Celtic always had the look of winners last night, but until Odsonne Edouard pounced on the rebound from Ryan Christie’s shot, the outcome was in the balance. We are going to face a lot of packed defences like that this season, though fortunately or not, that could be the last we see of them in the Europa League.
Christie was back to his best. I know his stats are far from impressive and he is criticised (by others) for his decision making, but I spent almost three years during Brendan Rodgers time wanting someone to mix it up. Take shots that would force the keeper to work or a defender to block, or play the low percentage pass that we all know is going to miss most of the time, but will result in loose balls in dangerous areas.
Those poor stats are a consequence of randomness, which is something we loved in Frank McGarvey, but that was before the stats came along to both inform and confuse. Stats are all about interpretation, which is the real lesson of Michael Lewis’ Moneyball for those who never read the book, or those who did, but didn’t understand it.
I tried most of the second half to figure out what changes Neil Lennon made at halftime that freed up Jeremie Frimpong. During the first half, he was so well shackled, I considered the Sarajevo left back as a possible recruit. At the break, the suggestion was made to me, maybe he is better as an impact player?
Sarajevo certainly opened up at the break, which may have helped, but Jeremie was back at his impactful self during the second period. Credit also to Greg Taylor, who had his best game in a Celtic shirt.
I’m still pretty gutted about not being in the Champions League and at the manner of our exit, but Pot 1 seed in the Europa is an important place to land. Last week we spoke about how it was to our advantage that all domestic rivals also reach the group stage. We didn’t want them having a week to plan games against St Mirren etc., while we traverse the Continent. Not this season.
That kind of left hemisphere thinking was nowhere to be found once kick offs were underway last night. You can’t fake this stuff, it is just not possible to subvert the tribal instinct (which is why nationalism is so potent, and why Celtic is my only identity). But, in a crisp and sunny autumnal morning, logic is back on top. No one will get an easy pass to the title this season, including Celtic.
Uefa’s methods of seeding have never been perfect, this is not tennis, but those pots are full of variance. I’m hoping to avoid sides from the big nations. Farewell, Copenhagen, Basel, Sporting, Rosenborg, Legia (sorry, Zbyszek) and yes, even Galatasaray. Strong sides are out of Europe, the potential to join them was real.
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A page 9 and page 10 podium!
Whodathunkit!
I disagree about Christie. He has changed his game this season. He has become greedy and shoots at every opportunity even when a teammate is better placed. He takes all corners and free kicks and when not shooting rarely makes a decent cross. Last night’s goal was not an assist it was a goalie error after he spilled a Powerpuff shot. His Dad tried to suggest he was good enough for EPL not that he was good enough for Celtic. He is clearly playing for himself.
Me and Wee BGFC about to do 45 mins of country if anyone interested:
https://www.facebook.com/ThePlainsmenFolk/live/
HH
BGFC
FRANKTERRY @ 7:11 PM,
Apologies for the delay in getting back…
Okay, the team that play out of ibrox were originally called sevco (and being a traditionalist that is what i will always call them out of respect.)
Also, i genuinely don’t know any Celtic fans who talk about the ‘old firm’ anymore. Because it doesn’t exist. Because one half died.
Calling Sevco by their founding name is a great tradition and hope it continues. You are correct, most Celtic supporters don’t use old firm, it allows the pretense that they aren’t involved in Scotland’s shame. I’d be much more convinced if they’d stop watching the matches though.
One of my first posts on CQN circa fifteen years ago, stated we should be looking at our European peers for “competition” not using Rangers as our standard, I believe that more than ever today, I believe the intervening years back me up on this.
I never used the term old firm with old Rangers, didn’t like anything that associated us with them. However a lot of people went to a great deal of effort and subtefuge to make the new old firm happen and it was facilitated by Celtic FC.
Also Celtic FC are the sole owners of the “Old Firm” trade mark, they could ask the broadcasters to stop using it, of course they won’t, they’d much rather not use it themselves and keep up the pretense.
I think our Board got it too easy over their part in the “great football swindell” so I use Rangers and old firm to show I wasn’t duped;)
Hail Hail
@Petec..Good posts daytime my friend..
Back in the day your midnight posts were ..monumental..
Look after yer bhoy..They are precious..
H.H
@wee BGFC..KEEP IT GOING SON
Music keeps us alive….love you and your dads set
H.H
Jobo&HotSmoked,
We are so Amazingly Lucky to have what we HAVE.
dramB. Spooky Banzookie
Deserves a Jam & Spoon remix.
CELTIC
Apologies if already posted.
Celtic Europa fixtures…
October 22 – Celtic vs Milan – 8pm
October 29 – Lille vs Celtic – 5:55pm
November 5 – Celtic vs Sparta Prague – 8pm
November 26 – Sparta Prague vs Celtic – 5:55pm
December 3 – Milan vs Celtic – 5:55pm
December 10 – Celtic vs Lille – 8pm
Hail Hail
***CQN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2020-21***
RESULTS FROM GAME #12 – SARAJEVO 0 CELTIC 1 (EDOUARD)
We won away in Europe, again. We kept a clean sheet in Europe, again. But yes, not our best performance and yet we continue to win – that’s 7 wins in a row since we lost to Ferencvaros. Anyway, a very brief report tonight as I’ve been busy with other things most of today so onto the results.
Thanks to the 55 who voted. The numbers cast for each player are as follows (with my own choices asterisked) –
Barkas*: 7 (did everything asked of him)
Bitton: 0 (well, he did only last 4 or 5 minutes…)
Duffy: 22
Ajer: 2
Frimpong*: 34
Brown*: 37
McGregor: 8
Christie: 22
Taylor: 24
Elyounoussi: 4
Edouard: 2
Elhamed: 2
Klimala: 0
Ntcham: 0
So, the players receiving points for the Sarajevo game are –
Brown – 5 points (after being 2nd place against Hibs)
Frimpong – 4 points (after being 1st place against Hibs and Riga)
Taylor – 3 points
Christie and Duffy – 2 points
So, the overall points table is now as follows –
1st – Christie, Frimpong and McGregor – 25 points
4th – Ntcham – 14 points
5th – Elyounoussi – 13 points
6th – Duffy – 11 points
7th – Bitton and Taylor – 10 points
9th – Barkas and Brown – 9 points
11th – Ajeti – 8 points
12th – Ajer– 7 points
13th – Edouard – 6 points
14th – Forrest – 5 points
15th – Elhamed – 4 points
16th – Jullien – 2 points
17th – Turnbull – 1 point
18th – Bain, Bolingoli, Dembele, Klimala and Soro – 0 points
So, back to league business on Sunday for our lunchtime visit to Perth. A win against St Johnstone will put us back to the top of the league for at least a couple of hours but potentially a couple of weeks as International Break looms.
Hail Hail!
Trump going on full on victim mode now, no surprise
The Huddle @ 8:36pm
That was remarkable.
https://philmacgiollabhain.ie/2020/10/02/a-group-of-celtic-shareholders-decide-to-up-the-ante-on-resolution-12/
Hmmm…
`night all.
The excellent Jon Sopel from BBC News, just said there is actually a mini hospital and theatre area in the White House
HOT SMOKED
Just been reading about the new development regarding RES 12 , the guys are keeping it lit 🤞
Bada……
apparently Walter Reed has more acute CT scanning facilities….and superior monitoring facilities.
“There will be dying, there will be dying
but there is no need to go into that.
The lines flow from the hands unbidden
and the hidden source is the watchful heart;
the sun rises in spite of everything
and the far cities are beautiful and bright.
I lie here in a riot of sunlight
watching the day break and the clouds flying.
Everything is going too be all right.”
RIP Derek Mahon- A radical Belfast protestant who died in Kinsale yesterday
See when you make a big deal of postin’ stuff………oft’ withooot much manners……. and go large on a smaller, raucous fringe site…
what’s the etiquette on rollin’ back boul’ as brass?
Askin’ furra brass-necked acquaintance.
HH.
Ehh!!!
Ernie sorry for the long gap, eh no your spot on, it would be a great moment in our history for our board to slay the lie
@SFTB…..The sun rises despite of everything.
love your posts…..Nail on the head
Enjoy TIK ,..TOK TEN
BANKIEBHOY1- I don’t believe anything from Trump and Co…HH
Hope I’m wrong, but have the feeling wee jimmy is going to shut down Scotland over the October break.
Bada…neither do I, but the facilities at Walter Reed does have enhanced monitoring facilities.
HH
BANKIEBHOY1- reality TV….
Bada – aye, engrossing detail!
HH
Fri night …..used to be so lovely…..
Each track would lead you to somebody’s baby
Stevie god bless…..wae the all mad changes to our gemmmes.
lets allocate a night for tunes….. As Tic bhoys…
And let the good times roll.
SAT NIGHT FOR TUNES???
DRAMBOWIECELT on 2ND OCTOBER 2020 11:30 PM
Fri night …..used to be so lovely…..
Each track would lead you to somebody’s baby
Stevie god bless…..wae the all mad changes to our gemmme
————–
It is a great thing that Pablophanue still induces these friday night longings
a lovely thing actually
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXdGOYo_fsE
when a song is taken back to the essentials, quite beautiful
Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton – Something (Live)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl-BNTeJXjw
For all good Tims……….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqTX3obKd8U
BIGBHOY on 2ND OCTOBER 2020 9:42 PM
Totally agree regards Christie . A good player but my brothers and myself came to the same conclusion a bit greedy . And sorry to say I’m still a bit concerned with our defence as well . Hope things come together before we play them .
A bit greedy ?
or told by the management team, you keep the ball and shoot on sight ?
Have to say Christie has been playing for himself for a long time , shots outside the box rather than laying it off to team mate, trying to get his stats up, it’s a shame if concentrated and focused he could be a great asset
Big G ! Wee Nickys plan to shut down Scotland, took a massive hit Thursday night! Leaving them next to no chance of a lockdown after October when they run out of U.K. furlough money! Let’s see what they fund after that!
Wishaw Tim hope I’m wrong but I fear she is itching to shut down Scotland, why because she can.And the scary thing is her supporters will agree with her without thought
Serenely dark and rainy in the Chilterns…
JimTim, St Stivs,
The Christie thing is a head scratcher, no doubt has lost a bit of his effectiveness this season by being “too greedy”, yet he’s obviously become close to first name on the teamsheet, if he’s not following instructions then that would not be the case.
I’m with Paul67, on this “consequence of randomness” thing. Yet the fact remains, if he doesn’t up his stats on goals, on target shots and pass completions he looks ineffective.
It seems to me that Celtic want Ryan to up his game, they, as well as his dad, see the EPL potential, if he manages to up his game to the required level, we have a highly effectivce £30M player on our hands.
For me, as it stands, the stats no lie…
BANKIEBHOY1 @ 11:09 PM,
Stop mumbling, man up and spit it out, you know you want too, you’ll feel better for it:))))
Hail Hail
Hello again all you young rebels.
From another beautiful 29 degs Melbourne.
Barbie is on, and my huge paella pan is filled with chicken thighs, spicy
pork sausage, big chunks of smoked ham, baby onions , and portobello
mushrooms.
And just to add a wee bit of Jenny ze qua, ( who is she anyway ) a half
bottle of the Rid Biddy.
Isn’t life as a Celtic fan just fine?
Oh! and the Rebs are on quite loud in the background, maybe I should
turn them up a bit. 8-))))))
H.H. Mick
Interesting seeing Jobo’s table and Greg Taylor’s position.
HH.