It was a hard shift for Gordon Strachan’s Scotland last night. Germany are on a different level, possibly from all other teams, at the moment, but Gordon’s been through similar tests as Celtic manager. What I liked about the display was that German were afforded few genuine chances, while the goals they scored, a deflection and two which hit the post before crossing the line, gave David Marshall no chance.
Scotland failed to collect a point as they found it impossible to concentrate at the level required for the entire 90 minutes. We’ve seen Celtic teams do this successfully in the past – and not just against Barcelona. We took Milan to a 0-0 after 90 minutes in the San Siro, while teams from Manchester and Munich, and lesser locations, chased the oxygen out of Celtic players’ lungs but could not find the space required to turn Celtic over.
During the previous two seasons Celtic recorded impressive domestic defensive records, but this was not due to imperious levels of concentration, we were simply better than the opposition by a sufficient margin. When that wasn’t the case, in Europe, we often didn’t display the levels of concentration which was on show, even from Scotland last night.
Great players can score wonder goals against you at any point, but don’t dive into tackles, watch what’s going on off the ball, make the right choices on how to press the ball, and even the greats will struggle to make an opening.
The biggest challenge we have ahead of the Europa League campaign is incorporating this season’s defensive arrivals into a coherent defensive strategy. It’s a concern that Craig Gordon looks like a better goalkeeper playing for Celtic in Europe than David Marshall did playing for Scotland against Germany. Marshall is a good enough keeper, but his defence didn’t expose him too often. Craig is called upon too often in Europe.
With all that’s going on in the world at the moment, in particular with the Foundation, Celtic sponsor, Intelligent Car Leasing, have offered us a fantastic auction prize: Corporate Hospitality at Celtic v Dundee, on 20 September, lunch and drinks in the Walfrid with great seats in the Directors’ Box for three people.
This is a very rare opportunity to enjoy a money-can’t-buy experience. All proceeds to raise funds for Celtic FC Foundation’s fantastic work to improve Health, promote Equality, encourage Learning and tackle Poverty. Get bidding and keep an eye on the auction here on ebay.
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Philbhoy-Brilliant,first good news for a wee while.HH
FourGreenFields – Wouldn’t miss it for the world mo chara. See you there.
KTF.
Philbhoy
Delighted for Olivia, must be a huge relief for you all.
HH
Well, sorry to change the subject for a moment but I have just watched a speech in the H of Commons given by SNP spokesperson regarding the government’s response (if it can be called that) to the refugee situation. It was a hard hitting speech and there is more to come tomorrow. My point would be that SNP takes a lot of hits on here and that no Catholics of any significance are involved in the party. Joanna is a QC and a catholic and her contribution today was substantial.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanna_Cherry
My daughter who has a doctorate in I/R, also works for and contributes significantly to the Scottish Gov’t, so I’m proud to note that we have a say. Just a little counterpoint to those on here who say that the nats do not include catholics in their team.
SothereCSC
Caffe freddo time way down south.
Tele in the wee bar broadcasting scenes from the Serbia / Hungary border and the Macedonia / Greece border Wild !…Bar man makes a comparison with the Mad Max movie.
GERRYBHOY well said and congrats to your daughter,bet you’re proud of her. Look out for incoming what you have just posted does’nt sit well with a few on here. Hail Hail Hebcelt
HEBCELT,
many thanks for that. No probs though; that’s exactly why I posted it ;)
Philbhoy
Brilliant news .
HailHail
http://i.imgur.com/lwgENyH.jpg
Albert, I concur.
TBM
If yer on let me know when your back HAME?
HH
Philbhoy
Brilliant news.
Philbhoy,
The best of news. Thanks be to God.
Heh Philbhoy
magic news mate for your family.all the best to Olivia :-)
HH
Looks like the Aussies huffed and puffed a bit till they made a few changes.
The introduction of oor Tom being one.
Anybody see it?
HH
Philboy
Well done, like winning the lottery.
Philbhoy
Wonderful news
Now tell Olivia to get her head in the books or she will end up like Albert and Tony. 8))
BRHT
Cheers for the clarification
Philbhoy
Great news.
.
Pheersy.
Sorry. Cross purposes.
Anything less than a win for Scotland against Poland would mean that a draw between Ireland and Poland might suit both parties.
Poland would remain second with a win or a draw while Ireland would go second with a win. Third with a draw but possible fourth with a defeat.
To the tune of ‘Oh The Rangers are shite’…
“Oh the Scotland* are shite
Nae* haggis* tonight
Qualify? They might
Aye* that’ll be right”
* – insert rubbish international team of your choosing with appropriate wordage and foodstuff
Jeez there are some child like posters on here. Sorry kids probably selling you short!!
Gerrybhoy 3:59
well done to your lass.as Hebcelt says mind out for the incoming from those who ultimately seek to divide via a political view of religion instead of improving our lot as humans.
:-)
HH
bigshuggy
top piece of posting the other night remembering John Thompson
thanks:-)
HH
have a good night Celts
HH
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell retains ECA post
Last Updated: 08/09/15 4:24pm
A total of 11 people were elected to join the four existing board members who represent ECA at the UEFA Professional Football Strategy Council (PFSC).
The four PFSC members are Umberto Gandini (AC Milan), Ivan Gazidis (Arsenal), Josep Bartomeu (Barcelona) and Evgeni Giner (CSKA Moscow).
Following the elections, the new executive board met for the first time to appoint the chairman and the three vice-chairmen.
The composition of the new ECA executive board is: chairman: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (Bayern Munich), first vice-chairman: Umberto Gandini (AC Milan), second vice-chairman: Pedro López Jiménez (Real Madrid) and third vice-chairman: Evgeni Giner (CSKA Moscow).
Meanwhile Edward Woodward (Manchester United), Ivan Gazidis (Arsenal), Josep Maria Bartomeu (Barcelona), Andrea Agnelli (Juventus), Jean-Michel Aulas (Olympique Lyonnais), Edwin van der Sar (Ajax), Michael Verschueren (Anderlecht), Theodore Giannikos (Olympiacos), Dariusz Mioduski (Legia Warsaw) and Aki Riihilahti (HJK Helsinki) all join Lawwell as board members.
Lawwell said: “It is a tremendous honour again to be elected to the Executive Board of the ECA.
“I very much look forward to undertaking this responsibility again in order that we continue to play an important role in the development of football in Europe.
“European football is an ever-changing landscape with many challenges and many opportunities and of course it is imperative that the clubs have a strong voice at the centre of the game.”
16 ROADS – CELTIC ÜBER ALLES…
Ok mate , really looking forward to the Day Oot .
HH
Philbhoy
Delighted for you with regard to Olivia’s news. A monumental weight of your family’s shoulders.
TCR
Get well and get posting soon. Rebel quotient down.
TAL
Top 20 European clubs in terms of growth on Facebook!
https://image-store.slidesharecdn.com/ea85e018-4903-4e2c-b2d2-1b919af53f78-original.png
Digital reach of Liverpool Football Club as at 1st August 2015
https://image-store.slidesharecdn.com/52176291-20fe-49c8-9085-e59f55e6900d-original.png
Philbhoy
Great news!
Best wishes for you and all your family’s future!
HH
Absolutely delighted for Olivia, Philbhoy and all the family. Like many others I had to deal with that problem in my own family a few years back and know full well all about the stress and worry it causes. I’m certain that Philbhoy is euphoric at the moment, so good luck to him & Olivia. I’m sure the period of worry and stress they had to endure will have brought them even closer as a family.
The 15 European Football Clubs with the largest Digital Community on 19 Social Media Platforms. FC Barcelona combine already a staggering 155,8 million fans around the globe. Five Premier League teams, three from La Liga and two teams each from Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and SuperLig.
https://image-store.slidesharecdn.com/f15dfdb2-405f-4518-a1a9-5b140bc3c281-original.png
Digital Communities vs. Country Population. If Football Fans Online Communities would be country populations, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United would be in the global Top20.
https://image-store.slidesharecdn.com/155d7f8e-a11f-4540-89ed-5637d1e7da28-original.png
Philbhoy great news must be a massive relief for you all
Gearoid 1998 did you enjoy the game on Saturday
Fair play to both teams they gave it their all both weeks
I see mention of money to be made from online broadcasting of our games.
We already do this overseas. Does anyone know how much this is worth?
If we could sell even 50000 subscriptions to a celtic tv station in UK and Ireland that showed most away games and a limited number of home games that were big crowd pullers then £100 notes a head for said service beats hands down the paltry sum we currently get. There are serious possibilities there – I just picked two random numbers and a simple idea. Surely some media smart person could come up with something that’ll work amd bring in a load more dough ray me than sky/bt
Which country registers (on each continent) the most fans on Facebook across the globe?
These are the five strongest European Digital Football clubs from four European leagues (Bundesliga, LaLiga, Premier League & SerieA).
RESULT Sports Analysis provides answers & shows the Top 5 follower base in respective countries.
The 20 teams were: FC Bayern, Borussia Dortmund, FC Schalke 04, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Hamburg SV, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Valencia CF, Sevilla FC, Manchester United, Chelsea FC, Arsenal FC, Liverpool FC, Manchester CIty, AC Milan, Juventus, FC Internazionale, AS Roma & SSC Napoli
https://image-store.slidesharecdn.com/ceecf4d1-4a13-47cd-9443-64a535e657c7-original.png
This is the last of the examples I will post showing how the Superclubs are simply becoming stronger and stronger and there is nothing we can do about it without huge change at UEFA – and even then that might not be enough.
Two things to note:
1 Over the course of this transfer window, some German clubs complained that they no longer have the budget to compete with Stoke, West Brom and Southampton!
2. None of the clubs in this caption – or in any of the other posts I have made – have ever taken anything remotely close to 80,000 people to a European final or had their fans comprise 3% of the world’s entire flying population on the day before a final.
PHILBHOY on 8TH SEPTEMBER 2015 2:59 PM
Phil, just read your post. Fantastic news about Olivia, you will all be so relieved. Faith is a wonderful thing my friend, God Bless you all.
And I am sure you will sleep tonight.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Sorry – more imortant than any of that statistical rubbish — Congratulations and praise be to god in relation to Philbhoy’s news! A glass will be raised and a prayer said!
Philbhoy great news. That’s fair cheered me up. Massive weight of your family my friend. Hail Hail to Olivia.
Prayers said in thanks.
HH
KTF
UTLR