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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This ghanian winger thats on his way
Most exciting signing in a long time and iv never seen him play.. Easily pleased.
Strong powerful winger will be great
So Stefan Scepovic is a defender according to the DR?
Hope he can score a few goals for us ‘tho.
HH!!
TALLYBHOY
I wouldn’t trust the DR to get the date right.
Just had a look at the bbc website for the Rangers v Unirea game. The huns scored after 2 mins, then missed a penalty and then scored 3 own goals HA HA HA. Chick’s first question to Dan Petrescu was “were you surprised how easy it was”. Funnily enough he never asked Walter the same question, Coward.
I reckon the guy that added the photo must be a tim. Unirea celebrating with Weir Rothen looking on. Hilarious.
BMCUW
Howdy.
I take it you will be working tonight and wont see the game?
Sno fair if that’s the case!
HH!!
Morning all,
Slightly off topic, but only slightly.
I was told last night, my best friends’ grand son is a mascot for tonight.
Now, while John was never too bothered about the football,his two sons are massive Celtic people, of which,Im proud to say I played a part.
I do know ,there will never be a prouder granpa looking down on Celtic Pk tonight
God Bless you, Big man, sorely missed by all.
lilys
lilys grandpa
08:53 on 26 August, 2014
Hail Hail to John , and your good self ….!!
So we’re signing a player from Sporting Hee Haw……Hope that’s no an indication :-)
lilys grandpa
08:53 on 26 August, 2014
———————————-
A heartwarming wee story to start the day, here’s to a great night.
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon ….The angels are with Wee Oscar in Heaven.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors,
Thank you very much. Im sure the big cynic that he was would appreciate that.
Let me just say to you, there is never any need to say to you to KTF,a bit like myself,but you are a star on here.Keep it shining!
lilys
bamboo
07:37 on
26 August, 2014
======================
I watched that excuse for a debate last night. I got fed up shouting at Salmond to shut up so I could listen to Darling’s responses.
He really jus a smug obnoxious git is Salmond, I imagine there were a lot of people in the same boat as me, tuning in to hear both sides but unable to.
He still dodges the big questions on currency and EU membership.
No more politics from me today.
Happy Champions League day, or Tuesday, as its known in Glasgow south.
21-5-79,
Cheers brother, Got a wee tear in my eye.
Have a ball tonight!
lilys
Is it Mubarak Wakaso, or the other way round?!
We should be told!
Pissin’ doon here – looks like bloody Scotland!
HH!!
Bawsman
09:01 on
26 August, 2014
I personally don’t like the ‘debating’ style AS employed last night but it was exactly what AD did in the first debate. 1 each on that front.
Hamiltontim at 08.11
Not interested in the messenger in this case, just the message
Is it true that sally wants the East Fife game postponed due International duty !!! …hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Anyone know if Springfield road between Dalmarnock Road and London Road is open again?
TALLYBHOY
That’s exactly the case,mate.
I’m drowning my sorrows as we ‘speak’.
I’ll record it though and watch it in the morning.
My not being able to see it is unimportant. The big picture is to qualify.
LILYSGRANPA
Magic wee tale,mate.
John will be chuffed. I expect he’ll have first dibs on the heavenly remote!
bamboo
07:37 on
26 August, 2014
BBC desperately trying to play down Salmonds crushing victory in last nights indy debate.
Eh? ICM punters gave the debate to Salmond, but the pollster also reported exactly the same voting intentions from its sample afterwards as before.
I’d be stunned if anyone was moved by that shouting match last night. Nats in the audience loved it, mind…
If Scotland gains its independence in the forthcoming referendum, the remainder of the United Kingdom will be known as the “Former United Kingdom” ….or FUK.
In a bid to discourage the Scots from voting ‘yes’ in the referendum, The Government have now begun to campaign with the slogan “Vote NO, for FUK’s sake”
They feel the Scottish voters will be able to relate to this.
https://twitter.com/celticfcslo/status/503917669762859009
thebhoyfromoz above link regarding ing Springfield Rd
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS,
Aint that the truth! Haha, and telling all,and sundry “Thats my grandson,never mind the game, THATS my grandson”haha
Cheers mate,
lilys
blantyretim.
Heading for the game now, see in The Blane Valley when you get there.
So nervous… Reminding myself of many years ago setting out my scarf and badges for the trip to the match…this really is such a big game…the manager’s future may depend on it…
Queen’s Park v Sevco…epic
I just have a good feeling about tonight. I really think we can give Maribor a doing. 4-0 to the Hoops. HH!!!!
FourGreenFields
Cheers for that, Route sorted to Paradise tonight.
HH
Lots of dearly departed Tims will be looking down on CP tonight.
Including my dad – after having watched the racing during the afternoon!
HH!!
I wonder what effect the signing speculation is likely to have on our current strike force.
Is it likely to spur them on or dishearten them?
I suppose we’ll find out soon enough.
Mind you if the unthinkable happens and we do go out having failed to score, questions will be asked.
Cmon Celtic just get it done tonight.
Dont let us all come out of this game tonight wishing we had went to see Ant n Dec instead :-) .
In Ronny we trust.
H.H.
ernie
From uefa website our strikers have made a total of 69 appearances in Europe scoring 12 goals.
Pukki accounts for 7 of these of which 2 were v Rejkavik and 2 v Bangor City for Helsinki.
If the strikers don’t score tonight it will be more the case that they’re not good enough for this level of football rather than down to speculation over incoming strikers.
Good Morning.
As the Independence debate rages on, here is the latest from Westminster.
If you happen to be at work I would turn up the volume.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiXgOQ9_-RI
TALLYBHOY
I expect your Dad will have spent yesterday evening bragging about ‘his’ band being voted as having made the greatest guitar riff of all time.
In between blasting it out,of course!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0utAHY3xo4
ERNIE
Let’s not think the unthinkable. There are many of us less than happy with the signing policy over the last coupla years or so,but don’t piss on our chips just yet.
It’s going to be a long day … I think we can get an early goal tonight and that will set us up nicely. But it is important to remember that at 1 – 1 we are going into the match ahead. A clean sheet and we go through regardless.
A few goals would be nice though.
BMCUW
Quite so!
Personally I think ‘Smoke on the water’ is, arguably, the best riff!
Controversial, I know!
HH!!
COYBIG
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon
09:35 on 26 August, 2014
I’d be happy with one goal, as early as possible.
Otherwise it’s nerve racking to the final whistle.