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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Sniper takes out centre-back and Micu puts Swansea 1 up.
neveralone
They will get pumped…
bazzabhoy
If you have virgin do you now get bt now that espn is gone?
No
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS @17:41
Once again. Thank you!
leftclicktic @ 17:08 and 18:35
Thank you!
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SSB Your programme is sh#te.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5yyD8KE-T0&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Morrissey the 23rd
Think what you could achieve in money if you jumped without a Parachute
First Of The Gang To Die CSC
Well done to St. Johnstone tonight, another terrific result.
If they get through, will they still have the possibility of facing a Spurs or Sevilla type? Hope not!
HH
the spirit of arthur lee
20:25 on 1 August, 2013
Cheers.
That’s rubbish.
Paul67,
I’d go along with most of what you said. We got into the game 5 minutes late and I obviously missed Efe’s error, that is maybe a good thing as I thought he had a good game, his partner, Kelvin looked shakey to me though and the backheel back across the face of the goal was one of the worst things I’ve seen defensively. It looked like his mind was elsewhere and Neil already knows it, hence his comment about him being his best CB (trying to get his transfer fee up) but putting in performances like that will drive it down. Last season he was fantastic in the Champions League as well, it would be a shame if he is wanting to leave.
The full backs didn’t do a lot for me last night but I think we set out to be cautious and hope that Sammi, Kris or James would have created chances, even with the shocking high crossfield passes to James (why? Sammi ok but not James). I don’t blame Neil for doing that, this is the worst round to play and if we get knocked out – there is no Europe at all. That would be a disaster and those pesky away goals can hurt you more than anything.
Everyone is obviously aware that this is the slippiest of banana skins and it seemed to affect a few of the fans around about as they were dishing out stick almost from the moment we took our seats.
Elfborg were cynical and their targeting of Sammi was ridiculous but they done it in a hun style.
I hope the odds are good for a Celtic away win as, IMO, we will win over there, and probably by 2 goals.
No Ki for Swansea?
0-0 half time murderwell
Sky Sports cancelled tonight, to be fair she tried everything including half price deal for the year, when I told her the primary reason was their continued support for dead club in the lower leagues she burst out laughing and said. “Your not the first and I’m sure not the last to say that, including my partner”
As a wee bonus she gave me half price line rental for the year.
These bloody principles will have an adverse effect on my liver tho….
Improvement required by Motherwell second half, maybe try to nick a goal, but like us yesterday, clean sheet imperative.
HH
petec
we are GUARANTEED a EL play off regardless of the result next week.
che
Well done. I done the same months ago with ESPN for the very same reason
Kevin Doyle ?????
This is how I think the conversation is going
NL Peter he would be a steal at £500k
PL OK £500k is worth a punt but remember he is nearly 30 so no sell on value
Wolves (knowing what we got for Vic and Gary) £2million ??
PL F–K off
NL But he is best option
PL not at £2million with no sell on value
so unless he comes on loan – and why would Wolves let him come on loan ??
I cant see it happening – only possible option is if Wolves want rid of him and have no offers at deadline day – we may get him
my view he is a possible short term solution – nothing more
67ECW
masty
There is NO money to be made in the EL and the quality signings that many are crying out for will not be at Celtic this season.
Is that so hard to understand Joe?
theweegreenman
Reminds me of the old Frank Carson joke, “my grandfather was an IRA hero. He was a rear gunner on a milk float.”
EDB
I am fully aware of that mate, just clearing up petec’s statement saying should we lose next week we have no European football.
EDB
joe?????
Billy No’Well’s tribute to Super Score Bored:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5yyD8KE-T0
ElDiegoBhoy
Not NO money but of course no way comparable to CL.
On the other hand if it could be guaranteed that we won it, I’d take it… even if our income was but + £7m!
Petec
Thankfully if the worst came to the worst and we got knocked out, we’d drop into Europa League play off as a seeded team
HH
masty
Taking a different thought perhaps we could win the EL this season. Similar to the Seville season but being successful. Still no dosh though at the end of the campaign.
ElDiegoBhoy
20:48 on 1 August, 2013
masty
Taking a different thought perhaps we could win the EL this season. Similar to the Seville season but being successful. Still no dosh though at the end of the campaign.
__________________________________
again I agree, but there would be gate money and a bit of prize money on top..
Congratulations I suppose to St Johnstone , the coefficient and all that but won’t go overboard as I still don’t like them after the ‘ guard of honour ‘ farce last season.
Plastic Sevconians who like most other wee clubs absolutely despise us.
Ourselves alone!!!!
Mathering
From verb: To Mather
Pronounced: fəd
To fuss or moan in public despite established facts to the contrary.
Indicative of cognitive shortcomings or diminished reason. Co-morbid with episodes of sustained financial stress or duress.
See also: Sevco CEO
Burghbhoy
Yell be cheerin on the mithers tho, right?
;))
EDB
What about EL late stages after a third place CL group finish?
Similar money, more coefficient, more excitement….
ML1 Down
Oops! Murderwell go behind! Ha ha!
HH
The bold Bhoys
They’re worse than St Johnstone
Patrick27
Mmm… is that better than falling at the CL last 16?
The Spirit of Arthur Lee @ 20:31
There is no guarantee my chute will open. Your going to feel bad if that happens! Anyway, I’ll collect your donation in person if you have any problem donating on-line. Thanks in advance.
Stretch Out And Wait CSC
whats this sh^te about no money in euro league. there is no where near the same t.v income, maybe 1 million if you get past the group stages, but good pricing etc… would see full houses and full houses make celtic money at least 1 million at the gate so 3 million less expenses, but excluding food, merchandising etc… a good wee run in that cup, i’d hazard a guess is worth about 4+ million to the club.
there is plenty of income to be had from euro football but champions league is the priority and offers the greatest financial rewards
HH
p.s. well done st. Johnson good to see another Scottish team going well
jonny the tim
20:55 on 1 August, 2013
Yeesss….. Will never forget them lying down to sevco
Masty&Patrick,
Thanks for the heads up. I didn’t realise that.
Even less pressure for next week then. :)
Arthur- good- maybe the mullet thought they were playing sevco