While Maribor were clearly second best at home to Celtic last week they remain a potent threat to our season. You can be sure they’ve watched every minute of every game Celtic have played this season and will have dissected each defensive lapse. Our acknowledged weaknesses – primarily a defence which has yet to find cohesion – will be well-known to each of them.
The vast acreage of Celtic Park should suit the mobile, pressing, game Ronny Deila has brought to our play. It will be difficult for Maribor to cover all defensive zones, so with Celtic certain to play without a target-man, I expect the visitors to concede territory on the wings, defend their penalty area and force Celtic to play through them.
We will inevitably leave space at the back, in particular down the wings. How attentive we deal with this risk could determine the outcome of the tie.
Maribor’s schedule since facing Celtic on Wednesday suggests their biggest challenge will be to maintain energy levels late in the game. Thursday will have been a rest day, only light training would have taken place Friday and the bulk of the first team had a league game on Saturday evening. Yesterday would be another rest day, and they will travel today before a light job on Celtic Park this evening.
By contrast, the bulk of those who will start for Celtic tomorrow will have had normal preparatory training Friday, Saturday, Sunday, with some light work tomorrow. Those who made substitute appearances on Saturday will not have made a significant debit on energy levels.
We need to keep the ball moving early on, curtail rest times and have Maribor accessing their reserve tanks as early as possible.
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macanbheatha oscar abú
01:46 on 26 August, 2014
Maggie
I’m a Celtic supporter
Faithful through and through
How bout you?
Great news for all us out in Oz. Just realised that the game is on live on Sbs. Originally looked at Espn and thought it was only on as delayed telecast at 7am.
Come on you boys in green.
Hail Hail
BTW Maggie its not that I disagree with what you say it’s because I dislike the condescending manner in which you express yourself.
macanbheatha oscar abú
01:57 on 26 August, 2014
So say something like
Maggie I agree with you but tone it down a bit ……
Here is the list of all the things you’re right about …….
(you can format the bullet points in a style of your choice)
NEILMCCALLUMLENNON
01:53 on
26 August, 2014
Cheers,pal.
Good news for Ozzies indeed.
Didn’t see the debate but..
Eternal Optimist – you might need to change your nomme de blog, sorry…
One line from the BBC’s account struck a chord..
“He (Captain Darling) said Mr Salmond wanted a separate state no matter what the risk or what the costs.”
Salmond and others want independence fundamentally because Scotland should be an independent nation, just like any other nation state – as they see it. Period. End of.
All the stuff about the benefits, be they economic, health, welfare, trade, employment is just backfill in a decision that they have already made. They did not sit and work this all out and come to the reasoned conclusion that an independent Scotland is at all viable on any level. He/they presents the rebuttal to any caution from others behind a veil of feigned outrage that jabs at the jingositic nerve of Omnibus Jock. ‘Every other tin pot country in the world does it and we are Scotland, so of course we can do it.’ – Courage and patriotism are lacking in those who do not have bravehearts in this adventure – resonates in his rhetoric.
The whole ecomonic issue of staying within or leaving the Union is about as clear as a pint of Guinness to me, but there will be additional heavy costs involved in setting up an Independent Scotland – and those costs will be bourne by the Scottish taxpayers.
People are genuinely talking about how the outcome of these two university debaters who never really grew up, and who barnied on TV might/will probably decide the outcome of the vote. Absolutely stunning point to hang such a hat on, a decision with such huge implications.
Some people seem to adopt a Yes vote stance because Unionists and the OO are for a NO vote. Really, is that the rationale for an independent Scotland for some? “I cannot ever vote the same as the other mob so now we can GIRFUY them.” For some people that seems to enough to sway their opinion. What does that say about how immature we, as a prospective nation, actually are. We have the level of social integration and economic awareness that existed in the Balkan states in the 1990s. Very little and even that was for show under Tito.
Others seem intent on investing all of their frustration into the one basket.
– If only Scotland was independent then things would be better.
– Everything that is wrong with Scotland is the fault of others.
– The rest of the world is watching and this is historic.
The truth is that the some of the world is probably watching but they are largely saying, WTF are the Scots doing?
The Scots in seeking independence are, by default, trying to present themselves as an oppressed nation that is being kept from freedom by Westminster. At the same time they cannot actually say that, because it is patently untrue.
They have the same rights and priveleges that every other British citizen has. They have respresentatives in Westminster in greater proportion than their population should permit.
They have, in common with many other parts of the UK, endured a years of a Westminster government that did not reflect their idea of social responsibility.
However, they have also had several Labour governments under Harold Wilson, James Callaghan, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
Some Yes voters say they want nothing to do with a isolationist UKIP inspired UK, while at the same time voting for an independent Scotland. Irony abounds.
The Scots have had their own government since 1999, which was introduced by Blair after he promised to do so in his 1997 election platform. Fifteen years of making their own decisions, and now the Scots want independence?
In actual fact, the majority of Scots voters (54.6%) did not vote for the SNP in 2011. The alleged mandate that is bandied about came from a minority of Scots voters. The same situation arises in many towns and burghs too, where the heavily embedded parties take advantage of low turnouts and voter apathy to run the next level of Scottish government with no serious mandate to do so.
The Scots have more elected representatives than any almost any other democracy in the developed world: Local councillors, MSPs, Westminster MPs, MEPs and they also has complete control over education, police and other emergency services, healthcare, the legal system, highways, infrastructure, local government, budget setting, etc
The world does not understand any of this as a case for independence.
Now we find that whatever the decision, Scotland, the kids, the sick, the old folk, the unemployed, the destitute, the homeless, the No voters, the dontknow voters -all of the country are to be stuck with it for the next 25 years, at least.
In essence, as Scotland has achieved greater and greater independence from Westminster in all of the ways outlined above, the case for a completely separate state called Scotland has diminished, not increased. Except of course in our hearts, where the thought of a free and independent Scotland always resides. That is the elephant in the room. For many, this is an emotional decision not a logical one.
Viable greater autonomy does not equate to viable stand alone statehood from a standing start. It might, but we don’t know and haven’t adequately considered it.
Should Scotland be independent?
Of course it should, just as any country should be..
But to make the decision using a rationale that we would use to choose which football team we support – emotion, cultural influence, religion – instead of accurately assessing all relevant information to appreciate the real impact of a vote either way, is just plain wrong. IMHO
Night to all Tims and here’s to a winning result tomorrow.
HH
Run the streets in 67 with a tricolour when not only could I have been in trouble but so could my Da
Maggie , cryptic one liners are more the property of Perfidious Albion
Margaret McGill
01:21 on
26 August, 2014
Macjay dismay
———————————————————————————————-
Somebody suggested that Ernie Lynch may be a commie.
His name certainly is.
That`s all.
Since you ask.
Pobres Cubanos…………..from fascists of the right to fascists of the left.
That`s Che`s legacy.
macjay1 for neil lennon
02:04 on 26 August, 2014
Dismay, cryptic one liners are more the property of Perfidious Albion
Maggie having said all that I’m on your side when it comes to the peasants like Macjay (jeez ,am I being condescending now?)
macanbheatha oscar abú
02:14 on 26 August, 2014
Nah ….. He pisses me off as well :)
Margaret McGill
02:11 on
26 August, 2014
macjay1 for neil lennon
02:04 on 26 August, 2014
Dismay, cryptic one liners are more the property of Perfidious Albion.
——————————————————————————————————–
And your goodself.(see above)
She used to be perfidious but she`s all right now.
Albion Albion.
macanbheatha Oscar Abú
02:14 on
26 August, 2014
It`s the Cuban peasants (sic) you should be concerned about.
Been away for a few days.
Came back home to a letter from Elaine C Smith.
And a wee poster.
Partick votes yes!
Tempted to put yes posters on the Rosevale, 200 yards away.
Why? Are there any ?
rascar capac
02:23 on 26 August, 2014
As a crap car
Long time no hear
Glad to see you back
I’ll be voting yes too!
“The Mosul dam seems to have been taken. It’s a very fluid situation.”
Hugh Bonkle fae Dallas
22:25 on 25 August, 2014
Oh the irony. Darling stuttering that he doesn’t like the tory policies and hoping that Labour get back in so they can change them. If the country votes yes we don’t need to hope for this outcome!!
###########
But according to Alex Bell (you’ll know he is, obviously) if Salmond gets his way with currency union the Bank of England will be running the Scottish economy.
unlike if Scotland votes no the Scottish economy will be run by the bank of England .
oh right.
Burn everything therefore your children cannot wish/benefit from your demise
MacanB Celt by birth Cheyenne by nature (and slightly inebriated)
Goodnight to all you whose soul are owned by the company store
neilmccallumlennon
01:53 on 26 August, 2014
—
Great news , cheers
Fly back from work today and thought i would have to get sports package back in or celtic tv on laptop
Where u based ?
Adam Matthews returns to the squad after a calf injury for Tuesday’s home leg in the Champions League play-off with NK Maribor.
BBC
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Celtic boss Ronny Deila demands ‘cool heads’ and ‘aggressive legs’ from his players ahead of £20m showdown with Maribor
Aug 26, 2014 03:00 By Keith Jackson 1 Comments
WITH a home win or even a 0-0 draw enough to book a place among the elite at Thursday’s group draw in Monte Carlo, Deila is urging his players to go for the kill.
Tony Nicoletti/Daily RecordRonny Deila on the touchline
RONNY DEILA has ordered his Celtic stars not to chicken out of tonight’s £20million showdown with Maribor.
But he admits the thought of leading them into the Champions League is giving him goosebumps. The Norwegian stands on the brink of a European reprieve knowing a home win against the Slovenians, or even a 0-0 draw, will be enough to secure a place among the elite at Thursday’s group draw in Monte Carlo.
Deila is demanding “cool heads” and “aggressive legs” from his players at Celtic Park tonight, urging them to go in for the kill on the back of last week’s 1-1 draw away from home.
He said: “It is Christmas Day and Happy New Year at the same time if we can do it. It would be fantastic.
“It’s my dream to do it, to coach a team in the biggest tournament in football, at the highest level. I get goosebumps when I think of it. I’m really looking forward to it.
“But it’s not about me, it’s about creating and having the opportunity to have that experience. The club has been involved in the Champions League many times and it means a lot for the players and supporters as well.
“ We have a new chance and we have to go out there and give everything we have. If it’s good enough we will get through, if not then we are not good enough.
“It’s been a long 10 weeks of hard work, ups and downs. Now we’re here at the moment of decision. We have to go out and attack the game.
“If we go through we will have shown that we belong in the Champions League – because we’ve been good enough to qualify.”
Deila had snapped up two wingers in time for this play-off but neither Aleksandar Tonev nor Wakaso Mubarak has made it into his squad.
And a £2.4m move for Sporting Gijon striker Stefan Scepovic has also been parked pending tonight’s tie.
Deila said: “We are working on players to bring in and we will see if we can get a striker as well.
“He is one of the names we have mentioned before so we will see.”
The Irish Examiner
Celtic close to signing Scepovic
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Celtic are on the verge of signing Serbia international striker Stefan Scepovic from Sporting Gijon, according to his manager.
The 24-year-old played no part in Sporting’s 2-1 Segunda Division win at Numancia at the weekend as negotiations with Celtic gathered pace.
And Sporting’s manager, Abelardo Fernandez, admitted that he is planning for a future without the talented hitman.
“Stefan is no longer part of my plans,” Fernandez said.
“His transfer is a done deal and because we don’t want to endanger his move, he is not training with the players anymore.”
The fee is reportedly set to be around the £3m mark, and Scepovic could be in the Hoops squad for Sunday’s Scottish Premiership clash at Dundee.
Green Brigade to boycott Maribor Champions League game
BY ANDY MUIRHEAD · AUGUST 25, 2014
The self-confessed Celtic Ultras group, the Green Brigade, have announced that they will be boycotting the club’s biggest match of the season on Tuesday night against Maribor.
Announcing their decision to not attend the game, the Green Brigade, said: “Again, it is with complete dismay that we must announce that we won’t be attending the Maribor match on Tuesday night. After a summer of amicable and progressive dialogue with the Club we are bitterly disappointed that at this stage of the new season they have still failed to grant season tickets after being given constant assurances on the matter.
“Going forward the situation looks bleak. We have exhausted pretty much all avenues in attempting to secure a permanent, Club-sanctioned section along with re-building and sustaining a positive working relationship with the Club. It is becoming increasingly clear though that some at the Club must not be interested in the prospect of us returning to Celtic Park. This is all the more frustrating after a summer of positive relations and what now seems clear to have been constant false-promises.
“Whilst we remain open to further, worthwhile dialogue with the Club in the hope of coming to a sensible and speedy resolution our priority must now be on consulting with the section and planning a strategy for supporting Celtic as non-season ticket holders. As such we will organise a section meeting ASAP. We apologise if anyone feels let down by this outcome but must stress that we have done all that we possibly can. Perhaps, ironically, our downfall here is that we have taken the Club at their word all summer. Despite our disappointment at the moment, and the obvious challenge ahead, we obviously remain intent in doing all that we can in order to support Celtic as much as possible.”
Despite their intentions to ‘support Celtic as much as possible’, Tuesday night’s game will be the second game of the season that the Green Brigade will not be in attendance. Rather than supporting their team from the stands like many other Celtic fans do with or without a season ticket or a dedicated section, the Green Brigade spent Celtic’s 6-1 demolition of Dundee United in the Celtic Club on London Road.
If this group were true Ultras as they claim, would they let the club’s hesitancy or unwillingness to gift them a dedicated section again stop them from supporting their team from the sidelines? A group that once lauded its own militancy and anti-PLC stance is now spitting the dummy over the same PLC not handing them a few seats in the stadium.
What is more important – standing together banging a drum and holding up a bit of cloth or supporting the team through an important Champions League game which could net the club around £20 million as well as more top nights in Europe’s elite club competition?
It is Celtic Park not Green Brigade Park – while you have added colour and atmosphere to the ground – your constant whining about the board makes you look nothing more than a kid who has had his Xbox taken off him for not doing his homework.
Just because you sing a few songs, bang a drum and jump up it down doesn’t make you any better than those Celtic fans who attend the games simply to watch their team play. Why should you make demands on the club? What makes you anymore special than Joe Bloggs in Section 415 Seat 34 Row AA?
Stop spitting the dummy, support the club. You have shot yourselves in the foot once again. The Green Brigade is not Celtic Football Club, it is not the Celtic support either. It is a tiny part of a support that encompasses the world and when these fans talk about Celtic they don’t focus on the Green Brigade for the most part, they laud the club, its legends, players and managers past and present. Celtic Football Club will continue whether or not the Green Brigade are around, it survived before and it will survive when the group is no more. Remember that while you sit in the Celtic Club bar just down the road from Celtic Park as the spectacle of another European night is upon the East End of Glasgow.
Hearing that Champions League anthem from a Bar’s TV doesn’t beat hearing it in the flesh. Enjoy your Shandys lads.
Ronny Deila’s £20m decision for Celtic in UCL
Deila must find the balance between defending advantage and pressing for win. Picture: SNS
by STEPHEN HALLIDAY
Updated on the
26 August
2014
00:27
Published 26/08/2014 00:01
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2 comments
Have your say!
STICK or twist? With potentially as much as £20 million on the line, it’s by far the biggest tactical call Ronny Deila has had to make.
For while the 1-1 draw earned in the first leg in Maribor has seen Deila’s Celtic side installed as heavy odds-on favourites to complete the job in Glasgow tonight and reach the group stage of the Champions League, they are in a situation which can still prove precarious.
Jose Mourinho, a man as well versed as most in the nuances of two-legged European ties, has described 1-1 as a “dangerous” scoreline for the team playing at home in the second leg.
Celtic do not have to delve too far into their own European history for examples of how finely balanced it is. Back in 2000, a promising 1-1 draw in Bordeaux for Martin O’Neill’s team was wiped out by a 2-1 defeat back at Celtic Park. And just seven years ago, Gordon Strachan’s side needed a nerve-wracking penalty shoot-out to eclipse Spartak Moscow after the Russians had matched up a pair of 1-1 results.
So it is understandable that Deila, while instinctively a progressive and attack-minded coach, is willing to embrace a degree of caution as he prepares to face Slovenian opponents he believes could prove more effective on the road than they were in their own Ljudski vrt Stadium last Wednesday.
“You have to have a plan and I have a good plan,” said Deila. “We’re going to put it into practice. You need a balance. You have be offensive and aggressive in your head but also tactically aware.
“So you can actually say we need aggressive legs and calm heads, if you can put it in that order. That’s hard to do, but I think we have a good atmosphere in the group now – and they all know what we’re playing for. We’ve been given another chance after losing to Legia Warsaw and now we have to go out and fight for it, show that we’re good enough.
“We had a good performance in Slovenia but also I felt that Maribor could hurt us at any time. If we lose concentration, they are there. They’re very direct and have good skills up front, as well as being hard to break down.
“If somebody was going to win the first leg, I think it would have been us with the chances we created. But this is a new game now. We have to attack it in a positive way and see it as an opportunity.
“It’s going to be a very tactical game. Maribor are a very tactical team – it’s very easy to know what they’re going to do but very hard to stop them. They are very clear about what they want to do.
“Maribor will try to counter-attack, pretty much the same as they did at home. But we have the advantage of being at home, the atmosphere of Celtic Park and everything else. We have to use that to our advantage. We have to be offensive to get the crowd with us and push Maribor backwards. You also have to use your head in the right way. That’s what we’re going to do.”
Having admitted to mistakes in the 4-1 defeat away to Legia, a result which placed a black stain on the early days of his tenure until the Polish champions forfeited the tie by fielding a suspended player in the second leg at Murrayfield, Deila showed a willingness to be more pragmatic with his strategy in Maribor.
His favoured 4-2-3-1 set-up, with the accent firmly on attack, was modified with the introduction of the more defensively-minded Beram Kayal at the expense of playmaker Kris Commons.
“You can say that I compromised but 4-3-3 is maybe the formation I have played most with my teams,” said Deila. “So 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 are quite similar, it’s just the dynamic in the midfield, what type you want into the three.
“So I don’t think I compromised so much. That’s what we’re going to do in the future as well. In my heart, I want to play even more offensively but we played tactically smarter in Maribor and that’s also a lesson you have to learn. In Europe, tactically you have to find the balance between romance and smartness.
“It goes hand in hand – short-term results and also long-term in getting the culture of what you want do at a club. That’s compromise. You have to take things over time and that’s what we have to do at Celtic.
“I have to adapt as well. There are a lot of things in Celtic that I can learn and get better from that will make me into a better coach. Every day, it is developing for me here. Every day I get new challenges.
“That is the opportunity we have now in the Champions League. If we go through, we get more games like this. You can go to school or you can try to sit at home and learn things.
“You have to be in something to understand what it is all about. Of course, you can prepare as well as you can but, to actually understand it, you have to be in it. The club has been involved in the Champions League many times and it means a lot for the players and the supporters as well. It would be huge for me also. We have a new chance and we have to go out there and give everything we have.”
Link below contains a wee video snippet of bhoys playing keep yup in training with some back heel skills from Leigh.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2734267/Celtic-deserve-Champions-League-beat-Maribor-despite-outclassed-Legia-Wasaw-says-Ronny-Deila.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
That’s yer news for today bhoys. Tomorrow’s news will be 20 articles + on how the hoops steamrollered Maribor on the way to the CL group stages. I expect I shall begin the paper delivery about 4 15am tomorrow. Just keep yer big dugs away fae the letter box……
Good Morning Timland.
A early start,a early finish,home pick up the young Miss,
then up to CP,I’ll settle for Celtic whatever Maribor 0,have
a great day and more importantly a great night.
seasondefiningnightCSC.
twists n turns
04:29 on
Andy Muirhead is a d@@k and no friend of true Celtic fans IMHO.
Going for 3-0 to the hoops tonight COYBIG
Match day, up for it
We should play football when we’ve got it but IMO that should not involve the fullbacks tonight. 0-0 does us fine so no wingback malarkey tonight please bhoys. Compact and professional please.
Eyes on the prize
Come on the Celtic, just bloody do it!!!!!
“Deila is demanding “cool heads” and “aggressive legs” from his players at Celtic Park tonight…..”
Let’s hope they don’t get mixed up!
Cool and bright in dunblane. A fresh wind gathering like the expectation and tingles.
Struck me that once the new Bhoys are bedded in this will be very much Ronny’s team not NFL’s.
Always change. Only the club and support remain constant.
HH jamesgang
Not long now!!!!
Cannae wait!!!!
Got my 2nd dentist appointment this morning to contend with 1st…..eek!
Went ok yesterday and their big jessie detector picked up strong readings that i required careful handling.
In the words of the female dentist to the bloke student……”just do a little filling tomorrow and some hygienist work to break him in gently”
Thought i would require a couple of teeth to be removed but they said they would put a crown on 1 and fill the other so that was good news!
I had bmcuwp’s advice in my head at all times and i did feel myself reaching for the dentists nuts a few times but i am glad to say…..they remained intact and im pretty sure the dentist will be too.
Will see how they fare later!
My biggest concern is with my mouth being numb that i will be dribbling my beer after it all!
Have a good day everyone…..and hopefully……a brilliant time tonight!!!!
HT
Will be thinking of you tonight mate, enjoy your night with the family. Hope you win the car
Dry, bright and very optimistic in East Kilbride this morning.
Happy Champions League day to one and all. Or, as our south side friends call it, Tuesday.
Good morning CQNers,
No platitudes just a wish that tonight we make the most of our lucky break.
Good morning my friends in Celtic,
This morning we are as one with a common goal. .
In the words of a famous quote :
Today & Tonight; Think not what your club can do for you. Think what you can do for your club.
Give it laldy : tomorrow we can debate.
HH.