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How did we do at the San Siro?

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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. Delaneys Dunky on

    ACGR

     

     

    He is a good lad who likes us doing well in Europe but still prefers a Govan tribute act to us. My two bhoys and I are bringing him back to the light.

  3. Delaneys Dunky on

    ACGR

     

     

    He has one of the most Irish surnames possible.

     

    His step da corrupted him by taking him to doomdome.

  8. Zbyszek on

    Delaneys Dunky

     

    Hamiltontim and few others have my email address. You can catch me when I’m still in Warsaw, or when I’m in Scotland next week. Have no plan for my stay, but thinking abut going back home next Friday. Would be probably trying to see if I can find temporary or permanent job.

  9. Fred C. Dobbs on

    Back in the day we all called each other huns. Once the the game was won and the opposition fans started to leave “go home ya huns” was belted out. Even the huns sang it.

     

     

    Nobody’s fault but their own that it stuck with them.

     

     

    Hail Hail.

  10. Clashcitybhoy on

    Fred Colon

     

    Davie Moyes was sounded out when WGS left.

     

    His words were as you quote …interested, but not right now

  11. latchford on

    The_huddle

     

     

    Nope happened just along from us and most Celtic fans were pissed off with it.

     

     

    I was surprised by a number of Italians ( Napoli fans someone said ) and Germans who were there to see Celtic.

     

     

    Outside before the game started Italian Celtic and Inter fans were singing songs about Juve. Riot cops were standing watching this totally bemused and same again at the end when the Inter fans were waiting to applaud the Celtic fans.

     

     

    Unlike when English teams go to Italy or a recently deceased Scottish one all bars and restuarants welcomed Celtic fans with open arms. I can recommend Il Tavolino on Via Fara downtown just 2 minutes from the Hilton ( plus it had the chicks for fashion week )

  12. topkat on

    still rue the day I never purchased the car number plate…..LAR50N…..from the monthly DVLA auction sale…….everytime he scored he smiled and ran to the fans…..what a player…..always a pleasure watching him sticking it past the pig in goal.

  13. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    DELANEYS DUNKY

     

     

    Wee soshul in Partick,17 March-tbc-if yer available?

  15. Twinbhoy on

    We were amazing, my heart was racing.. i thought we could take them, regardless of their latin famous gallussness..

     

     

    celtic fit as fuck, squared up, show us?

  16. Zbyszek on

    The leader of the opposition in Russia Boris Nemcov shot near Cremlin tonight. Our own propagandists stay quiet.

  19. southside on

    Almost a riot in the ss household tonight. Junior shows me a photo on his iPad of a woman’s dress. Asks “what colour is it” I reply bluish and gold. He then says that’s not an option. Mrs ss then butts in with “your dad’s only winding you up, he’s seen it before.” I’m like; whit? I haven’t a scooby what you’re both on about.

     

    Junior takes the huff and storms off to his ps4, the Mrs isn’t talking to me.

     

    Can anyone on here enlighten me what’s going on. I don’t do the Facebook malarky, so sitting here alone watching Gruff Rhys on the red button, nursing a jd’ n ‘coke. Well, no really nursing it, more wolfing it. Well, it is Friday night.

     

    Starting to feel a bit of a ‘howler.

  20. Delaneys Dunky on

    Zbyszek

     

     

    I told Blantyre Tim earlier that I would love to meet my Polska brother.

     

    He has my phone number. Look forward to meeting you.

  21. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    Just got a text from Princess acgr. She finished her UN work placement in the Haig today and comes home on Sunday. She wants me to take her to the game on Wednesday. I’m wondering if she’s a real tim (am I still allowed to say that or is it sectarian) or if it’s a free dinner at Coias she’s after?

     

     

    Love taking my girl to Paradise and as I don’t see much of her these days a free dinner is a small price to pay.

     

     

    JJ will of course be relegated to the back seat of the acgrmobile, well, at least on the way down. I need him to talk football at me on the way back, so the criminal hanger gets the back seat on the home leg.

  22. the_huddle on

    southside

     

     

    23:39 on 27 February, 2015

     

     

    ————

     

    It’s ok you’ve managed to dodge the latest pig shiting dumbing down of the human race :O)

  23. Delaneys Dunky on

    BMCUW

     

     

    It is my daughter Patrice’s birthday on 17 March. Might drag her down to my birthplace to meet some outstanding gentlemen. :)

  26. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    southside, that’s a bad one. The last time me and Mrs acgr fell out over a computer related incident was when she smacked me across the napper wi he sony vaio.

     

     

    That dress was green and white btw, no question about it.

  32. southside on

    Thanks to whoever it was who posted the link to Noel Gallagher’s interview. Quite a wit is oor Noel.

     

    Didn’t know his ma is from Mayo.

     

    My old Pop was from there, every couple of weeks or so my auld da recounts the time he cycled from Govanhill to Mayo on a tandem. A drink or a meal at every door he stopped at.

     

    That would explain why he was away for four months.

  34. Gordon64 on

    The tie against Inter was essentially lost

     

    in the the first 15 minutes at CP.

     

    The remaining 165 minutes was always going

     

    to be just a valiant effort.

  36. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    See when a 22 stone wummin hits you wi a 2 kilo laptop, it kinda makes ye think WTF wiz that……………when you come around in Arbroath infirmary.

  40. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    praecepta, were you in Milan last night?

     

     

    I mailed P67 earlier asking if there are still tickets available for cqn11. Looks like I’ll be able to make it after all. A bit of a logistical minefield to manoeuvre as I’ve got a ticket for the Scotland egg ball game at Murrayfield in the afternoon. I’ll probably be wearing a green skirt when I see you next.

     

     

     

    HH

  42. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    Watching Pulp Fiction and they’re just about to bring out the gimp. If Alfie Nooks gets oot that box I’m off to my love chariot.

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