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.
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Morning all.
To all the golf haddies – have a great day!
:-)
Hope the weather is kind today.
To all the non-golf alkies – also have a great day!
:-)
Fore!
Cheers!
HH!!
Good luck to all the golfers today, if it’s breezy, swing it easy, may the course be with you. HH
HAPPY HOOOOOOPY BIRTHDAY to
SALTIRESINSEVILLA!!!!!!!
South Of Tunis
I was surprised to see that Agim Ibraimi plays for Astana
———————————————————————————-
Yes, this is true. When we were drawn against Astana I was surprised to see him in their squad. He was a good player for Maribor. I think we were even linked with him after they dumped us out of the CL!
I was amazed he didn’t start on Wednesday to be honest.
You don’t get Many Bible Believing Catholic Christians talking about Brotherhoods in the Shipyards. Slamming Brotherhoods.
I’ll never be popular.
Bros
SALTIRESINSEVILLA!!!!!!!
Have a Great day.
Happy birthday Saltires in Seville
All positives, I like that.
http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/im-ready-to-battle-oconnell/
South Of Tunis
Also, ‘dilettante’ is a fabulous word. Haven’t heard that in ages. I was once called a dilettante in an argument (albeit the person calling me it didn’t use it correctly).
Dilettante? Moi?
They will recite a good welcome I’m sure :))
http://theceltsarehere.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/goodwill-lost-as-corrupt-astana-play.html
Receive
The Brotherhood in the Yards is disgusting.
I’d rather be isolated than conform.
Interesting
A contemporary understanding is that dilettante is a person who enjoys the arts or someone who engages in a field without investing the usually required effort. However the original definition was of an aristocratic person who was not required to work and so devoted his time instead to cultural pursuits.
The word may also refer to:
An amateur, someone with a casual or superficial interest
A layperson, someone without formal qualifications within a specific field
Dilettante (album), a 2005 album by Ali Project
Dilettantes (album), a 2008 album by You Am I
Dilettante Music, a classical music website with social networking features
The Dilettantes, a San Francisco neo-psychedelic rock band
A member of the Dilettante Society
.
Hyperinflation is just around the corner.
As prior to 2008 the smart advice is to stay out of Debt.
Gold might seem dear, is it really?
Helicopter…….
2018 a New system?
Tony D.
Respect.
Tell Everyone you know to get out of debt as soon as they can.
Kolo update.
http://videocelts.com/2016/07/blogs/latest-news/rodgers-delivers-toure-update/
Jamie Lindsay joins Greenock Morton on loan
By: Newsroom Staff on 28 Jul, 2016 22:36
CELTIC midfielder Jamie Lindsay has joined Greenock Morton on a season-long loan until June 2017.
PETEC on 29TH JULY 2016 9:39 AM
Tony D.
Respect.
Tell Everyone you know to get out of debt as soon as they cAn
You lost me there mate?
Enjoy your day golfers.
The trophies are quality
As will be the craic today
:-)
Hail hail
And so they should.
http://videocelts.com/2016/07/blogs/latest-news/uefa-ko-astana-bid-to-ban-griffiths/
Embra mike.
Hi mate.
do you have any squad updates or am I being to early dates wise?.
For our younger/devt squad
Hh
Astana behaving like huns.
No doubt sevco will offer them the use of minty park…
…for a fee of course.
HH!!
This guy knows everything, we are blessed having him here in Scottish football, cough! cough!
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/07/29/mark-warburtons-response-when-asked-about-rangers-and-celtic-spe/
Hi bhoys
Any sign of a New Balance Friday today ? – Sinclair finally, Duffy out of the picture ? Bamford and any thoughts on who the central midfield 3 will be this season – Bitton, Brown, Jo Hansen, Rogic, Allan, McGregor, Armstrong, Christie and Commons don’t massively inspire me as a shoo-in. I’d hope an imposing Victor type with stamina like a duracell battery would be procured and we could start preening the not-good-enoughs from that list…
Anyway, hope all well. Forced to ‘read’ the match on here this week 3 hours after the final whistle and not knowing the score – never again – stressful experience.
AN TEARMANN
That’s 4 of our 20 year olds out on loan now
Michael Duffy (20) to Dundee until July 2017
Paul McMullen (20) to Dunfermline until July 2017
Fiacre Kelleher (20) to Peterhead until January 2017
Jamie Lindsay (20) to Morton until July 2017
Probably more out to toughen them up
big wavy
My gut feel is that we won’t see any more signings until after the Astana 2nd leg.
We do have a lot of midfielders, a few who are very similar, so someone is going to be unhappy this season. I would class Christie as more of a forward though. Ditto for Commons.
TONYDONNELLY67
I don’t know how we managed before him:))
Thank Ghod he came up to keep us right!
Happy Golf Day ya Maddies…
Hoopy Birthday Saltires…
Good read, even a Wee bit of politics for the guys who are interested.
http://etims.net/?p=9451
Saltires In Seville
Have a cracking day mate..
HH
Peter As prior to 2008 the smart advice is to stay out of Debt. you have got that spot on mate.
A bit late for the zombies but good advice for the rest of us. Elephant in the room is deflation and stagnation. Will not end well for a lot of peeps. Next global financial crisis 2017, or sooner if it’s President Trumpet.
Excited about Wednesday. Biggest game of the season for the hoops. 60,000 Tims showing that Glasgow is green and white. Hunbelievable that the daily Rangers were trying to pin an undefended cross prior to a corner on Effe shows that they must read CQN as well. Hail hail.
A very happy birthday to SALTIRES IN SEVILLA!
HH!!
You tell um Efe.
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/07/29/ambrose-rubbishes-celtic-exit-rumours/
Hoopy birthday Saltires in Seville
Hope all golfers are below par today
Cheers Davidopolous,
I suspect you’re right although I wouldn’t be surprised to see Sinclair arrive beforehand regardless of result.
All about opinions but I’d keep McGregor, Allan, Rogic (if he signs a contract), Bitton (if his head is in the right space), loan out Christie & Armstrong down south, sell Commons, GMS, Cifci and Jo Hansen.
Diminish the impact of Brown over time as we replace with quality in the middle 3.
Apparently Bastian Schweinsteiger is heading for the exit at Man Utd. Surely Sevco bound?
BOGNORBHOY
I reckon there will be a few below-par tomorrow…
big wavy
I wouldn’t argue too much about those choices, although I would prefer to see Christie play first team games at Celtic this season. It’s a bit of a toss up though on who should be starting. I’m not convinced by Allan’s ability to contribute week in week out. Has a lot of talent but has yet to really show it/be given the chance to show it.