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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It was a poor show from Elfsborg asking Mo to play against us ; he was on a hiding from both sets of fans. I doubt we will be loaning out any more players to this club despite the polite noises coming from Neil about respecting Elfsborg’s decision.
On Bangura’s performance, what we saw was a reasonable shift as a lone striker . playing on the break and keeping the centre halves on their toes.
With Celtic , Mo is further up the pitch, playing against deep lying defences – you need a very good touch to play for us , what with all the tip tap stuff going on in midfield , so Mo like Harold is a runner with nowhere to run when playing for the hoops.
It will be interesting to see what Neil has planned for this year – is he learning from the Germans / Bayern Munich – a team of big strapping lads , sprinkled with a few smaller ball players who play a more direct game.
There is the possibility of Bo dashing down the wing and providing balls to George and big Balde – certainly for away league games as the pitches deteriorate then this would be a good option.
I suspect that Neil’s view is that young Tony Watt is not ready to lead the line just yet (and putting the CL qualifications on his shoulders at CF would be wrong), so having him come on and see the game from the wing and to develop some better awareness is no bad thing. Tony has 2 good tricks , turning a CH when closely marked and also when breaking wide ,dipping the left shoulder and bursting past the defender to hit a hard low cross / shot. Late last season I got the impression that this was being read easily by defenders , so he needs to sharpen up physically and have better variety in his play – so work in progress for Tony at the moment.
We do need someone who will play within the width of the penalty box and for our budget it will be a struggle – a young Kevin Phillips , mobile, direct , knows where the goals are type of chap.
We do not need a big lump from English football who is used to jostling with other big lumps …….
From the odd snippet on TV over the years Billy Sharp was knocking goals in a similar style to Gary …… he looks like a centre forward 5′ 9″ with a good leap and our recent dealings with Southampton could help get the deal over the line.
Crystalballcfc
The Coventry busted should be fun, wonder if the new club up here will lend them the incubator, or are they still using it? Just wondering.
Che, should be in the area one of those days, will be in touch.
Have Coventry been punished enough?
.
The Rangers Demanding to Know where Coventry will be Sent..
Oh Wait..
Summa
i a scholl = in a school. sorry
I blame Catholic scholls
Will be very interesting to see this pan out at Coventry.
Wonder when the comparisons will be made?
Already Talksport missing the point talking of a 15 point penalty??
Perhaps Sevco could buy Coventry.
Would that mean their fans would be sent there?
Is it the holding company or the club.?
Coventry Fan………………….”This is just the beginning of a wonderful adventure”
normanstreet49
11:09 on
2 August, 2013
Just so there’s no misunderstanding I would have booed his reaction in the Wilson incident and will be sure to wish him to rot in hell if he does any damage to Celtic. If I had been him I’d still have played my heart out for Elfsborg to prove Celtic wrong but I’d have scored:>)
Hail Hail
This is the first time I have seen fit to post following about 7 years of lurking. Below is an e-mail that I have sent to the SPFL based on their website showing The Rangers Football Club as having the club honours previously awarded to Rangers Football Club.
To: info@spfl.co.uk
Dear Sirs,
I am delighted to see that you have a new website up and running ahead of the start of the 2013 / 2014 football season. The amalgamation of the bodies responsible for administering league football in Scotland is something that should have happened some time ago.
I am, however, slightly perplexed by some of the information contained in your website regarding “Honours”.
Following the demise of Airdrieonians FC, Clydebank were cannibalised to provide the town of Airdrie with a professional football team to support. Clydebank changed their name to Airdrie United and again to Airdrieonians. I note that your website correctly reflects the honours won by the club who will this season compete under the name Airdrieonians as being those of Clydebank.
On the other hand, your website credits the new club, The Rangers Football Club Ltd (an entity formed in 2012), with the titles won by Rangers Football Club plc. Following its failure to reach agreement with its creditors (as Dunfermline managed this week), Rangers Football Club plc was placed under the control of liquidators and will soon cease to exist.
The Rangers Football Club, having been created in 2012 has, so far,won only the Scottish Third Division title but will likely win more titles in the future.
These are two entirely separate and distinct entities and while they may have very similar names, play in very similar colours and involve largely the same personnel, they are not the same club.
I look forward to an exciting new football season and to this section of your website being corrected.
Regards,
Coventry City in liquidation?
Jimmy Hill would be turning in his grave if he were deid.
HH!!
The building has left Elvis
Sad news about Coventry…..
I was offered a trial at Coventry in 78……
They had some tie in with St Marys Boys down in the Calton.
I played for them for a wee bit….
Was serving my time as a Fitter come Draughtsman
My auld man (GRHS) told me “dont be daft” “theres nae money in fitba”…..
So that was that….
I’m still working as an engineer…..
And dont think for a minute I was ever good enough for the bhoys anyway…..
But I would have died trying…..
HH
derbyshirebhoy
11:35 on
2 August, 2013
Fair play to you my friend…….
I’d have scored anaw……
HH
Nice one stoofer88′, I wonder if you will get a reply, ?
Another St Marys bhoy….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weSPH-PUI58
Ok off to the shops now, will someone stick my name in for the podium race ;).
A bill of £590,000 puts Coventry into liquidation, – Sevco chickenfeed.
Oh, it’s ok, it’s Coventry LTD that has been liquidated! Phew, that means they can keep all that history, the trophy/ies, and of course, no need to pay the debt back!
I wonder if Mather will be acting as Liquidation Consultant?
Don’t worry Covenrty, liquidation doesn’t mean the club dies, only the company! All your history is intact!
Who is doubting that response down south?….
Fat Sally is demanding to know if Jimmy Hill really was a p**f…
SSN pushing Mather’s message re. “thems” “punishment” v Mini Huns!
Jack Irvine behind all this methinks!
Have never read Mein Kampf, but I would imagine Mr. Irvine has!
HH
Have “The” Coventry bought a bus yet?..
Still “The” Coventry can look forward to signing all those trialists!
normanstreet49
I was a decent tennis player in my youth. We had a teacher at our school who ran a wee lunchtime tennis club and I went along. I was a natural. She coached me and I was always on court. Other pupils all played me. I just thought she done that because I could return the ball pretty well. She put 3 of us in the Scottish School Championships. I wennt allong with my full Celtic kit. I didn;t have anything else and the school racket with the name in black marker down the side of it.
Once we arrived at the tournament I immediatley felt way out of my league. Guys there had their own coaches. Parents had banners. Some of the schools had supporters with them. Everyone had tennis gear on including the other guys from my school I felt a bit daft.
Went out for my first match and although slightly embarrassed and nervous absolutely skooshed it. The teacher pulled me aside and said well done you could win this. I thought she was nuts. It did give me confidence though. She was a cracking wee woman. Loves her tennis. God knows how old she was but she was very fit and a good tennis coach. She did give me a bit of a row for the Hoops.
I got all the way to the semis and played a left hander. I had never played one before. I got beaten quite soundly and the guy won the final easy too. Won the 3rd, 4th place play off.
Came home with a trophy a bag of tennis balls and a huge proud smile.
Told me old man what had happened and said that’s great son but there’s nae money in tennis you wouldn’t get in a tennis club anyway you’re no at the right school.
Never felt so demotivated in my life. Faithers eh?
LB
Tallybhoy
11:35 on
2 August, 2013
Coventry City in liquidation?
Jimmy Hill would be turning in his grave if he were deid.
HH!!
They widnae need a headstone for him. Just leave the chin stickin ‘ up through the grun!
According to ‘leg go’ aka Jabba, sevco have now banned Clyde as well as the BBC.
Lucky they’ve still got Alba!
Twists n Turns,
I bought 2 programmes when in Seville on the day of the game so assume they are the genuine article. They have the postcards etc. still inside them.
Happy to get one to you. Paul67 has my e-mail address.
Stoofer88
Welcome aboard
‘crushed nuts?’ ‘Naw, Layringitis!’
Doesn’t stop their journos asking questions about sevco when we make a signing though!
LB
LiviBhoy
11:50 on
2 August, 2013
Livibhoy……
You made me laugh out loud there……
Now I spend all my time telling my young lad where he’s going wrong anaw…..
He just thinks fathers are a bit “thick”……
At least I think thats what he says……. :)))))
HH
This complaint from an intellectual giant on sevcomedia:
It seems as if they are purposely treating us like a lower division club.
@susiebluesky: “I cried at Wembley. I cried at Villa Park & I’m crying today. Thank you for killing my club Coventry City Council & Sisu #pusb #skyblues”
Oooft – least they’re under no illusions!
HH
Spare a thought for the decent Coventry city fans, I have no doubt they are not as deluded or protected by the establishment as a certain other club.
new article posted.
Hullo