Football is often about the margins. Virgil van Dijk’s header, when Celtic were 0-1 up away to Maribor, beat the keeper and defence, but struck Stefan Johansen on the line. A year later, with Celtic 2-0 and rocking Malmo to their core, Stefan came close to putting us 3-0 and clear, but both Champions League playoff ties turned and a chapter in our history changed.
Trailing 1-0, yesterday’s tie against Astana could have tipped out of control but sublime play by both Patrick Roberts and Leigh Griffiths turned the game on its head. It was a ballsy play. Patrick wouldn’t give up, Leigh used all of his experience to despatch the ball into the net from the edge of the box. It went exactly as I predicted in yesterday’s blog, “A great deal of responsibility will lie with Leigh Griffiths. He’ll have space to receive the ball from Roberts”. Astana were stunned.
Not so stunned they think they’re out of it, in fact, after the game their manager and players were talking about winning at Celtic Park. See Maribor, above, if you think that’s not credible. They reckon the tie is “50/50”. None of them were impressed by Celtic, the sentiment it they let us off the hook. We will have work to do next week.
Kolo, is there anything you can do to sort us out at corner kicks? Eoghan O’Connell lost his man, but we lose too many goals from corners inside the six yard box, or on the line, for me to ask no questions of Craig Gordon. Is his starting position right? Maybe if he started a pace off his line he’d get a fist on a corner before the striker. It feels like there’s more going wrong than just the defenders losing their men. If a goalkeeper comes for a ball in his six yard box but doesn’t get it, he’s responsible.
Irony is finished.
Care to guess which club issued this statement after the Scottish Cup final two months ago?
“Any attempts to attach blame to our supporters for the disgraceful and violent behaviour will not be accepted or tolerated by this club”.
Yesterday, the same club, Newco, not only accepted and tolerated those same supporters being blamed, they led the charge by banning them indefinitely and telling them they would lose their season ticket for the coming season without a refund!
“Any club’s supporters would have done the same”
Here’s the thing, after the cup final, Newco’s statement not only tolerated fans’ behaviour they made unprecedented attempts to justify it:
“We acknowledge that a tiny minority of Rangers fans also encroached on the pitch but only after having been faced with prolonged and severe provocation and in order to protect our players and officials who were being visibly attacked in front of them. Any club’s supporters would have done the same”.
If Celtic did this we would be mocked on every front page for a week. Unfortunately, Scotland does not have appropriate oversight in any walk of life, or the post-final reporting and political reaction would have been entirely different.
Thanks to all who are involved in the eBay auction for this incredible prize:
Courtesy of Celtic sponsor, Intelligent Car Leasing, we have an outstanding auction prize, as the centrepiece of our summer good causes. For the Kilmarnock game at Celtic Park, on 24 September 2016, you can win:
2 seats in the directors’ box
Champagne reception
5 course meal in the Walfrid Suite
Fully expenses bar (pre and post-match)
Half time snacks and refreshments
Car Parking
And a match programme.
The auction is open for only ONE MORE DAY. This is a fabulous opportunity to indulge yourself in some high living while watching Celtic and contributing towards the construction of a school kitchen in Malawi for Mary’s Meals. You can get involved here.
Thanks again to Intelligent Car Leasing.
536 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- »
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 29th July 2016 6:29 am
PETEC
Then join another Union,as I suggested earlier.
It’s your call anyway,no coercion from me.
……………………………………………………………..
My Original Car Pool were serious about starting a Union, A Union Rep threw his Card @ the Management/Union Amalgamation after the Deception. They split the Union between Scotstoun and Govan.
I’d start a new Union with a right wing outlook. ;))
UNITE are a union with a right wing outlook, they’d sell you down the river quicker than look at you, perfect for Petec yet he doesn’t want to join the union best suited to his political agenda.
What about joining the Christian Union Petec or are they too left wing because they have union in their name ?
Every fecker is Selfish unless yer like ma Sister Co…. who walks to Work from Dumbarton to Glasgow because she had bought a flat.
Praise the Lord for Yesterday.
Now about Hyperinflation. :((
Canamalar,
I pay a fee to Unite for a Lawyer, nothing more.
I’m sickened by their Global outlook, they have no real concern for local issues.
Doubting Thomas was something else.
Petec,
So you are in UNITE ?
Sound quality to me like you don’t know whether your coming or going.
Canamalar,
I get fed all their crap yes. Yes.
I dislike Brotherhoods.
Any Brotherhoods.
Clicques.
Having a Transgender Leader Telling people what to do. LOL
Marxism is Running Riot.
Are you in Unite?
Doubting Thomas was chosen to do a job, had he not done what he was chosen for someone else would have been chosen, as was Judas. God is all knowing, no ?
You not excited yet?
Canamalar it looks like OCD obsession on 29th July 2016 7:15 am
Doubting Thomas was chosen to do a job, had he not done what he was chosen for someone else would have been chosen, as was Judas. God is all knowing, no ?
……………………………………………………………………………………..
God is Almighty yes.
Petec,
The apostles were a brotherhood, so it’s more likely your dislike has more to do with your perception of the goals of said brotherhood than brotherhoods in general. That you don’t like your perceptions is a problem only you can deal with, however making accusations and labelling is in your terms bullying.
I said earlier I chucked what was to become UNITE the EEPTU, because they sold the rights won previously for 30 pieces of silver. There’s a big difference in chucking and refusing to join. As I said, they are so right wing I expect they’d be right up your street.
Canamalar it looks like OCD obsession on 29th July 2016 7:25 am
Petec,
The apostles were a brotherhood, so it’s more likely your dislike has more to do with your perception of the goals of said brotherhood than brotherhoods in general. That you don’t like your perceptions is a problem only you can deal with, however making accusations and labelling is in your terms bullying.
I said earlier I chucked what was to become UNITE the EEPTU, because they sold the rights won previously for 30 pieces of silver. There’s a big difference in chucking and refusing to join. As I said, they are so right wing I expect they’d be right up your street.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
;))
Your Mind is better than Mine. I will slash you with another Crushing Blow….. Feck the New Agers ;))
Petec,
Transgender people are still people who are you to sit in judgement on their contribution or dismiss their contribution on the grounds of your own ignorance and bigotry. You’ve spent all morning greetin about no being judged fairly and here you are showing your true colours, it’s no your place to judge the transgressions of others do you think you are God ?
For the Mr C.
Yes
check out a jj comment this week.
So powerful.
Don’t take it oot on moi.
Scapegoats should never be. ;))
What a lovely morning to be heading to Aberdour for the CQN Open. Nothing better than witnessing fairway after fairway bestrode by emerald clad CQNers sclaffing away for good causes.
Many thanks to Taggsy and BlantyreKev for all their brilliant efforts in organising one of the best days of the CQN season.
Sunshine and light breeze, so a wee knock down 6 iron into the first I reckon, (8 iron for BJMac).
Enjoy your day all participants, those schools in Malawi don’t get built by themselves!
Don’t like mentioning horsey tips but a couple of bob on Grandest 8.25 Musselburgh could offset CQN day oot expenses.
Eurochamps67
AwaitingtheyoungerbatteredbunnetmobileCSC
This weekend is the 50th anniversary of England’s glorious World Cup triumph.
Setting off today for a family wedding tomorrow in deepest Aberdeenshire, so will miss all the celebrations.
Shame.
Is Mr C in Unite?
Scab.cSc
16 Roads.CSC
Going to be awesome watching the Bhoys from 105.
Loud Support will hopefully be getting both Left Wingers and Right Wingers playing out of their skins against the Astanians that, IMO, will use every trick in the book to get through.
We need switched on players for this game.
I’m sure Brendan will have noticed they were quick to use deception.
Think we are going to have to play a similar game to that Astana did, containment, we saw their fast breaking game and they have the speed to mug us. Let them come true n to us and hit them on the break. I don’t think they will like having the tables turned on them, I think they will expect us to attack.
2l8
Looking forward to Barca game – yes it is only a friendly but nice to see Celtic on ‘home soil’, quite literally returning to their roots. Irishtown House before and after the game.
Friday and the Sun is shining, Day off work. Magic being a Tim.
Enjoy Bhoys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KLV
Great Reb session last night, only disappointment MON was meant to be there after attending function at local Club but had to return home early. Knackered this morning. Just heading off to Golf feel like heading back to bed. Laters ghuys & off to Dublin in the Green tomorrow.
I hope Every Cqner posts their best ever Golf scores today.
Eurochamps
Not to forget us non golfers who will be touring the pubs (all 3) of Aberdour whilst you bhoys scwaff baw around the Fife coast
Canamalar it looks like OCD obsession
I think your right about how we should approach the second leg. Keep it tight, stifle the game. It may not be pretty, it may verge on Wattienaccio, but I don’t give a monkey’s about the performance. End result is paramount.
I don’t think they have any sort of guile in their team, so would rely on counter attacks to hurt us.
Hope all the golfers enjoy their day.
You lucky b….hoys….
Hope all of you who have that strange fetish for golf enjoy themselves today in good company- always remember to thank the people who do the hard work in organising so that we have pleasure.
This comment comes from someone who never learned how to effectively tee off and gave up on golf because pitch & putt is a far superior form of the sport.
Wish I was there for the apres-golf and, on days like this, for indulging in the apres golf during and before the golf too. Old Tim usually leads the way on that score.
Enjoy!
SFTB
My dad is picking me up at 9.30 before heading up to get Oldtim who will be leading the charge
Harthill and the sun is still shining. Great stories in the car from The Token Tim, Lennybhoy and Marspapa.
Life’s Good !
Good luck to the golfers..
See when you tee off.
Keep it hit.
Have a cracking day in Aberdour bhoys
Jobo,
As a Scab, Life is Tremendous.
Auld Tam. Dudes in Work spreading nasty words about me being a Scab. Mr C ran with it?
I don’t blame him for believing Lies like that.
Cowards are Cowards. Being a Bible Believing Christian (that is the real problem) I Must Forgive.
DAVIDOPOULOS@ 8.28
” I don’t think they have any sort of guile in their team ”
Yes -they didn’t show much guile against Celtic – but –
I was surprised to see that Agim Ibraimi plays for Astana . He played the last 10 minutes . Who he? – A Macedonian with a rep of being a mighty fine footballer who lacks professionalism . . He has lots of guile . . Been about for a while – played for Maribor -scored for them v the Deady Bears/ scored a fabulous goal for Maribor when they drew with Chelsea in the Champions League. He was on loan at Cagliari for a short period – Cagliari got rid of him – Manager said this — ” fabulous player with the mind of a dilettante ”
If he plays – he will have to be watched very carefully . .
BT,
Not possible to forget the contributions made by you non golfers.
Hope you have plenty of aftersun cream for us poor sunskelpt sclaffers this afternoon.
Eurochamps67
GoingtohavetheGrandestofdaysCSC
It is very disappointing having young team leaders unable to look you in the face – Because they are Hurting you by Lying about Times.
They know not what they do.
It is Hurting them more than it is Hurting me.
Black is White now Unfortunately…. get used to it.
C’mon the Celts against Astana.