Last night’s performance was a vast improvement on the horrible displays against Legia and gave us our second insight (after United) into how Ronny Deila is changing the way Celtic play football.
Key to the performance was the movement of his two Norwegians, Stefan Johansen and Jo Inge Berget, Callum McGregor and Beram Kayal. Johansen, who closed down space high up the field, pressurising defenders, played his best game for Celtic. Less said about his clearance of a Virgil van Dijk header the better.
Watching Kayal was like meeting an old friend again. The player, who in 2011 kept Victor Wanyama out of the team, has been a shadow of his former self since returning from injury two years ago. He is another player who enjoys closing space.
I’m an acknowledged cynic when it comes to even remotely hyped young players breaking through the ranks, but Callum McGregor has now delivered repeatedly. There is a long hard season ahead of him, and let’s remember, form fluctuates, but he has looked like one of the best players in the team so far. I doubt any Celtic player has opened the scoring in three consecutive European away games.
The first 35 minutes saw Maribor sit deep, which allowed Celtic to build patiently. Movement was good during this period, players in possession always had options, so we were able to switch play, force opponents to chase the ball, and penetrate with purpose.
Play was bound to change when Maribor started to close down higher up field, but Celtic reacted by playing low-percentage balls forward, which invariably resulted in possession being lost. I would like to see us look for less-ambitious passes more often.
There were several concerns, not least of all at the back. A defence which was impregnable for much of last season is now being cut open with regularity. I don’t subscribe to the view that players suddenly lose instinct and awareness over the summer, so it’s likely that a change in the midfield shape is exposing frailties in defence.
Maribor players found themselves clean through on a couple of occasions last night, echoing what happened in Warsaw and at Murrayfield. Ronny needs to find a fix.
Despite clearly being the better team, there is still a big job ahead for Celtic next week, better teams don’t always win, but a disciplined performance, no red cards, no mistakes at the back, should see us through.
Take no chances at Inverness on Saturday, make sure players are rested and fit.
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Robert
With the best will in the world, best leave this one alone. You simply don’t know what you’re talking about.
Respectfully.
TBB
Turkeybhoy,
That’s incredible.
Robert88
11:25 on
22 August, 2014
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Are you on school holidays mate?
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon
11:24 on
22 August, 2014
Yep.
And there is every possibility that some C.Q.N. contributers may be victims of those very conditions.
Perhaps they should be accorded the same consideration.
Gordon_J,
A post worthy of CQN at its very finest. Thank you.
TLWIO
I’ve been a happy shafter on here since day 1..
tonydonnelly67
11:23 on 22 August, 2014
the glorious balance sheet
11:15 on 22 August, 2014
Right, so I have to understand a guy that batters my daughter, and say to my daughter, it’s not his fault hen he had a bad upbringing, you need to understand that hen, and stop coming to me for sympathy every time he batters you? You serious?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
No one said that! Get your daughter out of there and do all you can to help the said individual – probably cannot be helped etc.
BTW Love the sinner – hate the sin (I am not saved just an average Catholic)
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon
Your post sums up what CQN means to me and has meant to me during the five years I have posted on here. Thanks..
the green man
Listen, I get it, I’ve been around, you may not agree with me, I don’t really care,whether he played with the Huns or not doesent. Matter he was a nutcase before he even came to them, it was when he was at the Huns these things happened, or did they not?
There was once a cure for alcoholism advertised as the Hagey Cure. It was in the Glasgow Herald 100 years ago today.
Also news that the Sniper had saved Celtic’s bacon.
Oh and two suspected spies were apprehended trying to enter Fairfield’s Scotstoun yard. One was bayonetted by the army guard and one swam away.
If you know the history eh?
http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/1914-08-22%3A+Celtic+1-0+Motherwell%2C+League+Division+1This+is+a+featured+page
Gascoigne.
No one ever said ‘ No ‘ to him.
For whatever reason, he was always indulged.
He mistook it for approval.
Amateurpsychologist CSC
Apart from having a direct relative who died from the drink, I don’t know too much.
Bawsman, no no left school a while back.
jamesgang @11.18hrs
“On train on way to meeting in Hamilton.
Reminded of illustrious CQNers as the journey unfolds.
BlantyreTim & HamiltonTim – I think it’s great you’ve both had towns named after you!”
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Wow, but what about the even more illustrious CQN’er who has had a city named after him. :BigyinMilan
Bigger wow, And the even, even more illustrious CQN’er who has had a whole country named after him.Turkeybhoy.
HH.
Gordon J @11.24…you said it all…can add nothing to that…
iki
11:32 on
22 August, 2014
The Elvis syndrome.
Updated by Justin Beiber
Sammi to West Brom – confirmed on News Now.
Good luck to Sammi in the EPL..
Tom you are naughty. Turkeyboy you are enjoying their misery.Carry on. How low can they go.
Alcoholism is a sickness, not a condition. My Dads generation all drank hard, played hard. One of my uncles became an alky. Great guy on a road to a lonely death. I don’t think he was any different from the rest, the drink had more impact on his physiology than others. My opinion he had an addictive gene. I miss him alright. Pity. Gazza has been played all his life . TD67 don’t agree with you on this one. His wife played him more than all the rest of the parasites. I pity Gazza. Both of them.
On Gascoigne,
I’m no expert but he seems to have had mental health issues , which manifest themselves in a number of ways , some of them criminal.
He would have crashed and burned long before now were it not for an extraordinary gift in an area which supplied him with enough fame , money and “friends” to keep the balls up in the air for longer than would otherwise have been possible.
Those have run out now and , unless he gets proper medical treatment for his underlying illnesses, this is only going to end one way.
TD67
As a football player, I hated him and what he stood for.
He did many terrible things, granted.
But as a human being with severe problems…I have compassion for him.
Personally speaking…in my younger days I was like the devil…I made gazza look like a schoolboy…seriously
In those days I was dangerous in the extreme.
However, I managed to change.
Would you condemn me as well?
HH
.
TonyDonnelly67..
You probably don’t know this but People Like You..and with Your thoughts on Gaza..Could be the only chance to save Gaza’s life..
When you Pity a Alcoholic it’s like giving them another drink..
Do Not Pity..Do Not wish them well……Until they have Earned it..
If you are talking to a Active Alcoholic (That has has many chance) make the conversation Not about them..In fact l would go as far as to Say..
Tell them You don’t really care if they drink again and You are more interested in (Mention a Insignificant problem)..
Gaza does Not Need sympathy..
Poor Me..Poor Me..Pour Me.. Pour Me.. another Drink..
Summa
Ps..I am in No way TonyDonnelly67 is correct in posting what he did..But..Maybe just Maybe Gazza would be a Different person with some Straight talkers on his Side..
taurangabhoy
So it was his wife’s fault she got battered?………… Angel of death take me now.
A good post from Gordon J.
Don’t put the bottle near the lips? Not so simple. I wish PG well but he certainly is accountable for some of his actions.
Mental illness is a torture. Add alcoholism to it and it renders it difficult to heal.
Sky Sports News HQ @SkySportsNewsHQ 18m
BREAKING NEWS: West Brom sign former Celtic striker Georgios Samaras on a two-year deal #SSNHQ
Summa of Sammi….
11:39 on
22 August, 2014
Food for thought,mate.
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Seems like Sammi`s got a spot.
Hope he does well.
The green man
I’m not here to condemn anyone, I’m giving my opinion on Gaza , that’s all, it was only a year ago everyone was in here talking about another p!sh stained alky over Ibrox way, and oh the fun they had with that, I make an opinion on the other alky, and it’s a no no?
I think I get it.
embramike.
Glad to hear it good luck big man W.B.
H.H.
A good read:
Oliver Bullough’s ‘The last man in Russia’. Actually it is a marvel. He travels in the footsteps of a remarkable Soviet dissident priest who was persecuted by the Marxists. OB also explores the nature of Russian alcoholism. How is it acceptable socially to drink a bottle of brandy for breakfast?
Highly recommended. The gulag passages are heart breaking.
TD67
I feel sorry for you….that you have no compassion in your heart.
HH
TD67 Gazza was with his “wife” for six weeks. She has made an entire life living in luxury from those six weeks, tabloid heroine. She undoubtedly contributed to this sad individuals demons. No way I am condoning violence against women. I have three girls , anyone hurt them I rip there heads off. Gazza’s wife victimised him in return. Two wrongs don’t make a right so don’t agree with using Gazza’s marital nightmare as a whip against him. I do pity him, sorry Summa, you are right I wouldn’t be any help to him, maybe TD67 would.
The green man
Don’t, as you don’t know me, and never assume.
Tom Mc…,
Gaza Strip, belter :oD))))
taurangabhoy
I’ve been there I know what I’m talking about, and that’s as far as I go,
Others prob. Have too, but they have a diff. Take on it than me,
And that’s their opinion. And that’s fine by me.
Where is that New Article Paul67, this is purgatory!
TD67
I can only judge from your words.
And I think clearly, there is hatred and bitterness in your soul.
To wish ill on those less fortunate than yourself…says it all.
I wouldnt need to know you, to understand what you are saying.
You make it plain.
Hatred and bitterness with a lack of compassion….not nice traits.
HH
TBB,
On the BBC thing, the money Scottish football gets from TV money is a pittance, I would think killing off TV deals for a couple of seasons would both increase season ticket money/ attendance to greater income and give future negotiations a bit more power to the Scottish football negation position.
Excellent post Gordon_J encapsulates exactly how those suffering from addiction feel
A mans an man fur awe that
But some men just haven’t go tthe capacity to be a man.
Paul Gascgoine for all his ills is just a man. An impressionable and dislikable man at that on many levels yet comedic and a joker hiding his ills from plain sight.
There are many human beings I dislike, one or two pos daily on here. None of us can justifiably throw a stone at any one if we are honest enough when we look at ourselves in a mirror.
I pitty those who have no empathy even for those they come to dislike or have the capacity to hate. Their’s must truly be a difficult life.
To revel in someone elses misfortune, illness and pain has to be one of the human triats that most disgusts.
Until you have walked in someone else’s shoes!
MWD says AYE