Shortly after Elfsborg cracked one against the crossbar last night I quickly scanned the Celtic team and had a thought. For the second season in a row we are taking on the Swedish champions but we’re missing two of last season’s big performers and none of this season’s new signings were ready for action. In short, this was Celtic 2012 minus Wanyama and Hooper. No wonder we looked unstructured.
Joe Ledley brought some vision to central midfield when he arrived, hopefully banishing the Brown-Kayal partnership to hidden corners of our mind once and for all. Anthony Stokes playing at the front of a wide diamond was equally effective. With the signing of Amido Balde, bids in for Kevin Doyle, and the addition of a wide-delivery-expert Derk Boerrigter, clearly Neil Lennon has a different plan for the months to come….. so there’s no real need for me to state the obvious.
Defensively we looked solid after a shaky opening few minutes. I’m not the only one who was a bit nervous about Efe Ambrose after he was (again) caught underneath a long ball, but he settled quickly. As we know to our cost, being great for 87 minutes is not how Champions League reputations are made, you are judged on your how vulnerable you become in your weak moments.
I said yesterday that Samaras and Commons were the two players who could cope at this level, which became plainly obvious during the game. Georgios was the one player who frightened Elfsborg, they either swamped him with four defenders or fouled him before he got near goal.
Kris is simply the most intelligent footballer we have. He is not the fastest, will never have the best stats, but he understands how games are won and is able to act accordingly. Without these two players Celtic would be distinctly vanilla.
Thanks to those who sent over their 1254125 Great Scottish Run details, I’ll have them on the page later.
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Congratulations to St. Johnstone on a wonderful result tonight. Hope they make the group stages – and beyond.
Well done to StJohnstone tonight,but co-efficient or not I hope
Motherwell get pumped tonight
Congratulations St. Johnstone, great result. Hope “The Mullet” gets a result tonight, similar to the ones that got him the MOTY award last season!
Fud!
HH
Lubo Moravcik had no sell on value for Celtic. I wish we hadn’t signed him. Shocking business plan.
The Boy Jinky
19:21 on
1 August, 2013
Monaghan
Where did that unbelievable statement come from
——
From one of Sevcomedia’s most fawned over leading lights, no less!
starry plough
19:21 on
1 August, 2013
Monaghan1900
Wonderful finger on the pulse stuff that we poor Tims can only aspire too!!
Administration 2 should throw up more genius’s like him!
——
Being Tims, we clearly start life at a disadvantage. If only we were capable of that kind of insight.
NatKnow – “We welcome the paper-chase…”
19:22 on
1 August, 2013
If there’s one thing Sevcovians do better than anyone else, it’s denial.
——
Denial of the clear and obvious truth – the verbal gymnastics are a sight to behold.
Monaghan
Fair enough ….
I’m planning a wee shindig … inviting jinky … ronnie .. tommy .. big jock ;)
jonny the tim
lol!
Quonno @ 17;28,
Might be a problem they are giving the sports package away for nought.
Hail Hail
Swansea kick off with three new signings in the team … total spent : £20m
The Boy Jinky
All funded by ST sales….not!
Tbj
Paid for by sky subscribers (mugs like me)
Paul67 et al
Well done again the Saints, another terrific result!
The Boy Jinky
Spurs spent 26 mil on one striker from Valencia, Swansea FFS this is what we’re up against..
EDB
Defo not…
Strange stat there… swansea representing England tonight … any coefficient points they gain will go towards English status
Hacken 1 – 2 Thun
Llanelli, cefn druids and bangor represent wales in the europa league
Bob was sitting on the plane waiting to fly to Glasgow, when a guy took the seat beside him. The guy was an emotional wreck, pale, hands shaking, moaning in fear.
“What’s the matter?” Bob asked.
“I’ve been transferred to Glasgow – I’ve heard the people are crazy there. They’ve got lots of shootings, gangs, riots, drugs, poor public schools, and one of the highest crime rates in the country.”
Bob replied, “I’ve lived in Glasgow all my life. It’s not as bad as the media says. Find a nice home, go to work, mind your own business, and send your kids to a nice private school. It’s as safe a place as anywhere in the world.”
The guy relaxed and stopped shaking and said, “Oh, thank you. I’ve been worried to death. But if you live there and say it’s OK, I’ll take your word for it. What do you do for a living?”
“I’m a tail gunner on a Tennant’s truck.”
Well done Saints
Disgraceful that the game was not covered by BBC STV. It would have been unlikely to be expensive to buy the rights to this match, it would have got good viewing figures… Or are they saving up for a Ramsdens Cup Spectacular….?
Gene – I would guess that the Sky money is more coming from worldwide sales these days.
Coming late to the discussion re players of previous generations ‘improving’ with the benefit of nostalgic reminisces…
My late father (b 1917) normally a man of few words would often reel off theCeltic litany which ended “…Thompson,Thompson, McGrory, Scarff & Napier”. However he sat me down one day and said there was NEVER a Celtic team to match the new litany beginning “Simpson, Craig & Gemmell…” and no player (he saw) better than Jinky.
Sometimes it is difficult to see the obvious but in this case me old Dad surely got it right!
chairbhoy
19:16 on 1 August, 2013
They’ll wait until the roof collapses and someone gets injured……if it happens during a game, all hell will let loose….
Neveralone
I saw the lions but still live in hope to see a better Celtic team
Switched on to see Swansea and Malmo. What’s the point of having a colour television if one team is in all white and other is in all black?
Gene a B n
Exactly the point!
67 Heaven
Wouldnt be the first time the roofs caved in on a team playing at ibrokes
But we know it will be big Peters fault anyhoo
Now you know about Bangura…
Celtic Underground retweeted
Official Elfsborg FC @elfsborg2013
“Was I unhappy at Celtic ? No. I was annoyed at the pranks to my car but I enjoyed the nightlife. I had great nights out in Glasgow!”
“I hope the nightlife here is as good as Glasgow. I was always late for training at Celtic. Hopefully training centre is near town!”
EDB 18.07
It is the coded language of the ” silent Fenian hand”.
TT
7000 at the Motherwell game. Not a bad crowd considering.
Luv watching Malmo ……hahahahahaha
BMCUWP
Bevvy session location…………there are these 3 pubs in Glasgow called
‘The Loupin’ each proclaim to be the greatest pub in the whole wide World,l
know all 3 can’t be the greatest,but………….shoooooooorly worth a look.
If you have virgin do you now get bt now that espn is gone?
On another point, murrayfield is the new Ross hall.
Mrs was in yesterday getting a scan and was shoulder to shoulder to the new bhoy.
Apparently he is a babe, although no samaras if you ask me.
Can someone confirm to me the ko time for saturday?
5:15
ASonOfDan
20:08 on 1 August, 2013
7000 at the Motherwell game. Not a bad crowd considering
==================================
Considering? Considering what? Just asking!
Ason
Ta
Swans 1-0
Celtic Supporters’ Club Open for Business
Contrary to some recent reports the Celtic
Supporters’ Club situated at 1524 London
Road is open for business. The Club is under
new managemnt and will be open every day
from 11am to midnight. On match days there
will be a live band entertaining patrons prior
to kick-off beginning this Saturday 3rd August
for the first game of the new season.
Annual membership of the Club is £10 but
non-members can also use the facilities for a
small entrance fee. Drinks are reasoably priced
and all Celtic Supporters are welcome.
Good Evening Timland.
Happy with the result last night……..well done St Johnstone.