This midweek has gone just about perfectly. Yesterday I asked that we pick a team to win the game, but play Griffiths, Armstrong, Roberts, McGregor, Izaguirre and Gamboa. All played, as did Christie and Henderson. And we recorded a remarkable 0-4 away win.
Meanwhile, in the land of the also-rans, our four nearest ‘challengers’ all dropped points. It’s still early days, but this league’s turning into a procession. Embarrassingly so, for some.
After opening the scoring within three minutes it wasn’t the most fluid of performances from Celtic, but an incredible eight outfield changes will result in a lack of familiarity. What the outfield players lacked, Craig Gordon more than made up for. He made three excellent saves, extending his run of fine performances since returning to the team against Kilmarnock last month.
Will the biggest impact Dorus de Vries has at Celtic be on the form of Craig Gordon? Don’t bet against it.
The Scottish Premiership table is in one of those bizarre states, where the (game-in-hand adjusted) gap between first and second is larger than that between second and second bottom. The transformation which has taken place in a team already five-in-a-row champions is remarkable, eclipsed in recent history only by the turnaround which took place in 2000.
Last night I read a lot of pennies dropping; specifically there was an acceptance that there was a significant financial gap between Celtic and the newly promoted Championship winners. There are a couple of worthwhile observations to make on this issue:
The financial gap which funded this season’s business is a fraction of what it will be next year, when Celtic will have banked circa £50m more than any other Scottish club. That will be around twice the gap they went into the last transfer window with.
Whatever you think about Mark Warburton’s claims that he’s closing the on-field gap, the structural deficit gap is becoming oceanic.
I again read people digging Dave King up about a perceived lack of his promised overinvestment. What’s going on at Ibrox right now IS overinvestment. The signings of Barton, Senderos, Kranjcar, Rossiter, Gilks, Hill, Hodson and Garner were designed to give them the advantage they needed over a team they eliminated from the Scottish Cup last season.
The accounts when published in 2018 will prove this. Or I should say if published. Not every team survives long enough to publish accounts, lest we forget.
For them, winning the league is evidently not going to happen, but if this week’s results teach us anything, it’s that the European qualification places (second and third) are wide open. For a team spending more than their direct rivals combined, that should be an achievable target.
The real problems come when the overinvestment has to stop and budget is cut.
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Linda, Sean’s Trust @saoirsefanclub
Still looking for sponsors for our Ghirls Good dinner at Celtic Park on 3 December Sean’s Trust hopes to take 9 bereaved Mums Please share
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A worthwhile cause,led by the widow of ST JOHN DOYLE,sadly missed and not only from these pages
Sobering thought/reality check tomorrow for
fans of a certain football team as they make make to ground
they realize they want Celtic to win……
They will say they don’t BUT….
jc2 on 28th October 2016 10:00 am
That assumption is based upon the orcs beating Kilmarnock tomorrow; I wouldn’t bet stolen money on that one!
KTF
And at No 14 in World’s best football teams ever …
http://www.fourfourtwo.com/celtic
AULDHEAD
Thank you for the R12 update, and to all involved in it’s journey
Bognorbhoy
Andy Lynch did indeed play at the CQN 6 A sides last night. He scored a last minute penalty with Celticrollercoaster in goals going the wrong way!
Had he read Andy’s Q&A on CQN on Monday evening he would have gone the right way and saved it!
Andy strolled through the game playing as a sweeper. He really enjoyed the game and was surprised at the standard being higher than he had been led to believe!
He reckoned that there were two or three really good players playing.
Winning Captains
Did anyone argue about taking the penalty ?
If that German team making money from ‘A German Team’ knew footballing history, they’d know which ‘British’ team tried to extend the hand of friendship, post WW1, in an effort to use sport as the medicine to healing.
Footballers cannae get up after a “hard” tackle! Only significant injury was a broken thumb for McPhee, the first guy to go down. Look closely, He’s spark out on the grass in the background!
KTF
Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A1DSJwgGp8
bognorbhoy on 28th October 2016 10:45 am
Leigh Griffiths appeared fae nowhere and wanted to take it!
VFR800A8
Aye, but look how hard this guy kicked a baw at Rivaldo!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiW0IPrv1Ro
That could have been a moldmaster on a cold day ffs! He could have died…
Dont do it Broonie.
Favourite goal at Pittodrie in recent times?
Probably the McGeady Magic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SomoEFTuO9s
OR
For sheer drama and get-it-right-up-ye-ness – The Van Dijk Sucker Punch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmfVaCXy9WA
I always want Scotland to do well, no matter the history. It’s who I am.
But I don’t think Scott Brown should return. He plays enough football for Celtic (even he is being rested now by our manager). I worry that he will demand too much of his body. Imo, he is playing better than ever. Long may that continue but playing for Scotland won’t help.
Winning Captains / Paul 67 / moderators
How can I go about finding out if a post of mine was deleted?
I asked yesterday.no reply.
With thanks in advance.
HH
AN TEARMANN on 28TH OCTOBER 2016 11:41 AM
Winning Captains / Paul 67 / moderators
How can I go about finding out if a post of mine was deleted?
I asked yesterday.no reply.
With thanks in advance.
HH
******
If you can get Paul’s email address, mail him directly. He always finds time to reply.
An Tearmann,
Try this.
celticquicknews@gmail.com
In the last 10 seasons, the least number of goals Celtic have scored against Aberdeen (all league games combined) is 4, in season 2011/12. We have already scored 4 against them this season.
Aberdeen have not kept a clean sheet against Celtic in the league in any of the last 10 seasons.
In the last 10 seasons Aberdeen have conceded 90 goals to Celtic. I’ve yet to confirm but I think this might be more than any other team.
Conclusion? Expect Celtic to score at least one goal tomorrow (statistically likely to score more than one). Will we keep a clean sheet though?
Davidopuolos
With HongKongFuey in goal we will be fine for a 6th clean sheet in a row domestically. :@-))
MWD
MoonbeamsWD ‘Stand up on 15 for the GB’
I reckon Aberdeen will create a couple of decent chances in the match (despite their woeful passing). If Gordon is on form we should be fine.
I think we will score at least 2 goals.
Davidopolous, MWN
I can see a relatively comfortable victory tomorrow. I expect us to be back at full strength tomorrow and we will be (again) too strong for them.
I expect 3 goals from us and another clean sheet.
KTF
I think Aberdeen will defence deep. I watched them do that against Sevco at home. They concede possession and look to create chances on the break and via set pieces. McIness first instinct is to avoid a hammering. They will however create a few chances which hopefully they will miss. We will also create lots of chances. The key will be to score the first goal and force them to come out and open up the space in behind. Avoid silly mistakes and take our share of chances and we will win comfortably.
vfr800a8
I think it will turn out to be comfortable but I do expect Aberdeen to have a spell in the match where they make it hard for us. This is a “mustn’t lose” match for them – expect them to put up a bit of a fight. However, I think the danger that Sinclair and Dembele pose will keep them from going all guns blazing.
P.S. I think Anthony O’Connor is a weak link in the Aberdeen defence, we should be trying to put him under pressure as much as possible – at high balls, running directly at him and press him when he has the ball.
thetimreaper on 28th October 2016 12:12 pm
Davidopoulos on 28th October 2016 12:14 pm
I think you are both correct; they will try the same as they did against The Rangers 2012 with the difference being I expect our pressure to lead to goals.
The trick is to get goals early and force them to come out a bit and we can then pick them off.
KTF
I always want Scotland to win.Especially now as the scum across the city despise them.I could not give a toss,like the players,who is running the SFA,its always,in my living memory been thus.Probably a lot worse back then.I remember my Da,always saying that Celtic players would grudgingly get a game against Wales,Ireland,but when it came to the glamour game,England,be dropped.Its a Scotland players dream to line up against England at Wembley.If Broony wants the chance to lead them out at Wembley,more power to him.Its only one game.Can anyone imagine how the beelers will be reacting to this?.The Celtic captain almost being begged to lead Scotland.
If they beat England,and its a big if,I will be ecstatic.
TURKEYBHOY
Yer last line?
Me too.
Aberdeens central defence is their weak link.Thet are very strong up front when on form,which has been their problem this year.Hayes and Mc Ginn not hitting the heights.Against the Huns I thought they were dreadful,but two great goals,so never write them off.The wee boy from Norwich looks a very clever player.
I love games up there.Great atmosphere,and a win always seems a bit more special.No injuries please.
new article posted.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 28TH OCTOBER 2016 12:24 PM
TURKEYBHOY
Yer last line?
Me too.
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Count me in.
Lads,
for all the CQN Napsters – Week 12 naps on this article, please…
…and if anyone knows of a spare ticket available for Borussia Monchengladbach on Tuesday, I’d be immensely grateful – I am travelling over via London & Brussels today (Saturday).
Cheers, fleagle1888
My nap :
Mango Cap (14: 35 Ayr)
Good Luck everyone…
fleagle1888
Good day and good luck to all.
Wetherby 14.45
If in Doubt
Jet Master 14:35 @ Ayr.
Fleagle 1.20am best of luck getting a ticket for BMG maybe BMCUWP will repost your request from now till Tuesday as he is always near a podium where it might get read more :-)
Nap (binger) of the day
2.55 Newmarket – Choumicha
Best of luck to all
ChasingapriceCSC
Cheers GFTB
16:45 @ Ascot – Moscato – NAP!
Good luck everybody.
Morning all
Cloonacool 15.00 Ascot
Good luck