Craig Gordon
I think we all have a desire to be generous to Craig for a couple of reasons: as Ronny said, without him, we would not have gotten through the group stage, and we are due him some support after he spoiled his copy in the first leg. He returned to form last night, made several fine saves, but we would expect him to make all of them.
He also contributed a truly exceptional save from an offside attempt.
Adam Matthews and Emilio Izaguirre
Neither full back was as productive in the final third as they were a week ago, but that would have been a consequence of a different game plan, and the numerical disadvantage. There is a tendency to criticise our full backs, especially Izzie, for bombing forward and leaving gaps at the back, but this is their role in the team. It’s up to someone else to provide cover. We’re as strong at full back as I’ve known us.
Virgil van Dijk, Jason Denayer and Efe Ambrose
For two want-away players, this tie was a big stage. Virgil didn’t give a good account of himself. The first booking last night was incorrect. He stopped the player but played the ball and his challenge was never dangerous. Scouts watching his second yellow will have recorded that he made a very bad decision which ultimately cost his team. The referee had a nightmare, but the second yellow was a correct decision.
Jason and Efe played well. There was one moment Efe failed to follow a player in the box but Craig Gordon saved. Jason was comfortable throughout. If he wants a morality tale on what could happen if he returns to Manchester City, he should look no further than his team-mate up front.
Nir Bitton
The scouts who were there to watch Virgil would have left with a notebook full of comments about Nir Bitton. At Murrayfield against Legia, Nir was part of a midfield which included Mulgrew, McGregor and Johansen. It was an abject team performance and the Israeli bore much of the brunt of criticism.
Here’s the thing: I’m beginning to think he’s our best player. He could have played in any of the Champions League games I’ve watched this week, Sign him up, Peter.
Scott Brown, Stuart Armstrong, Stefan Johansen
A major reason last season’s European campaign was such a write-off was the absence of Scott Brown following his rush-of-blood red card and three game suspension. We need players with the ability and engine of Scott and Stefan, both must be a nightmare to play against.
Stuart Armstrong looks like he has been playing in this Celtic team for years. He’s fitted in very well and already looks like an automatic choice. Wait to see what he’s like after 6 months.
Gary Mackay-Stevens
I couldn’t believe the innate criticism of Ronny after the game on BT Sport for subbing Gary, who was our best player until that point, after the red card. When you are early in the game, away from home in the San Siro, it is a perfectly acceptable tactic to sacrifice a wide player (Gary was our only out-and-out wide player) for a defender or covering midfielder.
We didn’t win the game, but anyone who asserts that we would have won the game by leaving a wide player on in place of a covering midfielder or defender, is stretching credulity. The tactics chosen kept the game alive until the 88th minute, albeit the break required didn’t materialise.
When he was on the field, Gary won the ball in a central position, ripped 60 yards through Inter, before finding a team-mate. He looked to be revelling in the space and opportunity given to him.
John Guidetti, James Forrest, Chris Commons
This was a hard shift for all three. John could have had a penalty but thereafter found himself on his bum too often. He is a player who has not progressed as hoped under Ronny, yet, and has a lot of work to do between now and the end of the season.
James has not returned to his blistering performances from a couple of years ago, when he was clearly our M.V.P. As his limbs mature his speed and injury record could go either way. He’ll be with us for another few years, so Celtic have time to build resilience into those leg muscles and nerves.
Kris came on with 13 minutes left and used his unerring goal-sonar to squeeze an attempt out of the meagre provisions he had. He also appears to have updated the referee on what an incompetent clown he is at the end of the game.
This was the first of seven European away games we failed to score in this season, but the reasons we’re out of Europe all lie in what happened last week. You cannot make goalkeeping and defensive mistakes like that and remain in Europe, nor can you pass up so many clear-cut chances.
Don’t know where to start on the flare last night. I fear the next decision from Uefa will be more than a fine.
Thanks to everyone who donated to our Mary’s Meals school kitchen appeal yesterday while entering the ticket competition. The winner was informed by email a few moments ago, so check your inbox.
If you need tickets for the CQN St Patrick’s Dinner, with a Q&A with Packy Bonner, Joe Miller, Tommy Coyne and Tom Boyd, Archie Macpherson speaking about Jock Stein, and music from Patricia Ferns, let me know, celticquicknews@gmail.com
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1-1 – good result for the old Cabbage and Ribs. And if the pundits keep saying that we need a strong Sevco, it certainly ain’t that mob on there tonight.
Plus they have 11 players out of (expensive) contract at the end of the season. And Ashley will ensure one way or the other that they have little cash to buy players, especially in the Championship.
Anyway enough about lower league clubs, big step towards the title on Sunday, Everyone get along, bring your family and friends and get behind the Champions elect.
HH and COYBIG
jungle jim hot smoked
21:35 on 27 February, 2015
MickTT
Talking of lunch. Was there not some mention of you displaying your benevolence on that front?
₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩
JJ I have not forgotten, unfortunately I will not make the game on Sunday, working, but will catch up soon.
HH
1 all
bad result for the huns
with any luck they wont make the playoffs
i can see league reconstruction on the agenda for no other reason than to drag rangers into the top division
https://twitter.com/MireCSC1/status/571327056925106177
Jobo,
That’s not bad going considering they are in the most bestest league in the wurld.
Seems to be a lot of average bears at Falkirk…………………..
… lots of Boo! Boos!
Parma getting cleaned out by bailiffs , 145 Mill in debt. Similar amount to oldco. Pity the bailiffs are more understanding in the southside. Tae think if everyone did their job properly there would be no newco . After 3 years we would all have forgot all about them and what a wonderful world it would be now
Delaneys D
I think I have a ticket for you on Sunday, womt find out for sure till tomorrow mate.
Huns….are they not deid?
Can we call that new club Huns?
Or is it the same support same Huns… Aye.
HH
So what happens if the huns do finish in fifth place? having watched them struggle against Falkirk it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that they could (hopefully) miss out on a play off place.
Doncaster must be bouldering his huggie’s at the thought of a fifth placed hun at the end of the season.
Really pleased with the team at the moment. I think we’re doing well in a situation where the odds are stacked heavily against us.
and here’s one that I love … this might be even better than sinatras version (and where I come from … there aint many better than the chairman!) … at the end, Dinah Washington just lets it rip … wow!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-ZsNoufua8
ACGR
They were utterly rank tonight
I think they’re getting worse ….
Embramike
Great to meet you last week. Bringing my son in law and grandson on Sunday, thanks to the wonderful Tim Marspapa. The wee man is four and a chanter. :)
eddieinkirkmichael, I brought you back a bottle from Spain. Faustino VII 2001 Rioja Tempranillo.
Very nice is is too……………….hic:_)
Eddie
Marspapa has given me 3 tickets. Thanks again buddy.
Acgr @2148
No wine….Just a bottle :)
*** LAST MAN STANDING 3 – THE FINAL (perhaps….)***
The votes are in and the lines are now closed.
THE FINAL:-
Martybhoy59 – INVERNESS away to Motherwell
GG – ROSS COUNTY home to Dundee
Best of luck Bhoys!
Jobo
Sevco
Updates from a division two game. Each to their own though.
Good evening everybody.
There is nothing to stop anyone from smuggling a flare into a ground, wandering round to any section of the ground and lighting up.
The only way to deal with these morons is for fans to nab him at the time.
If supporters groups organise themselves to appoint wardens to supervise fan behaviour, these idiots can be grabbed at the time, handed over to officials etc… so that they are the ones being fined etc… not the club.
As has been seen in this case, it only takes one idiot to tarnish 1000s.
Time to make it known that these idiots are not only unwelcome amongst the Celtic support but Celtic fans themselves will deal with them.
PFayr, that’s the first I’ve watched them for ages (the cup semi excepted), its hard for me to judge if they’re getting worse. They definitely are rubbish.
If Celtic were a song, I think it would sound like this man … the incomparable Nat King Cole…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8IS2xdRZvc
Just had a look at all the Scottish League Tables ( including Highland League).
In four of the five Divisions, the difference between first and second is between 0 and two points. In the most competitive Division the world has ever seen, it is 21 points. I would imagine a few journalists will be latching on to that fact.
Goodnight all,
JJ
Beefheart, you are a miserable sod. I’ve sat here for the last two hours laughing my ass off watching the comedy and you have to come on and spoil my fun.
Gon, geis some posts about your eastern European friends to cheer me up.
Much bearserking?
Has anyone ever felt so angry and peeved off as i was and still am,Anyway beat the sheep in the first half and then enjoy rest of game .Hail hail 4-0 to the good guys
Delaneys Dunky
Ditto, and tell the wee man that no flares allowed so you better check your fitba troosers then :-)
If Kenny McDowall decides to give up football/gardening he has a bright future ahead of him as a standup comedian.
BSR – ;-)
How’s the neighbours doin’?
I think we can all agree there has been great progress since the low of the Ross County performance at Celtic Park but Sunday is a big game for all.
As one great song writer once penned “times are a changing”.
Not one for the traditionalists but I think we should break tradition and sing a new version of “We shall not be moved”
We shall not we shall not be moved
We shall not we shall not be moved
Not by the Hearts the Hibs or Aberdeen
We shall not be moved
MiT
Velvet voice. Beautiful.
My mammy’s idol alongside Dino Martin. :)
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
21:48
Your getting a big sloppy kiss for that mate ;)
Delaneys, no problem mate, glad you got sorted.
another great … bobby bland …. saw him about 10 years ago in a small blues club … he must have been 70 … big guy, in a white suit … the old women LOVED him… threw their knickers on the stage … he used them to wipe his brow! and he could sing!
when I grow up, I want to be as cool as bobby bland!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ttyOG2FOiI
Joy Division on BBC3. Damn it started at 9.00 running to 10.35.
Ard Macha
ACGR
You down on Wednesday for Saints game , I get home in the morning might go for a swally .
Big Bellend Mohsni looking forward to playing in Europe next season……… Oh wait.
Even the huns think he’s gash.
googybhoy ♥ celtic
20:15 on
27 February, 2015
From Wolves forum
Slightly off topic, but do any of our older supporters remember the infamous night when the Rangers fans ran riot in Wolverhampton and the press described them as ‘coming across the border like marauding huns’ ? My dad always told me that was where they got their nickname from
*Yer da’s right, I remember this well. What is so alarming is they got a good result.
They had been drawn in the semis of the old ECWC against the current FA Cup Holders and League runners up Wolves. Us Tims were delighted as Wolves were a formidable team then with English internationals Bill Slater, Ron Flowers and Peter Broadbent.
Also in goal was Bonhill born Malcolm Finlayson who had family on North Street at the corner of Lennox Street, yer da would have known them.
The deid team won the first game at home 2-0 and a 1-1 tie at Molyneux was enough to see them through to the first ever final of this tournament.
Scotland had lost 3-9 at Wembley 4 days earlier and instead of being embarrassed about this the huns chanted “Haffey, Haffey, Haffey” all through the game.
And in true hun form they celebrated by rampaging through the town after the game…hence the name huns.
They even had the audacity to compose a song which has since been resurrected.
Justice was done when they lost the final 0-2 and 1-2 over to legs to the Viola.