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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Talking to my Scouse mate re Kolo Toure….Said was very popular, cant play him very week though ( which I don’t think we will ) as it wouldn’t do him justice ..good cover
I believe that a team can become greater than the sum of its parts. Wales and Iceland showed us that in the Euro’s. A good team spirit and collective effort work wonders.
I’ve just read that an realised I sound like PL.
Away for a lie down.
CULTSBHOY you haven’t seen the best of Simunovic or Boyata. Sviatchenko doesn’t struggle in the air. I’Connell did a more than decent job last night. Tierney was seen as too inexperienced last season and look at him now. Ajer has a lot of first team football behind him.
As for the consensus, much of a that is debateable and is used as another stick to beat the Board with.
So when all the hilarity dies down, will there be an investigation into whether Ladbrokes manipulated the betting market by having their PR chums Level5 plant a pie in the sky story in the press?
Or is there nothing to see here, shall we just move along, move along?
Cultsbhoy,
What have any of the points you make got to do with PL?
Seeing as you were chuntering on here for days on end about him being put back in his box by Dermot.
Barney,
You forgot to mention Leicester City too, but you’re spot on
KINGlUBO
DAVIDOPOULOS.
International Champions thing.?
Heard a Rube fan in a beach bar opining that at least it was an opportunity to watch some of Rube’s teenagers ,albeit in Friendlies.
Lennon18 on 28th July 2016 1:53 pm
Few accusations getting thrown at Griffiths by Astana, it was clear at the end of the game that they were trying to get him sent off so he would miss the return tie….I’d expect a few more stories in the press over the next few days
*especially our own press, let’s not forget the baptists mini’s son trying to get us thrown out after the theatrics of the Milan goalie, thankfully Ancelotti saw sense and called his own man out for it,
South Of Tunis
I’m sure all of Man City’s Chinese fans are of the same opinion after their match today against Dortmund. Still, at least they got to see what we all want to see at Celtic…Denayer playing centre back.
tonydonnelly67 on 28th July 2016 11:14 am
I had a wee look at the CQN posts during game time just there, honestly! There are some roasters on here.
*saw that myself macaroni and not all huns, what pleasure do they get out of supporting the leather belts.
I was in Varsity stadium on one of the hottest nights of the year and watched a young Celtic side give up a 1 goal lead at half time to a juvenile level Toronto Italia losing 1-4 where a young expat Ed McNally gave Willie McStay an absolute roasting. Vowed that night I would never go back not even when on holiday at hame. 2 days later I was back at the same venue watching them.
After the “dancing in the streets of Raith game” said the same thing, eff them, following Sunday I was buying shares.
Why, because that’s what Celtic supporters do, doesn’t make me an uber tim just an oul haun that still loves seeing the ball nestled in the opposition net.
CQN level 5 little helpers & Lurking Huns and yesterday’s negative knobs, GIRFUYs
*the hunterlopers on here are pathetic, you can spot them a mile away, just because they put 67 or 88 after their name disnae wash with me, that’s like us puting 12 after our nom-de-plumes and going on fascist fascist.
Embdy got a rubber?
well, you got the roasters bit right:)
The L5 ” sevco and VP in the same headline” guff – just a pathetic attempt to make the tribute act look as if they’re peeing up against the tall trees with the big dogs. More like peeing all over their hapless supporters, who are handing over money to the grateful bookies – have they not suffered enough?………….
NAH!
DAVIDOPOULOS on 28TH JULY 2016 3:56 PM
Re Ladbrokes,
I don’t know, maybe DD who owns 3 to 4% of Ladbrokes will ask the bookmaker’s CEO about Level5?
The CEO at Ladbrokes reportedly has a SB at Celtic Park and is an ‘avid supporter’ although he previously worked for Deadco and Murray too.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/leisure/12070369/Ladbrokes-boss-makes-the-biggest-gamble-of-his-career.html
HH
Barney67
Wrong site mate ;)
HH
clogher celt
It is, admittedly, a far fetched notion. Perhaps the Level5 link to Ladbrokes is an unhappy coincidence. Anyway, as Southside says, the ones losing out are the fans placing bets of such silly things based on the newspaper reports.
As an aside, with regard to the idea that the reports came out of Turkey…I’m surprised there are enough journalists left there to report it!
WWW(GBWO) on 28TH JULY 2016 4:23 PM
Gotcha, but I was referring to the post above mine. :-)
rockets, stoatirs an’ feral roastirs……………………….
I salute yer indefatiguability……..
such devotion – If only you could use it for your own team!
Geordie Munro
Even if the box is padlocked we are still living with the legacy….
Weeminger
I’m happy with Tourre – I’d have been happier if he played last night ( would have required better timing/ planning)… He may well be a 2 season solution – I hope so
HH
CB
Evening champions….widnae be RVP on the back of their shirts ….it wid be RIP.……
If they can get anywan to mak them….smiley thing
Braw
I see Argumentum Ad Baculum backfirin’ again at the ole toofless n roofless Stadium of Night.
Upstairs for dancin’ indeed.
Cultsbhoy said:
” Simunovic is a sick note, Erik is a great player but arguably too short, Toure is 35, OConnell and Ager arguably too inexperienced and that Efe and Boyatta are not to be trusted.”
Another way of looking at these players is as follows:
Simunovic,a classy looking player who has shown his bravery by playing for six weeks with a fractured knee, looks very promising;
Erik Sviatchenko shows that height isn`t everything when it comes to winning aerial batlles. It is one of his many strengths;
At 35, Toure remains an exceptionally effective central defender as evidenced by his MOTM performance in the Europa League Final only two months ago;
Ajer and O`Connell have both shown much to be admired in the early days of their Celtic careers;
Although his mistakes are highlighted more than those of anyone in the game, Efe never hides and make many an important contribution in every game;
Boyatta has not been very impressive so far but , as all football fans know, many players blossom after a poor start. Even with this below par start,though, Dedryk has shown himself to be superb in the air.
Cheerio for now,
JJ
DAVIDOPOULOS on 28TH JULY 2016 4:28 PM
As they say ‘I’ve never seen a poor bookie!’
Who knows what goes on the bookie usually wins.
It’s desperate what’s going on in Turkey. Turkey was a great supporter to the Irish people during The Great Hunger, especially in Drogheda.
The mssm coverage of Astansa’s laughable accusation of the Griff incident is telling.
Most normal countries would have ridiculed as the footage clearly shows Astansa’s bullshit and rushed to portray it as such in defense of the best team in their country.
But the jaundiced pens of the mssm frame their headline’s to give it credibility.
It;s in the dna of a huge percentage of this country to portray us in poor light.
Italian media claiming Pogba to Manchester is a done deal. 110 million euros plus add ons.One of the add ons is said to be Rube receiving 5 million euros if Pogba renews his contract at Man Utd.It is also being claimed that Man Utd have agreed to pay the relevant Agents fees .
Well said jungle Jim
On the game the other night was quite happy. we weren’t in the best of shapes and that lot,who last year had some pretty good results in the c l,are no mugs
Yet they sat back and expected us to force the issue
I think we will win comfortably next week
Anyway Cyprus and alcohol maybes souvlaki calls
Bloody hot
LIONSROAR67 A,ND SCOTTISHLEAF,
The way I saw it with Broonies booking was he’s got the capatains armband on, so normally accepted he can talk to the ref and have the refs ear. From the replay I had seen it seemed to me that with the refs actions re the card, he’s telling Broonie you should be helping me out here not being in the thick of it.
I understand Broonie coming to the defense of teammates but sometimes he needs to temper it a wee bit, especially the way the ref was letting them get away wi murder, just my opinion btw
HH
gsu
Govan media claiming RVP talks have stalled due to demands that RVP present his roofing credentials before signing.
Scottishleaf & Greensideup
Didn’t see your earlier replies to my question about Broonie’s booking , thanks for your input.
Whatever the reason it certainly was a strange one and in keeping with the refs performance
I may be the only one who thinks that height in a defence is a must . It’s a scare for me as I feel our defence is on the small side , compared to the new forward hearts were reported to have signed at 6 foot 5 inches he will case problems .
MATS NILLOC on28TH JULY 2016 12:39 PM
Thanks Paul, your first
A naive tactical approach and off-form/off-colour players ‘blew it’ for us against Maribor at CP and in Malmo – I am much more confident this time with Brendan in charge.
Apologies… phantom posting.
Hail Hail
So even the Bookies see the gullible Sevco fans as a cash cow?
Brilliant.
S o T
Salve!
Still in Scozia for a few more weeks.
Intense man Conte has made quite a few appearances on TV here over the last few days.
I have to say his command of the English language is quite impressive.
Didn’t really expect anything less, knowing the type of person he is.
I believe he was telling his tutor to up his game or he would never work again!
Saluti!
HH!!
Sure the amount of times the sevcos have been fooled must be world record.
Decent few days here in Sorrento- sun, food, mad Italians on vespas.
Decent result for the Hoops (half time, mind) pixies tickets secured, super furries next week.
Heading out to da franco’s for the best pizza you’ve ever tasted for €6
SOUTHSIDE,
they should get a star for every time they get fooled, at least they could explain what all the stars are for, lol
HH
gsu