Yesterday’s draw after an intense period of games may have been predictable, and predicted elsewhere, but not for the reasons it happened. This was a high-tempo performance from Celtic, who created as many chances as they have in weeks, but they faced a typically robust Highland defence, and whereas shots hit the post and went in last weekend, this time three shots rebounded off the frame of the goal.
Them’s the breaks.
After running amok the previous week Moussa Dembele must have wondered what was going on. He didn’t get a yard of space all afternoon as the Inverness defenders stuck to him like glue throughout.
There have been suggestions that Kieran Tierney needed a rest, After a stunning first season and intense opening to the new season, Kieran was one of several overwhelmed at the Camp Nou. His showing in the Highlands put paid to that notion. We got the first goal from a Kieran cross, the player then forced Fon Williams into the best of his miraculous saves, and struck the crossbar with another thunderous shot.
After two low-key (if eventful) games against Lincoln Red Imps, eight of Celtic’s next 10 games were incredibly intense occasions, culminating in the drubbing at the Camp Nou. The latter half of last week was the first time since the players trooped of that field in Gibraltar that there wasn’t a crunch game looming.
It was also the first time this season a first team mainstay was rested (Kolo Toure was left out of the squad). The evidence was there that the players put the work into the game, but as the final minutes approached, with Inverness still in touch, you sensed the Celtic tank was empty.
Brendan Rodgers will take a look over Alloa’s impressive form this season and wonder if he should rest more on Wednesday. He should. We need to show trust to those on the fringe of the squad, and rest those who have league and Champions League games coming up in the following week.
I see some comment that extending a player’s ban for a shouting match to four weeks looks like constructive dismissal. It looks a bit like that, but there’s another interpretation for Joey Barton’s extended leave. Three weeks from now Newco may well have another manager, making any disagreement he had with Warburton moot.
Warburton is new to top flight football and has never dealt with a character like Barton before. Nor has anyone on the Newco board. They are all feeling their way in the business of football. That’s hard enough when you’re winning games but you’ve no chance when performances are evidently not good enough.
From a personal perspective I hope they patch up their differences and both stick around for a long time.
If Warburton fails to deliver in the coming weeks, keep your eye on Barry Ferguson. He has Clyde second top of League Two having lost only one game this season, and has enough credit in the tank to buy Newco time to settle into the top flight. He also has the big time experience to handle a player like Barton.
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macjay1 for Neil Lennon
When your homeless, you don’t give a shit about politics, all you want is a roof over your head, a temporary one will do but it’s not a home. A lot of young people are struggling to get on the (debt) housing ladder. And they’ve got jobs. The greed is good culture has gone tits up. Time to give people a chance to get on in life, a home is a start.
Ferguson as next manager of zombies FC …..would he be prepared to take such a drop in salary ?
Would he demand a further EBT to top up his minimum wage at deid FC ?
I sincerely hope” dumb and dumber” continue at the zombies for years to come.
Yesterday and the Upcoming:
A disproportionate amount of chances created resulted in only 2 goals scored – whilst a few inapt moments of defending and a contentious refereeing decision delivered a 2-2 draw – a skewered game we really should have won with ease.
SPL-wise I doubt the odd few points dropped will affect us securing 6-in-a-row. The defence for all its cumulative shortcomings is more than adequate domestically – their odd aberration will be more than compensated by our free flowing, high scoring attack on any given day. Our occasional complacency – a disjointed performance by a few key players and Mibbery will no doubt see us drop points when we look least likely to do so. This is Celtic – it was ever thus!
Europe (for all its financial benefits) will – regrettably expose our collective deficiencies more often than not. Our domestic dominance doesn’t really prepare us for the role reversal – minimal possession and an attack-minded team forced to spend the majority of games defending.
The GK position doesn’t appear to be resolved – DDV feet (yet to see where hands come into it) .v. CG? What’s happened to Logan – is he still in the frame?
Our defending (back 6 + GK whatever the personnel) has plusses and minuses; 3 out of 4 FBs are pacey but all lack height. Our CBs have height but lack pace – only 2 could be described as having bulk. The DM role is a major problem despite the number of Mids in our squad. None come near to the ideal specification; pace, bulk, tackling ability, accurate passing, and game management (interception and defending).
Our attacking (front 4 + 2 Mids) have more plusses than minuses; goal scoring, pace, ability to interchange – perhaps a bit lightweight though Dembele has bulk. Going forward is not a particular problem – getting back and doubling-up with the FBs are. Counter-attacking and ball retention has to be much sharper in Europe – currently its one facet we could improve on (the defence would appreciate the much needed relief).
We are about to enter an important phase of the season on 3 fronts. BR has a good enough domestic squad – can he get a Euro prize out of them? If he does – will he be ruthless and cull it by year end? Will he be able to recruit the missing pieces in January?
Interesting times ahead – H!H!
Hitting the post means nothing. Hitting the bar means nothing.
Bamn.. Off the post
Bamn.. Off the bar
Where are these statistics recorded other than the hurting heart of the vain.
The ball goes in or it does not. End off.
BARNEY67 on 19TH SEPTEMBER 2016 1:32 PM
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
When your homeless, you don’t give a shit about politics, all you want is a roof over your head, a temporary one will do but it’s not a home. A lot of young people are struggling to get on the (debt) housing ladder. And they’ve got jobs. The greed is good culture has gone tits up. Time to give people a chance to get on in life, a home is a start.
=================================================================
Completely agree.
What`s that got to do with Thatcher ?
MACJAY1:
Did you ever get around to reading those books I sent you?
Thatcher’s died – jelly and Ice Cream the witch is deid. if nothing else that makes me smile.
Probably the only death that has ever made me smile.
MWD
Macjay, my reference to Thatcher was to compare the level of homelessness under her government and today’s.
Still raging we didn’t win all our games by 5 to 10 goals so far this season.And imagine letting the other team score?What’s that about??
It’s about time Rodgers got the sack and every player apart from whatever one hasn’t made a mistake should be sold.They are all a disgrace and should be deeply ashamed of themselves for not being the team my mind creates but which has actually never existed.If we aren’t going to be like Brazil ’70 but only better ’cause we’re Celtic then what’s the point?
Another thing that should discomfit the players is having the gall to hit shots that either hit the bar or allow the other team’s goalkeeper to make outstanding saves,a sacking offence in my book.If you are unable to score with every shot you have no place at Celtic.Shambles.
Then we have mistakes.Wow,watching us these past few weeks has been gut wrenching.Players in our team have been making mistakes,actually,really,not-pretendy commiting errors.This is the last straw for me.Prior to this season,and every other one,mistakes were what other teams did but not us.I’ve noticed them creeping in over the last 35-40 years i’ve been watching us.It’s terrible,like watching a disease slowly eat into a beautiful,healthy,flawless body.Inside i’m weeping at it all.
I’ve written this season off,it’s too late to salvage anything from it.We should use it to build for next season;sell the entire squad,sack the mangement team,discover a new continent,and end poverty.As well as getting opposition teams to adhere to our utopia.
Everyone involved in the miasma that’s been emanating from Celtic this season should be banished,never to sully our reputation again.Their crimes against my eyes and ridiculous expectations should result in a lifetime of penury.How dare they?!!
Harumph.
BABASONICOS71
Finally, someone sees this season’s charade for what it is ;)
The level of homelessness is likely to rise once the (reduced) Benefit cap is implemented just before Christmas.
Children are the target.
Paul67
Celtic……………..hit the bar aye close but no cigar,
Bring on Manchester City things could be worser!!! – we could be asking the RAF to fire in some
rivets while they’re up on the roof, as Sevco abseil down the league.
Captain Unbookable waiting for Mordor?
I vote for………………….. BFSDJ CSC
Login Bailly makes his comeback for the Development squad today.
Just sayin’…
macjay1 for Neil Lennon on 19th September 2016 1:40 pm
BARNEY67 on 19TH SEPTEMBER 2016 1:32 PM
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
When your homeless, you don’t give a shit about politics, all you want is a roof over your head, a temporary one will do but it’s not a home. A lot of young people are struggling to get on the (debt) housing ladder. And they’ve got jobs. The greed is good culture has gone tits up. Time to give people a chance to get on in life, a home is a start.
=================================================================
Completely agree.
What`s that got to do with Thatcher ?
______________________________________
Everything.
When you bring in legislation that sells off the Social Housing stock at massively discounted prices and that same Legislation PREVENTS the reinvestment of that income to build new housing stock, there is only 1 possible outcome.
The decimation of Social Housing; the increase in private rented sector; and the massive price rise of housing to buy.
Reinforce that with Legislation that takes away a Local Authority’s ability to refurbish old housing stock or build new housing for nigh on 30 years – bingo! Large scale homelessness and the inability to enter the grossly inflated house purchasing market.
That’s not an over-simplification.
FAC the Act
KTF
Davidopolous
Bailly’s kicking is poor, he’ll be for the off, I reckon.
“Craig Whyte has repaid all of Rangers debts to the banks”
BFSDJ………Radio Clyde circa 2012
BABASONICOS71 on 19th September 2016 1:49 pm
I like that! :>)
FAC the Act
KTf
BIG-CUP-WINNERS
Do you think so? I don’t think it is any worse than the others.
Davido
Has Login been Logged Out?
BIG-CUP-WINNERS
But I agree, he will be off
KITALBA on 19TH SEPTEMBER 2016 1:43 PM
MACJAY1:
Did you ever get around to reading those books I sent you?
=====================================
Kit
How are you ?
Books sent ? I hope you mean electronically.
I didn`t read .
And I don`t .
I would tend to trust academic books , not political or historical ones.
Books are written to promote the viewpoint of the author.
I rely on facts to determine my opinions. Facts can be difficult to find , but worth the wait.
Hope all is well with you and yours , mate.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE
He was but he clicked ‘Forgotten Password?’ and now he’s back.
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 19TH SEPTEMBER 2016 1:21 PM
It used to be that if someone in a Council house wanted to buy a house they bought in the private sector.
That way someone else had the opportunity to rent the house they vacated.
The system worked well enough.
It was the free market in action.
No one was condemned to ‘unremitting never ending renting’.
Thatcher changed that by interfering in the free market for political ends.
The subsidised sale of council houses was the worst social and economic policy of the second half of the 20th century.
We are still living with the consequences.
We’ve (Greenock,Ra Port) had austerity for almost 40 years because of the Iron Lady (code for unfeeling,cold,soulless,heartless,inhumane female).
Like MWD posted,hers is the only death i’ve heard of where the normal emotions I feel at such news were absent.She was a blight and a horrible example of a human being.Rust in peace.
Interesting debate this Gordon v DDV thing.
DDV is, we are told, good with his feet. Though it was difficult to remember it through the cracks of my fingers, v Barca, I remember him playing the ball to a Celtic player on the vast majority of occasions. The issue was that our players didn’t hold it up or were quickly surrounded and we lost possession. I don’t recall any misplaced ‘passes’ from DDV yesterday.
So in theory a good passing keeper delays the numerous shots a top class opossing team will get against Celtic. The SPFL teams are unlikely to bother Celtic by gaining possession from any of our keepers at least not in the sense that we will ship so many goals that the league becomes a problem.
McGregor was at fault yesterday …haven’t looked at who gave the ball away that resulted in the second.
DDV may be a better keeper with players who retain the possession he gives them. It remains to be seen if Craig Gordon is better at shot stopping (see Ber Sheva etc for examples that may lead you to reverse that)
Give it time and let’s see if DDV really does have tennis rackets with no strings instead hands.
Craig Gordon would of course be the medias favourite go to in years gone by in a similar situation. Picture the scene under Strachan, Mowbray or Lennon!
Rodgers has the benefit of positive credit. His popularity rating must be near the Celtic zenith… which probably gives him the next 2 or 3 games to get the goalkeeper right!
We shall see if we have another Rab Douglas v Magnus Hedman scenario.
November 1990
A tearful Thatcher leaves Downing Street after losing the support of the party over differences on European Economic Community policy and the poll tax debacle.
It`s all her fault.
Scapegoats `r us CSC
ERNIE LYNCH on 19TH SEPTEMBER 2016 2:03 PM
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 19TH SEPTEMBER 2016 1:21 PM
Not only that but it forced people into the unregulated private rental sector. Renting houses at increased private rates and minimal maintenance that had previously been maintained council housing.
Terrible.
A H gloves 1:22
Doing a huddle, what’s that all about!
Many moons ago, myself, estadio and another couple of bhoy’s enjoing the banter of karaoke in johny foxes after another (1-1)draw. How I never won with my rendition of Just a Gigalo ( vanhallen version) I will never know. (F IX)
Anyway, bus station next day don’t know what estadio says to the driver but whatever it was I think they liked us. They wanted to keep us for another night ( local constabulary) ahh the good old days. HH G67
Barry does realise that if goes to Ibrox he will need to pay tax this time ?
The last hurrah of universally totally discredited socialism is played out on CQN.
To a backdrop of yawns.
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 19TH SEPTEMBER 2016 2:11 PM
Are you in favour of applying the right to buy to the private sector?
Give tenants the right to buy the house they are renting at a discount?
If not, why not?
GRAND67, probbaly says everything about football in Inverness that 4 of them can go to Tesco’s read the sports pages and nobody has a clue who they are (apart from a mad (raging) Tim from Glasgow………) Interestingly my meeting was at University of Highlands and Islands and the hoops were on full display by many of the students, not a sevco one in sight (must be the bhoycot) …….
On yesterday (and before) the Keeper is a nightmare, however as my son reminded me yesterday, the last new signing I said that about after half a dozen games was a certain G Hooper……………..
RE Pauls article – there is I agree no point in dwelling too much on yesterdays draw. We had a lot of possession and chances and our failure to score maybe a one off.
However – Barca aside- we have lost goals in matches we have hugely dominated – including home ties to Beer Sheva, Astana, Rangers and Aberdeen. These were games the away side had little sustained pressure. Away from home we lost 2 to St Johnstone and diced with failure to Beer Sheva.
That’s becoming a sustained pattern. It’s a real worry. Tierney, Toure, and at time Lustig and Sviatchenko have been impressive individually. But as a unit they are repeatedly and frequently shipping goals. This was a problem for Rodgers Liverpool team too. I hope it’s a coincidence and can be sorted – not an innate systemic weakness.
“Give tenants the right to buy the house they are renting at a discount?”
Excellent.
Any reply could be interesting.
JJ
MACJAY1:
You disappoint me. Are you so lazy in comfort to deny the truth a humour of the truth,
You never read any of those books I took the time and effort to send you because they never gave your prejudices an erection.
I read some shite on here mate but before you determine it is shite you have to have at least put your snout in the trough and sniff it,
There is so much happened that your prejudiced blinds you to,
Words from a friend mate,,, words from a friend.
Don’t go to the grave being a dollar whore.
Dedryck Boyata would have cleared that cross that came in for the ICT goal.
He may have caused us to concede other goals in the match but he would have cleared that one…
:)
MACJAY
Il vecchio ?
Yes – it helps his ego counterbalance his belief that “nobody listens to old people .” He has taken to visiting relatives in far flung places like Argentina and New Jersey.A disappointment to him-“the fools have romantic beliefs about somewhere the were desperate to leave “
MACJAY
I won’t get into the politics,rights or wrongs,of buying a council house.
I’ll merely point out that plenty of people moved up the ladder from renting their council house to buying their own property.
This freed up that council for someone else to use as a ‘starter’ home.
Once council houses were bought,they were no longer available as a starter home for the next young couple. As a result,social housing in the UK is a national scandal.
We pay out annually around £25m in Housing Benefit because of this madness. People are renting houses privately at £1200pcm while their neighbour pays the council £400pcm.
It’s a shambles,mate. Politics has nothing to do with it.