Griffiths walked away looking the grown up

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Last night’s performance was at the upper end of my expectations.  We were sharper than I remember from a year ago, although not Nadir Ciftci, who is a couple of weeks behind, and looked a couple of pounds over, his team mates.

You could see how Stjarnan did so well against Lech and Motherwell last season.  They defended with six along the back and have a good keeper.  Celtic’s passing looked off, but I think that had as much to do with Stjarnan’s denial of space in advanced areas.  The chances came when we broke forward having allowed space to open up 50 yards out, and from a set-piece for the opening goal.

Stefan Johansen was my man of the match, he was the creative fulcrum behind all that worked.  And yes, Stefan, in a public spat with you, Leigh Griffiths, a man who eats Tea Cakes on the bench and cultivates a rascal persona, walked away looking the grown up.  You think about that for a while.

Emilio Izaguirre had a horrible World Cup and started all over the place last season.  It was months into the campaign before people started to notice his consistency was back, but the head seemed as though it was still on the beach last night.  He would have been punished severely by a mainland European team.

Ronny started with his traditional 4-2-3-1 but for a while after Leigh replaced James Forrest, he played a 4-4-2, which coincided with our best period of the game.  Nadir had someone to link with, instead of being isolated in a sea of blue shirts, resplendent with the old World of Sport logo.

It was great having Mikael Lustig back and although Dedryck Boyata was not challenged defensively, he was clearly on a par with Lustig as being a defender who is comfortable on the ball.  No mistakes and a goal is pretty much all that could be asked of him.

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  1. Still playerts being crucified for what really is their first competitive game.”The players looked rusty”.Yes,first game.

     

    “The passing was a bit off”.Yes,first game.

     

    I could go on,but why bother.

     

    I will leave it to the experts.Until next Wednesday that is.

  2. WITS: Evian? I’m with Ramlosa, Henrik’s favourite:-)

     

     

    I wasn’t promoting Bertie, quite the contrary in fact.

  3. Beefy..,

     

    Point is if he’s no played as a striker he’s unlikely to score many goals, his return is probably better judged on assists it’s easy to say two goals but assists, how many do you remember, Sammi’s scored a few goals but I thought his greater contribution was through his assist count

  4. What is the Stars on

    Almore

     

     

    I dont really mind Bertie,he is what he is,I was never taken in by him but he worked hard on the peace process,harder than others would have.

     

    Other than that he was (like most politicians) a pig at the trough.

     

    A very lucky pig at a time when the trough was over flowing

  5. themaestro72

     

     

    20:45 on 16 July, 2015

     

    2-0 but just offside from sheep so still 1.

     

     

    embramike says “the huns are deid”

     

     

    Agree about set pieces. I also get annoyed at defending corners as we bring everyone back, we should leave at least 1 up.

     

     

    ———

     

     

    I get more annoyed by losing goals at corners. Fortunately that’s not something that happens to us. EVER. Ok, maybe exaggerated, but can you name the last 3 times we conceded froma corner?

     

     

    Haven’t seen the Aberdeen goal, but trams have tried many tactics against us and none have worked. Because our defensive tactic is superior.

     

     

    And if that tactic requires all 11 men in the box, then I’m happy.

     

     

    Note that DO score goals from corners. There was one quite recently.

     

     

    And also, we have been known to break upfield from defending a corner and score. I remember Gary Hooper doing so.

  6. What is the Stars on

    Canamalar

     

     

    I thought you were gone to bed

     

    Oh My

     

    I feel like the cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz

     

     

    You’re not in Kansas anymore Toto

  7. iniquitousiv

     

     

    22:08 on 16 July, 2015

     

    Great result for Aberdeen. I note that Considine’s goal came from a well worked corner, something they obviously work on, whereas we do not appear to do so. We invariably have 3 types of corners: one to the first defender, two into the goalie’s arms, and three- beyond the far post with no one there!

     

    I also note in passing that St. Johnstone’s Armenian conquerors were whomped in Kazakhstan today.

     

     

    ——

     

     

    You forgot 4. Short corner by Johansen and dinked onto Boyata’s head to score.

     

     

    You also forgot to mention that Aberdeen’s well worked corners have failed to produce a goal against us for over 2 years.

  8. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    When Gary Hooper scored five against the maroon balloons, I’m certain Sammi set up three of them, playing very good passes across the penalty box for Gary to score.

  9. Ok, that’s it. I’m bringing back corner watch for this season. The rules are, competitive games only. Goals scored / conceded only count if they are first phase. I decide what constitutes first phase.

  10. 67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar...... Ipox belongs to the creditors on

    the stars

     

     

    22:56 on 16 July, 2015

     

     

    I’m not scared of anyone, even my brother who is a nuisance…… And ALL HAIL CELTIC

  11. Just seen Aberdeens result

     

     

    Terrific, against a side unbeaten at home in Europe in 12 previous attempts – including facing Feynerood, Standard Leige and Sevilla

     

     

    Well done

  12. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    I stand corrected, Sammi set up two for Gary in that 5 nil win.

  13. What is the Stars on

    TET

     

     

    Little story about Bertie

     

    He was Minister for Justice at the time,friend of mine had his wife hauled off to prison one saturday morning (she hadnt paid a fine and had fogotten about the potential consequences when the boys in blue came calling)

     

    My pal went straight to Berties office in Drumcondra where he was holding his weekly constituency clinic,told the bertie the story,bertie rang mountjoy and the wife was home by lunch time.

     

    He wasnt all bad,and if he was a crook at least he was our crook,I could tell you more but you know yourself

  14. Travellerbhoy on

    I’m in a wee place called bishop Monkton near ripon in Yorkshire. Moved here on Monday

     

    To Yorkshire that is

     

    Went to a wee place that I’ve stayed loads of times before

     

    But alas

     

    New owners

     

    Booked a week beforehand

     

    But when we turned up with the van

     

    We can only do one night sorry

     

    Hidden prejudice

     

    Instead of NO TRAVELLERS

     

    They put no commercial vehicles

     

    Suppose it beats NO IRISH

     

    OR DOGS

     

     

    Feeling nothing ever changes

     

    Hail Hail

  15. What is the Stars on

    Canamalar/Sips

     

    Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf,

     

     

    I will have you know that my grandfather hid under a bed in 1916,surely I deserve a bit of respect for that

  16. Stars

     

     

    A lot worse than Bertie oot there mi amigo.

     

    The wife was quite friendly with Mary Harney as it happens, she told a story or two, and she had a wicked sense of humour away from the spotlight.

     

     

     

    HH

  17. Travellerbhoy: Never met you but love your posts. Any chance of you coming over to Dublin for the centenary celebrations of the 1916 Easter Rising?

     

     

    WITS: I’m too long in the tooth to take either extreme of an argument. Bertie was groomed by Charlie Haughey and took clientelism/abuse of power to another level. He did play a positive and significant role in the development of the Peace Process though, even though no one side can be fully happy.

  18. wits,

     

    My granda mysteriously lost his index finger a couple of days before they came to draft him, fighting for the British didn’t come high on his list of things to do I suppose.

  19. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    WHATISTHESTARS

     

     

    You had a bed?

     

     

    You were lucky!

     

     

    (Four Irishmen)

  20. NegAnon2

     

    16:43 on

     

    16 July, 2015

     

    A 2 nil win is the upper end of expectations?

     

     

    Dear oh dear me. How we have lowered expectations.

     

     

    Paul’s increasing arrogance is matched by his pals in the Celtic boardroom. They are convinced they are doing a fabulous job. Perhaps aiding corruption, participating in it, allowing your support to be criminalised and supporting racism all in the name of money is success eh?

     

     

    Just what I have been saying about you .A 2-0 victory hardly worth a mention from you.Your usual diatribe against the “Board”,as usual,your only contribution.

     

    You really are a sad person.Go and get a life,FFS.

  21. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    TRAVELLERBHOY

     

     

    Happy holidays,mate. You’ve faced worse,you’ve bettered them all.

  22. Almore

     

     

    Band … I’d say the wakes from Glasgow are the best about.. Great mixture of their own stuff..pogues..Luke..Christy and the tones.

     

     

    Cater to everyone .. Roy croppie can MC

     

     

    P.s

     

    West Brits are the worst.no doubt about it.

  23. Jungle Jim Hot Smoked on

    I like some Scots to do well individually provided I do not dislike the person ( Montgomerie and Sharp, for instance). Apart from that, I have little or no national fervour. So, I know it is small minded of me but I would like Aberdeen ( and ICT with a bit of luck) to do well in Europe as it would tax the MSSM even more trying to pretend that Sevco are still a relevance in football terms.

     

    Good night all,

     

     

    JJ

  24. Who was better?

     

     

    Us or them?

     

     

    Joe Hansen or Stu Armstrong?

     

     

    Broonie or Bitonie?

     

     

    Griffo or Shifty?

     

     

    Joe Hansen’s finish for his goal was Larssonesque.

     

     

    Shifty’s roll and shot on 9 mins was Hartsonesque.

     

     

    Griffo was a new griffoesque.

     

     

    Broonie was Brooniesque.

     

     

    Boyata was Denayeresque – even down to scoring on his competitive debut.

     

     

    Stu Armstrong was manofthematchesque.

     

     

    In his postmatch chat Ronny was Deilaesque.

     

     

    Celtic were a big improvement on last year but still early seasonesque.

     

     

    Que CSC

  25. What is the Stars on

    Almore

     

    The only way the peace process could possibly work was for no one to be happy

     

    The C word is the dirtiest word in the English language

     

    C for Compromise that is.( No better man than Bertie to tell everyone what they wanted to hear)

     

     

    TET

     

    Mary Harney,no I cant be having her.

     

     

    Canamalar

     

    A sensible solution

     

    Bobby Murdoch

     

    Oh we were very well to do

  26. Thanks Almore, for your help and support earlier.

     

     

    €200 deposit paid for the hire of the hall.

     

     

    Almore paid half.

     

     

    The deposit is refundable after the event, as long as things go smoothly.

     

     

    Thanks again.

     

     

    Clogher.

  27. Proudbhoy: Thanks for that. Never thought of The Wakes tbh but you are right, they are very good. I was in the Tolbooth a couple of years ago and two of the group did a gig in there. They are original and, like Pangur Bán, I loved their stuff immediately. I’ll try and contact them but cloghercelt and myself are trying to minimise costs because many of the visitors will be paying for flights, accommodation, meals and er….. refreshments.

     

     

    If you are in Dublin next Wednesday let me know.

     

     

    dublin2016@mail.com

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