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. Thanks Friesdorfer

     

     

    I hope we really stand our ground today & dont allow Leviens hoofball, rough house tactics put us off our game. He will be playing for conversions, long balls & ankle scrapers. In my opinion Levine has backed the darkside 100% as can be attested to his remarks about us Broonie in particular. Plus his back in favour with the Ftsfa after his disastrous National managerial appointment

     

     

    Put his gas at a peep Celtic

  2. MAH You are inspirational, just reading your post gives me The I don’t care whether we lose or draw feeling.

     

    I’m just heading off to an iconic Franciscan Friary Church in Clonmel for 11,30 Mass, this Mass will be for you pal & that’s a promise.

  3. My friends in Celtic,

     

     

    Liberté, égalité, fraternité,

     

     

    The teachers ( of whom there are many on here) did not walk alone. Education, education, education.

     

     

    COYBIG.

  4. 50 shades of green on

    Never seen so many Lucozade and Ribena bottles on a supporters bus in my life, healthy bunch this lot.

     

     

    H.H

  5. Cosy Corner Bhoy on

    In Sainsbury’s at Murrayfield q a mile long in cafe

     

    2 mile long outside pub!

     

    Hope we find a pub back towards city

     

    COYBIG

  6. 50 shades of green on

    Well if big Jack H wants to endear himself to the Celtic fans, I’ve got an idea what he can do today, have you? answers to..

     

     

    Thebleedinobvious.com

     

     

    H.H

  7. I see sky sports news is talking Sevco first again on all there news story’s.

     

    Hunbelievable we are the cup holders and first game up.

     

     

    Grrrrrrrrrrr.

     

     

    COYBIG

     

     

    Right pub time.

     

     

    D. :)

  8. Now on board the train at Queen St. after an epic journey starting at Westerton at 10:50. 11am Edinburgh train only going to Partick. Went to Central. Arrive 11:10. Next train to Embra at 12 so head off to Queen St for 11:30 to Embra. Access to just about every street closed due to filming of Fast and Furious. My 67 year old legs were knackered by the time I negotiated a circuitous route to Queen St. I wasn’t very fast but I was fecking furious by the time I got on the 11:55. There must have been thousands in that queue backed all the way up North Hanover Street. Anyway, Hail! Hail!

     

     

    Nil Carburundrumcsc

  9. Good luck to us all today. It’s the good lady’s birthday on Tuesday so I am on a prebooked lunch mission in Glashow today. Primary objective will be to hear about us proceeding at Murrayfield, second objective to avoid the Mankies in Glasgow today. Hope we all have a good day and return safe, ‘ mon the Hoops! HH

  10. TOSB

     

    You should have got Olivers Drumchapel bus.

     

    I am going with Olivers CSC to Dens on Wednesday.

     

    YNWA

  11. What is the Stars on

    Greetings from a cold but sunny Galway. Had the pleasure of the company Angel Gabriel and his pals at the races yesterday. They were flying home this morning and should be on their way to Murrayfield now.

     

     

    The Wests Awake

  12. Come on Bhoyz, play a fast game with loads of runners, that’s how to win.

     

     

    3 – 1 the good guys, you hears it here first.

     

     

    KINGLuBO

  13. WITS

     

    has to be Anair for dinner, though I believe their much lauded young chef is in London for a few nights

  14. The Bear lurker.

     

    Quigley’s Point playing the rebs today in Horse and Barge Dalmuir after our match.

     

    YNWA

  15. THEORIGINALSADIESBHOY on 28TH OCTOBER 2018 12:03 PM

     

     

    That’s my sister M retired now, still doing some background work.

     

    Enjoy the game, a fair ref and we’ll pump them.?

  16. BRENDAN Rodgers has made six changes to the Celtic side that were in European action in midweek for today’s (Sunday) League Cup semi-final against Hearts at Murrayfield.

     

    James Forrest, who was suspended for the Europa League game against RB Leipzig on Thursday, returns to the starting XI in place of Lewis Morgan who is amongst the substitutes.

     

    Ryan Christie will start the game from the bench as Tom Rogic takes up his usual place in the Hoops midfield.

     

    There are changes in central defence, too, with Dedryck Boyata suspended for today’s game and Jozo Simunovic picking up an injury in Germany. The pair have been replaced by Filip Benkovic and Kristoffer Ajer.

     

    The other two changes sees Mikael Lustig, who captains the Scottish champions today, start ahead of Cristian Gamboa and Scott Bain, who continues between the sticks in the League Cup.

     

    Kick-off at Murrayfield is 1:30pm. The official Celtic Twitter- @Celticfc- will have all the pre-match build-up and live match updates.

     

    CELTIC: Bain, Tierney, Benkovic, Ajer, Lustig; Kouassi, Ntcham, Rogic, McGregor, Forrest, Edouard.

     

    Subs: Gordon, Hendry, Ralston, Hayes, Sinclair, Morgan, Christie.

  17. Sipsini

     

     

    Give Margaret my congratulations and best wishes for her retirement. Tell G I was asking for her too.

     

     

    I can’t stand Levein or his team. I hope we give them a sound thrashing.

  18. Got 9 out of 11 with my team prediction. Did’t realise Ajer was anywhere near fir (in place of Hendry) and Bain for Gordon is a surprise but, then again, he played in the earlier rounds so I should have been more attentive.

  19. TOSB

     

    John Oliver’s pub next to Saint Benedict’s Church, behind Drumchapel train station.

     

    Great bunch of Drumchapel Tims.

     

    YNWA