpany/status/517233862968356864
The Celtic Way
I am the Celtic soothsayer and I claim £5.00 for your daft reply.
THE CELTIC WAY
To be fair,none of them has been fully fit for a coupla years,and have suffered recurring injuries and also different injuries.
A shame for all concerned but we’ve seen it before a few times.
Some players are simply not structurally capable of performing regularly at the required level.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
09:58 on
1 October, 2014
Sorry for linking to a story about the other mob,and from the DR too,but there’s a wee poll at the end of this.
Should Sally stay?
It’s a close call,so get your vote in!
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-win-championship–ally-4355780
—————————————————————————
Think the YES vote will have the majority on this one, especially on here. It would be unanimous here if it wasn`t for some `posters`
BMCUW
I know a few nurses who work in the GJ Clydebank.
BT is in good hands, with quality eye candy attending to him.
The Celtic Way
7 12 16 28 33 and 40.
Tonights Lottery numbers.
But don’t tell emdy or they’ll no come up.
BMCUWP
A typical morale stiffening article by an orc for the orcs who buy the DR.
I voted YES.
HH
Philbhoy :-((
BobM, I clicked on your DR link but the poll wouldn’t load. Probably just as well as unlike most Tims, I’m all for the fat buffoon getting his jotters and seeing his pitiful managerial career end in abject humiliation.
What comes across in that piece is how much of a kiss arse the Feg man is. One could almost be mistaken for thinking he’s after a job at the red brick lavy. He’ll have to provide his own marigolds and bleach.
GER57
I voted YES too.
This time it wisnae a typo,like last week’s embarrassing error!
DELANEYSDUNKY
Sadly he’s in nae fit state at the moment to chase the women.
But give it time…
BMCUW
he’s a leg man…..
BMCUW
Canny beat a good ‘in the mind’ chase.
DELANEYSDUNKY
Good point. A lot less effort.
A lot less embarrassment too,if memory serves!
BMCUW
You’re learning.
Not quickly mind. Buy you’re getting there.
Imagine. I’m at the bar. I turn round – Guinness Boaby?
Aye!
Always Aye!
HH jamesgang
Blantyretim
Awrabest today mate.
bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers
Morning , any idea on numbers attending the day oot on the 11th ?
A few things today,
BT all the best for today hail hail
Embdy else going through medical procedures good luck
Any birthdays I’ve missed or going to miss happy birthday.
Any anniversaries good or bad congratulations/condolences
Any new babies, welcome it wish you a healthy and happy life
Anything missed :)
From Twitter…….. paul67 on the official site.
@celticfc: Paul’s on his marks for @FoundationCFC http://t.co/VeJy7wUio3 (SC) http://t.co/eZQFBNIEYL
THOUSANDS of runners will descend on Glasgow this Sunday, October 5 for the annual Great Scottish Run.
As ever, many of the participants will be raising money for charity, and Celtic FC Foundation are set to benefit from the efforts of some Celtic-supporting runners.
Paul Brennan of Celtic Quick News is one of those putting his best foot forward in the 10k event. And while he’s not anticipating winning the event, he’s looking forward to the event and, more importantly, raising money for Celtic FC Foundation.
“I feel as though, as a Celtic supporter, you’ve got to do something that links you back to the point of the club in the first instance,” he told the official Celtic website.
“I’m a fan and I get a lot of pleasure out of it, a lot of joy out of it, a lot of frustration out of it, but it’s not always that I’m in touch with where we came from and what I think the club should be all about.
“So primarily – it’s to remind me why I’m a Celtic supporter and what the club is all about. Then, on top of that, you’ve got Celtic FC Foundation and the work they do, which is very worthy of our support and encouragement.
“The East End of Glasgow is still one of the poorest areas in Europe, albeit, it has a different type of poverty than it had in the 19th century. But the Foundation’s work is going to help those who have absolutely nothing, and are try to bring them sustenance, education and opportunities – and they do bring them these things.”
And Paul, pictured above (right) with his brother, Kevin and former Celtic boss, Neil Lennon, before running the 10k in 2013, explained: “This will be my third ever organised 10k. Last year I was an hour and 17 seconds, and I was absolutely gutted at those 17 seconds.
“Glasgow’s full of great experiences but this is a very special one. When I ran my first 10k, we ran over the Kingston Bridge, which was stunning.
“To be able to get on to the carriageway and run over the River Clyde and take a look out and see the city at that height was great, and the encouragement and support from people who’ve come out to watch the race means you’re a different person at the end of the race than you were at the start.”
To donate to Paul’s fundraising efforts on behalf of Celtic FC Foundation, go to: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/paulbrennan125
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Also one reply on Twitter
@krys1888: @celticfc @FoundationCFC great stuff. Just a shame they’ll likely miss the Hamilton game thanks to you moving the kick off time. Well done.
Wonder who that was???????
HH
BT , hope all goes well today .
The Green Brigade,
Embdy think they’ve signed a contract to provide displays and the next big TIFO will have a Scottish theme along the lines of the barca game Celtic theme ?