Frustrations for what could have been

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There are frustrations for what could have been.  Leipzig did not have us under great pressure at any time in the game, but concentration dropped for three minutes, which settled the outcome.

I initially blamed Dedryck for the opening goal, but on second viewing, the incident was more nuanced.  Eboue Kouassi almost got a touch on the ball, meaning Dedryck waited on the second ball instead of attacking the cross.  Eboue himself only reacted when the Leipzig attacker nearest the right wing failed to get a touch on the ball.

Cristian Gamboa went to ground and didn’t get near the ball for the cross leading to the second goal.  Unforgiveable, but we are parachuting a player into a high level of football when his annual game time is measured in dozens of minutes.

Despite defeats in Germany and Austria, Celtic are not out of contention.  Leipzig are nowhere near as good as Salzburg.  We have beaten better teams than them at a packed Celtic Park.  Get a win next time out, or even a draw, and the remaining fixtures favour us.

By the time we go to Trondheim, Rosenborg will be out of the tournament.  Salzburg end the group at Celtic Park, when they will have already have top spot confirmed, and want to avoid injuries, suspensions and hopefully be keen to give experience to squad players.

I have spoken highly of Jozo for years, but the sight of him leaving the field on a stretcher after going down holding his ankle confirmed any remaining doubt about how appropriate his physical frame is for competitive sport.

Was Brendan resting players with an eye on Sunday?  It looks like it.  Mikael made an appearance from the bench, while Filip Benkovic was also fit enough for the bench.  If these two only have one game in them this week, the semi-final at Murrayfield is the wise choice.

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779 Comments

  1. Hot Smoked

     

    Are you still taking the train to Glesga’ on the 10th ?

     

    I’m on the 8.42 out of Aberdeen, arriving at Queen Street at 11.16.

  2. 50 shades of green on

    Nae team leaks yet.

     

     

    My edumicated assessment would be along the lines of.

     

     

    Cragie G.

     

     

    Mad Mik, Jack H ,Big Ben and KT.

     

     

    Cal Mac and Youssouf.

     

     

    Jamsie, The Wizard, Ollie .

     

     

    Eddie the magnificent.

     

     

    On the bases that even a broken clock is eventually the right time, I’m going for that 11 .

     

     

    H.H

  3. Just about to set off on the trains and buses to Murrayfield to support our team.

     

    Anything like the performances against Sevco, Aberdeen or Hibs will be enough to see us through to defend our trophy at Hampden.

     

     

    Eurochamps67

  4. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    Safe trip , lads.

     

     

    Brendan may well feel he has something in particular to prove today.

     

     

    I feel confident he will do just that .

     

     

    Put them to the sword , Brendan.

  5. Whilst the rest of ye are in Murrayfield or packed in to Glasgow Boozers I will be attending my youngest grandchild’s 2nd birthday conveniently arranged by my ever thoughtful Daughter for 1.30pm.

     

    I agreed to attend on the basis that I arrive 15 minutes early am locked in to separate room with suitable Television, food & drink to be brought in a non intrusive manner & cutting cake & singing Happy Birthday to be arranged to coincide with half time.

     

    Keeping myself calm by persuading myself that the BetFred Cup is just a diddy Competition that doesn’t matter but I can’t even fool myself.

  6. Delaneys Dunky on

    Corkcelt

     

     

    Hahaha Magic.

     

    Enjoy T.

     

    Think this is our day in Embra

     

    Intae the Calvinists.

     

    YNWA

  7. Corkcelt,

     

     

    Sounds like you have come to a good arrangement that suits everyone.

     

     

    COYBIG

  8. Today would be the ideal opportunity for BT (not cqns BT,the broadcasting BT) to do a referee comparison analyst type of assessment after today’s games .

     

    Might be enlightening. Then again…

     

     

    Up The Hoops

  9. I remember being at my nephew’s wedding and there was a Celtic game on the TV. When the photographer started taking the photos I said to my two brothers lets get out of here this will take forever. So we nipped up the road to the Railway Tavern and saw the entire 1st half.

     

     

    When we got back they were still snapping away. I swear I could have seen the entire match. Weddings!

  10. CORKCELT

     

    Enjoy the wean’s birthday celebrations and the result from Murrayfield !!!

     

    ALMORE have a great day !!!

  11. Our last 8 semi final appearances in reverse order –

     

    15/4/18 Scottish Cup v Sevco: 4-0

     

    21/10/17 League Cup v Hibs 4-2

     

    23/4/17 Scottish Cup v Sevco: 2-0

     

    23/10/17 League Cup v Sevco: 1-0

     

    17/4/16 Scottish Cup v Sevco: 1-1 (2-2 after extra time, lost on penalties)

     

    31/1/16 League Cup v Ross County: 1-3

     

    19/4/15 Scottish Cup v Inverness: 1-1 (lost 2-3 after extra time)

     

    1/2/15 League Cup v Sevco: 2-0

     

     

    Eight in a row, with a 90-minute record of 5 wins, 2 draws (which we ultimately then lost) and 1 defeat.

     

     

    “Here we go…….nine in a row….”

  12. 50 SHADES…but if Benkovic isn’t 100% will we see Marvin on the pine? And, given Mulumbu’s ‘out of sorts’, could we win with a start 11 of…

     

    Craig

     

    Mika

     

    KT

     

    Izzy

     

    Kouassi

     

    Cal

     

    Olli

     

    Rogic

     

    Jamesy

     

    French Eddie

  13. Have a sneaky feeling one of our squad players will come on and shine today.

     

     

    C’mon the hoops

  14. Happy to say that Dalmuir is Green and White and bright this morning. Everybody wearing hoops. Is there a big game on today? ?

     

    YNWA

  15. For what it’s worth (and with a bit of uncertainty over who’s actually fit) then here’s Jobo’s starting XI for today –

     

     

    Gordon;

     

    Lustig, Hendry, Benkovic, Tierney;

     

    Ntcham and Kouassi;

     

    Forrest, Rogic, McGregor;

     

    Edouard.

  16. Quad I wouldn’t gee him a game for my local team St Rochs.

     

    Punt him and never let him don the hoops again. Ever. Or just pay him off and cut our losses.

     

     

    Jack Hendry will step up today if called upon. A good young talent that is not getting managed properly due to injurys to our other centre backs. All IMO of course.

     

     

    HH

     

     

    D. :)

  17. MAH,, sorry I couldn’t make it to Johnstone. Not surprised at all with the great turnout, and glad to hear that you are remaining upbeat. Best of luck with forthcoming procedures. YNWA HH

  18. One of the best days of my life was Love Street, Paisley, 1986. The bloke behind us on the terracing wi a radio, screamed 3 words. “Albert Kidd’s Scored!”

     

    Paisley went mental.

     

    Craig Levein remembers that day as much as I do.

     

    COYBIG

     

    YNWA

  19. Hearing the queue for trains at Queen St is a shambles….queue for a ticket, then queue again to get on the train.

  20. mullet and co 2 on

    I think Rodgers wants to win this one handsomely today.

     

    I wouldn’t bet against a red card for Hearts.

     

    Watch for Naismith and Hendry or Lustig.

     

    Beautiful day for it.

  21. PR67

     

    Look forward to a blether on 10th November.

     

    Protect our wildlife. Shoot hunters.

     

    Mon the Urban Fox.

     

    YNWA