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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426 Comments

  1. Jungle Jim Hot Smoked

     

    19:18 on

     

    16 July, 2015

     

    can you put a link up for bbc the email addy

     

     

    cheers

     

     

    HH

  2. leftclicktic

     

    19:27 on

     

    16 July, 2015

     

    Just enjoy their hurtin , just imagine being a sevco sympathiser a this time.

     

     

    :-)))

     

     

    HH

  3. WeefratheTim on

    Ok ghuys, things to do now and don’t even know if I’ll manage on later. If not, tomorrow. KTF.

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

  4. WeefratheTim

     

    19:32 on

     

    16 July, 2015

     

    I’m feart to come on here. Some awfy angry people and very astute points. Lol.

     

     

    Some happy clappers too…….:-))

     

     

    sorry I missed you all at the corner last night ….roll on the 1st Aug

     

     

    HH

  5. McMurdo is a fantasist.

     

     

    UEFA never offered to replay the 1993 CL final.

     

     

    If they had, and the huns had lined up against Milan, they would have faced the following players:

     

     

    Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta, Frank Rijkaard, Roberto Donadoni, Marco can Basten…

     

     

    Probably a record score for a Big Cup final.

     

     

    HH!!

  6. Beefy..,

     

    Try scored two goals the last year he played in Europe 2012 hasn’t played in Europe for Celtic since then obviously those stats don’t support your wee private witch hunt but the facts are there for anyone who actually wants to check your bullshit eh :)

  7. WeefratheTim

     

    19:38 on

     

    16 July, 2015

     

    Ok ghuys, things to do now and don’t even know if I’ll manage on later. If not, tomorrow. KTF.

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

     

     

    Jeez o weefra can you stay on 5 minutes you know what I’m like on this thing …..dead slow and stop…….. only joking …catch you the morra

     

     

    HH

  8. WeefratheTim on

    Dena29

     

     

    You not managing the Rennes game?? Hope you’re well kiddo. A true Celt if ever I seen one. You really are a legend young lady. :-))))

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

  9. WeefratheTim on

    Dena29

     

     

    Of course I included your family that are all well. (I can be an auld fanny at times) lol. We go back too far to be ignored “G” :-))) See ya soon. KTF.

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

  10. See ACGR getting a mention on Twitter!

     

     

    @PeatWorrier: Egad. Are we fully converted to the grim U.S. practice of politicians speechifying in front of acolytes & toadies? https://t.co/SN0l0iX1Nw

     

     

    Now we knew about the acolyte….who’s the toadie in question?

     

    Annabel Goldie per chance? His very own ‘hot toadie’?!?

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  11. WeefratheTim on

    jamesgang

     

     

    More likely to be his “Hot Tottie”. Lol.

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

  12. jg,

     

    It just goes to show you how far labour have fallen if the libdems can still beat them

  13. WeefratheTim on

    jamesgang

     

     

    If you had seen him last night, you would have sworn someone jumped the dyke in his mob. Especially along side Pedro. Lol.

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

  14. Off topic, going to Abu Dhabi in September, never been before, any suggestions on good hotels would be very grateful

  15. WeefratheTim

     

    19:45 on

     

    16 July, 2015

     

    Dena29

     

     

    Of course I included your family that are all well. (I can be an auld fanny at times) lol. We go back too far to be ignored “G” :-))) See ya soon. KTF.

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

     

     

    :-))

     

     

    Still trying to work out with ferries to get boat back after night games :-((

     

     

    half an hour earlier kick off or boat leaving half an hour later would make all the difference

     

    but not working at the minute…………

     

     

    your a gent and a true Tim we are all entitled to a whinge from time to time :-)))

     

     

    will keep you posted

     

     

    love to Mrs Weefrs

     

     

    KTF

     

     

    HH

  16. Watching the golf fae Fife.

     

     

    Looks baltic.

     

     

    Rickie Fowler wearing mitts to keep his hands warm.

     

     

    Ffs!

     

     

    HH!!

  17. And while I am passing…

     

     

    If you don’t mind, here are a couple of pieces from today.

     

     

    One about it seeming like Christmas.

     

     

    https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/07/16/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/

     

     

    And one about the Daily Record suggesting that Sevco should be ‘back’ at the ‘top table’ of Scottish football…

     

     

    https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/07/16/in-reply-to-michael-gannons-big-five-column/

     

     

    Have a great evening!

  18. Tallybhoy

     

    19:53 on

     

    16 July, 2015

     

    Watching the golf fae Fife.

     

     

    Looks baltic.

     

     

    Rickie Fowler wearing mitts to keep his hands warm.

     

     

    Ffs!

     

     

    HH!!

     

     

    Thats nothing fella earlier had a snood on with gloves that looked like biker gloves I’m sure someone will have a picture looked ridiculous

     

     

    HH

  19. To the guys whining about last night, please remember ,

     

    A. It was our first competitive game of season.

     

    B. The Ice Men set up an ultra defensive system which is difficult for any team to break down.

     

    C. We created about 8 clear goal chances.

     

    D. Our Keeper didn’t have to make a single save.

     

    E. We won 2 Nil having missed a penalty.

  20. Dena29

     

     

    It’s 30 degrees here.

     

     

    Too hot for golf.

     

     

    I dont play anyway!

     

     

    HH!!

  21. ....PFayr supports WeeOscar on

    Corkcelt

     

     

    Never known for my unfettered optimism …even I can’t understand what’s so bad about a 2-0 win last night

  22. So there yous have it.

     

     

    Even the notoriously ‘that don’t impress me much’ Pfayr thinks some on here are too doom mongery!!!

     

     

    That alone should cause you to take a long hard look in that mirror which you broke at some point in the last 7 years!!!

     

     

    ;-)

     

     

    ShaniaTwainCSC

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  23. mike in toronto on

    PFAyr

     

     

    How ya’ doing? How’s business?

     

     

    Noting wrong with the result (although, like everyone, I would feel a bit better at 3-0) … but some aspects of the performance were cause for (some) concern.

  24. just scrolling through the various posts, I see last night’s attendance was an incredible 48,000. So we carry a two goal lead to Iceland next week and having seen our opponents home ground which resembles a junior GAA ground in Balinafad and the puzzle is how this venue has been passed by EUFA for Champions Lge football..

  25. themaestro72 on

    corkcelt : I’m glad Ronny is also whining about last night…

     

     

    RONNY Deila was disappointed not to have plundered further reward against FC Stjarnan in tonight’s UEFA Champions League qualifier in Paradise.

     

    The Hoops cruised to a 2-0 victory over the Icelandic side, with goals in either half form debutant Dedryck Boyata and Stefan Johansen.

     

    Leigh Griffiths missed a penalty inside the final 15 minutes as Celtic tried in vain to add to their tally ahead of the away-leg next week.

     

    And although the Bhoys are in pole position to progress in the tie, the manager was frustrated not have score more goals on home soil.

     

    He said: “Two-nil is a good result but I hoped we could finish them off. We had chances to win more but we were not effective enough.

     

    “In the end, I’m a little bit disappointed that we didn’t score more. But it’s good we have a clean sheet and two goals to go on. We will have a good preparation for next Wednesday and we have a very good chance to make the next stage.

     

    “We deserved to win but we could also have scored more. They also had one or two chances and it was good they didn’t score. I’m happy but I’m not too excited.

     

    “There were a lot things we are used to. They played very deep, with 10 men 40 yards from their goal. But that’s football, some teams need to do that and it was hard for us.”

  26. ....PFayr supports WeeOscar on

    MIT

     

     

    Doing fine …quite busy at present …fighting the good fight as ever

     

     

    Self ??

  27. mike in toronto on

    Hey PF …

     

     

    keeping busy …. but apparently ‘doom mongery’ accordingly to that mean old Jamesgang character :) …..

     

     

    really looking forward to our trip in September … will we see you at the Hearts game?

     

     

    How’s your young fella doing? did he ever make it over here?

  28. Tallybhoy

     

    19:58 on

     

    16 July, 2015

     

    Dena29

     

     

    It’s 30 degrees here.

     

     

    Too hot for golf.

     

     

    I dont play anyway!

     

     

    HH!!

     

     

    Some would say lucky you :-))

     

     

    I couldnt cope with that heat….enjoy

     

     

    HH

  29. Joe Filippis Haircut on

    Just managed to logon again as im having computer problems.Last nights game we should have put the tie to bed but we didnt so now will have a nervous night in Iceland.What was Joe Hanson thinking about argueing about who would take the penalty I am sure it unsettled the Griff if we lose the tie Joe will be in for a real hard time come on Ronny get it sorted out. H.H.

  30. MiT

     

     

    I can say nothing as I wasn’t even at the game.

     

     

    Just loved the motion of pfayr playing the role of ‘turn that frown upside down’!!!!!

     

     

    Laters legal eagles!

     

     

    HH jamesgang