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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jobo baldie
07:33 on 28 February, 2015
Good morning my friends from a slightly damp but discerningly breezy looking East Kilbride. And dark clouds creeping in from the Hamilton side of town.
———————————————————————————
Is HT visiting? ;-)
How did you get on with your corner bet last night?
jobo baldie
07:33 on 28 February, 2015
Good morning my friends from a slightly damp but discerningly breezy looking East Kilbride. And dark clouds creeping in from the Hamilton side of town.
—————————-
the EK weather is so unique that new words have to be invented to describe it :-)
CanDiscerningBeUsedAsAnAdverbCSC
Eddieinkirkmichael @1.53
God bless you mhate.
At the end of my first year teaching a wonderful kid who’d just left 6th year died in a farming accident while staying on his cousins’ farm in the US.
I was 23 and spent most of the rest of my 20s being angry with life and God and questioning the latter’s motives and existence.
Then I found peace. Not understanding or the explanations I sought. Just peace.
You’ve been a ‘stand out’ poster since day 1 for me, whether on football or life. That why I was so pleased to shake your hand @ Cowiebhoy’s house.
Keep it lit.
HH jamesgang
JoboOnlyObservesWeatherButHeCreatesNewWordsCosHeCanCosHe’sJoboCSC
HH jamesgang
Top of the morning to you all from a grey, but fair Fife.
Reading back it is good to see posts such as eddieinkirkmichael’s. If this blog did nothing else it is worthwhile that it can be used as a repository for all those “sare bits” that we have in life.
Eddie if you are still working at the Wayside Club say hello to Big Sid Gallagher from me.
I don’t post much on here now, but scan the posts when I can and was taken by a post the other day about two lads from the Well who set out for Milan in 1970 only to blow the tank in London and get home by conning the DR that they had been mugged.
Great story and reminded me of my dear departed old friend John Murphy of Blairhall. Commonly know by the title of his favourite song “Paddy Reilly”
At the beginning of the Second World War Reilly and his drinking buddy, Jimmy Wright signed up for the armed forces.
The wee village of Blairhall were so proud of their brave boys that they had a “whip round” and collected a large sum of money for the local heroes.
The pawkey pair got on the train at Blairhall with the Pipe Band playing them off with the flags flying and tears on the platform as the brave lads went to war.
They got off the train at Oakley (1mile down the line) and made their way to the Phoenix Hotel where they drunk the farewell collection. They were arrested (with hangovers) the next day by the MPs and spent the first two weeks of their war peeling spuds, narrowly avoiding being shot for desertion.
Reilly went on to have distinguished career in the RAF where he defeated the Germans single handed, from his base in Suffolk where he met his first and only love, and sang Paddy Reilly and other Irish melodies in every NAFFI “go as you please” till Germany surrendered.
Jimmy Wright joined the Gordon Highlanders and spent the war guarding the Brig o’ Balgownie in Aberdeen in case the Germans tried to steal it, according to Reilly.
Reilly was a great character who would have succeeded in whatever career he chose, but after a short spell in the coal mines decided there was more to life and chose a more leisurely style of life as a domino-player, singer and raconteur in the pubs around Dunfermline.
I have recounted on here the story of how the pub in Dunfermline we drank in “The Bruce Tavern” was near the bus station for Blairhall and how sometimes travellers with a wait for the Blairhall bus would pop in for a quick half.
George “Geordie” Niven was such a traveller and I lost count of the time Reilly introduced me to him in a very civilised manner. “Have you met George, Tom” – was the rhetorical question Reilly posed to his fellow villager – “George was a good goalkeeper, he played for Rangers you know?”
George, as the man who had shipped 7 goals to Celtic at Hampden, would shake hands politely through gritted teeth, but he knew exactly what Reilly hadn’t said.
That game was hanging in the air as real as the smoke that hung in clouds in the pubs in those days.
Reilly was an expert at damning with faint praise, as well as being an expert at dominoes where he was known to drop a bad dom into the pints of Guinness he drank for just that purpose!
COYBIG
Good morning CQN
Good man and good to hear eddieinkirkmichael.
KLV
Pogmathonyahun –
thanks, my corner bet successfulised last night leaving my online account bulgeistic for this afternoons couponing. But first I must be more concentratalised for this mornings ParkRun. 21′ 30″ my target but the wind might scupper* that.
Jobo
* – which is definitely a word
Food for thought and soul searching for James Forrest from the Football Life.
” Deforrestation – The end of a Celtic career
There are plenty of players who people thought would fall by the wayside in the Ronny revolution. The sort of player that would thrive would be a quick player who can press high, yet that is exactly the player whose Celtic career is surely over. James Forrest’s time is up and it’s time for him to move on.
That isn’t a sentiment one would have imagined anyone saying when Forrest broke through into the side. When that happened, he was lauded as the replacement for Aiden McGeady, but they are two very different players. Where McGeady had flicks and tricks to add to his pace, Forrest is the traditional one dimensional winger who beats players for pace then puts crosses in from the byline.
There is nothing wrong with that sort of player except, as his career has gone on, Celtic have evolved to be a very different animal. Where his career began with the more defensively minded Andreas Hinkel, each right back brought in afterwards (Cha Du-Ri, Adam Matthews and Mikael Lustig) have been able to do the same job as Forrest in terms of galloping a furrow down the wing but, crucially, with the extra dimension of being able to cross from deep and with a better level of final ball.
That is still no bad thing if Forrest had evolved from his prodigious starting point. Except he hasn’t. Injuries are to blame, but one also must take a look at attitude as well. Run-ins with the law don’t help but, more than that, a general lack of effort on the pitch and, presumably, on the training field as well suggest a player who has almost decided not to adapt and has certainly not bought into the Ronny Deila regime. It is fitting that the best example of his synchronicity with the Lennon regime and the best example of his lack of faith with the Deila regime both came against Italian clubs – Against Juventus at Celtic Park, Forrest was shifted into an unfamiliar central role where he pressed and harried the Juve defence ceaselessly, giving his all for the team in a thankless role. Against Inter last night, he was brought on to try to win the game against an Inter side weak against pace and he didn’t press, he didn’t harry and, to be blunt, he was shown up by players such as Stefan Johansen who put in ten times the effort and was regularly found ahead of Forrest. The same role and job asked of him – two different managers, two different levels of application.
The real shame about Forrest is that one could compare him to another Celtic prospect of a similar era in Niall McGinn. McGinn saw he had players ahead of him, took his bags to Aberdeen and has become a more rounded player and, ultimately, a better player than Forrest. That is something no-one would have predicted a couple of years ago but it shows not just the value of first team minutes, but also just how much Forrest has failed to take a step forward. Gone are the days where he was linked to bigger and better things such as Spurs or Everton. Gone are the days where he may have become a mainstay of the national side.
Instead, the future for Forrest is away from Celtic and is, regrettably for him, more likely to follow the trajectory of a Derek Riordan or a Garry O’Connor than an Aiden McGeady or even a Niall McGinn. Few sides require pure wingers in this day and age. Even fewer require the sort of winger whose final ball is iffy at best. Even fewer wish to have a winger whose injury record is fast exceeding the length of his CV.
There is a good career for Forrest away from Celtic and no reason why he will not flourish elsewhere. But this elsewhere is now likely to be in England in the Championship or League One where he may be able to get away with his one-dimensional play, following the same path as Gary Teale did before him. With Gary Mackay-Steven, Stefan Johansen and Stuart Armstrong at Celtic all far ahead of him in terms of performance and a clear lack of willing to adapt from Forrest, he must depart the club this summer before bench warming ends his career before it ever started.
None of this is to say Forrest is a bad player, but that given the natural talents he has that gave him a head start in his career, he must look at himself in the mirror and ask not just why Gary Mackay-Steven was needed at the club but also why a totally un-Deila player in Kris Commons has been able to adapt to fit the system at Celtic. Had Forrest become the player he should have, he would not have to do any soul searching.
As it is, he must be sent away and do that soul searching elsewhere because his Celtic career is dead.”
I suspect this one will split the opinions of CQNrs.
HH Gerry
justafan
07:05 on 28 February, 2015
Eddieink…1.53
Thank you for a moving and thoughtful post. That you are finding your way back to faith is a comfort to you but your battle back to the real you is a true victory for you and your loved ones.
I am in the place you were (for much less reason) I hope I can find a way and not keep selfishly pushing away those I need most.
₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩₩
About three years ago I was going through a rough patch, marriage break up and two young son’s. I’ve always went to mass and still do, it helped me so much, it’s personal.
Went to ten o clock mass one morning, was needing help, I was struggling to cope. The priest started mass asking for our prayers for the parents of a six year old boy who had succumbed to illness the previous evening.
That was the message and help I got and it worked, for me.
Ayrshire is Green and White
This weekends CQN Coupon –
Awalkacrosstherooftops:Luton
BlantyreTim: Wycombe
Greenlion2: Shrewsbury
Jobo Baldie: St Johnstone
Lennybhoy: Bristol City
PFayr: Notts Forest
Pogmathonyahun: Bolton
The Token Tim: Derby
Morning Celts..
I lost my wee Dad on Tuesday he went to sleep as I held his hand
and a wee tear rolled down.He was my best friend and a lovely man.
Everywhere he went in the world people took to him.He was a wee jitterbug/jiver
in his time. and one story goes that in a New York bar he was surrounded by
the coloured boys and girls as he “went to town”stripped down to his vest.
I can hear him now as I was growing up “Terence it’s nice to be nice”
That was his wee motto in life and by God he was.We say goodbye to him
on Wed, he will stay his last night in his wee hoose with me, then he leaves forever.
When we celebrate his life in his beloved Greenock Celts the last thing I will do,
is put a wee clear wine with a drap o water on the table at his favourite seat
he’ll love that……..Wee Terry a true gentleman.
Drambowiecelt sorry to hear your sad news, but a lovely tribute which paints a picture of a great wee character.
RIP Wee Terry
Sad news Drambowiecelt.
Sounds like a life well lived
” Deforrestation – The end of a Celtic career
Utter tripe
HH
Drambowiecelt, condolences.
RIP Terry
drambowiecelt
Sad news about your Dad, he sounded like a great character.
Thoughts and prayers to you and yours.
RIP Wee Terry
GerryBhoy
(imo)
Forrest got better and better under Lennon, peaking last year in terms of form, with only his injuries to hamper greater progress (21 starts, 27 appearances).
This season, his injury problems have been even worse (due to Ronnie’s high-powered training regime?). 8 starts, and 13 appearances. His form has dipped incredibly.
The article is right up to a point – Forrest doesn’t have as much trickery as Mcgeady – but ignores two of Forrests main strengths – his shooting and his ability to cut inside, the two often appearing in the same move.
That he has worsened under Deila is nothing exceptional – I would argue that about the vast majority of the squad.
I see the Aberdeen game is being hyped up, which is not a bad thing….but….we are going to win …. 3-0 …….that is all ….HH
Mea culpa,
Thanks :oD)))
Just read Speirs in The Times
He equates the solitary ( althought sadly recurring) idiots within our support to the Huns continuing carry on ….of course some idiot with a flare is similar to orchestrated racist sectarian chanting ….and running amok in Manchester
Those besmirching our reputation must be sorted out ….utterly shameful to try to assert we have the same problems as the Huns …shameful
He wants Aberdeen to win tomorrow too …only as a neutral wanting an interesting title race ..aye right
CFC ….hump the sheep tomorrow
Speirs …do one …your team is dead and your career is floundering ….
Drambowiecelt…..very sorry for your sad loss
Morning,all.
A wee update on RWE’s son,who sadly passed away recently. As published in The Charlotte Observer.
~~~~~~~~~~++~~~~~~~~~~
Anthony Peter Conway LEXINGTON, VA – Anthony Peter Conway, 36, ended his relationship with ALS on Friday, February 20, 2015, at his home outside Lexington, Virginia. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland and grew up in southern England. He loved sports, and played rugby and soccer while growing up. He was also a member of the Royal Air Force Air Training Corps. His love of soccer and interest in the military brought him to Virginia Military Institute where he was a varsity letterman and soccer team captain. He had a broad range of talents and interests, and was good at almost everything he tried; he had a special talent for making others feel important. After graduating in 2001, he worked in construction and then taught English and technology at Rockbridge County High School for several years. He was then able to use his computer skills as a database manager at Rockbridge County Schools and then the Washington & Lee University Office of Admissions. He continued his love of soccer by following Celtic FC, coaching at RCHS, playing pick-up with the Lexington Vultures, and becoming Assistant Coach of the VMI men’s soccer team. In 2011, he was diagnosed with ALS and devoted himself to making the most of the time he had. He had many incredible adventures, and encouraged everyone who knew him to make the most of every day. He wrote about his adventures and his illness on his blog, http://www.dontshrink.com. The example he set made an impact around the world, especially in the Celtic FC and Rockbridge communities and within the VMI family. The outpouring of support during the Ice Bucket Challenge was a testament of the strength of his presence. Tony is survived by his wife, Amanda Tardy Conway, and daughters Cora and Louise Conway; his parents, John and Pauline Conway of Charlotte, NC; brother, Martin Conway, his wife, Julie, and children, Clare, Ryan, Norah, and Ella Conway of Huntersville, NC; his wife’s family, Claudia Huffman, David Tardy, Phyllis Bennington, and Renata and Brian Kleinchester. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Rockbridge Area Hospice and the Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins. Arrangements will be handled by Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory in Lexington, Virginia and a memorial service will be held on Friday, March 6th at 11:30 AM in Jackson Memorial Hall at VMI, with a reception to follow at Moody Hall. By Tony’s special request, no one attending the service should wear black.
~~~~~~~~~~++~~~~~~~~~~
My thoughts will be with the Conway family on Friday.
drambowiecelt
Condolences to you & your family. My own dad passed away last week & we laid him to rest on Thursday.
Look after loved ones, take strength from close family & friends. Cherish his memory. Enjoy placing your glass on his table.
Hail hail Terry
Drambowiecelt
Condolences on the loss of your Dad.
HH
Time to run…
Rest in peace Terry and may perpetual light shine upon you.
drambowiecelt
08:29 on 28 February, 2015
Beautiful tribute to your father
May he rest in peace
HH
Gerryboy,
When Forrest came on we were playing with 9 men against Inter. Zero effort and then he was moved deeper and had one or two runs.
Forrest needs to go out on loan as he is too comfortable at Celtic playing one game in 10 and living off his early potential.
We can’t have Brown, Bitton, Armstrong , Johansen, Matthews , Emilio running themselves to a standstill and at one stage Forrest standing watching.
Forrest also needs to mature off the park and maybe that is also impacting his game. We have GMS now so Forrest can go on loan or leave at end of the season if he does not deliver.
Drambowiecelt
Thoughts and prayers with you.
RIP your dear father.
latchford
Don’t you think there was something about putting on pint-sized, non-match fit, James Forrest – as lone striker in a 10 man team versus Inter – that was a bit, well, odd?
I must admit GMS is a better player than I thought he was if the Bhoy can keep improving what a player we will have its great to see him going past a player in full flight so few players do that in the modern game.GMS and Armstrong could turn out to be a couple of Gems. H.H.
drambowiecelt
Nice tribute. Condolences to you and all family and friends. May he rest in peace.
My father in law passed away on Thursday night, the same day as his wee golfing buddy was being laid to rest. Two great Celtic men now able to play golf together again.
midfield maestro
Condolences to you and your family.
Was your father called Jackie?
Drambowiecelt, condolences to you on the loss of your father. He sounds like a character and a lovely man.
RIP wee Terry.
DRAMBOWIECELT
Wee Terry may have been a true gentleman,but he sounds like a giant of a man.
You were lucky to have him with you,and he’ll always be there for you.
R I P Terry
Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood Morning
C…………………………..
Q…………………………..
N…………………………
Fantastic day in SunnySpain
22deg…………..
drambowiecelt
A wonderful tribute to someone who was evidently a very fine gentleman.
Thoughts and prayers are with you. And also with you Midfield Maestro.
HH jamesgang
LATCHFORD
Forrest was put on to inject some much-needed pace upfront. Just as we stopped breaking forward as the team were,understandably,tiring.
I too was disappointed in his performance. But it wasn’t due to his lack of application. The ball rarely went near him,and only then when he had his back to the goal.